"From the practice of Ambrose, Origen, Chrysostom, and Austin, among the ancients, and of our reformers, and more modern divines, we may safely affirm (says Mr. Shepherd in his _Elucidation of the Morning and Evening Prayer_) that explaining and applying portions of Scripture read in the Lessons, is a very beneficial mode of preaching to ordinary congregations." J. Y. Hoxton. THE REV. ---- GAY. (Vol. iii., pp. 424. 508.) Through the kindness of a friend, who takes an interest in the pedigree of the _Gay_ family, I am enabled to offer the following information to MR. TAGART. In Paley's Life of Law, prefixed to the _Theory of Religion_, mention is made of Gay's dissertation; and the author is there stated to be of "Sidney College." Inquiry was accordingly made in that quarter, and the following answer was returned:-- "I find there have been four persons of the name of Gay educated at Sidney College; three of them _certainly_--and in _all probability_ the fourth--members of the same family. As I shall have occasion to refer to them subsequently, I will give you their several entries in the College Register: "'1. _Johannes_, fil. Jacobi _Gay_, clerici, natus apud Meath in com. Devon. lit. gram. instit. per quinquennium apud Torrington sub M'ro Reynolds, deinde per biennium sub M'ro Rayner, apud Tiverton in com. prædicto. Adm. est Pens. min. anno æt. 18'mo sub tut. M'ro Nath. Popple, S.T.B., et M'ro Laur. Jackson, M.A., 7'mo Nov. 1717.' "'2. _Nicholas_, fil Jacobi _Gay_, clerici, natus apud Meath in com. Devon. lit. gram. instit. per quinquennium apud Torrington sub M'ro Reynolds, deinde per triennium sub M'ro Rayner apud Tiverton, in com. prædicto. Adm. est Sizator 20'mo Oct. 1718, anno æt. 17'mo, Tut. Laurentio Jackson, A.M.' "'3. _Jacobus_, fil. natû max. Rev'di Joannis _Gay_, hujus Coll'ii quondam Socii, posteà Vicarii de Wilshamstead, natus apud Wilshamstead, in com. Bedf. lit. gr. instructus apud Bampton in com. Devon. sub M'ro Wood. Adm. est Sizator 24'to Aug. 1752, annum agens 17'mo, Tut. J. Lawson et J. Cranwell.' "'4. _Johannes_, fil. natû max. Nicolai _Gay_, de Newton St. Cyres in com. Devon. Vicarii, ibidem natus, lit. verò gram. inst. apud South-Molton per sexennium, et apud Ottery St. Mary per triennium sub viro rev'do Joanne Colridge. Adm. est Sizator 15'to Junii 1762, annum agens 19'mo, Tut. Gul. Elliston, M'ro C'i et Joh. Hey.'