Philip Doddridge (1702-51), the bicentenary of whose birth occurs this year, has had a bad press over the years. Even C. H. Spurgeon, who heartily recommended Doddridge's Family Expositor, did not consider that he was as bold and orthodox as he should have been. Part of the bad press, I believe, is due to the biography of Job Orton. He was Doddridge's first biographer and eulogized his Academy Principal, while attacking many of his contemporaries. The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church (published by Zondervan) says of Doddridge: 'His alleged heresies are probably due to lack of necessary mental equipment to articulate his thoughts clearly.' That is grossly unfair. He was a multi-talented, multi-competent man, whose exploits and achievements leave one breathless. There are lessons to be learnt from the life of Doddridge.

1. He kept the Light of Gospel truth burning in days of darkness⤒🔗

The early days of the eighteenth century were a very dark time spiritually. In many ways the situation was similar to today. Unwanted children were not aborted, but were ruthlessly killed at birth. The drink problem was similar to the drugs problems of today. Society was corrupt and wickedness seemed to prevail. But there were a few who kept gospel truth alight. They included Isaac Watts and Philip Doddridge. The latter never lived to see the full light of the Evangelical Awakening, but he stood for the truth in dark days.

2. He was concerned to promote an Educated Ministry←⤒🔗

He did not expect all preachers to hold a doctoral degree, but he knew that an untaught, uneducated ministry meant that the church would suffer from a lack of good-quality teaching. When John Jennings died, his Academy at Kibworth closed down. Doddridge was encouraged to start up the Academy again. So when he moved to Northampton the Academy moved with him. It became renowned as a place of spirituality and learning.

Doddridge was the first to teach in English, not Latin. Not that he was unconcerned about languages. He taught Old Testament Hebrew and expected his students to be fluent in New Testament Greek. Every morning, one of his students was appointed to read a passage from the Old Testament in Hebrew and then translate into English. Doddridge would then expound the passage. Another student would be asked to do the same with a New Testament passage in Greek and translate. Then Philip would expound that passage. In that way through the years of their training the students would hear their Principal expound most of the Scriptures. (It was not unknown for the students to conceal the English translation in their Greek and Hebrew texts!)

3. He had a far-sighted view of Educational Principles←⤒🔗

Today we accept that there is a universe of discourse, an inter-relation between the disciplines that shows the order and design of the Creator. Doddridge sought to give his students a full and rounded education. Subjects included science, mathematics, philosophy (metaphysics and logic), history, geography, mechanics, optics and astronomy as well as the classics. He had a truly Christian-world view, which was revolutionary for his day. It might be asked whether we have such a truly Christian world view today?

4. He taught his students to Think for Themselves←⤒🔗

Other Academies churned out their denominational line, but Doddridge insisted on giving all sides of the argument. He was much criticized for this, even in his own day. Many since have accused him of refusing to come down clearly on the side of the truth, because a few of his students became Arians and a few others became Unitarians. But his method was sound. He was transparent in his concern for his students. He was accessible to his students at all times. He encouraged them to ask him about texts of Scripture which they did not understand. He explained such passages and directed them to suitable commentaries. Every objection and answer to a wrong view was rooted in the Scriptures. He always sought to prove the facts of the case from the Word of God.

His printed lectures are quite short and are clearly little more than notes. They are highly structured, using proposition and proof by means of Demonstrations and Solutions. Arguments, objections and answers are covered. He was concerned to show that evangelical religion was reasonable, logical and rational. Yet, 'Where reason fails, with all her powers, there faith prevails and love adores,' as his contemporary Isaac Watts well expressed it. Doddridge first sought to stimulate his students' minds and then to fire their souls.

Some have accused him of being weak on the doctrine of the Trinity. I would urge all who make the charge to read his Family Expositor on John chapter 1, and on Hebrews chapter 1. Personally, I think the charge is unjustified and I would argue that an impartial consideration of his writings and sermons demonstrates this conclusively. Many of his contemporaries recognized that his Academy was uniquely orthodox when almost all other dissenting academies of his day were drifting dangerously. During a five-year course his theological students would hear Doddridge expound the whole Bible at least once and most of the New Testament twice. The teaching was orthodox.

He frequently enquired after his students' reading and on what texts they had been meditating. For the first year when they went to preach they were not allowed to preach their own sermons. Instead, they were required to read the printed sermons of others who were orthodox. The churches to which young students went knew and understood what was happening. So there was no duplicity in this. Doddridge wanted the students to be exposed to good preaching. In those days, with no audio-recording equipment, there was no better way than to use the printed sermons of others. His ultimate concern for his students was that they be 'pious and godly men'.

5. He had a great concern for True Gospel Unity←⤒🔗

He was a true independent, but wide in his associations. He was often criticized for this, but he was concerned for true unity among all the faithful servants of God. His friendship with George Whitefield and Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, was greatly misunderstood. Even Dr Isaac Watts criticized him for allowing Whitefield to preach in his pulpit! Yet he guarded his pulpit carefully from error.

6. His literary output was Significant←⤒🔗

Doddridge wrote his Family Expositor to be a devotional exposition of the New Testament. It is well worth using in one's own personal devotions. Then The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul – a classic that ought to be back in print today – is a book that has been of great help to many. He also wrote a number of other books and pamphlets. He invented a form of shorthand. He composed over three hundred and sixty-five hymns.

7. His 'spare time' activities were also Important←⤒🔗

He founded the Northampton Infirmary and a charity school for children. He wrote scientific papers for the local Philosophical Society and presented papers to the Royal Society in London. He took great interest in all things scientific. At a time when many were dying from smallpox, he promoted the use of the new smallpox vaccine and took a lead in volunteering to undergo trials of the new vaccine himself. He gathered together a local militia which turned back Bonnie Prince Charlie and sent him scurrying back to Scotland! He was the first private citizen to take such action. Up till then, Bonnie Prince Charlie had travelled south, unopposed. But when he got to Derby he heard of the troops training in the centre of Northampton outside Doddridge's Academy and fled.

8. He was a Very Spiritual Man←⤒🔗

Doddridge had a great concern for the evangelization of the lost. On 15 October 1741 he preached a sermon at Kettering on Proverbs 24:11-12 entitled The Evil and Danger of Neglecting Men's Souls. This sermon was printed and later almost certainly became the inspiration behind Carey's famous 'Call' fifty years later. He had a great concern for revival, although he never lived to see the full light of the eighteenth-century awakening. He kept detailed accounts of how he spent his time and money. He rose at 5 a.m. most days in order to spend time with God. He was a man of prayer, devotion and dedication. In short, Doddridge wore himself out working for his Master and Lord. We should take more notice of his life and testimony and seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ with similar devotion and dedication, giving our lives unstintingly in the work of his kingdom.