Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/119

Rh Truths of Things. All Knowledge is to be got the same way that a Language is, by Industry, Use, and Observation. It must be received, before it can be drawn forth. 'Tis true, the Mind of Man is a Glass, which is able to represent to itself, all the Works of Nature: But it can only shew those Figures, which have been brought before it: It is no magical Glass, like that with which Astrologers life to deceive the ignorant; by making them believe, that therein they may behold the Image of any Place, or Person in the World, though ever so far remov'd from it. I know it may be here suggested; that they, who busie themselves much abroad about learning the Judgments of others, cannot be unprejudic'd in what they think. But it is not the knowing, but the peremptory Addiction to others Tenets, that sours and perverts the Understanding. Nay, to go farther; that Man, who is throughly acquainted with all Sorts of Opinions, is very much more unlikely, to adhere obstinately to any one particular, than he whose Head is only fill'd with Thoughts, that are all of one Colour.

It being now so requisite, to premise this general Collection, it could not be better made, than by the joint Labours of the whole Society. It were an intolerable Burthen, if it were wholly cast on the Experimenters themselves. For, it is not only true, that those who have the best Faculty of experimenting, are commonly most averse from reading Books; and so it is fit, that this Defect should be supplied by other Pains: But also it would too much tire, and waste, or at least divert their Spirits, before they came to the main Work: Whereas the Task being shar'd amongst so great a Number, will become not much more than a Business of Delight. Well then, by Rh