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know that it passeth pleasantly with me. As for the world about me, I have very little concern with it. I live almost like a tortoise, shut up in a shell, almost always in the same town, the same house, the same cham

he entertained thoughts of stu-vidence has made the business dying the law, and was on the of my life. One day passeth point of entering into an advan-away after another, and I only tageous connection with Mr. Eyre, a counsellor, when he received a letter from Mr. Clark, offering to take him under his care, if he chose the ministry upon Christian principles. He considered this offer as a seasonable interposition of Provi-ber. Yet I live like a prince; dence; and, accordingly, he returned to St. Alban's, and continued some months at the house of his excellent friend, who directed his studies, furnished him with books, and laboured to cherish religious dispositions in his heart. In 1719, he was placed under the tuition of the Rev. John Jennings, who kept an academy at Kibworth, in Leicestershire*. In 1722, Mr. Jennings removed to Hinckley, at which place Mr. Doddridge preached his first sermon, on the 22d of July.From his first appearance in the pulpit, he was remarkably acceptable in the places where he exercised his talents. In 1723, he settled at Kibworth. As he lived in an obscure village, he could devote almost his whole time to the acquisition of knowledge. Soon after his settlement at Kibworth, one of his fellow-pupils having condoled with him, in a letter, on his being buried alive, he returned the following answer: Here I stick close to those delightful studies which a favourable Pro

not indeed in the pomp of greatness, but the pride of liberty; master of my books, master of my time, and I hope I may add, master of myself. I can willingly give up the charms of London, the luxury, the company, and the popularity of it, for the secret pleasures of rational employment and self-approbation; retired from applause and reproach, from envy and contempt, and the destructive habits of avarice and ambition. So that, instead of lamenting it as my misfortune, you should congratulate me upon it as my happiness, that I am confined to an obscure village; seeing it gives me so many valuable advantages, to the most important purposes of devotion and philosophy; and I hope I may add usefulness too."

Dr. Kippis observes, that he has transcribed this passage with peculiar pleasure; as he has reason to reflect with some degree of satisfaction, that the spending a number of years in retired situations may be fa-. vourable to the increase of knowAuthor of Two Discourses on ledge and the habits of study. preaching Christ, and particular To this gentleman's excellent and experimental Preaching; which life of our author, prefixed to were so much esteemed, that, they the seventh edition of The were recommended by two Bishops, at their visitations of their cler-Family Expositor,' we refer the reader for a pleasing account of

the particular objects of Mr. | formed the most distinguished Doddridge's studies, and the scene of his usefulness. manner in which he conducted them, both at the academy, and during the earlier years of his ministry. Into these, as well as into his preparations for the pulpit, and the character of his sermons and expositions, during the same period, although very interesting subjects, our limits will not permit us to enter.

On the 24th of December 1729, Mr. Doddridge removed his academy to Northampton, in consequence of a pressing invitation to take upon him the pastoral office of the congregation at Castle Hill, in that town. Two months afterward, he was seized with a very dangerous illness, from which, however, he happily recovered; and, on the 19th of March following, he was ordained at Northampton.

Dr. Kippis, speaking of Mr. Doddridge's abilities as a preach

In 1725, Mr. Doddridge removed to Market Harborough, but without discontinuing his relation to the people at Kibworth. About this time, he received pressing invitations fromer, thus expresses himself; some large congregations at 'He was always warm and affecLondon, Nottingham and other tionate in the applications of his His sentiments on places. But he preferred his sermons. connection at Kibworth and Har- this head he has thus expressed: borough, and, in 1729, being" It is indeed unworthy the chachosen assistant to Mr. Some, racter of a man and a Christian, minister of the congregation at to endeavour to transport men's Harborough, he preached alter- passions, while the understandnately at this place and at Kib-ing is left uninformed, and the worth. Mr. Jennings who died reason unconvinced. But, so in 1723, had declared it to be his far as is consistent with a proopinion, sometime before his per regard to this leading power death, that Mr. Doddridge was of our nature, I would speak and the most likely of any of his pu- write of divine truths with a pils to proceed with his plan of holy fervency. Nor can I imaacademical instruction; and ma-gine that it would bode well to ny of our author's friends con- the interest of religion to endea curring in the same idea, he vour to lay all those passions opened an academy at Harbo- asleep, which surely God imrough, in Midsummer 1729.- planted in our hearts to serve His first lecture shewed to his the religious as well as the civil pupils the reasonableness and life, and which, after all, will advantages of acknowledging probably be employed to some God in their studies. In the very excellent or very pernicious second, he gave directions for purposes." This is the lantheir behaviour to him, to each other, and all around them. ter this he proceeded to his ordinary course. Thus was he led to a situation of life which

