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That he may in good time be fitted for the Calling he intends, he begins to think upon it early in the Morning of his age; and accustomes himselfe to the yoak whilest he is young, that so he may bear it with∣out galling his neck when he growes old. He makes it now his businesse to gather the thyme, which he intends shall prove Hony
hereafter; and to lay up in the Spring what may stand him in stead when his winter is come. That he may indeed be young in Old-age, he learnes to be Old in his youth; and he sucks so much out of every science now, as Experience and years may by degrees hereafter improve into that Prudence which becomes a Gentleman.
Having in his greener yeares onely so much discretion, as to find the want of what he should have, he is willingly directed by the prudence of another, 'till he can get e∣nough for himselfe. He is not Impatient of Subjection now to that wise and grave Instructor, from whose both dictates and example he hopes to gain so much as may make him the Instructor of others hereafter: And he learnes so betimes to obey, that the world may never have reason to say he be∣gan to Command too soon. It is his choice to live under a severe discipline, rather then to be left to himselfe as his own Master; lest perhaps failing in his first Command, whereby he should have Govern'd him∣selfe, he might despaire of better successe in his second of Commanding others.
His first care therefore now is to be wholy
guided by him to whose prudence he is in∣trusted; lest by rejecting him, he might seem to disparage the judgment of his pa∣rents, who made that choise for him. Where the Commands laid upon him seem to him irrationall, so long as he knowes them not sinfull, he had rather distrust his own judg∣ment, then neglect his director's counsell: and he never thinks himselfe (as very many doe) a better man then his guide, 'till he be sure he knowes the way to that he aimes at, better then he. He never showes himselfe more to be his own man, and at his own disposall, then by this unconstrained act of resigning himselfe up unto another.
When he is come to that maturity of Age and Discretion, as to be able to benefit himselfe by his Company, he will be sure to make choise of such Companions as may serve him instead of Books; and of such Books as he intends shall often serve him for Companions: He is not ashamed to be now the worst man in that Company, where∣in he may learne from his betters, how to be the best in another: this is much more honourable, then to be the best man there, where he can never learne to be better, but
often worse then he was before.
The Studies whereunto he cheerfully ap∣plies himselfe, are such as will more make the man, then please the Boy. He takes de∣light in nothing which will send him back again towards his Infancy, but Innocence. As for Poëtry and such like pleasing studies, he does not wholy neglect them, but uses them as good sauces to make others more substantiall and nourishing rellish the better. He loves not to spend his time in cracking Empty Nuts without a Kernell; nor to break his tender teeth by gnawing upon Sa∣ples bones. Neither Nice Criticismes nor tough Notions, can recompense him for the vast expence of that precious time, he should be at in making himselfe the Master of either. When he is entred into the faire garden of the Muses it is not his onely busi∣nesse to pick up here and there a few leaves to hide the Nakednesse of his discourse; or to adorne it with Blossomes and flourishes out of some Poetick figment, or Romantick story; but he gathers, eats and digests, that which is fruit indeed, and such as is truly wholsome and nourishing: Nor doth he, as the Em∣perour's Army, lie loytering, and picking
up Cockle-shels upon the shores of good lit∣terature, but he boldly launches out into the main Ocean, and there Contemplates the wonders of the deep. It is not his de∣signe to be call'd a Witty Gentleman, and such an one as can talk high, and breath flashes, and thunder out big words, and store himselfe with so many jests, and so much Bombast, as may tickle some, and stupifie others; he studies more to make himselfe a man then a Companion; and more how to live and do well, then talke finely. True Histories, and Sound Politicks, and grave Morall discourses, are the fruitfull Gardens where his Muses doe ordinarily recreate themselves: that so by his Pleasures as well as Pains, both the Commonwealth may in due time be happy in him, and he in himselfe. As for those lighter and more ayery studies, such as too frequently by their lovely paint and dissembled beauty, steal away the amorous and unfixed youth of most Gentlemen, he makes the same use of them which he does of his Galleries or his Arbours; whither, now and then he comes to take a turne or two for Recreation's sake, and as he passes along sometimes casts a carelesse eye, upon
those many pretty blossomes or pictures which he finds there. These may for a moment or two command his eye, but never ••is affection. Of such toyes he had rather 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hereafter that he has seen them, then that he knowes them. He would be igno∣rant of nothing, but he would onely be ac∣quainted with the b••st. He has a more Masculine stomack, then to f••ed upon that which is all sauce, but if there be a little in the Dish, to make him rellish his meat the better, he is not displeased with it, though so long as his meat of it selfe is good, he doth not greatly desire it.
Divinity can never lie out of the true Gentleman's way, because he is alwaies go∣ing towards Heaven: For notwithstan∣ding she seems so pale-faced, and of so soure a Countenance to those that love her not, because they do not know her; yet is there so much heavenly beauty, and so many noble features discernable in her face, by the Gentleman's undistemper'd eye, that he soon begins in earnest to love her, and he can never go on farre in any other path what∣soever, but he must often cast a longing eye back upon her. Still bearing in mind the
happy place whither he is travaling with so good a will, he calls in at other Arts and Sciences as at so many Innes, to take a short repast by the way: or he stands looking up∣on them a while as upon so many way markes set up at the severall turnings and Crosse paths, that from them he may re∣ceive directions which way to turne: But the knowledg of his God, that's the way he constantly walkes in, and that which will certainly bring him at last to that home, where he shall meet with a Welcome, which will abundantly recompence the tediousnesse of his journy; and an entertainment suitable to the Quality of a Gentleman.
His way being long, it is not amisse that he allowes himselfe sometimes a recreation and diversion. But then his recreation shall be alwaies such as he dares not make his businesse, and yet such as he dares safely make his play: It hath alwaies so much of Inno∣cence as to be blamelesse, and so much Bre∣vity as to be no Hinderance. It has so much Youthfulnesse, as not to be a Businesse, and yet so much Businesse as not to be Boyish. It shall bring with it so much reall pleasure as may make it a refreshment, and yet so
little lovelinesse, as may spoile the temptati∣on. He may step over the hedg into the pleasant Meadow, and pluck a sweet flower or two to smell to as he goes along, but he dares not lie him down, or rowle himselfe upon the tender grasse, lest he should be tempted to too long a stay, and thereby be benighted in his journey.
He thinks it no prudence to fall in love with any sport, which like a Cunning thiefe, smiles him in the face, whilest it cuts his purse, steals away his time, and cheats him of a good Conscience. If Agar once begin thus to insinuate her selfe into those affections, which are only due to her Mistresse; out of dores she shall goe: He intends not to sell his Charity at so cheap a rate, as the false pleasure of his game; Nor has he so little either thrift or Religion, as to make so foolish an Exchange, and part either with his Soul or his Time for the transitory de∣light of a dangerous temptation. His usuall Recreation therefore is, to make a play of his Study. He makes one study, like a shooing∣horne, to draw on another, and makes the variety the recreation. Thus he takes the surest course that may be, for making his
Study so much his Delight, he saves himselfe the labour of studying for a Passe-time.