1798. ] 
will pleafe to infert firft, is copied from 
a Scotch Miffionary Magazine, of which 
a reverend gentleman in Edinburgh, is 
one of the Editors, And, as the ac- 
count is in feveral particulars falfe, and 
contains, by way of infinuation, very {e- 
vere refletions on my conduét as Theo- 
logical Tutor, I fent the anfwer, which 
you perceive fhould be inferted next, to 
the aforefaid gentleman, as what I 
thought a fuficient reply to an anony- 
mous and therefore unmanly attack. It 
was alfo accompanied witi: a ferious ex- 
poktulatory letter, which I muft alfo beg 
you will publith, as the gentleman has 
not had the civility to take any notice of 
the letter; nor, as I find, by a friend 
whom I have employed to call upon him, 
is he difpofed to publifh my reply. His 
Magazine, he fays, is not defigned to be a 
repofitory for charges and defences. But 
if it admits the one, Sir, ought it not the 
other? Why this is not done in the pre- 
fent cafe, I wifh an impartial public to 
jadge, teeling the utmoft confidence, that 
at their tribunal, I fhall receive a fayour- 
able verdict. As none can {peak with 
confidence and certainty equal to my 
own pupils, refpecting my difcharging 
the duties of my office, in the leéture- 
room, with fidelity; on the contrary, I 
have challenged them to contradiét, if 
poflible, what I have advanced, refpecting 
the obiervanse of Mr. Coward’s will. 
And, that not the leaft room may be left 
for any doubt, I now call upon any other 
perfon to do it, who has been in any 
torm, connected with the Academy.— 
The ftatement given in the Miffionary 
Magazine J am confident was written by 
fome one ignorant of the internal {tate of 
the feminary ; or, who has wickedly mif- 
reprefented both the ftudents and me, 
(copy.) 
Northampton Theological Academy. 
“¢ Ever anxious to give notice of whatever 
either gives a blow to error, or aids the caufe 
of truth, we announce with fatisfa€tion the 
diffolution of the Theological Academy at 
Northampton. This academy was begun by 
the eminently pious Dr. Doddridge, and had 
confiderable funds bequeathed*to it, by a 
gentleman of tRe name of Coward. By the 
will of its worthy founder, it appears to 
have been intended for educating pupils in 
the principles of Calyinifm. For many years, 
however, it has been on the ftrongeft grounds 
fufpected of being tin€tured, not a little, with 
Socinizn principles. Lately, a young gen- 
tleman from Scotland was invited to be one 
of the tutors. He foon found the ftate of 
the feminary fo bad, and the rejection of the 
Peculiar doctrines of the gofpel fo univerfal, 
Diffolution of the Northampton Academy. 
319 
open and avowed, that facrificing his falary 
to his confcience, he thought it neceflary 
to propofe to the truftees its total diffolution, 
as the only remaining expedient by which 
the evil, now become inveterate, could be 
exterminated. MHisintegrity merits the high- 
eft praife, while we cannot but lament the 
criminal and fatal mifmanagement which fub- 
jected him to the difagreeable neceflity of 
fuch a meafure. How criminal to teach 
in a\ clandeftine manner, principles . de- 
ftructive of thofe which muft have been pro- 
feffed, in order to gain accefs into fo im- 
portant a fituation, under pretence of refine 
ing chriftianity, to fap its foundations ; and 
all the while conceal the ftate of the femi- 
mary, the prevailing principles, charatters, 
and conduct of the ftudeats, from thofe 
whofe truft required them to demand, and 
entitled them to receive the moft ampde ins 
formation, yet {uch we believe have very 
generally been the practices by which Socini« 
anifm has of late years been rendered fo prea 
valent, The diffolution of this Academy, 
While it 1s a fubjeet of rejoicing to the {erie 
ous in the the town and county of North 
ampton, will, we truft, be found beneficial 
to the intere{ts ef the gofpel among the Difs 
fenters at large. The worthy managers are 
foon, we underftand, to found the inftitution 
on a better bafis. Maytheir good endeavougs 
profper, and their charge begin at lak te 
flourifh under happy aufpices.”” 
COPY OF MY’ REPLY. 
To the .Rev. » Editor of the Miffenary 
Magazine. 

SIRS | 
£¢ Some anonymous writer in your Magaziné& 
for Auguit, having thought proper to give 
information to the public, of the diffelution 
of the Academy at Northampton, and to ac- 
company it with infinuations, conjetures, 
and affertions,. worthy of fo refwectable an 
author, Ithink it proper, through the fame 
medium, to declare, that fome of the lead- 
ing articles in-that account, relating to my- 
felf, as theological tutor, to the ftate of the 
family, and the character of the ftudents, 
are either entirely falfe, or grofsly mifrepre- 
fented. With refpect particularly to the mode 
of leéturing on the doétrines of Chriftianity, 
I affirm, in oppofition to the infinuations of that 
writer, that the direétion contained in Mr. 
Coward’s will has been uniformly regarded, 
and confcientioufly obeyed; and I challenge 
any pupil who has ever been under my care, 
to contradiét this. The charge too of conceal- 
ing the ftate of the feminary from thofe whe 
were intitled to the moft ample information, 
is unfounded, and betrays as much ignorance 
as malice. Thetruftees, Sir, have net been 
intentionally deceived: and it is fcarcely 
poffible that they could, fince, befides our 
annual interviews at London, and examina- 
tions at Northampton, the inftitution was at 
all times entirely open to their enquiries and 
inipection, 
Few 
