Meditations on the holy sacrament of the Lords last Supper Written many years sinceMeditations on the holy sacrament of the Lords last Supper Written many yeares since

^fSome things there are which men learn to do by doing of them, and which are better performed, and the dangers incident unto them better avoided by an extemporary dexterity, than by any premeditation or forecast. But yet generally since matters ⟨p. 176⟩of consequence are never without some perplexed difficulties not discernible by a sudden intuition, and since the minds of men are of a limited efficacy, and therefore unfit for any serious work, till first dispossessed of all different notions which might divert, and of all repugnant principles or indispositions which might oppose it in the performance of any great business set upon with sudden, uncomposed and uncollected thoughts; It is very necessary before we undertake any serious and difficult work, both to examine the sufficiency, and to prepare the instruments by which we may be enabled to perform it. Thus we see in the works of Nature, those which admit of any latitude or degrees of perfection are seldom done without many previous dispositions to produce them. In Plants and vegetables the Earth is to be opened, the seed to be scattered, the rain to moisten, the Sun to evocate and excite the seminal virtue, and after all this comes a Fruitful Harvest: and so in generation of all other natural bodies there are ever some antecedent qualities introduced by means whereof Nature is assisted and prepared for her last act. So in the works of Art we find how^a wrestlers and runners in races did supple their joints with ointments ⟨p. 177⟩and diet their bodies that by that means they might be fit for those bodily exercises; how^b those Roman Fencers in their gladiatory fights did first use presatory or dulled weapons before they entered in good earnest into the Theatre, and then their custom was, first to carry their weapons to the Prince to have his allowance of the fitness of them before they used them in fighting. The^c Lacedaemonians were wont to have musical instruments before their wars, that thereby their courage might be sharpened, and their minds raised unto bold attempts. And we read of