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obtain'd by the bounty of two of their Members; and gives withall some Example of their Experiments; Histories both of Nature and Art; Queries answered; Proposals recommended, &c. Which done, he concludeth, That if any shall yet think, they have not usefully employed their time, he shall be apt to suspect, that they understand not, what is meant by a diligent and profitable labouring about Nature; and that such men seem not capable of being satisfied, unless the Gentlemen of this Society immediately profess to have found out the Squaring of the Circle, or the Philosophers Stone, or some other such mighty Nothings; which only argues the extravagance of the Expectations of such men. Mean time, the Author esteems, that, since the Society promises no Miracles, nor endeavours after them, and since their Progress ought to be equal and firm, by Natural degrees, and thorow small things, as well as great, going on leisurely and warily, it is therefore fit, that they alone, and not others, who refuse to consider the nature of their work, and to partake of their burthen, shou1d be Judges by what steps and what pace they ought to proceed.
The Third Part, is affecting both the Advantage and Innocence of this Design, in respect of all Professions, and particularly of Religion; and how proper, above others, it is for the present Temper of the Age, wherein we live: And this is done, to free it from the Cavil of the Idle and Malicious; and from the Jelousies of Private Interests; all which the Author shews to have nothing but Humor, or Envy, Prejudice, or Mistake, to bear themselves upon.
The promoting of Experiments, according to the Model of the Royal Society will be so far from injuring Education, or from being dangerous to the the Universities, that it will both introduce many things of greater concernment and benefit to supply the place of what may be laid aside; and be mainly conducive to recover that Divine Dignity of Humane Nature, which consists in the Knowledge of Truth, and the Doing of Good.
The First years of Men being secured by this new Experimental Way; it is made out to all Professions and Practical lives, that they can receive no ill Impressions from it, but that it will be the most beneficial and proper study for their Preparation and Direction, Whereas other Learning is charged to consist in Arguing and Disputing; and to be apt to make our Minds lofty and Romantick; presumptuous and obstinate; averse from a practical Course, and unable to bear the difficulties of Action; Propense to things, which are no where in use
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