are, can, nor should be lawyers themselves by reason of higher state employments; but herein they see with the eyes of their judges, and at last will break those false spectacles which in point of law shall be found to have deceived them.

He counts the rules of state and the laws of the realm mutually support each other. Those who made the laws to be not only disparate, but even opposite terms to maxims of government, were true friends neither to laws nor government. Indeed, salus reipublicæ is charta maxima: extremity makes the next the best remedy. Yet though hot waters be good to be given to one in a swoon, they will burn his heart out who drinks them constantly when in health. Extraordinary courses are not ordinarily to be used when not enforced by absolute necessity.

And thus we leave our good judge to receive a just reward of his integrity from the Judge of judges at the great assize of the world.

THE GOOD PHYSICIAN.

COMING

OMING to his patient, he persuades him to put his trust in God, the fountain of health.

The neglect hereof hath caused the bad success

of the best physicians; for God will manifest that, though skill come mediately from him, to be gotten by man's pains, success comes from him immediately, to be disposed at his pleasure.

He hansels not his new experiments on the bodies of his patients; letting loose mad receipts into the sick man's body, to try how well nature in him will fight against them, whilst himself stands by and sees the battle; except it be in desperate cases, when death must be expelled by death.

To poor people he prescribes cheap but wholesome medicine; not removing the consumption out of their bodies into their purses; nor sending them to the East Indies for drugs when they can reach better out of their gardens.

Lest his apothecary should oversee, he oversees his apothecary. For though many of that profession be both able and honest, yet some, out of ignorance or haste, may mistake: witness one of Blois, who, being to serve a doctor's bill, instead of optimi (short written) read opii, and had sent the patient asleep to his grave if the doctor's watchfulness had not prevented him. Worse are those who make wilful errors, giving one thing for another. A prodigal, who had spent his estate, was pleased to jeer himself, boasting that he had cozened those who had bought his means. They gave

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me," "said he, "good new money, and I sold them my great-great-grandfather's old land." But this cozenage is too true in many apothecaries, selling to sick folk for new money antiquated drugs, and making dying men's physic of dead ingredients.

He brings not news, with a false spy, that the coast is clear, till death surprises the sick man. I know, physicians love to make the best of their patient's estate. First, it is improper that adjutores vitæ should be nuncii mortis. Secondly, none, with their good will, will tell bad news. Thirdly, their fee may be the worse for it. Fourthly, 't is a confessing that their art is conquered. Fifthly, it will poison their patient's heart with grief and make it break before the time. However, they may so order it that the party may be informed of his dangerous condition, that he be not outed of this world before he be provided for another.

When he can keep life no longer in, he makes a fair and easy passage for it to go out. He giveth his attendance for the facilitating and assuaging of the pains and agonies of death. Yet, generally, 't is death to a physician to be with a dying man.

Unworthy pretenders to physic are rather foils than stains to the profession. Such a one was that counterfeit who called himself the Baron of Blackamore, and feigned he was sent

from the Emperor to our young King Henry the Sixth, to be his principal physician ; but his forgery being discovered, he was apprehended, and executed in the Tower of London, anno 1426; and such the world daily swarms with. Well did the poets feign Æsculapius and Circe, brother and sister, and both children of the Sun; for in all times, in the opinion of the multitude, witches, old women, and impostors have had a competition with physicians. And commonly the most ignorant are the most confident in their undertakings, and will not stick to tell you what disease the gall of a dove is good to cure. He took himself to be no mean doctor, who, being guilty of no Greek, and being demanded why it was called an "hectic fever"; "because," saith he, "of an hecking cough, which ever attendeth that disease."

THE FAITHFUL MINISTER.

WE suppose him not brought up by hand

only in his own country studies, but that he hath suck of his Mother University, and thoroughly learnt the arts; not as St. Rumball, who is said to have spoken as soon as he was born, doth he preach as soon as he is matric

ulated. Conceive him now a graduate in arts and called to a pastoral charge, and then let us see how well he dischargeth his office.

He endeavors to get the general love and good-will of his parish. This he doth not so much to make a benefit of them, as a benefit for them, that his ministry may be more effectual; otherwise he may preach his own heart out before he preacheth anything into theirs. The good conceit of the physician is half a cure, and his practice will scarce be happy where his person is hated; yet he humors them not in his doctrine to get their love, for such a spaniel is worse than a dumb dog. shall sooner get their good-will by walking uprightly than by crouching and creeping. If pious living and painful laboring in his calling will not win their affections, he counts it gain to lose them. As for those which causelessly hate him, he pities and prays for them; and such there will be. I should suspect his preaching had no salt in it, if no galled horse did wince.

He

He is strict in ordering his conversation. As for those who cleanse blurs with blotted fingers, they make it the worse. It was said of one who preached very well and lived very ill, that "when he was out of the pulpit it was pity he should ever go into it, and when he was in the pulpit it was pity he should ever come out