Londons Resurrection, Discourse 46
DISCOURSE XLVI.
Upon the obſervation of that full imployment, which Carpenters, Bricklayers, and all other Artificers, who relate to building, have at this day, compared with the condition of ſcholars, under various revolutions.
IT is an ill wind (ſaith our proverb) that bloweth no body good. Artificers who relate to building have, at this day, more work than they can turn their hands to. Surely Ariſtotle ſaith true, viz. that Privation is a principle, and that the corruption or deſtruction of one thing is the generation or production of another. The burning of London hath made way for all or moſt, poor trades to live; but not for Scholars, they are the Camelions, that muſt live upon the …aire (if they know how) unleſs they can be Camelions in another ſenſe, viz. aſſume the colour of all things which they come near. Water-men tell us they can earn twenty ſhillings a week with eaſe, (if they be good husbands,) that many excellent ſcholars cannot do, nor half ſo much, though they ply their learned oars ever ſo hard. They are the only men, who under ſeveral revolutions have bin forced to ſtand idle in the market place, for that none would hire them or ſet them at work.
If poverty and neceſſity (that ingens telum) may be compared to Lions (as by the fright ſome have taken at the very roaring of them, at a great diſtance, one would think they might) they and their families, have time after time been conſigned to the Lions Den, and erruditos inſtead of Chriſtianos ad Leones, that is, away with Scholars, as heretofore with Chriſtians to the Lions, hath bin the great outcry under ſeveral changes. They have bin the only men, who did they live ever ſo ſoberly, peacably, piouſly, and might they have lived ever ſo uſefully, and for publick good, if not otherwiſe qualified, have not been thought worthy to live. They might not eat, becauſe they might not work, nor might have leave to work leaſt they ſhould eat. They might not tread out the corn, becauſe if they did do ſo, their mouths muſt be unmuzled, and they have leave to feed. It was no matter what their talents were (though the talents of a Holdſworth a Featly, &c.) Talents of lead will give ſome men as good content (if not better) than talents of gold. The world hath thought that Scholars pains might beſt be ſpared, which is ſuch a paradox, as if they ſhould tell us that Souls are leſs worth than any thing elſe, which Chriſt tells us are more worth than the whole world, for ſaith he what ſhall it profit a man, &c.
It is incredible what ſhifts Scholars, under ſeveral changes, have been put to: one while becauſe they would not take the Ingagement, forſooth, out they muſt. Let it be no more a proverb, that Quaevis terra alit artes, that is, every country cheriſheth learning, for there is no truth in it. Muſculus was an excellent Scholar, and yet forced to dig in the town ditch, as ſome others of his profeſſion have bin in Cole-pits, and Tin-mines. Alas, how many Schollars have bin tempted to wiſh themſelves poor mechanicks, or handicrafts-men; and that when their parents ſent them to the Univerſity, they had bound them to ſome ſorry trade, by which they might have been able to have got their bread, and to have lived like themſelves.
Surely Scholars would as fain live as other men, they love themſelves and their Families as well as others do, the light of learning in them, hath not extinguiſhed the light of nature. If they have not lived as well, and as plentifully as other men, it was becauſe they did not dare to do ſo, or as Nehemiah ſaid, So did not I, becauſe of the fear of God, Neh. 5.15.
Three Apprentiſhips at the Univerſity, with three degrees on a mans back, well deſerved, have not turned to ſo good an account to many, as one Apprentiſhip to a mean Shop-keeper hath done to many others. Tradeſmen can live upon their Callings, but Schollars have bin put to live upon their friends (if they had any). Many excellent Schollars put out of the way of Learning, know not how to earn a penny (as they ſay) if their lives did depend upon it. In times of many Revolutions, Schollars are of all men moſt miſerable, unleſs they be men of ſuch volatile wits, that they can turn every way, unleſs they be perfect weather-cocks, or unleſs together with their wiſdome they have an Inheritance. It is expected that Schollars ſhould be Commonwealthsmen, Protectorians, Presbyterians, Independants, and every thing elſe that is uppermoſt, and the way of their times, as if in that ſenſe it were true, That every thing is good in its ſeaſon.
