from selfish Evil morose and wicked Principles as every days woful Experience doth confirm as for Example As Men and Women pass in the Street or elsewhere if any Accidents of hurt be it little or much from one to another though unawares or against their wills nevertheless they send forth fierce wrathful Words all tending to promote Violence as if the Centre of Hell was open which evil Speeches do with a rapid motion join Forces and raise up by Simile the like Properties in them to whom they are directed by this and the like a Man may see without a Prospective Glass what Principles most or all Men live in and are govern'd by viz. Disunity and Deformity are most or all of our Children and Young People Educated under and such like wicked Methods are their Precedents and Examples and these evil Seeds being Sown so early they take such deep root that in most Constitutions these evil Dispositions and voracious Inclinations can never be obliterated by all the Precepts in the World For this Cause the People in general of most or all Nations continue as Wicked and as void of true Knowledge Temperance Sobriety and Piety as ever nay every Age makes an addition of new and as it were unheard of Violences Oppressions and Blasphemies 〈◊〉 the former notwithstanding the Laws of Magistrates to correct evil Manners and the Admonition and Preaching of the Gospel the Truth of this all Historys for many hundred years past confirm therefore this Degeneration of Man into all kinds of Evil cannot be remedied or cured by any of the Ways or Methods formerly or at this day practised but by another Method of Life viz. We must begin at the Root that is with that which makes Men or is the Substance and Essentials of our Bodies and Spirits clean innocent Foods and harmless Drinks that our Children may proceed from an innocent Root and be brought up in all harmless and innocent Methods of Life and above all that they see nor communicate with nothing that is unclean or contrary to Virtue Sobriety and Unity which will not only preserve Mankind from those gross Violences and Oppressions but will lay a true and lasting Foundation for their Posterity for Virtue Temperance Order and Innocency as also the Knowledge of God which are like Arts Trades and Sciences best and surest planted in the young and tender Age of Children that may easily be done then which cannot be at riper years as we have largely demonstrated in our Book entitled A New Method of Educating of Children therefore in the Eastern Countries the great Zealous Pilgrims and as it were unheard of Votaries in Religion as well in false as true Notions are all taught and impressed in Child-hood and by the constant Precedents and Examples of their Elders together with the Traditions of their Fore-fathers and Custom of the Country they live in Now upon the whole Matter it doth appear as clear as the Sun at Noon-day that most of the Methods and Actions of our Lives do diametrically oppose the eternal creating and preserving Power of our Great Creator and his Law of Innocency and Unity this being Matter of Fact how then is it possible for Mankind to be contented or satisfied on a Dying-bed when the Soul must be separated not only from its Habitation but also from all Coverings Shelters and all that is near and dear to it besides there are several other great Evils that do mightily encrease the Anxiety and Trouble of a Dying Man more especially to all sober Persons one of the most principal is that they are obliged to leave their loving Wives and young tender Children and Relations to be exposed to the infinite Hazzards Calamities and Miseries of the wicked ungodly unthinking blind and ignorant World and that their Posterity must plunge themselves into the bâ—…se gross unclean fierce oppressive Customs Traditions Methods and depraved Ways and Principles Mankind hath immersed himself into The consideration of this to any Thinking or Pious Person must needs make a considerable Figure of Trouble not only to a Dying Person but also to those that enjoy perfect Health if a Man doth take a view of their particular Actions and Methods of Life and then divide them into ten parts there will certainly be found nine of them most miserable in this World in one degree or another whose mischievious intemperate unclean violent Life doth also threaten them with eternal Trouble and Disquietness it is that â—…me when they read they may at first sight marvel that we talk or discourse after this manner but if they will but give themselves leasure to think consider and look and examine all the various Actions Methods Practises and Employments Mankind subjects himself unto then he will find it true first consider the great numbers that follow Drums and Trumpets in the Wars of Princes and the violent Employments that depends thereon and this great number are aâ—… it were the Heart of a Nation viz. The Youth in the Prime or fâ—…l Strength next to these the Sons of Violence and Oppression are the Mobb or common People which are as great in number as wicked and hardly one degree lower graduated in all Acts of Intemperance Uncleanness Violence and Discord than the former they want no Furniture to compleat them in the Acts of Mischief but in the Word of Command or Power as is clearly manifested when Changes or Accidents in the Government of Cities Nations and Countries are not the great Multitâ—…e in a moment fitted and prepared for all â—…apin and Spoil as though they had been trained up and taught the Arts of Violence from their Childhood which doth sufficiently demonstrate what Principles and Methods of Life they are Educated in and what Matter Seed and Ground they proceed from the next sort are the middle People and how many of them are of violent oppressive Principles Unjust and Unmerciful without true natural Affection and Pitty horridly Covetous Unclean and Intemperate loadeâ—… with procured Distempers and various other great Evils Likewise considerable numbers of this Rank do fall into Poverty by Extravagancy and want of Conduct in Trading and other Misfortunes fourthly the next to these are such as are called Gentlemen which are of various Degrees and Ranks the greatest numbers of these are endued with these following Talents viz. Their chief Care and Industry is to Educate their Children in all or most of the Grand Evils which do oppose and contradict God's eternal Law of Unity and his preserving Power and that there may be no degree of Evil and Depravation â—…ing they first very industrously teach and educate them in Gluttony Pride and Idleness next the vain Compliments and use of Aâ—…ms even in their young and tender years as the Killing Hunting and Oppressing all the innocent Inhabitants of Heaven and Earth next to these Feats of Arms or Martial Discipline that they may be endued with the high and domineering Spirit of Violence which doth not only
