CHAPTER II. 2I we confine ourselves merely to our own solitary reasonings, without much observation or reading : For then all our im- provement must arise only from our own inward powers and meditations. 2. By reading we learn not only the actions and the senti- ments of distant nations and ages, but we transfer to ourselves the knowledge and improvements of the most learned men, the wisest and the best of mankind, when or wheresoever they lived: For though many books have been written by weak and injudi- cious persons, yet the most of those books which have obtained great reputation in the world, are the products of great and wise men in their several ages and nations : whereas we can ob- tain the conversation and instruction of those only who are within the reach of our dwelling, or our acquaintance, whether they are wise or unwise; and sometimes that narrow sphere scarcely affords any person of great eminence in wisdom or learn- ing, unless our instructor happen to have this character. And as for otir own study and meditations, even when we arrive at . some good degrees of learning, our advantage for further im- provement in knowledge by them, is still far more contracted than what we may derive from reading. 3. When we read ood authors we learn the best, the most laboured and most refined sentiments even of those wise and . learned men ; for they have studied hard, and have committed to writing their maturest thonghts, and the result of their long study and experience : whereas by conversation, and in some lectures, we obtain many times only the present thoughts of our . tutors or friends which (though they may be bright and useful) yet, at first perhaps, may be sudden and indigested, and are mere hints which have arisen to no maturity. 4. It is another advantage of reading, that we may review what we have read; we may consult the page again and again, and meditate on it at successive seasons in our serenest and re- tired hours, having the book always at hand : but what we obtain by conversation and in lectures, is oftentimes lost again as soon as the company breaks up, or at least when the day vanishes ; unless we happen to have the talent of a good me- mory, or quickly retire and note down what remarkables we have found in those discourses. And for the same reason, and for want of retiring and writing, manya learned man has lost several useful meditations of his own, and could never recal them again. III. The advantages of verbal instructions by public or pri- vate lectures are these : 1. There is something more sprightly, more delightful and entertaining in the living discourse of a wise, a learned, and well qualified teacher, than there is in the silent and sedentary a3
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