DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68888#0018
The Prefac e.
Superstru&ures, lam abundantly (atissied; and all my ambition is,
that I may strve to the great Pbibfop hers cf this Age , as the makers
and the grinders of my G Ioffes did tome; that I may prepare and fur-
nifh them with some Materials, which they may asterwards order and
manage with better skill, and to far greater advantage.
The next remedies in thus univerfal cure os the Mind are to be ap-
plyed to the Memory, and they are to conftst of fuch Directions as may
insorm us, what things arebeft to be stor’d up sor our purpofe, and
which is the best way of fo disposing them, that they may not only be
kept in safety, but ready and convenient,to be at any time produc’d^
uft, as occafion fiall require. But I will not here prevent my ftls in
what I may say in another Discourfe , wherein I fball make an at-
tempt to propofe some Considerations of the manner of compiling a Na-
tural and Artisicial History, and os so ranging and regiftring its
Particulars into Philosophical Tables, as may make them moft uftsul
for the raising os Axioms and Theories.
The laft indeed is the moft hazardous Enterprize, and yet the moft
necessary ; and that is, to take such care that the J udgment and the
Reason os Man ( which is the third Faculty to be repair d and im-
prov'd) fbould receive fuch affiftance, as to avoid the dangers to
which it is by nature moft fubjeCi. The Imperfections, which I have al-
ready mention d, to which it is lyable, do either belong to the extent,
or tZ^goodness of its knowledge; and here the disficulty is the grea-
ter, leaft that which may be thought a remedy for the one fbould
prove destru&ive to the other, least by feeking to inlarge our Know-
ledge, we fbould render it weak, and uncertain; and leaft by being
too fcrupulous and exalt about every Circumftance of it, we fbould
confine and ftreigbten it too much.
In both theft the middle wayes are to be taken, nothing is to be
omitted, and yet every thing to paft a mature deliberation; No
Intelligence srom Men cf all Prosessions, and quarters os the World,
to be slighted,andyet all to be so severely examind,that there remain
no room sor doubt or instability ; much rigour in admitting, much
ftridness in compajring^and above all, much slowness in debating, and
shyness
Superstru&ures, lam abundantly (atissied; and all my ambition is,
that I may strve to the great Pbibfop hers cf this Age , as the makers
and the grinders of my G Ioffes did tome; that I may prepare and fur-
nifh them with some Materials, which they may asterwards order and
manage with better skill, and to far greater advantage.
The next remedies in thus univerfal cure os the Mind are to be ap-
plyed to the Memory, and they are to conftst of fuch Directions as may
insorm us, what things arebeft to be stor’d up sor our purpofe, and
which is the best way of fo disposing them, that they may not only be
kept in safety, but ready and convenient,to be at any time produc’d^
uft, as occafion fiall require. But I will not here prevent my ftls in
what I may say in another Discourfe , wherein I fball make an at-
tempt to propofe some Considerations of the manner of compiling a Na-
tural and Artisicial History, and os so ranging and regiftring its
Particulars into Philosophical Tables, as may make them moft uftsul
for the raising os Axioms and Theories.
The laft indeed is the moft hazardous Enterprize, and yet the moft
necessary ; and that is, to take such care that the J udgment and the
Reason os Man ( which is the third Faculty to be repair d and im-
prov'd) fbould receive fuch affiftance, as to avoid the dangers to
which it is by nature moft fubjeCi. The Imperfections, which I have al-
ready mention d, to which it is lyable, do either belong to the extent,
or tZ^goodness of its knowledge; and here the disficulty is the grea-
ter, leaft that which may be thought a remedy for the one fbould
prove destru&ive to the other, least by feeking to inlarge our Know-
ledge, we fbould render it weak, and uncertain; and leaft by being
too fcrupulous and exalt about every Circumftance of it, we fbould
confine and ftreigbten it too much.
In both theft the middle wayes are to be taken, nothing is to be
omitted, and yet every thing to paft a mature deliberation; No
Intelligence srom Men cf all Prosessions, and quarters os the World,
to be slighted,andyet all to be so severely examind,that there remain
no room sor doubt or instability ; much rigour in admitting, much
ftridness in compajring^and above all, much slowness in debating, and
shyness