And, most assuredly, the money expended in the erection of a building of a proper size and convenience, would, if judiciously invested, yield much for the support of a competent number of able professors, or for providing other necessary helps to the acquisition of learning. Some of the colleges that furnish rooms and commons for their students, certainly rank high as literary institutions, and their celebrity is deserved. They have supplied the pulpit, the legislative hall, the highest offices of state, with men of great worth and distinction, whose names are, and will be on the page of history with imperishable renown; and it is probable that the established economy referred to was, in their infancy, indispensable to their prosperity. But still, every candid person must admit, that it is but too frequently attended with mischievous consequences; that it often leads to injurious intimacies among youth-to overt acts of rebellion and folly, which leave a taint of guilt or infamy not easily effacedto the loss or subversion of the best principles and habits, in which they had been carefully trained up at home, and the salutary impressions of which were plainly to be seen when they first became inhabitants of a college. And how far such evils might be diminished or prevented, by the adoption of another and more liberal economy; one better suited to an age, as different from that of Mona

chism, to which the rise of the other can be traced, as light is from darkness, may be a question entitled to some consideration.

Mr Livingston, having completed the preparatory arrangements which he judged necessary to facilitate the prosecution of his studies, as soon as the session of the university opened, was admitted a member, and commenced a regular attendance upon several professors. Professor Bonnet, whose department was didactic and polemic theology, he considered his Gamaliel. He attended also Professor Elsnerus, in didactic theology: in the Hebrew language, and Jewish antiquities, Professor Ravius in the biblical criticism of the New Testa: ment, Professor Segaar: and subsequently, upon the Greek of the New Testament, Professor Van Goens.

These learned men, it ought to be observed, delivered all their lectures in the Latin language, and our young student not being sufficiently familiar with it to understand it in oral discourse, would not, at first, as may be supposed, hear them with either much interest or benefit. But, he applied himself afresh most assiduously to the study of the Latin classics; and, as he had been well grounded in the elementary principles of the language, he soon

acquired a competent knowledge of it. After a little while, as the result of this application, he found he could receive the instructions of his professors, without embarrassment or loss of any consequence.

Before he left the University, he could speak the Latin almost as readily as his native tongue, the Dutch equally or more so; and, to quote his own words, he "thought and wrote, and even prayed in secret, undesignedly, sometimes in Latin, and sometimes in Dutch."

Besides pursuing with ardour and diligence the studies that have been enumerated, he sought to improve every opportunity he had to gain useful information of any sort, or upon other subjects, though not immediately connected with theology; and for this purpose, he occasionally attended the public lectures upon chemistry, anatomy, and dissections. During the whole period of his stay at the University, he appears to have conscientiously endeavoured to make the best possible use of his time for his own advantage, or that of others and thus to serve and glorify God.

And it may be further remarked, that while he laboured to obtain an extensive and thorough theo

retical acquaintance with the system of Divine truth, he was not inattentive to the state of his heart: he was concerned to know, from his own happy experience, the practical and gracious influence of that truth. The doctrines he was taught, he brought to the touchstone of the inspired volume; for "I was determined," he says," never to adopt any sentiment upon the authority of public profession, or the decision of any man, however dignified or imposing his name or influence might be, unless I was convinced it was founded upon the word of God." And, as they were severally and successively discussed in the course of the lectures, it was his custom not only to search the Bible to ascertain himself of their authority, but also to read the best treatises upon them he could find, in order that he might fully understand them, and, at the same time, to pray fervently that the Lord would instruct him, and enable him to realize his own interest in each of them. Such a method of prosecuting his favourite study could not fail to be profitable to both the head and the heart; and it may be confidently averred, that the student of theology who does not act upon the principle it involves-that is-does not seek to grow in grace, as well as in knowledge-to unite the cultivation of the heart with the improvement of the mind, cannot estimate, as he ought, the holy work in which he proposes to engage, nor become

thoroughly furnished for it, while he neglects the duty.

Prayer is essential to spiritual vitality. It is the Christian's breath:-he can no more live without it, as a child of God, or in communion with God, than the natural man can live without air. Certainly then, he who studies the deep things of God, that he may be prepared to teach others-to guide his sinful, perishing fellow-men to a Saviour and Heaven, ought to give himself habitually to prayer, and to the use of all other means calculated to promote his own personal religion.

Mr. Livingston was no stranger at the Throne of Grace. He loved to pray; and daily intercourse with a few eminently pious young friends of the University, contributed not a little to cherish in him a devotional spirit. Among those between whom and himself a most affectionate intimacy subsisted, he has particularly named Messrs. Van Vloten, I. L. Verster, A. Boelen, I. Kneppelhout, I. Prinse, W. C. Hoog, I. Verduin, I. Van De Kasteele, I. B. Hendricks, H. Van Alphen, C. Boers, S. Spiering, and A. Rutgers. With these individuals, who were respected for their literary attainments, but especially for their faith and godly zeal, he constantly associated. They aided him in his stu