and unknown to the whole world of other men of
Learning; becaus they delight to live a retired and unsociable life:
this humor therefore amongst other parts of our Reformation, must by som
Gospel-principles and Rational inducements bee Reformed, not onely in
Colleges but in other Associations. The Lord teach us the waie of Truth
and Righteousness, that wee may profit in all things to advance the
glorie of his name in the Kingdom of his Son, in whom I rest

_Your friend and servant_.

J.D.

THE REFORMED LIBRARIE-KEEPER.

BY

JOHN DURIE.

_LONDON_,

Printed by _William Du-gard_,

_Anno Dom._ 1650.

THE _Reformed Librarie-Keeper_:

OR

Two copies of Letters concerning the Place and Office of a
Librarie-Keeper.

_The first Letter._

The Librarie-Keeper's place and Office, in most Countries (as most other
places and Offices both in Churches and Universities) are lookt upon, as
Places of profit and gain, and so accordingly sought after and valued in
that regard; and not in regard of the service, which is to bee don by
them unto the Common-wealth of Israel, for the advancement of Pietie and
Learning; for the most part, men look after the maintenance, and
livelihood setled upon their Places, more then upon the end and
usefulness of their emploiments; they seek themselvs and not the Publick
therein, and so they subordinate all the advantages of their places, to
purchase mainly two things thereby _viz._ an easie subsistence; and som
credit in comparison of others; nor is the last much regarded, if the
first may bee had; except it bee in cases of strife and debate, wherein
men are over-heated: for then indeed som will stand upon the point of
Honor, to the hazard of their temporal profits: but to speak in
particular of Librarie-Keepers, in most Universities that I know; nay
indeed in all, their places are but Mercenarie, and their emploiment of
little or no use further, then to look to the Books committed to their
custodie, that they may not bee lost; or embezeled by those that use
them: and this is all.

I have been informed, that in Oxford (where the most famous Librarie now
exstant amongst Protestant-Christians is kept,) the setled maintenance
of the Librarie-keeper is not above fiftie or sixtie pound _per annum_;
but that it is accidentally, _viis & modis_ somtimes worth an hundred
pound: what the accidents are, and the waies by which they com, I have
not been curious to search after; but I hav