in this affair, and assistance and success if I undertake it. While I am waiting his determination, I would apply more diligently to my proper business, and act more steadily by the rules I have laid down for my conduct. May He grant that in all my schemes relating to public service, I may, as much as possible, divest myself of all regard to my own ease and reputation, and set myself seriously to consider what I can do for the honor of the Redeemer and the good of the world."

As he was entering upon the undertaking, his reflections were exceedingly appropriate and impressive:

"Providence is opening a prospect of much greater usefulness than before, though attended with vast labor and difficulty. In divine strength I go forth to the work, and resolve upon the most careful and vigorous discharge of all the duties incumbent on me, to labor for the instruction and watch for the souls of my pupils. I intend to have some discourse with them on the Lord's-day evenings on subjects of inward religion. I will endeavor to give a serious turn to our conversation at other times, and always bear them on my heart before God with great tenderness and affection. I will labor to keep such an inspection. over them as may be necessary to discover their capacities, tempers, and failings, that I may behave in a suitable manner to them. In all, I will maintain a humble dependence on Divine influences, to lead me in the path of duty and prudence, and enable me to behave in a way answerable to the character in which I appear, and those agreeable expectations which many of my friends have entertained of me.

"Considering the work before me, I would set myself with peculiar diligence to maintain and increase the life of religion in my own soul, and a constant sense of the Divine presence and love; for I find, when this is maintained, nothing gives me any considerable disquiet, and I have vigor and resolution of spirit to carry me through my labors. When I am conscious of the want of this, and any inconsistency of behavior towards the divine Being, it throws a damp on my vigor and resolution; yea, on all the other pleasures of life. In order to maintain this habitual, delightful sense of God, I would frequently renew my dedication to Him, in that covenant on which all my hopes depend, and my resolutions for universal, zealous obedience. I will study redeeming love more, and habitually resign myself and all my concerns to the divine disposal. I am going to express and seal these resolutions at the Lord's table; and may this be the happy period from which shall commence better days of religion and usefulness than I have ever yet known."

Having entered upon the work with these comprehensive views and earnest dependence on God, he diligently reviewed his course of academical studies, he corresponded with Dr. Watts and other celebrated divines upon the subject, and gathered works on education which furnished him with instructive hints, which he reduced to writing; indeed, he employed every judicious method of improving his means of usefulness in this new direction of his active mind and devout heart.

It was about this time that a proposition was

made to Mr. Doddridge to go to Northampton and take charge of the congregation meeting on Castle Hill. Of this, and of his settlement at Northampton, we here give a short account.

The dissenting congregation worshipping at Castle Hill in Northampton, being destitute of a pastor, Mr. Doddridge, with other neighboring ministers, occasionally supplied them; and so acceptable did his services prove, that the congregation were determined upon endeavoring to secure his removal from Harborough to Northampton. This was strongly opposed by his earnest friend the Rev. Mr. Some, who had been most active in locating the theological academy at Harborough, where he himself resided, and rejoiced in the society of Doddridge. He went to Northampton to endeavor to persuade the congregation that it was not right for them to press their application for Doddridge's pastoral services; but, during his visit, was so impressed with the earnest zeal of the people to secure this advantage, that he changed his views. and acquiesced in the design. The following correspondence will set this matter in the best light, illustrating the careful and conscientious manner in which the young candidate for the place conducted his deliberations and decisions.

From the Rev. David Some.

October, 1729.

"I doubt not that you are impatient to know the result of my negotiations at Northampton. I preached from these words: 'Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.' Mark 9:50. I managed

the argument in the best way I could, with a view to present circumstances. After the sermon we had a full vestry, when I opened the debate with a frank acknowledgment of the warmth of my own temper, and begged that we might there consider one another as only provoked unto love and to good works. I represented the former scheme of the academy, and the engagements you were under, in the strongest light. Upon the whole, the hearts of the people are moved altogether as the trees of a wood when bent by the wind; and they are under such strong impressions about your coming to them, that it is impossible for a man to converse with them without feeling something for them. The mentioning of your name diffuses life and spirit through the whole body, and nothing can be heard but ' Mr. Doddridge.'

"I find myself in the utmost perplexity, and know not what to say or do. I believe you will hear of them again in a little time. I apprehend that you will wonder at what I write, but I think I am like Saul among the prophets, and that the same spirit which is in the people begins to seize me also. What shall I say? Is this a call from God to break former measures? or is it a divine rebuke upon you for too unguarded a way of talking? The matter requires the closest consideration."

To the Rev. Dr. Wright.

"November 3, 1729.

"The affair of Northampton is now come to such a crisis that I think it highly proper to lay it before you, and beg the favor of your advice upon it. The congregation there, which is very numerous, has given

me a unanimous invitation to come to settle among them; and their conduct has been marked with every expression of affection that can be imagined, and the subject has been urged again and again, after repeated denials, with an importunity which nothing could have supported but an apprehension that it was the will of God that they should pursue this attempt to

the utmost.

"They willingly consent to my bringing my little academy with me, and engage to leave me my mornings and evenings to be employed in studying and in lecturing, contenting themselves with so much visiting as I can find time for in the afternoons. They make the most generous proposal to facilitate the circumstances of my removal, and cheerfully offer to indemnify Mrs. Jennings for any expense she may have been at, in providing for the accommodation of my pupils. They also urge that if I do not come they shall be utterly at a loss for a minister, and have no hope of joining so unanimously in any other person.

แ

"On the other hand, there are several objections against accepting this call, which I cannot by any means get over, and which I desire you to take into most serious consideration, and I believe you will think them of considerable weight. I am not certain that I could conform myself so far to the taste of the people, which is very different from what I have been accustomed to, as to please them long either in conversation or in the pulpit. Again, if there be any thing in my preaching which is above the lowest taste and genius, it will certainly be lost to nine parts out of ten of that auditory. But the grand objection, and