BY DR. DERHAM. 



45 



This book taking so well, and corresponding best with 

 his profession as a divine, encouraged him to think of 

 publishing another book of a like nature, whose founda- 

 tion was also laid in Cambridge ; and this was his ' Three 

 Physico-Theological Discourses, concerning the Chaos, 

 Deluge, and Dissolution of the World.' The substance 

 of these discourses, or part of them at least, had been 

 the subject of some sermons (as I have said) which he 

 had preached at St. Mary's, before the University. 



This book was finished at the press in December 1692, 

 and was also, as the former, much bought up, so that it 

 came to a second edition the year following ; and this 

 edition being sold off, the bookseller was, in the year 

 1703, very importunate with Mr. Ray to make additions 

 to it for another impression, which he was prevailed upon 

 to do, and having done it, he sent them to London, in 

 April 1704. But the principal bookseller being at that 

 time in a very ill state of health, and both he and his 

 partner dying not long after, the book with its additions 

 were laid aside, until the right of Mr. Ray's copies came 

 into Mr. Innys's hands, who got me to look over this 

 copy (I being well acquainted with Mr. Ray's papers) 

 and to assist in the third edition, which came out in the 

 year 1713. 



As to the additions which Mr. Ray made to this, and 

 indeed most of his other books, the chief reason was, 

 because his hands were always full, and he uneasy till he 

 had gone through his task ; and withal being much 

 advanced in years, and much afflicted with pain and 

 troublesome ulcers in his legs, he chose rather to put out 

 his things hastily in his life-time, than venture them, 

 according to Horace's good advice, 



In metii descendat judicis aures, 

 Et patris, et nostras ; nonumque prematur in annum. 

 Membranis intus positis, delere licebit, 

 Quod non edideris : nescit vox missa reverti. 



But for his farther reasons and excuses for his additions, 

 I refer to the prefaces of his two last-mentioned books. 