A Schollar muſt be every thing ſucceſſively, or he muſt be nothing, or rather no-body. He muſt change his ſhape as oft as doth the Silk-worm, if he would be clad as he is, that is, clothed with ſoft, and coſtly raiment. He muſt be like a door turning upon the hinges, that is, this way, and the other way, if he will come to any thing, though that be the compariſon that Solomon uſeth for a ſluggard. He muſt either be materia prima, or he muſt be reduced to it; that is, either ſuſceptible of all forms, or ſtript of all enjoyments. I write not this to blame the policy or reaſon of ſtate that hath thought fit it ſhould be ſo, (though he that will, may cenſure thoſe times whence I have taken the inſtances of this kind of ſeverity) but to condole the miſery of Schollars in regard it hath bin ſo.
Many do diſtruſt that ſaying which hath bin applyed to learning, viz. that Emollit mores nec ſinit eſſe feros: that is, that it ſoftens the manners of men, and ſuffers them not to be fierce. For who have bin more profound to deſtroy one another than Schollars? If homo homini lupus be a Proverb, it hath bin no where more verified than amongſt Schollars, who have bin lupi in fabula one to another, and devoured one anothers maintenance, and livelyhoods, by the impoſition of Ingagements, and ſuch like Artifices, inſtructing after-times in methods of policy, which the depraved nature of man is but too prone to follow. Hath it ſignified any thing to a livelyhood in ſome times and places, for a Schollar to be excellent at his Profeſſion, and very vertuous beſides? if weighed in other ſcales, he hath bin found too light, his little kingdom, I mean his work and wages have both bin taken from him. He that would not provide for his Family by going beyond the line of his Principles (if diſſenting) hath bin ſo dealt with, as if he had bin worſe than an infidel, and had denyed the Faith. For whilſt Jews and other Infidels have bin permitted to live, and provide for their Families, ſo might not he. He is a Cavalier, an Epiſcopal man, or, &c. Sequeſter him, &c. A waggiſh Inn-keeper was once (in my hearing) commending an officious lye, (it may be himſelf had ſometime tryed the ſweetneſs of it) but what if all Schollars be not of his mind? yea, what if none that are conſcientious be? what if ſome could not, or durſt not tell ſuch alye if it might ſave their lives? muſt they turn out upon it? as if lying were a gift eſſential to a Miniſter whoſe work it is to Preach the truth, at leaſtwiſe as if the Apoſtle Paul his becoming all things … all, were his profeſſing himſelf to be of every other mans mind, and his ſaying, and doing whatſoever others would have him; the contrary whereof doth plainly appear from Gal. 2.11. where ſpeaking of Peter, he ſaith, That he withſtood him to the ve…y face, becauſe he was to be blamed, &c.
If a man had written as many books as ever Gro…us did, and to as good purpoſe, to have bin able to have underwritten his name to a ſmall Script (an Ingagement or ſuch like thing) might when time was, have done him more ſervice; yea, the other it may be, none at all. An excellent Artificer, Lim…er, or ſuch like, of what Nation or Religion ſoever whether Jew, or Turk, ſhall be ſet at work by every body, rather than a bungler, of whatſoever Judgment, but it uſeth not to be ſo amongſt Schollars. Though Shibboleth and Sibboleth differ but by one letter, and that near in ſound, yet the right pronouncing and due diſtinguiſhing of them, uſeth, as to Schollars, to ſignify more than their knowledg of all the letters in the Alphabet beſides, and of all the words made out of thoſe Letters, and things that are ſignified by thoſe words.
Why doth our Mother, the Univerſity, put ſuch reſpect upon her ſons, that are Fellows of Colledges? why will ſhe have them capt as far as they can be diſcerned? are they there lifted up that they may take the greater fall? (Tolluntur in altum, ut lapſu graviore ruant.) Are they there ſo honoured, that they may be elſwhere more deſpicable? there they ſit with the ſons of Nobles, but how ſoon do many of them come to ſit as it were with the dogs of their flock? if there they be cloathed in Scarlet, they quickly come as it were to imbrace dung-hills.
