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heads, short hints of the different motives that at different times occur to me, for or against the measure. When I have thus got them all together in one view, I endeavour to estimate their respective weights, and, where I find two (one on each side,) that seem equal, I strike them both out. If I find a reason pro equal to some two reasons con, I strike out the three. If I judge some two reasons con equal to some three reasons pro, I strike out the five; and thus proceeding, I find at length where the balance lies; and if, after a day or two of farther consideration, nothing new that is of importance occurs on either side, I come to a determination accordingly. And, though the weight of reasons can not be taken with the precision of algebraic quantities, yet, when each is thus considered separately and comparatively, and the whole lies before me, I think I can judge better, and am less liable to make a rash step; and, in fact, I have found great advantage from this kind of equation, in what may be called moral or prudential algebra. Wishing sincerely that you may determine for the best, I am ever, my dear friend, yours most affectionately.

B. FRANKLIN.

The Earl of Stafford's dying advice to his son.

MY DEAREST WILLIAM,

The Tower, May 11, 1641.

THESE are the last lines that you will receive from a father who tenderly loves you. I wish I had greater leisure to impart my mind to you: but, I trust, our merciful God will supply all things by his grace, and guide and protect you in all your ways. To his infinite goodness I bequeath you.

Therefore, be not discouraged; serve him, and trust in him, and he will preserve and prosper you.

Be sure you give all respect to my wife, which will well become you, for she has ever had a great love for you. Never be wanting in your care to your sisters, but let them ever be most dear to you; this is a duty that you owe to the memory of your excellent mother and myself. And the like regard you must have to your younger sister; for, indeed, you owe it to her also, both for her father's and her mother's sake.

Serve God diligently, morning and evening; recommend yourself to him; and have him before your eyes in all your ways. Be careful to take the counsel of those friends whom I have desired to advise you in your education. With patience hear their instructions, and diligently follow their counsel; for, till you have experience in the world, it will be far safer to trust to their judgments than to your own.

Lose not the time of your youth; but gather those seeds of virtue and of knowledge, which may be of use to yourself, and to your friends, for the rest of your life. And that this may be the better effected, attend to it with patience; and be sure to refrain from anger. Suffer not sorrow to cast you down; but, with cheerfulness and good courage, and in all sobriety and truth, go on in the race which you have to run. Be sure, with a hal. lowed care, to have regard to all the command. ments of God: and do not allow yourself to neg. lect them in the least respect, lest by degrees you come to forget them in the greatest; for the heart of man is deceitful above all things. Perform all your duties and devotions towards God, rather joyfully than pensively, for he loves a cheerful giver.

As for your religion, let it be directed by those who are in God's church the proper teachers of it, rather than by your own fancy, or by men who are singular in their opinions, and delight to go in ways of their own finding out: you will certainly find soberness and truth in the one, and much unsteadiness and vanity in the other.

The king, I trust, will deal graciously with you, and restore to you those honours and that fortune, of which a distempered time has deprived you, together with the life of your father: which I rather advise may be by a new gift and creation from himself, than by any other means, in order that you may pay thanks to him, without having obligation to any other.

Be sure you avoid, as much as you can, inquiring after those who have been sharp in their judgments towards me; and I charge you never to suffer a thought of revenge to enter your heart. But be careful to inform yourself who were my friends in this prosecution; and apply yourself to make them your friends also: on them you may rely, and bestow much of your conversation.

God Almighty of his infinite goodness bless you, and your sisters; perfect you in every good work; and give you right understandings in all things! I am your most loving father,

THOMAS WENTWORTH.

You must not fail to behave yourself towards my lady Clare, your grandmother, with all duty and observance, for she loves you most tenderly; and she has been very kind to me. God reward her for it; and in this and all the rest, what I counsel you, the same I direct also to your sisters. And once more I do, from my very soul, beseech

our gracious God, to bless and govern you; to save you in the day of his visitation; and to unite us again in the communion of his blessed saints, where there is fullness of joy and bliss for ever.

Sir Matthew Hale to his Children.-On leading a religious life.

DEAR CHILDREN,

I intended to be at Alderly this Whitsuntide, desirous to renew those counsels which I have often given you, for the everlasting welfare of your souls, and the due ordering of your lives and conversation. Young people are apt, through their own indiscretion, or the ill advice of others, to think such counsels dry and empty, the morose and needless interpositions of old age. But I am persuaded they will find better acceptance from you and give me leave to tell you, they are of more importance, than external gifts and bounties; in which, nevertheless, I have not been wanting to you, according to my ability.

Therefore, since I can not at this time deliver my advice to you in person, I shall do it by letter; in which I shall confine myself to those things only that are of most present use and moment to you. By your due observance of my directions,

shall have a good opinion of your dutifulness to God, your obedience to your father, and also of your discretion and prudence; for it is certain, that as religion is the best means to advance and dignify human nature, so no man can be either truly wise or happy without it, and the love of it even in this life, much less in that which is to

come.

Every morning and evening, humbly commend yourselves to Almighty God, in prayer; implore

his mercy to pardon your sins, his grace to direct you, and his providence to protect you.

Every morning and evening, read seriously and reverently a portion of the Holy Scriptures; and acquaint yourselves with the history and the doc trine which it contains. It is a book full of light and wisdom; it will make you wise to eternal life; and it will furnish you with directions and principles to guide and order your conduct safely and prudently.

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. They can not reasonably expect a blessing from God during the rest of the week, who neglect their duty in the due consecration of this day, to the special service of God, which the day requires.

Be very careful to moderate your passions, espe. cially anger; it inflames the blood, disorders the brain, and, for the time, exterminates not only religion, but common reason.

Receive the blessings of God with much thank. fulness to him; for he is the fountain of all the good which you do or can receive.

Bear all afflictions and crosses patiently. The great God of heaven and earth is he who sends them to you, though possibly evil occurrences may be the immediate instruments of them. You owe to Almighty God an infinite subjection and obedience. To expostulate with him is rebellion: and as it is your duty to submit, so it is your wisdom and prudence; impatience will not discharge your yoke, but will make it more galling, and hard to bear.

Learn not only to be patient under your afflic.

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