1780. JOHN NORRIS, Esq., of Whitton, in the county of Norfolk, by his Will gave to the University the sum of £12 per annum, as a prize for the best Essay on a Theological Subject. He directed that £7. 4s. should be expended on a Gold Medal, and the remainder in Books, namely, the Bible, Bp Sherlock's Discourses, Leland against Deistical Writers, and Pearson on the Creed.

According to the account of Dr Knox, Mr Norris was induced to leave this prize, as well as the Stipend for a Professor of Divinity, by reading some extracts from Bishop Porteus's eighth Sermon, which describes the advantages which ought to result from Academical Education.

The Subject is proposed every year in November, by the Norrisian Professor of Divinity. Candidates are required to be between twenty and thirty years of age, under the standing of M.A., and to have attended, in one year, twenty lectures of the Norrisian Professor. Each Candidate must send in his Essay, inscribed with a motto, to one of the judges, on or before the tenth day preceding Palm Sunday, and his name in a sealed

letter, with the same motto, inscribed on the envelope. The sealed letter of the writer of the best Essay only is opened, and the rest of them are burnt unopened. The successful candidate is required to print and publish his Essay, and he may become more than once a candidate for the Prize. No doctrine must be advanced in the Essay contrary to the Liturgy, Articles, and Homilies of the Church of England.

Subjects of the Norrisian Essay:

1781 The Advantages of Revelation.

1782 Jesus Christ considered as an Example to mankind.

1783 The necessity of a Redeemer.

1784 The Literary Beauties of Scripture.

1785 The Rewards of Eternity.

1786 The Goodness of God, as manifested in the Mission of Jesus Christ.

1787 The Advantages of the Knowledge revealed to mankind concerning the Holy Spirit.

1788 Voluntary Neglect of one duty cannot be compensated by strictness of attention to other duties.

1789 When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son. Gal. iv. 4. 1790 The manner in which the Christian Religion was intended to improve

Morality.

1791 The Propagation of the Christian Religion.

1792 The Old Testament is not contrary to the New.

1793 In what sense Jesus Christ hath "brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel."

1794 The Christian Doctrine of Justification by Faith is not destructive of the Principles of Natural Virtue.

1795 The Holy Scriptures, rightly understood, do not give encouragement to Enthusiasm or Superstition.

1796 The Grounds contained in Scripture for expecting a future Restoration of the Jews.

1797 The Advantages, which result to Revelation from its being conveyed in the form of History.

1798 The state of the Jews since the death of Christ, as affording an argument for the truth of Christianity.

1799 The conduct and character of St Peter considered, as giving evidence to the truth of the Christian Religion.

1800 The Christian Religion has, in its effects, been favourable to human happiness. 1801 The difference of opinion among Christians affords no argument against

Christianity.

1802 On the method of illustrating the Scriptures from the relations of modern Travellers in Palestine, and the neigbouring countries.

1803 What are the causes that Christianity spread itself so much in the ages immediately succeeding the Age of the Apostles, and so little ever since?

1804 The Providence of God.

1805 The Internal Evidence of the Religion of Moses.

1806 The External Evidence of the Religion of Moses.

1807 The Fulness of the time when Christ came into the World.

1808 Public Worship.

1809 The Christian Sabbath.

1810 The Connexion between Religion and Learning.

1811 The divisions of Christians are not inconsistent with the truths of Christianity. 1812 The conduct of the Apostles of Christ before his Ascension considered in itself, and in comparison with their conduct afterward.

1813 The Literary Beauties of the New Testament.

1814 "The Baptism of John, was it from Heaven, or of Men ?"

1815 The treachery of Judas, and the failings of the other Apostles, are consistent with the Divine Mission of Jesus Christ.

1816 The Use and Necessity of Revelation.

• This same practice is followed with respect to all Prizes at Cambridge.

1817 The Internal Evidence of the Genuineness and Authenticity of the Gospels. 1818 What confirmation does the credibility of the Gospel-History derive from the number and concurrence of the Evangelists?

1819 No valid argument can be drawn from the incredulity of the Jews against the truth of the Christian Religion.

1820 Shew, from a review of the Civil, Moral, and Religious State of mankind at the time when Christ came into the World, how far the reception which his Religion met with is a proof of his Divine Origin.

1821 The Connexion between the Jewish and Christian Dispensations.

1822 The Internal Evidence of the Divine Origin of the Christian Religion. 1823 The Office and Mission of John the Baptist.

