OF SAMUEL HARTLIB. 49 



the philosopher as with the architect, he must design 

 and build for others rather than for himself, and largely- 

 con form to the popular cry, however much disposed 

 to set up his own judgment against that of the 

 world. 



Samuel Hartlib's life throughout excites our admira- 

 tion. His piety and enthusiasm, his varied tastes, 

 and plastic genius are conspicuous in all his multi- 

 farious labours. In whatever he was engaged we observe 

 the same earnestness, ardour, and sobriety of conduct. 

 He is always sohd and sincere, and begets in us, at a 

 glance, a predisposition in his favour ; we see in him 

 the meek true Christian and the gentleman. His 

 amiability is without affectation, he is obliging without 

 sycophancy, and religious without intolerance. He never 

 assumes mental superiority, or knowledge beyond his 

 information, and while directing oppressed talent into 

 channels of enlarged usefulness, his judgment and 

 experience rather suggest than dictate. Had it been 

 his lot to be differently situated, and blessed with 

 a superior education, he would have proved him- 

 self a sublime genius : for under great personal disad- 

 vantages, together with the adverse influence of dis- 

 tracted and dissolute times, he worked wonders to 

 ameHorate the condition of society, with Httle other 

 encouragement than the approval of his own conscience. 

 He was a bright example of the astonishing amount of 

 good that may be individually accumulated and dis- 



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