34 



TO THE HEADER. 



the rites of the Israelites, chap. xv. &cc. acquaints us) were not only 

 obhged 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 now-a- 

 days this noble art be for the most part left to be exercised amongst us 

 by people of grosser and unthinking 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 eruditi and learned men. An 

 Israelite, who, from tradition of his forefathers, his own experience, and 

 some modern reading, had informed himself of the religion and laws 

 which were to regulate his lifcj 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 accidents, and bring them to maturity ; that also was skilled 

 in the nature of cattle, their food, diseases, remedies, kc. (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,) is, in this learned author's opinion, 

 infinitely more to be valued than a man brought up either in wrangling 

 at the bar, or the noisy and ridiculous disputes of our schools, &c. To 

 this sense the learned Modena. And it is remarkable, that after all that 

 wise Solomon had said, " that all was vanity and vexation of spirit/' 

 among so many particulars he reckons up, he should be altogether silent, 

 and say nothing concerning husbandry ; as, doubtless, considering it the 

 most useful, innocent, and laudable employment of our life, requiring 

 those, who cultivate the ground, to live in the country, remote from city- 

 luxury, and the temptation to the vices he condemns. It was indeed a 

 plain man, a potter by trade ; but let nobody despise him because a 

 potter, ( Agathocles, a king, was of that craft) who, in my opinion, has given 

 us the true reason why husbandry, and particularly planting, is no more im- 

 proved in this age of ours, especially where persons are lords and owners 

 Paiissy. le of much land : " The truth is," says he, " when men have acquired any 

 .TR?che'I" "considerable fortune by their good husbandry and experience, (forgetting 



