y ones that really wanted these wings to take great 〈…〉 ights relieving of strangers and lastly provoking some sydereall and flaming soules to display themselves in their full and radiant meridian lustre For then will it prosper with Learning when rewards fit themselves to men and men are not forced to distort themselves to rewards when every mans Genius moves in its owne orbe and is not hurried aside in an eccentrick motion From without the Universities that you would thinke of some better way of disposing those few Colledges which are thinly scattered up and downe the land and make them either collaterall or subservient to this designe whereas now they are of little or no other use then to nourish the supine idlenesse of a few Lurdans and foment their illitterate debates tossed to and fro among them without any delight to any but those who love bawling and canvasing such unlearned opinions which runne in this circle without end and contribute not the least to the promotion or discovery of Truth Secondly that as you would with all due provision for the civill peace take off that hatefull gagg of licencing which silences so many Truths and frights so many ingenuities and makes them abhorre the publick so you would put such a gentle imposition upon Books that upon every Impression two might goe to the publicke Library and that forreigne Bookes brought over hither in any number might doe the like or at least at some reasonable rate Thirdly that all the Medalls Statues ancient Rings and other Antiquities pictures of learned delight or famous men that either were the late Kings or any other persons whose estates stand confiscate to you might be appropriated this way For by a cheaper 〈…〉 d more generous magnificence you cannot endeare 〈…〉 ur selves to all the lovers and sons of knowledge and 〈…〉 refull Patrons of mankinde nor secure the memory 〈…〉 your noble acquests by more illustrious Trophees And lastly since that this Island can no more possesse 〈…〉 the Treasures of knowledge then it can the Trea 〈…〉 es of the earth that you would be ready to cast all 〈…〉 pect and honour upon learned forreigners although 〈…〉 u use no largesse towards them Men that through 〈…〉 â—hirst of fame have beguiled themselves into large 〈…〉 d divine contemplations cannot but thinke they reap a great fruit of their labours and be surprized with it when they see themselves smiled upon and courted by 〈…〉 h a mighty State and be ambitious to disperse their 〈…〉 eories there where they see they are so much ho 〈…〉 red Now how by this policy your Brethren of 〈…〉 lland have in a manner monoplized all the spark 〈…〉 g wits of Europe there are many that sit among 〈…〉 that can best informe you Nor is there yet any apparent reason to me why you should not also studde 〈…〉 embosse this Nation with them Now to what 〈…〉 e particular designe all this should levell There 〈…〉 e been so many modells and those so various 〈…〉 ugh to the same end chalked out by the greatest 〈…〉 enuities that it would be very hard lov'd I tran 〈…〉 ptions or largenesse never so well to represent 〈…〉 m all each one abounding in his owne sense and 〈…〉 possibly not so servient to the designations of ano 〈…〉 It shall be enough for me waving my judge 〈…〉 nt or disquisition of them to set downe the resul 〈…〉 ce of a many diligent observations and iterated thoughts which as they have not strayed too much â—â— to wilde Idea's so I know not why they may not â—â— more particularly fitted for our elevation First I have considered that an endeavour to bring all persons under the sway of knowledge could noâ— but approach very neare a Plaâ—onicke Commonwealth and must in the triall enervate the people and call them from those necessary professions of Tillage anâ— War and make them acquainted with the artifices oâ— delight Besides there were but a few inclinations so noble as could overlooke the grosse entertainment of sense and aime at a more pure and intellectu 〈…〉 happinesse And among these men I found particul 〈…〉 Temperatures as it were and some secret Sympat 〈…〉 and Antipathies to some or some particular studie whilst there were very few intellectuall complexi 〈…〉 that desired all and these enjoyed not the particulaâ— so fully as those that bent that particular way 〈…〉 found also that many men rudely educated and 〈…〉 as would have proved no great Clerkes though th 〈…〉 had been bred up in the Pedanticke way of t 〈…〉 Schooles had notwithstanding through long a sore observation so well tutored their reason th 〈…〉 they proved many times persons fitter for busi 〈…〉 then those that had the assistance of much unpro 〈…〉 able literature I had seen also some men after ma 〈…〉 yeares spent in the world begin to retire into theâ—selves and as seriously and effectually as they câ—â— apply themselves to Books which yet was commoâ—ly ineffectuall to them if not quickned with soâ— live-voyce and knowing assistance From this masse of observations I fell to consid 〈…〉 〈…〉 us That if Man were a creature both so excellent 〈…〉 d active it were