Juvenile Department.

more in, nor that down, till it be well chewed and examined. Go not to another thing until the first be understood in some measure. If any thing stick with you, note down your doubts in a book for the purpose, and rest not till you be satisfied; then write that down too.

proportion into little and frequent offices, to sweeten the spirits and prevent wearisomeness. Possibly even these hours of devotion may sometimes receive interruption, by travel or employment of necessity; then your offices must be the less. You may likewise be deprived of the conveniency of place: if so, yet steal a retirement-nothing must hinder you from withdrawing yourself'; and a good man makes any place an oratory. But be sure no merry-meeting, pastime, or humouring of others, make a breach upon your daily ex

4. In your reading, use often to apply that which you observe applicable to some purpose: and if this change be a robbery, I know not what will become of late writers. Sure I am, nothing to my reason appears more effectual to raise your invention, and enrich your under-ercise of piety-nothing but evident standing. necessity can dispense.

8. Be not ashamed to ask if you doubt; but be ashamed to be reproved for the same fault twice.

5. After reading, remember, as from the table, so you rise from your book, with an appetite; and being up, disturb not the concoction, 9. Be constant in your course of which is infinitely improved by a study; and although you proceed rumination, or chewing of the cud. slowly, yet go. on in your path: asTo this end, recollection with your-siduity will make amends at last. self will do well, but a repetition He that can but creep, if he keeps with another far better; for thereby his way, will sooner come to his you will get a habit of readily ex-journey's end than he that rides post pressing yourself, which is a singular out of it. advantage to learning; and by the very discoursing of what you learn, you will again teach yourself: besides, something new, and of your ewn, must of necessity stream in.

6. For the choice of your books, be advised by your tutor; but, by my consent, you should not have above one or two at the most in every science, but those very choice

ones.

10. Endeavour at the highest perfection, not only at your studies, but in whatsoever you attempt; strive to excel in every thing, and you may perform many things worthy of praise, nothing meanly. He that aims further than he can shoot, and draws with his utmost strength, will hardly shoot short, at least deserves not to be blamed for short shooting.

11. Avoid night studies, if you will preserve your wit and health.

7. For the more orderly managing of your study, I would have you 12. Whether thou dost read or divide the day into several employ- hear any thing-indeed whatsoever ments. Great and wise persons you do intend what thou art about, have given you the example. If you and let not thy mind wander, but will have me dispose your time for compel it to be fixed and present. you, I shall proportion it into three If any other thought comes across octaves: eight hours of which for thee in thy study, keep it off, and sleep, comprehending dressing and refer it to some other time: this undressing; eight hours for devo-wandering of your spirit you know I tion, food, and recreation, in which have often reproved; therefore, I comprehend visits and your at-whatsoever you do, do it, and notendance upon me; the other oc- thing else. tave, give it constantly to your studies, unless business, or like accident, interrupt, which, if it shall, you must either recompense by the succeeding day's diligence, or borrow from your recreation. But by no means intrench upon your hours of devotion, which I would have you

13. Suffer not thy memory to rest ; she loves exercise, and grows with it every day. Commend something notable to her custody: the more she receives, the better she keeps. And when you have trusted any thing to her care, let it rest with her a while, then call for it again, espc

14 If thou wouldst seem learned, the best way is to endeavour to be learned; for if thou dost not strive to be that which thou desirest to be, thou desirest to no purpose; which gives me occasion to recommend this following advice to your especial regard.

