Tfie Preface. 



ft ode , andfundry others, who either have themselves pro- 

 fefledly treated the Science of Bodies, or have fuppofed that 

 fart fuffaiently performed by other pens . But truly, I was by 

 an unavoidable necefsity hereunto obliged: which is ^cur- 

 rent of dcchinethat at this day^ much raigneth in the Chrifti- 

 A* Schooles, where bodies and their operations^ are explicated 

 afttr the manner of fyirttuall things. For we having very 

 (lender knowledge of fyirituallfubftanccs^ can reach no fur- 

 ther into their ntture, then to know that they have certain^ 

 powers ', or qualities 5 but can feldome penetrate fo deep^ as to 

 defcend to the particulars offrch Qualities^ or Powers . Now 

 our modern Philofophers have introduced fuch a course of lear- 

 ning into the Schooles, that unto all queftions concerning the 

 proper natures of Bodies, and their operations, it is heldjuffi- 

 cient to A nfwer^ they have a quality 5 or a power to doefuch a 

 thing. And afterwards they dilute whether this Duality or 

 Power j be an Entity diftintffrom itsfubjeff, or no 5 and how 

 it is fep arable, or unfep arable from it^andthe like. Conforma- 

 ble to this^ who will looke into the books jvhich are in vogue in 

 thefe Schools^ fhattfindfufh anfwers andfuch controversies c- 

 very where, and few others. As^ of the {enable qualities :atkc 

 what it is to be white or redjvhat to be facet orjowre, what to 

 be odoriferous or finking^ what to be cold or hot ? And you 

 are -prefently paid with jhat it is afenftble quality ^ which hath 

 the power to make a wall white or red^ to make a meat agreea- 

 ble or disagreeable to the tafte, to make agratefullor ungrate- 

 fuHfmetlto the noje^&c. Likewife they make the fame quefti- 

 ons and re folutionS) of Gravity and Levity : as whether they 

 be qualities , that #, entities diftinttfrom their fub\e ft : and 

 whether they be atfive orpafivc , which when they have di- 

 ftutedflightly.and in common ^with Logic all arguments; they 

 reft thcrejvithout any further fearchinginto thephyficallcau- 

 fuor effetfs of them. The like youjkalfndofallflrangeeffefts 



B a of 



