the power which elevates him above the brute, and makes him the lord of the creation. It elevates his mind and ideas, and places him almost upon a level with the angels.

Without wisdom, man would be continually exposed to the attacks of vice. He would be a desolate being, little or no better than the beasts around him.

Wisdom is the greatest blessing with which we are favoured by the Almighty The wise Solomon, therefore, truly said, "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom."

All men are not favoured with the like quantity of wisdom, Wherefore, let him that hath much, try to improve that much, and let him that hath little, do the same.

Therefore, my friends, pray for Wisdom; and it shall be given you by the Almighty. Seek it of none else; for by none else can it be given you.

'When you have obtained wisdom, be not proud of it, but thank him that gave it, for he can deprive you of it in a moment.

'I now pray God to give you wisdom; and to teach you to make a right use of it. May he write his name in every one of your foreheads, and register your names in the Lamb's book of life! sanctify you throughout, and keep you blameless, fruitful in every good work, serving him acceptably with reverence and godly fear! root you and ground you in love, make you peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated! May he multiply his love unto you, accept, defend, and bless you, filling you with all wisdom, and spiritual understanding to do his will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.'

August 25, 1822.

EDWARD LUKE BOOKER.'

L

Of such a child, may I not say, with an ancient writer?

'Heaven doth convey

Those first from the dark prison of their clay
Who are most fit for Heaven:'

66

and, with a more ancient writer still,-especially bearing in mind his sudden removal from a world of sin and care: 'He pleased God, and was beloved of Him; so that he was translated; yea, speedily taken away, lest wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. Thus, youth, that is soon perfected, shall condemn the many years and old age of the unrighteous. For honourable age in not that which standeth in length of time; nor that which is measured by number of years. But wisdom is the grey hairs unto men; and an unspotted life is old age.' In the above short specimen of his early wisdom and unspotted life' who is the subject of this affectionate Memorial, it may be proper to say that his first effort ended at the words-right use of it' and that the supplicatory parts were, on the evening of the same day, written by him (partly in pencil, and partly in ink) upon a separate scrap of paper, from a judicious conviction that, without something of the kind, the former was defective, On the little performance being shown to me, and receiving my commendation, he said he hoped he should be able to do much better;' but, added he, 'I can easily branch it out: and, when I am a clergyman, I will.' It also may be proper to say, that he meant the observation concerning man's liability to a sudden deprivation of wisdom or the powers of reason, should apply to the melancholy case of an amia

* Book of Wisdom, iv. 10, v. 8, 9.

ble and distinguished nobleman, which, at that time, deeply affected the wise and the good in all countries.

His

With such a portion of serious thought, it may be supposed that the dear-lamented subject of these remarks had no delight in the wonted amusements of youth. The unhappy cause of his premature dissolution proves the contrary. Indeed, with his play-fellows, at the intervals of relaxation from study, he was all action and vivacity. At other times, a book or instructive conversation, was his chief pleasure. By which means, gifted with a retentive memory, his simple unostentatious acquirements were so abundant, that all who knew him were frequently astonished at his understanding and answers.' excellent tutor at Eton, in a kindly-condoling letter to me, after the mournful disaster, thus speaks of him: To sooth a parent's anguish at the loss of a youth of fairest promise, did I not know that I am addressing one whose communings have been of the mysteries and mercies of our faith, I might venture to suggest some topics of consolation; but he who has meditated on the book of life, can discern love n the chastenings of its Divine Author, Yet, vithout trespassing on the sanctity of a father's felings, I may be permitted to say, that the pain which such a calamity cannot but awaken in me, isnot a little alleviated by the pleasure of having hal under my care, though for too short a time! a boy of so much gentleness of disposition and godness of heart, so much propriety of applicatio, and correctness of conduct, that I find it dificult to express to you how much I found in hinto praise, how very little to censure! And thegood lady, with whom he boarded, who ma

nifested an almost-maternal grief for his fate, has often testified her surprise at the exhaustless fund of anecdote and information, with which he was accustomed to entertain her household. His last weekly allowance was expended in the purchase of a book, immediately before the melancholy disaster which deprived him of life, and overwhelmed his friends in sorrow. That book was found in his pocket, and another in the lining of his hat!

These simple annals are given, not with any vain pretensions of exhibiting a youth endowed with a supernatural portion of intellect, or precosity of mind; for I am persuaded there is many a youth of similar capacity; but they are detailed from a comforting assurance to my own heart that, of such is the Kingdom of God;' and not without an humble hope that other parents, who may resemble me in experiencing an afflictive privation of children (having seen eight out of eleven precede me to the grave, two of them untimely.*) may be directed to lookwhither I do effectually look for support and consolation, namely, to that gracious Being who gave, and who best knows when, and in what manner to take away: thus, in all our woes submitting our own wills to the All-wise, and Allrighteous Will of Heaven.

Jan. 11th, 1823.

L. B.

* See Vol. LXXX. i. 647, 672, the Gentlemans Magazine.

Monumental Inscription.
To the Memory of
EDWARD LUKE,

Son of the Rev. Luke Booker, LL.D.
who was accidently drowned,

A.D. 1822, on the 9th Day of December,
in the 11th year of his age.
His much beloved and lamented Body
reposes near,

while his pure Spirit rejoices
in the presence of his Redeemer.
May this plain Memorial,

recording his Virtues and disastrous Fate, Prove a salutary WARNING to incautious Youth, to avoid the dangers of that Element, which deprived him of Life,

and overwhelmed his friends in sorrow!

To the Editor of the Christian's Pocket Magazine. SIR-I should be obliged if any of your correspondents would favour me with an answer to the following question:-Is knowledge, without religion, favourable to virtue?

Your's,

AMICUS.

Virgilius, Bishop of Saltzburg, having written that there existed Antipodes, Boniface, Archbishop of Mentz, the Pope's Legate, declared him a heretic, and consigned him to the flames.

The Abbot Trithemius, who was fond of improving stenography, or the art of secret writing, having published several curious works upon this subject, they were condemned as works full of