cially if it be a fault corrected. You letters are great discoverers of the must not err twice; and by this fre- | man, therefore, when you write, let quent calling her to account, she your style be genteel, clean, round, will be always ready to give you even, and plain, unless the subject satisfaction; and the sooner, if what or matter require a more manly and she was entrusted with was laid up vigorous expression. I cannot alorderly, and put, as it were, in the low you a curiosity, unless it be several boxes of a cabinet. like a lady's dress, negligently neat. Go not to counsel for every word, yet neglect not to choose. Be more careful to think before you write than before you speak; because letters pass not away as words do; they remain upon record, are still under the examination of the eye, and tortured they are, sometimes, 15. It is an extreme vanity to to confess that of which they were hope to be a scholar, and yet to be never guilty. That is rare, indeed, unwilling to take pains; for what that can endure reading. Underexcellent thing is there that is easily stand the person well to whom you acquired? Its very difficulty doth write. If he be your inferior, or imply, and, as it were, doth invite equal, you may give your pen the us to, something worthy and rare. more liberty, and play with it someConsider, it is a rose that thorns do times: but if to your superior, then compass; and the forbidden object regard is to be had to your interest sharpens the desire in all other things. with him, his leisure, and capacity; Thus a difficult mistress makes a all which will be so many caveats lover more passionate; and that same and instructions to the humility, man hates an offered and a prosti- neatness, and brevity of your style. tute love. I dare say, if learning You shall do well if, like a skilful were easy and cheap, thou wouldst painter, you draw your sense, and as much slight her. Something there the proportions of your business, in is, doubtless, in it, that none but a plain draft first, and then give it noble and unwearied spirits can at-colour, heightening, and beauty aftain her; and these are raised higher, terwards. And, if it be duly conand heightened, by its difficulty, and sidered, it is no such great comwould not gain her otherwise. Some- mendation to be praised for penning thing there is in it, that no money a letter without making a blot, not or jewels can buy her. No, Frank, in my judgment however; therefore, nothing can purchase learning but after you have pondered and penthy own sweat: obtain her, if thou│ned, then examine and correct. A canst, any other way. Not all my negligent manner of writing, meestate can buy thee the faculty of thinks is a kind of an affront, and a making but one quick epigram-the challenge, not a letter, to a person trifling part of her; wherefore I en- of distinction. Avoid all roughness, treat thee, Frank, to raise thy spi-swelling, poverty, and looseness, in rit, and stretch thy resolution. And so often as thou goest to thy book, place before thy eyes what crowns, sceptres, mitres, and other ensigns of honour, learning hath conferred upon those that have courted her with labour and diligence; besides the rare pleasure of satisfaction, which, of itself, is an honourable reward. And let me tell thee, Frank, a learned holy man, (and such a one would I fain have thee to be,) looks like an angel in flesh-~~a mortal cherub. And because

your style: let it be rather riotous than niggardly. The flowing pen may be helped, but the dry never. Especially shun obscurity, because it must go a begging for an interpreter; and why should you wish to entreat him to understand you if he can? Be this your general rule, both in your writing and speaking,

labour for sense, rather than words: and for your book, take this also,-study man and things.

16. Perhaps you will expect, after all these instructions, I should com

your estate. But if this course be strictly observed each night between God and your soul, there will be true advantage appear. Fail not, therefore, Frank, what employment soever you have, every night, as in the presence of God and his holy angels, to pass an inquisition on your soul what ill it hath done, what good it hath left undone; what slips, what falls, it hath had that day; what temptation hath prevailed upon it; and by what means, or after what manner. Ransack every corner of thy dark heart, and let not the least peccadillo, or kindness to a sin, lurk there; but bring it forth, bewail it, protest against it, detest it, and scourge it by a severe sorrow. Thus each day's breach between God and your soul being made up, with more quiet and sweet hope thou mayst dispose thyself to rest. Certainly, at last, this inquisition (if steadily pursued) will vanquish all customary sins, whatever they be. I speak it upon this reason, because I presume thou wilt not have the face to appear before God every night confessing the same offence; and thou wilt forbear it, lest thou mayst seem to mock God, or despise him, which is dreadful but to imagine. This finish

mend unto you some copy or example to imitate. As for the Greek and Latin tongues, I leave it to your tutor's choice. In the English, I know no style I should sooner prefer to your imitation than that of Sir Francis Bacon, that excellent unhappy man. And to give you direction for all imitation in general, as well as of his style in particular, be careful so to imitate, as that by drawing forth the very spirits of the writer, you may, if possible, become himself. Imitate him, but do not mock him: for the face of a bull, or a horse, is more comely, than of an ape or a monkey, though the ape most resembles man, the most beautiful of all creatures; and, in that regard, your own genuine and natural style may show more comely than an imitation of Sir Francis Bacon, if it be not exactly done. I would have the imitator be as the son of the father, not the ape of a man; that is, to put on the likeness of a child, not of an ape; for the ape only imitates the deformities and the ridiculous actions of manthe son represents all the graces of the face, gesture, and every figure of his father; and, in this representation, he hath something of himself too. I shall add but one cautioned, for a delightful close to the whole more, and that is this;-As he can never run well, who shall resolve to set his foot in the footsteps of one that went before; so neither shall any man write well, who precisely and superstitiously ties himself to another's words. And with this liberty I wish you still happy.

