AS A MINISTER, We shall contemplate Mr. Spencer | but admire the principle. Where doctrines asas a PREACHER OF THE GOSPEL, AND PASTOR OF A CHURCH. Sume, in the view of the individual, an imporThough for the most part these two offices are com-tance, similar to that which we are accustomed to bined, yet those who understand their nature, and the attach to those grand principles which formed the duties they involve, must be conscious of the distinc- basis of Mr. Spencer's ministry, we cannot be surtion which this division implies. Many a man is prised if he expresses warmly his regret, when he an admirable preacher, who is but ill qualified for beholds them undervalued or abandoned. the retired and constant duties of the pastoral office: and many a man is exemplary as a pastor who has little except his piety, which indeed is much, to recommend him as a preacher. As Spencer united in his own person the two offices, so did he eminently possess the qualifications of both. His discourses were judicious-he particularly excelled in the adaptation of his subjects, and the selection of his texts, to particular circumstances and occasions. His sermons were never flippant, nor bombastic-but always solid and simple-full of sound divinity, conveyed in language, which, by its As a PREACHER his discourses were purely evan- copiousness-its elegance, its fluency, astonished gelical: this was the cast of all his sermons. He every auditor. His skill in meeting the several never preached to display himself, but always to cases of his hearers, has been already noticed. exalt the Saviour: this was his constant aim, and Every age and every rank received their portion to accomplish it, he dwelt much upon the beauties from his public instructions: the aged were astonof his character-the charms of his person, the full-ished at his deep experience; the young were charmness of his atonement, the perfection of his righteous-ed with his affectionate manner; and few, very few, ness. He perpetually dwelt upon his willingness were the instances in which the hearers did not deand ability to save; and in order to demonstrate the part, each affirming, that there was something in necessity and the value of his great salvation, he the sermon that exactly suited them.* seldom failed to restore to the fallen, polluted, guilty, helpless state of man. He consulted not the inclinations, the passions or the prejudices of his hearers, but preached simply, faithfully, and affectionately, the most humiliating, as well as the most animating doctrines of the gospel. Whatever text he struck, living waters seemed immediately to flow. Whatever was the subject, or the occasionhis holy and ardent mind, ever panting for the salvation of immortal souls, connected with it truths and considerations the most solemn and important. His applications were forcible and impressive. There he wrestled with the people, with a fervor, resembling that with which, in prayer, he wrestled with his God. He seemed to exhaust every argument which might be brought to bear upon his great object, and to these he often added appeals and entreaties, the most tender and affecting. Then he seemed to lose sight of every consideration, but his own responsibility, and his people's good-and as though the congregation before him were the only people remaining to be saved, and as though every time of preaching was the only opportunity afforded him of using the means of their salvation, he besought them, as an ambassador for Christ, to be reconciled to God. The general cast of his preaching may be gathered from his texts, which are freely scattered up and down in the preceding pages. By his confession of faith it will be seen, that his sentiments were most decidedly what have obtained, in the Christian world, the epithet, Calvinistic-exactly in conformity with the Shorter Catechism of the Assembly of Divines. To these doctrines he was most warmly attached, and as they were the subjects of his firm belief, so were they the constant topics of his discourse, both in public and in private. Valuing these doctrines so highly, and cherishing so deep a sense of their importance, we cannot be surprised that he should feel an express regret, when he saw them, in the sermons of ministers, neglected and cast into the shade. Perhaps, in his mode of expression on such occasions, he was sometimes incautious. Admitting that it was so, we cannot As a preacher, Mr. Spencer was remarkable for Animation; indeed, this was so strongly characteristic of him, that almost every other feature might have been resolved into this. Mr. Styles, than whom no man is better able to form and express an opinion of his worth, most correctly observes, "If I were to sum up Mr. Spencer's character in one word, comprehending in it only what is excellent and ennobling to human nature, I should say it was ANIMATION. His intellect was feeling, and his feeling was intellect. His thoughts breathed, and his words glowed. He said nothing tamely, he did nothing with half a heart." With him the animation of the pulpit was enkindled by the devotion of the closet. His communion with God was deep and habitual, and this rendered him most feelingly alive to the great