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Memory.

tion.

by keeping his mind alive and open to perpetual improvement. (a)

The theory of memory he understood and explained: (b) and in its practice he was perfect. He knew much, and what he once knew he seldom forgot.

Composi- In his compositions his first object was clearness: to reduce marvels to plain things, not to inflate plain things into marvels. (c) He was not attached either to method

proclivity; but also that there may be found, in studies properly selected for that purpose, cures and remedies to promote such kind of knowledge, to the impressions whereof a man may, by some imperfection of nature, be most unapt and insufficient. As for example, if a man be bird-witted, that is, quickly carried away, and hath not patient faculty of attention, the mathematics give a remedy thereunto; wherein, if the wit be caught away but for a moment, the demonstration is new to begin.

Burke always read a book, as if he were never to see it again.

Locke says, a proper and effectual remedy for this wandering of thoughts I should be glad to find.

Newton used to say, that if there were any difference between him and other men, it consisted in his fixing his eye steadily on the object which he had in view, and waiting patiently for every idea as it presented itself, without wandering or hurrying.

(a) Certainly custom is most perfect when it beginneth in young years, this we call education, which is in effect but an early custom. So we see in languages, the tongue is more pliant to all expressions and sounds; the joints are more supple to all feats of activity and motions in youth than afterwards; for it is true that late learners cannot so well take the ply, except it be in some minds that have not suffered themselves to fix, but have kept their minds open and prepared to receive continual amendment, which is exceeding rare.

Locke says, "There are men who converse but with one sort of men, they read but one sort of books, they will not come in the hearing but of one sort of notions; the truth is, they canton out to themselves a little Goshen in the intellectual world, where light shines, and as they conclude, day blesses; but the rest of that vast expansum they give up to night and darkness, and so avoid coming near it.-See the Conduct of the Understanding; where there are many valuable observations on this subject. (b) See ante, p. 292.

(c) In the composing of his books he did rather drive at a masculine and clear expression, than at fineness or affectation of phrases, and would often ask if the meaning were expressed plainly enough, as being one that

CAUSES OF ENTERING ACTIVE LIFE.

cccclxiii

or to ornament, although he adopted both to insure a favourable reception for abstruse truths.

Such is a faint outline of his mind, which "like the sun had both light and agility; it knew no rest but in motion, no quiet but in activity: it did not so properly apprehend, as irradiate the object; not so much find, as make things intelligible. There was no poring, no struggling with memory, no straining for invention; his faculties were quick and expedite; they were ready upon the first summons, there was freedom and firmness in all their operations, his understanding could almost pierce into future contingents, his conjectures improving even to prophecy; (a) he saw consequents yet dormant in their principles, and effects yet unborn, in the womb of their causes."

How much is it to be lamented that such a mind, with such a temperament, was not altogether devoted to contemplation, to the tranquil pursuit of knowledge, and the calm delights of piety.

active life.

That in his youth he should quit these pleasant paths Causes of for the troubles and trappings of public life would be entering a cause for wonder, if it were not remembered that man amongst men is a social being; and, however he may abstract himself in his study, or climb the hill above him, he must daily mingle with their hopes and fears, their wishes and affections. He was cradled in politics: to be Lord Keeper was the boundary of the horizon drawn by his parents. He lived in an age when a

accounted words to be but subservient or ministerial to matter, and not the
principal. And if his style were polite, it was because he could not do
otherwise. Neither was he given to any light conceits, or descanting upon
words, but did ever purposely and industriously avoid them; for he held
such things to be but digressions or diversions from the scope intended,
and to derogate from the weight and dignity of the style.
(a) See South's noble sermon on Human Perfection.

