One Thing more I must note, viz. That I do not expect one and the fame Task should serve for all Capacities: Some may be able to do more, others lefs, than I have prefcrib'd; but let all do what they can. The former may read many other Books befides those here mention'd, as they have Leisure, and as their own Fancy or Judgment may lead them: The latter may be content with only fume Part of what is here fet down; or by the Advice of their Tutor, chufe some shorter and eafier Way of getting a moderate Share of Learning, fuited to their Circumstances and Capacities.

Upon the Whole; let the Method prefcrib'd be a general standing Rule, to fteer the Course of your Studies by. Where Exceptions are neceffary, your own Prudence, or your Tutor, will direct you what to do.

Remarks on the Books mention'd in the first Column.

Wingate's Arithmetick. This Book is defign'd for an Introduction to Mathematicks, and is one of the plaineft in its Kind: And becaufe Arithmetick and. Geometry are requifite to a thorough Knowledge in Philofophy, I refer the.n to that Head.

Euclid may follow, or be begun at the fame Time with the former, if your Tutor reads Lectures in it; otherwise let it alone till he does. I fhall not trouble you with the Reasons why I prefer Euclid to any other Elements of Geometry as moft proper to begin with; fee Mr. Whifton's Preface to Tacquet, with which I agree entirely, for other Reasons befides thofe there mention'd. You may, if you have Time, when you have gone through five or fix Books in Euclid, take Pardie's Geometry, and you will be pleas'd to find the fame Things you have learnt before in a different and fomewhat fhorter Method; befides fome other Things, which will be new and diverting.

Wallis's Logick, or fome other, I fuppofe, may by this Time be read by your Tutor: The Ufe of it chiefly lies in explaining Words and Terms of Art, efpecially to young Beginners. As to the true Art of Reasoning, it will be better learnt afterwards by other Books, or come by Ufe, and Imitation. The moft proper Way will be to read reasoning Authors, to converfe with your Equals freely upon Subjects you have read, and now and then to abridge a clofe written Difcourfe upon other Subjects, as well as Sermons. The Conduct of the Understanding is admirably taught by Mr. Locke, in a pofthumous Difcourfe that bears his Name. The Study of the Mathematicks alfo will help more towards it than any Rules of Logick.

Keil's Trigonometry may now be read, but I fuppofe your Tutor to help you. Trigonometry is very neceffary to prepare you for reading of Aftronomy, which cannot be competently understood without it. Some Infight into other Parts of the Mathematicks, particularly Conick Sections, if you have Time and Inclinations for it, may be highly useful, and you may carry on Mathematicks and Philosophy together through the whole four Years. I fuppofe you have fome Notion of Algebra, from the Rudiments of it in Arithmetick; but it would now be very proper to advance fomewhat further in it, for the better understanding the Books of Philofophy mention'd hereafter; for which I fhall name Hammond's, Maclaurin's and Simpson's Algebra, but the former may be fufficient.

Remarks on the Books contain'd in the fecond Column.

Terence is as eafy as any to begin with, and the moft proper, because you must read it very often, to make yourself Master of familiar and pure Latin.

Xenophon comes next, as being pure and easy Greek; and you are to take Care fo to read alternately the Greek and Latin Authors, that you may improve in both Languages.

By the way, let me here mention one Thing relating to the Hellenistical Language: It would not be improper to bring your Septuagint with you to Chapel every Day, to read the Leffons in Greek. I need not add any Thing about the other Clafficks in this Column, the Reasons being much the fame with what hath been obferv'd of the two firft; but read over the general Directions given for the Study of Clafficks, and apply them as you fee Occafion.

Remarks

Remarks on the third Column.

It being almoft indifferent what Sermons are read firft, provided they be good, I have not been curious about placing them. If fome of thefe Sermons may. be fooner had than others, begin with which you please.

A fhort Character of the Sermons is this: Sharp's, Calamy's and Blackball's, are the best Models for an eafy, natural, and familiar Way of writing. Sprat is fine, florid and elaborate in his Stile, artful in his Method, and not fo open as the former, but harder to be imitated. Hoadly is very exact and judicious, and both his Senfe and Stile juft, close, and clear. The other three are very found, clear Writers; only Scot is too fwelling and pompous, and South is fomething too full of Wit and Satyr, and does not always obferve a Decarum in his Stile.

Remarks on the First Column.

Harris's Aftronomical Dialogues, and Keil's Astronomical Lectures, are plain and intelligible, and will give a good general View of that Science.

Locke's Human Understanding must be read, being a Book so much (and I add so justly) valued, however faulty the Author may have been in other Writings.

Simpson's Conic Sections may be read by any one who understands Euclid, and will be neceffary to those who would understand Astronomy. I have also mentioned Milnes's Conic Sections.

Keil is more difficult, and perhaps not to be attempted proprio Marte, or without the Help of your Tutor.

Cheyne will for the most part be very easy, after you understand the two former: And you may join Bentley's Sermons, and Huygens's Planetary Worlds, if you have Time; which will at once improve, and entertain you. Robault's Phyficks are chiefly valuable for the Opticks, which are there laid down in the easiest and cleareft Manner: As to the reft, the excellent Notes that go along with it, are its beft Commendation. You may pafs over many Chapters, with only a curfory View, and entirely omit the three laft Parts, only obferving the Notes at the Bottom of the Pages, which are every where good. Read Defagulier's and Rowning's Mechanicks, Staticks and Opticks, along with Robault, which will very much contribute to the right understanding fuch Parts of him, or his Editor, as are upon thofe Subjects. You may add Bartholin's Phyficks for the Heads of a Syftem. But I fuppofe by this Time you will be able to obferve fome Defects, and correct fome Miftakes of that Author, as you read him.

Remarks