"THIS NOBLE ART" xvii 



majesty of a Consul. In ancient and best times, men 

 were not honoured and esteemed for the only learned 

 who were great linguists, profound critics, readers and 

 devourers of books, but such whose studies consisted 

 of the discourses, documents, and observations of their 

 forefathers, ancient and venerable persons, who (as 

 the excellent author of the rites of the Israelites, chap. 

 XV., acquaints us) were not only obliged to instruct 

 and inform their children of the wonderful things 

 God had done for their ancestors, together with the 

 precepts of the Moral Law, Feasts, and Religious 

 ceremonies, but taught them likewise all that con- 

 cerned Agriculture, joined with lessons of perpetual 

 practice, in which they were, doubtless, exceedingly 

 knowing, whilst, during so many ages, they employed 

 themselves almost continually in it : And though 

 nowadays this noble art be for the most part left to be 

 exercised amongst us by people of grosser and un- 

 thinking souls, yet there is no science whatever which 

 contains a vaster compass of knowledge, infinitely more 

 useful and beneficial to mankind, than the fruitless 

 and empty notions of the greatest part of speculatists, 

 counted to be the only erudite and learned men. An 

 Israelite, who, from tradition of his forefathers, his 

 own experience, and some modern reading, had in- 

 formed himself of the religion and laws which were to 

 regulate his life, and knew how to procure things neces- 

 sary ; who perfectly understood the several qualities 

 of the earth, plants, and places agreeable to each sort, 

 and to cultivate, propagate, defend them from acci- 

 dents, and bring them to maturity ; that also was 

 skilled in the nature of cattle, their food, diseases, 

 remedies, etc., (which those who amongst us pass for 

 the most learned and accomplished Gentlemen and 

 Scholars, are, for the most part, grossly ignorant of, 

 and look upon as base, rustic, and things below them) 