Entrance

into active life.

young mind would be dazzled, and a young heart engaged by the gorgeous and chivalric style which pervaded all things, and which a romantic queen loved and encouraged : life seemed a succession of splendid dramatic scenes, and the gravest business a well-acted court masque; the mercenary place-hunter knelt to beg a favour with the devoted air of a knight errant ; and even sober citizens put on a clumsy disguise of gallantry, and compared their royal mistress to Venus and Diana. There was nothing to revolt a young and ingenuous mind: the road to power was, no doubt, then as it is now, but, covered with tapestry and strewed with flowers, it could not be suspected that it was either dirty or crooked. He had also that common

failing of genius and ardent youth, which led him to be confident of his strength rather than suspicious of his weakness and it was his favourite doctrine, that the perfection of human conduct consists in the union of contemplation and action, a conjunction of the two highest planets, Saturn, the planet of rest and contemplation, and Jupiter, the planet of civil society and action; but he should have recollected that Jupiter dethroned Saturn, and that civil affairs seldom fail to usurp and take captive the whole man. He soon saw his error: how futile the end, how unworthy the means! but he was fettered by narrow circumstances, and his endeavours to extricate himself were vain.

Into active life he entered, and carried into it his powerful mind and the principles of his philosophy. As a philosopher he was sincere in his love of science, intrepid and indefatigable in the pursuit and improvement of it: his philosophy is "discover-improve.” (a) He was

(a) God hath framed the mind of man as a mirror, or glass, capable of the image of the universal world, and joyful to receive the impression

patientissimus veri. He was a reformer not an innovator. His desire was to proceed not " in aliud" but " in melius." His motive was not the love of excelling, but the love of excellence. He stood on such a height that popular praise or dispraise could not reach him.

for reform.

He was a cautious reformer: quick to hear, slow to speak. His motive "Use Argus's hundred eyes before you raise one of Briareus's hundred hands," was his maxim.

He was a gradual reformer. He thought that reform ought to be, like the advances of nature, scarce discernible in its motion, but only visible in its issue. His admonition was, "Let a living spring constantly flow into the stagnant waters."

He was a confident reformer. "I have held up a light Reformer. in the obscurity of philosophy, which will be seen centuries after I am dead. It will be seen amidst the erection of temples, tombs, palaces, theatres, bridges, making noble roads, cutting canals, granting multitude of charters and liberties for comfort of decayed companies and corporations; the foundation of colleges and lectures for learning and the education of youth; foundations and institutions of orders and fraternities for nobility, enterprize, and obedience; but above all, the establishing good laws for the regulation of the kingdom and as an example to the world."

He was a permanent reformer.-He knew that wise reform, Permanent instead of palliating a complaint, looks at the real cause

of the malady.

He concurred with his opponent, Sir

thereof, as the eye joyeth to receive light; and not only delighted in beholding the variety of things and vicissitudes of times, but raised also to find out and discern the ordinances and decrees, which throughout all those changes are infallibly observed for nothing is denied to man's inquiry and invention. The spirit of man is as the lamp of God, wherewith he searcheth the inwardness of all secrets.

VOL. XV.

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Entrance

into active life.

young mind would be dazzled, and a young heart engaged by the gorgeous and chivalric style which pervaded all things, and which a romantic queen loved and encouraged : life seemed a succession of splendid dramatic scenes, and the gravest business a well-acted court masque; the mercenary place-hunter knelt to beg a favour with the devoted air of a knight errant; and even sober citizens put on a clumsy disguise of gallantry, and compared their royal mistress to Venus and Diana. There was nothing to revolt a young and ingenuous mind: the road to power was, no doubt, then as it is now, but, covered with tapestry and strewed with flowers, it could not be suspected that it was either dirty or crooked. He had also that common failing of genius and ardent youth, which led him to be confident of his strength rather than suspicious of his weakness and it was his favourite doctrine, that the perfection of human conduct consists in the union of contemplation and action, a conjunction of the two highest planets, Saturn, the planet of rest and contemplation, and Jupiter, the planet of civil society and action; but he should have recollected that Jupiter dethroned Saturn, and that civil affairs seldom fail to usurp and take captive the whole man. He soon saw his error: how futile the end, how unworthy the means! but he was fettered by narrow circumstances, and his endeavours to extricate himself were vain.

Into active life he entered, and carried into it his powerful mind and the principles of his philosophy. As a philosopher he was sincere in his love of science, intrepid and indefatigable in the pursuit and improvement of it: his philosophy is "discover-improve." (a) He was

(a) God hath framed the mind of man as a mirror, or glass, capable of the image of the universal world, and joyful to receive the impression

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