XXXI 



divine practice of solitudes, and becomes 

 not only contributary to the present, but 

 the future generations. 



To study contemplation is the high way 

 to heaven, where the suburbs consist of a 

 divine composition, and where you may 

 read by those oracles the stars, the beauti- 

 ful order of celestial bodies, and the great 

 and lesser world all harmony ; for heaven 

 and earth are correlates, which duly to con- 

 template, poises our passion, and baffles our 

 pride ; which necessarily pursues the foot- 

 steps of generation, as naturally as rust fol- 

 lows copper, which without dispute is the 

 death of the compound : consequently tra- 

 dition, if penitentially admitted, and igno- 

 rance opposed to the mediums of art ; there 

 uncultivated arts present no dispondencies, 

 nor need a man solicite reality in practicks. 

 But this I oppose, and confidently assert, 

 he that licks up the fabulous fiction of slip- 

 pery authority, to confirm his false and un- 

 tenable position, brings unsound arguments 

 to prop and support the slender faith his 

 opinion leans on ; whereby he exposes him- 

 self to clamour and reproach, and the cen- 

 sure of every judicious examinant. 



