The excellency of theology compar'd with natural philosophy (as both are objects of men's study) / discours'd of in a letter to a friend by T.H.R.B.E. ... ; to which are annex'd some occasional thouhts about the excellency and grounds of the mechanical hypothesis / by the same author.
         Boyle, Robert, 1627-1691.
      
       
         
           1674
        
      
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             The excellency of theology compar'd with natural philosophy (as both are objects of men's study) / discours'd of in a letter to a friend by T.H.R.B.E. ... ; to which are annex'd some occasional thouhts about the excellency and grounds of the mechanical hypothesis / by the same author.
             Boyle, Robert, 1627-1691.
          
           [32], 232, [6], 40 p.
           
             Printed by T.N. for Henry Herringman ...,
             London :
             1674.
          
           
             "About the excellency and ground of the mechanical hypothesis" has special t.p. and separate paging.
             "T.H.R.B.E." is the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq.
             Errata: p.[8] at beginning; p. [1] before About the excellency and ground of the mechanical hypothesis.
             Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminiary Library, New York.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Faith and reason.
           Matter -- Constitution.
           Physics -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           THE
           EXCELLENCY
           OF
           THEOLOGY
           ,
           COMPAR'D
           WITH
           NATURAL
           PHILOSOPHY
           ,
           (
           as
           both
           are
           Objects
           of
           Men's
           Study
           .
           )
        
         
           Discours'd
           of
           In
           a
           LETTER
           to
           a
           Friend
           .
        
         
           By
           T.
           H.
           
             R.
             B.
          
           E.
           Fellow
           of
           the
           
             Royal
             Society
          
           .
        
         
           To
           which
           are
           annex'd
           Some
           Occasional
           Thoughts
           about
           the
           EXCELLENCY
           and
           GROUNDS
           Of
           the
           MECHANICAL
           HYPOTHESIS
           .
        
         
           By
           the
           same
           Author
           .
        
         
           Felicitatem
           Philosophi
           quaerunt
           ;
           Theologi
           inveniunt
           ;
           soli
           Religiosi
           possi●ent
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             T.
             N.
          
           for
           
             Henry
             Herringman
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Anchor
           in
           the
           
             Lower
             Walk
          
           of
           the
           
             New
             Exchange
          
           .
           1674.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
           
             
             
             
               The
               PUBLISHER's
               Advertisement
               to
               the
               Reader
               .
            
             
               WHen
               I
               shall
               have
               told
               the
               Reader
               ,
               that
               the
               following
               Discourse
               was
               written
               in
               the
               year
               1665
               ,
               while
               the
               Authour
               ,
               to
               avoid
               the
               great
               Plague
               that
               then
               rag'd
               in
               London
               ,
               was
               reduc'd
               with
               many
               others
               to
               go
               into
               the
               Countrey
               ,
               and
               frequently
               to
               pass
               from
               place
               to
               place
               ,
               unaccompanied
               with
               most
               of
               his
               Books
               ;
               it
               will
               not
               ,
               I
               presume
               ,
               be
               thought
               strange
               ,
               that
               in
               the
               mention
               of
               some
               things
               taken
               from
               other
               Writers
               ,
               
               as
               his
               memory
               suggested
               them
               ,
               he
               did
               not
               annex
               in
               the
               Margent
               the
               precise
               places
               that
               are
               referr'd
               to
               .
               And
               ,
               upon
               the
               same
               score
               ,
               it
               ought
               not
               to
               seem
               strange
               ,
               that
               he
               has
               not
               mention'd
               some
               late
               Discoveries
               and
               Books
               that
               might
               have
               been
               pertinently
               taken
               notice
               of
               ,
               and
               would
               well
               have
               accommodated
               some
               parts
               of
               his
               Discourse
               ;
               since
               things
               that
               may
               thus
               seem
               to
               have
               been
               omitted
               ,
               are
               of
               too
               recent
               a
               Date
               to
               have
               been
               known
               to
               him
               when
               He
               writ
               .
               But
               if
               it
               be
               demanded
               ,
               why
               then
               a
               Discourse
               finished
               so
               long
               ago
               ,
               did
               not
               come
               abroad
               much
               sooner
               ?
               I
               must
               acquaint
               the
               Reader
               ,
               That
               't
               was
               chiefly
               his
               real
               Concern
               for
               the
               welfare
               of
               the
               Study
               he
               seems
               to
               depreciate
               ,
               that
               kept
               
               these
               Papers
               so
               long
               by
               him
               .
               For
               he
               resisted
               for
               several
               years
               the
               desires
               of
               Persons
               that
               have
               much
               power
               with
               him
               ,
               and
               suppress'd
               the
               following
               Discourse
               ,
               whilst
               he
               fear'd
               it
               might
               be
               misapply'd
               by
               some
               Enemies
               to
               Experimental
               Philosophy
               ,
               that
               then
               made
               a
               noise
               against
               it
               ,
               without
               suffering
               these
               Papers
               to
               come
               abroad
               ,
               till
               the
               Addresses
               and
               Encomiums
               of
               many
               eminent
               Forreign
               Virtuosi
               ,
               and
               their
               desire
               to
               be
               admitted
               into
               the
               
                 Royal
                 Society
              
               ,
               had
               sufficiently
               manifested
               ,
               how
               little
               its
               Reputation
               was
               prejudic'd
               ,
               or
               like
               to
               be
               endanger'd
               ,
               by
               the
               attempts
               of
               some
               envious
               or
               misinform'd
               Persons
               .
               And
               to
               this
               Reason
               must
               be
               added
               the
               Authors
               backwardness
               to
               venture
               abroad
               a
               Discourse
               of
               an
               
               unusual
               Nature
               ,
               on
               which
               account
               ,
               among
               others
               ,
               he
               declin'd
               to
               have
               his
               Name
               prefix'd
               to
               it
               ;
               though
               ,
               now
               the
               Book
               is
               Printed
               ,
               he
               finds
               cause
               to
               fear
               ,
               that
               't
               will
               not
               be
               long
               conceal'd
               ;
               since
               he
               meets
               with
               some
               Marginal
               References
               to
               other
               Tracts
               of
               His
               ,
               which
               (
               these
               Papers
               having
               long
               lain
               by
               him
               )
               he
               forgot
               to
               have
               been
               set
               down
               for
               private
               use
               ,
               and
               which
               should
               not
               have
               been
               expos'd
               to
               publick
               view
               .
            
             
          
           
             
             
               ERRATA
               .
            
             
               IN
               the
               Author's
               Preface
               ,
               p.
               13.
               l.
               7
               ,
               8.
               for
               somewhat
               ,
               r.
               much
               .
               In
               the
               Introduction
               ,
               p.
               2.
               l.
               18.
               point
               thus
               ,
               
                 else
                 ;
                 our
              
               .
               In
               the
               Book
               ,
               p.
               51.
               l.
               17.
               for
               Corpuscularium
               ,
               r.
               Corpuscularian
               .
               p
               ,
               75.
               l.
               2.
               for
               he
               ,
               r.
               we
               .
               p.
               114.
               l.
               3.
               r.
               Theology
               for
               Philosophy
               .
               p.
               133.
               l.
               10.
               r.
               
                 yet
                 many
                 of
              
               .
               ibid.
               l.
               19.
               r.
               
                 else
                 do
                 but.
              
               p.
               171.
               l.
               ult
               .
               for
               of
               .
               r.
               or
               .
               p.
               172.
               l.
               28.
               for
               indeed
               ,
               r.
               
                 't
                 will
                 perhaps
                 he
                 said
                 that
              
               .
               p.
               201.
               l.
               12.
               point
               thus
               ;
               
                 Predecessors
                 ,
                 did
                 unanimously
                 teach
              
               .
            
          
           
             
             
               The
               Author's
               PREFACE
               .
            
             
               I
               Am
               not
               so
               little
               acquainted
               with
               the
               Temper
               of
               this
               Age
               ,
               and
               of
               the
               Persons
               that
               are
               likeliest
               to
               be
               Perusers
               of
               the
               following
               Tract
               ,
               as
               not
               to
               foresee
               it
               to
               be
               probable
               enough
               ,
               that
               Some
               will
               ask
               ,
               For
               what
               Reason
               a
               Discourse
               of
               this
               Nature
               was
               written
               at
               all
               ;
               and
               that
               Others
               will
               be
               displeas'd
               that
               it
               has
               been
               written
               by
               Me.
               
            
             
               Those
               that
               would
               know
               ,
               by
               what
               Inducements
               my
               Pen
               was
               engag'd
               on
               this
               Subject
               ,
               may
               be
               in
               great
               part
               inform'd
               
               by
               the
               Epistle
               it self
               ,
               in
               divers
               places
               whereof
               ,
               as
               especially
               about
               the
               Beginning
               ,
               and
               at
               the
               Close
               ,
               the
               Motives
               that
               invited
               me
               to
               put
               Pen
               to
               Paper
               are
               sufficiently
               express'd
               .
               And
               though
               several
               of
               those
               Things
               are
               peculiarly
               apply'd
               ,
               and
               (
               if
               I
               may
               so
               speak
               )
               appropriated
               to
               the
               Person
               the
               Letter
               is
               address'd
               to
               ;
               yet
               that
               Undervaluation
               ,
               I
               would
               disswade
               Him
               from
               ,
               of
               the
               Study
               of
               Things
               Sacred
               ,
               is
               not
               His
               fault
               alone
               ,
               but
               is
               grown
               so
               rise
               among
               many
               (
               otherwise
               Ingenious
               )
               Persons
               ,
               especially
               Studiers
               of
               Physicks
               ,
               that
               I
               wish
               the
               ensuing
               Discourse
               were
               much
               less
               seasonable
               than
               I
               fear
               it
               is
               .
            
             
               But
               I
               doubt
               ,
               that
               some
               Readers
               ,
               who
               would
               not
               
               think
               a
               Discourse
               of
               this
               Nature
               Needless
               or
               Useless
               ,
               may
               yet
               not
               be
               pleased
               at
               its
               being
               written
               by
               One
               ,
               whom
               they
               imagine
               the
               Acceptance
               his
               Endeavours
               have
               met
               with
               ,
               ought
               to
               oblige
               to
               spend
               his
               whole
               Time
               in
               Cultivating
               that
               Natural
               Philosophy
               ,
               which
               in
               this
               Letter
               he
               would
               perswade
               to
               quit
               the
               Precedency
               ,
               they
               think
               it
               may
               well
               challenge
               ,
               before
               all
               other
               sorts
               of
               Learning
               .
            
             
               I
               am
               not
               unsensible
               of
               the
               favourable
               Reception
               that
               the
               Philosophical
               Papers
               I
               have
               hitherto
               ventured
               Abroad
               ,
               have
               had
               the
               Happiness
               to
               receive
               from
               the
               Curious
               :
               But
               I
               hope
               ,
               they
               will
               not
               be
               displeas'd
               ,
               if
               I
               represent
               ,
               that
               I
               am
               no
               Lecturer
               or
               Professor
               of
               Physicks
               ,
               nor
               have
               ever
               
               engag'd
               my self
               by
               any
               Promise
               made
               to
               the
               Publick
               ,
               to
               confine
               my self
               ,
               never
               to
               write
               of
               any
               other
               Subject
               ;
               nor
               is
               it
               Reasonable
               ,
               that
               what
               I
               did
               or
               may
               write
               ,
               to
               gratifie
               other
               mens
               Curiosity
               ,
               should
               deprive
               me
               of
               mine
               own
               Liberty
               ,
               and
               Confine
               me
               to
               One
               Subject
               ;
               especially
               since
               there
               are
               divers
               Persons
               ,
               for
               whom
               I
               have
               a
               great
               Esteem
               and
               Kindness
               ,
               who
               think
               they
               have
               as
               much
               Right
               to
               solicit
               me
               for
               Composures
               of
               the
               Nature
               of
               this
               ,
               that
               They
               will
               now
               have
               to
               go
               abroad
               ,
               as
               the
               Virtuosi
               have
               to
               exact
               of
               me
               Physiological
               Pieces
               .
               And
               though
               I
               be
               not
               ignorant
               ,
               that
               (
               in
               particular
               )
               the
               following
               Discourse
               ,
               which
               seems
               to
               depreciate
               the
               Study
               of
               Nature
               ,
               may
               at
               first
               
               sight
               appear
               somewhat
               improper
               for
               a
               Person
               ,
               that
               has
               purposely
               written
               to
               show
               the
               Excellence
               and
               Usefulness
               of
               it
               ;
               yet
               I
               confess
               ,
               that
               ,
               upon
               a
               more
               Attentive
               Consideration
               of
               the
               Matter
               ,
               I
               cannot
               Reject
               ,
               no
               ,
               nor
               Resist
               ,
               Their
               Reasons
               ,
               who
               are
               of
               a
               quite
               differing
               Judgment
               .
            
             
               And
               1.
               
               My
               Condition
               ,
               and
               my
               being
               a
               Secular
               Person
               (
               as
               they
               speak
               )
               are
               look'd
               upon
               as
               Circumstances
               that
               may
               advantage
               an
               Author
               that
               is
               to
               write
               upon
               such
               a
               Subject
               as
               I
               have
               handled
               .
               I
               need
               not
               tell
               you
               ,
               that
               as
               to
               Religious
               Books
               in
               general
               ,
               it
               has
               been
               observ'd
               ,
               that
               those
               penn'd
               by
               Lay-men
               ,
               and
               especially
               Gentlemen
               ,
               have
               (
               
                 caeteris
                 paribus
              
               )
               been
               better
               entertain'd
               ,
               and
               more
               effectual
               
               than
               those
               of
               Ecclesiasticks
               :
               And
               indeed
               't
               is
               no
               great
               wonder
               ,
               that
               Exhortations
               to
               Piety
               ,
               and
               Disswasions
               from
               Vice
               ,
               and
               from
               the
               Lusts
               and
               Vanities
               of
               the
               World
               ,
               should
               be
               the
               more
               prevalent
               for
               being
               press'd
               by
               Those
               ,
               who
               have
               ,
               and
               yet
               decline
               ,
               the
               Opportunities
               to
               enjoy
               plentifully
               Themselves
               the
               pleasures
               They
               disswade
               Others
               from
               .
               And
               (
               to
               come
               yet
               closer
               to
               our
               present
               purpose
               )
               though
               I
               will
               not
               venture
               to
               say
               with
               an
               excellent
               Divine
               ,
               That
               what
               ever
               comes
               out
               of
               the
               Pulpit
               ,
               does
               with
               many
               pass
               but
               for
               
                 the
                 foolishness
                 of
                 Preaching
              
               ;
               yet
               it
               cannot
               well
               be
               deni'd
               ,
               but
               that
               if
               all
               other
               Circumstances
               be
               equal
               ,
               He
               is
               the
               fittest
               to
               commend
               Divinity
               ,
               whose
               
               Profession
               It
               is
               not
               ;
               and
               That
               it
               will
               somewhat
               add
               to
               the
               Reputation
               of
               almost
               any
               Study
               ,
               and
               consequently
               to
               that
               of
               things
               Divine
               ,
               That
               't
               is
               prais'd
               and
               preferr'd
               by
               Those
               ,
               whose
               Condition
               and
               Course
               of
               Life
               exempting
               them
               from
               being
               of
               any
               particular
               Calling
               in
               the
               Common-wealth
               of
               Learning
               ,
               frees
               Them
               from
               the
               usual
               Temptations
               to
               Partiality
               to
               this
               or
               that
               sort
               of
               Study
               ,
               which
               Others
               may
               be
               engag'd
               to
               magnifie
               ,
               because
               't
               is
               their
               Trade
               or
               their
               Interest
               ,
               or
               because
               't
               is
               Expected
               from
               them
               ;
               whereas
               these
               Gentlemen
               are
               oblig'd
               to
               commend
               it
               ,
               onely
               because
               they
               really
               Love
               and
               Value
               it
               .
            
             
               But
               there
               is
               another
               thing
               
               that
               seems
               to
               make
               it
               yet
               more
               fit
               ,
               that
               a
               Treatise
               on
               such
               a
               Subject
               should
               be
               Penn'd
               by
               the
               Authour
               of
               This
               :
               For
               profess'd
               Divines
               are
               suppos'd
               to
               be
               busied
               about
               Studies
               ,
               that
               even
               by
               their
               being
               of
               an
               Higher
               ,
               are
               confess'd
               to
               be
               of
               Another
               ,
               Nature
               ,
               than
               those
               that
               treat
               of
               things
               Corporeal
               .
               And
               since
               it
               may
               be
               observ'd
               ,
               that
               there
               is
               scarce
               any
               sort
               of
               Learned
               men
               ,
               that
               is
               more
               apt
               to
               undervalue
               those
               that
               are
               vers'd
               onely
               in
               other
               parts
               of
               Knowledge
               ,
               than
               many
               of
               our
               Modern
               Naturalists
               ,
               (
               who
               are
               conscious
               of
               the
               Excellency
               of
               the
               Science
               they
               Cultivate
               ,
               )
               't
               is
               much
               to
               be
               fear'd
               ,
               that
               what
               would
               be
               said
               of
               the
               Preeminences
               of
               Divinity
               above
               Physiology
               
               by
               Preachers
               (
               in
               whom
               the
               Study
               of
               the
               Latter
               is
               thought
               either
               but
               a
               Preparatory
               thing
               ,
               or
               an
               Excursion
               )
               would
               be
               look'd
               upon
               as
               the
               Decision
               of
               an
               Incompetent
               ,
               as
               well
               as
               Interressed
               ,
               Judge
               ;
               and
               their
               undervaluations
               of
               the
               Advantages
               of
               the
               study
               of
               the
               Creatures
               ,
               would
               be
               (
               as
               their
               depreciating
               the
               Enjoyment
               of
               the
               Creatures
               too
               often
               is
               ,
               )
               thought
               ,
               to
               proceed
               but
               from
               their
               not
               having
               had
               sufficient
               opportunities
               to
               relish
               the
               pleasures
               of
               them
               .
               But
               these
               Prejudices
               will
               not
               lie
               against
               a
               Person
               ,
               who
               has
               made
               the
               Indagation
               of
               Nature
               somewhat
               more
               than
               a
               Parergon
               ,
               and
               having
               by
               a
               not-lazie
               nor
               short
               Enquiry
               manifested
               ,
               how
               much
               He
               loves
               and
               can
               relish
               the
               Delight
               
               It
               affords
               ,
               has
               had
               the
               good
               Fortune
               to
               make
               some
               Discoveries
               in
               it
               ,
               and
               the
               Honour
               to
               have
               them
               Publickly
               ,
               and
               but
               too
               Complementally
               ,
               taken
               notice
               of
               by
               the
               Virtuosi
               .
               And
               it
               may
               be
               not
               Impertinent
               to
               add
               ,
               that
               those
               who
               make
               Natural
               Philosophy
               their
               Mistris
               ,
               will
               probably
               be
               the
               less
               offended
               to
               find
               her
               in
               this
               Tract
               represented
               ,
               if
               not
               as
               an
               Handmaid
               to
               Divinity
               ,
               yet
               as
               a
               Lady
               of
               a
               lower
               Rank
               ;
               because
               the
               Inferiority
               of
               the
               Study
               of
               Nature
               is
               maintain'd
               by
               a
               Person
               ,
               who
               ,
               even
               whilst
               he
               asserts
               it
               ,
               continues
               (
               if
               not
               a
               Passionate
               )
               an
               Assiduous
               Courter
               of
               Nature
               :
               So
               that
               ,
               as
               far
               as
               his
               Example
               can
               reach
               ,
               it
               may
               show
               ,
               that
               as
               on
               the
               one
               side
               a
               man
               need
               not
               
               be
               acquainted
               with
               ,
               or
               unfit
               to
               relish
               ,
               the
               Lessons
               taught
               us
               in
               the
               Book
               of
               the
               Creatures
               ,
               to
               think
               them
               less
               Excellent
               than
               those
               ,
               that
               may
               be
               learned
               in
               the
               Book
               of
               the
               Scriptures
               ;
               so
               on
               the
               other
               side
               ,
               the
               Preference
               of
               this
               last
               Book
               is
               very
               consistent
               with
               an
               high
               Esteem
               and
               an
               Assiduous
               Study
               of
               the
               first
               .
            
             
               And
               if
               any
               should
               here
               object
               ,
               that
               there
               are
               some
               Passages
               ,
               (
               which
               I
               hope
               are
               but
               very
               few
               )
               that
               seem
               a
               little
               too
               unfavourable
               to
               the
               Study
               of
               Natural
               things
               ;
               I
               might
               alledge
               for
               my
               excuse
               the
               great
               difficulty
               that
               there
               must
               be
               in
               comparing
               two
               sorts
               of
               Studies
               ,
               both
               of
               which
               a
               man
               much
               esteems
               ,
               so
               
               to
               behave
               ones
               self
               ,
               as
               to
               split
               a
               hair
               between
               them
               ,
               and
               never
               offend
               either
               of
               them
               :
               But
               I
               will
               rather
               represent
               ,
               that
               in
               such
               kind
               of
               Discourses
               as
               the
               ensuing
               ,
               it
               may
               justly
               be
               hop'd
               ,
               that
               equitable
               Readers
               will
               consider
               ,
               not
               onely
               what
               is
               said
               ,
               but
               on
               what
               occasion
               ,
               and
               with
               what
               design
               't
               is
               delivered
               .
               Now
               't
               is
               plain
               by
               the
               Series
               of
               the
               following
               Discourse
               ,
               that
               the
               Physeophilus
               ,
               whom
               it
               most
               relates
               to
               ,
               was
               by
               me
               look'd
               upon
               as
               a
               Person
               ,
               both
               very
               partial
               to
               the
               study
               of
               Nature
               ,
               and
               somewhat
               prejudic'd
               against
               that
               of
               the
               Scripture
               ;
               so
               that
               I
               was
               not
               always
               to
               treat
               with
               him
               ,
               as
               with
               an
               indifferent
               man
               ,
               but
               ,
               according
               to
               the
               Advice
               ,
               given
               
               in
               such
               cases
               by
               the
               Wise
               ,
               I
               was
               (
               to
               use
               
               Aristotle's
               expression
               )
               to
               bend
               the
               crooked
               stick
               the
               contrary
               way
               ,
               in
               order
               to
               the
               bringing
               it
               to
               be
               straight
               ,
               and
               to
               depreciate
               the
               study
               of
               Nature
               somewhat
               beneath
               its
               true
               value
               ,
               to
               reduce
               a
               great
               Over
               valuer
               to
               a
               just
               Estimate
               of
               it
               .
               And
               to
               gain
               the
               more
               upon
               Him
               ,
               I
               allow'd
               my self
               now
               and
               then
               to
               make
               use
               of
               the
               contempt
               he
               had
               of
               the
               Peripatetick
               and
               Vulgar
               Philosophy
               ,
               and
               in
               some
               passages
               to
               speak
               of
               them
               more
               slightingly
               ,
               than
               my
               usual
               Temper
               permits
               ,
               and
               than
               I
               would
               be
               forward
               to
               do
               on
               another
               occasion
               ;
               that
               ,
               by
               such
               a
               Complaisance
               for
               his
               Opininions
               ,
               I
               might
               have
               Rises
               to
               
               Argue
               with
               him
               from
               them
               .
            
             
               But
               to
               return
               to
               the
               Motives
               that
               were
               alledg'd
               to
               induce
               me
               to
               the
               Publication
               of
               these
               Papers
               ,
               though
               I
               have
               not
               nam'd
               them
               all
               ,
               yet
               all
               of
               them
               together
               would
               scarce
               have
               prov'd
               effectual
               ,
               if
               they
               had
               not
               been
               made
               more
               prevalent
               by
               the
               just
               Indignation
               I
               conceived
               ,
               to
               see
               even
               Inquisitive
               Men
               depreciate
               that
               kind
               of
               Knowledge
               ,
               which
               does
               the
               most
               Elevate
               ,
               as
               well
               as
               the
               most
               Bless
               ,
               Mankind
               ,
               and
               look
               upon
               the
               Noblest
               and
               Wisest
               Employments
               of
               the
               Understanding
               ,
               as
               Signs
               of
               weakness
               in
               it
               .
            
             
               'T
               is
               not
               that
               I
               expect
               ,
               that
               whatever
               can
               be
               said
               ,
               and
               much
               less
               what
               I
               have
               had
               occasion
               to
               say
               Here
               ,
               will
               make
               
               Proselytes
               of
               those
               that
               are
               resolved
               against
               the
               being
               made
               so
               ,
               and
               had
               rather
               deny
               themselves
               the
               Excellentest
               kinds
               of
               Knowledge
               ,
               than
               allow
               that
               there
               can
               be
               any
               more
               Excellent
               ,
               than
               what
               they
               think
               themselves
               Masters
               of
               :
               But
               I
               despair
               not
               ,
               that
               what
               is
               here
               represented
               ,
               may
               serve
               to
               fortifie
               in
               a
               high
               Esteem
               of
               Divine
               Truths
               those
               that
               have
               already
               a
               just
               Veneration
               for
               them
               ,
               and
               preserve
               Others
               from
               being
               seduc'd
               by
               Injurious
               ,
               though
               sometimes
               Witty
               ,
               Insinuations
               ,
               to
               undervalue
               that
               kind
               of
               Knowledge
               ,
               that
               is
               as
               well
               the
               most
               Excellent
               in
               it self
               ,
               as
               the
               most
               Conducive
               to
               Man's
               Happiness
               .
               And
               for
               this
               Reason
               I
               am
               the
               less
               displeas'd
               
               to
               see
               ,
               that
               the
               following
               Letter
               is
               swell'd
               to
               a
               Bulk
               far
               greater
               than
               its
               being
               but
               a
               Letter
               promises
               ,
               and
               then
               I
               first
               intended
               .
               For
               I
               confess
               ,
               that
               when
               the
               Occasion
               hapned
               that
               made
               me
               put
               Pen
               to
               Paper
               ,
               as
               I
               chanc'd
               to
               be
               in
               a
               very
               unsetled
               Condition
               (
               which
               I
               fear
               has
               had
               too
               much
               influence
               on
               what
               I
               have
               written
               ,
               )
               so
               I
               did
               not
               design
               the
               insisting
               near
               so
               long
               upon
               my
               Subject
               as
               I
               have
               done
               ;
               but
               new
               things
               springing
               up
               (
               if
               I
               may
               so
               speak
               )
               under
               my
               Pen
               ,
               I
               was
               content
               to
               allow
               them
               room
               in
               my
               Paper
               ,
               because
               writing
               as
               well
               for
               my
               own
               satisfaction
               ,
               as
               for
               that
               of
               my
               Friend
               ,
               I
               thought
               it
               would
               not
               be
               useless
               to
               lay
               before
               
               my
               own
               Eyes
               ,
               as
               well
               as
               His
               ,
               those
               Considerations
               that
               seem'd
               proper
               to
               justifie
               to
               My self
               as
               well
               as
               to
               Him
               ,
               the
               Preference
               I
               gave
               Divine
               Truths
               (
               before
               Physiological
               ones
               )
               and
               to
               confirm
               my self
               in
               the
               Esteem
               I
               had
               for
               them
               .
               And
               though
               I
               freely
               confess
               ,
               that
               the
               following
               Discourse
               doth
               not
               consist
               of
               nothing
               but
               Ratiocinations
               ,
               and
               consequently
               is
               not
               altogether
               of
               an
               Uniform
               Contexture
               ;
               yet
               that
               will
               ,
               I
               hope
               ,
               be
               thought
               no
               more
               than
               was
               fit
               in
               a
               Discourse
               ,
               design'd
               not
               onely
               to
               Convince
               ,
               but
               to
               Perswade
               :
               Which
               if
               it
               prove
               so
               happy
               as
               to
               do
               ,
               as
               I
               hope
               the
               Peruser
               will
               have
               no
               cause
               to
               
               regret
               the
               trouble
               of
               Reading
               it
               ,
               so
               I
               shall
               not
               repent
               that
               of
               Writing
               it
               .
            
          
           
             
             
               THE
               INTRODUCTION
               .
            
             
               
                 SIR
                 ,
              
            
             
               I
               Hop'd
               you
               had
               known
               me
               better
               ,
               than
               to
               doubt
               in
               good
               earnest
               ,
               how
               I
               relish'd
               the
               Discourse
               your
               Learned
               Friend
               entertain'd
               us
               with
               yester-night
               .
               And
               I
               am
               the
               more
               troubled
               at
               your
               Question
               ,
               because
               your
               way
               of
               inquiring
               ,
               how
               much
               your
               Friends
               Discourse
               obtain'd
               of
               my
               Approbation
               ,
               gives
               me
               cause
               to
               fear
               ,
               that
               you
               vouchsafe
               it
               more
               of
               yours
               then
               I
               could
               wish
               it
               .
               But
               before
               I
               can
               safely
               offer
               you
               my
               sense
               of
               the
               Discourses
               ,
               about
               which
               you
               desire
               to
               know
               it
               ,
               I
               must
               put
               you
               in
               mind
               ,
               that
               they
               were
               not
               all
               upon
               one
               Subject
               ,
               nor
               of
               the
               same
               Nature
               :
               And
               I
               am
               enough
               his
               Servant
               to
               acknowledge
               ,
               without
               the
               least
               reluctancy
               ,
               that
               he
               is
               wont
               to
               shew
               a
               great
               deal
               of
               wit
               ,
               when
               he
               speaks
               like
               a
               Naturalist
               ,
               onely
               of
               things
               purely
               Physical
               ;
               and
               
               when
               he
               is
               in
               the
               right
               ,
               seldom
               wrongs
               a
               good
               cause
               by
               his
               way
               of
               managing
               it
               .
               But
               as
               for
               
                 those
                 passages
              
               ,
               wherein
               he
               gave
               himself
               the
               liberty
               of
               disparaging
               the
               learned
               Dr.
               N.
               onely
               because
               that
               Doctor
               cultivates
               Theological
               as
               well
               as
               Physical
               Studies
               and
               does
               both
               oftentimes
               read
               Books
               of
               Devotion
               ▪
               and
               sometimes
               write
               them
               ;
               I
               am
               not
               so
               much
               a
               Courtier
               ,
               as
               to
               pretend
               that
               I
               liked
               them
               .
               'T
               is
               true
               ,
               he
               did
               not
               deny
               the
               Doctor
               to
               be
               a
               learned
               and
               a
               witty
               Man
               ,
               as
               indeed
               the
               wise
               providence
               of
               God
               has
               so
               ordered
               it
               ,
               That
               to
               stop
               the
               bold
               mouthes
               of
               some
               ,
               who
               would
               be
               easily
               tempted
               to
               imagine
               ,
               and
               more
               easily
               to
               give
               out
               ,
               that
               none
               are
               Philosophers
               ,
               but
               such
               as
               ,
               like
               themselves
               ,
               desire
               to
               be
               nothing
               else
               .
               Our
               Nation
               is
               happy
               in
               several
               men
               ,
               who
               are
               as
               eminent
               for
               Humane
               ,
               as
               studious
               of
               Divine
               Learning
               ;
               and
               as
               great
               a
               veneration
               as
               they
               pay
               to
               Moses
               and
               St.
               Paul
               ,
               are
               as
               well
               vers'd
               in
               the
               Doctrine
               of
               Aristotle
               ,
               and
               of
               Euclid
               ;
               nay
               ,
               of
               Epicurus
               and
               
                 Des
                 Cartes
              
               too
               ,
               as
               those
               that
               care
               not
               to
               study
               any
               thing
               else
               .
               But
               though
               for
               this
               reason
               Mr.
               N.
               had
               not
               the
               confidence
               to
               despise
               the
               Doctor
               ,
               and
               some
               of
               his
               Resemblers
               ,
               whom
               he
               took
               occasion
               to
               mention
               ;
               yet
               he
               too
               
               plainly
               disclos'd
               himself
               to
               be
               one
               of
               those
               ,
               who
               though
               they
               will
               not
               deny
               ,
               but
               that
               some
               ,
               who
               own
               a
               value
               for
               Theology
               ,
               are
               men
               of
               parts
               ;
               yet
               they
               talk
               ,
               as
               if
               such
               persons
               were
               so
               ,
               in
               spight
               of
               their
               being
               Religiously
               given
               ;
               That
               being
               ,
               in
               their
               opinion
               ,
               such
               a
               blemish
               ,
               that
               a
               man
               must
               have
               very
               great
               Abilities
               otherwise
               ,
               to
               make
               amends
               for
               the
               disadvantage
               of
               valuing
               Sacred
               Studies
               ,
               and
               surmount
               the
               disparagement
               it
               procures
               him
               .
               Wherefore
               since
               this
               disdainful
               humour
               begins
               to
               spread
               much
               more
               than
               I
               could
               wish
               it
               did
               among
               differing
               sorts
               of
               men
               ,
               among
               whom
               I
               should
               be
               glad
               not
               to
               find
               any
               Naturalists
               ;
               and
               since
               the
               Question
               you
               ask'd
               me
               ,
               and
               the
               esteem
               you
               have
               for
               your
               Friend
               ,
               makes
               me
               fear
               you
               may
               look
               on
               it
               with
               very
               favourable
               eyes
               :
               I
               shall
               not
               decline
               the
               Opportunity
               you
               put
               into
               my
               hands
               of
               giving
               you
               ,
               together
               with
               a
               profession
               of
               my
               dislike
               of
               this
               practice
               ,
               some
               of
               my
               Reasons
               for
               that
               dislike
               ;
               and
               the
               rather
               ,
               because
               I
               may
               do
               it
               without
               too
               much
               exceeding
               the
               limits
               of
               an
               Epistle
               ,
               or
               those
               which
               the
               haste
               ,
               wherewith
               I
               must
               write
               this
               ,
               does
               prescribe
               to
               me
               .
               For
               your
               Friend
               does
               not
               oppose
               ,
               but
               onely
               undervalue
               Theology
               ;
               and
               professing
               to
               
               believe
               the
               Scriptures
               (
               which
               I
               so
               far
               credit
               ,
               as
               to
               think
               he
               believes
               himself
               when
               he
               says
               so
               )
               we
               agree
               upon
               the
               principles
               :
               So
               that
               I
               am
               not
               to
               dispute
               with
               him
               as
               against
               an
               Atheist
               ,
               that
               denies
               the
               Authour
               of
               Nature
               ,
               but
               onely
               against
               a
               Naturalist
               ,
               that
               over-values
               the
               study
               of
               it
               .
               And
               the
               Truths
               of
               Theology
               are
               things
               ,
               which
               I
               need
               not
               bring
               Arguments
               for
               ,
               but
               am
               allowed
               to
               draw
               Arguments
               from
               them
               .
            
             
               But
               though
               ,
               as
               I
               just
               now
               intimated
               ,
               I
               design
               brevity
               ;
               yet
               for
               fear
               the
               fruitfulness
               and
               importance
               of
               my
               Subject
               should
               suggest
               things
               enough
               to
               me
               to
               make
               some
               little
               method
               ,
               requisite
               to
               keep
               them
               from
               appearing
               confused
               ;
               I
               shall
               divide
               the
               following
               Epistle
               into
               two
               distinct
               parts
               .
               In
               the
               former
               of
               which
               I
               shall
               offer
               you
               the
               chief
               positive
               Considerations
               ,
               by
               which
               I
               would
               represent
               to
               you
               the
               study
               of
               Divinity
               ,
               as
               preferable
               to
               that
               of
               Physicks
               :
               And
               in
               the
               second
               part
               I
               shall
               consider
               the
               Allegations
               ,
               that
               I
               foresee
               your
               Friend
               may
               interpose
               :
               in
               favour
               of
               Natural
               Philosophy
               .
               From
               which
               distribution
               you
               will
               easily
               gather
               ,
               that
               the
               Motives
               on
               the
               one
               hand
               ,
               and
               the
               Objections
               on
               the
               other
               will
               challenge
               to
               themselves
               
               distinct
               Sections
               in
               the
               respective
               parts
               whereto
               they
               belong
               .
               So
               that
               of
               the
               Order
               of
               the
               particulars
               you
               will
               meet
               with
               ,
               I
               shall
               not
               need
               to
               trouble
               you
               with
               any
               further
               Account
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             
             
             
               THE
               EXCELLENCY
               OF
               THEOLOGY
               :
               OR
               ,
               
                 The
                 Preeminence
                 of
                 the
                 Study
                 of
                 Divinity
                 ,
                 above
                 that
                 of
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 .
              
               THE
               FIRST
               PART
               .
            
             
               TO
               address
               my self
               then
               ,
               without
               any
               farther
               Circumstance
               or
               Preamble
               ,
               to
               the
               things
               themselves
               ,
               that
               I
               mainly
               intend
               in
               this
               Discourse
               ,
               I
               consider
               in
               the
               General
               ,
               That
               as
               there
               are
               scarce
               any
               Motives
               accounted
               fitter
               to
               engage
               a
               Rational
               man
               in
               a
               study
               ,
               than
               That
               the
               Subject
               
               is
               Noble
               ,
               That
               't
               is
               his
               Duty
               to
               apply
               himself
               to
               it
               ,
               and
               That
               his
               Proficiency
               in
               it
               will
               bring
               him
               great
               Advantages
               ;
               So
               there
               is
               not
               any
               of
               these
               three
               Inducements
               ,
               that
               does
               not
               concur
               in
               a
               very
               plentiful
               measure
               to
               recommend
               to
               us
               the
               Study
               of
               Theological
               Truths
               .
            
             
               
                 THE
                 FIRST
                 SECTION
                 .
              
               
                 ANd
                 first
                 ,
                 The
                 Excellency
                 and
                 Sublimity
                 of
                 the
                 Object
                 we
                 are
                 invited
                 to
                 contemplate
                 ,
                 is
                 such
                 ,
                 that
                 none
                 that
                 does
                 truly
                 acknowledge
                 a
                 Deity
                 can
                 deny
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 Speculation
                 ,
                 whose
                 Object
                 is
                 comparable
                 in
                 point
                 of
                 Nobleness
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 Nature
                 and
                 Attributes
                 of
                 God.
                 The
                 Souls
                 of
                 inquisitive
                 men
                 are
                 commonly
                 so
                 curious
                 ,
                 to
                 learn
                 the
                 Nature
                 and
                 Condition
                 of
                 Spirits
                 ,
                 as
                 that
                 the
                 over-greedy
                 desire
                 to
                 discover
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 
                   That
                   there
                   are
                   other
                   Spiritual
                   Substances
                   besides
                   the
                   Souls
                   of
                   Men
                   ,
                
                 has
                 prevail'd
                 with
                 too
                 many
                 to
                 try
                 forbidden
                 ways
                 of
                 attaining
                 satisfaction
                 ;
                 and
                 many
                 have
                 chosen
                 rather
                 to
                 venture
                 the
                 putting
                 themselves
                 
                 within
                 the
                 power
                 of
                 Daemons
                 ,
                 than
                 remain
                 ignorant
                 whether
                 or
                 no
                 there
                 are
                 any
                 such
                 Beings
                 :
                 As
                 I
                 have
                 learned
                 by
                 the
                 private
                 acknowledgments
                 made
                 me
                 of
                 such
                 unhappy
                 (
                 though
                 not
                 unsuccessful
                 )
                 Attempts
                 ,
                 by
                 divers
                 learned
                 men
                 (
                 both
                 of
                 other
                 Professions
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 of
                 Physick
                 ,
                 )
                 who
                 themselves
                 made
                 them
                 in
                 differing
                 places
                 ,
                 and
                 were
                 persons
                 neither
                 Timerous
                 nor
                 Superstitious
                 :
                 (
                 But
                 this
                 onely
                 upon
                 the
                 By.
                 )
                 And
                 certainly
                 that
                 man
                 must
                 have
                 as
                 Wrong
                 as
                 Mean
                 a
                 Notion
                 of
                 the
                 Deity
                 ,
                 and
                 must
                 but
                 very
                 little
                 consider
                 the
                 Nature
                 and
                 Attributes
                 of
                 that
                 infinitely
                 perfect
                 Being
                 ,
                 and
                 as
                 little
                 the
                 Nature
                 and
                 infirmities
                 of
                 Man
                 ,
                 who
                 can
                 imagine
                 the
                 Divine
                 Perfections
                 to
                 be
                 Subjects
                 ,
                 whose
                 investigation
                 a
                 man
                 may
                 (
                 inculpably
                 )
                 despise
                 ,
                 or
                 be
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 fully
                 sufficient
                 for
                 .
                 Not
                 onely
                 the
                 Scripture
                 tells
                 us
                 ,
                 
                 That
                 his
                 
                   Greatness
                   is
                   incomprehensible
                
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 
                   his
                   wisdom
                   is
                   inscrutable
                
                 ;
                 That
                 
                   he
                   humbles
                   himself
                   to
                   look
                   into
                
                 (
                 or
                 upon
                 )
                 
                   the
                   Heavens
                   and
                   the
                   Earth
                
                 ;
                 and
                 ,
                 That
                 not
                 onely
                 this
                 or
                 that
                 man
                 ,
                 
                 but
                 all
                 the
                 
                   Nations
                   of
                   the
                   World
                   are
                   ,
                   in
                   comparison
                   of
                   him
                   ,
                   but
                   like
                   the
                   small
                   Drop
                   of
                   a
                   Bucket
                   ,
                   or
                   the
                   
                   smaller
                   Dust
                   of
                   a
                   Ballance
                   :
                
                 But
                 even
                 the
                 Heathen
                 Philosopher
                 ,
                 who
                 wrote
                 that
                 eloquent
                 Book
                 
                   De
                   Mundo
                
                 ,
                 ascrib'd
                 to
                 Aristotle
                 in
                 his
                 riper
                 years
                 ,
                 speaks
                 of
                 the
                 Power
                 ,
                 and
                 Wisdom
                 ,
                 and
                 Amiableness
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 in
                 terms
                 little
                 less
                 lofty
                 ,
                 though
                 necessarily
                 inferiour
                 to
                 so
                 infinitely
                 Sublime
                 a
                 Subject
                 ;
                 which
                 they
                 that
                 think
                 they
                 can
                 ,
                 especially
                 without
                 Revelation
                 ,
                 sufficiently
                 understand
                 ,
                 do
                 very
                 little
                 understand
                 themselves
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 perhaps
                 your
                 Friend
                 will
                 object
                 ,
                 That
                 to
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 God
                 there
                 needs
                 no
                 other
                 then
                 Natural
                 Theology
                 ;
                 and
                 I
                 readily
                 confess
                 ,
                 being
                 warranted
                 by
                 an
                 Apostle
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 ,
                 
                 was
                 not
                 unknown
                 to
                 the
                 Heathen
                 Philosophers
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 so
                 much
                 knowledge
                 of
                 God
                 is
                 attainable
                 by
                 the
                 light
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 duly
                 employ'd
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 encourage
                 men
                 to
                 exercise
                 themselves
                 more
                 than
                 most
                 of
                 them
                 do
                 in
                 that
                 noblest
                 of
                 Studies
                 ,
                 and
                 render
                 their
                 being
                 no
                 Proficients
                 in
                 it
                 ,
                 injurious
                 to
                 themselves
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 to
                 their
                 Maker
                 .
                 But
                 notwithstanding
                 this
                 ,
                 as
                 God
                 knows
                 Himself
                 infinitely
                 better
                 then
                 purblind
                 Man
                 knows
                 Him
                 ,
                 so
                 the
                 Informations
                 He
                 is
                 
                 pleased
                 to
                 vouchsafe
                 us
                 ,
                 touching
                 His
                 own
                 Nature
                 and
                 Attributes
                 ,
                 are
                 exceedingly
                 preferable
                 to
                 any
                 account
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 can
                 give
                 our selves
                 of
                 Him
                 ,
                 without
                 Him.
                 And
                 methinks
                 ,
                 the
                 differing
                 Prospects
                 we
                 may
                 have
                 of
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 may
                 not
                 ill
                 adumbrate
                 to
                 us
                 the
                 differing
                 Discoveries
                 that
                 may
                 be
                 made
                 of
                 the
                 Attributes
                 of
                 its
                 Maker
                 .
                 For
                 as
                 ,
                 though
                 a
                 man
                 may
                 with
                 his
                 naked
                 eye
                 see
                 Heaven
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 very
                 glorious
                 Object
                 ,
                 enobled
                 with
                 radiant
                 Stars
                 of
                 several
                 sorts
                 ;
                 yet
                 when
                 his
                 eye
                 is
                 assisted
                 with
                 a
                 good
                 Telescope
                 ,
                 he
                 can
                 not
                 onely
                 discover
                 a
                 number
                 of
                 Stars
                 (
                 Fix'd
                 and
                 Wandring
                 )
                 which
                 his
                 naked
                 eye
                 would
                 never
                 have
                 shown
                 him
                 ;
                 but
                 those
                 Planets
                 which
                 he
                 could
                 see
                 before
                 ,
                 will
                 appear
                 to
                 him
                 much
                 bigger
                 ,
                 and
                 more
                 distinct
                 :
                 So
                 ,
                 although
                 bare
                 Reason
                 well
                 improv'd
                 will
                 suffice
                 to
                 make
                 a
                 man
                 behold
                 many
                 glorious
                 Attributes
                 in
                 the
                 Deity
                 ;
                 yet
                 the
                 same
                 Reason
                 ,
                 when
                 assisted
                 by
                 Revelation
                 ,
                 may
                 enable
                 a
                 man
                 to
                 discover
                 far
                 more
                 Excellencies
                 in
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 perceive
                 them
                 ,
                 he
                 contemplated
                 before
                 ,
                 far
                 greater
                 and
                 more
                 distinctly
                 .
                 And
                 to
                 shew
                 how
                 much
                 a
                 dim
                 Eye
                 ,
                 
                 illuminated
                 by
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 ,
                 is
                 able
                 to
                 discover
                 of
                 the
                 Divine
                 Perfections
                 ,
                 and
                 how
                 unobvious
                 they
                 are
                 to
                 the
                 most
                 piercing
                 Philosophical
                 Eyes
                 ,
                 that
                 enjoy
                 but
                 the
                 dim
                 light
                 of
                 Nature
                 ;
                 we
                 need
                 but
                 consider
                 ,
                 how
                 much
                 more
                 suitable
                 Conceptions
                 and
                 Expressions
                 concerning
                 God
                 are
                 to
                 be
                 met
                 with
                 in
                 the
                 Writings
                 of
                 those
                 Fishermen
                 and
                 others
                 ,
                 that
                 penn'd
                 the
                 New
                 Testament
                 ,
                 and
                 those
                 illiterate
                 Christians
                 that
                 received
                 it
                 ,
                 than
                 amongst
                 the
                 most
                 Civiliz'd
                 Nations
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 (
                 such
                 as
                 anciently
                 the
                 Greeks
                 and
                 Romans
                 ,
                 and
                 now
                 the
                 Chineses
                 and
                 East-Indians
                 )
                 and
                 among
                 the
                 eminentest
                 of
                 the
                 Wise-men
                 and
                 Philosophers
                 themselves
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 
                   Aristotle
                   ,
                   Homer
                   ,
                   Hesiod
                   ,
                   Epicurus
                   ,
                
                 and
                 others
                 .
                 )
              
               
                 Besides
                 that
                 the
                 Book
                 of
                 Scripture
                 discloses
                 to
                 us
                 much
                 more
                 of
                 the
                 Attributes
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 Book
                 of
                 Nature
                 ;
                 there
                 is
                 another
                 Object
                 of
                 our
                 Study
                 ,
                 for
                 which
                 we
                 must
                 be
                 entirely
                 beholding
                 to
                 Theology
                 :
                 For
                 though
                 we
                 may
                 know
                 something
                 of
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 God
                 by
                 the
                 Light
                 of
                 Reason
                 ,
                 yet
                 we
                 must
                 owe
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 His
                 Will
                 ,
                 or
                 Positive
                 Laws
                 ,
                 to
                 His
                 own
                 Revelation
                 .
                 And
                 we
                 may
                 
                 ghess
                 ,
                 how
                 curious
                 great
                 Princes
                 and
                 wise
                 Men
                 have
                 been
                 to
                 inform
                 themselves
                 of
                 the
                 Constitutions
                 established
                 by
                 wise
                 and
                 eminent
                 Legislators
                 ;
                 partly
                 by
                 the
                 frequent
                 Travels
                 of
                 the
                 Ancient
                 Sages
                 and
                 Philosophers
                 into
                 Forreign
                 Countries
                 ,
                 to
                 observe
                 their
                 Laws
                 and
                 Government
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 bring
                 home
                 their
                 Learning
                 ;
                 and
                 partly
                 by
                 those
                 Royal
                 and
                 Sumptuous
                 Expences
                 ,
                 at
                 which
                 that
                 Great
                 and
                 Learned
                 Monarch
                 
                   Ptolomeus
                   Philadelphus
                
                 stuck
                 not
                 to
                 procure
                 an
                 Authentick
                 Copy
                 of
                 the
                 Law
                 of
                 Moses
                 ,
                 whom
                 he
                 considered
                 but
                 as
                 an
                 eminent
                 Legislator
                 .
                 But
                 certainly
                 That
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 Laws
                 recorded
                 in
                 the
                 Bible
                 ,
                 cannot
                 but
                 appear
                 more
                 noble
                 and
                 worthy
                 Objects
                 of
                 Curiosity
                 to
                 us
                 Christians
                 ,
                 who
                 know
                 them
                 to
                 proceed
                 from
                 an
                 Omniscient
                 Deity
                 ,
                 who
                 being
                 the
                 Authour
                 of
                 Mankind
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 of
                 the
                 rest
                 of
                 the
                 Universe
                 ,
                 cannot
                 but
                 have
                 a
                 far
                 perfecter
                 knowledge
                 of
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 Man
                 ,
                 than
                 any
                 other
                 of
                 the
                 Law-givers
                 ,
                 or
                 all
                 of
                 them
                 put
                 together
                 can
                 be
                 conceived
                 to
                 have
                 had
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 there
                 is
                 a
                 farther
                 Discovery
                 of
                 Divine
                 Matters
                 ,
                 wherewith
                 we
                 are
                 
                 also
                 gratified
                 by
                 Theology
                 :
                 For
                 besides
                 what
                 the
                 Scripture
                 teaches
                 us
                 of
                 the
                 Nature
                 and
                 the
                 Will
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 it
                 contains
                 divers
                 Historical
                 Accounts
                 (
                 if
                 I
                 may
                 so
                 call
                 them
                 )
                 of
                 His
                 Thoughts
                 and
                 Actions
                 .
                 The
                 Great
                 Alexander
                 thought
                 himself
                 nobly
                 employ'd
                 ,
                 when
                 he
                 read
                 of
                 the
                 Grecian
                 Actions
                 in
                 
                 Homer's
                 Verses
                 ;
                 and
                 ,
                 To
                 know
                 the
                 Sentiments
                 of
                 great
                 and
                 wise
                 Persons
                 ,
                 upon
                 particular
                 occasions
                 ,
                 is
                 a
                 curiosity
                 so
                 laudable
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 worthy
                 of
                 ▪
                 an
                 Inquisitive
                 Soul
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Southern
                 Queen
                 has
                 been
                 more
                 prais'd
                 than
                 admir'd
                 ,
                 for
                 coming
                 from
                 the
                 remoter
                 parts
                 of
                 the
                 Earth
                 ,
                 to
                 hear
                 the
                 Wisdom
                 of
                 Solomon
                 .
                 Now
                 the
                 Scripture
                 does
                 in
                 many
                 places
                 give
                 our
                 Curiosity
                 a
                 nobler
                 Employment
                 ,
                 and
                 thereby
                 a
                 higher
                 Satisfaction
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 King
                 of
                 Macedon
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 Queen
                 of
                 Sheba
                 could
                 enjoy
                 ;
                 for
                 in
                 many
                 places
                 it
                 does
                 ,
                 with
                 great
                 clearness
                 and
                 ingenuity
                 ,
                 give
                 us
                 accounts
                 of
                 what
                 God
                 Himself
                 hath
                 declar'd
                 of
                 
                   His
                   own
                   Thoughts
                
                 ,
                 of
                 divers
                 particular
                 Persons
                 and
                 Things
                 ,
                 and
                 relates
                 ,
                 what
                 He
                 that
                 knows
                 and
                 commands
                 all
                 things
                 ,
                 was
                 pleas'd
                 to
                 say
                 &
                 do
                 upon
                 particular
                 Occasions
                 .
                 Of
                 this
                 sort
                 of
                 Passages
                 are
                 the
                 
                 things
                 recorded
                 to
                 have
                 been
                 said
                 by
                 God
                 to
                 Noah
                 ,
                 
                 about
                 the
                 sinful
                 Worlds
                 ruine
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 
                   Just
                   Man's
                
                 preservation
                 ;
                 
                 and
                 to
                 Moses
                 in
                 the
                 case
                 of
                 the
                 Daughters
                 of
                 Zelophehad
                 .
                 And
                 of
                 this
                 sort
                 are
                 the
                 Conferences
                 ,
                 mentioned
                 to
                 have
                 pass'd
                 betwixt
                 God
                 and
                 Abimelech
                 ,
                 
                 concerning
                 
                 Abraham's
                 Wife
                 ;
                 betwixt
                 God
                 and
                 Abraham
                 touching
                 the
                 destruction
                 of
                 Sodom
                 ;
                 
                 betwixt
                 God
                 and
                 Solomon
                 ,
                 about
                 that
                 Kings
                 happy
                 choice
                 ;
                 betwixt
                 God
                 and
                 Jonah
                 ,
                 about
                 the
                 Fate
                 of
                 the
                 greatest
                 City
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 :
                 And
                 above
                 all
                 these
                 ,
                 those
                 two
                 strange
                 and
                 matchless
                 Passages
                 ,
                 the
                 one
                 in
                 the
                 first
                 Book
                 of
                 Kings
                 ,
                 
                 touching
                 the
                 seducing
                 Spirit
                 that
                 undertook
                 to
                 seduce
                 
                 Ahab's
                 Prophets
                 ;
                 and
                 the
                 other
                 ,
                 that
                 yet
                 more
                 wonderful
                 Relation
                 of
                 what
                 pas'd
                 betwixt
                 God
                 and
                 Satan
                 ,
                 
                 wherein
                 the
                 Deity
                 vouchsafes
                 not
                 onely
                 to
                 Praise
                 ,
                 but
                 (
                 if
                 I
                 may
                 so
                 speak
                 with
                 reverence
                 )
                 to
                 Glory
                 in
                 a
                 Mortal
                 .
                 And
                 the
                 being
                 admitted
                 to
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 these
                 Transactions
                 of
                 another
                 World
                 (
                 if
                 I
                 may
                 so
                 call
                 them
                 )
                 wherein
                 God
                 has
                 been
                 pleased
                 to
                 disclose
                 himself
                 so
                 very
                 much
                 ,
                 is
                 an
                 advantage
                 afforded
                 us
                 by
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 
                 of
                 so
                 noble
                 a
                 Nature
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 unattainable
                 by
                 the
                 utmost
                 improvement
                 we
                 our selves
                 can
                 make
                 of
                 our
                 own
                 Reason
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 did
                 the
                 Scripture
                 contain
                 nothing
                 else
                 that
                 were
                 very
                 Considerable
                 ,
                 yet
                 that
                 Book
                 would
                 highly
                 deserve
                 our
                 Curiosity
                 and
                 Gratitude
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 on
                 this
                 occasion
                 ,
                 I
                 must
                 by
                 no
                 means
                 leave
                 unobserv'd
                 another
                 Advantage
                 that
                 we
                 have
                 from
                 some
                 Discourses
                 made
                 us
                 in
                 the
                 Bible
                 ;
                 since
                 it
                 too
                 highly
                 concerns
                 us
                 ,
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 very
                 Great
                 one
                 ;
                 and
                 it
                 is
                 ,
                 That
                 the
                 Scripture
                 declares
                 to
                 us
                 the
                 Judgment
                 ,
                 that
                 God
                 is
                 pleas'd
                 to
                 make
                 of
                 some
                 particular
                 Men
                 ,
                 upon
                 the
                 Estimate
                 of
                 their
                 Life
                 and
                 Deportment
                 .
                 For
                 though
                 Reason
                 alone
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Grounds
                 of
                 Religion
                 in
                 general
                 ,
                 may
                 satisfie
                 us
                 in
                 some
                 measure
                 ,
                 that
                 God
                 is
                 Good
                 and
                 Merciful
                 ,
                 and
                 therefore
                 
                   't
                   is
                   likely
                   he
                   may
                
                 Pardon
                 the
                 sins
                 and
                 frailties
                 of
                 Men
                 ,
                 and
                 accept
                 of
                 their
                 Imperfect
                 Services
                 ;
                 yet
                 ,
                 besides
                 that
                 we
                 do
                 not
                 know
                 ,
                 whether
                 He
                 will
                 Pardon
                 ,
                 unless
                 we
                 have
                 His
                 Promise
                 of
                 it
                 ;
                 besides
                 this
                 (
                 I
                 say
                 )
                 though
                 by
                 vertue
                 of
                 general
                 Revelation
                 ,
                 such
                 as
                 is
                 pretended
                 to
                 in
                 divers
                 
                 Religions
                 ,
                 we
                 may
                 be
                 assured
                 ,
                 that
                 God
                 will
                 accept
                 ,
                 forgive
                 ,
                 and
                 reward
                 those
                 that
                 
                   sincerely
                   obey
                   him
                
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 
                   perform
                   the
                   Conditions
                
                 of
                 the
                 Covenant
                 ,
                 whether
                 it
                 be
                 Express
                 ,
                 or
                 Implicite
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 vouchsafes
                 to
                 make
                 with
                 them
                 ;
                 yet
                 since
                 't
                 is
                 He
                 that
                 is
                 the
                 Judge
                 of
                 the
                 Performance
                 of
                 the
                 Conditions
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 the
                 sincerity
                 of
                 the
                 Person
                 ;
                 and
                 since
                 He
                 is
                 Omniscient
                 ,
                 and
                 a
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 so
                 may
                 know
                 more
                 Ill
                 of
                 us
                 ,
                 than
                 even
                 we
                 know
                 of
                 our selves
                 ;
                 a
                 concerned
                 Conscience
                 may
                 rationally
                 doubt
                 ,
                 
                 whether
                 in
                 
                   Gods
                   Estimate
                
                 any
                 particular
                 man
                 was
                 so
                 sincere
                 as
                 to
                 be
                 accepted
                 .
                 But
                 when
                 
                   He
                   Himself
                
                 is
                 pleas'd
                 to
                 give
                 Elogiums
                 (
                 if
                 I
                 may
                 with
                 due
                 respect
                 so
                 style
                 them
                 )
                 to
                 
                   David
                   ,
                   Job
                   ,
                   Noah
                   ,
                   Daniel
                   ,
                
                 &c.
                 whilst
                 they
                 were
                 alive
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 others
                 after
                 they
                 were
                 dead
                 ,
                 (
                 and
                 consequently
                 having
                 finished
                 their
                 Course
                 ,
                 were
                 pass'd
                 into
                 an
                 Irreversible
                 state
                 )
                 we
                 may
                 learn
                 with
                 Comfort
                 ,
                 both
                 that
                 the
                 Performance
                 of
                 such
                 an
                 Obedience
                 as
                 
                   God
                   will
                   accept
                
                 ,
                 is
                 a
                 thing
                 really
                 
                   Practicable
                   by
                   Men
                
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 even
                 great
                 sins
                 and
                 misdemeanors
                 are
                 not
                 (
                 if
                 seasonably
                 repented
                 of
                 )
                 certain
                 evidences
                 ,
                 that
                 a
                 
                 man
                 shall
                 never
                 be
                 Happy
                 in
                 the
                 future
                 Life
                 .
                 And
                 it
                 seems
                 to
                 be
                 for
                 such
                 an
                 use
                 of
                 consolation
                 to
                 Frail
                 men
                 (
                 but
                 not
                 at
                 all
                 to
                 encourage
                 Licentious
                 ones
                 )
                 that
                 the
                 Lapses
                 of
                 holy
                 Persons
                 are
                 so
                 frequently
                 recorded
                 in
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 .
                 And
                 bating
                 those
                 Divine
                 Writings
                 ,
                 I
                 know
                 no
                 Books
                 in
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 nor
                 all
                 of
                 them
                 put
                 together
                 ,
                 that
                 can
                 give
                 a
                 considering
                 Christian
                 ,
                 who
                 has
                 due
                 apprehensions
                 of
                 the
                 Inexpressible
                 Happiness
                 or
                 Misery
                 of
                 an
                 Immortal
                 state
                 in
                 Heaven
                 or
                 in
                 Hell
                 ,
                 so
                 great
                 and
                 well
                 grounded
                 a
                 Consolation
                 ,
                 as
                 may
                 be
                 deriv'd
                 from
                 three
                 or
                 four
                 lines
                 in
                 St.
                 
                 John's
                 Apocalypse
                 ,
                 
                 where
                 he
                 says
                 ,
                 That
                 
                   he
                   saw
                   in
                   Heaven
                   a
                   great
                   multitude
                   ,
                   not
                   to
                   be
                   numbred
                   ,
                   of
                   all
                   Nations
                   ,
                   and
                   Tribes
                   ,
                   and
                   People
                   ,
                   and
                   Tongues
                   ,
                   standing
                   before
                   the
                   Throne
                   ,
                   and
                   before
                   the
                   Lamb
                   ,
                   clothed
                   in
                   white
                   Robes
                   ,
                   with
                   Palms
                
                 (
                 the
                 Ensigns
                 of
                 Victory
                 )
                 
                   in
                   their
                   hands
                
                 ;
                 and
                 the
                 Praises
                 of
                 God
                 and
                 of
                 the
                 Lamb
                 in
                 their
                 mouthes
                 .
                 For
                 from
                 thence
                 we
                 may
                 learn
                 ,
                 that
                 Heaven
                 is
                 not
                 reserv'd
                 onely
                 for
                 Prophets
                 ,
                 and
                 Apostles
                 ,
                 and
                 Martyrs
                 ,
                 and
                 such
                 extraordinary
                 Persons
                 ,
                 whose
                 Sanctity
                 the
                 Church
                 admires
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 through
                 Gods
                 goodness
                 ,
                 
                 multitudes
                 of
                 his
                 more
                 Imperfect
                 Servants
                 have
                 access
                 thither
                 .
              
               
                 Though
                 the
                 Infinite
                 Perfections
                 and
                 Prerogatives
                 of
                 the
                 Deity
                 be
                 such
                 ,
                 that
                 Theology
                 it self
                 can
                 no
                 more
                 than
                 Philosophy
                 afford
                 us
                 
                   another
                   Object
                
                 for
                 our
                 Studies
                 ,
                 any
                 thing
                 near
                 so
                 Sublime
                 and
                 Excellent
                 ,
                 as
                 what
                 it
                 discloses
                 to
                 us
                 
                   of
                   God
                
                 ;
                 yet
                 Divinity
                 favours
                 us
                 with
                 some
                 other
                 Discoveries
                 ,
                 namely
                 ,
                 about
                 Angels
                 ,
                 the
                 Universe
                 ,
                 and
                 our
                 own
                 Souls
                 ,
                 which
                 though
                 they
                 must
                 needs
                 be
                 inferiour
                 to
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 God
                 Himself
                 ,
                 are
                 ,
                 for
                 the
                 nobleness
                 of
                 their
                 Objects
                 ,
                 or
                 for
                 their
                 Importance
                 ,
                 highly
                 preferable
                 to
                 any
                 that
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 has
                 been
                 able
                 to
                 afford
                 its
                 Votaries
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 before
                 I
                 proceed
                 to
                 name
                 any
                 more
                 particulars
                 ,
                 disclos'd
                 to
                 us
                 by
                 Revelation
                 ,
                 't
                 will
                 be
                 requisite
                 ,
                 for
                 the
                 prevention
                 or
                 removal
                 of
                 a
                 Prejudice
                 ,
                 to
                 mind
                 you
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 should
                 not
                 make
                 our
                 Estimates
                 of
                 the
                 worth
                 of
                 the
                 things
                 we
                 owe
                 to
                 Revelation
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 Impressions
                 they
                 are
                 wont
                 now
                 to
                 make
                 upon
                 Us
                 Christians
                 ,
                 who
                 learned
                 divers
                 of
                 them
                 in
                 our
                 Catechisms
                 ,
                 and
                 perhaps
                 have
                 several
                 times
                 met
                 
                 with
                 most
                 of
                 the
                 Rest
                 in
                 Sermons
                 ,
                 or
                 Theological
                 Books
                 .
                 For
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 admir'd
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 should
                 not
                 be
                 strongly
                 affected
                 at
                 the
                 mention
                 of
                 those
                 Truths
                 ,
                 which
                 (
                 how
                 valuable
                 soever
                 in
                 themselves
                 )
                 were
                 for
                 the
                 most
                 part
                 taught
                 us
                 when
                 we
                 were
                 either
                 Children
                 ,
                 or
                 too
                 Youthful
                 to
                 discern
                 and
                 prize
                 their
                 Excellency
                 and
                 Importance
                 .
                 So
                 that
                 though
                 afterwards
                 they
                 were
                 presented
                 to
                 our
                 riper
                 understanding
                 ,
                 yet
                 their
                 being
                 by
                 that
                 time
                 become
                 familiar
                 ,
                 and
                 our
                 not
                 remembring
                 that
                 we
                 ignor'd
                 them
                 ,
                 kept
                 them
                 from
                 making
                 any
                 vigorous
                 Impressions
                 on
                 Us.
                 Whereas
                 if
                 the
                 same
                 things
                 had
                 been
                 (
                 with
                 Circumstances
                 evincing
                 their
                 Truth
                 )
                 discover'd
                 to
                 some
                 Heathen
                 Philosopher
                 ,
                 or
                 other
                 vertuous
                 and
                 inquisitive
                 Man
                 ,
                 who
                 valu'd
                 important
                 Truths
                 ,
                 and
                 had
                 nothing
                 but
                 his
                 own
                 Reason
                 to
                 attain
                 them
                 with
                 ,
                 he
                 would
                 questionless
                 have
                 receiv'd
                 them
                 with
                 wonder
                 and
                 joy
                 .
                 Which
                 to
                 induce
                 us
                 to
                 suppose
                 we
                 have
                 sundry
                 Instances
                 ,
                 both
                 in
                 the
                 Records
                 of
                 the
                 Primitive
                 Times
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 the
                 recent
                 Relations
                 of
                 the
                 Conversion
                 of
                 men
                 to
                 Christianity
                 among
                 the
                 People
                 of
                 
                   China
                   ,
                   Japan
                
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 other
                 Literate
                 Nations
                 .
                 For
                 though
                 bare
                 Reason
                 cannot
                 discover
                 these
                 Truths
                 ,
                 yet
                 when
                 Revelation
                 has
                 once
                 sufficiently
                 propos'd
                 them
                 to
                 Her
                 ,
                 she
                 can
                 readily
                 embrace
                 ,
                 and
                 highly
                 value
                 divers
                 of
                 them
                 ;
                 which
                 being
                 here
                 intimated
                 once
                 for
                 all
                 ,
                 I
                 now
                 advance
                 to
                 name
                 some
                 of
                 the
                 Revelations
                 themselves
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 first
                 ,
                 as
                 for
                 Angels
                 ,
                 I
                 will
                 not
                 now
                 question
                 ,
                 whether
                 bare
                 Reason
                 can
                 arrive
                 at
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 to
                 assure
                 us
                 ,
                 
                   That
                   there
                   are
                
                 such
                 Beings
                 in
                 
                   Rerum
                   Naturâ
                
                 .
                 For
                 though
                 Reason
                 may
                 assure
                 ,
                 that
                 their
                 Existence
                 is
                 not
                 Impossible
                 ,
                 and
                 perhaps
                 too
                 not
                 improbable
                 ;
                 yet
                 I
                 doubt
                 ,
                 whether
                 't
                 were
                 to
                 meer
                 Ratiocination
                 ,
                 or
                 clear
                 Experience
                 ,
                 or
                 any
                 thing
                 else
                 but
                 Revelation
                 ,
                 convey'd
                 to
                 them
                 by
                 imperfect
                 Tradition
                 ,
                 that
                 those
                 Heathen
                 Philosophers
                 ,
                 who
                 believ'd
                 that
                 there
                 were
                 separate
                 Spirits
                 other
                 than
                 Humane
                 ,
                 ow'd
                 that
                 perswasion
                 .
                 And
                 particularly
                 as
                 to
                 
                   Good
                   Angels
                
                 ,
                 I
                 doubt
                 ,
                 whether
                 those
                 Antient
                 Sages
                 had
                 any
                 cogent
                 Reasons
                 ,
                 or
                 any
                 convincing
                 Historical
                 Proofs
                 ,
                 or
                 ,
                 in
                 short
                 ,
                 any
                 one
                 unquestionable
                 Evidence
                 of
                 any
                 kind
                 ,
                 to
                 satisfie
                 a
                 wary
                 person
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 of
                 
                 the
                 being
                 (
                 much
                 less
                 to
                 give
                 a
                 farther
                 account
                 )
                 of
                 those
                 Excellent
                 Spirits
                 .
                 
                 Whereas
                 Theology
                 is
                 enabled
                 by
                 the
                 Scripture
                 to
                 inform
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 not
                 onely
                 there
                 are
                 such
                 Spirits
                 ,
                 but
                 a
                 vast
                 multitude
                 of
                 them
                 ;
                 That
                 they
                 were
                 made
                 by
                 God
                 and
                 Christ
                 ,
                 and
                 are
                 Immortal
                 ,
                 and
                 propagate
                 not
                 their
                 Species
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 these
                 Spirits
                 have
                 their
                 chief
                 Residence
                 in
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 and
                 enjoy
                 the
                 Vision
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 whom
                 they
                 constantly
                 praise
                 ,
                 and
                 punctually
                 obey
                 ,
                 without
                 having
                 sinn'd
                 against
                 him
                 ;
                 That
                 also
                 these
                 Good
                 Angels
                 are
                 very
                 Intelligent
                 Beings
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 so
                 great
                 power
                 ,
                 that
                 One
                 of
                 them
                 was
                 able
                 in
                 a
                 night
                 to
                 destroy
                 a
                 vast
                 Army
                 ;
                 That
                 they
                 have
                 Degrees
                 among
                 themselves
                 ,
                 are
                 Enemies
                 to
                 the
                 Devils
                 ,
                 and
                 fight
                 against
                 them
                 ;
                 That
                 they
                 can
                 assume
                 Bodies
                 shap'd
                 like
                 ours
                 ,
                 and
                 yet
                 disappear
                 in
                 a
                 trice
                 ;
                 That
                 they
                 are
                 sometimes
                 employ'd
                 about
                 Humane
                 affairs
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 not
                 onely
                 for
                 the
                 welfare
                 of
                 Empires
                 and
                 Kingdomes
                 ,
                 but
                 to
                 protect
                 and
                 rescue
                 single
                 Good
                 men
                 .
                 And
                 though
                 they
                 are
                 wont
                 to
                 appear
                 in
                 a
                 dazling
                 Splendor
                 ,
                 and
                 an
                 astonishing
                 Majesty
                 ,
                 yet
                 they
                 are
                 All
                 of
                 them
                 
                   ministring
                   Spirits
                
                 ,
                 employ'd
                 
                   for
                   
                   the
                   good
                   of
                
                 the
                 designed
                 
                   Heirs
                   of
                   Salvation
                
                 .
                 
                 And
                 they
                 do
                 not
                 onely
                 refuse
                 mens
                 Adoration
                 ,
                 and
                 admonish
                 them
                 to
                 pay
                 it
                 unto
                 God
                 ;
                 but
                 ,
                 as
                 they
                 are
                 in
                 a
                 sense
                 made
                 by
                 Jesus
                 Christ
                 ,
                 who
                 was
                 true
                 Man
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 God
                 ;
                 so
                 they
                 do
                 not
                 onely
                 worship
                 him
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 call
                 him
                 simply
                 ,
                 as
                 his
                 own
                 Followers
                 were
                 were
                 wont
                 to
                 do
                 ,
                 
                   The
                   Lord
                
                 ,
                 but
                 stile
                 themselves
                 
                   Fellow
                   servants
                
                 to
                 his
                 Disciples
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 as
                 for
                 the
                 other
                 Angels
                 ,
                 though
                 the
                 Gentiles
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 Philosophers
                 as
                 others
                 ,
                 were
                 commonly
                 so
                 far
                 mistaken
                 about
                 them
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 adore
                 them
                 for
                 true
                 Gods
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 yet
                 many
                 of
                 them
                 to
                 doubt
                 whether
                 they
                 were
                 immortal
                 ;
                 the
                 Scripture
                 informs
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 are
                 not
                 Self-originated
                 ,
                 but
                 created
                 Beings
                 ;
                 That
                 however
                 a
                 great
                 part
                 of
                 Mankind
                 worships
                 them
                 ,
                 they
                 are
                 wicked
                 and
                 impure
                 Spirits
                 ,
                 Enemies
                 to
                 Mankind
                 ,
                 and
                 Seducers
                 of
                 our
                 first
                 Parents
                 to
                 their
                 Ruine
                 ;
                 That
                 though
                 they
                 beget
                 and
                 promote
                 confusion
                 among
                 men
                 ,
                 yet
                 they
                 have
                 some
                 Order
                 among
                 themselves
                 ,
                 as
                 having
                 one
                 Chief
                 ,
                 or
                 Leader
                 ;
                 That
                 they
                 are
                 evil
                 Spirits
                 ,
                 not
                 by
                 Nature
                 ,
                 but
                 Apostacy
                 ;
                 That
                 their
                 power
                 is
                 
                 very
                 limited
                 ,
                 
                 insomuch
                 that
                 a
                 Legion
                 of
                 them
                 cannot
                 invade
                 so
                 contemptible
                 a
                 thing
                 as
                 a
                 Herd
                 of
                 Swine
                 ,
                 without
                 particular
                 leave
                 from
                 God
                 ;
                 
                 That
                 not
                 onely
                 Good
                 Angels
                 ,
                 but
                 Good
                 Men
                 ,
                 may
                 ,
                 by
                 resisting
                 them
                 ,
                 put
                 them
                 to
                 flight
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 sincere
                 Christians
                 that
                 worsted
                 them
                 here
                 ,
                 will
                 be
                 among
                 those
                 that
                 shall
                 judge
                 them
                 hereafter
                 ;
                 
                 That
                 their
                 being
                 immortal
                 ,
                 will
                 make
                 their
                 misery
                 so
                 too
                 ;
                 That
                 they
                 do
                 themselves
                 believe
                 and
                 tremble
                 at
                 those
                 Truths
                 ,
                 they
                 would
                 perswade
                 men
                 to
                 reject
                 ;
                 and
                 That
                 they
                 are
                 so
                 far
                 from
                 being
                 able
                 to
                 confer
                 that
                 Happiness
                 ,
                 which
                 their
                 Worshippers
                 expect
                 from
                 them
                 ,
                 that
                 themselves
                 are
                 wretched
                 creatures
                 ,
                 
                 
                   reserv'd
                   in
                   chains
                   of
                   darkness
                   to
                   the
                   judgment
                   of
                   the
                   great
                   Day
                
                 ;
                 at
                 which
                 they
                 shall
                 be
                 doom'd
                 to
                 suffer
                 everlasting
                 torments
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 company
                 of
                 those
                 wicked
                 men
                 that
                 they
                 shall
                 have
                 prevail'd
                 on
                 .
              
               
                 We
                 may
                 farther
                 consider
                 ,
                 That
                 as
                 to
                 things
                 Corporeal
                 themselves
                 ,
                 which
                 the
                 Naturalist
                 challenges
                 as
                 his
                 peculiar
                 Theme
                 ,
                 we
                 may
                 name
                 particulars
                 ,
                 and
                 those
                 of
                 the
                 most
                 comprehensive
                 nature
                 ,
                 and
                 greatest
                 Importance
                 ,
                 
                 whose
                 knowledge
                 the
                 Naturalist
                 must
                 owe
                 to
                 Theology
                 .
                 Of
                 which
                 Truths
                 I
                 shall
                 content
                 my self
                 to
                 give
                 a
                 few
                 instances
                 in
                 the
                 World
                 it self
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 universal
                 Aggregate
                 of
                 things
                 Corporeal
                 ;
                 that
                 being
                 look'd
                 upon
                 as
                 the
                 noblest
                 and
                 chiefest
                 Object
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Physicks
                 afford
                 us
                 to
                 contemplate
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 first
                 ,
                 Those
                 that
                 admit
                 the
                 Truths
                 reveal'd
                 by
                 Theology
                 ,
                 do
                 generally
                 allow
                 ,
                 that
                 God
                 is
                 not
                 onely
                 the
                 Author
                 ,
                 but
                 Creator
                 of
                 the
                 World.
                 I
                 am
                 not
                 ignorant
                 of
                 what
                 Anaxagoras
                 taught
                 ,
                 of
                 what
                 he
                 call'd
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 —
                 (
                 and
                 Tully
                 mentions
                 )
                 in
                 the
                 
                   production
                   of
                   the
                   World
                
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 what
                 many
                 other
                 Grecians
                 afterwards
                 taught
                 of
                 the
                 Worlds
                 Aeternity
                 ,
                 is
                 peculiarly
                 due
                 to
                 Aristotle
                 ,
                 who
                 does
                 little
                 less
                 then
                 brag
                 ,
                 that
                 all
                 the
                 Philosophers
                 that
                 preceded
                 him
                 were
                 of
                 another
                 mind
                 .
                 Nor
                 will
                 I
                 here
                 examine
                 (
                 which
                 I
                 else-where
                 do
                 )
                 whether
                 ,
                 and
                 how
                 far
                 by
                 Arguments
                 meerly
                 Physical
                 ,
                 the
                 Creation
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 may
                 be
                 evinc'd
                 .
                 But
                 whether
                 or
                 no
                 meer
                 Natural
                 Reason
                 can
                 reach
                 so
                 sublime
                 a
                 Truth
                 ;
                 yet
                 it
                 seems
                 not
                 that
                 it
                 did
                 actually
                 ,
                 where
                 it
                 was
                 not
                 excited
                 by
                 
                 Revelation-Discovery
                 .
                 For
                 though
                 many
                 of
                 the
                 antient
                 Philosophers
                 believ'd
                 the
                 World
                 to
                 have
                 had
                 a
                 Beginning
                 ,
                 yet
                 they
                 all
                 took
                 it
                 for
                 granted
                 ,
                 that
                 Matter
                 had
                 none
                 ;
                 nor
                 does
                 any
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 know
                 of
                 ,
                 seem
                 to
                 have
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 imagin'd
                 ,
                 that
                 any
                 Substance
                 could
                 be
                 produced
                 out
                 of
                 Nothing
                 .
                 Those
                 that
                 ascribe
                 much
                 more
                 to
                 God
                 than
                 Aristotle
                 ,
                 make
                 Him
                 to
                 have
                 given
                 Form
                 onely
                 ,
                 not
                 Matter
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 have
                 but
                 contriv'd
                 the
                 pre-existent
                 Matter
                 into
                 this
                 orderly
                 Systeme
                 we
                 call
                 the
                 Universe
                 .
              
