Fontenelle, of tbeVfefulnefi 



Nation to Truth. They wou'd teach us to o* 

 perate upon Truths ; to take the Thread of 

 them, which is generally very fine and al- 

 moft imperpeceptible ; and to follow it as far 

 as it reaches : In a word, they wou'd make 

 Truth fo familiar, that we might on other 

 Occafions know it at firft fight, and almoft by 

 Initincl. 



A Geometrical Genius is not fo confined to 

 Geometry, but that it may be capable of lear- 

 ning oiher Sciences. A Tra& of Morality, Po- 

 liticks, or Criticifm, and even a Piece of Ora- 

 tory, fuppofing the Author qualify'd otherwife 

 for thofe Performances, (hall be the better for 

 being compos'd by a Geometrician. That Or- 

 der, Perfpicuity, Precifwn and Exactnefs, which 

 fbme time fince are found in good Book?, rriay 

 originally proceed from that Geometrical Genius, 

 which is now more common than ever, and in 

 fbme manner is communicated by one Relation to 

 another, nay even to thofe that do not underftand 

 Geometry. Sometimes a Great Man draws all 

 his Cotemporaries after him ; and he who hath 

 the jufteft Claim to to the Glory of having fettled 

 a new Art of Arguing, was an Excellent Geome- 

 trician. 



Laftly, whatever raifes us to Great and Noble 

 Reflexions, tho' they be purely Speculative, af- 

 ford a Spiritual and Philofbphical Vtility. The 

 Wants of the Mind are perhaps as many as thofe 

 of the Body. She defires to extend her Know- 

 ledge : All that can be known, is neceffary to 

 her, and there can be no better Proof than this, 

 that file is defign'd for Truth. Nothing perhaps 

 can redound more to her Glory, than the Plea-* 

 fure that is felt fometim.es, in foight of ones 



felf, 



