positive advantage, let it be recollected that infidelity in both its branches, that is, as opposed both to natural and revealed religion, has of late fixed her arena on the field of Natural History, and borrowed from this science her most formidable weapons of attack. But, however hostile to a sound faith has ever been the science that is falsely so called, the science that is truly so called, if but enough prosecuted, will be ever found to overmatch and neutralize it; so that while Theology, both the Natural and the Christian, reposes on her own independent evidences, it will be found, of all the other sciences, that, forming into one glorious harmony around her, they, as at once contributors and witnesses, do homage to her cause. Whether then, as furnishing our students with armour of defence, or as gracing and enriching their minds by a positive acquisition, we do hope that the Church will exact, as part of the curriculum, one year of attendance on our class of Natural Science, but without specifying what year, or whether it should be previous to their entrance into the Hall, or during the course of their theological studies.

For the Theological curriculum, we have, in the first instance, two Professors, who share between them the business of what is properly the Hall. It might appear at first sight the natural arrangement that the Junior Professor should take charge of the first and second year's students, and the Senior of those of the third and fourth years. But it were difficult, if not impossible, under such an arrangement, to partition the subjects of the course rightly between the two chairs. For doing full justice to the Theologia Dogmatica, or the subject matter of Christianity, systematized into articles, the lessons of two years are indispensable; and these should not be divided between the two Professors, but devolved upon one of them. But this systematic theology should, in reference to the whole course, be made to occupy an intermediate position, preceded, as it ought to be, by some lessons at least of Natural Theology, and by a full exposition of the evidences and authority of the Christian revelation; and then succeeded by lessons on the government of the Church, in its various ordinances, and more especially the sacraments; and above all, on ministerial duty, whether in Church Courts, or, of immeasurably greater importance, in pulpits, and among the people at their own homes,-thus issuing in what has been termed Pastoral Theology. On this view of the subjects, and of their right order of succession, it seems the most eligible arrangement that one of the Hall Professors should take charge of the second and third year students, who under him would pass a two years' course on the doctrines of the Christian Theology; whilst to the other Professor would fall the more miscellaneous, but not on that account the incon

gruous task of teaching the first and fourth year students on those subjects of their respective years which have just been specified.

When these professors are in readiness for two classes each, the advantage to the students of such an arrangement is the greatest possible. At whatever year's standing they would never fail to have their own proper class, so as to pass from the one to the other in the regular and rightly consecutive order of their studies. Whereas, under the old system, when one Professor of Theology had the sole conduct of the students from first to last, over a course of four years, the students of the first year fell in, three times out of four, at the more advanced parts of the course. This monstrous inconvenience is done away, when the four classes which we now recommend are once set up, and in full operation; and even when, from the age of the Professor, he is unable to undertake more than one class, the inconvenience still is greatly alleviated. It were well that, when the system of four classes is commenced, it should commence in full; and there are circumstances which make it expedient that, though adopted and approved of now by the General Assembly, the actual commencement of it at College should not take place for at least one year.

So much for the passage of the students through the Hall,—after which, it will be found that their attendance on the collateral classes, Hebrew and Church History, admits of an easy and most practicable adjustment. The students of the first year should attend the Junior Hebrew, those of the second year the Senior Hebrew. The students of the third year should attend a junior class of Church History, those of the fourth year a senior class of Church History. At this rate, eight classes would be in operation, by each of the Professors teaching two; and the whole amount of class attendance which this would impose on students of any year, is that of two hours a-day. We need not expatiate on the obvious benefit of this subdivision in making each of the classes far more manageable, because much smaller, than under the present order, so in fact, as to perpetuate throughout the theological stage of the curriculum a far more thorough education to our students, or rather, a far more powerful stimulant to their diligence, by the more frequent rounds of examination, and the closer inspection of their progress, than has hitherto been practicable. It would, in fact, be carrying the peculiar advantages of a Gymnasium upward along the higher stages of the academical course.

There only remains for consideration the class of Exegetical Theology, as now taught by Dr Black. However competent it may be to provide for biblical criticism through the medium of the Hebrew Professor, who might also become a Hellenistic Professor, and more espe

cially if the language should be acquired at an earlier stage, and previous to the entrance of our students into the Hall, it should be recollected of this latter arrangement, that it is yet to come, and that meanwhile we have the valuable services of Dr Black. We would therefore suggest an enactment for the attendance of a year upon his class, and would recommend our students to make it the second year of their theological course.

We feel assured that the amount of compulsory attendance here recommended will not be regarded as oppressive or unreasonable, when, on counting up all the eleven classes, by adding the Natural History and Exegetical Theology to the eight previous ones, and further reckoning the Moral Philosophy as one that might possibly be attended by so many students of the first year, it will be found that they amount on the whole to eleven, which falls short of three hours a-day for each year of their course.

Should the Assembly be pleased to approve of these suggessions, and pass them into law, then should be strongly recommended the entire abolition of the system of partial attendance,—a system adopted more than a century ago to meet a temporary emergency or provide for the want of ecclesiastical labourers,—a want which, now that we have fallen upon the method of supplying our infant congregations with catechists, no longer calls for an abridgement of the educational courses of those who are training for the full and regular functions of the ministry. This habit of partial attendance is spontaneously, we are happy to state, falling into desuetude, insomuch that while there were not more than about ten instances last winter, within our own recollection one-third of the students were of this description. It is well that a system so obviously irrational should thus be vanishing of its own accord; but to secure us against the recurrence of it, or even to save us from its continuance in however small and slight a degree, we hold it most desirable that it should be completely and authoritatively put an end to.

Let it be understood that we do not propose by this to limit the discretion of the Church in extending such indulgence to particular cases as seemeth to her good, but that this indulgence shall be provided for in other ways than by countenancing or continuing any longer the fiction of a partial attendance, so that all who present themselves for enrolment at our Hall shall be held bound to a regular attendance for the whole session of that enrolment.