profitable Method be not put into practice Which please to take as followeth viz. 1. SInce the employing of the Natives of each Country in the most usual improvement and manufacturing the Growth and Productions hath always been of the greatest moment and value to that place or Country and on the other side the neglect thereof hath never failed to produce the contrary therefore it will be highly necessary that your Law-makers should think of some easier less chargeable way to employ some part of their Natives and also their Negroes in improving the Cotton which in a little time proper Methods being taken by the publick would advance all the Sugar Plantations to a higher degree of perfection both of Riches Ease and Pleasure than is possible to be effected in that violent and cruel Art of making such large quantitys of Sugar First let there be an Act of your Parliament that there be two Schools or proper Houses erected in each Parish for the Dressing Spinning and Weaving of Cotton one for the Children of the English the other for the Children of the Slaves Black Servants where in a short time they would with the help and assistance of proper Tutors attain to make not only Fustians but all sorts of course and fine Callicoes and Muslins too these Houses ought to be erected by the publick and also Instructors both Men and Women well skilled in the management of that Trade or Employment where the Children of the White People should be kept and Dieted as at Boarding-Schools The like ought to be done with the Black Children and every Plantation should be obliged according to their numbers to send yearly so many of their Black Children at the Age of 4 or 5 years and the like the English ought to do and at the same Ages for it hath never been known that the Natives of any Country have attained to any degree of Excellency in the working of their own or others Manufactury but only where they have Sowed proper Seeds in due Season that is where they have begun betimes with Children As for Example do not the Blacks in the East Indies do as it were wonders in that Manufacturing of Cotton Wool that is no better than yours of the West Indies and differs no more than their Canes of Sugar and yours which perfection in their Callicoes and Muslins have been arrived to no other way but by putting and bringing their Children up very young from 4 or 5 years of Age together with their constant Marrying their Children to their own Trades that is the Son of a Weaver to the Daughter of a Weaver and so in all other Trades a Merchant is a Merchant for ever and Marrys the Daughter of a Merchant be they poor or rich that makes no difference neither doth it alter their Methods so that it is not with them as it is with us in Europe the more Children the poorer but amongst them the more the richer each Child getting their Bread under their Fathers and Mothers Conduct from 4 or 5 years old by which they do not only Educate their own Children but do prevent and save the great charges we are at to put our Children Apprentices to others and at the same time over look the Actions of their Children and not expose them to Strangers many do take them more for the Money they have with them than for any real Benefit to the Children And is it not a Paradox that when a Mother and Father have through their foolish Conduct Sowed Seeds of Disobedience in their Children insomuch that they cannot rule nor keep them in Order for them to imagine that others will take that slavery off their Hands for a little Money and that others or Strangers should do more for Children than you were willing to do your selves more especially when the Seeds of Mismanagement are grown too sturdy and strong whereas the Parents had the Fore-Horse by the Bridle and might have cut off Vice in the Bud. And what the Blacks in the East Indies do perform in the Manufacturing of Cotton the like the Europeans do perform in the management of Flax and Wool as our near Neighbours viz. the curious Thread that is Spun in Flanders Holland Germany and France which is made into sundry sorts of Lace Holland and Cambrick which curious fineness could never have been performed had they not taught their Children very early The very same is to be understood in England of the Woollen Manufactury for One Hundred and Fifty Years since our Woollen Cloth was all very course and came short of our common Prizes and there is as much difference between the Cloth now and then â—…s there is between the Fustian we now make for Hammocks and Stockings and the East India Callicoes and fine Muslins but so soon as Navigation Trade and Rack-renting came on all Trade was encouraged and ever since the Natives of England have made it an Employment to get Money and their Bread The management of all our Growth hath every Age and Year advanced in more excellent performances which have been wonderfully encreased within 50 or 60 Years more especially in the management of our Woollen Manufacturies and perhaps that England now doth as much exceed in the Spinning and Weaving of Woollen Cloth as Flanders France Holland and the East Indies do in Linnen and Callicoes And it is to be Noted that we have attained to this Excellency since many Hundreds of poor Families have through necessity trained up their Children in Spinning Carding and other work about the said Trade of Cloth-making from 5 or 6 years of Age so that they can now draw almost as fine a Thread as in Silk or in Linnen so that it is very clear that the early cultivation and Sowing Seed in due season crowns the Action Children are like white Paper at first before it be sullyed or ill Customs and Characters stamped you may Sow what Seed you please and according to each Childs Genius they will arrive to a happy Maturity Now the West Indies is able to Cope with the East Indies as to the management and manufacturing of Cotton First because young Children can get more than their Bread before they are able to perform any other work that belongs to making of Sugar Secondly the Meat Drink and Cloathing is near as Cheap as in the East Indies Thirdly the Commodity made is of more value than in the East Indies goodness for goodness Fourthly it is an easy and soft Employment it hinders not the Growth nor wastes the strength Fifthly it preserves the Females and their Off-spring from many cruel Diseases that hard Field Labour subjects them unto which have and do prove no small detriment to the Sugar Plantations the Females not being by Nature endued with such robust or strong Constitutions as the Males besides they by Nature are subject to a hundred Weaknesses that Men are not and for this very cause all Nations by their Laws and Customs more especially
