27 ! 
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PREFACE. 
T H E ftudy of nature, of, in other 
words, a ferious contemplation of 
the works of God, is certainly one 
of the mod: plealing and ufeful, as 
well as moil extenfive kinds of knowledge. 
It is indeed the great and proper objedt of 
our rational faculties; for furely we cannot 
employ our reafon better, than in endeavour¬ 
ing to make ourfelves acquainted with the glo¬ 
rious works of that Being, to whole goodnefs 
we owe our own. 
Natural Philofophy is now fo greatly im¬ 
proved in all its leveral branches, that few 
perfons, who have had the happinefs of a libe¬ 
ral education, are wholly unacquainted with 
the value of it. But prejudice is fo prevalent, 
that we are apt to form an abfolute judgment 
of the works of nature from outward appear- 
A 3 ances 
