THE NATURAL PHILOSOPHY wont to be taught in most Schools, being little other then a Systeme of the Opinions of Aristotle, and some few other Writers, is not, I confesse, Pyrophilus, very difficult to be Learned; as being attainable by the perusall of a few of the more Current Authors. But, Pyrophilus, that EXPERIMENTAL PHILOSOPHY, which you will find Treated of in the following Essayes, is a Study, if duely prosecuted, so difficult, so chargable, and so toilsome, that I think it requisite, before I propose any particular Subjects to your Enquiries, to possesse you with a just value of true and solid Physiologie; and to convince you, That by endevouring to addict you to it, I invite you not to mispend your time or trouble on a Science unable to merit and requite it. In order, Pyrophilus, to the giving you this satisfaction, Give me leave to mind you, that it was a saying of Pythagoras, worthy so celebrated a Philosopher, That there are two things which most ennoble Man, and make him resemble the Gods; To know the Truth, and To do Good. For, Pyrophilus, that Diviner part of Man, the Soule, which alone is capable of wearing the Glorious Image of its Author, being endowed with two chief Faculties, the Understanding and the Will; the former is blest and perfectionated by Knowledg, and the latter’s Loveliest and most improving property is Goodnesse. A due Reflection upon this excellent Sentence of him to whom Philosophers owe that modest name, should, me thinks, Pyrophilus, very much endear to us the Study of Naturall Philosophy. For there is no Humane Science that does more gratifie and enrich the Understanding with variety of choice and acceptable Truths; nor scarce any that does more enable a willing mind to exercise a Goodnesse beneficiall to others.
To manifest these truths more distinctly, Pyrophilus, and yet without exceeding that Brevity my Avocations and the bounds of an Essay exact of me, I shall, among the numerous advantages accruing to Men from the Study of the Book of Nature, content my selfe to instance only in a Couple, that relate more properly to the Improving of Mens Understandings, and to mention a few of those many, by which it encreases their Power.
The two chiefe advantages which a reall acquaintance with Nature brings to our Minds, are, First, by instructing our Understandings and gratifying our Curiosities; and next, by exciting and cherishing our Devotion.
And for the first of these, since, as Aristotle teacheth, and was taught himself by Common Experience, all Men are Naturally desirous to Know: that Propensity cannot but be powerfully engaged to the Works of Nature, which being incessantly present to our senses, do continually sollicite our Curiosities: Of whose potent inclining us to the Contemplation of Natures Wonders, it is not perhaps the inconsiderablest Instance, That though the Naturall Philosophy hitherto taught in most Schools, hath been so Litigious in its Theorie, and so barren as to its Productions; yet it hath found numbers of Zealous and Learned Cultivators, whom sure nothing but Mens inbred fondnesse for the Object it converses with, and the end it pretends to, could so passionately devote to it.
And since that (as the same Aristotle taught by his Master Plato well observes) Admiration is the Parent of Philosophy, by engaging us to enquire into the Causes of the things at which we marvail; we cannot but be powerfully invited to the Contemplation of Nature, by living and conversing among Wonders, some of which are obvious and conspicuous enough to amaze even ordinary Beholders; and others admirable and abstruse enough to astonish the most inquisitive Spectators.
The bare prospect of this magnificent Fabrick of the Universe, furnished and adorned with such strange variety of curious and usefull Creatures, would, suffice to transport us both with Wonder and Joy, if their Commonnesse did not hinder their Operations. Of which Truth Mr Stepkins, the famous Oculist, did not long since supply us with a memorable Instance: For (as both himselfe and an Illustrious Person that was present at the Cure informed me) a Maid of about Eighteen yeares of Age, having by a couple of Cataracts, that she brought with her into the World, lived absolutely blind from the moment of her Birth; being brought to the free Use of her Eyes, was so ravisht at the surprizing spectacle of so many and various Objects, as presented themselves to her unacquainted Sight, that almost every thing she saw transported her with such admiration and delight, that she was in danger to loose the eyes of her Mind by those of her Body, and expound that Mysticall Arabian Proverb, which advises, To shut the Windowes, that the House may be Light.
But if the bare beholding of this admirable Structure is capable of pleasing men so highly, how much satisfaction, Pyrophilus, may it be supposed to afford to an Intelligent Spectator, who is able both to understand and to relish the admirable Architecture and skilfull contrivance of it: For the Book of Nature is to an ordinary Gazer, and a Naturalist, like a rare Book of Hieroglyphicks to a Child, and a Philosopher: the one is sufficiently pleas’d with the Odnesse and Variety of the Curious Pictures that adorne it; whereas the other is not only delighted with those outward objects that gratifie his sense, but receives a much higher satisfaction in admiring the knowledg of the Author, and in finding out and inriching himselfe with those abstruse and vailed Truths dexterously hinted in them.