!

ther half his life without being able to eftimate his skill in hydroftaticks or aftronomy; but his moral and prudential character immediately appears.

Thofe authors, therefore, are to be read at schools that supply moft axioms of prudence, moft principles of moral truth, and most materials for conversation; and these purposes are beft ferved by poets, orators, and hiftorians.

Let me not be cenfured for this digreffion as pedantick or paradoxical; for if I have Milton against me, I have Socrates on my fide. It was his labour to turn philosophy from the study of nature to fpeculations upon life; but the innovators whom I oppose are turning off attention from life to nature. They seem to think, that we are placed here to watch the growth of plants, or the mo tions of the ftars. Socrates was rather of opinion, that what we had to learn was, how to do good, and avoid evil.

Ὅτι τοι ἐν μεγάροισι κακόν' ἀγαθόνε τέτυκται.

Of

Of institutions we may judge by their effects. From this wonder-working academy, I do not know that there ever proceeded any man very eminent for knowledge: its only. genuine product, I believe, is a fmall History of Poetry, written in Latin by his nephew, of which perhaps none of my readers has ever heard.

That in his fchool, as in every thing else which he undertook, he laboured with great diligence, there is no reafon for doubting. One part of his method deferves general imitation. He was careful to inftruct his fcholars in religion. Every Sunday was spent upon theology; in which he dictated a short fyftem, gathered from the writers that were fashionable in the Dutch univerfi

then

ties.

He fet his pupils an example of hard study and spare diet; only now and then he allowed himself to pass a day of festivity and indulgence with fome gay gentlemen of Gray's Inn.

He now began to engage in the controverfies of the times, and lent his breath to blow the flames of contention. In 1641 he published a treatise of Reformation, in two books, against the established Church; being willing to help the Puritans, who were, he fays, inferior to the Prelates in learning.

Hall bishop of Norwich had published an Humble Remonftrance, in defence of Epifcopacy; to which, in 1641, fix minifters, of whofe names the first letters made the celebrated word SmeƐtymnuus, gave their Anfwer. Of this Anfwer a Confutation was attempted by the learned Usher; and to the Confutation Milton published a Reply, intituled, Of Prelatical Epifcopacy, and whether it may be deduced from the Apoftolical Times, by virtue of thofe teftimonies which are alleged to that purpose in some late treatifes, one whereof goes under the name of James Lord Bishop of Armagh.

I have tranfcribed this title, to fhew, by his contemptuous mention of Ufher, that he had now adopted the puritanical favageness of

manners.

manners. His next work was, The Reafon of Church Government urged against Prelacy; by Mr. John Milton, 1642. In this book he discovers, not with oftentatious exultation, but with calm confidence, his high opinion of his own powers; and promises to undertake fomething, he yet knows not what, that may be of ufe and honour to his country; "This," fays he, " is not to be obtained but "by devout prayer to that Eternal Spirit that ડ can enrich with all utterance and know

ledge, and fends out his Seraphim with the “hallowed fire of his altar, to touch and pu "rify the lips of whom he pleases. To this "must be added, induftrious and felect read ❝ing, steady obfervation, and insight into all "feemly and generous arts and affairs; till "which in fome meafure be compaft, I "refuse not to fuftain this expectation." From a promise like this, at once fervid, pious, and rational, might be expected the Paradife Loft,

He published the fame year two more pamphlets, upon the fame queftion. To one of his antagonists, who affirms that he was womited out of the univerfity, he answers, in general

L 2

L T O

general terms; "The Fellows of the College "wherein I spent fome years, at my parting, "after I had taken two degrees, as the man

"ner

ner is, fignified many times how much bet "ter it would content them that I fhould

ftay. As for the common approbation or "diflike of that place, as now it is, that I "fhould efteem or difefteem myself the more "for that, too fimple is the answerer, if he "think to obtain with me. Of small prac"tice were the phyfician who could not

66

66

judge, by what she and her fifter have of

long time vomited, that the worser stuff "the ftrongly keeps in her ftomach, but the "better she is ever kecking at, and is queafy : "The vomits now out of fickness; but before "it be well with her, the muft vomit by

ftrong phyfick.-The univerfity, in the "time of her better health, and my younger

judgement, I never greatly admired, but "now much lefs."

This is furely the language of a man who thinks that he has been injured. He proceeds to defcribe the courfe of his conduct, and the train of his thoughts; and, because he has been fufpected of incontinence, gives

an