Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A67252
|
Of education, especially of young gentlemen in two parts, the second impression with additions.
|
Walker, Obadiah, 1616-1699.
|
1673
(1673)
|
Wing W400; ESTC R3976
|
157,156
|
310
|
to draw Figures Galen to compose Medicines Jo. Picus Earl of Mirandula out-went his Teachers nor could they propose any thing to him which he did not immediately apprehend and the 900. conclusions which he proposed to defend against all opposers about 21. years of age shew what he was and he never retired till his death Jos. Scaliger saith of himself that all the time he lived with his Father in his youth he every day declamed and before 17. years old made his Tragedy Oedipus Besides many other particulars which he reciteth in the life of his Father To Vid. Fab. Pibrac then not 20. years old the great Alciati in his public Lectures acknowledged the solution of many great difficulties in the civil Law Grotius at 8. years old made Verses and performed his public exercises in Philosophy before 15. he put forth his Comment upon Martianus Capella At 16. he pleaded causes At 17. he put forth his Comment upon Aratus Lipsius writ his Books Variarum Lectionum at 18. years old Ingenium habuit docile omnium capax praeter Musices memoria non sine praeceptorum miraculo etiam in puero quae in senectute non defecit Cent. 4. ep 87. Sr Phi. Sidney saith Sr Fou. Grevill tho I knew from a child yet I never knew other then a man with such staiednes of mind lovely and familiar gravity as carried grace and reverence above greater years And what his parts were appears by that strange affection born him by Lanquet and William Prince of Orange who kept correspondence with him when but a youth Calvin printed his Institutions before 25. years old Alph. Tostatus learned all the liberal Sciences without being taught and writ in the 40. years he lived as much as most men can in that time well read yet was he also Counsellor to the King Referendary Major of Spain and Professor of Philosophy Divinity and Law in the University of Salamanca I could bring also very many more of our own Nation and my own knowledg besides Mr Oughtred and Mr Cowley to testify against that Proverb but I think very few examples Vopiscus saith none can be given of such as being dull and heavy in their youth arrived to any great perfection in their age Neminem says he in Probo unquam pervenisse ad virtutum summam jam maturum nisi qui puer seminario virtutum generosiore concretus aliquid inclitum designasset Mai non si raccoglie buon frutto nell ' autumno sel ' albero non ispunta buone foglie nella prima vera Danti Indubitatum est eos qui in ullà re unquam excelluerunt mature puerilibus annis ad eam rem accessisse P. Com. p. 59. totum in hoc consistit primum in beneficio Dei proximè in educatione Ibid. Let no man therefore slacken his endeavor towards these early fruits nor let the young man himself despond but rather which is a great truth say that God Almighty hath thus furnished him to be an ornament to his Creation and an assistance to Mankind Let the Educator also be more careful of him and not leave him to himself for there will come cold frosts and hails loathings and tediousnes of Labor which if not well defended will hazard his dropping off The subtil and delicate edge if encountring too great difficulties is in danger to turn in such cases therefore let them not be tired out but assisted to expedite themselves with ease and delight Propose to them high and noble studies but give them your hand keep them continually running but not at their full speed lest they grow weary and loath and abandon them And indeed it is a much greater difficulty and master-piece to direct and conduct great parts then mean ones Parts are indifferent to good or bad and great parts to great good or great evil and all great evil as well as great good proceeds from them And which way soever they go they are not easily diverted their abilities supplying them still with sufficient defence for themselves Maxima ingenia saith Seneca miror timeo mediocria probo as he is in less danger who walks on a plain then he who dances on a rop◠Minutius in the Preface to his Paradoxes tells us of one Creighton a Scottishman who at 21. years old when he was killed by order of the Duke of Mantua understood twelve Languages had read over all the Poets and Fathers disputed de omni scibili and answered ex tempore in verse Ingenium saith Scaliger prodigiosum admiratione magis quam amore dignum ei judicium defuit Principes solent illa ingenia amare magis quam bene doctos Such persons if not well regulated which as I said is difficult become many times proud and conceited angry and precipitious scornful and presumtuous many times also light and freakish And truly mean and indifferent or even low wits have more pleasure and satisfaction then these high-flyers For trusting to their parts they neglect study and exercise and so are easily surprised and discovered when either not fully apprehending the question and the consequences of an opinion or themselves not well disposed for discourse 3. THERE is another sort who have not so great parts but have a volubility of language are able upon a suddain to speak de omni ente non ente and of them too pro con This passeth amongst Women and ordinary people for Eloquence and great parts but amongst discreet and serious persons for impertinence And the rather because these Men chuse to talk commonly of things they understand not or are most improper and unknown to the company and of them also without order or method and have when at a non plus certain common places to retire to lest they should fall into that terrible disgrace of having no more to say 4. SOME persons tho very few have a strong indoles or inclination to and abilities for some particular science strong I say for a slight fancy to one more then another is not straightways as they call it a Genius to such a thing for most men are not altogether indifferent to all sorts of learning tho Card. du Perron could never observe that he was more affected to or more apt for one Science then another and yet may arrive to a great perfection in that whereto they are least disposed But if his Genius lead him so strongly to any one Science that he be unapt to others it is by all means to be humored Ne tentes saith Quintil. quod effici non potest nec ab eo quod quis optime facit in aliud cui minus est idoneus eum transferas It is reported of Ch. Clavius that being found by the Jesuits under whose education he was very unapt for learning and ready to be sent back to his Parents to be some other way emploied before they would quite abandon him one of them resolved to try him in Mathematics wherein in a short time he