1824 The Doctrines of our Saviour, as derived from the four Gospels, are in perfect harmony with the Doctrines of St Paul, as derived from his Epistles. 1825 No valid argument can be drawn from the incredulity of the Heathen Philoso phers against the truth of the Christian Religion.

1826 The Mosaic Dispensation not intended to be perpetual.

1827 The Proofs of a General Judgment to come, and the Advantages of the Know. ledge revealed to Mankind concerning it.

1828 The nature and use of Parables as employed by Christ.

1829 The Doctrine of Types, and its influence on the Interpretation of the New Testament.

1830 The Christian Religion the last Revelation to be expected of the will of God. 1831 The proof of the Divine Origin of the Gospel derived from the Nature of the Rewards and Punishments it holds out.

1832 The intent and use of the Gift of Tongues in the Christian Dispensation. 1833 The Conduct and Preaching of the Apostles are Evidence of the Truth of Christianity.

1834 The Divine origin of Christianity proved by the accomplishment of the Prophecies delivered by Christ himself. 1835 The person, character, and actions of Jesus Christ afford a satisfactory fulfilment of all the Prophecies in the Old Testament which relate to the Messiah. 1836 The Style and Composition of the Writings of the New Testament no way inconsistent with the Belief that the Authors of them were divinely inspired.

1837 The state of the Christian Religion from its Promulgation to the present Time not inconsistent with the Belief that it is a Revelation from God.

1838 No subject proposed.

1839 The Divine Origin of the Holy Scriptures may be inferred from their perfect adaptation to the circumstances of Human Nature.

1840 The Holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all Doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation, through faith in Jesus Christ.

1841 Both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind only through Christ.

1842 The Apostolical Epistles afford internal evidence that the persons to whom they were severally addressed had already been made acquainted with the great truths which those Epistles inculcate. 1843 The Writings of the New Testament afford indications that this portion of the Sacred Canon was intended to be a complete record of Apostolical doctrine.

1844 By one offering Christ has perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Heb. x. 14.)

1845

"Hath God cast away His people? God forbid." (Rom. xi. 1.)

1846 If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.

1847 The Connexion of Prophecy with the other Evidences of Revealed Relgion. 1848 The Fitness of the Times in which the promises of a Messiah were severally

given to the Church under the Old Testament Dispensation.

1849 The internal evidence afforded by the Historical Books of the Old Testament

that the several writers of them were inspired by the Holy Ghost. 1850 The plenary inspiration of the Four Gospels is not invalidated by the alleged

discrepancies which are objected against them.

1851 The traces discernible in Holy Scripture of the influence exerted on the Character of the Hebrews by their residence in Egypt.

1852 The Analogy between the Miracles and Doctrines of Scripture.

1853 The Gospels could not have originated in any or all of those forms of religious opinion which prevailed among the Jews at the time of our Saviour's incarnation.

1854 The essential coherence of the Old and New Testament.

1789. The Rev. JOHN HULSE, B.A., of St John's College, bequeathed certain estates in Cheshire to the University, for the advancement of Religious Learning, and directed in his Will, "that certain rents and profits should be paid to such learned and ingenious person, in the University of Cambridge, under the degree of Master of Arts, as shall compose, for that year, the best Dissertation in the English Language, on the Evidences in general, or on the Prophecies or Miracles in particular, or on any other particular argument, whether the same be direct or collateral proofs of the Christian Religion, in order to evince its truth and excellence."

The subject is given out on Christmas-day, or New Year'sday, and candidates are required to send in their Essays on or before the 20th October. The successful candidate must print and publish his Essay, and not become a candidate a second time for the prize. It is provided by Mr Hulse's Will, that £40 shall be given as the premium to the writer of the best dissertation. In consequence of the improvement of the rental of the estates, it was announced that in 1830 and for the future, the premium would not be less than £100. In 1834 the premium exceeded £100, and in the year 1853 the successful candidate received the sum of £132.

Mr Hulse directed that certain clauses of his Will should be always prefixed to the Prize Dissertation, and desired that the following passage might be added: "May the Divine blessing for ever go along with all my benefactions; and may the Greatest and Best of Beings, by His all-wise Providence and gracious influence, make the same effectual to His own glory, and the good of my fellow-creatures."

