h'n Preface, 



tempt of others, or for Profic, orFamc,or for Honour and 

 |^rcHno<ian ror fueh like adulterate or inferior ends ; but 

 for the merit and emolument pt Life,, and that they re- 

 gulate and pcrfecr the fame in charity : For the defire 

 of Forvef^ was the fall of Angels y, the deftn of Knowled2e) 

 the fall of Mdfi j but in charity there is «<? excefs^ ti^ithet 

 Men nor Angels ei/er incurred danger by it. § The Re- 

 quefts we make are thefe j (To fay nothing of our felves 

 touching the matter in hand) we Requeji thus much, That 

 men rvouldnot thinh^of it as an opinion j but as a rvork^ and 

 ta\e it fot Truth-, that our aim, and ends is not to lay the 

 foundation of a SeSl or Flacity but of Humane Profit and 

 Proficience. § Again, that refpe6^ing their own Benefit 

 and putting off Partialities and Prejudices , they would all 

 contribute in one for the publick Good : and that being 

 freed and fortified by our Preparations and Aids, againft 

 the Errors and Impediments of the waysjthey Jikewife may 

 come in, and bear a part in the burden, and inherit a por- 

 tion of the Labours that yet remain behind. § Moreover 

 that they cheat up themfelves, and conceive well of the 

 enterprife ; and not figure unto themfelves a conceit and 

 fancy, that this Our InUauration is a matter infinite^ and be^ 

 yondthe poiver and compafs of Mortality ; feeing itis in truth 

 the right and legitimate end and period of Infinite Errors 5 

 and not unmindful of Mortality, and Humane Condition ' 

 being it doth not promife that the Defign may be accom- 

 pliflit within the Revolution of an Age only, but deli- 

 vers it over to Pofterity to Perfed. In a word, it feek^ 

 not Sciences arrogantly in the cdlsMf maus-wU , imt-fub- 

 fnijpziely in the greater world : And commonly. Empty things' 

 are 'z/aft and bQundlefs-, but Solids are contraSled and deter^ 

 mined -within a narrow compafs. § To conclude , we 

 thought good to make it our laft fuitj (left peradventure 

 through the difficulty of the Attempt, any fliould become 

 unequal Judges of our Labours) that men fee to it, how 

 they do,from that which we muft of neceffity lay down as 

 a ground (if we will be true to our own ends) affumea 

 liberty to cenfure, and pafs fentence upon our labours $ 

 feeing wc reje^l: all this premature and Anticipated hH~ 



tnctnt 