that at first seem to be very burthensom and as it were contrary both to the Palate and Stomach nevertheless by a little custom they become easier and easier till at last they are coveted and desired which comes to pass by a weakning and strengthening their Similes which at the first Eating or Drinking as Smoaking of Tobacco or any other of the like things had but little footing or matter to work on and that too which was very weak and impotent and lay as it were hid in the still and sleeping Magia but so soon as a Consederate appeared or touched it then it began to start up rejoice and grow strong so that weak Properties are made strong and potent and on the other side strong Properties or Qualities become weak and impotent when their Consederates are taken away Now by these and the like methods and ways all the Senses become Depraved and Adulterated more especially the Sense of Tasting as he that is accustomed to Foods ill prepared and which are of a strong fulsom hogoa will not like that which is curiously done and he that useth himself to high relishing Foods do not care for things Temperate and such as use themselves to sweet Foods do not like those that are contrary And so of Drinks c. And as the Customs of Foods do deprave change and alter the Pallate to the like and dislike the very same is to be understood of the Stomach and in most or all the Vessels and other parts or members of the Body For each thing both in Meats and Drinks according to its own Nature and Complexion or what Quality do Govern do with the highest diligence Advance Incorporate and Nourish its own or like Property or Quality and is never quiet till it have obtained the Ascendant and Begot or Generated its own form in the Pallate and Stomach And if the Food or Drinks be unequal in its Qualifications then it proves the more difficult to make it familiar but when it is done and afterwards the same Person have a mind to leave it such a thing will and do prove harder and more difficult to leave and forsake it then it was at first to make it easie and familiar For the more unequal any thing is in its own parts the greater is the inequality such Meats and Drinks and other things begets and so soon as it hath obtained its own form and complexion then it pleaseth the Pallate and the Stomach is not contented without it which shew the tractableness of Nature out of one thing into another or rather the Increasing and Decreasing of the Forms and Qualities of Nature and that Man is like every thing and every thing like him The very same is to be understood of the Reason and all the Properties of the Mind and Intellects are subject to be altered and changed out of one thing into another both in their Opinions and Judgments by Discourses Custom and Communication if the Will and Desires admit of it or else nothing can be done And as improper and unequal Foods and unnatural Drinks becomes as it were natural by Use Habit and Custom so likewise the Mind and Understanding do admit of the like Errours And therefore Men will as heartily Plead and Uphold and Suffer for an Idle Opinion as for Truth it self so that it is clear that the Elements of the Body and Mind are as it were one Lump and Subject to be wrought on by every inferiour and unequal thing And therefore if the Understanding and Judgment have lost its way and be Adulterated by Custom false Opinion and Ignorance then the Reason is Corrupted and gets false Notions of things and the Will and Desire acts accordingly Commanding all the Inferiour Officers of Nature to its Dictates and Subjection then the palate the proper and natural Judge of all Meats and Drinks and things belonging to Nourishment loses its entire and curious distinguishing Faculty being commanded by the Will and the Judgment contrary to its Native Right to Eat or Drink this or the other thing which at first the Officers of the Palate and the Expulsive Faculty of the Mouth would willingly cast back and not have suffered them to have gone into the Stomach This little Children are often commanded too viz. To Drink and Eat things that go against their Stomachs which by a little Custom as is mentioned before becomes more easie and familiar which comes to pass sooner or later according to the degree of the Antipathy by which both the Body and Mind are depraved and all the Noble Properties of Nature are thereby brought into unequal Operations and Complexions are gotten in those Green and Tender Buds which seldom ever depart without wounding or doing some signal Evil both to the Body and Mind For all sorts of Peoples Childrens Pallates are most entire simple and perfect except those whose Fathers and Mothers have lived Irregular and Intemperate Lives which evil influences their Children cannot but partake of and so bring a Debauched Palate and several other Distempers into the World which for the mosâ—… part will stick as close to them as their Skin to their Flesh. For Diseases thus received are very rarely Cured except regular Diet and other degrees of Temperance may possibly lâ—…ve so much influence as to make their Lives tollerable For this cause it often proves Hazardous to the Health of many Children to force a custom or endeavour to make them Eat and Drink those things they are unwilling to receive as many sorts of strong Drinks which seldom fail to do Mischief and several Foods which Children would turn their Heads away from oâ—… Spit out which do seldom happen when the Food is Simple and the Drink Water The great Wound to Health is strong Drink and the Food compounded of several Ingredients that are improper and disagreeing which of late years hath been much in use so that many Children bring with them into the World compounded Diseases from that Substance and Materials the Seed is made or generated which doth according tothe Law of Nature endue the Fruit with all the parts thereof If People were sensible of what great Importance an intire Simple Life of Order Sobriety and Temperance is they would not dare to run such Hazards to humour a liquorish Palate or rather a debauched Palate as they do intailing on their Posterity a Thousand Evils The Depravation and Ignorance of the Palate in most People that are of Age is chiefly occasioned by the Custom of the place and the Command of the will by which this Noble Sense and all the undergraduated Officers lose their Government and the true Nature and Taste of things not knowing nor distinguishing their Friends from their Enemies So that every sort both of Meats and Drinks passes into the Stomach promiscuously the Sentinels and Guards being as it were Drunken or Stupified But on the contrary a perfect Palate is like a Powerful Strong Wakeful Guard of Armed Men that bravely Maintain