truths which he delivered-whilst the ardent desire which he cherished for the salvation of sinners supplied, with constant fuel, the flame of his zeal. In the pulpit, he appeared to be abstracted Perhaps the censurer loves to dwell entirely on the promises of the gospel-on the sovereignty and freedom of Divine grace-on salvation as the unmerited gift of God by faith and not by works:-all this, the man he censures believes and preaches too; but then with the promises of the gospel, he blends the threatenings-and with the assurance that salvation is of grace and by faith-the importance of obedience, and a holy life as the evidence of saving faith. *A_passage in a sermon recently published by the Rev. Robert Hall, admirably describes this quality of Mr. Spencer's preaching. "Without descending to such a minute specification of circumstances, as shall make our addresses personal, they ought unquestionably to be characteristic; that the conscience of the audience may feel the hand of the preacher searching it, and every individual know where to class himself. The preacher who aims at doing good will endeavor, above all things, to insolate his hearers, to place each of them apart, and render it impossible for him to escape by losing himself in a crowd. At the day of judgment, the attention excited by the surrounding scene, the strange aspect of nature, the dissolution of the elements, and the last trump, will have no other Christians, and especially Christian ministers, effect than to cause the reflections of the sinner to reshould be sparing in the use of those broad and unqua- turn with a more overwhelming tide on his own chalified assertions respecting their brethren in the minis- racter, his sentence, his unchanging destiny; and try, which are so easily made, yet so difficult to prove, amid the innumerable millions who surround him and so injurious in their influence. It is easy to say, he will mourn apart. It is thus the Christian mihe does not preach the gospel, of a minister-who loves nisters should endeavor to prepare the tribunal of it, and propagates it with as much ardor as the censurer conscience, and turn the eyes of every one of his hear. himself. He may not preach the gospel with the same ers on himself."- Discourse delivered to the Rev. James phrases-in precisely the same style of language. | Robertson at his ordination, by Robert Hall, A. M. from every consideration, but those immediately connected with his subject, and his office. It was this holy fervor, perhaps, which constituted the great charm of his ministry. The simplest observations from his lips were invested, by his manner of expressing them, with an importance which demanded attention. The interest which he felt himself in the momentous topics he discussed, he communicated to his hearers; and it was impossible not in some degree to feel, when every one saw how eagerly intent he was upon promoting their eternal welfare. "I remember," says a friend, "that one evening when we reached Hoxton, in good time for him but too late for me, as he was to preach, the chapel was thronged, and I stood in the passage through which he passed to the pulpit. His delicate frame was too weak to sustain the animation of his mighty spirit. His half-closed mouth, fixed eye, flushed cheek, and panting breast, pained me to the heart as he passed me, and loudly spoke my awful responsibility, possessed of such a friend and such a ministry. He afterwards told me that he generally was agitated in his way to the pulpit, but that when he reached it he seemed to feel himself at home. I once asked a medical friend, who heard him at Hoxton with me, 'how he heard?' 'Very uncomfortably.' 'Why?' 'Because I saw that his preaching is at a physical expense to himself, beyond what you have any idea of. Every part of the service, except his repetition of the Lord's prayer, was at an expense which his frame is incapable of supporting."" As a preacher, he was Solemn. He never degraded the awful dignity of his station, and his office, by buffoonery and jests, he was popular-but he never courted popularity, by the practice of any thing that was time-serving, crafty or mean. As an eminent judge once observed, "he did not despise popularity, but he lovednot the popularity which he must follow-but the popularity that followed him." Who, but must behold with mingled sorrow and contempt, the low and disgusting arts, to which some men, who style themselves preachers of the gospel, will condescend, in order to gain the temporary admiration of the vulgar. There are some indeed, whose minds are unhappily so constituted, that they find it impossible to forego their humor, even in the pulpit. In such characters, while we deplore the failing, we esteem the men, and revere their excellencies. But where there is no talent to command respect-no superior worth to induce the exercise of forbearance and love, but mere tricks are resorted to for the sake of obtaining a name, every feeling is absorbed in that of mingled pity and disgust. "Do you think," observed a friend to him, "the expression, our realm,' which you use in prayer, quite right?" "Is it not?" "It may be so-but never knew any individual except George III. and