death. To the young it is a solemn admonition of the uncertainty of life-the instability of all terrestrial good. To such as attended his ministry-what a powerful application is it of the many sermons they have heard him preach, with such delight—but to so little profit! How must the event of the succeeding morning rivet the impression of those solemn words which on the last Sabbath evening of his life, he addressed to them: "I shall soon meet you at the bar of God; I shall be there!"-O that they were wise, that they knew these things-that they would consider their latter end.

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END OF THE MEMOIRS.

APPENDIX.

No. I.

THE Dissenters of various denominations have numerous Academies, partly endowed by munificent individuals, and partly supported by voluntary subscription, for the education of young men for the work of the ministry. There are institutions of this kind at Homerton, Hoxton, Hackney, Wymondley, Rotherham, Axminster, Idle, Wrexham, Bristol, Stepney, Caermarthen, York, Glasgow, and other places. In these schools of religion and literature the course of study is for the most part liberal, and some of them have supplied the churches of Christ for many generations, with sound and learned divines. The compiler had the honor to receive hist education in the Old College, Homerton, a truly venerable institution, over which the Rev. Dr. John Pye Smith, and the Rev. Thomas Hill, preside. The following is an outline of the principles, upon which that institution is founded, and the course of study which is there pursued.

It is held as a fundamental principle among the Orthodox Dissenters, that no young man should be destined for the ministry as a mere profession; or educated with a view to that office, till he gives rational indications of that internal and sound piety, which arises from the operations of the Holy Spirit of God upon the heart. Their first care therefore is, to select such characters only as candidates for 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 advanta ges 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 admis sion of a young candidate.

If the student, at his entrance into the house, should not be possessed of classical literature sufficient 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 most grateful mention: under his direction, 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 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 chicfly 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.

of

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 pro

fane 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 a 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, consisting 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, &c. 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 source, 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 exer. cise. 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 labor and indus try, and the systematical depository of his future acquisitions..