He was buried at Winchester, in a monastery he had founded. ANECDOTES. Alfred the Great had reached his twelfth year before he had even learned his alphabet. An interesting anecdote is told of the occasion on which he was first prompted to apply himself to books. His mother had shown him and his brothers a small volume, illuminated in different places with coloured letters, and such other embellishments as were then in fashion. Seeing that it excited the admiration of her children, she promised that she would give it to the boy who should first learn to read it. Alfred, though the youngest, was the only one who had spirit enough to attempt obtaining it on such a condition. He immediately went and procured a teacher, and in a very short time was able to claim the promised reward. When he came to the throne, notwithstanding his manifold duties, and a tormenting disease, which seldom allowed him an hour's rest, he employed his leisure time either in reading or hearing the best books. His high regard for the best interests of the people he was called to govern, and the benevolence of his conduct, are well known. He encountered many difficulties in obtaining scriptural knowledge, which the people of the present day have never experienced, and manifested an attachment to the sacred volume not often seen now. In those dark ages learning was considered rather a reproach than an honour to a prince. In addition to which, his kingdom, for many years, was the seat of incessant war. Notwithstanding all this, Alfred found opportunity, not only to read the word of God, but actually to copy out all the Psalms of David: which book he constantly carried in his bosom. That he profited greatly from reading the Scriptures is no matter of surprise, when we learn, that, after the example of David, he earnestly sought divine teaching, and prayed that the Lord would open his eyes that he might understand his law. He frequently entered the churches secretly in the night for prayer; and there lamented, with sighs, the want of more acquaintance with divine wisdom. Having drunk into the spirit of the Bible, and experienced the rich consolation it affords, in setting before the burdened sinner a free and full salvation in Jesus, he wished it published to all around; he therefore commenced a translation of the Psalms into Anglo-Saxon, though he did not, however, live to finish the work. During his retreat at Athelney, in Somersetshire, after his defeat by the Danes, a beggar came to his little castle and requested alms. His queen informed Alfred that they had but one small loaf remaining, which was insufficient for themselves and their friends, who were gone in search of food, though with little hope of success. The king replied, "Give the poor Christian one half of the loaf. He that could feed five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes, can certainly make the half loaf suffice for more than our necessity." The poor man was accordingly relieved, and Alfred's people shortly after returned with a store of fresh provisions! 1. To what dynasty did Alfred belong? 2. When did he ascend the throne? 3. What people were comprehended under the term Danes? 4. Tell the story of Alfred in the peasant's hut. 5. What strategem did he use to ascertain the condition of his enemies? 6. With what success did he contend with the invaders? 7. Name some of the great blessings that Alfred was instrumental in bestowing upon England. 8. What heightens our astonishment in the contemplation of his wondrous labours? 9. Relate the anecdote of his learning to read, of his love of the scriptures,-of his charity and trust in God. SIR MATTHEW HALE, OR SECULAR DILIGENCE AND SPIRITUAL FERVOUR. Abridged from Stoughton's "Lights of the World." Sec'u-lar, adj. (L. seculum), relat- Cos-tume', n. (Fr. coutume), style its operations; thought on the Man'u-script, n. (L. manus, scrip- In the seventeenth century, there might have been seen in the Court of King's Bench at Westminster, one clothed in judicial costume, and occupying the high seat of justice, who, amidst the quaint and picturesque scenes and fashions of that age, incorporated within himself those principles of Christian truth and duty which belong to all ages. Sir Matthew Hale has been characterized by Lord Ellenborough as one of the greatest judges that ever sat in Westminster Hall; and by Lord Kenyon, as one of the greatest and best of men; while Lord Erskine alluded to him as a personage whose faith in Christianity is an exalted commentary upon its truth and reason, whose life was a glorious example of its fruits, and whose justice, drawn from the pure fountain of the Christian dispensation, will in all ages be the subject of the highest reverence and admiration. These eulogiums by distinguished men, are only the echo of that general praise which, ever since the name of Hale became known, has repeated and applauded it. Sir Matthew Hale was born on the first of November, 1609, at Adderly, in the county of Gloucester, where, after a judicial career surpassingly illustrious, he died on 25th December, 1676; He was buried in his native village. The life of this truly great man affords a bright illustration of the union of secular diligence and spiritual fervour. As soon as he entered Lincoln's Inn, he began to employ sixteen hours a day in study. He determined to excel in his proper business. He brought all the powers of his mind to bear on the acquisition of that knowledge which would make him eminent as a lawyer. He made collections out of the books he read, carefully digested what he knew, and recorded his own matured reflections. In this way, before he was called to the bar, he composed a volume, pronounced by a brother judge to be so well done, that no lawyer in England could have done it