His method of instructing, he tells us, was the same which his own venerable teacher, Dr. Smalley, had pursued with him. He furnished his pupils with a system of theological questions or subjects, on each of which they were expected to read and write. The books put into their hands were generally the best authors, on both and all sides of the question under consideration. When the dissertations had been prepared, they were read in the hearing of the instructor, and the pupil was favored with his remarks. These remarks were not exclusively theological.

"I used to remark," says he, "upon their manner of arranging their thoughts, upon the sentiments they exhibited, and upon the beauties and defects of their language. I cautioned them against a flowery, bombastic style, on the one hand, and on the other, against a too low, vulgar, slovenly manner of expression. I recommended a plain, neat, perspicuous, energetic mode of writing and speaking, which all could understand, which none could dislike, and which some of the best judges would admire. I commonly spent some time every day with my students, either to hear their compositions, or to converse with them upon particular subjects. I often discoursed upon the duties, difficulties, advantages and trials of ministers. I inculcated the importance of being prudent, faithful, and exemplary, in every part of their ministerial duty. I urged them to give themselves wholly to their work, and never encumber themselves with the concerns of the world, or dissipate their minds by mixing with vain and unprofitable company. I endeavored to point out how they should treat their parishioners of various characters and dispositions, and taught them as well as I could, how to become able and faithful ministers."

Though Dr. E. placed books in the hand of his pupils, upon the different and opposite sides of nearly every question which came before them, he did not leave them under the impression that he had no opinion of his own, or in doubt as to what his opinion might be. His mind was made up, and he gave sufficient indications as to the decision to which he had come; and although he never took it upon him to overbear or dogmatise, yet the student was well aware that if he swerved materially from the known faith of his teacher, he must be prepared to answer his objections, and to meet his scrutiny.

Dr. Doddridge instructed many young ministers; and in the plenitude of his candor, he was accustomed to draw out the arguments on both sides of important questions, and to make no decision of his own, The consequence was, that his school was made up of Arians and Trinitarians, Arminians, Calvinists, and Antinomians; and not many years subsequent to his death, it became a Unitarian school. Dr. Emmons' method of instructing was very different from this. He had as much candor, it may be, as Dr. Doddridge. He was frank, open-hearted, kind, conciliating, and altogether patient of contradiction; but he was decided. He did not press his opinions upon his pupils, except by the force of reason and argument; but they all knew what his opinions were, and through what a searching examination they must expect to pass, if they rejected them. The effect which Dr. Emmons' direct, decided manner of teaching had upon the minds of his pupils was peculiarly happy. It made them decided men. Their professional education was restricted indeed, being too exclusively theological. They had not the advantages which the Seminaries now furnish, in Sacred Literature, Homiletics, Ecclesiastical History, etc. But of the large number of ministers who pursued their studies under the direction of Dr. E., very few were ever known to swerve from the Orthodox faith, and as a body of men, they have not been surpassed, probably, by any of their contemporaries.

Dr. E. was highly useful, not only as a preacher and instructor, but also as a counsellor. His wisdom, his disinterestedness, his deep acquaintance with the principles and usages of our Congregational churches, and his profound regard for these principles, not only as having been bequeathed to us from our Pilgrim forefathers, but as having their foundation substantially in the Scriptures, rendered him a most suitable person to be consulted, in all cases of interest or difficulty growing out of our Ecclesiastical constitution. And he was consulted frequently and long. In the course of his ministry, he was invited to more than a hundred Ecclesiastical Councils, nearly all of which he actually attended.

Dr. E. was an early and true friend, an earnest and active promoter, of Christian Missions.

"He was one of the founders of the Massachusetts Missionary Society, and one of the leading and most efficient men SECOND SERIES, VOL. VIII. No. 11.

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in their primary operations. He was their first president and their first preacher, and the chairman of the committee who prepared their first address to the public. He was one of the editors of the Massachusetts Missionary Magazine, a valuable periodical, which was established for the purpose of promoting the great object of this society; and an able contributor to its pages. How much he did for the diffusion of the gospel and the salvation of men, by his connection with this society, cannot be ascertained until the disclosures of the great day. But no one, who is acquainted with the extensive and still increasing influence of this society, can doubt that the agency by which it was formed and its early operations sustained, will yet be recognized as an important instrument in the conversion of the world."

From the Massachusetts Missionary Society proceeded naturally and obviously, in due course of time, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, which is now spreading the light and blessings of the gospel in every quarter of the world. Of this latter body, Dr. E. was, for many years, an honorary member. He contributed liberally to the funds of the Board, was deeply interested in its various operations, and devoutly rejoiced in its success.

