They have a pretty tragic with known correspondents in some little creek;within that they confine themselves and are dexterous managers enough of the wares and products of that corner with which they content themselves,but will not venture out into the great ocean of knowledge to surveys the riches that nature has stored other parts with,no less genuine,no less solid,no less useful than what has fallen to their lot in the admired plenty and sufficiency of their own little spot,which to them contains whatsoever is good in the universe.Those who live thus mewed up within their own contracted territories and will not look abroad beyond the boundaries that chance,conceit or laziness has set to their enquiries,but live separate from the notions,discourses and attainments of the rest of mankind,may not amiss be represented by the inhabitants of the Mariana Islands,which,being separate by a large tract of sea from all communion with the habitable parts of the earth,thought themselves the only people of the world.And though the straitness of the conveniences of life amongst them had never reached so far as to the use of fire till the Spaniards,not many years since,in their voyages from Acapulco to Manilla brought it amongst them,yet in the want and ignorance of almost all things they looked upon themselves,even after that the Spaniards had brought amongst them the notice of variety of nations abounding in sciences,arts and conveniences of life of which they knew nothing,they looked upon themselves,I say,as the happiest and wisest people of the universe.
But for all that,nobody,I think,will imagine them deep naturalists or solid metaphysicians;nobody will deem the quickest sighted amongst them to have very enlarged views in ethics or politics;nor can anyone allow the most capable amongst them to be advanced so far in his understanding as to have any other knowledge but of the few little things of his and the neighboring islands within his commerce,but far enough from that comprehensive enlargement of mind which adorns a soul devoted to truth,assisted with letters and a free consideration of the several views and sentiments of thinking men of all sides.Let not men therefore that would have a sight of what everyone pretends to be desirous to have a sight of,truth in its full extent,narrow and blind their own prospect.Let not men think there is no truth but in the sciences that they study or the books that they read.To prejudge other men's notions before eve have looked into them is not to show their darkness but to put out our own eyes."Try all things,hold fast that which is good"is a divine rule coming from the Father of light and truth;and it is hard to know what other Bay men may come at truth,to lay hold of it,if they do not dig and search for it as for gold and hid treasure;but he that does so must have much earth and rubbish before he gets the pure metal;sand and pebbles and dross usually lie blended with it,but the gold is nevertheless gold and will enrich the man that employs his pains to seek and separate it.Neither is there any danger he should be deceived by the mixture.Every man carries about him a touchstone,if he will make use of it,to distinguish substantial gold from superficial glitterings,truth from appearances.And indeed the use and benefit of this touchstone,which is natural reason,is spoiled and lost only by assumed prejudices,overweening presumption and narrowing our minds.
