MENTAL IMPROVEMENT. 8 



LESSON 2. 



Mental Improvement. 



Par'aphrase, to explain in many words. 

 Di'agram, delineation of a geometrical figure. 



No man is obliged to learri and know every thing, for it is 

 utterly impossible ; yet all persons are under some obliga- 

 tion to improve their own understanding; Universal igno- 

 rance or infinite errors will overspread the mind which is 

 neglected, and lies without cultivation. Skill in the sciences 

 is indeed the business and profession but of a small part of 

 mankind • but there are many others placed in such a rank 

 in the world, as allows them much leisure and large oppor- 

 tunities to cultivate their reason, and einrich their minds with 

 various knowledge. 



The common duties and benefits of society, which belong 

 to every man living, and even our necessary relations to a 

 family, a neighbourhood, or government, oblige all persons 

 whatsoever to use their reasoning powers upon a thousand 

 occasions ; every hour of life calls for some regular exercise 

 of our judgment as to times and things, persons and actions ; 

 without a prudent and discreet determination in matters be- 

 fore us, we shall be plunged into perpetual errors in our con- 

 duct. Now that which should alv/ays be practised, must at 

 some time be learned. 



Besides, every son and daughter of Adam has a most im- 

 portant concern in the affairs of a life to come, and therefore 

 it is a matter of the highest moment for every one to under- 

 stand, to judge, and to reason right about the things of re* 

 ligion. It is vain for any to say, we have no leisure or time 

 for it. The daily intervals of time, and vacancies from ne- 

 cessary labour, together with the one day in seven in the 

 Christian world, allow sufficient opportunity for this, if men 

 would but apply themselves to it with half so much zeal and 

 diligence as they do to the trifles and amusements of this 

 life ; and it would turn to infinitely better account. 



There are five eminent means or methods whereby the 

 mind is improved in the knowledge of things ; and these are 

 observation, reading, instruction by lectures, conversation, 

 and meditation, which last, in a peculiar manner, is called 

 Btudy. 



