lo Vkoimt St. Alban 



Mediterranean \ but before the Ocean could be thus com- 

 inandcd, and the Regions of the new world dlfcovered, 

 it was requifite that the ufeof the Mariners Needle, as a 

 more fure and certain guide Hiould be firfl: found out i even 

 fo what difcoveries foever have been hitherto made in Arts 

 and Sciences^ they are of that quality, as might have been 

 brought to light by Pra^^icc, Meditation, Obfervation and 

 Pifcourfej as things nearer the fenfcs, and for moft part, 

 under the command of common Notions •-, but before we 

 can make our approaches, to the remote and hidden fe- 

 (Eretsof Nature, icisneceflarily requifite, that a better and 

 more perfedufe, and pra61ick-operation of the Mind and 

 Underftanding Faculty be introduc'd. ^ Asfor us, furely 

 we,(vanquifii'd with an immortal love of Truth) haveex- 

 pos'd our felves to doubtful, difficult and defert Paths ', and 

 by the protedion and affiftance of the Divine Power , 

 have born up and encouraged our felves againft the vio- 

 lent Aflaults and prepared Armies, as it were, of Opinions, 

 and againft our own private and inward hefitations and 

 fcruples, and againft the clouds and darkncfsof Nature, 

 and every where flying fancies j that fo we might procure 

 the prefent and future Age more fafe and found Indications 

 and Impreffions of Truth. If in this high and arduoua 

 attempt, we have made any Proficience^ furely by no o- 

 ther means have we cleared our felves a way, than by a 

 (incere and juft hwftiliation of the fpirit of Man , to the 

 Uws and operations of Nature, For all they that went be- 

 fore us, who applied themfelves to the finding out of 

 Arts , cafting a tranfient eye upon Things, Examples, and 

 Experience, have prefently (as if Invention were nothing 

 elfe but a meer Agitation of Brain) invoked in a manner 

 their own fpirits, to divine, and utter Oracles unto them.: 

 but we being chaftely and perpetually converfant with the 

 operations of Nature, divorce not the Intellect from the 

 Objeft farther than that the Images and Beams of things 

 (as in fenfe)may meet and concentrate s by which manner 

 of proceeding, there is not much left to the ftrcngthand 

 excellency of Wit. The fame fubmifllon of fpirit we 

 have praf^ifcd in difcovery, we have followed in delivery : 



Nor 



