Hinckley, he writes, is rather more pleasant than the neighborhood of Kibworth,' but from the window of his very pretty little chamber' he had no very delightful prospect.' He remarks again, with reference to this removal to Hinckley: We have certainly changed for the worse in our removal from Kibworth, both as to house, garden and fields.'

Doddridge finished his course of preparatory theological studies at Hinckley; and, on being licensed to preach, delivered his first discourse there in the summer of 1722, just after he had completed his twentieth year. The sermon was 'If any man love

founded on that striking text: not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema, maran-atha.' 1 Cor. 16:22. It was a plain, practical discourse,' on a very moving subject,' preached to a very large auditory.' It is interesting to know that it was evidently accompanied with the divine blessing. I find in Dod

dridge's diary,' says Mr. Orton,

that two per

sons ascribed their conversion to the blessing of God attending that sermon, with which he appears to have been much affected and encouraged.'

With such happy results opened the ministry of Philip Doddridge- a ministry which was sig nally blessed by the Chief Shepherd in the bring

ing of many a wanderer into the gospel fold, and in the edification and consolation of many a Christian pilgrim on the journey heavenward. And though he had not yet attained that distinguished excellence of Christian character-that solemnity of deportment, spirituality of mind, and entire devotedness to God, which marked his future career, yet Doddridge's path henceforward was like 'the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.'

CHAPTER III.

HIS PASTORATE AT KIBWORTH AND MARKET HARBOROUGH.

HE first pastoral settlement of Doddridge commenced in the summer of 1723. He then accepted a unanimous invitation to become the successor of his tutor, Dr. Jennings, in the charge of a small congregation at the village of Kibworth.

In assuming this charge, he drew up the following excellent rules respecting his ministerial duties, which he was very careful to observe :

1. I will spend some extraordinary time in private devotion every Lord's day, morning or evening, as opportunity may offer, and will then endeavor to preach over to my own soul that doctrine which I preach to others.

2. I will take every second evening in the week, in which I will spend half an hour in devotional exercises, on such subjects relative to

the congregation as I think most suitable to that occasion.

3. At the close of every week and month, I will spend some time in its review, that I may see how time has been improved, innocence secured, duties discharged, and whether I advance or lose ground in religion.

4. When I have an affair of more than ordinary importance before me, or meet with any remarkable occurrence, either merciful or afflictive, I will set apart some time for contemplation and to seek God upon it.

5. I will more particularly devote some time every Friday to seek God, on account of those who recommend themselves to my prayers, and to pray for the public welfare; a subject which I will never totally exclude.

6. In all the duties of the oratory, I will endeavor to maintain a serious and affectionate temper.

I am sensible that I have a heart which will incline me to depart from God. May His Spirit strengthen and sanctify it, so that I may find Him in such seasons of retirement, and that my Heavenly Father may behold me here with pleasure, and at length openly reward me, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Doddridge found his settlement at Kibworth

6

extremely agreeable, and met with a great deal of comfort and encouragement' among his friends there. To one he writes at this period: 'I reside in a very agreeable family, where I have very comfortable accommodations about me, and have almost as much time for study as I had when I was at the academy. The congregation consists of about two hundred and fifty people.'

Here he devoted himself with untiring patience and diligence to sacred and profane literature, and to the discharge of his professional duties.

From the following passage in one of his letters to a female correspondent, who had "condoled with him on being buried alive,' it appears that he passed those days both pleasantly and profitably, while engaged in his favorite employments, amidst the quiet scenes of a rural town. Speaking of his resolution to stick pretty close to those delightful studies, which a favorable Providence has made the business of his life, he says: One day passes away after another, and I only know that it passes pleasantly with me; but, as for the world about me, I have very little concern with it. I live like a tortoise, shut up in its shell, almost always in the same town, in the same house and