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CHAP. XLIX.
Of Natural Philosophy.
BUT let us now come to things that far surpass all these, the very Maximes of Philosophy it self, which dive into Nature it self, and inquire into the Principles of things by the means of subtle Syllogisms. Which what Truth they have more than what they borrow from the Credit of their first divulgers and defenders, there is no man that very well understands.
Page 129
The Poets were the first Professors thereof, among which were Prometheus, Linus, Musaeus, and Orpheus•s among which, Homer may be numbred. Now what Truth can that Philosophy afford us, which had its beginning out of the Fables and Gewgawes of the Poets? Which that it is so, Plutarch doth prove, by manifest Arguments, for that all the sects of Philo∣sophers took their Original from Homer: and Aristo∣tle confesses, That the Philosophers are by Nature Philomythi, that is to say, Admirers, or Lovers of Fa∣bles. The Sects of Philosophers some have divided in∣to Nine, some into Ten; But Varro into a far grea∣ter Number. So that should one man Assemble all the Philosophers together, it were impossible to find out among them which Opinion were first to be chosen, or what Sect to follow. So repugnant and differ∣ing they are among themselves about every particu∣lar, maintaining a perpetual War one against another: and as Firmianus saith, One Sect labours to subvert another, to establish themselves and their own Opini∣ons; neither will either grant the other to be wise lest he should acknowledge himself to be Mad. He that disputes of particular Philosophers, delivers nothing of certainty concerning any one; which makes me at a stand, whether to reckon Philosophers in the num∣ber of Men, or of Brutes: for indeed they seem to excel Beasts, in that they have Reason and Understan∣ding; but how they should come to be Men, whose Reason is so uncertain, so unconstant, and alwayes stag∣gering upon various and slippery Opinions, whose Un∣derstanding cannot find out any thing fixed, either to hold by, or follow, is a very great Quere. The Truth whereof, we shall now shew you more at large.
Of Natural Philosophy.
BUT let us now come to things that far surpass all these, the very Maximes of Philosophy it self, which dive into Nature it self, and inquire into the Principles of things by the means of subtle Syllogisms. Which what Truth they have more than what they borrow from the Credit of their first divulgers and defenders, there is no man that very well understands.
Page 129
The Poets were the first Professors thereof, among which were Prometheus, Linus, Musaeus, and Orpheus•s among which, Homer may be numbred. Now what Truth can that Philosophy afford us, which had its beginning out of the Fables and Gewgawes of the Poets? Which that it is so, Plutarch doth prove, by manifest Arguments, for that all the sects of Philo∣sophers took their Original from Homer: and Aristo∣tle confesses, That the Philosophers are by Nature Philomythi, that is to say, Admirers, or Lovers of Fa∣bles. The Sects of Philosophers some have divided in∣to Nine, some into Ten; But Varro into a far grea∣ter Number. So that should one man Assemble all the Philosophers together, it were impossible to find out among them which Opinion were first to be chosen, or what Sect to follow. So repugnant and differ∣ing they are among themselves about every particu∣lar, maintaining a perpetual War one against another: and as Firmianus saith, One Sect labours to subvert another, to establish themselves and their own Opini∣ons; neither will either grant the other to be wise lest he should acknowledge himself to be Mad. He that disputes of particular Philosophers, delivers nothing of certainty concerning any one; which makes me at a stand, whether to reckon Philosophers in the num∣ber of Men, or of Brutes: for indeed they seem to excel Beasts, in that they have Reason and Understan∣ding; but how they should come to be Men, whose Reason is so uncertain, so unconstant, and alwayes stag∣gering upon various and slippery Opinions, whose Un∣derstanding cannot find out any thing fixed, either to hold by, or follow, is a very great Quere. The Truth whereof, we shall now shew you more at large.