the office of the ministry; and, in so doing, it happens 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, credible 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 sufhcient 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 Rev. Thomas Hill, Classical and Mathematical Tutor, conducts this department with distinguished ability, and with an intenseness of application, worthy of the mast grateful mention: under his di

rection, 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.

After the students have entered upon the course, called for the sake of distinction, Academical, they still continue their attendance upon the Classical Tutor; and they add to their improving acquaintance with the best authors of profane antiquity, the study of the Hebrew language, and afterwards of the Syriac. They also enjoy his Lectures in Geometry and Algebra, in which Euclid and Bonnycastle'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 arrangement 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 important office which he fills, puts into the hands of the students a large manuscript work, entitled "First Lines of

Christian Theology." This commences with an introductory address, eonsisting 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, &e. with references to authors of merit under every particular.

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 souree, 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 possesses a body of Christian divinity and moral philosophy, thoroughly digested, methodically arranged, the fruit of his own labour 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 principles of sacred Philology and Interpretation.

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.

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 he rendered subservient.

The preceding statement may be considered as a fair specimen of the usual course of study pursued in the best regulated of our Dissenting Colleges. The subject of the preceding memoirs received his education in the truly respectable Academy at Hoxton:-over that institution the Rev. Robert Simpson, the Rev. Henry Forster Burder, A. M. and the Rev. Hooper, A. M. preside with distinguished ability.*

In these respective Academies, public examinations are annually held, in which a close and critical inquiry is made into the diligence-the acquirements, and the conduct of each student.

* 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 mention this, lest I should be considered as partial, in giving so minute a defail of the course at Homerton, and saying so little of the plans pursued at Hoxton.

No. II.

SPECIMENS or MR. SPENCER'S EARLY EXERCISES

IN PREACHING.

From the following outlines of some of his first sermons may be gathered what was his general style of preaching at the period of their composition.

ON PUBLIC WORSHIP.

Dated March 6, 1807.

MATTHEW XVIII. 20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.'

We shall make a few general observations on the text in the following order:

I. THAT IT IS

THE DUTY AND INTEREST OF

CHRISTIANS TO ASSEMBLE TOGETHER FOR THE PUR

POSES OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.

This duty was

1. Practised by ancient believers. Zion was the well known place to which the tribes went up-Christ frequented the Synagogue. The apostles met together, &c.

2. It is enjoined in the sacred scriptures. See Ps. c. 4. Heb. x. 25.

3. Fraught with the richest blessings.

II. THAT IT MUST BE DONE IN THE NAME OF CHRIST.

1. In obedience to his command.

2. In the use of his appointed means.

3.

In dependence on his assistance.

4.

With a view to his glory.

III. THAT ALTHOUGH BUT FEW PERSONS THUS

ASSEMBLE, YET THAT IS NO OBJECTION TO THEIR

OBTAINING THE DIVINE FAVOUR

Wherever two or three,' &c.

We remark in the first place,

AND BLESSING.