titmoind OF OR. WATTS. rR some successful candidates for them, who have studied scarcely any other divinity, than such as is to be foetid in Ovid's Metamorphosis, and Tooke's Pantheon. Few regularly-bred divines, as they are termed, apply themselves to divinity at so early an age; and, indeed, through thedefect ofa knowledge, and of a taste for it, in youth, many, after obtaining orders, still continue to study, if they study at all, the theologyof Athens and Rome. Butthe dis- senters study divinityatan early age, and if they had united the study of the belles lettres with it indue proportion, I believetheir divines wouldhave made astill more honourable appearance than they have done, though they are, and ever have been, highly respectablet." What Mr. Watts was as a student, the testimony of his tutorsufficiently evinces : He never, Mr. Rowedeclared, gave him any occasion for reproof ; but was so exemplary, that he often proposed him as a pattern for the imita- tion of otherpupils. The great ends of his studies were fixed, and the sub- jectsof them were substantial, hewell knew the value of his opportunities, nor washe at any loss as to thebest means of improving them. Lvo time was given to vain amusemens, or to unnecessary indulgencies. The seasons of rest and exercise (so essential to health) were curtailed, and so passionately was he devoted to the increase of his knowledge, that he either laid the foun- dation of disorders, which imbittered his future life, or, if latent, armed them with the power which resisted all medical skill. The operationsof his own mind, his reading, his observation, and his social intercourse were all made subservient tothe great designs ofhis station. With thehands of a Midas, be had the art of turning whatever he touched into gold: the treasures of know- ledge, both philosophical and theological, opened to the world, so early after he left the academy, shew the intenseness of his application, and the capa- ciousness of his mind during his residence there. The mostimportant works in every science engaged his attention; andas be had no tedious hours to amuse, nor any fugitive curiosity to gratify, his reading uniformly promoted the increase of his mental riches. He did not rove about in the fields of science to gather withering flowers, but the precious fruits wherewith the rnoseer filleth his háud, and lie that bindetissheaves his bosom. To impress uponhis memorythe most importantand interestingparts of thebookshe read, it was his custom, to make judicious abridgements; and that be might com- poseand digest the sentiments and arguments of his authors, in order to ren- der each insuccessioninstrumental to the confirmation and enlargement ofhis views, his principal bookswere interleaved. The long silence of this excellent and accomplished youth, after he left tha academy, as to the primary object of all his studies, the preach- ing o ne gospel, affords considerable scope for conjecture: He was twenty ars old when he returned from London to. Southampton ; there he Tema.... -1 two years ; after which he went to reside in the family of Sir JohnIle 'opp, as tutor tohis son, where he continuedtwoyears longer. It is true le was but still a youth diffident of himselfand deeply affected with the imp 'tance of the ministry, under a sense of his insufficiency and trembling les lie should go to the altar of God uncalled. But after sixteen yearsspent in ,lassical studies, after uncommon proficiency in other parts of learning corn eted with the work of the ministry, with every qualification' t' Knox.
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