READING is for the improvement of the understanding.

The improvement of the understanding is for two ends; first, for our own increase of knowledge; secondly, to enable us to deliver and make out that knowledge to others.

The latter of these, if it be not the chief end of study. in a gentleman; yet it is at least equal to the other, since the greatest part of his business and usefulness in the world is by the influence of what he says, or writes to others.

The extent of our knowledge cannot exceed the extent, of our ideas. Therefore he, who would be universally knowing, must acquaint himself with the objects of all. sciences. But this is not necessary to a gentleman, whose proper calling is the service of his country; and so is most properly concerned in moral and political knowledge; and thus the studies, which more immediately belong to his calling, are those which treat of virtues and vices, of civil society, and the arts of government; and will take in also law and history.

It is enough for a gentleman to be furnished with the ideas belonging to his calling, which he will find in the books that treat of the matters above-mentioned.

But the next step towards the improvement of his understanding, must be, to observe the connexion of these ideas in the propositions, which those books hold forth, and pretend to teach as truths; which till a man can judge, whether they be truths or no, his understanding is but little improved; and he doth but thinks and talk after the books that he hath read, without hav ing any knowledge thereby. And thus men of much reading are greatly learned, but may be little knowing, The third and last step therefore, in improving the understanding, is to find out upon what foundation any proposition advanced bottoms; and to observe the con-2 nexion of the intermediate ideas, by which it is joinedq to that foundation, upon which it is erected, or that principle, from which it is derived. This, in short, gisi right reasoning; and by this way alone true knowledge is to be got by reading and studying. ir 20qung When a man, by use, hath got this faculty of observa ing and judging of the reasoning and coherence of what he reads, and how it proves what it pretends to teach he is then, and not till then, in the right way of im proving his understanding, and enlarging his knowledge by reading. od sredt cabresd

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But that, as I have said, being not all that a gentle man should aim at in reading, he should farther take care to improve himself in the art also of speaking, thats so he may be able to make the best use of what he knows. ino rebro The art of speaking well consists chiefly in two things, viz. perspicuity and right reasoning.om to photo odI

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Perspicuity consists in the using of proper terms for the ideas or thoughts, which he would have pass fromd his own mind into that of another man. It is this, thats gives them an easy entrance; and it is with delight, that men hearken to those, whom they easily understand whereas what is obscurely said, dying, as it is spoken, iso usually not only lost, but creates a prejudice in thes hearer, as if he that spoke knew not what he said, ort was it understood.us redt bemotod zera afraid to n

The way to obtain this, is to read such books as are allowed to be writ with the greatest.clearness and pro