Instead,

and feelings. The profession thus selected was that of medicine. At first this was a severe blow to young Hope, because it involved a bitter disappointment. If he had never expected to be permitted a choice in the matter, it is probable he would not have felt any particular grief, though a natural repugnance might arise. however, of encouraging rebellious or discontented thoughts, or sitting down in sullenness to his new studies, with a spirit that would prevent all progress, he exerted himself to conquer his repugnance to the profession chosen for him, determined to lay aside all favourite intellectual and elegant pursuits, that might in any way distract his attention, and fully and freely to obey his father, by making all the progress possible in his profession. This wise and virtuous resolution, no doubt, cost him a great effort, but it brought a blessing with it. Ability was given him to fulfil his good resolutions; his repugnance speedily vanished; rapid improvement was the consequence of unwearied application; and he passed through his studies with honour to himself, and high satisfaction to his preceptors and friends.

Nor did his exhibition of self-control end

with this one vigorous act of obedience; it became the ruling habit, the fixed principle of life. His first question to himself ever seemed to be, "What is the path of duty?” and that once clearly ascertained, no matter how steep or rugged that path, he determined to walk therein. He was a man of singularly elegant tastes, possessed great natural talents for drawing and music, and had carefully cultivated them. Over these acquirements he exercised great watchfulness. The first he made subservient to advancing him in the physical knowledge necessary in his profession, and the second he would not permit himself to pursue with the ardour otherwise natural to him, lest it should infringe on time and duties that demanded more serious consideration.

He determined to make drawings of various stages of disease in the human frame, called "Morbid Anatomy," which was a painful task to one who loved to depict the everlovely forms and tints of beautiful natural objects; but, great as was his repugnance at using his elegant art for so unpleasant a purpose, his duty to improve as a physician, in every branch of knowledge connected with his profession, and the hope of bene

fiting the world by his labours, enabled him to struggle with disgust and dislike, and ultimately to conquer them.

His affectionate biographer,* in the beautiful memoir that has recently appeared of this eminent man, remarks, in reference to the trials of his youth, "Instead of looking to the tastes of their children, parents would do well to instil into their minds those principles of self-denial and self-control,-that steady resolution to overcome all obstacles, and do their best in every station,-which will qualify them to fill, with usefulness and distinction, any post which the judgment of their parents, family interest, or any other guiding circumstances, may assign them."

Dr. Hope settled in London early in life; and, though he possessed few influential friends, and none able to aid him by their patronage, succeeded in obtaining a large practice in a comparatively short space of time, rose to the highest eminence in his profession, and published two valuable medical works, one a "Treatise on Diseases of the Heart," and the other a work on "Morbid Anatomy," illustrated by his own accurate

*Life of Dr. James Hope, by Mrs. Hope, edited by Klein Grant, M.D.

drawings. He also obtained the post of physician to St. George's Hospital, and, when in the noon-day radiance of his fame, at the age of forty, was called to lay down all worldly honours and distinctions, and to endure long months of hopeless sickness, which terminated in death. A higher honour than any which men can confer belonged to the character of Dr. Hope-he was a devout and humble Christian-his whole character was an embodiment of the self-denying benevolent principles of Christianity; and the termination of his mortal career, listening to the last, with fond attention, to the texts of Scripture, repeated in his dying ears by his pious wife, presents a picture of triumphant faith in a dying hour which cannot be surpassed.

Oh! the habit of self-control is a valuable lesson for the young to learn, worthy of their most fixed attention, and their unceasing. efforts. The youth thus self-disciplined begins well; and a life of usefulness, happiness, and honour, crowned with the love of the good, and the favour of Heaven, is the frequent and blessed reward.

CHAPTER V.

MORAL HEROISM IN PLANTING COLONIES, MAKING LAWS, AND TEACHING CHRISTIANITY-WILLIAM PENN, ROBERT MOFFAT, JOHN WILLIAMS.

ONE of the commonest ways of justifying war is by stating that, though in itself an evil, it is often made the means of introducing civilization and Christianity into countries that, but for this, would be closed against improvement. If this result ever follows war, it is rather in spite than in consequence of it. To impoverish and injure a people by inflicting cruel wrongs and sufferings upon them, is a strange way of bringing them to believe in Christianity, or to adopt the manners and customs of civilized life. Warlike conquerors have depopulated many a lovely region; but it would not be easy to prove that they have ever benefited a single place. To make a solitude, and call it peace; to destroy all the inhabitants of a district in order that others may come into their place professing a purer kind of reli