AUTHORS PREFACE 19 



it for curiosity, contention, or the sake of despising others, 

 nor yet for profit, reputation, power, or any such inferior 

 consideration, but solely for the occasions and uses of life; 

 all along conducting and perfecting it in the spirit of be 

 nevolence. Our requests are 1. That men do not con 

 ceive we here deliver an opinion, but a work; and assure 

 themselves we attempt not to found any sect or particular 

 doctrine, but to fix an extensive basis for the service of 

 human nature. 2. That, for their own sakes, they lay aside 

 the zeal and prejudices of opinions, and endeavor the com 

 mon good; and that being, by our assistance, freed and 

 kept clear from the errors and hindrances of the way, they 

 would themselves also take part of the task. 3. That they 

 do not despair, as imagining our project for a grand restora 

 tion, or advancement of all kinds of knowledge, infinitely 

 beyond the power of mortals to execute; while in reality, 

 it is the genuine stop and prevention of infinite error. 

 Indeed, as our state is mortal, and human, a full accom 

 plishment cannot be expected in a single age, and must 

 therefore be commended to posterity. Nor could we hope 

 to succeed, if we arrogantly searched for the sciences in the 

 narrow cells of the human understanding, and not submis 

 sively in the wider world. 4. In the last place, to prevent 

 ill effects from contention, we desire mankind to consider 

 how far they have a right to judge our performance, upon 

 the foundations here laid down: for we reject all that 

 knowledge which is too hastily abstracted from things, 

 as vague, disorderly, and ill-formed; and we cannot be 

 expected to abide by a judgment which is itself called 

 in question. 



