30 Of the Advancement of Learning. Lie. I. 



Pfal.XIX. 



as theP(alms, and other Scriptures, do often invite us to the contem- 

 plation, and publication of the magnificent and wonderful works of 

 God ; fo if we fhould reft only in the outward form, as they firft offer 

 themfelves unto our fenfes 5 we Ihould do the like the injury to the Ma- 

 jefty of God, as if we ftiould judge of theftore and wealth of fome ex- 

 cellent Jeweller, by that only, which is fet out towards the ftreet 

 Mat,2z. in his (hop. The other , hecauje theylminiUer afingular help and prefer- 

 vative againji unbeliefs and errors ; Tou err , »ot knowing the Scriptures 

 nor the Tower of God. Where he lays before us, two books or volumes 

 to ftudy , if we will be fecur'd from errors ; Firft the volume of 

 Scriptures, which reveal the will of God , then the volume of Cream 

 tures, which exprefs his power , whereof the latter is as a key to the 

 former, not only opening our underftanding to conceive the true fence 

 of Scriptures, by the general rules of Reafbn and Laws of fpeech 5 

 but befides, chiefly opening our belief, in drawing us unto a due me- 

 ditation of the omnipotency of God , the charadters whereofare chiefly 

 figned and engraven upon his works. Thus much for Divine Tejii- 

 monies and Evidences , concerning the true Dignity and value of 

 Learning. 



Chap. VII. 



The Dignity of Learning from humane Arguments and Teftimonies. 

 L Natural, Inventors of Nerv Arts for the Commodities of Mans 

 life, confecratedasGods, IL Political, Civil Eliates and affairs 

 advanced hy Learning. § The h>fi and happiefi times under Learn- 

 ed Princes and others. § Exemplified in the immediate fucced- 

 ing Emperours, from the death of Domitian. III. Military, The 

 concurrence of Arms and Learning. § Exemplified in Alexander 

 the Great. § Julius Csefar the Di&ator. § Xenophon the Phi- 



opher. 



K 



S for Humane Tefiimonies and Arguments, it is fo large a field, 



^ as in a difcourfe of this compendious nature and brevity, it is fit 



rather to ufe choice, than toimbrace the variety of them. 



I. Firft, therefore in the degrees of Honour amongft the Hea- 

 thens, it was the higheft , to attain to a Veneration and Adorati- 

 on as a God, this indeed to the Chriftians is as the forbidden 

 fruit 3 but we fpeak now (eparately of Humane Teftimony. 

 Therefore, (as we were faying) with the Heathens, that which the 

 Gttcxzwsc^iW Apothcofis'-, and the h^iints Relatio inter Divos ^ was the 

 Herodia.i. fupremc Houour which man could attribute unto man ; fpecially, 

 hq^i"'^* when it was given, not by a formal Decree or Aft ofEftate, (as it was 

 ufed amongft the Roman Empcrours,) but freely by the alfent of Men 

 and inward belief. Of which high Honour there was a certain degree 

 and middle term: For there were reckoned above Humane Honours, 

 Honours Hcroicalj and Divine-^ in theDiftribution whereof, Antiqui- 

 ty obfcrved this order. Founders of States 5 Lawgivers, Extirperscf 



Tyrants > 



