*A grave _doctor_ in divinity would perhaps think his time very ill employed, that he was acting below his character, if he was to be an _amanuensis_ to some _modern poet_. Why then does he think it suitable with the weight of his calling, to have been a _drudge_ to some _ancient poet_, counting his syllables for several years, only to help the world to read what some _irreligious_, _wanton_, or _epicurean_ poet has wrote?
It is certainly a much more reasonable employment to be making _cloaths_, than to spend one’s time in reading or writing volumes upon the _Grecian_ or _Roman_ garments.
VIII. If you can shew me a learning that makes man truly sensible of his duty, that fills the mind with _true light_, that reforms the heart, that disposes it right towards God, that makes us more _reasonable_ in all our actions; that inspires us with _fortitude_, _humility_, _devotion_, and contempt of the _world_: that gives us right notions of the _greatness_ of religion, the _sanctity_ of morality, the _littleness_ of every thing but God, the _vanity_ of our passions, and the misery and corruption of our nature, I will own myself an advocate for such learning. But to think that time is well employed, because it is spent in such speculations as the vulgar cannot reach, or because they are fetched from antiquity, or found in _Greek_ or _Latin_, is a folly that may be called as great as any in human life.
They who think that these enquiries are consistent with a heart _entirely devoted_ to God, have not enough considered human nature; they would do well to consult our Saviour’s rebuke of _Martha_. She did not seem to have wandered far from her proper business; she was not busy in the history of _house-wifery_, or enquiring into the _original of the distaff_; she was only taken up with present affairs, and _cumbered about much serving_: but our blessed Saviour said unto her, _Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful._
Now if _scholars_ and _divines_ can shew, that they only apply to such studies as are serviceable to the _one thing needful_; if they are busy in a philosophy and learning that have a necessary connection with the devotion of the heart to God, such learning becomes the followers of Christ; but, if they trifle in _Greek_ and _Latin_, and only assist other people to follow them in the same impertinence, such learning may be reckoned amongst the corruptions of the age. For all the arguments against _pride_, _covetousness_, and _vanity_, are as good arguments against _such learning_; it being the same irreligion to be devoted to any false _learning_, as to be devoted to any other _false good_.
A satisfaction in any vain ornaments of the body, whether of _cloaths_ or _paint_, is no greater a mistake, than a satisfaction in the _vain accomplishments_ of the mind.
IX. A man that is eager and laborious in the search and study of that which does him _no good_, is the same poor, little soul, as the _miser_ who is happy in his _bags_ that are laid by in dust. A ridiculous application of our _money_, _time_, and _understanding_, is the same fault, whether it be found amongst the finery of _fops_, the hoards of _misers_, or the trinkets of _virtuoso_’s. It is the same false turn of mind, the same mistake of the use of things, the same ignorance of the state of man, and the same offence against religion.
*When we see a man brooding over _bags_ of wealth, and labouring to die _rich_, we do not only accuse him of a poor littleness of mind; but we charge him with great guilt; we do not allow such a one to be in a state of religion. Let us therefore suppose that this covetous man was on a sudden changed into another temper; that he was grown _polite_ and _curious_; that he was fond and eager after the most useless things, if they were but _ancient_ and _scarce_; let us suppose that he is now as greedy of _original paintings_, as he was before of _money_; that he will give more for a _dog’s head_, or a _snuff_ of a candle done by a good _hand_, than he ever gave in charity all his life; is he a wiser man, or a better Christian than he was before? Has he more overcome the world, or is he more devoted to God, than when his soul was locked up with his money? Alas! his heart is in the same false satisfaction; he is in the same state of ignorance, is as far from the true good, as much separated from God, as he whose soul is cleaving to the dust; he lives in the same vanity, and must die in the same misery, as he that lives and dies in _foppery_ or covetousness.