Publick employment and an active life prefer'd to solitude and all its appanages, such as fame, command, riches, conversation, &c. in reply to a late ingenious essay of a contrary title / by J.E. Esq, S.R.S.

TO THE READER.

I Have this Request to make, and this Account to give of the ensuing Discourse; That as it was but the Effects of a very few hours, a cur∣sory pen, and almost but of a sitting, The Reader will be favourable in his suffrage, and not hastily pronounce against the merits of the Cause: I do not speak this to justifie my discretion, that be∣ing Conscious of my defects, I would presume to engage: Let me be look't on but as the Forelorn, who though resign'd for lost, do service yet in the day of Battel, and lead on the rest: I dare assure the most instructed for Fight, that it will be no dis∣honour to be o'rethrown by such an Hero; who, if I discern rightly of his spirit, by that of his style, is too generous to insult over the Vanquish'd; and it will be no shame to resigne our Arms.

I ingenuously acknowledge, that amongst so many Pens as the Writers of this Age

employ, I find not many that are better cut. On the other side, it must be granted, that he has all the Topics and Discourses of almost all the Philosophers who ever writ; and that whilst he declames for Solitude, I am forc'd to tread the most unfrequented and solitary paths; and if for that reason I have not oblig'd my self to the exactest method, I have yet pursu'd my Antagonist, rightly pa∣rall'd and compar'd, who has himself laid down, and resum'd as pleas'd him; nor in these Prolusive and Oratorious Contenti∣ons, is the liberty without good Example: But that which would best of all justifie me, and the seeming incoherencies of some parts of my Discourse, would be the noble Au∣thors Piece it self, because of the Antithesis, and the forms of his Applications. But as I said, I do not pretend to Laurels and Palms, but to provoke some stronger Party to undertake our Agressor: The War is Innocent, and I would be glad this way of Velitation and short Discourses upon all Ar∣guments, in which other Languages greatly out-do us, might exercise our reasons, and improve the English style, which yet wants the Culture of her more Southern Neigh∣bours, and to be redeem'd from the Pro∣vince, without wholly resigning it to the Pul∣pits

and the Theater, to the neglect of those other Advantages which made the Romans as famous for their Eloquence, as for their Armes, and inabl'd them to subdue more with their Tongues then with their Swords: Let us consider it was but their native Lan∣guage, which they familiarly us'd, and brought to that Perfection; and that there is nothing so course and stubborn but is po∣lished by Art.

This ingenious Stranger (for some Expres∣sions and some Words, (yet apt, and well inserted) perswade me he is so, (though a subject of his Majesties) will justifie what I aim at; And the felicity which we have of gracefully adopting so many Languages and Idioms into our own, frustrates all presences of not infinitely improving it: This was once the design of the Royal Society; and as it was worthy their thoughts; so I hope they will resume it: I add not this, as pre∣suming my self to have attain'd the most vulgar talent in this kind: My business has only been the Vindication of an oppress'd subject, and to do honour to Employment: In the mean time, 'twere priety, if at last it should appear, that a Publick Person has all this while contended for Solitude, as it is certain, a Private has done for Action:

But as I perswade my self, if it be so, he has power to Retreat from Business; I protest I have not the least inclination to it, though for want of a better, I have undertaken this.

The Gentleman is pleas'd to call his Book but an Essay; Mine hardly pretends to so much; which makes me presume, be will not judge me uncivil, nor take any thing I have said in ill part, the nature of this War consider'd: But if he shall esteem it so important, and think fit to Rejoyn; I so far promise to assert his Cause, and the just conceptions I have of his rare abilities; that though I would willingly incite some better Pen to wait on him, that I may still enjoy the diversion and benefit of his Dis∣courses, I will for ever be silent my self, and after all I have said here to the Contrary, Prefer his SOLITVDE.

J. E.