but justice to him that the naturall 〈…〉 rgency of his Genius should be found out and assisted 〈…〉 d that surely could not be in any better time then 〈…〉 his infancy at the dawning of his reason when he 〈…〉 ld not be employed any other way and his inno 〈…〉 cy made him most susceptible of any impression or 〈…〉 ure And if at such a time then surely he was to 〈…〉 assayed by most easie trialls and that by pleasant 〈…〉 stimes of sense and not by any harsh abstractions 〈…〉 rough discipline Yet those recreations of his I 〈…〉 ought ought to be such as should be profitable and 〈…〉 le to furnish his maturer thoughts with some solid 〈…〉 as and sound representations of things And here made account I had found the right path which our 〈…〉 hooles having so long left was the reason they 〈…〉 re so seldome prosperous or fruitfull in great mat 〈…〉 rs Well this being so those that had spent their 〈…〉 ildhood thus I supposed might with much more 〈…〉 vantage and ease retire into a more ignoble calling 〈…〉 d those whom some harder fortune alienated to o 〈…〉 er employments might carry such grounds away 〈…〉 h them as might conduct and dispose their obser 〈…〉 ions all their lives after whilst all those who had 〈…〉 greater vivacity of spirits might be set apart to 〈…〉 orthy and suitable employments and none be desâ—ired by ill methods or tyrannicall Tutors Thus far had I got and there remained this with 〈…〉 That those men that were set apart for knowledge 〈…〉 st busie themselves about two things either about 〈…〉 e dispersing or augmentation of it And about dis 〈…〉 sing of it there could be no better meanes then to make it easie and amiable and
mouths that from the interest perhaps of oâ—e Citizen whose merits hath made him a part of posterity and enabled him to a noble gratitude to his Country in rescuing her from the dotage and Tyranny of Time And indeed without letters and consequently the preservation and encouragement of them to what a darknesse and mist should we be confined and in what a shadow should we live a darknesse worse then that of Plato his cave when our children or childrens children should be to seek for what we know to day no observation be left to mankinde for traditions must needs be in a few hands and soone corrupt to shorten the long journey of knowledge and to bring it nearer an end As we may see by one example The best man upon earth and the onely more than man spake and did so many things as all the Volumnes in the world could scarce containe as one of his own Penmen witnesses of him and yet there is no more memory of them preserved amongst us then what is left in a very few sheets not at all to mention that Question whether all the integrall parts of that divine Book were preserved or no Certaine we are what a great losse we have in humane stories and what a large measure of Time was either not described by them or not now to be found so that in a Trichotomy of Time made by the learnedst Roman sixteen hundred years since there was one part unknowne and the other fabulous and yet sure we cannot but beleeve but that before mankinde had gleaned up some litterature and was softened and polished by it there were abundance of examples of either fortitude and many invincibâ—e Heroes before Achilles whose Trophees are buried with them and Triumphs forgot as if they had never been seen whilst those others that remaine must be accounted just such with us as the favour or envy of Poets and Historians are pleased to make and represent them so vast is the Prerogative of letters that they can dispense not onely life but estimation and glory unto whom they please and command the reputation of past and the beleefe of present and future ages But to advance knowledge to its highest and truest end how necessary and subservient will it be to that great designe of Religion which without an immediate concourse and favour of Providence can scarce either subsist without it or preserve it selfe untainted with grosse errours or distempered imaginations how serviceable may it be to many sublime mindes and refined understandings that calling all things to an exact Test of reason wil not be brought to the acknowledgement of their Maker or the Truth of what is left concerning him if they be not guided by forcible demonstrations and porismaticall inferences of nature which may not precariously but irresistibly infer a Deity and strong and naturall inductions of Reason without which such mindes are but in vaine attempted and difficultly overcome Or to goe further how shall we ever be sensible of the excellency and power of that divine Book which Gods owne finger hath wrote and left us if wee want ability and eyes to looke upon the fulnesse and order of those Treasures Man indeed who is a determinate narrow thing must necessarily confine his thoughts to one subject and when he thinkes of one thing of necessity desists thinking of another But God who is such a free infinity can with one intuitive knowledge see all things and is the centre in every part of his circle And