much Inconvenience. It weakens their Strength; it makes an unhappy Disproportion in their Increase; while not the best, but the most gainful of them flourish: But above all, it diminishes that very Profit for which Men drive. It busies them about possessing some petty Prize; while Nature itself, with all its mighty Treasures, slips from them; and so they are serv'd like some foolish Guards; who, while they were earnest in picking up some small Money, that the Prisoner drop'd out of his Pocket, let the Prisoner himself escape, from whom they might have got a great Ransom. This is easily declaimed against, but most difficult to be hindred. If any Caution will serve, it must be this; to commit the Work to the Care of such Men, who, by the Freedom of their Education, the Plenty of their Estates, and the usual Generosity, of noble Blood, may be well suppos'd to be most averse from such sordid Confederations.
The second Error, which is hereby endeavoured to be remedied, is, that the Seats of Knowledge have been for the most part heretofore, not Laboratories, as they ought to be; but only Schools, where some have taught, and all the rest subscrib'd. The Consequences of this are very mischievous. For first, as many Learners as there are, so many Hands and Brains may still be reckon'd upon as useless. It being only the Master's part to examine, and observe; and the Disciples, to submit with Silence to what they conclude. But besides this, the very Inequality of the Titles of Teachers and Scholars, does very much suppress and tame Men's Spirits; which though it should be proper for Discipline and Education; yet is by no means consistent with a free philosophical Consultation. It is undoubtedly true; that scarce any Man's
