cerning your speech; because much of the good or evil that befalls persons, arises from the well or ill managing of their conversation. When I have leisure and opportunity, I shall give you my directions on other subjects.

Never speak any thing for a truth which you know, or believe, to be false. Lying is a great sin against God, who gave us a tongue to speak the truth, and not falsehood. It is a great offence against humanity itself: for, where there is no regard to truth, there can be no safe society between man and man. And it is an injury to the speaker: for, besides the disgrace which it brings upon him, it occasions so much baseness of mind, that he can scarcely tell truth, or avoid lying, even when he has no colour of necessity for it; and, in time, he comes to such a pass, that as other people cannot believe he speaks truth, so he himself scarcely knows when he tells a falsehood.

As you must be careful not to lie, so you must avoid coming near it. You must not equivocate; nor speak any thing positively for which you have no authority, but report, or conjecture, or opinion.

Let your words be few, especially when your superiors, or strangers, are present, lest you betray your own weakness and folly; and rob yourselves of the opportunity which you might otherwise have had, to gain knowledge, wisdom, and experience, by hearing those, whom you silence by your impertinent talking. Be not too earnest, loud, or violent, in your conversation. Silence your opponent, with reason, not with noise.

Be careful not to interrupt another, when he is speaking; hear him out, and you will understand him the better, and be able to give him the better answer.

Consider before you speak, especially when the business is of moment; weigh the sense of what you mean to utter, and the expressions you intend to use, that they may be significant, pertinent and inoffensive.

E

Inconsiderate persons do not think till they speak ; or they speak and then think.

Some men excel in husbandry; some in gardening ; some in mathematics. In conversation, learn, as near as you can, where the skill or excellence of any person lies; put him upon talking on that subject, observe what he says, keep it in your memory, or commit it to writing: by this means, you will glean the worth and knowledge of every body you converse with; and, at an easy rate, acquire what may be of use to you on many occasions.

When you are in company with light, vain, impertinent persons, let the observing of their failings, make you the more cautious both in your conversation with them, and in your general behaviour, that you may avoid their errors.

If any one, whom you do not know to be a person of truth, sobriety, and weight, relates strange stories, be not too ready to believe or report them; and yet (unless he is one of your familiar acquaintance) be not too forward to contradict him. If the occasion requires you to declare your opinion, do it modestly and gently, not bluntly nor coarsely; by this means you will avoid giving offence, or being abused for too much credulity.

If a man, whose integrity you do not very well know, makes you great and extraordinary professions, do not give much credit to him. Probably, you will find, that he aims at something besides kindness to you, and that when he has served his turn, or been disappointed, his regard for you will grow cool.

Beware also of him, who flatters you, and commends you to your face, or to one who he thinks will tell you of it most probably he has either deceived and abused you, or means to do so. Remember the fable of the fox commending the singing of the crow, who had something in her mouth which the fox wanted.

Be careful that you do not commend yourselves. It is a sign that your reputation is small and sinking, if

your own tongue must praise you: and it is fulsome and unpleasing to others to hear such commendations.

Speak well of the absent, whenever you have a suitable opportunity. Never speak ill of them, or of any body, unless you are sure they deserve it, and unless it is necessary for their amendment, or for the safety and benefit of others.

Avoid, in your ordinary communications, not only eaths, but all imprecations, and earnest protestations.

Forbear scoffing and jesting at the condition, or natural defects, of any person. Such offences leave a deep impression; and they often cost a man dear.

Be very careful that you give no reproachful menacing, or spiteful words to any person Good words make friends; bad words make enemies. It is great prudence to gain as many friends as we honestly can, especially when it may be done at so easy a rate as a good word; and it is great folly, to make an enemy by ill words, which are of no advantage to the party who uses them. When faults are committed, they may, and, by a superior, they must, be reproved: but let it be done without reproach, or bitterness; otherwise,. it will lose its due end and use, and instead of reforming the offence, it will exasperate the offender, and lay the reprover justly open to reproof.

If a person be passionate, and give you ill language, rather pity him than be moved to anger. You will find that silence, or very gentle words, are the most exquisite revenge for reproaches; they will either cure the distemper in the angry man, and make him sorry for his passion, or they will be a severe reproof and punishment to him. But, at any rate, they will preserve your innocence: give you the deserved reputation of wisdom and moderation; and keep up the serenity and composure of your mind. Passion and anger make a man unfit for every thing that becomes him as a man, or as a Christian.

Never utter any profane speeches; nor make a jest of any Scripture expressions. When you pronounce the name of God or of Christ, or repeat any passages

or words of Holy Scripture, do it with reverence, and seriousness; and not lightly, for that is "taking the name of God in vain."

If you hear of any unseemly expressions used in religious exercises, do not publish them; endeavour to forget them; or, if you mention them at all, let it be with pity and sorrow, not with derision or reproach.

Read these directions often; think of them seriously; and practice them diligently. You will find them useful in your conversation; which will be every day the more evident to you, as your judgment, understanding, and experience increase.

I have little further to add at this time, but my wish and command that you will remember the former counsels that I have frequently given you. Begin and end the day with private prayer; read the Scriptures often and seriously; be attentive to the public worship of God. Keep yourselves in some useful employment for idleness is the nursery of vain and sinful thoughts, which corrupt the mind, and disorder the life.

Be kind and loving to one another. Honour your minister. Be not bitter nor harsh to my servants. Be respectful to all. Bear my absence patiently, and cheerfully. Behave as if I were present among you, and saw you. Remember you have a greater Father than I am, who always, and in all places, beholds you, and knows your hearts and thoughts. Study to requite my love, and care, for you, with dutifulness, observance, and obedience; and account it an honour that you have an opportunity, by your attention, faithfulness, and industry, to pay some part of that debt, which, by the laws of nature and of gratitude, you owe to me. Be frugal in my family but let there be no want; and provide conveniently for the poor.

I pray God to fill your hearts with his grace, fear, and love, and to let you see the comfort and advantage of serving him; and that his blessing, and presence, and direction, may be with you, and over you all.

I am your ever loving father,

MATTHEW HALE:

LETTER IV.

Sir Matthew Hale to one of his sons, on his recovery from a dangerous illness.

Dear son,

Though on account of the contagiousness of your disease, and the many dependants I have upon me, I thought it not convenient to come to you during your sickness, yet I have not been wanting in my earnest prayers to Almighty God for you, nor in useing the best means I could for your recovery.

It has pleased God to hear my prayers for you, and to restore you to competent degree of health; for which I return him my humble and hearty thanks.I would have you, as long as you live, remember your late sickness in all its circumstances, and the plain and profitable inferences that arise from it. While afflictions continue, and while deliverances are fresh, they commonly have some good effect upon us. But as the iron is no sooner out of the fire, than it returns to its old coldness and hardness: so when the affliction and deliverance are past, we usually forget them, or attribute them to means and secondary causes; the good that we should receive from them vanishes; and we become what we were before. Sick-bed promises are often forgotten when the sickness is over.

Let it be your first business, after your recovery, to consider the course of your past life, since you came to the age of discretion, and see what has been amiss in it: whether you have not too much neglected religion, and its duties; been guilty of intemperance, and wantonness; mispent your time; and taken delight in vain, sinful, and disorderly company. And if any such, or the like faults, have been committed by you, repent of them; resolve against them; and let the future course of your life be amended. I do not mention these things to upbraid you; but that, upon consideration of what has been amiss, you may be the better enabled to rectify, and set in order, your future