they presently imagine themselves sufficient to direct and censure all the Actions of their Governors. And here that is true in Civil Affairs, which I have already quoted out of my Lord Bacon concerning Divine: A little Knowledge is subject to make Men headstrong, insolent, and untractable; but a great deal has a quite contrary Effect, inclining them to be submissive to their Betters, and obedient to the Sovereign Power.
The Science that is acquir'd by Disputation, teaches Men to cavil well, and to find fault with accurate Subtilty; it gives them a fearless Confidence of their own Judgments; it leads them from contending in Sport, to Oppositions in earnest; it makes them believe that every thing is to be handled for and against, in the State, as well as in the Schools. But the unfeign'd and laborious Philosophy gives no Countenance to the vain Dotages of private Politicians; that bends its Disciples to regard the Benefit of Mankind, and not the Disquiet; that by the Moderation it prescribes to our Thoughts about Natural Things, will also take away all sharpness and violence about Civil; the Work of that is so vast, that it cannot be perform'd without the Assistance of the Prince; it will not therefore undermine his Authority whose Aid it implores, that prescribes a better way to bestow our time, than in contending about little Differences, in which both the Conquerors and the Conquered have always reason to repent of their Success; that shews us the difficulty of ordering the very Motions of senseless and irrational Things; and therefore how much harder it is to rule the restless Minds of Men; that teaches Men Humility, and acquaints them with their own Errors; and so removes all overweening Haughtiness of Mind, and swelling Imaginations, that they are better able
