and the other Bodies, The first of these is usually referred to Metaphysicks: But under what Title soever the Considera- tion of Spirits comes, I think it ought to go before the Study of Matter and Body, not as a Science that can be methodized into a System, and treated of upon Principles 5 of Knowledge; but as an Enlargement of our Minds towards a truer and fuller Comprehension of the intellectual World to which we are led both by Reason and Revelation. And since the clearest and largest Discoveries we have of other SpiritSy besides God and our own Souls, is imparted 10 to us from Heaven by Revelation, I think the Information that at least young People should have of them, should be taken from that Revelation. To this Purpose, I conclude, it would be well, if there were made a good History of the Bible, for young People to read; wherein if every Thing 15 that is fit to be put into it, were laid down in its due Order of Time, and several Things omitted which are suited only to riper Age, that Confusion which is usually produced by promiscuous reading of the Scripture, as it lies now bound up in our Bibles, would be avoided. And also this other 20 Good obtained, that by reading of it constantly, there would be instilled into the Minds of Children a Notion and Belief ofSpiritSy they having so much to do in all the Transactions of that History, which will be a good Preparation to the Study of Bodies, For without the Notion and Allowance 25 of Spirit, our Philosophy will be lame and defective in one main Part of it, when it leaves out the Contemplation of the most excellent and powerful Part of the Creation.
§ 191. Of this History of the Bible, I think too it would be well if there were a short and plain Epitome made, 30 containing the chief and most material Heads, for Children to be conversant in as soon as they can read. This, though it will lead them early into some Notion of Spirits, yet it is not contrary to what I said above. That I would not have Children troubled, whilst young, with Notions of Spirits/ 35 whereby my Meaning was. That I think it inconvenient that their yet tender Minds should receive early Impressions of Goblins, Spectres, and Apparitions, wherewith their Maids and those about them are apt to fright them into a Com- pliance with their Orders, which often proves a great Incon- 40 venience to them all their Lives after, by subjecting their Minds to Frights, fearful Apprehensions, Weakness and Superstition; which when coming abroad into the World and Conversation they grow weary and ashamed of, it not seldom happens, that to make, as they think, a thorough 5 Cure, and ease themselves of a Load which has sat so heavy on them, they throw away the Thoughts of all Spirits together, and so run into the other, but worse, extream.
§ 192. The Reason why I would have this premised to the Study of Bodies, and the Doctrine of the Scriptures well 10 imbibed before young Men be entered in Natural Philo- sophy, is, because Matter, being a thing that all our Senses are constantly conversant with, it is so apt to possess the Mind, and exclude all other Beings but Matter, that Preju- dice, grounded on such Principles, often leaves no room 15 for the Admittance of Spirits, or the allowing any such Things as immaterial Beings in rerum natura; when yet it is evident that by mere Matter and Motion none of the great Phaenomena of Nature can be resolved, to instance but in that common one of Gravity, which I think impos- 20 sible to be explained by any natural Operation of Matter, or any other Law of Motion, but the positive Will of a superior Being so ordering it. And therefore since the Deluge cannot be well explained without admitting some- thing out of the ordinary Course of Nature, I propose it to 25 be considered whether God^s altering the Centre of Gravity in the Earth for a Time (a Thing as intelligible as Gravity it self, which perhaps a little Variation of Causes unknown ' to us would produce) will not more easily account for Noah^s Flood than any Hypothesis yet made use of to 30 solve it I hear the great Objection to this, is, that it would produce but a partial Deluge. But the Alteration of the Centre of Gravity once allowed, 'tis no hard Matter to conceive that the Divine Power might make the Centre of Gravity, plac'd at a due Distance from the Centre of the 35 Earth, move round it in a convenient Space of Time, whereby the Flood would become universal, and, as I think, answer all the Phaenomena of the Deluge as delivered by Moses, at an easier Rate than those many hard Suppositions that are made use of to explain it. But this is not a Place for 40 that Argument, which is here only mentioned by the bye, to shew the Necessity of having Recourse to something §§ 192, 193] Systems of Natural Philosophy. 169 beyond bare Matter and its Motion in the Explication of Nature; to which the Notions of Spirits and their Power, as delivered in the Bible, where so much is attributed to their Operation, may be a fit Preparative, reserving to a fitter Opportunity a fuller Explication of this H)rpothesis, 5 and the Application of it to all the Parts of the Deluge, and any Difficulties can be supposed in the History of the Flood, as recorded in the Scripture.