Some Schollars that have had excellent Libraries, could neither ſell their books without great loſs, nor keep them without great vanity. For what ſhould they do with books that can make no uſe of their learning? any more than a Muſician with a great many Lutes and Viols, who is not permitted to play one Leſſon upon any of them? Some have even idolized their Books, their Books have bin as it were their God, and yet thoſe very perſons have bin forced to an unhappy Tranſubſtantiation, viz. to turn that their God into bread.
If Schollars continue Batchelors, (as few of them do in that ſenſe) make themſelves Eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heavens ſake (alluding to Mat. 19.12.) poſſibly they may be received into ſome good Family, and be there entertained, ſo as the Prophet was by the Shunamite, 2 Kings 4.10. Let us make a little Chamber in the Wall, and let us ſet for him there, a bed, and a Table, and a stool, and a Candlestick, and it ſhall be when he commeth to us, he ſhall turn in thither. I can but think what hard ſhift the Sons of the Prophets made in Eliſha's time, The place where we dwell, ſaid they to Eliſha, is too ſtrait for us, Let us go unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place where we may dwell. Surely it was but a ſorry houſe that thoſe young Prophets could build, and with no more materials than every man his beam; it ſeemeth to have bin no other than a Booth, or Bower, or Tent, built by the water ſide; yet that was as good a dwelling as the Sons or Pupils of the Prophets did at that time expect.
But if Schollars happen to marry (as moſt of them do) and after they have ſo done, come to have their Olive plants ſit round about their Table, and then an …our of temptation come (an Ingagement is ten…ered, or ſome ſuch thing) they muſt take it, or turn …ut; how miſerable then is the caſe of theſe poor tenants at will? againſt whom an Order of Ejectment preſently commenced, and forthwith they and …eirs expoſed to beggary, or what is next to that.
Schollars are generally more Prolifical than other …en. Aarons Rod bloſſomed when none of the …eſt did, Numb. 17.5. I know one at this day that …ath no leſs than ten ſons all alive, beſides a ſample of the other ſex: by the fulneſs of his Quiver, he may ſeem to be an Archer, but he is no other than a mark, though the greatneſs both of his charge, and of his worth (in the main) conſidered, it were heartily to be wiſhed, that all Arrows ſhot towards him, might be like thoſe which Jonathan ſhot towards David, all of which either went beyond, or fell ſhort of him. Schollars, though the Fathers of many ſweet children, do often lye at their mercy who were never Fathers themſelves, and therefore know not what the heart, or care of a Father doth mean!
When ever it is ſo that the condition of Schollars is ſo deplorable, I know no remedy in the caſe, but Prayers and tears, Faith and patience in the uſe of humble perſwaſions, and petitionings, and if they will not prevail, each of them muſt ſit down and ſay as did the Prophet Jerem. 10.19. Wo is me for my hurt, my wound is grievous. Truly this is a grief, and I muſt bear it. Surely when God ſhall do good in his good pleaſure to Sion, and build the Walls of Jeruſalem then all ſuch workmen as need not to be aſhamed, ſhall be employed and encouraged: Mean time let Patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (even whilſt you ſeem to want every thing), James 1.4.
May it not conſiſt with patience for Scholars to give their grief ſome modeſt vent, to prevent the breaking of their hearts, and that looſers take leave to ſpeak, which our proverb ſaith ſhould be given them: then we will proceed a little. Scholars muſt not be pitied becauſe having wit, and learning, it is ſuppoſed they can ſhift, (though indeed none are more ſhiftleſs for the world than they) none more like to ſheep than they, of which it is reported, that if they have once loſt their ways, they can never find it again. Scholars under hatches, muſt keep a perpetual faſt, or at leaſtwiſe disfigure their faces, as if they did do ſo, or elſe it will be taken for granted, that becauſe they ſmile upon the world, the world doth not frown upon them. Scholars muſt generally live either in the torrid zone of a polemical zeal, I mean a zeal for polemical, and diſputable matters (which the light and temper, and ingenuity of ſome men, will not permit them to do) or elſe they muſt live in the frigid zone of a cold, and almoſt ſtarving charity.
