"I have some cheerful hope," he adds, "that the God to whom I have this day been more solemnly than ever devoting my service, will graciously use me, either in this world or a better; and I am not solicitous about particular circumstances, where or how. If I know anything of my heart, I apprehend I may adopt the words of the Apostle, that it is my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that Christ shall be magnified, whether it be by life or by death; that to me, to live is Christ, and to die, unspeakable gain.""* His ordination day he ever afterwards observed with peculiar solemnity in his secret devotions.

His entrance on the Northampton pastorate dates the beginning of a second book in his spiritual biography, far nobler than the first.

* Orton's Life of Doddridge, p. 65.-The following is a copy of the certificate of his ordination, pasted, probably with his own hand, in his own copy of the Expositor, preserved in the library belonging to the Coward Trust:

"We whose names are hereto subscribed do hereby certify all whom it may concern, that Mr. Philip Doddridge, of Northampton having addressed himself to us, Ministers of the Gospel, desiring to be ordained a Presbyter, we, being sufficiently assured of the unblameableness of his conversation, and proficiency in his studies, proceeded solemnly to set him apart to the office of the ministry, and the pastoral care of the church of Northampton, by the laying on of hands, with fasting and prayer, at the town of Northampton aforesaid, on the 19th day of March, 1729-30; and therefore es

Though we do not think that Doddridge's heart was ever the seat of a doubtful piety, or his mind of an order to become under any circumstances rusty and inactive, yet his separation now from former unfavourable influences, the sense of augmented responsibility attendant upon an introduction to a larger sphere, and especially a serious illness which befel him about this time, seem to have given him new views of spiritual life and ministerial labour. The lamp of godliness freshened up into amazing lustre; and his energies for the great work God had given him to do, began to move with intenser force, like the burning wheels in Ezekiel's vision.

Doddridge's habits of careful composition, and stores of knowledge secured at Kibworth,

teem and declare him to be a lawful and sufficiently authorised Minister of Jesus Christ, and heartily recommend him and his ministry to the Divine blessing.

"Witness our hands,

"Present and consenting, "J. BROGDEN, Wigton.

"R. DAWSON, Hinckley."

"J. NORRIS, Welford.

"S. CLARK, St. Alban's.

"J. WATSON, Leicester.

"EDWARD BRODHURST, Birmingham. "T. SAUNDERS, Kettering.

"J. DRAKE, Yardley.

"N. HUNT, Newport.

"DAN. GOODRICH, Oundle.

facilitated the discharge of his pulpit labours at Northampton. Orton, who evidently listened with fond delight to his reverend tutor, informs us, that he sometimes "only wrote down the heads and leading thoughts of his sermons, and the principal texts of scripture he designed to introduce. But he was so thoroughly master of his subject, and had such a ready utterance, and so warm a heart, that perhaps few ministers could compose better discourses than he delivered from these short hints." Andrew Kippis, who entered the academy seven years after Orton, a man of colder temperament, more critical mind, and further removed from Doddridge's evangelical views, makes some abatement from the encomium. When the preparation was considerable, he admits the discourses were excellent in a high degree, but he intimates that at other times, as might be expected, they were not so valuable. Of course, Doddridge could not, any more than other men, preach by inspiration and without labour, except on rare and stirring occasions. One such is mentioned, when the poet Akenside made his appearance unexpectedly in the Castle-hill Meeting-house, and the Doctor,

though slightly furnished for the service, roused his powers," and spake with such variety and eloquence as must have impressed the visitor with a high opinion of his abilities." In support of the qualification which Kippis appends to Orton's eulogy, he says, that once the students complained to their tutor, that while his lectures were admirable, his sermons were not sufficiently correct models of pulpit composition. Doddridge, the most candid of men, he observes, took this kindly, and his sermons became far superior to what they had been. Orton informs us that he had an earnestness and pathos in his manner of speaking, which, as it seemed to be the natural effect of a strong impression of Divine truth upon his own heart, tended greatly to affect his hearers, and to render his discourses more acceptable and useful than if his delivery had been more calm and dispassionate. His pronunciation and action were by some judges thought rather too strong and vehement; but to those who were acquainted with the vivacity of his temper and his usual manner of conversation, they appeared quite natural and unaffected.

The four volumes of sermons published

twenty years ago, perhaps afford a fair sample of his better preaching. In matter evangelical; in arrangement lucid; in imagery, generally tasteful, sometimes felicitous; in diction always perspicuous, and occasionally eloquent, they must have been heard with uncommon interest. Never very great, they were always very good, and goodness in a sermon, meaning by that the power to edify, is better than greatness. Doddridge's discourses do not remind you of Alpine mountains; they have no massive and daring arguments tinged with poetic hues, like the glorious range of the Oberland at sunset, no confounding expostulations, like torrents from some glacier cavern; there is nothing to astonish,-entrance,-enthrill. But they remind you of English valleys; they are full of rich, useful, refreshing thoughts, like cornfields, orchards, and gardens; they abound in earnest persuasive appeals, like brooks of living water; they have much to feed the soul and inspire calm delight. Doddridge entered the pulpit not to dazzle, but to teach; not to amaze, but to convince; not to gratify, but to reform; not to be thought great, but to do good. This was his motto: "May I re