educated for four years at one of the universities in Scotland, given them by Dr. Ward, of Gresham College, the author of The System of Oratory*. There is likewise an academy at Bristol, generally known by the name of The Bristol Education Society, over which the late Dr. Caleb Evans, and his venerable father, the Rev. Hugh Evans, A. M. presided for many years with respectability. A similar institution, though upon a smaller scale, has been formed among the General Baptists, which has met with considerable encouragement. They could formerly boast of a Gale, a Foster, a Burroughs, a Foot, à Noble, and a Bulkeley. A learned education lays the foundation for a respectable Christian ministry. In Dr. Kippis's Life of Dr. Doddridge, prefixed to the seventh edition of his Family Expositor, will

*As the author of this little work stands indebted to the Exhibition of Dr. John Ward, he wishes to pay a grateful tribute of respect to his memory. He was the son of a Dissenting minister, and born about 1679, in London. He kept an academy for many years in Tenter-alley, Moorfields. In 1720, he was chosen professor for rhetoric in Gresham College, where his System of Oratory was delivered. In 1723, during the presidency of Sir Isaac Newton, he was elected fellow of the Royal Society; and in 1752, chosen one of its vice-presidents, in which office he continued till his death, which happened at Gresham College, October 17, 1758, in the eightieth year of his age. He published many learned works; and is allowed by all who knew him, to have been a character in which were united a diffusive benevo lence and a rational piety.

be found an account of the general mode of education for ministers among the Dissenters.

Mr. Palmer, in his Nonconformist's Memorial, speaking of Dr. Daniel Williams, says-" He gave the bulk of his estate to charitable uses, as excellent in their nature as they were various in their kinds, and as much calculated for the glory of God, and the good of mankind, as any that have ever been known. He left his library for public use, and ordered a convenient place to be purchased or erected, in which the books might be properly disposed of, and left an annuity for à librarian. A commodious house was accordingly erected in Redcross-street, Cripplegate, where his collection of books is not only properly preserved, but has been gradually receiving large additions. This is also the place in which the body of the Dissenting ministers meet to transact their business, and is a kind of repository for paintings of Nonconformist ministers, for MSS. and other matters of curiosity and utility." The building itself belongs to the Presbyterians, but it is by the trustees handsomely devoted to the use of the Dissenters in general. The library, since its original endowment, has been augmented by the donations of liberal-minded persons, and, lately, part of the founder's estate is appropriated for the purpose. Were every Dissenting: author, however, to send' thither a copy of his

publications (a measure that has been recommended and ought to be adopted), the collection would soon receive a considerable augmentation. A second edition of the catalogue, in one volume octavo, has been lately published, with the rules respecting the use of it, prefixed. The Rev. Thomas Morgan is the present librarian, and the library is open till three o'clock in the afternoon, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday excepted.

Near to this spot also stands Sion College, founded by Dr. Thomas White, and of which a particular account is given in Northouck's History of London. Here the London clergy meet to transact their affairs, and it is enriched with an extensive library, and ample endowments. The building having been lately repaired, has the appearance of great respectability.

TO the foregoing systematical distribution of the several denominations, shall be added a FEW sects, which cannot be classed with propriety under any of the three general divisions which have been adopted.

QUAKERS.

THE Quakers appeared in England about the year 1650. Their origin will be best given in their own words:"The beginning of the

seventeenth century is known to have been a time of great dissension in England respecting religion. Many pious persons had been dissatisfied with the settlement of the Church of England in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Various societies of Dissenters had accordingly arisen; some of whom evinced their sincerity by grievous sufferings under the intolerance of those who governed church affairs*. But these societies, notwithstanding their honest zeal, seemed to have stopped short in their progress towards a complete reformation †; and, degenerating into formality, to have left their most enlightened members still to lament the want of something more instructive and consolatory to the soul, than the most rigorous observance of their ordinances had ever produced. Thus dissatisfied and disconsolate, they were ready to follow any teacher who seemed able to direct them to that light and peace of which they felt the need. Many such in succession engaged their attention; until finding the insufficiency of them all, they withdrew from the communion of every visible church, and dwelt retired, and attentive to the inward state of their own minds often deeply distressed for the want of that true knowledge of God, which they saw

* Sewell, p. 5, 6. ed. 1722. ed. 1782.

Penn, vol. 5. p. 211, 212.

to be necessary for salvation, and for which, according to their ability, they fervently prayed. These sincere breathings of spirit being answered by the extension of some degree of heavenly consolation, they became convinced, that as the heart of man is the scene of the tempter's attacks, it must also be that of the Redeemer's victory. With renewed fervency, therefore, they sought his appearance in their minds; and thus being renewedly furnished with his saving light and help, they not only became instructed in the things pertaining to their own salvation, but they discovered many practices in the world, which have a shew of religion, to be nevertheless the effect of the unsubjected will of man, and inconsistent with the genuine simplicity of the truth.

* George Fox was one of the first of our Friends who were imprisoned. He was confined at Nottingham in the year 1649, for having pubficly opposed a preacher, who had asserted that the more sure word of prophecy, mentioned 2 Pet. i. 19. was the Scripture; George Fox declaring that it was the Holy Spirit and in the following year, being brought before two justices in Derbyshire, one of them, scoffing at G.

Pesse's Sufferings of the People called Quakers, ch. 6, and 9, et passim.