210 ALPHABET OF NATURE. 



Lastly ; we meditate sometimes certain Essays of inter 

 pretation, though such as are low and of small advance, 

 and by no means to be honoured (in our opinion) with the 

 very name of interpretation. 



For what need have we of arrogance or imposture, seeing 

 we have so often professed, that we have not such a supply 

 of history and experiments as is needful ; and that without 

 these, the interpretation of nature cannot be brought to per 

 fection. Wherefore it is enough for us, if we are not want 

 ing to the beginning of things. 



Now for the sake of perspicuity and order, we prepare 

 our way by avenues, which are a kind of prefaces to our 

 inquisitions. Likewise we interpose bonds of connexion, 

 that our inquisitions may not seem abrupt and disjointed. 



Also we suggest for use some hints of practice. Fur 

 thermore, we propose wishes of such things as are hitherto 

 only desired and not had, together with those things which 

 border on them, for the exciting the industry of man s 

 mind. 



Neither are we ignorant, that those inquisitions are 

 sometimes mutually entangled ; so that some things of 

 which we inquire, even the same things belong to several 

 titles. But we will observe such measure, that (as far as 

 may be) we may shun both the nauseousness of repetition, 

 and the trouble of rejection, submitting notwithstanding to 

 either of these, when in an argument so obscure, there is 

 necessity of so doing, in order to the more intelligible 

 teaching of it. 



This is the form and rule of our alphabet. 



May God, the creator, preserver, and renewer of the uni 

 verse, protect and govern this work, both in its ascent to 

 his glory, and in its descent to the good of mankind, for the 

 sake of his mercy and good will to men, through his only 

 Son, Immanuel, God with us. 



