The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life.'

The glory of the law is justice.

SIR M. HALE'S RESOLUTIONS.

HE character of Sir Matthew Hale as a judge was splendidly pre-eminent. His learning was profound; his patience unconquerable; his integrity stainless. In the words of one who wrote with no friendly feeling towards him, "his voice was oracular, and his person little less than adored." The temper of mind with which he entered upon the duties of the bench is best exemplified in the following resolutions, which appear to have been composed on his being raised to the dignity of Chief Baron, at the Restoration :

"Things necessary to be continually had in remembrance:

"I. That in the administration of justice I am entrusted for God, the king, and country; and therefore,

"2. That it be done, 1. Uprightly; 2. Deliberately; 3. Resolutely.

"3. That I rest not upon my own understanding or strength, but implore and rest upon the direction and strength of God.

'4. That in the execution of justice I carefully lay aside my own passions, and not give way to them, however provoked.

"5. That I be wholly intent upon the business

Law-makers should not be law-breakers.

A man of understanding holdeth his peace.

The virtue of silence is a great piece of knowledge.

Righteousness tendeth to life.

I am about, remitting all other cares and thoughts as
unseasonable and interruptions.

"6. That I suffer not myself to be prepossessed
with any judgment at all, till the whole business and
both parties be heard.

“7. That I never engage myself in the beginning of any cause, but reserve myself unprejudiced till the whole be heard.

"8. That in business capital, though my nature prompt me to pity, yet to consider there is a pity also due to the country.

“9. That I be not too rigid in matters purely conscientious, where all the harm is diversity of judgment. "10. That I be not biassed with compassion to the poor, or favour to the rich, in point of justice.

“II. That popular or court applause or distaste have no influence in anything I do, in point of distribution of justice.

12. Not to be solicitous what men will say or think, so long as I keep myself exactly according to the rule of justice.

"13. If in criminals it be a measuring cast, to incline to mercy and acquittal.

"14. In criminals that consist merely in words, where no more harm ensues, moderation is no injustice.

"15. In criminals of blood, if the fact be evident, severity is justice.

The desire of the righteous is only good.

The Lord layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous.

The righteous shall flourish as a branch.

A righteous man hateth lying.

"16. To abhor all private solicitations, of what kind soever, and by whomsoever, in matters depending.

"17. To charge my servants, I. Not to interpose in any matter whatsoever; 2. Not to take more than their known fees; 3. Not to give any undue precedence to causes; 4. Not to recommend counsel.

"18. To be short and sparing at meals, that I may be the fitter for business."

R

MAKE A BEGINNING.

EMEMBER in all things that if you do not begin you will never come to an end. The first weed pulled up in the garden, the first seed put in the ground, the first shilling put in the savings-bank, and the first mile travelled on a journey are all very important things. They make a beginning, and thereby a hope, a promise, a pledge, an assurance that you are in earnest with what you have undertaken.

How many a poor, idle, erring, hesitating outcast is now creeping and crawling his way through the world, who might have held up his head and prospered if, instead of putting off his resolutions of amendment and industry, he had only made a beginning!

A good beginning makes a good ending.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life.

Force without foresight availeth little.

Hear the words of the wise.

THE CULTIVATION OF ENERGY.

HE cultivation of energy is of the greatest importance; resolute determination in the pursuit of worthy objects being the foundation of all true greatness of character. Energy

enables a man to force his way through irksome

drudgery and dry details, and carries him onward and upward in every station in life. It accomplishes more than genius, with not one-half the disappointment and peril. It is not eminent talent that is required to ensure success in any pursuit, so much as purpose; not merely the power to achieve, but the will to labour energetically and perseveringly. Hence energy of will may be defined to be the very central power of character in a man-in a word, it is the Man himself. It gives impulse to his every action, and soul to every effort. True hope is based on it; and it is hope that gives the real perfume to life. There is a fine heraldic motto on a broken helmet in Bolton Abbey, L'espoir est ma force, which might be the motto of every man's life. "Woe unto him that is faint-hearted," says the son of Sirach. There is, indeed, no blessing equal to the possession of a stout heart. Even if a man fail in his efforts, it will be a great satisfaction to him to enjoy the consciousness of having done his best. In humble life, nothing can be more cheering and beautiful

Labour is life.

Energy is the motive power of character.

Work is leisure to the willing mind.

Always do your best:

than to see a man combating suffering by patience,
triumphing in his integrity, and who, when his feet
are bleeding and his limbs failing him, still walks upon
his courage.

Mere wishes and desires but engender a sort of
green-sickness in young minds, unless they are
promptly embodied in act and deed. The good pur-
pose once formed must be carried out with alacrity,
and without swerving. In many walks of life,
drudgery and toil must be cheerfully endured, as the
necessary discipline of life. Hugh Miller says the
only school in which he was properly taught, was
"that world-wide school in which toil and hardship
are the severe but noble teachers." He who allows
his application to falter, or shirks his work on frivolous
pretexts, is on the sure road to ultimate failure. Let
any task be undertaken as a thing not possible to be
evaded, and it will soon come to be performed with
alacrity and cheerfulness. The habit of strenuous
continued labour will become comparatively easy in
time, like every other habit. Thus even men with the
commonest brains and the most slender powers will
accomplish much, if they will but apply themselves
wholly and indefatigably to one thing at a time.
Fowell Buxton placed his confidence in ordinary
means and extraordinary application, realising the
Scriptural injunction, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth
to do, do it with all thy might;" and he himself

The best can do no more.

To do nothing is a hard task.