Works of Joseph Hall, Section 4 – Section 9
SECT. IIII.
YEA, let it be my iuſt complaint in this place, that in the very tranſplantation of our Sonnes to the ſafer ſoyle of our owne Vniuerſities, and Innes of Court, nothing is more preiudiciall than ſpeed. Perfection is the childe of Time; neither was there euer any thing excellent, that required not meet leiſure: but beſides, how commonly it is ſeene, that thoſe which had wont to ſwimme onelyonly with bladders, ſinke when they come firſt to truſt to their owne armes? Theſe Lap-wings that goe from vnderunder the wing of their damme with the ſhell on their heads, runne wilde. If Tutors bee neuer ſo carefull of their early charge, much muſt bee left to their owne diſpoſition; which if it leade them not to good, not onelyonly the hopes of their youth, but the proofe of their age lies bleeding. It is true, that as the French Lawyers ſay merrily of the Normans, which by a ſpeciall priuilege are reputed of full age at 21. yeares, whereas the other French ſtay for their fiue and twentieth, that Malitia ſupplet atatem; ſo may I ſay of the younglings of our time, that Precocitie of vnderſtanding ſupplieth age & ſtatute: but as it is commonly ſeene, that thoſe bloſſomes which ouer-runne the ſpring, and will be looking forth vponupon a February-Sunne, are nipped ſoone after with an Aprill froſt when they ſhould come to the knitting: ſo is it no leſſe ordinary that theſe rathe-ripe wits preuent their owne perfection, and after a vaine wonder of their haſte, end either in ſhame, or obſcuritie. And as it thus falls out euen in our Vniuerſities (the moſt abſolute & famous Seminaries of the world) where the Tutors eye ſupplies the Parents; ſo muſt it needs much more, in thoſe free and honourable Innes (as they are called, for their libertie, Colleges for their vſe) of our Engliſh Gentry, wherein each one is his owne maſter in reſpect of his priuate ſtudy and gouernment. Where there are many pots boyling, there cannot but be much ſcumme, the concourſe of a populous citie affords many brokers of villany, which liue vponupon the ſpoyles of young hopes, whoſe very acquaintance is deſtruction. How can theſe nouices, that are turned looſe into the maine, ere they know either coaſt, or compaſſe, auoid theſe rockes and ſhelues, vponupon which both their eſtates and ſoules are miſerably wracked? How commonly doe they learne to roare in ſtead of pleading, and in ſtead of knowing the lawes, learne how to contemne them? Wee ſee and rue this miſchiefe, and yet I know not how careleſſe we are in preuenting it. How much more deſperate muſt it then needs be to ſend forth our children into thoſe places which are profeſſedly infectious, whoſe very goodnes is either impietie, or ſuperſtitiō? If we deſired to hauehave ſons poyſoned, with misbeleefe, what could we doe otherwiſe? Or what elſe doe thoſe Parents, which hauehave bequeathed their children to Antichriſtianiſme? Our late iourney into France informed me of ſome ordinary factors of Rome, whoſe trade is the tranſporting and placing of our popiſh nouices beyond the ſeas; one whereof (whoſe name I noted) hath bin obſerued to carry ouer ſix ſeuerall charges in one yeare. Are we ſo fooliſh to go their way, whiles we intend a contrary period? Doe we ſend our ſonnes to learne to be chaſte in the midſt of Sodome? The world is wide and open, but our ordinary trauell is ſouthward, into the iawes of danger: for ſo far hath Satans policie preuailed, that thoſe parts which are only thought worth our viewing, are moſt contagious; and wil not part with either pleaſure, or information, without ſome tang of wickednes. What can we plead for our confidence, but that there is an bouſhold of righteous Lot in the midſt of that impure Citie; that there are houſes in this Iericho, which hauehave ſcarlet threds ſhining in their windowes, that in the moſt corrupted aire of Poperie, ſome well reformed Chriſtians draw their breath, and ſweeten it with their reſpiration? Bleſſed be God, that hath reared vp the towers of his Sion in the midſt of Babylon. We muſt acknowledge, not without much gratulation to the Goſpell of Chriſt, that in the very hotteſt climates of oppoſition, it findes many clients, but more friends; and in thoſe places, where authority hath pleaſed to giuegive more aire to the truth, world hauehave had many more, if the Reformed part had happily continued that correſpondence in ſome circumſtances with the Roman Church, which the Church of England bath hitherto maintained. God is my record how free my heart is both from partialitie and preiudice. Mine eies and eares can witneſſe with what approofe and applauſe diuers of the Catholiques Royall (as they are tearmed) entertained the new-tranſlated Liturgy of our Church, as maruelling to ſee ſuch order and regular deuotion in them, whom they were taught to condemne for hereticall▪ Whoſe allowances I well ſaw, might with a little helpe, hauehave been raiſed higher, from the practiſe of our Church, to ſome points of our iudgement. But if true religion were in thoſe parts yet better attended, and our young Traueller could find more abetters, and examples, of pietie, on whom we might relie, yet how ſafe can it bee to truſt young eies with the view and cenſure of truth or falſhood in