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THere are now abun∣dance of Loadstones in severall places so that their too much familia∣ritie, or frequencie, hath brought them into con∣tempt among the vul∣gar, with whom nothing is counted pretious, but that which is scarce. There is no Region al∣most, no Iron-mine,
wherin Loadstones may not be found; that is to say, common Load∣stones of no note, of no vertue; there are few very excellent, notable, and strong. In like sort there are abundance of men in every place; but few noble, learned, and wise: Of Christians, in name and title, there is no small store, and they are very cheap: But of such as are truly faith∣full, and behave them∣selves as worthy of so great a title; there is a great deale of scarsitie and dearth in all places. If any enquire of the place & Region, where the best kind of Load-stones
are bred? In times past Magnesia did yeeld the most famous, from whence it is ac∣knowledged their name is derived: But now in that place, there are ei∣ther none at all, or such as are very barren in vertue; the ordinarie sort are brought from E••be and Norway; but the best and such as are of the strongest sort, are broght hither from Ben∣gala and China, and from those places that are more than usually hot: It is most certaine, that there is not any particu∣lar Nation or Land, that doth perpetually enjoy this priviledge; but as
it pleaseth the God of nature, he doth some∣times blesse one Coun∣trey, sometimes another with this condition. In like manner at Antioch, in those ancient times, the first Christians ob∣tained both their name and Seat; but in Beraea were the most Noble: England is reputed of late, a most plentifull Island, and most happy Mother of holy and lear∣ned men, yet notwith∣standing God hath his freedome, to honour at his pleasure any other Church with this re∣nowned Praerogative.