Some opinions of Mr. Hobbs considered in a second dialogue between Philautus and Timothy by the same author.

THE AUTHOR TO THE READER.

Reader,

IT is not the design of this following Dialogue, neither was it of the former, to make sport for idle peo∣ple: (though if I have written all those Books, that I am appointed to owne, thou mayst justly suspect that I never did, nor do intend any other thing;) but to preserve thee from being laughed at, by all who can distingnish sense from words. For though I cannot think how I should any ways be useful or service∣able to the Publick; yet (I thank God) I have not spent my time so very ill, as only to collect a few Tales and Pro∣verbs to make others merry. Nor was it my design either to please the Church∣men,

whose Office, Power, and Bible Mr. Hobbs cunningly hath disposed of; nor to oblige the Lords and Commons; who may all stay at home, if the Prince take his advice: but it was, if possible, to cure a Company of easie, giddy, small∣pated Gentlemen; who swagger that Mr. Hobbs hath said more for a bad life, and against any other life after this, than ever was pleaded by Philoso∣pher or Divine to the contrary. Now to effect this Cure, (at least amongst some of them) is ten times more diffi∣cult than to answer all Mr. Hobbs's Works.

For in the first place, there be a sort of people who were sturdy, resolved Practicants in Hobbianism; and would most certainly have been so, had there never been any such man as Mr. Hobbs in the World. But when they heard that ill Nature, Debauchery, and Irreligion was Mathematicks and Demonstration: and that he who reported this, was a very grave, studious, contemplative, and observing Gentleman; and yet writ as viciously and prophanely, as their own

vanity and lusts could tempt them to practise: then had these Gentlemen found out a Philosopher exactly sor their purpose, and the Philosopher had sound out as right Gentlemen for his. And these are the sure, the firm, and con∣stant Pit-friends; that clap, shout, and swear all that comes from Malmesbury. And to speak so plainly, as I might be understood, the Devil and the Philoso∣pher have got these people so fast, that I have little hopes of retrieving them.

The next shole that came into Mr. Hobbs, are a sort of small, soft, little, pretty, fine Gentlemen: who having some little wit, some little modesty, some little remain of Conscience and Country Religion, could not tear and Hector it, as the former; but quickly learnt to chirp and giggle, when t'other clapt and shouted: and those were Mr. Hobbs's Gallery-friends; who at first were coy and squeamish, and for a while stood aloof off, and made some little doubt, whether a Taylor's Bill was truly and legally satisfied, when he or his Bailiffs were sufficiently bea∣ten;

but by degrees they came in, and in their kind proved very serviceable. And such as these Mr. Hobbs catch'd by his fame of being a Mathematician, by filling his Books with Schemes, by frequent using the word Demonstration, and calling all kind of vice and irre∣ligion, humane Nature, and obedience to the Civil Magistrate; and the like.

There be ore sort still behind: and they are the solemn, the judi•…•…ious, Don-admirers, and •…•…ox▪ friends of Mr. Hobbs: who being men of gravity and reputation, don't only d•…•…fie the name of Sot •…•…r Villain, but are unwilling to venture upon the more ingenious one of Hobbist: and will scarce simper in favour or allowance of the Philosopher; but can make shift to nod and nod a∣gain; and think that no man but Mr. Hobbs has gone to the Fundamentals of Government or humane Nature.

Now, Reader, what I shall do or say to these men, I know not. As for the great Shouters and Clappers, who are resolved upon their course of life, you'l easily judge, that I can expect to

do but little upon them: they being so resolved, not for Mr. Hobbs's sake, but only out of true and unfeigned love, to debauchery and wickedness. But yet one thing I would beg of them, that if they be thus determined and fixt; that they would e'en stick to the old true new English name of Knave and Ungodly; rather than (•…•…or the renown of being of a Philosophical Sect) to the new one of an Hobbist. For upon my word there is not the least credit and ingenuity in it, more than t'other: but if they be for variety, and that dull, blunt prophaneness won't down with them, but they must have it a little so modell'd and new phras'd, that upon occasion they may plead for't, and ju∣stifie it; let them not go to Mr. Hobbs for devices (but, when they have occa∣sion, devise some of their own:) for his are so weak, so notoriously idle, that they are more scandalous and disparaging, than right down Roguery without any pretence or artifice.

