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well_o be_v deny_v but_o that_o if_o all_o other_o circumstance_n be_v equal_a he_o be_v the_o fit_a to_o commend_v divinity_n who_o profession_n it_o be_v not_o and_o that_o it_o will_v somewhat_o add_v to_o the_o reputation_n of_o almost_o any_o study_n and_o consequent_o to_o that_o of_o thing_n divine_a that_o it_o be_v praise_v and_o prefer_v by_o those_o who_o condition_n and_o course_n of_o life_n exempt_n they_o from_o be_v of_o any_o particular_a call_v in_o the_o commonwealth_n of_o learning_n free_v they_o from_o the_o usual_a temptation_n to_o partiality_n to_o this_o or_o that_o sort_n of_o study_n which_o other_o may_v be_v engage_v to_o magnify_v because_o it_o be_v their_o trade_n or_o their_o interest_n or_o because_o it_o be_v expect_v from_o they_o whereas_o these_o gentleman_n be_v oblige_v to_o commend_v it_o only_o because_o they_o real_o love_v and_o value_v it_o but_o there_o be_v another_o thing_n that_o seem_v to_o make_v it_o yet_o more_o fit_a that_o a_o 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as_o well_o as_o interress_v judge_n and_o their_o undervaluation_n of_o the_o advantage_n of_o the_o study_n of_o the_o creature_n will_v be_v as_o their_o depreciate_a the_o enjoyment_n of_o the_o creature_n too_o often_o be_v think_v to_o proceed_v but_o from_o their_o not_o have_v have_v sufficient_a opportunity_n to_o relish_v the_o pleasure_n of_o they_o but_o these_o prejudices_fw-la will_v not_o lie_v against_o a_o person_n who_o have_v make_v the_o indagation_n of_o nature_n somewhat_o more_o than_o a_o parergon_n and_o have_v by_o a_o not-lazie_a nor_o short_a enquiry_n manifest_v how_o much_o he_o love_v and_o can_v relish_v the_o delight_n it_o afford_v have_v have_v the_o good_a fortune_n to_o make_v some_o discovery_n in_o it_o and_o the_o honour_n to_o have_v they_o public_o and_o but_o too_o complemental_o take_v notice_n of_o by_o the_o virtuoso_n and_o it_o may_v be_v not_o impertinent_a to_o add_v that_o those_o who_o make_v natural_a philosophy_n their_o mistress_n will_v probable_o be_v the_o less_o offend_v to_o find_v she_o in_o this_o tract_n represent_v if_o not_o as_o a_o handmaid_n to_o divinity_n yet_o as_o a_o lady_n of_o a_o low_a rank_n because_o the_o inferiority_n of_o the_o study_n of_o nature_n be_v maintain_v by_o a_o person_n who_o even_o whilst_o he_o assert_v it_o continues_z if_o not_o a_o passionate_a a_o assiduous_a courter_z of_o nature_n so_o that_o as_o far_o as_o his_o example_n can_v reach_v it_o may_v show_v that_o as_o on_o the_o one_o side_n a_o man_n need_v not_o be_v acquaint_v with_o or_o unfit_a to_o relish_v the_o lesson_n teach_v we_o in_o the_o book_n of_o the_o creature_n to_o think_v they_o less_o excellent_a than_o those_o that_o may_v be_v learn_v in_o the_o book_n of_o the_o scripture_n so_o on_o the_o other_o side_n the_o preference_n of_o this_o last_o book_n be_v very_o consistent_a with_o a_o high_a esteem_n and_o a_o assiduous_a study_n of_o the_o first_o and_o if_o any_o shall_v here_o object_v that_o there_o be_v some_o passage_n which_o i_o hope_v be_v but_o very_o few_o that_o seem_v a_o little_a too_o unfavourable_a to_o the_o study_n of_o natural_a thing_n i_o may_v allege_v for_o my_o excuse_n the_o great_a difficulty_n that_o there_o must_v be_v in_o compare_v two_o sort_n of_o study_n