tinued the exercise. Then Mr. Watson of Leicester preached | a suitable sermon from 1 Tim. iii. 1. This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. Mr. Norris of Welford then read the call of the church, of which I declared my acceptance: he took my confession of faith, and ordination-vows, and proceeded to set me apart by prayer. Mr. Clark of St. Albans gave the charge to me, and Mr. Saunders of Kettering the exhortation to the people. Then Mr. Mattock of Daventry concluded the whole solemnity with prayer. I cannot but admire the goodness of God to me in thus accepting me in the office of a minister, who do not deserve to be owned by him as one of the meanest of his servants. But I firmly determine, in the strength of Divine grace, that I will be faithful to God, and the souls committed to my charge; and that I will perform what I have so solemnly sworn. The great indisposition under which I labour, gives me some apprehension, that this settlement may be very short: but, through mercy, I am not anxious about it. I have some cheerful hope, that the God, to whom I have this day been, more solemnly than ever, devoting my service, will graciously use me either in this world or a better; and I am not solicitous about particular circumstances, where or how. If I know any thing of my heart, I apprehend I may adopt the words of the apostle, that it is my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death; that, to me to live is Christ, and to die unspeakable gain. May this day never be forgotten by me, nor the dear people committed to my charge, whom I would humbly recommend to the care of the great Shepherd !"

The annual return of his ordination-day was observed by him with some peculiar solemnity in his secret devotions. Thus he writes upon it; "It is this day, fifteen years, since I have borne the pastoral office in the church of Christ. How many mercies have I received in this character! But, alas! how many negligences and sins have I to be humbled for before God! Yet I can call him to record upon my soul, that the office is my delight, and I would not resign the pleasures of it for any price, which the greatest prince upon earth could offer me.'

CHAP. V.

His discharge of his ministry at Northampton.

MR. DODDRIDGE having entered on the pastoral office with so much seriousness and solemnity, we are now to see with how much faithfulness and zeal he performed his vows, and fulfilled the ministry he had received of the Lord Jesus.—It was his first care, as a pastor, to know the state of his flock. As it was large, and lay dispersed in most of the neighbouring villages, he had frequent meetings with the deacons and a few other persons belonging to it, of whom he made particular inquiries concerning the members and stated hearers, their names, families, places of abode, connexions, and characters. He entered in a book the result of these inquiries, and what other intelligence of this kind he could honourably procure. This book he often consulted, that he might know how, in the most prudent and effectual manner, to address them in public and private; and made such alterations from time to time in this list, as births, deaths, additions, and his increasing acquaintance with his people required. By this list he was directed in the course of his pastoral visits, and could form some judgment what degree of success attended his labours. Here he inserted the names and characters of the lowest servants in the families under his care, that he might remember what instructions, admonitions, and encouragements they need

It is rather surprising that we do not meet with the name of Mr. Some on this occasion. Some particular incident, now not known, perhaps a sudden illness, might have deprived Mr. Doddridge of the assistance of so valuable and intimate a friend. That the cause should not have been mentioned by Mr. Orton in his memoirs, or by Mr. Doddridge in his diary, is an omission that could scarcely have been expected.-K.

This encomium is to be admitted with some slight degree of abatement. The Sermons of Dr. Doddridge were different as he was differently circumstanced. When he had leisure to draw out his plan and the hints of what he proposed to say to a considerable extent, his discourses were often excellent in a high degree. But at other times, when he could but just lay down his scheme, with only a very few thoughts under it, his sermons, especially if

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ed; what hints of exhortation he had given to them or others, how they were received, what promises they had made him, and who wanted Bibles, or other religious books, that he might supply them. By this list he was directed how to pray for them. He likewise wrote down particular hints of this kind, as they occurred, which were to be taken notice of in the historical register of his congregation; especially when the many revolutions of one kind or another made it necessary for him to renew it.