Subjects of the Hulsean Dissertation:

1801 The Prophecies, which are now accomplishing, are an Evidence of the truth of the Christian Religion.

1802 The Internal Evidences of the truth of the Christian Religion. 1803 The External Evidences of the truth of the Christian Religion. 1804 The External Evidences of the truth of the Christian Religion.

1805 The Propagation of Christianity.

1806 The Insufficiency of Secondary Causes to insure the success of Christianity. 1807 A Critical Essay on the Ninth Book of Bp Warburton's 'Divine Legation of Moses.'

1808 On the Origin and Intention of Sacrifices.

-1809 On the Advantages of Difficulties in Religion, in order to shew the good effects which result (or which might result) from the proofs of revelation being of a probable, rather than of a demonstrative kind.

1810 The remarkable propensity of the Jews to Idolatry before the Babylonish Captivity, compared with their exemption from it in general afterward, affords the unbeliever no just grounds for rejecting the scriptural account of the Miracles in the times of Moses and Joshua.

1811 On the Books of Origen against Celsus, with a view to illustrate the argument; and to point out the evidence they afford to the truth of Christianity.

1812 On the religious knowledge which the Heathen Philosophers derived from the Jewish Scriptures.

1813 On the Magi who came to adore the new-born Jesus, and on the Star which directed their way.

1814 On the comparative value of Prophecy and Miracles, as evidences for the truth of Christianity.

1815 The distinct provinces of Reason and Faith.

1816 The doctrine of the Atonement is agreeable to Reason.

1817 The probable causes of the apparent Neglect, with which some celebrated ancient writers treated the Christian Religion.

1818 The probable influence of Revelation on the writings of Heathen Philosophers, and on the morals of the Heathen World.

1819 On the fitness of the Time when Christ came into the World.

1820 The Importance of Natural Religion.

1821 The expedients resorted to by the Gentile Philosophers, in opposing the Progress of the Gospel, described and applied in illustration of the truth of the Christian Religion.

1822 The Argument for the Genuineness of the Sacred Volume, as generally received by Christians, stated and explained.

1823 The Nature and Advantages of the Influence of the Holy Spirit. 1824 The Nature and Advantages of the Influence of the Holy Spirit. 1825 In what respects the Law is a Schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ. 1826 A Critical Examination of our Saviour's Discourses with regard to the Evidences which they afford of His Divine Nature.

1827 The Contention between Paul and Barnabas.

1828 How far have the Laws of the Jews been abrogated by the Christian Dispensation?

1829 What was the extent of the knowledge, which the Jews had of a future state, at the time of our Saviour's appearance?

1830 On the Futility of Attempts to represent the Miracles recorded in Scripture as Effects produced in the ordinary Course of Nature.

1831 The Evidences of the Truth of the Christian Revelation are not weakened by Time.

1832 The advantages which have resulted from the Christian Religion being conveyed in a narrative rather than a didactive form.

1833 What were the opinions of the ancient philosophers of Greece and Rome respecting the nature and attributes of the Deity; and how far did they differ from the revealed Word of God? 1834 How far the political circumstances of the Jewish nation were favorable to the introduction and diffusion of the Christian Religion.

1835 The resemblance between Moses and Christ is so very great and striking, that it is impossible to consider it fairly and carefully without seeing and acknowledging that He must be foretold where He is so well described. 1836 How far our Saviour's Miracles were typical of the nature of the Christian Dispensation.

1837 To compare the evidence, which Christians of the present age have, for the truth of the Gospel with that which the first converts possessed. 1838 That a Revelation contains mysteries is no solid argument against its truth. 1839 The Christian Scheme considered as a Discipline of Humility.

1840 An Enquiry into the principles of the Prophetic Interpretation, and the practical results arising from them. 1841 The use and value of the Writings of the Ancient Fathers considered as auxiliary to the proof of the Truth of the Christian Religion, and to the elucidation of its Doctrines.

1842 What is the relation in which the moral precepts of the New and Old Testa

ment stand to each other?

1843 The Obligation of the Sabbath, with a History of the Institution, and its

Influence from the earliest times to the present day.

1844 The Lawfulness and Obligation of Oaths in a Christian Community, and the influence which they have had upon society at different periods.

1845 The influence of the Christian Religion in promoting the Abolition of Slavery

in Europe.

1846 The fitness of Christianity to promote the Moral and Social improvement of the Northern nations which overthrew the Roman Empire.