A treatise of the passions and faculties of the soul of man With the…A treatise of the passions and faculties of the soule of man With the…

As also by affording special assistance for the direction and discreet managing of our actions, conforming them either unto Precepts and Rules in Morality, or unto Principles of Wisdom and public Prudence▪ gathered from Historical observations; while the Mind, by the help of Memory, being as it were conversant with Ages past, and furnished with Examples for any service and employment, doth by mature application, weighing particulars, comparing times, circumstances, ⟨p. 15⟩and passages of affairs together, enable it self with the more hope and resolution, to pass successfully through any enterprise or difficulty: for qui credit sprat, he that believeth, and is acquainted with the happy issue of other mens resolutions, will with the less anxiety or discouragement go on in his own.

As also by affording speciall assistance for the direction and discreet managing of our actions, conforming them either unto Precepts and Rules in Moralitie, or unto Principles of Wisdome and publike Prudence▪ gathered from Historicall observations; while the Minde, by the helpe of Memorie, being as it were conversant with Ages past, and furnished with Examples for any service and imployment, doth by mature application, weighing particulars, comparing times, circumstances, ⟨p. 15⟩and passages of affaires together, enable it selfe with the more hope and resolution, to passe successefully through any enterprise or difficultie: for qui credit sp•rat, hee that beleeveth, and is acquainted with the happie issue of other mens resolutions, will with the lesse anxietie or discouragement goe on in his owne.

The principal Corruptions which I conceive of the Memory, are first, too much slightness and shallowness of observation; when out of an impatience of staying long, or making any pro•ound enquiry into one object, and out of a gluttonous curiosity to seed on many, the greediness of the appetite weakeneth the digestion, (for so some have called the Memory, the Belly of the Soul) and an eagerness to take in, makes uncareful to retain. And this is the reason, why many men wander over all Arts and Sciences, without gaining real improvement, or solidity in any: They make not any solemn Journey to a particular Coast, and Head of Learning, but view all as it were in Transitu; having no sooner begun to settle on one, but they are in haste to visit another. But such men as these (except endowed with an incredible and usual felicity of dispatch) are no more able to find the use, or search the bottom of any Learning, than he who rides Post, is to make a description and Map of his Journeys: who, though by much employment, he may toil and sweat more in travelling from place to place; yet is he far less able to discover the nature of the Countries,