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8. Now if it hath been demonstrated, that the 

 writings of those great masters contain the greatest 

 part of what is to be known, and that the most cele- 

 brated discoveries of the moderns have thence derived 

 their origin ; is it not very reasonable, that we should 

 rather go to the fountain head of science, than to 

 confine ourselves entirely to the little streams, that 

 issue from it. 



But in recommending the study of the ancients, I 

 am far from thinking, that the moderns are to be 

 neglected. I apprehend, on the contrary, that it is 

 of great use attentively to consider their labours, in 

 order to remark what they have added to the know, 

 ledge of the ancients by their experiments : for with- 

 out doubt there may be daily added something to our 

 knowledge. This makes it necessary attentively to 

 compare the ancients and moderns together ; for in 

 these last many tilings may be found, which have ever 

 been omitted, or but obscurely treated of in -the for- 

 mer. Nay, farther, the labours of the moderns may 

 serve to replace, as it were, some of those treatises of 

 the ancients, which have been lost, and of which 

 there now remain only the titles, to give us an idea 

 of the greatness of our loss. Another advantage, 

 which may arise from this comparison, is, to -ascertain 

 us in our reflections ; for where the ancients and mo. 

 derns agree, it is natural, that their joint consent 

 should determine our judgment in such or such a point. 

 And even when they differ, the diversity of their rea- 

 sonings may tend to throw light on the mind. 



9. Free from partiality towards either, we ought to 

 think, that whatever efforts have been made to bring 

 bur knowledge to perfection, there will r main 

 something still to be done in that respect, by us and 

 our posterity. There is no man sufficient ot himse-i to 

 establish or perfect any one art or science. Having 

 received from our ancestors the product ot all their me- 

 ditations and researches, we ought daily to add what 

 we can to it, and by that means contribute all in our 