But as for the Gallery-Gentlemen,

most of whom, I suppose, infected by general fame, I have for their sakes, (because I thought them not much at leisure) read over most of Mr. Hobbs's Writings. And what I learnt thou shalt hear. By his Logick I profited won∣derfully: for it was there (and I must ever acknowledge it) that I first was instructed, to call Logick Computation: and there I learnt how to add and sub∣stract Logically: also how to make use of Triangles, Circles, Parabola's, and other Mathematical instances; instead of homo, lapis or canis: and that's, upon my word, all that I found there. Then I went to his natural Philosophy; and there I found the word Phantasm, as thick as ever it could stand; and that space, time, and every thing else was a Phantasm, but not any one thing tolerably explained, but what was ta∣ken out of Cartes, though he denies it. But indeed in those very things, where∣in he says he differs from him, he most exactly agrees with him; (as de corp. Ch. 29.) and knows it not. There is,

I must confess, a good lusty heap of Ma∣thematicks, about the middle of his natural •…•…hilosophy: but Dr. W. has taken such care about them, that I be∣lieve they'l do thee but little good.

I might tell thee also, Reader, of his Humane Nature; which carries a very good Title, and is called the Fun∣damental Elements of Policy: which Title has nothing at all to do with the Book, nor the Book scarce with any thing at all else: his Liberty and Necessity is a little, very feat Book: but there's nothing but a new Definition of Liberty to make it agree with Necessity; and he might e'en as well have made one Definition for Fire and Water. Of his Books de Cive and Leviathan, I need say nothing: because most of this, and the former Dialogues concerns them. And lastly, as to his Mathe∣maticks, I leave them to be judged by others. But only, Reader, let me tell thee thus much, that if in that Science thou preferrest one doting, conceited Fellow, not only before all the Mathe∣maticians

of our own Nation; but also all in Europe (which thou must do, if thou admirest his Mathematicks▪) then I do look upon thee to have arrived to the height of the Hobbian Spirit; and thou mayst e'en continue in it. So that what is in it, Reader, thou hast left now to admire in thy Master. 'Tis a most plain Case, that he's neither Lo∣gician, nor Philosopher, nor Moralist, nor Politician: and upon the credit of others, I'le presume him no Mathema∣tician. Yes, I'le tell thee what he's good for, and truly that's just all viz with∣out doubt, he is a very good English Grammarian; (and those that are skill'd in Latine, say he must not pre∣tend higher:) and knowing exactly the difference between do and doth, which and who, would have made a most absolute, unlimited, irresistible Soveraign of a Country-School; and upon Play days▪ we'll allow him t•…•… translate: he has done Thucidydes well.

As to the last sort of Gentlemen, the

grave and s•…•…ill Admirers: who think no mans Style, Method▪ and Politicks, like Mr. Hobbs's: I shall only desire them to su•…•…er me to tell them where those Politicks lie, viz. he went and read, and considered the Laws and Sta•…•…utes of our Realm: and then went on, and suppos•…•…d that in every place (if there be any Prince at all) he must be absolute and unlimited: whom he mounted so high at last, as that he should not be only sufficiently above all men; but above God himself, and all Religion: (and having given him such a full brimmer of Power and Au∣thority; to be sure he had raised him above our Form of Government:) and this his Prince you take for a rare Prince, and these his Politicks for rare Politicks. Whereas it is plain, in his Common-wealth, there is nothing at all new; but only saucy impudent re∣flections upon the Laws, Constitutions, and Government of our Realm. And don't mistake your selves, he's every whit as much against the Civil Power,

as Ecclesiastical. And suppose that you are willing to excuse him; yet His Majesty likes such money, as is given him by the Parliament; and such Laws as they advise him to make; and thinks himself Prince enough, and is contented with his place; though, according to the strict Rules of Sove∣raignty, and Mr. Hobbs's definition of a Monarch, he can't make Bibles, nor turn God out of the World. As for the rest of his Politicks, they are such as are known to every Dragoon: and when he writ them, as he pre∣tended, for the immortal Peace of his Country; he might e'en as well have put out a Regular System to tea•…•…h peo∣ple how to charge a Gun, or cleanse the Streets.

It is possible, Reader, that thou mayst now expect I should give thee some account of the following Dia∣logue: but I have no mind to't, only whereas some in a Book against Mr. Hobbs might look for close and seri∣ous arguing; thou art to understand

that I was always ready for it, but never could find an opportunity. For when I had pulled a▪pieces Mr. Hobbs's Phrases, and changed his affected words into such as were familiar; I always found, that to confute him throughly, was only to understand him aright. And if, by the instances I have given, others are convinced there∣of, I have my design.