If Scholars be not honeſt, and conſcientious, it is not fit they ſhould be Miniſters, and if they be conſcientious, they run a great adventure? For was it not one while contriving (and who can ſecure after ages from the like ſnares) that Schollars ſhall be put to abjure that family, and government, to which the body of the nation had ſworn allegiance; as if they could do all things by an omnipotency of diſtinctions, or as if they were never to be truſted, till they had taken Achitophels councel viz. to be with their Fathers Concubines, in the face of the Sun, I mean to do ſome horrid, and odious thing.
It is one of the unhappineſſes, of Scholars, that their pains of all mens, are moſt undervalued, ſo …hat if it were left to peoples liberty, always and …n all caſes, to reward them as little as they pleaſe, …f there were no dues of theirs demandable by law, …eally I think the major part of them would be the …ooreſt of all people, that do not beg about the …reets. It was a great truth though ill-favouredly applyed by him that ſaid, He could have the pains of Scholars good-cheap. If ever the maintenance of Miniſters, ſhould become arbitrary (which the world hath long been ſtrugling for) but for the pleaſure of knowledg, and the hopes of ſaving Souls, were I to begin the world, I had rather be a Cobler, than a Scholar, and one I have heard of, that was forced together with his preaching, to apply himſelf to the work of a Cobler, (to eake out his maintenance) as if the Souls of men, and the ſoles of ſhoes, had both belonged to the ſame function.
Let Scholars live ſingle if they can, for if they have not the gift of continency, all their other gifts in point of livelihood, may amount to little. Compoſitors they ſay may earn their twenty ſhillings a week, whereas compoſers of books (unleſs it be here and there one) may have their labour for their pains.
Who are ſo much the objects of wonder, and of envy, as Scholars if they do arrive but to a mediocrity of eſtate? as namely to have two or three hundred pounds a year of their own, yea but a living of ſome ſuch value, which is theirs but for life, how much notice is taken of it? whereas if a tradeſman arrive to an eſtate of eight or ten thouſand pounds, it makes no great noiſe, or if a country Gentleman be born to a thouſand, or fifteen hundred pounds a year, (be he one whoſe wit, and worth, is as little as his wealth is great) it is not ſo much obſerved, as if a Miniſter, though of excellent gifts, and graces, have but a fifth part ſo much. Such are commonly counted covetous becauſe rich, unleſs they prevent that infamy by being more liberal than they can well afford, I had almoſt ſaid prodigal. I was about to ſay in ſome heat, pull down Univerſities, breed up Scholars in hoſpitals, they are reſerved for alms. Some who draw at that lottery, may have Baſons and Ewers, but the moſt of them have but blanks. If Scholars will marry, let them marry Chambermaids, if they muſt to ſervice again, they can better do it than they who never knew what it meant.
It is the Scholars path which uſually is ſpread with moſt ſnares, they muſt be ſpoken to in parables, that ſeeing, they may not ſee, nor underſtand, leaſt they ſhould be healed (if I may ſo allude) ſmooth Jacob (or what is ſaid to be as ſmooth, and plain as he) muſt apply himſelf to Scholars, with having skins about his neck, and hands, that being taken for rough Eſau he may get the bleſſing from them. If the kernel they are to ſwallow be ſoft and eaſy (or ſaid ſo to be) yet the ſhell is made ſo hard, that it ſhall even break their teeth, ere they can come at it. Take one inſtance for all, viz. in the forementioned Ingagement we know it was ſo worded, that many good men left their places, were they livings, or fellowſhips, or headſhips, rather than they would meddle with it, and yet whoſoever he was that commented upon it, repreſented the ſenſe and meaning thereof, as ſo juſt and fair, and harmleſs, that if it had ſounded no worſe in the text, than it was ſenſed in the comment (and why mens words ſhould not be as plain as their meaning I know not, or why things to be ſubſcribed ſhould be ſo phraſed as to need a comment, and that comment not to be allowed neither, I know not,) it is like that many more had taken it. It is vain for Scholars to be conjurers, (as they ſay) if they want money, …nd if they have money enough, they need be no …onjurers (that is no very good Scholars) Simon …an do without Magus.
