Cause; and now we have good Ground to trust, that these Illusions being well over, the last finishing of this great Work is nigh at Hand, and is reserv'd for this Undertaking.
So then, thus far they did well. But in the second Part of their Enterprize, they themselves seem to me to have run into the same Mistake, for which we chiefly complain'd against those Antients, whole Authority they destroy'd. The greatest occasion of our dissenting from the Greek Philosophers, and especially from Aristotle, was, that they made too much Haste to seize on the Prize, before they were at the End of the Race, that they fix'd and determin'd their Judgments on general Conclusions too soon, and so could not afterwards alter them, by any new Appearances, which might represent themselves. And may not we suppose, that Posterity will have the same Quarrel at these Men's Labours? We do not fall foul upon Antiquity, out of any Singularity of Opinion, or a presumptuous Confidence of the Strength of our Wits above theirs; we admire the Men, but only dislike the Method of their Proceedings. And can we forbear murmuring, if we see our Cotemporaries disdain them, and yet imitate their Failings? If we must constitute a Sovereignty over our Reasons; I know not why we should not allow this Dominion to the Antients, rather than to any one of the Moderns. They are all dead long since; and though we should be over-reach'd by them in some few Falsehoods, yet there is no Danger, lest they should increase them upon us; whereas, if we once hang on the Lips of the wisest Men now living; we are still in their Power, and under their Discipline, and subject to be led by all their Dictates for the future. It
