Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 009.djvu/170

Rh The Seventh hews the Unfitnes, Obcurity and Defectivenes of almot all Phyiological Hypothees hitherto received, and recommends uch, as are clearly and ditinctly understood; and agree with the Principles of Human Knowledge, and with Observations and Experiments. Compare with this Dicourse that of the Noble Mr. Boyle, concerning the Excellency and Grounds of the Mechanical Philoophy, lately made publick.

The Eighth represents the Tyranny of Cutom, epecially if it obtains from our Infancy; which is of that Power, that it maketh Men too often conclude, that what is not Cutom, is not Reaon: Alledging withal, the variety and trangenes of the Cutoms of everal Nations and Countries; and lastly hewing, that as Cutom doth pas into Nature, o Nature may be changed again by Cutom.

The Ninth declares, How much Nature may be improv'd and advanc'd by Art, Culture, Care and good Education; and how much impaired and degraded by the want thereof: As alo, what an excellent Prerogative it is, to have Originally a good Nature, it being far more eay to breed and guard Vertues in uch that are endow'd with it, than where either Nature or Cutom of Evil mut be firt expelled.

In the Tenth, the Author exhorts to the tudy and cultivating of his Mother Tongue, which is the Danih, o as to couch and publih therein whatever is curious and ueful, whereby to polih, intruct and benefit all Sorts and Conditions of Men in the whole Nation, and o to take them off from Idlenes, and free them from Poverty, by giving them the occaion and advantage of Reading, and entertaining themelves in their own Tongue, with what is both divertiing and advantageous in all kind of Knowledge, Recreations, Practies, Trades and Occupations. Rh