               
                 Next
                 ,
                 whereas
                 very
                 many
                 of
                 the
                 Philosophers
                 that
                 succeeded
                 Aristotle
                 ,
                 suppose
                 the
                 World
                 to
                 have
                 been
                 Aeternal
                 ;
                 and
                 those
                 that
                 believ'd
                 it
                 to
                 have
                 been
                 produc'd
                 ,
                 had
                 not
                 the
                 confidence
                 to
                 pretend
                 to
                 the
                 knowing
                 how
                 old
                 it
                 was
                 ;
                 unless
                 it
                 were
                 some
                 extravagant
                 ambitious
                 People
                 ,
                 such
                 as
                 those
                 fabulous
                 Chaldaeans
                 ,
                 whose
                 fond
                 account
                 reach'd
                 up
                 to
                 40000
                 or
                 50000
                 years
                 :
                 Theology
                 teaches
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 World
                 is
                 very
                 far
                 from
                 being
                 so
                 old
                 by
                 30
                 or
                 40
                 thousand
                 years
                 as
                 they
                 ,
                 and
                 by
                 very
                 many
                 Ages
                 ,
                 as
                 divers
                 others
                 have
                 presum'd
                 ;
                 
                 and
                 does
                 ,
                 from
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 give
                 us
                 such
                 an
                 account
                 of
                 the
                 age
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 has
                 set
                 us
                 certain
                 Limits
                 ,
                 within
                 which
                 so
                 long
                 a
                 Duration
                 may
                 be
                 bounded
                 ,
                 without
                 mistaking
                 in
                 our
                 Reckoning
                 .
                 Whereas
                 Philosophy
                 leaves
                 us
                 to
                 the
                 vastness
                 of
                 Indeterminate
                 Duration
                 ,
                 without
                 any
                 certain
                 Limits
                 at
                 all
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 Time
                 likewise
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Order
                 ,
                 and
                 divers
                 other
                 Circumstances
                 of
                 the
                 Manner
                 ,
                 wherein
                 the
                 Fabrick
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 was
                 compleated
                 ,
                 we
                 owe
                 to
                 Revelation
                 ;
                 bare
                 Reason
                 being
                 evidently
                 unable
                 to
                 inform
                 us
                 of
                 Particulars
                 that
                 preceded
                 the
                 Origine
                 of
                 the
                 first
                 Man
                 ;
                 and
                 though
                 I
                 do
                 not
                 think
                 Religion
                 so
                 much
                 concern'd
                 ,
                 as
                 many
                 do
                 ,
                 in
                 their
                 Opinion
                 and
                 Practise
                 ,
                 that
                 would
                 deduce
                 particular
                 Theorems
                 of
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 from
                 this
                 or
                 that
                 Expression
                 of
                 a
                 Book
                 ,
                 that
                 seems
                 rather
                 design'd
                 to
                 instruct
                 us
                 about
                 Spiritual
                 than
                 Corporeal
                 things
                 .
                 I
                 see
                 no
                 just
                 reason
                 to
                 embrace
                 their
                 Opinion
                 ,
                 that
                 would
                 so
                 turn
                 the
                 two
                 first
                 Chapters
                 of
                 Genesis
                 into
                 an
                 Allegory
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 overthrow
                 the
                 Literal
                 and
                 Historical
                 sense
                 of
                 them
                 .
                 And
                 though
                 I
                 take
                 the
                 Scripture
                 to
                 
                 be
                 mainly
                 design'd
                 to
                 teach
                 us
                 nobler
                 and
                 better
                 Truths
                 ,
                 than
                 those
                 of
                 Philosophy
                 ;
                 yet
                 I
                 am
                 not
                 forward
                 to
                 condemn
                 those
                 ,
                 who
                 think
                 the
                 beginning
                 of
                 Genesis
                 contains
                 divers
                 particulars
                 ,
                 in
                 reference
                 to
                 the
                 Origine
                 of
                 things
                 ,
                 which
                 though
                 not
                 unwarily
                 ,
                 or
                 alone
                 to
                 be
                 urg'd
                 in
                 Physicks
                 ,
                 may
                 yet
                 afford
                 very
                 considerable
                 Hints
                 to
                 an
                 attentive
                 and
                 inquisitive
                 Peruser
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 as
                 for
                 the
                 Duration
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 which
                 was
                 by
                 the
                 old
                 Philosophers
                 held
                 to
                 be
                 Interminable
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 which
                 the
                 Stoicks
                 Opinion
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 World
                 shall
                 be
                 destroyed
                 by
                 fire
                 (
                 which
                 they
                 held
                 from
                 the
                 Jews
                 )
                 was
                 Physically
                 precarious
                 ;
                 Theology
                 teaches
                 us
                 expresly
                 from
                 Divine
                 Revelation
                 ,
                 
                 that
                 the
                 present
                 
                   course
                   of
                   Nature
                
                 shall
                 not
                 last
                 always
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 one
                 Day
                 
                   this
                   world
                
                 (
                 or
                 at
                 least
                 this
                 Vortex
                 of
                 ours
                 )
                 shall
                 either
                 be
                 Abolished
                 by
                 Annihilation
                 ,
                 or
                 (
                 which
                 seems
                 far
                 more
                 probable
                 )
                 be
                 Innovated
                 ,
                 and
                 ,
                 as
                 it
                 were
                 ,
                 Transfigur'd
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 that
                 by
                 the
                 Intervention
                 of
                 that
                 Fire
                 ,
                 which
                 shall
                 dissolve
                 and
                 destroy
                 the
                 present
                 frame
                 of
                 Nature
                 :
                 So
                 that
                 either
                 way
                 ,
                 the
                 present
                 state
                 of
                 things
                 (
                 as
                 well
                 Naturall
                 as
                 Political
                 )
                 
                 shall
                 have
                 an
                 end
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 as
                 Theology
                 affords
                 us
                 these
                 Informations
                 about
                 the
                 Creatures
                 in
                 general
                 ;
                 so
                 touching
                 the
                 chiefest
                 and
                 noblest
                 of
                 the
                 visible
                 ones
                 ,
                 Men
                 ,
                 Revelation
                 discovers
                 very
                 plainly
                 divers
                 very
                 important
                 things
                 ,
                 where
                 Reason
                 must
                 needs
                 be
                 in
                 the
                 dark
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 first
                 ,
                 touching
                 the
                 Body
                 of
                 Man
                 ;
                 The
                 Epicureans
                 attributed
                 its
                 Original
                 ,
                 as
                 that
                 of
                 all
                 things
                 else
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 Casual
                 Concourse
                 of
                 Atoms
                 ;
                 and
                 the
                 Stoicks
                 absurdly
                 and
                 injuriously
                 enough
                 (
                 but
                 much
                 more
                 pardonably
                 than
                 their
                 follower
                 herein
                 ,
                 Mr.
                 Hobbs
                 )
                 would
                 have
                 Men
                 to
                 spring
                 up
                 like
                 Mushrooms
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 ground
                 ;
                 and
                 whereas
                 other
                 Philosophers
                 maintain
                 conceits
                 about
                 it
                 ,
                 too
                 wild
                 to
                 be
                 here
                 recited
                 ;
                 the
                 Book
                 of
                 Genesis
                 assures
                 us
                 ,
                 
                 that
                 the
                 Body
                 of
                 Man
                 was
                 first
                 form'd
                 by
                 God
                 in
                 a
                 peculiar
                 manner
                 ,
                 of
                 a
                 Terrestrial
                 Matter
                 ;
                 and
                 't
                 is
                 there
                 described
                 ,
                 as
                 having
                 been
                 perfected
                 before
                 the
                 Soul
                 was
                 united
                 to
                 it
                 .
                 And
                 as
                 Theology
                 thus
                 teaches
                 us
                 ,
                 how
                 the
                 Body
                 of
                 Man
                 had
                 its
                 first
                 beginning
                 ;
                 so
                 it
                 likewise
                 assures
                 us
                 ,
                 what
                 shall
                 become
                 of
                 the
                 Body
                 after
                 death
                 ,
                 
                 though
                 bare
                 Natural
                 Reason
                 will
                 scarce
                 be
                 
                 pretended
                 to
                 reach
                 to
                 so
                 abstruse
                 and
                 difficult
                 an
                 Article
                 as
                 that
                 of
                 a
                 Resurrection
                 ;
                 which
                 ,
                 when
                 propos'd
                 by
                 St.
                 Paul
                 ,
                 
                 produc'd
                 among
                 the
                 Athenian
                 Philosophers
                 nothing
                 else
                 but
                 wonder
                 or
                 laughter
                 .
              
               
                 Not
                 to
                 mention
                 ,
                 that
                 Theology
                 teaches
                 us
                 divers
                 other
                 things
                 about
                 the
                 Origine
                 and
                 Condition
                 of
                 Mens
                 Bodies
                 ;
                 
                 as
                 ,
                 That
                 all
                 Mankind
                 is
                 the
                 Off-spring
                 of
                 One
                 Man
                 and
                 one
                 Woman
                 ;
                 That
                 the
                 first
                 Woman
                 was
                 not
                 made
                 of
                 the
                 same
                 Matter
                 ,
                 nor
                 after
                 the
                 same
                 Manner
                 as
                 the
                 first
                 Man
                 ,
                 but
                 was
                 afterwards
                 taken
                 from
                 his
                 side
                 ;
                 That
                 both
                 Adam
                 and
                 Eve
                 were
                 not
                 ,
                 
                 as
                 many
                 Epicureans
                 and
                 other
                 Philosophers
                 fanci'd
                 that
                 the
                 first
                 men
                 were
                 ,
                 first
                 Infants
                 ;
                 whence
                 they
                 did
                 ,
                 as
                 we
                 do
                 ,
                 grow
                 by
                 degrees
                 to
                 be
                 mature
                 and
                 compleat
                 Humane
                 Persons
                 ,
                 but
                 were
                 made
                 so
                 all
                 at
                 once
                 ;
                 
                 and
                 ,
                 That
                 hereafter
                 ,
                 as
                 all
                 mens
                 Bodies
                 shall
                 rise
                 again
                 ,
                 so
                 they
                 shall
                 all
                 (
                 or
                 at
                 least
                 all
                 those
                 of
                 the
                 just
                 )
                 be
                 kept
                 from
                 ever
                 dying
                 a
                 second
                 time
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 as
                 for
                 the
                 Humane
                 Soul
                 ,
                 though
                 I
                 willingly
                 grant
                 ,
                 that
                 much
                 may
                 be
                 deduc'd
                 from
                 the
                 Light
                 of
                 Reason
                 onely
                 ,
                 touching
                 its
                 Existence
                 ,
                 
                 Properties
                 ,
                 and
                 Duration
                 ;
                 yet
                 Divine
                 Revelation
                 teaches
                 it
                 us
                 with
                 more
                 clearness
                 ,
                 and
                 with
                 greater
                 Authority
                 ;
                 as
                 ,
                 sure
                 ,
                 he
                 that
                 made
                 our
                 Souls
                 ,
                 and
                 upholds
                 them
                 ,
                 can
                 best
                 know
                 what
                 they
                 are
                 ,
                 and
                 how
                 long
                 he
                 will
                 have
                 them
                 last
                 .
                 And
                 as
                 the
                 Scripture
                 expresly
                 teaches
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Rational
                 Soul
                 is
                 distinct
                 from
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 
                 as
                 not
                 being
                 to
                 be
                 destroy'd
                 by
                 those
                 very
                 Enemies
                 that
                 kill
                 the
                 Body
                 ;
                 so
                 about
                 the
                 Origine
                 of
                 this
                 Immortal
                 Soul
                 (
                 about
                 which
                 Philosophers
                 can
                 give
                 us
                 but
                 wide
                 and
                 precarious
                 conjectures
                 )
                 Theology
                 assures
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Soul
                 of
                 man
                 had
                 not
                 such
                 an
                 Origination
                 ,
                 as
                 those
                 of
                 other
                 Animals
                 ,
                 
                 but
                 was
                 Gods
                 own
                 immediate
                 Workmanship
                 ,
                 and
                 was
                 united
                 to
                 the
                 Body
                 already
                 form'd
                 :
                 And
                 yet
                 not
                 so
                 united
                 ,
                 
                 but
                 that
                 upon
                 their
                 Divorce
                 ,
                 she
                 will
                 survive
                 ,
                 and
                 pass
                 into
                 a
                 state
                 ,
                 in
                 which
                 Death
                 shall
                 have
                 no
                 power
                 over
                 her
                 .
              
               
                 I
                 expect
                 you
                 will
                 here
                 object
                 ,
                 that
                 for
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 the
                 Perpetual
                 Duration
                 of
                 separate
                 Souls
                 ,
                 we
                 need
                 not
                 be
                 beholding
                 to
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 since
                 the
                 Immortality
                 of
                 the
                 Soul
                 may
                 be
                 sufficiently
                 prov'd
                 by
                 the
                 sole
                 Light
                 
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 and
                 particularly
                 has
                 been
                 demonstrated
                 by
                 your
                 great
                 
                   Des
                   Cartes
                
                 .
                 But
                 you
                 must
                 give
                 me
                 leave
                 to
                 tell
                 you
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 besides
                 that
                 a
                 matter
                 of
                 that
                 weight
                 and
                 concernment
                 cannot
                 be
                 too
                 well
                 prov'd
                 ,
                 and
                 consequently
                 ought
                 to
                 procure
                 a
                 welcome
                 for
                 all
                 good
                 Mediums
                 of
                 Probation
                 ;
                 besides
                 this
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 ,
                 I
                 doubt
                 many
                 Cartesians
                 do
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 others
                 ,
                 mistake
                 ,
                 both
                 the
                 difficulty
                 under
                 consideration
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 scope
                 of
                 Des
                 Cartes's
                 Discourse
                 .
                 For
                 I
                 grant
                 ,
                 that
                 by
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 alone
                 ,
                 the
                 Immortality
                 of
                 the
                 Soul
                 may
                 be
                 prov'd
                 against
                 its
                 usual
                 Enemies
                 ,
                 Atheists
                 and
                 Epicureans
                 .
                 For
                 the
                 ground
                 ,
                 upon
                 which
                 these
                 men
                 think
                 it
                 mortal
                 ,
                 being
                 ,
                 That
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 a
                 true
                 substance
                 ,
                 but
                 onely
                 a
                 modification
                 of
                 Body
                 ,
                 which
                 consequently
                 must
                 perish
                 ,
                 when
                 the
                 frame
                 or
                 structure
                 of
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 whereto
                 it
                 belongs
                 ,
                 is
                 dissolv'd
                 :
                 Their
                 ground
                 being
                 this
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 ,
                 if
                 we
                 can
                 prove
                 by
                 some
                 Intellectual
                 Operations
                 of
                 the
                 Rational
                 Soul
                 ,
                 which
                 Matter
                 ,
                 however
                 modifi'd
                 ,
                 cannot
                 reach
                 ,
                 
                   That
                   it
                   is
                   a
                   Substance
                   distinct
                   from
                   the
                   Humane
                   Body
                   ,
                
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 reason
                 ,
                 why
                 the
                 Dissolution
                 of
                 the
                 Latter
                 should
                 infer
                 the
                 Destruction
                 of
                 the
                 
                 Former
                 ,
                 which
                 is
                 a
                 simple
                 Substance
                 ,
                 and
                 as
                 real
                 a
                 Substance
                 as
                 Matter
                 it self
                 ,
                 which
                 yet
                 the
                 Adversaries
                 affirm
                 to
                 be
                 Indestructible
                 .
                 But
                 though
                 by
                 the
                 Mental
                 Operations
                 of
                 the
                 Rational
                 Soul
                 ,
                 and
                 perhaps
                 by
                 other
                 Mediums
                 it
                 may
                 ,
                 against
                 the
                 Epicureans
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 meer
                 Naturalists
                 ,
                 who
                 will
                 not
                 allow
                 God
                 to
                 have
                 any
                 thing
                 to
                 do
                 in
                 the
                 case
                 ,
                 be
                 prov'd
                 to
                 be
                 Immortal
                 in
                 the
                 sense
                 newly
                 propos'd
                 ;
                 yet
                 the
                 same
                 Proofs
                 will
                 not
                 evince
                 ,
                 that
                 absolutely
                 
                   it
                   shall
                   never
                   cease
                   to
                   be
                
                 ▪
                 if
                 we
                 dispute
                 with
                 Philosophers
                 ,
                 who
                 admit
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 Cartesians
                 and
                 many
                 others
                 do
                 ,
                 that
                 God
                 is
                 the
                 sole
                 Creator
                 and
                 Preserver
                 of
                 all
                 things
                 .
                 For
                 how
                 are
                 we
                 sure
                 but
                 that
                 God
                 may
                 have
                 so
                 ordain'd
                 ,
                 That
                 ,
                 though
                 the
                 Soul
                 of
                 Man
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 continuance
                 of
                 his
                 ordinary
                 and
                 upholding
                 Concourse
                 ,
                 may
                 survive
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 yet
                 ,
                 as
                 't
                 is
                 generally
                 believ'd
                 ,
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 created
                 till
                 it
                 be
                 just
                 to
                 be
                 infus'd
                 into
                 the
                 Body
                 ;
                 so
                 it
                 shall
                 be
                 annihilated
                 when
                 it
                 parts
                 with
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 God
                 withdrawing
                 at
                 death
                 that
                 supporting
                 influence
                 ,
                 which
                 alone
                 kept
                 it
                 from
                 relapsing
                 to
                 its
                 first
                 Nothing
                 .
                 Whence
                 it
                 may
                 appear
                 ,
                 that
                 notwithstanding
                 the
                 Physical
                 
                 proofs
                 of
                 the
                 Spirituality
                 and
                 separableness
                 of
                 the
                 Humane
                 Soul
                 ,
                 we
                 are
                 yet
                 much
                 beholding
                 to
                 Divine
                 Revelation
                 for
                 assuring
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 its
                 Duration
                 
                   shall
                   be
                
                 endless
                 .
                 And
                 now
                 to
                 make
                 good
                 what
                 I
                 was
                 intimating
                 above
                 ,
                 concerning
                 the
                 Cartesians
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 scope
                 of
                 Des
                 Cartes's
                 Demonstration
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 appeal
                 to
                 no
                 other
                 than
                 his
                 own
                 Expressions
                 to
                 evince
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 consider'd
                 this
                 matter
                 for
                 the
                 main
                 as
                 we
                 have
                 done
                 ,
                 and
                 pretended
                 to
                 demonstrate
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Soul
                 is
                 a
                 Distinct
                 Substance
                 from
                 the
                 Body
                 ;
                 but
                 not
                 that
                 absolutely
                 speaking
                 it
                 is
                 Immortal
                 .
                 Cur
                 (
                 answers
                 that
                 excellent
                 Author
                 )
                 
                   de
                   immortalitate
                   Animae
                   nihil
                   scripserim
                
                 ,
                 
                 
                   jam
                   dixi
                   in
                   Synopsi
                   mearum
                   Meditationum
                   .
                   Quod
                   ejus
                   ab
                   omni
                   corpore
                   distinctionem
                   satis
                   probaverim
                   ,
                   supra
                   ostendi
                   .
                   Quod
                   vero
                   additis
                   ,
                   Ex
                   distinctione
                   Animae
                   á
                   corpore
                   non
                   sequi
                   ejus
                   Immortalitatem
                   ,
                   quia
                   nihilominus
                   dici
                   potest
                   ,
                   illam
                   à
                   Deo
                   talis
                   naturae
                   factam
                   esse
                   ,
                   ut
                   ejus
                   Duratio
                   simul
                   cum
                   Duratione
                   vitae
                   corporeae
                   finiatur
                   ,
                   fateor
                   á
                   me
                   refelli
                   non
                   posse
                   .
                   Neque
                   enim
                   tantum
                   mihi
                   assumo
                   ut
                   quicquam
                   de
                   iis
                   quae
                   à
                   libera
                   Dei
                   voluntate
                   dependent
                   ,
                   humanae
                   rationis
                   vi
                   determinare
                   aggrediar
                   .
                   
                   Docet
                   Naturalis
                   cognitio
                   ,
                   &c.
                   Sed
                   si
                   de
                   absoluta
                   Dei
                   potestate
                   quaeratur
                   ,
                   an
                   forte
                   decreverit
                   ,
                   ut
                   humanae
                   animae
                   iisdem
                   Temporibus
                   esse
                   desinant
                   ,
                   quibus
                   Corpora
                   quae
                   illis
                   adjunxit
                   ;
                   solius
                   Dei
                   est
                   ,
                   respondere
                   .
                
                 And
                 if
                 he
                 would
                 not
                 assume
                 to
                 demonstrate
                 by
                 Natural
                 Reason
                 ,
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 the
                 Existence
                 of
                 the
                 Soul
                 after
                 death
                 ,
                 unless
                 upon
                 a
                 supposition
                 ;
                 we
                 may
                 well
                 presume
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 would
                 less
                 take
                 upon
                 him
                 to
                 determine
                 ,
                 what
                 shall
                 be
                 the
                 condition
                 of
                 that
                 Soul
                 after
                 it
                 leaves
                 the
                 Body
                 .
                 And
                 that
                 you
                 may
                 not
                 doubt
                 of
                 this
                 ,
                 I
                 will
                 give
                 you
                 for
                 it
                 his
                 own
                 confession
                 ,
                 as
                 he
                 freely
                 writ
                 it
                 in
                 a
                 private
                 Letter
                 to
                 that
                 Admirable
                 Lady
                 ,
                 the
                 Princess
                 Elizabeth
                 ,
                 first
                 Daughter
                 to
                 Frederick
                 King
                 of
                 Bohemia
                 ,
                 who
                 seems
                 to
                 have
                 desir'd
                 his
                 Opinion
                 on
                 that
                 important
                 Question
                 ,
                 about
                 which
                 he
                 sends
                 her
                 this
                 Answer
                 ,
                 
                   Pour
                   ce
                   qui
                   ,
                   &c.
                   i.
                   e.
                
                 As
                 to
                 the
                 State
                 of
                 the
                 Soul
                 after
                 this
                 Life
                 ,
                 my
                 knowledge
                 of
                 it
                 is
                 far
                 inferiour
                 to
                 that
                 of
                 Monsieur
                 (
                 he
                 means
                 Sir
                 
                   Kenelm
                   )
                   Digby
                
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 setting
                 aside
                 that
                 which
                 Religion
                 teaches
                 us
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 I
                 confess
                 ,
                 that
                 by
                 mee●
                 Natural
                 Reason
                 we
                 may
                 indeed
                 make
                 many
                 conjectures
                 to
                 our
                 own
                 advantage
                 ,
                 and
                 
                 have
                 fair
                 Hopes
                 ,
                 but
                 not
                 
                   any
                   Assurance
                
                 :
                 And
                 accordingly
                 in
                 the
                 next
                 clause
                 he
                 gives
                 the
                 imprudence
                 ,
                 of
                 quitting
                 what
                 is
                 certain
                 for
                 an
                 uncertainty
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 cause
                 why
                 ,
                 according
                 to
                 Natural
                 Reason
                 ,
                 we
                 are
                 never
                 to
                 seek
                 Death
                 .
              
               
                 Nor
                 do
                 I
                 wonder
                 he
                 should
                 be
                 of
                 that
                 mind
                 .
                 For
                 all
                 that
                 meer
                 Reason
                 can
                 demonstrate
                 ,
                 may
                 be
                 reduced
                 to
                 these
                 two
                 things
                 ;
                 One
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Rational
                 Soul
                 ,
                 being
                 an
                 Incorporeal
                 Substance
                 ,
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 necessity
                 that
                 it
                 should
                 perish
                 with
                 the
                 Body
                 ;
                 so
                 that
                 ,
                 if
                 God
                 have
                 not
                 otherwise
                 appointed
                 ,
                 the
                 Soul
                 may
                 survive
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 and
                 last
                 for
                 ever
                 :
                 
                   The
                   other
                
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 the
                 Soul
                 ,
                 according
                 to
                 
                   Des
                   Cartes
                
                 ,
                 consisting
                 in
                 its
                 being
                 a
                 Substance
                 that
                 thinks
                 ,
                 we
                 may
                 conclude
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 though
                 it
                 be
                 by
                 death
                 separate
                 from
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 it
                 will
                 nevertheless
                 retain
                 the
                 power
                 of
                 thinking
                 .
                 But
                 now
                 ,
                 whether
                 either
                 of
                 these
                 two
                 things
                 ,
                 or
                 both
                 ,
                 be
                 sufficient
                 to
                 endear
                 the
                 state
                 of
                 separation
                 after
                 death
                 ,
                 to
                 a
                 considering
                 man
                 ,
                 I
                 think
                 may
                 be
                 justly
                 question'd
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 Immortality
                 or
                 Perseverance
                 in
                 Duration
                 ,
                 simply
                 consider'd
                 ,
                 is
                 rather
                 a
                 thing
                 presuppos'd
                 to
                 ,
                 or
                 a
                 requisite
                 of
                 ,
                 Felicity
                 ,
                 than
                 a
                 part
                 
                 of
                 it
                 ;
                 and
                 being
                 in
                 it self
                 an
                 adiaphorous
                 thing
                 ,
                 assumes
                 the
                 nature
                 of
                 the
                 state
                 or
                 condition
                 to
                 which
                 't
                 is
                 joyn'd
                 ,
                 and
                 does
                 not
                 make
                 that
                 state
                 happy
                 or
                 miserable
                 ,
                 but
                 makes
                 the
                 possessors
                 of
                 it
                 more
                 happy
                 or
                 more
                 miserable
                 than
                 otherwise
                 they
                 would
                 be
                 .
                 And
                 though
                 some
                 School-men
                 ,
                 upon
                 Aery
                 Metaphysical
                 Notions
                 ,
                 would
                 have
                 men
                 think
                 it
                 is
                 more
                 eligible
                 to
                 be
                 wretched
                 ,
                 than
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 at
                 all
                 ;
                 yet
                 we
                 may
                 oppose
                 to
                 their
                 speculative
                 subtilties
                 the
                 sentiments
                 of
                 Mankind
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 far
                 more
                 considerable
                 Testimony
                 of
                 the
                 Saviour
                 of
                 Mankind
                 ▪
                 who
                 speaking
                 of
                 the
                 Disciple
                 that
                 betray'd
                 him
                 ,
                 says
                 ,
                 
                 That
                 
                   it
                   had
                   been
                   good
                   for
                   that
                   man
                   if
                   he
                   had
                   never
                   been
                   born
                   .
                
                 And
                 Eternity
                 is
                 generally
                 conceived
                 to
                 aggravate
                 no
                 less
                 the
                 miseries
                 of
                 Hell
                 ,
                 than
                 it
                 heightens
                 the
                 joys
                 of
                 Heaven
                 .
                 And
                 here
                 we
                 may
                 consider
                 ,
                 first
                 ,
                 That
                 meer
                 Reason
                 cannot
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 assure
                 us
                 absolutely
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Soul
                 shall
                 survive
                 the
                 Body
                 :
                 For
                 the
                 Truth
                 of
                 which
                 we
                 have
                 not
                 onely
                 
                 Cartesius's
                 Confession
                 ,
                 lately
                 recited
                 ,
                 but
                 a
                 probable
                 Argument
                 ,
                 drawn
                 from
                 the
                 nature
                 of
                 the
                 thing
                 ,
                 since
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 Body
                 and
                 Soul
                 were
                 
                 brought
                 together
                 ,
                 not
                 by
                 any
                 meer
                 Physical
                 Agents
                 ,
                 and
                 since
                 their
                 Association
                 and
                 Union
                 whilst
                 they
                 continued
                 together
                 ,
                 was
                 made
                 upon
                 Conditions
                 that
                 depended
                 solely
                 upon
                 Gods
                 free
                 and
                 arbitrary
                 Institution
                 ;
                 so
                 ,
                 for
                 ought
                 Reason
                 can
                 secure
                 us
                 of
                 ,
                 one
                 of
                 the
                 Conditions
                 of
                 that
                 Association
                 
                   may
                   be
                
                 ,
                 That
                 the
                 Body
                 and
                 Soul
                 should
                 not
                 survive
                 each
                 other
                 .
                 Secondly
                 ,
                 supposing
                 that
                 the
                 Soul
                 be
                 permitted
                 to
                 outlive
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 meer
                 Reason
                 cannot
                 inform
                 us
                 what
                 will
                 become
                 of
                 her
                 in
                 her
                 separate
                 state
                 ,
                 whether
                 she
                 will
                 be
                 vitally
                 united
                 to
                 any
                 other
                 kind
                 of
                 Body
                 or
                 Vehicle
                 ;
                 and
                 if
                 to
                 some
                 ,
                 of
                 what
                 kind
                 that
                 will
                 be
                 ,
                 and
                 upon
                 what
                 terms
                 the
                 Union
                 will
                 be
                 made
                 .
                 For
                 possibly
                 she
                 may
                 be
                 united
                 to
                 an
                 unorganiz'd
                 ,
                 or
                 very
                 imperfectly
                 organiz'd
                 ,
                 Body
                 ,
                 wherein
                 she
                 cannot
                 exercise
                 the
                 same
                 Functions
                 she
                 did
                 in
                 her
                 Humane
                 Body
                 .
                 As
                 we
                 see
                 ,
                 that
                 even
                 in
                 this
                 Life
                 the
                 Souls
                 of
                 Natural
                 Fools
                 are
                 united
                 to
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 wherein
                 they
                 cannot
                 discourse
                 ,
                 or
                 at
                 least
                 cannot
                 Philosophize
                 .
                 And
                 't
                 is
                 plain
                 ,
                 that
                 some
                 Souls
                 are
                 introduc'd
                 into
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 which
                 ,
                 by
                 reason
                 of
                 Paralytical
                 and
                 other
                 Diseases
                 ,
                 they
                 are
                 
                 unable
                 to
                 move
                 ,
                 though
                 that
                 does
                 not
                 always
                 hinder
                 them
                 from
                 being
                 obnoxious
                 to
                 feel
                 pain
                 .
                 So
                 that
                 ,
                 for
                 ought
                 we
                 naturally
                 know
                 ,
                 a
                 Humane
                 Soul
                 ,
                 separated
                 from
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 may
                 be
                 united
                 to
                 such
                 a
                 portion
                 of
                 Matter
                 ,
                 that
                 she
                 may
                 neither
                 have
                 the
                 power
                 to
                 move
                 it
                 ,
                 nor
                 the
                 advantage
                 of
                 receiving
                 any
                 agreeable
                 Informations
                 by
                 its
                 interventions
                 ,
                 having
                 upon
                 the
                 account
                 of
                 that
                 Union
                 no
                 other
                 sense
                 than
                 that
                 of
                 pain
                 .
                 But
                 let
                 us
                 now
                 consider
                 what
                 will
                 follow
                 ,
                 if
                 I
                 should
                 grant
                 that
                 the
                 Soul
                 will
                 not
                 be
                 made
                 miserable
                 ,
                 by
                 being
                 thus
                 wretchedly
                 matched
                 .
                 Suppose
                 we
                 then
                 ,
                 that
                 she
                 be
                 left
                 free
                 to
                 enjoy
                 what
                 belongs
                 to
                 her
                 own
                 nature
                 :
                 That
                 being
                 onely
                 the
                 Power
                 of
                 always
                 thinking
                 ,
                 it
                 may
                 well
                 be
                 doubted
                 ,
                 whether
                 th'exercise
                 of
                 that
                 Power
                 wil
                 suffice
                 to
                 make
                 her
                 happy
                 .
                 You
                 will
                 perchance
                 easily
                 believe
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 love
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 another
                 to
                 entertain
                 my self
                 with
                 my
                 own
                 thoughts
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 enjoy
                 them
                 undisturbed
                 by
                 visits
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 avocations
                 ;
                 I
                 would
                 ,
                 onely
                 accompanied
                 by
                 a
                 Servant
                 and
                 a
                 Book
                 ,
                 go
                 to
                 dine
                 at
                 an
                 Inn
                 upon
                 a
                 Road
                 ,
                 to
                 enjoy
                 my
                 thoughts
                 the
                 more
                 freely
                 for
                 that
                 day
                 .
                 But
                 yet
                 ,
                 I
                 think
                 ,
                 the
                 
                 most
                 contemplative
                 men
                 would
                 ,
                 at
                 least
                 in
                 time
                 ,
                 grow
                 weary
                 of
                 thinking
                 ,
                 if
                 they
                 received
                 no
                 supply
                 of
                 Objects
                 from
                 without
                 ,
                 by
                 Reading
                 ,
                 Seeing
                 ,
                 or
                 Conversing
                 ;
                 and
                 if
                 they
                 also
                 wanted
                 the
                 opportunity
                 of
                 executing
                 their
                 thoughts
                 ,
                 by
                 moving
                 the
                 Members
                 of
                 their
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 or
                 of
                 imparting
                 them
                 ,
                 either
                 by
                 Discoursing
                 ,
                 or
                 Writing
                 of
                 Books
                 ,
                 or
                 by
                 making
                 of
                 Experiments
                 .
                 On
                 this
                 occasion
                 I
                 remember
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 knew
                 a
                 Gentleman
                 ,
                 who
                 was
                 ,
                 in
                 Spain
                 ,
                 for
                 a
                 State-crime
                 ,
                 which
                 yet
                 he
                 thought
                 an
                 Heroick
                 action
                 ,
                 kept
                 close
                 prisoner
                 for
                 a
                 year
                 in
                 a
                 place
                 ,
                 where
                 though
                 he
                 had
                 allowed
                 him
                 a
                 Diet
                 not
                 unfit
                 for
                 a
                 Person
                 of
                 Note
                 ,
                 as
                 he
                 was
                 ;
                 yet
                 he
                 was
                 not
                 permitted
                 the
                 benefit
                 of
                 any
                 Light
                 ,
                 either
                 of
                 the
                 Day
                 or
                 Candles
                 ,
                 and
                 was
                 not
                 accosted
                 by
                 any
                 humane
                 creature
                 ,
                 save
                 at
                 certain
                 times
                 by
                 the
                 Jaylor
                 ,
                 that
                 brought
                 him
                 meat
                 and
                 drink
                 ,
                 but
                 was
                 strictly
                 forbidden
                 to
                 converse
                 with
                 him
                 .
                 Now
                 though
                 this
                 Gentleman
                 by
                 his
                 discourse
                 appear'd
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 man
                 of
                 a
                 lively
                 humour
                 ,
                 yet
                 being
                 ask'd
                 by
                 me
                 ,
                 how
                 he
                 could
                 do
                 to
                 pass
                 the
                 time
                 in
                 that
                 sad
                 solitude
                 ,
                 he
                 confessed
                 to
                 me
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 though
                 he
                 had
                 the
                 liberty
                 
                 of
                 walking
                 too
                 and
                 fro
                 in
                 his
                 Prison
                 ,
                 and
                 though
                 by
                 often
                 recalling
                 into
                 his
                 mind
                 all
                 the
                 adventures
                 and
                 other
                 passages
                 of
                 his
                 former
                 life
                 ,
                 and
                 by
                 several
                 ways
                 combining
                 and
                 diversifying
                 his
                 Thoughts
                 ,
                 he
                 endeavoured
                 to
                 give
                 his
                 mind
                 as
                 much
                 variety
                 of
                 employment
                 as
                 he
                 was
                 able
                 ;
                 yet
                 that
                 would
                 not
                 serve
                 his
                 turn
                 ,
                 but
                 he
                 was
                 often
                 reduc'd
                 ,
                 by
                 drinking
                 large
                 draughts
                 of
                 Wine
                 ,
                 and
                 then
                 casting
                 himself
                 upon
                 his
                 bed
                 ,
                 to
                 endeavour
                 to
                 drown
                 that
                 Melancholly
                 ,
                 which
                 the
                 want
                 of
                 new
                 objects
                 cast
                 him
                 into
                 .
                 And
                 I
                 can
                 easily
                 admit
                 ,
                 he
                 found
                 a
                 great
                 deal
                 of
                 difference
                 between
                 the
                 sense
                 he
                 had
                 of
                 thinking
                 when
                 he
                 was
                 at
                 liberty
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 which
                 he
                 had
                 when
                 he
                 was
                 confin'd
                 to
                 that
                 employment
                 ,
                 whose
                 delightfulness
                 ,
                 like
                 fire
                 ,
                 cannot
                 last
                 long
                 ,
                 when
                 it
                 is
                 ,
                 as
                 his
                 was
                 ,
                 denied
                 both
                 fuel
                 and
                 vent
                 .
                 And
                 ,
                 in
                 a
                 word
                 ,
                 though
                 I
                 most
                 readily
                 grant
                 ,
                 that
                 Thinking
                 interwoven
                 with
                 Conversation
                 and
                 Action
                 ,
                 may
                 be
                 a
                 very
                 pleasant
                 way
                 of
                 passing
                 ones
                 Time
                 ,
                 yet
                 Man
                 being
                 by
                 nature
                 a
                 sociable
                 creature
                 ,
                 I
                 fear
                 ,
                 that
                 alone
                 would
                 be
                 a
                 dry
                 and
                 wearisome
                 Imployment
                 to
                 spend
                 Eternity
                 in
                 .
              
               
               
                 Before
                 I
                 proceed
                 to
                 the
                 next
                 Section
                 ,
                 I
                 must
                 not
                 omit
                 to
                 take
                 notice
                 ,
                 That
                 though
                 the
                 brevity
                 I
                 propos'd
                 to
                 my self
                 ,
                 keeps
                 me
                 from
                 discoursing
                 of
                 any
                 Theological
                 Subjects
                 ,
                 save
                 what
                 I
                 have
                 touch'd
                 upon
                 about
                 the
                 Divine
                 Attributes
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 things
                 I
                 have
                 mention'd
                 about
                 the
                 Universe
                 in
                 general
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Humane
                 Soul
                 ;
                 yet
                 there
                 are
                 divers
                 other
                 things
                 ,
                 knowable
                 by
                 the
                 help
                 of
                 Revelation
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 without
                 it
                 ,
                 that
                 are
                 of
                 so
                 noble
                 and
                 sublime
                 a
                 Nature
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 greatest
                 Wits
                 may
                 find
                 their
                 best
                 Abilities
                 both
                 fully
                 exercis'd
                 ,
                 and
                 highly
                 gratifi'd
                 by
                 making
                 Enquiries
                 into
                 them
                 .
                 I
                 shall
                 not
                 name
                 for
                 proof
                 of
                 this
                 the
                 Adorable
                 Mystery
                 of
                 the
                 Trinity
                 ,
                 wherein
                 't
                 is
                 acknowledg'd
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 most
                 soaring
                 Speculators
                 are
                 wont
                 to
                 be
                 pos'd
                 ,
                 or
                 to
                 loose
                 themselves
                 :
                 But
                 I
                 shall
                 rather
                 mention
                 the
                 Redemption
                 of
                 Mankind
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Decrees
                 of
                 God
                 concerning
                 Men.
                 For
                 though
                 these
                 seem
                 to
                 be
                 less
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 Ken
                 of
                 our
                 Natural
                 Faculties
                 ;
                 yet
                 't
                 is
                 into
                 some
                 things
                 that
                 belong
                 to
                 the
                 former
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Scripture
                 tells
                 us
                 ,
                 
                   The
                   Angels
                   desire
                   to
                   pry
                
                 ;
                 
                 and
                 't
                 was
                 the
                 consideration
                 of
                 the
                 latter
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 
                 that
                 made
                 one
                 that
                 had
                 been
                 caught
                 up
                 into
                 the
                 Mansion
                 of
                 the
                 Angels
                 ,
                 
                 amazedly
                 cry
                 out
                 ,
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 ,
                 &c.
                 
              
               
                 Not
                 are
                 these
                 the
                 onely
                 things
                 that
                 the
                 Scripture
                 it self
                 terms
                 Mysteries
                 ,
                 though
                 ,
                 for
                 brevities
                 sake
                 ,
                 instead
                 of
                 specifying
                 any
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 content
                 my self
                 to
                 represent
                 to
                 you
                 in
                 general
                 ;
                 that
                 ,
                 since
                 Gods
                 wisdom
                 is
                 boundless
                 ,
                 it
                 may
                 ,
                 sure
                 ,
                 have
                 more
                 ways
                 than
                 one
                 to
                 display
                 it self
                 .
                 And
                 though
                 the
                 material
                 World
                 be
                 full
                 of
                 the
                 Productions
                 of
                 his
                 Wisdom
                 ;
                 yet
                 that
                 hinders
                 not
                 but
                 that
                 the
                 Scripture
                 may
                 be
                 enobled
                 with
                 many
                 excellent
                 Impresses
                 ,
                 and
                 ,
                 as
                 it
                 were
                 ,
                 Signatures
                 of
                 the
                 same
                 Attribute
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 as
                 I
                 was
                 beginning
                 to
                 say
                 ,
                 it
                 cannot
                 but
                 be
                 highly
                 injurious
                 to
                 the
                 Deity
                 ,
                 in
                 whom
                 all
                 other
                 True
                 Perfections
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 Omniscience
                 ,
                 are
                 both
                 united
                 and
                 transcendent
                 ,
                 to
                 think
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 can
                 contrive
                 no
                 ways
                 to
                 disclose
                 his
                 Perfections
                 ,
                 besides
                 the
                 ordering
                 of
                 Matter
                 and
                 Motion
                 ,
                 and
                 cannot
                 otherwise
                 deserve
                 to
                 be
                 the
                 Object
                 of
                 Mens
                 studies
                 ,
                 and
                 their
                 Admiration
                 ,
                 than
                 in
                 the
                 capacity
                 of
                 a
                 Creator
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 I
                 think
                 ,
                 I
                 might
                 safely
                 add
                 ,
                 that
                 besides
                 these
                 Grand
                 and
                 Mysterious
                 
                 Points
                 I
                 came
                 from
                 mentioning
                 ,
                 there
                 are
                 many
                 other
                 noble
                 and
                 important
                 things
                 ,
                 wherein
                 unassisted
                 Reason
                 leaves
                 us
                 in
                 the
                 dark
                 ;
                 which
                 though
                 not
                 so
                 clearly
                 reveal'd
                 in
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 are
                 yet
                 in
                 an
                 inviting
                 measure
                 discover'd
                 there
                 ,
                 and
                 consequently
                 deserve
                 the
                 indagation
                 of
                 a
                 Curious
                 and
                 Philosophical
                 Soul.
                 Shall
                 we
                 not
                 think
                 it
                 worth
                 enquiring
                 ,
                 whether
                 the
                 Satisfaction
                 of
                 Christ
                 was
                 necessary
                 to
                 appease
                 the
                 Justice
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 purchase
                 Redemption
                 for
                 Mankind
                 ?
                 Or
                 whether
                 God
                 ,
                 as
                 Absolute
                 and
                 Supreme
                 Governour
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 might
                 have
                 freely
                 remitted
                 the
                 Penalties
                 of
                 sin
                 ?
                 Shall
                 we
                 not
                 think
                 it
                 worth
                 the
                 inquiring
                 ,
                 upon
                 what
                 Account
                 ,
                 and
                 upon
                 what
                 Terms
                 ,
                 the
                 Justification
                 of
                 Men
                 ●●wards
                 God
                 is
                 transacted
                 ,
                 especially
                 considering
                 how
                 much
                 it
                 imports
                 us
                 to
                 know
                 ,
                 and
                 how
                 perplexedly
                 a
                 Doctrine
                 ,
                 not
                 in
                 it self
                 abstruse
                 ,
                 is
                 wont
                 to
                 be
                 delivered
                 ?
                 Shall
                 not
                 we
                 inquire
                 ,
                 whether
                 or
                 no
                 the
                 Souls
                 of
                 Men
                 ,
                 before
                 they
                 were
                 united
                 to
                 their
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 pre-existed
                 in
                 a
                 happier
                 state
                 ,
                 as
                 many
                 of
                 the
                 Ancient
                 and
                 Modern
                 Jews
                 and
                 Platonists
                 ,
                 and
                 (
                 besides
                 Origen
                 )
                 some
                 
                 Learned
                 Men
                 of
                 our
                 times
                 do
                 believe
                 ▪
                 And
                 shall
                 not
                 we
                 be
                 curious
                 to
                 know
                 ,
                 whether
                 ,
                 when
                 the
                 Soul
                 leaves
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 it
                 do
                 immediately
                 pass
                 to
                 Heaven
                 or
                 Hell
                 (
                 as
                 't
                 is
                 commonly
                 believed
                 ,
                 )
                 or
                 for
                 want
                 of
                 Organs
                 be
                 laid
                 ,
                 as
                 it
                 were
                 ,
                 asleep
                 in
                 an
                 insensible
                 and
                 unactive
                 state
                 ,
                 till
                 it
                 recover
                 the
                 Body
                 at
                 the
                 Resurrection
                 ?
                 (
                 as
                 many
                 Socinians
                 and
                 others
                 maintain
                 :
                 )
                 Or
                 whether
                 it
                 be
                 conveyed
                 into
                 secret
                 Recesses
                 ,
                 where
                 ,
                 though
                 it
                 be
                 in
                 a
                 good
                 or
                 bad
                 condition
                 ,
                 according
                 to
                 what
                 it
                 did
                 in
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 't
                 is
                 yet
                 repriev'd
                 from
                 the
                 flames
                 of
                 Hell
                 ,
                 and
                 restrain'd
                 from
                 the
                 Beatifick
                 Vision
                 till
                 the
                 Day
                 of
                 Judgment
                 ?
                 (
                 which
                 seems
                 to
                 have
                 been
                 the
                 opinion
                 of
                 many
                 ,
                 if
                 not
                 most
                 of
                 the
                 Primitive
                 Fathers
                 and
                 Christians
                 .
                 )
                 Shall
                 not
                 we
                 be
                 curious
                 to
                 know
                 ,
                 whether
                 at
                 that
                 great
                 Decretory
                 Day
                 ,
                 this
                 vast
                 Fabrick
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 which
                 all
                 confess
                 must
                 have
                 its
                 frame
                 quite
                 shatter'd
                 ,
                 shall
                 be
                 suffer'd
                 to
                 relapse
                 into
                 its
                 first
                 Nothing
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 several
                 Divines
                 assert
                 ;
                 )
                 or
                 shall
                 be
                 ,
                 after
                 its
                 Dissolution
                 ,
                 renew'd
                 to
                 a
                 better
                 state
                 ,
                 and
                 ,
                 as
                 it
                 were
                 ,
                 Transfigur'd
                 ?
                 And
                 shall
                 not
                 we
                 inquire
                 ,
                 whether
                 or
                 no
                 in
                 that
                 future
                 state
                 of
                 things
                 ,
                 which
                 shall
                 never
                 
                 have
                 an
                 end
                 ,
                 
                 we
                 shall
                 know
                 one
                 another
                 ?
                 (
                 as
                 Adam
                 ,
                 when
                 he
                 awak'd
                 out
                 of
                 his
                 profound
                 sleep
                 ,
                 knew
                 Eve
                 whom
                 he
                 never
                 saw
                 before
                 ;
                 )
                 and
                 whether
                 those
                 Personal
                 Friendships
                 and
                 Affections
                 ,
                 we
                 had
                 for
                 one
                 another
                 here
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 pathetick
                 Consideration
                 of
                 the
                 Relations
                 (
                 as
                 of
                 Father
                 and
                 Son
                 ,
                 Husband
                 and
                 Wife
                 ,
                 Chaste
                 Mistris
                 and
                 Virtuous
                 Lover
                 ,
                 Prince
                 and
                 Subject
                 ,
                 )
                 on
                 which
                 many
                 of
                 them
                 were
                 grounded
                 ,
                 shall
                 continue
                 ?
                 Or
                 whether
                 all
                 those
                 things
                 ,
                 as
                 antiquated
                 and
                 slight
                 ,
                 shall
                 be
                 obliterated
                 ,
                 and
                 ,
                 as
                 it
                 were
                 ,
                 swallowed
                 up
                 ?
                 (
                 as
                 the
                 former
                 Relation
                 of
                 a
                 Cousin
                 a
                 great
                 way
                 off
                 ,
                 is
                 scarce
                 at
                 all
                 consider'd
                 ,
                 when
                 the
                 Persons
                 come
                 so
                 to
                 change
                 their
                 state
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 be
                 united
                 by
                 the
                 strict
                 Bonds
                 of
                 Marriage
                 .
                 )
              
               
                 But
                 't
                 were
                 tedious
                 to
                 propose
                 all
                 the
                 other
                 Points
                 ,
                 whereof
                 the
                 Divine
                 takes
                 cognizance
                 ,
                 that
                 highly
                 merit
                 an
                 inquisitive
                 mans
                 curiosity
                 ;
                 and
                 about
                 which
                 ,
                 all
                 the
                 Writings
                 of
                 the
                 old
                 Greek
                 and
                 other
                 Heathen
                 Philosophers
                 put
                 together
                 ,
                 will
                 give
                 us
                 far
                 less
                 information
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 single
                 Volume
                 of
                 Canonical
                 Scripture
                 .
                 I
                 foresee
                 indeed
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 may
                 nevertheless
                 be
                 
                 objected
                 ,
                 that
                 in
                 some
                 of
                 these
                 Inquiries
                 ,
                 Revelation
                 incumbers
                 Reason
                 ,
                 by
                 delivering
                 things
                 ,
                 which
                 Reason
                 is
                 obliged
                 to
                 make
                 its
                 Hypothesis
                 consistent
                 with
                 .
                 But
                 ,
                 besides
                 that
                 this
                 cannot
                 be
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 pretended
                 of
                 all
                 ;
                 if
                 you
                 consider
                 how
                 much
                 unassisted
                 Reason
                 leaves
                 us
                 in
                 the
                 dark
                 about
                 these
                 matters
                 ,
                 wherein
                 she
                 has
                 not
                 been
                 able
                 to
                 frame
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 probable
                 determinations
                 ,
                 especially
                 in
                 comparison
                 of
                 those
                 probabilities
                 that
                 Reason
                 can
                 deduce
                 from
                 what
                 it
                 finds
                 one
                 way
                 or
                 other
                 delivered
                 in
                 the
                 Scripture
                 :
                 If
                 you
                 consider
                 this
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 ,
                 you
                 will
                 ,
                 I
                 presume
                 ,
                 allow
                 me
                 to
                 say
                 ,
                 That
                 the
                 revealed
                 Truths
                 ,
                 which
                 Reason
                 is
                 obliged
                 to
                 comply
                 with
                 ,
                 if
                 they
                 be
                 burdens
                 to
                 it
                 ,
                 are
                 but
                 such
                 Burdens
                 as
                 Feathers
                 are
                 to
                 a
                 Hawk
                 ,
                 which
                 instead
                 of
                 hindring
                 his
                 flight
                 by
                 their
                 weight
                 ,
                 enable
                 him
                 to
                 soar
                 toward
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 and
                 take
                 a
                 larger
                 prospect
                 of
                 things
                 ,
                 than
                 ,
                 if
                 he
                 had
                 not
                 feathers
                 ,
                 he
                 could
                 possibly
                 do
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 on
                 this
                 occasion
                 ,
                 Sir
                 ,
                 the
                 greater
                 Reverence
                 I
                 owe
                 to
                 the
                 Scripture
                 it self
                 ,
                 than
                 to
                 its
                 Expositors
                 ,
                 prevails
                 upon
                 me
                 to
                 tell
                 you
                 freely
                 ,
                 that
                 you
                 will
                 not
                 do
                 right
                 ,
                 either
                 to
                 Theology
                 ,
                 
                 or
                 (
                 the
                 greatest
                 Repository
                 of
                 its
                 Truths
                 )
                 the
                 Bible
                 ;
                 if
                 you
                 imagine
                 that
                 there
                 are
                 no
                 considerable
                 Additions
                 to
                 be
                 made
                 to
                 the
                 Theological
                 Discoveries
                 we
                 have
                 already
                 ,
                 nor
                 no
                 clearer
                 Expositions
                 of
                 many
                 Texts
                 of
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 or
                 better
                 Reflections
                 on
                 that
                 matchless
                 Book
                 ,
                 than
                 are
                 to
                 be
                 met
                 with
                 in
                 the
                 generality
                 of
                 Commentators
                 ,
                 or
                 of
                 Preachers
                 ,
                 without
                 excepting
                 the
                 Antient
                 Fathers
                 themselves
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 there
                 being
                 in
                 my
                 opinion
                 two
                 things
                 requisite
                 ,
                 to
                 qualifie
                 a
                 Commentator
                 to
                 do
                 right
                 to
                 his
                 Theme
                 ,
                 a
                 competency
                 of
                 Critical
                 Knowledge
                 ,
                 and
                 a
                 Concern
                 for
                 the
                 Honour
                 and
                 Interest
                 of
                 Christianity
                 in
                 general
                 ,
                 assisted
                 by
                 a
                 good
                 Judgment
                 to
                 discern
                 and
                 select
                 those
                 things
                 that
                 may
                 most
                 conduce
                 to
                 it
                 ;
                 I
                 doubt
                 ,
                 there
                 are
                 not
                 many
                 Expositors
                 ,
                 as
                 they
                 are
                 call'd
                 ,
                 of
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 that
                 are
                 not
                 deficient
                 in
                 the
                 former
                 or
                 the
                 latter
                 of
                 these
                 particulars
                 ,
                 and
                 I
                 wish
                 there
                 be
                 not
                 too
                 many
                 that
                 are
                 defective
                 in
                 both
                 .
              
               
                 That
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 at
                 least
                 Greek
                 and
                 Hebrew
                 is
                 requisite
                 to
                 him
                 ,
                 that
                 takes
                 upon
                 him
                 to
                 expound
                 Writings
                 penn'd
                 Originally
                 in
                 those
                 Languages
                 ,
                 
                 if
                 the
                 nature
                 of
                 the
                 thing
                 did
                 not
                 manifest
                 it
                 ,
                 you
                 might
                 easily
                 be
                 perswaded
                 to
                 believe
                 ,
                 by
                 considering
                 with
                 what
                 gross
                 mistakes
                 the
                 Ignorance
                 of
                 Languages
                 has
                 oftentimes
                 blemish'd
                 not
                 onely
                 the
                 Interpretations
                 of
                 the
                 School-men
                 and
                 others
                 ,
                 but
                 even
                 those
                 of
                 the
                 Venerable
                 Fathers
                 of
                 the
                 Church
                 .
                 For
                 though
                 generally
                 they
                 were
                 worthy
                 men
                 ,
                 and
                 highly
                 to
                 be
                 regarded
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 grand
                 Witnesses
                 of
                 the
                 Doctrines
                 and
                 Government
                 of
                 the
                 antient
                 Churches
                 ;
                 most
                 of
                 them
                 very
                 pious
                 ,
                 many
                 of
                 them
                 very
                 eloquent
                 ,
                 and
                 some
                 of
                 them
                 (
                 especially
                 the
                 two
                 Criticks
                 ,
                 Origen
                 and
                 Jerom
                 )
                 very
                 Learned
                 ;
                 yet
                 so
                 few
                 of
                 the
                 Greek
                 Fathers
                 were
                 skill'd
                 in
                 Hebrew
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 few
                 of
                 the
                 Latin
                 Fathers
                 either
                 in
                 Hebrew
                 or
                 Greek
                 ,
                 that
                 many
                 of
                 their
                 Homilies
                 ,
                 and
                 even
                 Comments
                 ,
                 leave
                 hard
                 Texts
                 as
                 obscure
                 as
                 they
                 found
                 them
                 ;
                 and
                 ,
                 sometimes
                 misled
                 by
                 bad
                 Translations
                 ,
                 they
                 give
                 them
                 senses
                 exceeding
                 wide
                 of
                 the
                 True
                 :
                 So
                 that
                 many
                 times
                 in
                 their
                 Writings
                 they
                 appear
                 to
                 be
                 far
                 better
                 Divines
                 then
                 Commentators
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 an
                 excellent
                 Discourse
                 upon
                 a
                 Text
                 ,
                 you
                 shall
                 find
                 but
                 a
                 very
                 poor
                 
                 Exposition
                 of
                 it
                 .
                 Many
                 of
                 their
                 Eloquent
                 and
                 devout
                 Sermons
                 being
                 much
                 better
                 Encomiasts
                 of
                 the
                 Divine
                 Mysteries
                 they
                 treat
                 of
                 ,
                 than
                 Unvailers
                 .
                 And
                 though
                 some
                 Modern
                 Translations
                 deserve
                 the
                 Praise
                 of
                 being
                 very
                 useful
                 ,
                 and
                 less
                 unaccurate
                 than
                 those
                 which
                 the
                 Latine
                 Fathers
                 us'd
                 ;
                 yet
                 when
                 I
                 read
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 (
                 especially
                 some
                 Books
                 of
                 the
                 Old
                 Testament
                 )
                 in
                 their
                 Originals
                 ,
                 I
                 confess
                 I
                 cannot
                 but
                 sometimes
                 wonder
                 ,
                 what
                 came
                 into
                 the
                 mind
                 of
                 some
                 ,
                 even
                 of
                 our
                 Modern
                 Translators
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 should
                 so
                 much
                 Mistake
                 ,
                 and
                 sometimes
                 Injure
                 certain
                 Texts
                 as
                 they
                 do
                 ;
                 and
                 I
                 am
                 prone
                 to
                 think
                 ,
                 that
                 there
                 is
                 scarce
                 a
                 Chapter
                 in
                 the
                 Bible
                 (
                 especially
                 that
                 part
                 of
                 it
                 which
                 is
                 written
                 in
                 Hebrew
                 )
                 that
                 may
                 not
                 be
                 better
                 Translated
                 ,
                 and
                 Consequently
                 more
                 to
                 the
                 Credit
                 of
                 the
                 Book
                 it self
                 .
              
               
                 This
                 Credit
                 it
                 misses
                 of
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 by
                 mens
                 want
                 of
                 sufficient
                 Skill
                 in
                 Critical
                 Learning
                 ,
                 but
                 (
                 to
                 come
                 to
                 the
                 second
                 Member
                 of
                 our
                 late
                 Division
                 )
                 for
                 want
                 of
                 their
                 having
                 Judgment
                 enough
                 to
                 observe
                 ,
                 and
                 Concern
                 enough
                 to
                 propose
                 those
                 things
                 in
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 in
                 Theology
                 ,
                 that
                 tend
                 to
                 the
                 Reputation
                 of
                 either
                 .
                 For
                 I
                 fear
                 there
                 are
                 too
                 many
                 ,
                 both
                 Commentators
                 and
                 other
                 Divines
                 ,
                 that
                 (
                 though
                 otherwise
                 perhaps
                 pious
                 men
                 )
                 having
                 espous'd
                 a
                 Church
                 or
                 Party
                 ,
                 and
                 an
                 Aversion
                 from
                 all
                 Dissenters
                 ,
                 are
                 solicitous
                 when
                 they
                 peruse
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 to
                 take
                 notice
                 chiefly
                 ,
                 if
                 not
                 onely
                 (
                 I
                 mean
                 in
                 points
                 Speculative
                 )
                 of
                 those
                 things
                 ,
                 that
                 may
                 either
                 suggest
                 Arguments
                 against
                 their
                 Adversaries
                 ,
                 or
                 Answers
                 to
                 their
                 Objections
                 .
                 But
                 I
                 meet
                 with
                 much
                 fewer
                 than
                 I
                 could
                 wish
                 ,
                 
                 who
                 make
                 it
                 their
                 Business
                 to
                 
                   search
                   the
                   Scriptures
                
                 for
                 those
                 things
                 (
                 such
                 as
                 unheeded
                 Prophecies
                 ,
                 over-look'd
                 Mysteries
                 ,
                 and
                 strange
                 Harmonies
                 )
                 which
                 being
                 clearly
                 and
                 judiciously
                 proposed
                 ,
                 may
                 make
                 that
                 Book
                 appear
                 worthy
                 of
                 the
                 high
                 extraction
                 it
                 challenges
                 (
                 and
                 consequently
                 of
                 the
                 veneration
                 of
                 Considering
                 men
                 )
                 and
                 who
                 are
                 sollicitous
                 to
                 Discern
                 and
                 Make
                 out
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 way
                 of
                 Governing
                 and
                 of
                 Saving
                 Men
                 ,
                 reveal'd
                 by
                 God
                 ,
                 so
                 excellent
                 an
                 Oeconomy
                 ,
                 and
                 such
                 deep
                 Contrivances
                 ,
                 and
                 wise
                 Dispensations
                 ,
                 as
                 may
                 bring
                 credit
                 to
                 Religion
                 ,
                 not
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 
                 't
                 is
                 Roman
                 ,
                 or
                 Protestant
                 ,
                 or
                 Socinian
                 ,
                 but
                 as
                 't
                 is
                 Christian
                 .
                 But
                 (
                 as
                 I
                 intimated
                 before
                 )
                 these
                 good
                 affections
                 for
                 the
                 repute
                 of
                 Religion
                 in
                 general
                 ,
                 are
                 to
                 be
                 assisted
                 by
                 a
                 deep
                 Judgment
                 .
                 For
                 men
                 that
                 want
                 either
                 That
                 ,
                 or
                 a
                 good
                 Stock
                 of
                 Critical
                 Learning
                 ,
                 may
                 easily
                 over-see
                 the
                 best
                 Observations
                 (
                 which
                 usually
                 are
                 not
                 Obvious
                 )
                 or
                 propose
                 as
                 Mysteries
                 ,
                 things
                 that
                 are
                 either
                 not
                 Grounded
                 ,
                 or
                 not
                 Weighty
                 enough
                 ;
                 and
                 so
                 (
                 notwithstanding
                 their
                 good
                 meaning
                 )
                 may
                 bring
                 a
                 Disparagement
                 upon
                 what
                 they
                 desire
                 to
                 Recommend
                 .
                 And
                 I
                 am
                 willing
                 to
                 grant
                 ,
                 that
                 't
                 is
                 rather
                 for
                 want
                 of
                 good
                 Skill
                 and
                 good
                 Judgment
                 ,
                 than
                 good
                 Will
                 ,
                 that
                 there
                 are
                 so
                 few
                 that
                 have
                 been
                 careful
                 to
                 do
                 right
                 to
                 the
                 Reputation
                 of
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 to
                 its
                 Sense
                 .
                 And
                 indeed
                 when
                 I
                 consider
                 ,
                 how
                 much
                 more
                 to
                 the
                 Advantage
                 of
                 those
                 Sacred
                 Writings
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 Christian
                 Theology
                 in
                 general
                 ,
                 divers
                 Texts
                 have
                 been
                 explain'd
                 and
                 discours'd
                 of
                 by
                 the
                 Excellent
                 Grotius
                 ,
                 by
                 
                   Episcopius
                   ,
                   Masius
                
                 ,
                 Mr.
                 Mede
                 ,
                 and
                 Sir
                 
                   Francis
                   Bacon
                
                 ,
                 and
                 some
                 other
                 Late
                 
                   great
                   Wits
                
                 (
                 to
                 name
                 now
                 no
                 Living
                 ones
                 )
                 in
                 their
                 several
                 kinds
                 ;
                 than
                 the
                 
                 same
                 places
                 have
                 been
                 handled
                 by
                 vulgar
                 Expositors
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 Divines
                 :
                 And
                 when
                 I
                 remember
                 too
                 ,
                 that
                 none
                 of
                 these
                 newly
                 named
                 Worthies
                 was
                 at
                 once
                 a
                 great
                 Philosopher
                 ,
                 and
                 a
                 great
                 Critick
                 ;
                 (
                 the
                 three
                 first
                 being
                 not
                 so
                 well
                 vers'd
                 in
                 Philosophical
                 Learning
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 last
                 being
                 unacquainted
                 with
                 the
                 Eastern
                 Tongues
                 :
                 )
                 I
                 cannot
                 but
                 hope
                 ,
                 that
                 when
                 it
                 shall
                 please
                 God
                 to
                 stir
                 up
                 persons
                 of
                 a
                 Philosophical
                 Genius
                 ,
                 well
                 furnish'd
                 with
                 Critical
                 Learning
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Principles
                 of
                 true
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 and
                 shall
                 give
                 them
                 a
                 hearty
                 Concern
                 for
                 the
                 Advancement
                 of
                 his
                 Truths
                 ;
                 these
                 men
                 ,
                 by
                 exercising
                 upon
                 Theological
                 matters
                 ,
                 that
                 Inquisitiveness
                 and
                 Sagacity
                 that
                 has
                 made
                 in
                 our
                 Age
                 such
                 a
                 happy
                 Progress
                 in
                 Philosophical
                 ones
                 ,
                 will
                 make
                 Explications
                 and
                 Discoveries
                 ,
                 that
                 will
                 justifie
                 more
                 than
                 I
                 have
                 said
                 in
                 praise
                 of
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 our
                 Religion
                 and
                 the
                 Divine
                 Books
                 that
                 contain
                 the
                 Articles
                 of
                 it
                 .
                 For
                 these
                 want
                 not
                 Excellencies
                 ,
                 but
                 onely
                 skilful
                 Unvailers
                 .
                 And
                 if
                 I
                 do
                 not
                 tell
                 you
                 ,
                 that
                 you
                 should
                 no
                 more
                 measure
                 the
                 Wisdom
                 of
                 God
                 couch'd
                 in
                 the
                 Bible
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 Glosses
                 or
                 Systems
                 of
                 common
                 Expositors
                 
                 and
                 Preachers
                 ,
                 than
                 Estimate
                 the
                 Wisdome
                 he
                 has
                 express'd
                 in
                 the
                 contrivance
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 by
                 
                 Magirus's
                 or
                 
                 Eustachius's
                 Physicks
                 ;
                 yet
                 I
                 shall
                 not
                 scruple
                 to
                 say
                 ,
                 That
                 you
                 should
                 as
                 little
                 think
                 ,
                 that
                 there
                 are
                 no
                 more
                 Mysteries
                 in
                 the
                 Books
                 of
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 besides
                 those
                 that
                 the
                 School-Divines
                 and
                 Vulgar
                 Commentators
                 have
                 taken
                 notice
                 of
                 ,
                 and
                 unfolded
                 ;
                 as
                 that
                 there
                 are
                 no
                 other
                 Mysteries
                 in
                 the
                 Book
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 than
                 those
                 which
                 the
                 same
                 School-men
                 (
                 who
                 have
                 taken
                 upon
                 them
                 to
                 interpret
                 Aristotle
                 and
                 Nature
                 too
                 )
                 have
                 observ'd
                 and
                 explain'd
                 .
                 All
                 the
                 fine
                 things
                 ,
                 that
                 Poets
                 ,
                 Orators
                 ,
                 and
                 even
                 Lovers
                 have
                 Hyperbolically
                 said
                 in
                 praise
                 of
                 the
                 Beauty
                 of
                 Eyes
                 ,
                 will
                 nothing
                 near
                 so
                 much
                 recommend
                 them
                 to
                 a
                 Philosophers
                 esteem
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 sight
                 of
                 one
                 Eye
                 skilfully
                 dissected
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 unadorn'd
                 Account
                 given
                 of
                 its
                 Structure
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 admirable
                 uses
                 of
                 its
                 several
                 parts
                 ,
                 in
                 
                 Scheiner's
                 Oculus
                 ,
                 and
                 
                 Des-Cartes's
                 Excellent
                 Dioptricks
                 .
                 And
                 though
                 I
                 do
                 not
                 think
                 my self
                 bound
                 to
                 acquiesce
                 in
                 ,
                 and
                 admire
                 every
                 thing
                 that
                 is
                 propos'd
                 as
                 Mysterious
                 and
                 Rare
                 by
                 many
                 Interpreters
                 and
                 
                 Preachers
                 ;
                 yet
                 I
                 think
                 ,
                 I
                 may
                 safely
                 compare
                 several
                 things
                 in
                 the
                 Books
                 we
                 call
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 to
                 several
                 others
                 in
                 that
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 in
                 (
                 at
                 least
                 )
                 one
                 regard
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 though
                 I
                 do
                 not
                 believe
                 all
                 the
                 Wonders
                 ,
                 that
                 
                   Pliny
                   ,
                   Aelian
                   ,
                   Porta
                
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 Writers
                 of
                 that
                 stamp
                 ,
                 relate
                 of
                 the
                 Generation
                 of
                 Animals
                 ;
                 yet
                 by
                 perusing
                 such
                 faithful
                 and
                 accurate
                 accounts
                 ,
                 as
                 sometimes
                 
                   Galen
                   ,
                   De
                   usu
                   Partium
                
                 ,
                 sometimes
                 Vesalius
                 ,
                 sometimes
                 our
                 
                   Harvey
                   (
                   de
                   Ovo
                
                 )
                 and
                 our
                 later
                 Anatomists
                 ,
                 and
                 sometimes
                 other
                 true
                 Naturalists
                 ,
                 give
                 of
                 the
                 Generation
                 of
                 Animals
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 the
                 admirable
                 Structure
                 of
                 their
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 especially
                 those
                 of
                 Men
                 ,
                 and
                 such
                 other
                 parts
                 of
                 Zoology
                 ,
                 as
                 Pliny
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 other
                 Writers
                 I
                 nam'd
                 with
                 him
                 ,
                 could
                 make
                 nothing
                 considerable
                 of
                 ;
                 by
                 perusing
                 these
                 (
                 I
                 say
                 )
                 I
                 receive
                 more
                 pleasure
                 and
                 satisfaction
                 ,
                 and
                 am
                 induc'd
                 more
                 to
                 admire
                 the
                 works
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 than
                 by
                 all
                 their
                 Romantic
                 and
                 Superficial
                 Narratives
                 .
                 And
                 thus
                 (
                 to
                 apply
                 this
                 to
                 our
                 present
                 Subject
                 )
                 a
                 close
                 and
                 critical
                 account
                 of
                 the
                 more
                 vail'd
                 and
                 pregnant
                 parts
                 of
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 and
                 Theological
                 Matters
                 ,
                 with
                 such
                 Reflections
                 on
                 them
                 ,
                 as
                 their
                 Nature
                 and
                 Collation
                 
                 would
                 suggest
                 to
                 a
                 Philosophical
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 Critical
                 ,
                 Speculator
                 ,
                 would
                 far
                 better
                 please
                 a
                 Rational
                 Considerer
                 ,
                 and
                 give
                 him
                 a
                 higher
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 a
                 better
                 grounded
                 ,
                 Veneration
                 for
                 the
                 things
                 explain'd
                 ,
                 than
                 a
                 great
                 many
                 of
                 those
                 sleighter
                 or
                 ill-founded
                 Remarks
                 ,
                 wherewith
                 the
                 Expositions
                 and
                 Discourses
                 of
                 Superficial
                 Writers
                 ,
                 though
                 never
                 so
                 florid
                 or
                 witty
                 ,
                 gain
                 the
                 applause
                 of
                 the
                 less
                 discerning
                 sort
                 of
                 men
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 here
                 ,
                 on
                 this
                 occasion
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 venture
                 to
                 add
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 despair
                 not
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 a
                 further
                 use
                 may
                 be
                 made
                 of
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 than
                 either
                 our
                 Divines
                 or
                 Philosophers
                 seem
                 to
                 have
                 thought
                 on
                 .
                 Some
                 few
                 Theologues
                 indeed
                 have
                 got
                 the
                 name
                 of
                 Supralapsarians
                 ,
                 for
                 venturing
                 to
                 look
                 back
                 beyond
                 the
                 Fall
                 of
                 Adam
                 for
                 God's
                 Decrees
                 of
                 Election
                 and
                 Reprobation
                 .
                 But
                 ,
                 besides
                 that
                 their
                 boldness
                 has
                 been
                 dislik'd
                 by
                 the
                 generality
                 of
                 Divines
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 other
                 Christians
                 ,
                 the
                 Object
                 of
                 their
                 Speculation
                 is
                 much
                 too
                 narrow
                 to
                 be
                 any
                 thing
                 near
                 and
                 adequate
                 to
                 such
                 an
                 Hypothesis
                 as
                 I
                 mean.
                 For
                 me-thinks
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Encyclopedia's
                 and
                 Pansophia's
                 ,
                 that
                 even
                 men
                 of
                 an
                 elevated
                 
                 Genius
                 have
                 aimed
                 at
                 ,
                 are
                 not
                 diffus'd
                 enough
                 to
                 comprehend
                 all
                 that
                 the
                 Reason
                 of
                 a
                 Man
                 ,
                 improv'd
                 by
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 and
                 elevated
                 by
                 the
                 Revelations
                 already
                 extant
                 in
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 may
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 help
                 of
                 free
                 Ratiocination
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 hints
                 contain'd
                 in
                 those
                 pregnant
                 .
                 Writings
                 (
                 with
                 those
                 assistances
                 of
                 God's
                 Spirit
                 ,
                 which
                 he
                 is
                 still
                 ready
                 to
                 vouchsafe
                 to
                 them
                 that
                 duly
                 seek
                 them
                 ,
                 )
                 attain
                 unto
                 in
                 this
                 life
                 .
                 The
                 Gospel
                 comprises
                 indeed
                 ,
                 and
                 unfolds
                 the
                 whole
                 Mystery
                 of
                 Man's
                 Redemption
                 ,
                 
                 as
                 far
                 forth
                 as
                 't
                 is
                 necessary
                 to
                 be
                 known
                 for
                 our
                 Salvation
                 :
                 And
                 the
                 Corpusculariùm
                 or
                 Mechanical
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 strives
                 to
                 deduce
                 all
                 the
                 Phoenomena
                 of
                 Nature
                 from
                 Adiaphorous
                 Matter
                 ,
                 and
                 Local
                 Motion
                 .
                 But
                 neither
                 the
                 Fundamental
                 Doctrine
                 of
                 Christianity
                 ,
                 nor
                 that
                 of
                 the
                 Powers
                 and
                 Effects
                 of
                 Matter
                 and
                 Motion
                 ,
                 seems
                 to
                 be
                 more
                 than
                 an
                 Epicycle
                 (
                 if
                 I
                 may
                 so
                 call
                 it
                 )
                 of
                 the
                 Great
                 and
                 Universal
                 System
                 of
                 God's
                 Contrivances
                 ,
                 and
                 makes
                 but
                 a
                 part
                 of
                 the
                 more
                 general
                 Theory
                 of
                 things
                 ,
                 knowable
                 by
                 the
                 Light
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 improv'd
                 by
                 the
                 Information
                 of
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 :
                 So
                 that
                 
                 both
                 these
                 Doctrines
                 ,
                 though
                 very
                 general
                 ,
                 in
                 respect
                 of
                 the
                 subordinate
                 parts
                 of
                 Theology
                 and
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 seem
                 to
                 be
                 but
                 members
                 of
                 the
                 Universal
                 Hypothesis
                 ,
                 whose
                 Objects
                 ,
                 I
                 conceive
                 ,
                 to
                 be
                 
                   the
                   Nature
                   ,
                   Counsels
                   ,
                   and
                   Works
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   as
                   far
                   as
                   they
                   are
                   discoverable
                   by
                   us
                
                 (
                 for
                 I
                 say
                 not
                 
                   to
                   us
                   )
                   in
                   this
                   Life
                   .
                
              
               
                 For
                 those
                 ,
                 to
                 whom
                 God
                 has
                 vouchsafed
                 the
                 priviledge
                 of
                 mature
                 Reason
                 ,
                 seem
                 not
                 to
                 enlarge
                 their
                 thoughts
                 enough
                 ,
                 if
                 they
                 think
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Omniscient
                 and
                 Almighty
                 God
                 has
                 bounded
                 the
                 Operations
                 of
                 his
                 Power
                 ,
                 and
                 Wisdom
                 ,
                 and
                 Goodness
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 Exercise
                 that
                 may
                 be
                 given
                 them
                 for
                 some
                 Ages
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 Production
                 and
                 Government
                 of
                 Matter
                 and
                 Motion
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 the
                 Inhabitants
                 of
                 the
                 Terrestrial
                 Globe
                 ,
                 which
                 we
                 know
                 to
                 be
                 but
                 a
                 Physical
                 Point
                 in
                 comparison
                 of
                 that
                 Portion
                 of
                 Universal
                 Matter
                 ,
                 which
                 we
                 have
                 already
                 discover'd
                 .
              
               
                 For
                 I
                 account
                 ,
                 that
                 there
                 are
                 four
                 grand
                 Communities
                 of
                 Creatures
                 ,
                 whereof
                 things
                 meerly
                 Corporeal
                 make
                 but
                 one
                 ;
                 the
                 other
                 three
                 ,
                 differing
                 from
                 these
                 ,
                 are
                 distinct
                 also
                 from
                 one
                 another
                 .
                 Of
                 the
                 first
                 sort
                 are
                 the
                 Race
                 
                 of
                 Mankind
                 ,
                 where
                 Intellectual
                 Beings
                 are
                 vitally
                 associated
                 with
                 Gross
                 and
                 Organical
                 Bodies
                 .
                 The
                 second
                 are
                 Daemons
                 ,
                 or
                 evil
                 Angels
                 ;
                 and
                 the
                 third
                 ,
                 good
                 Angels
                 ;
                 (
                 whether
                 in
                 each
                 of
                 those
                 two
                 kinds
                 of
                 Spirits
                 ,
                 the
                 Rational
                 Beings
                 be
                 perfectly
                 free
                 from
                 all
                 union
                 with
                 Matter
                 ,
                 though
                 never
                 so
                 fine
                 and
                 subtile
                 ;
                 or
                 whether
                 they
                 be
                 united
                 to
                 Vehicles
                 ,
                 not
                 Gross
                 ,
                 but
                 Spirituous
                 ,
                 and
                 ordinarily
                 invisible
                 to
                 Us.
                 )
              
               
                 Nor
                 may
                 we
                 think
                 ,
                 because
                 Angels
                 and
                 Devils
                 are
                 two
                 names
                 quickly
                 utter'd
                 ,
                 and
                 those
                 Spirits
                 are
                 seldome
                 or
                 never
                 seen
                 by
                 us
                 ,
                 there
                 are
                 therefore
                 but
                 few
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Speculation
                 of
                 them
                 is
                 not
                 considerable
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 as
                 their
                 Excellency
                 is
                 great
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 we
                 shall
                 by
                 and
                 by
                 shew
                 )
                 so
                 for
                 their
                 number
                 ,
                 they
                 are
                 represented
                 in
                 Scripture
                 as
                 an
                 Heavenly
                 Host
                 ,
                 standing
                 on
                 the
                 right
                 and
                 left
                 hand
                 of
                 the
                 Throne
                 of
                 God.
                 
                 And
                 of
                 the
                 good
                 Angels
                 ,
                 our
                 Saviour
                 Speaks
                 of
                 having
                 more
                 than
                 twelve
                 Legions
                 of
                 them
                 at
                 his
                 command
                 .
                 Nay
                 ,
                 the
                 Prophet
                 Daniel
                 saith
                 ,
                 that
                 to
                 the
                 
                   Antient
                   of
                   days
                
                 ,
                 
                 no
                 less
                 than
                 millions
                 ministred
                 unto
                 him
                 ,
                 and
                 hundreds
                 of
                 millions
                 stood
                 before
                 him
                 .
                 And
                 of
                 the
                 evil
                 Angels
                 
                 the
                 Gospel
                 informs
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 enough
                 to
                 call
                 them
                 a
                 Legion
                 (
                 which
                 you
                 know
                 is
                 usually
                 reckon'd
                 ,
                 
                 at
                 a
                 moderate
                 rate
                 ▪
                 to
                 consist
                 of
                 betwixt
                 six
                 and
                 seven
                 thousand
                 )
                 possess'd
                 one
                 single
                 man.
                 For
                 my
                 part
                 ,
                 when
                 I
                 consider
                 ,
                 that
                 matter
                 ,
                 how
                 vastly
                 extended
                 ,
                 and
                 how
                 curiously
                 shap'd
                 soever
                 ,
                 is
                 but
                 a
                 brute
                 thing
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 onely
                 capable
                 of
                 Local
                 motion
                 and
                 its
                 effects
                 and
                 consequents
                 on
                 other
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 Brain
                 of
                 man
                 ,
                 without
                 being
                 capable
                 of
                 any
                 True
                 ,
                 or
                 at
                 least
                 any
                 Intellectual
                 ,
                 Perception
                 ,
                 or
                 true
                 Love
                 or
                 Hatred
                 ;
                 and
                 when
                 I
                 consider
                 the
                 Rational
                 Soul
                 as
                 an
                 immaterial
                 and
                 immortal
                 Being
                 ,
                 that
                 bears
                 the
                 Image
                 of
                 its
                 Divine
                 Maker
                 ,
                 being
                 indow'd
                 with
                 a
                 capacious
                 Intellect
                 ,
                 and
                 a
                 Will
                 that
                 no
                 Creature
                 can
                 force
                 :
                 I
                 am
                 by
                 these
                 Considerations
                 dispos'd
                 to
                 think
                 the
                 Soul
                 of
                 Man
                 a
                 nobler
                 and
                 more
                 valuable
                 Being
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 whole
                 Corporeal
                 World
                 ;
                 which
                 though
                 I
                 readily
                 acknowledge
                 it
                 to
                 be
                 admirably
                 contriv'd
                 ,
                 and
                 worthy
                 of
                 the
                 Almighty
                 and
                 Omniscient
                 Author
                 ,
                 yet
                 it
                 consists
                 but
                 of
                 an
                 Aggregate
                 of
                 Portions
                 of
                 brute
                 Matter
                 ,
                 variously
                 shap'd
                 and
                 connected
                 by
                 Local
                 Motion
                 (
                 as
                 Dow
                 ,
                 and
                 Roles
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 Loves
                 ,
                 and
                 Cakes
                 ,
                 and
                 Vermicelli
                 ,
                 Wafers
                 ,
                 and
                 Pie-crust
                 ,
                 are
                 all
                 of
                 them
                 diversified
                 Meal
                 ;
                 )
                 but
                 without
                 any
                 knowledge
                 either
                 of
                 their
                 own
                 Nature
                 ,
                 or
                 of
                 that
                 of
                 their
                 Author
                 ,
                 or
                 of
                 that
                 of
                 their
                 Fellow-creatures
                 .
                 And
                 as
                 the
                 Rational
                 Soul
                 is
                 somewhat
                 more
                 noble
                 and
                 wonderful
                 ,
                 than
                 any
                 thing
                 meerly
                 Corporeal
                 ,
                 how
                 vast
                 soever
                 it
                 can
                 be
                 ,
                 and
                 is
                 of
                 a
                 more
                 excellent
                 Nature
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 curiousest
                 piece
                 of
                 Mechanism
                 in
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 the
                 Humane
                 Body
                 ;
                 so
                 to
                 enquire
                 what
                 shall
                 become
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 and
                 what
                 Fates
                 it
                 is
                 like
                 to
                 undergo
                 hereafter
                 ,
                 does
                 better
                 deserve
                 a
                 man's
                 Curiosity
                 ,
                 than
                 to
                 know
                 what
                 shall
                 befall
                 the
                 Corporeal
                 Universe
                 ,
                 and
                 might
                 justly
                 have
                 been
                 to
                 Nebuchadnezzar
                 a
                 more
                 desirable
                 part
                 of
                 knowledge
                 ,
                 than
                 that
                 he
                 was
                 so
                 troubled
                 for
                 want
                 of
                 ,
                 
                 when
                 it
                 was
                 adumbrated
                 to
                 him
                 in
                 the
                 mysterious
                 Dream
                 ,
                 that
                 contain'd
                 the
                 Characters
                 and
                 Fates
                 of
                 the
                 four
                 Great
                 Monarchies
                 of
                 the
                 World.
                 And
                 as
                 man
                 is
                 intrusted
                 with
                 a
                 Will
                 of
                 his
                 own
                 ,
                 whereas
                 all
                 material
                 things
                 move
                 onely
                 as
                 they
                 are
                 mov'd
                 ,
                 and
                 have
                 no
                 self-determining
                 power
                 ,
                 on
                 whose
                 account
                 they
                 can
                 resist
                 the
                 Will
                 of
                 God
                 ;
                 and
                 
                 as
                 also
                 of
                 Angels
                 ,
                 at
                 least
                 some
                 Orders
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 are
                 of
                 a
                 higher
                 Quality
                 (
                 if
                 I
                 may
                 so
                 speak
                 )
                 than
                 Humane
                 Souls
                 ;
                 so
                 't
                 is
                 very
                 probable
                 ,
                 that
                 in
                 the
                 Government
                 of
                 Angels
                 ,
                 whether
                 good
                 or
                 bad
                 ,
                 that
                 are
                 Intellectual
                 Voluntary
                 Agents
                 ,
                 there
                 is
                 requir'd
                 and
                 employ'd
                 far
                 greater
                 displays
                 of
                 Gods
                 Wisdom
                 ,
                 Power
                 ,
                 and
                 Goodness
                 ,
                 than
                 in
                 the
                 guidance
                 of
                 Adiaphorous
                 Matter
                 ;
                 and
                 the
                 method
                 of
                 God's
                 Conduct
                 in
                 the
                 Government
                 of
                 these
                 ,
                 is
                 a
                 far
                 nobler
                 Object
                 for
                 men's
                 Contemplation
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 Laws
                 ,
                 according
                 to
                 which
                 the
                 parts
                 of
                 Matter
                 hit
                 against
                 ,
                 and
                 justle
                 ,
                 one
                 another
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 effects
                 or
                 results
                 of
                 such
                 Motions
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 accordingly
                 we
                 find
                 in
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 whereas
                 about
                 the
                 production
                 of
                 the
                 material
                 World
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 setting
                 of
                 the
                 frame
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 God
                 employ'd
                 onely
                 a
                 few
                 commanding
                 Words
                 ,
                 which
                 speedily
                 had
                 their
                 full
                 effects
                 ;
                 to
                 govern
                 the
                 Race
                 of
                 Mankind
                 ,
                 even
                 in
                 order
                 to
                 their
                 own
                 Happiness
                 ,
                 he
                 employ'd
                 not
                 onely
                 Laws
                 and
                 Commands
                 ,
                 but
                 Revelations
                 ,
                 Miracles
                 ,
                 Promises
                 ,
                 Threats
                 ,
                 Exhortations
                 ,
                 Mercies
                 ,
                 Judgments
                 ,
                 and
                 divers
                 other
                 Methods
                 and
                 Means
                 ;
                 and
                 yet
                 oftentimes
                 ,
                 
                 when
                 he
                 might
                 well
                 say
                 ,
                 
                 as
                 he
                 did
                 once
                 by
                 his
                 Prophet
                 ,
                 
                   What
                   could
                   I
                   have
                   done
                   more
                   to
                   my
                   Vineyard
                   that
                   I
                   have
                   not
                   done
                   it
                   ?
                
                 he
                 had
                 just
                 cause
                 to
                 expostulate
                 as
                 he
                 did
                 in
                 the
                 same
                 place
                 ,
                 
                   Wherefore
                   ,
                   when
                   I
                   looked
                   that
                   it
                   should
                   bring
                   forth
                   grapes
                   ,
                   brought
                   it
                   forth
                   wild
                   grapes
                   ?
                
                 and
                 to
                 complain
                 of
                 men
                 ,
                 as
                 by
                 that
                 very
                 Prophet
                 he
                 did
                 even
                 of
                 Israel
                 ,
                 
                 
                   I
                   have
                   spread
                   out
                   my
                   hands
                   all
                   the
                   day
                   to
                   a
                   rebellious
                   people
                   .
                