therefore what he writes must needs be as universall as his owne Spirit and at one time communicate many knowledges whereas man can onely write of this or that and therefore it is unprofitable industry not to â—â— undertaken without due assistances to attempt the search of that Book which like himself hath an infinity and immensity of knowledge in it Not to speake of the forme of it which being writ in Tongues much removed from this place and age and that surely with all height of Elegance and fulnesse of expression t is not to be hoped for that any Translations can come up to it but that there must be abundance of exquisite knowledge smothered up in the Originall Which though it hath been studied and pursued by numerous exalted wits unwearied undertakers yet we know that there are abundance of ripe notions left to be found out by future and latter endeavours which shall never think to want a Crown from this attempt till this earth burn iâ— her funerall Pile and we shall see all knowledge not in â— mist but in a myrrour and view the centre the spring the root the life of it face to face Nor can I see what caâ— more heighten or beautifie this best Science then the regaining those Trophees from the Heathens which they stole from us who though they knew not how to use yet triumphed in them For all their glimmering notions were but lighted at our candle although they obscured and disguised them with false lights yet bâ— that light did they shine to themselves and after ages who cannot but looke up with reverence at their advanced Natures and wish they had been heightened bâ— a more noble principle which had crowned all theâ— various Sciences with the principall Science and in theâ— brave strayings after Truth helpt them to better foâ—tune than onely to meet with her handmaids and kepâ— them from the fate of Ulisses who wandring througâ— Hel met all the ghosts yet could not see the Queen Bâ— there is a strange Magneticall attraction in knowledgâ— which plucks and draws the soule towards it which â— just so much nearer its due repose by how much it falâ— nearer to this centre And indeed it were a pity that the great Princesse of it should be lesse adorned then some of her subjects and that she who is all glorious within should want her garments of wrought gold and needlework and not as well make her selfe glorious in the spoyles of her enemies as the Israelites steal away jewells from the Egyptians or Solomon fetch gold from Ophir to adorn the Temple I wish it were in my power and your patience most Noble Senators rather to view this intention in its many large particularities then to propose it thus dead coloured in a generall draught which can like a Mercury on the way onely point but goe no further But truly t is enough for me a person hid in obscurity and neglected into retirement to make good wishes and breath after these huge attempts which I hope the sublime disposer of all humane affaires will as well put into your hearts as he hath put into your hands to accomplish You have done great things for us and equall to what hath been done in any Nation either stoutly or fortunately And if you will but now make good our hopes in this one thing you will put an end to all our wishes and settle us in a condition which will somewhat resemble that
purpose I cannot judge for besides that it â—â—ached no further then Politicall aimes it removed â—any persons of a more thriving and consistent growth â— learning then it either left there or planted in their â—â—eads it medled not at all with a view or reformation of â—â—ose fundamental constitutions on whose happy on â—â—ak designations the interest and prosperity the decay â—â—d ruin of such litterary Republicks principally depends 〈…〉 we shall shortly finde opportunity to demonstrate But the wishes of the most knowing and best men are 〈…〉 far above these â—â—ender performances they professe â—nd I do but now make their sighings Articulat that â—â—e body of learning lyes scattered in as many peeces as ever Medea cut her little Brother into and that they are as hard to finde and re-unite as his was That there is no publick encouragement given to these gallant industries that endeavour to gather them up and as much as may be recompose them That we seem insensible of that great Genius which animates and conducts this present Age and therefore sleight the discovery of that in particular persons who being many times big with Heroick designes perish for want of assistance in the delivery or in case they be delivered are found to have wasted themselves in the production of a weak or abortive infant which otherwise might have been strong and goodly whereas men if they would but seâ— themselves to awaite and receive every glimpse and dawning of knowledge or at least cherish those that would doe so would finde it easie to bring it into a just and beautifull body and make an happy inversion of that common saying That our Ancients were Gyants and we are Dwarfs And whereas some of the Heatheâ— wise men could say That those