He seldom speeds well in his course, that stumbles at his setting forth.
I Have ever been unwilling to hear, and careful not to ut∣ter predictions of ill success; Oracles proceeding as well from Superstitious ignorance, as curious Learning: and what I deliver in these words, occasioned by examples past, I desire may be applied for prevention rather then prejudice to any hereafter. To the same eff•…•…t I heard a discreet Censor lesson a young Scholer, negligent at his first en∣trance to the Elements of Logick and Philosophy, telling him, That a Child starved at nurse, would hardly prove an able man. And I have known some who attended with much expectation at their first appearing, have stained the Maidenhead of their Credit with some negligent perform∣ance, fall into irrecoverable dislike with others, and hard∣ly escape despair of themselves. They may make a better excuse, but not hope for more favour, who can impute the fault of their inauspicious attempts some where else; a cir∣cumstance necessarily to be considered where punishment is 〈◊〉〈◊〉: but where reward is proposed for worth, it is as