error to the confirmation of truth, how can we more fafely, and with leffe danger scout into the regions of fin and falfity then by reading all manner of tractats, and hearing all manner of reafon? And this is the benefit which may be had of books promifcuously read. But of the harm that may refult hence three kinds are usually reckn'd. First, is fear'd the infection that may spread; but then all human learning and controverfie in religious points must remove out of the world, yea the Bible itfelf; for that ofttime elates blafphemy not nicely, it defcribes the carnall fense of wicked men not unelegantly, it brings in holieft men paffionately murmuring against providence through all the arguments

of

of Epicurus: in other great difputes it anfwers dubiously and darkly to the common reader: And ask a Talmudift what ails the modefty of his marginall Keri, that Mofes and all the Prophets cannot perfwade him to pronounce the textuall Chetiv. For thefe caufes we all know the Bible it felfe put by the Papift into the firft rank of prohibited books. The ancienteft Fathers must be next remov'd, as Clement of Alexandria, and that Eufebian book of Evangelick preparation, tranfmitting our ears through a hoard of heathenifh obfcenities to receive the Gofpel. Who finds not that Irenæus, Epiphanius, Jerom, and others, difcover more herefies then they will confute, and that oft for herefie which is the truer

opinion.

opinion. Nor boots it to fay for thefe, and all the heathen Writers of greatest infection, if it must be thought fo, with whom is bound up the life of human learning, that they writ in an unknown tongue, fo long as we are fure those languages are known as well to the worst of men, who are both moft able, and moft diligent to inftill the poison they fuck, firft into the Courts of Princes, acquainting them with the choifeft delights, and criticisms of fin. As perhaps did that Petronius whom Nero call'd his Arbiter, the Mafter of his revels; and that notorions ribald of Arezzo, dreaded, and yet dear to the Italian Courtiers. I name not him for posterities fake, whom Harry the 8. nam'd

in merriment his Vicar of hell. By which compendious way all the contagion that foreine books can infufe, will finde a paffage to the people farre easier and shorter than an Indian voyage, though it

fhould be fail'd either by the North of Cataio Eastward, or of Canada Weftward, while our Spanish licencing gags the English Preffe never fo feverely. But on the other fide that infection which is from books of controverfie in Religion, is more doubtfull and dangerous to the learned, then to the ignorant; and yet thofe books must be permitted untoucht by the licencer. It will be hard to inftance where any ingnorant man hath bin ever feduc't by Papisticall book in English, unleffe it were commended

and

error to the confirmation of truth, how can we more fafely, and with leffe danger fcout into the regions of fin and falfity then by reading all manner of tractats, and hearing all manner of reafon ? And this is the benefit which may be had of books promifcuously read. But of the harm that may refult hence three kinds are ufually reckn'd. First, is fear'd the infection that may fpread; but then all human learning and controversie in religious points must remove out of the world, yea the Bible itfelf; for that ofttimes elates blafphemy not nicely, it defcribes the carnall fenfe of wicked men not unelegantly, it brings in holieft men paffionately murmuring against providence through all the arguments

of

4