17. And such will all your studies be, if you constantly put in practice this my last admonition, which I reserved purposely for this place. It is, that you be careful every night, before you go to bed, or perform your devotions, to withdraw yourself into your closet, or some private part of your chamber, and there call memory, your steward, to recount what she has heard or read that day worthy of observation; what she hath laid up, and what she hath spent; how the stock of knowledge improves; where and how she decays. A notable advantage will this bring to your studies at present, and hereafter (if that way employed) to

VOL. XIII.

business of the day, cause your servant to read something that is excellently written or done, to lay you to sleep with it, that, if it may be, even your dreams may be profitable or learned. This you will find, by your own experience, true, that things will appear more naked to the eye of the soul, when the eye of the body is shut; by which, together with the quiet of the night, that time is rendered a most fit season for contemplation and contrivance. As a great advantage, not only to your book, but health and business also, I cannot but advise and enjoin you to accustom yourself to rise early; for, take it from me, no lover of his bed did ever yet form great and noble things. Now, though I allowed eight hours for your bed, with the preparation to it and from it, yet this was rather to point out the utmost limit beyond which you should not go, rather than to oblige you to observe such a proportion exactly. Borrow,

H

therefore, of these golden morning flowers, and bestow them on your book. A noble person, of all others, has need of learning, and therefore should contribute most time to it; for, besides that it gilds his honour, and sets off his birth, it becomes his employment, which a nobleman, of all others must not want, if he will secure his soul, honour, and estate, all which are in most certain danger from idleness, the rock of nobility, considering the plenty of his table, and society, with all sorts of tempta- | tion. If, therefore, he be a hard student, he is not at leisure to be vitious: the devil knows it is to no purpose to tempt a busy man. Be always, therefore, employed: and because some are triflingly active, that you may not with them be idly busy, your book will instruct you how. O Frank, did you but hear the complaints of excellent personages, for missing of that opportunity which you are now master of; or could you but suppose yourself old and ignorant; how tender would you be of the loss of one minute! What would you not give to return to these years you now enjoy! Let this consideration sink deep and settle in you. Be more curious of the expense of your time than of your gold; time being a jewel whose worth is invaluable, whose loss is irreparable: therefore secure the present time, that you may not hereafter lose more by a vain bewailing of the past.

Now, because the best of learning

is to study yourself, and I have reason to believe I have some skill in you, having so curiously observed your nature and inclinations, I shall make some useful discourse in order to this knowledge, by which you may both see your defects and amend them.

The most profitable and necessary thing in the world is to know and | study thyself. Wherefore, with all the plainness, sincerity, and observation you can make in your best temper of mind and body, iay yourself open to yourself: take an impartial survey of all your abilities and weaknesses, and spare not to expose them to your eye by writing, which I conceive the best done by framing your own character, and so to draw the picture of your mind, which I recommend to your yearly practice during your life. This, Frank, if you flatter not yourself, will be your best looking-glass, and must needs have a singular influence upon your religion, and serve your soul extremely well to very high purposes; for, by this means, your growth or decay in piety will be discovered, and, consequently, ways for the increase of that growth, or for the repairing of those decays and breaches in the soul, will more readily be found out, and be more easily cured.

***** To conclude: If the fear of God be the star you sail by, doubt not of a good voyage; at least, be sure of a good harbour.

Obituary.

MISS ELIZABETH WOODHILL. MISS Elizabeth Woodhill had the unspeakable privilege of being born of pious parents, who trained her up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. By restraining grace she was kept from following the vain customs of a sinful world; yet she remained a total stranger to the

transforming influence of Divine grace, until near three years ago, when, hearing a sermon by a stranger, she became deeply convinced of her lost condition, and her utter inability to do any thing towards extricating herself from her wretchedness. In her diary she thus writes: "Oh may the impressions I have received this day never be