x oo hh. Pe AS Oe FE, 
or fiery, figns or conftellations, all doubts and difficulties are removed ; a 
plain and obvious mode of treatment prefents itfelf to our view ; and fur- 
nifhes a ftriking proof of the wife economy of the Supreme Being, in 
governing this inferior world by the influence and energy of the fupe- 
rior bodies, whofe very minutia, as well as more magnificent phenomena, 
are invariably obedient to a regular and unerring law,” 
- But although the aftrologic feience be thus ufeful in guiding our 
medical enquiries, and neceflary in forwarding the cure of remote and 
latent difeafes ; yet were the enemies of Culpeper, like many of the 
prefent day, exulting forward to condemn that which they do not un- 
derftand, and, by attempting to baffle the fecret Operations of nature, 
and the ftrong influences of the planetary {yftem—of the Pleiades, Aréu- 
rus, and Orion, they expofe the weaknefs of their own imaginations, 
which they infultingly oppofe to the Slorious hoft of heaven. 
Perfectly indifferent, myfelf, as to the cavils of diffatisfied critics, or 
to the cenfure of interefted men, I thall revive that fimple praétice of 
Culpeper, which f{pread, through the Britith realms, the happy art of 
reftoring to priftine vigour—the decaying life and health of mankind. 
For this purpofe, I have incorporated into the prefent edition of his 
Puysictan and Herspat, every ufeful part of all his other works ; and 
have added a feleGtion of eafy rules, for attaining an intimate acquain- 
tance with all the Britith herbs and plants; for difcovering the real 
planetary influx ; and for gathering them at thofe particular feafons 
_ @When they imbibe a double portion of efficacy and virtue. 
dn gathering herbs for medicinal ufes, the planetary hour is certainly 
of importance, however modern refinement might have exploded the idea. 
In nature, the fimpleft temedies are found to produce the moft falutary 
effects ; and in earlier times, when the art of medicine was lefs ob{cured, 
__ and practifed more from motives of benevolence, the world was lefs afflicted 
with 