very weak and Impotent now this dwindling and debility has only proceeded from their not making a Law of Practice agreeable to their Doctrine and Educating their Children c. in the Powers and Virtues of this Law which is really the Law of God and under that consideration it should have been propounded unto them by which means all the Forms and Powers of the Microcosm would have been Established in Innocence and Goodness beyond the possibility of ever being eradicated or weakned Sir Be pleased to take this for a present Answer I have much more to say but the time obliges me to Conclude Your Friend to serve You. LETTER IX Of DROPSIES SIR I Received yours and am extreamly concerned to hear of your present ill state of Health nor am I less sensible how hard a Task it is for you to support your self and Family in so languishing a condition for I am very well satisfied that your Expences do much exceed your Income You tell me you are invaded by a Dropsie afflicted with Obstructions in your Breast and Stomach and that the Physitians have given you over as Incurable after having made your Purse as great a sufferer as your Body This indeed is a very depsorable Case yet not wholly to be despaired of for if you will be obliged to follow my directions I doubt not but to restore you to your health and teach you to maintain your Family with less charge and more comfort than you have ever yet been able to do You must therefore if ever you design to be Well wholly change your Course and observe some other and better Methods of Life LET all your Drink be Water with some toasted Bread infused the more Bread the better and your Food be as iâ—… here prescribed Make your Bread of fine Wheat and well Baked Pap of Wheat Flower and Water seasoned with Salt and eaten with a few Crums of Bread Water Gruel made and ordered according to our directions in the Monthly Observations for Health Or thus Take half a Pint of whole Oatmeal Boil it in three quarts of Water for half an hour this is the sweetest and best of all other for such as live without Flesh be sure to season all your spoon Meats with Salt make small Dumplins little bigger than Crown Pieces they will be soon Boiled and make the best Bread and give the greatest satisfaction to the Stomach on this you must be contented to live one Year and not eat any thing besides what is above mentioned neither Flesh Fish Butter Eggs Cheese Milk c. Moreover if you ever intend to regain your Health you must Frequent the Fields and use Exercises and Walking by the sides of Rivers and in open Airy Places let your House and Bed be kept Airy sweet and clean and if you have the Courage to observe this Method for one year I am Confident you will find abundance of Satisfaction and not be easily perswaded to leave it off Then for Retrenching your Expences in House keeping you must endeavour to bring your Wife and Children to follow the same Method of Living this will preserve and encrease their Health and beget an unexpected Strength and Agility both in Mind and Body to a much higher degree than the Customary Meats and Drinks can ever pretend to In the Morning about eight of the Clock your Wife and Family for their Breakfast may eat each of them a Pint or more of thick Flower Pap or thick Gruel and a small piece of Bread and at Twelve a Pint of Pap or Gruel with a Dumpling or two as before prescribed and then at six in the Evening each to have a Pint of our thick Gruel By this way you may maintain your self and Family in Food for three Shillings or three and Sixpence per Week and eat not only plentifully but with the highest satisfaction to the Stomach and Palate and if you have a Mind to indulge them with Butter one Pound a Week will do it sufficiently putting a small piece as big as a Nut into into each Persons Dish Remember to keep your Children always in some useful Exercise not permitting them to play abroad promiscuously in the Streets and Fields but do you your self Teach them their Books at Home according to the Method we have set down in our Discourse of Education observe those Rules and you will make your selves easy and your Children happy Instruct them in Housewifery and other useful things betimes with Love and Meekness keep them from the sight of vain Shews and Games idle and sinful Sports and Pastimes let their Cloathing be plain and modest that you may prevent the Growth of Pride Passion Violence Oppression and Covetousness fix them to constant orders in Rising and going to Bed Labour and Exercises accustom them as much as in you lies to silence and modesty nor use many and Superfluous Words when you speak to them but let your whole deportment to them be grave without jesting and scurrility which they will be too apt to Learn of themselves let your Correction be Gentle and Just be sure it be always for a fault in order to Amend and Reform them and not only to shew your Authority and Power Inflict upon them Fasting or some silent Punishment such as will stick closer to them and make them more ashamed than Passionate Words and Violent Beating which do always foment and excite ill natured Humours that have often very mischievous Consequences attending them being ever mindful that every like doth get and produce its simily especially in Sensitive Creatures Thus I have given you some hints and brief Directions of what I thought necessary to be observed not only in your present Circumstances but through the whole course of your Life of which I doubt not but your own Experience will in a short time give you ample satisfaction so recommend you and your Family to the Love of God in Christ Iesus I remain Your Assured Friend and Servant to Command LETTER X. Of the Various Opinions in Religion SIR I Am extreamly Obliged to you for the Friendship and Courtesy your last so abundantly professes and withall must assure you that the Inclination you have testified of diving into useful and mysterious Speculations affords me no common satisfaction for concerning the Nature of the things you enquire into it is absolutely necessary to be well informed seeing no small inconveniency attends the being ignorant of them nor is it possible for a Man to arrive at a Certaâ—… and come to any satisfactory Iudgment in matters of Religion tâ—… his Scruples are fully Answered in relation to your Question otherwise he will be an Eternal Rover perpetually fluctuating upon tâ—… Waves of Doubt and Error and like the Logicians Individuâ—… Vagum be never brought to a Point nor capable of a particular Denomination YOU desire to know how it comes to pass that Mankind doth so Diametrically oppose one another in the Notion and Sentiments of Religion and the Worship
