CHAPTER V. 355 readiness to believe, or to deny every thing at first hearing; when you shall have often seen, that strange and uncommon things, which often seemed incredible, are found to be true ; and things very commonly received as true, have been found false. The way of attaining such an extensive treasure of ideas, is, with diligence to apply yourself to read the best books ; con- verse with the most knowing and the wisest of men ; and endea- vour to improve by every person in whose company you are ; suffer no hour to pass away in a lazy idleness, an impertinent chattering or useless trifles : visit other cities and countries when you have seen your own, under the care of one who can teach you to profit by travelling, and to make wise observations ; in- dulge a just curiosity in seeing the wonders of art and nature search into things yourselves, as well as learn them from others; be acquainted with men as well as books ; learn all things as much as you can at first hand ; and let as many of your ideas as possible be the representations of things, and not merely the re- presentations of other men's ideas : thus your soul, like some noble building, shall be richly furnished with original paintings, and not with mere copies. H. Use the most proper methods to retain that treasure of ideas which you have acquired; for the mind is ready to let many of them slip, unless some pains and labour be taken to fix them upon the memory. And more especially let those ideas be laid up and preserved with the greatest care, which are most directly suited either to your eternal welfare, as a christion, or to your particular station and profession in this life ; for though the former rule recom- mends an universal acquaintance with things, yet it is but a more general and superficial knowledge that is required or expected of any man, in things which are utterly foreign to his own business: but it is necessary you should have a more particular and accu- rate acquaintance with those things that refer to your peculiar province and duty in this life, or your happiness in another. There are some persons who never arrive at any deep, solid, or valuable knowledge in any science, or any business in life, because they are perpetually fluttering over the surface" of things, in a curious and wandering search of infinite variety; ever hearing, reading, or asking after something new, but im- patient of any labour to lay up and preserve the ideas they bave gained : their souls may be compared to a looking - glass, that wheresoever you turn:it, it receives the images of all objects, but retains none. in order to preserve your treasure of ideas, and the know- ledge you have gained, pursue the following advises, especially in your younger years. z 2
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