                 But
                 not
                 to
                 wander
                 too
                 far
                 in
                 this
                 digression
                 ;
                 what
                 we
                 have
                 said
                 of
                 Men
                 ,
                 may
                 render
                 it
                 probable
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 grand
                 Attributes
                 of
                 God
                 are
                 more
                 signally
                 exercis'd
                 ,
                 and
                 made
                 more
                 conspicuous
                 in
                 the
                 making
                 and
                 governing
                 of
                 each
                 of
                 the
                 three
                 Intellectual
                 Communities
                 ,
                 than
                 in
                 the
                 framing
                 and
                 upholding
                 the
                 Community
                 of
                 meer
                 bodily
                 things
                 .
                 And
                 since
                 all
                 Immaterial
                 Substances
                 are
                 for
                 that
                 reason
                 naturally
                 Immortal
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Universal
                 Matter
                 is
                 believ'd
                 so
                 too
                 ,
                 possibly
                 those
                 Revolutions
                 ,
                 that
                 will
                 happen
                 after
                 the
                 Day
                 of
                 Judgment
                 ,
                 wherein
                 though
                 probably
                 not
                 the
                 Matter
                 ,
                 yet
                 that
                 state
                 and
                 constitution
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 on
                 whose
                 account
                 it
                 is
                 
                   This
                   World
                
                 ,
                 will
                 be
                 destroyed
                 ,
                 and
                 make
                 way
                 for
                 quite
                 
                 new
                 Frames
                 and
                 Sets
                 of
                 things
                 corporeal
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Beings
                 that
                 compose
                 each
                 of
                 these
                 Intellectual
                 Communities
                 ,
                 will
                 ,
                 in
                 those
                 numberless
                 Ages
                 they
                 shall
                 last
                 ,
                 travel
                 through
                 I
                 know
                 not
                 how
                 many
                 successive
                 changes
                 and
                 adventures
                 ;
                 perhaps
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 ,
                 these
                 things
                 will
                 no
                 less
                 display
                 ,
                 and
                 bring
                 glory
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 Divine
                 Attributes
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 Contrivance
                 of
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Oeconomy
                 of
                 Man's
                 Salvation
                 ,
                 though
                 these
                 be
                 (
                 and
                 that
                 worthily
                 )
                 the
                 Objects
                 of
                 the
                 Naturalists
                 and
                 the
                 Divines
                 Contemplation
                 .
                 And
                 there
                 are
                 some
                 passages
                 in
                 the
                 Prophetical
                 part
                 of
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 and
                 especially
                 in
                 the
                 Book
                 of
                 the
                 Apocalypse
                 ,
                 which
                 ,
                 as
                 they
                 seem
                 to
                 intimate
                 ,
                 that
                 as
                 God
                 will
                 perform
                 great
                 and
                 noble
                 things
                 ,
                 which
                 Mechanical
                 Philosophy
                 never
                 reach'd
                 to
                 ,
                 and
                 which
                 the
                 generality
                 of
                 Divines
                 seem
                 not
                 to
                 have
                 thought
                 of
                 ;
                 so
                 divers
                 of
                 those
                 great
                 things
                 may
                 be
                 ,
                 in
                 some
                 measure
                 ,
                 discover'd
                 by
                 an
                 attentive
                 Searcher
                 into
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 so
                 much
                 to
                 the
                 advantage
                 of
                 the
                 devout
                 Indagator
                 ,
                 that
                 St.
                 John
                 ,
                 near
                 the
                 beginning
                 of
                 his
                 Revelations
                 ,
                 pronounces
                 them
                 happy
                 ,
                 that
                 read
                 the
                 matters
                 contain'd
                 in
                 
                 this
                 Prophecy
                 ,
                 and
                 *
                 observe
                 the
                 things
                 written
                 therein
                 .
                 Which
                 implies
                 ,
                 that
                 by
                 heedful
                 comparing
                 together
                 the
                 Indications
                 couched
                 in
                 those
                 Prophetick
                 Writings
                 ,
                 with
                 Events
                 and
                 Occurrences
                 in
                 the
                 Affairs
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Church
                 ,
                 we
                 may
                 discover
                 much
                 of
                 the
                 admirable
                 Oeconomy
                 of
                 Providence
                 in
                 the
                 Governing
                 of
                 both
                 :
                 And
                 I
                 am
                 prone
                 to
                 think
                 ,
                 the
                 early
                 discoveries
                 of
                 such
                 great
                 and
                 important
                 things
                 ,
                 to
                 be
                 in
                 Gods
                 account
                 no
                 mean
                 vouchsafements
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 because
                 of
                 the
                 title
                 of
                 Happy
                 is
                 here
                 given
                 to
                 him
                 that
                 attains
                 them
                 ,
                 but
                 because
                 the
                 two
                 persons
                 ,
                 to
                 whom
                 the
                 great
                 discoveries
                 of
                 this
                 kind
                 were
                 made
                 ,
                 I
                 mean
                 ,
                 the
                 Prophet
                 Daniel
                 and
                 St.
                 John
                 ,
                 the
                 first
                 is
                 by
                 the
                 Angel
                 said
                 to
                 be
                 ,
                 on
                 that
                 account
                 ,
                 a
                 person
                 highly
                 favour'd
                 ;
                 and
                 the
                 other
                 is
                 in
                 the
                 Gospel
                 represented
                 as
                 our
                 Saviour's
                 beloved
                 Disciple
                 .
                 And
                 you
                 will
                 the
                 more
                 easily
                 think
                 the
                 foreknowledge
                 of
                 the
                 Divine
                 Dispensations
                 
                 gatherable
                 from
                 Scripture
                 to
                 be
                 highly
                 valuable
                 ,
                 if
                 you
                 consider
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 according
                 to
                 St.
                 Paul
                 ,
                 those
                 very
                 Angels
                 that
                 are
                 call'd
                 
                   Principalities
                   and
                   Powers
                   in
                   heavenly
                   places
                   ,
                
                 
                 learnt
                 by
                 the
                 Church
                 some
                 abstruse
                 points
                 of
                 
                   the
                   manifold
                   wisdom
                   of
                   God.
                
                 But
                 I
                 must
                 no
                 longer
                 indulge
                 Speculations
                 ,
                 that
                 would
                 carry
                 my
                 Curiosity
                 beyond
                 the
                 bounds
                 of
                 time
                 it self
                 ,
                 and
                 therefore
                 beyond
                 those
                 that
                 ought
                 to
                 be
                 plac'd
                 to
                 this
                 occasional
                 excursion
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 yet
                 ,
                 as
                 on
                 the
                 one
                 side
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 not
                 allow
                 my self
                 the
                 presumption
                 of
                 framing
                 conjectures
                 about
                 those
                 remote
                 Dispensations
                 ,
                 which
                 will
                 not
                 ,
                 most
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 have
                 a
                 beginning
                 before
                 this
                 world
                 shall
                 have
                 an
                 end
                 ;
                 so
                 on
                 the
                 other
                 side
                 I
                 would
                 not
                 discourage
                 you
                 ,
                 or
                 any
                 pious
                 Inquirer
                 ,
                 from
                 endeavouring
                 to
                 advance
                 in
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 those
                 Attributes
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 that
                 may
                 successfully
                 be
                 studied
                 ,
                 without
                 prying
                 into
                 the
                 Secrets
                 of
                 the
                 future
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 here
                 ,
                 Sir
                 ,
                 let
                 me
                 freely
                 confess
                 to
                 you
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 am
                 apt
                 to
                 think
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 if
                 men
                 were
                 not
                 wanting
                 to
                 Gods
                 glory
                 ,
                 and
                 their
                 own
                 satisfaction
                 ,
                 there
                 would
                 be
                 far
                 more
                 Discoveries
                 made
                 ,
                 
                 than
                 are
                 yet
                 attain'd
                 to
                 ,
                 of
                 the
                 Divine
                 Attributes
                 .
                 When
                 we
                 consider
                 the
                 most
                 simple
                 or
                 uncompounded
                 Essence
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 we
                 may
                 easily
                 be
                 perswaded
                 ,
                 that
                 what
                 belongs
                 to
                 Any
                 of
                 His
                 Attributes
                 (
                 some
                 of
                 which
                 thinking
                 men
                 generally
                 admire
                 )
                 must
                 be
                 an
                 Object
                 of
                 Enquiry
                 exceeding
                 Noble
                 ,
                 and
                 worthy
                 of
                 our
                 knowledge
                 .
                 And
                 yet
                 the
                 abstruseness
                 of
                 this
                 knowledge
                 is
                 not
                 in
                 All
                 particulars
                 so
                 invincible
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 I
                 strongly
                 hope
                 ,
                 a
                 Philosophical
                 Eye
                 ,
                 illustrated
                 by
                 the
                 Revelations
                 extant
                 in
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 may
                 pierce
                 a
                 great
                 deal
                 farther
                 than
                 has
                 yet
                 been
                 done
                 ,
                 into
                 those
                 mysterious
                 Subjects
                 ,
                 which
                 are
                 too
                 often
                 (
                 perhaps
                 out
                 of
                 a
                 mistaken
                 Reverence
                 )
                 so
                 poorly
                 handled
                 by
                 Divines
                 and
                 Schoolmen
                 ,
                 that
                 not
                 onely
                 what
                 they
                 have
                 taught
                 ,
                 is
                 not
                 worthy
                 of
                 God
                 (
                 for
                 that
                 's
                 a
                 necessary
                 ,
                 and
                 therefore
                 excusable
                 ,
                 deficiency
                 )
                 but
                 too
                 frequently
                 it
                 is
                 not
                 worthy
                 of
                 Men
                 ,
                 I
                 mean
                 ,
                 of
                 Rational
                 Creatures
                 ,
                 that
                 take
                 upon
                 them
                 to
                 treat
                 of
                 such
                 high
                 Points
                 ,
                 and
                 instruct
                 others
                 about
                 them
                 .
                 And
                 I
                 question
                 not
                 but
                 your
                 Friend
                 will
                 the
                 less
                 scruple
                 at
                 this
                 ,
                 if
                 he
                 call
                 to
                 mind
                 those
                 new
                 and
                 handsome
                 Notions
                 about
                 
                 some
                 of
                 the
                 Attributes
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 that
                 his
                 Master
                 Cartesius
                 ,
                 though
                 but
                 moderately
                 vers'd
                 in
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 ,
                 has
                 presented
                 us
                 with
                 .
                 Nor
                 do
                 I
                 doubt
                 but
                 that
                 a
                 much
                 greater
                 progress
                 might
                 be
                 made
                 in
                 the
                 Discovery
                 of
                 Subjects
                 ,
                 where
                 ,
                 though
                 we
                 can
                 never
                 know
                 all
                 ,
                 we
                 may
                 still
                 know
                 farther
                 ,
                 if
                 Speculative
                 Genius's
                 would
                 propose
                 to
                 themselves
                 particular
                 Doubts
                 and
                 Enquiries
                 about
                 particular
                 Attributes
                 ,
                 and
                 frame
                 and
                 examine
                 Hypotheses
                 ,
                 establish
                 Theorems
                 ,
                 draw
                 Corollaries
                 ;
                 and
                 (
                 in
                 short
                 )
                 apply
                 to
                 this
                 study
                 the
                 same
                 sagacity
                 ,
                 affiduity
                 ,
                 and
                 attention
                 of
                 mind
                 ,
                 which
                 they
                 often
                 imploy
                 about
                 Inquiries
                 of
                 a
                 very
                 much
                 inferiour
                 nature
                 ;
                 insomuch
                 as
                 Des-Cartes
                 (
                 how
                 profound
                 a
                 Geometrician
                 soever
                 he
                 were
                 )
                 confesses
                 in
                 one
                 of
                 his
                 Epistles
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 employ'd
                 no
                 less
                 then
                 
                   six
                   weeks
                
                 to
                 find
                 the
                 solution
                 of
                 a
                 Problem
                 or
                 question
                 of
                 Pappus
                 .
                 And
                 Pythagoras
                 was
                 so
                 addicted
                 to
                 ,
                 and
                 concern'd
                 for
                 Geometrical
                 Speculations
                 ,
                 that
                 when
                 he
                 had
                 found
                 that
                 famous
                 Proposition
                 ,
                 which
                 makes
                 the
                 47
                 th
                 .
                 in
                 
                 Euclid's
                 I.
                 Book
                 ,
                 he
                 is
                 recorded
                 to
                 have
                 offer'd
                 a
                 Hecatomb
                 ,
                 to
                 express
                 his
                 joy
                 and
                 gratitude
                 for
                 the
                 Discovery
                 :
                 
                 which
                 yet
                 was
                 but
                 of
                 one
                 Property
                 of
                 one
                 sort
                 of
                 Right-lin'd
                 Triangles
                 .
                 And
                 certainly
                 if
                 Christian
                 Philosophers
                 did
                 rightly
                 estimate
                 ,
                 how
                 noble
                 and
                 fertile
                 Subjects
                 the
                 Divine
                 Attributes
                 are
                 ,
                 they
                 would
                 find
                 in
                 them
                 wherewithall
                 to
                 Exercise
                 their
                 best
                 parts
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 to
                 Recompence
                 the
                 Imployment
                 of
                 them
                 .
                 But
                 because
                 what
                 I
                 would
                 disswade
                 ,
                 does
                 not
                 perhaps
                 proceed
                 onely
                 from
                 Laziness
                 ,
                 but
                 from
                 a
                 Mistake
                 ;
                 as
                 if
                 there
                 were
                 little
                 to
                 be
                 known
                 of
                 so
                 Incomprehensible
                 an
                 Object
                 as
                 God
                 ,
                 save
                 that
                 in
                 General
                 all
                 his
                 Attributes
                 are
                 like
                 himself
                 ,
                 Infinite
                 ,
                 and
                 consequently
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 fully
                 Known
                 by
                 Humane
                 Understandings
                 ,
                 because
                 They
                 are
                 Finite
                 ;
                 I
                 shall
                 add
                 ,
                 that
                 though
                 it
                 be
                 true
                 ,
                 that
                 by
                 Reason
                 of
                 God's
                 Infinity
                 ,
                 we
                 cannot
                 Comprehend
                 him
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 ,
                 have
                 
                   a
                   full
                   and
                   adequate
                   knowledge
                
                 of
                 him
                 ;
                 yet
                 we
                 may
                 not
                 onely
                 know
                 very
                 many
                 things
                 concerning
                 him
                 ,
                 but
                 ,
                 which
                 is
                 more
                 ,
                 may
                 make
                 an
                 Endless
                 Progress
                 in
                 that
                 Knowledge
                 .
                 As
                 ,
                 no
                 doubt
                 ,
                 Pythagoras
                 (
                 newly
                 mention'd
                 )
                 knew
                 very
                 well
                 what
                 a
                 Triangle
                 was
                 ,
                 and
                 was
                 acquainted
                 with
                 divers
                 of
                 its
                 Properties
                 and
                 Affections
                 before
                 he
                 discover'd
                 
                 that
                 famous
                 One.
                 And
                 though
                 since
                 him
                 ,
                 
                   Euclid
                   ,
                   Archimedes
                
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 Geometricians
                 have
                 demonstrated
                 ,
                 I
                 know
                 not
                 how
                 many
                 other
                 Affections
                 of
                 the
                 same
                 Figure
                 ,
                 yet
                 they
                 have
                 not
                 to
                 this
                 day
                 Exhausted
                 the
                 Subject
                 :
                 And
                 possibly
                 ,
                 I
                 ,
                 (
                 who
                 pretend
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 Mathematician
                 )
                 may
                 now
                 and
                 then
                 in
                 managing
                 certain
                 Aequations
                 I
                 had
                 occasion
                 for
                 ,
                 have
                 lighted
                 upon
                 some
                 Theorems
                 about
                 Triangles
                 ,
                 that
                 occurr'd
                 not
                 to
                 any
                 of
                 them
                 .
                 The
                 Divine
                 Attributes
                 are
                 such
                 fruitful
                 Themes
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 worthy
                 of
                 our
                 Admiration
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 whole
                 Fabrick
                 of
                 the
                 Universe
                 ,
                 and
                 all
                 the
                 Phenomena
                 exhibited
                 in
                 it
                 ,
                 are
                 but
                 Imperfect
                 Expressions
                 of
                 Gods
                 Wisdom
                 ,
                 and
                 some
                 few
                 of
                 his
                 other
                 Attributes
                 .
                 And
                 I
                 do
                 not
                 much
                 marvel
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Angels
                 themselves
                 are
                 represented
                 in
                 Scripture
                 as
                 imploy'd
                 in
                 Adoring
                 God
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 Admiring
                 his
                 Perfections
                 .
                 For
                 even
                 they
                 being
                 but
                 Finite
                 ,
                 can
                 frame
                 but
                 inadequate
                 Conceptions
                 of
                 Him
                 ;
                 and
                 consequently
                 must
                 Endeavour
                 by
                 many
                 of
                 them
                 to
                 make
                 amends
                 for
                 the
                 Incompleatness
                 of
                 every
                 one
                 of
                 them
                 ;
                 which
                 yet
                 they
                 can
                 never
                 but
                 Imperfectly
                 do
                 .
                 And
                 yet
                 
                 Gods
                 Infinity
                 can
                 but
                 very
                 improperly
                 be
                 made
                 a
                 Discouragement
                 of
                 our
                 Enquiries
                 into
                 his
                 Nature
                 and
                 Attributes
                 .
                 For
                 (
                 not
                 now
                 to
                 examine
                 whether
                 Infinity
                 ,
                 though
                 express'd
                 by
                 a
                 Negative
                 word
                 ,
                 be
                 not
                 a
                 Positive
                 thing
                 in
                 God
                 )
                 we
                 may
                 ,
                 notwithstanding
                 his
                 Infinity
                 ,
                 discover
                 as
                 much
                 of
                 him
                 as
                 our
                 Nature
                 is
                 capable
                 of
                 knowing
                 :
                 And
                 what
                 harm
                 is
                 it
                 to
                 him
                 that
                 is
                 drinking
                 in
                 a
                 River
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 cannot
                 drink
                 up
                 all
                 the
                 water
                 ,
                 if
                 he
                 have
                 liberty
                 fully
                 to
                 quench
                 his
                 thirst
                 ,
                 and
                 take
                 in
                 as
                 much
                 Liquor
                 as
                 his
                 stomack
                 can
                 contain
                 .
                 Infinity
                 therefore
                 should
                 not
                 hinder
                 us
                 from
                 a
                 Generous
                 Ambition
                 to
                 learn
                 as
                 much
                 as
                 we
                 can
                 of
                 an
                 Object
                 ,
                 whose
                 being
                 Infinite
                 does
                 but
                 make
                 our
                 knowledge
                 of
                 it
                 the
                 more
                 noble
                 and
                 desirable
                 ,
                 which
                 indeed
                 it
                 is
                 in
                 such
                 a
                 degree
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 need
                 not
                 wonder
                 that
                 the
                 Angels
                 are
                 represented
                 as
                 never
                 weary
                 of
                 their
                 Employment
                 of
                 contemplating
                 and
                 praising
                 God.
                 For
                 ,
                 as
                 I
                 lately
                 intimated
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 can
                 have
                 but
                 inadequate
                 Idea's
                 of
                 those
                 boundless
                 Perfections
                 ,
                 and
                 by
                 no
                 number
                 of
                 those
                 Idea's
                 can
                 arrive
                 to
                 make
                 amends
                 for
                 the
                 Incompleatness
                 of
                 them
                 ;
                 so
                 it
                 need
                 not
                 
                 seem
                 strange
                 that
                 in
                 fresh
                 Discoveries
                 of
                 new
                 Parts
                 (
                 if
                 I
                 may
                 so
                 call
                 them
                 )
                 of
                 the
                 same
                 Object
                 ,
                 it
                 being
                 
                   such
                   a
                   one
                
                 ,
                 they
                 should
                 find
                 nobler
                 and
                 happier
                 Entertainments
                 than
                 any
                 where
                 else
                 variety
                 could
                 afford
                 them
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 The
                 second
                 Section
                 .
              
               
                 HAving
                 thus
                 taken
                 notice
                 of
                 some
                 Particulars
                 of
                 those
                 many
                 which
                 may
                 be
                 employ'd
                 to
                 shew
                 ,
                 how
                 Noble
                 the
                 Objects
                 are
                 ,
                 that
                 Theology
                 proposes
                 to
                 be
                 contemplated
                 ;
                 I
                 now
                 proceed
                 to
                 some
                 Considerations
                 that
                 may
                 make
                 us
                 sensible
                 how
                 great
                 an
                 Obligation
                 there
                 lies
                 on
                 us
                 ,
                 to
                 addict
                 our selves
                 to
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 them
                 .
              
               
                 Yet
                 of
                 the
                 Particulars
                 whereon
                 this
                 Obligation
                 may
                 be
                 grounded
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 now
                 name
                 but
                 two
                 ,
                 they
                 being
                 indeed
                 comprehensive
                 ones
                 ,
                 Obedience
                 ,
                 and
                 Gratitude
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 first
                 let
                 me
                 represent
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 needs
                 not
                 ,
                 I
                 suppose
                 ,
                 be
                 solicitously
                 proved
                 ,
                 That
                 't
                 is
                 the
                 Will
                 and
                 Command
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 that
                 men
                 should
                 learn
                 those
                 Truths
                 that
                 he
                 has
                 been
                 pleased
                 
                 to
                 teach
                 ,
                 whether
                 concerning
                 his
                 Nature
                 or
                 Attributes
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 way
                 wherein
                 he
                 will
                 be
                 Served
                 and
                 Worshipped
                 by
                 Man.
                 For
                 if
                 we
                 had
                 not
                 Injunctions
                 of
                 Scripture
                 to
                 that
                 purpose
                 ,
                 yet
                 your
                 Friend
                 is
                 too
                 Rational
                 a
                 Man
                 to
                 believe
                 ,
                 that
                 God
                 would
                 so
                 solemnly
                 cause
                 his
                 Truths
                 to
                 be
                 published
                 to
                 Mankind
                 ,
                 both
                 by
                 Preaching
                 and
                 Writing
                 ,
                 without
                 Intention
                 to
                 Oblige
                 ,
                 those
                 (
                 at
                 least
                 )
                 that
                 have
                 the
                 capacity
                 and
                 opportunity
                 to
                 enquire
                 into
                 some
                 of
                 them
                 ;
                 and
                 if
                 it
                 appear
                 to
                 be
                 
                   His
                   will
                
                 ,
                 that
                 a
                 person
                 so
                 qualified
                 ,
                 should
                 search
                 after
                 the
                 most
                 important
                 Truths
                 that
                 he
                 hath
                 reveal'd
                 ,
                 it
                 cannot
                 but
                 be
                 
                   their
                   duty
                
                 to
                 do
                 so
                 .
                 For
                 though
                 the
                 nature
                 of
                 the
                 thing
                 it self
                 did
                 not
                 lay
                 any
                 Obligation
                 on
                 us
                 ,
                 yet
                 the
                 Authority
                 of
                 Him
                 that
                 Commands
                 it
                 ,
                 would
                 :
                 since
                 being
                 the
                 Supreme
                 and
                 Absolute
                 Lord
                 of
                 all
                 His
                 Creatures
                 ,
                 he
                 has
                 as
                 well
                 a
                 full
                 right
                 to
                 make
                 what
                 Laws
                 he
                 thinks
                 fit
                 ,
                 and
                 enjoyn
                 what
                 service
                 he
                 thinks
                 fit
                 ,
                 as
                 a
                 power
                 to
                 punish
                 those
                 that
                 either
                 violate
                 the
                 one
                 ,
                 or
                 deny
                 the
                 other
                 ;
                 and
                 accordingly
                 't
                 is
                 very
                 observable
                 ,
                 that
                 before
                 Adam
                 fell
                 ,
                 and
                 had
                 forfeited
                 his
                 happy
                 state
                 by
                 
                 his
                 own
                 transgression
                 ,
                 he
                 not
                 onely
                 had
                 a
                 Law
                 Impos'd
                 upon
                 him
                 ,
                 but
                 such
                 a
                 Law
                 ,
                 
                 as
                 ,
                 being
                 about
                 a
                 matter
                 it self
                 Indifferent
                 (
                 for
                 so
                 it
                 was
                 to
                 eat
                 or
                 not
                 to
                 eat
                 of
                 the
                 Tree
                 of
                 Life
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 of
                 any
                 other
                 ,
                 )
                 derived
                 its
                 whole
                 power
                 of
                 obliging
                 from
                 the
                 meer
                 will
                 and
                 pleasure
                 of
                 the
                 Law-giver
                 .
                 Whence
                 we
                 may
                 learn
                 ,
                 that
                 Man
                 is
                 subject
                 to
                 the
                 Laws
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 not
                 as
                 he
                 is
                 Obnoxious
                 to
                 him
                 ,
                 but
                 as
                 he
                 is
                 a
                 Rational
                 Creature
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 the
                 thing
                 that
                 is
                 not
                 a
                 duty
                 in
                 its
                 own
                 nature
                 ,
                 may
                 become
                 an
                 indispensible
                 one
                 barely
                 by
                 its
                 being
                 commanded
                 .
                 And
                 indeed
                 ,
                 if
                 
                   our
                   first
                   Parent
                
                 in
                 the
                 state
                 of
                 Innocency
                 and
                 Happiness
                 ,
                 wherein
                 he
                 tasted
                 of
                 Gods
                 Bounty
                 ,
                 without
                 ,
                 as
                 yet
                 ,
                 standing
                 in
                 need
                 of
                 his
                 Mercy
                 ,
                 was
                 most
                 strictly
                 obliged
                 out
                 of
                 meer
                 Obedience
                 to
                 conform
                 to
                 a
                 Law
                 ,
                 the
                 matter
                 of
                 which
                 was
                 indifferent
                 in
                 it self
                 ;
                 sure
                 we
                 ,
                 in
                 our
                 laps'd
                 condition
                 ,
                 must
                 be
                 under
                 a
                 high
                 Obligation
                 to
                 obey
                 the
                 declared
                 will
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 whereby
                 we
                 are
                 enjoyned
                 to
                 study
                 his
                 Truths
                 ,
                 and
                 perform
                 that
                 which
                 has
                 so
                 much
                 of
                 intrinsick
                 Goodness
                 in
                 it
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 would
                 be
                 a
                 duty
                 ,
                 though
                 it
                 were
                 not
                 commanded
                 ;
                 and
                 has
                 such
                 Recompences
                 
                 proposed
                 to
                 it
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 is
                 not
                 more
                 a
                 Duty
                 ,
                 then
                 it
                 will
                 be
                 an
                 Advantage
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 it
                 is
                 not
                 onely
                 Obedience
                 and
                 Interest
                 that
                 should
                 engage
                 us
                 to
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 Divine
                 things
                 ,
                 but
                 Gratitude
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 exacted
                 by
                 so
                 many
                 important
                 Motives
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 who
                 said
                 ,
                 
                   Ingratum
                   si
                   dixeris
                   ,
                   omnia
                   dixeris
                   ,
                
                 could
                 not
                 think
                 Ingratitude
                 so
                 much
                 worse
                 than
                 ordinary
                 Vices
                 ,
                 as
                 a
                 contempt
                 of
                 the
                 Duty
                 I
                 am
                 pressing
                 ,
                 would
                 be
                 worse
                 than
                 an
                 ordinary
                 Ingratitude
                 .
              
               
                 It
                 were
                 not
                 difficult
                 on
                 this
                 occasion
                 to
                 manifest
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 are
                 extremely
                 great
                 Debtors
                 unto
                 God
                 ,
                 both
                 as
                 he
                 is
                 the
                 Authour
                 and
                 the
                 Preserver
                 of
                 our
                 very
                 Beings
                 ;
                 and
                 as
                 he
                 (
                 immediately
                 or
                 mediately
                 )
                 fills
                 up
                 the
                 measure
                 of
                 those
                 continual
                 Benefits
                 with
                 all
                 the
                 Prerogatives
                 and
                 other
                 Favours
                 we
                 do
                 receive
                 from
                 him
                 as
                 Men
                 ;
                 and
                 the
                 higher
                 Blessings
                 ,
                 which
                 (
                 if
                 we
                 are
                 not
                 wanting
                 to
                 our selves
                 )
                 we
                 may
                 receive
                 from
                 him
                 as
                 Christians
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 to
                 shew
                 ,
                 in
                 how
                 many
                 Particulars
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 how
                 high
                 a
                 Degree
                 ,
                 God
                 is
                 our
                 Benefactor
                 ,
                 were
                 to
                 lanch
                 out
                 into
                 too
                 Immense
                 a
                 Subject
                 ;
                 which
                 't
                 were
                 the
                 less
                 proper
                 for
                 me
                 to
                 do
                 ,
                 
                 because
                 I
                 have
                 in
                 other
                 Papers
                 discours'd
                 of
                 those
                 matters
                 already
                 .
                 
                 I
                 will
                 therefore
                 single
                 out
                 a
                 Motive
                 of
                 Gratitude
                 ,
                 which
                 will
                 be
                 peculiarly
                 pertinent
                 to
                 our
                 present
                 purpose
                 .
                 For
                 whereas
                 your
                 Friend
                 does
                 so
                 highly
                 value
                 himself
                 upon
                 the
                 Study
                 of
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 and
                 despises
                 not
                 onely
                 Divines
                 ,
                 but
                 States-men
                 ,
                 and
                 even
                 the
                 Learned'st
                 Men
                 in
                 other
                 parts
                 of
                 Philosophy
                 and
                 Knowledge
                 ,
                 because
                 they
                 are
                 not
                 vers'd
                 in
                 Physicks
                 ;
                 he
                 ows
                 to
                 God
                 that
                 very
                 Skill
                 ,
                 among
                 many
                 other
                 Vouchsafements
                 .
                 For
                 it
                 is
                 God
                 who
                 made
                 Man
                 
                   unlike
                   the
                   Horse
                   and
                   the
                   Mule
                   ,
                
                 
                 
                   who
                   have
                   no
                   understanding
                
                 ,
                 and
                 endow'd
                 him
                 with
                 that
                 noble
                 power
                 of
                 Reason
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 exercise
                 of
                 which
                 he
                 attains
                 to
                 whatever
                 knowledge
                 he
                 has
                 of
                 Natural
                 things
                 above
                 the
                 Beasts
                 that
                 perish
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 that
                 may
                 justly
                 be
                 applied
                 to
                 our
                 other
                 Acquisitions
                 ,
                 which
                 Moses
                 ,
                 by
                 Gods
                 appointment
                 ,
                 told
                 the
                 Israelites
                 concerning
                 the
                 Acquists
                 of
                 Riches
                 ;
                 where
                 he
                 bids
                 the
                 people
                 beware
                 ,
                 That
                 when
                 their
                 Herds
                 ,
                 and
                 their
                 Flocks
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 Treasures
                 were
                 multipli'd
                 ,
                 their
                 heart
                 be
                 not
                 lifted
                 up
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 prompt
                 them
                 to
                 say
                 ,
                 
                   My
                   power
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   might
                   
                   of
                   my
                   hand
                   hath
                   gotten
                   me
                   this
                   wealth
                   .
                
                 But
                 ,
                 (
                 subjoyns
                 that
                 excellent
                 Person
                 ,
                 
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 Matchless
                 Law-giver
                 )
                 
                   Thou
                   shalt
                   remember
                   the
                   Lord
                   thy
                   God
                   ,
                   for
                   it
                   is
                   he
                   that
                   giveth
                   thee
                   power
                   to
                   get
                   wealth
                   .
                
                 
                 But
                 to
                 make
                 Men
                 Rational
                 Creatures
                 ,
                 is
                 not
                 all
                 God
                 has
                 done
                 towards
                 the
                 making
                 them
                 Philosophers
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 particular
                 things
                 ,
                 Objects
                 are
                 as
                 well
                 requisite
                 as
                 Faculties
                 ;
                 and
                 if
                 we
                 admit
                 the
                 probable
                 Opinion
                 of
                 Divines
                 ,
                 who
                 teach
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Angels
                 were
                 created
                 before
                 the
                 Material
                 World
                 ,
                 as
                 being
                 meant
                 by
                 those
                 
                   Sons
                   of
                   God
                
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 
                   Morning
                   Stars
                
                 ,
                 that
                 with
                 glad
                 Songs
                 and
                 Acclamations
                 celebrated
                 the
                 Foundations
                 of
                 the
                 Earth
                 ;
                 we
                 must
                 allow
                 ,
                 that
                 there
                 were
                 many
                 creatures
                 endowed
                 with
                 at
                 least
                 as
                 much
                 Reason
                 as
                 your
                 Friend
                 ,
                 who
                 yet
                 were
                 unacquainted
                 with
                 the
                 Mysteries
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 since
                 She
                 her self
                 had
                 not
                 yet
                 receiv'd
                 a
                 Being
                 .
                 Wherefore
                 God
                 having
                 as
                 well
                 made
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 as
                 given
                 Man
                 the
                 Faculties
                 whereby
                 he
                 is
                 enabled
                 to
                 contemplate
                 it
                 ;
                 Naturalists
                 are
                 as
                 much
                 obliged
                 to
                 God
                 for
                 their
                 Knowledge
                 ,
                 as
                 we
                 are
                 for
                 our
                 Intelligence
                 to
                 those
                 that
                 write
                 us
                 Secrets
                 in
                 Cyphers
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 teach
                 us
                 the
                 skill
                 of
                 decyphering
                 things
                 so
                 written
                 ;
                 or
                 to
                 those
                 who
                 write
                 what
                 would
                 fill
                 a
                 Page
                 in
                 the
                 compass
                 of
                 a
                 single
                 Peny
                 ,
                 and
                 present
                 us
                 to
                 boot
                 a
                 Microscope
                 to
                 enable
                 us
                 to
                 read
                 it
                 .
                 And
                 as
                 the
                 Naturalist
                 hath
                 peculiar
                 Inducements
                 to
                 Gratitude
                 for
                 the
                 Endowment
                 of
                 Knowledge
                 ;
                 so
                 Ingenuity
                 lays
                 this
                 peculiar
                 Obligation
                 on
                 him
                 to
                 express
                 his
                 Gratitude
                 in
                 the
                 way
                 I
                 have
                 been
                 recommending
                 ,
                 That
                 
                   't
                   is
                   one
                   of
                   the
                   acceptablest
                   ways
                   it
                   can
                   be
                   express'd
                   in
                
                 ;
                 especially
                 since
                 by
                 this
                 way
                 ,
                 Philosophers
                 may
                 not
                 onely
                 exercise
                 their
                 own
                 gratitude
                 towards
                 God
                 ,
                 but
                 procure
                 him
                 that
                 of
                 others
                 .
                 How
                 pleasing
                 mens
                 hearty
                 Praises
                 are
                 to
                 God
                 ,
                 may
                 appear
                 among
                 other
                 things
                 ,
                 by
                 what
                 is
                 said
                 and
                 done
                 by
                 that
                 Royal
                 Poet
                 ,
                 whom
                 God
                 was
                 pleased
                 to
                 declare
                 
                   a
                   man
                   after
                   his
                   own
                   heart
                
                 ;
                 for
                 he
                 introduces
                 God
                 pronouncing
                 ,
                 
                 
                   Whoso
                   offereth
                   Praise
                   ,
                   glorifieth
                   me
                
                 ;
                 where
                 the
                 word
                 our
                 Interpreters
                 render
                 offereth
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 Hebrew
                 signifies
                 to
                 Sacrifice
                 ;
                 with
                 which
                 agrees
                 ,
                 that
                 else-where
                 those
                 that
                 pay
                 God
                 their
                 Praises
                 ,
                 are
                 said
                 to
                 Sacrifice
                 
                   to
                   him
                   the
                   calves
                   of
                   their
                   lips
                   .
                
                 
                 And
                 that
                 excellent
                 Person
                 ,
                 to
                 whom
                 
                 God
                 vouchsafed
                 so
                 particular
                 a
                 Testimony
                 ,
                 was
                 so
                 assiduous
                 in
                 this
                 Exercise
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Book
                 which
                 we
                 ,
                 following
                 the
                 Greek
                 ,
                 call
                 Psalms
                 ,
                 is
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 Original
                 ,
                 from
                 the
                 things
                 it
                 most
                 abounds
                 with
                 ,
                 called
                 
                   Sepher
                   Tehillim
                
                 ,
                 i.
                 e.
                 
                   The
                   Book
                   of
                   Praises
                
                 .
                 And
                 to
                 let
                 you
                 see
                 ,
                 that
                 many
                 of
                 his
                 Praises
                 were
                 such
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 Naturalist
                 may
                 best
                 give
                 ,
                 he
                 exclaims
                 in
                 one
                 place
                 ,
                 
                 
                   How
                   manifold
                   are
                   thy
                   works
                   ,
                   O
                   Lord
                   ?
                
                 how
                 wisely
                 hast
                 thou
                 made
                 them
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 Junius
                 and
                 Tremellius
                 render
                 it
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Hebrew
                 will
                 bear
                 )
                 and
                 else-where
                 ,
                 
                 
                   The
                   Heavens
                   declare
                   the
                   glory
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   Firmament
                   sheweth
                   his
                   handy-work
                   ,
                   &c.
                   
                
                 Again
                 ,
                 in
                 another
                 place
                 ,
                 
                 
                   I
                   will
                   praise
                   thee
                   ,
                   because
                   I
                   am
                   fearfully
                   and
                   wonderfully
                   made
                   .
                   Marvellous
                   are
                   thy
                   works
                   ,
                   and
                   that
                   my
                   soul
                   knoweth
                   right
                   well
                   .
                
                 And
                 not
                 content
                 with
                 many
                 of
                 the
                 like
                 Expressions
                 ,
                 he
                 does
                 several
                 times
                 in
                 a
                 devout
                 Transport
                 ,
                 and
                 Poetical
                 strain
                 ,
                 invite
                 the
                 Heavens
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Earth
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Seas
                 ,
                 and
                 all
                 the
                 other
                 Inanimate
                 Creatures
                 ,
                 to
                 joyn
                 with
                 him
                 in
                 the
                 celebration
                 of
                 their
                 common
                 Maker
                 .
                 Which
                 though
                 it
                 seem
                 to
                 be
                 meerly
                 a
                 Poetical
                 Scheme
                 ,
                 yet
                 in
                 some
                 sort
                 it
                 might
                 become
                 
                 a
                 Naturalist
                 ,
                 who
                 by
                 making
                 out
                 the
                 Power
                 ,
                 Wisdom
                 ,
                 and
                 Goodness
                 of
                 the
                 Creator
                 ,
                 and
                 by
                 reflecting
                 thence
                 on
                 those
                 Particulars
                 wherein
                 those
                 Attributes
                 shine
                 ,
                 may
                 ,
                 by
                 such
                 a
                 devout
                 Consideration
                 of
                 the
                 Creatures
                 ,
                 make
                 them
                 ,
                 in
                 a
                 sense
                 ,
                 joyn
                 with
                 him
                 in
                 glorifying
                 their
                 Author
                 .
              
               
                 In
                 any
                 other
                 case
                 ,
                 I
                 dare
                 say
                 ,
                 your
                 Friend
                 is
                 not
                 so
                 ill
                 natur'd
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 he
                 would
                 think
                 it
                 an
                 unkind
                 piece
                 of
                 Ingratitude
                 ,
                 if
                 some
                 great
                 and
                 excellent
                 Prince
                 ,
                 having
                 freely
                 and
                 transcendently
                 obliged
                 him
                 ,
                 he
                 should
                 not
                 concern
                 himself
                 to
                 know
                 what
                 manner
                 of
                 Man
                 his
                 Benefactor
                 is
                 ;
                 and
                 should
                 not
                 be
                 solicitous
                 to
                 inform
                 himself
                 of
                 those
                 particulars
                 ,
                 relating
                 to
                 the
                 Person
                 and
                 Affairs
                 of
                 that
                 obliging
                 Monarch
                 ,
                 which
                 were
                 not
                 onely
                 in
                 themselves
                 worthy
                 of
                 any
                 mans
                 Curiosity
                 ,
                 but
                 about
                 which
                 the
                 Prince
                 had
                 solemnly
                 declar'd
                 he
                 was
                 very
                 desirous
                 to
                 have
                 men
                 Inquisitive
                 .
                 And
                 sure
                 't
                 is
                 very
                 disingenious
                 ,
                 to
                 undervalue
                 or
                 neglect
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 God
                 Himself
                 for
                 a
                 Knowledge
                 which
                 we
                 cannot
                 attain
                 without
                 him
                 ,
                 and
                 by
                 which
                 he
                 design'd
                 to
                 bring
                 us
                 to
                 that
                 study
                 we
                 neglect
                 for
                 it
                 :
                 which
                 is
                 not
                 onely
                 
                 not
                 to
                 use
                 him
                 as
                 a
                 Benefactor
                 ,
                 but
                 as
                 if
                 he
                 meant
                 to
                 punish
                 him
                 (
                 if
                 I
                 may
                 so
                 speak
                 )
                 for
                 having
                 oblieged
                 us
                 ,
                 since
                 we
                 so
                 abuse
                 some
                 of
                 his
                 Favours
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 make
                 them
                 Inducements
                 to
                 our
                 Unthankful
                 Disregard
                 of
                 his
                 Intentions
                 in
                 the
                 rest
                 .
                 And
                 this
                 Ingratitude
                 is
                 the
                 more
                 culpable
                 ,
                 because
                 the
                 Laws
                 of
                 Ingenuity
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 Justice
                 it self
                 ,
                 charge
                 us
                 to
                 Glorifie
                 the
                 Maker
                 of
                 all
                 things
                 visible
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 upon
                 our
                 own
                 account
                 ,
                 but
                 upon
                 that
                 of
                 all
                 his
                 other
                 works
                 .
                 For
                 by
                 Gods
                 endowing
                 of
                 none
                 but
                 Man
                 here
                 below
                 with
                 a
                 Reasonable
                 Soul
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 he
                 is
                 the
                 sole
                 visible
                 Being
                 that
                 can
                 return
                 Thanks
                 and
                 Praises
                 in
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 and
                 thereby
                 is
                 oblieged
                 to
                 do
                 so
                 ,
                 both
                 for
                 himself
                 ,
                 and
                 for
                 the
                 rest
                 of
                 the
                 Creation
                 ;
                 but
                 't
                 is
                 for
                 
                   Mans
                   advantage
                
                 ,
                 that
                 God
                 has
                 left
                 no
                 other
                 visible
                 Beings
                 in
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 by
                 which
                 he
                 can
                 be
                 studied
                 and
                 celebrated
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 Reason
                 is
                 such
                 a
                 Ray
                 of
                 Divinity
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 if
                 God
                 had
                 vouchsafed
                 it
                 to
                 other
                 parts
                 of
                 the
                 Universe
                 besides
                 Man
                 ,
                 the
                 absolute
                 Empire
                 of
                 Man
                 over
                 the
                 rest
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 must
                 have
                 been
                 shar'd
                 ,
                 or
                 abridg'd
                 .
                 So
                 that
                 he
                 ,
                 to
                 whom
                 it
                 was
                 equally
                 easie
                 to
                 make
                 Creatures
                 Superior
                 
                 to
                 Man
                 (
                 as
                 the
                 Scripture
                 tells
                 us
                 of
                 Legions
                 ,
                 and
                 Myriads
                 of
                 Angels
                 )
                 as
                 to
                 make
                 them
                 Inferiour
                 to
                 him
                 ,
                 dealt
                 so
                 obligingly
                 with
                 Mankind
                 ,
                 as
                 rather
                 to
                 Trust
                 (
                 if
                 I
                 may
                 so
                 speak
                 )
                 our
                 Ingenuity
                 ,
                 whether
                 he
                 shall
                 reap
                 any
                 Celebrations
                 from
                 the
                 Creatures
                 we
                 converse
                 with
                 ,
                 than
                 Lessen
                 our
                 Empire
                 over
                 them
                 ,
                 or
                 our
                 Prerogatives
                 above
                 them
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 I
                 fear
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 notwithstanding
                 all
                 the
                 Excellency
                 of
                 reveal'd
                 Truths
                 ,
                 and
                 consequently
                 of
                 that
                 onely
                 Authentic
                 Repository
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 you
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 I
                 ,
                 have
                 met
                 with
                 some
                 (
                 for
                 I
                 hope
                 there
                 are
                 not
                 
                   many
                   )
                   Virtuosi
                
                 ,
                 that
                 think
                 to
                 excuse
                 the
                 neglect
                 of
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 by
                 alledging
                 ,
                 that
                 to
                 them
                 who
                 are
                 Lay-men
                 ,
                 not
                 Ecclesiasticks
                 ,
                 there
                 is
                 requir'd
                 to
                 Salvation
                 the
                 Explicit
                 knowledge
                 but
                 of
                 very
                 few
                 Points
                 ,
                 which
                 are
                 so
                 plainly
                 summ'd
                 up
                 in
                 the
                 Apostles
                 Creed
                 ,
                 and
                 are
                 so
                 often
                 and
                 conspicuously
                 set
                 down
                 in
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 that
                 one
                 needs
                 not
                 much
                 search
                 or
                 study
                 it
                 to
                 find
                 them
                 there
                 .
              
               
                 In
                 answer
                 to
                 this
                 Allegation
                 ,
                 I
                 readily
                 grant
                 ,
                 
                 that
                 through
                 the
                 great
                 goodness
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 
                   who
                   is
                   willing
                   to
                   
                   have
                   all
                   men
                   saved
                   ,
                   and
                   come
                   to
                   the
                   knowledge
                   of
                   the
                   Truth
                   ,
                
                 that
                 is
                 necessary
                 to
                 be
                 so
                 ,
                 there
                 are
                 much
                 fewer
                 Articles
                 absolutely
                 necessary
                 to
                 be
                 by
                 all
                 men
                 distinctly
                 believed
                 ,
                 than
                 may
                 be
                 met
                 with
                 in
                 divers
                 long
                 Confessions
                 of
                 Faith
                 ,
                 some
                 of
                 which
                 have
                 ,
                 I
                 fear
                 ,
                 less
                 promoted
                 Knowledge
                 than
                 impair'd
                 Charity
                 .
                 But
                 then
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 also
                 consider'd
                 ,
                 1.
                 
                 That
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 so
                 easie
                 for
                 a
                 Rational
                 Man
                 ,
                 that
                 will
                 trouble
                 himself
                 to
                 enquire
                 no
                 farther
                 than
                 the
                 Apostles
                 Creed
                 ,
                 to
                 satisfie
                 himself
                 upon
                 good
                 grounds
                 ,
                 that
                 all
                 the
                 Fundamental
                 Articles
                 of
                 Christianity
                 are
                 contain'd
                 in
                 it
                 .
                 2.
                 
                 That
                 the
                 Creed
                 proposes
                 onely
                 the
                 Credenda
                 ,
                 
                 not
                 the
                 Agenda
                 of
                 Religion
                 ;
                 whereas
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 were
                 designed
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 to
                 teach
                 us
                 what
                 Truths
                 we
                 are
                 to
                 believe
                 ,
                 but
                 by
                 what
                 Rules
                 we
                 are
                 to
                 live
                 ;
                 the
                 obedience
                 to
                 the
                 Laws
                 of
                 Christianity
                 being
                 as
                 necessary
                 to
                 Salvation
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 belief
                 of
                 its
                 Mysteries
                 .
                 3.
                 
                 That
                 besides
                 the
                 things
                 which
                 are
                 absolutely
                 necessary
                 ,
                 there
                 are
                 several
                 that
                 are
                 highly
                 useful
                 ,
                 to
                 make
                 us
                 more
                 clearly
                 understand
                 ,
                 and
                 more
                 rationally
                 and
                 firmly
                 believe
                 ,
                 and
                 more
                 steadily
                 practise
                 ,
                 the
                 points
                 that
                 are
                 
                 necessary
                 .
                 4.
                 
                 And
                 since
                 ,
                 whether
                 or
                 no
                 those
                 words
                 of
                 our
                 Saviour
                 to
                 the
                 Jews
                 ,
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 ,
                 
                 be
                 to
                 be
                 rendred
                 in
                 the
                 Imperative
                 or
                 the
                 Indicative
                 Mode
                 ;
                 St.
                 Paul
                 would
                 have
                 the
                 word
                 of
                 Christ
                 to
                 
                   dwell
                   richly
                   in
                   us
                
                 ,
                 (
                 by
                 which
                 ,
                 whether
                 he
                 mean
                 the
                 holy
                 Scriptures
                 then
                 extant
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 Doctrine
                 of
                 Christ
                 ,
                 is
                 not
                 here
                 material
                 ;
                 )
                 thereby
                 teaching
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 searching
                 into
                 the
                 matters
                 of
                 Religion
                 may
                 become
                 necessary
                 as
                 a
                 Duty
                 ,
                 though
                 it
                 were
                 not
                 otherwise
                 necessary
                 as
                 a
                 Means
                 of
                 attaining
                 Salvation
                 .
                 And
                 indeed
                 't
                 is
                 far
                 more
                 pardonable
                 to
                 want
                 or
                 miss
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 Truths
                 ,
                 than
                 to
                 despise
                 or
                 neglect
                 it
                 .
                 And
                 the
                 goodness
                 of
                 God
                 to
                 illiterate
                 or
                 mistaken
                 persons
                 ,
                 is
                 to
                 be
                 suppos'd
                 meant
                 in
                 pity
                 to
                 our
                 Frailties
                 ,
                 not
                 to
                 encourage
                 our
                 Laziness
                 ;
                 nor
                 is
                 it
                 necessary
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 that
                 pardons
                 those
                 Seekers
                 of
                 his
                 Truths
                 that
                 miss
                 them
                 ,
                 should
                 excuse
                 those
                 Despisers
                 that
                 will
                 not
                 seek
                 them
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 whether
                 or
                 no
                 by
                 this
                 design'd
                 neglect
                 of
                 Theology
                 the
                 persons
                 ,
                 I
                 deal
                 with
                 ,
                 do
                 sufficiently
                 consult
                 their
                 own
                 safety
                 ,
                 I
                 doubt
                 they
                 will
                 not
                 much
                 recommend
                 their
                 Ingenuity
                 .
                 
                 For
                 to
                 have
                 received
                 from
                 God
                 a
                 greater
                 measure
                 of
                 Intellectual
                 Abilities
                 than
                 the
                 generality
                 of
                 Christians
                 ,
                 and
                 yet
                 willingly
                 to
                 come
                 short
                 of
                 very
                 many
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 the
                 Mysteries
                 and
                 other
                 Truths
                 of
                 Christianity
                 ,
                 which
                 he
                 often
                 invites
                 us
                 ,
                 if
                 not
                 expresly
                 commands
                 ,
                 to
                 search
                 after
                 ,
                 is
                 a
                 course
                 that
                 will
                 not
                 relish
                 of
                 over-much
                 gratitude
                 .
                 Is
                 it
                 a
                 piece
                 of
                 That
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 Ingenuity
                 ,
                 to
                 receive
                 ones
                 Understanding
                 and
                 ones
                 Hopes
                 of
                 Eternal
                 Felicity
                 from
                 the
                 Goodness
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 without
                 being
                 sollicitous
                 of
                 what
                 may
                 be
                 known
                 of
                 his
                 Nature
                 and
                 Purposes
                 by
                 so
                 excellent
                 a
                 way
                 as
                 his
                 own
                 Revelation
                 of
                 them
                 ?
                 To
                 dispute
                 anxiously
                 about
                 the
                 Properties
                 of
                 an
                 Atome
                 ,
                 and
                 be
                 careless
                 about
                 the
                 Inquiry
                 into
                 the
                 Attributes
                 of
                 the
                 
                   great
                   God
                   ,
                   who
                   formed
                   all
                   things
                
                 ;
                 
                 to
                 investigate
                 the
                 spontaneous
                 generation
                 of
                 such
                 vile
                 Creatures
                 as
                 Insects
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 Mysterious
                 Generation
                 of
                 the
                 Adorable
                 Son
                 of
                 God
                 ;
                 and
                 ,
                 in
                 a
                 word
                 ,
                 to
                 be
                 more
                 concern'd
                 to
                 know
                 every
                 thing
                 that
                 makes
                 a
                 Corporeal
                 part
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 Divine
                 and
                 Incorporeal
                 Authour
                 of
                 the
                 whole
                 ?
              
               
                 And
                 then
                 ,
                 is
                 it
                 not
                 ,
                 think
                 you
                 ,
                 a
                 
                 great
                 piece
                 of
                 respect
                 ,
                 that
                 these
                 men
                 pay
                 to
                 those
                 Truths
                 ,
                 which
                 God
                 thought
                 fit
                 to
                 send
                 sometimes
                 Prophets
                 and
                 Apostles
                 ,
                 sometimes
                 Angels
                 ,
                 and
                 sometimes
                 his
                 onely
                 Son
                 himself
                 to
                 reveal
                 ,
                 that
                 such
                 Truths
                 are
                 so
                 little
                 valued
                 by
                 them
                 ,
                 that
                 rather
                 than
                 take
                 the
                 pains
                 to
                 study
                 them
                 ,
                 they
                 will
                 implicitly
                 ,
                 and
                 at
                 adventures
                 believe
                 ,
                 what
                 that
                 Society
                 of
                 Christians
                 ,
                 they
                 chance
                 to
                 be
                 born
                 and
                 bred
                 in
                 ,
                 have
                 (
                 truly
                 or
                 falsly
                 )
                 delivered
                 concerning
                 them
                 ?
                 And
                 does
                 it
                 argue
                 a
                 due
                 regard
                 to
                 points
                 of
                 Religion
                 ,
                 that
                 those
                 ,
                 who
                 would
                 not
                 believe
                 a
                 Proposition
                 in
                 Staticks
                 ,
                 perhaps
                 about
                 a
                 meer
                 Point
                 ,
                 the
                 Centre
                 of
                 Gravity
                 ,
                 or
                 in
                 Geometry
                 ,
                 about
                 the
                 Properties
                 of
                 some
                 nameless
                 curve
                 Line
                 ,
                 or
                 some
                 such
                 other
                 things
                 ,
                 (
                 which
                 to
                 ignore
                 ,
                 is
                 usually
                 not
                 a
                 blemish
                 ,
                 and
                 about
                 which
                 ,
                 to
                 be
                 mistaken
                 ,
                 is
                 more
                 usually
                 without
                 danger
                 ,
                 )
                 should
                 yet
                 take
                 up
                 the
                 Articles
                 of
                 Faith
                 ,
                 concerning
                 matters
                 of
                 great
                 and
                 everlasting
                 Consequence
                 ,
                 upon
                 the
                 Authority
                 of
                 Men
                 ,
                 Fallible
                 as
                 themselves
                 ,
                 when
                 satisfaction
                 may
                 be
                 had
                 without
                 them
                 from
                 the
                 Infallible
                 Word
                 of
                 God
                 ?
                 In
                 this
                 very
                 unlike
                 
                 those
                 Bereans
                 ,
                 
                 whom
                 the
                 Evangelist
                 honours
                 with
                 the
                 Title
                 of
                 Noble
                 ,
                 that
                 when
                 the
                 Doctrines
                 of
                 the
                 Gospel
                 were
                 proposed
                 to
                 them
                 ,
                 
                   they
                   searched
                   the
                   Scriptures
                   daily
                   ,
                   whether
                   those
                   things
                   were
                   so
                   .
                
              
               
                 Again
                 ,
                 if
                 a
                 man
                 should
                 refuse
                 to
                 learn
                 to
                 read
                 any
                 more
                 ,
                 than
                 just
                 as
                 much
                 as
                 may
                 serve
                 his
                 turn
                 ,
                 by
                 intituling
                 him
                 to
                 the
                 benefit
                 of
                 the
                 Clergy
                 ,
                 to
                 save
                 him
                 from
                 hanging
                 ,
                 would
                 these
                 men
                 think
                 so
                 small
                 a
                 measure
                 of
                 Literature
                 ,
                 as
                 he
                 had
                 acquir'd
                 on
                 such
                 an
                 account
                 ,
                 could
                 prove
                 that
                 man
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 Lover
                 of
                 Learning
                 ;
                 and
                 yet
                 a
                 neglecter
                 of
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 all
                 not
                 absolutely
                 necessary-Divine
                 Truths
                 ,
                 during
                 ones
                 life
                 ,
                 because
                 the
                 belief
                 of
                 the
                 Articles
                 of
                 the
                 Creed
                 may
                 make
                 a
                 shift
                 to
                 keep
                 him
                 from
                 being
                 doom'd
                 to
                 Hell
                 for
                 Ignorance
                 after
                 his
                 death
                 ,
                 will
                 not
                 by
                 (
                 what
                 in
                 a
                 Learned
                 man
                 must
                 be
                 )
                 so
                 pitiful
                 a
                 degree
                 of
                 knowledge
                 be
                 much
                 better
                 intitled
                 to
                 that
                 Ingenuous
                 Love
                 of
                 God
                 and
                 his
                 Truths
                 ,
                 that
                 becomes
                 a
                 Rational
                 Creature
                 and
                 a
                 Christian
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 antient
                 Prophets
                 ,
                 though
                 honour'd
                 by
                 God
                 with
                 direct
                 Illuminations
                 ,
                 
                 were
                 yet
                 very
                 solicitous
                 to
                 find
                 
                 out
                 and
                 learn
                 the
                 very
                 Circumstances
                 of
                 the
                 Evangelical
                 Dispensations
                 ,
                 which
                 yet
                 they
                 did
                 not
                 know
                 .
                 And
                 some
                 of
                 the
                 Gospel
                 Mysteries
                 are
                 of
                 so
                 noble
                 and
                 excellent
                 a
                 nature
                 ,
                 that
                 
                   the
                   Angels
                   themselves
                   desire
                   to
                   look
                   into
                   them
                   .
                
                 
                 And
                 though
                 all
                 the
                 Evangelical
                 Truths
                 are
                 not
                 precisely
                 necessary
                 to
                 be
                 known
                 ,
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 both
                 a
                 Duty
                 not
                 to
                 despise
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 and
                 a
                 Happiness
                 to
                 employ
                 our selves
                 about
                 it
                 .
                 It
                 was
                 the
                 earnest
                 Prayer
                 of
                 a
                 great
                 King
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 no
                 less
                 a
                 Prophet
                 ,
                 that
                 
                   his
                   eyes
                   might
                   be
                   opened
                   to
                   behold
                
                 (
                 not
                 the
                 obvious
                 and
                 necessary
                 Truths
                 ,
                 but
                 )
                 
                   the
                   wondrous
                   things
                   of
                   Gods
                   Law.
                
                 He
                 is
                 pronounced
                 Happy
                 in
                 the
                 beginning
                 of
                 the
                 Apocalypse
                 ,
                 
                 that
                 reads
                 and
                 observes
                 the
                 things
                 contain'd
                 in
                 that
                 dark
                 and
                 obscure
                 part
                 of
                 Scripture
                 .
                 And
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 onely
                 those
                 Truths
                 that
                 make
                 Articles
                 of
                 the
                 Creed
                 ,
                 but
                 divers
                 other
                 Doctrines
                 of
                 the
                 Gospel
                 ,
                 that
                 Christ
                 himself
                 judged
                 worthy
                 to
                 be
                 concluded
                 with
                 this
                 
                   Epiphonema
                   ,
                   He
                   that
                   hath
                   ears
                   to
                   hear
                   ,
                   let
                   him
                   hear
                
                 ;
                 on
                 which
                 the
                 excellent
                 Grotius
                 makes
                 this
                 just
                 Paraphrase
                 ,
                 
                 
                   Intellectus
                   nobis
                   à
                   Deo
                   potissimum
                   datus
                   est
                   ,
                   ut
                   eum
                   intendamus
                   documentis
                   ad
                   pietatem
                   pertinentibus
                
              
            
             
               
               
                 The
                 third
                 Section
                 .
              
               
                 I
                 Come
                 now
                 to
                 our
                 third
                 and
                 last
                 Inducement
                 to
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 Divine
                 things
                 ,
                 which
                 consists
                 in
                 ,
                 and
                 comprises
                 the
                 Advantages
                 of
                 that
                 study
                 ,
                 which
                 do
                 as
                 much
                 surpass
                 those
                 of
                 all
                 other
                 Contemplations
                 ,
                 as
                 Divine
                 things
                 transcend
                 all
                 other
                 Objects
                 .
                 And
                 indeed
                 ,
                 the
                 utility
                 of
                 this
                 study
                 is
                 so
                 pregnant
                 a
                 Motive
                 ,
                 and
                 contains
                 in
                 it
                 so
                 many
                 Invitations
                 ,
                 that
                 your
                 Friend
                 must
                 have
                 as
                 little
                 sense
                 of
                 Interest
                 as
                 of
                 Gratitude
                 ,
                 if
                 he
                 can
                 neglect
                 such
                 powerful
                 and
                 such
                 ingaging
                 Invitations
                 .
              
               
                 For
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 first
                 place
                 ,
                 Theological
                 studies
                 ought
                 to
                 be
                 highly
                 endeared
                 to
                 us
                 by
                 the
                 Delightfulness
                 of
                 considering
                 such
                 noble
                 and
                 worthy
                 Objects
                 as
                 are
                 therein
                 propos'd
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 famous
                 Answer
                 given
                 by
                 an
                 excellent
                 Philosopher
                 ,
                 who
                 being
                 ask'd
                 what
                 he
                 was
                 born
                 for
                 ,
                 repli'd
                 ,
                 
                   To
                   contemplate
                   the
                   Sun
                
                 ,
                 may
                 justly
                 recommend
                 their
                 choice
                 ,
                 who
                 spend
                 their
                 time
                 in
                 contemplating
                 the
                 Maker
                 
                 of
                 the
                 Sun
                 ,
                 to
                 whom
                 that
                 glorious
                 Planet
                 it self
                 is
                 but
                 a
                 shadow
                 .
                 And
                 perhaps
                 that
                 Philosopher
                 failed
                 more
                 in
                 the
                 Instance
                 than
                 in
                 the
                 Notion
                 :
                 For
                 his
                 Answer
                 implies
                 ,
                 That
                 Man's
                 End
                 and
                 Happiness
                 consists
                 in
                 the
                 exercise
                 of
                 his
                 noblest
                 Faculties
                 on
                 the
                 noblest
                 Objects
                 .
                 And
                 surely
                 the
                 seat
                 of
                 
                   Formal
                   Happiness
                
                 being
                 the
                 Soul
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 Happiness
                 consequently
                 consisting
                 in
                 the
                 Operations
                 of
                 her
                 Faculties
                 ;
                 as
                 the
                 Supreme
                 Faculty
                 of
                 the
                 Mind
                 is
                 the
                 Understanding
                 ,
                 so
                 the
                 highest
                 Pleasures
                 may
                 be
                 expected
                 from
                 the
                 due
                 Exercise
                 of
                 it
                 upon
                 the
                 sublimest
                 and
                 worthiest
                 Objects
                 .
                 And
                 therefore
                 I
                 wonder
                 not
                 ,
                 that
                 though
                 some
                 of
                 the
                 School-men
                 would
                 assign
                 the
                 Will
                 a
                 larger
                 share
                 in
                 Mans
                 Felicity
                 ,
                 than
                 they
                 will
                 allow
                 the
                 Intellect
                 ;
                 yet
                 the
                 generality
                 of
                 them
                 are
                 quite
                 of
                 another
                 mind
                 ,
                 and
                 ascribe
                 the
                 Preheminence
                 in
                 point
                 of
                 Felicity
                 to
                 the
                 Superiour
                 Faculty
                 of
                 the
                 Soul.
                 But
                 ,
                 whether
                 or
                 no
                 this
                 Opinion
                 be
                 true
                 in
                 all
                 Cases
                 ,
                 it
                 may
                 at
                 least
                 be
                 admitted
                 in
                 ours
                 :
                 For
                 ,
                 the
                 chief
                 Objects
                 of
                 a
                 Christian
                 Philosophers
                 Contemplation
                 ,
                 being
                 as
                 well
                 the
                 Infinite
                 Goodness
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 other
                 boundless
                 Perfections
                 
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 they
                 are
                 naturally
                 fitted
                 to
                 excite
                 in
                 his
                 mind
                 an
                 ardent
                 love
                 of
                 that
                 adorable
                 Being
                 ,
                 and
                 those
                 other
                 joyous
                 Affections
                 and
                 virtuous
                 Dispositions
                 ,
                 that
                 have
                 made
                 some
                 men
                 think
                 Happiness
                 chiefly
                 seated
                 in
                 the
                 Will.
                 But
                 having
                 intimated
                 thus
                 much
                 by
                 the
                 way
                 ,
                 I
                 pass
                 on
                 to
                 add
                 ,
                 That
                 the
                 contentment
                 afforded
                 by
                 the
                 assiduous
                 discovery
                 of
                 God
                 and
                 Divine
                 Mysteries
                 ,
                 has
                 so
                 much
                 of
                 affinity
                 with
                 the
                 Pleasures
                 ,
                 that
                 shall
                 make
                 up
                 mens
                 Blessedness
                 in
                 Heaven
                 it self
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 seem
                 rather
                 to
                 differ
                 in
                 Degree
                 than
                 in
                 Kind
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 the
                 happy
                 state
                 even
                 of
                 Angels
                 is
                 by
                 our
                 Saviour
                 represented
                 by
                 this
                 Imployment
                 ,
                 that
                 
                   they
                   continually
                   see
                   the
                   face
                   of
                   his
                   Father
                   who
                   is
                   in
                   Heaven
                   .
                
                 And
                 the
                 same
                 infallible
                 Teacher
                 ,
                 intending
                 elsewhere
                 to
                 express
                 the
                 Celestial
                 Joys
                 that
                 are
                 reserv'd
                 for
                 those
                 ,
                 who
                 for
                 Their
                 sake
                 deny'd
                 themselves
                 sensual
                 Pleasures
                 ,
                 imploys
                 the
                 Vision
                 of
                 God
                 as
                 an
                 Emphatical
                 Periphrase
                 of
                 Felicity
                 ,
                 Blessed
                 ,
                 said
                 he
                 ,
                 
                   are
                   the
                   pure
                   in
                   heart
                
                 ,
                 
                 
                   for
                   they
                   shall
                   see
                   God.
                
                 And
                 as
                 Aristotle
                 teaches
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Soul
                 doth
                 after
                 a
                 sort
                 become
                 that
                 which
                 it
                 Speculates
                 ,
                 St.
                 Paul
                 and
                 St.
                 John
                 assure
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 
                 God
                 is
                 a
                 transforming
                 Object
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 in
                 Heaven
                 
                   we
                   shall
                   be
                   like
                   him
                
                 ,
                 
                 for
                 (
                 or
                 ,
                 
                   because
                   )
                   we
                   shall
                   see
                   him
                   as
                   he
                   is
                   .
                
                 And
                 though
                 I
                 readily
                 admit
                 ,
                 that
                 this
                 Beatisick
                 Vision
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 wherein
                 the
                 Understanding
                 is
                 the
                 proper
                 Instrument
                 ,
                 includes
                 divers
                 other
                 things
                 which
                 will
                 concur
                 to
                 the
                 compleat
                 Felicity
                 of
                 the
                 future
                 Life
                 ;
                 yet
                 I
                 think
                 ,
                 we
                 may
                 be
                 allowed
                 to
                 argue
                 ,
                 that
                 that
                 ravishing
                 Contemplation
                 of
                 Divine
                 Objects
                 ,
                 will
                 make
                 
                   no
                   small
                   part
                
                 of
                 that
                 happy
                 Estate
                 ,
                 which
                 in
                 these
                 Texts
                 take
                 its
                 Denomination
                 from
                 it
                 .
              
               
                 I
                 have
                 above
                 intimated
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Scripture
                 attributes
                 to
                 the
                 Angels
                 themselves
                 Transports
                 of
                 Wonder
                 and
                 Joy
                 upon
                 the
                 Contemplation
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Exercises
                 they
                 consider
                 of
                 his
                 Wisdom
                 ,
                 Justice
                 ,
                 or
                 some
                 other
                 of
                 his
                 Attributes
                 .
                 But
                 least
                 in
                 referring
                 you
                 to
                 the
                 Angels
                 ,
                 you
                 should
                 say
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 do
                 in
                 this
                 Discourse
                 lay
                 aside
                 the
                 Person
                 of
                 a
                 Naturalist
                 ,
                 in
                 favour
                 of
                 Divines
                 ;
                 I
                 will
                 refer
                 you
                 to
                 
                   Des
                   Cartes
                
                 himself
                 ,
                 whom
                 I
                 am
                 sure
                 your
                 Friend
                 will
                 allow
                 to
                 have
                 been
                 a
                 rigid
                 Philosopher
                 ,
                 if
                 ever
                 there
                 were
                 any
                 .
                 Thus
                 then
                 speaks
                 he
                 in
                 that
                 Treatise
                 ,
                 where
                 
                 he
                 thinks
                 he
                 imploys
                 a
                 more
                 than
                 Mathematical
                 Rigor
                 ;
                 and
                 where
                 he
                 was
                 obliged
                 to
                 utter
                 those
                 (
                 I
                 had
                 almost
                 said
                 Passionate
                 )
                 words
                 ,
                 I
                 am
                 going
                 to
                 cite
                 from
                 him
                 ,
                 onely
                 by
                 the
                 Impressions
                 made
                 on
                 him
                 by
                 the
                 transcendent
                 Excellency
                 of
                 the
                 Ob●●…
                 he
                 Contemplated
                 ;
                 
                 
                   Sed
                   priusquam
                
                 (
                 says
                 he
                 )
                 
                   hoc
                   diligentius
                   examinem
                   ,
                   simulque
                   in
                   alias
                   veritates
                   quae
                   inde
                   colligi
                   possunt
                   ,
                   inquiram
                   ,
                   placet
                   hic
                   aliquandiu
                   in
                   ipsius
                   Dei
                   contemplatione
                   immorari
                   ,
                   ejus
                   attributa
                   apud
                   me
                   expendere
                   ,
                   &
                   immensi
                   hujus
                   Luminis
                   pulchritudinem
                   ,
                   quantum
                   caligantis
                   Ingenii
                   mei
                   acies
                   ferre
                   poterit
                   ,
                   intueri
                   ,
                   admirari
                   ,
                   adorare
                   .
                   Ut
                   enim
                   in
                   hac
                   sola
                   Divinae
                   Majestatis
                   Contemplatione
                   summam
                   alterius
                   vitae
                   felicitatem
                   ex
                   consistere
                   fide
                   credimus
                   ;
                   ita
                   etiam
                   jam
                   ex
                   eadem
                   ,
                   licet
                   multo
                   minus
                   perfecta
                   ,
                   maximam
                   ,
                   cujus
                   in
                   hac
                   vita
                   capaces
                   simus
                   ,
                   voluptatem
                   ,
                   percipi
                   posse
                   experimur
                   .
                
              
               
                 But
                 as
                 high
                 a
                 satisfaction
                 as
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 Divine
                 things
                 affords
                 by
                 the
                 Nobleness
                 of
                 its
                 Object
                 ,
                 the
                 Contentment
                 is
                 not
                 much
                 Inferiour
                 that
                 accrues
                 from
                 the
                 same
                 study
                 upon
                 the
                 score
                 of
                 the
                 Sense
                 of
                 a
                 mans
                 having
                 in
                 it
                 performed
                 his
                 Duty
                 .
                 To
                 make
                 
                 actions
                 of
                 this
                 nature
                 satisfactory
                 to
                 us
                 ,
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 need
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 things
                 we
                 are
                 employ'd
                 about
                 ,
                 should
                 in
                 themselves
                 be
                 Excellent
                 or
                 Delightful
                 ;
                 the
                 inward
                 gratulations
                 of
                 Conscience
                 for
                 having
                 done
                 our
                 Duties
                 is
                 able
                 to
                 ●●…d
                 the
                 bitterest
                 Pills
                 ,
                 and
                 ,
                 like
                 the
                 Wood
                 that
                 grew
                 by
                 the
                 Waters
                 of
                 Marah
                 ,
                 
                 to
                 correct
                 and
                 sweeten
                 that
                 Liquor
                 ,
                 which
                 before
                 was
                 the
                 most
                 distastful
                 .
                 Those
                 antient
                 Pagan
                 Heroes
                 ,
                 whose
                 Vertues
                 may
                 make
                 us
                 blush
                 ,
                 being
                 guided
                 but
                 by
                 natural
                 Reason
                 ,
                 and
                 innate
                 Principles
                 of
                 Moral
                 Virtues
                 ,
                 could
                 find
                 the
                 most
                 difficult
                 and
                 most
                 troublesome
                 Duties
                 ,
                 upon
                 the
                 bare
                 account
                 of
                 their
                 being
                 Duties
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 Tolerable
                 but
                 Pleasant
                 .
                 And
                 though
                 to
                 deny
                 some
                 Lusts
                 be
                 ,
                 in
                 our
                 Saviours
                 esteem
                 ,
                 no
                 less
                 uneasie
                 ,
                 then
                 for
                 a
                 man
                 to
                 
                   pluck
                   out
                   his
                   right
                   eye
                
                 ,
                 
                 
                   or
                   cut
                   off
                   his
                   right
                   hand
                
                 ;
                 yet
                 even
                 Ladies
                 have
                 with
                 satisfaction
                 chosen
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 to
                 deny
                 themselves
                 the
                 greatest
                 Pleasures
                 of
                 the
                 Senses
                 ,
                 but
                 to
                 Sacrifice
                 the
                 Seat
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 the
                 Body
                 it self
                 ,
                 to
                 preserve
                 the
                 Satisfaction
                 of
                 being
                 Chaste
                 .
                 Nor
                 are
                 they
                 onely
                 the
                 Dictates
                 of
                 Obedience
                 that
                 we
                 comply
                 with
                 in
                 this
                 study
                 ,
                 but
                 
                 those
                 of
                 Gratitude
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 is
                 a
                 Vertue
                 that
                 has
                 so
                 powerful
                 an
                 Ascendant
                 upon
                 Ingenuous
                 Minds
                 ,
                 that
                 those
                 ,
                 whose
                 Principles
                 and
                 Aims
                 were
                 not
                 elevated
                 by
                 Religion
                 ,
                 have
                 ,
                 in
                 acknowledgment
                 to
                 their
                 Parents
                 and
                 their
                 Countrey
                 ,
                 courted
                 the
                 greatest
                 Hardships
                 ,
                 and
                 Hazards
                 ,
                 and
                 Sufferings
                 ,
                 as
                 if
                 they
                 were
                 as
                 great
                 Delights
                 and
                 Advantages
                 .
                 And
                 a
                 gratefull
                 Person
                 spends
                 no
                 part
                 of
                 his
                 Life
                 to
                 his
                 greater
                 satisfaction
                 ,
                 than
                 that
                 which
                 he
                 ventures
                 or
                 imploys
                 for
                 those
                 to
                 whom
                 he
                 is
                 oblieged
                 for
                 it
                 ;
                 and
                 oftentimes
                 finds
                 a
                 greater
                 Contentment
                 even
                 in
                 the
                 difficultest
                 Acknowledgments
                 of
                 a
                 favour
                 ,
                 than
                 he
                 did
                 in
                 Receiving
                 of
                 it
                 .
              
               
                 Another
                 Advantage
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 no
                 mean
                 one
                 ,
                 that
                 may
                 accrue
                 from
                 the
                 Contemplation
                 of
                 Theological
                 Truths
                 ,
                 is
                 ,
                 the
                 Improvement
                 of
                 the
                 Contemplator
                 himself
                 in
                 point
                 of
                 Piety
                 and
                 Virtue
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 Gospel
                 is
                 styl'd
                 ,
                 
                   The
                   mystery
                   of
                   godliness
                
                 ;
                 
                 and
                 St.
                 Paul
                 elsewhere
                 calls
                 what
                 it
                 teaches
                 ,
                 
                   The
                   truth
                   which
                   is
                   according
                   to
                   godliness
                   ,
                
                 that
                 is
                 ,
                 
                 a
                 Doctrine
                 fram'd
                 and
                 fitted
                 to
                 promote
                 the
                 Interest
                 of
                 Piety
                 and
                 Virtue
                 in
                 the
                 World
                 :
                 so
                 
                 this
                 Character
                 and
                 Encomium
                 belongs
                 (
                 though
                 perhaps
                 not
                 equally
                 )
                 to
                 the
                 more
                 Retir'd
                 Truths
                 discover'd
                 by
                 Speculation
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 to
                 those
                 more
                 Obvious
                 ones
                 ,
                 that
                 are
                 familiarly
                 taught
                 in
                 Catechisms
                 and
                 Confessions
                 of
                 Faith.
                 I
                 would
                 by
                 no
                 means
                 lessen
                 the
                 Excellency
                 and
                 Prerogatives
                 of
                 Fundamentals
                 ;
                 but
                 ,
                 since
                 the
                 grand
                 and
                 noblest
                 Engagements
                 to
                 Piety
                 and
                 Virtue
                 ,
                 are
                 a
                 high
                 Veneration
                 for
                 God
                 and
                 his
                 Christ
                 ,
                 and
                 an
                 ardent
                 Love
                 of
                 them
                 ;
                 I
                 cannot
                 but
                 think
                 ,
                 that
                 those
                 
                   particular
                   Inquiries
                   ,
                   that
                   tend
                
                 to
                 make
                 greater
                 Discoveries
                 of
                 the
                 Attributes
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 of
                 the
                 Nature
                 ,
                 and
                 Offices
                 ,
                 and
                 Life
                 of
                 our
                 Saviour
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 the
                 Wisdom
                 and
                 Goodness
                 they
                 have
                 display'd
                 in
                 the
                 Contrivance
                 and
                 Effecting
                 of
                 Man's
                 Redemption
                 ;
                 
                   do
                   likewise
                   tend
                
                 to
                 Increase
                 our
                 Admiration
                 ,
                 and
                 Inflame
                 our
                 Love
                 ,
                 for
                 the
                 Possessors
                 of
                 such
                 Divine
                 Excellencies
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Authors
                 of
                 such
                 invaluable
                 Benefits
                 .
                 And
                 as
                 the
                 Brazen
                 Serpent
                 ,
                 
                 that
                 was
                 but
                 a
                 Type
                 of
                 one
                 of
                 the
                 Gospel
                 Mysteries
                 ,
                 brought
                 Recovery
                 to
                 those
                 that
                 look'd
                 up
                 to
                 it
                 ;
                 so
                 the
                 Mysteries
                 themselves
                 ,
                 being
                 duly
                 consider'd
                 ,
                 
                 have
                 had
                 a
                 very
                 Sanative
                 Influence
                 on
                 many
                 that
                 contemplated
                 Them.
                 Nor
                 is
                 it
                 likely
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 that
                 discerns
                 more
                 of
                 the
                 depth
                 of
                 Gods
                 Wisdom
                 and
                 Goodness
                 ,
                 should
                 not
                 ,
                 
                   caeteris
                   paribus
                
                 ,
                 be
                 more
                 disposed
                 than
                 others
                 to
                 Admire
                 him
                 ,
                 to
                 Love
                 him
                 ,
                 to
                 Trust
                 him
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 to
                 resign
                 up
                 himself
                 to
                 be
                 Governed
                 by
                 him
                 :
                 Which
                 frame
                 of
                 mind
                 
                   both
                   is
                
                 it self
                 a
                 great
                 Part
                 of
                 the
                 Worship
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 
                   and
                   doth
                
                 directly
                 tend
                 to
                 the
                 Production
                 and
                 Increase
                 of
                 those
                 Vertues
                 ,
                 without
                 the
                 practise
                 of
                 which
                 ,
                 the
                 Scripture
                 plainly
                 tells
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 can
                 neither
                 Obey
                 God
                 ,
                 nor
                 express
                 our
                 Love
                 to
                 him
                 .
                 And
                 from
                 this
                 Bettering
                 of
                 the
                 mind
                 by
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 Theology
                 ,
                 will
                 flow
                 (
                 to
                 add
                 that
                 upon
                 the
                 by
                 )
                 another
                 Benefit
                 ,
                 namely
                 ,
                 that
                 by
                 giving
                 us
                 a
                 higher
                 value
                 for
                 God
                 and
                 his
                 Truths
                 ,
                 it
                 will
                 endear
                 Heaven
                 to
                 us
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 not
                 onely
                 assist
                 us
                 to
                 come
                 Thither
                 ,
                 but
                 heighten
                 our
                 Felicity
                 There
                 .
              
               
                 I
                 know
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 said
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Melioration
                 of
                 the
                 mind
                 is
                 but
                 a
                 Moral
                 Advantage
                 .
                 But
                 give
                 me
                 leave
                 to
                 Answer
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 besides
                 that
                 't
                 is
                 such
                 a
                 
                 Moral
                 Advantage
                 as
                 supposes
                 an
                 Intellectual
                 Improvement
                 whose
                 fruit
                 it
                 is
                 ,
                 a
                 Moral
                 Benefit
                 may
                 be
                 great
                 enough
                 ,
                 even
                 in
                 the
                 Judgment
                 of
                 a
                 meer
                 Philosopher
                 ,
                 and
                 an
                 Epicurean
                 ,
                 to
                 deserve
                 as
                 much
                 study
                 as
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 it self
                 .
                 And
                 that
                 you
                 may
                 not
                 think
                 that
                 I
                 speak
                 this
                 onely
                 ,
                 because
                 I
                 write
                 in
                 this
                 Epistle
                 as
                 a
                 Friend
                 to
                 Divines
                 ,
                 I
                 will
                 tell
                 you
                 ,
                 that
                 Epicurus
                 himself
                 ,
                 who
                 has
                 now
                 adays
                 so
                 numerous
                 a
                 Sect
                 of
                 Naturalists
                 to
                 follow
                 him
                 ,
                 studied
                 Physicks
                 ,
                 and
                 writ
                 so
                 many
                 Treatises
                 about
                 them
                 for
                 this
                 End
                 ,
                 that
                 by
                 knowing
                 the
                 Natural
                 Causes
                 of
                 Thunder
                 ,
                 Lightning
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 dreadful
                 Phaenomena
                 ,
                 the
                 Mind
                 might
                 be
                 freed
                 from
                 the
                 disquieting
                 Apprehensions
                 Men
                 commonly
                 had
                 ,
                 that
                 such
                 strange
                 and
                 formidable
                 things
                 proceeded
                 from
                 some
                 incensed
                 Deity
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 might
                 trouble
                 the
                 Mind
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 the
                 Air.
                 This
                 account
                 I
                 have
                 been
                 giving
                 of
                 Epicurus
                 his
                 Design
                 ,
                 is
                 but
                 what
                 seems
                 plainly
                 enough
                 intimated
                 by
                 his
                 own
                 words
                 ,
                 preserved
                 us
                 by
                 Laertius
                 ,
                 near
                 the
                 end
                 of
                 his
                 Physiological
                 Epistle
                 to
                 Herodotus
                 ,
                 where
                 recommending
                 to
                 
                 him
                 the
                 consideration
                 of
                 what
                 he
                 had
                 delivered
                 about
                 Physical
                 Principles
                 in
                 general
                 ,
                 and
                 Meteors
                 in
                 particular
                 ,
                 he
                 subjoyns
                 ,
                 
                   Si
                   enim
                   ab
                   istis
                   non
                   discesserimus
                   ,
                   tum
                   id
                   unde
                   oritur
                   perturbatio
                   ,
                
                 
                 
                   quodque
                   metum
                   ingerit
                   ,
                   recta
                   cum
                   ratione
                   edisseremus
                   ,
                   nosque
                   ab
                   ipsis
                   eximemus
                   .
                
                 And
                 to
                 this
                 in
                 the
                 close
                 of
                 his
                 Meteorological
                 Epistle
                 to
                 Pythocles
                 ,
                 his
                 best
                 Interpreter
                 ,
                 Gassendus
                 ,
                 makes
                 him
                 speak
                 consonantly
                 ,
                 in
                 these
                 words
                 ,
                 
                   Maxime
                   veró
                   dede
                   teipsum
                   speculationi
                   Principiorum
                   ,
                   ex
                   quibus
                   constant
                   omnia
                   ,
                   &
                   Infinitatis
                   Naturae
                   ,
                   aliorumque
                   his
                   cohaerentium
                   Insuper
                   veró
                   &
                   Criteriorum
                   ,
                   affectuumque
                   animi
                   ,
                   &
                   scopum
                   illius
                   in
                   quem
                   ista
                   edisserentes
                   collineavimus
                   ,
                   attende
                   ,
                   Tranquillitatem
                   intelligo
                   statumque
                   mentis
                   imperturbatum
                   .
                
                 But
                 this
                 is
                 not
                 all
                 the
                 Testimony
                 I
                 can
                 give
                 you
                 from
                 Epicurus
                 himself
                 to
                 the
                 same
                 purpose
                 ,
                 for
                 among
                 his
                 
                   Ratae
                   Sententiae
                
                 ,
                 preserved
                 us
                 by
                 Laertius
                 ,
                 (
                 himself
                 reputed
                 an
                 Epicurean
                 )
                 I
                 find
                 one
                 that
                 goes
                 further
                 ;
                 
                   Si
                   nihil
                
                 (
                 says
                 he
                 )
                 
                   conturbaret
                   nos
                   quod
                   suspicamur
                   ,
                   veremu
                   que
                   ex
                   rebus
                   sublimibus
                   ,
                   neque
                   item
                   quod
                   ex
                   ipsa
                   morte
                   ,
                   ne
                   quando
                   nimirum
                   ad
                   nos
                   pertine
                   at
                   aliquid
                   ,
                   ac
                   
                   nosse
                   praeterea
                   possemus
                   ,
                   qui
                   Germani
                   fines
                   dolorum
                   atque
                   cupiditatum
                   sint
                   (
                   
                     〈◊〉
                     〈◊〉
                     〈◊〉
                     〈◊〉
                     〈◊〉
                  
                   )
                   nihil
                   Physiologiâ
                   indigeremus
                   .
                
                 Thus
                 far
                 the
                 testimony
                 of
                 Epicurus
                 ,
                 of
                 whose
                 mind
                 though
                 I
                 am
                 not
                 at
                 all
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 what
                 he
                 would
                 intimate
                 ,
                 
                   That
                   Physiology
                   is
                   either
                   proper
                   to
                   free
                   the
                   Mind
                   from
                   the
                   Belief
                   of
                   a
                   Provident
                   Deity
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   Souls
                   Immortality
                   ,
                   or
                   fit
                   for
                   no
                   other
                   considerable
                   purposes
                
                 ;
                 yet
                 this
                 use
                 we
                 may
                 well
                 make
                 of
                 these
                 Declarations
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 in
                 
                 Epicurus's
                 opinion
                 ,
                 a
                 Moral
                 Advantage
                 that
                 relates
                 to
                 the
                 Government
                 of
                 the
                 Affections
                 ,
                 may
                 deserve
                 the
                 pains
                 of
                 making
                 Inquiries
                 into
                 Nature
                 .
                 And
                 since
                 it
                 hence
                 appears
                 ,
                 that
                 a
                 meer
                 Philosopher
                 ,
                 who
                 admitted
                 no
                 Providence
                 ,
                 may
                 think
                 it
                 worth
                 his
                 pains
                 ,
                 to
                 search
                 into
                 the
                 abstrusest
                 parts
                 of
                 Physicks
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 difficultest
                 Phaenomena
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 onely
                 to
                 ease
                 himself
                 of
                 one
                 troublesome
                 Affection
                 ,
                 Fear
                 ;
                 it
                 need
                 not
                 be
                 thought
                 Unphilosophical
                 ,
                 to
                 prosecute
                 a
                 Study
                 ,
                 that
                 will
                 not
                 onely
                 Restrain
                 One
                 undue
                 Passion
                 ,
                 but
                 Advance
                 All
                 Vertues
                 ,
                 and
                 free
                 us
                 from
                 all
                 Servile
                 Fears
                 of
                 
                 the
                 Deity
                 ;
                 and
                 tend
                 to
                 give
                 us
                 a
                 strong
                 and
                 well-grounded
                 Hope
                 in
                 Him
                 ;
                 and
                 make
                 us
                 look
                 upon
                 Gods
                 greatest
                 Power
                 ,
                 not
                 with
                 Terrour
                 ,
                 but
                 with
                 Joy.
                 
              
               
                 There
                 is
                 yet
                 another
                 Advantage
                 belonging
                 to
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 Divine
                 Truths
                 ,
                 which
                 is
                 too
                 great
                 to
                 be
                 here
                 pretermitted
                 .
                 For
                 whereas
                 there
                 is
                 scarce
                 any
                 thing
                 more
                 incident
                 to
                 us
                 whilst
                 we
                 inhabit
                 our
                 (
                 
                   Batté
                   Chómer
                   )
                   Cottages
                   of
                   Clay
                   ,
                
                 
                 and
                 dwell
                 in
                 this
                 
                   vale
                   of
                   tears
                
                 ,
                 than
                 Afflictions
                 ;
                 it
                 ought
                 not
                 a
                 little
                 to
                 endear
                 to
                 us
                 the
                 newly
                 mention'd
                 Study
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 easily
                 made
                 to
                 afford
                 us
                 very
                 powerful
                 Consolations
                 in
                 that
                 otherwise
                 uneasie
                 state
                 .
              
               
                 I
                 know
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 said
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Speculations
                 about
                 which
                 the
                 Naturalist
                 is
                 busied
                 ,
                 are
                 as
                 well
                 pleasing
                 Diversions
                 ,
                 as
                 noble
                 Imployments
                 of
                 the
                 Mind
                 .
                 And
                 I
                 deny
                 not
                 that
                 they
                 are
                 often
                 so
                 ,
                 when
                 the
                 Mind
                 is
                 not
                 hinder'd
                 from
                 applying
                 it self
                 attentively
                 to
                 them
                 ;
                 so
                 that
                 Afflictions
                 slight
                 and
                 short
                 may
                 well
                 be
                 weather'd
                 out
                 by
                 these
                 Philosophical
                 Avocations
                 ;
                 but
                 the
                 Greater
                 and
                 Sharper
                 
                 sort
                 of
                 Afflictions
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 approaches
                 of
                 Death
                 ,
                 require
                 more
                 powerful
                 Remedies
                 ,
                 than
                 these
                 Diversions
                 can
                 afford
                 us
                 .
                 For
                 in
                 such
                 cases
                 ,
                 the
                 Mind
                 is
                 wont
                 to
                 be
                 too
                 much
                 discompos'd
                 ,
                 to
                 apply
                 the
                 attention
                 requisite
                 to
                 the
                 finding
                 a
                 pleasure
                 in
                 Physical
                 Speculations
                 ;
                 and
                 in
                 Sicknesses
                 ,
                 the
                 Soul
                 is
                 oftentimes
                 as
                 indispos'd
                 to
                 relish
                 the
                 Pleasures
                 of
                 meerly
                 Humane
                 Studies
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 languishing
                 Body
                 is
                 to
                 relish
                 those
                 Meats
                 ,
                 which
                 at
                 other
                 times
                 were
                 delightful
                 :
                 And
                 there
                 are
                 but
                 few
                 that
                 can
                 take
                 any
                 great
                 pleasure
                 to
                 study
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 when
                 they
                 apprehend
                 themselves
                 to
                 be
                 upon
                 the
                 point
                 of
                 being
                 driven
                 out
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 danger
                 of
                 losing
                 all
                 their
                 share
                 in
                 the
                 Objects
                 of
                 their
                 Contemplation
                 .
                 It
                 will
                 not
                 much
                 qualifie
                 our
                 Sense
                 of
                 the
                 burning
                 heat
                 of
                 a
                 Feaver
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 painful
                 gripes
                 of
                 the
                 Cholick
                 ,
                 to
                 know
                 ,
                 
                   That
                   the
                   three
                   Angles
                   of
                   a
                   Triangle
                   are
                   equal
                   to
                   two
                   Right
                   ones
                
                 ;
                 or
                 that
                 Heat
                 is
                 not
                 a
                 real
                 Quality
                 (
                 as
                 the
                 Schools
                 would
                 have
                 it
                 ,
                 )
                 but
                 a
                 Modification
                 of
                 the
                 Motion
                 of
                 the
                 Insensible
                 parts
                 of
                 Matter
                 ;
                 and
                 Pain
                 not
                 a
                 Distinct
                 ,
                 Inherent
                 
                 Quality
                 in
                 the
                 things
                 that
                 produce
                 it
                 ,
                 but
                 an
                 Affection
                 of
                 the
                 Sentiment
                 .
                 The
                 Naturalists
                 Speculations
                 afford
                 him
                 no
                 Consolations
                 that
                 are
                 extraordinary
                 in
                 ,
                 or
                 peculiar
                 to
                 ,
                 the
                 state
                 of
                 Affliction
                 ;
                 and
                 the
                 Avocations
                 they
                 present
                 him
                 with
                 ,
                 do
                 rather
                 Amuse
                 the
                 mind
                 from
                 an
                 Attention
                 to
                 lesser
                 Evils
                 ,
                 than
                 bring
                 it
                 any
                 Advantages
                 to
                 Remove
                 or
                 Compensate
                 them
                 ▪
                 and
                 so
                 work
                 rather
                 in
                 the
                 nature
                 of
                 Opiates
                 ,
                 than
                 of
                 true
                 Cordials
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 now
                 ,
                 if
                 such
                 a
                 Person
                 as
                 Dr.
                 N.
                 falls
                 into
                 Adversity
                 ,
                 the
                 case
                 is
                 much
                 otherwise
                 ;
                 for
                 we
                 must
                 consider
                 ,
                 that
                 when
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 Divine
                 things
                 is
                 such
                 as
                 it
                 ought
                 to
                 be
                 ,
                 though
                 ,
                 That
                 in
                 it self
                 ,
                 or
                 in
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 the
                 Imployment
                 ,
                 be
                 an
                 act
                 or
                 exercise
                 of
                 Reason
                 ;
                 yet
                 being
                 apply'd
                 to
                 ,
                 out
                 of
                 Obedience
                 ,
                 and
                 Gratitude
                 ,
                 and
                 Love
                 to
                 God
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 upon
                 the
                 account
                 of
                 its
                 Motives
                 ,
                 and
                 its
                 Aim
                 ,
                 an
                 act
                 of
                 Religion
                 ;
                 and
                 as
                 it
                 proceeds
                 from
                 Obedience
                 ,
                 and
                 Thankfulness
                 ,
                 and
                 Love
                 to
                 God
                 ,
                 so
                 it
                 is
                 most
                 acceptable
                 to
                 him
                 ;
                 and
                 upon
                 the
                 account
                 of
                 his
                 own
                 Appointment
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 Goodness
                 ,
                 
                 is
                 a
                 most
                 proper
                 and
                 effectual
                 means
                 of
                 obtaining
                 his
                 Favour
                 ;
                 and
                 then
                 I
                 presume
                 ,
                 it
                 will
                 easily
                 be
                 granted
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 who
                 is
                 so
                 happy
                 as
                 to
                 enjoy
                 That
                 ,
                 can
                 scarce
                 be
                 made
                 miserable
                 by
                 Affliction
                 .
                 For
                 not
                 now
                 to
                 enter
                 upon
                 the
                 Common-place
                 of
                 the
                 Benefits
                 of
                 Afflictions
                 to
                 them
                 that
                 love
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 them
                 that
                 are
                 lov'd
                 by
                 him
                 ,
                 it
                 may
                 suffice
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 who
                 (
                 as
                 the
                 Scripture
                 speaks
                 )
                 
                   knows
                   our
                   frame
                
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 has
                 promised
                 those
                 that
                 are
                 his
                 ,
                 
                 that
                 they
                 shall
                 not
                 be
                 Over-burden'd
                 ,
                 is
                 dispos'd
                 and
                 wont
                 to
                 give
                 his
                 afflicted
                 Servants
                 ,
                 both
                 extraordinary
                 Comforts
                 in
                 Afflictions
                 ,
                 and
                 Comforts
                 appropriated
                 to
                 that
                 state
                 .
                 For
                 though
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 be
                 like
                 its
                 brightest
                 Object
                 ,
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 which
                 ,
                 however
                 the
                 Astronomer
                 can
                 with
                 pleasure
                 Contemplate
                 them
                 ,
                 are
                 unable
                 ,
                 being
                 meer
                 Natural
                 Agents
                 ,
                 to
                 afford
                 him
                 a
                 kinder
                 Influence
                 than
                 usual
                 ,
                 in
                 case
                 he
                 be
                 cast
                 upon
                 his
                 Bed
                 of
                 Languishing
                 ,
                 or
                 into
                 Prison
                 ;
                 yet
                 the
                 Almighty
                 and
                 Compassionate
                 Maker
                 of
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 being
                 not
                 onely
                 a
                 Voluntary
                 ,
                 but
                 the
                 most
                 Free
                 ,
                 Agent
                 ,
                 can
                 suit
                 
                 and
                 proportion
                 his
                 Reliefs
                 to
                 our
                 Necessities
                 ,
                 and
                 alleviate
                 our
                 heaviest
                 Afflictions
                 by
                 such
                 supporting
                 Consolations
                 ,
                 that
                 not
                 onely
                 they
                 can
                 never
                 surmount
                 our
                 Patience
                 ,
                 but
                 are
                 oftentimes
                 unable
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 to
                 hinder
                 our
                 Joy
                 ;
                 and
                 when
                 Death
                 ,
                 that
                 
                   King
                   of
                   Terrours
                
                 ,
                 presents
                 it self
                 ,
                 
                 whereas
                 the
                 meer
                 Naturalist
                 sadly
                 expects
                 to
                 be
                 depriv'd
                 of
                 the
                 pleasure
                 of
                 his
                 knowledge
                 by
                 losing
                 those
                 Senses
                 and
                 that
                 World
                 ,
                 which
                 are
                 the
                 Instruments
                 and
                 the
                 Objects
                 of
                 it
                 ;
                 and
                 perhaps
                 (
                 discovering
                 beyond
                 the
                 Grave
                 nothing
                 but
                 either
                 a
                 state
                 of
                 Eternal
                 Destruction
                 ,
                 or
                 of
                 Eternal
                 Misery
                 ,
                 )
                 fears
                 either
                 to
                 be
                 Confin'd
                 for
                 ever
                 to
                 the
                 Sepulchre
                 ,
                 or
                 expos'd
                 to
                 Torments
                 that
                 will
                 make
                 even
                 such
                 a
                 Condition
                 desirable
                 ;
                 the
                 pious
                 Student
                 of
                 Divine
                 Truths
                 ,
                 is
                 not
                 onely
                 freed
                 from
                 the
                 wracking
                 Apprehensions
                 of
                 having
                 his
                 Soul
                 reduc'd
                 to
                 a
                 state
                 of
                 Annihilation
                 ,
                 or
                 cast
                 into
                 Hell
                 ,
                 but
                 enjoys
                 a
                 comfortable
                 expectation
                 of
                 finding
                 far
                 greater
                 Satisfaction
                 than
                 ever
                 in
                 the
                 Study
                 he
                 now
                 rejoyces
                 to
                 have
                 pursu'd
                 ;
                 since
                 the
                 change
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 so
                 justly
                 formidable
                 
                 to
                 others
                 ,
                 will
                 but
                 bring
                 him
                 much
                 nearer
                 to
                 the
                 Divine
                 O●jects
                 of
                 his
                 devout
                 Curiosity
                 ,
                 and
                 strangely
                 Elevate
                 and
                 Inlarge
                 his
                 Faculties
                 to
                 apprehend
                 them
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 this
                 leads
                 me
                 to
                 the
                 mention
                 of
                 the
                 last
                 Advantage
                 belonging
                 to
                 the
                 study
                 I
                 would
                 perswade
                 you
                 to
                 ;
                 and
                 indeed
                 ,
                 the
                 highest
                 Advantage
                 that
                 can
                 recommend
                 Any
                 Study
                 ,
                 or
                 invite
                 Men
                 to
                 any
                 Undertaking
                 ;
                 for
                 this
                 is
                 no
                 less
                 than
                 the
                 Everlasting
                 fruition
                 of
                 the
                 Divine
                 Objects
                 of
                 our
                 Studies
                 hereafter
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 comfortable
                 Expectation
                 of
                 it
                 here
                 .
                 For
                 the
                 employing
                 of
                 ones
                 time
                 and
                 parts
                 ,
                 to
                 admire
                 the
                 Nature
                 and
                 Providence
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 contemplate
                 the
                 Divine
                 Mysteries
                 of
                 Religion
                 ,
                 as
                 it
                 is
                 one
                 of
                 the
                 chief
                 of
                 those
                 Homages
                 and
                 Services
                 ,
                 whereby
                 we
                 Venerate
                 and
                 Obey
                 God
                 ;
                 so
                 it
                 is
                 one
                 of
                 those
                 ,
                 to
                 which
                 he
                 hath
                 been
                 pleased
                 to
                 apportion
                 no
                 less
                 a
                 Recompence
                 ,
                 
                 than
                 (
                 that
                 which
                 can
                 have
                 no
                 greater
                 )
                 the
                 Enjoyment
                 of
                 Himself
                 .
                 The
                 Saints
                 and
                 Angels
                 in
                 Heaven
                 have
                 divers
                 of
                 them
                 been
                 employ'd
                 to
                 convey
                 the
                 Truths
                 of
                 Theology
                 ,
                 and
                 are
                 sollicitous
                 
                   to
                   look
                   into
                   those
                   Sacred
                   
                   Mysteries
                
                 ;
                 and
                 God
                 hath
                 been
                 pleased
                 to
                 appoint
                 ,
                 that
                 those
                 men
                 who
                 study
                 the
                 same
                 Lessons
                 that
                 they
                 do
                 here
                 ,
                 shall
                 study
                 them
                 in
                 their
                 company
                 hereafter
                 .
                 And
                 doubtless
                 ,
                 though
                 Heaven
                 abound
                 with
                 unexpressible
                 Joys
                 ,
                 yet
                 it
                 will
                 be
                 none
                 of
                 the
                 least
                 that
                 shall
                 make
                 up
                 the
                 Happiness
                 even
                 of
                 that
                 Place
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Knowledge
                 of
                 Divine
                 things
                 ,
                 that
                 was
                 here
                 so
                 zealously
                 Pursu'd
                 ,
                 shall
                 there
                 be
                 compleatly
                 Attain'd
                 .
                 For
                 those
                 things
                 that
                 do
                 here
                 most
                 excite
                 our
                 Desires
                 ,
                 and
                 quicken
                 the
                 Curiosity
                 and
                 Industry
                 of
                 our
                 Searches
                 ,
                 will
                 not
                 onely
                 there
                 Continue
                 ,
                 but
                 be
                 Improv'd
                 to
                 a
                 far
                 greater
                 measure
                 of
                 Attractiveness
                 and
                 Influence
                 .
                 For
                 all
                 those
                 Interests
                 ,
                 and
                 Passions
                 ,
                 and
                 Lusts
                 ,
                 that
                 here
                 below
                 either
                 hinder
                 us
                 from
                 clearly
                 Discerning
                 ,
                 or
                 keep
                 us
                 from
                 sufficiently
                 Valuing
                 ,
                 or
                 divert
                 us
                 from
                 attentively
                 enough
                 Considering
                 ,
                 the
                 Beauty
                 and
                 Harmony
                 of
                 Divine
                 Truths
                 ,
                 will
                 there
                 be
                 either
                 abolish'd
                 ,
                 or
                 transfigur'd
                 :
                 And
                 as
                 the
                 Object
                 will
                 be
                 Unveil'd
                 ;
                 so
                 our
                 Eye
                 will
                 be
                 Enlighten'd
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 ,
                 as
                 God
                 will
                 there
                 disclose
                 those
                 worthy
                 Objects
                 of
                 the
                 Angels
                 Curiosity
                 ,
                 so
                 
                 he
                 will
                 Inlarge
                 our
                 Faculties
                 ,
                 to
                 enable
                 us
                 to
                 gaze
                 without
                 being
                 dazl'd
                 upon
                 those
                 sublime
                 and
                 radiant
                 Truths
                 ,
                 whose
                 Harmony
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 Splendor
                 we
                 shall
                 be
                 then
                 qualifi'd
                 to
                 Discover
                 ,
                 and
                 consequently
                 with
                 Transports
                 to
                 Admire
                 .
                 And
                 this
                 Enlargement
                 and
                 Elevation
                 of
                 our
                 Faculties
                 ,
                 will
                 ,
                 proportionably
                 to
                 its
                 own
                 measure
                 ,
                 Increase
                 our
                 Satisfaction
                 at
                 the
                 Discoveries
                 it
                 will
                 enable
                 us
                 to
                 make
                 .
                 For
                 Theology
                 is
                 like
                 a
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 which
                 wants
                 not
                 more
                 Stars
                 than
                 appear
                 in
                 it
                 ,
                 but
                 we
                 want
                 Eyes
                 ,
                 quick-sighted
                 and
                 piercing
                 enough
                 to
                 reach
                 them
                 .
                 And
                 as
                 the
                 Milky
                 Way
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 Whiter
                 parts
                 of
                 the
                 Firmament
                 ,
                 have
                 been
                 full
                 of
                 Immortal
                 Lights
                 from
                 the
                 beginning
                 ,
                 and
                 our
                 new
                 Telescopes
                 have
                 not
                 plac'd
                 ,
                 but
                 found
                 them
                 ,
                 there
                 ;
                 so
                 ,
                 when
                 our
                 Saviour
                 ,
                 after
                 his
                 glorious
                 Resurrection
                 ,
                 instructed
                 his
                 Apostles
                 to
                 teach
                 the
                 Gospel
                 ,
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 said
                 that
                 he
                 alter'd
                 any
                 thing
                 in
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 of
                 Moses
                 and
                 the
                 Prophets
                 ,
                 but
                 onely
                 open'd
                 and
                 enlarg'd
                 
                   their
                   Intellects
                
                 ,
                 
                 
                   that
                   they
                   might
                   understand
                   the
                   Scriptures
                   :
                
                 And
                 the
                 Royal
                 Prophet
                 makes
                 it
                 his
                 Prayer
                 ,
                 
                   That
                   God
                   would
                   be
                   pleased
                   to
                   
                   open
                   his
                   eyes
                   ,
                   that
                   he
                   might
                   see
                   wonderful
                   things
                   out
                   of
                   the
                   Law
                
                 ;
                 being
                 (
                 as
                 was
                 above
                 intimated
                 )
                 so
                 well
                 satisfi'd
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Word
                 of
                 God
                 wanted
                 not
                 Admirable
                 things
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 is
                 onely
                 sollicitous
                 for
                 the
                 Improvement
                 of
                 his
                 own
                 Eyes
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 might
                 be
                 qualifi'd
                 to
                 discern
                 them
                 .
              
               
                 I
                 had
                 almost
                 forgotten
                 one
                 particular
                 ,
                 about
                 the
                 Advantages
                 of
                 Theological
                 Studies
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 too
                 considerable
                 to
                 be
                 left
                 unmention'd
                 :
                 For
                 as
                 great
                 as
                 I
                 have
                 represented
                 the
                 Benefits
                 accruing
                 from
                 the
                 Knowledge
                 of
                 Divine
                 Truths
                 ;
                 yet
                 to
                 endear
                 them
                 to
                 us
                 ,
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 safely
                 added
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 to
                 procure
                 us
                 these
                 Benefits
                 ,
                 the
                 actual
                 Attainment
                 of
                 that
                 Knowledge
                 is
                 not
                 always
                 absolutely
                 Necessary
                 ,
                 but
                 a
                 hearty
                 Endeavour
                 after
                 it
                 may
                 suffice
                 to
                 entitle
                 Us
                 to
                 them
                 .
                 The
                 patient
                 Chymist
                 ,
                 that
                 consumes
                 himself
                 and
                 his
                 Estate
                 in
                 seeking
                 after
                 the
                 Philosophers
                 Stone
                 ,
                 if
                 he
                 miss
                 of
                 his
                 Idoliz'd
                 Elixir
                 ,
                 had
                 as
                 good
                 ,
                 nay
                 better
                 ,
                 have
                 never
                 sought
                 it
                 ,
                 and
                 remains
                 as
                 poor
                 in
                 Effect
                 ,
                 as
                 he
                 was
                 rich
                 in
                 Expectation
                 .
                 The
                 Husbandman
                 that
                 employs
                 his
                 Seed
                 and
                 Time
                 ,
                 to
                 obtain
                 from
                 the
                 
                 Ground
                 a
                 plentiful
                 Harvest
                 ,
                 if
                 ,
                 after
                 all
                 ,
                 an
                 unkind
                 Season
                 happen
                 ,
                 must
                 see
                 his
                 toil
                 made
                 fruitless
                 ;
                 
                   —
                   longique
                   perit
                   labor
                   irritus
                   Anni
                   .
                
              
               
                 Too
                 many
                 Patients
                 ,
                 that
                 have
                 punctually
                 done
                 and
                 suffer'd
                 for
                 Recovery
                 all
                 that
                 Physicians
                 could
                 prescribe
                 ,
                 meet
                 at
                 last
                 with
                 Death
                 in
                 stead
                 of
                 Health
                 .
                 You
                 know
                 what
                 entertainment
                 has
                 been
                 given
                 by
                 skilful
                 Geometricians
                 to
                 the
                 laborious
                 endeavours
                 ,
                 even
                 of
                 such
                 famous
                 Writers
                 as
                 
                   Scaliger
                   ,
                   Longomontanus
                
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 Tetragonists
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 their
                 Successor
                 Mr.
                 Hobbs
                 ,
                 after
                 all
                 the
                 ways
                 he
                 has
                 taken
                 ,
                 and
                 those
                 he
                 has
                 propos'd
                 ,
                 to
                 Square
                 the
                 Circle
                 ,
                 and
                 Double
                 the
                 Cube
                 ,
                 by
                 missing
                 of
                 his
                 end
                 ,
                 has
                 ,
                 after
                 his
                 various
                 attempts
                 ,
                 come
                 off
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 with
                 Disappointment
                 ,
                 but
                 with
                 Disgrace
                 .
                 And
                 (
                 to
                 give
                 an
                 Instance
                 even
                 in
                 things
                 Celestial
                 )
                 how
                 much
                 pains
                 has
                 been
                 taken
                 to
                 find
                 out
                 Longitudes
                 ,
                 and
                 make
                 Astrological
                 Precictions
                 with
                 some
                 certainty
                 ,
                 which
                 for
                 want
                 of
                 coming
                 up
                 to
                 what
                 they
                 aimed
                 at
                 ,
                 have
                 been
                 useless
                 ,
                 if
                 not
                 
                 prejudicial
                 to
                 the
                 Attempters
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 God
                 (
                 to
                 speak
                 with
                 St.
                 Paul
                 on
                 another
                 occasion
                 )
                 
                   that
                   made
                   the
                   world
                
                 ,
                 
                 
                   and
                   all
                   things
                   therein
                   ,
                   and
                   is
                   Lord
                   of
                   heaven
                   and
                   earth
                   ,
                
                 seeks
                 not
                 our
                 Services
                 ,
                 as
                 though
                 He
                 
                   needed
                   any
                   thing
                   ,
                   seeing
                   he
                   giveth
                   Life
                   ,
                   and
                   Breath
                   ,
                   and
                   all
                   things
                   :
                
                 His
                 Self-sufficiency
                 and
                 Bounty
                 are
                 such
                 ,
                 that
                 He
                 seeks
                 in
                 our
                 Obedience
                 the
                 Occasions
                 of
                 rewarding
                 it
                 ,
                 and
                 prescribes
                 us
                 Services
                 ,
                 because
                 the
                 Practise
                 of
                 them
                 is
                 not
                 onely
                 sutable
                 to
                 our
                 Rational
                 Nature
                 ,
                 but
                 such
                 as
                 will
                 prevail
                 with
                 his
                 Justice
                 ,
                 to
                 let
                 His
                 Goodness
                 make
                 our
                 Persons
                 happy
                 .
                 Agreeably
                 to
                 this
                 Doctrine
                 we
                 find
                 in
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 that
                 Abraham
                 is
                 said
                 to
                 have
                 been
                 
                   justified
                   by
                   faith
                
                 ,
                 
                 
                   when
                   he
                   offered
                   his
                   son
                   Isaac
                   upon
                   the
                   Altar
                   ,
                
                 (
                 though
                 he
                 did
                 not
                 Actually
                 sacrifice
                 him
                 )
                 because
                 he
                 endeavour'd
                 to
                 do
                 so
                 ;
                 although
                 ,
                 God
                 graciously
                 accepting
                 the
                 Will
                 for
                 the
                 Deed
                 ,
                 accepted
                 also
                 of
                 the
                 bloud
                 of
                 a
                 Ram
                 instead
                 of
                 
                 Isaac's
                 .
                 And
                 thus
                 we
                 know
                 ,
                 that
                 't
                 was
                 not
                 David
                 ,
                 but
                 Solomon
                 that
                 built
                 the
                 Temple
                 of
                 Hierusalem
                 ,
                 and
                 yet
                 God
                 says
                 to
                 the
                 former
                 of
                 those
                 Kings
                 (
                 as
                 we
                 are
                 told
                 by
                 the
                 latter
                 )
                 
                 
                   For
                   asmuch
                   as
                   it
                   was
                   in
                   thine
                   heart
                   to
                   build
                   an
                   House
                   for
                   my
                   name
                   thou
                   didst
                   well
                   in
                   that
                   it
                   was
                   in
                   thine
                   heart
                
                 ;
                 
                 
                   notwithstanding
                   thou
                   shalt
                   not
                   build
                   the
                   House
                   ,
                   &c.
                   
                
                 And
                 if
                 we
                 look
                 to
                 the
                 other
                 Circumstances
                 of
                 this
                 Story
                 ,
                 as
                 they
                 are
                 delivered
                 in
                 the
                 Second
                 Book
                 of
                 Samuel
                 ,
                 
                 we
                 shall
                 find
                 ,
                 that
                 upon
                 
                 David's
                 declaration
                 of
                 a
                 design
                 to
                 build
                 God
                 an
                 house
                 ,
                 God
                 himself
                 vouchsafes
                 to
                 honour
                 him
                 ,
                 as
                 he
                 once
                 did
                 Moses
                 ,
                 with
                 the
                 peculiar
                 Title
                 of
                 
                   His
                   Servant
                
                 ;
                 
                 and
                 commands
                 the
                 Prophet
                 to
                 say
                 to
                 him
                 ,
                 
                 
                   Also
                   the
                   Lord
                   tells
                   thee
                   ,
                   that
                   He
                   will
                   make
                   Thee
                   an
                   House
                   :
                
                 To
                 which
                 is
                 added
                 one
                 of
                 the
                 graciousest
                 Messages
                 that
                 God
                 ever
                 sent
                 to
                 any
                 particular
                 man.
                 By
                 which
                 we
                 may
                 learn
                 ,
                 that
                 God
                 approves
                 and
                 accepts
                 even
                 those
                 Endeavours
                 (
                 of
                 his
                 Servants
                 )
                 if
                 they
                 be
                 real
                 and
                 sincere
                 ,
                 that
                 never
                 come
                 to
                 be
                 actually
                 accomplished
                 :
                 Good
                 Designs
                 and
                 Endeavours
                 are
                 our
                 part
                 ,
                 but
                 the
                 events
                 of
                 those
                 ,
                 as
                 of
                 all
                 other
                 things
                 ,
                 are
                 in
                 the
                 All-disposing
                 hand
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 who
                 ,
                 if
                 we
                 be
                 not
                 wanting
                 to
                 what
                 lies
                 in
                 us
                 ,
                 will
                 not
                 suffer
                 us
                 to
                 be
                 Losers
                 by
                 the
                 defeating
                 Dispositions
                 of
                 his
                 Providence
                 ▪
                 
                 but
                 crown
                 our
                 endeavours
                 either
                 with
                 Success
                 ,
                 or
                 with
                 some
                 other
                 Recompence
                 ,
                 that
                 will
                 keep
                 us
                 from
                 being
                 Losers
                 by
                 missing
                 of
                 that
                 .
                 And
                 indeed
                 ,
                 if
                 we
                 consider
                 the
                 great
                 Elogies
                 that
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 frequently
                 as
                 justly
                 ,
                 gives
                 God's
                 Goodness
                 (
                 which
                 it
                 represents
                 as
                 Over
                 ,
                 or
                 as
                 Above
                 ,
                 
                 
                   all
                   his
                   Works
                
                 )
                 and
                 that
                 his
                 
                   purer
                   eyes
                
                 Punish
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 See
                 ,
                 the
                 Murder
                 and
                 Adultery
                 of
                 the
                 heart
                 ,
                 when
                 those
                 Intentional
                 sins
                 are
                 hinder'd
                 from
                 advancing
                 into
                 Actual
                 ones
                 ;
                 we
                 can
                 scarce
                 doubt
                 but
                 He
                 ,
                 whose
                 Justice
                 punishes
                 sinful
                 Aims
                 ,
                 will
                 allow
                 his
                 Infinite
                 Goodness
                 to
                 recompense
                 pious
                 Attempts
                 :
                 And
                 therefore
                 our
                 Saviour
                 pronounces
                 them
                 blessed
                 ,
                 
                 that
                 
                   hunger
                   and
                   thirst
                   after
                   righteousness
                
                 ,
                 assuring
                 Them
                 that
                 they
                 shall
                 be
                 satisfi'd
                 ,
                 and
                 thereby
                 sufficiently
                 intimating
                 to
                 us
                 ,
                 That
                 an
                 earnest
                 Desire
                 after
                 a
                 Spiritual
                 Grace
                 (
                 and
                 such
                 is
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 Divine
                 things
                 )
                 may
                 entitle
                 a
                 man
                 to
                 the
                 complete
                 Possession
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 if
                 not
                 in
                 This
                 life
                 ,
                 yet
                 in
                 the
                 Next
                 ,
                 
                 where
                 we
                 shall
                 not
                 any
                 more
                 
                   walk
                   by
                   Faith
                   ,
                   but
                   by
                   Sight
                   ,
                
                 and
                 obtain
                 as
                 well
                 a
                 Knowledge
                 as
                 other
                 Endowments
                 ,
                 
                 befitting
                 that
                 Glorious
                 state
                 ,
                 wherein
                 the
                 Purchaser
                 of
                 it
                 for
                 Us
                 ,
                 
                 assures
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 shall
                 be
                 [
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 ]
                 equal
                 ,
                 or
                 like
                 to
                 the
                 Angels
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 Considerations
                 ,
                 Sir
                 ,
                 I
                 have
                 hitherto
                 laid
                 before
                 you
                 ,
                 to
                 recommend
                 the
                 Study
                 of
                 Divine
                 Truths
                 ,
                 have
                 ,
                 I
                 hope
                 ,
                 perswaded
                 you
                 ,
                 That
                 't
                 is
                 on
                 many
                 accounts
                 both
                 
                   noble
                   and
                   eligible
                   in
                   it self
                
                 ;
                 and
                 therefore
                 I
                 shall
                 here
                 conclude
                 the
                 First
                 Part
                 of
                 this
                 Discourse
                 .
                 And
                 in
                 regard
                 that
                 the
                 Undervaluation
                 Physiophilus
                 expresses
                 for
                 that
                 excellent
                 Imployment
                 ,
                 seems
                 to
                 flow
                 (
                 chiefly
                 at
                 least
                 )
                 from
                 his
                 fondness
                 and
                 partiality
                 for
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 ;
                 it
                 will
                 next
                 concern
                 us
                 to
                 compare
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 Theology
                 with
                 that
                 of
                 Physicks
                 ,
                 and
                 show
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Advantages
                 which
                 your
                 Friend
                 alledges
                 in
                 favour
                 of
                 the
                 Latter
                 ,
                 are
                 partly
                 much
                 lessen'd
                 by
                 disadvantageous
                 Circumstances
                 ,
                 and
                 partly
                 much
                 out-weigh'd
                 by
                 the
                 Transcendent
                 Excellencies
                 of
                 Theological
                 Contemplations
                 :
                 The
                 study
                 whereof
                 will
                 thereby
                 appear
                 to
                 be
                 not
                 onely
                 Eligible
                 in
                 it self
                 ,
                 but
                 Preferrible
                 to
                 its
                 Rival
                 .
                 And
                 I
                 must
                 give
                 you
                 warning
                 to
                 expect
                 to
                 find
                 the
                 Second
                 
                 Part
                 ,
                 which
                 the
                 making
                 this
                 Comparison
                 challenges
                 to
                 it self
                 ,
                 a
                 good
                 deal
                 more
                 Prolix
                 than
                 the
                 First
                 ;
                 not
                 onely
                 because
                 it
                 often
                 requires
                 more
                 trouble
                 ,
                 and
                 more
                 words
                 to
                 detect
                 and
                 disprove
                 an
                 Errour
                 ,
                 than
                 to
                 make
                 out
                 a
                 Truth
                 ;
                 but
                 also
                 because
                 that
                 divers
                 things
                 tending
                 to
                 the
                 Credit
                 of
                 Divinity
                 ,
                 and
                 which
                 consequently
                 might
                 have
                 been
                 brought
                 into
                 the
                 First
                 Part
                 of
                 this
                 Discourse
                 ,
                 were
                 thought
                 more
                 fit
                 to
                 be
                 interwoven
                 with
                 other
                 things
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 Answers
                 made
                 to
                 the
                 Objections
                 examin'd
                 in
                 the
                 Second
                 .
              
            
          
           
             
             
             
               THE
               EXCELLENCY
               OF
               THEOLOGY
               :
               OR
               ,
               
                 The
                 Preeminence
                 of
                 the
                 Study
                 of
                 Divinity
                 ,
                 above
                 that
                 of
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 .
              
               THE
               SECOND
               PART
               .
            
             
               I
               Shall
               ,
               without
               Preamble
               ,
               begin
               this
               Discourse
               ,
               by
               considering
               the
               Delightfulness
               of
               Physicks
               ,
               as
               the
               main
               thing
               that
               inveigles
               your
               Friend
               ,
               and
               divers
               other
               Virtuosi
               ,
               from
               relishing
               ,
               as
               they
               ought
               ,
               and
               otherwise
               
               would
               ,
               the
               pleasantness
               of
               Theological
               Discoveries
               .
               And
               to
               deal
               ingenuously
               with
               you
               ,
               I
               shall
               not
               scruple
               to
               acknowledge
               ,
               that
               though
               the
               Address
               I
               have
               made
               to
               Nature
               has
               lasted
               several
               years
               ,
               and
               has
               been
               toilsome
               enough
               ,
               and
               not
               unexpensive
               ;
               yet
               I
               have
               been
               pleas'd
               enough
               with
               the
               favours
               ,
               such
               as
               they
               are
               ,
               that
               she
               has
               from
               time
               to
               time
               accorded
               me
               ,
               not
               to
               complain
               of
               having
               been
               unpleasantly
               imploy'd
               .
               But
               though
               I
               readily
               allow
               the
               attainments
               of
               Naturalists
               to
               be
               able
               to
               give
               Philosophical
               Souls
               sincerer
               Pleasures
               ,
               than
               those
               that
               the
               more
               undiscerning
               part
               of
               Mankind
               is
               so
               fond
               of
               ;
               yet
               I
               must
               not
               therefore
               allow
               them
               to
               surpass
               ,
               or
               even
               equal
               ,
               the
               Contentment
               ,
               that
               may
               accrue
               to
               a
               Soul
               qualified
               by
               Religion
               ,
               to
               relish
               the
               best
               things
               most
               from
               some
               kind
               of
               Theological
               Contemplations
               .
            
             
               This
               ,
               I
               presume
               ,
               will
               sufficiently
               appear
               ,
               if
               I
               shew
               you
               ,
               that
               the
               Study
               of
               Physiology
               is
               not
               unattended
               with
               considerable
               Inconveniencies
               ,
               and
               that
               the
               pleasantness
               of
               it
               may
               be
               ,
               by
               a
               Person
               studious
               of
               Divinity
               ,
               enjoy'd
               with
               endearing
               Circumstances
               .
            
             
               But
               before
               I
               name
               any
               of
               the
               particular
               
               Reasons
               that
               I
               am
               to
               represent
               ,
               I
               fear
               it
               may
               be
               requisite
               to
               interpose
               a
               few
               words
               ,
               to
               obviate
               a
               mistake
               ,
               which
               ,
               if
               not
               prevented
               ,
               may
               have
               an
               ill
               aspect
               ,
               not
               onely
               upon
               the
               first
               Section
               ,
               but
               upon
               a
               great
               part
               of
               the
               following
               Discourse
               .
               For
               I
               know
               that
               it
               may
               be
               said
               ,
               that
               whereas
               I
               alledge
               divers
               things
               ,
               to
               lessen
               the
               lately
               mentioned
               delightfulness
               of
               the
               study
               of
               Physic
               ,
               and
               to
               depreciate
               some
               other
               advantages
               ,
               by
               which
               the
               following
               Sections
               would
               recommend
               it
               ,
               some
               of
               the
               same
               things
               may
               be
               objected
               against
               the
               delightfulness
               of
               the
               study
               of
               Divinity
               .
               But
               this
               Objection
               will
               not
               ,
               I
               presume
               ,
               much
               move
               you
               ,
               if
               you
               consider
               the
               argument
               and
               scope
               of
               the
               two
               parts
               of
               this
               Letter
               .
               For
               in
               the
               former
               I
               have
               shewn
               by
               positive
               Proofs
               ,
               that
               the
               study
               of
               Theology
               is
               attended
               with
               divers
               advantages
               ,
               which
               belong
               to
               it
               ,
               either
               onely
               as
               some
               of
               them
               do
               ,
               or
               principally
               as
               others
               .
               And
               now
               in
               the
               second
               part
               I
               come
               to
               consider
               ,
               whether
               what
               is
               alledged
               in
               behalf
               of
               the
               study
               of
               Philosophy
               ,
               deserve
               to
               counter-ballance
               those
               Prerogatives
               or
               Advantages
               ;
               and
               therefore
               it
               neither
               
               need
               be
               ,
               nor
               is
               my
               design
               ,
               to
               compare
               ,
               for
               instance
               ,
               the
               delightfulness
               of
               the
               two
               studies
               ,
               Philosophy
               and
               Physicks
               ,
               but
               by
               shewing
               the
               Inconveniences
               that
               allay
               the
               latter
               ,
               to
               weaken
               the
               Argument
               that
               is
               drawn
               from
               that
               delightfulness
               ,
               to
               conclude
               it
               preferrable
               to
               the
               study
               of
               Theology
               .
               So
               that
               my
               work
               ,
               in
               this
               and
               the
               following
               Sections
               ,
               is
               ,
               not
               so
               much
               to
               institute
               Comparisons
               ,
               as
               to
               obviate
               or
               answer
               Allegations
               .
               For
               since
               I
               have
               in
               the
               past
               Discourse
               grounded
               the
               Excellency
               of
               the
               study
               of
               Divinity
               ,
               chiefly
               upon
               those
               great
               advantages
               that
               are
               peculiar
               to
               it
               ;
               my
               Reasonings
               would
               not
               be
               frustrated
               ,
               though
               it
               should
               appear
               ,
               that
               in
               point
               of
               Delightfulness
               ,
               Certainty
               ,
               &c.
               that
               Study
               should
               ,
               in
               many
               cases
               ,
               be
               liable
               to
               the
               same
               Objections
               with
               the
               Study
               of
               Nature
               ,
               since
               't
               is
               not
               mainly
               for
               these
               Qualities
               ,
               but
               ,
               as
               I
               was
               saying
               ,
               for
               other
               and
               peculiar
               Excellencies
               that
               I
               recommended
               Divinity
               ,
               And
               therefore
               ,
               supposing
               the
               Delightfulness
               ,
               &c.
               of
               that
               and
               of
               Physicks
               ,
               to
               be
               allayed
               by
               the
               same
               ,
               or
               equal
               Inconveniences
               or
               Imperfections
               ;
               that
               Supposition
               would
               not
               hinder
               the
               
               Scales
               to
               be
               swayed
               in
               favour
               of
               Divinity
               ,
               upon
               the
               score
               of
               those
               Advantages
               that
               are
               unquestion'd
               ,
               and
               peculiarly
               belong
               to
               it
               .
               I
               know
               not
               whether
               I
               need
               add
               ,
               that
               ,
               notwithstanding
               this
               ,
               you
               are
               not
               to
               expect
               ,
               that
               I
               should
               give
               Philosophy
               the
               wounds
               of
               an
               Enemy
               .
               For
               my
               design
               being
               not
               to
               discourage
               you
               ,
               nor
               any
               Ingenious
               man
               ,
               from
               courting
               Her
               
                 at
                 all
              
               ,
               nor
               from
               courting
               Her
               much
               ,
               but
               from
               courting
               her
               
                 too
                 much
              
               ,
               and
               despising
               Divinity
               for
               her
               ,
               I
               employ
               against
               her
               not
               a
               Sword
               to
               wound
               her
               ,
               but
               a
               Ballance
               ,
               to
               shew
               ,
               that
               her
               Excellencies
               ,
               though
               solid
               and
               weighty
               ,
               are
               less
               so
               ,
               than
               the
               preponderating
               ones
               of
               Theology
               .
               And
               this
               temper
               and
               purpose
               of
               mine
               renders
               my
               Task
               difficult
               enough
               to
               have
               ,
               perhaps
               ,
               some
               right
               to
               your
               pardon
               ▪
               as
               well
               as
               some
               need
               of
               it
               ,
               if
               I
               do
               not
               every
               where
               steer
               so
               exactly
               ,
               as
               equally
               to
               avoid
               injuring
               the
               Cause
               I
               am
               to
               plead
               for
               ,
               and
               disparaging
               a
               Study
               ,
               which
               I
               would
               so
               little
               depreciate
               ,
               that
               I
               allow
               it
               a
               great
               part
               of
               my
               Inclinations
               ,
               and
               not
               a
               little
               share
               of
               my
               Time.
               And
               having
               said
               this
               ,
               to
               keep
               the
               Design
               of
               this
               Discourse
               from
               being
               misunderstood
               ,
               
               I
               hope
               we
               may
               now
               proceed
               to
               the
               particulars
               ,
               whose
               scope
               we
               have
               been
               declaring
               .
            
             
               Returning
               then
               to
               what
               I
               was
               about
               to
               say
               before
               this
               long
               ,
               but
               needful
               ,
               Advertisement
               interrupted
               me
               ,
               I
               shall
               resume
               my
               Discourse
               of
               the
               Delightfulness
               of
               the
               Study
               of
               Physicks
               ,
               about
               which
               I
               was
               going
               in
               the
               first
               place
               to
               tell
               you
               ,
               that
               I
               know
               you
               and
               your
               Friend
               will
               freely
               grant
               me
               ,
               that
               the
               knowledge
               of
               the
               empty
               and
               barren
               Physiology
               ,
               that
               is
               taught
               in
               the
               Schools
               ,
               as
               it
               exacts
               not
               much
               pains
               to
               be
               acquir'd
               ,
               so
               it
               affords
               but
               little
               satisfaction
               when
               attain'd
               .
               And
               as
               I
               know
               you
               will
               give
               me
               leave
               to
               say
               this
               ;
               so
               ,
               being
               warranted
               by
               no
               slight
               experience
               of
               my
               own
               ,
               I
               shall
               take
               leave
               to
               say
               also
               ,
               that
               the
               study
               of
               that
               Experimental
               Philosophy
               ,
               which
               is
               that
               whereof
               your
               Friend
               is
               so
               much
               enamour'd
               ,
               is
               ,
               if
               it
               be
               duly
               prosecuted
               ,
               a
               very
               troublesome
               and
               laborious
               Imployment
               .
               For
               ,
               (
               to
               mention
               at
               present
               but
               This
               )
               that
               great
               variety
               of
               Objects
               the
               Naturalist
               is
               not
               onely
               by
               His
               Curiosity
               ,
               but
               by
               Their
               secret
               dependances
               upon
               one
               another
               ,
               engag'd
               to
               consider
               ,
               and
               
               several
               ways
               to
               handle
               ,
               will
               put
               him
               upon
               needing
               ,
               and
               consequently
               upon
               applying
               himself
               to
               such
               a
               Variety
               of
               Mechanick
               People
               ,
               (
               as
               Distillers
               ,
               Drugsters
               ,
               Smiths
               ,
               Turners
               ,
               &c.
               )
               that
               a
               great
               part
               of
               his
               time
               ,
               and
               perhaps
               all
               his
               Patience
               ,
               shall
               be
               spent
               in
               waiting
               upon
               Trades-men
               ,
               and
               repairing
               the
               losses
               he
               sustains
               by
               Their
               disappointments
               ,
               which
               is
               a
               Drudgery
               greater
               than
               any
               ,
               who
               has
               not
               try'd
               it
               ,
               will
               imagine
               ,
               and
               which
               yet
               being
               as
               inevitable
               as
               unwelcome
               ,
               does
               very
               much
               counter-ballance
               and
               allay
               the
               Delightfulness
               of
               the
               Study
               we
               are
               treating
               of
               .
               In
               which
               so
               great
               a
               part
               of
               a
               mans
               care
               and
               time
               must
               be
               laid
               out
               in
               providing
               the
               Apparatus'es
               necessary
               for
               the
               trying
               of
               Experiments
               .
            
             
               But
               this
               is
               not
               all
               .
               For
               when
               you
               have
               brought
               an
               Experiment
               to
               an
               Issue
               ,
               though
               the
               Event
               may
               often
               prove
               such
               as
               you
               will
               be
               pleas'd
               with
               ;
               yet
               it
               will
               seldome
               prove
               such
               as
               you
               can
               acquiesce
               in
               .
               For
               it
               fares
               not
               with
               an
               Inquisitive
               mind
               in
               studying
               the
               Book
               of
               Nature
               ,
               as
               in
               reading
               of
               
               Aesop's
               Fables
               ,
               or
               some
               other
               collection
               of
               Apologues
               of
               differing
               sorts
               ,
               and
               
               independant
               one
               upon
               another
               ;
               where
               when
               you
               have
               read
               over
               as
               many
               at
               one
               time
               as
               you
               think
               fit
               ,
               you
               may
               leave
               off
               when
               you
               please
               ,
               and
               go
               away
               with
               the
               pleasure
               of
               understanding
               those
               you
               have
               perus'd
               ,
               without
               being
               sollicited
               by
               any
               troublesome
               Itch
               of
               Curiosity
               to
               look
               after
               the
               rest
               ,
               as
               those
               which
               are
               needful
               to
               the
               better
               understanding
               of
               those
               you
               have
               already
               gone
               over
               ,
               or
               that
               will
               be
               explicated
               by
               them
               ,
               and
               scarce
               without
               them
               .
               But
               in
               the
               Book
               of
               Nature
               ,
               as
               in
               a
               well
               contriv'd
               Romance
               ,
               the
               parts
               have
               such
               a
               connection
               and
               relation
               to
               one
               another
               ,
               and
               the
               things
               we
               would
               discover
               are
               so
               darkly
               or
               incompleatly
               knowable
               by
               those
               that
               precede
               them
               ,
               that
               the
               mind
               is
               never
               satisfied
               till
               it
               comes
               to
               the
               end
               of
               the
               Book
               ;
               till
               when
               all
               that
               is
               discover'd
               in
               the
               progress
               ,
               is
               unable
               to
               keep
               the
               mind
               from
               being
               molested
               with
               Impatience
               to
               find
               that
               yet
               conceal'd
               ,
               which
               will
               not
               be
               known
               till
               one
               does
               at
               least
               make
               a
               further
               progress
               .
               And
               yet
               the
               full
               discovery
               of
               Natures
               Mysteries
               ,
               is
               so
               unlikely
               to
               fall
               to
               any
               mans
               share
               in
               this
               Life
               ,
               that
               the
               case
               of
               the
               Pursuers
               of
               them
               is
               at
               best
               like
               
               theirs
               ,
               that
               light
               upon
               some
               excellent
               Romance
               ,
               of
               which
               they
               shall
               never
               see
               the
               latter
               parts
               .
               For
               indeed
               (
               to
               speak
               now
               without
               a
               Simile
               )
               there
               is
               such
               a
               Relation
               betwixt
               Natural
               Bodies
               ,
               and
               they
               may
               in
               so
               many
               ways
               (
               and
               divers
               of
               them
               unobserv'd
               )
               work
               upon
               ,
               or
               suffer
               from
               ,
               one
               another
               ,
               that
               he
               who
               makes
               a
               new
               Experiment
               ,
               or
               discovers
               a
               new
               Phaenomenon
               ,
               must
               not
               presently
               think
               ,
               that
               he
               has
               discover'd
               a
               new
               Truth
               ,
               or
               detected
               an
               old
               Error
               .
               For
               ,
               (
               at
               least
               if
               he
               be
               a
               considering
               man
               )
               he
               will
               oftentimes
               find
               reason
               to
               doubt
               ,
               whether
               the
               Experiment
               or
               Observation
               have
               been
               so
               skilfully
               and
               warily
               made
               in
               all
               circumstances
               ,
               as
               to
               afford
               him
               such
               an
               Account
               of
               the
               matter
               of
               fact
               ,
               as
               a
               severe
               Naturalist
               would
               desire
               .
               And
               then
               ,
               supposing
               the
               Historical
               part
               no
               way
               defective
               ,
               there
               are
               far
               more
               Cases
               than
               are
               taken
               notice
               of
               ,
               wherein
               so
               many
               differing
               Agents
               may
               produce
               the
               exhibited
               Phaenomenon
               ,
               or
               have
               a
               great
               Influence
               upon
               the
               Experiment
               or
               Observation
               ,
               that
               he
               must
               be
               less
               jealous
               than
               becomes
               a
               Philosopher
               ,
               to
               whom
               Experiments
               doe
               not
               oftentimes
               as
               well
               suggest
               new
               
               doubts
               ,
               as
               present
               new
               Phaenomena
               .
            
             
               And
               even
               those
               Trials
               ,
               that
               end
               in
               real
               Discoveries
               ,
               do
               ,
               by
               reason
               of
               the
               connection
               of
               Physical
               Truths
               ,
               and
               the
               relations
               that
               Natural
               Bodies
               have
               to
               one
               another
               ,
               give
               such
               hopes
               and
               such
               desires
               of
               improving
               the
               Acquists
               we
               have
               already
               made
               ,
               to
               the
               explicating
               of
               other
               Difficulties
               ,
               or
               the
               making
               of
               further
               Discoveries
               ,
               that
               an
               Inquisitive
               Naturalist
               finds
               his
               work
               to
               increase
               daily
               upon
               his
               hands
               ,
               and
               the
               event
               of
               his
               past
               Toils
               ,
               whether
               it
               be
               good
               or
               bad
               ,
               does
               but
               engage
               him
               into
               new
               ones
               ,
               either
               to
               free
               himself
               from
               his
               scruples
               ,
               or
               improve
               his
               successes
               .
               So
               that
               ,
               though
               the
               pleasure
               of
               making
               Physical
               Discoveries
               ,
               is
               ,
               in
               it self
               consider'd
               ,
               very
               great
               ;
               yet
               this
               does
               not
               a
               little
               impair
               it
               ,
               that
               the
               same
               attempts
               which
               afford
               that
               delight
               ,
               do
               so
               frequently
               beget
               both
               anxious
               Doubts
               ,
               and
               a
               disquieting
               Curiosity
               .
               So
               that
               ,
               if
               knowledge
               be
               ,
               as
               some
               Philosophers
               have
               styl'd
               it
               ,
               the
               Aliment
               of
               the
               Rational
               Soul
               ,
               I
               fear
               I
               may
               too
               truly
               say
               ,
               that
               the
               Naturalist
               is
               usually
               fain
               to
               live
               upon
               Sallads
               and
               Sauces
               ,
               which
               though
               they
               yield
               some
               nourishment
               ,
               excite
               more
               appetite
               
               than
               they
               satisfie
               ,
               and
               give
               us
               indeed
               the
               pleasure
               of
               eating
               with
               a
               good
               stomach
               ,
               but
               then
               reduce
               us
               to
               an
               unwelcome
               necessity
               of
               always
               rising
               hungry
               from
               the
               Table
               .
            
             
               Of
               divers
               things
               ,
               that
               lessen
               the
               Delightfulness
               of
               Physiological
               Studies
               ,
               I
               do
               so
               amply
               discourse
               in
               other
               Papers
               ,
               that
               I
               might
               well
               remit
               you
               thither
               ;
               but
               indeed
               it
               is
               not
               necessary
               that
               I
               should
               insist
               on
               this
               Argument
               any
               further
               .
               'T
               is
               true
               ,
               that
               such
               a
               Reference
               might
               be
               very
               proper
               ,
               if
               the
               Mysteries
               of
               Theology
               and
               Physick
               were
               like
               those
               of
               Theology
               and
               Necromancy
               ,
               or
               some
               other
               part
               of
               unlawful
               Magick
               ,
               whereof
               the
               former
               could
               not
               be
               well
               relish'd
               without
               an
               abhorrence
               of
               the
               latter
               .
               But
               as
               the
               two
               great
               Books
               ,
               of
               Nature
               and
               of
               Scripture
               ,
               have
               the
               same
               Authour
               ;
               so
               the
               study
               of
               the
               latter
               does
               not
               at
               all
               hinder
               an
               Inquisitive
               man's
               delight
               in
               the
               study
               of
               the
               former
               .
               The
               Doctor
               I
               am
               pleading
               for
               ,
               may
               as
               much
               relish
               a
               Physical
               Discovery
               ,
               as
               Physiophilus
               ;
               nay
               ,
               by
               being
               addicted
               to
               Theology
               and
               Religion
               ,
               he
               is
               so
               far
               from
               being
               uncapable
               of
               the
               contentments
               accruing
               from
               the
               study
               of
               
               Nature
               ,
               that
               beside
               those
               things
               that
               recommend
               it
               to
               others
               ,
               there
               are
               several
               things
               that
               peculiarly
               endear
               it
               to
               Him.
               
            
             
               For
               I.
               he
               has
               the
               contentment
               to
               look
               upon
               the
               wonders
               of
               Nature
               ,
               not
               onely
               as
               the
               Productions
               of
               an
               admirably
               wise
               Author
               of
               things
               ,
               but
               of
               such
               an
               one
               as
               he
               intirely
               honours
               and
               loves
               ,
               and
               to
               whom
               he
               is
               related
               .
               He
               that
               reads
               an
               excellent
               Book
               ,
               or
               sees
               some
               rare
               Engine
               ,
               will
               be
               otherwise
               affected
               with
               the
               sight
               or
               the
               perusal
               ,
               if
               he
               knows
               it
               to
               have
               been
               made
               by
               a
               Friend
               ,
               or
               a
               Parent
               ,
               than
               if
               he
               considers
               it
               but
               as
               made
               by
               a
               stranger
               ,
               whom
               he
               has
               no
               particular
               reason
               to
               be
               concern'd
               for
               .
               And
               if
               Rehoboam
               did
               not
               as
               well
               degenerate
               from
               the
               sentiments
               of
               Mankind
               ,
               as
               from
               his
               Family
               ,
               he
               could
               not
               but
               look
               upon
               that
               Magnificent
               Temple
               of
               Solomon
               with
               another
               Eye
               ,
               than
               did
               the
               throngs
               of
               Strangers
               that
               came
               onely
               to
               gaze
               at
               it
               ,
               as
               an
               admirable
               piece
               of
               Architecture
               ,
               whilst
               he
               consider'd
               that
               't
               was
               his
               Father
               that
               built
               it
               .
               And
               if
               (
               as
               we
               see
               )
               the
               same
               Heroick
               Actions
               ,
               which
               we
               read
               in
               History
               ,
               of
               some
               great
               Monarch
               ,
               that
               strangers
               barely
               
               and
               unconcernedly
               admire
               ,
               the
               Natives
               of
               his
               Countrey
               do
               not
               onely
               venerate
               ,
               but
               affectionately
               interest
               themselves
               therein
               ,
               because
               they
               are
               his
               Countrey-men
               ,
               and
               their
               Ancestors
               were
               his
               Subjects
               :
               How
               much
               may
               we
               suppose
               the
               same
               Actions
               would
               affect
               them
               ,
               if
               they
               had
               the
               honour
               to
               be
               that
               Prince's
               Children
               ?
               We
               may
               well
               therefore
               presume
               ,
               that
               't
               is
               not
               without
               a
               singular
               satisfaction
               ,
               that
               the
               Contemplator
               ,
               we
               are
               speaking
               of
               ,
               does
               in
               all
               the
               Wonders
               of
               Nature
               discover
               ,
               how
               wise
               ,
               and
               potent
               ,
               and
               bountiful
               that
               Author
               of
               Nature
               is
               ,
               in
               whom
               he
               has
               a
               great
               Interest
               ,
               and
               that
               so
               great
               an
               one
               ,
               as
               both
               to
               be
               admitted
               into
               the
               number
               of
               his
               Friends
               ,
               and
               adopted
               into
               the
               number
               of
               his
               Sons
               ,
               and
               is
               thereby
               in
               some
               measure
               concern'd
               in
               all
               the
               Admirations
               and
               Praises
               ,
               that
               are
               paid
               either
               by
               himself
               or
               others
               ,
               to
               those
               Adorable
               Attributes
               that
               God
               has
               displayed
               in
               that
               great
               Master-piece
               of
               Power
               and
               Wisdom
               ,
               the
               World.
               And
               when
               he
               makes
               greater
               discoveries
               in
               these
               Expresses
               and
               Adumbrations
               of
               the
               Divine
               Perfections
               ,
               the
               delightfulness
               of
               his
               Contemplation
               is
               proportionably
               
               increas'd
               upon
               such
               an
               Account
               ,
               as
               that
               ,
               which
               indears
               to
               the
               passionate
               Lover
               of
               some
               charming
               Beauty
               an
               Excellent
               ,
               above
               an
               Ordinary
               ,
               Picture
               of
               her
               ;
               because
               that
               the
               same
               things
               that
               make
               him
               ,
               as
               it
               does
               other
               Gazers
               ,
               look
               upon
               it
               as
               a
               finer
               piece
               ,
               make
               Him
               look
               upon
               it
               as
               the
               more
               like
               his
               Mistress
               ,
               and
               thereby
               entertain
               him
               with
               the
               sublimer
               Idea's
               of
               the
               belov'd
               Original
               ;
               to
               whose
               transcendent
               Excellencies
               he
               supposes
               that
               the
               Noblest
               Representations
               must
               be
               the
               most
               resembling
               .
            
             
               And
               there
               is
               a
               farther
               Reason
               ,
               why
               our
               Contemplator
               should
               find
               a
               great
               deal
               of
               contentment
               in
               these
               Discoveries
               .
               For
               we
               have
               in
               our
               nature
               so
               much
               of
               Imperfection
               ,
               and
               withall
               so
               much
               of
               Inclination
               to
               self-love
               ,
               that
               we
               do
               too
               confidently
               proportion
               our
               Idea's
               of
               what
               God
               can
               do
               for
               us
               ,
               to
               what
               we
               have
               already
               the
               knowledge
               or
               the
               possession
               of
               .
               And
               though
               ,
               when
               we
               make
               it
               our
               business
               ,
               we
               are
               able
               with
               much
               ado
               somewhat
               to
               enlarge
               our
               apprehensions
               ,
               and
               raise
               our
               expectations
               beyond
               their
               wonted
               pitch
               ;
               yet
               still
               they
               will
               be
               but
               scantly
               promoted
               and
               heightned
               ,
               if
               those
               
               things
               themselves
               be
               but
               mean
               and
               ordinary
               ,
               which
               we
               think
               we
               have
               done
               enough
               if
               we
               make
               them
               surpass
               .
               A
               Countrey
               Villager
               ,
               born
               and
               bred
               in
               a
               homely
               Cottage
               ,
               cannot
               have
               any
               suitable
               apprehensions
               of
               the
               Pleasures
               and
               Magnificence
               of
               a
               great
               Monarchs
               Court.
               And
               if
               he
               should
               be
               bid
               to
               scrue
               up
               his
               Imagination
               to
               frame
               Idea's
               of
               them
               ,
               they
               would
               be
               borrow'd
               from
               the
               best
               Tiled
               House
               he
               had
               seen
               in
               the
               Market-towns
               where
               he
               had
               sold
               his
               Turnips
               or
               Corn
               ,
               and
               the
               Wedding-feast
               of
               some
               neighbouring
               Farmers
               Daughter
               .
               And
               though
               a
               Child
               in
               the
               Mother's
               womb
               had
               the
               perfect
               use
               of
               Reason
               ,
               yet
               could
               it
               not
               in
               that
               dark
               Cell
               have
               any
               Idea's
               of
               the
               Sun
               or
               Moon
               ,
               or
               Beauties
               or
               Banquets
               ,
               or
               Algebra
               or
               Chymistry
               ,
               and
               many
               other
               things
               ,
               which
               his
               Elder
               Brothers
               ,
               that
               breath
               fresh
               Air
               ,
               and
               freely
               behold
               the
               Light
               ,
               and
               are
               in
               a
               more
               mature
               Estate
               ,
               are
               capable
               of
               knowing
               and
               enjoying
               .
               Now
               among
               Thinking
               men
               ,
               whose
               thoughts
               run
               much
               upon
               that
               future
               state
               which
               they
               must
               shortly
               enter
               into
               ,
               but
               shall
               never
               pass
               out
               of
               ;
               there
               will
               frequently
               and
               naturally
               arise
               a
               
               distrust
               ,
               which
               though
               seldome
               own'd
               ,
               proves
               oftentimes
               disquieting
               enough
               !
               For
               such
               men
               are
               apt
               to
               question
               ,
               how
               the
               future
               condition
               which
               the
               Gospel
               promises
               ,
               can
               afford
               them
               so
               much
               happiness
               as
               it
               pretends
               to
               ;
               since
               they
               shall
               in
               Heaven
               but
               Contemplate
               the
               Works
               of
               God
               ,
               and
               praise
               him
               ,
               and
               converse
               with
               him
               ,
               all
               which
               they
               think
               may
               ,
               though
               not
               immediately
               ,
               be
               done
               by
               men
               here
               below
               ,
               without
               being
               happy
               :
               But
               he
               that
               by
               Telescopes
               and
               Microscopes
               ,
               dexterous
               Dissections
               ,
               and
               well
               imploy'd
               Furnaces
               ,
               &c.
               discovers
               ,
               the
               wondrous
               power
               and
               skill
               of
               him
               that
               contriv'd
               so
               vast
               and
               immense
               a
               Mass
               of
               Matter
               ,
               into
               so
               curious
               a
               piece
               of
               Workmanship
               as
               this
               World
               ,
               will
               pleasingly
               be
               convinc'd
               of
               the
               boundless
               power
               and
               goodness
               of
               the
               great
               Architect
               .
               And
               when
               he
               sees
               how
               admirably
               every
               Animal
               is
               furnish'd
               with
               parts
               requisite
               to
               his
               respective
               nature
               ;
               and
               that
               there
               is
               particular
               care
               taken
               ,
               that
               the
               same
               Animal
               ,
               as
               for
               example
               ,
               Man
               ,
               should
               have
               differing
               provisions
               made
               for
               him
               according
               to
               his
               differing
               states
               within
               the
               womb
               ,
               and
               out
               of
               it
               ,
               (
               a
               humane
               Egg
               ,
               and
               an
               Embrio
               ,
               
               being
               much
               otherwise
               nourished
               and
               fitted
               for
               action
               ,
               than
               is
               a
               (
               compleat
               )
               Man
               ;
               )
               He
               ,
               I
               say
               ,
               who
               considers
               this
               ,
               and
               observes
               the
               stupendious
               Providence
               ,
               and
               excellent
               Contrivances
               ,
               that
               the
               curious
               Priers
               into
               Nature
               (
               and
               none
               but
               they
               )
               can
               discover
               ,
               will
               be
               as
               well
               enabled
               as
               invited
               to
               reason
               thus
               within
               himself
               :
               That
               sure
               God
               ,
               who
               has
               with
               such
               admirable
               Artifice
               fram'd
               Silk-worms
               ,
               Butterflies
               ,
               and
               other
               meaner
               Insects
               ,
               and
               with
               such
               wonderful
               providence
               taken
               care
               ,
               that
               the
               nobler
               Animals
               should
               as
               little
               want
               any
               of
               all
               the
               things
               requisite
               to
               the
               compleating
               of
               their
               respective
               Natures
               ;
               and
               who
               ,
               when
               he
               pleases
               ,
               can
               furnish
               some
               things
               with
               Qualifications
               ,
               quite
               differing
               from
               those
               which
               the
               knowledge
               of
               his
               other
               works
               could
               have
               made
               us
               imagine
               ,
               (
               as
               is
               evident
               in
               the
               Load-stone
               and
               in
               Quick-silver
               among
               Minerals
               ,
               and
               the
               Sensitive
               Plant
               among
               Vegetables
               ,
               the
               Camelion
               among
               Animals
               ,
               &c.
               )
               This
               God
               ,
               I
               say
               ,
               must
               needs
               be
               fully
               able
               to
               furnish
               those
               he
               delights
               to
               honour
               ▪
               with
               Objects
               suitable
               to
               their
               improv'd
               .
               Faculties
               ,
               and
               with
               all
               that
               is
               requisite
               to
               the
               Happiness
               he
               
               intends
               them
               in
               their
               glorifi'd
               state
               ;
               and
               is
               able
               to
               bring
               this
               to
               pass
               by
               such
               amazing
               contrivances
               ,
               as
               perhaps
               will
               be
               quite
               differing
               from
               any
               ,
               that
               the
               things
               we
               have
               yet
               seen
               suggest
               to
               us
               any
               Idea's
               of
               .
               And
               sure
               he
               ,
               that
               has
               in
               so
               immense
               ,
               so
               curious
               ,
               and
               so
               magnificent
               a
               Fabrick
               ,
               made
               such
               provision
               for
               Men
               ,
               who
               are
               either
               desperately
               wicked
               ,
               or
               but
               very
               imperfectly
               good
               ,
               and
               in
               a
               state
               where
               they
               are
               not
               to
               Enjoy
               happiness
               ,
               but
               by
               Obedience
               and
               Sufferings
               to
               Fit
               themselves
               for
               it
               ,
               may
               safely
               be
               trusted
               with
               finding
               them
               in
               Heaven
               Imployments
               and
               Delights
               becoming
               the
               Felicity
               he
               designs
               them
               There
               ;
               as
               we
               see
               that
               here
               below
               ,
               he
               provides
               as
               well
               for
               the
               soaring
               Eagle
               ,
               as
               for
               the
               creeping
               Caterpillar
               ,
               (
               and
               is
               able
               to
               keep
               the
               Ocean
               as
               fully
               supply'd
               with
               Rivers
               ,
               as
               Lakes
               or
               Ponds
               are
               with
               Springs
               and
               Brooks
               .
               )
               And
               as
               a
               state
               of
               Celestial
               happiness
               is
               so
               great
               a
               Blessing
               ,
               that
               those
               things
               that
               afford
               us
               either
               greater
               assurances
               ,
               or
               greater
               foretastes
               of
               it
               ,
               are
               of
               the
               number
               of
               the
               greatest
               Contentments
               and
               Advantages
               ,
               that
               short
               of
               It
               we
               can
               enjoy
               ;
               so
               't
               is
               hard
               for
               any
               Divine
               
               to
               receive
               so
               much
               of
               this
               kind
               of
               satisfaction
               ,
               as
               he
               who
               by
               skilfully
               looking
               into
               the
               Wonders
               of
               Nature
               ,
               has
               his
               apprehensions
               of
               God's
               power
               and
               
                 manifold
                 wisdom
              
               (
               as
               an
               Apostle
               calls
               it
               )
               elevated
               and
               enlarg'd
               .
               
               As
               when
               the
               Queen
               of
               Sheba
               had
               particularly
               survey'd
               the
               astonishing
               Prudence
               that
               Solomon
               display'd
               in
               the
               ordering
               of
               his
               Magnificent
               Court
               ;
               she
               transportedly
               concluded
               those
               Servants
               of
               his
               to
               be
               happy
               enough
               to
               deserve
               a
               Monarchs
               Envy
               ,
               that
               were
               allowed
               the
               Honour
               and
               Priviledge
               of
               a
               constant
               and
               immediate
               Attendance
               on
               him
               .
            
             
               
                 The
                 second
                 Section
                 .
              
               
                 I
                 Doubt
                 not
                 but
                 you
                 have
                 too
                 good
                 an
                 Opinion
                 of
                 your
                 Friend
                 ,
                 not
                 to
                 think
                 that
                 you
                 may
                 alledge
                 in
                 his
                 favour
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 chief
                 thing
                 which
                 makes
                 him
                 prefer
                 Physiology
                 to
                 all
                 other
                 kind
                 of
                 knowledge
                 ,
                 is
                 ,
                 That
                 it
                 enables
                 those
                 who
                 are
                 Proficients
                 in
                 it
                 to
                 do
                 a
                 great
                 deal
                 of
                 good
                 ,
                 both
                 by
                 improving
                 of
                 Trades
                 ,
                 and
                 by
                 promoting
                 
                 of
                 Physick
                 it self
                 .
                 And
                 I
                 am
                 too
                 mindful
                 of
                 what
                 I
                 writ
                 to
                 Pyrophilus
                 ,
                 to
                 deny
                 ,
                 either
                 that
                 it
                 can
                 assist
                 a
                 man
                 to
                 advance
                 Physick
                 and
                 Trades
                 ,
                 or
                 that
                 ,
                 by
                 so
                 doing
                 ,
                 he
                 may
                 highly
                 advantage
                 Mankind
                 .
                 And
                 this
                 ,
                 I
                 ,
                 (
                 who
                 would
                 not
                 lessen
                 your
                 Friends
                 Esteem
                 for
                 Physicks
                 ,
                 but
                 onely
                 his
                 Partiality
                 )
                 willingly
                 acknowledge
                 to
                 be
                 so
                 allowable
                 an
                 Endearment
                 of
                 Experimental
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 do
                 not
                 know
                 any
                 thing
                 ,
                 that
                 to
                 men
                 of
                 a
                 Humane
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 Ingenious
                 Disposition
                 ,
                 ought
                 more
                 to
                 recommend
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 Nature
                 ;
                 except
                 the
                 opportunity
                 it
                 affords
                 men
                 to
                 be
                 Just
                 and
                 Grateful
                 to
                 the
                 Author
                 both
                 of
                 Nature
                 and
                 of
                 Man.
                 I
                 do
                 not
                 then
                 deny
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 true
                 Naturalist
                 may
                 very
                 much
                 benefit
                 Mankind
                 ;
                 but
                 I
                 affirm
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 if
                 men
                 be
                 not
                 wanting
                 to
                 themselves
                 ,
                 the
                 Divine
                 may
                 benefit
                 them
                 much
                 more
                 .
                 It
                 were
                 not
                 perchance
                 either
                 unseasonable
                 ,
                 or
                 impertinent
                 to
                 tell
                 you
                 on
                 this
                 occasion
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 who
                 effectually
                 teaches
                 men
                 to
                 subdue
                 their
                 Lusts
                 and
                 Passions
                 ,
                 does
                 as
                 much
                 as
                 the
                 Physician
                 contribute
                 to
                 the
                 preservation
                 of
                 their
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 by
                 exempting
                 them
                 from
                 those
                 Vices
                 ,
                 whose
                 
                 no
                 less
                 usual
                 than
                 destructive
                 Effects
                 are
                 Wars
                 ,
                 and
                 Duels
                 ,
                 and
                 Rapines
                 ,
                 and
                 Desolations
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Pox
                 ,
                 and
                 Surfets
                 ,
                 and
                 all
                 the
                 train
                 of
                 other
                 Diseases
                 that
                 attend
                 Gluttony
                 and
                 Drunkenness
                 ,
                 Idleness
                 and
                 Lust
                 ;
                 which
                 are
                 not
                 Enemies
                 to
                 Mans
                 Life
                 and
                 Health
                 barely
                 upon
                 a
                 Physical
                 account
                 ,
                 but
                 upon
                 a
                 Moral
                 one
                 ,
                 as
                 they
                 provoke
                 God
                 to
                 punish
                 them
                 with
                 Temporal
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 Spiritual
                 Judgments
                 ;
                 such
                 as
                 Plagues
                 ,
                 Wars
                 ,
                 Famines
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 publick
                 Calamities
                 ,
                 that
                 sweep
                 away
                 a
                 great
                 part
                 of
                 Mankind
                 ;
                 besides
                 those
                 personal
                 afflictions
                 of
                 Bodily
                 Sickness
                 ,
                 and
                 disquiets
                 of
                 Conscience
                 ,
                 that
                 do
                 both
                 Shorten
                 mens
                 Lives
                 ,
                 and
                 Imbitter
                 them
                 .
                 Whereas
                 Piety
                 having
                 (
                 as
                 the
                 Scripture
                 assures
                 us
                 )
                 Promises
                 both
                 of
                 this
                 Life
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 that
                 which
                 is
                 to
                 come
                 ,
                 those
                 Teachers
                 that
                 make
                 men
                 Virtuous
                 and
                 Religious
                 ,
                 by
                 making
                 them
                 Temperate
                 ,
                 and
                 Chaste
                 ,
                 and
                 Inoffensive
                 ,
                 and
                 Calm
                 ,
                 and
                 Contented
                 ,
                 do
                 not
                 onely
                 procure
                 them
                 great
                 and
                 excellent
                 Dispositions
                 to
                 those
                 Blessings
                 ,
                 both
                 of
                 the
                 Right
                 hand
                 and
                 of
                 the
                 Left
                 ,
                 which
                 God's
                 Goodness
                 makes
                 him
                 forward
                 to
                 bestow
                 on
                 those
                 ,
                 who
                 by
                 Grace
                 and
                 
                 Virtue
                 are
                 made
                 fit
                 to
                 receive
                 them
                 ;
                 but
                 do
                 help
                 them
                 to
                 those
                 Qualifications
                 ,
                 that
                 by
                 preserving
                 the
                 Mind
                 in
                 a
                 calm
                 and
                 cheerful
                 temper
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 by
                 affording
                 the
                 Body
                 all
                 that
                 Temperance
                 can
                 confer
                 ,
                 do
                 both
                 Lengthen
                 their
                 Lives
                 ,
                 and
                 Sweeten
                 them
                 .
                 These
                 things
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 ,
                 't
                 were
                 not
                 impertinent
                 to
                 insist
                 on
                 ,
                 but
                 I
                 will
                 rather
                 chuse
                 to
                 represent
                 to
                 you
                 ,
                 That
                 the
                 Benefits
                 which
                 men
                 may
                 receive
                 from
                 the
                 Divine
                 ,
                 surpass
                 those
                 which
                 they
                 receive
                 from
                 the
                 Naturalist
                 ,
                 both
                 in
                 the
                 Nobleness
                 of
                 the
                 Advantages
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 the
                 Duration
                 of
                 them
                 .
              
               
                 Be
                 it
                 granted
                 then
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Naturalist
                 may
                 much
                 improve
                 both
                 Physick
                 and
                 Trades
                 ;
                 yet
                 since
                 these
                 themselves
                 were
                 devised
                 for
                 the
                 service
                 of
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 (
                 the
                 one
                 to
                 preserve
                 or
                 restore
                 his
                 Health
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 other
                 to
                 furnish
                 it
                 with
                 Accommodations
                 or
                 Delights
                 ;
                 )
                 the
                 boasted
                 use
                 of
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 by
                 its
                 advancing
                 Trades
                 and
                 Physick
                 ,
                 will
                 still
                 be
                 to
                 serve
                 the
                 Body
                 ;
                 which
                 is
                 but
                 the
                 Lodging
                 and
                 Instrument
                 of
                 the
                 Soul
                 ,
                 and
                 which
                 ,
                 I
                 presume
                 ,
                 your
                 Friend
                 ,
                 and
                 which
                 I
                 am
                 sure
                 your self
                 ,
                 will
                 be
                 far
                 from
                 thinking
                 the
                 noblest
                 part
                 of
                 Man.
                 I
                 know
                 it
                 
                 may
                 be
                 said
                 ,
                 nor
                 do
                 I
                 deny
                 it
                 ,
                 that
                 divers
                 Mechanical
                 Arts
                 are
                 highly
                 Beneficial
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 to
                 the
                 Inventors
                 ,
                 but
                 to
                 those
                 Places
                 ,
                 and
                 perhaps
                 those
                 States
                 ,
                 where
                 such
                 Improvements
                 are
                 found
                 out
                 and
                 cherish'd
                 .
                 But
                 though
                 I
                 most
                 willingly
                 grant
                 ,
                 that
                 this
                 Consideration
                 ought
                 to
                 recommend
                 Experimental
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 to
                 States
                 as
                 to
                 private
                 Persons
                 ;
                 yet
                 ,
                 besides
                 that
                 many
                 of
                 these
                 Improvements
                 do
                 rather
                 Transfer
                 than
                 Increase
                 Mankind's
                 goods
                 ,
                 and
                 prejudice
                 one
                 sort
                 of
                 Men
                 as
                 much
                 as
                 they
                 Advantage
                 another
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 in
                 the
                 case
                 of
                 the
                 Eastern
                 Spices
                 ,
                 of
                 whose
                 Trade
                 the
                 Portugals
                 and
                 Dutch
                 by
                 their
                 later
                 Navigations
                 ,
                 did
                 ,
                 by
                 appropriating
                 it
                 to
                 themselves
                 ,
                 deprive
                 the
                 Venetians
                 )
                 or
                 else
                 does
                 but
                 increase
                 that
                 ,
                 which
                 ,
                 though
                 very
                 Beneficial
                 to
                 the
                 Producers
                 ,
                 is
                 not
                 really
                 so
                 to
                 Mankind
                 in
                 general
                 :
                 Of
                 which
                 we
                 have
                 an
                 Example
                 in
                 the
                 Invention
                 of
                 Extracting
                 Gold
                 and
                 Silver
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 Oar
                 ,
                 with
                 Mercury
                 .
                 For
                 though
                 it
                 have
                 vastly
                 enrich'd
                 the
                 Spaniards
                 in
                 the
                 
                   West
                   Indies
                
                 ,
                 yet
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 of
                 any
                 solid
                 advantage
                 to
                 the
                 World
                 ;
                 no
                 more
                 than
                 the
                 Discovery
                 of
                 the
                 Peruvian
                 and
                 other
                 American
                 Mines
                 ;
                 by
                 which
                 ,
                 
                 (
                 especially
                 reckoning
                 the
                 multitudes
                 of
                 unhappy
                 men
                 that
                 are
                 made
                 miserable
                 ,
                 and
                 destroyed
                 in
                 working
                 them
                 ,
                 )
                 Mankind
                 is
                 not
                 put
                 into
                 a
                 better
                 condition
                 than
                 it
                 was
                 before
                 .
                 And
                 if
                 the
                 Philosopher's
                 Stone
                 it self
                 ,
                 (
                 supposing
                 there
                 be
                 such
                 a
                 thing
                 )
                 were
                 not
                 an
                 Incomparable
                 Medicine
                 ,
                 but
                 were
                 onely
                 capable
                 of
                 transmuting
                 other
                 Metalls
                 into
                 Gold
                 ,
                 I
                 should
                 perhaps
                 doubt
                 ,
                 whether
                 the
                 Discoverer
                 of
                 it
                 would
                 much
                 advantage
                 Mankind
                 ;
                 there
                 being
                 already
                 Gold
                 and
                 Silver
                 enough
                 to
                 maintain
                 Trade
                 and
                 Commerce
                 among
                 men
                 ;
                 and
                 for
                 all
                 other
                 purposes
                 ,
                 I
                 know
                 not
                 ,
                 why
                 a
                 plenty
                 of
                 Iron
                 ,
                 and
                 Brass
                 ,
                 and
                 Quick-silver
                 ,
                 which
                 are
                 far
                 more
                 useful
                 Metalls
                 ,
                 should
                 not
                 be
                 more
                 desirable
                 .
                 But
                 not
                 to
                 urge
                 this
                 ;
                 we
                 may
                 consider
                 ,
                 that
                 these
                 Advancements
                 of
                 inriching
                 Trades
                 do
                 still
                 bring
                 Advantages
                 but
                 to
                 the
                 outward
                 man
                 ,
                 and
                 those
                 many
                 Arts
                 and
                 Inventions
                 that
                 aim
                 at
                 the
                 heightning
                 the
                 pleasures
                 of
                 the
                 Senses
                 ,
                 
                 belong
                 but
                 to
                 the
                 Body
                 ;
                 and
                 even
                 in
                 point
                 of
                 gratifying
                 That
                 ,
                 are
                 not
                 so
                 requisite
                 and
                 important
                 ,
                 as
                 many
                 suppose
                 :
                 Education
                 ,
                 Custome
                 ,
                 &c.
                 having
                 a
                 greater
                 Interest
                 than
                 most
                 imagine
                 in
                 the
                 
                 rellish
                 men
                 have
                 even
                 of
                 Sensitive
                 pleasures
                 .
                 And
                 as
                 for
                 Physick
                 ,
                 not
                 to
                 mind
                 you
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 has
                 been
                 Lowdly
                 (
                 how
                 Justly
                 ,
                 I
                 here
                 examine
                 not
                 ,
                 )
                 complain'd
                 of
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 new
                 Philosophy
                 has
                 made
                 it
                 far
                 greater
                 promises
                 than
                 have
                 yet
                 been
                 perform'd
                 ;
                 I
                 shall
                 onely
                 take
                 notice
                 ,
                 that
                 since
                 all
                 that
                 Physick
                 is
                 wont
                 to
                 pretend
                 to
                 ,
                 is
                 ,
                 to
                 preserve
                 health
                 ,
                 or
                 restore
                 it
                 ,
                 there
                 are
                 multitudes
                 in
                 the
                 world
                 that
                 have
                 no
                 need
                 of
                 the
                 assistance
                 the
                 Naturalist
                 would
                 give
                 the
                 Physician
                 ;
                 and
                 a
                 healthy
                 man
                 ,
                 as
                 such
                 ,
                 is
                 already
                 in
                 a
                 better
                 condition
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 Philosopher
                 can
                 hope
                 to
                 place
                 him
                 in
                 ,
                 and
                 is
                 no
                 more
                 advantag'd
                 by
                 the
                 Naturalist's
                 contribution
                 to
                 Physick
                 ,
                 than
                 a
                 sound
                 man
                 that
                 sleeps
                 in
                 a
                 whole
                 skin
                 ,
                 is
                 by
                 all
                 the
                 fine
                 Tools
                 of
                 a
                 Chirurgeons
                 Case
                 of
                 Instruments
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 various
                 Compositions
                 of
                 his
                 Chest
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 as
                 the
                 Benefits
                 that
                 may
                 be
                 derived
                 from
                 Theology
                 ,
                 much
                 surpass
                 those
                 that
                 accrue
                 from
                 Physicks
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 Nobleness
                 of
                 the
                 Subject
                 they
                 relate
                 to
                 ;
                 so
                 have
                 they
                 a
                 great
                 advantage
                 in
                 point
                 of
                 Duration
                 .
                 For
                 all
                 the
                 service
                 that
                 Medicines
                 ,
                 and
                 Engines
                 ,
                 and
                 Improvements
                 can
                 do
                 a
                 man
                 ,
                 as
                 
                 they
                 relate
                 but
                 to
                 this
                 Life
                 ,
                 so
                 they
                 determine
                 with
                 it
                 .
                 Physick
                 indeed
                 and
                 Chymistry
                 do
                 ,
                 the
                 one
                 more
                 faintly
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 other
                 more
                 boldly
                 ,
                 pretend
                 sometimes
                 not
                 onely
                 to
                 the
                 Cure
                 of
                 Diseases
                 ,
                 but
                 the
                 Prolongation
                 of
                 Life
                 :
                 But
                 since
                 none
                 will
                 suspect
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 the
                 Masters
                 of
                 those
                 parts
                 of
                 knowledge
                 would
                 employ
                 their
                 utmost
                 skill
                 to
                 protract
                 their
                 own
                 Lives
                 ,
                 those
                 that
                 remember
                 ,
                 that
                 Solomon
                 and
                 Helmont
                 liv'd
                 no
                 longer
                 ,
                 than
                 millions
                 that
                 were
                 strangers
                 to
                 Philosophy
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 even
                 Paracelsus
                 himself
                 ,
                 for
                 all
                 his
                 boasted
                 Arcana
                 ,
                 is
                 by
                 Helmont
                 and
                 other
                 Chymists
                 confessed
                 to
                 have
                 died
                 some
                 years
                 short
                 of
                 50
                 ;
                 we
                 may
                 very
                 justly
                 fear
                 ,
                 that
                 Nature
                 will
                 not
                 be
                 so
                 kind
                 to
                 her
                 greatest
                 Votaries
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 give
                 them
                 much
                 more
                 time
                 than
                 other
                 men
                 ,
                 for
                 the
                 payment
                 of
                 the
                 last
                 Debt
                 all
                 men
                 owe
                 her
                 .
                 And
                 if
                 a
                 few
                 years
                 respite
                 could
                 by
                 a
                 scrupulous
                 and
                 troublesome
                 use
                 of
                 Diet
                 and
                 Remedies
                 be
                 obtain'd
                 ;
                 yet
                 that
                 ,
                 in
                 comparison
                 of
                 the
                 Eternity
                 that
                 is
                 to
                 follow
                 ,
                 is
                 not
                 at
                 all
                 considerable
                 .
                 But
                 ,
                 whereas
                 within
                 no
                 great
                 number
                 of
                 years
                 ,
                 (
                 a
                 little
                 sooner
                 ,
                 or
                 a
                 little
                 later
                 )
                 all
                 the
                 Remedies
                 ,
                 and
                 Reliefs
                 ,
                 and
                 
                 Pleasures
                 ,
                 and
                 Accommodations
                 ,
                 that
                 Philosophical
                 Improvements
                 can
                 afford
                 a
                 man
                 ,
                 will
                 not
                 keep
                 him
                 from
                 the
                 Grave
                 ,
                 (
                 which
                 within
                 very
                 few
                 days
                 will
                 make
                 the
                 body
                 of
                 the
                 greatest
                 Virtuoso
                 as
                 hideous
                 and
                 as
                 loathsome
                 a
                 Carcase
                 as
                 that
                 of
                 any
                 ordinary
                 man
                 ;
                 )
                 the
                 Benefits
                 that
                 may
                 accrue
                 to
                 us
                 by
                 Divinity
                 ,
                 as
                 they
                 relate
                 Chiefly
                 ,
                 though
                 not
                 Onely
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 other
                 World
                 ;
                 so
                 they
                 will
                 follow
                 us
                 out
                 of
                 this
                 ,
                 and
                 prove
                 then
                 incomparably
                 greater
                 than
                 ever
                 ,
                 when
                 they
                 alone
                 shall
                 be
                 capable
                 of
                 being
                 enjoy'd
                 .
                 So
                 that
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 capacity
                 we
                 here
                 consider
                 it
                 ,
                 does
                 but
                 as
                 it
                 were
                 provide
                 us
                 some
                 little
                 Conveniences
                 for
                 our
                 passage
                 (
                 like
                 some
                 Accommodations
                 for
                 a
                 Cabbin
                 ,
                 which
                 out-lasts
                 not
                 the
                 Voyage
                 ,
                 )
                 but
                 Religion
                 provides
                 us
                 a
                 vast
                 and
                 durable
                 Estate
                 ,
                 or
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 Scripture
                 styles
                 it
                 ,
                 an
                 
                   unshaken
                   Kingdom
                
                 ,
                 when
                 we
                 are
                 arriv'd
                 at
                 our
                 Journeys
                 end
                 .
                 And
                 therefore
                 the
                 Benefits
                 accruing
                 from
                 Religion
                 ,
                 may
                 well
                 be
                 concluded
                 preferible
                 to
                 their
                 Competitors
                 ,
                 since
                 they
                 not
                 onely
                 reach
                 to
                 the
                 Mind
                 of
                 Man
                 ,
                 but
                 reach
                 beyond
                 the
                 End
                 of
                 Time
                 it self
                 ;
                 whereas
                 all
                 the
                 variety
                 of
                 Inventions
                 
                 that
                 Philosophy
                 so
                 much
                 boasts
                 of
                 ,
                 as
                 whilst
                 they
                 were
                 in
                 season
                 they
                 were
                 devis'd
                 for
                 the
                 service
                 of
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 so
                 they
                 make
                 us
                 busie
                 ,
                 and
                 pride
                 our selves
                 about
                 things
                 ,
                 that
                 within
                 a
                 short
                 time
                 will
                 not
                 (
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 upon
                 Its
                 score
                 )
                 at
                 all
                 concern
                 us
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 The
                 third
                 Section
                 .
              
               
                 I
                 Expect
                 you
                 should
                 here
                 urge
                 on
                 your
                 Friends
                 behalf
                 ,
                 That
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 Physicks
                 has
                 one
                 Prerogative
                 ,
                 (
                 above
                 that
                 of
                 Divinity
                 ,
                 )
                 which
                 ,
                 as
                 it
                 is
                 otherwise
                 a
                 great
                 Excellency
                 ,
                 so
                 does
                 much
                 add
                 to
                 the
                 Delightfulness
                 of
                 it
                 .
                 I
                 mean
                 ,
                 the
                 Certainty
                 ,
                 and
                 Clearness
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 thence
                 resulting
                 Satisfactoriness
                 of
                 our
                 Knowledge
                 of
                 Physical
                 ,
                 in
                 comparison
                 of
                 any
                 we
                 can
                 have
                 of
                 Theological
                 matters
                 ,
                 whose
                 being
                 Dark
                 and
                 Uncertain
                 ,
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 the
                 things
                 themselves
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 numerous
                 Controversies
                 of
                 differing
                 Sects
                 about
                 them
                 ,
                 sufficiently
                 manifest
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 upon
                 this
                 Subject
                 ,
                 divers
                 things
                 are
                 to
                 be
                 consider'd
                 .
              
               
               
                 For
                 first
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 the
                 Fundamental
                 and
                 Necessary
                 Articles
                 of
                 Religion
                 ,
                 I
                 do
                 not
                 admit
                 the
                 Allegation
                 ,
                 but
                 take
                 those
                 Articles
                 to
                 be
                 both
                 Evident
                 ,
                 and
                 capable
                 of
                 a
                 Moral
                 Demonstration
                 .
                 And
                 if
                 there
                 be
                 any
                 Articles
                 of
                 Religion
                 ,
                 for
                 which
                 a
                 Rational
                 and
                 Cogent
                 Proof
                 cannot
                 be
                 brought
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 for
                 that
                 very
                 reason
                 conclude
                 ,
                 that
                 such
                 Articles
                 are
                 not
                 absolutely
                 Necessary
                 to
                 be
                 believ'd
                 ;
                 since
                 it
                 seems
                 no
                 way
                 reasonable
                 to
                 imagine
                 ,
                 that
                 God
                 having
                 been
                 pleased
                 to
                 send
                 not
                 onely
                 his
                 Prophets
                 and
                 his
                 Apostles
                 ,
                 but
                 his
                 onely
                 Son
                 into
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 to
                 promulgate
                 to
                 Mankind
                 the
                 Christian
                 Religion
                 ,
                 and
                 both
                 to
                 cause
                 it
                 to
                 be
                 consign'd
                 to
                 writing
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 known
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 alter
                 the
                 course
                 of
                 Nature
                 by
                 numerous
                 Miracles
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 might
                 be
                 believ'd
                 ;
                 it
                 seems
                 not
                 reasonable
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 ,
                 to
                 imagine
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 should
                 not
                 propose
                 those
                 Truths
                 ,
                 which
                 he
                 in
                 so
                 wonderful
                 and
                 so
                 solemn
                 a
                 manner
                 recommended
                 ,
                 with
                 at
                 least
                 so
                 much
                 Clearness
                 ,
                 as
                 that
                 studious
                 and
                 well-dispos'd
                 Readers
                 may
                 certainly
                 understand
                 such
                 as
                 are
                 necessary
                 for
                 them
                 to
                 believe
                 .
              
               
                 2.
                 
                 Though
                 I
                 will
                 not
                 here
                 engage
                 
                 my self
                 in
                 a
                 Disquisition
                 of
                 the
                 several
                 kinds
                 ,
                 or
                 ,
                 if
                 you
                 please
                 ,
                 Degrees
                 ,
                 of
                 Demonstration
                 ,
                 (
                 which
                 yet
                 is
                 a
                 Subject
                 that
                 I
                 judge
                 far
                 more
                 considerable
                 than
                 cultivated
                 ,
                 )
                 yet
                 I
                 must
                 tell
                 you
                 ,
                 that
                 as
                 a
                 Moral
                 certainty
                 (
                 such
                 as
                 we
                 may
                 attain
                 about
                 the
                 Fundamentals
                 of
                 Religion
                 )
                 is
                 enough
                 in
                 many
                 cases
                 for
                 a
                 wise
                 man
                 ,
                 and
                 even
                 a
                 Philopher
                 to
                 acquiesce
                 in
                 ;
                 so
                 that
                 Physical
                 Certainty
                 ,
                 which
                 is
                 pretended
                 for
                 the
                 Truths
                 demonstrated
                 by
                 Naturalists
                 ,
                 is
                 ,
                 even
                 where
                 't
                 is
                 rightfully
                 claim'd
                 ,
                 but
                 an
                 inferiour
                 kind
                 or
                 degree
                 of
                 certainty
                 ,
                 as
                 Moral
                 certainty
                 also
                 is
                 .
                 For
                 even
                 Physical
                 Demonstrations
                 can
                 beget
                 but
                 a
                 Physical
                 Certainty
                 ,
                 (
                 that
                 is
                 ,
                 a
                 Certainty
                 upon
                 supposition
                 that
                 the
                 Principles
                 of
                 Physick
                 be
                 true
                 ,
                 )
                 not
                 a
                 Metaphysical
                 Certainty
                 ,
                 (
                 wherein
                 't
                 is
                 absolutely
                 impossible
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 thing
                 believ'd
                 should
                 be
                 other
                 than
                 true
                 .
                 )
                 For
                 instance
                 ,
                 All
                 the
                 Physical
                 Demonstrations
                 of
                 the
                 Antients
                 about
                 the
                 causes
                 of
                 particular
                 Phaenomena
                 of
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 suppose
                 ,
                 that
                 
                   ex
                   nihilo
                   nihil
                   fit
                
                 ;
                 and
                 this
                 may
                 readily
                 be
                 admitted
                 in
                 a
                 Physical
                 sense
                 ,
                 because
                 according
                 to
                 the
                 course
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 no
                 Body
                 can
                 be
                 produc'd
                 out
                 of
                 Nothing
                 ,
                 
                 but
                 speaking
                 universally
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 false
                 ,
                 as
                 Christians
                 generally
                 ,
                 and
                 even
                 the
                 Cartesian
                 Naturalists
                 ,
                 asserting
                 the
                 Creation
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 must
                 believe
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 
                   de
                   facto
                
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 .
                 And
                 so
                 whereas
                 Epicurus
                 does
                 ,
                 I
                 remember
                 ,
                 prove
                 ,
                 that
                 a
                 Body
                 once
                 dead
                 cannot
                 be
                 made
                 alive
                 again
                 ,
                 by
                 reason
                 of
                 the
                 dissipation
                 and
                 dispersion
                 of
                 the
                 Atoms
                 ,
                 't
                 was
                 ,
                 when
                 alive
                 ,
                 compos'd
                 of
                 ;
                 though
                 all
                 men
                 will
                 allow
                 this
                 assertion
                 to
                 be
                 Physically
                 demonstrable
                 ,
                 yet
                 the
                 contrary
                 may
                 be
                 true
                 ,
                 if
                 God's
                 Omnipotence
                 intervenes
                 ,
                 as
                 all
                 the
                 Philosophers
                 that
                 acknowledge
                 the
                 Authority
                 of
                 the
                 New
                 Testament
                 ,
                 where
                 Lazarus
                 and
                 others
                 are
                 recorded
                 to
                 have
                 been
                 raised
                 from
                 the
                 dead
                 ,
                 must
                 believe
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 actually
                 did
                 appear
                 ,
                 and
                 even
                 all
                 unprejudic'd
                 Reasoners
                 must
                 allow
                 it
                 to
                 be
                 Possible
                 ,
                 there
                 being
                 no
                 Contradiction
                 impli'd
                 in
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 the
                 thing
                 .
                 But
                 now
                 to
                 affirm
                 ,
                 that
                 such
                 things
                 as
                 are
                 indeed
                 Contradictories
                 cannot
                 be
                 both
                 true
                 ,
                 or
                 ,
                 that
                 
                   factum
                   infectum
                   reddi
                   non
                   potest
                
                 ,
                 are
                 Metaphysical
                 Truths
                 ,
                 which
                 cannot
                 possibly
                 be
                 other
                 than
                 true
                 ,
                 and
                 consequently
                 beget
                 a
                 Metaphysical
                 and
                 absolute
                 Certainty
                 .
                 And
                 your
                 Master
                 
                 Cartesius
                 was
                 so
                 sensible
                 of
                 a
                 dependance
                 of
                 Physical
                 Demonstrations
                 upon
                 Metaphysical
                 Truths
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 would
                 not
                 allow
                 any
                 certainty
                 not
                 onely
                 to
                 them
                 ,
                 but
                 even
                 to
                 Geometrical
                 Demonstrations
                 ,
                 till
                 he
                 had
                 evinc'd
                 ,
                 that
                 there
                 is
                 a
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 he
                 cannot
                 deceive
                 men
                 that
                 make
                 use
                 of
                 their
                 Faculties
                 aright
                 .
              
               
                 To
                 which
                 I
                 may
                 add
                 ,
                 that
                 even
                 in
                 many
                 things
                 that
                 are
                 look'd
                 upon
                 as
                 Physical
                 Demonstrations
                 ,
                 there
                 is
                 really
                 but
                 a
                 Moral
                 Certainty
                 .
                 For
                 when
                 ,
                 for
                 instance
                 ,
                 Des-Cartes
                 and
                 other
                 Modern
                 Philosophers
                 ,
                 take
                 upon
                 them
                 to
                 demonstrate
                 ,
                 That
                 there
                 are
                 divers
                 Comets
                 that
                 are
                 not
                 Meteors
                 ,
                 because
                 they
                 have
                 a
                 Parallax
                 lesser
                 than
                 that
                 of
                 the
                 Moon
                 ,
                 and
                 are
                 of
                 such
                 a
                 bigness
                 ,
                 and
                 some
                 of
                 them
                 move
                 in
                 such
                 a
                 Line
                 ,
                 &c.
                 't
                 is
                 plain
                 ,
                 that
                 divers
                 of
                 these
                 Learned
                 men
                 had
                 never
                 the
                 opportunity
                 to
                 observe
                 a
                 Comet
                 in
                 their
                 Lives
                 ,
                 but
                 take
                 these
                 Circumstances
                 upon
                 the
                 credit
                 of
                 those
                 Astronomers
                 that
                 had
                 such
                 Opportunities
                 .
                 And
                 though
                 the
                 Inferences
                 ,
                 as
                 such
                 ,
                 may
                 have
                 a
                 Demonstrable
                 Certainty
                 ;
                 yet
                 the
                 Premisses
                 they
                 are
                 drawn
                 from
                 having
                 but
                 an
                 Historical
                 one
                 ,
                 the
                 
                 presumed
                 Physico-Mathematical
                 Demonstration
                 can
                 produce
                 in
                 a
                 wary
                 mind
                 but
                 a
                 Moral
                 Certainty
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 the
                 greatest
                 neither
                 of
                 that
                 kind
                 that
                 is
                 possible
                 to
                 be
                 attain'd
                 ;
                 as
                 he
                 will
                 not
                 scruple
                 to
                 acknowledge
                 ,
                 that
                 knows
                 by
                 experience
                 ,
                 how
                 much
                 more
                 difficult
                 it
                 is
                 ,
                 than
                 most
                 men
                 imagine
                 ,
                 to
                 make
                 Observations
                 about
                 such
                 nice
                 Subjects
                 ,
                 with
                 the
                 exactness
                 that
                 is
                 requisite
                 for
                 the
                 building
                 of
                 an
                 undoubted
                 Theory
                 upon
                 them
                 .
                 And
                 there
                 are
                 I
                 know
                 not
                 how
                 many
                 things
                 in
                 Physicks
                 ,
                 that
                 men
                 presume
                 they
                 believe
                 upon
                 Physical
                 and
                 Cogent
                 Arguments
                 ,
                 wherein
                 they
                 really
                 have
                 but
                 a
                 Moral
                 assurance
                 ;
                 which
                 is
                 a
                 Truth
                 heeded
                 by
                 so
                 few
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 have
                 been
                 invited
                 to
                 take
                 the
                 more
                 particular
                 notice
                 of
                 them
                 in
                 other
                 Papers
                 ,
                 written
                 purposely
                 to
                 show
                 the
                 doubtfulness
                 and
                 incompleatness
                 of
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 ;
                 of
                 which
                 Discourse
                 ,
                 since
                 you
                 may
                 command
                 a
                 sight
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 not
                 scruple
                 to
                 refer
                 you
                 thither
                 for
                 the
                 Reasons
                 of
                 my
                 affirming
                 here
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 most
                 even
                 of
                 the
                 modern
                 Virtuosi
                 are
                 wont
                 to
                 fancy
                 more
                 of
                 Clearness
                 and
                 Certainty
                 in
                 their
                 Physical
                 Theories
                 ,
                 than
                 a
                 Critical
                 Examiner
                 will
                 find
                 .
                 
                 Onely
                 that
                 you
                 may
                 not
                 look
                 upon
                 this
                 as
                 a
                 put
                 off
                 ,
                 rather
                 than
                 a
                 reference
                 ,
                 I
                 will
                 here
                 touch
                 upon
                 a
                 couple
                 of
                 Subjects
                 ,
                 which
                 men
                 are
                 wont
                 to
                 believe
                 to
                 be
                 ,
                 and
                 which
                 indeed
                 ought
                 to
                 be
                 ,
                 the
                 most
                 throughly
                 understood
                 ;
                 I
                 mean
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 Body
                 in
                 general
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 Sensation
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 for
                 the
                 first
                 of
                 these
                 ,
                 since
                 we
                 can
                 turn
                 our selves
                 no
                 way
                 ,
                 but
                 we
                 are
                 every
                 where
                 environ'd
                 ,
                 and
                 incessantly
                 touch'd
                 by
                 Corporeal
                 Substances
                 ,
                 one
                 would
                 think
                 that
                 so
                 familiar
                 an
                 Object
                 ,
                 that
                 does
                 so
                 assiduously
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 many
                 ways
                 affect
                 our
                 Senses
                 ,
                 and
                 for
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 which
                 we
                 need
                 not
                 inquire
                 into
                 the
                 distinct
                 Nature
                 of
                 particular
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 nor
                 the
                 properties
                 of
                 any
                 one
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 should
                 be
                 very
                 perfectly
                 known
                 unto
                 us
                 .
                 And
                 yet
                 the
                 Notion
                 of
                 Body
                 in
                 general
                 ,
                 or
                 
                   what
                   it
                   is
                   that
                   makes
                   a
                   thing
                   to
                   be
                   a
                   Corporeal
                   Substance
                   ,
                   and
                   discriminates
                   it
                   from
                   all
                   other
                   things
                   ,
                
                 has
                 been
                 very
                 hotly
                 disputed
                 of
                 ,
                 even
                 among
                 the
                 modern
                 Philosophers
                 ,
                 
                   &
                   adhuc
                   sub
                   judice
                   lis
                   est
                   .
                
                 And
                 though
                 your
                 Favourite
                 Des-Cartes
                 ,
                 in
                 making
                 the
                 nature
                 of
                 a
                 Body
                 to
                 consist
                 in
                 Extension
                 every
                 way
                 ,
                 has
                 a
                 notion
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 which
                 't
                 is
                 
                 more
                 easie
                 to
                 find
                 fault
                 with
                 ,
                 than
                 to
                 substitute
                 a
                 better
                 ;
                 yet
                 I
                 fear
                 ,
                 't
                 will
                 appear
                 to
                 be
                 attended
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 with
                 this
                 Inconvenience
                 ,
                 That
                 God
                 cannot
                 ,
                 within
                 the
                 compass
                 of
                 this
                 World
                 ,
                 wherein
                 if
                 any
                 Body
                 vanish
                 into
                 Nothing
                 ,
                 the
                 place
                 or
                 space
                 left
                 behind
                 it
                 must
                 have
                 the
                 three
                 Dimensions
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 be
                 a
                 true
                 Body
                 ,
                 annihilate
                 the
                 least
                 particle
                 of
                 Matter
                 ,
                 at
                 least
                 without
                 ,
                 at
                 the
                 same
                 instant
                 and
                 place
                 ,
                 creating
                 as
                 much
                 ,
                 (
                 which
                 agrees
                 very
                 ill
                 with
                 that
                 necessary
                 and
                 continual
                 dependance
                 ,
                 which
                 he
                 asserts
                 Matter
                 it self
                 to
                 have
                 on
                 God
                 for
                 its
                 very
                 Being
                 ;
                 )
                 but
                 with
                 
                   such
                   other
                
                 inconveniences
                 ,
                 that
                 some
                 Friends
                 of
                 yours
                 ,
                 otherwise
                 very
                 inclinable
                 to
                 the
                 Cartesian
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 know
                 not
                 how
                 to
                 acquiesce
                 in
                 it
                 :
                 and
                 yet
                 I
                 need
                 not
                 tell
                 you
                 ,
                 how
                 Fundamental
                 a
                 Notion
                 the
                 deviser
                 of
                 it
                 asserts
                 it
                 to
                 be
                 .
                 Neither
                 do
                 I
                 see
                 ,
                 how
                 this
                 Notion
                 of
                 a
                 Corporeal
                 Substance
                 will
                 any
                 more
                 ,
                 than
                 any
                 of
                 the
                 formerly
                 received
                 Definitions
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 extricate
                 us
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 Difficulties
                 of
                 that
                 no
                 less
                 perplexed
                 ,
                 than
                 famous
                 Controversie
                 ,
                 
                   de
                   Compositione
                   Continui
                
                 .
                 And
                 though
                 some
                 ingenious
                 men
                 ,
                 who
                 perhaps
                 perceive
                 
                 better
                 than
                 others
                 ,
                 how
                 intricate
                 it
                 is
                 ,
                 have
                 of
                 late
                 endeavoured
                 to
                 shew
                 ,
                 that
                 men
                 need
                 not
                 be
                 sollicitous
                 to
                 determine
                 this
                 Controversie
                 ,
                 it
                 not
                 being
                 rightly
                 propos'd
                 by
                 the
                 Schoolmen
                 that
                 have
                 started
                 it
                 ;
                 and
                 though
                 I
                 perhaps
                 think
                 ,
                 that
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 may
                 be
                 daily
                 advanc'd
                 without
                 the
                 decision
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 because
                 there
                 is
                 a
                 multitude
                 of
                 considerable
                 things
                 to
                 be
                 discover'd
                 and
                 perform'd
                 in
                 Nature
                 ,
                 without
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 dreaming
                 of
                 this
                 Controversie
                 ;
                 yet
                 still
                 ,
                 
                   as
                   I
                   would
                   propose
                   the
                   Question
                   ,
                
                 the
                 Difficulties
                 ,
                 till
                 removed
                 ,
                 will
                 spread
                 a
                 thick
                 night
                 over
                 the
                 Notion
                 of
                 Body
                 in
                 general
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 either
                 a
                 Corporeal
                 and
                 extended
                 Substance
                 is
                 (
                 either
                 really
                 or
                 mentally
                 )
                 divisible
                 into
                 parts
                 endow'd
                 with
                 Extension
                 ,
                 and
                 each
                 of
                 these
                 parts
                 is
                 divisible
                 also
                 into
                 other
                 Corporeal
                 parts
                 ,
                 lesser
                 and
                 lesser
                 ,
                 
                   in
                   infinitum
                
                 ;
                 or
                 else
                 this
                 subdivision
                 must
                 stop
                 somewhere
                 ,
                 (
                 for
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 mean
                 between
                 the
                 two
                 members
                 of
                 the
                 Distinction
                 ;
                 )
                 and
                 in
                 either
                 case
                 the
                 Opinion
                 pitch'd
                 upon
                 will
                 be
                 liable
                 to
                 those
                 Inconveniences
                 ,
                 not
                 to
                 say
                 Absurdities
                 ,
                 that
                 are
                 rationally
                 urg'd
                 against
                 it
                 by
                 the
                 maintainers
                 of
                 the
                 
                 Opposite
                 ;
                 the
                 Objections
                 on
                 both
                 sides
                 being
                 so
                 strong
                 ,
                 that
                 some
                 of
                 the
                 more
                 Candid
                 ,
                 even
                 of
                 the
                 Modern
                 Metaphysicians
                 ,
                 after
                 having
                 tir'd
                 themselves
                 and
                 their
                 Readers
                 with
                 arguing
                 Pro
                 and
                 Con
                 ,
                 have
                 confess'd
                 the
                 Objections
                 on
                 both
                 sides
                 to
                 be
                 insoluble
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 though
                 we
                 do
                 not
                 clearly
                 understand
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 Body
                 in
                 general
                 ;
                 yet
                 sure
                 we
                 cannot
                 but
                 be
                 perfectly
                 acquainted
                 with
                 what
                 passes
                 within
                 our selves
                 in
                 reference
                 to
                 the
                 particular
                 Bodies
                 we
                 daily
                 See
                 ,
                 and
                 Hear
                 ,
                 and
                 Smell
                 ,
                 and
                 Taste
                 ,
                 and
                 Touch.
                 But
                 alas
                 ,
                 though
                 we
                 know
                 but
                 little
                 ,
                 save
                 by
                 the
                 Informations
                 of
                 our
                 senses
                 ;
                 yet
                 we
                 know
                 very
                 little
                 of
                 the
                 manner
                 by
                 which
                 our
                 Senses
                 informs
                 us
                 .
                 And
                 to
                 avoid
                 prolixity
                 ,
                 I
                 will
                 at
                 present
                 suppose
                 with
                 you
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Ingenious
                 
                   Des
                   Cartes
                
                 and
                 his
                 followers
                 have
                 given
                 the
                 fairest
                 account
                 of
                 Sensation
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 yet
                 extant
                 .
                 Now
                 according
                 to
                 him
                 ,
                 a
                 Man's
                 Body
                 being
                 but
                 a
                 well
                 organiz'd
                 Statue
                 ,
                 that
                 which
                 is
                 truly
                 called
                 Sensation
                 is
                 not
                 perform'd
                 by
                 the
                 Organ
                 ,
                 but
                 by
                 the
                 Mind
                 ,
                 which
                 perceives
                 the
                 motion
                 produc'd
                 in
                 the
                 Organ
                 ;
                 (
                 for
                 which
                 reason
                 he
                 
                 will
                 not
                 allow
                 Brutes
                 to
                 have
                 Sense
                 properly
                 so
                 call'd
                 ;
                 )
                 so
                 that
                 if
                 you
                 ask
                 a
                 Cartesian
                 ,
                 how
                 it
                 comes
                 to
                 pass
                 that
                 the
                 Soul
                 of
                 Man
                 ,
                 which
                 he
                 justly
                 asserts
                 to
                 be
                 an
                 immaterial
                 Substance
                 ,
                 comes
                 to
                 be
                 wrought
                 upon
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 in
                 such
                 various
                 manners
                 ,
                 by
                 those
                 external
                 Bodies
                 that
                 are
                 the
                 objects
                 of
                 our
                 Senses
                 ,
                 he
                 will
                 tell
                 you
                 ,
                 that
                 by
                 their
                 Impressions
                 on
                 the
                 Sensories
                 ,
                 they
                 variously
                 move
                 the
                 Fibres
                 or
                 Threds
                 of
                 the
                 Nerves
                 ,
                 wherewith
                 those
                 parts
                 are
                 endow'd
                 ,
                 and
                 by
                 which
                 the
                 Motion
                 is
                 propagated
                 to
                 that
                 little
                 Kernel
                 in
                 the
                 Brain
                 ,
                 call'd
                 by
                 many
                 Writers
                 the
                 Conarion
                 ,
                 where
                 these
                 differing
                 motions
                 being
                 perceiv'd
                 by
                 the
                 there
                 residing
                 Soul
                 ,
                 become
                 Sensations
                 ,
                 because
                 of
                 the
                 intimate
                 union
                 ,
                 and
                 ,
                 as
                 it
                 were
                 ,
                 Permistion
                 (
                 as
                 Cartesius
                 himself
                 expresses
                 it
                 )
                 of
                 the
                 Soul
                 with
                 the
                 Body
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 now
                 ,
                 Sir
                 ,
                 give
                 me
                 leave
                 to
                 take
                 notice
                 ,
                 that
                 this
                 Union
                 of
                 an
                 Incorporeal
                 with
                 a
                 Corporeal
                 Substance
                 ,
                 (
                 and
                 that
                 without
                 a
                 Medium
                 )
                 is
                 a
                 thing
                 so
                 unexampled
                 in
                 Nature
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 difficult
                 to
                 comprehend
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 somewhat
                 question
                 ,
                 whether
                 the
                 profound
                 Secrets
                 of
                 Theology
                 ,
                 not
                 to
                 
                 say
                 the
                 adorable
                 Mystery
                 it self
                 of
                 the
                 Incarnation
                 ,
                 be
                 more
                 abstruse
                 than
                 this
                 .
                 For
                 how
                 can
                 I
                 conceive
                 ,
                 that
                 a
                 Substance
                 purely
                 immaterial
                 ,
                 should
                 be
                 united
                 without
                 a
                 Physical
                 Medium
                 ,
                 (
                 for
                 in
                 this
                 case
                 there
                 can
                 be
                 none
                 ,
                 )
                 with
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 which
                 cannot
                 possibly
                 lay
                 hold
                 on
                 It
                 ,
                 and
                 which
                 It
                 can
                 pervade
                 and
                 flie
                 away
                 from
                 at
                 pleasure
                 ,
                 as
                 Des-Cartes
                 must
                 confess
                 the
                 Soul
                 actually
                 does
                 in
                 Death
                 .
                 And
                 't
                 is
                 almost
                 as
                 difficult
                 to
                 conceive
                 ,
                 how
                 any
                 part
                 of
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 without
                 excepting
                 the
                 Animal
                 Spirits
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 Conarion
                 ,
                 (
                 for
                 these
                 are
                 as
                 truly
                 Corporeal
                 as
                 other
                 parts
                 of
                 the
                 Humane
                 Statue
                 ,
                 )
                 can
                 make
                 Impressions
                 upon
                 a
                 Substance
                 perfectly
                 Incorporeal
                 ,
                 and
                 which
                 is
                 not
                 immediately
                 affected
                 by
                 the
                 motions
                 of
                 any
                 other
                 parts
                 ,
                 besides
                 the
                 
                   Genus
                   Nervosum
                
                 .
                 Nor
                 is
                 it
                 a
                 small
                 difficulty
                 to
                 a
                 meer
                 Naturalist
                 (
                 who
                 ,
                 as
                 such
                 ,
                 does
                 not
                 in
                 Physical
                 matters
                 take
                 notice
                 of
                 Revelations
                 about
                 Angels
                 ,
                 )
                 to
                 conceive
                 how
                 a
                 finite
                 Spirit
                 can
                 either
                 move
                 ,
                 or
                 ,
                 which
                 is
                 much
                 the
                 same
                 thing
                 ,
                 regulate
                 and
                 determine
                 the
                 motion
                 of
                 a
                 Body
                 .
                 But
                 that
                 which
                 I
                 would
                 on
                 this
                 occasion
                 invite
                 you
                 to
                 consider
                 ,
                 is
                 ,
                 that
                 supposing
                 the
                 
                 Soul
                 does
                 in
                 the
                 Brain
                 perceive
                 the
                 differing
                 motions
                 communicated
                 to
                 the
                 outward
                 Senses
                 ;
                 yet
                 this
                 ,
                 however
                 it
                 may
                 give
                 some
                 account
                 of
                 Sensation
                 in
                 general
                 ,
                 will
                 not
                 at
                 all
                 show
                 us
                 a
                 satisfactory
                 Reason
                 of
                 particular
                 and
                 distinct
                 Sensations
                 .
                 For
                 if
                 I
                 demand
                 ,
                 why
                 ,
                 for
                 Instance
                 ,
                 when
                 I
                 look
                 upon
                 a
                 Bell
                 that
                 is
                 ringing
                 ,
                 such
                 a
                 motion
                 or
                 impression
                 in
                 the
                 Conarion
                 produces
                 in
                 the
                 mind
                 that
                 peculiar
                 sort
                 of
                 perception
                 ,
                 Seeing
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 Hearing
                 ;
                 and
                 another
                 motion
                 ,
                 though
                 coming
                 from
                 the
                 same
                 Bell
                 at
                 the
                 same
                 time
                 ,
                 produces
                 that
                 quite
                 differing
                 sort
                 of
                 perception
                 that
                 we
                 call
                 Sound
                 ,
                 but
                 not
                 Vision
                 ;
                 what
                 can
                 be
                 answered
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 it
                 was
                 the
                 good
                 pleasure
                 of
                 the
                 Author
                 of
                 Humane
                 Nature
                 to
                 have
                 it
                 so
                 ?
                 And
                 if
                 the
                 question
                 be
                 ask'd
                 about
                 the
                 differing
                 Objects
                 of
                 any
                 one
                 particular
                 Sense
                 ;
                 as
                 ,
                 Why
                 the
                 great
                 plenty
                 of
                 unperturbed
                 Light
                 that
                 is
                 reflected
                 from
                 Snow
                 ,
                 Milk
                 ,
                 &c
                 ,
                 does
                 produce
                 a
                 Sensation
                 of
                 whiteness
                 ,
                 rather
                 than
                 redness
                 or
                 yellowness
                 ?
                 Or
                 why
                 the
                 smell
                 of
                 Castor
                 ,
                 or
                 
                   Assa
                   foetida
                
                 ,
                 produces
                 in
                 most
                 persons
                 that
                 which
                 they
                 call
                 a
                 Stink
                 ,
                 rather
                 than
                 a
                 Perfume
                 ?
                 (
                 especially
                 
                 since
                 we
                 know
                 some
                 Hysterical
                 Women
                 ,
                 that
                 think
                 it
                 not
                 onely
                 a
                 wholesome
                 ,
                 but
                 a
                 pleasing
                 smell
                 .
                 )
                 And
                 if
                 also
                 you
                 further
                 ask
                 ,
                 why
                 Melody
                 and
                 sweet
                 things
                 do
                 generally
                 delight
                 us
                 ?
                 and
                 discords
                 and
                 bitter
                 things
                 do
                 generally
                 displease
                 us
                 ?
                 Nay
                 ,
                 why
                 a
                 little
                 more
                 than
                 enough
                 of
                 some
                 Objects
                 that
                 produce
                 pleasure
                 ,
                 will
                 produce
                 pain
                 ?
                 (
                 as
                 may
                 be
                 exemplifi'd
                 in
                 a
                 cold
                 hand
                 ,
                 as
                 it
                 happens
                 to
                 be
                 held
                 out
                 at
                 a
                 just
                 ,
                 or
                 at
                 too
                 near
                 a
                 distance
                 from
                 the
                 fire
                 :
                 )
                 If
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 ,
                 these
                 ,
                 and
                 a
                 thousand
                 other
                 questions
                 of
                 the
                 like
                 kind
                 ,
                 be
                 ask'd
                 ,
                 the
                 Answer
                 will
                 be
                 but
                 the
                 general
                 one
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 already
                 given
                 ,
                 that
                 such
                 is
                 the
                 nature
                 of
                 Man.
                 For
                 to
                 say
                 ,
                 that
                 moderate
                 Motions
                 are
                 agreeable
                 to
                 the
                 nature
                 of
                 the
                 Sensory
                 they
                 are
                 excited
                 in
                 ,
                 but
                 violent
                 and
                 disorderly
                 ones
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 j●ring
                 Sounds
                 ,
                 and
                 scorching
                 Heat
                 )
                 do
                 put
                 it
                 into
                 too
                 violent
                 a
                 motion
                 for
                 its
                 Texture
                 ;
                 will
                 by
                 no
                 means
                 satisfie
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 besides
                 that
                 this
                 Answer
                 gives
                 no
                 account
                 of
                 the
                 variety
                 of
                 Sensations
                 of
                 the
                 same
                 kind
                 ,
                 as
                 of
                 differing
                 Colours
                 ,
                 Tastes
                 ,
                 &c.
                 but
                 reaches
                 onely
                 to
                 Pleasure
                 and
                 Pain
                 ;
                 even
                 as
                 to
                 these
                 ,
                 it
                 will
                 reach
                 but
                 a
                 very
                 little
                 way
                 ;
                 unless
                 the
                 
                 Givers
                 of
                 it
                 can
                 show
                 ,
                 how
                 an
                 Immaterial
                 Substance
                 should
                 be
                 more
                 harm'd
                 by
                 the
                 brisker
                 motion
                 of
                 a
                 Body
                 ,
                 than
                 by
                 the
                 more
                 languid
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 as
                 you
                 and
                 your
                 Friend
                 think
                 ,
                 you
                 may
                 justly
                 smile
                 at
                 the
                 Aristotelians
                 ,
                 for
                 imagining
                 that
                 they
                 have
                 given
                 a
                 tolerable
                 account
                 of
                 the
                 Qualities
                 of
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 when
                 they
                 have
                 told
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 spring
                 from
                 certain
                 substantial
                 Forms
                 ,
                 though
                 when
                 they
                 are
                 ask'd
                 particular
                 Questions
                 about
                 these
                 Incomprehensible
                 Forms
                 ,
                 they
                 do
                 in
                 effect
                 but
                 tell
                 us
                 in
                 general
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 have
                 such
                 and
                 such
                 Faculties
                 ,
                 or
                 Effects
                 ,
                 because
                 Nature
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 Author
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 endow'd
                 them
                 therewith
                 ;
                 so
                 I
                 hope
                 you
                 will
                 give
                 me
                 leave
                 to
                 think
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 may
                 keep
                 us
                 from
                 boasting
                 of
                 the
                 Clearness
                 and
                 Certainty
                 of
                 our
                 knowledge
                 about
                 the
                 Operations
                 of
                 sensible
                 Objects
                 ,
                 whilst
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 Aristotelians
                 cannot
                 particularly
                 show
                 ,
                 how
                 their
                 Qualities
                 are
                 produc'd
                 ,
                 so
                 we
                 cannot
                 particularly
                 explicate
                 ,
                 how
                 they
                 are
                 perceiv'd
                 ;
                 the
                 principal
                 thing
                 that
                 we
                 can
                 say
                 ,
                 being
                 ,
                 in
                 substance
                 ,
                 this
                 ,
                 that
                 our
                 Sensations
                 depend
                 upon
                 such
                 an
                 union
                 or
                 permistion
                 of
                 the
                 Soul
                 and
                 Body
                 ,
                 as
                 we
                 can
                 give
                 no
                 Example
                 of
                 
                 in
                 all
                 Nature
                 ,
                 nor
                 no
                 more
                 distinct
                 account
                 of
                 ,
                 than
                 that
                 it
                 pleased
                 God
                 so
                 to
                 couple
                 them
                 together
                 .
                 But
                 I
                 beg
                 your
                 pardon
                 for
                 having
                 detain'd
                 you
                 so
                 long
                 upon
                 one
                 Subject
                 ,
                 though
                 perhaps
                 it
                 will
                 not
                 prove
                 time
                 mis-spent
                 ,
                 if
                 it
                 have
                 made
                 you
                 take
                 notice
                 ,
                 that
                 in
                 spight
                 of
                 the
                 clearness
                 and
                 certainty
                 ,
                 for
                 which
                 your
                 Friend
                 so
                 much
                 prefers
                 Physicks
                 before
                 Theology
                 ,
                 we
                 are
                 Yet
                 to
                 seek
                 ,
                 (
                 I
                 say
                 Yet
                 ,
                 because
                 I
                 know
                 not
                 what
                 Time
                 may
                 Hereafter
                 discover
                 )
                 both
                 for
                 the
                 Definition
                 of
                 a
                 Corporeal
                 Substance
                 ,
                 and
                 a
                 satisfactory
                 account
                 of
                 the
                 manner
                 of
                 Sensation
                 :
                 though
                 without
                 the
                 true
                 Notion
                 of
                 a
                 Body
                 we
                 cannot
                 understand
                 that
                 Object
                 of
                 Physicks
                 in
                 general
                 ,
                 and
                 without
                 knowing
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 Sensation
                 ,
                 we
                 cannot
                 know
                 That
                 ,
                 from
                 whence
                 we
                 derive
                 almost
                 all
                 that
                 we
                 know
                 of
                 any
                 Body
                 in
                 particular
                 .
              
               
                 If
                 after
                 all
                 this
                 your
                 Friend
                 shall
                 say
                 ,
                 That
                 
                 Des-Cartes's
                 account
                 of
                 Body
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 things
                 in
                 Physicks
                 ,
                 being
                 the
                 best
                 that
                 men
                 can
                 give
                 ,
                 if
                 they
                 be
                 not
                 satisfactory
                 ,
                 it
                 must
                 be
                 imputed
                 to
                 Humane
                 Nature
                 not
                 to
                 the
                 Cartesian
                 Doctrine
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 not
                 stay
                 to
                 dispute
                 how
                 far
                 the
                 allegation
                 is
                 true
                 ;
                 
                 especially
                 since
                 ,
                 though
                 it
                 be
                 admitted
                 ,
                 it
                 will
                 not
                 prejudice
                 my
                 Discourse
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 whatsoever
                 the
                 Cause
                 of
                 the
                 imperfection
                 of
                 our
                 Knowledge
                 about
                 Physical
                 matters
                 be
                 ,
                 that
                 there
                 is
                 an
                 Imperfection
                 in
                 that
                 Knowledge
                 is
                 manifest
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 ought
                 to
                 be
                 enough
                 to
                 keep
                 us
                 from
                 being
                 puffed
                 up
                 by
                 such
                 an
                 imperfect
                 Knowledge
                 ,
                 and
                 from
                 undervaluing
                 upon
                 its
                 account
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 those
                 mysteries
                 of
                 Divinity
                 ,
                 which
                 ,
                 by
                 reason
                 of
                 the
                 Nobleness
                 and
                 Remoteness
                 of
                 the
                 Objects
                 ,
                 may
                 much
                 better
                 than
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 Corporeal
                 things
                 ,
                 (
                 which
                 we
                 see
                 ,
                 and
                 feel
                 ,
                 and
                 continually
                 converse
                 with
                 ,
                 )
                 have
                 their
                 obscurity
                 attributed
                 to
                 the
                 weakness
                 of
                 our
                 humane
                 Understandings
                 .
                 And
                 if
                 it
                 be
                 a
                 necessary
                 Imperfection
                 of
                 Humane
                 Nature
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 whilst
                 we
                 remain
                 in
                 this
                 mortal
                 condition
                 ,
                 the
                 Soul
                 being
                 confin'd
                 to
                 the
                 dark
                 prison
                 of
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 is
                 capable
                 (
                 as
                 even
                 Aristotle
                 somewhere
                 confesses
                 )
                 but
                 of
                 a
                 dim
                 knowledge
                 ;
                 so
                 much
                 the
                 greater
                 value
                 we
                 ought
                 to
                 have
                 for
                 Christian
                 Religion
                 ,
                 since
                 by
                 its
                 means
                 (
                 and
                 by
                 no
                 other
                 without
                 it
                 )
                 we
                 may
                 attain
                 a
                 condition
                 ,
                 wherein
                 ,
                 as
                 our
                 Nature
                 will
                 otherwise
                 be
                 highly
                 blessed
                 and
                 
                 advanced
                 ;
                 so
                 our
                 Faculties
                 will
                 be
                 Elevated
                 and
                 Enlarged
                 ,
                 and
                 probably
                 made
                 thereby
                 capable
                 of
                 attaining
                 degrees
                 and
                 kinds
                 of
                 knowledge
                 ,
                 to
                 which
                 we
                 are
                 here
                 but
                 strangers
                 .
                 In
                 favour
                 of
                 which
                 I
                 will
                 not
                 urge
                 the
                 received
                 Opinion
                 of
                 Divines
                 ,
                 that
                 before
                 the
                 Fall
                 (
                 which
                 yet
                 is
                 a
                 less
                 noble
                 condition
                 than
                 is
                 reserved
                 for
                 us
                 in
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 )
                 
                 Adam's
                 knowledge
                 was
                 such
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 was
                 able
                 at
                 first
                 sight
                 of
                 them
                 to
                 give
                 each
                 of
                 the
                 Beasts
                 a
                 name
                 expressive
                 of
                 its
                 Nature
                 ;
                 because
                 that
                 in
                 spight
                 of
                 some
                 skill
                 (
                 which
                 my
                 Curiosity
                 for
                 Divinity
                 ,
                 not
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 gave
                 me
                 )
                 in
                 the
                 holy
                 Tongue
                 ,
                 I
                 could
                 never
                 find
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Hebrew
                 names
                 of
                 Animals
                 ,
                 mention'd
                 in
                 the
                 beginning
                 of
                 Genesis
                 ,
                 argued
                 a
                 (
                 much
                 )
                 clearer
                 insight
                 into
                 their
                 Natures
                 ,
                 than
                 did
                 the
                 names
                 of
                 the
                 same
                 or
                 some
                 other
                 Animals
                 in
                 Greek
                 ,
                 or
                 other
                 Languages
                 ;
                 wherefore
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 I
                 said
                 )
                 I
                 will
                 not
                 urge
                 
                 Adam's
                 knowledge
                 in
                 Paradise
                 for
                 that
                 of
                 the
                 Saints
                 in
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 though
                 the
                 notice
                 he
                 took
                 of
                 Eve
                 at
                 his
                 first
                 seeing
                 of
                 her
                 ,
                 (
                 if
                 it
                 were
                 not
                 convey'd
                 to
                 him
                 by
                 secret
                 Revelation
                 )
                 may
                 be
                 far
                 more
                 probably
                 urg'd
                 ,
                 than
                 his
                 naming
                 of
                 the
                 Beasts
                 :
                 
                 But
                 I
                 will
                 rather
                 mind
                 you
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Proto-martyr's
                 sight
                 was
                 strengthened
                 so
                 ,
                 
                 as
                 to
                 
                   see
                   the
                   heavens
                   open'd
                   ,
                   and
                   Jesus
                   standing
                   at
                   the
                   right
                   hand
                   of
                   God
                
                 ;
                 and
                 when
                 the
                 Prophet
                 had
                 pray'd
                 ,
                 
                 that
                 his
                 Servant's
                 Eyes
                 might
                 be
                 open'd
                 ,
                 he
                 immediately
                 saw
                 the
                 Mountain
                 ,
                 where
                 they
                 were
                 ,
                 all
                 cover'd
                 with
                 Chariots
                 and
                 Horsemen
                 ,
                 which
                 ,
                 though
                 mention'd
                 to
                 be
                 of
                 Fire
                 ,
                 were
                 altogether
                 invisible
                 to
                 him
                 before
                 .
                 To
                 which
                 ,
                 as
                 a
                 higher
                 Argument
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 onely
                 add
                 a
                 couple
                 of
                 passages
                 of
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 which
                 seem
                 to
                 allow
                 us
                 even
                 vast
                 Expectations
                 as
                 to
                 the
                 knowledge
                 our
                 glorifi'd
                 Nature
                 may
                 be
                 advanc'd
                 to
                 .
                 The
                 one
                 is
                 that
                 which
                 St.
                 Paul
                 says
                 to
                 the
                 Corinthians
                 ,
                 
                 
                   For
                   now
                   we
                   see
                   through
                   a
                   glass
                   darkly
                   ,
                   but
                   then
                   face
                   to
                   face
                   :
                   Now
                   I
                   know
                   in
                   part
                   ,
                   but
                   then
                   shall
                   I
                   know
                   even
                   as
                   also
                   I
                   am
                   known
                   .
                
                 And
                 the
                 other
                 ,
                 where
                 Christ's
                 Favourite-Disciple
                 tells
                 Believers
                 ,
                 Beloved
                 ,
                 
                 
                   now
                   we
                   are
                   the
                   Sons
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   and
                   it
                   doth
                   not
                   yet
                   appear
                   what
                   we
                   shall
                   be
                   ;
                   but
                   we
                   know
                   ,
                   that
                   when
                   he
                   shall
                   appear
                   ,
                   we
                   shall
                   be
                   like
                   him
                   :
                   for
                   we
                   shall
                   see
                   him
                   as
                   he
                   is
                   .
                
              
               
                 What
                 has
                 hitherto
                 been
                 discours'd
                 ,
                 contains
                 the
                 first
                 Consideration
                 ,
                 that
                 
                 I
                 told
                 you
                 might
                 be
                 propos'd
                 about
                 the
                 Certainty
                 ascrib'd
                 to
                 the
                 knowledge
                 we
                 are
                 said
                 to
                 have
                 of
                 Natural
                 things
                 ;
                 but
                 this
                 is
                 not
                 all
                 I
                 have
                 to
                 represent
                 to
                 you
                 on
                 this
                 Subject
                 .
                 For
                 I
                 consider
                 further
                 ,
                 that
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 onely
                 by
                 the
                 Certainty
                 we
                 have
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 things
                 is
                 endear'd
                 to
                 us
                 ,
                 but
                 also
                 by
                 the
                 Worthiness
                 of
                 the
                 Object
                 ,
                 the
                 Number
                 of
                 those
                 that
                 are
                 unacquainted
                 with
                 it
                 ,
                 the
                 Remoteness
                 of
                 it
                 from
                 common
                 Apprehensions
                 ,
                 the
                 Difficulty
                 of
                 acquiring
                 it
                 without
                 peculiar
                 Advantages
                 ,
                 the
                 Usefulness
                 of
                 it
                 when
                 attain'd
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 particulars
                 ,
                 which
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 here
                 necessary
                 to
                 enumerate
                 .
                 I
                 presume
                 ,
                 you
                 doubt
                 not
                 but
                 your
                 Friend
                 does
                 very
                 much
                 prefer
                 the
                 knowledge
                 he
                 has
                 of
                 the
                 Mysteries
                 of
                 Nature
                 (
                 at
                 many
                 of
                 which
                 we
                 have
                 as
                 yet
                 but
                 Ingenious
                 Conjectures
                 )
                 to
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 one
                 that
                 understands
                 the
                 Elements
                 of
                 Arithmetick
                 ,
                 though
                 He
                 be
                 Demonstratively
                 sure
                 of
                 the
                 Truth
                 of
                 most
                 of
                 his
                 Rules
                 and
                 Operations
                 .
                 And
                 questionless
                 Copernicus
                 received
                 a
                 much
                 higher
                 satisfaction
                 in
                 his
                 Notion
                 about
                 the
                 Stability
                 of
                 the
                 Sun
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Motion
                 of
                 the
                 Earth
                 ,
                 
                 though
                 it
                 were
                 not
                 so
                 clear
                 but
                 that
                 
                   Tycho
                   ,
                   Ricciolus
                
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 eminent
                 Astronomers
                 have
                 rejected
                 it
                 ,
                 than
                 in
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 divers
                 of
                 the
                 Theorems
                 about
                 the
                 Sphere
                 ,
                 that
                 have
                 been
                 demonstrated
                 by
                 
                   Euclid
                   ,
                   Theodosius
                
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 Geometricians
                 .
                 Our
                 discovering
                 that
                 some
                 Comets
                 are
                 not
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 Schools
                 would
                 have
                 them
                 ,
                 Sublunary
                 Meteors
                 ,
                 but
                 Celestial
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Conjectural
                 Theory
                 ,
                 which
                 is
                 all
                 that
                 hitherto
                 we
                 have
                 been
                 able
                 to
                 attain
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 do
                 much
                 better
                 please
                 both
                 your
                 Friend
                 ,
                 and
                 you
                 ,
                 and
                 me
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 more
                 certain
                 knowledge
                 we
                 have
                 of
                 the
                 time
                 of
                 the
                 Rising
                 and
                 Setting
                 of
                 the
                 Fixed
                 Stars
                 .
                 And
                 the
                 Estimates
                 we
                 can
                 make
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 help
                 of
                 Parallaxes
                 ,
                 of
                 the
                 Heights
                 of
                 those
                 Comets
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 some
                 of
                 the
                 Planets
                 ,
                 though
                 they
                 are
                 uncertain
                 enough
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 may
                 appear
                 by
                 the
                 vastly
                 different
                 distances
                 that
                 are
                 assigned
                 to
                 those
                 Bodies
                 by
                 eminent
                 Astronomers
                 ;
                 )
                 yet
                 these
                 uncertain
                 measures
                 of
                 such
                 Elevated
                 and
                 Celestial
                 Lights
                 do
                 far
                 more
                 please
                 us
                 ,
                 than
                 that
                 we
                 can
                 by
                 the
                 help
                 of
                 a
                 Geometrical
                 Quadrant
                 ,
                 or
                 some
                 such
                 Instrument
                 ,
                 take
                 with
                 far
                 greater
                 Certainty
                 the
                 height
                 of
                 a
                 Tower
                 or
                 
                 a
                 Steeple
                 .
                 And
                 so
                 a
                 Mathematician
                 ,
                 when
                 he
                 probably
                 conjectures
                 at
                 the
                 compass
                 of
                 the
                 Ter●estrial
                 Globe
                 ,
                 and
                 divides
                 ,
                 though
                 but
                 unaccurately
                 ,
                 its
                 Surface
                 ,
                 first
                 ,
                 into
                 proportions
                 of
                 Sea
                 and
                 Land
                 ,
                 and
                 then
                 into
                 Regions
                 of
                 such
                 Extents
                 and
                 Bounds
                 ,
                 and
                 ,
                 in
                 a
                 word
                 ,
                 skilfully
                 plays
                 the
                 Cosmographer
                 ;
                 thinks
                 himself
                 much
                 more
                 nobly
                 and
                 pleasantly
                 imploy'd
                 ,
                 than
                 when
                 ,
                 being
                 reduc'd
                 to
                 play
                 the
                 Surveyor
                 ,
                 he
                 does
                 with
                 far
                 more
                 certainty
                 measure
                 how
                 many
                 Acres
                 a
                 Field
                 contains
                 ,
                 and
                 set
                 out
                 with
                 what
                 Hedges
                 and
                 Ditches
                 it
                 is
                 bounded
                 .
                 Now
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 those
                 Mysteries
                 of
                 Theology
                 ,
                 that
                 are
                 ignor'd
                 by
                 far
                 the
                 greatest
                 part
                 of
                 Mankind
                 ,
                 has
                 more
                 sublime
                 and
                 excellent
                 Objects
                 ,
                 and
                 is
                 unattain'd
                 to
                 by
                 much
                 the
                 greatest
                 part
                 even
                 of
                 Learned
                 men
                 ,
                 and
                 nevertheless
                 is
                 of
                 unvaluable
                 Importance
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 no
                 less
                 Advantage
                 towards
                 the
                 purifying
                 and
                 improving
                 of
                 us
                 here
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 making
                 us
                 perfect
                 and
                 happy
                 hereafter
                 ,
                 the
                 past
                 Discourse
                 has
                 very
                 much
                 miscarried
                 if
                 it
                 have
                 not
                 evinc'd
                 .
                 Wherefore
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 be
                 admitted
                 into
                 the
                 P●ivy-Council
                 of
                 some
                 Great
                 Monarch
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 thereby
                 be
                 enabled
                 to
                 give
                 a
                 probable
                 ghess
                 at
                 those
                 thoughts
                 and
                 designs
                 of
                 his
                 ,
                 that
                 Govern
                 Kingdoms
                 ,
                 and
                 make
                 the
                 Fates
                 of
                 Nations
                 ,
                 is
                 judged
                 preferrable
                 to
                 that
                 clearer
                 knowledge
                 that
                 a
                 Notary
                 can
                 have
                 of
                 the
                 dying
                 thoughts
                 and
                 intentions
                 of
                 an
                 ordinary
                 Person
                 whose
                 Will
                 he
                 makes
                 :
                 And
                 as
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 a
                 skilful
                 Physician
                 ,
                 whose
                 Art
                 is
                 yet
                 conjectural
                 ,
                 is
                 preferrable
                 to
                 that
                 of
                 a
                 Cutler
                 that
                 makes
                 his
                 Dissecting
                 Knives
                 ,
                 though
                 this
                 man
                 can
                 more
                 certainly
                 perform
                 what
                 he
                 designs
                 in
                 his
                 own
                 profession
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 Physician
                 can
                 in
                 his
                 :
                 And
                 (
                 in
                 fine
                 )
                 as
                 the
                 skill
                 of
                 a
                 Jeweller
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 conversant
                 about
                 Diamonds
                 ,
                 Rubies
                 ,
                 Saphires
                 ,
                 and
                 some
                 other
                 sorts
                 of
                 small
                 Stones
                 ,
                 which
                 being
                 for
                 the
                 most
                 part
                 brought
                 us
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 Indies
                 ,
                 we
                 must
                 take
                 many
                 things
                 about
                 them
                 upon
                 report
                 ,
                 is
                 ,
                 because
                 of
                 the
                 Nobleness
                 of
                 the
                 Object
                 ,
                 preferr'd
                 to
                 that
                 of
                 a
                 Mason
                 that
                 deals
                 in
                 whole
                 Quarries
                 of
                 common
                 Stones
                 ,
                 and
                 may
                 be
                 sure
                 upon
                 his
                 own
                 Experience
                 of
                 divers
                 things
                 concerning
                 them
                 ,
                 which
                 as
                 to
                 Jewels
                 we
                 are
                 allowed
                 to
                 know
                 but
                 upon
                 Tradition
                 :
                 So
                 a
                 more
                 dimm
                 and
                 imperfect
                 knowledge
                 
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Mysteries
                 of
                 Religion
                 ,
                 may
                 be
                 more
                 desirable
                 ,
                 and
                 upon
                 that
                 account
                 more
                 delightful
                 ,
                 than
                 a
                 clearer
                 knowledge
                 of
                 those
                 Inferior
                 Truths
                 that
                 Physicks
                 are
                 wont
                 to
                 teach
                 .
              
               
                 I
                 must
                 now
                 mention
                 one
                 particular
                 more
                 ,
                 which
                 may
                 well
                 be
                 added
                 to
                 those
                 that
                 peculiarly
                 indear
                 Physicks
                 to
                 the
                 Divine
                 that
                 is
                 studious
                 of
                 them
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 as
                 he
                 contemplates
                 the
                 works
                 of
                 Nature
                 not
                 barely
                 for
                 themselves
                 ,
                 but
                 to
                 be
                 the
                 better
                 qualified
                 and
                 excited
                 to
                 admire
                 and
                 praise
                 the
                 Author
                 of
                 Nature
                 ;
                 so
                 his
                 Contemplations
                 are
                 delightful
                 to
                 him
                 ,
                 not
                 barely
                 as
                 they
                 afford
                 a
                 pleasing
                 Exercise
                 to
                 his
                 Reason
                 ,
                 but
                 as
                 they
                 procure
                 him
                 a
                 more
                 welcome
                 approbation
                 from
                 his
                 Conscience
                 ,
                 these
                 distinct
                 satisfactions
                 being
                 not
                 at
                 all
                 inconsistent
                 .
                 And
                 questionless
                 ,
                 though
                 Esau
                 did
                 at
                 length
                 miss
                 of
                 his
                 aim
                 ,
                 yet
                 ,
                 while
                 he
                 was
                 hunting
                 Venison
                 for
                 the
                 good
                 old
                 Patriark
                 that
                 desired
                 it
                 of
                 him
                 ,
                 besides
                 the
                 pleasure
                 he
                 was
                 us'd
                 to
                 take
                 in
                 pursuing
                 the
                 Deer
                 he
                 chas'd
                 ,
                 
                 he
                 took
                 a
                 great
                 one
                 in
                 considering
                 ,
                 that
                 now
                 he
                 hunted
                 to
                 please
                 his
                 Father
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 order
                 to
                 obtain
                 of
                 him
                 an
                 inestimable
                 
                 Blessing
                 .
                 So
                 ,
                 when
                 David
                 imployd
                 his
                 skilful
                 Hand
                 and
                 Voice
                 in
                 praising
                 God
                 with
                 Vocal
                 and
                 Instrumental
                 Musick
                 ,
                 he
                 receiv'd
                 in
                 one
                 Act
                 a
                 double
                 satisfaction
                 ,
                 by
                 exercising
                 his
                 Skill
                 and
                 his
                 Devotion
                 ;
                 and
                 was
                 no
                 less
                 pleas'd
                 with
                 those
                 melodious
                 sounds
                 ,
                 as
                 they
                 were
                 Hymns
                 ,
                 than
                 as
                 they
                 were
                 Songs
                 .
                 And
                 this
                 Example
                 prompts
                 me
                 to
                 add
                 ,
                 that
                 as
                 the
                 devout
                 Student
                 of
                 Nature
                 we
                 were
                 speaking
                 of
                 ,
                 does
                 Intentionally
                 refer
                 the
                 knowledge
                 he
                 seeks
                 of
                 the
                 Creatures
                 to
                 the
                 glory
                 of
                 the
                 Creator
                 ;
                 so
                 in
                 his
                 Discoveries
                 ,
                 that
                 which
                 most
                 contents
                 him
                 ,
                 is
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Wonders
                 he
                 observes
                 in
                 Nature
                 ,
                 heighten
                 that
                 Admiration
                 he
                 would
                 fain
                 raise
                 to
                 a
                 less
                 disproportion
                 to
                 the
                 Wisdom
                 of
                 God
                 ;
                 and
                 furnish
                 him
                 with
                 a
                 nobler
                 Holocaust
                 for
                 those
                 Sacrifices
                 of
                 Praise
                 he
                 is
                 justly
                 ambitious
                 to
                 offer
                 up
                 to
                 the
                 Deity
                 .
                 And
                 as
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 doubt
                 to
                 be
                 made
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 ,
                 when
                 
                   David
                   invented
                
                 (
                 as
                 the
                 Scripture
                 intimates
                 that
                 he
                 did
                 )
                 new
                 
                   Instruments
                   of
                   Musick
                
                 ,
                 
                 there
                 was
                 nothing
                 in
                 that
                 Invention
                 that
                 pleas'd
                 him
                 so
                 much
                 ,
                 as
                 that
                 they
                 could
                 assist
                 him
                 to
                 praise
                 God
                 the
                 more
                 melodiously
                 ;
                 go
                 the
                 pious
                 Student
                 of
                 Nature
                 finds
                 
                 nothing
                 more
                 welcome
                 in
                 the
                 Discoveries
                 he
                 makes
                 of
                 her
                 Wonders
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 Rises
                 and
                 Helps
                 they
                 may
                 afford
                 him
                 ,
                 the
                 more
                 worthily
                 to
                 celebrate
                 and
                 glorifie
                 the
                 Divine
                 Attributes
                 adumbrated
                 in
                 the
                 Creatures
                 .
                 And
                 as
                 a
                 Huntsman
                 or
                 a
                 Fowler
                 ,
                 if
                 he
                 meets
                 with
                 some
                 strange
                 Bird
                 or
                 Beast
                 ,
                 or
                 other
                 Natural
                 Rarity
                 ,
                 thinks
                 himself
                 much
                 the
                 more
                 fortunate
                 if
                 it
                 happen
                 to
                 be
                 near
                 the
                 Court
                 ,
                 where
                 he
                 may
                 have
                 the
                 King
                 to
                 present
                 it
                 to
                 ,
                 than
                 if
                 he
                 were
                 to
                 keep
                 it
                 but
                 for
                 himself
                 or
                 some
                 of
                 his
                 Companions
                 ;
                 So
                 our
                 Devout
                 Naturalist
                 has
                 his
                 Discoveries
                 of
                 Natures
                 Wonders
                 indear'd
                 to
                 him
                 ,
                 by
                 having
                 the
                 Deity
                 to
                 present
                 them
                 to
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 Veneration
                 they
                 excite
                 in
                 the
                 Finder
                 ,
                 and
                 which
                 they
                 inable
                 him
                 to
                 ingage
                 others
                 to
                 joyn
                 in
                 .
              
            
             
               
               
                 The
                 fourth
                 Section
                 .
              
               
                 BUt
                 I
                 confess
                 (
                 Sir
                 )
                 I
                 much
                 fear
                 ,
                 that
                 That
                 which
                 makes
                 your
                 Friend
                 have
                 such
                 detracting
                 thoughts
                 of
                 Theology
                 ,
                 is
                 a
                 certain
                 secret
                 Pride
                 ,
                 grounded
                 upon
                 a
                 Conceit
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Attainments
                 of
                 Natural
                 Philosophers
                 are
                 of
                 so
                 noble
                 a
                 kind
                 ,
                 and
                 argue
                 so
                 transcendant
                 an
                 Excellency
                 of
                 Parts
                 in
                 the
                 Attainer
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 may
                 justly
                 undervalue
                 all
                 other
                 Learning
                 ,
                 without
                 excepting
                 Theology
                 it self
                 .
              
               
                 You
                 will
                 not
                 ,
                 I
                 suppose
                 ,
                 expect
                 ,
                 that
                 a
                 person
                 ,
                 who
                 has
                 written
                 so
                 much
                 in
                 the
                 praise
                 of
                 Physiques
                 ,
                 and
                 laboured
                 so
                 much
                 for
                 a
                 little
                 skill
                 in
                 it
                 ,
                 should
                 now
                 here
                 endeavour
                 to
                 depretiate
                 that
                 so
                 useful
                 part
                 of
                 Philosophy
                 .
                 But
                 I
                 do
                 not
                 conceive
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 will
                 be
                 at
                 all
                 injurious
                 to
                 it
                 ,
                 to
                 prefer
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 Supernatural
                 ,
                 to
                 that
                 of
                 meer
                 Natural
                 things
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 think
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Truths
                 ,
                 which
                 God
                 indiscriminately
                 exposes
                 to
                 the
                 whole
                 Race
                 of
                 Mankind
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 the
                 bad
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 to
                 the
                 good
                 ,
                 are
                 inferiour
                 to
                 those
                 Mysterious
                 
                 ones
                 ,
                 whose
                 Disclosure
                 he
                 reckons
                 among
                 his
                 peculiar
                 Favours
                 ,
                 and
                 whose
                 Contemplation
                 employs
                 the
                 Curiosity
                 ,
                 and
                 ,
                 in
                 some
                 points
                 ,
                 exacts
                 the
                 wonder
                 of
                 the
                 very
                 Angels
                 .
                 That
                 I
                 may
                 therefore
                 repress
                 a
                 little
                 the
                 overweening
                 Opinion
                 your
                 Friend
                 has
                 of
                 his
                 Physical
                 Attainments
                 ,
                 give
                 me
                 leave
                 to
                 represent
                 a
                 few
                 particulars
                 conducive
                 to
                 that
                 purpose
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 first
                 ,
                 as
                 for
                 the
                 Nobleness
                 of
                 the
                 Truths
                 taught
                 by
                 Theology
                 and
                 Physicks
                 ,
                 those
                 of
                 the
                 former
                 sort
                 have
                 manifestly
                 the
                 Advantage
                 ,
                 being
                 not
                 onely
                 conversant
                 about
                 far
                 nobler
                 Objects
                 ,
                 but
                 discovering
                 things
                 that
                 Humane
                 Reason
                 of
                 it self
                 can
                 by
                 no
                 means
                 reach
                 unto
                 ;
                 as
                 has
                 been
                 sufficiently
                 declared
                 in
                 the
                 foregoing
                 part
                 of
                 this
                 Letter
                 .
              
               
                 Next
                 ,
                 we
                 may
                 consider
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 whatever
                 may
                 be
                 said
                 to
                 excuse
                 Pride
                 (
                 if
                 there
                 were
                 any
                 )
                 in
                 Moscus
                 the
                 Phoenician
                 ,
                 who
                 is
                 affirmed
                 to
                 have
                 first
                 Invented
                 the
                 Atomical
                 Hypothesis
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 Democritus
                 and
                 Leucippus
                 ,
                 (
                 for
                 Epicurus
                 scarce
                 deserves
                 to
                 be
                 named
                 with
                 them
                 ,
                 )
                 that
                 highly
                 Advanc'd
                 that
                 Philosophy
                 ;
                 and
                 in
                 Monsieur
                 Des-Cartes
                 ,
                 who
                 either
                 Improv'd
                 ,
                 or
                 at
                 
                 least
                 much
                 Innovated
                 the
                 Corpuscula●ian
                 Hypothesis
                 :
                 Whatever
                 (
                 I
                 say
                 )
                 may
                 be
                 alledged
                 on
                 the
                 behalf
                 of
                 these
                 Mens
                 pride
                 ;
                 I
                 see
                 no
                 great
                 Reason
                 ,
                 why
                 it
                 should
                 be
                 allowed
                 in
                 such
                 as
                 your
                 Friend
                 ;
                 who
                 ,
                 though
                 Ingenious
                 Men
                 ,
                 are
                 neither
                 Inventors
                 ,
                 nor
                 eminent
                 Promoters
                 of
                 the
                 Philosophy
                 they
                 would
                 be
                 admir'd
                 for
                 ,
                 but
                 content
                 themselves
                 to
                 Learn
                 what
                 others
                 have
                 Taught
                 ,
                 or
                 at
                 least
                 to
                 make
                 some
                 little
                 further
                 Application
                 of
                 the
                 Principles
                 that
                 others
                 have
                 Established
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Discoveries
                 they
                 have
                 made
                 .
                 And
                 whereas
                 your
                 Friend
                 is
                 not
                 a
                 little
                 proud
                 of
                 being
                 able
                 to
                 confute
                 several
                 Errours
                 of
                 Aristotle
                 and
                 the
                 Antients
                 ,
                 it
                 were
                 not
                 amiss
                 if
                 he
                 consider'd
                 ,
                 that
                 many
                 of
                 the
                 chief
                 Truths
                 that
                 overthrow
                 those
                 Errours
                 ,
                 were
                 the
                 Productions
                 of
                 Time
                 and
                 Chance
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 of
                 his
                 daring
                 Ratiocinations
                 :
                 For
                 ,
                 there
                 needs
                 no
                 great
                 Wit
                 to
                 disprove
                 those
                 that
                 maintain
                 the
                 Uninhabitableness
                 of
                 the
                 Torrid
                 Zone
                 ,
                 or
                 deny
                 the
                 Antipodes
                 ,
                 since
                 Navigators
                 have
                 found
                 many
                 Parts
                 of
                 the
                 former
                 well
                 Peopl'd
                 ,
                 and
                 Sailing
                 round
                 the
                 Earth
                 ,
                 have
                 found
                 men
                 living
                 in
                 Countreys
                 Diametrically
                 opposite
                 to
                 
                 Ours
                 .
                 Nor
                 will
                 it
                 warrant
                 a
                 man's
                 Pride
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 believes
                 not
                 the
                 Moon
                 to
                 be
                 the
                 onely
                 Planet
                 that
                 shines
                 with
                 a
                 borrowed
                 Light
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 Galaxy
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 Meteor
                 ;
                 since
                 that
                 now
                 the
                 Telescope
                 shows
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 Venus
                 has
                 her
                 Full
                 and
                 Wain
                 like
                 the
                 Moon
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 the
                 Milky
                 way
                 is
                 made
                 up
                 of
                 a
                 vast
                 multitude
                 of
                 little
                 Stars
                 ,
                 inconspicuous
                 to
                 the
                 naked
                 Eye
                 .
                 And
                 indeed
                 of
                 those
                 other
                 Discoveries
                 that
                 overthrow
                 the
                 Astronomy
                 of
                 the
                 Antients
                 ,
                 and
                 much
                 of
                 their
                 Philosophy
                 about
                 the
                 Celestial
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 few
                 or
                 none
                 have
                 any
                 cause
                 to
                 boast
                 ,
                 but
                 the
                 excellent
                 Galileus
                 ,
                 who
                 pretends
                 to
                 have
                 been
                 the
                 Inventor
                 of
                 the
                 Telescope
                 :
                 For
                 that
                 Instrument
                 once
                 discover'd
                 ;
                 to
                 be
                 able
                 to
                 reject
                 the
                 Septenary
                 number
                 of
                 the
                 Planets
                 by
                 the
                 Detection
                 of
                 the
                 four
                 Satellites
                 of
                 Jupiter
                 ,
                 or
                 talk
                 of
                 the
                 Mountains
                 and
                 Valleys
                 in
                 the
                 Moon
                 ,
                 requires
                 not
                 much
                 more
                 excellency
                 in
                 your
                 Friend
                 ,
                 than
                 it
                 would
                 to
                 descry
                 in
                 a
                 Ship
                 ,
                 where
                 the
                 naked
                 Eye
                 could
                 discern
                 but
                 the
                 Body
                 of
                 the
                 Vessel
                 ,
                 (
                 to
                 descry
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 )
                 by
                 the
                 help
                 of
                 a
                 Prospective
                 Glass
                 ,
                 the
                 Masts
                 ,
                 and
                 Sails
                 ,
                 and
                 Deck
                 ,
                 and
                 perceive
                 a
                 Boat
                 tow'd
                 at
                 
                 her
                 Stern
                 :
                 Though
                 indeed
                 Galileo
                 himself
                 had
                 no
                 great
                 cause
                 to
                 boast
                 of
                 the
                 Invention
                 ,
                 though
                 we
                 are
                 much
                 oblig'd
                 to
                 him
                 for
                 the
                 Improvement
                 of
                 the
                 Telescope
                 ,
                 since
                 no
                 less
                 a
                 Master
                 of
                 Dioptricks
                 than
                 Des-Cartes
                 ,
                 does
                 acknowledge
                 with
                 other
                 Writers
                 ,
                 that
                 Perspective-Glasses
                 were
                 not
                 first
                 found
                 out
                 by
                 Mathematicians
                 or
                 Philosophers
                 ,
                 but
                 casually
                 by
                 one
                 Metius
                 ,
                 a
                 Dutch
                 Spectacle-maker
                 .
                 On
                 which
                 occasion
                 I
                 shall
                 mind
                 you
                 ,
                 that
                 to
                 hide
                 Pride
                 from
                 Man
                 ,
                 divers
                 others
                 of
                 the
                 chief
                 Discoveries
                 that
                 have
                 been
                 made
                 in
                 Physicks
                 ,
                 have
                 been
                 the
                 Productions
                 ,
                 not
                 of
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 but
                 Chance
                 ,
                 by
                 which
                 Gunpowder
                 ,
                 Glass
                 ,
                 and
                 ,
                 for
                 ought
                 we
                 know
                 ,
                 the
                 Verticity
                 of
                 the
                 Load-stone
                 ,
                 (
                 to
                 which
                 we
                 owe
                 both
                 the
                 Indies
                 )
                 came
                 to
                 be
                 found
                 in
                 these
                 later
                 Ages
                 ;
                 as
                 (
                 more
                 recently
                 )
                 the
                 Milky
                 Vessels
                 of
                 the
                 Mesentery
                 ,
                 the
                 new
                 Receptacle
                 of
                 the
                 Chyle
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 other
                 sort
                 of
                 Vessels
                 which
                 most
                 men
                 call
                 the
                 Lymphae-ducts
                 ,
                 were
                 lighted
                 on
                 but
                 by
                 Chance
                 ,
                 according
                 to
                 the
                 Ingenious
                 Confession
                 of
                 the
                 Discoverers
                 themselves
                 .
              
