104 THE COMPLETE ANGLEK. PART I, 



I grant, that where a noble and ancient descent and 

 such merit meet in any man, it is a double dignification 

 of that person ;) so if this antiquity of angling, which 

 for my part I have not forced, shall, like an ancient 

 family, be either an honour or an ornament to this vir- 

 tuous art which I profess to love and practise, I shall 

 be the gladder that I made an accidental mention of 

 the antiquity of it; of which I shall say no more, 

 but proceed to that just commendation which I think 

 it deserves. 



And for that I shall tell you, that in ancient times a 

 debate Iiath risen, and it remains yet unresolved, whe- 

 ther the happiness of man in this world doth consist 

 more in contemplation or action * ? 



Concerning which some have endeavoured to main* 

 'ain their opinion of the first, by saying, that the 

 nearer we mortals come to God by way of imitation, 

 the more happy we are. And they say, that God en- 

 joys himself only, by a contemplation of his own infi- 

 niteness, eternity, power, and goodness, and the like. 

 And upon this ground, many cloisteral men of great 

 learning and devotion, prefer contemplation before 

 action. Arid many of the fathers seem to approve this 

 opinion, as may appear in their commentaries upon the 

 words of our Saviour to Martha, Lulte 10. 41, 42. 



And on the contrary, there want not men of equal 

 authority and credit, that prefer action to be the more 

 txcellent ; as namely experiments in physick^ and the 

 application of it, both for the ease and prolongation of 

 man's life, by which each man is enabled to act and 

 do good to others, either to serve his country, or do 

 good to particular persons ; and they say also, that 

 action is doctrinal, and teaches both art and virtue, 

 and is a maintainer of human society ; and for these 

 and other like reasons, to be preferred before con- 

 templation. 



* This is a question which many persons of wit, especially among the 

 Italian writers, have discussed ; a disquisition, in the judgment of Lord 

 Clarendon, about as profitable, as whether along journey is best under- 

 taken on a blatk or A bay horse. Se Lord Clarendoa's Tracts, pag. 167. 



