iv EPISTLE TO THE READER. 



Herbs, Plants, and Trees, &c., out of the best or most approved authors I had, or could get; and 

 having done so, I set myself to study the reason of them. I knew well enough the whole world, 

 and every thing in it, was formed of a composition of contrary elements, and in such a harmony 

 as must needs show the wisdom and power of a great God. I knew as well this Creation, though 

 thus composed of contraries, was one united body, and man an epitome of it: I knew those 

 various affections in man, in respect of sickness and health, were caused naturally (though God 

 may have other ends best known to himself) by the various operations of the Microcosm ; and I 

 could not be ignorant, that as the cause is, so must the cure be; and therefore he that would 

 know the reason of the operation of the Herbs, must look up as high as the Stars, astrologically. 

 I always found the disease vary according to the various motions of the Stars; and this is enough, 

 one would think, to teach a man by the effect where the cause lies. Then to find out the reason 

 of the operation of Herbs, Plants, &c., by the Stars went I ; and herein I could find but few 

 authors, but those as full of nonsense and contradiction as an egg is full of meat. This not being 

 pleasing, and less profitable to me, I consulted with my two brothers, DR. REASON and DR. 

 EXPERIENCE, and took a voyage to visit my mother NATURE, by whose advice, together with the 

 help of DR. DILIGENCE, I at last obtained my desire ; and, being warned by MR. HONESTY, a 

 stranger in our days, to publish it to the world, I have done it. 



But you will say, What need I have written on this Subject, seeing so many famous and learned 

 men have written so much of it in the English Tongue, much more than I have done ? 



To this I answer, neither GERRARD nor PARKINSON, or any that ever wrote in the like nature, 

 ever gave one wise reason for what they wrote, and so did nothing else but train up young 

 novices in Physic in the School of tradition, and teach them just as a parrot is taught to speak; 

 an Author says so, therefore it is true; and if all that Authors say be true, why do they 

 centradict one another "? But in mine, if you view it with the eye of reason, you shall see a reason 

 for everything that is written, whereby you may find the very ground and foundation of Physic; 

 you may know what you do, and wherefore you do it; and this shall call me Father, it beinj 

 (that I know of) never done in the world before. 



I have now but two things to write, and then I have done. 



1. What the profit and benefit of this Work is. 



2. Instructions in the use of it, 



1. The profit and benefit arising from it, or that may occur to a wise man from it are many ; 

 so many that should I sum up all the particulars, my Epistle would be as big as my Book ; I shall 

 quote some few general heads. 



First. The admirable Harmony of the Creation is herein seen, in the influence of Stars upon 

 Herbs and the Body of Man, how one part of the Creation is subservient to another, and all 

 for the use of Man, whereby the infinite power and wisdom of God in the creation appear; and 

 if I do not admire at the simplicity of the Ranters, never trust me; who but viewing the 

 Creation can hold such a sottish opinion, as that it was from eternity, when the mysteries of it 

 are so clear to every eye ? but that Scripture shall be verified to them, Rom. i. 20 : " The in- 

 ' visible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen, being understood by the 



