and resolved carefully to perform every duty. The Lord keep this in the imagination of my heart, and grant I may not deal treacherously with Him! In the evening I read and thought on some of Mr. Henry's directions for a suitable conversation after the Lord's supper: and then prayed, begging that God would give me grace so to act as he requires and as I have bound myself. I then looked over the memorandums of this day, comparing the manner in which I spent it, and blessed be God, I had reason to do it with some pleasure, though in some instances I found cause for humiliation.'

On leaving the school of St. Albans, in 1718, Doddridge resided for some time with his sister, who was now married to the Rev. John Nettleton, a nonconformist minister at Ougar, in Essex.

About this time he appears to have entertained the idea of devoting himself to the ministry. But he knew not how to complete his preparatory course for want of means, as he was now reduced in circumstances, by the imprudence of the person, who, after his father's death, had the charge of his pecuniary affairs. During his

continuance at the house of Mr. Nettleton the Duchess of Bedford generously offered to defray the expenses of his education in one of the universities, if he would consent to unite with

the Church of England; but, like Dr. Watts, who received a similar proposition, he respectfully declined it, because he could not conscientiously comply with the terms of ministerial conformity. Still he was at a loss what course to pursue. In painful suspense, and with a trembling heart, he at length ventured to call on the eminent Dr. Calamy for advice and assistance. But, receiving no encouragement from him, he returned to his lodging with a heavy heart, and made the following entry in his diary:

* Edmund Calamy was born on the 5th of April, 1671. He was a grandson of the eloquent Dr. Calamy, minister of Aldermanbury, a distinguished member of the Westminster Assembly, and one of the authors of Smectymnuus, an answer to Bp. Hall's Divine Right of Episcopacy. He received a thorough academical education; and in 1688, was sent to the University of Utrecht, where he applied himself so assiduously to his studies, that he is said to have spent one whole night every week among his books.' In 1692, he was chosen assistant to the Rev. Matthew Sylvester, at Blackfriars, London. In 1703, he became pastor of a congregation at Westminster. He lived to see Doddridge become a useful minister, an author, and pastor of a congregation at Northampton. He died, greatly lamented, on the 3d of June, 1732, in the sixty-second year of his age. Dr. Calamy was a celebrated nonconformist and polemic; highly esteemed among the dissenters, and by many clergymen of the established church. He is the author of Memoirs of the Rev. John Howe, 8vo., 1724; An Abridgment of Baxter's Life and Times, with an account of the ejected Ministers, 4 vols., 8vo., 1713-27. An Historical Account of His own Life, 2 vols., 8vo, 1830. Sermons, etc.

'I waited upon Dr. Edmund Calamy to beg his advice and assistance, that I might be brought up a minister, which has always been my great desire. He gave me no encouragement in it, but advised me to turn my thoughts to something else. It was with great concern, that I received such advice; but I desire to follow Providence and not force it. The Lord give me grace to glorify Him in whatever station He sets me then, here am I, let Him do with me what seemeth good in His sight.'*

He then received an advantageous proposal to enter on the study of the law, and was on the point of accepting it; but, before taking a decisive step, he set apart one morning to seek the Divine direction.† While engaged in his devotions, the post-man called at his door with a letter from the Rev. Samuel Clarke, in which that excellent divine very generously offered to take him un

* There is surely no imaginable situation of mind so sweet and so reasonable, as that which we feel when we humbly refer ourselves, in all things to the Divine disposal, in an entire suspension of our own will, seeing and owning the hand of God, and bowing before it with a filial acquiescence.'-DoDDRIDGE; in his sermon on submission to Divine Providence in the death of children.

The writer of the article on Doddridge, in The New American Cyclopædia, is mistaken in saying, that he pursued for some time the study of the law.'

der his own roof, and furnish him with means for prosecuting his preparatory studies for the ministry. The reader can imagine with what heart-felt gratitude the youthful Doddridge received this cheering communication, and with what delight he sat down to write the following passage in his diary: 'This I looked upon almost as an answer from heaven, and, while I live, shall always adore so seasonable an interposition of Divine Providence. I have sought God's direction in this matter, and I hope I have had it. My only view in my choice hath been that of more extensive service, and I beg God would make me an instrument of doing much good in the world.'

6

Thus was Doddridge led into the ministry; and to this favorable interposition of Divine Providence in raising up for him such a friend as Dr. Clarke, he refers in the following passage in his sermon on The Orphan's Hope, preached from Psalm 27: 10: When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.' 'There are, my friends, I am sure there are, those amongst us this day, who can set our seal to the truth of what has now been spoken, and can say, in the language of the text, that when our father and our mother did both of them forsake us, then the Lord actually took us up, and proved a most gracious Parent to us. He supplied

the breaches that He made, and by a train of providence, which we cannot but admire in the review, raised up other friends for us; and it may be, inspired almost with the tenderness of parents, persons who were ever unknown to us, when the last of our parents was taken away. Nay, perhaps, some of us may say, that the death of a valuable parent, which we feared would be our ruin, has proved in some of its then unthought-of consequences, on the whole, a very great mercy to us.'

While at St. Albans with his generous friend, for whom he ever retained a strong feeling of gratitude and respect, Doddridge pursued his studies with ardor and facility, having access to the well furnished library of Dr. Clarke, and receiving his constant advice and instruction.

In 1716, when only fourteen years of age, he commenced keeping a diary, in which he 'accounted for every hour of his time.' He was one who employed his time to the greatest possible advantage. Few, indeed, have been so sensible of its value. It would, perhaps, be dif ficult to find a Christian who has more faithfully regarded the apostolic exhortation; 'See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.' That he might have more time for