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

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 causes :-

(1) It is the greatest discouragement and affront

that can be offered to learning and to learned

men,

(2) It is an undervaluing and vilifying of the

whole nation,

(3) It brings disrepute upon the Ministers,

Proof. The fervile condition of learning in Italy,

the home of licencing, .

5. It may prove a nursing 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 loss it entails in hindering
the fearch after new Truth,

Description of the English nation,

The power of Truth,

An appeal for toleration, spiritual unity and peace,

INTRODUCTION.

HAT half-living thing-a book: may be regarded in many ways. It may be confidered in connection with the circumstances which

led to its conception and creation; and in the midst of which it appeared. It may be ftudied, 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 ower and manner of expreffing that mind. The inging collocation of its words, the harmonious adence of its fentences, the flashing gem-like beauty fifolated paffages, the juft mapping out of the eneral argument, the due fubordination of its several arts, their final inweaving into one overpowering onclufion: these are the features, discovering, illumiating, enforcing the mind of a book.

Much of what is in books is false, much only half ue, much true. It is impoffible to separate the tares om the wheat. Every one, therefore-of neceffity-uft read difcriminatively; often fifting and fearching firft principles, often testing the catenation of an gument, often treafuring up incidental truths for ture ufe; enjoying-as delights by the way-whatver felicity of expreffion, gorgeousness of imagination, vidness of description, or aptness of illustration may ance, like funshine, thwart the path: the journey's d being Truth.

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

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