better. At the bar, he was the model of a laborious barrister; on the bench, he was the model of a laborious judge. Society is a great household, of which God is the Master. Distribution of labour, varieties of secular employment, are according to his will. Professions and trades are all spheres of Divine service, in which the Sovereign Proprietor employs mortals as his workmen. He who gives angels in heaven their work to do, gives the children of Adam their work to do. The profession, or trade, to which a man is called by his heavenly Lord, should be religiously regarded by him as having the first of all secular claims upon his diligence, earnestness, and ardour. To it he should devote his energies,—in it he should excel. The Jews compared a man with a fixed employment to "a vineyard fenced." A good comparison. A man's activities, within his proper calling, are not like trees, scattered up and down the way-side, or over the wilderness, where much of the fruit is lost; but like well-planted and well-trained vines in a garden, where the most is made of them, and they are all husbanded and preserved. So the great Sir Matthew Hale felt; and in that sphere of earthly labour which God had assigned him, he resolved to improve the talents he was endowed with,—to do, not for his own sake merely, or for man's sake, but for the Lord's sake, his very best. And in like manner, the inspired injunction to be "diligent in business,"—this voice from heaven, which speaks to every one, day by day,—which calls every morning to the tradesman as he goes behind the counter,―to the merchant, as he sits down at the desk,-to the artisan, as he enters the workshop,-this voice, which reminds them all that God's eye is upon them from morning to night, plainly intimates that they should walk in the steps of Hale, and strive to excel in their worldly employment. Beyond the boundaries of his profession, Sir Matthew Hale manifested his industry. He was a great general reader, an intense thinker, and a voluminous writer. His published works are considerable; but he left behind him a number of manuscripts on various literary, philosophical, and religious subjects, still preserved in Lincoln's Inn. Mathematics, natural philosophy, medicine, anatomy, surgery, ancient history, and chronology, besides divinity, to which he very largely devoted his attention, were severally subjected to his inquisitive research. He valued time. To him it was most precious. No portion of it would he waste. He had, as all right-minded men have, a religious feeling about time. While time is ours, it is so only in the sense in which other things are ours. It is not merely a gift from God, but a trust from God-a valuable investment committed to us, not absolutely, but in trusteeship-responsible, sacred trusteeship. Two things are essential to the full improvement of time, assiduity and method, the occupation of every moment, and the wise arrangement of all occupations. Method without assiduity will be but formal idling. A man may be very systematic-a slave to system-and yet go on wasting hour after hour, by line and rule. Assiduity without method will be but an abortive bustle. Time will be spent in flurried confusion; and, with a sincere eagerness to grasp it all, much will slip away. Assiduity and method presiding over time, will turn it to wonderful account. So the spare pieces of time, the shreds, the odds and ends of time put together, may form a great and beautiful work. Hale wrote his contemplations when on his circuits. Dr. Mason Good translated Lucretius in his carriage, while, as a physician, he rode from door to door. One of the chancellors of France penned a bulky volume in the successive intervals of daily waiting for dinner. Doddridge wrote his Expositor chiefly before breakfast. Kirke White studied Greek, went over the nouns and verbs, as he was going to and from a lawyer's office. Burney learned French and Italian while riding on horseback. Franklin laid the foundations of his wonderful stock of knowledge in his dinner hours and evenings, while working as a printer's boy. Oh, the preciousness of moments! No gold nor gems can be compared to them. Yet all have them; while some are thereby enriched, and others leave themselves in poverty. God of all time, who hast given us time to spend in this world in many a useful way, give us wisdom, that we may know how to husband well thy precious gift, and render in our account of it at last with humility, but with honour! Sir Matthew Hale was a specimen of spiritual fervour. He believed, embraced, and loved the gospel. He esteemed the knowledge of Christ crucified, the best of all knowledge. "My time," he says, "is part of that talent which my Maker hath put into my hand; and if I have consumed my time in seeking preferment, honour, or wealth in the world, in studying how to please myself with vain and unnecessary recreations, in unlawful or excessive pleasures, in unlawful or immoderate curiosities, when I might have been better engaged in studying the mystery of Christ, or my conformity to his will, or improving my interest in him, I have committed two follies at once: I have lost my talent of time and opportunity, for which I am accountable, and I have lost the advantage which I had in hand, to improve my interest in God and favour from him, and love to him; and though my talent might have gained ten, yet at most it hath gained but two." He felt the transcendent importance of eternal things, and how incomparably inferior to them are the interests of a secular profession, however dignified. "Though," referring to his legal duties, "though it be my duty faithfully to serve in them, while I am called to them, and till I am called from them, yet they are great consumers of the little time we have here, which it |