about ten, when we generally retired to bed. Thursday morning was always vacant."

Here would seem to be a fitting place to introduce an account of the entrance of Doddridge upon the work of a theological tutor, adopting as his model the excellent and laborious course of his own theological instructor, which is so well portrayed in the preceding letter to Mr. Saunders; but it is a matter of much interest to inquire into the habits which he had already formed as a preacher. There is the fullest. evidence that he was a thoroughly honest and sincere man. He earnestly sought to avoid the reproach, "Physician, heal thyself." What he preached to others he preached as solemnly to himself, and thus pursued the best course for attaining great power and influence over the minds of his hearers, and thus also did he preeminently qualify himself for the laborious and useful post of a theological instructor. He became a model preacher and pastor.

Under date of July 23, 1727, his papers contain this interesting record of private reflections:

"I this day preached concerning Christ as the physician of souls, from Jer. 8:22; and having, among other particulars, addressed to those sincere Christians who, through the neglect of a gospel remedy, are in a bad state of spiritual health, it is evident to me, upon a serious review, that I am of that number. Therefore, with humble shame and sorrow for my former indifference and folly, I would now sincerely attempt a reformation. To this purpose I would resolve,

"1. That I will carefully examine into my own. soul, that I may know its constitution, and its particular weakness and distempers.

"2. I would apply to Christ, as my Physician, to heal these diseases, and restore me to greater vigor in the service of God.

'3. I would remember that he heals by the Spirit; and would therefore pray for his influences to produce in me greater devotion, humility, diligence, gravity, purity, and steadiness of resolution.

"4. I would wait on him in the study of the Scriptures, in prayer, and the Lord's supper. 'Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.' Thou hast given me a degree of bodily health and vigor far superior to what, from the nature of my constitution, I had reason to expect; yet I here record it before thee, that I desire spiritual health abundantly more.

"I would also consider my concern in this subject as a minister. God has provided a remedy. He has appointed me to proclaim, and in some measure, to apply it. Yet many are not recovered; and why? I can appeal to thee that I have faithfully warned them. I have endeavored to speak the most important truths with all possible plainness and seriousness; but I fear, 1. I have not followed them sufficiently with domestic and personal exhortations. 2. I have not been sufficiently careful to pray for the success of my ministerial labors. It has been rather an incidental thing than matter of solemn request. 3. I have lived so as to forfeit those influences of the Spirit, by which they might have been rendered more effectual. I resolve, therefore, for the time to come, to be

more close in applying to them in their own houses, to pray for them more frequently, to set a greater value on the coöperating Spirit, and take care to avoid every thing which may provoke Him to withdraw himself from my ministrations. Such caution. may I always maintain; and Oh, may the health of my people be recovered."

"Nov. 12, 1727. I preached this day from these words, 'I know you, that you have not the love of God in you.' I endeavored to fix on unconverted sinners the charge of not loving God, and described at large the character of the Christian, in several expressions of that assertion. My own heart convicted me of being deficient in many of them. I humbled myself deeply before God; and do now, in the divine strength, renew my resolutions as to the following particulars:

1. I will endeavor to think of God more frequently than I have done, and to make the thoughts of him familiar to my mind in seasons of leisure and solitude.

"2. I will labor after communion with him, especially in every devotion through this week. For this purpose I would recollect my thoughts before I begin, watch over my heart in the duty, and consider afterwards how I have succeeded.

"3. I will pray for conformity to God, and endeavor to imitate him in wisdom, justice, truth, faithfulness, and goodness.

"4. I will rejoice in God's government of the world, and regard his interposition in all my personal concerns.

"5. I will pray for zeal in my Master's interest, and will make the advancement of his glory the great end of every action of life.

"6. I will cultivate a peculiar affection to Christians as such.

"7. I will study the divine will, and endeavor to practise every duty.

"8. I will be diligently on my guard against every thing which may forfeit the favor of God and provoke his displeasure.

"I resolve particularly to make these things my care the ensuing week, and hope I shall find the benefit of it, and perceive at the close that my evidences of the sincerity of my love to God are more stable and flourishing than they at present are."

The method of faithful dealing with his own soul, in respect to the discharge of personal and official responsibilities, as developed in the extracts just furnished, prepares us to anticipate a corresponding fidelity in promoting the spiritual interests of all who came within the sphere of his appropriate labors. Accordingly, we learn that he was assiduous in availing himself of every opportunity of doing good, and that he sought such opportunities. The children and servants of the family with whom he boarded were objects of special religious care. On the Sabbath he generally conversed with them in private upon their spiritual interests and obligations.

One fact relating to Doddridge should be told as a hint to not a few Christian ministers of the present time. He made it a standing rule never to refuse to

preach, however comparatively unprepared, whenever he was solicited to do so, believing that every such invitation was a call from his great Master to attempt to do good. He used to say, that if on any occasion he was asked to preach merely by way of compliment, he always did so, thus practically teaching his friends not to ask for his services when they did not really desire them.

He was conscientious and exact in making the most of time, and anxious to avoid the waste of it in frivolous pursuits or in indolence. Through the year it was his practice to rise at five o'clock, and to this valuable habit he ascribed a good part of the proficiency which he made in learning and in his performances as an author. See Family Expositor: note on Rom. 13:13. He is often found expressing deep sorrow and humiliation before God in reviewing those hours in which he may have made some unnecessary visits, or visits in which he had neglected to introduce conversation of a profitable character; and also in reviewing the hours which he had not turned to as good account as seemed desirable and proper.

To guard against a waste of time in future, he formed at the beginning of every year a well-digested plan of reading and of business, of subjects upon which he would prepare discourses, and of methods of doing good among his people. At the end of every month he compared his conduct and attainments with the plan laid down, noted deficiencies, examined causes of failure, and roused himself to new resolution to accomplish what he had purposed. On New-year's day, and on his own birthday, he instituted a more