CHAPTER XX; 153 print them on the brain, when they have been once well learn-. ed ; this would keep those learned traces always open, and assist the weakness of a labouring memory. In this manner may a scheme of the scripture history be drawn out, and perpetuate those ideas in the mind with which our daily reading fur- nishes us. VIII. Every man who pretends to thecharacter of a scho- lar, should attain some general and superficial idea of most or all the sciences ;. for there is acertain connection among the va- rious parts of human knowledge, so that some notions borrowed from anyone science may assist our acquaintance with any other, either by way explication, illustration or proof ; though there are some sciences conjoined by a much nearer affinity than others. IX. Let those parts of every science be chiefly studied at first, and reviewed afterwards, which have a more direct tenden- cy to assist our proper profession, as men, or our general pro., fession as Christians, always observing what we ourselves have found most necessary and useful to us in the course of our lives. Age and experience will teach us to judge which of the sciences, and which parts of them, have been of greatest use, and are most valuable ; but in younger years of life we are not sufficient judges,of this matter, and therefore should seek advice from others who are elder. X. There are -three learned professions among us, viz. divinity, law, and medicine. Though every man who pretends to be a scholar or a gentleman should so far acquaint himselfwith a superficial scheme of all the sciences, as not to stand amazed like a mere stranger at the mention of the common subjects that belong to them ; yet there is no necessity for every man of learn- ing to enter into their difficulties, and deep recesses, nor to climb the heights to which some others have arrived. The knowledge of them in a proper measuremay be happily useful to every pro- fession, not only because all arts and sciences have a sort of communion and connection with each other, but it is an angelic pleasure to grow in knowledge, it is a matter of honour and esteem, and renders a man more agreeable and acceptable in every company. But let us survey several of them more par.. ticularly, with regard to the learned professions; and first of the mathematics. XI. Though I have so often commended mathemnetical studies, and particularly the speculations of arithmetic and-geo. metry, as a means to fix a wavering Mind, to beget an habit of attention, and to improve the faculty of reason ; yet I would by no means be understood to recommend to all a pursuit of these sciences, to those extensive lengths to which the moderns have advanced them,. This is neither necessary nor proper fin any
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