ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 



( XXXI 



These positions are proved by all the force of his reason, Govern- 

 and adorned by all the beauty of his imagination. When m 

 speaking of the power of knowledge to repress the incon 

 veniences which arise from man to man, he says, &quot;In 

 Orpheus s theatre all beasts and birds assembled, and, for 

 getting their several appetites, some of prey, some of game, 

 some of quarrel, stood all sociably together, listening to 

 the airs and accords of the harp ; the sound whereof no 

 sooner ceased, or was drowned by some louder noise, but 

 every beast returned to his own nature ; wherein is aptly 

 described the nature and condition of men, who are full of 

 savage and unreclaimed desires of profit, of lust, of revenge; 

 which, as long as they give ear to precepts, to laws, to 

 religion, sweetly touched with eloquence and persuasion of 

 books, of sermons, of harangues, so long is society and 

 peace maintained; but if these instruments be silent, or 

 sedition and tumult make them not audible, all things dis 

 solve into anarchy and confusion.&quot; 



So when explaining, amidst the advantages of know 

 ledge, its excellency in diffusing happiness through sue- Posthu- 

 ceeding ages, he says, &quot; Let us conclude with the dignity mousfame - 

 and excellency of knowledge and learning in that where- 



The Analysis of this subject is as follows : 



fl. Fantastical. 

 rl. General. -I 2. Contentious. 

 1 3. Delicate. 



Distempers of 

 Learning. 



L-2. Peccant humours. - 



2. Prevalence of Truth. 



3. Arrangement. 



4. Universality. 



5. Metaphysics. 



6. Infecting opinions. 



7. Haste. 



8. Positiveness. 



9. Want of Invention. 

 _10. Erroneous motives. 