It hath been already observed what care and pains he took in composing his sermons, when he first entered on the ministry. His work as a tutor, and the pastoral care of a large congregation, rendered it next to impossible that he should be so exact and accurate afterwards: nor was it needful; having habituated himself for several years to correct compositions, having laid up such a fund of knowledge, especially of the Scriptures, which was daily increasing by his studies and lectures, he sometimes only wrote down the heads and leading thoughts of his sermons, and the principal texts of Scripture he designed to introduce. But he was so thoroughly master of his subject, and had such a ready utterance and so warm a heart, that perhaps few ministers can compose better discourses than he delivered from these short hints. When his other important business would permit, when he was called to preach upon particular occasions, or found his spirits depressed by bodily infirmities, or other afflictive providences, he thought it his duty to write his sermons more largely. Of what kind they were, the world has had a sufficient specimen in those which have been published. And it is imagined all persons of judgment and candour will allow, that they are well calculated to answer the great end of preaching. The vital truths of the gospel, and its duties, as enforced by them, were his favourite topics. He considered himself as a minister of the gospel, and therefore could not satisfy himself without preaching Christ and him crucified. He never puzzled his hearers with dry criticisms and abstruse disquisitions; nor contented himself with moral essays and philosophical harangues, with which the bulk of his auditory would have been unaffected and unedified. He thought it cruelty to God's children to give them stones, when they came for bread. "It is my desire," saith he, not to entertain an auditory with pretty lively things, which is comparatively easy, but to come close to their consciences, to awaken them to a real sense of their spiritual concerns, to bring them to God, and keep them continually near to him; which, to me at least, is an exceeding hard thing." He seldom meddled with controversial points in the pulpit; never with those, with which he might reasonably suppose his congregation was unacquainted; nor set himself to confute errors, with which they were in no danger of being infected. When his subject naturally led him to mention some writers, from whom he differed, he spoke of them and their works with candour and tenderness; appealing constantly to the Scriptures, as the standard by which all doctrines are to be tried. He showed his hearers of how little importance most of the differences between protestants are, and chose rather to be a healer of breaches, than to widen them. He always spoke with abhorrence of passionately inveighing against our brethren in the pulpit, and making christian ordinances the vehicle of malignant passions. He thought this equally affronting to God and pernicious to men; poisoning instead of feeding the sheep of Christ. He seldom preached topical sermons, to which any text of Scripture relating to the subject might be affixed; but chose to draw his materials and divisions from the text itself; and this gave him an opportunity of introducing some uncommon, striking thoughts, arising from the text, its connexion, or the design of the sacred writer. When his subject was more comprehensive than could be well discussed on one Lord's day, he generally chose a new text, in order to supply him with he was not in a full flow of spirits, were less valuable. Once, during my residence with him, a number of pupils complained through the medium of Mr. Orton, that, though their revered tutor's academical lectures were admirable, they had not in him a sufficiently correct model of pulpit composition. The consequence of the intimation was, that his sermons became far superior to what they had sometimes formerly been; for he was the most candid of all men to the voice of gentle admonition. When, however, he took the least pains, he was always perspicuous in his method, and natural and orderly in the arrangement of his sentiments; and hence he furnished an example, from which many of the young men educated under him derived no small benefit in their future labours.-K.

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He was always warm and affectionate in the application of his sermons, and experimentally described the workings of the heart, in the various circumstances which he had occasion to treat of: Thus he came home to his hearers' bosoms, and led them to see their real characters, wherein they were defective, and how far they might justly be comforted and encouraged. He gives this reason for that warmth of devout affection, with which he addressed his hearers: While I have any reverence for Scripture, or any knowledge of human nature, I shall never affect to speak of the glories of Christ, and of the eternal interests of men, as coldly as if I were reading a lecture on mathematics, or relating an experiment in natural philosophy. It is indeed unworthy the character of a man and a christian to endeavour to transport men's passions, while the understanding is left uninformed, and the judgment unconvinced. But so far as is consistent with a proper regard to this leading power of our nature, I would speak and write of divine truths with a holy fervency. Nor can I imagine that it would bode well to the interest of religion to endeavour to lay all those passions asleep, which surely God implanted in our hearts to serve the religious as well as the civil life, and which, after all, will probably be employed to some very excellent or very pernicious purposes."