carries the fairest and most plausible Face yet if it do not arise and proceed from the Light of a Man 's own Life and have a Centre in himself and distinguished from what Ground and Principle it proceeds it is of no value but all Fantastick and Uncertain This is most manifest and true in this Visible World and likewise in all Sciences Arts and Trades no Man is rendred capable of giving any true Account or to Judge rightly of any particular Science Art or Trade and the inward Mystery thereof but only such who have Judgment or can distinguish the principal Qualities and Parts of that piece of Art or Workmanâ—…ip therefore it hath by the more Wise and Understanding Men of all Ages been owned that the Knowledge of a Man's self hath been the Spring-head of Wisdom because no Man can possibly know God who knows not his Works all which are a compleat Image of himself and he that doth not understand nor distinguish the Signature of his own Composition cannot do it in any Specifick Body or Thing be it ever so small and inferiour Now the want of this Self-knowledge and distinguishing our own Principles Qualities and Powers is the Grand In-let to all Evil and Error in this World both in particular and publick Governments For this Cause no Man can be a true Politician or Governor in this World if he doth not distinguish the Powers and Principles of Good and Evil in himself for where this central Knowledge is wanting there is nothing but Error Pride Self-Arrogance Covetousness Envy and Domineering their Imaginations being kindled not only in those Evil Qualities but also in the fantastick Regions of this World so that if any Good comes under such Kings or Princes Government it is all as it were by chance therefore my Friend the first true step for obtaining the Wisdom is to seek and know God and the Operation of his Powers in your self which to understand and distinguish is not only the greatest Blessing but it likewise furnishes you with all sorts of Materials for the Mamaegment and Government both of your self and all that God hath put under your Government and Conduct First Your Wife or whosoever Nurses or Brings up your Children must refrain and not use that most idle and pernicious Customs of fantastick foolish Talking to their young tender Infants which doth make such great and deep Impressions even from one Quarter of a year Old which takes such Essential root by way of Simile and so obtains such a Power and strengthens the fantastick Principle that it is not to be wholly rooted out or obliterated Secondly They ought likewise to Cloath their Children in modest plain Garments and by no means to point shew or endeavour to make them sensible where they are Fine This is frequent amongst all sorts of People as well those that esteem themselves Sober and Religious as others which doth mightily infinuate raise and awaken the high lofty Property of Pride and lay sure and lasting Foundations of Self-esteem and by degrees strengthen most evil Qualities by which Means and Methods they put an Esteem and Value on themselves and at the samâ—… time disregard and undervalue all their Inferiors this doth 〈◊〉 deeply wound and lay such sure and lasting Methods of Pride that many thousands of poor distressed Mortals are never heâ—…ed That Mothers and Nurses ought to refrain from the practise of that evil Custom of Slabbering and Kissing their Children asking and teaching the Children to do the same and though this seems to be an innocent Custom at first and likewise their talking of Baudy nevertheless this doth so early open the Gates of Venus and lays sure and lasting Foundations for Wantonness and Uncleanness so that many thousands can never free themselves from those invading turbulent Motions and Inclinations after Women Thirdly Mothers and Nurses should as much as is possible refrain and forbear much Talking especially impertinent Discourse and teach them by a sedate silence and shewing their dislikes in a few words and those as grave and sober as if they were talking with Senators Fourthly They ought not to shew or speak in the hearing of their Children any thing wherein Passion is expressed for whensoever this is practised the Children are thereby Precipitated into the same Principle of Wrath and Violence which from time to time is so mightily strengthened by which early planting Wrath and fierce Passion obtaineth the Ascendant in the Soul which can never be destroyed or overcome but let the Correction of your Children be done by some silent wise sober Methods sometimes by fasting standing silent alone and the like such Corrections will penetrate deeper into their Souls and make them more sensible than Whipping and Beating which doth chiefly serve to advance the Principle of Bitterness Envy and self-ful Power for by the Eternal Law of God every like begets and strengthens its Simile Fifthly Use your Children to a constant hour of going to Bed and Rising viz. Go to Bed at eight and Rise at six or seven according to the Season of the Year Custom makes their Sleep more sound and certain which is a great Conveniency both to Mothers and Nurses Sixthly So soon as your Children can go about teach them several little but useful things both within doors as in the House and also without in the Air viz. To know their Letters which they are capable to learn before they can Speak Sowing Knitting picking up of Sticks or small Stones carrying from and bringing to you several little things also learning to Write Cast Accompts Musick and Drawing in order to Painting and when you are minded they should stand still from those little Affairs then command them to stand silently by you looking on you and what you are doing which still makes a deep Impression on their Minds by which they will not know what that Vanity is called Play there being nothing more pernicious nor promotes Idleness and Vanity more than Childrens Playing promiscuously one amongst another it is certainly one of the Grand Original Banes and destruction of Mankind for it is so timely planted and awakens all sorts of Passions fantastick Spirits and Qualities so that as they by degrees grow stronger and stronger they Degenerate into all sorts and kinds of Wickednesses therefore all Parents Fathers and Mothers ought to employ their Children or else they will employ themselves and spend all their brisk sporting Spirits in Play and Vanity also keep them from the sight of those Children that are suffered to Play also from all Plays and Games and the ill Usage of any of the inferior Creatures for all those Evils are like Pestilential Airs they Influence all their Beholders and leave their fatal Strokes and Wounds behind them Suffer not your Children to speak much likewise be careful that you do not Laugh or make a Jest of any of their Actions for such things prove of evil Consequence to them Seventhly Keep not your Children too long at
