themselves much more obliged to the learning of the philosopher, than to the valour of the warrior? Indeed the fame of all others is indebted to the pains of the scholar, and could not subsist but with and by his fame; learning consecrateth itself and its subject together, to immortal remembrance.

It is a calling that fitteth a man for all conditions and fortunes; so that he can enjoy prosperity with moderation, and sustain adversity with comfort: he that loveth a book, will never want a faithful friend, a wholesome counsellor, a cheerful companion, an effectual comforter. By study, by reading, by thinking, one may innocently divert and pleasantly entertain himself, as in all weathers, so in all fortunes.

In fine, it is a calling, which Solomon, who had curiously observed and exactly compared and scanned, by reason and by experience, all other occupations and ways of life, did prefer above

all others; and we may presume would sooner have parted with his royal state, than with his learning; for "Wisdom," saith he, "is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting get understanding;" and, "Then I saw (then, that is, after a serious disquisition and discussion of things, I saw) that wisdom exceedeth folly (that is, knowledge excelleth ignorance) as light excelleth darkness."

These things and much more may be said of learning in general; but if more distinctly we survey each part, and each object of it, we shall find, that each doth yield considerable emoluments and delights; benefit to our soul, advantage to our life, satisfaction to our mind.

The observation of things, and collection of experiments, how doth it enrich the mind with ideas, and breed a kind of familiar acquaintance with all things, so that nothing doth surprise us, or strike our mind with astonishment and admi

I

ration! And if our "eye be not satisfied with seeing, nor our ear filled with hearing," how much less is our mind satiated with the pleasures of speculating and observing that immense variety of objects subject to its view!

The exercise of our mind in rational discursiveness, about things in quest of truth; canvassing questions, examining arguments for and against; how greatly doth it better us, fortifying our natural parts, enabling us to fix our thoughts on objects without roving, inuring us to weigh and resolve, and judge well about matters proposed; preserving us from being easily abused by captious fallacies, gulled by specious pretences, tossed about with every doubt or objection started before us!

Invention of any kind, (in discerning the causes of abstruse effects, in resolving hard problems, in demonstrating theorems, in framing composures of witty description or forcible persuasion,)-how

much doth it exceed the pleasure of hunting for any game, or of combating for any victory! Do any man's children so much please him, as these creatures of his brain?

The reading of books, what is it but conversing with the wisest men of all ages and all countries, who thereby communicate to us their most deliberate thoughts, choicest notions, and best inventions, couched in good expression, and digested in exact method?

And as to the particular matters or objects of study, all have their use and pleasure. I shall only touch them.

The very initial studies of tongues and grammatical literature are very profitable and necessary, as the inlets to knowledge, whereby we are enabled to understand wise men speaking their sense in their own terms and lively strain, whereby especially we are assisted to drink sacred knowledge out of the fountains, the divine oracles.

Luther would not part with a little Hebrew he had for all the Turkish empire.

Rhetoric, or the art of conveying our thoughts to others by speech with advantages of clearness, force, and elegancy, so as to instruct, to persuade, to delight the auditors; of how great benefit is it, if it be well used! How much may it conduce to the service of God, and edification of men! What hath been a more effectual instrument of doing good, and working wonders, not only in the world, but in the church? How many souls have been converted from error, vanity, and vice, to truth, soberness, and virtue, by an eloquent Apollos, a Basil, a Chry

sostom!

The perusal of history, how pleasant illumination of mind, how useful direction of life, how sprightly incentives to virtue doth it afford! How doth it supply the room of experience, and furnish us with prudence at the expense of others,