the commonwealth of oceana-第57章
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at ought to be； but what can be； done for the encouragement of this profession。 I could wish I were husband good enough to direct something to this end； but racking of rents is a vile thing in the richer sort； an uncharitable one to the poorer； a perfect mark of slavery； and nips your commonwealth in the fairest blossom。 On the other side； if there should be too much ease given in this kind； it would occasion sloth； and so destroy industry； the principal nerve of a commonwealth。 But if aught might be done to hold the balance even between these two； it would be a work in this nation equal to that for which Fabius was surnamed Maximus by the Romans。 〃In manufactures and merchandise the Hollander has gotten the start of us； but at the long run it will be found that a people working upon a foreign commodity does but farm the manufacture； and that it is really entailed upon them only where the growth of it is native； as also that it is one thing to have the carriage of other men's goods； and another for a man to bring his own to the best market。 Wherefore （nature having provided encouragement for these arts in this nation above all others； where； the people growing； they of necessity must also increase） it cannot but establish them upon a far more sure and effectual foundation than that of the Hollanders。 But these educations are in order to the first things or necessities of nature； as husbandry to the food； manufacture to the clothing； and merchandise to the purse of the commonwealth。 〃There be other things in nature； which being second as to their order； for their dignity and value are first； and such to which the other are but accommodations； of this sort are especially these： religion； justice； courage； and wisdom。 〃The education that answers to religion in our government is that of the universities。 Moses； the divine legislator； was not only skilful in all the learning of the Egyptians； but took also into the fabric of his commonwealth the learning of the Midianites in the advice of Jethro； and his foundation of a university laid in the tabernacle； and finished in the Temple； became that pinnacle from whence （according to many Jewish and Christian authors） all the learning in the world has taken wing； as the philosophy of the Stoics from the Pharisees； that of the Epicureans from the Sadducees； and from the learning of the Jews； so often quoted by our Saviour； and fulfilled in him； the Christian religion。 Athens was the most famous university in her days； and her senators； that is to say； the Areopagites； were all philosophers。 Lacedaemon； to speak truth； though she could write and read； was not very bookish。 But he that disputes hence against universities； disputes by the same argument against agriculture； manufacture； and merchandise； every one of these having been equally forbid by Lycurgus； not for itself （for if he had not been learned in all the learning of Crete； and well travelled in the knowledge of other governments； he had never made his commonwealth）； but for the diversion which they must have given his citizens from their arms； who； being but few； if they had minded anything else； must have deserted the commonwealth。 For Rome； she had ingenium par ingenio； was as learned as great； and held our College of Augurs in much reverence。 Venice has taken her religion upon trust。 Holland cannot attend it to be very studious。 Nor does Switzerland mind it much； yet are they all addicted to their universities。 We cut down trees to build houses； but I would have somebody show me； by what reason or experience the cutting down of a university should tend to the setting up of a commonwealth。 Of this I am sure； that the perfection of a commonwealth is not to be attained without the knowledge of ancient prudence； nor the knowledge of ancient prudence without learning； nor learning without schools of good literature； and these are such as we call universities。 〃Now though mere university learning of itself be that which （to speak the words of Verulamius） 'crafty men contemn； and simple men only admire； yet is it such as wise men have use of； for studies do not teach their own use； but that is a wisdom without and above them； won by observation。 Expert men may execute； and perhaps judge； of particulars one by one； but the general councils and the plots； and the marshalling of affairs； come best from those that are learned。' Wherefore if you would have your children to be statesmen； let them drink by all means of these fountains； where perhaps there were never any。 But what though the water a man drinks be not nourishment； it is the vehicle without which he cannot be nourished。 Nor is religion less concerned in this point than government： for take away your universities； and in a few years you lose it。 〃The holy Scriptures are written in Hebrew and Greek； they that have neither of these languages may think light of both； but find me a man that has one in perfection； the study of whose whole life it has not been。 Again； this is apparent to us in daily conversation； that if four or five persons that have lived together be talking； another speaking the same language may come in； and yet understand very little of their discourse； in that it relates to circumstances； persons； things； times and places which he knows not。 It is no otherwise with a man； having no insight of the times in which they were written； and the circumstances to which they relate； in the reading of ancient books； whether they be divine or human。 For example； when we fall upon the discourse about baptism and regeneration that was between our Saviour and Nicodemus； where Christ reproaches him with his ignorance in this matter。 'Art thou a doctor in Israel； and understandest not these things？； What shall we think of it？ or wherefore should a doctor in Israel have understood these things more than another； but that both baptism and regeneration； as was showed at large by my Lord Phosphorus； were doctrines held in Israel？ I instance in one place of a hundred； which he； that has not mastered the circumstances to which they relate； cannot understand。 Wherefore to the understanding of the Scripture； it is necessary to have ancient languages； and the knowledge of ancient times； or the aid of them who have such knowledge； and to have such as may be always able and ready to give such aid （unless you would borrow it of another nation； which would not only be base； but deceitful） it is necessary to a commonwealth that she have schools of good literature； or universities of her own。 〃We are commanded； as has been said more than once； to search the Scriptures； and which of them search the Scriptures； they that take this pains in ancient languages and learning； or they that will not； but trust to translations only； and to words as they sound to present circumstances？ than which nothing is more fallible； or certain to lose the true sense of Scriptures； pretended to be above human understanding； for no other cause than that they are below it。 But in searching the Scriptures by the proper use of our universities； we have been heretofore blest with greater victories and trophies against the purple hosts and golden standards of the Romish hierarchy than any nation； and therefore why we should relinquish this upon the presumption of some； that because there is a greater light which they have； I do not know。 There is a greater light than the sun； but it does not extinguish the sun； nor does any light of God's giving extinguish that of nature； but increase and sanctify it。 Wherefore； neither the honor bore by the Israelitish； Roman； or any other commonwealth that I have shown； to their ecclesiastics； consisted in being governed by them； but in consulting them in matters of religion； upon whose responses or oracles they did afterward as they thought fit。 〃Nor would I be here mistaken； as if； by affirming the universities to be； in order both to religion and government； of absolute necessity； I declared them or the ministry in any wise fit to be trusted； so far as to exercise any power not derived from the civil magistrate in the administration of either。 if the Jewish religion were directed and established by Moses； it was directed and established by the civil magistrate；