Like most of the great and good in our times, Dr. E. was a devoted friend and patron of the American Education Society. He was one of the original members of this Society, and sustained the office of an honorary Vice President, till his death. The volumes before us contain his very able and instructive sermon, preached before the Norfolk Branch of the American Education Society, in the year 1817.* The Report of the American Education Society for the last year -the year following Dr. Emmons' death, contains the following tribute to his memory:

"His friendship for this cause remained to the last. His desire that a pious, learned, and able ministry should be perpetuated in our country-an object to which, after the manner of his day, he had eminently devoted the energies and resources of his great mind-continued undiminished during the long and tranquil period of his retirement and decline.

* Vol. I. Serm. 29.

Like a ruling passion, most worthy of its sublime object, it appeared strong in him even in death."

Dr. E. was particularly interested, says his biographer, in the operations of the American Home Missionary Society. As soon as he heard of its organization, he sent on thirty dollars, to make himself a life member; and he continued to contribute to this object as long as he lived."

Indeed, Dr. E. was a member of most of the benevolent associations of the day. It is known already, and will yet be known more and more, that he lived not in vain in respect to the great cause of Christian benevolence.

Besides

The publications of Dr. E. are very numerous. the two hundred and twenty-three discourses and essays contained in these volumes, Dr. Ide has given the titles of half as many more, which were issued during the author's life. Among the first of his publications was a "Dissertation on the Qualifications for Christian Communion," in answer to Rev. Dr. Hemmenway, of Wells, Me., which appeared in 1793. To this Dr. Hemmenway replied; and Dr. E, published a rejoinder, in 1795. As this was the first, so it seems to have been almost, if not quite, the last of his public controversial efforts. The subject of this controversy was one of great interest in our church from fifty to a hundred years ago. The pamphlets of Dr. E. contain a very thorough examina-tion of it, and did much good at the time of their publication. They are also a rare specimen of Christian candor and courtesy towards an opponent; and we regret that room was not found for them in this edition of the author's works.

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The various publications of Dr. E. have been exerting an influence a strong and good influence-for more than half a century. They do not, therefore, appear before the public at the present time, under the disadvantage and uncertain, of an experiment. The experiment has been made, and made satisfactorily. These publications have already accouplished a vast amount of good, and they will do still more, in time to come. A great many persons, clergymen and others, have publicly acknowledged their indebtedness to the writings of Dr. E. A much larger number, probably, have felt their in debtedness, without the formality of acknowledging it. In the language of Dr. Ide,

"The attention which he paid to the doctrines of the gospel, and the success which attended his efforts to illustrate and enforce them, has doubtless turned the attention of many others to the subject of doctrinal discussion, and encouraged them to engage in this too much neglected part of a minister's work. The great amount of instruction contained in his sermons, and the perspicuous and interesting manner in which this was presented to his hearers, has no doubt determined many to carry none but beaten oil into the sanctuary. The definiteness and precision with which he treated every subject on which he wrote, has not only removed many difficulties from the minds of others respecting these subjects, but, at the same time, made them more accurate thinkers and writers. What he has taught respecting the nature of moral agency, human depravity, and regeneration, has prepared the way for that more direct and apostolic mode of address, both to saints and sinners, which has been gaining ground for more than forty years among the ministers of New England. The palpable distinction which he made between saints and sinners, and which he presented before the public in so many forms, has doubtless exerted a powerful influence to make other ministers more discriminating in their preaching. Could the whole effect which his ministry has exerted upon ministers, and through them upon the churches and the world, be seen at one view, we should be prepared to acknowledge both the reality and importance of his success."

Though Dr. E. was not indifferent to the good opinion of others, yet he was the farthest of all men from seeking after popularity, and making sacrifices of principle in order to gain it. He preferred beyond every thing the favor of God, and the approbation of his own conscience; and in order to secure these, he was often constrained to say and do things which he knew would render him unpopular with the world. And yet few men, after all, have been so highly honored in view of the world, as he. God turned the reproaches of his enemies into blessings. They were led, in many instances, to admire and praise him for the very things which were once the objects of their dislike and condemnation. Few men, in their old age, have excited so much attention, and been the objects of so much respect, as he. Clergymen of all denominations, and gentlemen of every profession, far and near, for some reason or other, manifested a peculiar interest in him. Strangers of distinction called upon him, so