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10 into Rhetoricians, and wandring Teachers of the Opinions of their private Sects. Amongst the Romans, the Studies of Nature met with little, or no Entertainment. They scarce ever dream'd of any other Way of Philosophy, than only just reducing into new Method, and eloquently translating into their own Language, the Doctrines, which they had received from the Greeks. And it was a long time too, before even that could obtain any Countenance amongst them. For, in the first warlike and busy Ages of that State, they only apply 'd themselves to a Severity of moral Virtue; endeavour'd after no other Skill, than that of the Customs, and Laws of their Country, the Ceremonies of their Religion, and the Arts of Government: Esteeming every Thing that came out of Greece, as an out-landish Fashion, which would corrupt the Manners of their Youth; and allure them, from that Strictness of Discipline, and Integrity of Life, by which they had inlarg'd the Bounds of their Common-wealth: 'Till at length their Power being increas'd, and their Minds a little softned by the Greatness of their Commands, and having tasted of the Pleasures of the East; they were content too, by degrees, to admit their Philosophy. And yet all the Use, that they made of it at law, was only, either that they might thereby make their Speech more plentiful; or else, that when they were at leisure from civil Affairs, they might have that as a Companion, and Comfort of their Retirements.

This was the Condition of Philosophy, when the Christian Religion came into the World. That maintain'd it self in its first Age, by the Innocence, and