GRKA T 1NSTA URA TION. 407 



We now turn ourselves to men, with a few wholesome admonitions 

 and just requests. And first, we admonish them to continue in a sense 

 of their duty, as to divine matters ; for the senses arc like the sun, which 

 displays the face of the earth, but shuts up that of the heavens : and 

 again, that they run not into the contrary extreme, which they certainly 

 will do, if they think an inquiry into nature any way forbid them by 

 religion. It was not that pure and unspotted natural knowledge 

 whereby Adam gave names to things, agreeable to their natures, which 

 caused his fall ; but an ambitious and authoritative desire of moral 

 knowledge, to judge of good and evil, which makes men revolt from 

 (lod, and obey no laws but those of their own will. Hut for the 

 sciences, which contemplate nature, the sacred philosopher declares, 

 &quot; It is the glory of (lod to conceal a thing, but the glory of a king to 

 find it out.&quot; As if the Divine Heing thus indulgently condescended 

 to exercise the human mind by philosophical inquiiies. 



In the next place, we advise all mankind to think of the true ends 

 of knowledge, and that they endeavour not after it for curiosity, 

 contention, or the sake of despising others, nor yet for profit, reputa 

 tion, power, or any such inferior consideration, but solely for the 

 occasions and uses of life ; all along conducting and perfecting it in 

 the spirit of benevolence. Our requests arc, I. That men do not 

 conceive we here deliver an opinion, but a work ; and assure them 

 selves we attempt not to found any sect or particular doctrine, but to 

 fix an extensive basis for the service of human nature. 2. I hat, for 

 their own sakcs, they lay aside the zeal and prejudices of opinions, and 

 endeavour the common good ; and that being, by our assistance, freed 

 and kept clear from the errors and hindcramcs of the way, they would 

 themselves also lake part of the task. 3. That they do not despair, 

 as imagining our project for a grand restoration, or advancement of 

 ail kinds of knowledge, infinitely beyond the power of mortals to 

 execute ; whilst in reality, it is the genuine stop and prevention of 

 infinite error. Indeed, as our state is mortal, and human, a full 

 accomplishment cannot be expected in a single age, and must therefore 

 be commended to posterity. Nor could we hope to succeed, if we 

 arrogantly searched for the sciences in the narrow cells of the human 

 understanding, and nfit submissively in the wider world. 4. In tlic 

 last place, to prevent ill efiects from contention, we desire mankind to 

 consider how far they have a right to judge our performance, upon the 

 foundations here laid down : for we reject all that knowledge which is 

 too hastily abstracted from things, as vague, disorderly, and ill-formed ; 

 and we cannot be expected to abide by a judgment which is itself 

 called in question. 



