1not only in laying the Foundations of Cities
and Towns, but alſo in marking out Camps
for the Armies, to inſpect the Entrails of the
Beaſt that grazed upon the Place, and to ob
ſerve both their Condition and Colour. In
which if they chanced to find any Defect, they
avoided that Place as unhealthy. Varro in
forms us of his own Knowledge, that in ſome
Places the Air was full of minute Animalcules
as ſmall as Atoms, which being received toge
ther with the Breath into the Lungs, faſtened
upon the Inteſtines, and gnawing upon them,
cauſed dreadful raging Diſeaſes, and at length
Plagues and Death. Nor ought we to forget
that there are ſome Places, which, though in
their own Nature, they are ſubject to no In
convenience or Miſchief whatſoever, yet are ſo
ſituated, that by the Arrival of Foreigners they
will often be infected with peſtilential Diſtem
pers. And this ſhall happen, not only by
Means of Armies of Enemies endeavouring to
do you all the Miſchief they can, as befals thoſe
Nations which are expoſed to inhuman Barba
rians; but by a friendly Reception and Enter
tainment of them you ſhall expoſe yourſelf to
extreme Calamities. Others by having Neigh
bours deſirous of Innovations, have by their
Broils and Deſtruction fallen into great Dangers
themſelves. Pera a City upon the Pontus, a
Colony of the Genoeſe, is continually afflicted
with the Plague, by their giving daily Admiſ
ſion to Slaves, both infirm in Mind, and almoſt
quste rotten and worn away with mere Filth
and Naſtineſs. Some likewiſe will have it, that
it is the Part of a prudent and wiſe Man to en
quire by Augury and the Obſervation of the
Heavens, what Fortune he ſhall have in ſuch
a Place. Which Arts, provided they are not
incompatiable with our Religion, I own I do
not diſpiſe. Who can deny that what they
call Fortune, whatever ſhe be, has a very great
Power over human Affairs? Can we venture
to affirm, that the publick Fortune of Rome had
not a great Share in the Enlargement of the
Empire? The City of Iolaus in Sardinia, built
by a Grandſon of Hercules, though oſten at
tacked both by the Carthaginians and the Ro
mans, yet as Diodorus writes, always preſerved
its Liberty. Can we ſuppoſe that the Temple
at Delphos, firſt burnt by Flegias, ſhould after
wards in Sylla's Time be conſumed by Fire,
the third Time, without the particular ill For
tune of that Place? What ſhall we ſay of the
Capitol? How often has that been in Flames?
The City of the Sybarites, after repeated Cala
mities, often deſerted and often reſtored, at
length quite ruined, was utterly abandoned;
nay, thoſe who fled from it were purſued by ill
Fortune, nor could they, by removing their
Dwellings and leaving the ancient Name of
their City, ever ſave themſelves from Miſery
and Deſtruction: For new Inhabitants coming
in upon them, all their moſt ancient and prin
cipal Families, their ſacred Edifices and their
whole City, were utterly laid waſte and de
ſtroyed with Fire and Sword. But we need
not dwell upon theſe Things which Hiſtorians
are full of. Our whole Deſign is to ſhew, that
it is the Part of a wiſe Man to do every thing
which may make him ſecure, that the Trouble
and Expence of his Building ſhall not be in
vain, and that his Work itſelf may be perma
nent. And certainly to omit no Precaution
which may effect ſo great a Deſign, is the Bu
ſineſs of every prudent Man. Or will you ſay,
that it is not of the utmoſt Importance both to
you and yours to execute an Undertaking, that
brings with it Health, Dignity and Pleaſure,
and recommends your Name with Reputation
to Poſterity? Here you are to apply yourſelves
to your Studies, here you are to breed
your dear Children and live with your Fa
mily, here you are to ſpend your Days both
of Labour and Reſt, here all the Schemes of
your whole Life are to be executed; ſo that
I do not think any Thing in the World can be
named, except Virtue, which can deſerve more
Care and Application, than to fix a good and
convenient Habitation for yourſelf and Family.
