M AKING no doubt but that you have an ardent Defire of Literature, I thought you flood in no need of Exhortation; but only a guide to direct you in the Journey you have already enter'd upon: and that I look'd upon as my Duty to be, to you, the most nearly ally'd to me, and engaging; that is to say, to acquaint you with the Steps that I my felf took, even from a Child: Which if you fhall accept as heartily as I communicate, I truft I fháil neither repent me of giving Directions, nor you of obferving them. Let it be your firit Care to chufe you a Mafter, who is a Man of Learning; for it cannot be, that one that is unlearned himself can render another learned. As foon as you have gotten fuch an one, endeavour all you can to engage him to treat you with the Affection of a Father, and your felf to act towards him with the Affection of a Son. And indeed, Reafon ought to induce us to confider, that we owe more to those, from whom we receive the way of living well, than to those to whom we owe our first living in the World; and that a mutual Affection is of fo great moment to Learning, that it will be to no purpose to have a Teacher, if he be not your J Friend too. In the next place, hear him attentively and affiduoufly. The Genius of Learners is often spoil'd by too much Contention. Affiduity holds out the longer, being moderate, and by daily Augmentations grows to a Heap larger than can be thought. There is nothing more pernicious than to be glutted with any thing; and fo likewife with Learning. And therefore an immoderate preffing on to Learning is fometimes to be relax'd; and Divertisements are to be intermix'd: but then they should be fuch as are becoming a Gentleman, and Student, and not much different from the Studies themselves. Nay, there ought to be a continual Pleafure in the very midst of Studies, that it may appear to us rather a Paftime than a Labour; for nothing will be of long Duration, that does not affect the Mind of the Doer with fome fort of Pleasure. It is the utmoft Madness to learn that which must be unlearned again. Think that you ought to do the fame by your Genius, that Phyficians are wont to do in preferving the Stomach. Take care that you don't opprefs your Genius by Food, that is either noxious, or too much of it; both of them are equally offenfive. Let alone Ebrardus, Catholicon, Brachylogus, and the rest of thefe fort of Authors, all whofe Names I neither can mention, nor is it worth while fo to do, to others who take a pleasure to learn Barbarifm with an immense Labour. At the firft it is no great matter how much you learn; but how well you learn it. And now take a Direction how you may not only learn well, but eafily too; for the right Method of Art qualifies the Artift to perform his Work not only well and expeditioufly, but eafily too. Divide the Day into Tasks, as we read Pliny the fecond, and Pope Pius the great did, Men worthy to be remember'd by all Men. In the first part of it, which is the chief thing of all, hear the Mafter interpret, not only attentively, but with a fort of greedinefs, not being content to follow him in his Differtations with a flow pace, but ftriving to out-ftrip him a little. Fix all his Sayings in your Memory, and commit the most material of them to Writing, the faithful Keeper of Words. And be fure to take care not to rely upon them, as that ridiculous rich Man that Seneca fpeaks of did, who had form'd a Notion, that whatfoever of Literature any of his Servants had, was his own. By no means have your Study furnish'd with learned Books, and be unlearned your felf. Don't fuffer what you hear to flip out of your Memobut recite it either with your felf, or to other Perfons. Nor let this fuffice you, but fet apart fome certain 1 time for Meditation; which one thing as St. Aurelius writes ry, does does most notably conduce to affift both Wit and Memory. An engagement and combating of Wits does in an extraordinary manner both fhew the ftrength of Genius's, rouzes them, and augments them. If you are in doubt of any thing, don't be afham'd to afk; or if you have committed an Error, to be corrected. Avoid late and unfeasonable Studies, for they murder Wit, and are very prejudicial to Health. The Mufes love the Morning, and that is a fit time for ftudy. After you have din'd, either divert your felf at fome Exercise, or take a Walk, and discourse merrily, and ftudy between whiles. As for Diet, eat only as much as fhall be fufficient to preferve Health, and not as much or more than the Appetite may crave. Before Supper take a little Walk, and do the fame after Supper. A little before you go to fleep read fomething that is exquifite, and worth remembring; and contemplate upon it till you fall afleep; and when you awake in the Morning, call your felf to an account for it. Always keep this Sentence of Pliny's in your Mind, All that time is loft that you don't beflow on Study. Think upon this, that there is nothing more fleeting than Youth, which, when once it is paft, can never be recall'd. But now I begin to be an Exhorter, when I promis'd to be a Director. My fweet Chriftian, follow this Method, or a better if you can; and fo farewel. FINI S AN INDEX TO THE COLLOQUIES. F Amily Difcourfe - Page 22. 25. •Colloquia familiona - 1 A. The Child's Piety Pistas Quanlis. - 34 -- The profane Feaft - Convivium prophanum 61 The religions Feaft The Apotheofis of Capnio - The Lover and Maiden Proc et Quells 12.3. - The uneafy Wife- uxor mappiyapses 141 7 The Shipwreck. Navayior. Naufragium 160 Diverforia or the Inus The young Man and Harloten & Scort 172 176- - 201. -- 218. An Inquiry concerning Faith - Inquifitio da fide 109 The rich Beggars - TNXONAOYEIOI, Francifcam - 209-241. The Abbot and learned Woman - Rr The The Epithalamium of Peter Egydius mum Petri, Egidiu 223 258. The Exorcifm or Apparition - Exorasmes, fux Spectrum. -264. The Alchymift The Horfe Cheat Alcumistica 235 The Beggars Dialogue-foria 244 Puerpera 259 The religious Pilgrimage-Perigrindho religions ergo The Funeral The Echo Funus Echo 348334 The unequal Feaft Dispar Convivium 350 The Assemby of Grammarians – Synodus Gram chicomm 362– 442. The unequal Marriage - Ayapos raios 366 Cyclops or the Gospel Carrier-Eyclops, five vangalighoms 374 - 458. The Seraphick Funeral - Exaquice Seraphice 436. The Problems Problema 466 Epicurus 472 The Conflict between Thalia and Barbarifin Concerning the Profitableness of Colloquies Dublin 568. 583. 591 6061 |