"Dr. John William Bayer, Professor of Divinity at Altorf, holds private meetings of his students; at which he gives them select passages of scripture to explain, and their expositions are finally enlarged and corrected by himself. As he disapproves of too strict a mode of education, he insists rather on such superintendence and admonition as shall not remit even during those youthful recreations which his own free and liberal disposition cheerfully allows."

66

Stolthe, of Jena, says, that piety is at a low ebb in Holland, because they have nothing of the Cross there. Election to grace, he said, is general; but election to glory, particular; and that the ninth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans is to be understood of the election to grace, not of the election to glory. That the merit of Christ is not the original moving cause of preventing grace. That tears should not be suppressed in the pulpit, as they will often speak to the hearts of some of the audience; and that ten persons at once had recently been first affected, and spiritually awakened, by such simple means. Stolthe frequently recruits himself with bodily labour. He is very prudent, and never hastily puts confidence in any one.'

99

"Weidner, of Schul-Pforte, allows his pupils eight days for each written composition. Of every such exercise the pupil writes a copy to give to him, and reads it before the whole school, when it is corrected in the hearing of all. He has found this practice very useful."

"Isaiah F. Weisseborn, of Jena, said in his sermon,

"Jesus comes not without salvation;

"Christ, not without anointing;

"The Son of God, not without his glory.”

66

Weidling, rector of the high school of Weissenfels, teaches in a very simple, clear, and accurate manner. He maintains that history ought to be studied at an early age, while the memory is active. He corrects all written exercises vivâ voce, and is very kind in his method of doing it. He avoids much talk and compliment when conversing with his pupils, but they all appear sensible of his kind-heartedness."

"Aulic-counsellor Schwope, of Merseburg, said, that some do harm by giving pupils too great a variety of things to attend to at once. That phrases for their exercises ought to be suggested to them that Hildebrand did so, and not only gave their meaning, but explained and illustrated each word of them beforehand, speaking largely upon the different meanings and

applications of Latin and German terms; and afterwards dictating an exercise by way of illustration. He added, that some of the most valuable men of the day had been educated at his school."

66

Greitzman, of Critz, gives his pupils choice passages in Greek and Hebrew to learn by heart. Co-rector Herzog commends Poiret as an eminent philosopher. He directs his pupils to compose imitations rather than original essays, and to write narratives instead of letters or declamations."

“Junker, of Altenburg, is a most kind man. He admires the regulations and methods at Halle. In teaching the classics, he says, we should carefully explain the peculiarities both of Latin and of German words, though it may take up much of the time; and that rapid reading is only useful to more advanced pupils. He construes first, and the pupils repeat after him. He delivers all his instructions in the vernacular tongue. He reads the Greek Testament through with his pupils in the course of a year, taking every occasion for practical observations and exhortations as he goes on. Pupils refusing to submit to order after two or three admonitions, are dismissed from the seminary, that he have no occasion for any severer discipline."

may "Godfr. Vockerodt, of Gotha, is grave and strict, but affable. He is an advocate for the study of Aristotle; and says, that heathen ethics ought to be studied historically, and in the original authors, so that pupils may be ready, upon every ethical point, to tell what Epicurus, Plato, Cicero, &c. taught.”

“Kessler, of Gotha, manages to make such pupils as write bad Latin, acquire in a few weeks a remarkable facility and correctness, by reading Castellio's version of the Bible. He disapproves of expurgated classics, and of substituting the Greek and Latin fathers for heathen authors, as he considers them inadequate to the ends of classical study."

"Pritius, of Frankfort, observed, that all successful education of young persons depends quite as much on attending to the proper direction of their will, as on cultivation of the understanding. He speaks highly of the writings of Poiret, as leading the mind so directly to God; and recommends Spener's 'Advices.""

"Tennhardt received me very kindly. He is moderate and abstemious; mortifies the flesh, and is much concerned for the health of his soul. He cordially hates every false way. Respecting the word within us, he thus expresses himself:-That it is that

which works out good in the human soul, by inciting and admonishing it to what is good. That even the heathen have this inward word. He thinks that very frequent preaching, especially at stated hours, is unprofitable and vain; and that notice of it by church-bells should be given only at such times as a minister feels inwardly disposed to preach. He strictly insists on the moral obligation of the Sabbath, because enjoined in the decalogue, &c."

66

Breithaupt, of Halle, is inclined to regard it as one of the signs of the last time,' that the present generation cheats itself with the notion of its own excellence, dreams of being on the point of enjoying the very best condition, and regards the ancients as no better than old women in comparison with itself. These, he says, were just the thoughts that men had of themselves immediately before the deluge; but as God is not mocked,' so he is not to be imposed on by such thoughts as these."

We now give his second letter, addressed to his mother.

