HABIT OF ATTENTIVE THOUGHT. Q) 



ill our private studies may find a relief. A man of vast 

 reading, without conversation, is like a miser, who lives only 

 to himself 



Meditation or study includes all those exercises of the 

 mind, whereby we render all the former methods useful, for 

 our increase in true knowledge and wisdom. By meditation 

 we fix in our memory whatsoever we learn, and form our 

 own judgment of the truth or falsehood, the strength or 

 weakness of what others speak or write. Neither our own 

 observation, nor reading the works of the learned, nor at- 

 tendance on the best lectures of instruction, nor enjoying 

 the brightest conversation, can ever make a man truly know- 

 ing and wise, without the labours of his own reason in sur- 

 veying, examining, and judging, concerning all subjects 

 upon the best evidence he can acquire. — Watts. 



Questions. — 1. What will be the state of the mind if unculti 

 vated ? 2. To what exercise do the common duties of society 

 obUge all persons ? 3. What is the most important subject on which 

 every one should reason correctly ? 4. What are the most suitable 

 opportunities for this duty ? 5. What are the five eminent means of 

 knowledge ? 6. What is observation ? 7. Reading ? 8. What are 

 lectures ? 9. What is included in meditation or study ? 10. What 

 are some of the advantages of each of these five means of knowledge ."• 



LESSON 3. 

 Habit of Attentive Thought. 



Griffin, a fabled animal. 

 Tal'isman, a magical character. 



It is of great importance to your intellectual improvement 

 that you should acquire the habit of attentive thought. The 

 primary recommendation of science is its utility ; and if you 

 are really desirous of advancing in it, you will not regard the 

 occasional ruggedness of a road, which is far from beincr «/- 

 ways rugged. It may be allowed to him, who walks only 

 for the pleasure of the moment to turn away from every path, 

 in which he has not flowers and verdure beneath his feet' 

 and beauty wherever he looks around. But in that know- 

 ledge which awaits your studies, in the various sciences to 

 which your attention may be directed, you have a noble prize 

 before you ; and, therefore, you should not hesitate occa- 

 1 * 



