Napleton, John (1738/9-1817)

Advice to a student in the university, concerning the qualifications and duties of a minister of the Gospel in the Church of England. By John Napleton

Oxford

Printed for Fletcher and Hanwell; sold by Mess. Rivington, London

1795

"The infant mind has been compared to a tabula rasa, or sheet of clean paper: but there is this essential difference, as hath been well observed, between the opposite objects of comparison they are not both equally Indifferent to the inscription which they are to bear."

[...] These just sentiments, it is true, are awakened in us, and strengthened, by early culture and habit, by traditionary notions, by revelation, and by grace: but still the faculty which suggests, or embraces, them is the original gift of the Creator; it is our REASON; and essential part of our Spiritual Being, as vision or taste is of our Animal or Corporeal; which three faculties must be all equally corrupted, or mutilated, before they can cease to distinguish, each in it's receptive office, moral "good from evil, light from darkness, and sweet from bitter." The infant mind has been compared to a tabula rasa, or sheet of clean paper: but there is this essential difference, as hath been well observed, between the opposite objects of comparison they are not both equally Indifferent to the inscription which they are to bear: "upon the tabula or paper you may write what you please; that wormwood is sweet, and sugar is bitter; that gratitude and envy noble; but no art or industry are capable of making those impressions on the mind: she hath predetermined tastes and sentiments, which arise from a source that is beyond experience, custom, or choice." This [end page 91] can be no other than the Constitution which the Creator hath given her: and these essential tastes and sentiments server her as an immediate rule of action, and as One instrument of discerning their Archetypes in His Allperfect Will. But if you wish to ascend higher, and to ask, what is the rule of action to the Supreme Creator himself; what is the measure of that Sovereign Will which is a Law to the Universe; turn to the beginning of Mr. Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity: which I mention to you, not only for a just and reverent answer to this question, and for the further instruction which those few pages will afford you; but also as an early introduction to that Excellent and Judicious Person: and I hope You will soon be able to apply the saying of Quintilian, "Ille se profecisse sciat, cui Cicero valde placebit."
(pp. 91-2)

Writing::Tabula Rasa Writing::Paper::Clean paper

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10/14/2006