venture to affirm, that it was in good Measure by the Influence which these Gentlemen had over the rest, that the University itself, or at least, any Part of its Discipline and Order, was saved from Ruin. And from hence we may conclude, that the same Men have now no Intention of sweeping away all the Honour of Antiquity in this their new Design; seeing they employed so much of their Labour and Prudence in preserving that most venerable Seat of ancient Learning, when their shrinking from its Defence would have been the speediest Way to have destroyed it. For the Truth of this, I dare appeal to all uninterested Men, who knew the Temper of that Place; and especially to those who were my own Cotemporaries there; of whom l can name very many, whom the happy Restoration of the Kingdom's Peace found as well inclined to serve their Prince and the Church, as if they had been bred up in the most prosperous Condition of their Country. This was undoubtedly so: Nor indeed could it be otherwise; for such spiritual Frensies, which did then bear Rule, can never stand long, before a clear and a deep Skill in Nature. It is almost impossible, that they, who converse much with the Subtilty of Things, should be deluded by such thick Deceits. There is but one better Charm in the World, than real Philosophy, to allay the Impulses of the false Spirit; and that is, the blessed Presence and Assistance of the true.
Nor were the good Effects of this Conversation only confined to Oxford: But they have made themselves known in their printed Works, both in our own, and in the learned Language, which have much conduc'd to the Fame of our Nation abroad, and to the spreading of profitable Light at home. This, I