Thomas Spencer, use it, the one in his proclamations-the other in his prayers." Constantly as he used the phrase before-it never was known to escape him afterwards. "Mr. S." said a gentleman, belonging to a certain congregation, to whom he was about to preach, "the people come in very late, in general. I wish you would reprove them for it this morning." "Oh, no, Sir," he replied, "it would ill become a visitor and a youth like me; it ought to be a stated or an aged minister." He shrunk from the public notice to which he was exposed, and usually walked the street in great haste, and with downcast eyes, anxious to escape the gaze of men. In the pulpit, Mr. Spencer was an interesting figure. His countenance had the fine bloom of youth. His voice was full tone and musical. His action was graceful and appropriate. He sometimes leaned over the pulpit, as if conversing with the people, with the greatest earnestness, and anxious to be so plain and explicit as that none should misunderstand. At others he stood with manly dignity, displaying with spontaneous ease, all the characteristics of genuine eloquence. That as a preacher he was faultless, no one will be disposed to assert; but his faults were those of youth, which time and experience would have certainly corrected. He was sometimes too rapidhis zeal, like an impetuous torrent, bore him along, and would brook no check-by which his voice was often strained, and the usual placidity and dignity of his style somewhat interrupted. I conclude this sketch of his character as a preacher, by a note inserted at the close of Mr. Hall's discourse, above referred to: "The sensation excited by the sudden removal of that extraordinary young man, (Mr. Spencer,) accompanied with such affecting circumstances, has not subsided, nor abated, as we are informed, much of its force. The event which has drawn so great a degree of attention, has been well improved in several excellent discourses on the occasion. The unequalled admiration he excited while living, and the deep and universal concern expressed at his death, demonstrate him to have been no ordinary character; but one of those rare specimens of human nature, which the great Author of it produces at distant intervals, and exhibits for a moment, while He is hastening to make them up amongst his jewels. The high hopes entertained of this admirable youth, and the shock approaching to consternation, occasioned by his death, will probably remind the classical reader of the inimitable lines of Virgil on Marcellus: O nate, ingentem luctum ne quoere tuorum. Mr. Spencer's preaching had a holy tendency. He loved the gospel, and gave to its leading truths the prominency in his discourses, but on them, as on a firm foundation, he built a superstructure of the purest morality. Whilst he directed his hearers to a higher source for acceptance with God, than obedience to the commands of the law, he never failed to enforce its precepts upon the practice of Christians, as the rule of their life. Upon the absolute ne- "The writer of this, deeply regrets his never cessity of holiness, both of heart and conduct, he having had an opportunity of witnessing his extraconstantly dwelt, and from every topic which he dis-ordinary powers; but from all he has heard from cussed, he deduced those practical lessons, which it naturally supplied. But, although as a preacher he obtained almost unexampled popularity, he was yet remarkably Modest and unassuming. No man would better take a hint, or receive reproof with greater humility and even thankfulness, but no man was more reluctant to give either, though he might have presumed much upon the importance which attended his station, and have dealt out his censures with a liberal hand. the best judges, he can entertain no doubt, that his talents in the pulpit were unrivalled, and that, had his life been spared, he would, in all probability, have carried the art of preaching, if it may so be styled, to a greater perfection than it ever attained, at least, in this kingdom. His eloquence appears to have been of the purest stamp, effective, not ostentatious, consisting less in the striking preponderance of any one quality, requisite to form a public speaker, than in an exquisite combination of them all; whence resulted an extraordinary power of REFLECTIONS. impression, which was greatly aided by a natural | fight, he has finished his course-and now he enjoys and majestic elocution. To these eminent endow- the crown. ments, he added, from the unanimous testimony of those who knew him best, a humility and modesty, which, while they concealed a great part of his excellencies from himself, rendered them the more engaging and attractive. When we reflect on these circumstances, we need the less wonder at the passionate concern excited by his death. For it may truly be said of him, as of St. Stephen, that devout men made great lamentation over him. May the impression produced by the event never be effaced; and, above all, may it have the effect of engaging such as are embarked in the Christian ministry, to work while it is called to-day." In directing my readers to a contemplation of Mr. Spencer's character as A PASTOR, I am influenced more, by