2^6 Of the Advancement of Learning. L i b. VII. 



Moral Nicom. 



dies, and other points of like nature. Thcfe are they which have the 

 fway and dominion in Morality^ from thefe Agents the mind fuffereth 

 and is difpofed 5 ofthefe, as of Ingredients, receits are compounded, 

 which conduce to the confervation and recovery of the Heahh and 

 good Eftateofthe Mind, as far as may be performed by Humane Re- 

 medies. Of which number we will feled one or two whereupon we 

 will a little infift as an example to the reft. We will therefore insi- 

 nuate a few points touching CuUom and Habit. 



That opinion o^Anifotle feemeth to mc to favour of negligence 

 libX '""■""'" and a narrow Contemplation, where he afferts — that thoje Anions 

 rvhich are natural cannot be changed hji cujiomj ufing for example' — • 

 that if ajione be thrown a thoufand times up, it voill not learn to afccnd 

 of its own accord : Moreover^ that by often feeing or hearings we do not 

 learn to hear or fee the better : for though this principle be true in fome 

 things wherein Nature is Peremptory (the reafons whereof we can- 

 not now ftand to difcufs) } et it is otherwife in things wherein Nature, 

 according to a Latitude^, admits intention and remiffion. He might 

 fee that a ftrait glove by often drawing on, is made wider , and 

 that a wand by u(e and continuance is bowed contrary to its natural 

 bent in the growth, and foon after ftays in the fame pofture 3 that 

 the voice by exercifing it becomes louder and ftronger ; that heat and 

 cold are better endur'd by cuftom , and many inftances of like kind. 

 Which two latter examples have a neerer refemblance and come 

 neerer to the point, than thofe he there alledgeth. But however 

 this cafe bedetermin'd, by how much the more true it is; that both 

 Virtues and Vices conjtji in habit ; he ought, by Co much the more, to 

 have endeavour'd, to have fo prefcrib'd rules how furh habits might 

 be acquired, or rentovd: for there may be many Precepts made of 

 the wife ordering of the Exercifes of the Adind^ nolc(s thanof the 

 -Exerdfes of the Body 5 whereof we will recite a few. 



§ Thefirfl JJmU be:, that we beware even at firfi ef higher orfmaUer 

 iasl{s^ than the nature of the bufinef requires^ or our leafure or abilities 

 permit: For if too great a task be impos'd, in a mean diffident na- 

 ture, you blunt the edge of chearfulnels and blaft their hopes , in a 

 nature full of Confidence, you breed an opinion whereby a man pro- 

 mifeth to himfelf more than he is able to perform, which draws oq 

 floth and fecurity 5 and in both thofe temperatures, it will come to 

 pafs that the experiment doth not fatistie the expectation ; which e- 

 ver difcourageth and confounds the mind: but if the Task be too 

 weak andeafie, in the fumm of proceeding there is a lofi and preju- 

 dice. 



§ A fecond JJ.uiU bei) that to th pra&ijing of any faculty^ whereby tt 

 habit may be fipcrinduccd-j two Scafons are chiefly to be obferved, the one 

 when the mind is bcft difpofed to a bufnefs 5 the other when it is wor§i : 

 that by the one, we may be well forwards on our way 5 by the lat- 

 ter, we may by a ftrenuous contention work out theluiots and ftonds 

 of the mind , which makes middle times to pafs with more eafe and 

 pleafure. 

 c'oDi.uij^z'. § A third Precept fjal/ be that jvhich Arifiotle mentions by the way^ 



tvhich is to bear ever towards the contrary extreme of that whereuritowe 



Moral. >vi- 



arc 



