ly ufeful; as in them may be feen a Pattern of a chriftian Conversation for all, and of ministerial Faithfulness and Activity for their Brethren; and thus the good Influence of fuch Examples may be widely diffused: And when a Perfon of folid Worth, Learning and Piety has been employed in training up young Men for Usefulness, efpecially in the Ministry, his Character must be allowed to demand a particular Attention and may be peculiarly beneficial to the World. It may excite those who have been under his Care, to recollect his Inftructions and Example, and their confequent Obligations. His Conduct in that important Office may ferve, in fome Degree, for a Model to other Tutors; and, if he hath appeared among Proteftant-diffenters, may tend to remove fome Prejudices, if fuch remain, against their Seminaries, as if they were Nurseries of Schifm, Enthusiasm and Faction. That these feveral valuable Ends may be answered, is the Defign of this Work and the earnest Wish of its Author. He is fenfible that he wants fome Qualifications for executing it in fuch a Manner, as to do Juftice to the Character and Worth of Dr. Doddridge and prefent it in a proper Form to the Public. He has laboured, but in vain, to engage fome better Hand to undertake it; and hath at length, with Reluctance, fubmitted to the Reafons urged by the Doctor's Friends and the Admirers of his Writings; among which the principal was, their Apprehenfion of its Usefulness to the World. Upon the whole, he thought

thought it better to expofe himself to Cenfure for attempting it without due Qualifications, than to with-hold an excellent Pattern from Mankind, when the Influence of every good Example is fo needful for their Reformation and Happiness.

My Purpose is to lay before the World, in the following Sheets, what appears to me moft inftructive in his Life and Character, according to the best Judgment I could form from a long and intimate Acquaintance, and the best Information I could procure. A ftriking Likeness of a Person may be drawn by a Hand not skilful in Colouring; and unable to give the Picture that Grace, which would render it more generally admired, efpecially by the beft Judges. I fhall dwell chiefly on those exemplary Effects, which the fincere and lively Piety of the Doctor's Heart produced, in a beautiful Correfpondence to thofe Circumstances in Life in which he was placed. Herein perhaps modern Writers of Lives have been defective; either from a mistaken Apprehenfion, that it was of little Moment, or, as I would rather hope, thro' Want of Materials, Had I satisfied myself with giving an Account of his public and literary Character, especially if I could have embelished it with the Beauties of Defcription and Language, it might have been more agreeable to the modern Tafte, and the politer Part of my Readers. But I am fully convinced, it is the more private Part of a Man's Character, from which we may expect the greatest Benefit. What is it to me, that anA 3

other

other had a bright Genius, was learned, elegant and. polite? But to fee a Display of his Piety, Humility, Zeal, Benevolence, and the Principles by which they were fupported, this, if it be not my own Fault, may be very beneficial to me. I thought I should do the most real Service to the World by bringing to light those Graces of the Chriftian, which, tho' they do not make the moft fhining Part of a Cha❤ racter in the Eyes of Men, are his faireft Ornaments in the Sight of GOD, and the fureft Proofs of the Sincerity of his outward Profeffion. In Order to execute this Defign, I have made fuch Extracts from his Diary and other Papers, written folely for his own Ufe, and his Letters to his intimate Friends in which he laid open his whole Heart, as I judged moft proper to give my Readers a juft Idea of his inward Sentiments, and the grand Motives, on which he acted thro' Life. And if these appear to be, in every Respect, agreeable to his Profeffion and public Character, I think it must be acknowledged the strongest Proof that can be given of his Integrity, and consequently greatly tend to heighten our Idea and excite our Imitation of him.

I am fenfible, it hath been objected, that

what was principally written for a Perfon's own Ufe, ought not to be made public.' And no doubt a prudent Caution fhould be used in making Extracts from fuch Papers. But (as Mr. Howe hath obferved on a like Occafion) what are many of the Pfalms. of David, and other holy Men; what the Medita

tions

tions of that renowned Philofopher and Emperor Marcus Antoninus, but Records of the moft fecret Difpofitions and Motions of the hidden Man of the Heart, made public for the Inftruction of their own and fucceeding Ages? As there is fo much Refemblance in the Frame of our Minds, nothing certainly can be of more Advantage, than to see the secret Workings of the Hearts of great and good Men upon different Occafions; and efpecially to be informed, what Methods they took to conquer their particular Temptations, to improve their religious Character and to keep alive that facred Ardour of Love and Zeal, which carried them thro' fo many Labours and Difficulties. The great Advantage, which many humble Chriftians have received from fuch Extracts in other Lives, is I think a fufficient Vindication of the Ufe here made of them. The Acceptance and Usefulness of Mr. P. Henry's Life in particular, encouraged me to pursue this Method. Some few of thefe Extracts may not be thought neceffary to illuftrate Dr. Doddridge's Character; but as they appeared likely to impress the Reader's Heart with pious Sentiments, and so subserve my leading Defign, I was not willing to fupprefs them. Some Quotations from his Writings are intended to fhew the Confiftency between the Rules he gave to others and his own Conduct; and they may lead fome to read his Works, who might before know nothing or little of them. Accuracy of Style is not to be expected in what a Perfor

writes merely for his own Ufe, or to his intimate Friends; yet it may be as ferviceable to others, as any of his Publications. I am fenfible thefe Extracts and Quotations fpoil the Uniformity of this Work and make fome Sentences appear abrupt and imperfect; yet, as they are, in my Judgment, the best Part of it, I could not fatisfy myself to omit them, merely upon thofe Accounts.

When I inform my Readers, what were his Sentiments upon particular Subjects and Occafions, where it is not fupported by his Writings and Papers, I can with great Truth affure them, that my Representation is juft, from the Opportunities I had of learning them from his Lectures, Converfation or Correspondence; and I am perfuaded, that they, who were intimately acquainted with him, will acknowledge the fame.

It may be thought an Objection to fome Part of this Work, that the Model here propofed, efpecially of devotional Exercises, is too high for the Generality of Mankind, amidst the neceffary Cares of their respective Families and Stations.' And it must be acknowledged, that it is no Man's Duty to be in his Clofet, when his Bufinefs in his Shop, Fields or Family demands his Attention: Nor would I bind it upon any one's Confcience to follow the particular Method here described too ftrictly. No one's Practice can serve as a Model for every one. That may be a very good Rule for one, which is not fo for another: And therefore every one must

ufe