find great relief by a change of employment. A man that rides poft to fave time would not chufe to be always fpurring a jaded horse, but will rather change him for a fresh one, whereby he makes a speedier progrefs, with more eafe to himfelf. Nil invitâ Minervâ. The activity of the mind is fo great, that it often finds more relief and refreshment by turning to a new track of thinking, different from that it was tired in, than it does from a total relaxation of thought in mere bodily exercife; which fhews that 'tis not labour that tires it, fo much as a dull uniformity of employment; fince it is more refreshed by variety than reft (e).

2. Let your most precious time (viz. that wherein the thoughts are most compofed and free) be facred to the most ferious and important ftudies. Give the morning to compofition; or the reading fome valuable author of antiquity with whom it is worth your while to be well acquainted. The afternoon will fuffice for hiftory,

B 4

fe) Pòft Lectione feu ftylo defeffus nihil nitor repugnante naturâ : fed exercitii genus aliud quæro, quo tædium varietas minuat. Rin, de Rat. Stud. p. 110.

tory, chronology, politicks, news, travels, geography, and the common run of pamphlets and let books of entertain-. ment amufe a dull hour, when you are fit for nothing elfe. To apply your early time, or fresh thoughts to thefe, is like drinking wine in a morning and giving too much of our time and thoughts to them, is like drinking the fame intoxicating liquor to excefs, and will have the fame effect on the mind, as that has on the body.

3. Remember to be always before-hand with your business, Poft eft occafio calva! Whatever must be done, and may be done now as well as hereafter, for that very reafon had better be done now. This is a prudent maxim in life, applicable to a thousand cafes; and of no lefs advantage to a ftudent, then a tradefman. Defer nothing to the very laft, left fome intèrvening accident fhould prevent the execution of an important purpofe; or put you into a hurry in the profecution of it.' And what is done with precipitance and hafte feldom fucceeds fo well, or is executed with that accuracy and discretion, as what is the effect of more mature and

deliberate

deliberate thought. A traveller that must reach his home in a given time, would not be thought difcreet, if by loitering at the beginning of his journey, he is forced to run himself out of breath at the end.

4. That time is not loft, but improved, which is spent in those exercises which are neceffary to invigorate and ftrengthen the faculties for harder work; or to preferve a good state of health and fpirits; as eating, drinking, fleeping, phyfick, bodily exercise, recreations, and the like. Because through a neglect of these, a student may contract a bad habit of body, or mind; or fo far impair his conftitution as to render him a long time unfit for useful fervice. But (Eft modus in rebus, &c.) and excess of these things defeats their end, and is as prejudicial to health, as a difcreet and moderate use of them is conducive to it (f).

(f) Such diverfions as his (viz. the clergyman's) health or the temper of his mind, may render proper for him, ought to be manly, decent and grave; and fuch as may neither poffefs his mind or time too much,, nor give a bad character of him to others. His chearfulness ought to be frank, but neither exceffive nor li

"

Laftly. Enter upon nothing, but what you are determined to pursue and finish. Much time is often loft by vain attempts, and leaving useful defigns imperfect. For as he who begins to build a house, but never compleats it, muft fet down to his lofs the greatest part greatest part of his money thus expended: So a ftudent who defifts from a work (re infecta) wherein he has taken much pains, is chargeable with as fruitless an expence of his time, as the other is of his money (g).

centious. His friends and his garden ought to be his chief diverfions, and his study his chief employment. Burnet's Disc. of the Past. Care, ch. viii.

(g) If you are writing a book, or engaged in any work which requires much time and pains to execute, lay it down as a rule, to let no day pass without putting a hand to it. Nulla dies fine linea, will carry you (like a steady traveller) a vast length in one

year.

CHAP.

CHAP. II.

The way to read authors to advantage.

A

Student fhould be as careful what books he reads, as what company he keeps. They both leave the fame tincture on the mind.

1. Don't read indifcriminately; nor indulge a curiofity of perufing every new book that comes out; nor defires to read it 'till from the known ability of the author, or the information of fome judicious friend, you know 'tis worth your reading.-The curiofity of Vanillus to be perfonally ac-. quainted with men and their characters, leads him into all company when he is at Bath; and when he hears of a new ftranger he is uneafy 'till he knows him, and is able to give others a defcription of his perfon, equipage and family. By this turn of temper Vanillus lofes much time, which would be more agreeably and profitably spent in the converfation of a few felect friends. He knows men, but not

human