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INTELLECTUAL PLEASURES.

or the various arts to which science and imagination are subservient, every one will readily admit, to whom these operations are familiar. But the great masters in science and art are few, and the pleasure which they feel in their noblest inventions, therefore, would be but a slight element in the sum of human happiness. The joy, however, is not confined to those, who have the pride of contemplating these great results as their own. It exists to all who have the humbler capacity of contemplating them merely as results of human genius. It is delightful to learn, though another may have been the discoverer; and perhaps the pleasure which a mind truly ardent for knowledge, feels in those early years, in which the new world of science is opened, as it were to its view, and every step, and almost every glance affords some new accession of admiration and power, may not be surpassed even by the pleasure which it is afterwards to feel, when it is not to be the receiver of the wisdom of others, but itself the enlightener of the wise.-Brown.

Call now to mind what high, capacious powers
Lie folded up in man; how far beyond
The praise of mortals, may the eternal growth
Of nature to perfection half divine,

Expand the blooming soul: what pity then
Should sloth's unkindly fogs depress to earth
Her tender blossom; choke the streams of life,
And blast her spring! far otherwise designed
Almighty wisdom; nature's happy cares
The obedient heart far otherwise incline.
Witness the sprightly joy when aught unknown
Strikes the quick sense, and wakes each active
To brisker measures; witness the neglect
Of all familiar objects, though beheld
With transport once; the fond attentive gaze
Of young astonishment; the sober zeal
Of age, commenting on prodigious things.
For such the bounteous providence of heaven,
In every breast implanting this desire
Qf objects new and strange, to urge us on
With unremitted labour to pursue

Those sacred stores that wait the ripening soul,
In truth's exhaustless bosom.

power

AKENSIDE.

MENTAL IMPROVEMENT.

LESSON 2.

Mental Improvement.

Par'aphrase, to explain in many words.

Diagram, delineation of a geometrical figure.

No man is obliged to learn and know every thing, for it is utterly impossible; yet all persons are under some obligation to improve their own understanding. Universal ignorance or infinite errors will overspread the mind which is neglected, and lies without cultivation. Skill in the sciences is indeed the business and profession but of a small part of mankind; but there are many others placed in such a rank in the world, as allows them much leisure and large opportunities to cultivate their reason, and enrich their minds with various knowledge.

The common duties and benefits of society, which belong to every man living, and even our necessary relations to a family, a neighbourhood, or government, oblige all persons whatsoever to use their reasoning powers upon a thousand occasions; every hour of life calls for some regular exercise of our judgment as to times and things, persons and actions; without a prudent and discreet determination in matters before us, we shall be plunged into perpetual errors in our conduct. Now that which should always be practised, must at some time be learned.

Besides, every son and daughter of Adam has a most important concern in the affairs of a life to come, and therefore it is a matter of the highest moment for every one to understand, to judge, and to reason right about the things of religion. It is vain for any to say, we have no leisure or time for it. The daily intervals of time, and vacancies from necessary labour, together with the one day in seven in the Christian world, allow sufficient opportunity for this, if men would but apply themselves to it with half so much zeal and diligence as they do to the trifles and amusements of this life; and it would turn to infinitely better account.

There are five eminent means or methods whereby the mind is improved in the knowledge of things; and these are observation, reading, instruction by lectures, conversation, and meditation, which last, in a peculiar manner, is called study.

MENTAL IMPROVEMENT.

Observation is the notice that we take of all occurrences in human life, whether they are sensible or intellectual, whether relating to persons or things, to ourselves or others. It is this that furnishes us, even from our infancy, with a rich variety of ideas and propositions, words and phrases. All those things which we see, hear or feel, which we perceive by sense or consciousness, or which we know in a direct manner, with scarce any exercise of our reflecting faculties or our reasoning powers, may be included under the general name of observation. There is no time or place, no transactions, occurrences, or engagements in life, which exclude us from this method of improving the mind.

Reading is that means of knowledge, whereby we acquaint ourselves with the affairs, actions, and thoughts of the living and the dead, in the most remote nations, and most distant ages. By reading, we learn not only the actions and sentiments of different nations and ages, but transfer to ourselves the knowledge and improvements of the most learned men, the wisest and best of mankind. It is another advantage of reading, that we may review what we have read; we may consult the page again and again, and meditate on it at successive periods in our retired hours. Unless a reader has an uncommon and most retentive memory, there is scarcely any book or chapter worth reading once that is not worthy of second perusal.

Public or private lectures are such verbal instructions as are given by a teacher while the learners attend in silence. An instructer, when he paraphrases and explains other authors, can mark out the precise point of difficulty or controversy, and unfold it. When he teaches us natural philosophy, or most parts of mathematical learning, he can convey to our senses those notions, with which he would furnish our minds. He can make the experiments before our eyes. He can describe figures and diagrams, point to the lines and angles, and by sensible means make out the demonstration in a more intelligible manner.

Conversation is that method of improving our minds, wherein by mutual discourse and inquiry we learn the sentiments of others, as well as communicate our own. By friendly conference, not only the doubts which arise in the mind upon any subject of discourse are easily proposed and solved, but the very difficulties we meet with in books and

HABIT OF ATTENTIVE THOUGHT.

in our private studies may find a relief.

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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 attendance on the best lectures of instruction, nor enjoying the brightest conversation, can ever make a man truly knowing and wise, without the labours of his own reason in surveying, 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 oblige 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.

Talisman, a magical character.

Ir 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 being always 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 knowledge 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

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CULTIVATION OF MEMORY.

sionally to put forth all the vigour of your attention, at the risk of a little temporary fatigue. It will facilitate your acquisition of a reward, which the listless exertions of the indolent can never obtain.

It is in science, or philosophy, as in many a fairy tale. The different obstacles which the hero encounters, are not progressively greater and greater; but his most difficult achievements are often at the very commencement of his career, He begins, perhaps, with attacking the castle of some enchanter, and has to force his way, unassisted, through the griffins and dragons that oppose his entrance. He finishes the adventure with the death of the magician-and strips him of some ring, or other talisman, which renders his subsequent adventures comparatively easy and secure. The habit of attentive thought, which the consideration of difficult subjects necessarily produces, in those who are not too indolent to give attention to them, or too indifferent to feel interest in them, is more truly valuable than any talisman, of which accident or force might deprive you. The magic with which this endows you, is not attached to a ring, or a gem, or any thing external; it lives, and lives for ever, in the very essence of your minds.-BROWN.

use.

LESSON 4.

Cultivation of Memory.

Super fluous, unnecessary.

Chatos, confusion. ch in words from the Greek sound like k.

MEMORY implies two things: first, a capacity of retaining knowledge; and, secondly, a power of recalling that knowledge to our thoughts when we have occasion to apply it to When we speak of a retentive memory, we use it in the former sense; when of a ready memory, in the latter. Without memory, there can be neither knowledge, arts, nor sciences; nor any improvement of mankind in virtue, or morals, or the practice of religion. Without memory, the soul of man would be but a poor, destitute, naked being, with an everlasting blank spread over it, except the fleeting ideas of the present moment,

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