He thought it a part of ministerial prudence to take public notice of remarkable providential occurrences, affecting the nation, the town, or any considerable number of his hearers; any uncommon appearances in nature, or other events, that were the subject of general conversation; the seasons of the year, and especially the mercies of harvest; and he endeavoured in his discourses to graft lessons of wisdom and piety upon them.-He chose to preach funeral sermons for most of those who died in communion with his church, even the poorest; and for others, where there was any thing remarkable in their character or removal. He imagined the minds of their relations and friends were at such times more disposed than usual to receive advice, and would need and drink in the consolations of the gospel. These discourses were also generally attended by the acquaintance and neighbours of the deceased persons, who were not his stated hearers; and he endeavoured to improve such occasions for conveying some useful impressions to their minds.--He never had a stated assistant, but constantly preached twice every Lord's day, when his health permitted; except some of his senior pupils, who had entered on the ministry, were disengaged, and then they performed the services of one part of the day. But even then, so solicitous was he not to do the work of the Lord negligently, that he often preached in the evening. A set of sermons against popery, the last of which, viz. on absurdity and iniquity of persecution," is published, and his discourses on Regeneration, were in the number of his evening lectures. Whatever services he had performed on the Lord's day, when there was no evening lecture, he repeated his sermons to his own family, and as many of his people and neighbours as chose to attend, at his own house; and then sometimes entered into a few critical remarks on his text, and learned reflections on his subject, for the benefit of his pupils, which would have been unprofitable to a popular auditory.-It was his usual custom, on a Lord's day morning, before sermon, to expound some portion of the Scriptures, and draw practical instructions

"the

This is the language of wisdom. True eloquence consists in the union of the rational, the forcible, and the pathetic; and to address to the affections, as well as to the reason of mankind, is the dictate of the soundest philosophy.

great diligence; and upon particular as well as common occasions expressed himself with ease, freedom, and variety, with all the evidences of a solid judgment, amidst the greatest seriousness and fervour of spirit. In the administration of the Lord's supper, he was remarkably devout and lively. He endeavoured to affect the hearts and excite the graces of his fellow-christians by devotional meditations upon some pertinent passages of Scripture; that the substance of what he had said might be more easily recollected. He took the same method in administering the ordinance of baptism. The hymns which he composed to assist the devotions of his congregation, have been published, and are another instance of the pains he took to promote their piety Besides his stated work on the Lord's day, and his lectures preparatory to the Lord's supper, he maintained a religious exercise every Friday evening at his Meeting-place, or his own house, as the season of the year, or the circumstances of his health, rendered most convenient. On these occasions he went through the psalms in a course of exposition; afterwards the prophecies of the Old Testament relating to the Messiah and his kingdom; the promises of Scripture; and sometimes repeated sermons he had formerly preached, as his friends particularly desired or might best tend to keep up an agreeable variety. For several winters he preached a lecture every Thursday evening, at another Meeting-house in the town, which lying nearer the centre of it, was more convenient than his own. There he preached a set of discourses on the parables of Christ; and another on the nature, offices, and operations of the Holy Spirit.-As a great part of his congregation came from the neighbouring villages, he used to go once or twice a year to each of them, and to some oftener, and preach among them. He chose to make these visits at the usual festivals and their respective wakes, as the inhabitants at those seasons had leisure to attend his services, and were in some peculiar danger of having their sense of religion weakened. At these visits he had opportunities of conversing and praying with the infirm and aged, who could seldom attend his labours at Northampton. When any of them died, he chose to preach their funeral sermons in the villages where they had lived, that their neighbours and acquaintance might have the benefit of them.

While I am mentioning his abilities, diligence, and zeal, as a preacher, I would add, that he was much esteemed and very popular. He had an earnestness and pathos in his manner of speaking, which, as it seemed to be the natural effect of a strong impression of divine truths upon his own heart, tended greatly to affect his hearers, and to render his discourses more acceptable and useful, than if his delivery had been more calm and dispassionate. His pronunciation and action were, by some judges, thought rather too strong and vehement; but to those who were acquainted with the vivacity of his temper, and his usual manner of conversation, they appeared quite natural and unaffected.

He was very exact in the exercise of christian discipline, and in separating from the church those, who were a reproach to their christian profession. To this painful work he was sometimes called, and a congregational fast was kept on the sad occasion.-When the work of religion seemed to be at a stand; when few or none appeared to be under serious impressions and convictions, or there was a visible coldness and remissness among his hearers, his heart was much affected; he laboured and prayed more earnestly both in public and private; and days of prayer were set apart by the church, in order to obtain of God an effusion of his Spirit to revive religion among them.

