Nourse, Timothy (c.1636–1699)

A Discourse Upon the Nature and Faculties of Man

London

Printed for Jacob Tonson

1686, 1689, 1697

"For certain 'tis that Memory in Youth is infinitely more ready than in men of riper years, as appears from their different capacitys in learning of a Language; and then for Invention which always builds out of the Store-house of Memory, 'tis then most perfect and various when the Spirits are most airy, and in their greatest Circulation."

As for the Method of Erudition in Literature, that seems to me to be most rational, which begins with those Sciences which are founded in Memory and Imagination, such as learning of Tongues, Grammar, and Poetry: For certain 'tis that Memory in Youth is infinitely more ready than in men of riper years, as appears from their different capacitys in learning of a Language; and then for Invention which always builds out of the Store-house of Memory, 'tis then most perfect and various when the Spirits are most airy, and in their greatest Circulation. Some are for Teaching young Scholars the Mathematicks, upon pretence of fixing their Thoughts, and of keeping them constant to one Subject, for upon the least roving they loose sight presently of the demonstration, and must begin anew. But I like not this Method; for 'tis too tedious, serious and puzling for young Capacities to strugle with: for tho the progress be most natural and convincing, and the deductions of Theorems from one another, though they may ravish the Contemplative, yet it requires a man to have a complex Apprehension of many Propositions at once, so that the least startings and wandrings of the Mind, disorder the whole clue and series of thoughts. As for Oratory, I think it not so proper for Youth, unless it be so far only as the Exercise thereof comprehends Repetition or Rehearsal: For by this we endeavour to perswade men, which we cannot do but by Topicks taken from the consideration of humane Affairs, from the Examples of past Ages, and of Foreign Countrys, to which must be added knowledge both of the Times and Persons we Converse with, and of the temper and inclination of their Passions, as also of the Nature of the Passions themselves, all which require much Reading, Judgment and Experience, and do suppose a man to be in some state of Maturity far above the Stations of Youth; Nevertheless the use of Declamations and Panegyricks, with such lesser Exercises as consist in Ornaments of Wit and Fancy, are not improper for them, as the performance and rehearsal of them begets boldness and a good address.
(pp. 25-7)

Container Architecture::Store-House Motion::Circulation

Reading in EEBO-TCP

3 editions in ODNB, 2 found in ESTC (1686, 1689, 1697).

See Timothy Nourse, A Discourse Upon the Nature and Faculties of Man in Several Essayes With Some Considerations of Humane Life (London: Printed for Jacob Tonson at the Judge’s Head in Chancery-Lane, near Fleet-street, 1686). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO-TCP>

03/11/2016