KNOWLEDGE. KNOWLEDGE-Benefits of. The more we extend our knowledge of the operations of creative power, as manifested in the structure and economy of organized beings, the better we become qualified to appreciate the intentions with which the several arrangements and constructions have been devised, the art with which they have been accomplished, and the grand comprehensive plan of which they form a part. By knowing the general tendencies of analogous formations, we can sometimes recognise designs that are but faintly indicated, and trace the links which connect them with more general laws. By rendering ourselves familiar with the handwriting, where the characters are clearly legible, we gradually learn to decipher the more obscure passages, and are enabled to follow the continuity of the narrative through chapters that would otherwise appear mutilated and defaced. Hence the utility of comprehending in our studies the whole range of the organised creation, with a view to the discovery of final causes, and obtaining adequate ideas of the power, the wisdom, and the goodness of God. KNOWLEDGE-Bias toward. Roget. There are indeed but very few to whom nature has been so unkind, that they are not capable of shining in some science or other. There is a certain bias towards knowledge in every mind, which may be strengthened and improved by proper application. Budgell. KNOWLEDGE-Cultivation of. I make not my head a grave, but a treasury of knowledge; I intend no monoply, but a community in learning; I study not for my own sake only, but for theirs that study not for themselves; I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less. I instruct no man as an exercise of my knowledge, or with an intent rather to nourish and keep it alive in mine own head, than beget and propagate it in his; and, in the midst of all my endeavours, there is but one thought that dejects me-that my acquired parts must perish with myself, nor can be legacied among my honoured friends. Sir T. Browne. KNOWLEDGE. KNOWLEDGE-Elements of. Those who admire and love knowledge for its own sake, ought to wish to see its elements made accessible to all, were it only that they may be the more thoroughly examined into, and more effectually developed in their consequences, and receive that ductility and plastic quality which the pressure of minds of all descriptions, constantly moulding them to their purpose, can only bestow. Sir J. Herschel. KNOWLEDGE-End of. The knowledge we acquire in this world I am apt to think extends not beyond the limits of this life. The beatific vision of the other life needs not the help of this dim twilight; but be that as it will, I am sure the principal end why we are to get knowledge here, is to make use of it for the benefit of ourselves and others in this world; but if by gaining it we destroy our health, we labour for a thing that will be useless in our hands; and if by harassing our bodies (though with a design to render ourselves more useful), we deprive ourselves of the abilities and opportunities of doing that good we might have done with a meaner talent, which God thought sufficient for us, by having denied us the strength to improve it to that pitch which men of stronger constitutions can attain to, we rob God of so much service, and our neighbour of all that help, which, in a state of health, with moderate knowledge, we might have been able to perform. He that sinks his vessel by overloading it, though it be with gold and silver, and precious stones, will give his owner but an ill account of his voyage. Locke. KNOWLEDGE-Ends of. I would advise all in general, that they would take into serious consideration the true and genuine ends of knowledge; that they seek it not either for pleasure, or contention, or contempt of others, or for profit, or fame, or for honour and promotion, or such-like adulterate or inferior ends; but for merit and emolument of life, that they may regulate aud Baco perfect the same in charity. KNOWLEDGE-Enjoyment of. Pleasure is a shadow, wealth is vanity, and power a pageant; but knowledge is ecstatic in enjoyment, perennial in frame, unlimited in space, and infinite in duration. In the per formance of its sacred offices, it fears no danger-spares no expense-looks in the volcano-dives into the ocean-perforates the earth-wings its flight into the skies-enriches the globe-explores sea and land contemplates the distant examines the minute-comprehends the great-ascends to the sublime-no place too remote for its grasp no heavens too exalted for its reach. De Witt Clinton. KNOWLEDGE-Fluctuation of. As knowledge advances, pleasure passes from the eye to the ear; but returns, as it declines, from the ear to the eye. Johnson. KNOWLEDGE-Freedom of. Our needful knowledge, like our needful food, Unhedged, lies open in life's common field, And bids all welcome to the vital feast. Young. KNOWLEDGE-of Head and Heart. Head-knowledge is our own, and can polish only the outside; heart-knowledge is the Spirit's work, and makes all glorious within. Adam. KNOWLEDGE-bestowed by Heaven. To ask and to bestow, Knowledge, is much of Heaven's delight. KNOWLEDGE-Impartation of. Pollok. Man was formed with an understanding, for the attainment of knowledge; and happy is he who is employed in the pursuit of it. Ignorance is in its nature unprofitable; but every kind of knowledge may be turned to use. Diligence is generally rewarded with the discovery of that which it seeks after; sometimes of that which is more valuable. Human learning, with the blessing of God upon it, introduces us to divine wisdom; and