He had a deep concern and affectionate regard for the rising generation. Besides an annual sermon to young persons on new-year's day, he often particularly addressed them in the course of his preaching; and in his conversation, also, discovered that sense of the importance of the rising generation, which he hath expressed in his sermon upon that subject, and which he hath so warmly exhorted parents to cultivate, in his Sermons on the Education of Children.

The cold and feeble conclusions of many discourses from the pulpit, are as disgusting to a just taste, as they are unprofitable with regard to religious improvement.-K.

He much lamented the growing neglect of ministers to catechise the children of their congregations; and to this neglect imputed many of the irregularities which are to be seen in youth. Many parents are hardly capable of it; and many who are, neglect it. He therefore looked upon this as a most important part of his pastoral work, and pursued it during the summer seasons, through the whole course of his ministry, notwithstanding his many avocations. He was so sensible of the usefulness of this work, and the skill and prudence necessary to conduct it, that I find this, among other resolutions, formed at his entrance on the ministry. "I will often make it my humble prayer, that God would teach me to speak to children in such a manner, as may make early impressions of religion upon their hearts." He had much satisfaction in these pious attempts. Several children, who died while they were under his catechetical instructions, manifested such a deep sense of religion, such rational views and lively hopes of glory, as were delightful and edifying to their parents and friends.He established and encouraged private meetings for social prayer: especially religious associations among the young persons of the congregation, who used to meet weekly for reading, religious discourse, and prayer; and entered into engagements to watch over one another in the spirit of meekness, and to animate and encourage each other in their christian course. These societies were formed according to their different ages; and sometimes one young person of the greatest knowledge and humility was a kind of president, who kept up the order of the society, and gave the pastor hints by which he might be led to establish those who were wavering, and encourage those who were timorous in religion. There was one society of young men, in which some of his younger students were joined, to which he used to propose some practical question weekly, and they returned an answer in writing the next week. These answers he threw together, enlarged upon and delivered on Friday evening, instead of his usual exposition or sermon as above mentioned. He found the advantage of these associations in many respects; particularly in the readiness with which those, who had belonged to them, set up the worship of God in their own families, and the honourable manner in which they conducted it. He was very solicitous to bring sober and serious young persons into communion with the church, and obviate their objections against it. His reasons for this, and the arguments by which he urged it, may be seen in his discourse to young people, entitled, "Religious Youth invited to early Communion."

To those who were acquainted with the large sphere of service in which he was engaged, it was matter of surprise, that he could spare so much time as he did for pastoral visits; as there were few days in which he was not employed in visiting the sick and afflicted, and other persons, with a view to their spiritual interest. He knew the value of time too well, to spend it in formal, unprofitable, or long visits. He was careful, when he went into any family, to turn the discourse into a religious channel, and leave an impression of piety behind him. He seriously exhorted heads of families to mind religion as the main concern, to guard against the love of the world, and to command their children and household to keep the way of the Lord. He took notice of the children and servants in families, gave them hints of advice and encouragement, proposed to them some texts of Scripture to remember and reflect upon, and furnished them with Bibles and practical books. He visited the cottages of the poor, and addressed them with so much condescension and familiarity, that they would be free in their conversation with him upon religious concerns and the state of their souls. No visits gave him more satisfaction than these; and he often expressed his wonder and grief, that any ministers should neglect such persons, out of too much regard to those who were rich, or to any studies not essential to usefulness.-But finding that, with his utmost diligence, he could not visit all the families in so large and scattered a society, so often as he wished, he, on December 4, 1737, proposed to the congregation to choose four persons of distinguished piety, gravity, and experience, to the office of elders; which they accordingly did. He thought there was a foundation for that office in Scripture; at least, that the circumstances of some pastors and churches ren

* Theological Lectures.

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dered it expedient, that there should be such officers chosen ; who should inspect the state of the church, and assist the pastor in some part of his work. These elders divided the congregation among them, visited and prayed with the sick, took notice of and conversed with those, who seemed to be under religious impressions, or were proposed to communion; and were sometimes employed in admonishing and exhorting. They met together weekly, and he generally attended them; that he might receive the observations they had made, and might give them his assistance and advice, where cases of peculiar difficulty occurred. These meetings were always concluded with prayer. He found great comfort and advantage from their services, and the church thought itself happy in them.

