Vicomt St. AlbanV, &c. 



reatteviped with better preparations ; and that there be 

 ttjroughout^ An Inftauration of Sciences and Arjs, and of 

 all Humane Learning rais'd from folid foundations. And 

 this ^ though it may feem ha fort an infinite enterpri'z.e^ 

 and abo'z/e tnortal abilities., yet the fame will be found more 

 found and advifed^ than thofe performances which hither- 

 to hazie been atchie^ed : for in this there is fome iffne j but 

 in the endea'vours now undertaken about Sciences^ a perpe" 

 tnal Wheeling, Agitation and Circle. Neither is he igno- 

 rant how unfrequented this Experience is, how difficiland 

 incredible to perfwade a belief t yet he thought not to defert 

 the defign^ nor himfelf, but to try andfet upon the way^ 

 which alone is pervioHS and penetrable to the mind of Man, 

 For it is better to c^i^e a beginning to a thing which may once 

 come to an end^ than with an eternal contention andjiudy to 

 be enwrapt in thofe mx%,es whi^h are endlefs. And the ways 

 of Contemplation for the moJh:part refemble thofe celebrated 

 ways of ABton j the one, at the>f.rfl entrance hard and dif' 

 jicult, ends in an open plain-, the 'other at fi^Ji fight ready 

 andeafte, leads into by-ways and down-falls : And being he 

 tPOi uncertain whenfuch confzderattons fwuld hereafter come 

 into any man's rnind, induced efpecially from this argument^ 

 that there hath none hitherto affeard^ who hath applied his 

 mifjd to fuch cogitations, he refol'v'd to publifh, feparately^ 

 the Fii ft parts as they could be perfeSied. Neither is this an 

 ambition^ but foUicitom fefitnatton % that if in the mean 

 fpace hefhould depart this mortal fiation ; there might yet 

 remain a defignationanddefiination of the thing he compre^ 

 bended in his mind ; and withall fome Demonjiration of his 

 ftncere and propenfe affe^ion to promote the good of Man' 

 kjnd. Truly he efteemed other ambition whatfoever, infc' 

 rior to the bufinefs he had in hand: For either the matter 

 in confultation, and thus far profecuted, is nothing ; or fo 

 much as the confcience of the merit it f elf ought to give 

 him contentment without feeding a tecompencefrom abroad. 



THE 