a desire to render this general view of our departed friend complete, and to do ample justice to his memory, than by the prospect of any very considerable practical result. There are so many examples of pastoral diligence, furnished by the recorded lives of men venerable for their age, and valuable for their experience, that I cannot anticipate much from the pattern of a youth, just entered on his labors. But such as he was I am bound to represent him. In his visits to the sick he was constant and tender. His enlargement in prayer, at the bed-side of the diseased and dying, was truly astonishing. The depth of his experience and ability in speaking to the cases of the afflicted, appeared mysterious. But it was soon explained by a holy Providence. For whilst his friends saw him young and healthy, just entering into the world, He who seeth not as man seeth, beheld in him the Christian of fifteen years standing, just taking wing for glory. This consideration may tend to check invidious comparisons-for it is certainly unjust to compare one in whom God has cut short his work in righteousness, with those who, though older in years, are younger in grace, and have perhaps a long and honorable course before them. His intercourse with his people was cheerful, spiritual and instructive. He was no gossip. It was wished by some, that he had been more frequent in his visits. But it is difficult so to equalize the attention, in a large body of people, as to satisfy the demands of all, and by apparent neglect give offence to none. Where he did visit, he always left a happy impression of his piety, his wisdom, and his amiable disposition. He abhorred the idle tales of the day-he was no friend to scandal. He endeavored always to direct the conversation into a useful and pleasing channel. He was cheerful without levity, and serious without affectation. There was nothing formal or studied in his manners. In him, every thing was natural, and through all the departments of his character, there was a harmony of feature-a unity of principle, which every one observed and admired. In all the duties of the pastoral office, he was well informed, affectionate, and constant. He knew what belonged to his office-and never failed to practice what he knew. He made full proof of his ministry. He was a scribe well instructed in the mysteries of the kingdom. A workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth-giving a portion to each, in due season-sparing the irregularities or prejudices of none-but seeking with ardent affection the good of all-he commended himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God. Early he girded on the armor-and soon became a leader in the armies of the Prince of Peace. He has fought a good I am unwilling further to detain the attention of the reader to a volume, which, but for its interesting subject, would have wearied his patience long ago, and which has imperceptibly swollen to a bulk, far greater than that which the writer, originally, intended it to obtain, by any additional reflections, especially as the preceding pages abound with observations of a practical nature, as the narrative suggested them-and as almost every topic of improvement which might now be introduced has been fully anticipated and forcibly expressed by the interesting publications which appeared upon the death of Spencer. And yet, were I to dismiss the volume, without any effort at a final improvement of the subject, I might be charged with neglecting the great object of biography-utility; and the book might be considered as deficient in the most important point. In Spencer we see First, That obscurity of birth or station presents no insurmountable barrier to the progress of real excellence. The history of past and present times furnishes unnumbered illustrations of this remark. Many who have lived to enlighten and to bless the world who have obtained rank and fortune, and renown, were born in obscurity, and passed their earliest years in the oblivion of humble life. Let such as feel at present the pressure of circumstances, yet pant for scenes of honorable exertion, and extensive usefulness, ponder the life of Spencer and be encouraged. If God designs to use them for the public good, he will, by an unexpected train of events, in his providence call them forth; if not let them neither rush unbidden from their sphere, nor occupy their station in sullen discontent; if a wider field be not allowed them, let them cultivate with cheerfulness the little spot to which they are confined. The most retired hamlet affords abundant opportunities of doing good; and many a man to whom it is denied to enlighten crowded cities and populous towns, may be a star of the first magnitude in the village where he dwells. Secondly, We see in Spencer the commanding influence of genuine and fervent piety. This was the secret spring of all his energy-the fuel of his animation-the source of his popularity. That his mind was well furnished with solid truths that his manner was engaging-that his form was graceful-that his countenance was lovely--that his language was elegant--that his voice was fine-is admitted; but it was his ardent piety which gave to each of these