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d left to itself； might betray us into。 But positive enterprise； and great actual improvement cannot be expected by us in this way。 All this is what the apostle refers to； when he speaks of 〃the law as a schoolmaster to bring us to liberty；〃 after which he advises us 〃not to be again entangled with the yoke of bondage。〃
On the other hand； if we would enter ourselves in the race of positive improvement； if we would become familiar with generous sentiments； and the train of conduct which such sentiments inspire； we must provide ourselves with the soil in which such things grow； and engage in the species of husbandry by which they are matured； in other words； we must be no strangers to self…esteem and self…complacency。
The truth of this statement may perhaps be most strikingly illustrated； if we take for our example the progress of schoolboys under a preceptor。 A considerable proportion of these are apt； diligent； and desirous to perform the tasks in which they are engaged； so as to satisfy the demands of their masters and parents； and to advance honourably in the path that is recommended to them。 And a considerable proportion put themselves on the defensive； and propose to their own minds to perform exactly as much as shall exempt them from censure and punishment； and no more。
Now I say of the former； that they cannot accomplish the purpose they have conceived； unless so far as they are aided by a sentiment of self…reverence。
The difference of the two parties is； that the latter proceed； so far as their studies are concerned； as feeling themselves under the law of necessity； and as if they were machines merely； and the former as if they were under what the apostle calls 〃the law of liberty。〃
We cannot perform our tasks to the best of our power； unless we think well of our own capacity。
But this is the smallest part of what is necessary。 We must also be in good humour with ourselves。 We must say； I can do that which I shall have just occasion to look back upon with satisfaction。 It is the anticipation of this result； that stimulates our efforts； and carries us forward。 Perseverance is an active principle； and cannot continue to operate but under the influence of desire。 It is incompatible with languor and neutrality。 It implies the love of glory； perhaps of that glory which shall be attributed to us by others； or perhaps only of that glory which shall be reaped by us in the silent chambers of the mind。 The diligent scholar is he that loves himself； and desires to have reason to applaud and love himself。 He sits down to his task with resolution； he approves of what he does in each step of the process； and in each enquires； Is this the thing I purposed to effect？
And； as it is with the unfledged schoolboy； after the same manner it is with the man mature。 He must have to a certain extent a good opinion of himself； he must feel a kind of internal harmony； giving to the circulations of his frame animation and cheerfulness； or he can never undertake and execute considerable things。
The execution of any thing considerable implies in the first place previous persevering meditation。 He that undertakes any great achievement will； according to the vulgar phrase； 〃think twice；〃 before he buckles up his resolution； and plunges into the ocean； which he has already surveyed with anxious glance while he remained on shore。 Let our illustration be the case of Columbus； who； from the figure of the earth； inferred that there must be a way of arriving at the Indies by a voyage directly west； in distinction from the very complicated way hitherto practiced； by sailing up the Mediterranean； crossing the isthmus of Suez； and so falling down the Red Sea into the Indian Ocean。 He weighed all the circumstances attendant on such an undertaking in his mind。 He enquired into his own powers and resources； imaged to himself the various obstacles that might thwart his undertaking； and finally resolved to engage in it。 If Columbus had not entertained a very good opinion of himself； it is impossible that he should have announced such a project； or should have achieved it。
Again。 Let our illustration be； of Homer undertaking to compose the Iliad。 If he had not believed himself to be a man of very superior powers to the majority of the persons around him； he would most assuredly never have attempted it。 What an enterprise！ To describe in twenty…four books； and sixteen thousand verses； the perpetual warfare and contention of two great nations； all Greece being armed for the attack； and all the western division of Asia Minor for the defence： the war carried on by two vast confederacies； under numerous chiefs； all sovereign and essentially independent of each other。 To conceive the various characters of the different leaders； and their mutual rivalship。 To engage all heaven； such as it was then understood； as well as what was most respectable on earth； in the struggle。 To form the idea； through twenty…four books； of varying the incidents perpetually； and keeping alive the attention of the reader or hearer without satiety or weariness。 For this purpose； and to answer to his conception of a great poem； Homer appears to have thought it necessary that the action should be one； and he therefore took the incidental quarrel of Achilles and the commander in chief； the resentment of Achilles； and his consequent defection from the cause； till； by the death of Patroclus； and then of Hector； all traces of the misunderstanding first； and then of its consequences； should be fully obliterated。
There is further an essential difference between the undertaking of Columbus and that of Homer。 Once fairly engaged； there was for Columbus no drawing back。 Being already at sea on the great Atlantic Ocean； he could not retrace his steps。 Even when he had presented his project to the sovereigns of Spain； and they had accepted it； and still more when the ships were engaged； and the crews mustered； he must go forward； or submit to indelible disgrace。
It is not so in writing a poem。 The author of the latter may stop whenever he pleases。 Of consequence； during every day of its execution； he requires a fresh stimulus。 He must look back on the past； and forward on what is to come； and feel that he has considerable reason to be satisfied。 The great naval discoverer may have his intervals of misgiving and discouragement； and may； as Pope expresses it； 〃wish that any one would hang him。〃 He goes forward； for he has no longer the liberty to choose。 But the author of a mighty poem is not in the same manner entangled； and therefore to a great degree returns to his work each day； 〃screwing his courage to the sticking…place。〃 He must feel the same fortitude and elasticity； and be as entirely the same man of heroic energy； as when he first arrived at the resolution to engage。 How much then of self…complacency and self…confidence do his undertaking and performance imply！
I have taken two of the most memorable examples in the catalogue of human achievements： the discovery of a New World； and the production of the Iliad。 But all those voluntary actions； or rather series and chains of actions； which comprise energy in the first determination； and honour in the execution； each in its degree rests upon self…complacency as the pillar upon which its weight is sustained； and without which it must sink into nothing。
Self…complacency then being the indispensible condition of all that is honourable in human achievements； hence we may derive a multitude of duties； and those of the most delicate nature； incumbent on the preceptor； as well as a peculiar discipline to be observed by the candidate； both while he is 〃under a schoolmaster；〃 and afterwards when he is emancipated； and his plan of conduct is to he regulated by his own discretion。
The first duty of the preceptor is encouragement。
Not that his face is to be for ever dressed in smiles； and that his tone is to be at all times that of invitation and courtship。 The great theatre of the world is of a mingled constitution； made up of advantages and sufferings； and it is perhaps best that so should be the different scenes of the drama as they pass。 The young adventurer is not to expect to have every difficulty smoothed for him by the hand of another。 This were to teach him a lesson of effeminacy and cowardice。 On the contrary it is necessary that he should learn that human life is a state of hardship； that the adversary we have to encounter does not always present himself with his fangs sheathed in the woolly softness which occasionally renders them harmless； and that nothing great or eminently honourable was ever achieved but through the dint of resolution； energy and struggle。 It is good that the winds of heaven should blow upon him； that he should encounter the tempest of the elements； and occasionally sustain the inclemency of the summer's heat and winter's cold； both literally and metaphorically。
But the preceptor； however he conducts himself in other respects； ought never to allow his pupil to despise himself； or to hold himself as of no account。 Self…contempt can never be a discipline favourable to energy or to virtue。 The pupil ought at all times to judge himself in some degree worthy；