unto them, which by their own Industrie, they may not afterward attein
anie where els, as well as there. Truly it never came into my thoughts,
either directly or indirectly to make Universities useless; nor can it
bee rationally infer'd from anie thing in the matter form or end of that
discours of mine: but I will grant that such as can see no farther then
what wee now ordinarily attein unto; and withal think that there is no
_Plus ultra_ in nature atteinable above that which they have conceived,
such as I saie may frame to themselv's this jealousie against that
discours: but if they would rais their thoughts with mee a little above
the ordinarie pitch, and consider what the Nature of man is capable off:
and how far 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,