On Patience under Suffering.

297 Such is our weakness, that we too often forget to look beyond this present life. If we rightly considered this, we should see that what we reckon the severest trials, are in truth often the greatest mercies. Perhaps some aged parent, smarting under the loss of a beloved and only son, is tempted to think that his heavenly Father deals hardly with him, in thus depriving his declining years of their greatest comfort-but if he will reflect a little more on the subject, he will see that this seeming trial is, in reality, a great blessing; perhaps he was tempted to love the creature more than the Creator; and God, in thus taking away that which attached him most to earth, has taught him to "set his affections on things above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God." How often does our heavenly Father try, in the same manner, to teach the worldly man, ere it is too late, the error of his ways. He shows him the vanity of all earthly objects of desire, either by depriving him of worldly prosperity, or whatever he holds dearest in his sight, that thus being taught how perishable are all the things of this world, he may learn to raise his eyes to heaven, and seek those joys which are for evermore, and which nothing here can deprive him of. Could we but learn to be more humble, and be more fully assured of God's infinite wisdom and mercy, we should then bear all our trials with meekness; we should know, that, when He afflicts us, it is to answer some wise purpose, not discernible in our eyes; we should humble ourselves before His mighty hand, and confess that His mercies infinitely outweigh our deservings; and the consideration of his wisdom would make us tremble at our presumption, in daring to murmur at what He sees fit to ordain.

Let me entreat him who may chance to read these pages, to consider well if these things are not so; and the next time he feels inclined to murmur under

suffering, let me exhort him to reflect on his unworthiness, and God's great and undeserved goodness; his murmuring will then be turned into thanksgiving, and he will rise from this consideration with a heart warmed with gratitude and softened by humility; he will discern the hand of a gracious God in all that befalls him, and will say, under the heaviest trial," It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good."

Sent without a name.

SIR H. SIDNEY'S LETTER TO HIS SON.

THE following advice is extracted from a letter written by Sir Henry Sidney to his son Philip Sidney, being then a boy of twelve years old, and at school at Shrewsbury. The letter was written in the year 1566. Sir Henry Sidney was the beloved and confidential friend of King Edward the Sixth; and when we see what a father he was, we are not surprised that he had such a son as Sir Philip Sidney afterwards proved himself to be. The advice applies to persons of all ranks and stations.

"Since this is my first letter that ever I did write to you, I wish not that it should be all empty of some advices, which my natural care of you leadeth me to wish you to follow, as documents to you in this your tender age. Let your first action be lifting up your mind to Almighty God by hearty prayer; and feelingly digest the words you speak in prayer, with continual meditation and thinking of Him to whom you pray, and of the matter for which you pray. Apply yourself earnestly to study at such hours as your discreet master doth assign you; and the time, I know, he will so limit, as shall be both sufficient for your learning and safe for your health.

Sir H. Sidney's Letter to his Son.

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And mark the sense, and the matter of what you read, as well as the words.

"Be humble and obedient to your master.

"Use moderate diet, so as, after your meat, you may find your understanding fresher, and not duller, and your body more lively, and not more heavy.— Seldom drink. Use exercise of body, but such as is without peril of your joints and bones; it will increase your strength and enlarge your breath. Delight to be cleanly, as well in all parts of your body as in your garments. When you are merry, let not your mirth have any scurrility, or biting words to any man; for a wound given by a word is oftentimes harder to be cured than that which is given by the sword. Be you rather a hearer, and bearer away, of other men's talk, than a beginner or procurer of speech; otherwise you will be counted to delight in hearing yourself speak. If you hear a wise sentence, commit it to your memory.

"Let never oath be heard to come out of mouth, nor word of indecent talk.

your

"Be modest in every company; and rather be rebuked by light fellows for shamefacedness, than by your wise friends for pert boldness.

"Think upon every word before you utter it, and remember how nature has rampered up, as it were, the mouth with teeth, lips, yea, and hair without the lips, and all betokening reins and bridles to check the loose use of that member.

"Above all, tell no untruth, no not in trifles. The custom of it is wicked; and, moreover, there cannot be a greater reproach than to be accounted a liar.

"Study and endeavour yourself to be employed about what is right and good.

"Well, my little Philip, this is enough for me; and too much, I fear, for you; but, if I shall find that this light meal doth nourish your young capa

city, I will, as I find the same grow stronger, feed it with tougher food.

"Your loving father, as long as you live in the fear of God,

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"H. SIDNEY."

The excellent lady Sidney sent a postscript" on the skirts of the Lord President's letter," in which she says to her son, I first bless you with my desire to God to plant in you his grace; and secondly, I warn you to have always before the eyes of your mind these excellent counsels of my lord, your dear father, and that you fail not continually, once in four or five days, to read them over.

"Farewell, my dear little Philip, and once again the Lord bless you! Your loving mother, "MARY SIDNEY,"

ANECDOTE OF SIR PHILIP SIDNEY.

IN the year 1585, the Protestants, in the Netherlands, applied to Queen Elizabeth to assist them against their oppressors. The queen promised to comply with their request, and she appointed Sir Philip Sidney (of whom we heard in the last article when he was a boy of twelve years old) governor of Flushing, and general of the horse, under his uncle, the earl of Leicester.

Sir Philip on this occasion considering that it was his duty to exert himself in defence of liberty and religion, entered into this cause with the utmost cheerfulness and enthusiasm, prepared, if necessary, to sacrifice both his property and his life in its behalf. He reached Flushing on the 18th of November, was received with the greatest joy and gratitude, and immediately appointed general of the

Anecdote of Sir Philip Sidney.

301

but

Dutch forces. Great disputes and dissensions broke out among the principal officers, which Sir Philip tried, by every means in his power to compose, in vain. He constantly, however, exerted himself to do all he could to promote the success of the expedition. In July 1586, he shewed very remarkable skill in surprising and taking Axell, a town in Flanders, which he did without the loss of a single soldier. But a grievous loss soon followed, even that of Sir Philip himself. On the 22nd day of September, in endeavouring to stop a small body of the enemy's army on its road to Zutphan, Sir Philip, after every effort of the most heroic valour, after having rescued Lord Willoughby, surrounded by his foes, from instant danger of death, and after having three times charged the enemy, fell in the moment of victory, by a bullet received in the left thigh, and which, after much suffering from excruciating pain, put an end to his life on the 17th of October.

There is scarcely an incident recorded in history which more strongly shews a great and noble mind, or more resignation and self-denial than that which occurred almost immediately after Sidney had received his death-wound. It is an anecdote, which, however well known, cannot be too often repeated.

"As Sir Philip was returning from the field of battle, pale, languid, and thirsty, with excess of bleeding, he asked for water to quench his thirst. The water was brought, and had no sooner approached his lips, than he instantly gave it up to a dying soldier, whose ghastly countenance attracted his notice, uttering these ever-memorable wordsTHY NECESSITY IS YET GREATER THAN MINE."

The above account of the Sidneys is taken from Dr. Drake's "Mornings in Spring.'