that we believe the interests of Christianity would be subserved by pastors being allowed to give themselves more entirely to "prayer and to the ministry of the word." In such an event, it is to be hoped that the standard of personal devotedness and spiritual attainment might rise higher, first among pastors, and then among people; and that, with more effort concentrated on pulpit ministrations, the members of the Christian community would be gainers, in the extending range of their scriptural knowledge, in the growing strength of their religious convictions, and in the more powerful impulses from time to time imparted to their personal piety.

THE CHRISTIAN LAITY.

LORD BACON.

Overshadowed as were the last years of this illustrious Englishman by his own sad confession that, in the administration of justice, he had been guilty of "corruption," there is no admirer of genius who is not anxious to find for the fallen chancellor every extenuation afforded by the venality of his contemporaries and predecessors; and, although some may demur to our giving a place in religious authorship to one in whose career there was so much to condemn, charitable readers will recall to remembrance the inspired author of those psalms, some of which Bacon translated,* and, however much they may regret that a loftier morality was not combined with mental powers so transcendent, they will be reluctant to forego the homage paid to Christianity by one of the most imperial intellects among the sons of men, and they will be anxious to hope that, amidst manifold infirmities, "the root of the matter was found" in him.

Of Riches.

The

I cannot call riches better than the baggage of virtue. Roman word is better-impedimenta. For, as the baggage is *See ante, page 124.

to an army, so are riches to virtue. It cannot be spared, nor left behind; but it hindereth the march; yea, and the care of it sometimes loseth or disturbeth the victory. Of great riches there is no real use, except it be in the distribution; the rest is but conceit. So, saith Solomon, "Where much is there are many to consume it; and what hath the owner, but the sight of it with his eyes?" The personal fruition in any man cannot reach to feel great riches: there is a custody of them, or a power of dole and donative of them, or a fame of them, but no solid use to the owner. Do you not see what feigned prices are set upon little stones and rarities? and what works of ostentation are undertaken, because there might seem to be some use of great riches? But then, you will say, they may be of use, to buy men out of dangers and troubles. As Solomon saith, Riches are as a stronghold in the imagination of the rich man. But this is excellently expressed—that it is in imagination, and not always in fact: for, certainly, great riches have sold more men than they have bought out. Seek not proud riches; but such as thou mayst get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly. The poets feign, that when Plutus, which is riches, is sent from Jupiter, he limps, and goes slowly; but when he is sent from Pluto, he runs, and is swift of foot: meaning, that riches gotten by good means and just labour, pace slowly; but when they come by the death of others, as by the course of inheritance, testaments, and the like, they come tumbling upon a man. But it might be applied likewise to Pluto, taking him for the devil; for when riches come from the devil, as, by fraud, and oppression, and unjust means, they come upon speed. The ways to enrich are many, and most of them foul. Parsimony is one of the best, and yet is not innocent; for it withholdeth men from works of liberality and charity. The improvement of the ground is the most natural obtaining of riches; for it is our great mother's blessing, the earth's: but it is slow.

VOL. III.

And yet, where men of great wealth stoop to husbandry, it multiplieth riches exceedingly. I knew a nobleman in England that had the greatest audits of any man in my time; a great grazier, a great sheep-master, a great timber-man, a great collier, a great corn-master, a great lead-man, and so of iron and a number of the like points of husbandry, so as the earth seemed a sea to him, in respect of the perpetual importation. It was truly observed by one, that himself came very hardly to a little riches, and very easily to great riches. For when a man's stock is come to that, that he can expect the prime of markets, and overcome those bargains which, for their greatness, are few men's money, and be partner in the industries of younger men, he cannot but increase mainly. The gains of ordinary trades and vocations are honest, and furthered by two things-chiefly by diligence, and by a good name for good and fair dealings. The fortune in being the first in an invention or in a privilege, doth cause sometimes a wonderful overgrowth in riches, as it was with the first sugar-man in the Canaries. Therefore, if a man can play the true logician, to have as well judgment as invention, he may do great matters, especially if the times be fit. He that resteth upon gains certain, shall hardly grow to great riches; and he that puts all upon adventures, doth oftentimes break, and come to poverty: it is good, therefore, to guard adventures with certainties that may uphold losses. Believe not much them that seem to despise riches; for they despise them that despair of them, and none worse when they come to them. Be not penny

wise riches have wings, and sometimes they fly away of themselves; sometimes they must be set flying, to bring in more. Men leave their riches either to their kindred or to the public; and moderate portions prosper best in both. A great estate left to an heir, is as a lure to all the birds of prey round about, to seize on him, if he be not the better established in years and judgment. Likewise, glorious gifts and foundations are

THE STUDENT'S PRAYER.

159

like sacrifices without salt, and but the painted sepulchres of alms, which soon will putrify and corrupt inwardly. Therefore, measure not thine advancements by quantity, but frame them by measure; and defer not charities till death: for, certainly, if a man weigh it rightly, he that doth so is rather liberal of another man's than of his own.

The Student's Prayer.

To God the Father, God the Word, God the Spirit, we pour forth most humble and hearty supplications, that He, remembering the calamities of mankind, and the pilgrimage of this our life, in which we wear out days few and evil, would please to open to us new refreshments out of the fountains of His goodness, for the alleviating of our miseries. This also we humbly and earnestly beg, that human things may not prejudice such as are divine; neither that from the unlocking of the gates of sense, and the kindling of a greater light, anything of incredulity or intellectual night may arise in our minds towards Divine mysteries. But rather, that by our mind thoroughly cleansed and purged from fancy and vanities, and yet subject and perfectly given up to the Divine oracles, there may be given unto faith the things that are faith's. Amen.

The Writer's Prayer.

Thou, O Father, who gavest the visible light as the firstborn of Thy creatures, and didst pour into man the intellectual light as the top and consummation of Thy workmanship, be pleased to protect and govern this work, which coming from Thy goodness returneth to Thy glory. Thou, after Thou hadst reviewed the works which Thy hand made, beheldest that everything was very good, and Thou didst rest with complacency in them. But man, reflecting on the works which he

had made, saw that all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and could by no means acquiesce in them. Wherefore, if we labour in Thy works with the sweat of our brows, Thou wilt make us partakers of Thy vision and Thy sabbath. We humbly beg that this mind may be steadfastly in us, and that Thou, by our hands, and also by the hands of others on whom Thou shalt bestow the same spirit, wilt please to convey a largess of new alms to Thy family of mankind. These things we commend to Thy everlasting love, by our Jesus, Thy Christ, God with Amen.

us.

JOHN SELDEN.

The most erudite of Englishmen-an encyclopædia of knowledge, antiquarian, historical, legal-master of many languages, dead and living-the author of works which had filled Europe with his fame-and possessor of a collection of 8000 volumes, now among the most precious treasures of the Bodleian Library, -when Selden lay dying, he said to Archbishop Ussher and Dr Langbain :-"I have surveyed most of the learning that is among the sons of men, and my study is filled with books and manuscripts on various subjects, but at present I cannot recollect any passage out of all my books and papers whereon I can rest my soul, save this from the sacred Scriptures: 'The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.'"

The confession is interesting, as the eventual landing-place of one of the most learned of mankind; and its meekness