66

Halle, 25th Aug. 1713. "MY MOST DEARLY BELOVED AND HONOURED MOTHER, "My filial affection and bounden duty have long been urging me to spare a portion of time for particularly addressing your pious spirit; and, as I cannot at present pour out my heart to you in person, I do it as well as I am able by a letter. I enjoy the consoling assurance, that our faithful God and Father in heaven continues to keep up in you that desire after himself and his everlasting mercy, which has long found its place in your heart; and that he will make it still stronger and more ardent than ever. O yes, this ONE THING is that which our soul longeth after' in the present transitory state. The few days that may yet remain to us in this life, cannot be more happily spent than in seeking, with constant care and diligence, to become partakers of the heavenly inheritance. Great as this inheritance is, its attainment is secured, if we only heartily desire, accept, and lay hold of it. In ourselves we have neither strength nor worthiness for that purpose; nor can any prosper spiritually who have not known and felt the reality of their own wretchedness, misery, poverty, blindness, and unfitness for all good. But in Christ Jesus are freely bestowed for our everlasting possession, the forgiveness of sins, the gift of righteousness, the

peace of God, spiritual rest, consolation, joy, strength, life, fulness of content and satisfaction; and we have only to prostrate ourselves before the throne, with such utterances of the heart as these: Heavenly Father, I am thy creature! Thou hast made me that I might have the fruition, not of these transitory things of time, but of thine own everlasting blessedness! At present I live in this world, banished, with the rest of mankind, from thy house, on account of sin! In these ways of error have I suffered myself to wander farther and farther from thee, and have spent in vanity, indecision, and doubt, the time which I ought to have employed with all diligence in returning to thee as my Resting-place. I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost. Seek me, bring me back, and take me up! Teach me thyself the right way, and meet me in it; open mine eyes; withdraw not thy hand from me; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation! Pardon all my sin, and especially the inbred corruption of my nature. Forgive my every transgression, through the precious blood of thy dear Son! Send thy Holy Ghost, and shed abroad thy love in my heart, that so I may possess the blessed scriptural assurance that I have verily found favour with thee. Keep also and preserve me, that amidst the sufferings of this present life I may possess my soul in peace, quietness, and tenderness, in constant spiritual watchfulness and sobriety; in contentment, meekness, joyfulness, love, and hope. Teach me perpetually to seek the one thing needful; to cleave to thee with purpose of heart; to find thy word my very joy; to hold perpetual communion with thee in secret prayer, and by inward prayer without ceasing; to lay up in myself a good foundation against the time to come. O God! be thou ever my God; that neither death nor life may be able to separate me from thy love, &c.'-All this variety of goodness our heavenly Father most plentifully and faithfully sets before us in the gospel, and has actually made it over to us by his holy baptism; moreover, the blood and continual intercession of our beloved High Priest and Saviour will ever be available for us and in us. Let us then apply every affection of the heart truly, and at once to these very things. And because the heart is naturally so weak, faint, and cold, so unprepared and so blind, it is highly advisable to complain of this its condition to our Redeemer himself; to read his word diligently and at all seasons, even though there may be ever so many temporal duties to be minded, and to hold it in meditation under all circumstances; inquiring

particularly into our spiritual state morning and evening, betaking ourselves to the closet, and supplicating him who seeth in secret for the comfort and light of his Holy Spirit. The time past of our life should also be reviewed; and we should as it were anticipate and pre-occupy what of it may yet remain, so as not to waste our treasure, the quiet and peace of our souls, by any sudden changes and emotions of the mind, by natural timidity, by vain anxieties respecting temporal things, by indiscreet mixing in worldly society, &c. 1 Pet. iii. 2—6.

"And now I commit all this to that sure and certain blessing, the gracious favour of my faithful God and yours. On him let us venture all; to him let us commit every thing, my most tenderly beloved and honoured mother! Let my dear parent only set about it in the manner I have here described; let her constantly attend to prayer, serious meditation on the word of God, and continual elevation of the heart to him; let her be careful to keep whatever good thing God in such exercises has committed to her, and give herself sufficient time for these purposes; let her try this for only three days together, then act as he shall direct her,—and I am confident she will wonder at herself, and be enabled to praise the Lord. If she set out in this way with ever so much selfdistrust and simplicity, let not that discourage her; it is so much the better. I have met with many instances upon my journey, which show that simplicity is any thing but a hinderance to the operation of Divine grace. Only let us ever take heed how the heart is disposed towards him, and we shall not stumble that we should fall. For we shall then have to pour out either humiliating complaints against ourselves, or longing desires after God, or acknowledgments of our joy in him: one good thought will produce another; and for this the book of Psalms, and a much-valued devotional manual of the celebrated Arndt, entitled his Paradise Garden,' are among the best outward helps. How happy are we when we have God for our shield and our exceeding great reward! May he be found such to my beloved and revered mother!

"I close my letter with assuring you, that my journey hitherto has been accompanied by many spiritual and temporal blessings to me; as also, that I am quite well in health: for all which let thanks be continually given to the Most High! May he ever increasingly manifest his goodness towards us, and write in the heart of my dear and honoured mother what I have here written. Amen."