( 141^ ) 
things thcmfelves, and leave to pofterity many noble mate- 
r als towards raifing the immenfc ftrudurc of Nature, which 
is not CO be carried on wichouc the joint ftock o{ all Ages, 
and the generous contributions of fuch as tiiink fic to pro* 
mote the liberal Arts and Sciences, whofe Benevolence in 
this kind our Author is fo grateful as to commemurate by 
particular Inlcripcions of their Names^ fixt on his perennial 
Tables, far more durable and extenfive than Pyramids, or 
Pillars, or any other artificial Monuments. 
*Tis not therefore to be doubted but this defign of our 
IrigemoHf and Lahorious Ufideruk^er will meet with general' 
encouragement, by reafon of the Beauty and Ma jelly ot 
the Subjed, no lefs than God*s Creation, wonderful and 
ufeful in all its parts, to the Life of Man, and none of the 
lealf amongft the many irrefiftible^antidotes againft Atheifm. 
One Advantage will accrue, by publiQiing thefe things 
in Decades^ that of preferving them entire 5 which 
are too often mangled , abfconded , or (catter'd by 
change of hands, if not utterly loft for want offome 
little encouragements from the publick to multiply Copies 
of them in the manner proposed by the Author, who 
without the Jeaft afFeflration or vanity deferves all juftand 
reafonable contributions for defraying his firftCofts,if not for 
rewarding his pains in Commenting, Illuftrating, Drawing 
and Engraving ^ a Proof whereof is here given in a few 
particulars of the firft Decade. 
The fecond Decade is juft finifht, and the third ready for 
the Prefs. 
Ca- 
