the Chriftians piety and courage, he concluded, no people fo temperate, lefs voluptuous, and more fet on divine things: which first induced. him to be a Christian.

§. V. Chryfoftom, another father, fo called, lays this down for neceffary doctrine, To facrifice the whole foul and body to the Lord, is the highest service we can pay unto him. God promifeth mercy unto penitent finners; but he doth not promise them they fhall have fo much time as to-morrow for their repentance.'

§. VI. Charles V. emperor of Germany, f. king of Spain, and lord of the Netherlands, after three and twenty pitched fields, fix triumphs, four kingdoms conquered, and eight principalities added to his dominions, a greater inftance than whom can fcarce be given, refigned up all his pomp to other hands, and betook himself to his retirement; leaving this testimony behind him, concerning the life he fpent in the honours and pleasures of the world, and in that little time of his retreat from them all; that the fincere ftudy, profeffion, and practice of the Christian religion, had in it fuch joys and fweetness, as courts were ftrangers to.

§. VII. Michael de Montaigne, a lord of France, famous with men of letters for his book of Effays, giveth thefe inftructions to others, and this character of himself, viz.

Amidft our banquets, feafts, and pleafures, let us ever have this reftraint, or object of death before us; that is, the remembrance of

our condition; and let not pleasure fo much mislead or tranfport us, that we altogether neglect or forget, how many ways our joys, or our feaftings, be fubject unto death, and by how many holdfafts fhe threateneth us and you. So did the Egyptians, who in the midst of their banquetings, and in the full of their greatest cheer, caused the anatomy of a dead man to be brought before them, as a memorandum and warning to their guests. I am now, by means of the mercy of God, in fuch a taking, that without regret, or grieving at any worldly matter, I am prepared to dislodge, whenfoever he fhall please to call me. I am every where free: my farewell is foon taken of all my friends; except of myself: no man did ever prepare himself to quit the world more fimply and fully, or more generally lay afide all thoughts of it, than I am fully affured I fhall do. All the glory I pretend in my life is, that I have lived quietly quietly, not according to Metrodorus, Arcefilaus, or Ariftippus ; but according to myself. Since philofophy could never find any way for tranquillity, that might be generally good; let every man in his own particular feek for it. Let us not

propose fo fleeting and fo wavering an end unto ourselves, as the world's glory: let us conítantly follow reafon; and let the vulgar approbation follow us that way if it please. I care not fo much what I am with others, as I respect what I am in myself: I will be rich in myself, and not by borrowing. Strangers fee but external appearances and events: every

man can fet a good face upon the matter, when within he is full of care, grief, and infirmities they fee not my heart, when they look upon my outward countenance. We are nought but ceremony; ceremony doth tranfport us, and we leave the fubftance of things: we hold faft by the boughs, and leave the trunk or body, the fubftance of things, behind us.'

§. VIII. Cardinal Wolfey, the most absolute and wealthy minifter of state this kingdom ever had, that in his time feemed to govern Europe as well as England, when come to the period of his life, left the world with this clofe reflection upon himfelf: Had I been as diligent to ferve my God, as I was to please my king, he would not have left me now in my grey hairs. A difmal reflection for all worldlyminded men; but thofe more especially, who have the power and means of doing more good than ordinary in the world, and do it not, which feems to have been the cafe and reflection of this great man.

§. IX. Sir Philip Sidney, a fubject indeed of England, but they fay chofen king of Poland, whom queen Elizabeth called her Philip; the prince of Orange, his master; whose friendship the lord Brooks was fo proud of, that he would have it part of his epitaph, "Here lies Sir Philip Sidney's friend;' whose death was lamented in verfe by the then kings of France and Scotland, and the two univerfities of England; repented fo much at his death, of that witty vanity of his life, his Arcadia, that to prevent the unlawful kindling of

heats in others, he would have committed it to the flames himfelf: and left this farewell amongst his friends, 'Love my memory, cherish my friends, their faith to me may affure you that they are honeft; but above all, govern your wills and affections by the will and word of your Creator. In me behold the end of this world, and all its vanities.' And indeed he was not much out, in faying fo, fince in him. was to be feen the end of all natural parts, acquired learning, and civil accomplishments. His farewell feems fpoken without terror, with a clear fenfe, and an equal judgment.

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§. X. Secretary Walfingham, an extraordinary man in queen Elizabeth's time, towards the conclufion of his days, in a letter to his fellow-fecretary Burleigh, then lord-treasurer of England, writes thus: We have lived enough to our country, our fortunes, our fovereign it is high time we begin to live to ourfelves, and to our God.' Which giving occafion for fome court-droll to vifit, and try to divert him: Ah!' faid he, while we laugh, all things are ferious round about us; God is ferious, when he preferveth us, and hath patience towards us; Chrift is ferious when he dieth for us; the Holy Ghoft is ferious, when he ftriveth with us; the whole creation is ferious, in ferving God and us; they are ferious, in hell,and in heaven: and fhall a man that has one foot in the grave, jeft and laugh?' O that our statesmen would weigh the conviction, advice, and conclufion of this great man; and the greatest man perhaps, that has bore that

character in our nation! For true it is, that none can be serious too foon, because none can be good too foon. Away then with all foolish talking and jefting, and let people mind more profitable things.

§. XI. John Mafon, knight, who had been privy-counsellor to four princes, and spent much time in the preferments and pleasure of the world, retired with thefe pathetical and regretful fayings: After fo many years expe-. rience, seriousness is the greatest wisdom; temperance the best phyfic; a good confcience is the best estate. And were I to live again, I would change the court for a cloister, my privycounfellor's buftles for an hermit's retirement, and the whole life I lived in the palace, for one hour's enjoyment of God in the chapel. All things elfe forfake me, befides my God, my duty, and my prayers.'

§. XII. Sir Walter Raleigh is an eminent inftance, being as extraordinary a man, as our nation hath produced; in his perfon well defcended; of health, ftrength, and a mafculine beauty; in understanding quick; in judgment found; learned and wife, valiant and skilful; an historian, a philofopher, a general, a statef man. After a long life, full of experience, he drops these excellent fayings a little before his death, to his fon, to his wife, and to the world, viz. 'Exceed not in the humour of rags and bravery, for thefe will foon wear out of fashion: and no man is esteemed for gay garments, but by fools and women. On the other fide, feek not riches bafely, nor attain them by evil means: