The PreFack, 
Thus all the uncertainty, and miflakes of burmtane dBtions, feted 
sithes from the narrowne/s and wandring of our Sentes, from the lippes, 
rine(S or delufion of our Memory, from the confinement or rafbneiof. 
our Underftanding, fo that "tis no wonder, that our power over natu 
ral caufes and effecis is: {o lowly improw d, feeing we are not onily. to 
contend with the obfcurity and ditficulty of the things wbereon we work 
and think,,put even the forces of our own minds confpireto'betray nes 
- Thefe being the dangers in the procef’ of humene Reajon, thé remedies 
of them all can only proceed front the veal, the mechanical, thé ¢x« 
perimental Philolophywhich bas this advantage over the Philofophy of 
difcourleand difputation,that whereas that chiefly aims at the fubtilty 
of its Dedutiions and Concluftons, without much regard to.the. firft 
ground-work,, which ought to be well:baid on the Senfe and Memory ; 
| fo this intends the right ordering de them allyand the making them fe ra 
viceable toveach others. 9... 
Tbe firft thing to be siddachenin shi weighty works, i is a watch 
fulnefs:over the conus and an ilar of hig Wownariies of 
the Sepifes.. y andere: 
To which end itis ellen Firs Thatebdie bold be foripu- 
er choicesand a ftri& examination, of the reality; conftancy, dnd 
certainty ofthe Particulars that we admit:Thio is the firft Fife wheres 
on truth ia to begin, ‘and here the moft fevere, and moft impartial dili« 
gence; muuft be imployed 5 the floring up of all; without any regard to 
evidence or ufe; ‘will only tend todarknefs amd confufton.\We mift 
not therefore efteem the riches of ourP hilofophicak treafure by the noms. 
ber only,jbut chiefly by the weight;the moft vulgat Inflances arent to 
be negleCied put above all, the moft inftruttive are to be entertain d ; 
the foorfieps of Nature'are to betrac'd,not only inher ordinary 7 
| bua when fhe feemsto be put to ber fhifts.to make: mary doublings and 
be sad ees pants ~ age tee oda 
Tene sie ities Berefpettef theSenls, is ofiihine 
obey wnities with Inttruments, and, as it were; the adding of artis 
ficial Organs to the natural ; this in one of them has been of latesjears 
Yaak : accom 
