the Action, upon such grounds
as were then briefly suggested; who know's but that in time somthing
might bee offered to the Trustees of the Nation, with better conceptions
then these I have suggested.

For, if it bee considered that amongst manie Eminencies of this Nation,
the Librarie of Oxford is one of the most considerable for the
advancement of Learning, if rightly improved and Traded withal for the
good of Scholars at home and abroad; If this (I saie) bee rightly
considered and represented to the publick Reformers of this age, that
by this means this Nation as in other things, so especially for Pietie
and Learning, and by the advancement of both, may now bee made more
glorious then anie other in the world; No doubt such as in the Parlament
know the worth of Learning will not bee avers from further overtures,
which may bee made towards this purpose. What a great stir hath been
heretofore, about the Eminencie of the Librarie of Heidelberg, but what
use was made of it? It was ingrossed into the hands of a few, till it
became a Prey unto the Enemies of the Truth. If the Librarie-keeper had
been a man, that would have traded with it for the increas of true
Learning, it might have been preserved unto this daie in all the
rarities thereof, not so much by the shuttings up of the multitude of
Books, and the rareness thereof for antiquitie, as by the understandings
of men and their proficiencie to improv and dilate knowledg upon the
grounds which hee might have suggested unto others of parts, and so the
Librarie-rarities would not onely have been preserved in the spirits of
men, but have fructified abundantly therein unto this daie, whereas they
are now lost, becaus they were but a Talent digged in the ground; And
as they that had the keeping of that Librarie made it an Idol, to bee
respected and worshipped for a raritie by an implicite faith, without
anie benefit to those who did esteem of it a far off: so it was just
with God that it should fall into the hands of those that in all things
follow an Idolatrous waie, to blinde men with shewes without all
realitie of substantial virtue, which is onely eminent in this, that it
becometh profitable unto all, by dilating the light of knowledg, and the
love of grace and goodness in the hearts of all men, that are fit to
receiv the one and the other; And where this Aim is not in those that
are intrusted with publick places; there they in the end will bee found
unprofitable servants