"Son William, I am weary of the world. I would not live over my days again, if I could command them with a wish; for the snares of life are greater than the fears of death. This troubles me, that I have offended a gracious God, who has fol lowed me to this day. O, have a care of sin; that is the sting both of life and death. Three things I commend to you. First, let nothing in this world tempt you to wrong your conscience; I charge you, do nothing against your conscience: you will then keep peace at home, which will be a feast to you in the day of trouble. Secondly, whatever you design to do, plan it justly, and time it seasonably for these give security and despatch. Lastly, be not troubled at disappointments: for if they may be recovered, do it; if they cannot, trouble is vain. If you could not have avoided them, be content: peace and profit often attend submission to Providence; and afflictions make wise. If you could have avoided them, let not your trouble exceed instruction for another time. These rules will carry you with firmness and comfort through this inconstant world."

CHAPTER V.

cal-Robert Boyle-John Locke-John Janeway-Earl of Marlborough.

in the

SECTION 1.

PASCAL.

AISE PASCAL was born at Clermont in France, year 1623. Nature endowed him with extraordinary powers of mind, which were highly cultivated. He was an eminent philosopher, a profound reasoner, and a sublime and elegant writer. We raise his character still higher, when we say, he was a man of most exemplary piety and virtue. The celebrated Bayle, speaking of this distinguished person, says: "a hundred vol umes of religious discourses, are not of so much avail to confound the impious, as a simple account of the life of Pascal. His humility and his devotion mortify the libertines more, than if they were attacked by a dozen missionaries. They can no longer assert, that piety is confined to men of little minds, when they behold the highest degree of it,

in a geometrician of the first rank, the most acute metaphysician, and one of the most penetrating minds that ever existed."

From his infancy, Pascal gave proofs of a very uncommon capacity. He desired to know the reason of every thing, and when sufficient reasons were not offered, he sought for better: nor would he ever yield his assent, but to such as appeared to him well-grounded. It is a comfortable reflection, that a man of this turn, with a mind so comprehensive and sagacious, entertained the most exalted sentiments of the Christian religion; and never had the least doubt of its Divine authority. This information we have from his biographer, who knew him well, and who says, "that, by the instructions and example of his father, great reverence for religion was early impressed upon his mind, and continued with him through life; and that he was always, in a high degree, opposed to the principles of infidelity."

When he was in the twenty-fourth year of his age, he declined mathematical and philosophical studies, in which he had so eminently distinguished himself, resolving to spend the remainder of his days in retirement; and to devote his time and talents wholly to the cause of piety and virtue His work, entitled, "Thoughts upon Religion and other Subjects," has been much read and

part of his Holy Scripcomfort and He used to

not so much.

admired. He employed a great time in prayer, and in reading the tures; and he found the greatest delight, in these devout exercises. say, "that the Sacred Scriptures are adapted to the head, as to the heart of man; that they are intelligible only to those who have their hearts right; and that to others they are obscure and uninteresting." In his retirement, he was visited by many persons of distinction, who, on account of his great wisdom and piety, wished to consult him respecting religious subjects. His conversation abundantly answered their expectations: but he felt a fear to possess his mind, lest, on such occasions, he should speak rather to gratify his own vanity, than simply to afford information.

In the following lines, which were written by himself, and found among his papers after his decease, we see a striking picture of the mind of this good man:

"I respect poverty, because Jesus Christ respected it I respect riches, because they furnish the means of relieving the distressed.-I do not return evil to those who have done me an injury. I endeavour to be sincere and faithful to all men; but I have a peculiar tenderness towards those with whom God has caused me to be intimately

connected. Whether I am alone, or in company, I consider myself as in the sight of God, who will judge my actions, and to whom I consecrate them all.—These are my sentiments: and I daily bless my Redeemer, who has impressed them upon me; and who, by the operation of his grace, has taken away the concupiscence, pride, ambition, and misery, to which I was naturally subject. I owe my deliverance to his power and goodness, having nothing of myself but imbecility and corruption."

Pascal, from his youth, was much afflicted with sickness; and he often said that, from the nineteenth year of his age, he had never passed a day free from pain. He submitted to his sufferings without a murmur, and even at times rejoiced in them; believing that they came from the hand of his most merciful Father, and were designed for the purification and improvement of his soul. During his last illness, his deportment was truly edifying; and his expressions of charity and pious resignation, though deeply affecting, were highly consolatory to his friends. He said to his sister who attended him: "How has it happened that I have never done any thing for the poor, though I have always had a great love for them?" She observed to him that he had not possessed property sufficient to afford them much assistance. "Then," said he, "I ought to have