Observations Divine and Moral, Chapter 18
CAP. XVIII. Of Experience.
ONelyOnly God is not taught by experience, to whose knowledg all things are present at all times, and before all times. But there is no Creature so perfit in wisdom, and knowledg, but may learn something for time present, and to come, by times past. The day following (saith one) is Shcoller to that which went Seneca. Politian.before. And the vertue (saith another) which Nature denies, experience brings to wise men. So as, though it be the Mistresse of fools, who will learn no wisdom, but that which is beaten into them with rods, through a torn skin: yet are the wisest taught many things by it, and so become of commendable admirable: as Antigonus Plutarchbeing asked, who was the best Captain in his time, answered, Pirrhus, if he grew old. And even experience teacheth, that there are many particulars, and those tending both to our naturall, and spirituall state, which neither our own wit, art, studie, or conscience, nor the information, counsell, or example of others can teach us; which yet we learn by this dull Mistresse Experience.
This, if it be ripe, and but ioyned with any indifferent capacitie, and diligence, to compare together events past, and present occurrances; will affoard better help for direction, in doubtfull cases, then any other ordinarie rules: as a man can better in the dark finde the way, to which he hath been used, then another that never went it can do, by the best instructions, and directions that can be given him. And it seems to have been one end why God gave our great grand-fathers in the first Age of theIosephus. World, so long life, that by experience, and observation they might learn the skill, and art of sundry courses, specially of the Starres: the knowledg whereof otherwise (without myracle) would hardly, if at all, have been attained to. I conclude upon the premises that men of experience (with which wit, and sometimes authoritie without wit, is still at jar) are not lightly to be gainsaid, or neglected in their facultie: seeing experience is gotten by sense, which easily ers not in its proper object: whereas the discourse of reason is verie subject to swarv in inferring and concluding of things. Yet hath this plodding guide experience this danger in it, that it leads men on in the beaten way to which it hath been used, without due consideration of such variable circumstances, as fall in, and make cases past, and present, though alike in generall nature, yet in particular applycation, and consideration verie unlike: of which differences wit, and art make men more able to discern.
Though all knowledg be good in it self, as tendingAustin. to perfect the understanding: yet the getting of it is not alwayes good; as when it is gotten by experience of punishment, specially of sin: as our first Parents got the knowledg of evill both wayes, to their, and our cost, in eating the forbidden fruit. A man may buy Gold; so may he experimentall knowledg too dear. Salomon seeking by experience to try the delights of all things Eccl. 1. and 2.under Heaven, & being too bold in wading in that stream, that he might know the depth of it, fell in, and without Gods speciall helping hand, had been drowned therein for ever. Wofull then is the experience, which is gotten by sin, and miserie, our own, or other mens either: like that of Hexophilus the Physition, that butchered six hundred Tertullian.men, that he might search into mans bodily nature: destroying man, that he might know him.
The Servants of God are sometimes so pressed with the sense of present temptations, as that their speciall comfort ariseth from the recourse they have to the experience of Ps. 77.the dayes of old, and yeers of antiquitie: considering that God casts not off for ever, nor forgets to be favourable to his any more. So some in age, and under temptations, have receaved more comfort from their former experience, though of a weaker measure, of grace, in their Childhood, then they could of a greater, in their riper yeers.