It is true, heaps of books is one of the oppressions of the world, and the invention of the Press hath been the exaltation of weakness and vanity amongst men as well as of learning and knowledge. Yet know I no way better to retain the oppressed in this kind, then for men of worth and grown judgements and learning, to appear in books also among the multitude. The time was, when there were (as the Apostle speaketh) Gods many, 1and Lords many in the world, when the world was pestered with Devils of all sorts, in stead of Gods: but the only means of discharging the world of them, was the setting forth and preaching of the one true God, and Lord Jesus Christ: so the furnishing the world with such books, as are books indeed, that breathe spirit and life, and are strong of heaven, speaking with authority and power to the consciences of men, is the only way to affamish the multitude of Idol books, and to have them desolate without a reader. It is (questionless) with men in respect of books, as it is in respect of men themselves (and indeed how there should be any difference between men and books I know not, the book being but the mind of a man, and the mind of a man being the man himselfe) Homo homini Deus, 2homo homini Lupus. There are men that are Gods to men, and there are men that are Wolves to men; and the more men-wolves there are in the world, the more men-gods there had need to be; otherwise the darkness would overcome the light, and make the ⟨image 5⟩earth as the shadow of death. So there are books that are laden with divine and true treasure, that will recompense the Reader, his labour and pains seven fold into his bosom, that will open his mouth and enlarge his heart to bless God, that hath given gifts unto men: Again there are books also that will deal cruelly and deceitfully with men, consuming their precious time & opportunities, taking their money for that which is not bread. Now the more dreamers of dreams there are, there had need be the more that see visions. The more weak, hungry, loose and empty discourses the world is overlayed and encumbered with all, the more need it hath, by way of a counter recompense, of a full provision of solid and masculine writings, that may make men, men; and not always children in understanding.
It is true, heapes of bookes is one of the oppressions of the world, and the invention of the Presse hath beene the exaltation of weakenesse and vanitie amongst men as well as of learning and knowledge. Yet know I no way better to reteine the oppressed in this kind, then for men of worth and growne judgements and learning, to appeare in bookes also among the multitude. The time was, when there were (as the Apostle speaketh) Gods many, 1and Lords many in the world, when the world was pestred with Devills of all sorts, in stead of Gods: but the onely meanes of discharging the world of them, was the setting forth and preaching of the one true God, and Lord Iesus Christ: so the furnishing the world with such bookes, as are bookes indeed, that breathe spirit and life, and are strong of heaven, speaking with authoritie and power to the consciences of men, is the onely way to affamish the multitude of Idoll books, and to have them desolate without a reader. It is (questionlesse) with men in respect of bookes, as it is in respect of men themselves (and indeede how there should be any difference betweene men and bookes I know not, the booke being but the minde of a man, and the minde of a man being the man himselfe) Homo homini Deus, 2homo homini Lupus. There are men that are Gods to men, and there are men that are Wolves to men; and the more men-wolves there are in the world, the more men-gods there had neede to bee; otherwise the darkenesse would overcome the light, and make the ⟨image 5⟩earth as the shadow of death. So there are bookes that are laden with divine and true treasure, that will recompence the Reader, his labour and paines seven fold into his bosome, that will open his mouth and enlarge his heart to blesse God, that hath given gifts unto men: Againe there are bookes also that will deale cruelly and deceitfully with men, consuming their pretious time & opportunities, taking their mony for that which is not bread. Now the more dreamers of dreames there are, there had neede be the more that see visions. The more weake, hungry, loose and emptie discourses the world is overlayed and encumbred with all, the more neede it hath, by way of a counter recompence, of a full provision of solid and masculine writings, that may make men, men; and not alwayes children in understanding.
- 11 Cor. 8.5.
- 2Animus •ujusque is est quisque•.
