THE EPISTLE 
in the varhm degrees of Rarity and Denjity , Weight , and aB' 
fence ^ loffger or Jlwrfer^ for the Refpiration of Animals \ Ani 
have left us maftifefl evidences of the necefjary Weighty and other 
enforcements of Air -fo^r eferve m from Suffocations and Cenvul* 
fions'-y And that neither common liquids can raife their Vfnal 
Steams^ nor the minutefi In(e£ts continue their Motion even 
whd Ji they retain life^ without the Prejence and Hel^ of Air. 
And yet I may be ask^d^what Patronage^what Heroe, or what 
Genius can give fafe guard againft the malicious fcurrility of ma^ 
ny of this Agey n>ho attempt to deface every vertue, and whatjoe- 
ver is excellent^ and particularly thai mhich is mofi obliging to 
the Publick. ^ To this difcouragement I reply cheerfu'ly ^ that 
the malicious and fcurrilous, are Jhort livd ^ and will foon 
^xji'-e in an odious jnuff ^ or will hajlen to hide themfelves in 
fhame and confufton : But Truth is mighty and will prevail :y 
Wifedbme will be J^fiifi d 5 Vertue will in good time emerge ; 
Knowledge will abound-^ hxt^ will flounjlj andVo£ttmy 
mil applaud them^ from whom they receive the cleereji Lif^ht and 
the beji Accommodaiions. 
lam informed by fuch as may w ll remen^ber the bejl and worff^ 
days of the Famous Lord di,\con lhat though he wrote his Ad- 
vancement of Learning, and his \v\^zur'MoM^^T\^^and many^ 
other elaborate 'Ireatfes of Philofophy ^ in the time of his greateli 
power; yet his greatejl Reputation rebounded frji from the moji 
Intellige nt Forrainers in maify parts of Cbri^endome : It cannot 
be doubted^ but that England had then better knowledge vf the 
(ibflrnlities . mavy trohbles and burthens of our Municipal Lawsj 
and ( hancery , irUch lay long and much upon his flkulders 5 And^^ 
that he bare ihefirefs of State affairs in almoU all King Jamesx 
da)'s^ and in Eiizabeth s later days 5 7hat he a'torned the^ 
folenm AddnfcSy and was tks Extra^ ordinary Pen-nuin fcr moJi 
Apologies. Deltberatians^andj^ravefi Advifos in PaKliaments^and' 
oiherwjfe : Here they fa n> a I fo, How he excelled in the bejl Theo- 
loo y of that Age ^ and in the Politeji of Civil and. Moral Effays 
And therefore here they might jujily wonder^ how aperfon Jo pub^ 
tick,!) imm erfed in all Civil hnerefis Jffould find leifure to do any 
thing at a\linV\\\\ohfh}] : And muchmore juftly may we fill 
wander^ hotv, without any great sk^il in Chymifiry ^ without muc^ 
pretence to the Mathematic^ or Mechanic ^ rvitBont Opiic^\ 
Jjdf^ ar other Engins of later Indention ^ hefhouldfo much iran^ 