The world is no where more unequally dealt …en amongſt Scholars, Captains and Colonels, …nd ſome gown-men, almoſt as illiterate as they, …ave in dayes of yore bin admitted to the higheſt …egree that Univerſities can confer; as if learning were no ways eſſential to thoſe degrees, or as if … were no affront to ſalute a man Salve Doctor ſine …ctrinâ: whereas on the other hand, the time hath …in when perſons of as great learning, parts, and pregnancy as any of their ſtanding, have ſtuck in …e birth of their firſt, and meaneſt degree. Thoſe words of Solomon are no where more verified, than amongſt Scholars. Eccleſ. 9.11. The race is not to the ſwift, nor the battel to the ſtrong, neither yet bread to the wiſe, nor yet riches to men of underſtanding, nor yet favour to men of skill, but time and chance hapneth to them all. As if the word Clergy, did belong to men of that name, becauſe of their preferments falling to them as it were by meer lot, or chance, without perceding election of fit perſons, amongſt whom it ſhould fall, and could not fall amiſs; as in the Apoſtles caſe, Acts 1.23. Maſters of learning often go a foot, whilſt thoſe that are not worthy to be their ſervants, or to carry their books after them (for matter of learning) ride on horſeback, what he ſaid of Heaven, I may ſay of earth. Surgunt indocti & terram rapiunt, dum alii cum doctrinâ in abyſſum paupertatis detruduntur. Nay more than ſo, learned men under hatches, are ſcarce owned to be learned. They cenſure them at pleaſure, for poor Scholars, who make and keep them poor men. Ingenious Wild gives us a ſecond part to the ſame tune with thy Ah Poor Schollar, whither wilt thou go? Were Schollars bred up in Univerſities to learn the illiberal Sciences of Cutting Tobacco, ſelling Tallow Candles, Carding, and Spinning, they and theirs for bread (whilſt others Card and Dice for their pleaſure). Are theſe the Arts in which they have commenced Batchelors and Maſters? or were they trained up to live by breaking Laws? or not to know which way to get food and raiment for them and theirs without doing it? for no Pater-noſter, no Penny is as true a rule, as no Penny, no Paternoſter.
In the dayes of his Majeſties exile, and about twelve years ſince (as near as I can gueſs it) there was a Proclamation ſet forth by thoſe that were then in power, that no Cavalier (as they then called them) ſhould teach any School, &c. I confeſs that Proclamation did vaniſh like an ignis fatuus, and came to little or nothing (for Middleſex, I am ſure, was full of ſuch Schools at, and after that time): but ſuppoſe it had bin inſiſted upon, how many Schollars muſt have bin ſtarved, that had no other way to live? or muſt have broke the Law (if that could have bin called a Law) to have kept themſelves and their Families from ſtarving? If Laws be ſtone walls, hunger will break through them, as our Proverb is, Hunger will break through stone walls. If thoſe Walls be built as high as the Tower of Babel was intended, hunger will ſcale them, as the Poet tells us, Graeculus eſuriens in coelum ſi juſſeris ibit. The hungry Greeks would climb Heaven for bread, before they would go without it. If thoſe be ſtolen waters which men come by againſt Law, how often have Schollars bin fain to bear up themſelves with thoſe words of Solomon, Prov. 6.30. Men do not deſpiſe a Thief if he ſteal to ſatisfy his Soul when he is bungry.
There is one ſhift more that ſome good Schollars …ave bin put to, and that is to beg their bread, not …ut that they would rather have ſtolen imployment (if that be theft) had not the Laws of that time bin …oo hard for them, than have ſo done, but being too ſtrictly obſerved to get any ſufficient employment for the purpoſe of a livelyhood, they have rather …eg'd than ſtarv'd. I my ſelf have bin ſought to for ſome relief, in as good Latine as I would wiſh to …ear, or as any man need to ſpeak, and found the party in other diſcourſe, Learned and fluent to admiration, O tempora, O mores, Tell it not in Gath. He that can ſpeak Latine but ſo as not to break Priſcians …ead, makes my bowels yearn towards him, if he come a begging; but if I meet with a Terence, or Cicero, or Eraſmus, that is forced to turn Friar Menlicant, it almoſt breaks my heart, and the money burns in my purſe till I have relieved him.
