his^ Frefice. i i 



Nor have we endeavoiird to fctoff our felves with Glory, 

 or draw a Majefty upon our Inventions, either by Tri- 

 umphs of Confutations, or Dcpofitions of Antiquity 5 

 or an ufurparion of Authority •, or the vail of Obfcuri- 

 ry i which are Arts he may eafily find out, whofe ftudy is 

 not (o much the Profit of others, as Applaufe to him- 

 fclf. I fay we neither have praftifed , nor go we about, 

 by force or fraud to circumvent mens Judgements, but con- 

 du^ them to the things themfelves, and to the league and 

 confederacy of things, that they may fee what they have, 

 ■•.vhac they reprehend, what they add and contribute to the 

 Piiblick. And if we have been too credulous, or too dor- 

 rnanr,& not fo intcntive upon the matter,or languifht in the 

 way, or broken off the thread of the Inquiry ^ yet notwith- 

 ftanding we prefent things after fuch a manner open and 

 r.nked, that our Errors may be detefted and feparatcd be- 

 fore they can fpread themfelvcs, orinfinuate their conta- 

 gion into the mafs of Sciences^ and after iiich a Method 

 a<? the continuation of our labours, is a matter facile and 

 expedite. By this means we prefume we hjve eftablidit 

 ior ever, a true and legitimate Marriage-, betn>een the Em' 

 firical and Rational facnlty^ whofe faftidious and unfor- 

 tunate Divorce and Separation^ hath troubled and difor- 

 dered the whole Race and Generation of Man-kind. 

 ^ And feeing thefe performances are not within the com- 

 pafs of ourmeer natural Power and command,we do here, 

 in the Accefstothis work. Pour forth hnmbleji and moH 

 ardent fupplications to God the Father^ God the Word, God 

 the Spirit^ that they being mindful of the Miferies of Man- 

 hjnd., and of the Pilgrimage of this life, wherein we wear 

 mtfevo and e'z/il days^ they would 'vouchfafe to endow Man* 

 kjnd , by my hand., with new Donati<ves. And moreover i 

 We hurfihly pray., that Humane knowledges., may no way tm- 

 peach, or prejudice Divine Truths j nor that from the dif- 

 clofingaf the ways of fenfe ■, and the letting in of a niore 

 plcMifHl Natural Light , any mijis of Incredulity or clouds 

 of Darkfiefs arife in our minds , touching Divine Myfle-i 

 ries •, but rather that from a purified IntelleSl, purged front 

 Fancies and Vanity i and yet yielded and abfolutely rettdred 



[F2] np 



