5. And let the counsel of thine own heart stand for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it.

6. For a man's mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in a high tower.

7. And above all things pray to the Most High, that he will direct thy way in truth.

8. Let her reason go before every enterprise, and counsel before every action.

9. There is one that is wise and teacheth many, and yet is unprofitable to himself.

10. Another is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding are commendable in his mouth.

11. The days of the life of man may be numbered: but the days of Israel are innumerable.

12. A wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and his name shall be perpetual.

13. My son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it, and give not that unto it.

14. For all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every soul pleasure in everything.

15. All the works of the LORD are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season. 16. A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that?, for he hath made all things for their uses.

17. All the works of the LORD are good: and he will give every needful thing in due season.

18. So that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in time they shall all be well approved.

19. And therefore praise ye the LORD with the whole heart and mouth, and bless the name of the LORD.

20. Bountifulness is as a most fruitful garden, and mercifulness endureth forever.

21. To labour, and to be content with that a man hath, is a sweet

life.

22. Children and the building of a city continue a man's name but a blame ess wife is counted above them both.

23. Wine and music rejoice the heart: but the love of wisdom is above them both.

24. A friend and companion never meet amiss: but above both is a wife with her husband.

25. Brethren and help are against time of trouble: but alms shall deliver more than them both.

26. Gold and silver make the foot stand sure: but counsel is es

teemed above them both.

27. Riches and strength lift up the heart: but the fear of the LORD is above them both.

28. The fear of the LORD is a fruitful garden, and covereth him above all glory.

29. My son, lead not a beggar's life; for better is it to die than to beg. 30. The life of him that dependeth on another man's table is not to be counted for a life; for he polluteth himself with other men's meat: but a wise man well nurtured will beware thereof

31. Honour a physician with the honour due unto him, for the uses which ye may have of him: for the LORD hath created him.

32. And he hath given men skill, that he might be honoured in his marvellous works.

33. With such doth he heal men, and taketh away their pains. 34. My son, in thy sickness be not negligent: but pray unto the LORD, and he will make thee whole.

35. Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain.

36. Fear not the sentence of death, remember them that have been before thee, and that come after; for this is the sentence before the LORD over all flesh.

37. When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be comforted for him, when his spirit is departed from him.

38. The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: and he that hath little business shall become wise.

39. How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labours, and whose talk is of bullocks?

40. Any man that hath travelled knoweth many things; and he that hath much experience will declare wisdom.

41. Have regard to thy name; for that shall continue with thee above a thousand great treasures of gold.

42. A good life hath but few days: but a good name endureth for

ever.

43. Be ashamed of unchastity and of a lie; of an offence before a judge and ruler; of iniquity before a congregation and people; of unjust dealing before thy partner and friend.

44. Be ashamed of theft, and in regard of denying the truth of God and his covenant; of silence before them that salute

thee; and of turning away thy face from thy kinsman; and of revealing of secrets.

45. So shalt thou be truly shamefaced, and find favour before all

men.

VIII.

HYMN OF THE FOREFATHERS.

1. LET us now praise famous men, and our fathers that were be

fore us.

2. The LORD hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning.

3. Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:

4. Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent in their instructions:

5. Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing. 6. Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habi

tations.

7. All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times.

8. There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported.

9. And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been born.

10. But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.

11. With their race shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant.

12. Their race shall remain forever, and their glory shall not be blotted out.

13. Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth forever

more.

14. The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will show forth their praise.

15. Blessed is he that shall be exercised in these things; and he that layeth them up in his heart shall become wise.

16. For if he do them, he shall be strong to all things: for the light of the LORD leadeth him, who giveth wisdom to the godly.

17. Blessed be the LORD for ever. Amen, Amen.

SELECTIONS FROM THE

SAYINGS OF THE FATHERS.

(*The Sayings of the Fathers, Pirke, Aboth, of which a selection is given here, form a book of the Mishnah, the codex in which the previously existing treatiseson the traditional teachings of Judaism were compiled by Rabbi Judah Hannasi (the Prince) who lived one hundred and twenty years after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, or about 190 of the common era. This book is a collection of the maxims on the religious and ethical conduct of life, which were habitually in the mouth of our most celebrated sages of ancient time, as the epitomes of their varied experience. It is probably the most classical and at the same time the most popular treatise on practical ethics extant among us.)

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CHAPTER I.

MOSES received the Law on Sinai and delivered it to Joshua; Joshua in turn handed it down to the elders; from the elders it descended to the prophets, from them to the men of the Great Assembly.** The last-named originated three maxims: Be not hasty in judging; gather many disciples around thee; and erect safeguards for the Law.

The motto of Simon the Just was: The order of the world rests upon three things: on law, on worship and on charity.

Antigonos of Socho was in the habit of saying: Be not like slaves who serve their master for the sake of the compensation; be like such servants as labor for their master without reward. 4. Josè ben Joèzer, of Zereda, was wont to say, Let thy house be the meeting-place of the wise: sit gladly at their feet, and drink in their words with avidity.

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Josè ben Jochanan, of Jerusalem, was in the habit of saying: Let thy house be so wide open that the poor may enter it as were they inmates there.

By permission of the Jewish Minister's Association re-printed from the Home Prayer-book published New York, 1888.

**This was the name give to the highest religious Council among the Jews, which governed the nation after its return from the Babylonian captivity,

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Joshua ben Perachya said: Get thee a wise teacher, win a comrade, and judge every man from his favorable side.

Nitai of Arbela was accustomed to say: Keep aloof from a wicked neighbor. Associate not with a sinner. Never consider thyself exempt from God's chastisement.

Shemayah was in the habit of saying: Love work; seek not to lord it over others; thrust not thyself upon the society of the great.

Hillel said: Be a disciple of Aaron, love peace, pursue peace; love all men too, and bring them nigh unto the Law.

He also was fond of remarking: He who runs after fame will find that it flies from him. Not to grow in knowledge is to decay therein; not to acquire wisdom when we may, is to sin against our soul. To boast of learning is to detract from it.

He used to say again: If I do not look to myself, who will do so? But if I look only to myself, what am I? And if not now, when?

Shammai was in the habit of saying: Fix a time for study. Promise little and do much. Receive every one with friendly

countenance.

Rabban Simeon ben Gamiliel was wont to say: All the days of my life have been passed among sages, and I have never found anything better for man than-silence! Also, that not research, but practise, is of the most importance. He who talks much, cannot avoid sin.

He also said: Three things support the world, truth, law, and peace as the Scripture hints, "Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates." (Zechariah, VIII, 16)

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CHAPTER II.

RABBI JUDAH, the Prince, was in the habit of saying: In choosing the right path see that it is one which is honourable to thyself and without offence to others. Be as scrupulous about. the lightest command as about the weightiest, for no man knoweth the result of his actions. Weigh the present temporal disadvantages of a dutiful course against the reward of the future, and the present desirable fruits of a sinful deed against the injury to thine immortal soul. In general, consider three things.

and thou wilt never fall into sin remember that there is above thee an all-seeing eye, an all-hearing ear, and a record of all thy actions.