§ 193. But to return to the Study of Natural Philo- sophy, Tho' the World be full of Systems of it, yet I 10 cannot say, I know any one which can be taught a young Man as a Science wherein he may be sure to find Truth and Certainty, which is what all Sciences give an Expec- tation of. I do not hence conclude, that none of them are to be read. It is necessary for a Gentleman in this learned 15 Age to look into some of them to fit himself for Conver- sation: But whether that of Des Cartes be put into his Hands, as that which is most in Fashion, or it be thought fit to give him a short View of that and several others also, I think the Systems of Natural Philosophy that have ob- 20 tained in this Part of the World, are to be read more to know the Hypothesesy and to understand the Terms and Ways of talking of the several Sects, than with Hopes to gain thereby a comprehensive, scientifical and satisfactory Knowledge of the Works of Nature. Only this may be 25 said, that the modem Corpuscularians talk in most Things more intelligibly than the Peripateticksy who possessed the Schools immediately before them. He that would look fiirther back, and acquaint himself with the several Opinions of the Antients, may consult Dr. CudwortKs Intellectual 2P System^ wherein that very learned Author hath with such Accurateness and Judgment collected and explained the Opinions of the Greek Philosophers, that what Principles they built on, and what were the chief Hypotheses that divided them, is better to be seen in him than any where 35 else that I know. But I would not deter any one from the Study of Nature because all the Knowledge we have or possibly can have of it cannot be brought into a Science. There are very many Things in it that are convenient and necessary to be known to a Gentleman; and a great many 40 other that will abundantly reward the Pains of the Curious with Delight and Advantage. But these, I think, are rather lo be found amongst such Writers as have employed them- selves in making rational Experiments and ObservatioDS than in starting barely speculative Systems. Such Writings S therefore, as many of Mr. Boyl^s are, with others that have writ of Husbandry, Planting, Gardening, and the like, may be fit for a Gentleman, when he has a little acquainted him- self with some of the Systems of the Natural Philosophy in Fashion. 1 TO § 194. Though the Systems oi Physicks that I have met with, afford little Encouragement to look for Certainty or Science in any Treatise which shall pretend to give us a Body of Natural Philosophy from the first Principles of Bodies in general, yet the incomparable Mr. Newton has 15 shewn, how far Mathematicks applied to some Parts of Nature may, upon Principles that Matter of Fact justify, carry us in the Knowledge of some, as I may so call them, particular Provinces of the incomprehensible Universe. And if others could give us so good and clear an Account of 20 other Parts of Nature, as he has of this our Planetary World, and the most considerable Phaenomena observable in it, in his admirable Book, Philosophiae naturalis Principia Mathetnatica, we might in Time hope to be furnished with more true and certain Knowledge in several Parts of this 25 stupendous Machine, than hitherto we could have expected. And though there are very few that have Mathematicks enough to understand his Demonstrations, yet the most accurate Mathematicians who have examined them allowing them to be such, his Book will deserve to be read, and give 30 no small Light and Pleasure to those, who, willing to under- stand the Motions, Properties, and Operations of the great Masses of Matter, in this our solar System, will but carefully mind his Conclusions, which may be depended on as Propo- sitions well proved.
35 § ^95* This is, in short, what I have thought concerning a young Gentleman's Studies; wherein it will possibly be wonder'd that I should omit Greek, since amongst the Grecians is to be found the Original as it were, and Foundation of all that Learning which we have 40 in this Part of the World. I grant it so; and will add. That no Man can pass for a Scholar that is ignorant of the $ X95l ^^ Greek. La Bruyere for Languages. 171 Crreek Tongue. But I am not here considering the Edu- cation of a profess'd Scholar, but of a Gentleman, to whom Latin and French^ as the World now goes, is by every one acknowledged to be necessary. When he comes to be a Man, if he has a mind to carry his Studies farther, and look into 5 the Greek Learning, he will then easily get that Tongue himself: And if he has not that Inclination, his learning of it under a Tutor will be but lost Labour, and much of his Time and Pains spent in that which will be neglected and thrown away as soon as he is at Liberty. For how 10 many are there of an hundred, even amongst Scholars them- selves, who retain the Greek they carried from School; or ever improve it to a familiar reading and perfect under- standing of Greek Authors?
