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and not less arduous field of usefulness, the training up of young men for the
Christian ministry, we are naturally curious to know by what unwearied exertion and judicious distribution of his time he was enabled to discharge so many various, and it might be supposed often conflicting, duties.
Unfortunately, we have not the means of gratifying this curiosity; for the only memorial we have left of him is a very slight sketch of his character, prefixed to a posthumous volume of sermons, by his pupil and brotherin-law,
Mr. Willets, of Newcastle-under-line.
It is much to be regretted, that one so competent to perform the office of biographer, and who, of course, enjoyed every opportunity of collecting all the information we should now wish to possess, was induced to be so sparing in his communications respecting one who appears to have been deservedly held in high estimation by his contemporaries for the learning, talents, and active energy which he displayed in the various important and laborious duties he undertook.
With the exception of an occasional sermon or two, we know not that Dr. Latham appeared before the public as an author in his lifetime.
If he did not, it can excite little surprise, when we consider the importance and multiplicity of his other occupations.
About twenty years after his death, (which occurred in 1754,) the volume of sermons already mentioned was published under the superintendence of Mr. Willets, from whose very brief prefatory notice of the author the preceding particulars have been derived.
The sermons shew him to have been an Arian of