the first will have a greater influence and not only make a deeper Impression upon the Hearers but be more pleasing too And to say the truth there is a very great variety of Musical Harmony and charming Discourses to be made by any Person that is Skill'd and has the true Understanding and Knowledge of the Four and Twenty Letters and how to place and compose them into Words and to set each Word and Discourse on its proper Key so that each Letter and Word may be capable to sound forth and express the very Nature and Quality of the Matter or Thing discoursed of for each Sound hath a Sympathetical Key in its own Bosom that with great vigour and power penetrates to the Centre of the Hearers and impresses its own Property and all Persons are as capable and liable to be charmed and composed by Words and Discourses that proceed from a proper Composition of the four and twenty Letters as any Person is from the lofty curious and delightful Harmony that proceeds from the Composition of the seven Notes which is the Ground and Basis of all Musical Harmony whether Vocal or Instrumental for Speaking Discourse and Musick have but one Ground and Original and the Pleasure and charming Influences of Talking would be as powerful as those of Vocal and Instrumental Musick are provided each Person was so well Skill'd that he could distinguish the true Sound of the Letters and compose and place each Word on its proper Key or Place that so it might be capable to have a Sympathetical Agreement with the next Words that follow each Word keeping within its own bounds whereby there is a certain Ecchoing or Tuneableness between the Sounds of them This Method Sir is always observed by the Composers of Musick both Vocal and Instrumental so that when they compose a Song they consider what Key will best express the matter or thing intended and place each Note at proper distances and the better to humor the thing they make use of Flats and Sharps which is always done by a certain Mathematical Rule so that when they would express Lamentations and Melancholy Dispositions they compose and place their Notes accordingly on proper Keys when on the contrary to charm their Auditors with Joy Pleasure and Delight the Compositions are formed on other suitable Keys which still is done by a Mathematical Rule the very same Judgment and Skill each Person ought to have in Speaking and Reading and particularly all School-masters and Tutors ought to have the true Knowledge of Compositions else they can never make their Scholars capable of Speaking or Reading by any true Mathematical Method and as there is always a proper Time to be observed in the Notes of Musick so the like ought to be practised in Speaking and when these Particulars are not nicely observed in Musical Compositions a Master of the Science will say that such Compositions have no Sense in them that is no true Mathematical Agreement Now these things being not understood by those who have the Management and Education of Children is the true reason why so few Speak or Read according to the fore-mentioned natural Method but go on at random by chance or ignorantly whereas Speaking Reading and Discoursing are as essential a branch of the Mathematicks as Musick or Navigation but not being performed from certain Basis Principles or Measures they come short of the Perfection they otherwise might be brought to But not to deviate too much from the main Subject which might still be more amply handled were it suitable with the Scope and Design of this Letter I am perswaded you will find the fore-mentioned Reasons enough to deter you or any other Lovers of the Science of Musick from learning in the common Method since you will be sure to be cheated both of your Time Money Practise and Industry too whereas if you go in the regular and natural way I have prescribed you will be rendred capable to obtain your Desire and that in a short time and become Master of a Science than which there is nothing so excellent beautiful equal composed and harmonious and that comes so near the Original Unity God Created Man in there being no material Art performed by Man that so nearly imitates the Blest Angels and Coelestial Powers above as this for all other Sublunary things are mixed with some unequal Qualities but Musick agrees in all its parts and all the wonderful variety of things clap Hands Eccho and Sing forth God's Praises in Equality and Harmony being the liveliest Pattern of the Eternal Unity in Time and Eternity more especially if Mankind could or did Praise the same with pure Hearts and undefiled Hands I hope you will excuse my tediousness and take it as a Testimony of the sincere Affection I bear you who am SIR Your Loving Friend T. T. LETTER XXX Of LANGUAGES SIR YOurs by the Ship Fairfax I have received with much satisfaction as being mightily pleased with some curious Enquiries made therein but more particularly I cannot but take notice of your desire to have my Sentiments concerning the best and properest Method for a Person of advanced years to Speak and Pronounce truly and plainly any Foreign Language whereof he was wholly ignorant before with the same ease and perfection 〈◊〉 the Natives do themselves PRay give me leave to tell you it makes me Smile to think you should have a mind to go to School in your old Age â—…ho ' I confess your present Circumstances do in a manner absoâ—…tely require it and of what diversion I shall have to find out â—…oper Punishments for the Neglects and Delinquencies of an anâ—…ent Pupil However your Curiosity is laudable for the understanding of Tongues is not only a noble Accomplishment and Qualification in a Gentleman but an extraordinary advantage 〈◊〉 the Knowledge and Improvement of all Humane Arts and Sciâ—…ces and tho' one part of a Man's Life is much fitter for it than â—…other yet 't is not to be neglected as occasion shall offer in any Age Cato was 40 years Old before he apply'd himself to â—…arn the Greek Tongue nor did I ever hear his Endeavours in that respect redounded to his Dishonour or occasion'd any Reâ—…ction upon Wisdom and Gravity I confess it is scarcely known that any Persons of an advanced Age tho' they have lived and Communicated ten or twenty years be it more or less among the Natives of any Foreign Country have arrived to the perfection of Speaking and Pronouncing their Language truly and naturally when their Children in far less time without the help of a Master have been able to Speak it both properly exactly and readily yet such an Attainment is not to be despaired of in Men of years if there be due Application used in the learning thereof to which purpose I have sent you some few Observations having already discoursed of the Reasons of Childrens Aptness and Capacity in our small Treatise of Education to which I refer you
