282 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS, Book II. 



There are, I know, who doubt, whether this flate ever had a real 

 exiftence : But fuch men have not learned rightly to diftinguifli be- 

 twixt the Animal and Intelledual creature ; nor have they obferved 

 that in all animals, even in fuch as are lefs compofed than Man, and, 

 indeed, in all natural things, there is a progrefs from an imperfect 

 ilate to that ftate of perfection, for which, by Nature, the thing is 

 intended. This is fo evident to me, that, from theory only, though 

 it could not be proved by fads, I fhould believe that Man was a 

 mere animal before he was an intelligent Being, and that there was 

 a progrefs in the fpecies fuch as we are fure there is in the indivi- 

 dual. I therefore hold, that whoever denies this progrefTion of 

 Man, is ignorant both of the Hiftory and Philofophy of Man» 



In my next volume, 

 * major rerum mihi na/ciiur ordb\y 



' Majus opus mo'veo.^ 



I will there prefent to the reader a fcene of man, in which he 

 fhall appear both as the nobleft and as the moft degenerate animal 

 upon this earth: For, as human Nature is capable of the higheft 

 exaltation, fo it is alfo of the loweft degradation, according to the 

 common faying. That the corruption of the befl things is the worft 

 — But I hope to fhow that Man, even in his moft wretched ftate, 

 is ftill the care of Heaven ; and in this way I truft I fliall be able 



to offer t Eternal Providence,, 



And jujiify the ivays of God to Men ; 



—which to do is the defign of this work; and in fuch fpeculatlonsi 

 hope to live what remains of my life, and to die, — leaving to thofe, 

 who call themfelves philofophers in this age, their Lines and Figures, 

 their Menfurations and Computations, and their fads of Natural 



Hiftory ; 



