The Arraignment of Covetousness and Ambition, Chapter 20
CHAP. 20.
BUt listen to that (you miserly Muckworms) of a studious life: which (if you have brains) will make your souls so long after the enjoying it; as that you shall no longer like of your present employment; get you never so much & grow you never so rich thereby. And that you may not take it to be my single opinion, (as too much doting upon my own conceited happiness) in characterizing out of the life of a Scholar, I will mostly deliver my own minde, in the words of that Reverend Divine Doctor Hall, the Nightingale of our Age.
Alphonsus King of Arragon, so greatly loved learning, that he omitted not his hard studies; in his most dangerous wars. And Pliny the second, so inwardly affected it; that he held the time to be lost, which was not spent in study. Nor can any one think it strange, that hath truly tasted the sweetness of it. Yea, I can wonder at nothing more, then how a Scholar can be idle, or dumpish? having the opportunity of so many improvements of reason, in such variety of studies: in such importunity of brave thoughts. Other Artizans do but practise, a Scholar never ceases to learn, wherein also his choice is infinite. Other labours require recreation, our very labour recreates our sports. We can never want either somewhat to do, or somewhat that we would do. How numberless are those precious Volumes, that are ever tempting us both to delight and profit? Who can be weary? that findes such wit in Poetry, such profoundness in Philosophie, such acuteness in Mathematiques, such wonder of events in History, such sweet eloquence in Oratory, such super-natural light, and ravishing delight in Divinity, as so many rich metals, in their proper Mines. Now, whom would not all this ravish with joy? After all these, let us but open our eyes, we cannot look beside a lesson in the universal Book of our Maker: worth our study, and taking out, as what creature, hath not his miracle? what event doth not challenge our observation? And if weary of forreign employment, we list to look home into our selves: there we finde a world of thoughts, which set us on work anew, and not less profitably. Or admit we could be cloyed with our own company, the dore of conference stands open; offering such interchange of discourse, as will not more please, then benefit us, and he is a mean companion, from whom we return not wiser.
But suppose we have not this opportunity always: what ingenious minde can be weary… of talking with learned Authors, the most sweet, harmless, and cha…geless companions. What an heaven lives a Scholar in? that being pent up in his voluntary prison at once, in one close room or case of walls: can daily converse with all the glorious Martyrs and Fathers. That can single out at pleasure either sententious Tertullian, or grave Cyprian, or resolute Hierome, or flowing Chrysostome, or divine Ambrose, or devout Bernard, or (who alone is all these) heavenly Augustine: to talk with, and heare their wise and holy counsels, verdicts, resolutions, yea, (to rise higher) with Courtly Esay, with learned Paul, with all their fellow Prophets, Apostles; yet more, like another Moses, with God himself in them both. Let the World contemn us, while we have these delights; we cannot envy them, we cannot wish our selves other then we are.
Besides, the way to all other contentments is troublesome, the only recompence is in the end. To delve in the Mines, to scorch in the fire for the getting, for the fining of gold, is a slavish toil, the comfort is in the wedge; to the owners, not the labourers: whereas our very search of knowledge is delightsome. Study it self is our life; from which we would not be barred for a World. How much sweeter then is the fruit of study? the conscience of knowledge? in comparison whereof the soul that hath once tasted it, easily contemns all humane comforts. Wherefore spare not ye worldlings, to insult over our paleness, our neediness, our neglect: ye could not be so jocund, if you were not ignorāt. If you did not want knowledge, you could not overlook him that hath it. For me, I am so far from emulating you; that I profess, I had as lieve be a brute beast, as an ignorant rich man.
And so taking leave of great ones, I return to the thousands of ordinary Grip…s and Oppressors; that have disperst themselves here and there amongst the multitude; as Cutpurses in a crowde. Only it requires, that as I have largely spoken to Magistrates and Governours; shewing them what God requires at their hands: so I should say something to the people governed, in shewing what they ought to do: of which a word, and but a word: because I foresee, that one Dos… of so untoothsome a truth, to such as I shall especially speak; will be as welcome as water into a Ship, and I love not to intrude.