Fontenelle, of theVfefulnefs 



and the Aliments they are to take, S3c. The 

 moft curious ftrokes of Hiftory (hall hardly 

 be more- curious than the Phofphorus , the 

 cold Liquors which being mixt together, 

 break out into a flame ; Silver Trees, the aU 

 moft Magical Operations of the Load-Stone, 

 and a vaft number of Secrets, which Art hath 

 difcover'd by a near and diligent Scrutiny of 

 Nature. 



Laftly, Natural Philofophy doth as much 

 as it is poffible unravel the Footfteps of that 

 Infinite Intellect and Wiflom, who hath made 

 all things: Whereas the Object of Hiftory 

 are the diforderly Effects of the Paflion, and 

 of Humane Caprices ; and fb odd a Series of 

 Events, that k>me formerly faney'd that a 

 Blind and Senfelefs Deity had the Direction of 

 them. 



We muft not look upon the Sublime Reflexi- 

 ons which Natural Philofophy "leads us to make 

 concerning the Author of the Univerfe, as meer 

 Curiofities. For this ftupendous Work, which 

 appears always more wonderful the more we 

 know it, gives us fuch exalted Notions of its 

 Maker, that they fill our Minds with Admirati- 

 on and Refpecl:. But above all, Aftronomy and 

 Anatomy are the two Sciences which more pal- 

 pably lay before us two grand Attributes of our 

 Creator; one his Immenfity by the diftancc, Mag- 

 nitude and Number of Coeleffial Bodies ; the o- 

 ther his Infinite Knowledge by theMechanifm of 

 Animals. True Natural Philofophyj is a kind 

 of Theology. 



The 



