Dominion which God has given us over the Works of his Hands. And if we will either answer the Expectations of Heaven, or deserve so high an Honour, we ought rather to manage this Dominion by Diligence and Counsel, than by Chance, or Luxury, or Compulsion.
It is impossible for us to administer this Power aright, unless we prefer the Light of Men of Knowledge, to be a constant Overseer and Director of the Industry and Works of those that labour. The Benefits are vail, that will appear upon this Conjunction. By this means the Inventions of Chance will be spread into all their various Uses, and multiply'd into many new Advantages: By this the Productions of Necessity will be amplify'd and compleated: By this those of Luxury and Wantonness may be reduc'd to some solid Ends: By this may be rais'd almost as certain a Method to invent new Mechanics, as now any particular Mechanics can practise, to produce their own Operations; by this the weak Minds of the Artists themselves will be strengthen'd, their low Conceptions advanc'd, and the Obscurity of their Shops enlighten'd: By this their Thoughts will be directed to better Instruments and Materials; by this their Poverty will be assisted, and they will be enabled to attempt more costly Trials; by this that will be amended, which has been hitherto the Misfortune of such Invent ion's, that they have commonly fallen into Mens Hands, who understand not their Natures, Uses, or Improvements: By this the Conceptions of Men of Knowledge, which are wont to soar too high, will be made to descend into the material World; and the flegmatick Imaginations of Men of Trade, which use to grovel too much on the Ground, will be exalted.