               
                 We
                 may
                 farther
                 consider
                 ,
                 that
                 
                 those
                 very
                 things
                 which
                 are
                 justly
                 are
                 alledg'd
                 in
                 the
                 praise
                 of
                 the
                 Corpuscularian
                 Philosophy
                 it self
                 ,
                 ought
                 to
                 lessen
                 the
                 pride
                 of
                 those
                 that
                 but
                 make
                 use
                 of
                 it
                 .
                 For
                 that
                 Hypothesis
                 ,
                 supposing
                 the
                 whole
                 Universe
                 (
                 the
                 Soul
                 of
                 Man
                 excepted
                 )
                 to
                 be
                 but
                 a
                 great
                 Automaton
                 ,
                 or
                 self-moving
                 Engine
                 ,
                 wherein
                 all
                 things
                 are
                 perform'd
                 by
                 the
                 bare
                 motion
                 (
                 or
                 rest
                 )
                 the
                 size
                 ,
                 the
                 shape
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 scituation
                 or
                 texture
                 of
                 the
                 parts
                 of
                 the
                 Universal
                 Matter
                 it
                 consists
                 of
                 ;
                 all
                 the
                 Phaenomena
                 result
                 from
                 those
                 few
                 Principles
                 ,
                 single
                 or
                 combin'd
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 the
                 several
                 Tunes
                 or
                 Chimes
                 that
                 are
                 rung
                 on
                 five
                 Bells
                 ,
                 )
                 and
                 these
                 fertile
                 Principles
                 being
                 already
                 establish'd
                 by
                 the
                 Inventors
                 and
                 Promoters
                 of
                 the
                 Particularian
                 Hypothesis
                 ;
                 all
                 that
                 such
                 Persons
                 as
                 your
                 Friend
                 ,
                 are
                 wont
                 farther
                 to
                 do
                 ,
                 is
                 but
                 to
                 investigate
                 or
                 guess
                 ,
                 by
                 what
                 kind
                 of
                 Motions
                 the
                 three
                 or
                 four
                 other
                 Principles
                 are
                 varied
                 .
                 So
                 that
                 the
                 World
                 being
                 but
                 ,
                 as
                 it
                 were
                 ,
                 a
                 great
                 piece
                 of
                 Clock-work
                 ,
                 the
                 Naturalist
                 as
                 such
                 ,
                 is
                 but
                 a
                 Mechanitian
                 ;
                 however
                 the
                 parts
                 of
                 the
                 Engine
                 ,
                 he
                 considers
                 ,
                 be
                 some
                 of
                 them
                 much
                 larger
                 ,
                 and
                 others
                 much
                 minuter
                 ,
                 than
                 
                 those
                 of
                 Clocks
                 or
                 Watches
                 .
                 And
                 for
                 an
                 ordinary
                 Naturalist
                 to
                 despise
                 those
                 that
                 study
                 the
                 Mysteries
                 of
                 Religion
                 ,
                 as
                 much
                 inferiour
                 to
                 Physical
                 Truths
                 ,
                 is
                 no
                 less
                 unreasonable
                 ,
                 than
                 it
                 were
                 for
                 a
                 Watch-maker
                 ,
                 because
                 he
                 understands
                 his
                 own
                 Trade
                 ,
                 to
                 despise
                 Privy-Counsellers
                 ,
                 who
                 are
                 acquainted
                 with
                 the
                 secrets
                 of
                 Monarchs
                 ,
                 and
                 Mysteries
                 of
                 State
                 ;
                 or
                 than
                 it
                 were
                 for
                 a
                 Ship-carpenter
                 ,
                 because
                 he
                 understands
                 more
                 of
                 the
                 Fabrick
                 of
                 the
                 Vessel
                 ,
                 to
                 despise
                 the
                 Admiral
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 acquainted
                 with
                 the
                 secret
                 Designs
                 of
                 the
                 Prince
                 ,
                 and
                 imploy'd
                 about
                 his
                 most
                 important
                 affairs
                 .
              
               
                 That
                 great
                 Restorer
                 of
                 Physicks
                 ,
                 the
                 illustrious
                 Verulam
                 ,
                 who
                 has
                 trac'd
                 out
                 a
                 most
                 useful
                 way
                 to
                 make
                 Discoveries
                 in
                 the
                 Intellectual
                 Globe
                 ,
                 as
                 he
                 calls
                 it
                 ,
                 confesses
                 ,
                 that
                 his
                 work
                 was
                 (
                 to
                 speak
                 in
                 his
                 own
                 terms
                 )
                 
                   partus
                   temporis
                   potius
                   quám
                   ingenii
                
                 .
                 And
                 though
                 I
                 am
                 not
                 of
                 his
                 opinion
                 ,
                 where
                 he
                 says
                 in
                 another
                 place
                 ,
                 that
                 his
                 way
                 of
                 Philosophizing
                 does
                 
                   exaequare
                   ingenia
                
                 ;
                 yet
                 I
                 am
                 apt
                 to
                 think
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 fertile
                 Principles
                 of
                 the
                 Mechanical
                 Philosophy
                 being
                 once
                 setled
                 ,
                 the
                 
                 Methods
                 of
                 inquiring
                 and
                 experimenting
                 being
                 found
                 out
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Physico-mechanical
                 Instruments
                 of
                 working
                 on
                 Natures
                 and
                 Arts
                 Productions
                 being
                 happily
                 invented
                 ,
                 the
                 making
                 of
                 several
                 lesser
                 improvements
                 ,
                 especially
                 by
                 rectifying
                 of
                 some
                 almost
                 obvious
                 or
                 supine
                 Errours
                 ▪
                 of
                 the
                 Schools
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 assistance
                 of
                 such
                 facilitating
                 helps
                 ,
                 may
                 fall
                 to
                 the
                 lot
                 of
                 persons
                 not
                 endow'd
                 with
                 any
                 extraordinary
                 Sagacity
                 ,
                 or
                 acuteness
                 of
                 parts
                 .
                 And
                 though
                 the
                 Investigation
                 and
                 clear
                 establishment
                 of
                 the
                 true
                 Principles
                 of
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 devising
                 the
                 Instruments
                 of
                 Knowledge
                 ,
                 be
                 things
                 that
                 may
                 be
                 allowed
                 to
                 be
                 the
                 proper
                 work
                 of
                 sublimer
                 Wits
                 ;
                 yet
                 ,
                 if
                 a
                 man
                 be
                 furnish'd
                 with
                 such
                 assistances
                 ,
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 every
                 Discourse
                 that
                 he
                 makes
                 ,
                 or
                 thing
                 which
                 he
                 does
                 by
                 the
                 help
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 difficult
                 enough
                 to
                 raise
                 him
                 to
                 that
                 illustrious
                 rank
                 .
                 And
                 indeed
                 ,
                 divers
                 of
                 the
                 vulgar
                 Errours
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 of
                 Scholars
                 as
                 other
                 men
                 ,
                 being
                 mainly
                 grounded
                 upon
                 the
                 meer
                 ,
                 and
                 often
                 mistaken
                 ,
                 Authority
                 of
                 Aristotle
                 ,
                 and
                 perhaps
                 some
                 frivolous
                 Reasons
                 of
                 his
                 Scholastic
                 Interpreters
                 of
                 such
                 precarious
                 
                 and
                 ungrounded
                 things
                 ,
                 that
                 to
                 ruine
                 them
                 ,
                 does
                 oftentimes
                 require
                 more
                 of
                 boldness
                 than
                 skill
                 ;
                 it
                 may
                 perhaps
                 be
                 said
                 of
                 your
                 Friend
                 ,
                 in
                 relation
                 to
                 his
                 Philosophical
                 Successes
                 against
                 such
                 vulgar
                 Errours
                 ,
                 as
                 I
                 am
                 speaking
                 of
                 ,
                 what
                 a
                 Roman
                 said
                 of
                 
                 Alexander's
                 Triumph
                 over
                 the
                 effeminate
                 
                   Asiaticks
                   ,
                   Quod
                   nihil
                   aliud
                   quám
                   bene
                   ausus
                   sit
                   Vana
                   contemnere
                   .
                
                 And
                 in
                 some
                 cases
                 it
                 happens
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 when
                 once
                 a
                 grand
                 Truth
                 ,
                 or
                 a
                 happy
                 way
                 of
                 Experimenting
                 has
                 been
                 found
                 ,
                 divers
                 Phaenomena
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 that
                 had
                 been
                 left
                 unexplain'd
                 ,
                 or
                 were
                 left
                 mis-explain'd
                 by
                 the
                 Schools
                 ,
                 did
                 ,
                 in
                 my
                 opinion
                 ,
                 require
                 a
                 far
                 less
                 straining
                 Exercise
                 of
                 the
                 mind
                 to
                 unriddle
                 and
                 explain
                 them
                 ,
                 than
                 must
                 have
                 been
                 requisite
                 to
                 dispel
                 the
                 darkness
                 that
                 attended
                 divers
                 Theological
                 Truths
                 that
                 are
                 now
                 clear'd
                 up
                 ,
                 and
                 perhaps
                 than
                 I
                 have
                 my self
                 now
                 and
                 then
                 imploy'd
                 in
                 some
                 of
                 those
                 Attempts
                 ,
                 to
                 illustrate
                 Theological
                 Matters
                 ,
                 that
                 you
                 may
                 have
                 met
                 in
                 some
                 Papers
                 that
                 I
                 have
                 presum'd
                 to
                 write
                 on
                 such
                 Subjects
                 .
                 And
                 indeed
                 the
                 Improvements
                 ,
                 that
                 such
                 Virtuosi
                 as
                 your
                 Friend
                 are
                 wont
                 to
                 make
                 of
                 the
                 fertile
                 Theorems
                 
                 and
                 Hints
                 ,
                 that
                 have
                 been
                 presented
                 them
                 by
                 the
                 Founders
                 or
                 prime
                 Benefactors
                 of
                 true
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 are
                 so
                 poor
                 and
                 slender
                 ,
                 and
                 do
                 so
                 much
                 oftner
                 proceed
                 from
                 Industry
                 and
                 Chance
                 ,
                 than
                 they
                 argue
                 a
                 transcendent
                 sagacity
                 ,
                 or
                 a
                 sublimity
                 of
                 Reason
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 though
                 such
                 persons
                 may
                 have
                 cause
                 enough
                 to
                 be
                 Delighted
                 with
                 what
                 they
                 have
                 done
                 ,
                 yet
                 they
                 have
                 none
                 to
                 be
                 Proud
                 of
                 it
                 ;
                 and
                 their
                 Performances
                 may
                 deserve
                 our
                 Thanks
                 ,
                 and
                 perhaps
                 some
                 of
                 our
                 Praise
                 ,
                 but
                 reach
                 not
                 so
                 high
                 as
                 to
                 merit
                 our
                 Admiration
                 ;
                 which
                 is
                 to
                 be
                 reserv'd
                 for
                 Those
                 ,
                 that
                 have
                 been
                 either
                 Framers
                 ,
                 or
                 Grand
                 Promoters
                 ,
                 of
                 True
                 and
                 Comprehensive
                 Hypotheses
                 ,
                 or
                 (
                 else
                 )
                 the
                 Authors
                 of
                 other
                 noble
                 and
                 useful
                 Discoveries
                 ,
                 many
                 ways
                 applicable
                 .
              
               
                 It
                 will
                 not
                 perhaps
                 be
                 improper
                 to
                 add
                 on
                 this
                 occasion
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 as
                 our
                 knowledge
                 is
                 not
                 very
                 deep
                 ,
                 not
                 reaching
                 with
                 any
                 certainty
                 to
                 the
                 bottom
                 of
                 Things
                 ,
                 nor
                 penetrating
                 to
                 their
                 intimate
                 or
                 innermost
                 Natures
                 ;
                 so
                 its
                 Extent
                 is
                 not
                 very
                 large
                 ,
                 not
                 being
                 able
                 to
                 give
                 us
                 ,
                 with
                 any
                 Clearness
                 and
                 particularity
                 ,
                 an
                 account
                 of
                 the
                 Celestial
                 
                 and
                 deeply
                 Subterraneal
                 parts
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 of
                 which
                 all
                 the
                 others
                 make
                 but
                 a
                 very
                 small
                 (
                 not
                 to
                 say
                 contemptible
                 )
                 portion
                 .
              
               
                 For
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 the
                 very
                 Globe
                 that
                 we
                 inhabit
                 ,
                 not
                 to
                 mention
                 ,
                 how
                 many
                 Plants
                 ,
                 Animals
                 ,
                 and
                 Minerals
                 ,
                 we
                 are
                 as
                 yet
                 wholly
                 ignorant
                 of
                 ,
                 and
                 how
                 many
                 others
                 we
                 are
                 but
                 slenderly
                 acquainted
                 with
                 ;
                 I
                 consider
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 objects
                 about
                 which
                 our
                 Experiments
                 and
                 Inquiries
                 are
                 conversant
                 ,
                 do
                 all
                 belong
                 to
                 the
                 
                   Superficial
                   parts
                
                 of
                 the
                 Terrestrial
                 Globe
                 ,
                 of
                 which
                 the
                 Earth
                 ,
                 known
                 to
                 us
                 ,
                 seems
                 to
                 be
                 but
                 as
                 it
                 were
                 the
                 Crust
                 or
                 Scurf
                 .
                 But
                 what
                 the
                 Internal
                 part
                 of
                 this
                 Globe
                 is
                 made
                 up
                 of
                 ,
                 is
                 no
                 less
                 disputable
                 than
                 of
                 what
                 Substance
                 the
                 remotest
                 Stars
                 we
                 can
                 descry
                 ,
                 consist
                 :
                 For
                 even
                 among
                 the
                 modern
                 Philosophers
                 some
                 think
                 ,
                 the
                 internal
                 Portion
                 of
                 the
                 Earth
                 to
                 be
                 pure
                 and
                 Elementary
                 Earth
                 ,
                 which
                 (
                 say
                 they
                 )
                 must
                 be
                 found
                 there
                 ,
                 or
                 no
                 where
                 .
                 Others
                 imagine
                 it
                 to
                 be
                 Fiery
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Receptacle
                 either
                 of
                 Natural
                 or
                 Hellish
                 Flames
                 .
                 Others
                 will
                 have
                 the
                 Body
                 of
                 the
                 Terrestrial
                 Globe
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 great
                 and
                 solid
                 Magnet
                 .
                 And
                 the
                 Cartesians
                 on
                 the
                 other
                 side
                 ,
                 (
                 though
                 
                 they
                 all
                 admit
                 store
                 of
                 Subterraneal
                 Loadstones
                 )
                 teach
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 same
                 Globe
                 was
                 once
                 a
                 Fix'd
                 Star
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 ,
                 though
                 it
                 have
                 since
                 degenerated
                 into
                 a
                 Planet
                 ,
                 yet
                 the
                 Internal
                 part
                 of
                 it
                 is
                 still
                 of
                 the
                 same
                 Nature
                 that
                 it
                 was
                 before
                 ;
                 the
                 change
                 it
                 has
                 received
                 proceeding
                 onely
                 from
                 having
                 had
                 its
                 outward
                 parts
                 quite
                 cover'd
                 over
                 with
                 thick
                 spots
                 (
                 like
                 those
                 to
                 be
                 often
                 observ'd
                 about
                 the
                 Sun
                 ,
                 )
                 by
                 whose
                 Condensation
                 the
                 firm
                 Earth
                 we
                 inhabit
                 was
                 form'd
                 .
                 And
                 the
                 mischief
                 is
                 ,
                 that
                 each
                 of
                 these
                 jarring
                 Opinions
                 is
                 almost
                 as
                 difficult
                 to
                 be
                 demonstratively
                 prov'd
                 False
                 as
                 True.
                 For
                 ,
                 whereas
                 to
                 the
                 Centre
                 of
                 the
                 Earth
                 there
                 is
                 ,
                 according
                 to
                 the
                 modestest
                 account
                 of
                 our
                 late
                 Cosmographers
                 ,
                 above
                 three
                 thousand
                 and
                 five
                 hundred
                 miles
                 ;
                 my
                 Inquiries
                 among
                 Navigators
                 and
                 Miners
                 have
                 not
                 yet
                 satisfi'd
                 me
                 ,
                 that
                 mens
                 Curiosity
                 has
                 actually
                 reached
                 above
                 one
                 mile
                 or
                 two
                 at
                 most
                 downwards
                 ,
                 (
                 and
                 that
                 not
                 in
                 above
                 three
                 or
                 four
                 places
                 ,
                 )
                 either
                 into
                 the
                 Earth
                 or
                 into
                 the
                 Sea.
                 So
                 that
                 as
                 yet
                 our
                 Experience
                 has
                 scarce
                 grated
                 any
                 thing
                 deep
                 upon
                 the
                 Husk
                 ,
                 (
                 if
                 I
                 may
                 so
                 speak
                 )
                 without
                 at
                 all
                 reaching
                 the
                 
                 Kernel
                 of
                 the
                 Terraqueous
                 Globe
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 alas
                 !
                 what
                 is
                 this
                 Globe
                 of
                 ours
                 ,
                 of
                 which
                 it self
                 we
                 know
                 so
                 little
                 ,
                 in
                 comparison
                 of
                 those
                 vast
                 and
                 Luminous
                 Globes
                 that
                 we
                 call
                 the
                 Fix'd
                 Stars
                 ,
                 of
                 which
                 we
                 know
                 much
                 less
                 ?
                 For
                 ,
                 though
                 former
                 Astronomers
                 have
                 been
                 pleased
                 to
                 give
                 us
                 ,
                 with
                 a
                 seeming
                 accurateness
                 ,
                 their
                 Distances
                 and
                 Bignesses
                 ,
                 as
                 if
                 they
                 had
                 had
                 certain
                 ways
                 of
                 measuring
                 them
                 ;
                 yet
                 Later
                 and
                 Better
                 Mathematicians
                 will
                 (
                 I
                 know
                 )
                 allow
                 me
                 to
                 doubt
                 of
                 what
                 Those
                 have
                 deliver'd
                 .
                 For
                 since
                 't
                 is
                 confess'd
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 can
                 observe
                 no
                 Parallax
                 in
                 the
                 Fix'd
                 Stars
                 (
                 nor
                 perhaps
                 in
                 the
                 highest
                 Planets
                 ,
                 )
                 men
                 must
                 be
                 yet
                 to
                 seek
                 for
                 a
                 Method
                 to
                 measure
                 the
                 distance
                 of
                 those
                 Bodies
                 .
                 And
                 not
                 onely
                 the
                 Copernicans
                 make
                 it
                 to
                 be
                 I
                 know
                 not
                 how
                 many
                 hundred
                 thousands
                 of
                 miles
                 greater
                 than
                 the
                 Ptolomeans
                 ,
                 and
                 very
                 much
                 greater
                 than
                 even
                 Tycho
                 ;
                 but
                 Ricciolus
                 himself
                 ,
                 though
                 a
                 great
                 Anti-Copernican
                 ,
                 makes
                 the
                 distance
                 of
                 the
                 Fix'd
                 Stars
                 vastly
                 greater
                 ,
                 than
                 not
                 onely
                 Tycho
                 ,
                 but
                 (
                 if
                 I
                 mis-remember
                 not
                 )
                 than
                 some
                 of
                 the
                 Copernicans
                 themselves
                 .
                 Nor
                 do
                 I
                 wonder
                 at
                 these
                 so
                 great
                 Discrepances
                 ,
                 
                 (
                 though
                 some
                 amount
                 perhaps
                 to
                 some
                 millions
                 of
                 miles
                 ,
                 )
                 when
                 I
                 consider
                 ,
                 that
                 Astronomers
                 do
                 not
                 measure
                 the
                 distance
                 of
                 the
                 Fix'd
                 Stars
                 by
                 their
                 Instruments
                 ,
                 but
                 accommodate
                 it
                 to
                 their
                 particular
                 Hypotheses
                 .
                 And
                 by
                 this
                 uncertainty
                 of
                 the
                 remoteness
                 of
                 the
                 Fix'd
                 Stars
                 you
                 will
                 easily
                 gather
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 are
                 not
                 very
                 sure
                 of
                 their
                 Bulk
                 ,
                 no
                 not
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 in
                 reference
                 to
                 one
                 another
                 ;
                 since
                 it
                 remains
                 doubtful
                 ,
                 whether
                 the
                 differing
                 Sizes
                 ,
                 they
                 appear
                 to
                 us
                 to
                 be
                 of
                 ,
                 proceed
                 from
                 a
                 real
                 Inequality
                 of
                 Bulk
                 ,
                 or
                 onely
                 from
                 an
                 Inequality
                 of
                 Distance
                 ,
                 or
                 partly
                 from
                 one
                 of
                 those
                 causes
                 ,
                 and
                 partly
                 from
                 the
                 other
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 my
                 design
                 to
                 take
                 notice
                 of
                 those
                 Things
                 ,
                 which
                 the
                 famous
                 Disputes
                 among
                 the
                 Modern
                 Astronomers
                 manifest
                 to
                 be
                 dubious
                 .
                 For
                 I
                 consider
                 ,
                 that
                 there
                 are
                 divers
                 things
                 relating
                 to
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 which
                 are
                 so
                 remote
                 from
                 our
                 knowledge
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Causes
                 of
                 them
                 are
                 not
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 disputed
                 of
                 ,
                 or
                 inquired
                 into
                 ,
                 such
                 as
                 may
                 be
                 among
                 others
                 ,
                 Why
                 the
                 number
                 of
                 the
                 Stars
                 is
                 neither
                 greater
                 nor
                 lesser
                 than
                 it
                 is
                 ?
                 Why
                 so
                 many
                 of
                 those
                 Celestial
                 Lights
                 are
                 so
                 plac'd
                 ,
                 as
                 
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 visible
                 to
                 our
                 naked
                 eyes
                 ,
                 nor
                 even
                 when
                 they
                 are
                 help'd
                 by
                 ordinary
                 Telescopes
                 ?
                 (
                 which
                 extraordinary
                 good
                 ones
                 have
                 assured
                 me
                 of
                 .
                 )
                 Why
                 among
                 the
                 familiarly
                 visible
                 Stars
                 ,
                 there
                 are
                 so
                 many
                 in
                 some
                 parts
                 of
                 the
                 Sky
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 few
                 in
                 others
                 ?
                 Why
                 their
                 Sizes
                 are
                 so
                 differing
                 ,
                 and
                 yet
                 not
                 more
                 differing
                 ?
                 Why
                 they
                 are
                 not
                 more
                 orderly
                 plac'd
                 ,
                 so
                 as
                 to
                 make
                 up
                 Constellations
                 of
                 regular
                 or
                 handsome
                 Figures
                 (
                 of
                 which
                 the
                 Triangle
                 is
                 ,
                 perhaps
                 ,
                 the
                 single
                 Example
                 )
                 but
                 seem
                 to
                 be
                 scatter'd
                 in
                 the
                 Skie
                 as
                 it
                 were
                 by
                 Chance
                 ,
                 and
                 have
                 as
                 confus'd
                 Configurations
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 Drops
                 that
                 fall
                 upon
                 ones
                 Hat
                 in
                 a
                 shower
                 of
                 Rain
                 ?
                 To
                 which
                 divers
                 other
                 Questions
                 might
                 be
                 added
                 ,
                 as
                 about
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 so
                 about
                 the
                 Interstellar
                 part
                 of
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 which
                 several
                 of
                 the
                 Modern
                 Epicureans
                 would
                 have
                 to
                 be
                 empty
                 ,
                 save
                 where
                 the
                 beams
                 of
                 Light
                 (
                 and
                 perhaps
                 some
                 other
                 Celestial
                 Effluvia
                 )
                 pass
                 through
                 it
                 ;
                 and
                 the
                 Cartesians
                 on
                 the
                 contrary
                 think
                 to
                 be
                 full
                 of
                 an
                 Aethereal
                 matter
                 ,
                 which
                 some
                 ,
                 that
                 are
                 otherwise
                 favourers
                 of
                 their
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 confess
                 they
                 are
                 reduc'd
                 to
                 take
                 up
                 but
                 as
                 an
                 Hypothesis
                 .
                 
                 So
                 that
                 our
                 knowledge
                 is
                 much
                 short
                 of
                 what
                 many
                 think
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 if
                 it
                 be
                 consider'd
                 Intensively
                 ,
                 but
                 Extensively
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 a
                 Schoolman
                 would
                 express
                 it
                 .
                 )
                 For
                 there
                 being
                 so
                 great
                 a
                 disproportion
                 between
                 the
                 Heavens
                 and
                 the
                 Earth
                 ,
                 that
                 some
                 Moderns
                 think
                 the
                 Earth
                 to
                 be
                 little
                 better
                 than
                 a
                 Point
                 in
                 comparison
                 even
                 of
                 the
                 Orb
                 of
                 the
                 Sun
                 ;
                 and
                 the
                 Cartesians
                 ,
                 with
                 other
                 Copernicans
                 ,
                 think
                 the
                 great
                 Orb
                 it self
                 ,
                 (
                 which
                 is
                 equal
                 to
                 what
                 the
                 Ptolomeans
                 call'd
                 the
                 Sun's
                 Orb
                 )
                 to
                 be
                 but
                 a
                 Point
                 in
                 respect
                 of
                 the
                 Firmament
                 ;
                 and
                 all
                 our
                 Astronomers
                 agree
                 ,
                 that
                 at
                 least
                 the
                 Earth
                 is
                 but
                 a
                 Physical
                 Point
                 in
                 comparison
                 of
                 the
                 Starry
                 Heaven
                 :
                 Of
                 how
                 little
                 extent
                 must
                 our
                 knowledge
                 be
                 ,
                 which
                 leaves
                 us
                 ignorant
                 of
                 so
                 many
                 things
                 ,
                 touching
                 the
                 vast
                 Bodies
                 that
                 are
                 above
                 us
                 ,
                 and
                 penetrates
                 so
                 little
                 a
                 way
                 even
                 into
                 the
                 Earth
                 that
                 is
                 beneath
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 seems
                 confin'd
                 to
                 but
                 a
                 small
                 share
                 of
                 the
                 superficial
                 part
                 of
                 a
                 Physical
                 Point
                 !
                 Of
                 which
                 consideration
                 the
                 natural
                 result
                 will
                 be
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 though
                 what
                 we
                 call
                 our
                 Knowledge
                 ,
                 may
                 be
                 allowed
                 to
                 pass
                 for
                 a
                 high
                 Gratification
                 to
                 our
                 minds
                 ,
                 it
                 ought
                 not
                 to
                 puff
                 them
                 up
                 ;
                 
                 and
                 what
                 we
                 know
                 of
                 the
                 System
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 things
                 Corporeal
                 ▪
                 is
                 not
                 so
                 perfect
                 and
                 satisfactory
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 justifie
                 our
                 despising
                 the
                 Discoveries
                 of
                 Spiritual
                 things
                 .
              
               
                 One
                 of
                 the
                 former
                 parts
                 of
                 this
                 Letter
                 may
                 furnish
                 me
                 with
                 one
                 thing
                 more
                 ,
                 to
                 evince
                 the
                 Excellencies
                 and
                 Prerogatives
                 of
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 the
                 Mysteries
                 of
                 Religion
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 One
                 thing
                 is
                 such
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 hope
                 I
                 shall
                 need
                 to
                 add
                 nothing
                 More
                 ,
                 because
                 it
                 is
                 not
                 possible
                 to
                 add
                 any
                 thing
                 Higher
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 is
                 ,
                 That
                 the
                 Preeminence
                 above
                 other
                 Knowledge
                 ,
                 adjudg'd
                 to
                 that
                 of
                 Divine
                 Truths
                 by
                 a
                 Judge
                 above
                 all
                 Exception
                 ,
                 and
                 above
                 all
                 Comparison
                 ,
                 namely
                 ,
                 by
                 God
                 himself
                 .
              
               
                 This
                 having
                 been
                 but
                 lately
                 shown
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 not
                 now
                 repeat
                 it
                 ,
                 but
                 rather
                 apply
                 what
                 hath
                 been
                 there
                 evinc'd
                 ,
                 by
                 representing
                 ,
                 that
                 if
                 He
                 ,
                 who
                 determines
                 in
                 favour
                 of
                 Divine
                 Truths
                 ,
                 were
                 such
                 an
                 one
                 ,
                 as
                 was
                 less
                 acquainted
                 ,
                 than
                 our
                 over-weening
                 Naturalists
                 with
                 the
                 secrets
                 of
                 their
                 Idoliz'd
                 Physicks
                 ;
                 or
                 if
                 he
                 were
                 ,
                 though
                 an
                 Intelligent
                 ,
                 yet
                 (
                 like
                 an
                 Angel
                 )
                 a
                 Bare
                 Contemplator
                 of
                 what
                 we
                 call
                 the
                 
                 Works
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 without
                 having
                 any
                 Interest
                 in
                 their
                 Productions
                 ,
                 your
                 Friends
                 not
                 acquiescing
                 in
                 his
                 estimate
                 of
                 things
                 might
                 have
                 ,
                 though
                 not
                 a
                 fair
                 Excuse
                 ,
                 yet
                 a
                 stronger
                 Temptation
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 when
                 he
                 ,
                 by
                 whose
                 direction
                 we
                 prefer
                 the
                 higher
                 Truths
                 revealed
                 in
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 before
                 those
                 which
                 Reason
                 alone
                 teaches
                 us
                 concerning
                 those
                 comparatively
                 mean
                 Subjects
                 ,
                 things
                 Corporeal
                 ,
                 is
                 the
                 same
                 God
                 that
                 not
                 onely
                 understands
                 the
                 whole
                 Universe
                 ,
                 and
                 all
                 its
                 parts
                 ,
                 far
                 more
                 perfectly
                 ,
                 than
                 a
                 Watch-maker
                 can
                 understand
                 one
                 of
                 his
                 own
                 Watches
                 ,
                 (
                 in
                 which
                 he
                 can
                 give
                 an
                 account
                 onely
                 of
                 the
                 Contrivance
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 of
                 the
                 Cause
                 of
                 the
                 Spring
                 ,
                 nor
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 the
                 Gold
                 ,
                 Steel
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 Bodies
                 his
                 Watch
                 consists
                 of
                 ,
                 )
                 but
                 did
                 make
                 both
                 this
                 great
                 Automaton
                 ,
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 and
                 Man
                 in
                 it
                 :
                 We
                 have
                 no
                 colour
                 to
                 imagine
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 should
                 either
                 be
                 ignorant
                 of
                 ,
                 or
                 injuriously
                 disparage
                 ,
                 his
                 own
                 Workmanship
                 ,
                 or
                 impose
                 upon
                 his
                 Favourite-Creature
                 ,
                 Man
                 ,
                 in
                 directing
                 him
                 what
                 sort
                 of
                 Knowledge
                 he
                 ought
                 most
                 to
                 covet
                 and
                 prize
                 .
                 So
                 that
                 since
                 't
                 is
                 He
                 who
                 fram'd
                 the
                 
                 World
                 ,
                 and
                 all
                 those
                 things
                 in
                 it
                 we
                 most
                 admire
                 ,
                 that
                 would
                 have
                 us
                 prefer
                 the
                 knowledge
                 he
                 has
                 vouchsafed
                 us
                 in
                 his
                 Word
                 ,
                 before
                 that
                 which
                 he
                 has
                 allow'd
                 us
                 of
                 his
                 Works
                 ,
                 sure
                 't
                 is
                 very
                 unreasonable
                 and
                 unkind
                 to
                 make
                 the
                 Excellencies
                 of
                 the
                 Workmanship
                 a
                 disparagement
                 to
                 the
                 Author
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Effects
                 of
                 his
                 Wisdom
                 a
                 Motive
                 against
                 acquiescing
                 in
                 the
                 Decisions
                 of
                 his
                 Judgment
                 ;
                 as
                 if
                 ,
                 because
                 he
                 is
                 to
                 be
                 admir'd
                 for
                 his
                 Visible
                 Productions
                 ,
                 he
                 were
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 believ'd
                 ,
                 when
                 he
                 tells
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 there
                 are
                 Discoveries
                 that
                 contain
                 Truths
                 more
                 valuable
                 than
                 those
                 which
                 relate
                 but
                 to
                 the
                 Objects
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 has
                 expos'd
                 to
                 all
                 men's
                 Eyes
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 The
                 fifth
                 Section
                 .
              
               
                 I
                 Doubt
                 ,
                 I
                 should
                 be
                 guilty
                 of
                 a
                 most
                 important
                 Omission
                 ,
                 if
                 I
                 should
                 here
                 forget
                 to
                 consider
                 One
                 thing
                 ,
                 which
                 I
                 fear
                 has
                 a
                 main
                 stroak
                 in
                 the
                 Partiality
                 your
                 Friend
                 expresseth
                 in
                 his
                 preference
                 of
                 Physicks
                 to
                 Theology
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 is
                 ,
                 That
                 he
                 supposes
                 
                 he
                 shall
                 by
                 the
                 Former
                 acquire
                 a
                 Fame
                 ,
                 both
                 more
                 Certain
                 and
                 more
                 Durable
                 ,
                 than
                 can
                 be
                 hop'd
                 for
                 from
                 the
                 Latter
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 I
                 acknowledge
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 with
                 readiness
                 ,
                 but
                 with
                 somewhat
                 of
                 Gratulation
                 of
                 the
                 felicity
                 of
                 this
                 Age
                 ,
                 That
                 there
                 is
                 scarce
                 any
                 sort
                 of
                 Knowledge
                 more
                 in
                 request
                 ,
                 than
                 that
                 which
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 pretends
                 to
                 teach
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 among
                 the
                 awaken'd
                 and
                 inquisitive
                 part
                 of
                 Mankind
                 ,
                 as
                 much
                 Reputation
                 and
                 Esteem
                 may
                 be
                 gain'd
                 by
                 an
                 insight
                 into
                 the
                 Secrets
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 as
                 by
                 being
                 intrusted
                 with
                 those
                 of
                 Princes
                 ,
                 or
                 dignifi'd
                 with
                 the
                 splendid'st
                 marks
                 of
                 their
                 favour
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 though
                 I
                 readily
                 confess
                 thus
                 much
                 ,
                 and
                 though
                 perhaps
                 I
                 may
                 be
                 thought
                 to
                 have
                 had
                 ,
                 I
                 know
                 not
                 by
                 what
                 fate
                 ,
                 as
                 great
                 a
                 share
                 of
                 that
                 perfum'd
                 Smoak
                 ,
                 Applause
                 ,
                 as
                 (
                 at
                 least
                 )
                 some
                 of
                 those
                 ,
                 which
                 among
                 the
                 Writers
                 that
                 are
                 now
                 alive
                 ,
                 your
                 Friend
                 seems
                 most
                 to
                 Envy
                 for
                 it
                 ;
                 yet
                 I
                 shall
                 not
                 scruple
                 to
                 tell
                 you
                 ,
                 partly
                 from
                 observation
                 of
                 what
                 has
                 happen'd
                 to
                 others
                 ,
                 and
                 partly
                 too
                 upon
                 some
                 little
                 Experience
                 of
                 my
                 own
                 ,
                 that
                 neither
                 is
                 it
                 so
                 easie
                 as
                 your
                 Friend
                 seems
                 to
                 
                 believe
                 it
                 ,
                 to
                 get
                 by
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 Nature
                 a
                 sure
                 and
                 lasting
                 Reputation
                 ,
                 neither
                 ought
                 the
                 Expectation
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 in
                 reason
                 ,
                 make
                 men
                 undervalue
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 Divinity
                 .
                 Nor
                 would
                 it
                 here
                 avail
                 to
                 object
                 (
                 by
                 way
                 of
                 prevention
                 )
                 that
                 the
                 Difficulties
                 and
                 Impediments
                 of
                 acquiring
                 and
                 securing
                 Reputation
                 ,
                 lie
                 as
                 well
                 in
                 the
                 way
                 of
                 Divines
                 as
                 Philosophers
                 ,
                 since
                 this
                 Objection
                 has
                 been
                 already
                 consider'd
                 at
                 the
                 beginning
                 of
                 this
                 Second
                 Part
                 of
                 our
                 present
                 Tract
                 .
                 Besides
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 progress
                 of
                 our
                 Discourse
                 will
                 shew
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Naturalist
                 ,
                 aspiring
                 to
                 fame
                 ,
                 is
                 liable
                 to
                 some
                 Inconveniences
                 ,
                 which
                 are
                 either
                 not
                 at
                 all
                 ,
                 or
                 not
                 near
                 equally
                 incident
                 to
                 the
                 Divine
                 .
                 Wherefore
                 without
                 staying
                 to
                 take
                 any
                 further
                 notice
                 of
                 this
                 preventive
                 Allegation
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 proceed
                 to
                 make
                 good
                 the
                 first
                 part
                 of
                 the
                 Assertion
                 that
                 preceded
                 it
                 ;
                 which
                 that
                 I
                 may
                 the
                 more
                 fully
                 do
                 ,
                 give
                 me
                 leave
                 (
                 after
                 having
                 premised
                 ,
                 
                   That
                   a
                   man
                   must
                   either
                   be
                   a
                   Writer
                   ,
                   or
                   forbear
                   to
                   Print
                   what
                   he
                   knows
                
                 ;
                 )
                 to
                 propose
                 to
                 you
                 the
                 following
                 Considerations
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 first
                 ,
                 if
                 your
                 Physeophilus
                 should
                 think
                 to
                 secure
                 a
                 great
                 Reputation
                 ,
                 by
                 forbearing
                 to
                 couch
                 any
                 of
                 his
                 
                 Thoughts
                 or
                 Experiments
                 in
                 Writing
                 ,
                 he
                 may
                 thereby
                 find
                 himself
                 not
                 a
                 little
                 mistaken
                 .
                 For
                 if
                 once
                 he
                 have
                 gain'd
                 a
                 repute
                 (
                 upon
                 what
                 account
                 soever
                 )
                 of
                 knowing
                 some
                 things
                 that
                 may
                 be
                 useful
                 to
                 others
                 ,
                 or
                 of
                 which
                 studious
                 men
                 are
                 wont
                 to
                 be
                 very
                 desirous
                 ,
                 he
                 will
                 not
                 avoid
                 the
                 Visits
                 and
                 Questions
                 of
                 the
                 Curious
                 .
                 Or
                 ,
                 if
                 he
                 should
                 affect
                 a
                 Solitude
                 ,
                 and
                 be
                 content
                 to
                 hide
                 himself
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 may
                 hide
                 the
                 things
                 he
                 knows
                 ;
                 yet
                 he
                 will
                 not
                 escape
                 the
                 sollicitations
                 that
                 will
                 be
                 made
                 him
                 by
                 Letters
                 .
                 And
                 if
                 these
                 ways
                 of
                 tempting
                 him
                 to
                 disclose
                 himself
                 ,
                 prevail
                 not
                 at
                 all
                 with
                 him
                 to
                 do
                 so
                 ,
                 he
                 will
                 provoke
                 the
                 Persons
                 that
                 have
                 employ'd
                 them
                 ;
                 who
                 finding
                 themselves
                 disoblieg'd
                 by
                 being
                 defeated
                 of
                 their
                 Desires
                 ,
                 if
                 not
                 also
                 their
                 Expectations
                 ,
                 will
                 for
                 the
                 most
                 part
                 endeavour
                 to
                 revenge
                 themselves
                 on
                 him
                 ,
                 by
                 giving
                 him
                 the
                 Character
                 of
                 an
                 uncourteous
                 and
                 ill-natur'd
                 person
                 ;
                 and
                 will
                 endeavour
                 ,
                 perhaps
                 successfully
                 enough
                 ,
                 to
                 decry
                 his
                 parts
                 ,
                 by
                 suggesting
                 ,
                 That
                 his
                 affected
                 Concealments
                 proceed
                 but
                 from
                 a
                 Conscientiousness
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 things
                 he
                 is
                 presum'd
                 to
                 possess
                 ,
                 are
                 but
                 such
                 ,
                 as
                 ,
                 
                 if
                 they
                 should
                 begin
                 to
                 be
                 known
                 ,
                 would
                 cease
                 to
                 be
                 valu'd
                 .
              
               
                 You
                 will
                 say
                 (
                 perchance
                 ,
                 )
                 that
                 so
                 much
                 reservedness
                 is
                 a
                 fault
                 :
                 Nor
                 shall
                 I
                 dispute
                 it
                 with
                 you
                 ,
                 whether
                 it
                 be
                 or
                 not
                 ;
                 but
                 ,
                 if
                 he
                 be
                 open
                 and
                 communicative
                 in
                 Discourse
                 to
                 those
                 Strangers
                 that
                 come
                 to
                 pump
                 him
                 ,
                 such
                 is
                 the
                 disingenious
                 temper
                 of
                 too
                 too
                 many
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 will
                 be
                 in
                 great
                 danger
                 of
                 having
                 his
                 Notions
                 or
                 Experiments
                 arrogated
                 by
                 those
                 to
                 whom
                 he
                 imparts
                 them
                 ,
                 or
                 at
                 least
                 by
                 others
                 ,
                 to
                 whom
                 those
                 may
                 (
                 though
                 perchance
                 designlessly
                 )
                 happen
                 to
                 discourse
                 of
                 them
                 .
                 And
                 then
                 ,
                 if
                 either
                 Physeophylus
                 ,
                 or
                 any
                 of
                 his
                 Friends
                 that
                 know
                 him
                 to
                 be
                 Author
                 of
                 what
                 is
                 thus
                 usurp'd
                 ,
                 should
                 mention
                 him
                 as
                 such
                 ,
                 the
                 Usurpers
                 and
                 their
                 Friends
                 would
                 presently
                 become
                 his
                 Enemies
                 ;
                 and
                 ,
                 to
                 secure
                 their
                 own
                 Reputation
                 ,
                 will
                 be
                 sollicitous
                 to
                 lessen
                 and
                 blemish
                 his
                 .
                 And
                 if
                 you
                 should
                 now
                 tell
                 me
                 ,
                 that
                 your
                 Friend
                 might
                 here
                 take
                 a
                 Middle
                 way
                 ,
                 as
                 that
                 which
                 in
                 most
                 cases
                 is
                 thought
                 to
                 be
                 the
                 best
                 ,
                 by
                 discoursing
                 at
                 such
                 a
                 rate
                 of
                 his
                 Discoveries
                 ,
                 as
                 may
                 somewhat
                 gratifie
                 those
                 that
                 have
                 a
                 Curiosity
                 to
                 learn
                 
                 them
                 ,
                 and
                 yet
                 not
                 speak
                 so
                 clearly
                 as
                 divest
                 himself
                 of
                 his
                 Propriety
                 in
                 them
                 ;
                 I
                 should
                 reply
                 ,
                 That
                 neither
                 is
                 this
                 Expedient
                 a
                 sure
                 one
                 ,
                 nor
                 free
                 from
                 Inconveniences
                 .
                 For
                 most
                 men
                 are
                 so
                 self-opinionated
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 will
                 easily
                 believe
                 themselves
                 Masters
                 of
                 things
                 ,
                 if
                 they
                 do
                 but
                 half
                 understand
                 them
                 .
                 And
                 however
                 ,
                 though
                 the
                 Persons
                 to
                 whom
                 the
                 Discourse
                 was
                 immediately
                 made
                 ,
                 should
                 not
                 have
                 too
                 great
                 an
                 Opinion
                 of
                 themselves
                 ,
                 no
                 more
                 than
                 too
                 great
                 a
                 Sagacity
                 ;
                 yet
                 they
                 may
                 easily
                 ,
                 by
                 repeating
                 what
                 they
                 heard
                 and
                 observ'd
                 ,
                 give
                 some
                 more
                 piercing
                 Wit
                 a
                 hint
                 sufficient
                 to
                 enable
                 him
                 to
                 make
                 out
                 the
                 whole
                 Notion
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 Discovery
                 ,
                 which
                 he
                 will
                 then
                 without
                 scruple
                 ,
                 and
                 without
                 almost
                 any
                 possibility
                 of
                 being
                 disprov'd
                 ,
                 assume
                 for
                 his
                 own
                 .
                 But
                 if
                 it
                 happen
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 it
                 often
                 will
                 in
                 Extemporaneous
                 Discourse
                 )
                 that
                 a
                 Philosopher
                 be
                 not
                 rightly
                 understood
                 ;
                 either
                 because
                 he
                 has
                 not
                 the
                 leisure
                 ,
                 no
                 more
                 than
                 a
                 design
                 ,
                 to
                 explain
                 himself
                 fully
                 ,
                 or
                 because
                 the
                 Persons
                 he
                 converses
                 with
                 bring
                 not
                 a
                 competent
                 Capacity
                 and
                 Attention
                 ,
                 he
                 then
                 runs
                 a
                 greater
                 danger
                 than
                 before
                 .
                 For
                 the
                 vanity
                 
                 most
                 men
                 take
                 in
                 being
                 known
                 to
                 have
                 convers'd
                 with
                 eminent
                 Philosophers
                 ,
                 makes
                 them
                 very
                 forward
                 to
                 repeat
                 what
                 they
                 heard
                 such
                 a
                 famous
                 Wit
                 say
                 ;
                 and
                 oftentimes
                 being
                 secure
                 of
                 not
                 being
                 contradicted
                 ,
                 ignorantly
                 to
                 misrecite
                 it
                 ,
                 or
                 wittingly
                 to
                 wrest
                 it
                 in
                 favour
                 of
                 the
                 Opinion
                 they
                 would
                 countenance
                 by
                 it
                 .
                 So
                 that
                 ,
                 whereas
                 by
                 the
                 formerly
                 mention'd
                 franckness
                 of
                 Discourse
                 he
                 is
                 onely
                 in
                 danger
                 to
                 have
                 the
                 Truths
                 he
                 discover'd
                 arrogated
                 by
                 Others
                 ,
                 this
                 reservedness
                 exposes
                 him
                 to
                 have
                 Opinions
                 and
                 Errours
                 that
                 he
                 never
                 dream'd
                 of
                 ,
                 father'd
                 on
                 Him.
                 And
                 when
                 a
                 man's
                 Opinions
                 or
                 Discoveries
                 come
                 once
                 to
                 be
                 publickly
                 discours'd
                 of
                 ,
                 without
                 being
                 propos'd
                 by
                 himself
                 ,
                 or
                 some
                 Friend
                 well
                 instructed
                 by
                 him
                 ,
                 he
                 knows
                 not
                 ,
                 what
                 Errours
                 or
                 Extravagancies
                 may
                 be
                 imputed
                 to
                 him
                 (
                 and
                 that
                 without
                 a
                 Moral
                 possibility
                 left
                 to
                 most
                 men
                 to
                 discern
                 them
                 ,
                 (
                 by
                 the
                 mistake
                 of
                 the
                 Weak
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 disingenuity
                 of
                 the
                 Partial
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 Artifices
                 of
                 the
                 Malitious
                 .
                 And
                 even
                 the
                 greatness
                 of
                 a
                 mans
                 Reputation
                 does
                 sometimes
                 give
                 such
                 countenance
                 to
                 vain
                 Reports
                 and
                 Surmises
                 ,
                 as
                 by
                 degrees
                 to
                 shake
                 ,
                 
                 if
                 not
                 ruine
                 ,
                 it
                 .
                 As
                 we
                 see
                 ,
                 that
                 Fryer
                 Bacon
                 ,
                 and
                 Trithemius
                 ,
                 and
                 Paracelsus
                 ,
                 who
                 for
                 their
                 times
                 were
                 knowing
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 famous
                 men
                 ,
                 had
                 such
                 feats
                 ascrib'd
                 to
                 them
                 ,
                 as
                 by
                 appearing
                 Fabulous
                 to
                 most
                 of
                 the
                 Judicious
                 ,
                 have
                 tempted
                 many
                 to
                 think
                 ,
                 that
                 all
                 the
                 great
                 things
                 that
                 were
                 said
                 of
                 them
                 were
                 so
                 too
                 .
              
               
                 These
                 are
                 some
                 of
                 the
                 Inconveniences
                 that
                 a
                 Naturalist
                 may
                 be
                 liable
                 to
                 ,
                 if
                 he
                 forbear
                 the
                 communicating
                 of
                 his
                 Thoughts
                 and
                 Discoveries
                 himself
                 :
                 But
                 if
                 Physeophilus
                 should
                 ,
                 to
                 shun
                 these
                 ,
                 aspire
                 to
                 Fame
                 by
                 the
                 usual
                 way
                 of
                 writing
                 Books
                 ,
                 he
                 may
                 indeed
                 avoid
                 these
                 ,
                 but
                 perhaps
                 not
                 without
                 running
                 into
                 other
                 inconveniences
                 and
                 hazards
                 ,
                 very
                 little
                 inferiour
                 to
                 them
                 .
              
               
                 First
                 then
                 ,
                 we
                 may
                 consider
                 ,
                 that
                 whether
                 a
                 man
                 writes
                 in
                 a
                 Systematical
                 way
                 ,
                 as
                 they
                 have
                 done
                 who
                 have
                 publish'd
                 entire
                 Bodies
                 of
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 or
                 Methodical
                 Treatises
                 of
                 some
                 considerable
                 part
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 or
                 whether
                 he
                 write
                 in
                 a
                 more
                 loose
                 and
                 unconfin'd
                 way
                 ,
                 of
                 any
                 particular
                 Subject
                 that
                 belongs
                 to
                 Physicks
                 ;
                 whichsoever
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 ,
                 of
                 these
                 two
                 ways
                 of
                 writing
                 Books
                 he
                 shall
                 make
                 choice
                 
                 of
                 ,
                 he
                 will
                 find
                 it
                 liable
                 to
                 Inconvenience
                 enough
                 .
              
               
                 For
                 if
                 he
                 write
                 Systematically
                 ,
                 first
                 ,
                 he
                 will
                 be
                 obliged
                 (
                 that
                 he
                 may
                 leave
                 nothing
                 necessary
                 undeliver'd
                 )
                 to
                 say
                 divers
                 things
                 that
                 have
                 been
                 said
                 (
                 perhaps
                 many
                 times
                 )
                 by
                 others
                 already
                 ,
                 which
                 cannot
                 but
                 be
                 unpleasant
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 to
                 the
                 Reader
                 ,
                 but
                 (
                 if
                 he
                 be
                 Ingenious
                 )
                 to
                 the
                 Writer
                 .
                 Next
                 ,
                 there
                 are
                 so
                 many
                 things
                 in
                 Nature
                 ,
                 whereof
                 we
                 know
                 little
                 or
                 Nothing
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 many
                 more
                 of
                 which
                 we
                 do
                 not
                 know
                 Enough
                 ,
                 that
                 our
                 Systematical
                 Writer
                 ,
                 though
                 we
                 should
                 grant
                 him
                 to
                 be
                 very
                 Learned
                 ,
                 must
                 needs
                 ,
                 either
                 leave
                 divers
                 things
                 that
                 belong
                 to
                 his
                 Theme
                 untreated
                 of
                 ,
                 or
                 discourse
                 of
                 them
                 slightly
                 ,
                 and
                 oftentimes
                 (
                 in
                 likelihood
                 )
                 Erroneously
                 .
                 So
                 that
                 in
                 this
                 kind
                 of
                 Books
                 there
                 is
                 always
                 much
                 said
                 that
                 the
                 Reader
                 did
                 know
                 ,
                 and
                 commonly
                 not
                 a
                 little
                 that
                 the
                 Writer
                 
                   does
                   not
                
                 know
                 .
                 And
                 to
                 this
                 I
                 must
                 add
                 in
                 the
                 third
                 place
                 ,
                 that
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 being
                 so
                 vast
                 and
                 pregnant
                 a
                 Subject
                 ,
                 that
                 (
                 especially
                 in
                 so
                 Inquisitive
                 an
                 Age
                 as
                 this
                 )
                 almost
                 every
                 day
                 discovers
                 some
                 new
                 thing
                 or
                 other
                 about
                 it
                 ,
                 't
                 is
                 scarce
                 possible
                 
                 for
                 a
                 Method
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 adapted
                 but
                 to
                 what
                 is
                 Already
                 known
                 ,
                 to
                 continue
                 Long
                 the
                 most
                 proper
                 ;
                 as
                 the
                 same
                 Clothes
                 will
                 not
                 long
                 fit
                 a
                 Child
                 ,
                 whose
                 Age
                 will
                 make
                 him
                 quickly
                 out-grow
                 them
                 .
                 And
                 therefore
                 succeeding
                 Writers
                 will
                 have
                 a
                 fair
                 pretence
                 to
                 compile
                 new
                 Systems
                 ,
                 that
                 may
                 be
                 more
                 adequate
                 to
                 Philosophy
                 improv'd
                 since
                 the
                 publication
                 of
                 the
                 former
                 .
                 And
                 though
                 there
                 were
                 little
                 of
                 New
                 to
                 be
                 added
                 ,
                 and
                 it
                 were
                 more
                 easie
                 to
                 Alter
                 than
                 to
                 Mend
                 the
                 Method
                 of
                 our
                 supposed
                 Authour
                 ;
                 yet
                 Novelty
                 it self
                 is
                 a
                 thing
                 so
                 pleasing
                 and
                 inviting
                 to
                 the
                 generality
                 of
                 men
                 ,
                 that
                 It
                 often
                 recommends
                 things
                 that
                 have
                 nothing
                 else
                 to
                 recommend
                 them
                 ;
                 and
                 we
                 may
                 apply
                 to
                 a
                 great
                 many
                 other
                 things
                 ,
                 what
                 I
                 remember
                 a
                 famous
                 Courtier
                 of
                 my
                 acquaintance
                 used
                 to
                 say
                 of
                 Mistresses
                 ,
                 That
                 Another
                 was
                 preferable
                 to
                 a
                 Better
                 ,
                 (
                 the
                 Better
                 being
                 but
                 the
                 same
                 .
                 )
              
               
                 But
                 now
                 if
                 ,
                 declining
                 the
                 Systematical
                 way
                 ,
                 one
                 shall
                 choose
                 the
                 other
                 of
                 writing
                 loose
                 Tracts
                 and
                 Discourses
                 ,
                 he
                 may
                 indeed
                 avoid
                 some
                 of
                 the
                 lately
                 mention'd
                 Inconveniences
                 ,
                 but
                 will
                 scarce
                 avoid
                 the
                 being
                 
                 plunder'd
                 by
                 Systematical
                 Writers
                 :
                 For
                 these
                 will
                 be
                 apt
                 to
                 cull
                 out
                 those
                 things
                 that
                 they
                 like
                 best
                 ,
                 and
                 insert
                 them
                 in
                 their
                 Methodical
                 Books
                 ,
                 (
                 perhaps
                 much
                 curtal'd
                 ,
                 or
                 otherwise
                 injur'd
                 in
                 the
                 repeating
                 ,
                 )
                 and
                 will
                 place
                 them
                 ,
                 not
                 as
                 their
                 own
                 Authour
                 did
                 ,
                 where
                 they
                 may
                 best
                 confirm
                 or
                 adorn
                 his
                 Discourse
                 ,
                 and
                 be
                 illustrated
                 or
                 upheld
                 by
                 it
                 ;
                 but
                 where
                 it
                 may
                 best
                 serve
                 the
                 turn
                 of
                 the
                 Compiler
                 :
                 And
                 these
                 Methodical
                 Books
                 promise
                 so
                 much
                 more
                 Compendious
                 a
                 way
                 than
                 others
                 to
                 the
                 Attainment
                 of
                 the
                 Sciences
                 they
                 treat
                 of
                 ,
                 that
                 though
                 really
                 for
                 the
                 most
                 part
                 they
                 prove
                 greater
                 helps
                 to
                 the
                 Memory
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 Understanding
                 ;
                 yet
                 most
                 Readers
                 ,
                 being
                 ,
                 for
                 want
                 of
                 Judgment
                 or
                 of
                 Patience
                 ,
                 of
                 another
                 mind
                 ,
                 they
                 are
                 willing
                 to
                 take
                 it
                 for
                 granted
                 ,
                 that
                 in
                 former
                 Writers
                 ,
                 if
                 there
                 have
                 been
                 any
                 thing
                 considerable
                 ,
                 it
                 has
                 been
                 all
                 carefully
                 extracted
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 orderly
                 digested
                 by
                 the
                 later
                 Compilers
                 :
                 And
                 though
                 I
                 take
                 this
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 very
                 Erroneous
                 and
                 Prejudicial
                 Conceit
                 ,
                 yet
                 it
                 obtains
                 so
                 much
                 ,
                 that
                 as
                 Gol●smiths
                 that
                 onely
                 give
                 shape
                 and
                 lustre
                 to
                 Gold
                 are
                 far
                 more
                 esteem'd
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 in
                 a
                 better
                 Condition
                 ,
                 than
                 Miners
                 ,
                 who
                 find
                 the
                 Ore
                 in
                 the
                 bowels
                 of
                 the
                 Earth
                 ,
                 and
                 with
                 great
                 pains
                 and
                 industry
                 dig
                 it
                 up
                 ,
                 and
                 refine
                 it
                 into
                 Metall
                 ;
                 so
                 those
                 that
                 with
                 great
                 study
                 and
                 toil
                 successfully
                 penetrate
                 into
                 the
                 hidden
                 Recesses
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 and
                 discover
                 latent
                 Truths
                 ,
                 are
                 usually
                 less
                 regarded
                 or
                 taken
                 notice
                 of
                 by
                 the
                 Generality
                 of
                 Men
                 ,
                 than
                 those
                 who
                 by
                 plausible
                 Methods
                 and
                 a
                 neat
                 Style
                 reduce
                 the
                 Truths
                 ,
                 that
                 others
                 have
                 found
                 out
                 ,
                 into
                 Systems
                 of
                 a
                 Taking
                 Order
                 and
                 a
                 Convenient
                 Bulk
                 .
              
               
                 I
                 consider
                 in
                 the
                 second
                 place
                 ,
                 That
                 as
                 the
                 Method
                 of
                 the
                 Books
                 one
                 writes
                 ,
                 so
                 the
                 Bulk
                 of
                 them
                 may
                 prove
                 prejudicial
                 to
                 the
                 Naturalist
                 that
                 aspires
                 to
                 Fame
                 :
                 For
                 if
                 he
                 write
                 large
                 Books
                 ,
                 't
                 is
                 odds
                 but
                 that
                 he
                 will
                 write
                 in
                 them
                 many
                 things
                 unaccurate
                 ,
                 if
                 not
                 impertinent
                 ,
                 or
                 that
                 he
                 will
                 be
                 oblig'd
                 to
                 repeat
                 many
                 things
                 that
                 others
                 have
                 said
                 before
                 ;
                 and
                 if
                 he
                 write
                 but
                 small
                 Tracts
                 ,
                 as
                 is
                 the
                 custome
                 of
                 the
                 Judiciousest
                 Authors
                 ,
                 who
                 have
                 no
                 mind
                 to
                 publish
                 but
                 what
                 is
                 New
                 and
                 Considerable
                 ,
                 as
                 their
                 Excellency
                 will
                 make
                 them
                 to
                 be
                 
                 the
                 sooner
                 dispers'd
                 ,
                 so
                 the
                 smallness
                 of
                 the
                 Bulk
                 will
                 endanger
                 them
                 to
                 be
                 quickly
                 lost
                 ;
                 as
                 Experience
                 shows
                 us
                 of
                 divers
                 Excellent
                 little
                 Tracts
                 ,
                 which
                 ,
                 though
                 publish'd
                 not
                 many
                 years
                 ago
                 ,
                 are
                 already
                 out
                 of
                 Print
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 they
                 speak
                 )
                 and
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 met
                 with
                 ,
                 save
                 by
                 chance
                 ,
                 in
                 Stationers
                 Shops
                 .
                 So
                 that
                 these
                 Writings
                 (
                 which
                 deserve
                 a
                 better
                 fate
                 )
                 come
                 ,
                 after
                 a
                 while
                 ,
                 either
                 to
                 be
                 lost
                 ,
                 (
                 which
                 is
                 the
                 case
                 of
                 divers
                 ,
                 )
                 or
                 to
                 have
                 their
                 Memory
                 preserv'd
                 onely
                 in
                 the
                 larger
                 Volume
                 of
                 some
                 Compiler
                 ,
                 whose
                 Industry
                 is
                 onely
                 preferable
                 to
                 his
                 Judgment
                 ;
                 it
                 being
                 observable
                 ,
                 that
                 (
                 by
                 I
                 know
                 not
                 what
                 unlucky
                 fate
                 )
                 very
                 few
                 (
                 for
                 I
                 do
                 not
                 say
                 ,
                 None
                 )
                 that
                 addict
                 themselves
                 to
                 make
                 Collections
                 out
                 of
                 others
                 ,
                 have
                 the
                 Judgment
                 to
                 cull
                 out
                 the
                 choisest
                 things
                 in
                 them
                 ;
                 and
                 the
                 small
                 Tracts
                 ,
                 we
                 are
                 speaking
                 of
                 ,
                 being
                 preserv'd
                 but
                 in
                 such
                 a
                 Quoter
                 or
                 Abridger
                 ,
                 will
                 run
                 a
                 very
                 great
                 danger
                 of
                 being
                 convey'd
                 to
                 posterity
                 but
                 under
                 such
                 a
                 Representation
                 as
                 it
                 pleases
                 the
                 Compiler
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 This
                 (
                 that
                 I
                 may
                 proceed
                 to
                 my
                 third
                 Consideration
                 )
                 may
                 make
                 the
                 Naturalists
                 Fame
                 very
                 uncertain
                 ,
                 
                 not
                 onely
                 because
                 of
                 the
                 want
                 of
                 Judgment
                 ,
                 that
                 (
                 as
                 I
                 newly
                 said
                 )
                 is
                 too
                 often
                 observable
                 in
                 Compilers
                 ,
                 whereby
                 they
                 frequently
                 leave
                 far
                 better
                 things
                 than
                 they
                 take
                 ,
                 but
                 for
                 the
                 want
                 of
                 skill
                 to
                 understand
                 the
                 Author
                 they
                 Cite
                 and
                 Epitomize
                 ,
                 or
                 Candor
                 to
                 do
                 him
                 right
                 .
                 For
                 sometimes
                 mens
                 Physical
                 Opinions
                 ,
                 and
                 several
                 Passages
                 of
                 their
                 Writings
                 ,
                 are
                 so
                 misrepresented
                 by
                 Mistake
                 or
                 Design
                 ,
                 especially
                 if
                 those
                 that
                 recite
                 their
                 Opinions
                 be
                 not
                 Of
                 them
                 ,
                 that
                 men
                 are
                 made
                 to
                 teach
                 or
                 deliver
                 things
                 quite
                 differing
                 from
                 their
                 Sense
                 ,
                 and
                 perhaps
                 quite
                 contrary
                 to
                 it
                 ;
                 of
                 which
                 ,
                 I
                 my self
                 have
                 had
                 some
                 unwelcome
                 Experience
                 ,
                 a
                 Learned
                 Writer
                 pretending
                 ,
                 I
                 know
                 not
                 how
                 often
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 asserted
                 an
                 Opinion
                 ,
                 about
                 which
                 I
                 did
                 expressly
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 .
                 And
                 another
                 noted
                 Writer
                 having
                 (
                 not
                 out
                 of
                 design
                 ,
                 but
                 unacquaintedness
                 with
                 Mechanicks
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Subject
                 I
                 writ
                 of
                 ,
                 )
                 given
                 me
                 commendations
                 for
                 having
                 ,
                 by
                 a
                 new
                 Experiment
                 ,
                 prov'd
                 a
                 thing
                 ,
                 the
                 quite
                 contrary
                 whereof
                 I
                 intended
                 thereby
                 to
                 evince
                 ,
                 and
                 am
                 not
                 Alone
                 mistaken
                 ,
                 if
                 I
                 did
                 not
                 do
                 it
                 .
                 Other
                 Naturalists
                 I
                 have
                 met
                 with
                 ,
                 
                 whose
                 Writings
                 Compilers
                 have
                 traduc'd
                 out
                 of
                 hatred
                 to
                 their
                 Persons
                 ,
                 or
                 their
                 Religion
                 ;
                 as
                 if
                 Truth
                 could
                 in
                 nothing
                 be
                 a
                 Friend
                 to
                 one
                 that
                 is
                 the
                 Traducers's
                 Enemy
                 ;
                 or
                 as
                 if
                 a
                 man
                 that
                 falls
                 into
                 an
                 Errour
                 in
                 Religion
                 ,
                 could
                 not
                 light
                 upon
                 a
                 good
                 Notion
                 in
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 in
                 spite
                 of
                 all
                 the
                 Truths
                 we
                 owe
                 to
                 
                   Aristotle
                   ,
                   Epicurus
                
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 other
                 Heathen
                 Philosophers
                 .
                 Nay
                 ,
                 some
                 there
                 are
                 ,
                 that
                 will
                 set
                 themselves
                 to
                 decry
                 a
                 man's
                 Writings
                 ,
                 not
                 because
                 they
                 are
                 directly
                 His
                 Enemies
                 ,
                 but
                 because
                 He
                 is
                 esteem'd
                 by
                 Theirs
                 ;
                 as
                 you
                 may
                 remember
                 an
                 Instance
                 in
                 a
                 Servant
                 of
                 yours
                 ,
                 who
                 had
                 divers
                 things
                 written
                 against
                 Him
                 upon
                 this
                 very
                 Account
                 .
                 Nor
                 is
                 it
                 onely
                 by
                 the
                 Citations
                 of
                 profess'd
                 Adversaries
                 or
                 Opponents
                 ,
                 that
                 a
                 worthy
                 Writer's
                 Reputation
                 may
                 be
                 prejudic'd
                 ,
                 since
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 unfrequently
                 so
                 by
                 those
                 ,
                 that
                 mention
                 him
                 with
                 an
                 Encomium
                 ,
                 and
                 seem
                 dispos'd
                 to
                 honour
                 him
                 .
                 For
                 I
                 have
                 observ'd
                 it
                 to
                 be
                 the
                 Trick
                 of
                 certain
                 Writers
                 ,
                 to
                 name
                 an
                 Author
                 with
                 much
                 Complement
                 ,
                 onely
                 for
                 some
                 one
                 or
                 few
                 of
                 the
                 least
                 considerable
                 things
                 they
                 borrow
                 of
                 Him
                 ;
                 by
                 which
                 artifice
                 they
                 endeavour
                 
                 to
                 conceal
                 their
                 being
                 Plagiaries
                 of
                 more
                 and
                 better
                 ;
                 which
                 yet
                 is
                 more
                 excusable
                 than
                 the
                 Practise
                 of
                 some
                 ,
                 who
                 proceed
                 to
                 that
                 pitch
                 of
                 disingenuity
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 will
                 rail
                 at
                 an
                 Author
                 ,
                 to
                 whom
                 indeed
                 they
                 owe
                 too
                 much
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 may
                 not
                 be
                 thought
                 to
                 be
                 beholden
                 to
                 him
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 (
                 4.
                 )
                 I
                 must
                 add
                 ,
                 that
                 besides
                 these
                 dangers
                 that
                 a
                 Naturalists
                 Reputation
                 with
                 posterity
                 may
                 run
                 through
                 the
                 Ignorance
                 or
                 Perversness
                 of
                 men
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 liable
                 to
                 divers
                 other
                 hazards
                 ,
                 from
                 the
                 very
                 Nature
                 both
                 of
                 Men
                 ,
                 of
                 Opinions
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 Things
                 .
              
               
                 For
                 ,
                 as
                 men's
                 Genius's
                 and
                 Inclinations
                 are
                 naturally
                 various
                 in
                 reference
                 to
                 Studies
                 ,
                 one
                 man
                 passionately
                 affecting
                 one
                 sort
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 and
                 another
                 being
                 fond
                 of
                 quite
                 differing
                 ones
                 ;
                 so
                 those
                 Inclinations
                 are
                 oftentimes
                 variously
                 and
                 generally
                 determin'd
                 by
                 external
                 and
                 accidental
                 Causes
                 .
                 As
                 when
                 some
                 great
                 Monarch
                 happens
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 great
                 Patron
                 ,
                 or
                 a
                 Despiser
                 ,
                 and
                 perhaps
                 Adversary
                 ,
                 of
                 this
                 or
                 that
                 kind
                 of
                 Learning
                 :
                 And
                 when
                 some
                 one
                 man
                 has
                 gain'd
                 much
                 applause
                 for
                 this
                 or
                 that
                 kind
                 of
                 Study
                 ;
                 Imitation
                 ,
                 or
                 Emulation
                 oftentimes
                 makes
                 many
                 
                 others
                 addict
                 themselves
                 to
                 it
                 .
                 Thus
                 though
                 Rome
                 under
                 the
                 Consuls
                 was
                 inconsiderable
                 for
                 Learning
                 ,
                 yet
                 the
                 Reputation
                 of
                 Cicero
                 ,
                 and
                 Favour
                 of
                 Augustus
                 ,
                 brought
                 Learning
                 into
                 request
                 there
                 ;
                 where
                 the
                 small
                 countenance
                 it
                 met
                 with
                 among
                 most
                 of
                 the
                 succeeding
                 Emperours
                 ,
                 kept
                 it
                 far
                 inferiour
                 to
                 what
                 it
                 had
                 been
                 among
                 the
                 Greeks
                 about
                 
                 Alexander's
                 Age.
                 And
                 the
                 Age
                 of
                 the
                 same
                 Augustus
                 was
                 enobled
                 with
                 store
                 of
                 Poets
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 by
                 the
                 countenance
                 which
                 He
                 and
                 Maecenas
                 afforded
                 them
                 ,
                 but
                 probably
                 also
                 by
                 the
                 Examples
                 they
                 gave
                 to
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Emulation
                 they
                 excited
                 in
                 ,
                 one
                 another
                 .
                 And
                 after
                 the
                 decay
                 of
                 the
                 Roman
                 Empire
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 Fourth
                 Century
                 ,
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 and
                 the
                 Mathematicks
                 being
                 very
                 little
                 valued
                 ,
                 and
                 less
                 understood
                 ,
                 by
                 reason
                 that
                 mens
                 Studies
                 were
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 Genius
                 of
                 those
                 Ages
                 apply'd
                 to
                 other
                 Subjects
                 ,
                 every
                 hundred
                 years
                 scarce
                 produc'd
                 One
                 Improver
                 ,
                 (
                 not
                 to
                 say
                 one
                 Eminent
                 Cultivator
                 )
                 either
                 of
                 Mathematicks
                 or
                 of
                 Physicks
                 :
                 By
                 which
                 you
                 may
                 see
                 ,
                 how
                 little
                 Certainty
                 there
                 is
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 because
                 a
                 man
                 is
                 skill'd
                 in
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 Science
                 is
                 
                 now
                 in
                 Request
                 ,
                 his
                 Reputation
                 shall
                 be
                 as
                 great
                 as
                 now
                 ,
                 when
                 perhaps
                 the
                 Science
                 it self
                 will
                 be
                 grown
                 out
                 of
                 Repute
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 besides
                 the
                 Contingencies
                 that
                 may
                 happen
                 to
                 a
                 Naturalist's
                 Fame
                 upon
                 this
                 Account
                 ,
                 That
                 the
                 Science
                 He
                 cultivates
                 ,
                 is
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 others
                 ,
                 subject
                 to
                 Wanes
                 and
                 Eclipses
                 in
                 the
                 general
                 esteem
                 of
                 men
                 ;
                 there
                 is
                 another
                 uncertainty
                 arising
                 from
                 the
                 Vicissitudes
                 that
                 are
                 to
                 be
                 met
                 with
                 in
                 the
                 Estimates
                 men
                 make
                 of
                 differing
                 Hypotheses
                 ,
                 Sects
                 ,
                 and
                 ways
                 of
                 Philosophizing
                 about
                 the
                 same
                 Science
                 ,
                 and
                 particularly
                 about
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 .
                 For
                 during
                 those
                 Learned
                 Times
                 ,
                 when
                 Physicks
                 first
                 and
                 most
                 flourish'd
                 among
                 the
                 
                   Grecians
                   ,
                   Democritus
                   ,
                   Leucippus
                   ,
                   Epicurus
                   ,
                   Anaxagoras
                   ,
                   Plato
                   ,
                
                 and
                 almost
                 all
                 the
                 Naturalists
                 that
                 preceded
                 Aristotle
                 ,
                 were
                 Corpuscularians
                 ,
                 endeavouring
                 ,
                 though
                 not
                 all
                 by
                 the
                 same
                 way
                 ,
                 to
                 give
                 an
                 account
                 of
                 the
                 Phaenomena
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 and
                 even
                 of
                 Qualities
                 themselves
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 Bigness
                 ,
                 Shape
                 ,
                 Motion
                 ,
                 &c.
                 of
                 Corpuscles
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 minutest
                 active
                 parts
                 of
                 Matter
                 :
                 Whereas
                 Aristotle
                 ,
                 having
                 attempted
                 to
                 deduce
                 the
                 Phaenomena
                 
                 from
                 the
                 four
                 first
                 Qualities
                 ,
                 the
                 four
                 Elements
                 ,
                 and
                 some
                 few
                 other
                 barren
                 Hypotheses
                 ,
                 ascribing
                 what
                 could
                 not
                 be
                 explicated
                 by
                 them
                 ,
                 (
                 and
                 consequently
                 far
                 the
                 greatest
                 part
                 of
                 Natures
                 Phaenomena
                 )
                 to
                 Substantial
                 Forms
                 and
                 Occult
                 Qualities
                 ;
                 (
                 Principles
                 that
                 are
                 readily
                 nam'd
                 ,
                 but
                 scarce
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 pretended
                 to
                 be
                 understood
                 ,
                 )
                 and
                 having
                 upon
                 these
                 slight
                 and
                 narrow
                 Principles
                 reduc'd
                 Physicks
                 into
                 a
                 kind
                 of
                 System
                 ,
                 which
                 the
                 judicious
                 Modesty
                 of
                 the
                 Corpuscularians
                 had
                 made
                 them
                 backward
                 to
                 do
                 ;
                 the
                 Reputation
                 that
                 his
                 great
                 Pupil
                 Alexander
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 his
                 Learning
                 gave
                 him
                 ;
                 the
                 Easiness
                 of
                 the
                 way
                 he
                 propos'd
                 to
                 the
                 attainment
                 of
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 ;
                 the
                 good
                 luck
                 his
                 Writings
                 had
                 to
                 survive
                 those
                 of
                 Democritus
                 ,
                 and
                 almost
                 all
                 the
                 rest
                 of
                 the
                 Corpuscularians
                 ,
                 when
                 Charles
                 the
                 Great
                 began
                 to
                 establish
                 Learning
                 in
                 Europe
                 :
                 These
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 ,
                 and
                 some
                 other
                 lucky
                 Accidents
                 that
                 concurr'd
                 ,
                 did
                 for
                 about
                 seven
                 or
                 eight
                 hundred
                 years
                 together
                 ,
                 make
                 the
                 Corpuscularian
                 Philosophy
                 not
                 onely
                 be
                 Justled
                 ,
                 but
                 even
                 Exploded
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 Schools
                 by
                 the
                 Peripatetick
                 ;
                 
                 which
                 in
                 our
                 Times
                 is
                 ,
                 by
                 very
                 many
                 ,
                 upon
                 the
                 Revival
                 of
                 the
                 Corpuscularian
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 rejected
                 ,
                 and
                 ,
                 by
                 more
                 than
                 a
                 few
                 ,
                 derided
                 as
                 precarious
                 ,
                 unintelligible
                 ,
                 and
                 useless
                 .
                 And
                 to
                 give
                 an
                 instance
                 in
                 a
                 particular
                 thing
                 ,
                 (
                 which
                 ,
                 though
                 formerly
                 named
                 ,
                 deserves
                 to
                 be
                 again
                 mention'd
                 to
                 our
                 present
                 purpose
                 ,
                 )
                 Aristotle
                 himself
                 somewhere
                 confesses
                 ,
                 (
                 not
                 to
                 say
                 brags
                 )
                 that
                 the
                 Greek
                 Philosophers
                 ,
                 his
                 Predecessors
                 did
                 ,
                 unanimously
                 teach
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 World
                 was
                 (
                 I
                 say
                 not
                 Created
                 ,
                 but
                 )
                 Made
                 ,
                 and
                 yet
                 He
                 ,
                 almost
                 by
                 his
                 single
                 Authority
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 subtile
                 Arguments
                 (
                 as
                 some
                 have
                 been
                 pleased
                 to
                 think
                 them
                 ,
                 )
                 that
                 he
                 employ'd
                 ,
                 (
                 though
                 divers
                 of
                 them
                 were
                 borrow'd
                 of
                 
                   Ocellus
                   Lucanus
                
                 ,
                 )
                 was
                 able
                 for
                 many
                 Ages
                 to
                 introduce
                 into
                 the
                 Schools
                 of
                 Philosophers
                 that
                 Irreligious
                 and
                 Ill-grounded
                 Opinion
                 of
                 the
                 Eternity
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 which
                 afterwards
                 the
                 Christian
                 Doctrine
                 made
                 men
                 begin
                 to
                 question
                 ,
                 and
                 which
                 now
                 both
                 that
                 and
                 Right
                 Reason
                 have
                 perswaded
                 most
                 men
                 to
                 reject
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 this
                 invites
                 me
                 to
                 consider
                 farther
                 ,
                 That
                 the
                 present
                 success
                 of
                 the
                 Opinions
                 that
                 your
                 Physeophilus
                 befriends
                 ,
                 
                 ought
                 not
                 to
                 make
                 him
                 so
                 sure
                 as
                 he
                 thinks
                 he
                 is
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 same
                 Opinions
                 will
                 be
                 always
                 in
                 the
                 same
                 ,
                 or
                 greater
                 Vogue
                 ,
                 and
                 have
                 the
                 same
                 Advantages
                 ,
                 in
                 point
                 of
                 General
                 Esteem
                 that
                 they
                 now
                 have
                 ,
                 over
                 their
                 Corrivals
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 Opinions
                 seem
                 to
                 have
                 their
                 Fatal
                 Seasons
                 and
                 Vicissitudes
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 other
                 things
                 ;
                 as
                 may
                 appear
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 by
                 the
                 Examples
                 of
                 it
                 newly
                 given
                 ,
                 but
                 also
                 by
                 the
                 Hypothesis
                 of
                 the
                 Earths
                 Motion
                 ,
                 which
                 having
                 been
                 in
                 great
                 request
                 before
                 Pythagoras
                 ,
                 (
                 who
                 yet
                 is
                 commonly
                 thought
                 the
                 Inventor
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 )
                 had
                 its
                 Reputation
                 much
                 increas'd
                 by
                 the
                 suffrage
                 of
                 the
                 famous
                 Sect
                 of
                 the
                 Pythagoreans
                 ,
                 (
                 whom
                 Aristotle
                 himself
                 takes
                 notice
                 of
                 as
                 the
                 Patrons
                 of
                 that
                 Opinion
                 ;
                 )
                 and
                 yet
                 afterwards
                 for
                 near
                 2000
                 years
                 it
                 was
                 laugh'd
                 at
                 ,
                 as
                 not
                 onely
                 false
                 ,
                 but
                 ridiculous
                 .
                 After
                 all
                 which
                 time
                 ,
                 this
                 so
                 long
                 antiquated
                 Opinion
                 being
                 reviv'd
                 by
                 Copernicus
                 ,
                 has
                 in
                 a
                 little
                 time
                 made
                 so
                 great
                 a
                 progress
                 among
                 the
                 modern
                 Astronomers
                 and
                 Philosophers
                 ,
                 that
                 if
                 it
                 go
                 on
                 to
                 prevail
                 at
                 the
                 same
                 rate
                 ,
                 the
                 Motion
                 of
                 the
                 Earth
                 will
                 be
                 acknowledg'd
                 by
                 all
                 its
                 Mathematical
                 Inhabitants
                 .
                 But
                 though
                 
                 it
                 be
                 often
                 the
                 Fate
                 of
                 an
                 oppress'd
                 Truth
                 ,
                 to
                 have
                 at
                 length
                 a
                 Resurrection
                 ,
                 yet
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 always
                 its
                 peculiar
                 priviledge
                 ;
                 for
                 ,
                 Obsolete
                 Errours
                 are
                 sometimes
                 reviv'd
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 discredited
                 Truths
                 :
                 So
                 that
                 the
                 general
                 disrepute
                 of
                 an
                 Opinion
                 in
                 one
                 Age
                 will
                 not
                 give
                 us
                 an
                 absolute
                 security
                 ,
                 that
                 't
                 will
                 not
                 be
                 in
                 as
                 general
                 Request
                 in
                 another
                 ,
                 in
                 which
                 it
                 may
                 perhaps
                 not
                 onely
                 Revive
                 ,
                 but
                 Reign
                 .
              