It was a grief to him to find, that the children of some of his hearers had never been taught to read, through the ignorance or poverty of their parents. Therefore, in 1738, he persuaded his people to concur with him in establishing a charity school. To this end, they agreed to contribute certain sums weekly or yearly, as their respective circumstances would admit. He had the satisfaction to find, that this benevolent design met with so much encouragement, that there was a foundation laid for instructing and clothing twenty boys. These were selected and put under the care of a pious skilful master, who taught them to read, write, and learn their catechism, and brought them regularly to public worship. An anniversary sermon was preached and a collection made for the benefit of the school. Several of the Doctor's friends at a distance, often gave generous benefactions of money or books for the use of the school; by which and from himself, the children were supplied with Bibles, catechisms, and other proper books. He often visited the school, to support the master's authority and respect, to examine the proficiency of the children, catechise, instruct, and pray with them; and the trustees visited it weekly by rotation, to observe the behaviour and improvement of the children, and to receive the master's report concerning them. This institution has been serviceable to the temporal and eternal interest of many, who might otherwise have been exposed to great ignorance and wretchedness; and it is still kept up by the congregation on the same plan, though it wants some of those advantages which it derived from the Doctor's large acquaintance and influence. These are some sketches of the manner in which he fulfilled his ministry: and I have insisted the more largely upon this subject, as it may furnish some hints, which may be useful to those who are engaged in the same important work, or are training up for it.

The Doctor took great pains to preserve upon his mind a deep sense of the importance of his office, that he might discharge it in the best manner possible; and to maintain a fervent affection for his people, as what would contribute to make his labours easy to himself, and acceptable and useful to them. He kept a memorandum book on his desk, in which he set down hints, as they occurred to him, of what might be done for the good of the congregation; of persons to be visited, the manner of addressing them, and many such particulars. At the close of every year he took a large and distinct view of its state, wrote some remarks upon it, and laid down rules for his future conduct in his relation to it.-He was pleased when he had opportunities of attending the ordinations of his brethren; and when he returned from them, considered his own concern in them, as a minister, and renewed, before God, his engagements to fidelity. After one of these services, he thus writes: "At this ordination, I preached from Heb. xiii. 17. They watch for your souls, as they that must give account. It was a solemn, useful day, and left some deep impressions on my heart. I would remember that, teaching others, I teach myself. I have many cares and labours. May God forgive me, that I am so apt to forget those of the pastoral office! I now resolve, 1. To take a more particular account of the souls committed to my care. 2. To visit, as soon as possible, the whole congregation, to learn more particularly the circumstances of them, their children, and servants. 3. I will make as exact a list as I can, of those that I have reason to believe are unconverted, awakened, converted, fit for communion, as well as those that are in it. 4. When I hear any thing particular, relating to the

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religious state of my people, I will visit them and talk with them. 5. I will especially be careful to visit the sick. I will begin immediately with inspection over those under my own roof, that I may with the greater freedom urge other heads of families to a like care. O my soul, thy account is great. It is high time that it be got into better order. Lord, I hope thou knowest I am desirous of approving myself a faithful servant of thee, and of souls. O, watch over me, that I may watch over them; and then, all will be well. Continue these things on the imagination of my heart, that my own sermon may not another day rise up in judgment against me."-This is a specimen of his reflections and resolutions on such occasions, which were answered in his general conduct.