To conclude this Part, which concerns a young Gentle- 15 man's Studies, his Tutor should remember, that his Business is not so much to teach him all that is knowable, as to raise in him a Love and Esteem of Knowledge; and to put him in the right Way of knowing and improving himself when he has a Mind to it 20 The Thoughts of a judicious Author on the Subject of Languages, I shall here give the Reader, as near as I can, in his own Way of expressing them: He says, * " One can " scarce burden Children too much with the, ^^ Bm ire " Knowledge of Languages. They are useful Mo^rslS!^- 25 "to Men of all Conditions, and they equally ^^» p- 577. 66a. " open them the Entrance, either to the most profound, or " the more easy and entertaining Parts of Learning. If this " irksome Study be put off to a little more advanced Age, " young Men either have not Resolution enough to apply it 30 " out of Choice or Steadiness to carry it oa And if any " one has the Gift of Perseverance, it is not without the " Inconvenience of spending that Time upon Languages, " which is destined to other Uses: And he confines to the " Study of Words that Age of his Life that is above it, and 35 "requires Things; at least it is the losing the best and " beauttfuUest Season of one's Life. This large Foundation " of Languages cannot be well laid but when every thing " makes an easy and deep Impression on the Mind; when " the Memory is fresh, ready, and tenacious; when the 40 " Head and Heart are as yet free from Cares, Passions, 172 Choice of Tongues. Study Originals. [§195 "and Designs; and those on whom the Child depends " have Authority enough to keep him close to a long con- " tinued Application. I am persuaded that the small num- " ber of truly Learned, and the Multitude of superficial 5 " Pretenders, is owing to the neglect of this."
I think every Body will agree with this observing Gentle- man, that Languages are the proper Study of our first Years. But 'tis to be considered by the Parents and Tutors, what Tongues 'tis fit the Child should learn. For it must be 10 confessed, that it is fruitless Pains and loss of Time, to learn a Language which in the Course of Life that he is designed to, he is never like to make use of, or which one may guess by his Temper he will wholly neglect and lose again, as soon as an Approach to Manhood, setting him 15 free from a Governor, shall put him into the Hands of his own Inclination, which is not likely to allot any of his Time to the cultivating the learned Tongues, or dispose him to mind any other Language but what daily Use or some particular Necessity shall force upon him.
20 But yet, for the sake of those who are designed to be Scholars, I will add what the same Author subjoins to make good his foregoing Remark. It will deserve to be con- sidered by all who desire to be truly learned, and therefore may be a fit Rule for Tutors to inculcate and leave with 25 their Pupils to guide their future Studies.
" The Study, says he^ of the original Text can never be "sufficiently recommended. 'Tis the shortest, surest, and " most agreeable way to all sorts of Learning. Draw from "the Spring-head, and take not things at second Hand 30 " Let the Writings of the great Masters be never laid aside, "dwell upon them, settle them in your Mind, and cite " them upon occasion; make it your Business throughly to "understand them in their full Extent and all their Cir- " cumstances: Acquaint your self fully with the Principles 35 " of original Authors; bring them to a Consistency, and "then do you your self make your Deductions. In this "State were the first Commentators, and do not you rest " till you bring yourself to the same. Content not yourself " with those borrowed Lights, nor guide yourself by their 40 " Views but where your own fails you and leaves you in " the dark. Their Explications are not y cur's, and will give $ 195] Method in Study. 173 " you the slip. On the contrary, your own Observations are " the Product of your own Mind, where they will abide and " be ready at hand upon all Occasions in Converse, Con- " sultation, and Dispute. Lose not the Pleasure it is to see " that you are not stopped in your reading but by Diffi- 5 " culties that are invincible; where the Commentators and *' Scholiasts themselves are at a stand and have nothing to say. Those copious Expositors of other Places, who with a vain and pompous Overflow of Learning poured out ** on Passages plain and easy in themselves, are very free of 10 ** their Words and Pains, where there is no need. Con- ** vince your self /uUy by this ordering your Studies, that ** 'tis nothing but Men's Laziness which hath encouraged " Pedantry to cram rather than enrich Libraries, and to " bury good Authors under Heaps of Notes and Com- 15 " mentaries, und you will perceive that Sloth herein hath " acted against itself and its own Interest by multiplying *' Reading and Enquiries, and encreasing the Pains it en- " deavoured to avoid."
