fequences which muft follow, and he. will foon find that it is as the flattering language of the ftrange woman [in the book of Proverbs] who with her fair fmooth tongue, beguileth the fimple, and leadeth them as an ox to the flaughter. That plaufible and deceitful language leadeth indeed into the chambers of darkness and death. But this subject is fully handled in the excellent Treatife fubjoin'd. I will only propofe to the confideration of all lovers of Religion, Virtue, Science, and Mankind, the few following queries; and every one ought methinks to propofe them to himself every day of his life, as making a fundamental Catechifm. For if the truths, which these contain, are not fundamen tal, tal, man is not a man, but a beaft; religion and virtue are empty names. 1. What is our most valuable part, or what is it that maketh us capable of Religion, Virtue, and rational Happinefs? Is it not our Reafon or Understanding? 2. What then is the nobleft privilege that belongs to man? Is it not the free Exercife of his Understanding, the full ufe of all the means of advancing in Virtue and Knowledge? 3. What is it then that is, and muft be, the chief end of government to encourage and promote? Is it not Knowledge, Virtue, and Religion? 4. And can Knowledge, Virtue, or Religion, be promoted, if the only means of promoting them are taken away? For what are the means of promoting them, but the liberty of writing and publishing, without running any rifque but that of being refuted or ridiculed, where any thing advanced chances to labour under the juft imputation of falfhood or abfurdity? AREOPAGITICA; ASPEECH of Mr. JOHN MILTON, For the Liberty of unlicenc'd Printing. HEY who to States and Gover THE nours of the Commonwealth direct their Speech, High Court of Parlament, or wanting fuch acceffe in a private condition, write that which they forefee may advance the publick good; I suppose them as at the beginning of no meane endeavour, not a little alter'd and mov'd inwardly in their mindes : Some with doubt of what will be the fucceffe, others with feare of what will be the cenfure; fome with hope, others with |