were the best personage that liv'd nearer and lesse remoter from the Age of the gods we might contrarily by experience finde thaâ— we had made up the decayes of Humanity and inforce baâ—ke time into its first happy and lusty circle For if we looke into the life of man take him in the bare naked condition in which Nature thrust him upon earth what a miserable helplesse thing shall we find him miserabler in this then the bruits themselves whâ— having at the most though this also be denied with a good reason as granted them the use of a dim anâ— darke reason or rather sense and that in a direct line cannot be judges of their condition and therefore consequently want the greatest ingredient of misery the sense of it man is betrayed by his reason which cannot be smothered in him but that there wil be some sparks and embers still alive to a discerning of his sufferings and some rude and unpolished wishes of a better condition which if he can ever get into it is meerly by the collision of his naturall faculties which strike out some small sparkes to kindle that fuell so that he being in a manner in the condition of a Beast hath no other way to exempt himselfe from that misery and slavery but that little knowledge which chance or the darke Axiomes of his owne reason can helpe him with And if againe we consider men gathering into the Primitive societies and assisting each other with their mutuall endeavours and observations we shall finde that they come nearer civill Societies by how much they have made greater inroads into experience and were better versed in the acts of life Nay how willing have they been to congratulate yea Idolatrâ—ze some of them and put them into the lists of their gods as wee may see out of the ruines of some Histories which time hath not yet eaten up for some little inventions which are at this day so common with us that they seem to be among the postulated principles of nature and to be borne with us so that these men who were ignorant of knowledge and possibly would have sleighted it if it had been offered to â—hem in its owne lustre yet did live subsist and were â—ivilized by it But if we make a step further and looke upon Commonwealths how easie will it be to observe that as they flourished under the verdure so have they withered under the decay of Learning Nor have they been so fortunate under any governours as those who comming from a noble education and a right observation and deduction of things which may well make a man learned though he never had seen a book were neither subject to these wilde eâ—â—â—ations nor savage rudenesses which untutored Natures through the want of a better discipline were apt to fall into Nay if we looke somewhat more narrowly into them we may see that many private men born amidst the dregs of the people not capable of any such high hopes have by this means far overtopped men of antiquity and ancient discent and outvyed them with unequall services whether by way of prevention as old Appius a man wholly unacquainted with any systematicall knowledge in disswading the Romans from an inconsiderate peace they were about to shuffle up with Pyrrhus or conservation as that excellent reigne of Augustus one who though his Cradle was not private yet in his first accesse to businesse was not onely left in a private capacity but surrounded by an inimicall faction or if we look on augmentation what an illustrious time had Rome under Trajan though a Spaniard that shee seemed to renew her age and spread the wings of her Eagle where they could never have hoped to reach in her first period of greatnesse which eveâ— after his dayes fell into a sensible and graduall weaknesse not to note Epaminondas that god-like Theban who owed all his orient vertues to the light of the Schooles with whom though he came from a vulgar wombe the greatnesse of his Country as Plutarch observes diâ— shoot up and fade But if we would goe no further than the ornaments and outward splendour of a place what was it distinguished all the Pallaces in Rome and Neroes golden house from the Sabin cottages or the dwelling of Publicola or the Imagery of Greece and Statues of Corinth from the first rude shapes of unpollished oake but curiosity and art which yet notwithstanding had been vainly hoped if there had not been a concurrent humour of men to entertaine and foster it and this humour hath been so fortunate to them that notwithstanding time hath defaced all the bounds of the Roman conquests and left them as invisible and inobservable as the flight of any bird that flew yesterday yet in a few stones and Medalls not to mention the monuments of her intellectuall greatnesse she hath left us such prints and measures that we may justly trace and compute her as he did the Giants bulke by his thumbe in her vast and stupendous symmetry whilst other Countries more remote from this greatnesse happinesse that have not so much as their ruines left them to vindicate them from â—ables and to testifie that they once were live notwithstanding in all learned