Page:The Harveian oration - delivered at the Royal College of Physicians, October 18th, 1899 (IA b24975941).pdf/23

 which is to be found in searching out the secrets of nature.

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom;

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace."

Nature is omnipresent, and the study of her affords the best discipline for the mind, for she only yields her secrets to the man of truthful spirit who works with patience.

All that can be said under this head is to be found in the Book of Wisdom, written probably at a period not very distant from the Christian Era, when, as we have seen, there was an enthusiasm for natural knowledge. Of wisdom this writer says:

"He that riseth up early to seek her shall have no toil, for he shall find her sitting at his gates. Ier true beginning is desire of discipline, and the care for disci- pline is love of her; and love of her is observance of her laws; and to give heed to her laws confirmeth incorrup- tion; and incorruption bringeth near unto God; so then desire of wisdom promoteth to a kingdom. If, therefore, ye delight in throues and sceptres, ye princes and peoples, honour wisdom that ye may reign for ever." That the wisdom of which this writer speaks is such as is got by "searching out the secrets of nature by way of experiment" is scarcely open to doubt, for he says (and it might be Aristotle who speaks): "For himself gave me an unerring knowledge of the