8. Avoid theological minutenesses. Lay no stress on trifles; as you see many do, either from a wrong education, or a weak turn of mind. Reserve your zeal for the most important subjects, and throw it not away upon little things.

Lastly. Let none but the best writers in divinity be your favourites. Those are the best writers, who at once discover a clear head and a good heart, solid sense and serious piety; where faith and reason, devotion and judgment, go hand in hand.

CHAP. IV.

THE METHOD OF COLLECTING AND PRESERVING USIFUL THOUGHTS FROM CONVERSATION.

WHENEVER it can be done without affectation and pedantry, turn the conversation on the subject you have been reading last, if you know it to be suitable to your company; and introduce your maturest observations upon it. This will fix it in your me

mory,

mory, especially if it becomes matter of debate*. For the mind is never more tenacious of any principles, than those it has been warmly engaged in the defence of. And in the course of such debate you may perhaps view them in a new light, and be able to form a better judgment of them, and be excited to examine them with more care. Intercourse awakens the powers, whets the mind, and rubs off the rust it is apt to contract by solitary thinking. The pump for want of use, grows dry, or keeps its water at the bottom, which will not be fetched up unless more be added.

When you have talked over the subject you have read, think over what you have talked of; and perhaps you will be able to see more weight in the sentiments you opposed, than you were willing to admit in the presence of your antagonist. And if you suspect you was then in an error, you may now retract it without fear of mortification. That you may at once improve and please in conversation, remember the following rules.

do

1. Chuse your company, as you your books: and to the same end. The best company, like the best books, are those which are at once improving

* Quicquid didiceris id confestim doceas; sic et tua firmare, et prodesse aliis potes.-Ea doce quæ noveris, eaque diversis horis, aliis atque aliis conveniet inculcare. Satis sit, si quispiam te audiat, interea exercitio miram rerum copiam tibi comparaveris. Ringel, de ratione Studii, p. 28, 56.

and entertaining*.

If you can receive neither pleasure nor profit from your company, endeavour to furnish it for them. If this cannot be done, (and especially if there be danger of receiving hurt from them,) quit them, as decently as you can.

2. Study the humour of your company, and their character. If they be your superiors, or much inclined to talk, be an attentive hearer. If your inferiors, or more disposed to hear, be an instructive speaker.

3. When the conversation drops, revive it with some general topic, by starting a subject on which you have some good things to say, or you know others have. To which end, it will not be amiss to be a little prepared with topics of conversation suitable to the company you are going into and the course of your own thoughts in conversation will be more free, than you ordinarily find them to be in silent meditation.

4. When any thing occurs that is new, or instructive, or that you are willing to make your own, enter it down in your minute or common-place book, if you cannot trust your memory, (for in conversation all are free-booters; whatever you lay your hand on that is worth keeping, is lawful prize), but take care that you do not charge either the one or the other with trash.

Ille tulit punctum, qui miscuit utile dulci.

Hor. de Arte Poet. 1. 343.
5. Never

imanners.

5. Never stand for a cypher in company, by a total silence. It will appear boorish and awkward, and give a check to the freedom of others. It is ill Better say a trivial thing than nothing at all. Perhaps you hear a deal of impertinence uttered by some in the company, which you candidly excuse: presume upon their candour, if you happen to talk in the same manner. You have a

right to claim it: you will readily receive it.Something trite and low, uttered with an easy, free, obliging air, will be better received than entire silence; and indeed than a good sentiment delivered in a stiff, pedantic, or assuming manner. And many good things may arise out of a common observation. However, after a dead silence, it will set the conversation a going; and the company, who want to be relieved from it, will be obliged to you. This is a secret that will never fail to please.

6. Join not in the hurry and clamour of the talk, especially when a trifling point is disputed, and several speak at once; but be a patient hearer, tili you have made yourself master of the subject and the arguments on both sides. And then you may possibly find an opportunity to put in as mediator, with credit to your judgment.

Repeat not a good thing in the same company ́twice, unless you are sure you are not distinctly heard the first time.

7. Though you may safely animadvert upon, yet do not oppose, much less rally, the foibles or

mistakes of any one in the company, unless they be very notorious, and there be no danger of giving offence. But remember that he himself sees the matter in a different light from what you do, and with other eyes.

S. If detraction or profaneness mingle with the conversation, discountenance it by a severe or a resolute silence, where reproof would be thought, ndelicate. If this be not sufficient to put a stop to it, make no scruple to withdraw*.

9. Affect not to shine in conversation, especially before those who have a good opinion of their own understanding. The surest way to please them, is to give them opportunity to shew their parst; a monopoly of this kind will scarce ever be endured with patience †.

* Possidonius relates of St. Austin, that this Latin distich was inscribed on the table where he entertained his friends: Quisquis amat dictis absentem ridere amicum,

Hanc mensam indignam noverit esse sibi.

1

+ Conversation is a sort of commerce, towards which every one ought to furnish his quota; i. e. to hear and speak in his turn. It is acting against the rules of honesty, and laws of commerce, to monopolize all, and deprive others of the share they have in the gain. It is, in like manner, a kind of injustice in those who compose the circle, always to usurp the talk. If your design by it is to make a shew of your parts, and to procure esteem, you quite mistake your interest; for you exasperate those against you whom you thus force to silence, who cannot bear the ascendant you give yourself, and the degree of superiority you assume. Reflect. upon Ridicule, vol. i. p. 55.

10. Bear