a charm, and awoke in the breasts of his auditors a feeling of reverence and solemnity, which the simple exhibition of them could never have produced. The graces of genuine eloquence, and the stores of a cultivated mind. are precious; but without piety, they are as "sounding brass and tinkling cymbals:" they may delight the ear, but never will impress the heart; and it is not, usually, the labors of the most polished and enlightened of his ministers, that Jehovah deigns especially to bless; but rather the unwearied exertions of those, whom the love of Christ and of immortal souls has rendered zealous in the sacred cause. Thirdly, We see in the labors of Spencer, an admirable example of diligence, and in the success that crowned them, a strong encouragement to exertion. So short was the period of his stated ministry, that we can only measure it by months: it had not reached to years. But few, perhaps, whose term of labor was so short as his. were ever honored with me." more success; whilst many who have seen the number of his months often repeated in years of anxious labor, have not been favored with so much. If all prove faithful unto death, whom he enlisted whilst on earth, beneath the banners of the cross, he will head a goodly company, when the hosts of the redeemed shall be assembled at the judgment day. Who that knew and loved him, but must anticipate the joy with which he then shall say, "here am I, Father, and the children whom thou hast given Let the example of his exertions and success stimulate, quicken, and encourage ours. We work for the same Master, and are engaged in the same cause. And, to the student or the youthful preacher who may honor these pages with his regard, I will add, your term may be as short-if it be not as successful, let it be as diligent. The diligence is ours-the success is God's." He will not demand at our hands what is not ours to secure. He will give His rewards of grace to the faithful servant, whether his success be proportioned to his exertions or not; and we are "a sweet savor unto Him in them that are saved, and in them that perish.” Fourthly, from the early and sudden removal of Spencer, let churches learn to prize the labors of holy and devoted men, while they enjoy them. Alas! too many only learn the value of their privileges by their removal. They neglected or lightly esteemed, whilst living, the minister, upon whose memory they heap eulogies and honors when departed; and I believe, that some have even bedewed the ashes of their pastors with affected tears, who accelerated and embittered their passage to the grave, by unkindness and neglect! Not so the people whom the death of Spencer suddenly bereaved. The tears with which they embalmed his memory, were suitable to the respect they bore his person-the love they cherished for his friendship-and the sense they entertain of his transcendent worth. O that every minister living, were as much beloved! dying, were as unaffectedly deplored! Fifthly, in Spencer we see the excellence of real religion-how it sweetens labor-soothes in afflictionsupports in trial-and animates the soul in scenes of disappointment, and hours of care. To few are allotted severer labors-to few, so young, are measured heavier trials than those which he endured. But few, upon the whole, have possessed a greater share of happiness: there were intervals of sorrow, and clouds would sometimes obscure the brightness of his sun; but for the most part his hope was lively, and his prospects fair. He enjoyed religion upon earth-he anticipated the consummation of its bliss in heaven: and now he has entered into the joy of his Lord. His life was piety, and his end was peace. Sixthly, in the sudden removal of Spencer we mark the mysterious conduct of Jehovah's providence. At first sight the event might stagger the strongest faith, for he was snatched away at a period when his life seemed of the utmost moment to the people over whom he presided, and the circle in which he moved. Scarcely had his talents reached their maturity; his character was even then unfolding; from the promise of his youth, his friends dwelt with rapture on the anticipations of his manhood, and every day added some strokes of reality to the picture they drew-when suddenly, in the bloom of his youth-at the commencement of his course-just entered on his labors-he is arrested by the arm of death, and conducted to the silent grave. Was his death untimely? No-he had seen a good old age in usefulness, though not in years: "that life is long that answers life's great end." His end was fully answered, and he was gathered to the grave in peace. Was his death severe? No-to him it was tranquil, and serene; he crossed the river of Jordan, singing as he went, and in an unexpected moment, found himself safely landed on the shores of immortality. No raging billows awoke his fears-no agonies disturbed his countenance-death respected his loveliness, and preserved the beauty of the form, when the spirit that animated it was gone. But whilst for him his death was peaceful, was there ought of mercy in it to his friends? Yes-if they review and act upon the lessons it conveys, there is; to survivers it declares, that excellence