Resolution to benefit the Christian Common-wealth of Learning, by their
Collegial Relations and Associations one to another. For if men that are
ingenuous will call to minde the end first, for which God doth give them
all their Talents, and then also for which men of publick Spirits have
erected Colleges and Universities, and endowed the same with long and
competent maintenances; that such as are fit for Studies, and called to
bee Instrumental in the propagation of Truth and Virtue, might not bee
distracted with the care of the World, in reference to outward matters,
but might have all the conveniences which are imaginable to improve
those Talents to the utmost, either singly, or conveniently with others,
if (I saie) ingenuous Christians would minde these ends, for which the
benefit of their Talents from God and of their accommodations from men
to improve those Talents are bestowed upon them: it would not bee
possible for them; to be so unthankful towards God, and avers from the
rule of Christianitie, and from the love of doing good to the generation
wherein they live; that they should intend to lead a Collegial life
onely for their own private eas and conveniencie in outward things; that
beeing accommodated with all necessarie helps of the Bodie, they may
pleas themselvs onely in the cours of their Studies, with that
Reservation and Retiredness, which is proper to a Monkish life in Popish
Cloisters; wherein the Spirit of Mutual envie, of detraction and
division is more irreconcilably entertained, then in anie other
Societies of the World. For their Cloister-constitutions, obliging them
onely to the observation of som formal works as an _opus operatum_; for
which their maintenance is allowed them; they not knowing anie further
design of their life, or any greater happiness in this World, then to
pleas themselvs; bestow all the rest of their time and thoughts, as
their natural inclinations lead them, which is commonly to nothing els
but to self-love and Pride, which became a Provocation unto others, to
discover mutually their corruptions, which by reaction make them all