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Vicount St. Alban 



of darknefs, which had never come into any mans mind to 

 inveftigate, favc his who proceeds by a certain and con- 

 flant path, to the invention of caufes : whereas in them- 

 felves they are of no great ufe^ that it is clearly evident, 

 that they were not fought after, for themfelves, but that 

 they have directly the fame reference to things and works, 

 that the Letters of the- Alphabet have to fpeeth and 

 words ;, which, though fingle by themfelves , they are 

 unprofitable, yet are they the Elements of all Language. 

 § And in the choice of Kfports and Experiments, tve pre- 

 fume that rve have gifCff in better fecurity^ than they who 

 hitherto have been conzferfant in Natural Philofophy : for 

 we admit nothing but by oculate faith , at left evident 

 proof i and that after moft fevere enquiry : fo as nothing 

 is reported hightned to' the abufive credit of a miracle i 

 but.what we relate are chafte and immaculate from Fables 

 and V'anicy. So alfo all thofe received and ventilated cur- 

 rent fidions andlics, whichby a ftrange negled, have for 

 many ages been countenanced, and are become inveterate j 

 we do by name profcribe,and precifely note,that they may 

 Plot de Ed. be no longer prejudicial to Sciences. For what one wifely 

 deRep.'^'* obferves,t7j^t Fables, Superflitions, and idle Stories^ which 

 tlnrfes infill into young Children, do in good earneji deprave 

 their minds : fo the fame rcafon moved us,to be fo religious 

 and careful, left at the entrance, where we handle and take 

 the charge of the Infancy^ as it were, of Philofophy, under 

 natural Hijiory ; fhe ftiouM be initiated in any vanity. 

 § But in every new and fomewhat more fnbtile experiment, 

 in our opinion, certain and tryed, we yet apertly adjoyn 

 the manner of the experiment we have pra£tifed, that after 

 it is made apparent what the fuccefs of every particular 

 was with us 5 men might fee the error which might lurk 

 and cleave thereto '-, and be awaked to proofs , if any 

 fuch be, more exa£i: and fecure. § In brief, we eve- 

 ry where fparfedly infert monitions and fcruples and 

 conjedures ; ejecting and interdifting, as it w^ere, by a fa- 

 cred adjuration, and exorcifm, all Phantafms. § Lajily, 

 being it is a thing woji liquid unto us, how exceedingly 

 Experience and Hiftory difpcrfe the beams of the fight of 

 humanclntellcd j and how hard a matter it is, fpccially 



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