to the divine, previous to his embarking in the various and laborious functions of his sacred calling; unless it be maintained, that the future salvation of mankind is a matter of less inportance than their temporal property or their bodily health.

Does it not then seem highly advisable for us to turn our thoughts a little more towards this great object than has been hitherto deemed requisite? It is true, indeed, that some acquaintance with the abstruser sciences may be a very proper foundation even for theological learning. But it cannot surely be necessary to lay this foundation so exceedingly deep as is here generally done. It cannot be necessary to consume the flower and vigour of the youthful mind, in the very first stage, as it were, of its literary progress; to occupy it wholly for three entire years in these preparatory studies, when it should be going on to the

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principles" and elements at least" of the "doctrine of Christ*;" should be advancing gradually from the foundation to the superstructure; should be learning, under wise

* Heb. vi. 1.

and experienced "master-builders," to erect that sacred edifice of divine knowledge which must be its strong hold and fortress against the many adversaries it will soon have to contend with. If this great work is not carried on to a certain point, during the course of education in this place, when can we hope that it ever will? They who come here with a view to the means, not of acquiring, but of adorning a fortune, no sooner quit this literary retirement, than they engage with ardour in the various pursuits of fashionable life, and have seldom either inclination or leisure for studies of a serious nature. They who are destined to secular professions, or other active employments, find themselves, after leaving this place, so fully occupied, first in learning, and then discharging, the duties of their respective vocations, that they can scarce ever bring themselves to bestow that degree of attention on religious inquiries which their importance deserves. It is here, then, or no where, that this great object must be brought home to their thoughts, and made a part, an essential part of their academic acquirements. And this necessity (as I have already re

marked) is still more apparent with respect to those who are sent here to qualify themselves for the pastoral office; whose peculiar province and business it will be to instruct the people committed to their care “in the "words of eternal life," and who must therefore never expose themselves to the hazard of that insulting question, "Thou that "teachest another, teachest thou not first thyself?"

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It must be acknowledged, indeed, and it is acknowledged with pleasure, that in many private colleges, the great outlines of the Christian dispensation are, by the excellent tutors with which this place abounds, explained and illustrated in a very able manner to their respective pupils. But if there be any weight in what has been here suggested, it will be well worthy of our consideration, whether something more than this is not now become necessary; whether it will not be highly suitable to the dignity, the sanctity of this truly respectable and learned body, to lend the whole weight of their authority to so good a cause; to assist private instructions by public incitement; to give some signal academical encouragement to this branch of

knowledge, something that should make the cultivation of it not only highly reputable, but indispensably necessary. And, fortunately for us, the way is easy and open to the execution of any such design. That noble spirit of emulation, which so eminently distinguishes the youth of this place, and pushes them on to the most wonderful attainments in the abstrusest sciences, affords us an opportunity, which no other seminary in the world can furnish, of raising whatever fruit we please from so generous a stock. We have only to make revealed religion an essential part of university learning, and assign to it a proper share of the usual honorary rewards, and it will soon be pursued with the same ardour of mind and vigour of application, as all the other parts of literature. The current of study amongst us, which was generally thought to run too strongly towards mathematical subjects, has of late years, by means of the excellent institutions in favour of classical learning, been, in some degree, diverted into another and more useful course. By the method here proposed, (or any other of the same tendency which should be judged more eligible,) there would

be one more, and that a still nobler channel opened to it; and some few of those many hours, and those fine talents, which are still, I fear, too lavishly wasted here on abstract speculations, in the most precious and improvable part of life, would be then more profitably employed in learning the rudiments of evangelical truth; and thereby enabling one part of our youth to preserve their religious principles uncorrupted by the artifices of infidelity, in their future commerce with the world; and the other part to become powerful defenders and successful dispensers of the word of God. *

* Since the first publication of this Sermon, some advance has been made towards the accomplishment of the author's wishes. Mr. Norris, a gentleman of fortune in Norfolk, (into whose hands some extracts from this discourse happened to fall,) left by his will, a few years ago, a rent-charge of a hundred guineas a year, for the establishment and maintenance of a Professor in the University of Cambridge, for the sole purpose of reading lectures to the students there, on the Christian Revelation. To this he added twelve pounds a year for a medal and some books, as a premium for the best prose English essay on the same subject. It would be a real consolation to the friends of religion, and especially to those whose province it is to examine candidates for orders, if these well-meant institutions, in conjunction with any other subsidiary one which the wisdom of the University might think fit to adopt, should in due time effectually answer the great purposes enlarged upon and recommended in the preceding pages.