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The reader will not wonder, that, amidst such great and uncommon pains to serve his congregation, and promote their present and eternal happiness, he should be esteemed by them highly in love for his work's suke: and indeed few ministers have been more esteemed and beloved by their people, than he was by his. At his first settlement among them, his ministry was attended with extraordinary success, and many were added to the church; and during the whole course of his services, it continued very numerous and flourishing. In some of them indeed he had grief: some whose tempers were uncharitable; others who were seduced by the errors of the Moravians, and whom he endeavoured in vain to reclaim; and a few of them proved notoriously vicious nor is it surprising that in so large a congregation there should be some disobedient to the word, and incorrigible under the best means, and most vigorous, affectionate attempts to reclaim and save them; but God overruled these disappointments for his good. When he had recorded some of these trials, he adds, " God hath sanctified all these grievances to me; hath made me more humble, more watchful, more mortified to this vain world, and its interests and enjoyments, than I ever remember to have found myself. He has visited me from time to time with such strong consolations, with such delightful effusions of his love, that, in this connexion, I am his debtor for all these afflictions; and from this growing experience of his goodness, I am encouraged, and have determined, to leave myself with him, and to have no will, no interest of my own, separate from his. I have been renewing the dedication of myself and services to him, with as entire a consent of heart, as I think myself capable of feeling; and with that calm acquiescence in him, as my portion and happiness, which I would not resign for ten thousand worlds." -But in far the greater part of the church under his care he had much comfort, and daily rejoiced over them in the Lord. So entire was the friendship that subsisted between them, that he declined invitations to settle in other places, particularly in London, where his secular interest would have been much advanced, out of the love he bore to his Northampton friends. His great concern was to do as much service for them, and be as little burdensome to them, as possible; for he sought not theirs, but them. And most of them, in return, studied to honour and serve him, to strengthen his hands, and encourage his labours. He reckoned the Providence, which fixed him with them, among the most singular blessings of his life; and in his last will, where he could not be suspected of flattery, he bears testimony to their character, observing, " that he had spent the most delightful hours of his life in assisting the devotions of as serious, as grateful, and as deserving a people, as perhaps any minister ever had the honour and happiness to serve."-I mention this circumstance, as a motive to those of them, who yet remain, not to forfeit the character he gave of them; and principally, as an encouragement to ministers to imitate his diligence, zeal, moderation, and contentment, if they wish to share in the esteem, comfort, and success, with which he was honoured.

Such of them as I have been acquainted with, were very respectable for their knowledge; and in the choice of them a particular regard was paid to their skill in the Greek and Latin classics, as well as to their ability for instructing the young men in certain departments of mathematical and phí.

CHAP. VI.

His method of education and behaviour as a tutor.

IT has been already observed, (chap. iii.) what pains Dr. Doddridge took to furnish himself for this important and difficult office, upon what principles he had undertaken it, and what encouragement he met with in it, before his removal to Northampton. Upon his settlement there, and his worth being more known, the number of his pupils increased, so that in the year 1734, he found it needful to have an assistant in this work, to whom he assigned part of the care of the junior pupils, and the direction of the academy, during his absence." He was solicitous to maintain the esteem of his successive assistants in the family, by his own behaviour to them, and the respect which he required from the students to them and they thought themselves happy in his friendship, and the opportunities they had, by his converse, instructions, and example, to improve themselves, while they were assisting in the education of others.

As the method of education in the seminaries of protestant dissenters is little known, it may be proper to give some general account of his; which bears a near resemblance to others of the kind. He chose to have as many of his students in his own family as his house would contain, that they might be more immediately under his eye and government. The orders of this seminary were such, as suited a society of students; in a due medium between the rigour of school discipline, and an unlimited indulgence. As he knew that diligence in redeeming their time was necessary to their attention to business, and improvement of their minds, it was an established law, that every student should rise at six o'clock in the summer, and seven in the winter. A monitor was weekly appointed to call them, and they were to appear in the public room, soon after the fixed hour. Those who did not appear were subject to a pecuniary penalty; or, if that did not cure their sloth, to prepare an additional academical exercise; and the monitor's neglect was a double fine. Their tutor set them an example of diligence, being generally present with them at these early hours. When they were thus assembled, a prayer was offered up, suited to their circumstances, as students, by himself when present, or by them in their turns. Then they retired to their respective closets till the time of family worship. The Doctor began that service with a short prayer for the divine presence and blessing. Some of the students read a chapter of the Old Testament from Hebrew into English, which he expounded critically, and drew practical inferences from it; a psalm was then sung, and he prayed. But on Lord's-day morning something entirely devotional and practical was read instead of the usual exposition. In the evening, the worship was conducted in the same method, only a chapter of the New Testament was read by the students from Greek into English, which he expounded; and the senior students in rotation prayed. They, who boarded in other houses in the town, were obliged to attend his family worship and take their turns in reading and prayer, as well as to perform it in the several houses where they lived. Those who were absent from it were subject to a fine, and, if it were frequent, to a public reprehension before the whole society. By this method of conducting the religious services of his family, his pupils had an opportunity, during their course, of hearing him expound most of the Old Testament, and all the New Testament more than once, to their improvement as students and christians. He recommended it to them to take hints of his illustrations and remarks, as what would be useful to them in future life, especially if their situation or circumstances prevented their having the works of the best commentators. He advised them to get the Old Testament and Wetstein's Greek Testament, interleaved in quarto, in which to write the most considerable remarks for the illustration of the Scriptures, which occurred in his expositions, and in their own reading, conversation, and reflections. The Family Expositor sufficiently shows how worthy his remarks were of