I can but think how much it addeth to the miſery of Schollars brought to want, to ſee how ſome rich …rmugians, who are as defective in wit and inge…uity, as Schollars can be in money, do ſeem to …irn at them, and to laugh in their ſleeves, and to …leſs themſelves, as if they had all the wit, becauſe they have all the mony, or if they are ſenſible of their weakneſs, how it pleaſeth them to think that they have the ſtaff in their hands, and will make Schollars ſmart under the want of money, as much …s themſelves have done under the want of wit and Learning. Nil habet in ſeſe paupertas durius iſtis quam quod ridiculos homines facit.
Methinks it is a ſore diſeaſe that I have ſeen under the Sun, for Schollars to be made as it were the oft-ſcouring of all things and ſome of them ſuch too, …s they of whom the Apoſtle ſaith the World was not worthy. Oh that I knew an effectual Antidote againſt that Peſt, that cruel Plague which firſt and laſt, hath ſlain ſo many hundreds, if not thouſands of Learned and uſeful men. My mind gives me I could ſay ſomething which would ſignify very much (though not all I would have it) towards the prevention of it. It grieves me that any honeſt Schollars (truly ſo called) ſhould at any time want the favor and countenance of Rulers, or that Rulers ſhould want their ſervice.
One while I think if Covetouſneſs had never bin in the World, if it had not bin for certain Ahabs who thirſted after Naboths Vineyard, it had never fared ſo ill with Schollars; whilſt ſome have contrived to add houſe to houſe, and land to land (to heap Pelion upon Oſſa) as if they would dwell alone in the earth: others as worthy as themſelves, by vertue of thoſe contrivances, have bin brought to great exigencies; for if ſome will have all, others muſt have nothing.
Otherwhile I think a great deal of Pride and Selfconceit hath bin the cauſe of this, ſome having thought ſo well of themſelves, as if nothing could be too much, or too good for them; and ſo meanly of others, as if no condition were too bad for them, or as if they could never be filled with poverty and contempt enough, though God knows that the perſons whom they have ſo contemned, and blaſted with ſome ugly name as might be, Diſaffected, Malignant, &c. have ſome of them bin no wayes inferiour to them, if not much their betters upon a true accompt.
Somtimes I aſcribe it to the Diſingenuity of thoſe men who have trampled others under their feet, and devoured them, as the greater Fiſhes do the leſs. I have thought they could not but know that ſome of thoſe whom they have ill intreated, and pluckt the bread out of their mouths, were more righteous …an they; yea, more able, learned, painful, uſe…ul than themſelves were, or could ever expect to …e; I ſay that they who have heaped to themſelves …perfluities, by multiplying thoſe places, which …ngly enjoyed, did but ſupply the neceſſities of bet…er men than themſelves; I ſay, I have ſomtimes …hought they knew all this, and yet had the Conſcience (as they ſay) or rather the diſingenuity to per…ſt in it, as if all were lawfully their fiſh that came …o their net (though drained out of other mens (ponds) and all theirs de jure, or of right, that were ſo de facto, or by actual poſſeſſion, though they ſtar…ed mean time whoſe right it was. Places of grea…er preferment, ſeemed ill to become other men, whilſt the famous Biſhop Uſher (that unparallel'd Oracle of Learning) ſtript of his other enjoyments, was but only Miniſter of Lincolns-Inne? If then notorious Pride and Covetouſneſs and diſingenuity, be …ut reformed by mens ſelves, or reſtrained by others, the undoing of Schollars, that are worthy and peaceable men, is a miſchief that will not return upon the World, nor will the loud cry of ſo horrible and unchriſtian an oppreſſion as that hath bin, ever pierce the Heavens, and pull down the Judgments of God as formerly it hath done. There is not a Schollar (truly ſo called) that is, who hath true Learning, and knows how to uſe it) but might do good ſervice in Church or State, or both, if due care be but taken that his Talents be not miſimployed, and himſelf be incapacitated to do diſſervice (though his Principles may not in all things be commenſurate with the Publick ſtandard.)
