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ESSAY XXXVIII. OF NATURE IN MEN.

TATURE is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished. Force maketh nature more violent in the return, doctrine and discourse maketh nature less importune,' but custom only doth alter and subdue nature. He that seeketh victory over his nature, let him not set himself too great nor too small tasks; for the first will make him dejected by often failing, and the second will make him a small proceeder, though by often prevailing. And, at the first, let him practise with helps, as swimmers do with bladders or rushes; but, after a time, let him practise with disadvantages, as dancers do with thick shoes, for it breeds great perfection if the practice be harder than the use. Where nature is mighty, and therefore the victory hard, the degrees had need be, first to stay and arrest nature in time; (like to him that would say over the four-and-twenty letters when he was angry) then to go less in quantity; as if one should, in forbearing wine, come from drinking healths to a draught at a meal; and, lastly, to discontinue altogether; but if a man have the fortitude and resolution to enfranchise himself at once, that is the best :

'Optimus ille animi vindex, lædentia pectus
Vincula qui rupit, dedoluitque semel.' 2

Neither is the ancient rule amiss, to bend nature as a wand, to a contrary extreme, whereby to set it right; understanding it where the contrary extreme is no vice. Let not a man force a habit upon himself with a perpetual continuance, but with some intermission, for both the pause reinforceth the new onset; and if a man that is not perfect be ever in practice, he shall as well practise his errors as his abilities, and induce one habit of both, and there is no means to help this but by seasonable intermission. But let not a man trust his victory over his nature too far, for nature will lie buried a great time, and yet revive upon the occasion or temptation; like as it was with Esop's

1 Importune. Importunate; troublesome. See page 79.

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He is the best assertor of the soul, who bursts the bonds that gall his breast, and suffers all, at once.'-Ovid, R. Amor. 293.

damsel, turned from a cat to a woman, who sat very demurely at the board's end till a mouse ran before her; therefore, let a man either avoid the occasion altogether, or put himself often to it, that he may be little moved with it. A man's nature is best perceived in privateness,' for there is no affectation in passion; for that putteth a man out of his precepts, and in a new case or experiment, for there custom leaveth him. They are happy men whose natures sort with their vocations," otherwise they may say, 'Multum incola fuit anima mea," when they converse in those things they do not affect. In studies, whatsoever a man commandeth upon himself, let him set hours for it; but whatsoever is agreeable to his nature, let him take no care for any set times; for his thoughts will fly to it of themselves, so as the spaces of other business or studies will suffice. A man's nature runs either to herbs or weeds; therefore let him seasonably water the one, and destroy the other.

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1 Privateness. Privacy. See page 87.

3 Vocation. Calling in life. See page 19. My soul has been long a sojourner.'

2 Sort. Suit. See page 58.

5 Converse. To have one's way of life in. See Conversation, page 248. Let your conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ.'-Phil. i. 27. 'Octavia is of a holy and still conversation.'—Shakespere.

6 Affect. To like.

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ANNOTATIONS.

A man's nature is best perceived in privateness;
. . and in a new case or experiment.'

passion:

in

To this excellent list of things that show nature, Bacon might have added, small things rather than great. A straw best shows how the wind blows.' The most ordinary and unimportant actions of a man's life will often show more of his natural character and his habits, than more important actions which are done deliberately, and sometimes against his natural inclinations.

'A man's nature runs either to herbs or weeds: therefore let him seasonably water the one and destroy the other.'

There are some considerations with regard to human nature, unnoticed by Bacon, which are very important, as involving the absolute necessity of great watchfulness, candour, and diligence, in those who would, indeed, desire to 'destroy the weeds.' Human nature (as I have observed in a former work) is always and everywhere, in the most important points, substantially the same; circumstantially and externally, men's manners and conduct are infinitely various in various times and regions. If the former were not true,—if it were not for this fundamental agreement, history could furnish no instruction; if the latter were not true,-if there were not these apparent and circumstantial differences,-hardly any one could fail to profit by that instruction. For, few are so dull as not to learn something from the records of past experience in cases precisely similar to their own. But as it is, much candour and diligence are called for in tracing the analogy between cases which, at the first glance, seem very different-in observing the workings of the same human nature under all its various disguises,-in recognizing, as it were, the same plant in different stages of its growth, and in all the varieties resulting from climate and culture, soil and season. For, so far as any fault or folly is peculiar to any particular age or country, its effects may be expected to pass away soon, without spreading very widely; but so far as it

belongs to human nature in general, we must expect to find the evil effects of it reappearing, again and again, in various forms, in all ages, and in various regions. Plants brought from a foreign land, and cultivated by human care, may often be, by human care, extirpated, or may even perish for want of care; but the indigenous product of the soil, even when seemingly eradicated, will again and again be found springing up afresh :

'Sponte suâ quæ se tollunt in luminis oras

Infecunda quidem, sed læta et fortia surgunt,
Quippe solo natura subest.'

If we would be really safe from the danger of committing faults of a like character with those which we regard with abhorrence in men removed from us either by time or place, we must seek that safety in a vigilant suspicion of the human heart. We can be secured from the recurrence of similar faults in some different shapes, only by the sedulous cultivation of that christian spirit, whose implantation is able to purify, to renovate, to convert that nature-in short, to 'CREATE THE NEW MAN.' Christian principle only can overthrow the idols of the race' (idola tribus), as Bacon elsewhere calls them ;-the errors springing out of man's nature.

ESSAY XXXIX.

MEN'S

OF CUSTOM AND

EDUCATION.

EN'S thoughts are much according to their inclination; their discourse and speeches according to their learning and infused opinions; but their deeds are after1 as they have been accustomed: and, therefore, as Machiavel well noteth (though in an evil-favoured instance), there is no trusting to the force of nature, nor to the bravery of words, except it be corroborate by custom. His instance is, that for the achieving of a desperate conspiracy, a man should not rest upon the fierceness of any man's nature, or his resolute undertakings, but take such a one as hath had his hands formerly in blood: but Machiavel knew not of a friar Clement, nor a Ravillac, nor a Jaureguy, nor a Baltazar Gerard; yet his rule holdeth still, that nature, nor the engagement of words, are not so forcible as custom. Only superstition is now so well advanced, that men of the first blood are as firm as butchers by occupation; and votary' resolution is made equipollent to custom, even in matter of blood. In other things, the predominancy of custom is everywhere visible, insomuch as a man would wonder to hear men profess, protest, engage, give great words, and then do just as they have done before, as if they were dead images and engines, moved only by the wheels of custom. We see also the reign or tyranny of custom, what it is. The Indians (I mean the sect of their wise men) lay themselves quietly upon a stack of wood, and so sacrifice themselves by fire: nay, the wives

1 After. According to.

That ye seek not after your own heart.'-Num. xv. 39. 'He who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh.'-Gal. iv. 23. 'Deal not with us after our sins.'-Litany.

2 As. That.

See page 22.

3 Corroborate.

Corroborated; strengthened; made firm.

'His heart is corroborate.'-Shakespere.

4 Nor-Are not. This double negative is used frequently by old writers.

'Nor to no Roman else.'-Shakespere.

'Another sort there be, that will

Be talking of the fairies still,

Nor never can they have their fill.'-Drayton.

Votary. Consecrated by a vow.

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