CONCLUDING REMARKS. 1099 



long sanctioned by custom, and the authority of 

 distinguished names. To all such admonitions I 

 would reply in the words of Sydenham, that " it is 

 better to assist mankind than to be commended 

 by them :" that if the multitude have been 

 always fond of mysteries, fables, traditions, and 

 quack doctors, it is because their leaders have 

 permitted the great science of nature to remain 

 a sealed book the profoundest of all mysteries. 

 But when the veil which has so long concealed 

 the beautiful mechanism of the universe shall 

 have been drawn aside, all subordinate myste- 

 ries will vanish, and with them a countless mul- 

 titude of pernicious errors, which have hitherto 

 obstructed every avenue to the temple of wisdom. 

 Nor can there be a rational doubt, that a com- 

 plete knowledge of the prime Mover would be 

 the perfection of science, and enable us to pre- 

 dict whatever should come to pass in the regular 

 course of nature. 



It must not, however, be supposed, that more 

 than a general outline of this immense subject 

 has been attempted in the foregoing work. Nor 

 does the Author presume to flatter himself that 

 he has been always free from error. Nor should 

 it be expected, that the pioneer of unexplored 

 regions, can become so fully acquainted with 

 all their various productions as those who follow, 

 and have more leisure for research into de- 

 tails. 



