You are comparing the ancient languages, have made deep discoveries in the change of _letters_, and perhaps know how to write an _inscription_ in as obscure characters as if you had lived above two thousand years ago: or, perhaps you are meditating upon the _Heathen theology_, collecting the history of their _Gods_ and _Goddesses_; or, you are scanning some ancient _Greek_ or _Roman_ poet, and making an exact collection of their _scattered_ remains, _scraps_ of sentences, and _broken_ words. You are not exposing your life in the field like a mad _Alexander_ or _Cæsar_; but you are fighting over all their battles in your _study_; you are collecting the names of their _generals_, the number of their troops, the manner of their arms, and can give the world a more exact account of the times, places, and circumstances of their battles, than has yet been seen. VII. You will perhaps ask, whether these are not very commendable enquiries? An excellent use of our time and parts? Whether people may not be very reasonably exhorted to these kind of studies? It may be answered, that all enquiries (however learned they may be reckoned) which do not improve the mind in some useful knowledge, that do not make us wise in _religious wisdom_, are to be reckoned amongst our greatest vanities and follies. All speculations that will not stand this trial, are to be looked upon as the wanderings and impertinencies of a _disordered understanding_. It is strange want of thought to imagine, that an enquiry is ever the better, because it is taken up in _Greek_ and _Latin_. Why is it not as wise and reasonable for a _scholar_ to dwell in the _kitchen_ and converse with _cooks_, as to go into his study, to meditate upon the _Roman_ art of _cookery_, and learn their variety of _sauces_? *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.