Nurse, T. (1697). Of study. In T. Nurse, A discourse upon the nature and faculties of man, in several essays: With some considerations upon the occurrences of humane life (pp. 309-326). London, England: Jacob Tonson.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/13890-031
They who are qualified with public employments are few in number, compared with others, though of equal merit, by reason of some cross influence under which they lie, seem contemned to obscurity, and to perpetual retreat. However it is, there is not that person living, who has the soul and spirit of a man, but by the improvement of his natural parts, he may reap benefit from his private state; and may be useful also to the public, if he please, I mean by the way of study and learning. By study, I do not understand that amusement of though which consists only in contemplation, and in a calm review of the several accidents of life; which kind of reflection is, in itself, very innocent and pleasant, and is mot useful also to devotion; but by study, I intend something more severe, as being an obstinate investigation and research of truth, by the help and assistance of such natural mediums as reason does suggest. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)