$8 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. fPART I. 



like. And upon this ground, many cloisteral men of great 

 learning and devotion prefer contemplation before action. And 

 many of the fathers seem to approve this opinion, as may ap- 

 pear in their commentaries upon the words of our Saviour to 

 Martha, Luke x. 41, 42. 



And, on the contrary, there want not men of equal authority 

 and credit, that prefer action to be the more excellent : as 

 namely, experiments in physic, 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 humane society ; and for these, and other 

 like reasons, to be preferred before contemplation. 



Concerning which two opinions I shall forbear to add a third 

 by declaring my own, and rest myself contented in telling you, 

 my very worthy friend, that both these meet together, and do 

 most properly belong to the most honest, ingenuous, quiet, and 

 harmless art of Angling. 



And first, I shall tell you what some have observed, and I 

 have found it to be a real truth, that the very sitting by the 

 river's side is not only the quietest and fittest place for contem- 

 plation, but will invite an Angler to it ; and this seems to be 

 maintained by the learned Peter Du Moulin, who, in his dis- 

 course of the Fulfilling of Prophecies, observes, that when God 

 intended to reveal any future events or high notions to his 

 prophets, he then carried them either to the deserts or the sea- 

 shore, that having so separated them from amidst the press of 

 people and business, and the cares of the world, he might set- 

 tle their mind in a quiet repose, and there make them fit for 

 revelation. 



And this seems also to be intimated by the children of Israel, 

 Psal. 137, who, having in a sad condition banished all mirth 

 and music from their pensive hearts, and having hung up their 

 then mute harps upon the willow -trees growing by the rivers 