Af

*The late Rev. Hugh Farmer, so well known among the Dissenters as a most excellent preacher, and by the literary world in general for his extensive learning and valuable publications, was one of Mr. Doddridge's earliest students

ministers of the gospel would be able to set an equally striking example.'

In 1730, Mr. Doddridge married Mrs. Mercy Maris, of

guage of wisdom. True eloquence consists in an 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 dic-Worcester; a lady who, with a tate of the soundest philosophy. delicate constitution, and precaThe cold and feeble conclusions rious state of health, proved an of many discourses from the excellent wife, and received, in pulpit, are as disgusting to a return, the most endearing just taste, as they are unprofita- proofs of conjugal affection. ble with regard to religious improvement.'

:

Dr. Kippis, in his Life, has employed many pages in an inIn 1738, Mr. Doddridge per- teresting account, interspersed suaded his people to concur with with important reflections, of him in establishing a charity the manner in which Mr. Dodschool, for instructing and cloth-dridge conducted himself as an ing twenty boys. He himself academical tutor. We must often visited the school, and ex-bere be content to observe, that amined the children; accompa- so great was his reputation in nying his exhortations with af- this respect, that the number of fectionate prayers for their im- his students was large, being, provement and welfare. With one year with another, thirtysuch distinguished abilities, and four and the academy was us such excellent virtues, it is not ually on the increase. During surprising that he possessed the the twenty-two years in which esteem and love of his congrega- he sustained this office, he had tion. In his last will he bore about 200 young men under his this testimony to their character, care, of whom 120 entered upon That he had spent the most the ministry. Several of his delightful hours of his life in pupils were from Scotland and assisting the devotions of as se- Holland. One person, who was rious, as grateful, and as deser- intended for orders in the ving a people, as perhaps any church of England, chose to minister ever had the happiness spend a year or two under his to serve. This character,' tuition, before he went to the says Dr. Kippis, was, no doubt, university. Others, whose paalmost universally true. Nev-rents were of that church, were ertheless, he was not without placed in his family, and were his calls for the exercise of pa- readily allowed to attend the estience. There were persons tablished worship; for the conbelonging to his society, who stitution of his academy was were narrow bigots, and weak perfectly catholic. enthusiasts; and these sometimes obtruded upon him in a foolish and troublesome manher. He behaved, however, to them, with a condescension and Tenderness which they scarcely deserved, and of which few VOL. I. NO. 1.

Mr. Doddridge, in younger life, afforded various proofs of a poetical turn. Of the lines which he wrote on the motto to the arms of his family, Dum vivimus vivamus,' Dr. Johnson's opinion was, that they constituB

ted one of the finest epigrams in the English language. Though so well known, they cannot be omitted in any memoirs of the author's life:

'Live, while you live,' the epicure would say,

And seize the pleasures of the present day.'

Live, while you live,' the sacred preacher cries,

And give to God each moment as it flies.'

Lord, in my views let both united

be;

I live in pleasure when I live to
Thee.

[To be continued.]

A Narrative on the Subject of Missions, for the Year 1807. And a Statement of the Funds of the Missionary Society of Connecticut. Published by the Trustees of the Society.

HE Constitution of the Missionary Society of Connecticut having made it the duty of the Trustees of the Society to publish annually, an account of the Missionaries employed by them, and of the places to which they are sent, of the state of the funds, and generally of their proceedings in the discharge of the trust committed to them, the said Trustees invite the attention of the ministers and people of the State to the following Narrative for the year 1807.

