» Thea PReeace. 
And T beg my Reader, to\tet ne takethe boldne/?. to: ‘affure bint, 
sels in this prefent condition of knowledge:,a man fo qualified; as I 
have indeavoured to be, only with refolution, and integrity, and plain 
intentions of imploying bis Senfes aright nay venture to compare the re- 
ality and the ufefulne/? of bis fervices, towards the true P hilofophy, with 
thofe'of other men, that are of much fironger,anid more acute fpecula- 
tions;that hall not make ufe of the fame method by the Senfés.. 
The truth iss. the Science of Nature bas-been-already too long. made 
only a work: of the Brainvand the Fancy :. It is now. high time thatit 
Joould return to the plainnefs and foundne? of Obfervations on ma- 
terial.and obvious things. It i faid of great Empires, Thatthe beft 
way to preferve them from decay, isto bring,themback to. the 
firft Principles; and-Arts, on) which they. did begin... 7he fame. 
is undoubtedly true in Philofophy,that by wandring far away into invi- 
fible'Notions,has almoft quite defiroy ‘dd it felf,and it can: never be re- 
covered, or continued, but by ag into the pane (enfible paths, 
in which it did at firft proceeds wae 
a? therefore the Reader expecis' from me ae ‘infallible! D tions, 
or certainty of Axioms, I am'to fay for miy’ felf, that thofe Feoneet 
Worksiof Wit and Imagination are’ abode my weak, Abilities 5. or of 
they had not been fo, Twould not have made ufe of themin shis pre» 
fent: SubjeEt before: me : | Whereever he findsthat I have ventur'd at 
any fall ConjeFiures, at the caufes: of the things that I have me faned, 
Thefeeth him to look, upon them only eb wet Problems,and uncer- 
rain ghefles, and not as. unqueftionable Concluftons,. or matters of un~ - 
confutable Science; - Ihave produced ‘nothing hére,, with intent. tobind 
bisunderftanding to-an implicit confent 5: a amo far from that,that 
I defire him, not abfolutely to rely upon thefe Obferwations\ of my. eyes, 
if he finds them contradifted by the fawn Beaton: Hapereeet q fe 
ber andimpartial Difcoverers. ovina 
“AS for my part; Thave cbt end thee finall. Lab hours: 
fall be though fittotake up fone place inthe large flock.of nacural 
fervations, which fo witeheds itladeiin pride FF Lhave 
— the meaneft foundations —_ others may:1aife.rtobler 
alsny 4 : ‘Supers 