under his Father's and Mothers Conduct from four or five years old and upwards whereby as a farther conveniency they have not only the Education of their own Children but do prevent and save the great Charges we Europeans are at to put them Apprentices to others where we cannot overlook their Actions as they can but expose them to the Governance of Strangers many of whom take them more for the Money they have with them than for any real benefit they design them And here tho' it be digressive give me leave to observe Is it not a Paradox that when a Father and Mother have through their foolish Conduct Sown Seeds of Disobedience in their Children insomuch that they cannot rule nor keep them in order for them to imagine that others will take that off their Hands for a little Money and that Strangers should do more for their Children than they are willing to do themselves especially when the Seeds of mismanagement are sprouted up and grown too sturdy and strong whereas the Parents had the Fore-Horse by the Bridle and might have nipp'd Vice in the Bud. But to return to our purpose what the Blacks in the East Indies do in the Manufacturing of Cotton the like is perform'd by the Europeans in the management of their Flax and Wool â—…or the first of which we need only cast our Eye upon our Neighbour Nations in Flanders Holland Germany and France where the Thread which is made into sundry sorts of Laces Holland and Cambrick could never have been brought to that curious fineness had they not taught their Children very early to Spin it And as for the other which is the Manufactury of England let me observe that whereas our Woollen Cloath about an Hundred and Fifty years since was all very course and came short of our common Prizes now so that there is as much difference between the Cloath now and then as there is between the Fustian we now make for Hammocks and Stockings and East India Callicoes As soon as Navigation Trade and Rack-renting came on all Trade was encouraged and ever since the Natives have made it an Employment to get Money and their Bread thereby The management of all our Growth hath every Year and Age been advanced in more excellent performances which have been wonderfully increased within these Fifty or Sixty Years more especially as to the above mentioned Woollen Manufactury and England perhaps now as much exceeds in the Spinning and Weaving of Woollen Cloth as Flanders France Holland and the East Indies do in their Linnen and Callicoes and it is worth our noting and makes much for your Argument that we have attained to this Excellency since many hundreds of poor Families have thro' necessity trained up their Children in Spinning Carding and other Works about the said Cloathing Trade from Five or Six years of Age so that we find by experience they can now draw almost as fine a Thread as in Silk or Linnen from whence it is manifest that early cultivation and sowing Seed in due Season is greatly necessary to bring the same to perfection Children are like white Paper at first before it be sullied or ill Customs and Characâ—…s stamped upon them so that you may Sow what Seed you please and according to each Childs Genius they will arrive to a happy Maturity Now Sir that the West Indian Colonies are able to cope with the East Indies in the Manufactury of Cotton may be made to appear from many Considerations but more particularly First your Young Children can get more than their Bread as well as theirs do before they are able to perform any of the Servile Work that belongs to the making of Sugar Secondly Meat Drink and Cloathing is as cheap with you as in the East Indies or at leastwise might be so if you did but pursue the Methods laid down for you in my former Letter Thirdly the Commodity made is of more value than in the East Indies Goodness for Goodness Fourthly what is proposed is an easy and a soft Employment that neither hinders Growth nor wastes Strength Fifthly it preserves more especially the Females as well as their Off-spring from many cruel Diseases that hard Field Labour subjects them unto which have and do prove no small detriment to your Sugar Plantations they being by nature not of so robust a Constitution as the Males besides they are naturally subject to an Hundred Weaknesses that Men are not which is the reason that all Nations by their Laws and Customs more especially those that have had regard to the Health and flourishing state of their Posterity have allotted the easiest and finest Employments to their share And give mâ—… leave to tell you Sir nothing has been more hurtful and injurious to your Plantations than the unkind Usage and hard Labour you put your Black Women to whose preservation health and strength you ought to have made your main Study But you on the contrary have doubled their Burdens and what you unwarily design for their preservation manifestly leads to their Destruction for tho' after those intollerable Works and Fatigues you give them Rum which at present is a little refreshing yet you cannot but know it is destructive to Nature wasting the Vitals and an Enemy to Propagation So much of it in respect to the Women Kind I am loath to be particular with you Sir in respect to the Negro Men and your plying of them with this destructive Liquor and that upon Sundays too to very bad purpose And tho' your Intention herein be to perpetuate their Servetude c. the very Methods you take to do it by such indulging of them in this excess of Drinking at the same time proves very frequently your Disappointment and their Death And as you cannot but be convinced of the truth hereof so I appeal to your own experience whether your allowing of Polygamy or plurality of Wives to your Black Slaves doth any ways answer your end in the multiplication of Servants thereby I very much doubt the contrary and that 't is the ready way to lose both Root and Branch nothing being more destructive to Humane Nature than the immoderate use of Venery which upon the persecuting of a fresh Object c. is usually provoked beyond all due bounds to the manifest enervation and decay of the Man from whom no vigorous Issue can be expected and if any at all seldom or never comes to Maturity Many things might be said upon this Head as to the practice both of former and latter Ages but not to multiply Instances its remarkable to consider the difference between the Turkish Empire and the other Kingdoms and States of Europe that whereas the first allows of Polygamy in the utmost extent thereof and notwithstanding the greatest part of the Turks Dominions is in it self exceeding rich and fertile and was anciently full of Populous Cities and Inhabitants it s now so thin of People that in many places for Thirty or Forty Miles
