hood and truth seem almost equilibriously stated, and but a few grains of distinction to bear down the balance. Some have digged deep, yet glanced by the royal vein; and a man may come unto the pericardium, but not the heart of truth. Besides, many things are known, as some are seen, that is by parallaxis, or at some distance from their true and proper beings, the superficial regard of things having a different aspect from their true and central natures. And this moves sober pens unto suspensory and timorous assertions, nor presently to obtrude them as Sibyl's leaves, which after-considerations may find to be but folious appearances, and not the central and vital interiours of truth. IV. Value the judicious, and let not mere acquests in minor parts of learning gain thy preexistimation. "Tis an unjust way of compute to magnify a weak head for some Latin abilities, and to undervalue a solid judgment, because he knows not the genealogy of Hector. When that notable king of France* would have his son to know but one sentence in Latin, had it been a good one perhaps it had been enough. Natural parts and good judgments rule the world. States are not

*Lewis the Eleventh. Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare.

governed by ergotisms. Many have ruled well who could not, perhaps, define a commonwealth, and they who understand not the globe of the earth command a great part of it. Where natural logick prevails not, artificial too often faileth. Where nature fills the sails, the vessel goes smoothly on, and when judgment is the pilot, the ensurance need not be high. When industry builds upon nature, we may expect pyramids; where that foundation is wanting, the structure must be low. They do most by books, who could do much without them, and he that chiefly owes himself unto himself, is the substantial man.

V. Let thy studies be free as thy thoughts and contemplations, but fly not only upon the wings of imagination; join sense unto reason, and experiment unto speculation, and so give life unto embryon truths, and verities yet in their chaos. There is nothing more acceptable unto the ingenious world, than this noble eluctation of truth; wherein, against the tenacity of prejudice and prescription, this century now prevaileth. What libraries of new volumes after-times will behold, and in what a new world of knowledge the eyes of our posterity may be happy, a few ages may joyfully declare;

and is but a cold thought unto those, who cannot
hope to behold this exantlation of truth, or that
obscured virgin half out of the pit. Which might
make some content with a commutation of the time
of their lives, and to commend the fancy of the
Pythagorean metempsuchosis; whereby they might
hope to enjoy this happiness in their third or fourth
selves, and behold that in Pythagoras, which they
now but foresee in Euphorbus.* The world, which
took but six days to make, is like to take six thou-
sand to make out: meanwhile old truths voted
down begin to resume their places, and new ones
arise upon us;
wherein there is no comfort in the
happiness of Tully's Elysium,† or any satisfaction
from the ghosts of the ancients, who knew so little
of what is now well known. Men disparage not
antiquity who prudently exalt new inquiries, and
make not them the judges of truth, who were but
fellow inquirers of it. Who can but magnify the
endeavours of Aristotle, and the noble start which
learning had under him; or less than pity the
slender progression made upon such advantages?

* Ipse ego, nam memini, Trojani tempore belli
Panthoïdes Euphorbus eram.-Ovid.

+ Who comforted himself that he should there converse with the old philosophers.

while many centuries were lost in repetitions and transcriptions sealing up the book of knowledge. And therefore rather than to swell the leaves of learning by fruitless repetitions, to sing the same song in all ages, nor adventure at essays beyond the attempt of others, many would be content that some would write like Helmont or Paracelsus; and be willing to endure the monstrosity of some opinions, for divers singular notions requiting such aberrations.

VI. Despise not the obliquities of younger ways, nor despair of better things whereof there is yet no prospect. Who would imagine that Diogenes, who in his younger days was a falsifier of money, should in the after-course of his life be so great a contemner of metal? Some negroes, who believe the resurrection, think that they shall rise white. Even in this life regeneration may imitate resurrection, our black and vicious tinctures may wear off, and goodness clothe us with candour. Good admonitions knock not always in vain. There will be signal examples of God's mercy, and the angels must not want their charitable rejoices for the conversion of lost sinners. Figures of most

*

* Mandelslo.

angles do nearest approach unto circles, which have no angles at all. Some may be near unto goodness, who are conceived far from it, and many things happen, not likely to ensue from any promises of antecedencies. Culpable beginnings have found commendable conclusions, and infamous courses pious retractations. Detestable sinners have proved exemplary converts on earth, and may be glorious in the apartment of Mary Magdalene in heaven. Men are not the same through all divisions of their ages. Time, experience, self-reflections, and God's mercies, make in some well-tempered minds a kind of translation before death, and men to differ from themselves as well as from other Hereof the old world afforded many persons. examples, to the infamy of latter ages, wherein men too often live by the rule of their inclinations; so that, without any astral prediction, the first day gives the last.* Men are commonly as they were, or rather, as bad dispositions run into worser habits, the evening doth not crown, but sourly conclude the day.

VII. If the Almighty will not spare us according to his merciful capitulation at Sodom; if his

*Primusque dies dedit extremum.