Self-estimation is a flatterer too readily entitling us unto knowledge and abilities, which others. solicitously labor after, and doubtfully think they attain. Surely, such confident tempers do pass their days in best tranquillity, who, resting in the opinion of their own abilities, are happily gulled by such contentation; wherein pride, self-conceit, and opiniatrity, will hardly suffer any to complain of imperfection. To think themselves in the right, or all that right, or only that, which they do or think, is a fallacy of high content; though others laugh in their sleeves, and look upon them as in a deluded state of judgement: wherein, notwithstanding, 'twere but a civil piece of complacency to suffer them to sleep who would not wake, to let them rest in their securities, nor by dissent or opposition to stagger their contentments. - SIR T. BROWNE, Christian Morals.

As to the endowments of the mind, most persons in their own estimation have a sufficient share; and the natural affection which we bear to ourselves guards us usually against any discontent of that kind. — ARCHDEACON JORTIN, Sermons.

'What,' said Mr. Abernethy, in reply to a former pupil, who said it must depress a man to be told that he has not the capacity for success, 'do you suppose a man thinks himself a fool any the more for being told he is one.'

Many persons believe that they discover evidence

against the moral government of the world, in the success of individuals not greatly gifted with moral and intellectual qualities, in attaining to great wealth, rank, and social consideration, while men of far superior merit remain in obscurity and poverty. But the solution of this difficulty is to be found in the consideration, that success in society depends on the possession, in an ample degree, of the qualities which society needs and appreciates, and that these bear reference to the state in which society finds itself at the time when the observation is made. ** In proportion as society advances in moral and intellectual acquirements, it will make larger demands for similar qualities in its favorites. The reality of the moral government of the world appears from the degree of happiness which individuals and society enjoy in these different states.-G. COMBE, The Constitution of Man considered in relation to External Objects.

III. CHOICE OF A PROFESSION.

O speak more generally, — those three noble

Professions which all civil Commonwealths do honor, are raised upon the fall of Adam, and are not any way exempt from their infirmities; there are not only diseases incurable in Physic, but cases indissoluble in Laws, vices incorrigible in Divinity. SIR THOMAS BROWNE, Religio Medici.

Men, endowed with the capacity of a subtle wit, relinquish the schools of learning, and, violently repelled by the sole envy of a step-mother from the nectareous cup of philosophy, having first tasted of it, and by the very taste become more fervently thirsty, fitted for the liberal arts, and equally disposed to the contemplation of Scripture, but destitute of the needful aid, they revert, as it were, by a sort of apostasy, to mechanical arts solely for the sake of food, to the impoverishment of the Church, and the degradation of the whole Clerical Profession. R. DE BURY, BISHOP OF DURHAM, Philobiblon.

When Faraday was admitted as an Assistant in the laboratory of the Royal Institution by Humphry Davy, he told him that he would find "Science a harsh mistress, and in a pecuniary point of view but poorly rewarding those who devoted themselves to her service.". "He smiled," says Faraday, "at my notions of the superior moral feelings of philosophical men, and said that he would leave me to the experience of a few years to set me right in that matter.”. S. SOLLY, Address to the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society.

Science moves but slowly when its conclusions are not aided by interest or passion. - Saturday Review, February 1869.

The choice of the profession or calling, to which a man shall devote his life and worldly energies, is a matter of most serious importance. By youthful aspirants it is but lightly viewed. They generally see in it nothing beyond the selection of the most. agreeable mode of future enjoyment.

It is impossible that any rationally contemplative mind can fail to observe, in this inconsiderate temperament of youth, the supreme wisdom of Divine Providence; which is more visibly manifested in the ordinary, and little noticed, occurrences of life, than in many of the more recondite recesses, into which the curiosity or the vanity of the human intellect is prone to penetrate. For if the youth

ful mind were possessed of the coolness and judgement of mature age, to foresee the serious and important consequences, and to know the hazards of life, into whatever channel of occupation it may be directed, few would there be, who could be brought to any decisive election of employment. Happily for the young, they are denied that extent of vision, which would open to them such objects of sight, as would deprive them of the boldness necessary in the race which they have to run. The means are nevertheless given, if they will use them, of turning the events of their course (whatever it may be) to the ultimate attainment of the object of all earthly pursuits, the favor of God.-W. H., A Monitor for young Ministers of the Gospel, 1828.

The two great elements of excellence in all callings are energy and natural aptitude: and these may be combined in any proportion with the fear of God and the love of man, or their opposites. Saturday Review, March 1860.

Yet if it be not heresy to say so, the study of the Law produces rather habits of accuracy than habits of impartiality, -- Saturday Review, May 1866.

But education of some sort is necessary to prevent Law becoming a trade and advocacy a vulgar trickery, and unhappily it can not be said that education of any sort is now necessary to success. * * * A man may have a clear head