upon a short and perfunctory survey of the ill hunours and ill natures of mankind, it may be from some observation of want of ingenuity that attends a flood or crowd of business, or it may be from some stupidity or pride in their own natures, that renders them more unapt as well as unfit for that society and conversation which an active life requires, retire quickly from the stage, where public businesses are most acted, decline all ambitious pretences in the court, all desires of public domestic or foreign employments, and betake themselves to a quiet undisturbed condition of life in the country, in the managery of their own fortunes, or in the divertisements of lawful sports and recreations; or in the exercise of their own thoughts and domestic agitations; and after a great part of their life spent in this negligent and neglected course of life, are by some accident or choice called out again into the world, to the discharge of some great office or employment, which they do with that wonderful ability, as if they had been always travelling in that track; and of these men there are infinite examples to be found in all kingdoms and provinces. There are so, and will always be so; but they are no more applicable to the determination of this controversy, between the excellence and benefit from a contemplative or active life, than they are towards resolving whether a man can enjoy a better health in the court than in the country. There is no more activity in the court than there is in the country, nor more of contemplation in the country than in the court; both spheres are equal for the practice of both: nor is action or contemplation confined to any place, or to any qua. lity or degree of persons, they may dispose them. selves to which they please, and in what place they please, the question being only, whether the disposing themselves to either, be like to contribute more to the service of God, to the benefit of their country, and to their own salvation; which are the three peculiar ends of man's creation, and ought all with equal industry to be intended, and no place excludes either: though it may be colleges and the country may give more natural nourishment to contemplation, than the court and the camp can naturally administer; but towards an active life, neither of them contributes more or better materials than the country, where the best and the most exact survey is taken of the nature of man, because they are least disguised; what brings most and best advantages to the public, and what most contra dicts or destroys it, is most effectually discovered; the errors in policy itself, though too often mistaken, and too unskilfully and superciliously censured and reproached, are first taken notice of, and proper remedies foreseen in those climates. So that they who prescribe the knowledge and conversation in courts (how useful soever) to be the only conductors towards an active life, may as reasonably pretend that a man cannot be as good a mariner by making a voyage to the East Indies in a merchant ship, as if he had made it in a vessel belonging to the royal navy. In a word, we are so far from giving up the country to the contemplative man, or for the exercise of contemplation, that we are ready to pronounce, that the most active condition of life, as a good statesman or a good courtier, must draw the principal ingredients of his wisdom from the knowledge and understanding of the country, which is the constitution of the government, and the nature and disposition of the people, as it is at present, and as it may be brought to be by the application of those arts and remedies, which will easily convince them what is good for themselves, which is the true end and the only lasting support of all government. END OF VOLUME FIRST. EDINBURGH: |