than that which they leave or reject Now the Stomach cannot make so easy a Digestion thereof as it can of Foods made of Vegetations if properly managed in the Preparation which is the reason why some have refrained Eating of Animals whereby they have obtained an higher degree of Health and Pleasure than they had before Now it is to be noted that as Fermentation in Vegetables breaks and destroys the Rest of that thing so Drinks that have passed thro' these fiery Operations are changed for the worse that is the original Unity by this Motion is disturbed and there is an unequal working struggling and dividing Power between tâ—…em each Quality endeavouring to be Lord over the other whereby the whole sinks into its original Form and all such Liquors in a short time become sharp harsh or flat so that both the Water and the Juices of the Fruits become divested of their natural Bodies which as long as any thing remains entire incircles all the spiritual Powers or original Principles and preserves them in the Unity wherein they were Created wherefore all Fermented Drinks and more especially those that are strong never fail to operate like themselves so that as the original Forms are by this Art divided in a self-ful domineering Operation the very same they do in the Stomach wherefore the common drinking of such Liquors are Experimentally found baneful to Mankind by the great number of cruel Diseases that more particularly of latter years have been introduc'd amongst us especially Gravel Stone Gout and the like Evils which the Natives of all such Countries who constantly drink Water know nothing of tho' it is not such Liquors alone that are thus destructive to Humane Nature for since sensible Creatures I mean Flesh and Fish are become our principal Food Mankind not only inherits all the Disorders and Diseases such Creatures as he Eats are subject to he having little or no regard to Cleanness Uncleanness Season of the year and of Generation but the worst of all is these cruel Distempers are convey'd down and entailed upon our Children and Posterity and therefore grow more and more upon us and there are no Medicines found out that will Cure them for the Stomach cannot draw any proper Aliment from things that have passed thro' the fierce unequal Operations of Fermentation because Inequality cannot administer Equality each thing operating like it self and for this cause if Mens Foods were to be managed after the manner of Drinks they would in a short time destroy Mens Health and sink the Body into Death and hence it is and I presume with very good reason too that I have given Water the Preheminence before all Liquors as in respect to Food I have done to Herbs Seeds Grains and Fruits whatever the unthinking World may imagine to the contrary and since we find there can be no greater Character of the Virtues of Meats and Drinks than their long keeping sound and good and that Fruits Grains and Seeds together with Water do so much longer than Flesh Fish or Fermented Liquors one should think there could be no difficulty made in the choice of them seeing the Almighty hath provided such amazing varieties of Vegetables for us and much easier to be got than either Fish or Flesh. But to return to the Art of Fermentation as to the Original thereof it was first found out and promoted by the Egyptians or Eastern Philosophers and Physicians for as soon as Man had depraved and separated himself from his Original state of Unity all the Original Qualities and Principles in him were terribly stirred up by his longing free Will after all Intemperances and Evils to which he was continually tossed to and fro so that many destructive dark Inventions have and do still take their rise from thence which did and ever since have filled the whole Earth with Violence and as such Inventions and evil Customs have been admitted and incouraged so have our Diseases proportionably encreased which has occasioned the more prudent and sober part of former Ages to think of and invent equivalent Medicines or Antidotes and so went to work raking as it were into the Center of all Elemental Things and Creatures and more especially into the three Grand Kingdoms of Nature viz. the Animal Vegetable and Mineral to find out an Universal Medicine that might be able to cope with or Cure Universal Distempers concluding there was no Vice so great but there was a Virtue as great which if obtained might be effectual to that end But herein the most Learned and Ingenuous of all Ages have found themselves grosly mistaken as experience witnesseth yet for all their continued Failures every Age and Country are still pestered with a great number of those Philosophical Heads that tell Lies in the face of the Sun and magnify what they can do in this kind especially on Minerals It s true they have been able by the power of their Calcinary Fires to Flux and Refine Metals into a much higher degree of purity and fineness which has proved very beneficial to Mankind as being thereby fitted for various profitable uses But all this while they found no such thing as the Seeds of Metals nor yet any Ferment that was capable to divide the Original Forms or to bring them into a working boyling active power or strifeful opposite motion which Qualifications and Operations do appear in all things that are capable of Fermentation as we see in Vegetables but instead of extracting or obtaining such Seed or Ferment they procured all the opposite qualities for their fierce Fires did in a moment destroy all the Seminary or Living powers of such Metals of what kind or nature soever they were and totally obliterated the Characters and Powers of Multiplication The very same thing happens in the Vegetative Kingdoms for if you offer any Seed or Grain to the heat of common Fires a little will kill all the Spermatick or Seminary Quality which that moment puts a final stop both to the progression and multiplication of the said Seed or Grain and no better can surely be expected from such fiery Tryals in the Animal Kingdom Will any Person of common understanding believe you should you tell him that by Killing of Beasts and refining their Flesh and Blood with harsh and strong Fires you can obtain the Seed and that by the virtue and efficacy thereof with the help of some Menstruum you can multiply the same Species of Creatures from Tenfold to Ten Thousand as some of the Learned in the Art of Refining are apt to talk and boast of But so far it is from being in Mans power to effect this that we see if two Beasts of different kinds couple together the Creature that proceeds from such is rendred uncapable of Generation so fruitless have most of our Spagyrick Philosophers in all Ages been mostly both in their fiery Operations on Minerals and Animals and all they have done has been but to draw a circle of Darkness