Page:Works of Plato, vol. 1 (Dacier,1701).pdf/14

      A Discourse on Plato but how to die well; and for this end to renounce one's self and every thing else. This is the Idea the wisest Heathens had of Philosophy. This being suppos'd, nothing can be more fit and useful, than to follow the certain, and visible Progress which they made in their research after those Truths, and to see to what degree of knowledge it pleased God to lead 'em. If we don't make such an Examen as this, we can't speak of 'em with Judgement, and without falling into a false account of Things, as it has often happen'd, and still happens every day to the most Learned Men. Whenever they speak of the Heathens, they bear witness against themselves that they never well read 'em, for they have only an imperfect Idea of 'em, for they impute such Sentiments to 'em as they never had, and deny 'em others which they ahd in reality; which is a great piece of Injustice: nay it seems(if I may so speak) to diminish somewhat from the Mercy and Justice fo God, not to acknowledge all the Testimonies he was pleased to give of himself among the Pagans, in those Times that were corrupted with the most abominable Idolatry, in order to reduce 'em to the true Religion. This Negligence is the more blamable; in that a Man needs only to read Plato, to be perfectly inform'd of the extent of their Knowledg: For his Writings have amassed together all the Truths that were scatter'd up and down in the Works of other Philosophers; and with the advantage of new Discoveries of his own, they compose as it were a Body of Doctrine which contains the highest perfection of Knowledge to be found among the Heathens. Let a Man read never so little of him with attention, and reflect upon what he teaches, and he'll easily discern, that God, to stop the mouth of Incredulity, was long since preparing the way for the conversion of the Heathens, which had been so often predicted by the Prophets; for was it not the work of God, and a kind Preludium of their     B2                                   Con-