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.