HAPTER VI. 49 CHAP. VL Of living Instructions and Lectures of Teachers and Learners. I. THERE are fewpersons of so penetrating a genius, and so just ajudgment, at to be capable of learning the arts and sciences without the assistance of Teachers. There is scarce any science so safely and so speedily learned, even by the noblest genius and the best books, without a tutor. His assistance is absolutely necessary for most persons, and it is very useful for all beginners. Books area sort of dumb teachers, they point out the way to learning ; but if we labour under any doubt or mis- take, they cannot answer sudden questions, or explain present doubts and difficulties this is properly the work of a living instructor. II. There are very few tutors who are sufficiently furnished with such universal learning, as to sustain all the parts and pro- vinces of instruction. The sciences are numerous, and manyof them lie far wide of each other ; and it is best to enjoy the in- struction of two or three tutors at least, in order to run through the whole Encyclopedia or Circle of Sciences, where it may be obtained ; then we may expect that each will teach the fewparts of Iearningwhich are committed to his care in greater perfection. But where this advantage cannot be had with convenience, one great man must supply the place of two or three common in- structors. III. It is not sufficient that instructorsbe competently skill- ed in those sciences which they profess and teach ; but they should have skill also in the art or method of teaching, and pa- tience in the practice of it. It is a great unhappiness indeed, when persons by a spirit of party or faction, or interest, or by purchase; are set up for tutors, who have neither due knowledge of science, nor skill in the way of communication. And alas, there are others, who with all their ignorance and insufficiency, have self-admiration and effron- tery enough to set up themselves : and the poor pupils fare ac- cordingly, and grow lean in their understandings.' And let it be observed also, there are some very learned men who know much themselves, but have not the talent of communicating their own knowledge ; or else they are lazy, and will take no pains at it. Either they have an obscure and perplexed way of talking, or they shew their learning uselessly, and make a long periphrasis on every word of the book they explain, or they cannot conde- scend toyoung beginners, or they run presently into the elevated parts of the.science, because it gives themselves greater pleasure, or they are soon angry and impatient, and cannot bear with a few impertinent questions of young, inquisitive, and sprightly genius; VOL. viii, D
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