. The several districts in which Missionaries have been employed are, the north-eastern part of Vermont,-the north-western part of Vermont, the northern counties of New-York, west of lake Champlain, the settlements on Black river and parts adjacent,the western counties of New-York,-the northern counties of Pennsylvania, and the territory called New Connecticut. The Missionaries who have laboured in these fields are, the Rev. Asa Carpenter, the Rev. Aaron Cleveland, the Rev. Jeremiah Hallock, the Rev. Holland Weeks, the Rev. John Hough, Mr. George Colton, Mr. Thomas Punderson, the Rev. Joseph Vaill, the Rev. Israel Brainerd, the Rev. Calvin Ingals, the Rev. Seth Williston, the Rev. John Spencer, and Mr. Abraham Scott.

In last year's Narrative, the Rev. Asa Carpenter is mentioned as appointed to labour in the north-eastern part of Vermont. He entered on his mission in November, 1806, and itinerated 8 weeks, in which time he travelled upwards of 350 miles on missionary ground, preached 54 times, administered the Lord's Supper once, baptized 3 children, assisted in forming one church, and attended 3 conferences. In addition to these labours, he visited a number of families and several sick persons. In his journal he observes, "On the Sabbath the meetings were full. Though at some lectures but few attended, at others there was a goodly number. In almost every place there are some that are really serious, and who, consequently, are pleased with opportunities to hear the gospel ' preached."

Last spring, and beginning of summer, the Rev. Aaron Cleveland performed a mission of 17 weeks in the same field. During

his mission he preached 92 sermons, in 25 different towns, in 9 of which churches have been formed. He administered the Lord's Supper 5 times, baptized 11 children, attended funerals, visited and prayed with the sick, and visited several schools and many families. He found that in places where there is no stated ministry, error and delusion abound; and that there is much need of continuing to send Missionaries to that country. In one of his letters he remarks, "I have been received kindly, and treated 'well every where. People in general have done their best to ' attend appointed meetings, and I hope some little good will be 'done by missionary labours. The salt of the earth seems to be 1 scattered more or less in every town, and now and then one is to be found exceedingly pious and exemplary."

The next Missionary in this part of the country was the Rev. Jeremiah Hallock, who returned in November last from a mission of 16 weeks, in the course of which he rode upwards of 900 miles, baptized 12 children, received 4 persons into church fellowship, administered the Lord's supper 4 times, preached 90 sermons, attended conferences, visited the sick, and spent several whole days in visiting schools and families from house to house. The following is extracted from his journal: "I was kindly received, ⚫ and comfortably provided for. The meetings were generally so' lemn and attentive. The spiritual interest of the Redeemer's king• dom hath evidently increased in the state within six years, when I was there on a former mission. About 40 ministers have been settled within this term, and mostly in new places where they never had a minister before. There is yet much missionary 'ground; and while the Lord's people return their cordial thanks to the Trustees, they earnestly request they would still remem<ber them. Although the ecclesiastical convention of Vermont ⚫ have formed themselves into a Missionary Society, yet it is hoped ' (as I heard it often observed) that this will not abate the attention of the Connecticut Society to the destitute churches and 'towns in that State."

The Rev. Holland Weeks, it is supposed, is now labouring in the same field.

In the fall of 1806, the Rev. John Hough received an appointment to itinerate 4 months in the north-western part of Vermont. Soon after he commenced his mission he was invited by the people of Vergennes, to preach statedly to them as a candidate for settlement. With this invitation he complied, and in March last was ordained to the pastoral care of the church and people in that place. Mr. Hough laboured as a Missionary only 5 weeks. In this time he visited many of the towns in the northern part of the State, and preached 31 sermons. In his letter to the Trustees he observes,

My discourses were heard with attention, and my appointments 'were usually well attended. A large proportion of the inhabi⚫tants in the vacant towns esteem it a high privilege to be visited by Missionaries. There are in the State many towns which are 4 too new to be able to support the regular preaching of the gos

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