Short Counsel to Young Students in Physics
10.
Short Counsel to Young Students in Physics Supposing what is said to others, which equally concerns you, I briefly add, I. Make not the getting of money, and your own worldly prosperity, so much of your end as the doing good in the world, by the preservation of men's health and lives, and the pleasing of God thereby. Selfish, low ends show a selfish mind, that lives not to God or public good.
II. Undertake not the practice of physic without all these qualifications:
1. A special sagacity, or natural searching, conjecturing judgment.
For almost all your work lieth in the dark and is managed by conjecture.
2. Much reading, especially of observators, that you may know what hath been the experience of all ages, and eminent men before you.
3. The experience of other men's practice: and therefore, if possible, stay some time first in the house with some eminent practitioner, whose experiences you may see, and hear his counsel.
III. Begin with plain and easy cases and meddle only with safe and harmless remedies; and think not yourselves physicians indeed, till you have got considerable experience yourselves: there is no satisfactory trusting to other men's experiences alone.
IV. In cases too hard for you, send your patients to abler physicians, and prefer not your reputation or gain before their lives.
V. Study simples thoroughly, especially the most powerful, and affect not such compositions, as by the mixture of the less powerful, do frustrate the ingredients, which would else be more effectual.
Vl. Forget not the poverty of most patients, who have not money to pay large chargeable bills of the apothecary, nor give large fees to a physician. Multitudes neglect physic and venture without it, because physicians require so much, and are so much for their apothecaries' gain, that they have it not to pay.
VII. Take heed of self-conceitedness, and rash confidences, and too hasty judging. Most of your work is hard; many things, which you think not on, may occasion your mistake. Causes and diseases have marvelous diversities. Most that are quick judges, and suddenly confident that all their first apprehensions are true, do prove but proud, self-ignorant fools, and kill more by ignorance and temerity, than high-way robbers or designing murderers do. And though the grave hide your mistakes, they are known to God.
VIII. Give not too much physic; nor too often, or without need; nor venture on things dangerous. Man's life is precious; and nature is the chief physician, which art must but help. The body is tender and easily distempered: rather do too little than too much. Oft tampering uses to kill at last: as he that daily washes a glass, at last breaks it; and as seamen are bold, because they have oft escaped, but many, if not most, are drowned at last; and as soldiers that have oft escaped are bold to venture but killed at last. It is usually so with them that oft take physic, except from very cautelous, skillful men. Therefore, were I a woman, I would not marry a physician, lest his nearness and kindness should cause him to be tampering with me so oft, till a mistake did kill me. All your neighbors may mistake your disease without your hurt, but your physician's mistake may be your present death.
IX. Direct men first, as faithful friends, to the things which may prevent the need of physic: viz.
1. A temperate and wholesome diet, avoiding fulness and hurtful things.
2. Sufficient labor to suscitate natural heat, keep pure the humors, and expel excrements; avoiding idleness.
3. Keeping warm, and avoiding occasions of cold, especially cold drink, cold places, and cold clothing, either when they are hot, or in winter, when nature needs help.
4. Contentedness and quietness of mind, and cheerful converse.
5. Direct them to such familiar remedies at home, in their drinks and diet, as is suitable to their distempers for preservation, and are safe and harmless, and put them not to a needless dependence on your frequent help; make not use of weak women's fears, to make them miserable by needless medicining, and so to make them as tenants to you, to pay you a constant rent to quiet them.
X. Give them good counsel for their souls that need it; flatter them not with false hopes of life, when it tends to hinder their preparation for death. They and you are hasting to so great a change, as requires great and careful forethoughts. It is sad to go out of the world, and not at all to know whither, and what will be their next habitation; much more to be in a certain state of misery. Those will hear a physician that will not send for a divine, and it is not a work unbeseeming your profession, but such as Christian faith and charity bespeaks.
11.
Short Counsel to Young Men in the Inns of Court, that Study the Law God hath made much use of honest lawyers, as the instruments of our safety, and of the just and orderly government of the land.
1. They are not bred up in mere idleness and luxury, as too many are of higher birth, but in such diligent study as improves their understandings, and keeps them from that debauchery which idleness and fulness cherish.
2. And their studies and callings make it their interest, as to know, so also to maintain the laws; and that is to maintain propriety, just liberty and order, and so to preserve justice and the common peace, except in countries that have pernicious laws. Injustice in judges and lawyers is like heresy, ungodliness, and persecution in pastors of the church; clean contrary to their very calling and profession; but more easily and commonly seen and hated, because it is against the wellknown interest of mankind. Shame therefore and common hatred of the unjust, is here a great restraint of evil.
But bad men, for all this, will do badly, and turn even the rules of justice into oppression, to serve the wills and lusts of those that can promote them, that by them they may serve their own. Therefore that young men, that study the law, may prove wise and honest, is of great importance to the common good, as well as to their own.
I. And here, first, I warn all such to take heed of the sins of sensuality. Alas! London doth so abound with temptations, that, without grace and wise resolution, you are unsafe. There are so many sensual, proud, and ungodly young men ready to entice you; so many play-houses, taverns, and filthy houses to entertain you; that if you go without grace and wit, the flesh and the devil will soon precipitate you into the slavery of brutish flesh. And then you forfeit
God's favor and protection; and he may leave you to more sin and misery, or to grow up to be the servants of oppression, the enemies of piety, and the plagues of the commonwealth.
II. Study hard; for idleness never made good lawyers, nor very useful men.
III. Abhor and avoid ill company, especially of two sorts:
1. Those that would entice you to the places and practices aforesaid of voluptuousness.
2. Those that being themselves deceived would deceive you, against religion and your salvation. It is too well known that such persons in London are not rare, though the danger by them is not known enough. Even those that are so unchristian and inhuman as to prate against the Christian faith, the truth, the authority or sufficiency of the sacred Scripture, the life to come, the soul's immortality, if not also against the government and providence of God, will yet talk as
confidently as if they were in their wits, yea, and were the greatest wits among us. For my part, I could never yet get one man of them soberly to join with me in a fair disquisition of the truth and follow it on till we came to see the just conclusion. Commonly they will fly from me, and refuse disputes, or turn all to some rambling rant or jest; or when they are sated, be gone, and go no further, and come no more.
Young unfurnished heads are unfit to dispute with the devil, or any such messenger of his. A pesthouse is not more dangerous to you.
But if they have perplexed you, desire some well-studied minister of Christ either to meet them, or to resolve your doubts. And if you will read what I have written on that subject, you may find enough to resolve if it be justly received, viz.
1. In my "Reasons for the Christian Religion."
2. In my "Unreasonabless of Infidelity."
3. In my "Life of Faith."
4. In "More Reasons for the Christian Religion."
And avoid also the snares of those that would draw you into uncharitable factions, on pretense of right religion, to hate, or censure, or fly from all that are not just of their sect and way; especially the proud faction of church tyrants, that on pretense of
order and piety, would set up a lifeless image of formality, and burn, banish, silence, or persecute all that are not for domination, and usurpation, and worldly interest.
4. Let not rising and riches be the chief end of your studies, but to serve God in the just service of your king and country, to promote justice, and do good in the world.
5. Live in the familiarity of the most useful men of your profession, that is, the wisest and the most conscionable; and choose those pastors, for your best helpers in religion, who keep closest to God's word, and warp not after any dangerous singularities, or worldly preferments, or unpeaceable, tearing impositions on their brethren; and that live as they preach, in love, peace, and holiness, as men that set their hearts and hopes on future blessedness, and labor for the church's edification and concord, and the saving men's souls.