of Mankind, for so glorious a Present as I here make them, for the common Good; but alas! I find the envious World, has cut out a deal of other Work for me, and that I must answer a Crowd of malicious Objections, which my learned Friends assure me, are levell'd against this unparallel'd Performance, by those who saw it in Manuscript.
But as this is Preface enough of Conscience for one Time, I must say with St. Austin when he us'd to cut his Sermons into two, Parcite mihi fratres, non dicam vobis quod sequitur; and beg the Reader to indulge me in a Liberty always allowed great Writers, of treading in unbeaten Paths, and for my Ease and his own, as well the Novelty and Boldness of the Stroke, to pardon me if, like the Adventure of the Bear and the Fiddle, I break off here a little abruptly, and (as I have resolv'd for a Coup d'Eclat to make three Prefaces to this glorious Work) send him for the Second and Third to the Middle and End of this Volume.
ME-