This, tho' it may seem to concern none but direct 20 Scholars, is of so great moment for the right Mgi^od ordering of their Education and Studies, that I hope I shall not be blamed for inserting of it here; especially if it be considered, that it may be of use to Gentlemen too, when at any time they have a mind to go deeper than the 25 Surface, and get to themselves a solid, satisfactory, and masterly Insight in any Part of Learning.
Order and Constancy are said to make the great Dif- ference between one Man and another; This I am sure, nothing so much clears a Learner's Way, helps him so much 30 on in it, and makes him go so easy and so far in any Enquiry, as a good Method, His Governor should take Pains to make him sensible of this, accustom him to Order, and teach him Method in all the Applications of his Thoughts; shew him wherein it lies, and the Advantages of it; acquaint him with 35 the several sorts of it, either from General to Particulars, or from Particulars to what is more general; exercise him in both of them, and make him see in what Cases each different Method is most proper, and to what Ends it best serves. 40 In History the Order of Time should govern, in Philo- 174 Known to unknoivn. Dancing. Music. [§§195 — 7 sophical Enquiries that of Nature, which in all Progression is to go from the Place one is then in, to that whidi joins and lies next to it; and so it is in the Mind, from the Knowledge it stands possessed of already, to that which 5 lies next, and is coherent to it, and so on to what it aims at, by the simplest and most uncompounded Parts it can divide the Matter into. To this Purpose, it will be of great Use to his Pupil to accustom him to distinguish well, that is, to have distinct Notions, whereever the Mind can find 10 any real Difference; but as carefully to avoid Distinctions in Terms, where he has not distinct and different clear Ideas.
§ 196. Besides what is to be had^ from Study and Books, there are other Accomplishments necessary for a Gentleman, to be got by Exercise, and to which Time is 15 to be allowed, and for which Masters must be had.
Dancing being that which gives graceful Motions all the Life, and above all things Manliness, and **"'^' a becoming Confidence to young Children, I think it cannot be learned too early, after they are once 20 of an Age and Strength capable of it. But you must be sure to have a good Master, that knows, and can teach, what is graceful and becoming, and what gives a Freedom and Easiness to all the Motions of the Body. One that teaches not this, is worse than none at all: Natural Un- 25 fashionableness being much better than apish affected Pos- tures; and I think it much more passable, to put off the Hat and make a Leg like an honest Country Gentleman than like an ill-fashioned Dancing-Master. For as for the jigging Part, and the Figures of Dances, I count that 30 little or nothing, farther than as it tends to perfect graceful Carriage, § 197. Musick is thought to have some Affinity with Mustek ^^J^cing, and a good Hand upon some Instru- ments is by many People mightily valued. But it 35 wastes so much of a young Man's Time to gain but a mode- rate Skill in it \ and engages often in such odd Company, that many think it much better spared: And I have amongst Men of Parts and Business so seldom heard any one commended or esteemed for having an Excellency in Mustek^ that 40 amongst all those things that ever came into the List of Accomplishments, I think I may give it the last Place.
Our short Lives will not serve us for the Attainment of all Things; nor can our Minds be always intent on something to be learned. The Weakness of our Constitutions both of Mind and Body, requires that we should be often unbent: And he that will make a good use of any Part of his Life, 5 must allow a large Portion of it to Recreation. At least, this must not be denied to young People; unless whilst you with too much Haste make them old, you have the Displeasure to set them in their Graves or a second Child- hood sooner than you could wish. And therefore, I think, 10 that the Time and Pains allotted to serious Improvements, should be employed about things of most Use and Conse- quence, and that too in the Methods the most easy and short that could be at any rate obtained: And perhaps, as I have above said, it would be none of the least Secrets of 1 5 Education, to make the Exercises of the Body and the Mind the Recreation one to another. I doubt not but that some- thing might be done in it, by a prudent Man, that would well consider the Temper and Inclination of his Pupil. For he that is wearied either with Study or Dancing does not 20 desire presently to go to sleep, but to do something else which may divert and delight him. But this must be always remembred, that nothing can come into the Account of Recreation^ that is not done with Dehght.
