468 LOGIC: on, THe ILIGI'IT USE OF REASON. divided into priies, must render the iniprobabilit'y of gain' to each adventurer greater than the probability. 6. We should not despise or neglect any real advantage, and abandon the pursuit of it, though we cannot attain all the advantages that we desire. This would be to act like children, who are fotd`of something which strikes their fancy !Mist, and sullen and regardless of every thing else, if they are not hu- moured in that fancy: 7. Though a general knowledge of things be'usefulin srei- epee and in human life, yet We should content ourselves with a more superficial knowledge of those things which have the leaát relation to our chief end and design. 8. This rule holds good also in matters of business and practice, as well as in matters of knowledge ; and therefore red should not grasp at evet; thing, lest in the end we attain nothing. Persons that either by an inconstancy' of temper, or by a vain ambition, will pursue every sort of art and science, study and business, seldom groW excellent in any one of them : and pto- jectors who form twenty schemes, seldom use sufficient applica- tion to finish one of them, or make it turn to good account. 9. Take heed of delaying or trifling amongst the means in Stead of reaching at the end. Take heed of wasting a life in there speculative studies, which is called to action and emploij- meut : dwell not too long in philosöphical, mathematical, or grammatical parts of learning,, when your chief design is lazy; physic or divinity. Do not spend the day ih gathering flowers by the way -side, lest night come upon you before yod arrive at yòtir journey's end, and then you will not reach it. IO. Where the case and circumstances of wise and good men resemble our own case and circumstances we may borrow a great deal of instruction toward our prudent cdriduct from their example: as well as in all cases we may learn much from their Conversation and advice. After all other rules remember this, that there specula- tiónin. matters 61 human prudente can never be a. perfect di- rector, without experience and observation. We may be content therefore in otir younger years to commit_ some unavoidable mistakes in pinta. of prudence, and we shall see mistakes enow in the condúct of others, both which ought to be treasured up amongst our useful observations, in order to teach us better judg- ment for timé.to come. Sometimes the mistakes, iniprudencieá and follies, which ourselves Or others have been guilty of give us brighter and more effectual lessons of prud'euce, then the wisest counsels, and the fairest examples could ever have done. Seer. .= Principles and Rules of Judgment in Matters of llanian 7estimonty. THE evidence of human testimony is not so proper to lead
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