The academie of eloquence containing a compleat English rhetorique, exemplified with common-places and formes digested into an easie and methodical way to speak and write fluently according to the mode of the present times : together with letters both amorous and moral upon emergent occasions / by Tho. Blount, Gent.

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Title
The academie of eloquence containing a compleat English rhetorique, exemplified with common-places and formes digested into an easie and methodical way to speak and write fluently according to the mode of the present times : together with letters both amorous and moral upon emergent occasions / by Tho. Blount, Gent.
Author
Blount, Thomas, 1618-1679.
Publication
London :: Printed by T.N. for Humphrey Moseley ...,
1654.
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Subject terms
English language -- Rhetoric -- Early works to 1800.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A28452.0001.001
Cite this Item
"The academie of eloquence containing a compleat English rhetorique, exemplified with common-places and formes digested into an easie and methodical way to speak and write fluently according to the mode of the present times : together with letters both amorous and moral upon emergent occasions / by Tho. Blount, Gent." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A28452.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 15, 2024.

Pages

XXXIII. Ʋpon the New-year.

SIR.

MY present Theme is, to give you the ceri∣monies (in real wishes) of a happy New-year. Nor shall I doubt the effect, since I cannot your Piety or Prudence. No revolution of time can be inauspicious, where these fair pair of twin-vir∣tues are fixt, and in action. Time tells our hours, produces change, but our happines, or infortunes onely from our selves. 'Tis vain then to accuse deaf fate, when we are our own destiny, or at least it in our arbitrement. Prudence, (the eye of our

Page 179

life) foresees, disposes our affaires; Piety, our selves. That discharges our devoirs, This guides all events (prosperous or adverse) to our eternal (if it cannot temporall) felicity. Hence we have a method either to prevent misery, or of turning it into better luck, by being unhappy. Cross chances I grant, are but sower friends, rather to be enter∣tained then invited; yet 'tis too visible none are more wretched, then those that most court for∣tune. Give mee Indifferency and I'le bee fortunes fate, and fortunate, maugre her despight. As to time it self, the best description of it, is to employ it well. 'Tis a thing of so swift an Essence, that 'tis gone before we can think what it is. 'Tis the mea∣sure of sublunary beings, and proclaimes to us, (by its height) how fast wee our selves fade, and dwindle away. The past is no more ours, then frugall usage▪ has made it so. The future is not; and so, uncertain whether 'twill ever be in our power. What of it we can own is only the pre∣sent, and this so coy, that if not taken by the sore∣top, 'tis vanisht, like a Ghost▪ and leaves us no∣thing, but cause to repent and gaze. Ah! my friend, how pretious our moments; on these short Instances depends our whole Eternity. Temporall existence is as fickle as temporall happinesse; both participate of the nature of time, are fleeting In this casualty then, let us fix on what is truely du∣rable: above floating▪ incertainties, beyond tempo∣rall lastingnesse. Whilst our minutes fly from us, our selves speed faster towards unchangeable per∣manency, so we doe in naturall tendency; but let us by virtue's vigours. Each hour posts away with it's length of our life; The old year is gone, if ou imperfections with it, 'twas well spent; if not, there's the more ned we spend the New better▪

Page 180

And lest we live not to the end, let's take advan∣tage of the begining: make that our own that is so. Thrift of our dayes is th' only end to make our selves in time eternally happy. But I fear by this rude Rhapsody of the initiate yeare, I have wasted your hourglass too much, rendring my prayer of your prosperous future, your present Domage; But pardon, because my subject (time) as wel as my distracted capacity fail'd me. Suffice it, I wish you more then I can utter or need per∣scribe you the way to; and whilst you are blest, I patrake

31 Decemb.

Sir

Your happy friend and joy'd servant. W.D.

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