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It may be desirable that I should cursorily touch on the different selections here set before you; explaining the tendency of each, and giving some idea why each portion was offered.

First of all, you will not fail to remark, that, in the opening section, precedence is given to passages selected from the HOLY SCRIPTURES; for there the truest rules are found, and yet the simplest. There, too, are the strongest exhibitions of character, both for illustration and for contrast, to imitate or to shun; teaching the great duties of redeeming the Time, and of controlling, purifying and invigorating the Temper.

Some occasional Remarks are added to a few of the selected Verses. Excepting whatever is acknowledged as coming from other sources, I am answerable for these reflections; which I beg you to consider as the flowing forth of my heart towards yours; expressing what I have felt to be useful in my own experience, and what, therefore, I imagine may be profitable to you for your thoughts and words and

actions.

As your real friend, I would earnestly entreat you to make this Best of Books, whole and entire, your inseparable counsellor and guide through life. Read it, comparing passage with passage, character with

character: pray over it: seek for grace, to enable you to apply it to your own case. Let no idle jest, no profane example, ever pluck from your heart this rooted conviction-that, when Time itself is ended, and when the real Temper of your inmost soul comes to be tried at the bar of Eternal Truth, you will then feel solid peace from having made a constant and faithful use of the Bible. Adopt the words of the devout Psalmist-Thy testimonies are my delight, and my MEN OF COUNSEL. Thy testimonies have I chosen, as mine heritage for ever: and why? They

are THE VERY JOY OF MY HEART.

After these passages from the Inspired Volume, you will see brought to your notice one of the greatest and humblest characters in our Protestant history— RICHARD HOOKER. He comes first in the order of time; according to which all the selections are arranged: but he might, on other accounts, be deemed worthy to stand foremost. Not to speak of his vast erudition in ecclesiastical subjects, that which makes him for ever worthy to be studied and imitated is, his temper in conducting controversies. He was, truly, the Meek Controversialist: qualities were combined in him, which are generally supposed to be contrary to each other. But this rare union arose from the

great grace, the good education, and various discipline,

which he received.

His Master carried him through every class in the school of divine wisdom. He was, as a youth, inured to outward hardships; trained to the most exact conscientiousness, and disciplined in regular close collegiate studies. In his domestic and private life, he was most grievously harassed, yet marvellously befriended : in his view of Church Controversies, he ingenuously confesses himself persuaded of the piety and sincerity of his opponents. Moreover, as a Controversialist, he was largely acquainted with all divine and human knowledge, bearing upon his subject: he did not write from theory or conjecture, but from a large acquaintance with the lights of Revelation, the maxims of Philosophy, and the experiments of History. He is therefore styled, the "Judicious" Hooker: and if any one should grudge him so eminent a title, yet all may justly be emulous of his sanctity and meekness.

From the Essays of LORD BACON you have much to learn. They will not, however, generally speaking, be fully intelligible, nor duly appreciated, in very early life; but, subsequently, you will discover in them more wisdom, the more they are perused. Specimens are given, touching upon both the subjects of

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this Manual. Of the character of this profound philosopher, would it were possible to say, that it was equal to his stupendous mental powers, or to the vastness of his attainments! But while, for the augmentation of science, we are debtors, beyond calculation, to his strong and original mind; as a courtier, he was but a man of the world; and, as a judge, he was not without the censure and displeasure of his prince. You must read him, therefore, as a man greatly wise for others; though, it is to be feared, not wise for himself. Of him, as of Solomon, the remark holds good, that "men of superior understanding find it far easier to lay down excellent rules for the conduct of others, than to reduce them to practice in the constant tenor of their own lives." (Scott, on 1 Kings xi. 1—8.)

From SIR HENRY WOTTON a lesson may be learned -and too early it cannot be taught us-how perilous to our peace and religious improvement much converse with the world is commonly found to be. However, as the weary statesman draws nearer to the goal, his heart more evidently seeks, not retirement only, but the repose of holy, heavenly thoughts. The beautiful ode, which he composed shortly before his death, shows how truly his soul was given to his Redeemer, and prepared to dwell with him in bliss.--My youthful

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readers may, some of them, be hereafter conversant with high questions of Church or State. By whatever names, whether of ambition, or patriotism, or religious honour, they may justify intense activity in the public and more dangerous walks of life, let them, from Sir Henry Wotton's example, learn two maxims, well suited to allay a ruling passion. In his two famous sayings, here presented to you, methods are prescribed for the cure both of political fever and of theologic acrimony.

BISHOP HALL, holy in heart, grave in deportment, manly in thought, and sententious in expression, gives you, in a short compass, his view how one common day, and how one holy day, may be well spent. His letter on this subject would be most valuable, were it simply a Treatise: but, as he speaks the language of his own personal experience, it carries also, on the face of it, the air and charm of a portrait.

Of GEORGE HERBERT let me say, that, when you shall have learned to make allowance for the peculiarities of taste and customs prevalent in his age, and when you can construe his prose and verse into a sense applicable to our modern habits-(a thing less difficult than may, at first sight, appear)-scarcely will you find, in the compass of all our English

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