acting and the same way of deducing from and acting by them Particularly let no man think that Magistracy will change him to the better especially look at his actions and conversation in his private life such will he be also in his Authority And therefore let him not upon such confidences hastily take upon him a calling in which he sees in general great inconveniencies or dangers to the preserving of his virtue or innocence 15. IF you be consulted concerning a person either very inconstant passionate or vitions give not your advice it is in vain for such will do only what shall please themselves Never advise any one to a calling which is much against his will or inclination OF EDUCATION PART II. CHAP. I. Of Civility IN this second Part are thrown together a miscellany of observations concerning several the most usual occurrences in Active life Such as enter not into any Art or Science but are the result of experience in the conversation and affairs of this World I begin with Civility as being the first to be learned and practised and tho many rules of it seem plain and obvious such as are fit to be insinuated into the Practise of Children yet are they not to be neglected but to be neal'd into youth that they may not through defect of them miscarry in their age as many great persons have done who trusting to their Justice and severe virtue have bin ruin'd for neglect of compliance and civility For tho Serpents are greater poysons and presenter death yet more men are destroied by their irregularity in eating and drinking And small wounds if many are mortal To be couragious bountiful and just are indeed much greater and nobler then to be of an agreeable conversation yet is this as useful for it is in continual practise the other rarely and upon occasion besides other virtues have need of somewhat to maintain and exercise them Justice will have power liberality wealth c. but this is set up with no other stock then a few pleasant looks good words and not-evil actions All men are in some sort disparata and even these who are under the relations of superiority and inferioty yet those obligations being satisfied as to all other matters account themselves as equals And tho laws punish not the resty and froward yet are they chastised by the loss of that good-will and freindlines which good-behaviour gains most men having greater aversenes to the incompliant then the vitious Wherefore it is necessary for every one that would bring his purposes to effect which cannot be done without making use of other mens abilities and the greater the design the more Instruments are needful and those Instruments also not inanimate or necessitable but spontaneous and free to master the wills and powers of those he makes use of to make them I say to work cheerfully and readily for him which is by Civility to let or insinuate himself into their good liking and voluntary assistance For he who cares not to live void of offence towards others renders himself offensive and odious unto others consequently they comply not with him they act for him if at all by force either of reward or punishment and therefore no more nor otherwise then they are constrained Thus for want of civil address many men of parts and virtue become useless in their generation but others by their surly and uncompliant humor grow distastful in conversation fall into contemt whence follow affronts and quarrels Some also are forc'd upon low and mean company and thereby bring a dishonor not upon their persons only but their Family and Parents who are look'd upon as not willing or able to give them decent Education and their Country also if they happen amongst Strangers who are ready to censure hardly of that Nation whose Gentry are so little civiliz'd 2. AGAIN where there is much company as in Cities c. there is also great variety of humors and dispositions and a greater care of wary conversation as also where are persons of greater and more piercing spirits or curiouser observers as in Courts or amongst Forreigners who take particular notice of many things which continual practise makes us pass over He who thinks to live contentedly or peaceably in these places without mortifying his own humor and deposing his natural inclinations is of a shallow capacity or an evil nature i. e. He is either of a savage fierce insolent disposition or of a stupid slothfulnes Both of them fitter company for Beasts then Men and for Deserts then Cities 3. WHEREFORE as Justice bridleth our coveteousnes and constancy our natural timorousnes so doth civility our haughtines and presumtion and as a good Christian for the glory of God mortifies all his own passions and humors and puts on those which are for his purpose and according to his intention Such I mean as Religion and reason suggest And as a good Courtier for his interest complies with every one alwaies gay cheerful and complaisant without any humor of his own only borrowing that of the company So in like maner every civil person doth the same so far at least as to avoid all offending those with whom he converseth 4. FOR Civility consists in these things 1. In not expressing by actions or speeches any injury disesteem offence or undervaluing of any other 2. In being ready to do all good offices and ordinary kindness for another And 3ly in receiving no injuries or offences from others i. e. in not resenting every word or action which may perhaps rationally be interpreted to be disesteem or undervaluing Indeed our reputation which is onely pretended in this case were it really in danger yet is not of such consequence many times as peace and quietness but we are ordinarily unjust and partial Judges of our own concerns never looking upon our selves but with love and value But however our patience is certainly a rewardable virtue but whether the correction of a misdoer will reuscire well is a difficult question and is that so much recommended by our Lord of forgiving trespasers against us 5. CIVILITY is not therefore punctuality of behaviour I mean that which consists in certain modish and particular ceremonies and fashions in clothes gesture mine speech or the like is not using such discourses words phrases studies opinions games c. as are in fashion in the Court with Gallants Ladies c. This is a constrain'd formality not civility a complying with the times not with persons and varieth with the age or season frequently according to the fancy of mechanic persons in their several professions whereas the rules of Civility founded upon Prudence and Charity are to perpetuity unchangeable I speak not here of such ceremonies as are by duty required towards our superiors either in gesture speech or other address Those are not in our disposing to omit or alter custom our Great Master hath imposed them and that rationally for the ease of the Magistrate and to make