while we study the works of nature, the God of nature will manifest himself to us; since, to a well-tutored mind, "The heavens," without a miracle, "declare his glory, and the firmament sheweth his handy work." Bishop Horne. KNOWLEDGE-Pleasure of. There is so much infelicity in the world, that scarce any man has leisure from his own distresses, to estimate the comparative happiness of others. Knowledge is certainly one of the means of pleasure, as is confessed by tho natural desire which every mind feels of increasing its ideas. Ignorance is mere privation, by which nothing can be produced: it is a vacuity in which the soul sits motionless and torpid for want of attraction; and, without learn, and grieve when we forget. I am knowing why, we always rejoice when we therefore inclined to conclude, that if nothing counteracts the natural consequence of learning, we grow more happy as our minds take a wider range. Johnson. KNOWLEDGE-Seeds of. The seeds of knowledge may be planted in solitude, but must be cultivated in public. Ibid. KNOWLEDGE-Spiritual. 'Tis the property of all true knowledge, especially spiritual, to enlarge the soul by filling it; to enlarge it without swelling it; to make it more capable, and more earnest to know, the more it knows. Sprat. KNOWLEDGE-Superficiality of. He that sips of many arts, drinks of none. Fuller. KNOWLEDGE-Tree of. The tree of knowledge is grafted upon the tree of life; and that fruit which brought the fear of death into the world, budding on an immortal stock, becomes the fruit of the promise of immortality. Sir Humphrey Davy. KNOWLEDGE-of All Things. Knowledge of all avails the human kind; For all beyond the grave are joys of mind. Hogg. KNOWLEDGE-Use of. Half our pleasures, our best pleasures, the most innocent and congenial to our nature as rational beings, are derived from the acquisition of ornamental knowledge, the pursuit of entertaining science, or the practice of elegant arts. So far, therefore, as mental recreation is requisite for man, the study of such things may be justified without referring to any thing but the satisfaction of the individual himself in his vacant hours. But beyond the point of strict necessity for relaxation, this reason will never extend. There must be a higher aim, an honourable and substantial end to be gained, before any considerable employment of the powers of the understanding in the acquisition of any lighter species of intellectual attainment can be fairly vindicated; and that vindication the difficulties of Scripture afford. For the golden chain of science is so firmly and admirably formed, that it would be impossible to take away the least KNOWLEDGE. KNOWLEDGE. of. Of all literary exercitations, whether designed for the use or entertainment of the world, there are none of so much importance, or so immediately our concern, as those which let us into the knowledge of our own nature. Others may exercise the understanding or amuse the imagination; but these only can improve the heart and form the human mind to wisdom. Warburton. link without injuring the strength and beauty KNOWLEDGE OF SELF-Importance of the whole. Since, therefore, the whole body of knowledge tends, in consequence of the existence of difficulties, to the elucidation of Scripture, the cultivation even of the merely ornamental parts of learning, is requisite to the defence of revelation, and consequently, justifiable in a still larger extent than it would otherwise have been. The minutest branches of philosophy, and the most trivial recreations of the mind, thus become important in a religious point of view. We are evidently, therefore, and deeply indebted to the difficulties of Scripture, because by making every species of knowledge subservient to the illustration and vindication of religious truth, they have dignified and sanctified, as it were, the scientific amusements of our leisure hours, and heightened the pleasure of studying the subordinate branches of literature, by teaching us that we may be usefully employed, even in our intellectual relaxations. Benson. That man must daily wiser grow, Gay. Man, know thyself! all wisdom centres there. KNOWLEDGE AND THINKING. Knowledge is never of very serious use to man, until it has become part of his customary course of thinking. The knowledge which barely passes through the mind resembles that which is gained of a country by a traveller, who is whirled through it in a stage; or by a bird flitting over it, in his passage to another. KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM. Dwight. Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one, Have ofttimes no connection. Knowledge dwells In heads replete with thoughts of other men, Wisdom in minds attentive to their own; Knowledge, a rude unprofitable mass, The mere materials with which wisdom builds. Does but encumber what it seems t' enrich. Knowledge is proud that he has learn'd so much, Comper. Knowledge descries alone, wisdom applies: wise. In my afflictions, knowledge apprehends Do what thou dost as if the earth were heaven, And that thy last day were the judgment day; When all's done, nothing's done. Kingsley. LABOUR-promotive of Enjoyment. None so little enjoy life, and are such burdens to themselves, as those who have nothing to do. The active only have the true relish of life. He who knows not what it is to labour, knows not what it is to enjoy. Recreation is only valuable as it unbends us; the idle know nothing of it. It is exertion that renders rest delightful, and sleep sweet and undisturbed. That the happiness of life depends on the