The Reformed Librarie-Keeper (1650) | Page 7

it may, by diligent
instruction, by Method and Communication, bee improved: they might
rather bee induced to make this inference, if the natural abilities of
youths in a School (when reformed) may bee thus far improved: how
far more may they bee improved, when they are past the age of Youth,

and com to Manhood in Colleges and Universities, if namely Colleges
and Universities, could in the sphere of their activities bee
proportionally Reformed, as the Schools may bee in their sphere: for it
is rational to conclude thus: if the first step of our Reformation will
lead us thus far, how far will the second and third lead us? and if
Scholastical Exercises in Youths of eighteen or twentie years, will
advance them to that perfection of Learning and Virtues, which few of
double their age or none almost ever attein unto, what will Collegial
and Academical Exercises (if reformed and set upon their proper
Objects) bring them unto? I shall therefore to eas you, or such as may
have this scruple and jealousie over mee, declare that my purpose is so
far from making Colleges and Universities useless, that if I might have
my desire in them, they should becom a thousand times more useful
then now they are, that is, as far above the ordinarie State wherein they
are set, as this School is above the ordinarie waie of Schooling: for if
wee look upon the true and proper ends of School, College and
Universitie-studies and Exercises, wee shall see that as in nature they
are in a gradual proportion, distant from, and subordinate unto each
other, so they ought to rise one out of another, and bee built upon each
other's Foundations.
The true and proper end of Schooling is to teach and Exercise Children
and Youths in the Grounds of all Learning and Virtues, so far as either
their capacitie in that age will suffer them to com, or is requisite to
apprehend the principles of useful matters, by which they may bee
made able to exercise themselvs in everie good Employment afterwards
by themselvs, and as the Proverb is, sine Cortice natare. The true and
proper end of Colleges should bee to bring together into one Societie
such as are able thus to Exercise themselvs in anie or all kind of Studies,
that by their mutual Association, Communication, and Assistance in
Reading, Meditating and conferring about profitable matters, they may
not onely perfit their own Abilities, but advance the superstructures of
all Learning to that perfection, which by such means is attainable. And
the true and proper End of Universities, should bee to publish unto the
World the Matters, which formerly have not been published; to
discover the Errors and hurtfulness of things mistaken for Truths; and
to supplie the defects and desiderata, which may bee servicable to all
sorts of Professions.

Now according to those aimes and ends, I suppose it may bee inferred,
that none should bee dismissed out of the Schools, till they are able to
make use of all sorts of Books, and direct themselvs profitably in everie
cours of Studie or Action, whereunto their Genius shall lead them; and
that none should bee admitted into anie Colleges, but such as will join
with others, to elaborate som profitable Tasks, for the Advancement
and facilitating of superstructures in things already by som discovered,
but not made common unto all; And that none should bee made Publick
Professors in Universities, but such as have not onely a Publick aim,
but som approved Abilities, to supply som defects and to Elaborate som
desiderata of usefull knowledg, or to direct such as are studious, how
to order their thoughts in all Matters of search and Meditation, for the
discoverie of things not hitherto found out by others; but which in
probabilitie may bee found out by rational searching.
Thus then I conceiv, that in a well-Reformed Common wealth, which is
to bee subordinate unto the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, wherein the
Glorie of God, the happiness of the nature of man: and the Glorious
libertie of the Sons of God is to bee revealed; all the subjects thereof
should in their Youth bee trained up in som Schools fit for their
capacities, and that over these Schools, som Overseers should bee
appointed to look to the cours of their Education, to see that none
should bee left destitute of som benefit of virtuous breeding, according
to the several kinds of emploiments, whereunto they may bee found
most fit and inclinable, whether it bee to bear som civil Office in the
Common-wealth, or to bee Mechanically emploied, or to bee bred to
teach others humane Sciences, or to bee imploied in Prophetical
Exercises. As for this School, which at this time I have delineated, it is