and beauty must fade and die-let them seek an interest in HIM, in whom whosoever liveth and believeth shall not die eternally-to the church it will endear the assurance of His care, who is independent of instruments and the conqueror of death. To the young, it is a solemn admonition of the uncertainty of lifethe instability of all terrestrial good. To such as attended his ministry-what a powerful application is it of the many sermons they have heard him preach, with such delight-but to so little profit! How must the event of the succeeding morning rivet the impression of those solemn words which, on the last Sabbath evening of his life, he addressed to them: "I shall soon meet you at the bar of God; I shall be there!" O that they were wise, that they knew these things-that they would consider their latter end. END OF THE MEMOIRS. APPENDIX. No. I. THE dissenters of various denominations have numerous academies, partly endowed by munificent individuals, and partly supported by voluntary sub*By some_liberal expositors of God's providence, scription, for the education of young men for the the death of Spencer has been pronounced a judgment work of the ministry. There are institutions of this on the people, for what they have termed, "their idola-kind at Homerton, Hoxton, Hackney, Wymondley, trous attachment" to him. Alas! the idolizing of its ministers is, surely, not the crying sin of the church at the present day! But was there any thing in the conduct of the people over whom Spencer presided, so contrary to the mind of God as to excite thus strongly his displeasure, in loving a man who was beloved wherever he was known-and revering an office which Christ himself has invested with so much dignity? Let such bold infringers of the prerogative of God, who presume to assign reasons for his conduct, when he has not deigned to give any, read-"Know them that labor amongst you, and over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake, and be at peace among yourselves." Let them take the solemn admonition this passage gives; and perhaps their own ministers will have no occasion to regret that they have done so. Number 9. Rotherham Axminster, Idle, Wrexham, Bristol, Stepney, Caermarthen, York, Glasgow, and other places. In these schools of religion and literature, the course of study is for the most part liberal, and some of them have supplied the churches of Christ, for many generations, with sound and learned divines. The compiler had the honor to receive his education in the Old College, Homerton, a truly venerable institution, over which the Rev. Dr. John Pye Smith, and the Rev. Thomas Hill, preside. The following is an outline of the principles upon which that institution is founded, and the course of study which is there pursued. It is held as a fudamental principle among the orthodox Dissenters, that no young man should be destined for the ministry as a mere profession; or educated with a view to that office, till he gives ra ment of Christian Theology, by the judgment and industry of each student himself. Dr. Smith, whose profound classical, theological and biblical knowledge, renders him admirably qualified for the imthe students a large manuscript work, entitled, "First Lines of Christian Theology." This commences with an introductory address, consisting of observations and counsels upon the moral state and dispositions of the mind which are necessary for the profitable study of divine truth;-upon the utility and subserviency of literature and general science for the advancement of theological knowledge, and usefulness in the ministry-and upon the conduct of the understanding in the actual study of divinity, under its various aspects of liberal and impartial inquiry, interpretation of the Scriptures, and the determination of controversies. This is followed by the syllabus, which forms the body of the work, and consists of definitions, propositions, hints of solution, corollaries, scholia, &c. with references to authors of merit under every particular. tional indications of that internal and sound piety, which arises from the operations of the Holy Spirit of God upon the heart. Their first care therefore is, to select such characters only as candidates for the office of the ministry; and in so doing, it hap-portant office which he fills, puts into the hands of pens not unfrequently, that the individuals whom ministers and private Christians select out of their congregations, have been engaged more or less in the avocations of secular life, and have enjoyed only a common education. It appears upon the average of many years, that about two-thirds of the ministers, educated in the Old College, at Homerton, have been of this description. The remaining third has consisted of young men, whose whole previous life had been devoted to literary pursuits, and whose superior advantages of education, had been adorned by early and promising piety. But in all cases, the prerequisites for admission into this ancient institution are, creditable and ample testimonies that the applicant is, in the severest judgment of Christian reason, a sincere, devoted, and practical disciple of Christ, born of God, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In