第34章 LETTER XXIX(2)

Every moment may be put to some use,and that with much more pleasure,than if unemployed.Do not imagine,that by the employment of time,Imean an uninterrupted application to serious studies.No;pleasures are,at proper times,both as necessary and as useful;they fashion and form you for the world;they teach you characters,and show you the human heart in its unguarded minutes.But then remember to make that use of them.I have known many people,from laziness of mind,go through both pleasure and business with equal inattention;neither enjoying the one,nor doing the other;thinking themselves men of pleasure,because they were mingled with those who were,and men of business,because they had business to do,though they did not do it.Whatever you do,do it to the purpose;do it thoroughly,not superficially.'Approfondissez':go to the bottom of things.Any thing half done or half known,is,in my mind,neither done nor known at all.Nay worse,it often misleads.There is hardly any place or any company,where you may not gain knowledge,if you please;almost everybody knows some one thing,and is glad to talk upon that one thing.Seek and you will find,in this world as well as in the next.See everything;inquire into everything;and you may excuse your curiosity,and the questions you ask which otherwise might be thought impertinent,by your manner of asking them;for most things depend a great deal upon the manner.As,for example,I AM AFRAID THAT I AM VERYTROUBLESOME WITH MY QUESTIONS;BUT NOBODY CAN INFORM ME SO WELLAS YOU;

or something of that kind.

Now that you are in a Lutheran country,go to their churches,and observe the manner of their public worship;attend to their ceremonies,and inquire the meaning and intention of everyone of them.And,as you will soon understand German well enough,attend to their sermons,and observe their manner of preaching.Inform yourself of their church government:

whether it resides in the sovereign,or in consistories and synods.

Whence arises the maintenance of their clergy;whether from tithes,as in England,or from voluntary contributions,or from pensions from the state.Do the same thing when you are in Roman Catholic countries;go to their churches,see all their ceremonies:ask the meaning of them,get the terms explained to you.As,for instance,Prime,Tierce,Sexte,Nones,Matins,Angelus,High Mass,Vespers,Complines,etc.Inform yourself of their several religious orders,their founders,their rules,their vows,their habits,their revenues,etc.But,when you frequent places of public worship,as I would have you go to all the different ones you meet with,remember,that however erroneous,they are none of them objects of laughter and ridicule.Honest error is to be pitied,not ridiculed.The object of all the public worships in the world is the same;it is that great eternal Being who created everything.The different manners of worship are by no means subjects of ridicule.Each sect thinks its own is the best;and I know no infallible judge in this world,to decide which is the best.Make the same inquiries,wherever you are,concerning the revenues,the military establishment,the trade,the commerce,and the police of every country.And you would do well to keep a blank paper book,which the Germans call an ALBUM;and there,instead of desiring,as they do,every fool they meet with to scribble something,write down all these things as soon as they come to your knowledge from good authorities.

I had almost forgotten one thing,which I would recommend as an object for your curiosity and information,that is,the administration of justice;which,as it is always carried on in open court,you may,and Iwould have you,go and see it with attention and inquiry.

I have now but one anxiety left,which is concerning you.I would have you be,what I know nobody is--perfect.As that is impossible,I would have you as near perfection as possible.I know nobody in a fairer way toward it than yourself,if you please.Never were so much pains taken for anybody's education as for yours;and never had anybody those opportunities of knowledge and improvement which you,have had,and still have,I hope,I wish,I doubt,and fear alternately.This only I am sure of,that you will prove either the greatest pain or the greatest pleasure of,Yours.