terests and Sects may come to suffer one another, with the same Peaceableness as Men of different Trades live one by another in the same Street.
Nor is it the least Commendation the Royal Society deserves, that designing a Union of Mens Hands and Reasons, it has proceeded so far in uniting the Affections; for there we behold an unusual Sight to the English Nation, that Men of disagreeing Parties, and ways of Life, have forgotten to hate, and have met in the unanimous Advancement of the same Works. There the Soldier, the Tradesman, the Merchant, the Scholar, the Gentleman, the Courtier, the Divine, the Presbyterian, the 'Papist, the Independant, and those of Orthodox Judgment, have laid aside their Names of Distinction, and calmly conspir'd in a mutual Agreement of Labours and Desires: A Blessing which seems even to have exceeded that Evangelical Promise, That the Lion and the Lamb shall lie down together; for here they do not only endure each others Presence without Violence or Fear, but they work and think in Company, and confer their help to each others Inventions.
§ XXXIX Experimental Knowledge will not hinder Obedience.The last part of the general Interest of our Nation, in which I will survey the influence of Experiments, is Obedience to the Civil Government; and we ought to be very watchful that they prove not offensive to the Supreme Power; for seeing the King has honour'd them with his Royal Patronage, it is but just that the Prerogatives of his Crown should be no losers by their Increase. It is indeed a common Accusation, which is wont to be made against all manner of Knowledge, by those who have it not, that it renders Men mutinous, arrogant, and incapable of Superiors; but if this be