A Seasonable Discourse, Title page – Petition
A Seaſonable DISCOURSE Written by Mr. Iohn Dury UPON The earneſt requeſts of many, briefly ſhewing theſe Particulars
1. What the Grounds and Method of our Reformation ought to be in Religion and Learning.
2. How even in theſe times of diſtraction, the Worke may be advanced.
By the knowledge of Orientall tongues and Jewiſh Myſteries. By an Agency for advancement of Ʋniverſall Learning. Publiſhed, By SAMUEL HARTLIB.
Aprill 24. 1649.
Imprimatur
Joſeph Caryl.
LONDON, Printed for R. Woodnothe, at the Starre under Peters Church in Corne-hill. 1649.
An Extract out of the Humble Addreſſes of the free and Wel-affected People, and Inhabitants of the County and City of LINCOLN. To his Excellency the L. Fairfax, and his Generall Councell of War. Inſerted into the PERFECT DIURNALL. Numb. 296. pag. 2372.
THat ſome Publick Schools for the better education and principling of youth in vertue and juſtice, would ſoberly be conſidered of and fettled, that ſo by not leaving them looſe to themſelves, and their careleſſe Parents (the Laws being deficient to inſtruct them well when Children, though not to puniſh them for it when men) they may not remaine lyable, to be ſcourged for the faults of their naturall and civill Parents rather then their own, as they now do. Beſides that, according to the ſtructure this Generation propounds to build for the next, it may not againe incline to fall by its own weight, through negligence of timely preparing fit materials to ſupport and confirme it.
A DISCOURSE OF REFORMATION.
WEe are upon the deſigne of a Publick Reformation, herein every body is one way or other, if not engaged yet concerned, ſome more ſome leſſe, ſome in a private; ſome in a Publicke way. This work hath been long in hand, many ſtones have been moved about it, much duſt is raiſed in it; and to the outward appearance after all attempts, we are further from our purpoſe then at the beginning; For their is more viſible oppoſition, and leſſe inclination to a ſettlement then ever; ſo that we muſt expect (if God in mercy doth not prevent it) that the Publick profeſſion of Religion (the Sunne ſhine of our ſoul) will be turned into darknes, and the outward Government of the State (the Moone which ſhineth upon our civill converſation) will be changed into blood.
We ſhall not here look backward, to enquire into the cauſes which have obſtructed our hopefull proceedings; for that may beget more, and not cure any of our diſtempers; but we ſhall rather look forward, and after ſome grounds of Councells, which either now, or hereafter (when ever God ſhall make it ſeaſonable) may give to the Maſter-Builders occaſion, to lay the foundations of their building more deeply, and build therupon more ſolidly then is ordinarily intended, or at leſt they may become happily in their hand ſome help towards their work, by preventing or rectifying ſome of the cauſes of our cheif diſeaſes; which originally proceed from Ignorance, and from ſelf-ſeeking partiality.
The Ignorance is of the true aime; and rules of proceeding towards an effectuall Reformation.
The Partiality and ſelf-ſeeking is about the uſe of the meanes whereby that aime is to be proſecuted.
Now then, that ſomething towards the removall of theſe evils, by the ſuggeſtion of ſome poſitive and unqueſtionable principles, may be offeted, in brief to the unpartiall Lovers of Truth and Righteouſnes, we ſhall endeavour to open the matter of theſe two Queſtions.
The firſt, What is meant by the Publick good?
The ſecond, How the Publick good ought to be advanced?
And this we ſhall do (God willing) in a few propoſitions, to the end that ſuch as ſhall be pleaſed to examine ſeriouſly, and lay to heart conſcionably the ſence thereof, may have occaſion (if they will enlarge their thoughts thereon) to draw by their own judgements ſome ſatisfactory concluſions; which may ſet forward the deſignes of that Reformation which ſhould be endeavoured, and wherunto we ſhall herein contribute ſome of our beſt wiſhes.