losophical science. Among Dr. Doddridge's assistants, besides Mr. Orton, may be named the late Rev. Dr. Aikin, and the Rev. Mr. James Robertson, who has been for many years professor of oriental literature in the university of Edinburgh.-K.

being written and retained, and how his family was daily entertained and instructed. Soon after breakfast, he took the several classes in their order, and lectured to each about an hour. His lectures were generally confined to the morning; as he chose to devote the afternoon to his private studies and pastoral visits. His assistant was employed at the same time in lecturing to those whom he had more immediately under his care. He has given some general account of the course of his pupil's studies in his short memoirs of the life and character of Mr. Thomas Steffe, so that I have little more to do on this head, than transcribe it. One of the first things he expected from his pupils, was to learn Rich's short-hand, which he wrote himself, and in which his lectures were written; that they might transcribe them, make extracts from the books they read and consulted, with ease and speed, and save themselves many hours in their future compositions. Care was taken in the first year❘ of their course, that they should retain and improve that knowledge of Greek and Latin, which they had acquired at school, and gain such knowledge of Hebrew, if they had not learned it before, that they might be able to read the Old Testament in its original language. A care very important and necessary! To this end, besides the course of lectures in a morning, classical lectures were read every evening, generally by his assistant, but sometimes by himself. If any of his pupils were deficient in their knowledge of Greek, the seniors who were best skilled in it were appointed to instruct them at other times. Those of them, who chose it, were also taught French. He was more and more convinced, the longer he lived, of the great importance of a learned, as well as a pious, education for the ministry: and finding that some who came under his care were not competently acquainted with classical knowledge, he formed a scheme to assist youths in their preparations for academical studies, who discovered a promising genius and a serious temper. He met with encouragement in this scheme from the countenance and contributions of many of his friends, and had some instructed under his eye; but as it only commenced about two years before his death, much progress could not be made in it.*-Systems of logic, rhetoric, geography, and metaphysics, were read during the first year of their course, and they were referred to particular passages in other authors upon these subjects, which illustrated the points on which the lectures had turned.† To these were added lectures on the principles of geometry and algebra. These studies taught them to keep their attention fixed, to distinguish their ideas with accuracy, and to dispose their arguments in a clear, concise, and convincing manner. After these studies were finished, they were introduced to the knowledge of trigonometry, conic sections, and celestial mechanics. A system of natural and experimental philosophy, comprehending mechanics, statics, hydrostatics, optics, pneumatics, and astronomy, was read to them; with references to the best authors on these subjects. This system was illustrated by a neat and pretty large philosophical apparatus; part of which was the gift of some of his friends, and the remainder purchased by a small contribution from each of the students at his entrance on that branch of science. Some other articles were touched upon, especially history, natural and civil, as the students proceeded in their course, in order to enlarge their understandings, and give them venerable ideas of the works and providence of God. A distinct view of the anatomy of the human body was given them, as it tended to promote their veneration and love for the great Architect of this amazing frame, whose wonders of providential influence also are so apparent in its support, nourishment, and motion: and all concurred to render them agreeable and useful in conversation, and to subserve their honourable appearance

* Dr. Doddridge was not, in every instance, so attentive to the classical preparation of the students received into his seminary as could have been wished. Sometimes he admitted serious young men, of perhaps three or four and twenty years of age, who had very little of that preparation, and who never distinguished themselves in this respect, by their subsequent improvement. He thought, however, that they might be useful in plain country congregations; which was undoubtedly the case. Several of them, though not abounding in learning, sustained the ministerial character with a decent reputation.-K.