               
                 Nor
                 is
                 it
                 onely
                 in
                 the
                 Credit
                 of
                 mens
                 Opinions
                 about
                 Philosophical
                 Matters
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 may
                 observe
                 an
                 Inconstancy
                 and
                 Vicissitude
                 ,
                 but
                 in
                 the
                 very
                 Way
                 and
                 Method
                 of
                 Philosophizing
                 ;
                 for
                 
                   Democritus
                   ,
                   Plato
                   ,
                   Pythagoras
                
                 ,
                 and
                 others
                 ,
                 who
                 were
                 of
                 the
                 more
                 sincere
                 and
                 ingenious
                 Cultivators
                 of
                 Physicks
                 among
                 the
                 Greeks
                 ,
                 exercis'd
                 themselves
                 chiefly
                 either
                 in
                 making
                 particular
                 Experiments
                 and
                 Observations
                 ,
                 as
                 Democritus
                 did
                 in
                 his
                 manifold
                 Dissections
                 of
                 Animals
                 ;
                 or
                 else
                 apply'd
                 the
                 Mathematicks
                 to
                 the
                 Explicating
                 of
                 a
                 particular
                 Phaenomenon
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 as
                 may
                 appear
                 (
                 not
                 to
                 mention
                 what
                 Hero
                 teaches
                 in
                 his
                 Pneumaticks
                 ,
                 )
                 by
                 the
                 Accounts
                 ,
                 
                   Democritus
                   ,
                   Plato
                
                 ,
                 and
                 others
                 ,
                 give
                 of
                 
                 Fire
                 and
                 other
                 Elements
                 ,
                 from
                 the
                 Figure
                 and
                 Motion
                 of
                 the
                 Corpuscles
                 they
                 consist
                 of
                 .
                 And
                 although
                 this
                 way
                 of
                 Philosophizing
                 were
                 so
                 much
                 in
                 request
                 before
                 Aristotle
                 ,
                 that
                 (
                 albeit
                 he
                 unluckily
                 brought
                 in
                 another
                 ,
                 yet
                 )
                 there
                 are
                 manifest
                 and
                 considerable
                 footsteps
                 of
                 it
                 to
                 be
                 met
                 with
                 in
                 some
                 of
                 his
                 Writings
                 ,
                 (
                 and
                 particularly
                 in
                 his
                 Books
                 of
                 Animals
                 ,
                 and
                 his
                 Mechanical
                 Questions
                 ;
                 )
                 yet
                 the
                 Scholastick
                 followers
                 of
                 Aristotle
                 did
                 ,
                 for
                 many
                 Ages
                 ,
                 neglect
                 the
                 way
                 of
                 Philosophizing
                 of
                 the
                 Antients
                 ,
                 and
                 (
                 to
                 the
                 great
                 prejudice
                 of
                 Learning
                 )
                 introduc'd
                 every
                 where
                 in
                 stead
                 of
                 it
                 a
                 quite
                 contrary
                 way
                 of
                 Writing
                 .
                 For
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 they
                 laid
                 aside
                 the
                 Mathematicks
                 ,
                 (
                 of
                 which
                 they
                 were
                 for
                 the
                 most
                 part
                 very
                 ignorant
                 ,
                 )
                 but
                 instead
                 of
                 giving
                 us
                 Intelligible
                 and
                 Explicite
                 (
                 if
                 not
                 Accurate
                 )
                 Accounts
                 of
                 particular
                 Subjects
                 ,
                 grounded
                 upon
                 a
                 distinct
                 and
                 heedful
                 Consideration
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 they
                 contented
                 themselves
                 with
                 hotly
                 disputing
                 ,
                 in
                 general
                 ,
                 certain
                 unnecessary
                 ,
                 or
                 at
                 least
                 unimportant
                 questions
                 about
                 the
                 Objects
                 of
                 Physicks
                 ,
                 about
                 
                   Materia
                   Prima
                
                 ,
                 Substantial
                 Forms
                 ,
                 Privation
                 ,
                 Place
                 ,
                 Generation
                 ,
                 Corruption
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 other
                 such
                 general
                 things
                 ,
                 with
                 which
                 when
                 they
                 had
                 quite
                 tyr'd
                 themselves
                 and
                 their
                 Readers
                 ,
                 they
                 usually
                 remain'd
                 utter
                 strangers
                 to
                 the
                 particular
                 Productions
                 of
                 that
                 Nature
                 ,
                 about
                 which
                 they
                 had
                 so
                 much
                 wrangled
                 ,
                 and
                 were
                 not
                 able
                 to
                 give
                 a
                 man
                 so
                 much
                 true
                 and
                 useful
                 Information
                 about
                 Particular
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 as
                 even
                 the
                 meanest
                 Mechanicks
                 ,
                 such
                 as
                 Mine-diggers
                 ,
                 Butchers
                 ,
                 Smiths
                 ,
                 and
                 even
                 Dary-maids
                 ,
                 could
                 do
                 .
                 Which
                 made
                 their
                 Philosophy
                 appear
                 so
                 Imperfect
                 and
                 Useless
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 to
                 the
                 Generality
                 of
                 Men
                 ,
                 but
                 to
                 the
                 more
                 Elevated
                 and
                 Philosophical
                 Wits
                 ,
                 that
                 our
                 great
                 Verulam
                 attempted
                 with
                 much
                 Skill
                 and
                 Industry
                 ,
                 (
                 and
                 not
                 without
                 some
                 Indignation
                 )
                 to
                 restore
                 the
                 more
                 modest
                 and
                 useful
                 way
                 practis'd
                 by
                 the
                 Antients
                 ,
                 of
                 Inquiring
                 into
                 particular
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 without
                 hastening
                 to
                 make
                 Systems
                 ,
                 into
                 the
                 Request
                 it
                 formerly
                 had
                 ;
                 wherein
                 the
                 admirable
                 Industry
                 of
                 two
                 of
                 our
                 London
                 Physicians
                 ,
                 Gilbert
                 and
                 Harvey
                 ,
                 has
                 not
                 a
                 little
                 assisted
                 him
                 .
                 And
                 I
                 need
                 not
                 tell
                 you
                 ,
                 that
                 since
                 Him
                 ,
                 
                   Des-Cartes
                   ,
                   Gassendus
                
                 ,
                 and
                 others
                 ,
                 having
                 taken
                 in
                 the
                 Application
                 of
                 Geometrical
                 
                 Theorems
                 ,
                 for
                 the
                 Explication
                 of
                 Physical
                 Problems
                 ;
                 He
                 ,
                 and
                 They
                 ,
                 and
                 Other
                 Restorers
                 of
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 have
                 brought
                 the
                 Experimental
                 and
                 Mathematical
                 way
                 of
                 Inquiring
                 into
                 Nature
                 into
                 at
                 least
                 as
                 high
                 and
                 growing
                 an
                 Esteem
                 ,
                 as
                 ever
                 it
                 possess'd
                 when
                 it
                 was
                 most
                 in
                 Vogue
                 among
                 the
                 Naturalists
                 that
                 preceded
                 Aristotle
                 .
              
               
                 To
                 the
                 Considerations
                 I
                 have
                 hitherto
                 deduc'd
                 ,
                 which
                 (
                 perhaps
                 )
                 might
                 alone
                 suffice
                 for
                 my
                 purpose
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 yet
                 subjoyn
                 one
                 that
                 I
                 take
                 to
                 be
                 of
                 greater
                 weight
                 than
                 any
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 for
                 the
                 manifesting
                 how
                 difficult
                 it
                 is
                 to
                 be
                 sure
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Physical
                 Opinions
                 ,
                 which
                 at
                 present
                 procure
                 a
                 Champion
                 or
                 Promoter
                 of
                 them
                 Veneration
                 ,
                 shall
                 be
                 still
                 in
                 request
                 .
                 For
                 besides
                 that
                 inconstant
                 Fate
                 of
                 applauded
                 Opinions
                 ,
                 which
                 may
                 be
                 imputed
                 to
                 the
                 Inconstancy
                 of
                 Men
                 ,
                 there
                 is
                 a
                 greater
                 danger
                 that
                 threatens
                 the
                 Aspirers
                 Reputation
                 from
                 the
                 very
                 Nature
                 of
                 things
                 :
                 For
                 the
                 most
                 general
                 Principles
                 of
                 all
                 ,
                 viz.
                 the
                 Figure
                 ,
                 Bigness
                 ,
                 Motion
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 Mechanical
                 Affections
                 of
                 the
                 small
                 parts
                 of
                 Matter
                 ,
                 being
                 (
                 as
                 your
                 Friend
                 believes
                 )
                 sufficiently
                 
                 and
                 clearly
                 establish'd
                 already
                 ;
                 he
                 must
                 expect
                 to
                 raise
                 his
                 Reputation
                 from
                 subordinate
                 Hypotheses
                 and
                 Theories
                 ;
                 and
                 in
                 these
                 I
                 shall
                 not
                 scruple
                 to
                 say
                 ,
                 that
                 't
                 is
                 extremely
                 difficult
                 ,
                 even
                 for
                 those
                 that
                 are
                 more
                 exercis'd
                 than
                 He
                 ,
                 in
                 framing
                 Them
                 and
                 in
                 making
                 of
                 Experiments
                 to
                 have
                 so
                 reaching
                 and
                 attentive
                 a
                 prospect
                 of
                 all
                 things
                 fit
                 to
                 be
                 known
                 ,
                 as
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 liable
                 to
                 have
                 their
                 Doctrine
                 made
                 doubtful
                 ,
                 or
                 disprov'd
                 by
                 something
                 that
                 He
                 
                   did
                   not
                
                 discover
                 ,
                 or
                 that
                 After-times
                 may
                 .
                 This
                 ,
                 I
                 doubt
                 not
                 ,
                 but
                 you
                 would
                 easily
                 be
                 prevail'd
                 with
                 to
                 allow
                 ,
                 if
                 I
                 had
                 leisure
                 and
                 conveniency
                 to
                 transmit
                 to
                 you
                 my
                 Sceptical
                 Naturalist
                 .
                 And
                 without
                 having
                 recourse
                 to
                 that
                 Tract
                 ,
                 it
                 may
                 possibly
                 suffice
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 consider
                 ,
                 that
                 one
                 of
                 the
                 Conditions
                 of
                 a
                 good
                 *
                 Hypothesis
                 is
                 ,
                 that
                 It
                 fairly
                 comport
                 not
                 onely
                 with
                 all
                 other
                 Truths
                 ,
                 but
                 with
                 all
                 other
                 Phaenomena
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 those
                 't
                 is
                 fram'd
                 to
                 explicate
                 .
                 For
                 this
                 being
                 granted
                 ,
                 (
                 which
                 cannot
                 be
                 deny'd
                 ,
                 )
                 He
                 that
                 establishes
                 a
                 Theory
                 ,
                 which
                 he
                 expects
                 shall
                 be
                 acquiesc'd
                 in
                 by
                 all
                 succeeding
                 Times
                 ,
                 and
                 make
                 Him
                 famous
                 in
                 them
                 ,
                 must
                 not
                 onely
                 
                 have
                 a
                 care
                 ,
                 that
                 none
                 of
                 the
                 Phaenomena
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 that
                 are
                 already
                 taken
                 notice
                 of
                 ,
                 do
                 contradict
                 his
                 Hypothesis
                 at
                 the
                 present
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 no
                 Phaenomena
                 that
                 may
                 be
                 hereafter
                 discover'd
                 ,
                 shall
                 do
                 it
                 for
                 the
                 future
                 .
                 And
                 I
                 very
                 much
                 question
                 ,
                 whether
                 
                   Physiophilus
                   do
                   know
                
                 ,
                 or
                 ,
                 upon
                 no
                 greater
                 a
                 number
                 and
                 variety
                 of
                 Experiments
                 than
                 most
                 men
                 build
                 upon
                 ,
                 
                   can
                   know
                
                 ,
                 how
                 incompleat
                 the
                 History
                 of
                 Nature
                 we
                 yet
                 have
                 ,
                 is
                 ,
                 and
                 how
                 difficult
                 it
                 is
                 to
                 build
                 an
                 Accurate
                 Hypothesis
                 upon
                 an
                 Incompleat
                 History
                 of
                 the
                 Phaenomena
                 't
                 is
                 to
                 be
                 fitted
                 to
                 ;
                 especially
                 considering
                 that
                 (
                 as
                 I
                 was
                 saying
                 )
                 many
                 things
                 may
                 be
                 discover'd
                 in
                 After-times
                 by
                 Industry
                 or
                 Chance
                 ,
                 which
                 are
                 not
                 now
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 dream'd
                 of
                 ,
                 and
                 which
                 may
                 yet
                 overthrow
                 Doctrines
                 speciously
                 enough
                 accommodated
                 to
                 the
                 Observations
                 that
                 have
                 been
                 hitherto
                 made
                 .
              
               
                 Those
                 Antient
                 Philosophers
                 ,
                 that
                 thought
                 the
                 Torrid
                 Zone
                 to
                 be
                 uninhabitable
                 ,
                 did
                 not
                 establish
                 their
                 Opinion
                 upon
                 wild
                 Reasonings
                 ;
                 and
                 as
                 it
                 continu'd
                 uncontrol'd
                 for
                 many
                 Ages
                 ,
                 so
                 perhaps
                 it
                 would
                 have
                 always
                 done
                 ,
                 if
                 the
                 Discoveries
                 made
                 
                 by
                 Modern
                 Navigations
                 had
                 not
                 manifested
                 it
                 to
                 be
                 Erroneous
                 .
                 The
                 Solidity
                 of
                 the
                 Celestial
                 Orbs
                 was
                 ,
                 for
                 divers
                 Centuries
                 above
                 1000
                 years
                 ,
                 the
                 general
                 opinion
                 of
                 Astronomers
                 and
                 Philosophers
                 ,
                 and
                 yet
                 in
                 the
                 last
                 Age
                 and
                 in
                 Ours
                 ,
                 the
                 free
                 Trajection
                 ,
                 that
                 has
                 been
                 observ'd
                 in
                 the
                 Motion
                 of
                 some
                 Comets
                 from
                 one
                 of
                 the
                 supposed
                 Orbs
                 to
                 another
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Intricate
                 Motions
                 in
                 the
                 Planet
                 Mars
                 ,
                 (
                 observ'd
                 by
                 Kepler
                 and
                 others
                 ,
                 to
                 be
                 sometimes
                 nearer
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 sometimes
                 remoter
                 from
                 the
                 Earth
                 than
                 is
                 the
                 Sun
                 ;
                 )
                 these
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 Phenomena
                 undiscover'd
                 by
                 the
                 Antients
                 ,
                 have
                 made
                 even
                 Tycho
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 most
                 of
                 the
                 recent
                 Astronomers
                 ,
                 exchange
                 the
                 too
                 long
                 receiv'd
                 Opinion
                 of
                 solid
                 Orbs
                 for
                 the
                 more
                 warrantable
                 belief
                 of
                 a
                 Fluid
                 Aether
                 .
                 And
                 though
                 the
                 Celestial
                 part
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 by
                 reason
                 of
                 its
                 remoteness
                 from
                 us
                 ,
                 be
                 the
                 most
                 unlikely
                 of
                 any
                 other
                 to
                 afford
                 us
                 the
                 means
                 of
                 overthrowing
                 old
                 Theories
                 by
                 new
                 Discoveries
                 ;
                 yet
                 even
                 in
                 that
                 we
                 may
                 take
                 notice
                 of
                 divers
                 Instances
                 to
                 our
                 present
                 purpose
                 ,
                 though
                 I
                 shall
                 here
                 name
                 but
                 this
                 One
                 ,
                 viz.
                 That
                 ,
                 after
                 the
                 Ptolemaick
                 Number
                 and
                 Order
                 
                 of
                 the
                 Planets
                 had
                 past
                 uncontradicted
                 for
                 very
                 many
                 Ages
                 ;
                 and
                 even
                 the
                 Tychonians
                 and
                 Copernicans
                 ,
                 (
                 however
                 they
                 did
                 by
                 their
                 differing
                 Hypotheses
                 dissent
                 from
                 the
                 Ptolemaick
                 System
                 (
                 as
                 to
                 the
                 Order
                 ,
                 )
                 did
                 (
                 yet
                 )
                 acquiesce
                 in
                 it
                 as
                 to
                 the
                 number
                 of
                 the
                 Planets
                 ;
                 by
                 the
                 happy
                 Discoveries
                 ,
                 made
                 by
                 Galilaeo
                 of
                 the
                 Satellites
                 of
                 Jupiter
                 ,
                 and
                 by
                 the
                 excellent
                 Hugenius
                 ,
                 of
                 the
                 New
                 Planet
                 about
                 Saturn
                 ,
                 (
                 which
                 I
                 think
                 I
                 had
                 the
                 luck
                 to
                 be
                 the
                 first
                 that
                 observ'd
                 and
                 shew'd
                 Disbelievers
                 of
                 it
                 in
                 England
                 ,
                 )
                 the
                 Astronomers
                 of
                 all
                 perswasions
                 are
                 brought
                 to
                 add
                 to
                 the
                 old
                 Septenary
                 number
                 of
                 the
                 Planets
                 ,
                 and
                 take
                 in
                 Five
                 others
                 that
                 their
                 Predecessors
                 did
                 not
                 dream
                 of
                 .
                 That
                 the
                 Chyle
                 prepar'd
                 in
                 the
                 Stomach
                 pass'd
                 through
                 the
                 Mesaraick
                 Veins
                 to
                 the
                 Liver
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 to
                 the
                 Heart
                 ,
                 was
                 for
                 many
                 Ages
                 the
                 unanimous
                 Opinion
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 of
                 Physicians
                 ,
                 but
                 Anatomists
                 ,
                 whose
                 numerous
                 Diffections
                 did
                 not
                 tempt
                 them
                 to
                 question
                 it
                 ;
                 and
                 yet
                 ,
                 since
                 the
                 casual
                 ,
                 though
                 lucky
                 ,
                 Discoveries
                 made
                 of
                 the
                 Milky
                 Vessels
                 in
                 the
                 Thorax
                 by
                 the
                 dextrous
                 Pecquet
                 ,
                 those
                 that
                 have
                 had
                 with
                 you
                 and
                 I
                 the
                 curiosity
                 
                 to
                 make
                 the
                 requisite
                 Experiments
                 ,
                 are
                 generally
                 convinc'd
                 ,
                 that
                 (
                 at
                 least
                 )
                 a
                 good
                 part
                 of
                 the
                 Chyle
                 goes
                 from
                 the
                 Stomach
                 to
                 the
                 Heart
                 ,
                 without
                 passing
                 through
                 the
                 Mesaraick
                 Veins
                 ,
                 or
                 coming
                 at
                 all
                 to
                 the
                 Liver
                 .
              
               
                 'T
                 were
                 easie
                 to
                 multiply
                 Instances
                 of
                 this
                 kind
                 ,
                 but
                 I
                 rather
                 choose
                 to
                 add
                 ,
                 that
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 onely
                 about
                 the
                 Qualities
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 Attributes
                 of
                 things
                 ,
                 but
                 about
                 their
                 Causes
                 also
                 ,
                 that
                 New
                 and
                 oftentimes
                 Accidental
                 Discoveries
                 may
                 destroy
                 the
                 credit
                 of
                 Long
                 and
                 generally
                 approv'd
                 Opinions
                 .
                 That
                 Quick-lime
                 exceedingly
                 heats
                 the
                 Water
                 that
                 is
                 pour'd
                 on
                 to
                 quench
                 it
                 ,
                 on
                 the
                 account
                 of
                 Antiperistasis
                 ,
                 has
                 been
                 very
                 long
                 and
                 universally
                 receiv'd
                 by
                 the
                 School-Philosophers
                 ,
                 where
                 't
                 is
                 the
                 grand
                 and
                 usual
                 Argument
                 ,
                 urg'd
                 to
                 Establish
                 Antiperistasis
                 ;
                 and
                 yet
                 I
                 presume
                 you
                 have
                 taken
                 notice
                 ,
                 
                 that
                 this
                 Proof
                 is
                 made
                 wholly
                 Ineffectual
                 in
                 the
                 judgment
                 of
                 many
                 of
                 the
                 Virtuosi
                 ,
                 by
                 some
                 contrary
                 Experiments
                 of
                 mine
                 ,
                 and
                 particularly
                 that
                 of
                 exciting
                 in
                 Quick-lime
                 full
                 as
                 great
                 an
                 Effervescence
                 by
                 the
                 Affusion
                 of
                 Hot
                 water
                 in
                 stead
                 of
                 Cold
                 ▪
                 So
                 it
                 has
                 been
                 generally
                 believ'd
                 ,
                 that
                 in
                 the
                 
                 Congelation
                 of
                 Water
                 ,
                 that
                 Liquor
                 is
                 condens'd
                 into
                 a
                 narrower
                 room
                 ;
                 whereas
                 our
                 late
                 Experiments
                 *
                 have
                 satisfied
                 most
                 of
                 the
                 curious
                 ,
                 that
                 Ice
                 is
                 Water
                 expanded
                 ,
                 or
                 (
                 if
                 you
                 please
                 )
                 that
                 Ice
                 takes
                 up
                 more
                 room
                 than
                 the
                 Water
                 did
                 ,
                 whilst
                 it
                 remain'd
                 unfrozen
                 .
                 And
                 whereas
                 the
                 Notion
                 of
                 Natures
                 abhorrence
                 of
                 a
                 Vacuum
                 ,
                 has
                 not
                 onely
                 ever
                 since
                 
                 Aristotle's
                 time
                 made
                 a
                 great
                 noise
                 in
                 the
                 Schools
                 ,
                 but
                 seems
                 to
                 be
                 Confirmable
                 by
                 a
                 multitude
                 of
                 Phaenomena
                 ;
                 the
                 Experiments
                 of
                 Torricellius
                 ,
                 and
                 some
                 of
                 *
                 Ours
                 ,
                 evidencing
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Air
                 has
                 a
                 great
                 Weight
                 and
                 a
                 strong
                 Spring
                 ,
                 have
                 ,
                 I
                 think
                 ,
                 perswaded
                 almost
                 all
                 ,
                 that
                 have
                 impartially
                 consider'd
                 them
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 whether
                 there
                 be
                 or
                 be
                 not
                 such
                 a
                 thing
                 as
                 they
                 call
                 
                   Fuga
                   Vacui
                
                 ,
                 yet
                 Suction
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Ascension
                 of
                 Water
                 in
                 Pumps
                 ,
                 and
                 those
                 other
                 Phaenomena
                 that
                 are
                 generally
                 ascrib'd
                 to
                 It
                 ,
                 may
                 be
                 very
                 well
                 Explicated
                 without
                 it
                 ,
                 and
                 are
                 indeed
                 caus'd
                 by
                 the
                 Weight
                 of
                 the
                 Atmosphere
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Elastical
                 power
                 of
                 the
                 Air.
                 
              
               
                 And
                 this
                 puts
                 me
                 in
                 mind
                 to
                 take
                 notice
                 ,
                 that
                 even
                 practical
                 Inventions
                 ,
                 where
                 one
                 would
                 think
                 the
                 Matter
                 of
                 
                 Fact
                 to
                 be
                 Evident
                 ,
                 may
                 by
                 undream'd
                 of
                 Discoveries
                 be
                 brought
                 to
                 lose
                 the
                 general
                 Reputation
                 they
                 had
                 for
                 compleatness
                 in
                 their
                 kind
                 .
                 For
                 to
                 endear
                 the
                 Invention
                 of
                 Sucking
                 Pumps
                 and
                 of
                 Syphons
                 ,
                 it
                 has
                 been
                 generally
                 presum'd
                 ,
                 that
                 by
                 means
                 of
                 either
                 of
                 these
                 ,
                 Water
                 and
                 any
                 other
                 Liquor
                 may
                 ,
                 
                   ob
                   fugam
                   vacui
                
                 ,
                 be
                 rais'd
                 to
                 what
                 height
                 one
                 pleases
                 ;
                 and
                 accordingly
                 ways
                 have
                 been
                 propos'd
                 by
                 famous
                 Authors
                 ,
                 to
                 convey
                 Water
                 from
                 one
                 side
                 of
                 an
                 high
                 Mountain
                 to
                 the
                 other
                 :
                 Whereas
                 first
                 the
                 unexpected
                 Disappointments
                 that
                 were
                 met
                 with
                 by
                 some
                 Pump-makers
                 ,
                 and
                 afterwards
                 Experiments
                 purposely
                 made
                 ,
                 sufficiently
                 evince
                 ,
                 that
                 neither
                 a
                 Pump
                 nor
                 a
                 Syphon
                 will
                 raise
                 Water
                 to
                 above
                 35
                 foot
                 or
                 thereabouts
                 ,
                 nor
                 Quicksilver
                 to
                 so
                 many
                 Inches
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 as
                 to
                 the
                 Invention
                 of
                 Weather-glasses
                 ,
                 which
                 has
                 been
                 so
                 much
                 and
                 justly
                 applauded
                 and
                 us'd
                 ,
                 as
                 it
                 has
                 been
                 generally
                 receiv'd
                 for
                 the
                 truest
                 Standard
                 of
                 the
                 Heat
                 and
                 Cold
                 of
                 the
                 Weather
                 ;
                 so
                 it
                 seems
                 to
                 be
                 liable
                 to
                 no
                 suspition
                 of
                 deceiving
                 Us
                 :
                 For
                 not
                 onely
                 't
                 is
                 evident
                 ,
                 that
                 in
                 Winter
                 ,
                 when
                 the
                 Air
                 is
                 very
                 Cold
                 ,
                 the
                 
                 Water
                 rises
                 much
                 higher
                 than
                 in
                 Summer
                 and
                 other
                 Seasons
                 ,
                 when
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 so
                 ;
                 but
                 if
                 you
                 but
                 apply
                 your
                 warm
                 hand
                 to
                 the
                 Bubble
                 at
                 the
                 top
                 ,
                 the
                 Water
                 will
                 be
                 visibly
                 depress'd
                 by
                 the
                 rarifi'd
                 Air
                 ,
                 which
                 upon
                 the
                 removal
                 of
                 the
                 Hand
                 returning
                 to
                 its
                 former
                 Coldness
                 ,
                 the
                 Water
                 will
                 forthwith
                 as
                 manifestly
                 ascend
                 again
                 .
                 And
                 yet
                 by
                 finding
                 ,
                 
                 that
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 Atmosphaere
                 has
                 a
                 considerable
                 weight
                 ,
                 so
                 this
                 weight
                 is
                 not
                 always
                 the
                 same
                 ,
                 but
                 varies
                 much
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 ,
                 as
                 far
                 as
                 I
                 can
                 yet
                 discover
                 ,
                 uncertainly
                 enough
                 ;
                 I
                 have
                 had
                 the
                 luck
                 to
                 satisfie
                 many
                 of
                 the
                 Curious
                 ,
                 that
                 these
                 Open
                 Thermometers
                 are
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 safely
                 rely'd
                 on
                 ,
                 since
                 in
                 them
                 the
                 Liquor
                 is
                 made
                 to
                 rise
                 and
                 fall
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 ,
                 as
                 men
                 have
                 hitherto
                 suppos'd
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 Cold
                 and
                 Heat
                 of
                 the
                 Ambient
                 Air
                 ,
                 but
                 (
                 as
                 I
                 have
                 shewn
                 by
                 divers
                 new
                 Experiments
                 )
                 according
                 to
                 the
                 varying
                 Gravity
                 of
                 the
                 Atmosphaere
                 ;
                 which
                 Variation
                 has
                 not
                 onely
                 a
                 Sensible
                 ,
                 but
                 a
                 very
                 Considerable
                 Influence
                 upon
                 the
                 Weather-glass
                 .
                 To
                 these
                 Instances
                 I
                 shall
                 annex
                 onely
                 one
                 more
                 ,
                 from
                 which
                 we
                 may
                 learn
                 ,
                 that
                 notwithstanding
                 a
                 very
                 heedful
                 survey
                 of
                 
                 all
                 that
                 at
                 present
                 a
                 man
                 can
                 take
                 notice
                 of
                 ,
                 or
                 well
                 suspect
                 that
                 he
                 ought
                 to
                 take
                 into
                 his
                 Consideration
                 ,
                 the
                 Case
                 may
                 be
                 such
                 ,
                 that
                 having
                 devis'd
                 an
                 Instrument
                 ,
                 He
                 may
                 use
                 it
                 many
                 years
                 with
                 good
                 success
                 ;
                 and
                 yet
                 ,
                 unless
                 he
                 were
                 able
                 to
                 live
                 very
                 many
                 more
                 ,
                 he
                 shall
                 not
                 be
                 sure
                 to
                 out-live
                 the
                 danger
                 of
                 finding
                 the
                 same
                 Instrument
                 (
                 though
                 to
                 sense
                 as
                 well
                 condition'd
                 as
                 ever
                 )
                 fallacious
                 :
                 As
                 he
                 that
                 first
                 appli'd
                 a
                 Magnetick
                 Needle
                 to
                 the
                 finding
                 of
                 the
                 Meridian
                 Line
                 ,
                 might
                 very
                 probably
                 conclude
                 ,
                 that
                 his
                 Needle
                 pointing
                 directly
                 N.
                 and
                 S.
                 or
                 declining
                 from
                 it
                 just
                 two
                 or
                 three
                 ,
                 or
                 some
                 other
                 determinate
                 number
                 of
                 Degrees
                 ,
                 he
                 had
                 discover'd
                 a
                 certain
                 and
                 ready
                 way
                 ,
                 without
                 the
                 help
                 of
                 Sun
                 or
                 Stars
                 ,
                 or
                 Astronomical
                 Instruments
                 ,
                 to
                 describe
                 a
                 Meridian
                 Line
                 ,
                 and
                 if
                 he
                 liv'd
                 but
                 an
                 ordinary
                 number
                 of
                 years
                 after
                 his
                 Observation
                 ,
                 he
                 might
                 probably
                 have
                 found
                 his
                 Instrument
                 not
                 deceitful
                 ;
                 which
                 yet
                 it
                 may
                 now
                 be
                 ,
                 the
                 Magnetick
                 Needle
                 not
                 onely
                 declining
                 in
                 many
                 places
                 from
                 the
                 true
                 points
                 of
                 N.
                 and
                 S.
                 but
                 (
                 as
                 later
                 Discoveries
                 inform
                 us
                 )
                 varying
                 in
                 tract
                 of
                 time
                 its
                 Declination
                 in
                 the
                 self
                 same
                 place
                 .
              
               
               
                 The
                 Considerations
                 hitherto
                 propos'd
                 might
                 easily
                 enough
                 be
                 encreas'd
                 by
                 more
                 of
                 the
                 same
                 tendency
                 ,
                 especially
                 if
                 I
                 thought
                 fit
                 to
                 borrow
                 from
                 a
                 Discourse
                 (
                 of
                 mine
                 )
                 purposely
                 written
                 
                   about
                   the
                   Partiality
                   and
                   Uncertainty
                
                 of
                 Fame
                 ;
                 but
                 in
                 stead
                 of
                 adding
                 to
                 their
                 Number
                 ,
                 I
                 should
                 think
                 my self
                 oblieged
                 to
                 excuse
                 my
                 having
                 already
                 mention'd
                 so
                 many
                 ,
                 and
                 insisted
                 so
                 much
                 upon
                 them
                 ,
                 if
                 I
                 did
                 not
                 vehemently
                 suspect
                 ,
                 that
                 in
                 your
                 Physiophilus
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 in
                 many
                 other
                 modern
                 Naturalists
                 ,
                 )
                 scarce
                 any
                 thing
                 does
                 more
                 contribute
                 to
                 an
                 Undervaluation
                 of
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 Divinity
                 ,
                 than
                 that
                 being
                 eagerly
                 ambitious
                 of
                 a
                 Certain
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 a
                 Posthume
                 Fame
                 ,
                 he
                 is
                 confident
                 that
                 Physiologie
                 will
                 help
                 to
                 it
                 ;
                 and
                 therefore
                 the
                 design
                 of
                 his
                 Discourse
                 made
                 me
                 think
                 it
                 expedient
                 to
                 spend
                 some
                 time
                 to
                 manifest
                 ,
                 
                   That
                   't
                   is
                   far
                   less
                   easie
                   than
                   he
                   thinks
                   ,
                   to
                   be
                   as
                   sure
                   that
                   he
                   shall
                   have
                   the
                   praises
                   of
                   Future
                   Ages
                   ,
                   as
                   that
                   (
                   though
                   he
                   have
                   them
                   )
                   he
                   shall
                   not
                   hear
                   them
                   .
                
              
               
                 The
                 past
                 Considerations
                 have
                 ,
                 I
                 presume
                 ,
                 convinc'd
                 you
                 ,
                 that
                 't
                 is
                 no
                 such
                 easie
                 matter
                 for
                 a
                 Naturalist
                 to
                 
                 acquire
                 a
                 great
                 reputation
                 and
                 be
                 sure
                 it
                 will
                 prove
                 a
                 lasting
                 one
                 .
                 Wherefore
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 may
                 also
                 confirm
                 the
                 second
                 Part
                 of
                 what
                 formerly
                 I
                 propos'd
                 ,
                 I
                 now
                 proceed
                 to
                 show
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 though
                 the
                 case
                 were
                 otherwse
                 ,
                 yet
                 he
                 would
                 have
                 no
                 reason
                 to
                 slight
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 Divinity
                 .
              
               
                 1.
                 
                 For
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 first
                 place
                 ,
                 nothing
                 hinders
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 a
                 man
                 who
                 values
                 and
                 inquires
                 into
                 the
                 Mysteries
                 of
                 Religion
                 ,
                 may
                 attain
                 to
                 an
                 Eminent
                 degree
                 in
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 those
                 of
                 Nature
                 .
                 For
                 frequently
                 men
                 of
                 great
                 parts
                 may
                 successfully
                 apply
                 themselves
                 to
                 more
                 than
                 one
                 Study
                 ;
                 and
                 few
                 of
                 them
                 have
                 their
                 thoughts
                 and
                 hours
                 so
                 much
                 ingross'd
                 by
                 that
                 one
                 Subject
                 or
                 Imployment
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 ,
                 if
                 they
                 have
                 great
                 Inclinations
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 Fitness
                 for
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 they
                 will
                 find
                 time
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 to
                 Cultivate
                 it
                 ,
                 but
                 to
                 Excel
                 in
                 it
                 .
                 You
                 need
                 not
                 be
                 told
                 ,
                 That
                 Copernicus
                 ,
                 to
                 whom
                 our
                 late
                 Philosophers
                 owe
                 so
                 much
                 ,
                 was
                 a
                 Churchman
                 ;
                 That
                 his
                 Champion
                 Lansbergius
                 was
                 a
                 Minister
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 Gassendus
                 himself
                 was
                 a
                 Doctor
                 of
                 Divinity
                 .
                 Among
                 the
                 Jesuites
                 you
                 know
                 ,
                 that
                 Clavius
                 and
                 divers
                 others
                 
                 have
                 as
                 prosperously
                 addicted
                 themselves
                 to
                 Mathematicks
                 as
                 Divinity
                 .
                 And
                 as
                 to
                 Physicks
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 
                   Scheiner
                   ,
                   Aquilonius
                   ,
                   Kircher
                   ,
                   Schottus
                   ,
                   Zucchius
                   ,
                
                 and
                 others
                 ,
                 have
                 very
                 laudably
                 cultivated
                 the
                 Optical
                 and
                 some
                 other
                 Parts
                 of
                 Philosophy
                 ;
                 but
                 Ricciolus
                 himself
                 ,
                 the
                 Learned
                 Compiler
                 of
                 that
                 Voluminous
                 and
                 Judicious
                 Work
                 of
                 the
                 
                   Almagestum
                   novum
                
                 ,
                 wherein
                 he
                 has
                 inserted
                 divers
                 accurate
                 Observations
                 of
                 his
                 own
                 ,
                 is
                 not
                 onely
                 a
                 Divine
                 ,
                 but
                 a
                 Professor
                 of
                 Divinity
                 .
                 And
                 without
                 going
                 out
                 of
                 our
                 own
                 Countrey
                 ,
                 I
                 could
                 ,
                 if
                 I
                 durst
                 for
                 fear
                 of
                 offending
                 the
                 modesty
                 of
                 those
                 I
                 should
                 name
                 ,
                 or
                 injuring
                 the
                 merit
                 of
                 those
                 I
                 should
                 omit
                 ;
                 I
                 could
                 (
                 I
                 say
                 )
                 if
                 it
                 were
                 not
                 for
                 this
                 ,
                 among
                 our
                 English
                 Ecclesiasticks
                 name
                 you
                 divers
                 ,
                 who
                 though
                 they
                 apply
                 themselves
                 so
                 much
                 to
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 be
                 not
                 onely
                 solid
                 Divines
                 ,
                 but
                 Excellent
                 Preachers
                 ,
                 have
                 yet
                 been
                 so
                 happily
                 conversant
                 with
                 Nature
                 ,
                 that
                 ,
                 if
                 they
                 had
                 liv'd
                 in
                 the
                 Learned
                 times
                 of
                 the
                 Greeks
                 ,
                 they
                 would
                 have
                 rivall'd
                 ,
                 if
                 not
                 eclips'd
                 ,
                 some
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 Pythagoras
                 and
                 Euclid
                 ;
                 others
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 Anaxagoras
                 and
                 Epicurus
                 ;
                 and
                 some
                 
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 even
                 Archimedes
                 and
                 Democritus
                 themselves
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 certainly
                 ,
                 provided
                 there
                 be
                 Curiosity
                 and
                 Industry
                 enough
                 imploy'd
                 in
                 the
                 study
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 not
                 Necessary
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 Nature
                 should
                 be
                 the
                 ultimate
                 End
                 of
                 that
                 Study
                 ;
                 a
                 Fondness
                 of
                 the
                 Object
                 being
                 requir'd
                 onely
                 in
                 order
                 to
                 the
                 Engaging
                 the
                 mind
                 to
                 such
                 a
                 serious
                 Application
                 ,
                 as
                 a
                 higher
                 aim
                 May
                 sufficiently
                 invite
                 us
                 to
                 ;
                 and
                 Will
                 rather
                 promote
                 than
                 discourage
                 .
                 David
                 became
                 no
                 less
                 skilful
                 in
                 Musick
                 ,
                 
                 than
                 those
                 that
                 were
                 addicted
                 to
                 it
                 onely
                 to
                 please
                 themselves
                 in
                 it
                 ;
                 though
                 we
                 may
                 reasonably
                 suppose
                 ,
                 that
                 so
                 pious
                 an
                 Authour
                 of
                 Psalms
                 and
                 Instruments
                 aspired
                 to
                 an
                 Excellency
                 in
                 that
                 delightful
                 Science
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 might
                 Apply
                 and
                 Prefer
                 it
                 to
                 the
                 Service
                 of
                 the
                 Temple
                 ,
                 and
                 promote
                 the
                 Celebration
                 of
                 God's
                 Praises
                 with
                 it
                 .
                 And
                 as
                 Experience
                 has
                 manifested
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Heathen
                 Philosophers
                 ,
                 that
                 courted
                 Moral
                 Vertue
                 for
                 her self
                 ,
                 did
                 not
                 raise
                 it
                 to
                 that
                 pitch
                 ,
                 to
                 which
                 't
                 was
                 advanc'd
                 by
                 the
                 Heroick
                 Practises
                 of
                 those
                 true
                 Christians
                 ,
                 that
                 in
                 the
                 highest
                 Exercise
                 of
                 Vertue
                 had
                 a
                 Religious
                 
                 aim
                 at
                 the
                 pleasing
                 and
                 injoying
                 of
                 God
                 ;
                 so
                 I
                 see
                 not
                 ,
                 why
                 Natural
                 Knowledge
                 must
                 be
                 more
                 prosperously
                 cultivated
                 by
                 those
                 selfish
                 Naturalists
                 ,
                 that
                 aim
                 but
                 at
                 the
                 pleasing
                 of
                 themselves
                 in
                 the
                 attainment
                 of
                 that
                 Knowledge
                 ,
                 than
                 those
                 Religious
                 Naturalists
                 ,
                 who
                 are
                 invited
                 to
                 Attention
                 and
                 Industry
                 ,
                 not
                 onely
                 by
                 the
                 pleasantness
                 of
                 the
                 Knowledge
                 it self
                 ,
                 but
                 by
                 a
                 higher
                 and
                 more
                 ingaging
                 Consideration
                 ;
                 namely
                 ,
                 that
                 by
                 the
                 Discoveries
                 they
                 make
                 in
                 the
                 Book
                 of
                 Nature
                 ,
                 both
                 themselves
                 and
                 others
                 may
                 be
                 excited
                 and
                 qualifi'd
                 the
                 better
                 to
                 admire
                 and
                 praise
                 the
                 Authour
                 ,
                 whose
                 Goodness
                 does
                 so
                 well
                 match
                 the
                 Wisdom
                 they
                 celebrate
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 declares
                 in
                 his
                 Word
                 ,
                 That
                 
                   those
                   that
                   honour
                   him
                   ,
                   he
                   will
                   honour
                   .
                
                 
              
               
                 And
                 as
                 a
                 man
                 that
                 is
                 not
                 
                   in
                   love
                
                 with
                 a
                 fair
                 Lady
                 ,
                 but
                 has
                 onely
                 a
                 respect
                 for
                 her
                 ,
                 may
                 have
                 as
                 true
                 and
                 perfect
                 ,
                 though
                 not
                 as
                 discomposing
                 an
                 Idea
                 of
                 her
                 face
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 most
                 passionate
                 Inamorato
                 ;
                 so
                 I
                 see
                 not
                 ,
                 why
                 a
                 Religious
                 and
                 Inquisitive
                 Contemplator
                 of
                 Nature
                 may
                 not
                 be
                 able
                 to
                 give
                 a
                 good
                 account
                 of
                 her
                 ,
                 without
                 
                 preferring
                 her
                 so
                 far
                 to
                 all
                 other
                 Objects
                 of
                 his
                 study
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 make
                 her
                 his
                 Mistress
                 ,
                 and
                 perhaps
                 too
                 his
                 Idol
                 .
              
               
                 II.
                 And
                 now
                 I
                 proceed
                 to
                 consider
                 in
                 the
                 second
                 place
                 ,
                 That
                 matters
                 of
                 Divinity
                 may
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 those
                 of
                 Philosophy
                 ,
                 afford
                 a
                 Reputation
                 to
                 Him
                 that
                 discovers
                 ,
                 or
                 illustrates
                 them
                 .
                 For
                 though
                 the
                 Fundamental
                 Articles
                 of
                 Christian
                 Religion
                 be
                 ,
                 as
                 I
                 have
                 formerly
                 declar'd
                 ,
                 little
                 less
                 Evident
                 than
                 Important
                 ;
                 yet
                 there
                 are
                 many
                 other
                 points
                 in
                 Divinity
                 ,
                 and
                 passages
                 in
                 the
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 which
                 (
                 for
                 Reasons
                 that
                 I
                 have
                 elsewhere
                 mention'd
                 )
                 are
                 exceeding
                 hard
                 to
                 be
                 clear'd
                 ,
                 and
                 do
                 not
                 onely
                 pose
                 ordinary
                 Readers
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 common
                 sort
                 of
                 Scholars
                 ,
                 but
                 will
                 sufficiently
                 exercise
                 the
                 Abilities
                 of
                 a
                 Great
                 Wit
                 ,
                 and
                 give
                 him
                 opportunity
                 enough
                 to
                 manifest
                 that
                 He
                 is
                 One.
                 For
                 divers
                 of
                 the
                 points
                 I
                 speak
                 of
                 are
                 much
                 benighted
                 upon
                 the
                 score
                 of
                 the
                 Sublimity
                 of
                 the
                 Things
                 they
                 treat
                 of
                 ;
                 such
                 as
                 are
                 the
                 Nature
                 ,
                 Attributes
                 ,
                 and
                 Decrees
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 which
                 cannot
                 be
                 easie
                 to
                 the
                 dimm
                 understandings
                 of
                 Us
                 that
                 are
                 but
                 Men
                 :
                 And
                 many
                 other
                 particulars
                 that
                 are
                 not
                 Abstruse
                 in
                 their
                 own
                 Nature
                 ,
                 are
                 yet
                 made
                 
                 Obscure
                 to
                 us
                 by
                 our
                 Ignorance
                 ,
                 (
                 or
                 at
                 least
                 Imperfect
                 Knowledge
                 ,
                 )
                 of
                 the
                 disus'd
                 Languages
                 wherein
                 they
                 are
                 deliver'd
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 great
                 remoteness
                 of
                 the
                 Ages
                 when
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Countreys
                 where
                 ,
                 the
                 things
                 recorded
                 were
                 done
                 or
                 said
                 .
                 So
                 that
                 oftentimes
                 a
                 man
                 may
                 need
                 and
                 show
                 as
                 great
                 Learning
                 and
                 Judgment
                 to
                 dispel
                 the
                 Darkness
                 ,
                 wherein
                 Time
                 has
                 involv'd
                 Things
                 ,
                 as
                 that
                 which
                 Nature
                 has
                 cast
                 on
                 them
                 :
                 And
                 in
                 effect
                 we
                 see
                 ,
                 that
                 St.
                 Augustine
                 ,
                 St.
                 
                   Hierom
                   ,
                   Origen
                
                 ,
                 and
                 others
                 of
                 the
                 Fathers
                 ,
                 have
                 acquir'd
                 no
                 less
                 a
                 Reputation
                 ,
                 than
                 
                   Empedocles
                   ,
                   Anaxagoras
                
                 ,
                 or
                 Zeno
                 ;
                 And
                 
                   Grotius
                   ,
                   Salmasius
                
                 ,
                 Mr.
                 Mede
                 ,
                 Dr.
                 Hamond
                 ,
                 and
                 some
                 other
                 Critical
                 Expounders
                 of
                 difficult
                 Texts
                 of
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 have
                 thereby
                 got
                 as
                 much
                 Credit
                 ,
                 as
                 Fracastorius
                 by
                 his
                 Book
                 
                   De
                   Sympathia
                   &
                   Antipathia
                   ;
                   Levinus
                   Lemnius
                
                 by
                 his
                 
                   De
                   Occultis
                   rerum
                   Miraculis
                
                 ;
                 or
                 Cardanus
                 (
                 and
                 his
                 Adversary
                 Scaliger
                 )
                 by
                 what
                 they
                 writ
                 
                   De
                   Subtilitate
                
                 ;
                 or
                 even
                 Fernelius
                 himself
                 by
                 his
                 Book
                 
                   De
                   Abditis
                   Rerum
                   Causis
                
                 .
                 And
                 it
                 will
                 contribute
                 to
                 the
                 Credit
                 which
                 Theological
                 Discoveries
                 and
                 Illustrations
                 may
                 procure
                 a
                 Man
                 ,
                 that
                 
                 the
                 Importance
                 of
                 the
                 Subjects
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 earnestness
                 wherewith
                 men
                 are
                 wont
                 to
                 busie
                 themselves
                 about
                 them
                 ,
                 some
                 upon
                 the
                 score
                 of
                 Piety
                 ,
                 and
                 others
                 upon
                 that
                 of
                 Interest
                 ,
                 some
                 to
                 Learn
                 Truths
                 ,
                 and
                 others
                 to
                 Defend
                 what
                 they
                 have
                 long
                 or
                 publickly
                 taught
                 for
                 Truth
                 ,
                 does
                 make
                 greater
                 numbers
                 of
                 Men
                 take
                 notice
                 of
                 such
                 Matters
                 ,
                 and
                 concern
                 themselves
                 far
                 more
                 about
                 them
                 ,
                 than
                 about
                 almost
                 any
                 other
                 things
                 ,
                 and
                 especially
                 far
                 more
                 ,
                 than
                 about
                 matters
                 purely
                 Philosophical
                 ,
                 which
                 but
                 few
                 are
                 wont
                 to
                 think
                 themselves
                 fit
                 to
                 judge
                 of
                 ,
                 and
                 concern'd
                 to
                 trouble
                 themselves
                 about
                 .
                 And
                 accordingly
                 we
                 see
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Writings
                 of
                 
                   Socinus
                   ,
                   Calvin
                   ,
                   Bellarmine
                   ,
                   Padre
                   Paulo
                   ,
                   Arminius
                   ,
                   &c.
                
                 are
                 more
                 famous
                 ,
                 and
                 more
                 studied
                 ,
                 than
                 those
                 of
                 
                   Telesius
                   ,
                   Campanella
                   ,
                   Severinus
                   Danus
                   ,
                   Magnenus
                   ,
                
                 and
                 divers
                 other
                 Innovators
                 in
                 Natural
                 Philosophy
                 .
                 And
                 Erastus
                 ,
                 though
                 a
                 very
                 Learned
                 Physician
                 ,
                 is
                 much
                 less
                 famous
                 for
                 all
                 his
                 Elaborate
                 Disputations
                 against
                 Paracelsus
                 ,
                 than
                 for
                 the
                 little
                 Tract
                 against
                 particular
                 Forms
                 of
                 Church-Government
                 .
                 And
                 I
                 presume
                 You
                 have
                 taken
                 notice
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 I
                 ,
                 
                 that
                 there
                 are
                 scarce
                 any
                 Five
                 new
                 Controversies
                 in
                 all
                 Physicks
                 ,
                 that
                 are
                 known
                 to
                 ,
                 and
                 hotly
                 contended
                 for
                 by
                 so
                 many
                 ,
                 as
                 are
                 the
                 Five
                 Articles
                 of
                 the
                 Remonstrants
                 .
              
               
                 III.
                 My
                 second
                 Consideration
                 being
                 thus
                 dispatch'd
                 ,
                 it
                 remains
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 tell
                 you
                 in
                 the
                 Third
                 place
                 ,
                 that
                 Supposing
                 ,
                 but
                 not
                 Granting
                 ,
                 that
                 to
                 prosecute
                 the
                 Study
                 of
                 Divinity
                 ,
                 one
                 must
                 of
                 necessity
                 neglect
                 the
                 Acquist
                 of
                 Reputation
                 ;
                 yet
                 this
                 Inconvenience
                 it self
                 ought
                 not
                 to
                 deter
                 us
                 from
                 the
                 Duty
                 it
                 would
                 disswade
                 .
                 For
                 in
                 all
                 Deliberations
                 ,
                 wherein
                 any
                 thing
                 is
                 propos'd
                 to
                 be
                 quitted
                 or
                 declin'd
                 ,
                 to
                 obey
                 or
                 please
                 God
                 ;
                 me
                 thinks
                 ,
                 we
                 may
                 fitly
                 apply
                 that
                 of
                 the
                 Prophet
                 to
                 the
                 Jewish
                 King
                 ,
                 who
                 being
                 perswaded
                 (
                 to
                 express
                 his
                 Concern
                 for
                 God's
                 Glory
                 )
                 to
                 decline
                 the
                 Assistance
                 of
                 an
                 Idolatrous
                 Army
                 of
                 Israelites
                 ,
                 and
                 objecting
                 ,
                 that
                 by
                 complying
                 with
                 the
                 Advice
                 given
                 Him
                 ,
                 he
                 should
                 lose
                 a
                 Sum
                 of
                 Money
                 ,
                 amounting
                 to
                 no
                 less
                 than
                 the
                 Hire
                 of
                 a
                 Potent
                 Army
                 ;
                 receiv'd
                 from
                 the
                 Prophet
                 this
                 brisk
                 ,
                 but
                 rational
                 ,
                 Answer
                 ,
                 
                   The
                   Lord
                   is
                   able
                   to
                   give
                   thee
                   far
                   more
                   than
                   this
                   .
                
                 
                 The
                 Apostle
                 Paul
                 ,
                 who
                 
                 had
                 been
                 traduc'd
                 ,
                 revil'd
                 ,
                 buffetted
                 ,
                 scourg'd
                 ,
                 imprison'd
                 ,
                 shipwrack'd
                 ,
                 and
                 ston'd
                 for
                 his
                 Zeal
                 to
                 propagate
                 the
                 Truths
                 ,
                 whose
                 study
                 I
                 plead
                 for
                 ;
                 after
                 He
                 had
                 once
                 had
                 a
                 Glimpse
                 of
                 that
                 great
                 
                   Recompense
                   of
                   Reward
                
                 that
                 is
                 reserved
                 for
                 us
                 in
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 scruples
                 not
                 to
                 pronounce
                 ,
                 
                 that
                 he
                 
                   finds
                   upon
                   casting
                   up
                   the
                   Account
                
                 (
                 for
                 He
                 uses
                 the
                 Arithmetical
                 term
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 )
                 
                   that
                   the
                   sufferings
                   of
                   this
                   present
                   time
                   are
                   not
                   worthy
                   to
                   be
                   compared
                   with
                   the
                   Glory
                   that
                   is
                   to
                   be
                   reveal'd
                   in
                   us
                   .
                
                 
                 And
                 if
                 all
                 that
                 the
                 Persecuted
                 Christians
                 of
                 his
                 time
                 could
                 suffer
                 were
                 not
                 suitable
                 (
                 for
                 so
                 I
                 remember
                 the
                 same
                 Greek
                 word
                 to
                 signifie
                 elsewhere
                 )
                 or
                 proportionable
                 to
                 that
                 Glory
                 ;
                 it
                 will
                 sure
                 far
                 out-weigh
                 what
                 we
                 can
                 now
                 forego
                 or
                 decline
                 for
                 it
                 .
                 The
                 loss
                 of
                 an
                 Advantage
                 ,
                 and
                 much
                 more
                 the
                 bare
                 missing
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 being
                 usually
                 but
                 a
                 Negative
                 Affliction
                 ,
                 in
                 comparison
                 of
                 the
                 Actual
                 sufferance
                 of
                 Evil.
                 Christ
                 did
                 not
                 onely
                 tell
                 his
                 Disciples
                 ,
                 that
                 He
                 who
                 should
                 give
                 the
                 least
                 of
                 his
                 Followers
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 a
                 cup
                 of
                 cold
                 water
                 upon
                 the
                 score
                 of
                 their
                 relation
                 to
                 Him
                 ,
                 should
                 not
                 be
                 unrewarded
                 ;
                 but
                 when
                 the
                 same
                 persons
                 asked
                 Him
                 ,
                 
                 what
                 should
                 be
                 done
                 to
                 Them
                 ,
                 who
                 had
                 left
                 All
                 to
                 follow
                 Him
                 ;
                 He
                 presently
                 allots
                 Them
                 Thrones
                 ,
                 as
                 much
                 outvaluing
                 that
                 All
                 they
                 had
                 lost
                 ,
                 as
                 an
                 ordinary
                 Recompense
                 may
                 exceed
                 a
                 cup
                 of
                 cold
                 water
                 .
                 And
                 indeed
                 God's
                 Goodness
                 is
                 so
                 Great
                 ,
                 and
                 his
                 Treasures
                 so
                 Unexhausted
                 ,
                 that
                 as
                 He
                 is
                 forward
                 to
                 recompence
                 even
                 the
                 least
                 Services
                 that
                 can
                 be
                 done
                 Him
                 ,
                 so
                 He
                 is
                 able
                 to
                 give
                 the
                 Greatest
                 a
                 proportionable
                 Reward
                 .
                 Solomon
                 had
                 an
                 Opportunity
                 ,
                 such
                 as
                 never
                 any
                 Mortal
                 had
                 ,
                 (
                 that
                 we
                 know
                 of
                 ,
                 )
                 either
                 before
                 or
                 since
                 ,
                 of
                 satisfying
                 his
                 Desires
                 ,
                 whether
                 of
                 Fame
                 ,
                 or
                 any
                 other
                 Thing
                 that
                 he
                 could
                 wish
                 ;
                 
                 
                   Ask
                   what
                   I
                   shall
                   give
                   thee
                   ,
                
                 was
                 the
                 proffer
                 made
                 him
                 by
                 Him
                 ,
                 that
                 could
                 give
                 All
                 things
                 worth
                 Receiving
                 ;
                 and
                 yet
                 the
                 Wisdom
                 even
                 of
                 
                 Solomon's
                 choice
                 ,
                 approv'd
                 by
                 God
                 Himself
                 ,
                 consisted
                 in
                 declining
                 the
                 most
                 ambition'd
                 things
                 of
                 this
                 Life
                 ,
                 for
                 those
                 things
                 that
                 might
                 the
                 better
                 qualifie
                 him
                 to
                 serve
                 and
                 
                   please
                   God.
                
                 And
                 to
                 give
                 you
                 an
                 example
                 in
                 a
                 
                   Greater
                   than
                   Solomon
                
                 ,
                 we
                 may
                 consider
                 ,
                 
                 that
                 He
                 
                   who
                   being
                   in
                   the
                   form
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   thought
                   it
                   not
                   robbery
                   to
                   be
                   equal
                   with
                   God
                
                 ;
                 and
                 who
                 
                 by
                 leaving
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 did
                 ,
                 to
                 dwell
                 on
                 earth
                 ,
                 quit
                 more
                 than
                 any
                 Inhabitant
                 of
                 the
                 Earth
                 can
                 to
                 gain
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 and
                 deny'd
                 more
                 to
                 become
                 Capable
                 of
                 being
                 tempted
                 ,
                 than
                 he
                 did
                 when
                 he
                 was
                 tempted
                 with
                 an
                 offer
                 of
                 
                   All
                   the
                   Kingdoms
                   of
                   the
                   world
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   Glory
                   of
                   them
                
                 :
                 This
                 Saviour
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 ,
                 is
                 said
                 in
                 Scripture
                 to
                 have
                 ,
                 
                 
                   for
                   the
                   joy
                   that
                   was
                   set
                   before
                   him
                   ,
                   endured
                   the
                   Cross
                   ,
                   and
                   despised
                   the
                   shame
                
                 ;
                 as
                 if
                 Heaven
                 had
                 been
                 a
                 sufficient
                 Recompence
                 for
                 even
                 His
                 Renouncing
                 Honours
                 ,
                 and
                 Embracing
                 Torments
                 .
              
               
                 He
                 that
                 declines
                 the
                 Acquist
                 of
                 the
                 Applause
                 of
                 men
                 for
                 the
                 Contemplation
                 of
                 the
                 Truths
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 does
                 but
                 forbear
                 to
                 gather
                 that
                 whilst
                 't
                 is
                 immature
                 ,
                 which
                 by
                 waiting
                 God's
                 time
                 he
                 will
                 more
                 seasonably
                 gather
                 when
                 't
                 is
                 full
                 ripe
                 ,
                 and
                 wholesome
                 ,
                 and
                 sweet
                 .
                 That
                 
                   immarcescible
                   Crown
                
                 (
                 as
                 St.
                 Peter
                 calls
                 it
                 )
                 which
                 the
                 Gospel
                 promises
                 to
                 them
                 ,
                 
                 
                   who
                   by
                   patient
                   continuance
                   in
                   well
                   doing
                   seek
                   for
                   glory
                   and
                   honour
                   ,
                
                 will
                 make
                 a
                 rich
                 amends
                 for
                 the
                 declining
                 of
                 a
                 Fading
                 Wreath
                 here
                 upon
                 Earth
                 ,
                 where
                 Reputation
                 is
                 oftentimes
                 as
                 undeservedly
                 acquir'd
                 ,
                 as
                 lost
                 :
                 Whereas
                 in
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 the
                 very
                 
                 having
                 Celestial
                 Honours
                 argues
                 a
                 Title
                 to
                 them
                 .
                 And
                 since
                 't
                 is
                 our
                 Saviour's
                 Reasoning
                 ,
                 That
                 His
                 Disciples
                 ought
                 to
                 rejoyce
                 when
                 their
                 Reputation
                 is
                 pursued
                 by
                 Calumny
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 their
                 Lives
                 by
                 Persecution
                 ,
                 
                 
                   because
                   their
                   reward
                   is
                   great
                   in
                   Heaven
                   ,
                
                 we
                 may
                 justly
                 infer
                 ,
                 That
                 the
                 Grounded
                 Expectation
                 of
                 so
                 illustrious
                 a
                 Condition
                 may
                 bring
                 us
                 more
                 Content
                 ,
                 even
                 when
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 attended
                 with
                 a
                 present
                 Applause
                 ,
                 than
                 this
                 Applause
                 can
                 give
                 those
                 who
                 want
                 that
                 comfortable
                 Expectation
                 .
                 So
                 that
                 ,
                 upon
                 the
                 whole
                 matter
                 ,
                 we
                 have
                 no
                 reason
                 to
                 despond
                 ,
                 or
                 to
                 complain
                 of
                 the
                 Study
                 of
                 Theology
                 ,
                 for
                 but
                 making
                 Us
                 decline
                 an
                 empty
                 and
                 transitory
                 Fame
                 for
                 a
                 solid
                 and
                 eternal
                 Glory
                 .
              
            
          
           
             
             
               The
               Conclusion
               .
            
             
               BY
               this
               time
               ,
               Sir
               ,
               I
               have
               said
               as
               much
               as
               I
               think
               fit
               (
               and
               therefore
               ,
               I
               hope
               ,
               more
               than
               upon
               your
               single
               account
               was
               necessary
               )
               to
               manifest
               ,
               that
               Physeophilus
               had
               no
               just
               cause
               to
               undervalue
               the
               study
               of
               Divinity
               ,
               nor
               our
               Friend
               the
               Doctor
               ,
               for
               addicting
               himself
               to
               it
               .
               I
               hope
               you
               have
               not
               forgotten
               what
               I
               expressly
               enough
               declar'd
               at
               the
               beginning
               of
               this
               Letter
               ,
               That
               both
               your
               Friend
               and
               you
               admitting
               the
               holy
               Scriptures
               ,
               I
               knew
               my self
               thereby
               to
               be
               warranted
               to
               draw
               Proofs
               from
               their
               Authority
               .
               And
               if
               I
               need
               not
               remind
               you
               of
               this
               ,
               perhaps
               I
               need
               not
               tell
               you
               by
               way
               of
               Apology
               ,
               that
               I
               am
               not
               so
               unacquainted
               with
               the
               Laws
               of
               Discoursing
               ,
               but
               that
               ,
               if
               I
               had
               been
               to
               argue
               with
               Atheists
               or
               Scepticks
               ,
               I
               should
               have
               forborn
               to
               make
               use
               of
               divers
               of
               the
               Arguments
               I
               have
               imploy'd
               ,
               as
               fetch'd
               from
               unconceded
               Topicks
               ,
               and
               substituted
               others
               for
               such
               as
               yet
               I
               think
               it
               very
               allowable
               for
               me
               to
               urge
               ,
               when
               I
               deal
               
               with
               a
               Person
               ,
               that
               ,
               as
               your
               Friend
               does
               onely
               
                 undervalue
                 the
                 study
              
               of
               the
               Scriptures
               ,
               
                 not
                 reject
                 their
                 Authority
              
               .
               And
               if
               the
               prolixity
               I
               have
               been
               guilty
               of
               already
               did
               forbid
               me
               to
               increase
               it
               by
               Apologies
               not
               absolutely
               necessary
               ,
               I
               should
               perchance
               rather
               think
               my self
               obliged
               to
               excuse
               the
               plainness
               of
               the
               Style
               of
               this
               Discourse
               ;
               which
               both
               upon
               the
               Subject's
               score
               ,
               and
               yours
               ,
               may
               seem
               to
               challenge
               a
               richer
               Dress
               .
               But
               the
               matter
               is
               very
               serious
               ,
               and
               you
               are
               a
               Philosopher
               ,
               and
               when
               the
               things
               we
               treat
               of
               are
               highly
               important
               ,
               I
               think
               Truths
               clearly
               made
               out
               to
               be
               the
               most
               perswasive
               pieces
               of
               Oratory
               .
               And
               a
               Discourse
               of
               this
               Nature
               is
               more
               likely
               to
               prove
               Effectual
               on
               Intelligent
               Perusers
               ,
               by
               having
               the
               Reasons
               it
               presents
               perspicuously
               propos'd
               ,
               and
               unprejudic'dly
               entertain'd
               ,
               than
               by
               their
               being
               pathetically
               urg'd
               ,
               or
               curiously
               adorn'd
               .
               And
               I
               have
               the
               rather
               forborn
               expressions
               that
               might
               seem
               more
               proper
               to
               move
               than
               to
               convince
               ;
               because
               I
               foresee
               ,
               I
               may
               very
               shortly
               have
               occasion
               to
               employ
               some
               of
               the
               former
               sort
               in
               another
               Letter
               to
               a
               Friend
               of
               yours
               and
               mine
               ,
               who
               will
               ,
               I
               
               doubt
               ,
               make
               you
               a
               sharer
               in
               the
               trouble
               of
               reading
               it
               .
               But
               writing
               this
               for
               you
               and
               Physeophilus
               ,
               I
               was
               far
               more
               sollicitous
               to
               give
               the
               Arguments
               I
               imploy
               a
               good
               temper
               ,
               than
               a
               bright
               gloss
               .
               For
               even
               when
               we
               would
               excite
               Devotion
               ,
               if
               it
               be
               in
               rational
               men
               ,
               the
               most
               effectual
               pieces
               of
               Oratory
               are
               those
               ,
               which
               like
               Burning-glasses
               inflame
               by
               nothing
               but
               numerous
               and
               united
               Beams
               of
               Light.
               If
               this
               Letter
               prove
               so
               happy
               as
               to
               give
               you
               any
               satisfaction
               ,
               it
               will
               thereby
               bring
               me
               a
               great
               one
               .
               For
               prizing
               you
               as
               I
               do
               ,
               I
               cannot
               but
               wish
               to
               see
               you
               Esteem
               those
               things
               now
               ,
               which
               I
               am
               confident
               we
               shall
               always
               have
               cause
               to
               esteem
               ;
               and
               then
               most
               ,
               when
               the
               Light
               of
               Glory
               shall
               have
               made
               us
               better
               Judges
               of
               the
               true
               worth
               of
               things
               .
               And
               it
               would
               extremely
               trouble
               me
               to
               see
               you
               a
               Disesteemer
               of
               those
               Divine
               things
               ,
               which
               as
               long
               as
               a
               man
               undervalues
               ,
               the
               Possession
               of
               Heaven
               it self
               would
               not
               make
               him
               happy
               .
               And
               therefore
               ,
               if
               the
               Blessing
               of
               Him
               whose
               Glory
               is
               aim'd
               at
               in
               it
               ,
               make
               the
               Success
               of
               this
               Paper
               answerable
               to
               the
               Wishes
               ,
               the
               Importance
               
               of
               the
               Subject
               ,
               will
               make
               the
               Service
               done
               you
               by
               it
               suitable
               to
               the
               Desires
               of
               ,
            
             
               
                 SIR
                 ,
              
               
                 Your
                 most
                 Faithful
                 ,
                 most
                 Affectionate
                 ,
                 and
                 most
                 Humble
                 Servant
                 .
              
            
             
               FINIS
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             
             
               ERRATA
               .
            
             
               IN
               the
               Introduction
               ,
               p.
               2
               l.
               18.
               point
               thus
               ;
               
                 else
                 ;
                 our
              
               .
               p.
               51.
               l.
               17.
               r.
               Corpuscularian
               .
               p.
               114.
               l.
               3.
               r.
               Theology
               for
               Philosophy
               .
               p.
               133.
               l.
               10.
               r.
               
                 yet
                 many
                 of
              
               .
               ibid.
               l.
               19.
               r.
               
                 else
                 do
                 but.
              
               p.
               201.
               l.
               12.
               point
               thus
               ,
               
                 predecessors
                 ,
                 did
                 unanimously
                 teach
              
               .
            
          
        
      
       
         
           
             
             
             
               ABOUT
               THE
               EXCELLENCY
               AND
               GROUNDS
               Of
               the
               MECHANICAL
               HYPOTHESIS
               ,
               Some
               Considerations
               ,
               Occasionally
               propos'd
               to
               a
               Friend
               .
            
             
               By
               T.
               H.
               
                 R.
                 B.
              
               E.
               Fellow
               of
               the
               
                 Royal
                 Society
              
               .
            
             
               LONDON
               ,
               Printed
               by
               
                 T.
                 N.
              
               for
               
                 Henry
                 Herringman
              
               ,
               at
               the
               Anchor
               in
               the
               
                 Lower
                 Walk
              
               of
               the
               
                 New
                 Exchange
              
               .
               1674.
               
            
          
           
             
             
             
               The
               Publisher's
               ADVERTISEMENT
               .
            
             
               THe
               following
               Paper
               having
               been
               but
               occasionally
               and
               hastily
               pen'd
               ,
               long
               after
               what
               the
               Author
               had
               written
               (
               by
               way
               of
               Dialogue
               )
               about
               
                 the
                 Requisites
                 of
                 a
                 good
                 Hypothesis
                 ,
              
               it
               was
               intended
               ,
               that
               if
               it
               came
               forth
               at
               all
               ,
               it
               should
               do
               so
               as
               an
               Appendix
               to
               that
               Discourse
               ;
               because
               though
               one
               part
               of
               it
               does
               little
               more
               than
               name
               some
               of
               the
               Heads
               treated
               of
               in
               the
               Dialogue
               ,
               yet
               ,
               according
               to
               the
               exigency
               of
               the
               Occasion
               ,
               the
               other
               part
               contains
               several
               things
               ,
               either
               pretermitted
               ,
               or
               but
               more
               lightly
               touched
               on
               in
               the
               Discourse
               .
               But
               ,
               although
               the
               Author's
               design
               were
               to
               reserve
               these
               thoughts
               ,
               as
               a
               kind
               of
               Paralipomena
               to
               his
               Dialogue
               ;
               yet
               ,
               since
               he
               is
               not
               willing
               to
               let
               that
               ,
               at
               least
               quickly
               ,
               come
               abroad
               ,
               and
               these
               are
               fallen
               
               into
               my
               hands
               ;
               I
               will
               make
               bold
               ,
               with
               his
               good
               leave
               ,
               to
               annex
               them
               to
               the
               fore-going
               Treatise
               ,
               not
               onely
               to
               compleat
               the
               Bulk
               of
               the
               Book
               ,
               but
               because
               o●
               some
               affinity
               between
               them
               ,
               since
               both
               aim
               at
               manifesting
               the
               Excellency
               of
               the
               Studies
               they
               would
               recommend
               .
               And
               perhaps
               't
               will
               not
               be
               unwelcome
               to
               some
               of
               the
               Curious
               to
               find
               ,
               that
               our
               Noble
               Author
               in
               the
               same
               Book
               ,
               wherein
               he
               prefers
               the
               Study
               of
               Divine
               things
               to
               that
               of
               Natural
               ones
               ,
               does
               himself
               prefer
               the
               Mechanical
               Principles
               before
               all
               other
               Hypotheses
               about
               Natural
               things
               ;
               they
               being
               in
               their
               own
               Nature
               so
               accommodate
               to
               make
               considering
               men
               understand
               ,
               rather
               than
               dispute
               of
               ,
               the
               Effects
               of
               Nature
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             
             
               Of
               the
               Excellency
               and
               Grounds
               Of
               the
               CORPUSCULAR
               Or
               MECHANICAL
               Philosophy
               .
            
             
               THe
               importance
               of
               the
               Question
               ,
               you
               propose
               ,
               would
               oblige
               me
               to
               refer
               you
               to
               the
               
                 Dialogue
                 about
                 a
                 good
                 Hypothesis
              
               ,
               and
               some
               other
               Papers
               of
               that
               kind
               ,
               where
               you
               may
               find
               my
               thoughts
               about
               the
               advantages
               of
               the
               Mechanical
               Hypothesis
               somewhat
               amply
               set
               down
               ,
               and
               discours'd
               of
               .
               But
               ,
               since
               your
               desires
               confine
               me
               to
               deliver
               in
               few
               words
               ,
               not
               what
               I
               believe
               resolvedly
               ,
               but
               what
               I
               think
               may
               be
               probably
               said
               for
               the
               Preference
               or
               the
               Preeminence
               of
               the
               
               Corpuscular
               Philosophy
               above
               Aristotles
               ,
               or
               that
               of
               the
               Chymists
               ,
               you
               must
               be
               content
               to
               receive
               from
               me
               ,
               without
               any
               Preamble
               ,
               or
               exact
               Method
               ,
               or
               ample
               Discourses
               ,
               or
               any
               other
               thing
               that
               may
               cost
               many
               words
               ,
               a
               succinct
               mention
               of
               some
               of
               the
               chief
               Advantages
               of
               the
               Hypothesis
               we
               incline
               to
               .
               And
               I
               the
               rather
               comply
               ,
               on
               this
               occasion
               ,
               with
               your
               Curiosity
               ,
               because
               I
               have
               often
               observ'd
               you
               to
               be
               allarm'd
               and
               disquieted
               ,
               when
               you
               hear
               of
               any
               Book
               that
               pretends
               to
               uphold
               ,
               or
               repair
               the
               decaying
               Philosophy
               of
               the
               Schools
               ,
               or
               some
               bold
               Chymist
               ,
               that
               arrogates
               to
               those
               of
               his
               Sect
               the
               Title
               of
               Philosophers
               ,
               and
               pretends
               to
               build
               wholly
               upon
               Experience
               ,
               to
               which
               he
               would
               have
               all
               other
               Naturalists
               thought
               strangers
               .
               That
               therefore
               you
               may
               not
               be
               so
               tempted
               to
               despond
               ,
               by
               the
               Confidence
               or
               Reputation
               of
               those
               Writers
               ,
               that
               do
               some
               of
               them
               applaud
               ,
               and
               others
               censure
               ,
               what
               ,
               I
               fear
               ,
               they
               do
               not
               understand
               ,
               (
               as
               when
               the
               Peripateticks
               cry
               up
               ,
               
                 Substantial
                 Forms
              
               ,
               and
               the
               Chymists
               ,
               
                 Mechanical
                 Explications
              
               )
               of
               Nature's
               Phaenomena
               ,
               I
               will
               propose
               
               some
               Considerations
               ,
               that
               ,
               I
               hope
               ,
               will
               not
               onely
               keep
               you
               kind
               to
               the
               Philosophy
               you
               have
               embrac'd
               ,
               but
               perhaps
               ,
               (
               by
               some
               Considerations
               which
               you
               have
               not
               yet
               met
               with
               ,
               )
               make
               you
               think
               it
               probable
               ,
               that
               the
               new
               Attempts
               you
               hear
               of
               from
               time
               to
               time
               ,
               will
               not
               overthrow
               the
               
                 Corpuscularian
                 Philosophy
              
               ,
               but
               either
               be
               foiled
               by
               it
               ,
               or
               found
               reconcilable
               to
               it
               .
            
             
               But
               when
               I
               speak
               of
               the
               Corpuscular
               or
               Mechanical
               Philosophy
               ,
               I
               am
               far
               from
               meaning
               with
               the
               Epicureans
               ,
               that
               Atoms
               ,
               meeting
               together
               by
               chance
               in
               an
               infinite
               Vacuum
               ,
               are
               able
               of
               themselves
               to
               produce
               the
               World
               ,
               and
               all
               its
               Phaenomena
               ;
               nor
               with
               some
               Modern
               Philosophers
               ,
               that
               ,
               supposing
               God
               to
               have
               put
               into
               the
               whole
               Mass
               of
               Matter
               such
               an
               invariable
               quantity
               of
               Motion
               ,
               he
               needed
               do
               no
               more
               to
               make
               the
               World
               ,
               the
               material
               parts
               being
               able
               by
               their
               own
               unguided
               Motions
               ,
               to
               cast
               themselves
               into
               such
               a
               System
               (
               as
               we
               call
               by
               that
               name
               )
               ;
               But
               I
               plead
               onely
               for
               such
               a
               Philosophy
               ,
               as
               reaches
               but
               to
               things
               purely
               Corporeal
               ,
               and
               distinguishing
               between
               
               the
               first
               
                 original
                 of
                 things
              
               ,
               and
               the
               subsequent
               
                 course
                 of
                 Nature
              
               ,
               teaches
               ,
               concerning
               the
               former
               ,
               not
               onely
               that
               God
               gave
               Motion
               to
               Matter
               ,
               but
               that
               in
               the
               beginning
               He
               so
               guided
               the
               various
               Motions
               of
               the
               parts
               of
               it
               ,
               as
               to
               contrive
               them
               into
               the
               World
               he
               design'd
               they
               should
               compose
               ,
               (
               furnish'd
               with
               the
               Seminal
               Principles
               and
               Structures
               or
               Models
               of
               Living
               Creatures
               ,
               )
               and
               establish'd
               those
               
                 Rules
                 of
                 Motion
              
               ,
               and
               that
               order
               amongst
               things
               Corporeal
               ,
               which
               we
               are
               wont
               to
               call
               the
               
                 Laws
                 of
                 Nature
              
               .
               And
               having
               told
               this
               as
               to
               the
               former
               ,
               it
               may
               be
               allowed
               as
               to
               the
               latter
               to
               teach
               ,
               That
               the
               Universe
               being
               once
               fram'd
               by
               God
               ,
               and
               the
               Laws
               of
               Motion
               being
               setled
               and
               all
               upheld
               by
               His
               incessant
               concourse
               and
               general
               Providence
               ;
               the
               Phaenomena
               of
               the
               World
               thus
               constituted
               ,
               are
               Physically
               produc'd
               by
               the
               Mechanical
               affections
               of
               the
               parts
               of
               Matter
               ,
               and
               what
               they
               operate
               upon
               one
               another
               according
               to
               Me●hanical
               Laws
               .
               And
               now
               having
               shewn
               what
               kind
               of
               Corpuscular
               Philosophy
               't
               is
               that
               I
               speak
               of
               I
               p●oceed
               to
               the
               particulars
               that
               I
               thought
               the
               most
               proper
               to
               recommend
               it
               .
            
             
             
               I.
               The
               first
               thing
               that
               I
               shall
               mention
               to
               this
               purpose
               ,
               is
               the
               Intelligibleness
               or
               Clearness
               of
               Mechanical
               Principles
               and
               Explications
               .
               I
               need
               not
               tell
               you
               ,
               that
               among
               the
               Peripateticks
               ,
               the
               Disputes
               are
               many
               and
               intricate
               about
               
                 Matter
                 ,
                 Privation
                 ,
                 Substantial
                 Forms
                 ,
              
               and
               their
               Eduction
               ,
               &c.
               
