VIII 
PREFACE. 
and designs of Providence in the oeconomy 
of the world. This philosopher, notwith- 
standing all his study and learning, is more 
devoid of true useful knowledge than the 
illiterate upright man, who, without having 
made any curious researches into the laws 
of motion, or the particular structure and 
frame of the universal system, sees enough 
to lead him to pay his constant adorations 
and thanks to that great and good Being, 
who created and sustains this wonderful 
machine for his use, and continues to shower 
down daily his gifts and blessings on man- 
kind. We may then collect and treasure 
up rarities from the four quarters of the 
world, cast up the number of the stars, cal- 
culate the motions of the planets, and ven- 
ture to foretel the return of the comets ; we 
may be able to dissect insects with all ima- 
ginable art, and anatomize the elements 
themselves, and even trace Nature through 
all its curious phenomena, and yet remain 
profoundly ignorant. The whole system of 
Nature may very aptly be compared to a 
