_MADAM,_
Concerning the other Book of that learned Author _Hobbs_ you sent me,
called _Elements of Philosophy_, I shall likewise according to your
desire, give you my judgment and opinion of it as I have done of the
former, not that I intend to prejudice him any ways thereby, but onely
to mark those places wherein I seem to dissent from his opinions,
which liberty, I hope, he will not deny me; And in order to this,
I have read over the first Chapter of the mentioned Book, treating
of Philosophy in General, wherein amongst the rest, discoursing of
the Utility of Natural Philosophy, and relating the commodities and
benefits which proceed from so many arts and sciences, he is pleased to
say,[1] that they are _injoyed almost by all people of_ Europe, Asia,
_and some of_ Africa, _onely the Americans, and those that live neer
the Poles do want them: But why_, says he, _have they sharper wits
then these? Have not all men one kind of soul, and the same faculties
of mind?_ To which, give me leave, _Madam_, to add, That my opinion
is, that there is a difference between the Divine and the Natural
soul of man, and though the natural mind or soul is of one kind, yet
being made of rational matter, it is divideable and composeable, by
which division and composition, men may have more or less wit, or
quicker and slower wit; the like for Judgments, Imaginations, Fancies,
Opinions, &c. For were the natural rational mind individeable, all
men would have the like degree of wit or understanding, all men would
be Philosophers or fools, which by reason they are not, it proves the
natural rational mind is divideable and composeable, making variations
of its own several parts by self-motion; for it is not the several
outward objects, or forreign instructions, that make the variety of
the mind; neither is wit or ingenuity alike in all men; for some are
natural Poets, Philosophers, and the like, without learning, and some
are far more ingenious then others, although their breeding is obscure
and mean, Neither will learning make all men Scholars, for some will
continue Dunces all their life time; Neither doth much experience
make all men wise, for some are not any ways advanced in their wisdom
by much and long experiences; And as for Poetry, it is according to
the common Proverb; a _Poet is born, not made_; Indeed learning doth
rather hurt Fancy, for great Scholars are not always good Poets, nor
all States-men Natural Philosophers, nor all Experienced Men Wise
Men, nor all Judges Just, nor all Divines Pious, nor all Pleaders
or Preachers Eloquent, nor all Moral Philosophers Vertuous; But all
this is occasioned by the various Motions of the rational self-moving
matter, which is the Natural Mind. And thus much for the present of the
difference of wits and faculties of the mind; I add no more, but rest,
Madam,
_Your faithful Friend,_
_and Servant._
[1] _Art._ 7.