§ 198. Fencings and Riding the Great Horse, are looked 25 upon so necessary Parts of Breeding, that it would be thought a great Omission to neglect them; the latter of the two being for the most part to be learned only in great Towns, is one of the best Exercises for Health, which is to be had in those Places of Ease and Luxury: And 30 upon that Account makes a fit Part of a young Gentle- man's Employment during his Abode there. And as far as it conduces to give a Man a firm and graceful Seat on Horseback, and to make him able to teach his Horse to stop and turn quick, and to rest on his Hanches, is of Use 35 to a Gentleman both in Peace and War. But whether it be of moment enough to be made a Business of, and de- serve to take up more of his Time than should barely for his Health be employed at due Intervals in some such vigorous Exercise, I shall leave to the Discretion of Parents 40 and Tutors; who will do well to remember, in all the Parts of Education, that most Time and Application is to be bestowed on that which is like to be of greatest Conse- quence and frequentest Use in the ordinary Comrse and Occurrences of that Life the young Man is designed for. 5 § 199- As for Fencing, it seems to me a good Exer- ^ cise for Health, but dangerous to the Life; '**^^' the Confidence of their Skill being apt to engage in Quarrels those that think they have learned to use their Swords. This Presumption makes them often 10 more touchy than needs on Point of Honour and slight or no Provocations. Young Men, in their warm Blood, are forward to think they have in vain learned to fence, if they never shew their Skill and Courage in a Duel; and they seem to have Reason. But how many sad 15 Tragedies that Reason has been the Occasion of, the Tears of many a Mother can witness. A man that cannot fence, will be more careful to keep out of Bullies' and Gamesters* Company, and will not be half so apt to stand upon Punctilios, nor to give Affronts, or fiercely justify 20 them when given, which is that which usually makes the Quarrel. And when a Man is in the Field, a moderate Skill in Fencing rather exposes him to the Sword of his Enemy than secures him from it. And certainly a Man of Courage who cannot fence at all and therefore will put 25 all upon one Thrust and not stand parrying, has the odds against a moderate Fencer, especially if he has Skill in Wrestling, And therefore, if any Provision be to be made against such Accidents, and a Man be to prepare his Son for Duels, I had much rather mine should be a good Wrestler 30 than an ordinary Fencer, which is the most a Gentleman can attain to in it, unless he will be constantly in the Fencing- School and every Day exercising. But since Fencing and Riding the Great Horse are so generally looked upon as necessary Qualifications in the breeding of a Gentleman, it 35 will be hard wholly to deny any one of that ^ank these Marks of Distinction. I shall leave it therefore to the Father to consider, how far the Temper of his Son and the Station he is like to be in, will allow or encourage him to comply with Fashions which, having very little to do with 40 Civil Life, were yet formerly unknown to the most warlike Nations, and seem to have added little of Force or Courage to those who have received them; unless we will think martial Skill or Prowess have been improved by Duelling, with which Fencing came into, and with which I presume it will go out of the World.
§ 200. These are my present Thoughts concerning 5 Learning and Accomplishments, The great Business of all is Virtue and Wisdom: Nullum nupen abest si sit Prudentia.
Teach him to get a Mastery over his Inclinations, and sub- mit his Appetite to Reason. This being obtained, and by 10 constant Practice settled into Habit, the hardest Part of the Task is over. To bring a young Man to this, I know nothing which so much contributes as the Love of Praise and Commendation, which should therefore be instilled into him by all Arts imaginable. Make his Mind as sensible 15 of Credit and Shame as may be; and when you have done that, you have put a Principle into him, which will influence his Actions when you are not by, to which the Fear of a little Smart of a Rod is not comparable, and which will be the proper Stock whereon afterwards to graff the true 20 Principles of Morality and Religion.
§ 201. I have one thing more to add, which as soon as I mention I shall run the danger of being Travel suspected to have forgot what I am about, and what I have above written concerning Education all tending 25 towards a Gentleman's Calling, with which a Trade seems wholly inconsistent And yet 1 cannot forbear to say, I would have him learn a Trade^ a manual Tirade; nay, two or three, but one more particularly.
