20 TIIK G!II-AT INSTAURATIOlf. 



the superstructure to posterity. We design no contemptible 

 beginning to the work ; and anticipate that the fortune of 

 mankind will lead it to such a termination as is not possible for 

 the present race of men to conceive. The point in view is not 

 only the contemj^lative happiness, but the whole fortunes, 

 and affairs, and powers, and works of men. For man being 

 the minister and interpreter of nature, acts and understands 

 so far as he has observed of the order, the works and mind 

 of nature, and can proceed no farther ; for no power is able 

 to loose or break the chain of causes, nor is nature to be 

 conquered but by submission : whence those twin intentions, 

 human knowledge and human power, are really coincident ; 

 and the greatest hinderance to works is the ignorance of 

 causes. 



The capital precept for the whole undertaking is this, that 

 tlie eye of the mind be never taken off from things themselves, 

 but receive their images truly as they are. And God forbid 

 that ever we should offer the dreams of fancy for a model of 

 the world ; but rather in his kindness vouchsafe to us the 

 means of writing a revelation and true vision of the traces 

 and moulds of the Creator in his creatures. 



May thou, therefore, O Father, who gavest the light of 

 "\ ision as the first fruit of creation, and who hast spread over 

 the fall of man the light of thy understanding as the accom- 

 plishment of thy works, guard and direct this work, which, 

 issuing from thy goodness, seeks in return thy glory ! When 

 thou hadst surveyed the works which thy hands had wrought, 

 all seemed good in thy sight, and Thou restedst. But when 

 man turned to the works of his hands, he found all vanity 

 and vexation of spirit, and experienced no rest. If, however, 

 we labour in thy v/orks. Thou wilt make us to partake of tliy 

 A'ision and sabbath ; we, therefore, humbly beseech Thee to 

 f.trengthen our purpose, that Thou may&t be willing to 

 endow thy family of mankind with new gifts, tlirough our 

 hands, and tlie hands of those i;.i whom Thou sliult impliut 

 the same spiiit. 



