' •! 



L I B. IX. Of the Advimcem'cnt of Le amine o i -> 



So have we been content to employ our pains in tuning the Injhumeht 

 of the Ulufcs^zad to fet it unto a trueHjrmony, that afterwards they 

 may play who have better hands. Sitrely^ when I fet before metfie 

 condition of the(e times, in which Learning feems to have made her 

 third Circuit to Men^ and withal diligently behold, with v,'hat va- 

 rious) fupplies and fupports being furnifibr, Ihe hath made her vifitati- 

 oni as are, the/jt^/^/6/ and w"z/4C/7/ofw^;/)'/F;7/ in thisour Age; the 

 excellent monuments of Ancient -writers^ which as fb many great lights 

 ftiine before us 3 the Art of Printings which communicates Books with 

 a liberal hand to men of all fortunes, the travel' d hojom of the Ocean 

 and of the world, opened on all parts, whereby multitudes of expe- 

 riments unknown to the Ancients have been difclofed •-, and Natural 

 Hifiory^ by the acce(s of an infinite Mais advanced ; the Icafure where- 

 with the Kingdoms and States of Europe every where abound, not 

 imploying men fo generally in Civil Bufineffes^ as the States o^Grtccia 

 did inrefpeft of their Fopitlaritj-j or as the ftarc of the Romans did 

 in refpedt of tht'ir Jlfonarchy: the Peace which at this prelent,Britta- 

 ny, Spain, Italy, as alfo at this inftant France and many other Coun- 

 tries enjoy : The Confumption and Exaninition of all that can be imagi- 

 ned or faid in controverfics of Religion^ which now Co long have taken 

 up lb many Wits, and diverted them from the ftudies of other Scien- 

 ces : the Elevation and Perfection of Tour Majejiics Learning:, about 

 whom (as the Birds about the Ph^nix) whofe voUies of wits flock and 

 affemble : Lajily the infeparable property which attends time it felf^ 

 which is, ever more and more to difclofe truth : when we think,! (ay, 

 on thele advantages , we cannot but be rai(ed to this Pcrfwafion^thac 

 this third period of Learning , will far furpafs thofe two former of 

 the Grecian and Roman Learning. Only if men will but well and wifely- 

 know their own ftrength and their own weaknels both j and take,one 

 from the other, light of Inventions-, and not Fire-brands of contra- 

 diction •■, and efteem of the Inquifition of Truthjas a noble enterprife, 

 and not as a delight or ornament 5 and imploy wealth and magnifi- 

 cence to things of worth and excellency 5and not to things vulgar and 

 ofpopular eftimation. 



As for my Labours^ if any man fhall pleafe himfelf or others in the 

 reprehenfion of them, certainly they (hall caufe me put up that anci- 

 ent requeft, but of great patience, verbera, fed Audi j let men repre- 

 hend as theypleafe, fo they obferve and weigh what isfpuken. Verily the 

 Appeal is lawful (though, it may be, for this matter, not fo need- 

 ful) if it be made from the fir U cogitations of men unto thefecond j and 

 from the neerer times, to the times farther off'. 



Now let us come unto the Learning, which thofe two ancient Peri' 

 ods of time were not fo bleft as to know, I mean Sacred and Divine- 

 ly infpired Theology ^ the noblefi Saboath and Port of all mens Labours 

 and Peregrinations. 



K r The 



