for Musick.  The Idle Boy draws Birds and Men, when he should be getting his Lesson or writing his Copy; This Boy, says the Father, must be a Painter; when alas! this is no more the Boy’s Genius than the Parhelion is the true Sun.  But those who have the Care of Children, should take some Pains to know what their true Genius is.  For here the Foundation must be laid for improving it.  If a Mistake be made here, the Man sets out wrong, and every Step he takes carries him so much farther from Home.

The true Genius being discovered, it must be supplied with Matter to work upon, and employ it self.  This is Fuel for the Fire.  And the fitting a Genius with proper Materials, is putting one into the Way of going through the World with Wind and Tide.  The whole Force of the Mind is applied to its proper Use.  And the Man exerts all his Strength, because he follows Inclination, and gives himself up to the proper Conduct of his Genius.  This is the right way to excel.  The Man will naturally rise to his utmost Height, when he is directed to an Employment that at once fits his Abilities, and agrees with his Taste.

Care must also be taken, that a Genius be not overstrain’d.  Our Powers are limited.  None can carry beyond their certain Weight.  Whilst we follow Inclination, and keep within the Bounds of our Power, we act with Ease and Pleasure.  If we strain beyond our Power, we crack the Sinews, and after two or three vain Efforts, our Strength fails, and our Spirits are jaded.  It wou’d be of mighty Advantage towards improving a Genius, to make its Employment, as much as possible, a Delight and Diversion, especially to young Minds.  A Man toils at a Task, and finds his Spirits flag, and his Force abate, e’er he has gone half thro’; whereas he can put forth twice the Strength, and complain of no Fatigue, in following his Pleasures.  Of so much Advantage is it to make Business a Pleasure, if possible, and engage the Mind in it out of Choice.  It naturally reluctates against Constraint, and is most unwilling to go on when it knows it must.  But if it be left to its own Choice, to follow Inclination and pursue its Pleasure, it goes on without any Rubs, and rids twice the Ground, without being half so much tired.

Exercise is also very necessary to improve a Genius.  It not only shines the more, by exerting it self, but, like the Limbs of an Humane Body, gathers Strength by frequent and vigorous Use, and becomes more pliable and ready for Action.  There must indeed sometimes be a Relaxation.  Our Minds will not at present bear to be continually bent, and in perpetual Exercise.  But our Faculties manifestly grow by using them.  The more we exert our selves, if we do not overstrain our Powers, the greater Readiness and Ability we acquire for future Action.  A Genius, in order to be much improv’d, should be well workt, and kept in close Application to its proper Pursuit.