§ «02. The busy Inclination of Children being always 30 to be directed to something that may be useful to them, the Advantages proposed from what they are set about may be considered of two Kinds: i. Where the Skill itself that is got by Exercise is worth the having. Thus Skill not only in Languages and learned Sciences, but in Painting, 35 Turning, Gardening, tempering and working in Iron, and all other useful Arts is worth the having. 2. Where the Exercise itself, without any Consideration, is necessary or useful for Health. Knowledge in some things is so neces- sary to be got by Children whilst they are young, that some 40 Part of their Time is to be allotted to their Improvement in them, though those Employments contribute nothing at all to their Health. Such are Reading and Writing and all other sedentary Studies for the cultivating of the Mind, 5 which unavoidably take up a great Part of Gentleraen^s Time, quite from their Cradles. Other manual Arts, which are both got and exercised by Labour, do many of them by that Exercise not only increase our Dexterity and Skill, but contribute to our Health too, especially such as employ 10 us in the open Air. In these, then, Health and Improve- ment may be joined together; and* of these should some fit ones be chosen, to be made the Recreations of one whose chief Business is with Books and Study. In this Choice the Age and inclination of the Person is to be con- 15 sidered, and constraint always to be avoided in bringing him to it For Command and Force may often create, but can never cure, an Aversion: And whatever any one is brought to by Compulsion, he will leave as soon as he can, and be little profited and less recreated by, whilst he 20 is at it.
§ 203. That which of all others would please me best, would be a Painter, were there not an Argument *** "^' or two against it not easy to be answered. First, ill Painting is one of the worst things in the World; and 25 to attain a tolerable Degree of Skill in it, requires too much of a Man's Time. If he has a natural Inclination to it, it will endanger the Neglect of all other more useful Studies to give way to that; and if he have no Inclination to it, all the Time, Pains and Money shall be employed in it, 30 will be thrown away to no purpose. Another Reason why I am not for Painting in a Gentleman, is, because it is a sedentary Recreation, which more employs the Mind than the Body. A Gentleman's more serious Employment I look on to be Study; and when that deniands Relaxation 35 and Refreshment, it should be in some Exercise of the Body, which unbends the Thought, and confirms the Health and Strength. For these two Reasons I am not for Painting, § 204. In the next place, for a Country Gentleman Gardeni ^ should propose oue, or rather both these, viz, 40 "^' Gardening or Husbandry in general, and working in Wood, as a Carpenter, Joiner, or Turner, these being fit and healthy Recreations for a man of Study or Business. For since the Mind endures not to be constantly employed in the same Thing or Way, and sedentary or studious Men should have some Exercise, that at the same Time might divert their Minds 5 and employ their Bodies, I know none that could do it better for a Country Gentleman than these two; the one of them affording him Exercise when the Weather or Season keeps him from the other. Besides that, by being skiird in the one of them, he will be able to govern and teach 10 his Gardener; by the other, contrive and make a great many things both of Delight and Use: Though these I propose not as the chief End of his Labour, but as Temp- tations to it; diversion from his other more serious Thoughts and Employments by useful and healthy manual 15 Exercise being what I chiefly aim at in it § 205. The great Men among the Ancients understood very well how to reconcile manual Labour with Affairs of State, and thought it no lessening to their Dignity to make the one the Recreation to the other. That indeed which 20 seems most generally to have employed and diverted their spare Hours, was Agriculture. Gideon among the Jews was taken from Threshing, as well as Cincinnaius amongst the Romans fronj the Plough, to command the Armies of their Countries against their Enemies; and 'tis plain their 25 dexterous handling of the Flayl or the Plough, and being good Workmen with these Tools, did not hinder their SkiS in Arms, nor make them less able in the Arts of War or Government. They were great Captains and Statesmen as well as Husbandmen. CcUo Major^ who had with great 30 Reputation bom all the great Offices of the Commonwealth, has left us an Evidence under his own Hand, how much he was versed in Country Affairs; and, as I remember, Cyrus thought Gardening so little beneath the Dignity and Grandeiu: of a Throne, that he shew'd Xenophon a large 35 Field of Fruit-Trees all of his own planting. The Records of Antiquity, both among Jews and Gentiles^ are full of Instances of this kind, if it were necessary to recommend useful Recreations by Examples.
