INTRODUCTION. y 



prove this Opinion, as may appear in theii- 

 Commentaries upon the Words of our Sa- 

 viour to Martha, But then, on the contrary, 

 there want not other Men of equal Authority 

 and Credit, who prefer an active Life, efpe- 

 cially when it contributes to the Good of o- 

 thcrs, either of their Country in general, or 

 of particular Perfons. Adion, according to 

 them, is dodrinal ; it teaches both Art and 

 Virtue, and prefer ves human Society ; and 

 for thefe, and other like Reafons, is to be pre- 

 ferred before Contemplation. 



Without pretending to determine between 

 thefe two Opinions, it is fuflicient to fay, 

 that both Contemplation and Adion here 

 meet together, and belong properly to the 

 honefl, ingenuous, quiet, and innocent Art of 

 Angling. The very fitting by the River's 

 Side, is not only the calmeiland fittefl: Place 

 for Contemplation, but will invite an Angler 

 to it. Hence the learned Peter du Moulin ob- 

 ferves, that when God intended to reveal any 

 future Events or high Notions to his Prophets, 

 he ufually carried them either to the Defart$ 

 or the Sea-fhore, that having fo feparated 

 them from amidft the Multitude of People 

 and Bufmefs, and the Cares of the World, he 

 might fettle their Minds in a quiet Repofe, and 

 render them fit to receive the Revelation. 

 And this feems alfo to be intimated by the 

 Children of Ifraely who having in their Cap- 

 tivity banifhed all Mirth and Mufick from 

 their penfive Hearts, and hung up their mute 

 B 4 Harp 



