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thors digefted, which they fcarce tafte, whereas, if after fome preparatory grounds of fpeech by their certain forms got into memory, they were led to the praxis thercof in fome chofen short book leffon'd throughly to them, they might then forthwith proceed to learn the fubftance of good things, and Arts in due order, which would bring the whole language quickly into their power. This I take to be the most rationall and moft profitable way of learning languages, and whereby we may best hope to give account to GoD of our youth fpent herein and for the ufual method of teaching Arts, I deem it to be an old errour of universities not yet well recover'd from the Scholaftick grofneffe of barbarous

3

barbarous ages, that inftead of begin ning with Arts most eafie, and those be fuch as are most obvious to the fence, they prefent their young unmatriculated novices at first coming with the moft intellective abstractions of Logick and metaphyficks: So that they having but newly left thofe grammatick flats and fhallows where they ftuck unreasonably to learn a few words with lamentable conftruction, and now on the fudden transported under another climat to be toft and turmoild with their unballafted wits in fadomles and unquiet deeps of controverfie, do for the most part grow into hatred and contempt of learning, mockt and deluded all this while with ragged notions and babblements, while

they

they expected worthy and delightfull knowledge; till poverty or youthfull yeers call them importunately their feverall wayes, and haften them with the sway of friends either to an ambitious and mercenary, or ignorantly zealous Divinity ; Some allur'd to the trade of Law grounding their purpofes not on the prudent, and heavenly contemplation of justice and equity which was never taught them, but on the promifing and pleafing thoughts of litigious terms, fat contentions, and flowing fees; others betake them to State affairs, with fouls fo unprincipl'd in vertue, and true generous breeding, that flattery and court fhifts and tyrannous aphorifmes appear to them the highest points of wisdom; in

ftilling

ftilling their barren hearts with confcientious flavery, if, as I rather think, it be not fain'd. Others laftly of a more delicious and airie fpirit, retire themfelves knowing no better, to the enjoyments of cafe and luxury, living out their daies in feast and jollity; which inIdeed is the wifeft and fafeft courfe of all thefe, unleffe they were with more integrity undertak'n. And these are the errours, and thefe are the fruits of miffpending our prime youth at the Schools and Universities as we do, either in learning meere words or fuch things chiefly, as were better unlearnt.

I fhall detain you now no longer in the demonftration of what we fhould not doe, but ftrait conduct ye to a hill fide, where

where I will point ye out the right path of a vertuous and noble education; laborious indeed at the firft afcent, but elfe so smooth, fo green, so full of goodly profpect, and melodious founds on every fide, that the harp of Orpheus was not more charming. I doubt not but ye fhall have more adoe to drive our dulleft and laziest youth, our flocks and ftubbs from the infinite defire of fuch a happy nurture, then we have now to hale and drag our choifeft and hopefulleft wits to that afinine feaft of fowthiftles and brambles which is commonly fet before them, as all the food and entertainment of their tendereft and most docible

age. I call therefore a compleate and generous education that which fits

a man

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