The Preface.
be ſhort then, this Umbrage and Miſt of their Text required ſome Comment and Clearneſs, but few being able to Expound, the World ran generally to the other ſide and the School-men have got the Day, not by Weight but by Number. This conſidered, it cannot be thought unreaſonable and certainly not unſeaſonable, if a Society conſcious of the Truth, and skil’d in the abſtruſe principles of Nature, ſhall endeavour to rectifie the world: for hitherto we have been abuſed with Greek Fables and a pretended knowledge of Cauſes, but without their much deſired Effects. We plainly ſee, that if the leaſt Diſeaſe invades Us, the School-men have not one Notion, that is ſo much a charm, as to cure Us: and why then ſhould we imbrace a Philoſophie of meer words, when it is evident enough, that we cannot live but by Works. Let us not for ſhame be ſo ſtupid any more, for ’tis a Barbarous Ignorance to maintaine that for Truth which our own dayly Experience can aſſure us to be Falſe. But ſome body will reply, That the Antiquitie of this Peripatiſm may claim ſome
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