That a Church or State may be ſufficiently ſecured, that ſervice, and no diſ-ſervice, ſhall be done them, by thoſe that ſomewhat differ from them in Judgment, and practice, is evident enough, by that great truſt, which hath time after time, bin repoſed in men of skill in Military, and Naval Affairs, who have bin fully underſtood to have had differing ſentiments as to ſome points of Religion, and yet have bin intruſted with thoſe Offices and Places of Command, which have, and do capacitate them to do an hundred fold more miſchief, undiſcerned, and not to be prevented (if they were diſpoſed to it) than Miniſters and School-Maſters in their Sphears can do.
Let as high aſſurances of peaceableneſs under the Government be given by Miniſters, as are required of Officers who have the greateſt Commands either at Sea or Land, and what is lookt upon as Security enough for a greater truſt, may in reaſon be thought not inſufficient for a leſs.
When the work of Schollars is publick, and themſelves ſet as lights upon a Hill, their miſcarriages cannot be hid, and there will be many Witneſſes and Judges of what they ſay, and do amiſs. If they ſhine well there, they need not to be undone, and if they burn, but ſhine not, it is eaſy to put them out, and to prevent their undoing others. It is hard for a Candle to ſhine under a Buſhel, and not burn the buſhel under which it ſhineth; but there is no danger of a Candle that ſhineth in an open place. If Schollars will abuſe that publick Liberty whereby they are enabled to live, and to do good to others, let their penalty be great: He deſerves no Pulpit that cannot uſe it peaceably, and without giving juſt offence. But on the other hand, let them Preach the Goſpel, and live upon the Goſpel, whoſe work it is (and whoſe character, for that work is ſaid to be indelible) if they will but manage it as a Goſpel of peace, and as the Goſpel of mens Salvation.
Let not former Offences be remembred againſt Schollars, more than againſt other men, eſpecially thoſe of which themſelves were never perſonally guilty. If their Fathers (I mean perſons more aged and eminent than themſelves) are thought to have eaten ſowr Grapes, let not their teeth be ſet on edg, their bands made ſtronger, or their yoke made heavier, becauſe of that, for that were to perpetuate wrong to the end of the world, and to make it boil higher and higher under every Change.
It were no difficult matter to lay competent obligations upon all men of Learning and worth, (eſpecially ſuch whoſe expectations are not high, and who would be thankful for that which were really but a competency) which being done, it would become their Intereſt to ſave that veſſel in which themſelves were Imbarqued, and to endeavor the Peace of them in whoſe Peace they themſelves ſhould have Peace, as it is Jer. 29.
To ſecure themſelves againſt Learned men (or ſome of them) as real or ſuppoſed enemies, hath bin the trite Policy of every age, but to ſecure them to themſelves as cordial friends, and to oblige them to be ſuch, were I think, a Policy beyond that; for then might they not only avoid the hurt, but receive all the good that all the Learned men of their time could do them.
All this have I diſcourſed in a very earneſt, but innocent paſſion, for the good of Schollars, as many of them as are alſo good, and peaceable men, and in true compaſſion towards the interchangeable and alternate miſeries which I have ſeen upon Schollars of ſeveral perſwaſions, who are, and alwayes were dear to my ſelf, as good Schollars and good men.
Let Artificers not take it unkindly, that I took occaſion by their being in ſo much employment, to bewail Schollars that are, or have bin out for a long time together, and by the riches they may hope to get, to bewail the deep poverty of many Learned and pious men: We envy you not, go on and proſper, Do worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem, and build the City (though in another ſenſe) as Rachel and Leah did build the houſe of Iſrael, that is, a great and renowned City, as that was a Family; Build up your own Eſtates ſo far as juſtly you may whilſt you Build other mens Houſes; But oh that my head were Waters, and mine eyes a Fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the ſlain of the Daughter of my People. I mean over the condition of Schollars, Learned and worthy men (or many of them) who under moſt Changes and Revolutions, have bin, and are like to be undone.