regular prosecution of some laudable purpose, or lawful calling, which engages, helps, and enlivens all our powers, let those bear witness who, after spending years in active usefulness, retire to enjoy themselves, they are a burden to themselves. Joy. LABOUR-Honourableness of. Two men I honour, and no third. First, the toilworn craftsman, that with earth-made implement laboriously conquers the earth, and makes her man's. Venerable to me is the hard hand, crooked, coarse,—wherein, notwithstanding, lies a cunning virtue, indefeasibly royal, as of the sceptre of this planet. Venerable, too, is the rugged face, all weathertanned, besoiled with its rude intelligence; for it is the face of a man living manlike. Oh, but the more venerable for thy rudeness, and even because we must pity as well as love thee! Hardly-entreated brother! For us was thy back so bent; for us were thy straight limbs and fingers so deformed: thou wert our conscript, on whom the lot fell, and, fighting our battles, wert so marred. For in thee, too, lay a God-created form, but it was not to be unfolded; encrusted must it stand with the thick adhesions and defacements of labour, and thy body was not to know freedom. Yet toil on, toil on; thou art in thy duty, be out of it who may; thou toilest for the altogether indispensable--for daily bread. : A second man I honour, and still more highly him who is seen toiling for the spiritually indispensable, not daily bread, but the bread of life. Is not he, too, in his duty, endeavouring towards inward harmony, revealing this, by act or by word, through all his outward endeavours, be they high or low;highest of all, when his outward and his inward endeavour are one,-when we can name him artist; not earthly craftsman only, but inspired thinker, who, with heaven-made implements, conquers heaven for us! If the poor and humble toil that we have food, must not the high and glorious toil for him in return, that he have light, have guidance, freedom, immortality? These two, in all their degrees, I honour; all else is chaff and dust, which let the wind blow whither it listeth. Unspeakably touching is it, however, when I find both dignities united; and he that must toil outwardly for the lowest of man's wants, is also toiling inwardly for the highest. Sublimer in this world know I nothing than a peasant saint, could such now anywhere be met with. Such a one will take thee back to Nazareth itself: thou wilt see the splendour of heaven spring forth from the humblest depths of earth, like a light shining in great darkness. Carlyle. LABOUR-Incessancy of. The more we accomplish, the more we have to accomplish. All things are full of labour; and therefore, the more we acquire, the more care and the more toil to secure our acquisitions. Good men can never retire from their works of benevolence: their fortune is never made. I never heard of an apostle, LABOUR. prophet, or public benefactor, retiring from their respective fields of labour. Moses, and Paul, and Peter, died with their harness on. So did Luther, and Calvin, and Wesley, and a thousand others as deserving, though not so well known to fame. We are inured to labour. It was first a duty; it is now a pleasure. Still there is such a thing as overworking man and beast, mind and body. The mainspring of a watch needs repose, and is the better for it. The muscles of an elephant, and the wings of a swift bird, are at length fatigued. Heaven gives rest to the earth because it needs it; and winter is more pregnant with blessings to the soil than summer with its flowers and fruits. But in the war for truth and against error, there is no discharge, A. Campbell. LABOUR-Joy in. Weave, brothers, weave! Toil is ours; But toil is the lot of man; One gathers the fruit, flowers, One soweth the seed again! LABOUR. our moral and mental station. Man is born to work, and he must work while it is day. "Have I not," said a great worker, "an eternity to rest in ?"" Tynman. Labour's strong and merry children, No desponding, no repining! Leisure must by toil be bought; Never yet was good accomplish'd Without hand and thought. Even God's all-holy labour Barry Cornwall. } Framed the air, the stars, the sun, one gathers the All things have rest-why should we toil alone? There is not a creature from England's king That knows half the pleasure the seasons bring Barry Cornwall. LABOUR-Different Kinds of. Shun no toil, to make yourself remarkable by some talent or other. Yet do not devote your self to one branch exclusively. Strive to get clear notions about all. Give up no science entirely, for science is but one. Seneca. Manufactures, trade, and agriculture, natuturally employ more than nineteen parts of the species in twenty; and as for those who are not obliged to labour, by the condition in which they are born, they are more miserable than the rest of mankind, unless they indulge themselves in that voluntary labour which goes by the name of exercise. Addison. LABOUR-lightened by Love. Where love is there is no labour; and if there be labour that labour is loved. Austin. LABOUR-Necessity for. Miserable is he who slumbers on in idleness! Miserable the workman who sleeps before the hour of his rest, or who sits down in the shadow, while his brethren work in the sun. There is no rest from labour on earth. There are always duties to perform and functions to exercise, functions which are ever enlarging and extending, in proportion to the growth of Still from one labour to another thrown; LABOUR-Relaxation from. Tennyson. Ah! if thy fate, with anguish fraught, Nature lives by labour; |
