88 LETTERS FROM THE CABALA, 



dictum neque factum, quod non est dictum aut factuffi 

 prius.&quot; I have farther for my warrant, that famous 

 complaint of Solomon to his son, against the infinite 

 making of books in his time, of which, in all congmity, 

 great part were of observations and instructions in all 

 kind of literature, and of those there is not now so 

 much as one pamphlet (only some parcels of the Bible 

 excepted) remaining to posterity. As then there was not 

 in like manner to be found any footing of millions of 

 authors that were long before Solomon, and yet we must 

 give credit to that which he affirmed; that whatsoever was 

 then or before, it could never be truly pronounced of it, 

 &quot; Behold, this is new.&quot; Whereupon 1 must for my final 

 conclusion infer, seeing all the endeavours, study, andknow- 

 ledge of mankind, in whatsoever art or science, have ever 

 been the same as they are at this present, though full of 

 mutabilities, according to the changes and accidental occa 

 sions of ages and countries, and clerks dispositions; \vhich 

 can never but be subject to intention and remission, both in 

 their devices and practices of their knowledge. If now we 

 should accord in opinion with you ; first, to condemn our 

 present knowledge of doubt and incertitude (which you 

 confer but by avermentj without other force of argument, 

 and then to disclaim all our axioms and maxims, and general 

 assertions that are left by tradition from our elders to us ; 

 which, (for so it is to be pretended) have passed all proba 

 tions of the sharpest wits that ever were Abccedarii, by the 

 frequent spelling of particulars, to come to the notice of 

 new generals, and so afresh to create new principles of 

 sciences, the end of all would be, that when we should be 

 dispossessed of the learning which we have, all our conse 

 quent travail will but help us in a circle, to conduct us to the 

 place from whence we set forwards, and bring us to the 

 happiness to be restored &quot; in integrum,&quot; which will require 

 as many ages as have marched before us, to be perfectly 



