cities, have been decayed and demolished? It is not possible to have the true pictures or statues of Cyrus, Alexander, Cæsar; no, nor of the kings or great personages of much later years; for the originals cannot last, and the copies cannot but lose of the life and truth. But the images of men's wits and knowledges remain in books, exempted from the wrong of time, and capable of perpetual renovation. Neither are they fitly to be called images, because they generate still, and cast their seeds in the minds of others, provoking and causing infinite actions and opinions in succeeding ages: so that, if the invention of the ship was thought so noble, which carrieth riches and commodities from place to place, and consociateth the most remote regions in participation of their fruits, how much more are letters to be magnified, which, as ships, pass through the vast seas of time, and make ages so distant to participate of the wisdom, illuminations, and inventions, the one of the other?"

BACON'S ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING.

THE following sentiments from the pen of a heathen philosopher, may express in language of his own, the feelings of the Christian, whilst he aspires to participate in communion with the wise and good of all generations.

They only experience the true enjoyment of life, who are engaged in the study of wisdom-they only can be said. to live. They not only take a close survey of their own times, but they embrace the circle of all ages; whatever enriches the memory of the past becomes their own, and unless

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we be unprofitable indeed, those distinguished men who have laid the foundation of the most sacred principles have lived for us, and prepared the paths of life for our feet. By aid of their superior influence, we are led to contemplate in the light of new discoveries the sublime nature of truth. No period of time is veiled from us, but we have free access to all and in as much as it is permitted to the enlarged capacities of the human soul, to emerge from the thraldoms of its finite existence, a wide expanse of thought is open to our enjoyment; we may then reason with Socrates, doubt with Carneades, repose with Epicurus, bring nature into subjection with the Stoics, or soar above it with the Cynics; since in accordance with the laws of our being, we have power to mingle in fellowship with all ages of the world, through the same golden medium.

"It may be said that they place the highest stamp on time, who seek as their chosen friends to commune with Zeno and Pythagoras; with Democritus, Aristotle and Theophrastus, and with other celebrated teachers of moral virtue. They are all calling thee to their presence, and each will dismiss thee more blessed and more worthy of being beloved-not one will send thee empty away: by night and by day their converse is denied to none, whilst precepts like their's speak only of immortality.

"Such companionship will not consume thy precious moments, but will rather add to thy treasure from its own fulness; such intercourse will never be dangerous, such friendship never injurious; nor ever wilt thou pay too dearly for thy attendance on spirits such as these."

SENECA.

EXTRACTS.

Now, all amid the rigours of the year,
In the wild depth of winter, while without
'T'he ceaseless winds blow ice, be my retreat
Between the groaning forest and the shore
Beat by the boundless multitude of waves,
A rural, sheltered solitary scene;

Where ruddy fire and beaming tapers join
To cheer the gloom. There studious let me sit,
And hold high converse with the mighty dead;
Sages of ancient time, as gods revered,

As gods beneficent, who blest mankind

With arts, with arms, and humaniz'd a world.
Rous'd at the inspiring thought, I throw aside
The long-liv'd volume; and, deep-musing, hail
The sacred shades, that lowly-rising pass
Before my wondering eyes. First Socrates,
Who, firmly good in a corrupted state,
Against the rage of tyrants single stood
Invincible! * *

Solon the next, &c.

Thousands besides the tribute of a verse
Demand; but who can count the stars of heaven;
Who sing their influence on this lower world?

THOMPSON.

xix

"CIVIL Society doth more content the nature of man, than any private kind of solitary living; because in society, this good of mutual participation is so much larger than otherwise.

Herewith notwithstanding, we are not satisfied, but we covet (if it might be) to have a kind of society and fellow

ship even with all mankind; which thing Socrates intending to signify, professed himself a citizen not of this or that commonwealth, but of the world and an effect of that very natural desire in us (a manifest token that we wish. after a sort, for universal fellowship with all men) appeareth by the wonderful delight men have, some to visit foreign countries, some to discover nations not heard of in former ages, we all, to know the affairs and dealings of other people, yea to be in league of amity with them: for such cause also as moved the Queen of Saba to visit Solomon;" &c.

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HOOKER.

The following extract from DR. DODDRIDGE, in connexion with the subjects of this volume, may perhaps be allowed a place here.

"Hath God given you genius and learning? It was not that you might amuse or deck yourself with it, and kindle a blaze which should only serve to dazzle and attract the eyes of men.. It was intended to be the means of leading both yourself and them to the Father of lights. And it will be your duty according to the peculiar turn of that genius and capacity, either to endeavour to improve and adorn human life, or by a more direct application of it to divine subjects, to plead the cause of religion, to defend its truths, to enforce and recommend its practice, to deter men from courses which would be dishonourable to God and fatal to themselves, and to try the utmost efforts of all the solemnity and tenderness with which you can clothe your addresses, to lead them into the paths of virtue and happi

NOTE. For the real names of the Portraits, see p. 201.