_MADAM,_
Since I have given you, in my last, an account how much I did
understand the Philosophical works of both the ancient and modern
Philosophers, or rather what I did not understand of them, you would
fain have my opinion now of the persons themselves. Truly, _Madam_, as
for those that are dead, or those that are living, I cannot say any
thing, but that I believe they all were or are worthy persons, men
of vast understandings, subtil conceptions, ingenious wits, painful
students, and learned writers. But as for their works, as I told you
heretofore, I confess ingeniously, I understand them not, by reason
I am ignorant in their Scholastical Arts, as Logick, Metaphysick,
Mathematicks, and the like: For to my simple apprehension, when as
Logicians argue of natural causes and effects, they make natural
causes to produce natural effects with more difficulty and enforcement
then Nature knows of; and as for Mathematicians, they endeavour to
inchant Nature with Circles, and bind her with lines so hard, as if she
were so mad, that she would do some mischief, when left at liberty.
Geometricians weigh Nature to an Atome, and measure her so exactly, as
less then a hairs breadth; besides, they do press and squeeze her so
hard and close, as they almost stifle her. And Natural Philosophers do
so stuff her with dull, dead, senceless _minima's_, like as a sack with
meal, or sand, by which they raise such a Dust as quite blinds Nature
and natural reason. But Chymists torture Nature worst of all; for they
extract and distil her beyond substance, nay, into no substance, if
they could. As for natural Theologers, I understand them least of any;
for they make such a gallamalfry of Philosophy and Divinity, as neither
can be distinguished from the other. In short, _Madam_, They all with
their intricate definitions and distinctions set my brain on the rack:
but some Philosophers are like some Poets, for they endeavour to write
strong lines. You may ask me, what is meant by strong lines? I answer:
Weak sense. To which leaving them, I rest,
Madam,
_Your Faithful Friend_
_and Servant._