England in the same fleet that brought over William, Prince of Orange.

The great work for which Locke is known, is his Essay on the Human Understanding. The Mind was the great subject on which he thought, and on which he wrote; and a more important and interesting, but, at the same time, a more difficult subject, he could not have selected. "Know thyself," was a precept given by one of the ancients to the enquirer of his day; and it would be well if Christian people in modern times, were to pay some attention to the wise hint of this heathen philosopher. We are usually more disposed to look without, than to look within; and we often know a great deal of what is passing in the world around, while there remains a little unseen world in our own minds, and in our own hearts, of which we know nothing. Now it was the business of Locke's life to investigate the laws of mind:-to try to ascertain how it is the infant gains his first ideas; and then how it is that he extends them, and goes on from feeling and observing, to comparing and reasoning, until after the long, and almost unconscious process of months or years, he becomes a thinking, as well as a sensitive being. At some future time, you will, perhaps, read with pleasure and improvement the various thoughts of Locke on these matters; but

meanwhile, try to learn from him now, first of all, to look within, and to trace your own words and actions to their first beginnings in the mind and in the heart. And endeavour too, to have your mind rightly informed, and your heart wisely directed, in order that your words and actions may be good and useful,worthy of a reasonable and an immortal crea

ture.

Now had Locke examined only his own mind, and the mind of others, he might indeed have thought and written much that was learned and clever, and yet have been very little benefited, morally benefited at least, by all his researches and studies. But happily, this Christian philosopher looked upward as well as inward, and both are equally important. Like Boyle, he loved to direct his thoughts to the greatest of all subjects-religion. "There is," he said, "onescience incomparably above all the rest; I mean theology, which, containing the knowledge of God and his creatures, our duty to him and our fellow creatures, and a view of our present future state, is the comprehension of all other knowledge directed to its true end, the honour and veneration of the Creator, and the happiness of mankind. This is that noble study which is every man's duty, and every one that can be called a rational creature is capable of." -Like Boyle too, Locke was a diligent reader

of the Scriptures; and the last years of his life were spent chiefly in studying them, and in writing theological works. And now, as we have talked about the birth-place of this distinguished man, let us go, ere we part from him, to his dying-bed, and learn a lesson, a solemn lesson, from him there. His last words to a friend will show us the view he took of his life, when it was quickly passing away from him, with all its occupations, and its joys and sorrows." May you live," he said, as he bade this friend an affectionate farewell, -"may you live and be happy, in the enjoyment of health and freedom, and those blessings which Providence has bestowed upon you. This life is a scene of vanity, which soon passeth away, and affords no solid satisfaction, but in the consciousness of doing well and in the hopes of another life. This is what I can say upon experience, and what you will find to be true, when you come to make up the account."

There is still one other great man of whom we must speak before we close our chapter. And as when we were talking of Locke, I took you to a house and to a church which is associated with his name, so I will now introduce you to Sir Isaac Newton, by directing your attention to a college in the University of Cambridge, where is erected a statue to

his memory by the celebrated sculptor Roubiliac. I dare say the name of Newton is familiar to you; for it is one of those most veneated in our national history.

When Newton was a boy at school, he gave proofs of the very remarkable genius for which he was so distinguished in after life. Instead of joining in the sports of his companions, he used to spend his hours of recreation in mechanical inventions, and in making ingenious models in wood. He constructed a wooden clock, and made a windmill on a small scale, in imitation of one he had seen erected. This windmill of his, when finished, he set up on the top of the house in which he lodged; and then he used to amuse himself with watching the sails as they were turned about by the wind. He put a mouse into the mill, to be, as he said, the miller; but this miller did not perform his new business very satisfactorily; for instead of helping to turn the sails as his master intended, he was continually stopping to eat the corn which was sent to be ground! Many other ingenious contrivances Newton produced during his school days; but those days came prematurely to an end; for his mother, being a widow, needed his help at home; so she was obliged to interrupt his studies, and to take him from school, that he might assist her in her farm, and in attending

the weekly market at Grantham, where they lived. No doubt Newton was vexed thus to be torn from his favourite pursuits. However, he still found some time for study, even when he was watching the sheep, or on his way to and from market. He was often found musing beneath a tree, or reading an old book under a hedge, while he was employed in these humble occupations.

But Newton's genius, and his patience and industry, were not in the end unnoticed and unrewarded. An uncle of his, who was a clergyman, and a kind and sensible person, saw that there was something very uncommon about his young nephew, and that he had talents which ought not to be buried in the obscurity of his mother's farm. So he made the necessary exertions, and in due time succeeded in placing Newton at the University of Cambridge. This was in the year 1660, and he was then eighteen years of age.

Now it often happens, that the most remarkable events in our lives are brought about by some very trivial, and, what we are too apt to call, accidental circumstance. A little incident, hardly heeded at the time, takes place, and from that follows a series of consequences giving a bent and a bias to the whole future course of life. It would be interesting to trace such circumstances in our own private histo