rectitude of his conduct, added to the greatness of his abilities and the ease of his deportment, not only gained him universal respect, but rendered him more conspicuous than any of his contemporaries.*

In the life of Sir Matthew Hale, says a respect→ able writer, we see not merely a character improved and adorned by the Christian graces and virtues, but Christianity itself substantially exemplified. We observe it's power to "convert the soul," in that radical change which it effects in the youth; while every subsequent action of the man concurs to prove that the ideal character of wisdom, which some ancient philosophers described as the mark to be aimed at, though without any hope of attainment, is in all it's valuable features actually realised in the true Christian. What but Christianity could have given to Judge Hale that uniform ascendency over every thing selfish and secular, by means of which he so undeviatingly kept the path of pure heroic virtue, as to be alike revered by parties the most opposite to each other? Is there in human history any fact more extraordinary, than that the Advocate of Strafford and Laud (and of King Charles, had leave been given for pleading) should be raised to the Bench by Cromwell; and, again, that a Judge of Cromwell's should be not only re-instated by Charles II., but also compelled by him against his own will to accept the very highest judicial trust? Such is the triumph of genuine Christianity! a triumph, which is in some degree renewed, whenever the name of Hale is repeated even in Courts of Law;

* Serjeant Runnington.

since the appeal is evidently made, not more to the authority of the Judge, than to the integrity of the man. If Burnet had never written more than the Life of Sir Matthew Hale, this alone would have entitled him to the eternal gratitude of the Christian world: there being no work of the kind better worth the study, either of the professional or of the private man; of all, who would truly learn how to live, or how to die.

Of his Four Letters addressed to his Children the Second gives

• Directions touching Religion."

DEAR CHILDREN,

• I intended to have been at Alderly this Whitsuntide, desirous to renew those counsels and advices which I have often given you, in order to your greatest concernment; namely, the everlasting good and welfare of your souls hereafter, and the due ordering of your lives and conversations here.

And although young people are apt, through their own indiscretion or the ill advice of others, to think these kinds of entertainments but dry and empty matters, and the morose and needless interpositions of old men; yet give him leave to tell you, that very well knows what he says, these things are of more importance and concernment to you, than external gifts and bounties (wherein) nevertheless I have not been wanting to you according to my ability.

This was my intention in this journey; and

though I have been disappointed therein, yet I thought good, by letters and messages, to do something that might be done that way for your benefit, that I had otherwise intended to have done in person.

'Assure yourselves therefore, and believe it from one that knows what he says, from one that can neither have any reason or end to deceive you, that the best gift I can give you is good counsel; and the best counsel I can give you is that, which relates to your greatest import and concernment, namely, Religion.

And therefore, since I cannot at this time deliver it to you in person, I shall do it by this letter; wherein I shall not be very large, but keep myself within the bounds proper for a letter, and to those things only at this time which may be most of present use and moment to you; and by your due observance of these directions I shall have a good character, both of your dutifulness to God, your obedience to your father, and also of your discretion and prudence: for it is most certain, that as religion is the best means to advance and rectify human nature, so no man shall be either truly wise or truly happy without it and the love of it; no, not in this life, much less in that which is to come.

First, therefore, every morning and every evening upon your knees humbly commend yourselves to Almighty God in prayer, begging his mercy to pardon your sins, his grace to direct you, his providence to protect you; returning him humble thanks for all his dispensations toward you, yea, even for his very corrections and afflictions; entreating him to give you wisdom and grace to make a sober,

patient, humble, profitable use of them, and in hisdue time to deliver you from them, concluding your prayers with the Lord's Prayer. This will be a certain mean to bring your mind into a right frame, to procure you comfort and blessing, and to prevent thousands of inconveniences and mischiefs, to which you will be otherwise subjected.

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Secondly. Every morning read seriously and reverently a portion of the Holy Scripture, and acquaint yourself with the history and doctrine thereof: it is a book full of light and wisdom, will make you wise to eternal life, and furnish you with directions and principles to guide and order your life safely and prudently.

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Thirdly. Conclude every evening with reading some part of the Scriptures, and prayer in your family.

Fourthly. Be strict and religious observers of the Lord's Day; resort to your parish-church twice that day, if your health will permit, and attend diligently and reverently to the public prayers and sermons. He cannot reasonably expect a blessing from God the rest of the week, that neglects his duty to God in the due consecration of this day to the special service and duty to God, which this day requires.

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Fifthly. Receive the Sacrament at least three times in the year, and oftener, as there is occasion, in your parish-church. The laws of the land require this, and the law of your Saviour requires it, and the law of duty and gratitude requires it of you. Prepare yourselves seriously for this service beforehand, and perform it with reverence and thankfulness the neglect of this duty procures great incon

venience and strangeness; and commonly the neglect hereof ariseth from some conceited opinion that people inconsiderately take up, but most ordinarily from a sluggishness of mind and an unwillingness to fit and prepare the mind for it, or to leave some sinful or vain course that men are not willing to leave, and yet condemn themselves in the practice of it.

Sixthly. Beware of those, that go about to seduce you from that religion wherein you have been brought up hitherto, namely, the true Protestant Religion. It is not unknown to any, that observes the state of things in the world, how many erroneous religions are scattered abroad in the world, and how industrious men of false persuasions are to make proselytes. There are Antinomians, Quakers, Anabaptists, and divers others that go about to mislead themselves and others: nay, although the laws of this kingdom, and especially the statute of 23 Eliz. cap. 1., have inflicted the severest penalty upon those that go about to withdraw persons to the Romish religion from the religion established in England, as any man that reads that statute may find; yet there are scattered up and down the world divers factors and agents, that under several disguises and pretences endeavour the perverting of weak and easy persons. Take heed of all such persuaders. And that you may know and observe the better, you shall ever find these artifices practised by them:

1. They will use all flattering applications and insinuations to be master of your humour, and when they have gotten that advantage, they that seemed before to serve you will then command you.

2. They will use all possible skill to raise in you