A prospect of the colledges in Cambridge in New England, Book

AN ACCOUNT OF “A PROSPECT OF THE COLLEDGES IN CAMBRIDGE IN NEW ENGLAND.” ENGRAVED BY WM. BURGIS IN 1726

AFTER-saith an old Puritan chronicler-God had carried us safe to New England, and we had builded our houses, provided necessaries for our livlihood, reared convenient places for God’s worship, and settled the civil government; one of the next things we longed for and looked after was to advance learning, and perpetuate it to posterity; dreading to leave an illiterate ministry to the churches, when our present ministers shall lie in the dust. And as we were thinking and consulting how to effect this great Work, it pleased God to stir up the heart of Mr. JOHN HARVARD (minister of Charlestown), a godly gentleman and a lover of learning, living among us, to give the one-half of his estate, it being in all about €1,700 and all his library, toward the erecting of a college. After him another gave €300; others after them cast in more, and the public hand Of the State added the rest (€400). The College was by common consent appointed to be at Cambridge, a place very pleasant and accommodate, and is called according to the name of the first founder, HARVARD COLLEGE.

“The edifice is very fair and comely within and without, having in it a spacious hall, where they daily meet at common lectures, exercises, and a large library with some books to it, the gifts of divers of our friends; their chambers and studies also fitted for and possessed by the students, and all other rooms of office necessary and convenient, with all needful отсев thereto belonging; and by the side of the College a fair grammar school, for the training up of young scholars, and fitting them for academic learning, that still as they are judged ripe they may be received into the College. Of this school, Master Corlet is the Mr. who hath very well approved himself for his abilities, dexterity and painfulness in teaching and education of the youth under him.”

“Over the college is Master Dunster placed as president, a learned, conscionable and industrious man, who hath so trained up his pupils in the tongues and arts, and so seasoned them with the principals of divinity and Christianity, that we have to our great comfort, and in truth beyond Our hopes, beheld their progress in learning and godliness also; the former of these hath appeared in their public declamations in Latin and Greek, and disputations logical and philosophical, which they have been wonted, besides their Ordinary exercises in the College hall, in the audience of the magistrates, min isters and other scholars, for the probation of their growth in learning upon set days Once a month to make and uphold; the latter hath been manifested in sundry of them by the savoury breathings Of their spirits in their Godly conversation; insomuch, that we are confident, if these early blossoms may be cherished and warmed with the influence of the friends of learning and lovers of this pious work, they will bythe help of God come tO а happy maturity in a short time.”

“Over the college are twelve Overseers chosen by the general court, six of them are Of the magistrates, the other six of the ministers, who are to promote the best good of it; and having a power of influence into all persons in it, are to see that everyone be diligent and proficient in his proper place.”

Ruler and precept: that are observed in the college.

1. When any scholar is able to understand Tully, or such like classical Latin author, ex tempore, and make and speak true Latin in verse and prose suo ut aiunt Marte, and decline perfectly the paradigms Of nouns and verbs in the Greek tongue, let him then, and not before, be capable of admission into the college.
2. Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well the main end of his life and studies is “ to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life ”; and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning. And seeing the Lord Only giveth wisdom, let everyone seriously set himself by prayer in secret tO seek it of him.
3. “Everyone shall so exercise himself in reading the Scriptures”: twice a day, that he shall be ready to give such an account Of his proficiency therein, both in theoretical observations of the language and logic and in practical and spiritual truths, as his tutor shall require; seeing “ the entrance Of the word giveth light, it giveth understanding to the simple.”
4. That they-_eschewing all profanation of God’s name, attributes, word, Ordinances and times of worship-do study with good conscience carefully to retain God and the lOve of his truth in their minds; else let them know that, notwithstanding their learning, God may “ give them up to strong delusions,” and in the end “ to a reprobate mind.”
5. That they studiously redeem the time; Observe the general hours appointed for all the students and the special hours for their Own classes; and then diligently attend the lectures without any disturbance by Word or gesture. And if in anything they doubt, they shall inquire as of their fellows; so, in case of non-satisfaction, modestly of their tutors.
6. None shall, under any pretense Whatever, frequent the company and society of such men as lead an unfit and dissolute life; nor shall any, without his tutor’s leave or (in his absence) the call of parent Or guardians, go abroad to other towns.