Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/31

 any Time intermitted? Does any Man believe that the Use of the Load-Stone will ever be forgotten? Are the Turks so barbarous, or so spightful to themselves, that they will not use Gun-powder, because it was taught them by Christians? Does not Garçilasso de la Vega inform us, that the Peruvians would have worshipped the Spaniards as Gods, if their Cruelties had not soon led these harmless People to take them to be something else, because they taught them the Use of Iron and Looking-Glasses? (Whence we may be sure that this innocent and honest Nation never had Learning amongst them before.) Do not we find that they and the Mexicans, in a Compass of Four or Five Hundred Years, which is the utmost Period of the Duration of either of their Empires, went on still improving? As the whole New World would, probably,