The Doctrine of Thinking

GEMMS Sermon ID
GEMMS-SERMON- 15611
(old series: GEMMS-SERMON-16288)
Sermon Title
The Doctrine of Thinking (Descriptive)
Extent
fols. 4r-43r
Autograph
Composition Date
ca. 1640 - 1649
Primary Language
Sermon Type
Preachings
(old) - England - Occasion not identified Note that this ‘sermon’ is not likely to have been preached.
Print Editions / Witnesses

Robert Boyle, ‘The Doctrine of Thinking’, in The Early Essays and Ethics of Robert Boyle, ed. by John T. Harwood (Carbondale and Edwardsville, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1991), pp. 185-202.

Description

The essay begins as follows (fol. 4r): ‘Amongst t[ha]t great Variety of Employm[ents] wch I haue fancy’d to take vp my thoughts with, I haue scarce found any more no[ble?] nor more worthy of them then the Contemplation of themselues.’ Boyle writes on fol. 5v that ‘[…] I shall therefore for the Present make my Thoughts these owne Theams & cast my Observations vpon this Subject. into […] following Directions’. Boyle advocates that one ‘Think often’, arguing for the ‘Benefits of Meditation’ (fol. 5v). Boyle also recommends that one ‘Think not sinfull Thoughts’ (fol. 10r) and ‘Abstaine from vaine Thoughts’ (fol. 17r). Biblical citations include Proverbs 15:26 (fol. 10v).

Source of Data

The National Archives online catalogue; Hannah Yip.

Other Note

The title of the essay has been supplied by John T. Harwood. This is a draft of an essay, with insertions, deletions, and later corrections. There are also some extra notes in pencil, but there are no marginal annotations. Boyle alternates between writing on the rectos of the leaf only and using both sides of the leaves. He writes in a mixed secretary and round hand. The essay features many rhetorical characteristics familiar to readers of sermons. Languages used include Latin.

URLs
GEMMS record created
February 16, 2019
GEMMS record last edited
July 12, 2024