sending the candidates who may be defective in these radical points, or too young for admission, to some pious and able minister for preparatory instruction. But these instances, the offspring of a peculiar necessity, shew the importance of an institution, founded expressly for preparatory studies, that so a matter of such vast importance to the respectability of the ministry may not be left to the casual benevolence of liberal and enlightened individuals, or any happy combination of circumstances in a solitary

In the mean time, to remedy, as far as may be, by his own exertions, this serious defect, should be an object of conscientious regard to every young man whose views are directed to the Christian min istry. By a diligent improvemeut of his time-by a careful employment of those smaller portions of it, which in too many cases are suffered impercepti bly to slide away-aided by the friendly direction and advice of some prudent and well-informed minister, which may without much difficulty be in every case obtained-any one of tolerable capacity and perseverance might afford his own mind a considerable degree of cultivation, and attain a portion of knowledge, ere his entrance into an academy, most favourable to the facility and success of his pursuits whilst there.

These remarks more particularly apply to those young men, who, with views directed towards the

* The reader who would be gratified with an outline of the course of study pursued in most of our dissenting colleges, may turn to the Appendix, No. I.

ministry, are still engaged in secular employments, . and to whom the privileges of an academy must be, in the first instance, regarded as a distant object.

Little of importance can be expected to have transpired, in connexion with the early part of Mr. Spencer's residence at Hoxton. It appears, however, that here, as in the Poultry and at Harwich, his interesting appearance and amiable manners soon gained him the love and esteem of all. The tutors and the students alike felt an interest in this new and youthful member of their literary society-and he applied himself with diligence to the improvement of those advantages which he there enjoyed. He was now introduced to a wider range of observation and of study. But whilst a respect to the or ders of the institution, and a desire to render himself, by useful acquirements, respectable in any circle in which it might be his future lot to move, induced him to apply with becoming diligence to the various occupations assigned him, he yet dwelt with peculiar attachment on such as were more immediately connected with the work of preaching. And with an ardent desire to be early and extensively employed in the ministry of the gospel, a desire strengthened and confirmed by time, it can be no matter of surprise, that to this darling object were directed all the hours of his leisure, and all the ardour of his soul.

At the vacation in June he returned to his father's house at Hertford. During his stay there he preached his first sermon in public. It was at the small village of Collier's End, six miles from Hertford. His auditory consisted of about thirty plain country

people--and his text was 1 John i. 7, The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.' Simple and unlettered, however, as his audience might be, they had sufficient penetration to discover the uncommon talents of their youthful preacher; which, together with the novelty and loveliness of his juvenile appearance, excited in that little village an astonishment and admiration, which have since circulated through all the districts of the great metropolis, and almost every town in Great Britain. How beautiful is the progression which marks all the dispensations of nature, providence, and grace. From the smallest springs the mightiest rivers rise, to promote the fruitfulness or waft the commerce of the world. From the grain of mustard seed, the kingdom of heaven gradually rises and expands, till it becomes a great tree, beneath whose shade all the nations of the earth repose; and in the history of individuals,-from the day of small things, has not unfrequently arisen a career, whose brillianey has dazzled and surprised the world; and from the remarkable concurrence of circumstances, events the most important to the interests of the individual, and the happiness of mankind, have sprung. It is for the most part denied to men, who move in a public and extended circle, to witness those early displays of genius, and that gradual developement of talents, afterwards so eminent for their usefulness or splendour, upon which the eye of a philosopher would love to dwell. This is usually the privilege of a few obscure individuals in some retired spot. The new fledged bird first tries its pinions in its own sequestered bower ere it soars above its native

glen, and courts the admiration of man by the boldness of its flight, or the sweetness of its song. And yet there is such a peculiar interest connected with the early efforts of a mighty mind, and the first stages of an eminent career, that we gather with diligence all that can be gleaned respecting them, and listen with delight to the narration of those who were spectators. But few perhaps who have heard of Spencer, but would gladly be transported to the peaceful village of Collier's End, and mingle with the auditors under his first sermon there. And it requires no uncommon acquaintance with the principles of our nature, and the doctrine of association in the human mind, to predict, that the villages of Halfway, Street, and Lewisham, in Kent, will derive some celebrity in the religious world from having been the scenes of ministerial labour, when a youth, to a preacher, who for these twelve years past has held the delighted auditories of the metropolis the willing captives of his eloquence.* And surely such a principle as this, whilst in its gratification it yields an undescribable pleasure, may be cultivated to no small advantage. It banishes from the mind that despair of reaching

* The name of Doctor Collyer is too well known to derive any additional celebrity from being copied on a page my hand has written. And perhaps I may be censured for indulging in an allusion here which bears at least the appearance of flattery. Far be it from me to cherish such a principle. The work in which I am engaged is sacred to friendship and to the memory of departed worth; and is it at all surprising, that whilst endeavouring to preserve the record of a friend removed by death, my memory should sometimes recur to the many excellencies which have so long endeared to me a friend from whom I am removed by distance?

it, which a contemplation of exalted eminence might inspire, by an assurance, that the object at which he aims is not unattainable, since its present possessor once occupied the same level with himself, and was attended by circumstances as unfavourable to his elevation as those which at present may encompass him.

6

Our amiable young preacher's first sermon excited a strong desire in his hearers for a repetition of his labours; and his fame, rapidly circulating, produced an invitation also, from another quarter, for the following Sabbath. To these solicitations, we may suppose without much reluctance, he complied; and he preached again on the morning of July 12th, at a village called Broughin. His text on this occasion was Col. iii. 3, Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.' In the afternoon and evening of the same day, he preached again at Collier's End. In the afternoon from Acts xix. 2, Have ye received the Holy Ghost? In the evening from Phil. iii. 18, • They are the enemies of the cross of Christ.' The attendance at Collier's End was, on this second Sabbath, so much increased, that the room would scarcely contain the people who were desirous of hearing, and every one seemed still more deeply affected by the impressive manner, the solemn doctrines, and the surprising powers of this young divine. On the following Thursday he preached again at a place called Brickenden, from John iv. 29, Come see a man which told me all things that ever I did; is not this the Christ?' On Sunday, July 19th, he again resumed his labours at Collier's End, and preached in the afternoon from 2 Chron. xxxiii. 12, 13, ‘And when he was in affliction he besought the Lord his God,