CAUSES OF ENTERING ACTIVE LIFE. CCCclxiii 



or to ornament, although he adopted both to insure a 

 favourable reception for abstruse truths. 



Such is a faint outline of his mind, which &quot; like the 

 sun had both light and agility; it knew no rest but in 

 motion, no quiet but in activity : it did not so properly 

 apprehend, as irradiate the object; not so much find, as 

 make things intelligible. There was no poring, no strug 

 gling with memory, no straining for invention ; his faculties 

 were quick and expedite ; they were ready upon the first 

 summons, there was freedom and firmness in all their 

 operations, his understanding could almost pierce into 

 future contingents, his conjectures improving even to 

 prophecy; (a) he saw consequents yet dormant in their 

 principles, and effects yet unborn, in the womb of their 

 causes.&quot; 



How much is it to be lamented that such a mind, with 

 such a temperament, was not altogether devoted to con 

 templation, to the tranquil pursuit of knowledge, and the 

 calm delights of piety. 



That in his youth he should quit these pleasant paths Causes of 



for the troubles and trappings of public life would be entenn g 



active life. 

 a cause for wonder, if it were not remembered that man 



amongst men is a social being; and, however he may 

 abstract himself in his study, or climb the hill above 

 him, he must daily mingle with their hopes and fears, 

 their wishes and affections. He was cradled in politics : 

 to be Lord Keeper was the boundary of the horizon 

 drawn by his parents. He lived in an age when a 



accounted words to be but subservient or ministerial to matter, and not the 

 principal. And if his style were polite, it was because he could not do 

 otherwise. Neither was he given to any light conceits, or descanting upon 

 words, but did ever purposely and industriously avoid them; for he held 

 such things to be but digressions or diversions from the scope intended, 

 and to derogate from the weight and dignity of the style, 

 (a) See South s noble sermon on Human Perfection. 





