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Concerning which some have endeavoured to maintain their opinion
of the first, by saying, that the nearer we mortals come to God
by way of imitation, the more happy we are. And they say, that God
enjoys himself only, by a contemplation of his own infiniteness,
eternity, power, and goodness, and the like. And upon this ground,
many cloisteral men of great learning and devotion, prefer contemplation
before action. And many of the fathers seem to approve this opinion,
as may appear in their commentaries upon the words of our Saviour
to Martha, Luke x. 41, 42.
And on the contrary, there want not men of equal authority and credit,
that prefer action to be the more excellent; as, namely, experiments
in physic, and the application of it, both for the ease and prolongation
of man's life,---by which each man is enabled to act and do good
to others, either to serve his country, or do good to particular
persons; and they say also, that action is doctrinal, and teaches
both art and virtue, and is a maintainer of human society; and for
these, and other like reasons, to be preferred before contemplation.
Concerning which two opinions I shall forbear to add a third, by
declaring my own; and rest myself contented in telling you, my very
worthy friend, that both these meet together, and do most properly
belong to the most honest, ingenuous, quiet, and harmless art of
angling.
And first, I shall tell you what some have observed, and I have
found to be a real truth, that the very sitting by the river's side,
is not only the quietest and fittest place for contemplation, but
will invite an angler to it: and this seems to be maintained by
the learned Peter du Moulin, who in his discourse of the fulfilling
of prophecies, observes, that when God intended to reveal any future
events or high notions to his prophets, he then carried them either
to the deserts, or the sea-shore, that having so separated them,
from amidst the press of people and business, and the cares of the
world, he might settle their mind in a quiet repose, and there make
them fit for revelation.
And this seems also to be intimated by the children of Israel, Ps.
137, who having in a sad condition banished all mirth and music
from their pensive hearts, and having hung up their mute harps upon
the willow-trees growing by the rivers of Babylon, sat down upon
those banks, bemoaning the ruins of Sion, and contemplating their
own sad condition.
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