religion? eſpecially when truth brings nothing to this barre, but extreme ſimplicity; and contrarily, falſhood, a gawdy magnificence, and proud maieſty of pompous ceremonies, wherewith the hearts of children and foolts are eaſily taken. That Curtizan of Rome (according to the manner of that profeſſion) ſets out her ſelfe to ſale in the moſt tempting faſhion; here want no colours, no perfumes, no wanton dreſſes; whereas the poore Spouſe of Chriſt can onelyonly ſay of her ſelfe I am blacke, but comely. When on the one ſide they ſhall ſee ſuch rich ſhrines, gariſh Altars, ſtately Proceſſions, when they ſhall ſee a Pope adored of Emperors, Cardinals preferd to Kings, Confeſſors made Saints, little children made Angels, in a word nothing not outwardly glorious: on the other ſide, a ſeruice without welt or gard, whoſe maieſtie is all in the heart, none in the face, how eaſily may they incline to the conceit of that Pariſian dame, who ſeeing the proceſſion of S. Genoueiſue goe by the ſtreets, could ſay, (O que belle, &c.) How fine a religion is ours in compariſon of the Hugenoes? Whereto muſt be added, that (ſuppoſing they doe not carry with them, but rather go to fetch the language of the place) ſome long time needs be ſpent, ere they can receiue any helpe to their deuotion; whiles in the meane ſeaſon, their vnthriuing intermiſſion is aſſailed with a thouſand ſuggeſtions: And who ſees not that this lucrumceſſans (as the Ciuilians terme it) offers an open aduantage to a buſie aduerſarie?
SECT. VI.
IN a word, it hath beene the old praiſe of early riſing, that it makes a man healthfull, holy, and rich; whereof the firſt reſpects the body, the ſecond the ſoule, the third the eſtate: all fals out contrary in an early trauell. For health: The wiſe prouidence of God hath ſo contriued his earth, and vsus, that he hath fitted our bodies to our clime, and the natiue ſuſtenance of the place vntounto our bodies. The apparant difference of dyet (and of drinkes eſpecially) falling into ſo tender age, muſt needs cauſe a farre in the conſtitution; which cannot in all likelihood, but ſend forth diſtemper into the whole courſe of the enſuing life. The ſtreame runnes like the fountaine, and ſpeeds well, if at laſt, by many changes of ſoile it can leaue an ill quality behinde it: beſides that the miſ-gouernance of diet, whereto their liberty laies them open in the weakneſſe of their pupillage, cannot but be extremely preiudiciall. In this point let experience be conſulted with; her vnpartiall ſentence ſhall eaſily tell vsus, how few young Trauellers hauehave brought home, ſound and ſtrong, and (in a word) Engliſh bodies. As for holineſſe, we loſe our labour, if this diſcourſe proue not that it hath none ſo great enemie as timely trauell; at once doe we hazard to abandon God and our home: ſet an empty pitcher to the fire, it cracks preſently, whereas the full will abide boyling. It was the younger ſonne in the Goſpell, who therefore turnes vnthrift, becauſe he got his portion too ſoone into his hands, and wandred into a farre countrey. The eie of the Parent, and the ferule of the maſter, is …ll too little to bring our ſonnes to good. Where then there is neither reſtraint of euill, nor helps to grace, how ſhould their conditiō be other than hopeles? The ſoyle doth much in many plants: the Perſian Hyoſcyamus if it be tranſlated to Egypt, proues deadly; if to Ieruſalem, ſafe and wholeſome: neither is it otherwiſe with ſome diſpoſitions, which may iuſtly curſe the place, as acceſſorie to their vndoing. Laſtly, for riches, not of the purſe, (which is not here thought of) but of the minde, what can bee expected from that age, which is not capable of obſeruation, careleſſe of repoſition? whereof the one gets, the other keepes the treaſure of our vnderſtanding. What is this age fit to look after but Butterflies? or birds neſts, or perhaps the gay coat of a Courtier? And if remarkable conſiderations be put into it by others, they are as ſome looſe pearles, which for want of filing vponupon a ſtring, ſhake out of our pockets; ſo as all the wealth of a young Traueller is onelyonly in his tongue, wherein he exceeds his mothers Parrat at home, both for that he can ſpeake more, and knowes that he ſpeaketh.
SECT. VII.
AND in truth, it is not onelyonly in Trauell, wherein we may iuſtly complaine of the inconueniency of haſte, but (that wee may looke a little aſide) in all the important buſineſſes of our life, eſpecially in mariages and profeſſions: The ordinary haſte in the one (before the face can deſcry the ſex) fils the world full of beggery and impotence; and no leſſe haſte in the other, fils it as full of ignorance and imperfection. For on the one ſide, where the vigour of nature wants, what can be propagated but infirmitie? or how can hee skill to liue that wants experience? On the other, what plenty of water can there bee, where the lead of the ciſterne is put all into the pipes? where thoſe that ſhould be gathering knowledge for themſelues, ſpend it (like vnthrifty heires) vponupon others, as faſt as they get it. I am deceiued, if I hauehave not touched one of the maine grounds of that vniuerſall decay of Arts and Men, wherewith the world is commonly checked: They muſt be mightier and wiſer, that know how to redreſſe it.