               And
               the
               Chymists
               are
               sufficiently
               puzled
               ,
               (
               as
               I
               have
               elsewhere
               shewn
               ,
               )
               to
               give
               such
               definitions
               and
               accounts
               of
               their
               Hypostatical
               Principles
               ,
               as
               are
               reconcileable
               to
               one
               another
               ,
               and
               even
               to
               some
               obvious
               Phaenomena
               .
               And
               much
               more
               dark
               and
               intricate
               are
               their
               Doctrines
               about
               the
               
                 Archeus
                 ,
                 Astral
                 Beings
                 ,
                 Gas
                 ,
                 Blass
                 ,
              
               and
               other
               odd
               Notions
               ,
               which
               perhaps
               have
               in
               part
               occasion'd
               the
               darkness
               and
               ambiguity
               of
               their
               expressions
               ,
               that
               could
               not
               be
               very
               clear
               ,
               when
               their
               Conceptions
               were
               far
               from
               being
               so
               .
               And
               if
               the
               Principles
               of
               the
               Aristotelians
               and
               Spagyrists
               are
               thus
               obscure
               ,
               't
               is
               not
               to
               be
               expected
               ,
               the
               Explications
               that
               are
               made
               by
               the
               help
               onely
               of
               such
               Principles
               should
               be
               clear
               .
               And
               indeed
               many
               of
               them
               are
               either
               so
               general
               and
               slight
               ,
               or
               otherwise
               so
               unsatisfactory
               ,
               that
               granting
               
               their
               Principles
               ,
               't
               is
               very
               hard
               to
               understand
               or
               admit
               their
               applications
               of
               them
               to
               particular
               Phaenomena
               .
               And
               even
               in
               some
               of
               the
               more
               ingenious
               and
               subtle
               of
               the
               Peripatetick
               Discourses
               upon
               their
               superficial
               and
               narrow
               Theories
               ,
               me
               thinks
               ,
               the
               Authors
               have
               better
               plaid
               the
               part
               of
               Painters
               than
               Philosophers
               ,
               and
               have
               onely
               had
               the
               skill
               ,
               like
               Drawers
               of
               Landskips
               ,
               to
               make
               men
               fancy
               ,
               they
               see
               Castles
               and
               Towns
               ,
               and
               other
               Structures
               that
               appear
               solid
               and
               magnificent
               ,
               and
               to
               reach
               to
               a
               large
               extent
               ,
               when
               the
               whole
               Piece
               is
               superficial
               ,
               and
               made
               up
               of
               Colours
               and
               Art
               ,
               and
               compris'd
               within
               a
               Frame
               perhaps
               scarce
               a
               yard
               long
               .
               But
               to
               come
               now
               to
               the
               Corpuscular
               Philosophy
               ,
               men
               do
               so
               easily
               understand
               one
               anothers
               meaning
               ,
               when
               they
               talk
               of
               
                 Local
                 Motion
                 ,
                 Rest
                 ,
                 Bigness
                 ,
                 Shape
                 ,
                 Order
                 ,
                 Situation
                 ,
              
               and
               Contexture
               of
               Material
               Substances
               ;
               and
               these
               Principles
               do
               afford
               such
               clear
               accounts
               of
               those
               things
               ,
               that
               are
               rightly
               deduc'd
               from
               them
               onely
               ,
               that
               even
               those
               Peripateticks
               or
               Chymists
               ,
               that
               maintain
               other
               Principles
               ,
               acquiesce
               in
               the
               Explications
               made
               by
               these
               ,
               when
               they
               
               can
               be
               had
               ,
               and
               seek
               not
               any
               further
               ,
               though
               perhaps
               the
               effect
               be
               so
               admirable
               ,
               as
               would
               make
               it
               pass
               for
               that
               of
               a
               hidden
               Form
               ,
               or
               Occult
               Quality
               .
               Those
               very
               Aristotelians
               ,
               that
               believe
               the
               Celestial
               Bodies
               to
               be
               mov'd
               by
               Intelligences
               ,
               have
               no
               recourse
               to
               any
               peculiar
               agency
               of
               theirs
               to
               account
               for
               Eclipses
               .
               And
               we
               laugh
               at
               those
               East-Indians
               ,
               that
               ,
               to
               this
               day
               ,
               go
               out
               in
               multitudes
               ,
               with
               some
               Instruments
               that
               may
               relieve
               the
               distressed
               Luminary
               ,
               whose
               loss
               of
               Light
               they
               fancy
               to
               proceed
               from
               some
               fainting
               fit
               ,
               out
               of
               which
               it
               must
               be
               rouz'd
               .
               For
               no
               Intelligent
               man
               ,
               whether
               Chymist
               or
               Peripatetic
               ,
               flies
               to
               his
               peculiar
               Principles
               ,
               after
               he
               is
               informed
               ,
               that
               the
               Moon
               is
               Eclipsed
               by
               the
               interposition
               of
               the
               Earth
               betwixt
               her
               and
               it
               ,
               and
               the
               Sun
               by
               that
               of
               the
               Moon
               betwixt
               him
               and
               the
               Earth
               .
               And
               when
               we
               see
               the
               Image
               of
               a
               Man
               cast
               into
               the
               Air
               by
               a
               Concave
               Spherical
               Looking-glass
               ,
               though
               most
               men
               are
               amaz'd
               at
               it
               ,
               and
               some
               suspect
               it
               to
               be
               no
               less
               than
               an
               effect
               of
               Witchcraft
               ,
               yet
               he
               that
               is
               skill'd
               enough
               in
               Catoptricks
               ,
               will
               ,
               without
               consulting
               Aristotle
               ,
               or
               Paracelsus
               ,
               
               or
               flying
               to
               Hypostatical
               Principles
               and
               Substantial
               Forms
               ,
               be
               satisfied
               ,
               that
               the
               Phaenomenon
               is
               produc'd
               by
               the
               beams
               of
               Light
               reflected
               ,
               and
               thereby
               made
               convergent
               according
               to
               Optical
               ,
               and
               consequently
               Mathematical
               Laws
               .
            
             
               But
               I
               must
               not
               now
               repeat
               what
               I
               elsewhere
               say
               ,
               to
               shew
               ,
               that
               the
               Corpuscular
               Principles
               have
               been
               declin'd
               by
               Philosophers
               of
               different
               Sects
               ,
               not
               because
               they
               think
               not
               our
               Explications
               clear
               ,
               if
               not
               much
               more
               so
               ,
               than
               their
               own
               ;
               but
               because
               they
               imagine
               ,
               that
               the
               applications
               of
               them
               can
               be
               made
               but
               to
               few
               things
               ,
               and
               consequently
               are
               insufficient
               .
            
             
               II.
               In
               the
               next
               place
               I
               observe
               ,
               that
               there
               cannot
               be
               fewer
               Principles
               than
               the
               two
               grand
               ones
               of
               Mechanical
               Philosophy
               ,
               Matter
               and
               Motion
               .
               For
               ,
               Matter
               alone
               ,
               unless
               it
               be
               moved
               ,
               is
               altogether
               unactive
               ;
               and
               whilst
               all
               the
               parts
               of
               a
               Body
               continue
               in
               one
               state
               without
               any
               Motion
               at
               all
               ,
               that
               Body
               will
               not
               exercise
               any
               action
               ,
               nor
               suffer
               any
               alteration
               it self
               ,
               though
               it
               may
               perhaps
               modifie
               the
               action
               of
               other
               Bodies
               that
               move
               against
               it
               .
            
             
               III.
               Nor
               can
               we
               conceive
               any
               Principles
               
               more
               primary
               ,
               than
               Matter
               and
               Motion
               .
               For
               ,
               either
               both
               of
               them
               were
               immediately
               created
               by
               God
               ,
               or
               ,
               (
               to
               add
               that
               for
               their
               sakes
               that
               would
               have
               Matter
               to
               be
               unproduc'd
               ,
               )
               if
               Matter
               be
               eternal
               ,
               Motion
               must
               either
               be
               produc'd
               by
               some
               Immaterial
               Supernatural
               Agent
               ,
               or
               it
               must
               immediately
               flow
               by
               way
               of
               Emanation
               from
               the
               nature
               of
               the
               matter
               it
               appertains
               to
               .
            
             
               IV.
               Neither
               can
               there
               be
               any
               Physical
               Principles
               more
               simple
               than
               Matter
               and
               Motion
               ;
               neither
               of
               them
               being
               resoluble
               into
               any
               things
               ,
               whereof
               it
               may
               be
               truly
               ,
               or
               so
               much
               as
               tolerably
               ,
               said
               to
               be
               compounded
               .
            
             
               V.
               The
               next
               thing
               I
               shall
               name
               to
               recommend
               the
               Corpuscular
               Principle
               ,
               is
               their
               great
               Comprehensiveness
               .
               I
               consider
               then
               ,
               that
               the
               genuine
               and
               necessary
               effect
               of
               the
               sufficiently
               strong
               Motion
               of
               one
               part
               of
               Matter
               against
               another
               ,
               is
               ,
               either
               to
               drive
               it
               on
               in
               its
               intire
               bulk
               ,
               or
               else
               to
               break
               or
               divide
               it
               into
               particles
               of
               determinate
               
                 Motion
                 ,
                 Figure
                 ,
                 Size
                 ,
                 Posture
                 ,
                 Rest
                 ,
                 Order
                 ,
              
               or
               Texture
               .
               The
               two
               first
               of
               these
               ,
               for
               instance
               ,
               are
               each
               of
               them
               capable
               of
               numerous
               varieties
               .
               For
               
               the
               Figure
               of
               a
               portion
               of
               Matter
               may
               either
               be
               one
               of
               the
               five
               Regular
               Figures
               treated
               of
               by
               Geometricians
               ,
               or
               some
               determinate
               Species
               of
               solid
               Figures
               ,
               as
               that
               of
               a
               
                 Cone
                 ,
                 Cylinder
              
               ,
               &c.
               or
               Irregular
               ,
               though
               not
               perhaps
               Anonymous
               ,
               as
               the
               Grains
               of
               Sand
               ,
               Hoops
               ,
               Feathers
               ,
               Branches
               ,
               Forks
               ,
               Files
               ,
               &c.
               
               And
               as
               the
               Figure
               ,
               so
               the
               Motion
               of
               one
               of
               these
               particles
               may
               be
               exceedingly
               diversified
               ,
               not
               onely
               by
               the
               determination
               to
               this
               or
               that
               part
               of
               the
               world
               ,
               but
               by
               several
               other
               things
               ,
               as
               particularly
               by
               the
               almost
               infinitely
               varying
               degrees
               of
               Celerity
               ,
               by
               the
               manner
               of
               its
               progression
               with
               ,
               or
               without
               ,
               Rotation
               ,
               and
               other
               modifying
               Circumstances
               ;
               and
               more
               yet
               by
               the
               Line
               wherein
               it
               moves
               ,
               as
               (
               besides
               Streight
               )
               Circular
               ,
               Elliptical
               ,
               Parabolical
               ,
               Hyperbolical
               ,
               Spiral
               ,
               and
               I
               know
               not
               how
               many
               others
               .
               For
               ,
               as
               later
               Geometricians
               have
               shewn
               ,
               that
               those
               crooked
               Lines
               may
               be
               compounded
               of
               several
               Motions
               ,
               (
               that
               is
               ,
               trac'd
               by
               a
               Body
               whose
               motion
               is
               mixt
               of
               ,
               and
               results
               from
               ,
               two
               or
               more
               simpler
               Motions
               ,
               )
               so
               how
               many
               more
               curves
               may
               ,
               or
               rather
               may
               not
               be
               made
               by
               new
               Compositions
               
               and
               Decompositions
               of
               Motion
               ,
               is
               no
               easie
               task
               to
               determine
               .
            
             
               Now
               ,
               since
               a
               single
               particle
               of
               Matter
               ,
               by
               vertue
               of
               two
               onely
               of
               the
               Mechanical
               affections
               ,
               that
               belong
               to
               it
               ,
               be
               diversifiable
               so
               many
               ways
               ;
               how
               vast
               a
               number
               of
               variations
               may
               we
               suppose
               capable
               of
               being
               produc'd
               by
               the
               Compositions
               and
               Decompositions
               of
               Myriads
               of
               single
               invisible
               Corpuscles
               ,
               that
               may
               be
               contained
               and
               contex'd
               in
               one
               small
               Body
               ,
               and
               each
               of
               them
               be
               imbued
               with
               more
               than
               two
               or
               three
               of
               the
               fertile
               Catholick
               Principles
               above
               mention'd
               ?
               Especially
               since
               the
               aggregate
               of
               those
               Corpuscles
               may
               be
               farther
               diversifi'd
               by
               the
               Texture
               resulting
               from
               their
               Convention
               into
               a
               Body
               ,
               which
               ,
               as
               so
               made
               up
               ,
               has
               its
               own
               Bigness
               ,
               and
               Shape
               ,
               and
               Pores
               ,
               (
               perhaps
               very
               many
               ,
               and
               various
               )
               and
               has
               also
               many
               capacities
               of
               acting
               and
               suffering
               upon
               the
               score
               of
               the
               place
               it
               holds
               among
               other
               Bodies
               in
               a
               World
               constituted
               as
               ours
               is
               :
               So
               that
               ,
               when
               I
               consider
               the
               almost
               innumerable
               diversifications
               ,
               that
               Compositions
               and
               Decompositions
               may
               make
               of
               a
               small
               number
               ,
               not
               
               perhaps
               exceeding
               twenty
               of
               distinct
               things
               ,
               I
               am
               apt
               to
               look
               upon
               those
               ,
               who
               think
               the
               Mechanical
               Principles
               may
               serve
               indeed
               to
               give
               an
               account
               of
               the
               Phaenomena
               of
               this
               or
               that
               particular
               part
               of
               Natural
               Philosophy
               ,
               as
               
                 Staticks
                 ,
                 Hydrostaticks
              
               ,
               the
               
                 Theory
                 of
                 the
                 Planetary
                 Motions
              
               ,
               &c.
               but
               can
               never
               be
               applied
               to
               all
               the
               Phaenomena
               of
               things
               Corporeal
               ;
               I
               am
               apt
               ,
               I
               say
               ,
               to
               look
               upon
               those
               ,
               otherwise
               Learned
               ,
               men
               ,
               as
               I
               would
               do
               upon
               him
               ,
               that
               should
               affirm
               ,
               that
               by
               putting
               together
               the
               Letters
               of
               the
               Alphabet
               ,
               one
               may
               indeed
               make
               up
               all
               the
               words
               to
               be
               found
               in
               one
               Book
               ,
               as
               in
               Euclid
               ,
               or
               Virgil
               ;
               or
               in
               one
               Language
               ,
               as
               Latine
               ,
               or
               English
               ;
               but
               that
               they
               can
               by
               no
               means
               suffice
               to
               supply
               words
               to
               all
               the
               Books
               of
               a
               great
               Library
               ,
               much
               less
               to
               all
               the
               Languages
               in
               the
               world
               .
            
             
               And
               whereas
               there
               is
               another
               sort
               of
               Philosophers
               ,
               that
               ,
               observing
               the
               great
               efficacy
               of
               the
               bigness
               ,
               and
               shape
               ,
               and
               situation
               ,
               and
               motion
               ,
               and
               connexion
               in
               Engines
               ,
               are
               willing
               to
               allow
               ,
               that
               those
               Mechanical
               Principles
               may
               have
               a
               great
               stroke
               in
               the
               Operations
               of
               Bodies
               of
               a
               sensible
               
               bulk
               ,
               and
               manifest
               Mechanism
               ,
               and
               therefore
               may
               be
               usefully
               imploy'd
               in
               accounting
               for
               the
               effects
               and
               Phaenomena
               of
               such
               Bodies
               ,
               who
               yet
               will
               not
               admit
               ,
               that
               these
               Principles
               can
               be
               apply'd
               to
               the
               hidden
               Transactions
               that
               pass
               among
               the
               minute
               Particles
               of
               Bodies
               ;
               and
               therefore
               think
               it
               necessary
               to
               refer
               these
               to
               what
               they
               call
               
                 Nature
                 ,
                 Substantial
                 Forms
                 ,
                 Real
                 Qualities
              
               ▪
               and
               the
               like
               Un-mechanical
               Principles
               and
               Agents
               .
            
             
               But
               this
               is
               not
               necessary
               ;
               for
               ,
               both
               the
               Mechanical
               affections
               of
               Matter
               are
               to
               be
               found
               ,
               and
               the
               Laws
               of
               Motion
               take
               place
               ,
               not
               onely
               in
               the
               great
               Masses
               ,
               and
               the
               middle-siz'd
               Lumps
               ,
               but
               in
               the
               smallest
               Fragments
               of
               Matter
               ;
               and
               a
               lesser
               portion
               of
               it
               ,
               being
               as
               well
               a
               Body
               as
               a
               greater
               ,
               must
               ,
               as
               necessarily
               as
               it
               ,
               have
               its
               determinate
               Bulk
               and
               Figure
               :
               And
               he
               that
               looks
               upon
               Sand
               in
               a
               good
               Microscope
               ,
               will
               easily
               perceive
               ,
               that
               each
               minute
               Grain
               of
               it
               has
               as
               well
               it
               s
               own
               size
               and
               shape
               ,
               as
               a
               Rock
               or
               Mountain
               .
               And
               when
               we
               let
               fall
               a
               great
               stone
               and
               a
               pibble
               from
               the
               top
               of
               a
               high
               Building
               ,
               we
               find
               not
               but
               that
               the
               latter
               as
               well
               as
               the
               former
               moves
               conformably
               
               to
               the
               Laws
               of
               acceleration
               in
               heavy
               Bodies
               descending
               .
               And
               the
               Rules
               of
               Motion
               are
               observ'd
               ,
               not
               onely
               in
               Canon
               Bullets
               ,
               but
               in
               Small
               Shot
               ;
               and
               the
               one
               strikes
               down
               a
               Bird
               according
               to
               the
               same
               Laws
               ,
               that
               the
               other
               batters
               down
               a
               Wall.
               And
               though
               Nature
               (
               or
               rather
               its
               Divine
               Author
               )
               be
               wont
               to
               work
               with
               much
               finer
               materials
               ,
               and
               employ
               more
               curious
               contrivances
               than
               Art
               ,
               (
               whence
               the
               Structure
               even
               of
               the
               rarest
               Watch
               is
               incomparably
               inferiour
               to
               that
               of
               a
               Humane
               Body
               ;
               )
               yet
               an
               Artist
               himself
               ,
               according
               to
               the
               quantity
               of
               the
               matter
               he
               imploys
               ,
               the
               exigency
               of
               the
               design
               he
               undertakes
               ,
               and
               the
               bigness
               and
               shape
               of
               the
               Instruments
               he
               makes
               use
               of
               ,
               is
               able
               to
               make
               pieces
               of
               work
               of
               the
               same
               nature
               or
               kind
               of
               extremely
               differing
               bulk
               ,
               where
               yet
               the
               like
               ,
               though
               not
               equal
               ,
               Art
               and
               Contrivance
               ,
               and
               oftentimes
               Motion
               too
               ,
               may
               be
               observ'd
               :
               As
               a
               Smith
               ,
               who
               with
               a
               Hammer
               ,
               and
               other
               large
               Instruments
               ,
               can
               ,
               out
               of
               masses
               of
               Iron
               ,
               forge
               great
               Bars
               or
               Wedges
               ,
               and
               make
               those
               strong
               and
               heavy
               Chains
               that
               were
               imploy'd
               to
               load
               Malefactors
               ,
               
               and
               even
               to
               secure
               Streets
               and
               Gates
               ,
               may
               ,
               with
               lesser
               Instruments
               ,
               make
               smaller
               Nails
               and
               Filings
               ,
               almost
               as
               minute
               as
               Dust
               ;
               and
               may
               yet
               ,
               with
               finer
               Tools
               ,
               make
               Links
               of
               a
               strange
               Slenderness
               and
               Lightness
               ,
               insomuch
               that
               good
               Authors
               tell
               us
               of
               a
               Chain
               of
               divers
               Links
               that
               was
               fastned
               to
               a
               Flea
               ,
               and
               could
               be
               mov'd
               by
               it
               ;
               and
               ,
               if
               I
               mis-remember
               not
               ,
               I
               saw
               something
               like
               this
               ,
               besides
               other
               Instances
               that
               I
               beheld
               with
               pleasure
               of
               the
               Littleness
               that
               Art
               can
               give
               to
               such
               pieces
               of
               Work
               ,
               as
               are
               usually
               made
               of
               a
               considerable
               bigness
               .
               And
               therefore
               to
               say
               ,
               that
               ,
               though
               in
               Natural
               Bodies
               ,
               whose
               bulk
               is
               manifest
               and
               their
               structure
               visible
               ,
               the
               Mechanical
               Principles
               may
               be
               usefully
               admitted
               ,
               that
               are
               not
               to
               be
               extended
               to
               such
               portions
               of
               Matter
               ,
               whose
               parts
               and
               Texture
               are
               invisible
               ;
               may
               perhaps
               look
               to
               some
               ,
               as
               if
               a
               man
               should
               allow
               ,
               that
               the
               Laws
               of
               Mechanism
               may
               take
               place
               in
               a
               Town-Clock
               ;
               but
               cannot
               in
               a
               Pocket-Watch
               ;
               or
               (
               to
               give
               you
               an
               instance
               ,
               mixt
               of
               Natural
               and
               Artificial
               ,
               )
               as
               if
               ,
               because
               the
               Terraqueous
               Globe
               is
               a
               vast
               Magnetical
               Body
               of
               
               seven
               or
               eight
               thousand
               miles
               in
               Diameter
               ,
               one
               should
               affirm
               ,
               that
               Magnetical
               Laws
               are
               not
               to
               be
               expected
               to
               be
               of
               force
               in
               a
               spherical
               piece
               of
               Loadstone
               that
               is
               not
               perhaps
               an
               inch
               long
               :
               And
               yet
               Experience
               shews
               us
               ,
               that
               notwithstanding
               the
               inestimable
               disproportion
               betwixt
               these
               two
               Globes
               ,
               the
               Terrella
               ,
               as
               well
               as
               the
               Earth
               ,
               hath
               its
               Poles
               ,
               Aequator
               ,
               and
               Meridians
               ,
               and
               in
               divers
               other
               Magnetical
               Properties
               ,
               emulates
               the
               Terrestrial
               Globe
               .
            
             
               They
               that
               ,
               to
               solve
               the
               Phaenomena
               of
               Nature
               ,
               have
               recourse
               to
               Agents
               which
               ,
               though
               they
               involve
               no
               self-repugnancy
               in
               their
               very
               Notions
               ,
               as
               many
               of
               the
               Judicious
               think
               
                 Substantial
                 Forms
              
               and
               
                 Real
                 Qualities
              
               to
               do
               ;
               yet
               are
               such
               that
               we
               conceive
               not
               ,
               how
               they
               operate
               to
               bring
               effects
               to
               pass
               :
               These
               ,
               I
               say
               ,
               when
               they
               tell
               us
               of
               such
               indeterminate
               Agents
               ,
               as
               the
               
                 Soul
                 of
                 the
                 World
              
               ,
               the
               
                 Universal
                 Spirit
              
               ,
               the
               
                 Plastic
                 Power
              
               ,
               and
               the
               like
               ;
               though
               they
               may
               in
               certain
               cases
               tell
               us
               some
               things
               ,
               yet
               they
               tell
               us
               nothing
               that
               will
               satisfie
               the
               Curiosity
               of
               an
               Inquisitive
               Person
               ,
               who
               seeks
               not
               so
               much
               to
               know
               ,
               what
               is
               the
               
               general
               Agent
               ,
               that
               produces
               a
               Phenomenon
               ,
               as
               ,
               
                 by
                 what
                 Means
              
               ,
               and
               after
               
                 what
                 Manner
              
               ,
               the
               Phenomenon
               is
               produc'd
               .
               The
               famous
               Senner●us
               ,
               and
               some
               other
               Learned
               Physicians
               ,
               tell
               us
               of
               Diseases
               which
               proceed
               from
               Incantation
               ;
               but
               sure
               't
               is
               but
               a
               very
               slight
               account
               ,
               that
               a
               sober
               Physician
               ,
               that
               comes
               to
               visit
               a
               Patient
               reported
               to
               be
               bewitch'd
               ,
               receives
               of
               the
               strange
               Symptoms
               he
               meets
               with
               ,
               and
               would
               have
               an
               account
               of
               ,
               if
               he
               be
               coldly
               answer'd
               ,
               That
               't
               is
               a
               Witch
               or
               the
               Devil
               that
               produces
               them
               ;
               and
               he
               will
               never
               sit
               down
               with
               so
               short
               an
               account
               ,
               if
               he
               can
               by
               any
               means
               reduce
               those
               extravagant
               Symptoms
               to
               any
               more
               known
               and
               stated
               Diseases
               ,
               as
               
                 Epilepsies
                 ,
                 Convulsions
                 ,
                 Hysterical
                 Fits
                 ,
              
               &c.
               and
               ,
               if
               he
               can
               not
               ,
               he
               will
               confess
               his
               knowledge
               of
               this
               Distemper
               to
               come
               far
               short
               of
               what
               might
               be
               expected
               and
               attain'd
               in
               other
               Diseases
               ,
               wherein
               he
               thinks
               himself
               bound
               to
               search
               into
               the
               Nature
               of
               the
               Morbific
               Matter
               ,
               and
               will
               not
               be
               satisfi'd
               till
               he
               can
               ,
               probably
               at
               least
               ,
               deduce
               from
               that
               ,
               and
               the
               structure
               of
               an
               Humane
               Body
               ,
               and
               other
               concurring
               Physical
               
               Causes
               ,
               the
               Phaenomena
               of
               the
               Malady
               .
               And
               it
               would
               be
               but
               little
               satisfaction
               to
               one
               ,
               that
               desires
               to
               understand
               the
               causes
               of
               what
               occurrs
               to
               observation
               in
               a
               Watch
               ,
               and
               how
               it
               comes
               to
               point
               at
               ,
               and
               strike
               ,
               the
               hours
               ,
               to
               be
               told
               ,
               That
               't
               was
               such
               a
               Watch-maker
               that
               so
               contriv'd
               it
               :
               Or
               to
               him
               that
               would
               know
               the
               true
               cause
               of
               an
               Eccho
               ,
               to
               be
               answer'd
               ,
               That
               't
               is
               a
               Man
               ,
               a
               Vault
               ,
               or
               a
               Wood
               that
               makes
               it
               .
            
             
               And
               now
               at
               length
               I
               come
               to
               consider
               that
               which
               I
               observe
               the
               most
               to
               alienate
               other
               Sects
               from
               the
               Mechanical
               Philosophy
               ;
               namely
               ,
               that
               they
               think
               it
               pretends
               to
               have
               Principles
               so
               Universal
               and
               so
               Mathematical
               ,
               that
               no
               other
               Physical
               Hypothesis
               can
               comport
               with
               it
               ,
               or
               be
               tolerated
               by
               it
               .
            
             
               But
               this
               I
               look
               upon
               as
               an
               easie
               indeed
               ,
               but
               an
               important
               ,
               mistake
               ;
               because
               by
               this
               very
               thing
               ,
               that
               the
               Mechanical
               Principles
               are
               so
               universal
               ,
               and
               therefore
               applicable
               to
               so
               many
               things
               ,
               they
               are
               rather
               fitted
               to
               include
               ,
               than
               necessitated
               to
               exclude
               ,
               any
               other
               Hypothesis
               that
               is
               founded
               in
               Nature
               ,
               as
               far
               as
               it
               is
               so
               .
               
               And
               such
               Hypotheses
               ,
               if
               prudently
               consider'd
               by
               a
               skilful
               and
               moderate
               person
               ,
               who
               is
               rather
               dispos'd
               to
               unite
               Sects
               than
               multiply
               them
               ,
               will
               be
               found
               ,
               as
               far
               as
               they
               have
               Truth
               in
               them
               ,
               to
               be
               either
               Legitimately
               ,
               (
               though
               perhaps
               not
               immediately
               ,
               )
               deducible
               from
               the
               Mechanical
               Principles
               ,
               or
               fairly
               reconcilable
               to
               them
               .
               For
               ,
               such
               Hypotheses
               will
               probably
               attempt
               to
               account
               for
               the
               Phaenomena
               of
               Nature
               ,
               either
               by
               the
               help
               of
               a
               determinate
               number
               of
               material
               Ingredients
               ,
               such
               as
               the
               
                 Tria
                 Prima
              
               of
               the
               Chymists
               ,
               by
               participation
               whereof
               other
               Bodies
               obtain
               their
               Qualities
               ;
               or
               else
               by
               introducing
               some
               general
               Agents
               ,
               as
               the
               
                 Platonic
                 Soul
                 of
                 the
                 World
              
               ,
               or
               the
               
                 Universal
                 Spirit
              
               ,
               asserted
               by
               some
               Spagyrists
               ;
               or
               by
               both
               these
               ways
               together
               .
            
             
               Now
               to
               dispatch
               first
               those
               ,
               that
               I
               named
               in
               the
               second
               place
               ;
               I
               consider
               ,
               that
               the
               chief
               thing
               ,
               that
               Inquisitive
               Naturalists
               should
               look
               after
               in
               the
               explicating
               of
               difficult
               Phaenomena
               ,
               is
               not
               so
               much
               what
               the
               Agent
               is
               or
               does
               ,
               as
               ,
               what
               changes
               are
               made
               in
               the
               Patient
               ,
               to
               bring
               it
               to
               exhibit
               the
               Phaenomena
               that
               are
               propos'd
               ;
               and
               by
               
               what
               means
               ,
               and
               after
               what
               manner
               ,
               those
               changes
               are
               effected
               .
               So
               that
               the
               Mechanical
               Philosopher
               being
               satisfied
               ,
               that
               one
               part
               of
               Matter
               can
               act
               upon
               another
               but
               by
               vertue
               of
               Local
               Motion
               ,
               or
               the
               effects
               and
               consequences
               of
               Local
               Motion
               ,
               he
               considers
               ,
               that
               as
               ,
               if
               the
               propos'd
               Agent
               be
               not
               Intelligible
               and
               Physical
               ,
               it
               can
               never
               Physically
               explain
               the
               
                 Phaenomena
                 ;
                 so
              
               ,
               if
               it
               be
               Intelligible
               and
               Physical
               ,
               't
               will
               be
               reducible
               to
               Matter
               ,
               and
               some
               or
               other
               of
               those
               onely
               Catholick
               affections
               of
               Matter
               ,
               already
               often
               mentioned
               .
               And
               ,
               the
               indefinite
               divisibility
               of
               Matter
               ,
               the
               wonderful
               efficacy
               of
               Motion
               ,
               and
               the
               almost
               infinite
               variety
               of
               Coalitions
               and
               Structures
               ,
               that
               may
               be
               made
               of
               minute
               and
               insensible
               Corpuscles
               ,
               being
               duly
               weighed
               ,
               I
               see
               not
               why
               a
               Philosopher
               should
               think
               it
               impossible
               ,
               to
               make
               out
               by
               their
               help
               the
               Mechanical
               possibility
               of
               any
               corporeal
               Agent
               ,
               how
               subtil
               ,
               or
               diffus'd
               ,
               or
               active
               soever
               it
               be
               ,
               that
               can
               be
               solidly
               proved
               to
               be
               really
               existent
               in
               Nature
               ,
               by
               what
               name
               soever
               it
               be
               call'd
               or
               disguis'd
               .
               And
               though
               the
               Cartesians
               be
               Mechanical
               Philosophers
               ,
               
               yet
               ,
               according
               to
               them
               ,
               their
               
                 Materia
                 Subtilis
              
               ,
               which
               the
               very
               name
               declares
               to
               be
               a
               corporeal
               Substance
               ,
               is
               ,
               for
               ought
               I
               know
               ,
               little
               (
               if
               it
               be
               at
               all
               )
               less
               diffus'd
               through
               the
               Universe
               ,
               or
               less
               active
               in
               it
               than
               the
               Universal
               Spirit
               of
               some
               Spagyrists
               ,
               not
               to
               say
               ,
               the
               
                 Anima
                 Mundi
              
               of
               the
               Platonists
               .
               But
               this
               upon
               the
               by
               ;
               after
               which
               I
               proceed
               ,
               and
               shall
               venture
               to
               add
               ,
               That
               whatever
               be
               the
               Physical
               Agent
               ,
               whether
               it
               be
               inanimate
               or
               living
               ,
               purely
               Corporeal
               ,
               or
               united
               to
               an
               Intellectual
               Substance
               ,
               the
               above
               mention'd
               changes
               ,
               that
               are
               wrought
               in
               the
               Body
               that
               is
               made
               to
               exhibit
               the
               Phaenomena
               ,
               may
               be
               effected
               by
               the
               same
               or
               the
               like
               means
               ,
               or
               after
               the
               same
               or
               the
               like
               manner
               ;
               as
               ,
               
                 for
                 instance
              
               ,
               if
               Corn
               be
               reduc'd
               to
               Meal
               ,
               the
               Materials
               and
               shape
               of
               the
               Milstones
               ,
               and
               their
               peculiar
               Motion
               and
               Adaptation
               ,
               will
               be
               much
               of
               the
               same
               kind
               ,
               and
               (
               though
               they
               should
               not
               ,
               yet
               )
               to
               be
               sure
               the
               grains
               of
               Corn
               will
               suffer
               a
               various
               contrition
               and
               comminution
               in
               their
               passage
               to
               the
               form
               of
               Meal
               ;
               whether
               the
               Corn
               be
               ground
               by
               a
               Water-mill
               ,
               or
               a
               Wind-mill
               ,
               or
               a
               Horse-mill
               ,
               or
               a
               
               Hand-mill
               ;
               that
               is
               ,
               by
               a
               Mill
               whose
               Stones
               are
               turned
               by
               Inanimate
               ,
               by
               Brute
               ,
               or
               by
               Rational
               ,
               Agents
               .
               And
               ,
               if
               an
               Angel
               himself
               should
               work
               a
               real
               change
               in
               the
               nature
               of
               a
               Body
               ,
               't
               is
               scarce
               conceivable
               to
               us
               Men
               ,
               how
               he
               could
               do
               it
               without
               the
               assistance
               of
               Local
               Motion
               ;
               since
               ,
               if
               nothing
               were
               displac'd
               or
               otherwise
               mov'd
               than
               before
               ,
               (
               the
               like
               hapning
               also
               to
               all
               external
               Bodies
               to
               which
               it
               related
               ,
               )
               't
               is
               hardly
               conceivable
               ,
               how
               it
               should
               be
               in
               it self
               other
               ,
               than
               just
               what
               it
               was
               before
               .
            
             
               But
               to
               come
               now
               to
               the
               other
               sort
               of
               Hypotheses
               formerly
               mention'd
               ;
               if
               the
               Chymists
               ,
               or
               others
               that
               would
               deduce
               a
               compleat
               Natural
               Philosophy
               from
               
                 Salt
                 ,
                 Sulphur
              
               ,
               and
               Mercury
               ,
               or
               any
               other
               set
               number
               of
               Ingredients
               of
               things
               ,
               would
               well
               consider
               what
               they
               undertake
               ,
               they
               might
               easily
               discover
               ,
               That
               the
               material
               parts
               of
               Bodies
               ,
               as
               such
               ,
               can
               reach
               but
               to
               a
               small
               part
               of
               the
               Phaenomena
               of
               Nature
               ,
               whilst
               these
               Ingredients
               are
               consider'd
               but
               as
               Quiescent
               things
               ,
               and
               therefore
               they
               would
               find
               themselves
               necessitated
               to
               suppose
               them
               to
               be
               active
               ;
               and
               That
               things
               purely
               Corporeal
               
               cannot
               be
               but
               by
               means
               of
               Local
               Motion
               ,
               and
               the
               effects
               that
               may
               result
               from
               that
               ,
               accompanying
               variously
               shap'd
               ,
               siz'd
               ,
               and
               aggregated
               parts
               of
               Matter
               :
               So
               that
               the
               Chymists
               and
               other
               Materialists
               ,
               (
               if
               I
               may
               so
               call
               them
               ,
               )
               must
               (
               as
               indeed
               they
               are
               wont
               to
               do
               )
               leave
               the
               greatest
               part
               of
               the
               Phaenomena
               of
               the
               Universe
               unexplicated
               by
               the
               help
               of
               the
               Ingredients
               ,
               (
               be
               they
               fewer
               or
               more
               than
               three
               ,
               )
               of
               Bodies
               ,
               without
               taking
               in
               the
               Mechanical
               and
               more
               comprehensive
               affections
               of
               Matter
               ,
               especially
               Local
               Motion
               .
               I
               willingly
               grant
               ,
               that
               
                 Salt
                 ,
                 Sulphur
              
               ,
               and
               Mercury
               ,
               or
               some
               Substances
               analogous
               to
               them
               ,
               are
               to
               be
               obtain'd
               by
               the
               action
               of
               the
               Fire
               ,
               from
               a
               very
               great
               many
               dissipable
               Bodies
               here
               below
               ;
               nor
               would
               I
               deny
               ,
               that
               ,
               in
               explicating
               divers
               of
               the
               Phaenomena
               of
               such
               Bodies
               ,
               it
               may
               be
               of
               use
               to
               a
               skilful
               Naturalist
               to
               know
               and
               consider
               ,
               that
               this
               or
               that
               Ingredient
               ,
               as
               Sulphur
               ,
               
                 for
                 instance
              
               ,
               does
               abound
               in
               the
               Body
               propos'd
               ,
               whence
               it
               may
               be
               probably
               argu'd
               ,
               that
               the
               Qualities
               ,
               that
               usually
               accompany
               that
               Principle
               when
               Predominant
               ,
               may
               be
               also
               ,
               upon
               its
               score
               ,
               
               found
               in
               the
               Body
               that
               so
               plentifully
               partakes
               of
               it
               .
               But
               not
               to
               mention
               ,
               what
               I
               have
               elsewhere
               shown
               ,
               that
               there
               are
               many
               Phaenomena
               ,
               to
               whose
               explication
               this
               knowledge
               will
               contribute
               very
               little
               or
               nothing
               at
               all
               ;
               I
               shall
               onely
               he●e
               observe
               ,
               that
               ,
               though
               Chymical
               Explications
               be
               sometimes
               the
               most
               obvious
               and
               ready
               ,
               yet
               they
               are
               not
               the
               most
               fundamental
               and
               satisfactory
               :
               For
               ,
               the
               Chymical
               Ingredient
               it self
               ,
               whether
               Sulphur
               or
               any
               other
               ,
               must
               owe
               its
               nature
               and
               other
               qualities
               to
               the
               union
               of
               insensible
               particles
               in
               a
               convenient
               Size
               ,
               Shape
               ,
               Motion
               or
               Rest
               ,
               and
               Contexture
               ;
               all
               which
               are
               but
               Mechanical
               Affections
               of
               convening
               Corpuscles
               .
               And
               this
               may
               be
               illustrated
               by
               what
               happens
               in
               Artificial
               Fire-works
               .
               For
               ,
               though
               in
               most
               of
               those
               many
               differing
               sorts
               that
               are
               made
               either
               for
               the
               use
               of
               War
               ,
               or
               for
               Recreation
               ,
               Gunpowder
               be
               a
               main
               Ingredient
               ,
               and
               divers
               of
               the
               Phaenomena
               may
               be
               deriv'd
               from
               the
               greater
               or
               lesser
               measure
               ,
               wherein
               the
               Compositions
               partake
               of
               it
               ;
               yet
               ,
               besides
               that
               there
               may
               be
               Fire-works
               made
               without
               Gun-powder
               ,
               (
               as
               appears
               by
               those
               
               made
               of
               old
               by
               the
               Greeks
               and
               Romans
               ,
               )
               Gun-powder
               it self
               owes
               its
               aptness
               to
               be
               fir'd
               and
               exploded
               to
               the
               Mechanical
               Contexture
               of
               more
               simple
               portions
               of
               Matter
               ,
               
                 Nitre
                 ,
                 Charcoal
              
               ,
               and
               Sulphur
               ;
               and
               Sulphur
               it self
               ,
               though
               it
               be
               by
               many
               Chymists
               mistaken
               for
               an
               Hypostatical
               Principle
               ,
               owes
               its
               Inflammability
               to
               the
               convention
               of
               yet
               more
               simple
               and
               primary
               Corpuscles
               ;
               since
               Chymists
               confess
               ,
               that
               it
               has
               an
               inflammable
               Ingredient
               ,
               and
               experience
               shews
               ,
               that
               it
               very
               much
               abounds
               with
               an
               acid
               and
               uninflammable
               Salt
               ,
               and
               is
               not
               quite
               devoide
               of
               Terrestreity
               .
               I
               know
               ,
               it
               may
               be
               here
               alledg'd
               ,
               that
               the
               productions
               of
               Chymical
               Analyses
               are
               simple
               Bodies
               ,
               and
               upon
               that
               account
               irresoluble
               .
               But
               ,
               that
               divers
               Substances
               ,
               which
               Chymists
               are
               pleased
               to
               call
               the
               Salts
               ,
               or
               Sulphurs
               ,
               or
               Mercuries
               of
               the
               Bodies
               that
               afforded
               them
               ,
               are
               not
               simple
               and
               homogeneous
               ,
               has
               elsewhere
               been
               sufficiently
               proved
               ;
               nor
               is
               their
               not
               being
               easily
               dissipable
               or
               resoluble
               a
               clear
               proof
               of
               their
               not
               being
               made
               up
               of
               more
               primitive
               portions
               of
               matter
               .
               For
               ,
               compounded
               and
               even
               decompounded
               
               Bodies
               ,
               may
               be
               as
               difficultly
               resoluble
               ,
               as
               most
               of
               those
               that
               Chymists
               obtain
               by
               what
               they
               call
               their
               Analysis
               by
               the
               Fire
               ;
               witness
               common
               green
               Glass
               ,
               which
               is
               far
               more
               durable
               and
               irresoluble
               than
               many
               of
               those
               that
               pass
               for
               Hypostatical
               Substances
               .
               And
               we
               see
               ,
               that
               some
               Amels
               will
               be
               several
               times
               even
               vitrified
               in
               the
               Fire
               ,
               without
               losing
               their
               Nature
               ,
               or
               oftentimes
               so
               much
               as
               their
               colour
               ;
               and
               yet
               Amel
               is
               manifestly
               not
               onely
               a
               compounded
               ,
               but
               a
               decompounded
               Body
               ,
               consisting
               of
               Salt
               and
               Powder
               of
               Pebbles
               or
               Sand
               ,
               and
               calcin'd
               Tinn
               ,
               and
               ,
               if
               the
               Amel
               be
               not
               white
               ,
               usually
               of
               some
               tinging
               Metall
               or
               Mineral
               .
               But
               how
               indestructible
               soever
               the
               Chymical
               Principles
               be
               suppos'd
               ,
               divers
               of
               the
               Operations
               ascrib'd
               to
               them
               will
               never
               be
               well
               made
               out
               ,
               without
               the
               help
               of
               Local
               Motion
               ,
               (
               and
               that
               diversified
               too
               ;
               )
               without
               which
               ,
               we
               can
               little
               better
               give
               an
               account
               of
               the
               Phaenomena
               of
               many
               Bodies
               ,
               by
               knowing
               what
               Ingredients
               compose
               them
               ,
               than
               we
               can
               explain
               the
               Operations
               of
               a
               Watch
               ,
               by
               knowing
               of
               how
               many
               and
               of
               what
               Metalls
               the
               Balance
               ,
               the
               Wheels
               ,
               the
               Chain
               ,
               and
               other
               
               parts
               ,
               are
               made
               ;
               or
               than
               we
               can
               derive
               the
               Operations
               of
               a
               Wind-mill
               from
               the
               bare
               knowledge
               ,
               that
               't
               is
               made
               up
               of
               Wood
               ,
               and
               Stone
               ;
               and
               Canvas
               ,
               and
               Iron
               .
               And
               here
               let
               me
               add
               ,
               that
               't
               would
               not
               at
               all
               overthrow
               the
               Corpuscularian
               Hypothesis
               ,
               though
               either
               by
               more
               exquisite
               Purifications
               ,
               or
               by
               some
               other
               Operations
               than
               the
               usual
               Analysis
               of
               the
               Fire
               ,
               it
               should
               be
               made
               appear
               ,
               that
               the
               Material
               Principles
               or
               Elements
               of
               mixt
               Bodies
               should
               not
               be
               the
               
                 Tria
                 Prima
              
               of
               the
               vulgar
               Chymists
               ,
               but
               either
               Substances
               of
               another
               nature
               ,
               or
               else
               fewer
               ,
               or
               more
               in
               number
               ;
               as
               would
               be
               ,
               if
               that
               were
               true
               ,
               which
               some
               Spagyrists
               affirm
               ,
               (
               but
               I
               could
               never
               find
               ,
               )
               that
               from
               all
               sorts
               of
               mixt
               Bodies
               ,
               five
               ,
               and
               but
               five
               ,
               differing
               similar
               Substances
               can
               be
               separated
               :
               Or
               ,
               as
               if
               it
               were
               true
               ,
               that
               the
               Helmontians
               had
               such
               a
               resolving
               Menstruum
               as
               the
               Alkahest
               of
               their
               Master
               ,
               by
               which
               he
               affirms
               ,
               that
               he
               could
               reduce
               Stones
               into
               Salt
               of
               the
               same
               weight
               with
               the
               Mineral
               ,
               and
               bring
               both
               that
               Salt
               and
               all
               other
               kind
               of
               mixt
               and
               tangible
               Bodies
               into
               insipid
               Water
               .
               For
               ,
               what
               ever
               be
               the
               numnumber
               
               or
               qualities
               of
               the
               Chymical
               Principles
               ,
               if
               they
               be
               really
               existent
               in
               Nature
               ,
               it
               may
               very
               possibly
               be
               shewn
               ,
               that
               they
               may
               be
               made
               up
               of
               insensible
               Corpuscles
               of
               determinate
               bulks
               and
               shapes
               ;
               and
               by
               the
               various
               Coalitions
               and
               Contextures
               of
               such
               Corpuscles
               ,
               
                 not
                 onely
              
               three
               or
               five
               ,
               but
               many
               more
               material
               Ingredients
               ,
               may
               be
               compos'd
               or
               made
               to
               result
               :
               But
               ,
               though
               the
               Alkahestical
               Reductions
               newly
               mention'd
               should
               be
               admitted
               ,
               yet
               the
               Mechanical
               Principles
               might
               well
               be
               accommodated
               ,
               even
               to
               them
               .
               For
               ,
               the
               Solidity
               ,
               Taste
               ,
               &c.
               of
               Salt
               ,
               may
               be
               fairly
               accounted
               for
               ,
               by
               the
               Stifness
               ,
               Sharpness
               ,
               and
               other
               Mechanical
               Affections
               of
               the
               minute
               Particles
               ,
               whereof
               Salts
               consist
               ;
               and
               if
               ,
               by
               a
               farther
               action
               of
               the
               Alkahest
               ,
               the
               Salt
               or
               any
               other
               solid
               Body
               ,
               be
               reduc'd
               into
               insipid
               Water
               ,
               this
               also
               may
               be
               explicated
               by
               the
               same
               Principles
               ,
               supposing
               a
               further
               Comminution
               of
               the
               parts
               ,
               and
               such
               an
               attrition
               ,
               as
               wears
               off
               the
               edges
               and
               points
               that
               inabled
               them
               to
               strike
               briskly
               the
               Organ
               of
               Taste
               :
               For
               ,
               as
               to
               Fluidity
               and
               Firmness
               ,
               those
               mainly
               depend
               upon
               two
               of
               our
               grand
               Principles
               ,
               
               Motion
               and
               Rest
               .
               And
               I
               have
               else-where
               shewn
               ,
               by
               several
               proofs
               ,
               that
               the
               Agitation
               or
               Rest
               ,
               and
               the
               looser
               contact
               ,
               or
               closer
               cohaesion
               ,
               of
               the
               particles
               ,
               is
               able
               to
               make
               the
               same
               portion
               of
               Matter
               ,
               at
               one
               time
               a
               firm
               ,
               and
               at
               another
               time
               ,
               a
               fluid
               Body
               .
               So
               that
               ,
               though
               the
               further
               Sagacity
               and
               Industry
               of
               Chymists
               (
               which
               I
               would
               by
               no
               means
               discourage
               )
               should
               be
               able
               to
               obtain
               from
               mixt
               Bodies
               homogeneous
               substances
               differing
               in
               number
               ,
               or
               nature
               ,
               or
               both
               ,
               from
               their
               vulgar
               Salt
               ,
               Sulphur
               ,
               and
               Mercury
               ;
               yet
               the
               Corpuscular
               Philosophy
               is
               so
               general
               and
               fertile
               ,
               as
               to
               be
               fairly
               reconcilable
               to
               such
               a
               Discovery
               ;
               and
               also
               so
               useful
               ,
               that
               these
               new
               material
               Principles
               will
               ,
               as
               well
               as
               the
               old
               
                 Tria
                 Prima
              
               ,
               stand
               in
               need
               of
               the
               more
               Catholick
               Principles
               of
               the
               Corpuscularians
               ,
               especially
               Local
               Motion
               .
               And
               indeed
               ,
               what
               ever
               Elements
               or
               Ingredients
               men
               have
               (
               that
               I
               know
               of
               )
               pitched
               upon
               ,
               yet
               if
               they
               take
               not
               in
               the
               Mechanical
               Affections
               of
               Matter
               ,
               their
               Principles
               have
               been
               so
               deficient
               ,
               that
               I
               have
               usually
               observ'd
               ,
               that
               the
               Materialists
               ,
               without
               at
               all
               excepting
               the
               Chymists
               ,
               do
               not
               onely
               ,
               as
               I
               was
               
               saying
               ,
               leave
               many
               things
               unexplain●d
               ,
               to
               which
               their
               narrow
               Principles
               will
               not
               extend
               ;
               but
               ,
               even
               in
               the
               particulars
               they
               presume
               to
               give
               an
               account
               of
               ,
               they
               either
               content
               themselves
               to
               assign
               such
               common
               and
               indefinite
               Causes
               ,
               as
               are
               too
               general
               to
               signifie
               much
               towards
               an
               inquisitive
               mans
               satisfaction
               ;
               or
               if
               they
               venture
               to
               give
               particular
               Causes
               ,
               they
               assign
               precarious
               or
               false
               ones
               ,
               and
               liable
               to
               be
               easily
               disproved
               by
               Circumstances
               ,
               or
               Instances
               ,
               whereto
               their
               Doctrine
               will
               not
               agree
               ,
               as
               I
               have
               often
               elsewhere
               had
               occasion
               to
               shew
               .
               And
               yet
               the
               Chymists
               need
               not
               be
               frighted
               from
               acknowledging
               the
               Prerogative
               of
               the
               Mechanical
               Philosophy
               ,
               since
               that
               may
               be
               reconcileable
               with
               the
               Truth
               of
               their
               own
               Principles
               ,
               as
               far
               as
               these
               agree
               with
               the
               Phaenomena
               they
               are
               apply'd
               to
               .
               For
               these
               more
               confind
               Hypotheses
               may
               be
               subordinated
               to
               those
               more
               general
               and
               fertile
               Principles
               ,
               and
               there
               can
               be
               no
               Ingredient
               assign'd
               ,
               that
               has
               a
               real
               existence
               in
               Nature
               ,
               that
               may
               not
               be
               deriv'd
               either
               immediately
               ,
               or
               by
               a
               row
               of
               Decompositions
               ,
               from
               the
               Universal
               Matter
               ,
               modifi'd
               
               by
               its
               Mechanical
               Affections
               ▪
               For
               ,
               if
               with
               the
               same
               Bricks
               ,
               diversly
               put
               together
               and
               rang'd
               ,
               several
               Walls
               ,
               Houses
               ,
               Furnaces
               ,
               and
               other
               Structures
               ,
               as
               Vaults
               ,
               Bridges
               ,
               Pyramids
               ,
               &c.
               may
               be
               built
               ,
               meerely
               by
               a
               various
               contrivement
               of
               parts
               of
               the
               same
               kind
               ;
               how
               much
               more
               may
               great
               variety
               of
               Ingredients
               be
               produc'd
               by
               ,
               or
               ,
               according
               to
               the
               institution
               of
               Nature
               ,
               result
               from
               ,
               the
               various
               coalitions
               and
               contextures
               of
               Corpuscles
               ,
               that
               need
               not
               be
               suppos'd
               ,
               like
               Bricks
               ,
               all
               of
               the
               same
               ,
               or
               near
               the
               same
               ,
               size
               and
               shape
               ,
               but
               may
               have
               amongst
               them
               ,
               both
               of
               the
               one
               and
               the
               other
               ,
               as
               great
               a
               variety
               as
               need
               be
               wish'd
               for
               ,
               and
               indeed
               a
               greater
               than
               can
               easily
               be
               so
               much
               as
               imagin'd
               .
               And
               the
               primary
               and
               minute
               Concretions
               that
               belong
               to
               these
               Ingredients
               ,
               may
               ,
               without
               Opposition
               from
               the
               Mechanical
               Philosophy
               ,
               be
               suppos'd
               to
               have
               their
               particles
               so
               minute
               and
               strongly
               coherent
               ,
               that
               Nature
               of
               her self
               does
               scarce
               ever
               tear
               them
               asunder
               ;
               as
               we
               see
               ,
               that
               Mercury
               and
               Gold
               may
               be
               successively
               made
               to
               put
               on
               a
               multitude
               of
               disguises
               ,
               and
               yet
               so
               retain
               their
               nature
               ,
               
               as
               to
               be
               reducible
               to
               their
               pristine
               forms
               .
               And
               you
               know
               ,
               I
               lately
               told
               you
               ,
               that
               common
               Glass
               and
               good
               Amels
               ,
               though
               both
               of
               them
               but
               factitious
               Bodies
               ,
               and
               not
               onely
               mix'd
               ,
               but
               decompounded
               Concretions
               ,
               have
               yet
               their
               component
               parts
               so
               strictly
               united
               by
               the
               skill
               of
               illiterate
               Tradesmen
               ,
               as
               to
               maintain
               their
               union
               in
               the
               vitrifying
               violence
               of
               the
               Fire
               .
               Nor
               do
               we
               find
               ,
               that
               common
               Glass
               will
               be
               wrought
               upon
               by
               
                 Aqua
                 fortis
              
               ,
               or
               
                 Aqua
                 Regis
              
               ,
               though
               the
               former
               of
               them
               will
               dissolve
               Mercury
               ,
               and
               the
               later
               Gold.
               
            
             
               From
               the
               fore-going
               Discourse
               it
               may
               (
               probably
               at
               least
               )
               result
               ,
               That
               if
               ,
               besides
               Rational
               Souls
               ,
               there
               are
               any
               Immaterial
               Substances
               (
               such
               as
               the
               Heavenly
               Intelligences
               ,
               and
               the
               Substantial
               Forms
               of
               the
               Aristotelians
               )
               that
               regularly
               are
               to
               be
               numbred
               among
               Natural
               Agents
               ,
               their
               way
               of
               working
               being
               unknown
               to
               us
               ,
               they
               can
               but
               help
               to
               constitute
               and
               effect
               things
               ,
               but
               will
               very
               little
               help
               us
               to
               conceive
               how
               things
               are
               effected
               ;
               so
               that
               ,
               by
               what
               ever
               Principles
               Natural
               things
               be
               constituted
               ,
               't
               is
               by
               the
               Mechanical
               Principles
               that
               their
               Phaenomena
               
               must
               be
               clearly
               explicated
               .
               As
               for
               instance
               ,
               though
               we
               should
               grant
               the
               Aristotelians
               ,
               that
               the
               Planets
               are
               made
               of
               a
               quintessential
               matter
               ,
               and
               moved
               by
               Angels
               ,
               or
               Immaterial
               Intelligences
               ;
               yet
               ,
               to
               explain
               the
               Stations
               ,
               Progressions
               ,
               and
               Retrogradations
               ,
               and
               other
               Phaenomena
               of
               the
               Planets
               ,
               we
               must
               have
               recourse
               either
               to
               Eccentricks
               ,
               Epicycles
               ,
               &c.
               or
               to
               motions
               made
               in
               Elliptical
               or
               other
               peculiar
               Lines
               ;
               and
               ,
               in
               a
               word
               ,
               to
               Theories
               ,
               wherein
               the
               Motion
               ,
               and
               Figure
               ,
               Scituation
               ,
               and
               other
               Mathematical
               or
               Mechanical
               Affections
               of
               Bodies
               are
               mainly
               employ'd
               .
               But
               if
               the
               Principles
               propos'd
               be
               corporeal
               things
               ,
               they
               will
               be
               then
               fairly
               Reducible
               ,
               or
               Reconcilable
               ,
               to
               the
               Mechanical
               Principles
               ;
               these
               being
               so
               general
               and
               pregnant
               ,
               that
               ,
               among
               things
               corporeal
               ,
               there
               is
               nothing
               real
               ,
               (
               and
               I
               meddle
               not
               with
               Chymerical
               Beings
               ,
               such
               as
               some
               of
               
               Paracelsus's
               ,
               )
               that
               may
               not
               be
               deriv'd
               from
               ,
               or
               be
               brought
               to
               ,
               a
               subordination
               to
               such
               comprehensive
               Principles
               .
               And
               when
               the
               Chymists
               shall
               shew
               ,
               that
               mix'd
               Bodies
               owe
               their
               qualities
               to
               the
               predominancy
               of
               this
               or
               that
               of
               their
               
               three
               grand
               Ingredients
               ,
               the
               Corpuscularians
               will
               shew
               ,
               that
               the
               very
               Qualities
               of
               this
               or
               that
               Ingredient
               flow
               from
               its
               peculiar
               Texture
               ,
               and
               the
               Mechanical
               affections
               of
               the
               Corpuscles
               't
               is
               made
               up
               of
               .
               And
               to
               affirm
               ,
               that
               ,
               because
               the
               Furnaces
               of
               Chymists
               afford
               a
               great
               number
               of
               uncommon
               Productions
               and
               Phaenomena
               ,
               there
               are
               Bodies
               or
               Operations
               amongst
               things
               purely
               Corporeal
               ,
               that
               cannot
               be
               deriv'd
               from
               ,
               or
               reconcil'd
               to
               ,
               the
               comprehensive
               and
               pregnant
               Principles
               of
               the
               Mechanical
               Philosophy
               ,
               is
               ,
               as
               if
               ,
               because
               there
               are
               a
               great
               number
               and
               variety
               of
               Anthems
               ,
               Hymns
               ,
               Pavins
               ,
               Threnodies
               ,
               Courants
               ,
               Gavots
               ,
               Branles
               ,
               Sarabands
               ,
               Jigs
               ,
               and
               other
               (
               grave
               and
               sprightly
               )
               Tunes
               to
               be
               met
               with
               in
               the
               Books
               and
               Practises
               of
               Musitians
               ,
               one
               should
               maintain
               ,
               that
               there
               are
               in
               them
               a
               great
               many
               Tunes
               ,
               or
               at
               least
               Notes
               ,
               that
               have
               no
               dependence
               on
               the
               Scale
               of
               Music
               ;
               or
               ,
               as
               if
               ,
               because
               ,
               besides
               Rhombusses
               ,
               Rhomboids
               ,
               Trapeziums
               ,
               Squares
               ,
               Pentagons
               ,
               
                 Chiliagons
                 ,
                 Myriagons
              
               ,
               and
               innumerable
               other
               Polygons
               ,
               Regular
               and
               Irregular
               ,
               one
               should
               presume
               to
               affirm
               ,
               that
               there
               are
               among
               
               them
               some
               Rectilinear
               Figures
               ,
               that
               are
               not
               reducible
               to
               Triangles
               ,
               or
               have
               Affections
               that
               will
               overthrow
               what
               Euclid
               has
               taught
               of
               Triangles
               and
               Polygons
               .
            
             
               To
               what
               has
               been
               said
               ,
               I
               shall
               add
               but
               one
               thing
               more
               ;
               That
               ,
               as
               ,
               according
               to
               what
               I
               formerly
               intimated
               ,
               Mechanical
               Principles
               and
               Explications
               are
               for
               their
               clearness
               preferr'd
               ,
               even
               by
               Materialists
               themselves
               ,
               to
               others
               in
               the
               cases
               where
               they
               can
               be
               had
               ;
               so
               ,
               the
               Sagacity
               and
               Industry
               of
               modern
               Naturalists
               and
               Mathematicians
               ,
               having
               happily
               apply'd
               them
               to
               seueral
               of
               those
               difficult
               Phaenomena
               ,
               (
               in
               Hydrostaticks
               ,
               the
               practical
               part
               of
               
                 Opticks
                 ,
                 Gunnery
              
               ,
               &c.
               )
               that
               before
               were
               ,
               or
               might
               be
               referr'd
               to
               〈◊〉
               Qualities
               ,
               't
               is
               probable
               ,
               that
               ,
               when
               this
               Philosophy
               is
               deeplier
               searched
               into
               ,
               and
               farther
               improv'd
               ,
               it
               will
               be
               found
               applicable
               to
               the
               solution
               of
               more
               and
               more
               of
               the
               Phaenomena
               of
               Nature
               .
               And
               on
               this
               occasion
               let
               me
               observe
               ,
               that
               't
               is
               not
               always
               necessary
               ,
               though
               it
               be
               always
               desirable
               ,
               that
               he
               that
               propounds
               an
               Hypothesis
               in
               Astronomy
               ,
               Chymistry
               ,
               Anatomy
               ,
               or
               other
               part
               of
               Physicks
               ,
               
               be
               able
               ,
               
                 à
                 priori
              
               ,
               to
               prove
               his
               Hypothesis
               to
               be
               true
               ,
               or
               demonstratively
               to
               shew
               ,
               that
               the
               other
               Hypotheses
               propos'd
               about
               the
               same
               subject
               must
               be
               false
               .
               For
               as
               ,
               if
               I
               mistake
               not
               ,
               Plato
               said
               ,
               
               That
               the
               World
               was
               God's
               Epistle
               written
               to
               Mankind
               ,
               &
               might
               have
               added
               ,
               consonantly
               to
               another
               saying
               of
               his
               ,
               't
               was
               written
               in
               Mathematical
               Letters
               :
               So
               ,
               in
               the
               Physical
               Explications
               of
               the
               Parts
               and
               System
               of
               the
               World
               ,
               me
               thinks
               ,
               there
               is
               somewhat
               like
               what
               happens
               ,
               when
               men
               conjecturally
               frame
               several
               Keys
               to
               enable
               us
               to
               understand
               a
               Letter
               written
               in
               Cyphers
               .
               For
               ,
               though
               one
               man
               by
               his
               sagacity
               have
               found
               out
               the
               right
               Key
               ,
               it
               will
               be
               very
               difficult
               for
               him
               ,
               either
               to
               prove
               otherwise
               than
               by
               trial
               ,
               that
               this
               or
               that
               word
               is
               not
               such
               as
               't
               is
               ghess'd
               to
               be
               by
               others
               according
               to
               their
               Keys
               ;
               or
               to
               evince
               ,
               
                 à
                 priori
              
               ,
               that
               theirs
               are
               to
               be
               rejected
               ,
               and
               his
               to
               be
               preferr'd
               ;
               yet
               ,
               if
               due
               trial
               being
               made
               ,
               the
               Key
               he
               proposes
               ,
               shall
               be
               found
               so
               agreeable
               to
               the
               Characters
               of
               the
               Letter
               ,
               as
               to
               enable
               one
               to
               understand
               them
               ,
               and
               make
               a
               coherent
               sense
               of
               them
               ,
               its
               suitableness
               to
               what
               it
               should
               decipher
               ,
               
               is
               ,
               without
               either
               confutations
               ,
               or
               extraneous
               positive
               proofs
               ,
               sufficient
               to
               make
               it
               be
               accepted
               as
               the
               right
               Key
               of
               that
               Cypher
               .
               And
               so
               ,
               in
               Physical
               Hypotheses
               ,
               there
               are
               some
               ,
               that
               ,
               without
               noise
               ,
               or
               falling
               foul
               upon
               others
               ,
               peaceably
               obtain
               discerning
               mens
               approbation
               onely
               by
               their
               fitness
               to
               solve
               the
               Phaenomena
               ,
               for
               which
               they
               were
               devis'd
               ,
               without
               crossing
               any
               known
               Observation
               or
               Law
               of
               Nature
               .
               And
               therefore
               ,
               if
               the
               Mechanical
               Philosophy
               go
               on
               to
               explicate
               things
               Corporeal
               at
               the
               rate
               it
               has
               of
               late
               years
               proceeded
               at
               ,
               't
               is
               scarce
               to
               be
               doubted
               ,
               but
               that
               in
               time
               unprejudic'd
               persons
               will
               think
               it
               sufficiently
               recommended
               by
               its
               consistency
               with
               it self
               ,
               and
               its
               applicableness
               to
               so
               many
               Phenomena
               of
               Nature
               .
            
          
           
             
             
               A
               Recapitulation
               .
            
             
               PErceiving
               ,
               upon
               a
               review
               ,
               of
               the
               foregoing
               Paper
               ,
               that
               the
               difficulty
               and
               importance
               of
               the
               Subject
               ,
               has
               seduc'd
               me
               to
               spend
               many
               more
               words
               about
               it
               that
               I
               at
               first
               design'd
               ▪
               t
               will
               not
               now
               be
               amiss
               to
               give
               you
               this
               short
               Summary
               of
               what
               came
               into
               my
               mind
               to
               recommend
               to
               you
               the
               
                 Mechanical
                 Phelosophy
              
               ,
               and
               obviate
               your
               fears
               of
               seeing
               it
               supplanted
               ;
               having
               first
               premis'd
               once
               for
               all
               ,
               that
               presupposing
               the
               Creation
               and
               general
               Providence
               of
               God
               ,
               I
               pretend
               to
               treat
               but
               of
               things
               Corporeal
               ,
               and
               do
               abstract
               in
               this
               Paper
               from
               
                 Immaterial
                 Beings
              
               ,
               (
               which
               otherwise
               I
               very
               willingly
               admit
               ,
               )
               and
               all
               Agents
               and
               Operations
               Miraculous
               or
               Supernatural
               .
            
             
               I.
               Of
               the
               Principles
               of
               things
               Corporeal
               ,
               none
               can
               be
               more
               few
               ,
               without
               being
               insufficient
               ,
               or
               more
               primary
               than
               Matter
               and
               Motion
               .
            
             
               II.
               The
               natural
               and
               genuine
               effect
               of
               variously
               determin'd
               Motion
               in
               portions
               
               of
               Matter
               ,
               is
               ,
               to
               divide
               it
               into
               parts
               of
               differing
               sizes
               ,
               and
               shapes
               ,
               and
               to
               put
               them
               into
               different
               Motions
               ,
               and
               the
               Consequences
               ,
               that
               flow
               from
               these
               ,
               in
               a
               World
               fram'd
               as
               ours
               is
               ,
               are
               ,
               as
               to
               the
               separate
               fragments
               ,
               posture
               ,
               order
               ,
               and
               situation
               ,
               and
               ,
               as
               to
               the
               Conventions
               of
               many
               of
               them
               ,
               peculiar
               Compositions
               and
               Contextures
               .
            
             
               III.
               The
               parts
               of
               Matter
               endow'd
               with
               these
               Catholick
               affections
               are
               by
               various
               associations
               reduc'd
               to
               Natural
               Bodies
               of
               several
               kinds
               ,
               according
               to
               the
               plenty
               of
               the
               Matter
               ,
               and
               the
               various
               Compositions
               and
               Decompositions
               of
               the
               Principles
               ;
               which
               all
               suppose
               the
               common
               matter
               they
               diversifie
               :
               And
               these
               several
               kinds
               of
               Bodies
               ,
               by
               vertue
               of
               their
               Motion
               ,
               Rest
               ,
               and
               other
               Mechanical
               Affections
               ,
               which
               fit
               them
               to
               act
               on
               ,
               and
               suffer
               from
               ,
               one
               another
               ,
               become
               indow'd
               with
               several
               kinds
               of
               Qualities
               ,
               (
               whereof
               some
               are
               call'd
               Manifest
               ,
               and
               some
               Occult
               ,
               )
               and
               those
               that
               act
               upon
               the
               peculiarly
               fram'd
               Organs
               of
               Sense
               ,
               whose
               Perceptions
               by
               the
               Animadversive
               faculty
               of
               the
               Soul
               are
               Sensations
               .
            
             
               IV.
               These
               Principles
               ,
               
                 Matter
                 ,
                 Motion
              
               ,
               
               (
               to
               which
               Rest
               is
               related
               )
               
                 Bigness
                 ,
                 Shape
                 ,
                 Posture
                 ,
                 Order
                 ,
                 Texture
                 ,
              
               being
               so
               simple
               ,
               clear
               ,
               and
               comprehensive
               ,
               are
               applicable
               to
               all
               the
               real
               Phaenomena
               of
               Nature
               ,
               which
               seem
               not
               explicable
               by
               any
               other
               not
               consistent
               with
               ours
               .
               For
               ,
               if
               recourse
               be
               had
               to
               an
               Immaterial
               Principle
               or
               Agent
               ,
               it
               may
               be
               such
               an
               one
               ,
               as
               is
               not
               intelligible
               ;
               and
               however
               it
               will
               not
               enable
               us
               to
               explain
               the
               Phaenomena
               ,
               because
               its
               way
               of
               working
               upon
               things
               Material
               would
               probably
               be
               more
               difficult
               to
               be
               Physically
               made
               out
               ,
               than
               a
               Mechanical
               account
               of
               the
               Phaenomena
               .
               And
               ,
               notwithstanding
               the
               Immateriality
               of
               a
               created
               Agent
               ,
               we
               cannot
               conceive
               ,
               how
               it
               should
               produce
               changes
               in
               a
               Body
               ,
               without
               the
               help
               of
               Mechanical
               Principles
               ,
               especially
               
                 Local
                 Motion
              
               ;
               and
               accordingly
               we
               find
               not
               ,
               that
               the
               Reasonable
               Soul
               in
               Man
               is
               able
               to
               produce
               what
               changes
               it
               pleases
               in
               the
               Body
               ,
               but
               is
               confin'd
               to
               such
               ,
               as
               it
               may
               produce
               by
               determining
               or
               guiding
               the
               Motions
               of
               the
               Spirits
               ,
               and
               other
               parts
               of
               the
               Body
               ,
               subservient
               to
               voluntary
               Motion
               .
            
             
               V.
               And
               if
               the
               Agents
               or
               active
               
               Principles
               resorted
               to
               ,
               be
               not
               Immaterial
               ,
               but
               of
               a
               Corporeal
               Nature
               ,
               they
               must
               either
               in
               effect
               be
               the
               same
               with
               the
               Corporeal
               Principles
               above-nam'd
               ;
               or
               ,
               because
               of
               the
               great
               Universality
               &
               Simplicity
               of
               ours
               ,
               the
               new
               ones
               propos'd
               must
               be
               less
               general
               than
               they
               ,
               and
               consequently
               capable
               of
               being
               subordinated
               or
               reduc'd
               to
               ours
               ,
               which
               by
               various
               Compositions
               may
               afford
               matter
               to
               several
               Hypotheses
               ,
               and
               by
               several
               Coalitions
               afford
               minute
               Concretions
               exceedingly
               numerous
               and
               durable
               ,
               and
               consequently
               fit
               to
               become
               the
               Elementary
               Ingredients
               of
               more
               compounded
               Bodies
               ,
               being
               in
               most
               Trials
               Similar
               ,
               and
               as
               it
               were
               the
               Radical
               parts
               ,
               which
               may
               ,
               after
               several
               manners
               ,
               be
               diversified
               ;
               as
               in
               Latin
               ,
               the
               Themes
               are
               by
               Prepositions
               ,
               Terminations
               ,
               &c.
               and
               in
               Hebrew
               ,
               the
               Roots
               by
               the
               Haeemantic
               Letters
               ▪
               So
               that
               the
               fear
               ,
               that
               so
               much
               of
               a
               New
               Physical
               Hypothesis
               ,
               as
               is
               true
               ,
               will
               overthrow
               or
               make
               useless
               the
               Mechanical
               Principles
               ,
               is
               ,
               as
               if
               one
               should
               fear
               ,
               that
               there
               will
               be
               a
               Language
               propos'd
               ,
               that
               is
               discordant
               from
               ,
               or
               not
               reducible
               to
               ,
               the
               Letters
               of
               the
               Alphabet
               .
            
             
               FINIS
               .
            
          
        
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A28966-e970
           
             Ps
             .
             145.
             
          
           
             Ps
             .
             147.5
             .
             Ps
             .
             113.6
             .
          
           
             Isa
             .
             40.15
             .
          
           
             Rom.
             j.
             19
             .
          
           
             Genes
             .
             vj.
             
          
           
             Numb
             .
             xxvij
             .
             7
             .
          
           
             Genes
             .
             xx
             .
          
           
             Genes
             .
             xviij
             .
             1
             Kings
             iij.
             Jonah
             iv
             .
          
           
             1
             Kings
             ▪
             xxij
             .
             from
             ver
             .
             19.
             to
             ver
             .
             24.
             
          
           
             Job
             j.
             6
             ,
             7
             ,
             &c.
             Job
             ij
             .
             3
             .
          
           
             See
             Heb.
             v.
             9
             .
             Psal
             .
             ciij.
             17
             ,
             18.
             
          
           
             Acts
             j.
             21
             .
          
           
             1
             Joh.
             iij.
             20
             .
          
           
             Revel
             .
             vij
             .
             9
             .
          
           
             Matth.
             xxvj
             .
             53.
             
             Dan.
             vij
             .
             10
             .
             Joh.
             j.
             3
             .
             Heb.
             j.
             7
             .
             Luke
             xx
             .
             35
             ,
             36.
             
             Col.
             j.
             16
             .
             Matth.
             xxiv
             .
             36
             .
             Mark
             xiij
             .
             32
             .
             Matth.
             xviij
             .
             10
             .
             Isa
             .
             vj.
             2
             ,
             3
             Matth.
             vj.
             10
             .
             2
             Sam.
             xiv
             .
             20
             .
             Mark
             xiij
             .
             32
             .
             2
             King.
             xix
             .
             35
             .
             1
             Thess
             .
             iv
             .
             16
             .
             Jude
             ix
             .
             Dan.
             x.
             13
             ,
             21.
             
             Col.
             j.
             16
             .
             Revel
             .
             xij
             .
             7
             .
             Acts
             xij
             .
             7
             ,
             8
             ,
             9
             ,
             10.
             
             Dan.
             x.
             13
             .
             Acts
             xij
             .
             11
             .
             2
             Kings
             vj.
             17
             .
             Luke
             xxiv
             .
             4
             .
          
           
             Judg.
             xiij
             .
             6
             .
             Heb.
             j.
             14
             .
             Revel
             .
             xix
             .
             10
             .
             Revel
             .
             xxij
             .
             9
             .
          
           
             Matth.
             xxviij
             .
             6
             .
             Revel
             .
             xix
             .
             10
             .
          
           
             Joh.
             j.
             3
             Coloss
             .
             j.
             16
             .
             Matth.
             viij
             .
             7
             .
             Luke
             iv
             .
             33
             .
             Joh.
             viij
             ,
             34.
             1
             
             Pet.
             v.
             8
             .
             2
             Cor.
             xj
             .
             3
             .
             Revel
             .
             xij
             .
             9
             .
             Revel
             .
             xij
             .
             7
             .
             Matth.
             xxv
             .
             41
             .
             1
             Joh.
             iij.
             8
             .
          
           
             Jude
             6.
             
             Mark
             v.
             9
             ,
             10
             ,
             13.
             
          
           
             Jam.
             iv
             .
             7
             .
             1
             Pet.
             v.
             9
             .
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             vj.
             3
             .
             Matth.
             xxv
             .
             41
             .
             Jam.
             ij
             .
             19
             .
          
           
             2
             Pet.
             ij
             .
             4
             .
             Jude
             6
             ,
             13.
             
             Matth.
             xxv
             .
             41
             .
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
             Jam.
             iij.
             6
             .
          
           
             2
             Pet.
             iij.
             ●
             ,
             10
             ,
             13.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             ij
             .
             7
             .
          
           
             Acts
             xxiv
             .
             15
             .
          
           
             Acts
             xvij
             .
             20
             ,
             32.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             ij
             .
             Acts
             xvij
             .
             26
             .
          
           
             Gen.
             ij
             .
             21
             ,
             22.
             
          
           
             Acts
             xxv
             .
             15
             .
             Luke
             xx
             .
             35
             ,
             36.
             
          
           
             Matth.
             x.
             28
             .
          
           
             Gen.
             ij
             7.
             
             Zek.
             xij
             .
             1
             .
          
           
             Luke
             xx
             .
             35
             ,
             36.
             
             Matt.
             xxv
             .
             46
             .
          
           
             D●s
             Cartes
             Responsione
             ad
             Objectiones
             secundas
             ,
             pag.
             m.
             95.
             
          
           
             Mark
             xiv
             .
             21
             .
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             j.
             12
             .
          
           
             Rom.
             xj
             .
             33
             .
          
           
             Gen.
             ij
             .
             21
             ,
             22
             ,
             23.
             
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
             Joh.
             v.
             39
             .
          
           
             Acts
             xx
             .
             27
             .
          
           
             Matth.
             xxvj
             .
             53
             .
          
           
             Dan.
             vij
             .
             10
             .
          
           
             Mark
             v.
             9
             .
             Luke
             viij
             .
             30
             .
          
           
             Dan.
             ij
             .
             31
             ,
             32
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Isa
             .
             v.
             4
             .
          
           
             Isa
             .
             lxv
             .
             2
             .
          
           
             *
             *
             Rev.
             j.
             3
             .
             To
             render
             the
             Original
             word
             (
             observe
             ,
             or
             )
             watch
             ,
             rather
             than
             keep
             ,
             seems
             more
             congruous
             to
             the
             sense
             of
             the
             Text
             ,
             and
             is
             a
             Criticism
             suggested
             to
             me
             by
             an
             eminent
             Mathematician
             as
             well
             as
             Divine
             ,
             who
             took
             notice
             ,
             that
             the
             word
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             is
             us'd
             by
             the
             Greeks
             as
             a
             term
             of
             Art
             ,
             to
             express
             the
             Astronomical
             Observation
             of
             Eclipses
             ,
             Planetary
             Conjunctions
             ,
             Oppositions
             ,
             and
             other
             Celestial
             Phaenomena
             .
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
             Ephis
             .
             iij.
             10
             ▪
             
          
           
             Isa
             .
             vj.
             2
             ,
             3.
             
             Luke
             ij
             .
             13
             ,
             14.
             
             Revel
             .
             v.
             11
             ,
             12.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             ij
             .
             16
             ,
             17.
             
          
           
             Seraph
             .
             Love.
             
          
           
             Psal
             .
             xxxij
             .
             9
             .
          
           
             Deut.
             viij
             .
             10
             ,
             11
             ,
             12
             ,
          
           
             13
             ,
             14
             ,
          
           
             18
             ,
          
           
             Job
             xxxviij
             .
             5
             ,
             6
             ,
             7.
             
          
           
             Psa
             .
             L.23
             .
          
           
             Hos
             .
             xiv
             .
             2
             .
          
           
             Psal
             .
             civ
             .
             24
             .
          
           
             Psal
             .
             xix
             .
             1
             .
          
           
             Psal
             .
             cxxxix
             .
             14
             .
          
           
             1
             Tim.
             ij
             .
             4
             .
          
           
             Joh.
             xiij
             .
             7
             .
             Heb.
             v.
             9
             .
          
           
             Joh.
             v.
             39
             .
             Search
             ,
             or
             ,
             
               You
               search
               the
               Scriptures
            
             .
             Coloss
             .
             iij.
             16
             .
          
           
             Prov.
             xxvj
             .
             10
             .
          
           
             Acts
             xvij
             .
             11
             .
          
           
             1
             Pe●
             .
             j.
             10
             ,
             11.
             
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             j.
             ●2
             .
          
           
             Psal
             .
             cxix
             .
             18
             .
          
           
             Revel
             .
             j.
             
          
           
             Matth.
             xj
             .
             15
             .
             Mark
             iv
             .
             ●
             ,
             23.
             
             Luke
             viij
             .
             8
             .
          
           
             Matth.
             v.
             8
             .
          
           
             1
             Joh.
             iij.
             2
             .
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
          
           
             Medit.
             tertia
             sub
             finem
             .
          
           
             Exod.
             xv
             .
             25
             .
          
           
             Matth.
             v.
             29
             ,
             30.
             
          
           
             1
             Tim.
             iij.
             16
             .
          
           
             Tit.
             j.
             1
             .
          
           
             Numb
             .
             xxj
             .
             9
             .
          
           
             Diogenis
             Laertii
             libr.
             10.
             
          
           
             Iob
             iv
             .
             19
             .
          
           
             Psal
             .
             ciij.
             14
             .
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             10.13
             .
          
           
             Job
             xviij
             .
             14
             .
          
           
             Dan.
             ix
             .
             21
             ,
             22.
             
             Luke
             j.
             11
             ,
             26.
             
             Acts
             x.
             4
             ,
             5
             ,
             6.
             1
             
             Pet.
             j.
             12
             .
          
           
             Luke
             xxiv
             .
             45
             .
             Psal
             .
             cxix
             .
             18
             .
          
           
             Acts
             xvij
             .
             24
             ,
             25.
             
          
           
             Jam.
             ij
             .
             21
             .
          
           
             2
             Chron.
             vj.
             8
             ,
             9.
             
          
           
             2
             Sam.
             vij
             .
          
           
             ver
             .
             5.
             
          
           
             ver
             .
             11.
             
          
           
             Hab.
             j.
             13
             .
          
           
             Matth.
             v.
             6
             .
          
           
             2
             Cor.
             v.
             7
             .
          
           
             Luke
             xx
             .
             36
             .
          
        
         
           Notes for div A28966-e7520
           
             Ephes
             .
             iij.
             10
             .
          
           
             See
             Examples
             of
             this
             in
             my
             Notes
             about
             Sensation
             and
             Sensible
             Qualities
             .
          
           
             Acts
             vij
             .
             56
             .
          
           
             2
             Kings
             vj.
             17
             .
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             xiij
             .
             12
             .
          
           
             1
             Joh.
             iij.
             2
             .
          
           
             Gen.
             xxxvij
             .
          
           
             Amos
             vj.
             5
             .
          
           
             *
             *
             See
             the
             Requisites
             of
             a
             good
             Hypothesis
             .
          
           
             See
             this
             Subject
             handled
             at
             large
             in
             an
             Appendix
             to
             the
             Author's
             Ex●men
             of
             Antiperistasis
             .
          
           
             *
             *
             In
             the
             History
             of
             Cold.
             
          
           
             *
             *
             Now
             publish'd
             in
             the
             Book
             of
             New
             Physico-Mechanical
             Experiments
             .
          
           
             See
             a
             Tract
             on
             this
             Subject
             ,
             premis'd
             by
             the
             Authour
             to
             his
             Book
             of
             Cold.
             
          
           
             Amos
             vj.
             5
             .
          
           
             1
             Sam.
             ij
             .
             30
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             Chron.
             xxv
             .
             9
             .
          
           
             Rom.
             viij
             .
             18
             .
          
           
             Luke
             xxiij
             .
             15
             .
          
           
             ●
             Kings
             iij.
             5
             .
          
           
             Phil.
             ij
             .
             6
             .
          
           
             Heb.
             xij
             .
             2
             .
          
           
             Rom.
             ij
             .
             7
             .
          
           
             Matth.
             v.
             11
             ,
             12.
             
          
        
         
           Notes for div A28966-e12720
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .