110 98 TIM IMPROVEMENT or THE MIND. they would search a little into other sciences, they might not only find treasures of new knowledge, but might be furnished also with rich hints of thought, and glorious assistances to cultivate that very province to which they have confined themselves. Here I would always give some grains of allowance to the sacred science of theology, which is incomparably superior to all the rest, as it teaches us the knowledge of God, and the way to his eternal favour. This is that noble studywhich is everyman's duty, and every one who can be called a rational creature is ca- pableof it. This is that science which would truly enlarge the minds of men, were it studied with that freedom, that unbiassed love of truth, and that sacred charity which it teaches ; and if it were not made, contrary to its own nature, the occasion of strife, faction, malignity, a narrow spirit, and unreasonable im- positions on the mind and practice. Let this therefore stand always chief. XI. " Let every particular study have due and proper time assigned it," and let not a favourite science prevail with you to lay out such hours upon it, as ought to be employed upon the more necessary and more important affairs and studies of your profession. When you have, according to the best of your dis- cretion, and according to the circumstances of your life, fixed proper hours for particular studies, endeavour to keep to those' rules ; not indeed with a superstitious preciseness, but with some good degrees of a regular constancy. Order and method in a course of study saves much time, and makes large improvements ;. such a fixation of certain hours, will have a happy influence to secure you from trifling and wasting away your minutes in. impertinence. XII. " Do not apply yourself to any one study at one time, longer than the mind is capable of giving a close attention toit without weariness or wandering." Do not over-fatigue the spi- rits at any time, lest the mind be seized with a lassitude, and thereby be tempted to nauseate and grow tired of a particular subject before you have finished it. XIII. In the beginning of your application to any new sub- ject, " be not too uneasy under present difficulties that occur, nor too importunate and impatient for answers and solutions to anyquestions that arise." Perhaps a little more study, a little fur- ther acquaintance with the subject, a little time and experiencewill solve those difficulties, untie the knot, and make your doubts vanish; especially if you are under the instruction of a tutor, he can inform you that your enquiries are perhaps too early, and that you have not yet learnt those principles upon which the solu- tion of such a difficulty depends. XIV. " Do not expect to arriveat certainty in every subject
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