(412) 
And yet (in ihort to convince and reclaim as many as are hope- 
ful ) I dai rvithottt leave^ but with fincere affedlions in behalf of 
the Learned T/Wai^?/?, undertake to joyn ifliie with them^ and to 
offer fair proof. That, whereas they pretend to Ariftotle as their 
Grand 0racle,vjQ have a true and higher efteem for his true worth, 
than thefe Pretenders do effedually manifeft. 
, We fay^ his Logicks and Rhetorieks are very valuable. His 
Et hicks and Politicks, (or ihQ moft part^ found. His Metaphyftcks 
in many Notions ac^te. But all thefe are generally overwhelmed 
and degraded by the fwarms of Infedile Syftemes and dilute Com* 
mencaries. 
And as for the other more ufeful Volumes of Arifi^ tkylm 
Tracts of Animals ( which did coft Great Alexander fo many 74- 
lents\o. X\\Q furniture, and an ample Salary for encouragements} 
his Mathematical Difcourfes^ and Mechanrcksy thefe they never fa- 
lute. They weed out his onely defers and animofities^ his Ve- 
litacions with his Elders and Compeers about Atomes and darker 
Principles 5 a iVf^/f^r, which is neque quidy neque quantum^ neque 
quale, z Formalsind Suh(lantial "-^^^'^'^X^'^ (a word too hard for 
Cicero to tranflate)and Privationy a Principle as good as the reft ^ 
his Definitions of Caufes and Affedions y his ^aternion o{ grofs 
It lements and grott^r Mixtures, andinfipid Compofttions and 
lefs fignificant than the popular Air; All of them nuich 
fitter to beget "Eternal Controyerfies^than to adminifler any fatif- 
fadlion to a reafonable Underfranding. Thefe they gather up for- 
the fweetefl Pofies and faireft Garlands, wherewith to adorn their 
Brows and Temples-, and fo they take their leave of Arifiotk at the: 
very I hrefhold. 
. Thus they rejed the Harmony^ and wafle all their time in tune- 
ing thelnfliument, and arebefl pleafed, even ravifh'd, with thofe 
ftrokes;, v^hich glance below the Bridge by which they fharpen and 
turn their Spirits habitually, and fet the teeth of their difciples on 
edge^ and then 
feme I ejl imhuta recens, ^ervahit, ^c. 
We take leave to ask, Whether Artflotle did not illuilrate his 
beff Conceptions in his Works, with Mathematical Demonftra- 
tions:' In this, Blancanm will initiate their Obfervations with 
fufficient indulgence. We ask further^Which of the philofophers 
of 
