DODDRIDGE AND HERVEY. 169 of learning; but in a short time it was dissolved by the King's order, because, it was said, it would be a manifest damage and inconvenience to the ancient University of Oxford.* To me, I confess, Northampton, and its vicinity, possessed additional charms on account of their having been the residence of Doddridge and Hervey, two pious and learned divines; the former amongst the Protestant Dissenters, the latter belonging to the Church of England. Dr. Philip Doddridge was born in London in 1702, settled tutor at an academy at Northampton, 1729, and died of a consumption at Lisbon, 1751, whither he had gone for his recovery. His seminary was in high reputation, and he was esteemed as well by churchmen as by dissenters. His labours and writings entitle him to the respect of posterity. His Family Expositor, in six volumes, 8vo., is a treasure of sacred criticism and pious reflections. The late Bishop Porteus recommends this work in his valuable tract on the Evidences of Christianity. It has gone through several octavo impressions. A superb quarto edition of it has been published, with an exquisitely finished head, and appropriate embellishments. A neat monument is erected to the memory of this good man in his own meeting here, and the following * I have been able to add this more particular description of Northampton, from having spent a few days there at Christmas, much to my satisfaction. To the Rev. Mr. Horsey, for whom I twice officiated, I beg leave thus publicly to return my best thanks for his polite and friendly attentions. inscription was drawn up by his much-esteemed friend, Gilbert West, Esq. To the memory of PHILIP DODDRIDGE, D. D. Twenty-one Years Pastor of this Church, His pious, benevolent, and indefatigable Zeal And perpetuated much longer, Their friendly but faithful Testimony And died October 26, 1751, When I was at Northampton, the monument had just been cleaned, and each individual belonging to the congregation gave a trifle towards defraying the expense; I mention this circumstance merely to shew the reader how much the memory of this good man is still cherished there; for an intelligent worthy relative of mine, Mrs. C. (now deceased) who was not a member of the meeting, told me she never gave her mite with greater pleasure and satisfaction. The piety of Dr. Doddridge may be gathered from the following lines, which he wrote under the motto of his family arms, Let us live whilst we live-DUM VIVIMUS VIVAMUS, which Mr. Orton declares to be expressive of his general temper, and which Dr. Johnson pronounces to be the finest epigram in the English language: "LIVE while you live," the Epicure would say, "I live in pleasure when I live to thee!" Nor must I omit to mention, in terms of commendation, his candour towards those who differed from him in religious sentiment. Senseless distinctions, artful insinuations, and savage anathemas, he abhorred from his soul, persuaded that they had no connexion with pure and unadulterated Christianity. Dr. Doddridge shone in private no less than in public life; an excellent husband and an affectionate father. His wife and children revered his memory. The following lines, addressed by him to his wife, bear honourable testimony to the holy state of matrimony: WHAT, though three whole years are ended, Every rolling year has tended Only to endear our bands! 172 DR. DODDRIDGE. Let the wanton wit deride it, Wives our better angels are; Angels in their loveliest dress, Smiling guardians of our peace! Happy state of mortal treasures, Mrs. Doddridge survived her husband forty years, dying in the year 1790, at Tewkesbury, having reached an advanced age. Dr. Doddridge caught a violent cold by going in the month of December to inter at St. Alban's Dr. Samuel Clarke, his patron almost from infancy, which terminated in his dissolution. At their last interview these great men conversed upon the nature of the happiness of heaven-in consequence of which Dr. Doddridge had a singular dream. It was usually thus told by Dr. Clarke's son: "Dr. Doddridge and my father had been conversing together one evening on the nature of the separate state, and on the probability, that the scenes upon which the soul would first enter after its leaving the body, would bear a near resemblance to those it had been conversant with while on earth, that it might, by degrees, be prepared for the more sublime happiness of THE HEAVENLY WORLD: this, and other conversation of the same kind, probably occasioned the following dream :— DR. DODDRIDGE. 173 "Dr. Doddridge imagined himself dangerously ill at a friend's house in London: after lying in this state for some time, he thought his soul left his body, and took its flight in some kind of fine vehicle, which, though different from the body he had just quitted, was still material. He pursued his course till he was some distance from the city, when, turning back and reviewing the town, he could not forbear saying to himself-How trifling and how vain do those affairs, in which the inhabitants of the place are so eagerly employed, appear to me, a separate spirit! At length, as he was continuing his progress, and though without any certain director, yet easy and happy in the thought of the universal providence and government of God, which extend alike to all states and worlds-he was met by one, who told him he was sent to conduct him to the place appointed for his abode; from whence he concluded that it could be no other than an angel, though he appeared in the form of an elderly man. They went accordingly together, till they were come in sight of a spacious building, which had the air of a palace. Upon inquiring what it was, his guide informed him it was the place assigned for his residence at present. Upon this, the Doctor observed, that he remembered to have read, while on earth, that Eye had not seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God had prepared for those that love him!' whereas he could easily have conceived an idea of such a building, from others he had seen, though he acknowledged they were greatly |