§ 206. Nor let it be thought that I mistake, when I 40 call these or the like Exercises of manual Arts, Diveri8o Recreation in Change. Gaming. [§§ 206, 207 siotis or Recreations: For Recreation is not being idle (as /£«g. every one may observe) but easing the wearied *^* * Part by Change of Business: and he that thinb Diversion may not lie in hard and painful Labour, forgets 5 the early Rising, hard Riding, Heat, Cold and Hunger of Huntsmen, which is yet known to be the constant Recrea- tion of Men of the greatest Condition. Delving^ Plantingy Inoculating^ or any the like profitable Employments, would be no less a Diversion than any of the idle Sports in 10 Fashion, if Men could but be brought to delight in thenii which Custom and Skill in a Trade will quickly bring any one to do. And I doubt not but there are to be found those, who being frequently called to Cards or any other Play by those they could not refuse, have been more tired 1 5 with these Recreations than with any the most serious Em- ployment of Life, though the Play has been such as they have naturally had no Aversion to, and with which they could willingly sometimes divert themselves.
§ 207. Play, wherein Persons of Condition, especially 20 Ladies, waste so much of their Time, is a plain Instance to me that Men cannot be perfectly idle; they must be doing something; for how else could they sit so many Hours toiling at that which generally gives more Vexation than Delight to People whilst they are actually engag'd in it?
25 'Tis certain. Gaming leaves no Satisfaction behind it to those who reflect when it is over, and it no way profits either Body or Mind: As to their Estates, if it strike so deep as to concern them, it is a Trade then, and not a Recreation^ wherein few that have any thing else to live 30 on thrive: And at best, a thriving Gamester has but a poor Trade on't, who fills his Pockets at the Price of his Reputation.
Recreation belongs not to People who are Strangers to Business, and are not wasted and wearied with the Em- 35 ployment of their Calling. The Skill should be, so to order their Time of Recreation, that it may relax and refresh the Part that has been exercised and is tired, and yet do some- thing which besides the present Delight and Ease, may produce what will afterwards be profitable. It has been 40 nothing but the Vanity and Pride of Greatness and Riches, that has brought unprofitable and dangerous Pastimes (as §§ 207, 2o8] No Need to kill Time. i8i they are called) into Fashion, and persuaded People into a Belief, that the learning or putting their Hands to any thing that was useful, could not be a Diversion fit for a Gentleman. This has been that which has given Cards^ Dice and Drinking so much Credit in the World: And S a great many throw away their spare Hours in them, through the Prevalency of Custom, and want of some better Employment to fill up the Vacancy of Leisure, more than from any real Delight is to be found in them. They cannot bear the dead Weight of unemployed Time lying lo upon their Hands, nor the Uneasiness it is to do nothing at all: And having never learned any laudable manual Art wherewith to divert themselves, they have recourse to those foolish or ill Ways in Use, to help off then: Time, which a rational Man, till corrupted by Custom, could find very 15 little Pleasure in.
§ 208. I say not this, that I would never have a young Gentleman accommodate himself to the innocent Diversions in fashion amongst those of his Age and Condition. I am so far from having him austere and morose to that Degree, 20 that I would persuade him to more than ordinary Com- plaisance for all the Gaieties and Diversions of those he converses with, and be averse or testy in nothing they should desire of him, that might become a Gentleman and an honest Man. Though as to Cards and Dice^ I think 25 the safest and best way is never to learn any Play upon them, and so to be incapacitated for those dangerous Temp- tations and incroaching Wasters of useful Time. But Allow- ance being made for idle and jovial Conversation and all fashionable becoming Recreations; I say, a young Man will 30 have time enough from his serious and main Business, to learn almost any Trade, Tis want of Appli- cation, and not of Leisure, that Men are not skilful in more Arts than one; and an Hour in a Day, con- stantly employed in such a way of Diversion^ will carry a 35 Man in a short Time a great deal farther than he can imagine: Which, if it were of no other Use but to drive the common, vicious, useless, and dangerous Pastimes out of Fashion, and to shew there was no need of them, would deserve to be encouraged. If Men firom their Youth were 40 weaned from that sauntring Humour wherein some out of