easy and persuasive, his temper open and generous; affectionate to his family, and sincere to his friends. However engaged in the service of his country, he neglected not the education of his children. To form their manners and direct their talents,* to promote in them the practice of virtue and piety, to shield them from imprudence, indigence, and misfortune; such were the important objects of his instruction.

From his youth, he seemed to have acquainted himself with wisdom and with knowledge: his virtue was not inferior to his learning; and as humility always accompanied the former, modesty was ever attendant on the latter. Notwithstanding the variety of his avocations, indeed, he daily pressed nearer to perfection by a devotion which, though elevated, was rational, and though regular, was warm.

In his profession, his judgement was clear, his opinion was authority; and though he conscientiously discharged it's duties, he at the same time disregarded the profits, which resulted from it. When at the bar, nothing could induce him to prostitute his abilities; yet amidst all the confusion of civil war, he not only preserved his integrity, but lived in ease and security. Actuated by the example of his own Pomponius Atticus, he walked through a period of the most turbulent distraction, uncensured and unhurt. On the bench he reigned, a pure intelligencer.' There he was all patience; and though the temper of the times too often made innovations in the law, he

little wit or manners as to interrupt him; whereby we far better understood each other, than we could have done in chopping and maimed discourse."

* See the Extracts.

never gave way to injustice, however formidable. Nothing could alarm, or allure him. Looking forward to the lasting incorruptible judgement of posterity, without fear and above temptation, he became a shield to his fellow-citizens, and a support to his profession and the state. He held equity to be, not only part of the common law, but also one of it's principal grounds; for which reason he reduced it to principles, that it might be studied as a science.

That one man, in no great space of time, should acquire such variety of knowledge, is almost incredi ble: but when we reflect that his parts were lively, and his apprehension quick; that his memory was retentive, his judgement sound, and his application indefatigable; the mystery is unravelled, and admiration increases, as incredulity passes away.

With such virtues and abilities, had he been insensible to the applause which was justly and liberally bestowed upon him, it might have been adduced as an instance either of weakness, or of affectation. On the contrary, he had a becoming sense of the esteem in which he was held, attended with that self-approbation, which ever accompanies the accomplishment of worthy actions. Yet for this, as we have seen, he is pronounced a vain person by Mr. Roger North, who however, in endeavouring to depreciate an established character, has only degraded his own.

Though religion be the most animating persuasion, which the mind of man can embrace; though it gives strength to our hopes, and stability to our resolutions; though it subdues the insolence of prosperity, and draws out the sting of affliction; yet such was the profligacy of the reign of Charles II., so far re

moved from sound policy and good manners, that at this period of ease and politeness religion was not only grossly neglected, but daily exhibited also as an object for the exercise of ridicule. To lessen the veneration due to religion is a kind of zeal, which no epithet is sufficient to stigmatise; it is attacking the strongest hold of society, and attempting to destroy the firmest guard of human security. So alarming was this advance of impiety to Sir Matthew, that he often deplored it with unaffected sorrow. Were it necessary to evince his abhorrence of it, I might content myself with appealing to the bright example of his life: but however sufficient that might be for the purpose, it would yet be doing great injustice to his memory not to mention, that he employed some time in elegant instructive disquisitions on the most interesting topics of the Christian dispensation. Minutely observant of the rituals of devotion, he was perhaps singular in his deportment; but he for a long time concealed the consecration of himself to the strictest duties of religion, lest by some adventitious action he should bring piety into disgrace. In truth, he taught the theory of Christianity by his precepts, and the practice by his example. The faith, which influenced his own actions, he religiously communicated to others; he improved devotion where he found it, and kindled it where he found it not. May those, who study his writings, imitate his life; and those, who endeavour after his knowledge, aspire likewise to his piety.

By being ingenuous, he not only secured his independence, but raised himself likewise above flattery or reproach, above menace or misfortune. Thus the

rectitude of his conduct, added to the greatness of his abilities and the ease of his deportment, not only gained him universal respect, but rendered him more conspicuous than any of his contemporaries.*

In the life of Sir Matthew Hale, says a respectable writer, we see not merely a character improved and adorned by the Christian graces and virtues, but Christianity itself substantially exemplified. We observe it's power to "convert the soul," in that radical change which it effects in the youth; while every subsequent action of the man concurs to prove that the ideal character of wisdom, which some ancient philosophers described as the mark to be aimed at, though without any hope of attainment, is in all it's valuable features actually realised in the true Christian. What but Christianity could have given to Judge Hale that uniform ascendency over every thing selfish and secular, by means of which he so undeviatingly kept the path of pure heroic virtue, as to be alike revered by parties the most opposite to each other? Is there in human history any fact more extraordinary, than that the Advocate of Strafford and Laud (and of King Charles, had leave been given for pleading) should be raised to the Bench by Cromwell; and, again, that a Judge of Cromwell's should be not only re-instated by Charles II., but also compelled by him against his own will to accept the very highest judicial trust? Such is the triumph of genuine Christianity! a triumph, which is in some degree renewed, whenever the name of Hale is repeated even in Courts of Law;

* Serjeant Runnington.

since the appeal is evidently made, not more to the authority of the Judge, than to the integrity of the man. If Burnet had never written more than the Life of Sir Matthew Hale, this alone would have entitled him to the eternal gratitude of the Christian world: there being no work of the kind better worth the study, either of the professional or of the private man; of all, who would truly learn how to live, or how to die.

Of his Four Letters addressed to his Children, the Second gives

• Directions touching Religion.'

DEAR CHILDREN,

• I intended to have been at Alderly this Whitsuntide, desirous to renew those counsels and advices which I have often given you, in order to your greatest concernment; namely, the everlasting good and welfare of your souls hereafter, and the due ordering of your lives and conversations here.

And although young people are apt, through their own indiscretion or the ill advice of others, to think these kinds of entertainments but dry and empty matters, and the morose and needless interpositions of old men; yet give him leave to tell you, that very well knows what he says, these things are of more importance and concernment to you, than external gifts and bounties (wherein) nevertheless I have not been wanting to you according to my ability.

This was my intention in this journey; and