of human Affairs; seeing his way of Observation itself is so laborious. It is a good Precept, which is wont to be given in respect of all sorts of Exercises, that they should be at least as hard and toilsome, as that Art which we strive to gain by them. And by this Rule Experiments are an excellent preparation towards any habit or faculty of Life whatsoever. For what Thing, which can be effected by mortal Industry, can seem impossible to him who has been ingag'd in these Studies, which require such an indefatigable Watchfulness? What can overcome his Diligence, who has been able to sustain with Patience the Escapes, the Delays, the Labyrinths of Nature; whom the Repetition of so many Labours, so many Failings, with which he meets, and so long attendance could not tire?
Sect. XI. The sixth Objection, That it makes Men regard the Times past, and neglect the present.Another Principal mischief to be avoided, is the Conformity of our Actions to Times past, and not the present. This Extravagance is generally imputed to studious Men; and they cannot be wholly acquitted from it. For while they continue heaping up in their Memories the Customs of past Ages, they fall insensibly to imitate them, without any manner of Care how suitable they are to Times and Things. The Grounds of this Mistake will be worth our discovering, because in Mens Opinions it does so much Prejudice to the Learned part of the World. In the ancient Authors which they turn over, they find Descriptions of Vertues more perfect then indeed they were: the Governments are represented better, and the Ways of Life pleasanter than they deserv'd. Upon this, these Bookish wise men strait compare what they read with what they see: And here beholding nothing so heroically transcendent, because they are able to mark all