And who can be ſure of having ſuch a one,
who deſpiſes the Precautions before-mention
ed? but of theſe enough. Come we now to
the Seat or Platform.
and Towns, but alſo in marking out Camps
for the Armies, to inſpect the Entrails of the
Beaſt that grazed upon the Place, and to ob
ſerve both their Condition and Colour. In
which if they chanced to find any Defect, they
avoided that Place as unhealthy. Varro in
forms us of his own Knowledge, that in ſome
Places the Air was full of minute Animalcules
as ſmall as Atoms, which being received toge
ther with the Breath into the Lungs, faſtened
upon the Inteſtines, and gnawing upon them,
cauſed dreadful raging Diſeaſes, and at length
Plagues and Death. Nor ought we to forget
that there are ſome Places, which, though in
their own Nature, they are ſubject to no In
convenience or Miſchief whatſoever, yet are ſo
ſituated, that by the Arrival of Foreigners they
will often be infected with peſtilential Diſtem
pers. And this ſhall happen, not only by
Means of Armies of Enemies endeavouring to
do you all the Miſchief they can, as befals thoſe
Nations which are expoſed to inhuman Barba
rians; but by a friendly Reception and Enter
tainment of them you ſhall expoſe yourſelf to
extreme Calamities. Others by having Neigh
bours deſirous of Innovations, have by their
Broils and Deſtruction fallen into great Dangers
themſelves. Pera a City upon the Pontus, a
Colony of the Genoeſe, is continually afflicted
with the Plague, by their giving daily Admiſ
ſion to Slaves, both infirm in Mind, and almoſt
quste rotten and worn away with mere Filth
and Naſtineſs. Some likewiſe will have it, that
it is the Part of a prudent and wiſe Man to en
quire by Augury and the Obſervation of the
Heavens, what Fortune he ſhall have in ſuch
a Place. Which Arts, provided they are not
incompatiable with our Religion, I own I do
not diſpiſe. Who can deny that what they
call Fortune, whatever ſhe be, has a very great
Power over human Affairs? Can we venture
to affirm, that the publick Fortune of Rome had
not a great Share in the Enlargement of the
Empire? The City of Iolaus in Sardinia, built
by a Grandſon of Hercules, though oſten at
tacked both by the Carthaginians and the Ro
mans, yet as Diodorus writes, always preſerved
its Liberty. Can we ſuppoſe that the Temple
at Delphos, firſt burnt by Flegias, ſhould after
wards in Sylla's Time be conſumed by Fire,
the third Time, without the particular ill For
tune of that Place? What ſhall we ſay of the
Capitol? How often has that been in Flames?
The City of the Sybarites, after repeated Cala
mities, often deſerted and often reſtored, at
length quite ruined, was utterly abandoned;
nay, thoſe who fled from it were purſued by ill
Fortune, nor could they, by removing their
Dwellings and leaving the ancient Name of
their City, ever ſave themſelves from Miſery
and Deſtruction: For new Inhabitants coming
in upon them, all their moſt ancient and prin
cipal Families, their ſacred Edifices and their
whole City, were utterly laid waſte and de
ſtroyed with Fire and Sword. But we need
not dwell upon theſe Things which Hiſtorians
are full of. Our whole Deſign is to ſhew, that
it is the Part of a wiſe Man to do every thing
which may make him ſecure, that the Trouble
and Expence of his Building ſhall not be in
vain, and that his Work itſelf may be perma
nent. And certainly to omit no Precaution
which may effect ſo great a Deſign, is the Bu
ſineſs of every prudent Man. Or will you ſay,
that it is not of the utmoſt Importance both to
you and yours to execute an Undertaking, that
brings with it Health, Dignity and Pleaſure,
and recommends your Name with Reputation
to Poſterity? Here you are to apply yourſelves
to your Studies, here you are to breed
your dear Children and live with your Fa
mily, here you are to ſpend your Days both
of Labour and Reſt, here all the Schemes of
your whole Life are to be executed; ſo that
I do not think any Thing in the World can be
named, except Virtue, which can deſerve more
Care and Application, than to fix a good and
convenient Habitation for yourſelf and Family.
And who can be ſure of having ſuch a one,
who deſpiſes the Precautions before-mention
ed? but of theſe enough. Come we now to
the Seat or Platform.
CHAP. VII.