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all things; who so earnestly and so happily did pray for it; upon whom it is so expressly said that God in a special manner and plentiful measure did bestow it; who averreth God to be the sole donor of it, (for, "The Lord," saith he, “giveth wisdom, out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding ;") yet even he did first give his heart to it, before it was given into his heart: he did not only gape for it to receive it by mere infusion; but he worked and studied hard for it. He was, indeed, a great student, an inquisitive searcher into nature, a curious observer of the world, a profound considerer and comparer of things; and by that industrious course, promoted by divine blessing, he did arrive to that great stock of so renowned a wisdom.

And the same method it is which he prescribeth to us for getting it; exhorting us, that we "incline our ear unto wisdom, and apply our heart to under

standing;" that we "cry after knowledge, and lift up our voice for understanding,;" that we "seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures;" in following which course he doth assure us of good success; for "then," saith he, "shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God," which is the head or chief part of wisdom; and "Blessed," saith he again, in the person and place of wisdom itself, "is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors; for he that findeth me, findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord." It is the way he supposeth, of finding wisdom, to watch assiduously, to wait diligently upon the means of attaining her; and how infallible the acquist of her is thereby, she doth again by his mouth thus acquaint us; "I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me;" and "she," saith his imitator, "is easily seen of

them that love her, and found of such as seek her; whoso seeketh her early, shall have no great travel, for he shall find her sitting at his doors."

This indeed is the only way; idleness is not capable of so rich and noble a purchase: a slothful person may be conceited, yea needs must be so; but he can never be wise: "A sluggard," saith Solomon, "is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that can render a reason." This conceit of wisdom is a natural issue of his ignorance; and it is indeed no small part of his folly, that he doth not perceive it; being no less stupid in reflection on his own mind, than in considering other matters: being always in a slumber, he will often fall into such pleasant dreams; and no wonder that he should presume upon abundance of knowledge, who not listing to take any pains in the search or discussion of things, doth snatch the first appearances, doth embrace every suggestion of his

fancy, every conceit gratifying his humour, for truth.

What should I speak of learning, or the knowledge of various things, transcending vulgar apprehension? Who knoweth not that we cannot otherwise reach any part of that, than by assiduous study and contemplation? Who doth not find that all the power in the world is not able to command, nor all the wealth of the Indies to purchase, one notion? Who can be ignorant, that no wit alone, or strength of parts can suffice, without great industry, to frame any science, to learn any one tongue, to know the history of nature, or of Providence : it is certainly by Horace's method, by much exercise and endurance of pains, that any one can arrive to the mark of being learned or skilful in any sort of knowledge.

* A youth who hopes the Olympic prize to gain, All arts must try, and every toil sustain ; The extremes of heat and cold must often prove.

But farther yet, virtue, the noblest endowment and richest possession whereof man is capable; the glory of our nature, the beauty of our soul, the goodliest ornament and the firmest support of our life; that also is the fruit and blessing of industry; that of all things most indispensably doth need and require it. It doth not grow in us by nature, nor befal us by fortune; for nature is so far from producing it, that it yieldeth mighty obstacles and resistances to its birth, there being in the best dispositions much averseness from good, and great proneness to evil fortune doth not further its acquists, but casteth in rubs and hindrances thereto, every condition presenting its allurements, or its affrightments from it; all things within us and about us conspire to render its production and its practice laborious.

It is, 'tis true, a gift of heaven, and cannot be obtained without a special influence of divine grace; but it is given

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