addition to this grand requisite, the directors of the academy require some evidence of respectable talents, and such as are likely to improve the advantages to be conferred. As a further security for the attainment of this object, students who are thus approved at their first introduction, are admitted upon a probation of three months. The evidences of piety and talents, displayed during this probationary period, determine the full admission of a young candidate. If the student, at his entrance into the house, should not be possessed of classical literature sufficient to enable him with ease and accuracy to read ordinary Latin and Greek authors, (e. g. Quintilian and Horace, Xenophon and Homer,) he enters on grammatical and classical studies, and attends to them solely till he is judged fit for the next class of pursuits: this period is seldom less than two years, and sometimes it is longer. The design of this plan is not only to lead the student into a clear and logical method of deducing divine truth from its proper source, but to engage his industry of research and meditation, to take him to the first fountains of knowledge, and to excite his judgment, his powers of discrimination, and all his talents, to the most profitable kind of exercise. When the student has, with suitable attention and diligence, completed the scheme, he pos sesses a body of Christian divinity and moral philo sophy, thoroughly digested, methodically arranged, the fruit of his own labor and industry, and the systematical depository of his future acquisitions. 2. A Polemical Lecture, designed to furnish a fair and comprehensive view of the most important controversies of the present day: inculcating at the same time, the value and importance of truth, and the absurdity and danger of scepticism or indifference. 3. An Exegetical Lecture on some book of the Greek Testament, generally an epistle. 4. A course on Biblical Criticism, and the princi 5. Lectures on Preaching, and the other duties of the pastoral office. Dr. Doddridge's Lectures on those subjects are the text-book. 6. Lectures on Ecclesiastical History. The Rev. Thomas Hill, classical and mathematical tutor, conducts this department with distinguished ability, and with an intenseness of applica-ples of sacred philology and interpretation. tion, worthy of the most gateful mention: under his direction, the students read the most valuable Roman and Greek classics, with a strict attention to accuracy of construction, parsing, prosody, and the cultivation of a just and elegant taste for the beauties of those immortal authors. The course thus begun is continued to the close of a student's residence in the college, which, in most cases, is nearly six years. During the two years of pursuits, solely classical and philosophical, attention is also paid to English composition; and themes, on subjects chiefly moral and religious, are composed by those students whom Mr. Hill judges fit; and one day at least, in each fortnight, is spent by him in reviewing and animadverting on these essays. II. A course of Lectures on the Elements of Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, and Natural History. III. A course on Logic and the Philosophy of the Mind. IV. A course on the study of Civil History and antiquities; attainments prerequisite for that study, observations on historical writers, rules and advices for securing the greatest sum of advantage from the pursuit, and an inquiry into the objects most interesting to a Christian divine, to which the study of history should be rendered subservient. After the students have entered upon the course, called for the sake of distinction, academical, they The preceding statement may be considered as a still continue their attendance upon the classical fair specimen of the usual course of study pursued tutor; and they add to their improving acquaint- in the best regulated of our Dissenting colleges. ance with the best authors of profane antiquity, the The subject of the preceding memoirs received his study of the Hebrew language, and afterwards of education in the truly respectable academy at Hoxthe Syriac. They also enjoy his Lectures in Geo- ton:--over that institution the Rev. Robert Simp metry and Algebra, in which Euclid and Bonny-son, the Rev. Henry Forster Burder, A. M. and the castle's Algebra are the text-books. The academical course, upon which students enter as soon as their proficiency in classical learning renders it proper, is principally theological; but lectures are also regularly read in other departments of science and general knowledge. The duties of the divinity tutor embrace, I. The THEOLOGICAL department, which comprehends six distinct courses, or plans of instruction. 1. The compilation of a systematical arrange Rev. Hooper, A. M. preside with distinguished ability.* In these respective academies, public examinations are annually held, in which a close and criti * I should be happy to present a statement of the system adopted in that excellent institution, but I am not furnished with materials for the purpose. Such a statement was not deemed necessary by those of whom I requested information. I think it of importance to |