tterem, ifehey feyd both' crediced and encouraged, ' Wfe 
muft not therefore think the meaneftof the Creation vile 
or Hlelefijfmce that in them in lively Charaders (if we 
can but read) We may find the knowledge of a Deity 
and our felves. What often our inconfiderate Ignorance 
difregards and thinks but defpicable, were there a juft 
Icrutiny.made, it could not hut excite ourgreateft admi- 
r^tioxj, ^nd extort a -Gonfelfioriof its admirable contri- 
vance ^nd worknnatifhip. In every Animal there is a 
world of wonders ; each Is a. Microcofme or a wbrld 
in it ftjf : And that great Conquerour of the world, 
whp wept that there was but one for his ambitious -Rage 
to ipoil, at length more nobly had his defires in thefe, and 
withsre^ter Glory I^ath eterniz'd his Name, when after 
he lmdravag'dthe Air, Sea and Land, at laft committed 
to Ariftotle to write the Hiftory of his Trophies. The 
wifeft of Kings and Men may be thought to have gained 
great part of his knowledge from them. Nor ever was 
there an Age lb ignorant and utifh, W in Ibme mca- 
fure or other hatft endeavoured to bequeath to Pofterity 
their Learning herein. Ours that hath lb widely exten- 
ded the Pomccria or former Boundaries of all good Learn- 
ing, and with vaft labour hath at lafl: pulled down tfefe 
Henidean Pillars, that too iparrowly coafined ifis EmK 
pire ; having vindicated its juft Liberties from the Tyran- 
ny of ufurping Authorities, and the Credulous jfevery; 
to fome Great Names, does daily bring in Its ftbres 
for the rearing a new and more laftmg ftrudure of 
Natural Hiftory. For impartially viewing the Builds 
ings of the old, and findingiinlb many Places its foujfiida"- 
tions fb weak and infirm, although many of its Materials 
may ferve again, yet it has been thought more advifeabte 
to pull it down and begin a new, than to repair the Ru- 
inesof fb decrepit an Edifice. Info great a work many 
hands are daily imployed, Ibme in battering down and re- 
moving the Rubbifh, others in endeavouring to lay a 
pood foundation ; fbmedig for new ftone, others labour 
in polifhingk^ ptli^rs in inventing new and more cpnve- 
B t nient 
