Fellow of King's College, London; Hon Member of the Virginia Historical Society;
Examiner in English Language and Literature, Victoria University, Manchester;
Professor of English Language and Literature,
Sir Josiah Mason's College, Birmingham.

1. The origin, inventors and object of Book licen-
cing,

2. What is to be thought in general of reading books,

3. The Order [of 14 June 1643] conduces nothing

to the end for which it was framed,

4. The manifeft hurt it caufes :--

(1) It is the greateft difcouragement and affront

that can be offered to learning and to learned

(2) It is an undervaluing and vilifying of the

whole nation

(3) It brings difrepute upon the Ministers,

Proof. The fervile condition of learning in Italy,
the home of licencing,

5. It may prove a nurfing mother to fects,

6. It will be the step-dame to Truth :-

(1) By difenabling us in the maintenance of what

(2) By the incredible lofs it entails in hindering

the fearch after new Truth,

Description of the English nation,

of Truth,

An appeal for toleration, spiritual unity and peace,

NOTES,

AREOPAGITICA.'

INTRODUCTION.

HAT half-living thing—a book: may be regarded in many ways. It may be considered in connection with the circumftances which led to its conception and creation; and in the midst of which it appeared. It may be studied, as exhibiting the moral intent, the mental power of its author. Its contents may be analysed as to their intrinfic truthfulness or falfity. We may trace and identify its influence upon its own age and on fucceeding generations. This is an apprehenfion of the mind. of a book.

More than this. We may examine its style, its power and manner of expreffing that mind." The ringing collocation of its words, the harmonious cadence of its fentences, the flashing gem-like beauty of isolated paffages, the juft mapping out of the general argument, the due fubordination of its several parts, their final inweaving into one overpowering conclufion these are the features, discovering, illuminating, enforcing the mind of a book.

Much of what is in books is falfe, much only half true, much true. It is impoffible to separate the tares from the wheat. Every one, therefore-of neceffity— muft read difcriminatively; often fifting and fearching for firft principles, often tefting the catenation of an argument, often treasuring up incidental truths for future ufe; enjoying—as delights by the way-what ever felicity of expreffion, gorgeousness of imagination, vividness of description, or aptness of illustration may glance, like funshine, athwart the path: the journey's end being Truth.

The purpose through these English Reprints is to bring this modern age face to face with the works of our forefathers. The Editor and his clumsy framework

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