tious jars, the anxious intrigues, the vexatious molestations of the world; its business lying out of the road of those mischiefs, wholly lying in solitary retirement, or being transacted in the most innocent and ingenuous company.

It is a calling least subject to any danger or disappointment; wherein we may well be assured not to miscarry or lose our labour; for the merchant indeed by manifold accidents may lose his voyage, or find a bad market; the husbandman may plough and sow in vain: but the student hardly can fail of improving his stock, and reaping a good crop of knowledge; especially if he study with a conscientious mind, and pious reverence to God, imploring his gracious help and blessing.

It is a calling, the industry used wherein doth abundantly recompense itself, by the pleasure and sweetness which it carrieth in it; so that the more pains one taketh, the more delight he findeth,

feeling himself proportionably to grow in knowledge, and that his work becometh continually more easy to him.

It is a calling, the business whereof doth so exercise as not to weary, so entertain as not to cloy us; being not (as other occupations are) a drawing in a mill, or a nauseous tedious repetition of the same work; but a continual progress toward fresh objects; our mind not being staked to one or a few poor matters, but having immense fields of contemplation, wherein it may everlastingly expatiate, with great proficiency and pleasure.

It is a calling which doth ever afford plentiful fruit, even in regard to the conveniences of this present and temporal state; the which sufficiently will requite the pains expended thereon: for if we be honestly industrious, we shall not want success; and succeeding we shall not want a competence of wealth, of reputation, of interest in the world; for concerning wisdom, which is the result

us,

of honest study, the wise man telleth "Riches and honour are with her, yea, durable riches and righteousness : Length of days are in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour: Exalt her, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her; she shall give to thine head an ornament of grace, a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee." In common experience the wealth of the mind doth qualify for employments which have good recompenses annexed to them; and neither God nor man will suffer him long to want, who is endowed with worthy accomplishments of knowledge. It was a ridiculous providence in Nero, that if he should chance to lose his empire, he might live by fiddling; yet his motto was good; and Dionysius, another tyrant, found the benefit of it; "he that hath any good art, hath therein an estate, and land in every place; he is secured against being reduced to extre

mity of any misfortune:" "Wisdom," saith the wise man, " is a defence, and money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it." Money is a defence, of which fortune may bereave us; but wisdom is beyond its attacks; being a treasure seated in a place inaccessible to external impressions.

And as a learned man cannot be destitute of substance; so he cannot want credit, having such an ornament, than which none hath a more general estimation, ("A man shall be commended according to his wisdom;") and which can be of low rate only among that sort of folk, to whom Solomon saith, "How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?—and fools hate knowledge ?" It is that which recommendeth a man in all company, and procureth regard, every one yielding attention and acceptance to instructive, neat, apposite discourse, (that which the Scripture calleth" acceptable,

pleasant, gracious words;") men think themselves obliged thereby, by receiving information and satisfaction from it; and accordingly "Every man," saith the wise man, "shall kiss his lips, that giveth a right answer;" and-" for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend;" and, "the words of a wise man's mouth are gracious." It is that, an eminency wherein purchaseth lasting fame, and a life after death, in the good memory and opinion of posterity: Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out: his memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall live from generation to generation." A fame no less great, and far more innocent than acts of chivalry and martial prowess; for is not Aristotle as renowned for teaching the world with his pen, as Alexander for conquering it with his sword? Is not one far oftener mentioned than the other? Do not men hold

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