Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/20

 Learning of the next Generation to sink; by reason that they, not drawing from those Springs from whence these excellent Moderns drew, whom they only propose to follow, nor taking those Measures which these Men took, must, for want of that Foundation which these their Modern Guides first carefully laid, fail in no long Compass of Time.

Yet, on the other Hand, if Men who are unacquainted with these Things, should find every Thing to be commended because it is oldest, not because it is best; and afterwards should perceive that in many material and very curious Parts of Learning, the Ancients were, comparatively speaking, grosly ignorant, it would make them suspect that in all other Things also they were equally deficient; grounding their general Conclusion upon this very common, though erroneous,