2. That learned and painful person _Renatus des Cartes_, who brought in, revived, and refined the old Doctrine of Atoms, ascribed to _Democritus_, and other of the Ancients, found for a long time much opposition; insomuch that when he lived at _Utrecht_ in _Holland_, the Aristotelian Professors of that University became so inflamed with envy at him, that their Scholars raised the Rabble of the City at the sound of a Bell, to drive him out of Town. And yet this mans Philosophy hath had the luck to triumph in that University, where so much contempt was poured upon him; for _Henricus Regius_, the publick Professor of Physick there, hath published a Book of Natural Philosophy, agreeable to the Principles and design of _Des Cartes_: and is in a manner generally received and applauded; and by the honourable Mr. _Boyle_ much made use of, and by him styled the Corpuscularian Philosophy. So was not that most learned and diligent Mathematician _Galalæus_ imprisoned for seeing more than others could by the help of his Optick Glasses, losing (as one saith) his own liberty in Prison, for giving the Earth liberty to fetch a round about the Sun? And yet now to what great height of improvement are Telescopes arrived unto, and what credit is given to the Observations made with them? though in their birth their first Author and User so much opposed and punished; for all Inventions that are new (as well as Opinions) are in their beginnings opposed and censured, not considering, that all acquired Knowledge, and all Arts and Sciences were once new, and had their beginnings. 3. When _Josephus Quercetanus_ and Sir _Theodore Mayern_ did labour to introduce the practice of Chymical Physick into the City of _Paris_, what cruel censures and scandals did they undergo by all the rest of the Physicians of the Colledge, so that they were accounted illiterate and ignorant Fellows and dangerous Empiricks, not fit to practise in the King of _France_ his Dominions, and so were sentenced by the Colledge, and prohibited to practise? So far did ignorance, self-interest, and blind malice prevail against these two persons, of so much Worth and Learning, insomuch that the former was made Physician to the King of _France_, and lived to see despised Chymistry to flourish, where it had been most contemned, himself to be honoured, and his Chymical Works to be published, and to be had in great and general esteem with all that were Lovers of Learning. The latter likewise out-lived the malice of all his enemies, and saw himself advanced to be Physician to two potent and renowned Kings of _England_, and to have the general practice of the most of the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdom, and to live to a fair old age, and to dye vastly rich. So that even the bravest men, for their noble endeavors for the good of Mankind, have always found harsh usage. [Sidenote: _Mund. subter._ _lib._ 11. _sect._ 2. _pag._ 277.] [Sidenote: Prov. 26. 12.] [Sidenote: _Hist. Magic._ _c._ 14. _p._ 177.]