CULTIVATION OP MEMORY. 7 



There is one great and general direction, which belongs 

 to the improvement of other powers as well as of the me- 

 mory, and that is, to keep it always in dne and proper exer- 

 cise. Many acts by degrees form a habit, and thereby the 

 capacity or power is strengthened and made more retentive 

 and ready. Due attention and diligence to learn and know 

 the things which we would commit to our remembrance, is 

 a rule of great necessity. There are some persons, who com- 

 plain they cannot remember what they hear, when in truth 

 their thoughts are wandering half the time, or they hear with 

 such coldness and indifference, and a trifling temper of spi- 

 rit, that it is no wonder the things which are read or spoken 

 make but a slight impression, and soon vanish and are lost. 

 If we would retain a long remembrance of the things which 

 we read or hear, we should engage our delight and pleasure 

 in those subjects, and .use proper methods to fix the atten- 

 tion. Sloth and idleness will no more bless the mind with 

 intellectual riches, than they will fill the hand with gain, the 

 field with corn, or the purse with treasure. 



Some persons are conceited of their abilities, and trust so 

 much to an acuteness of parts denominated genius, that they 

 think it superfluous labour to make any provision before- 

 hand, and they sit still, therefore, satisfied without endeavour- 

 ing to store their understanding with knowledge. Such 

 should remember that we are born ignorant of every thing. 

 God has made the intellectual world harmonious and beauti- 

 ful without us ; but it will never come into our heads all at 

 once ; we must bring it home by degrees, and there set it up 

 by our own industry, or we shall have nothing but darkness 

 and chaos within, whatever order and light there may be in 

 things without us. 



Others, on the contrary, depress their own minds, despond 

 at the first difficulty, and conclude that getting an insight in 

 any of the sciences, or making any progress in knowledge, 

 farther than serves their ordinary business, is above their ca- 

 pacities. The proper remedy here is to set the mind to work, 

 and apply the thoughts vigorously to the business ; for it holds 

 in the struggles of the mind, as in those of war, — a persua- 

 sion that we shall overcome any difficulties that we may meet 

 with in the sciences, seldom fails to carry us through them. 

 Nobody knows the strength of his mind, and the force of 

 steady and regular application, until he has tried. 