The logic was Dr. Watts's, which was very fully pursued. On rhetoric the lectures were slender and imperfect, being only a slight enlargement of a small compendium that had been drawn up by Mr. Jennings. Geography was better taught; but of metaphysics there was given at this time only a brief epitome, as the great objects it presents were afterwards more amply considered.-K.

A collection of important propositions, taken chiefly from Sir Isaac

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in the ministry.-A large system of Jewish antiquities, which their tutor had drawn up, was read to them in the latter years of their course, in order to illustrate numberless passages in the Scriptures, which cannot be well understood without a knowledge of them. In this branch of science likewise, they were referred to the best writers upon the subject. Lampe's Epitome of Ecclesiastical History was the ground-work of a series of lectures upon that subject: as was Buddæi Compendium Historia Philosophicæ of lectures on the doctrines of the ancient philosophers in their various sects.

But the chief object of their attention and study, during three years of their course, was his system of divinity, in the largest extent of the word; including what is most material in pneumatology and ethics. In this compendium were contained, in as few words as perspicuity would admit, the most material things which had occurred to the author's observation, relating to the nature and properties of the human mind, the proof of the existence and attributes of God, the nature of moral virtue, the various branches of it, the means subservient to it, and the sanctions by which its precepts, considered as God's natural law, are enforced; under which head the natural evidence of the immortality of the soul was largely examined. To this was added some survey of what is, and generally has been, the state of virtue in the world; from whence the transition was easy to the need of a revelation, the encouragement to hope for it, and the nature of the evidence, which might probably attend it. From hence the work naturally proceeded to the evidence produced in proof of that revelation, which the Scriptures contain. The genuineness, credibility, and inspiration of these sacred books were then cleared up at large, and vindicated from the most considerable objections, which infidels have urged. When this foundation was laid, the chief doctrines of Scripture were drawn out into a large detail; those relating to the Father, Son, and Spirit, to the original and fallen state of man, to the scheme of our redemption by Christ, and the offices of the Spirit, as the great agent in the Redeemer's kingdom. The nature of the covenant of grace was particularly stated, and the several precepts and institutions of the gospel, with the views which it gives us of the concluding scenes of our world, and of the eternal state beyond it. What seemed most evident on these heads was thrown into the propositions, some of which were problematical; and the chief controversies relating to each were thrown into the Scholia; and all illustrated by a very large collection of references, containing perhaps, one lecture with another, the substance of forty or fifty octavo pages, in which the sentiments and reasonings of the most considerable authors on all these heads might be seen in their own words. It was the business of the students to read and contract these references, in the intervals between the lectures; of which, only three were given in a week, and sometimes but two. This was the author's capital work, as a tutor. He had spent much labour upon it, and was continually enriching it with his remarks on any new productions upon the several subjects handled in it. This system his pupils transcribed. It is now published; and the world will judge of its value and suitableness to answer the end proposed, and will observe how judiciously it was calculated to lead the students gradually on from the principles, to the most important and difficult parts of theological knowledge. His heart was much set upon their diligent application to the study of this system; and the rather, as he thought the study of divinity was too much neglected in many seminaries, and other branches of science of infinitely less importance in themselves, especially to persons intended for the ministry, were too closely pursued.¶-Besides the expositions in

Newton, and demonstrated, independent on the rest. They relate especially.. though not only, to centripetal and centrifugal forces.

Muschenbroeck was made use of in my time as a text-book, and afterwards Rowning. For the particular objects to which they relate, recourse was had to Clare on Fluids, and Keill's Astronomy.-K.

Mr. Orton mentions particularly natural and civil history; but these two objects do not fall under my recollection. At mest they were scarcely enough considered to deserve a distinct specification.-K.

I am no stranger to the character that was given of this work in the Monthly Review. But that account of it was drawn up in so very inju dicious and uncandid a manner, and the author of that article appeared to be so utterly unacquainted with the subject he wrote upon, that no intelligent reader could be much influenced by it. The Doctor's triends therefore thought it needless to enter into a particular confutation of it, and chose to trust the work to make its way by its own merit and the character of its author.