iv EPISTLE TO THE READER. 
in writing this work first, to satisfy myself, I drew out all the virtues of the vulgar 
or common Herbs, Plants, and Trees, &c. out of the best, or most approved authors 
I had, or could get; and having done so, I set myself to study the reason of them. — 
I knew well enough the whole world, and every thing in it, was formed of a compo-— 
sition of contrary elements, and in such a harmony as must needs shew the wisdom — 
and power of a great God. I knew as well this Creation, though thus composed of 
contraries, was one united body, and man an epitome of it; I knew those various — 
affections in man, in respect of sickness and health, were caused naturally (though — 
God may have other ends best known to himself) by the various operations of the : 
Microcosm; and I could not be ignorant, that as the cause is, so must the cure be; — 
and therefore he that would know the reason of the operation of the Herbs, must — 
look up as high as the Stars, astrologically. I always found the disease vary accor-— 
ding to the various motions of the Stars; and this is enough, one would think, to— 
teach a man by the effect where the cause lies. Then to find out the reason of the 
operation of Herbs, Plants, &c. by the Stars went I; and herein I could find but 
few authors, but those as full of nonsense and contradiction as an egg is full of meat. 
This not being pleasing, and less profitable to me, I consulted with my two brothers, 
Dr. Reason and Dr. Experience, and took a voyage to visit my mother Nature, — 
by whose advice, together with the help of Dr. Diticence, I at last obtained my — 
desire; and, being warned by Mr. Honesty, a stranger in our days, to publish it to the : 
world, I have done it. | 
But you will say, What need I have written on this Subject, seeing so many famous 
and learned men have written so much of it in the English Tongue, much more than I — 
have done? : 
To this I answer, neither Gerrarp nor Parkinson, or any that ever wrote in — 
the like nature, ever gave one wise reason for what they wrote, and so did nothing — 
else but train up young novices in Physic in the School of tradition, and teach them — 
just as a parrot is taught to speak; an Author says so, therefore it is true; and if all ; 
that Authors say be true, why do they contradict one another? But in mine, if you i 
view it with the eye of reason, you shall see a reason for every thing that is written, ! 
whereby you may find the very ground and foundation of Physic; you may know : 
what you do, and wherefore you do it; and this shall call me Father, it being (that i 
I know of) never done in the world before. ’ 
I have now but two things to write, and then I have done. 
1. What the profit and benefit of this Work is. 
2. Instructions in the use of it. ; 
1. The profit and benefits arising from it, or that may occur to a wise man from | 
it, are many; so many that should I sum up all the particulars, my Epistle would be as 
_ big as the Book; I shall only quote some few general heads. 
t 
