of Preferment, to the highest Places of Judicature and Authority in the State. For that many Fraternities were erected, and (as I may call them) Judaical Monasteries constituted. Hence came all the Interpretations on the Writings of their great Law-giver: Which at last grew so numerous, and various amongst themselves, that Christ, when he came, could hardly find any thing of Moses his Mind, in all they had writ: But performed more himself towards the Explanation of the Law in two Chapters, than they had done in all their infinite Volumes. But while they were so excessively busy, about such sorts of Contemplations, the other Parts of Learning were neglected: Little or no Footsteps of Philosophy remaining amongst them, except only the Memory of that History of Plants, which was not written by any of Aaron's Family, but by their wisest King.
Sect. IX. The Philosophy of the School-men.But my other Instance comes nearer home, and it is of the School-men. Whose Works when I consider, it puts into my Thoughts, how far more importantly a good Method of Thinking, and a right Course of apprehending Things, does contribute towards the attaining of Perfection in true Knowledge, than the strongest, and most vigorous Wit in the World, can do without them. It cannot without Injustice be deny'd, that they were Men of extraordinary Strength of Mind: They had a great Quickness of Imagination, and Subtility of distinguishing: They very well understood the Consequence of Propositions: Their natural Endowments were excellent: Their Industry commendable: But they lighted on a wrong Path at first, and wanted Matter to contrive: And so, like the Indians, only express'd a wonderfulArtifice,
