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dressing in his apartment, to inform him they waited for him. He presently came, and first prayed for a few minutes, and then closed the whole by a short discourse on the blessings of civil and religious liberty, the sufficiency of Scripture, the pleasures of a good conscience, the importance of a holy life, and the prospect of a blessed immortality. This they call a public baptism.'

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A more private baptism takes place after a similar manner in baptisteries, which are in or near the places of worship: thus every convenience is afforded for the purpose. This, indeed, is now the most common way of administering the ordinance among the Baptists, either with the attendance of friends, or in the presence of the congregation Such is baptism by immersion, and thus conducted, it must be pronounced significant in its nature, and impressive in its tendency. It is, however, to be wished, that the rite was on every occasion administered with equal solemnity. See a letter to the General Baptist Churches, for the year 1806, on the subject of Adult Baptism, by the Rev. William Richards, of Lynn, where the practice both as to Subjects and Mode is stated with ability and brevity.

The propriety of the exclusive appellation of the term Baptists to those who baptize adults by immersion, has been questioned. Hence they are

by many styled Anti-pædobaptists, merely as opposing the validity of infant baptism. An account of the manner in which infant baptism is administered, should have been added, were it not so well known by its general practice, both in the established Church and among Dissenters.

THE three denominations of Protestant Dissenters have their own seminaries, where young men designed for the Christian ministry are educated. Among the Presbyterians are to be reckoned the academies at Manchester, and Caermarthen, in South Wales; besides six exhibitions granted by Dr. Daniel Williams, to English Presbyterian students to be educated at Glasgow. Among the Independents are to be mentioned the academies at Wymondley house near Hitchin, Homerton, Wrexham, and Hoxton. The academy at Wymondley house was originally under the care of Dr. Philip Doddridge, of Northampton; upon his decease it was consigned over to Dr. Ashworth, of Daventry; but was afterwards removed to Northampton, where the Rev. John Horsey superintended it for many years in a manner which did credit to his talents and piety. There is also an academy of Lady Huntingdon's, formerly at Tre vecka, now at Cheshunt. The Baptists have two exhibitions for students to be

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, a 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 of 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 benevolence 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 a 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

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