SECT. VIII.
BVT let vsus giuegive our Traueller (that which parents ſeldome care to giuegive) maturitie of age; let him be as ripe as time can make him; what is the beſt aduantage which his abſence can promiſe vsus? Let vsus lay the benefits of Trauell in the one ſcale, the inconueniences in the other; whetherſoeuer ouer-weighs, ſhall ſway downe the beame of our iudgement. The priuate contentment of a mans own heart in the view of forraine things, is but a better name of an humorous curioſity. If a man yeeld to run after his appetite and his eye, he ſhall neuer know where to reſt; and after many idle excurſions, ſhall lie downe, weary, but vnſatisfied. For, giuegive me a man that hath ſeene Iudaſſes Lanthorne at S. Denniſes, the Epheſian Diana in the Lovure, the great veſſell at Heydelberg, the Amphitheater at Niſmes, the ruines and halfe-lettred monuments of the ſeuen hils, and a thouſand ſuch rarities; what peace hath his heart, aboue thoſe that ſit at home, and contemne theſe toies? And what if that mans fancy ſhall call him to the ſtables of the great Mogol, or to the ſolemnities of Mecha, or to the Library of the Mountaine of the Moone, will he be ſo far the drudge or Lacquay of his owne imagination, as to vndertake this pilgrimage? Or where will he ſtay at laſt, vponupon his returne? If he hauehave ſmelt the ill ſented cities of France, or hauehave ſeene faire Florence, rich Venice, proud Geneua, Luca the induſtrious: if then his thoughts ſhall tempt him to ſee the rich Gluttons houſe in Ieruſalem, or inuite him to Aſmere, or Bengala, muſt he goe? And if be can deny and chide his owne vnprofitable deſires, at the laſt, why began he no ſooner? That could not be forborne too early, which at laſt wee repent to hauehave done: he therefore that trauels onelyonly to pleaſe his fantaſie, is like ſome woman with childe, that longs for that peece which ſhee ſees vponupon anothers trencher, and ſwounds if ſhe miſſe it; or ſome Squire of Dames that doats vponupon eueryevery beauty, and is eueryevery day louelove-ſicke anew: Theſe humors are fitter for controlment than obſeruation.
SECT. IX.
IT is an higher faculty that Trauell profeſſeth to aduance, the ſupreme power of our vnderſtanding, which if from hence it may be manifeſtly improued, he ſhould not be worthy to tread vponupon the earth that would not emulate Drake and Candiſh, in compaſſing it: but ſet aſide the ſtudy of ciuill Law, (which indeed finds better helps abroad) all Sciences (the word may ſeeme proud, but it is true) may be more both fitly wooed, & more ſurely won, within our foure ſeas: for what learning is that, which the ſeas, or Alpes, or Pyrenees hauehave ingroſſed from vsus? what profeſſion either liberall, or manuary, wherein the greateſt maſters hauehave not beene at leaſt equalled by our home-bred Ilanders? What hath this or the former age knowne, more eminent for learning, than ſome of ours, which hauehave neuer trod on any but their owne earth? And (as good market-men by one handfull iudge of all the whole ſacke) why may we not finde cauſe to thinke ſo of the reſt, if they would not bee wanting to themſelues? I am ſure the Vniuerſities of our Iland know no matches in all the world; vntounto whoſe perfection (that as they exceed others, ſo they may no leſſe exceed themſelues) nothing wanteth, but ſeuere execution of the wiſe and carefull lawes of our Anceſtors, and reſtraint of that libertie, which is the common diſeaſe of the time. And why ſhould not the childe thriue as well with the mothers milke, as with a ſtrangers? Whether it be the enuie, or the puſillanimitie of vsus Engliſh, we are ſtill ready to vnderunder-value our owne, and admire forrainers; whiles other Nations hauehave applauded no profeſſors more than thoſe which they hauehave borrowed from vsus; neither hauehave we beene ſo vnwiſe, as to lend forth our beſt: our neighbours (which ſhould bee our corriuals in this praiſe) ſhall bee our Iudges; if thoſe few of our Writers, which could bee drawne forth into the publike light, hauehave not ſet copies to the reſt of the world, not without iuſt admiration. And how many ſtarres hauehave wee of no leſſe magnitude, that will not be ſeene? Bleſſed bee God (who hath made this Word as true, as it is great) no Nation vnderunder heauen ſo aboundeth with all variety of learning, as this Iland. From the head of Gods annointed doth this ſweet perfume diſtill to the vtmoſt skirts of this our region. Knowledge did neuer fit crowned in the Throne of Maieſtie, and wanted either reſpect, or attendance. The double praiſe which was of old giuen to two great Nations, That Italie could not bee put downe for armes, nor Greece for learning, is happily met in one Iland. Thoſe therefore that croſſe the Seas to fill their braine, doe but trauell Northward for heat, and ſeeke that candle which they carry in their hand.