both_o of_o which_o a_o man_n much_o esteem_v so_o to_o behave_v one_o self_n as_o to_o split_v a_o hair_n between_o they_o and_o never_o offend_v either_o of_o they_o but_o i_o will_v rather_o represent_v that_o in_o such_o kind_n of_o discourse_n as_o the_o ensue_a it_o may_v just_o be_v hope_v that_o equitable_a reader_n will_v consider_v not_o only_o what_o be_v say_v but_o on_o what_o occasion_n and_o with_o what_o design_n it_o be_v deliver_v now_o it_o be_v plain_a by_o the_o series_n of_o the_o follow_a discourse_n that_o the_o physeophilus_n who_o it_o most_o relate_v to_o be_v by_o i_o look_v upon_o as_o a_o person_n both_o very_a partial_a to_o the_o study_n of_o nature_n and_o somewhat_o prejudice_v against_o that_o of_o the_o scripture_n so_o that_o i_o be_v not_o always_o to_o treat_v with_o he_o as_o with_o a_o indifferent_a man_n but_z according_a to_o the_o advice_n give_v in_o such_o case_n by_o the_o wise_a i_o be_v to_o use_v aristotle_n expression_n to_o bend_v the_o crooked_a stick_n the_o contrary_a way_n in_o order_n to_o the_o bring_v it_o to_o be_v straight_o and_o to_o depreciate_v the_o study_n of_o nature_n somewhat_o beneath_o its_o true_a value_n to_o reduce_v a_o great_a over_o valuer_n to_o a_o just_a estimate_n of_o it_o and_o to_o gain_v the_o more_o upon_o he_o i_o allow_v myself_o now_o and_o then_o to_o make_v use_n of_o the_o contempt_n he_o have_v of_o the_o peripatetic_a and_o vulgar_a philosophy_n and_o in_o some_o passage_n to_o speak_v of_o they_o more_o slight_o than_o my_o usual_a temper_n permit_v and_o than_o i_o will_v be_v forward_o to_o do_v on_o another_o occasion_n that_o by_o such_o a_o complaisance_n for_o his_o opininion_n i_o may_v have_v rise_v to_o argue_v with_o he_o from_o they_o but_o to_o return_v to_o the_o motive_n that_o be_v allege_v to_o induce_v i_o to_o the_o publication_n of_o these_o paper_n though_o i_o have_v not_o name_v they_o all_o yet_o all_o of_o they_o together_o will_v scarce_o have_v prove_v effectual_a if_o they_o have_v not_o be_v make_v more_o prevalent_a by_o the_o just_a indignation_n i_o conceive_v to_o see_v even_o inquisitive_a man_n depreciate_v that_o kind_n of_o knowledge_n which_o do_v the_o most_o elevate_v as_o well_o as_o the_o most_o bless_v mankind_n and_o look_v upon_o the_o noble_a and_o wise_a employment_n of_o the_o understanding_n as_o sign_n of_o weakness_n in_o it_o it_o be_v not_o that_o i_o expect_v that_o whatever_o can_v be_v say_v and_o much_o less_o what_o i_o have_v have_v occasion_n to_o say_v here_o will_v make_v proselyte_n of_o those_o that_o be_v resolve_v against_o the_o be_v make_v so_o and_o have_v rather_o deny_v themselves_o the_o excellent_a kind_n of_o knowledge_n than_o allow_v that_o there_o can_v be_v any_o more_o excellent_a than_o what_o they_o think_v themselves_o master_n of_o but_o i_o despair_v not_o that_o what_o be_v here_o represent_v may_v serve_v to_o fortify_v in_o a_o high_a esteem_n of_o divine_a truth_n those_o that_o have_v already_o a_o just_a veneration_n for_o they_o and_o preserve_v other_o from_o be_v seduce_v by_o injurious_a though_o sometime_o witty_a insinuation_n to_o undervalue_v that_o kind_n of_o knowledge_n that_o be_v as_o well_o the_o most_o excellent_a in_o itself_o as_o the_o most_o conducive_a to_o man_n happiness_n and_o for_o this_o reason_n i_o be_o the_o less_o displease_v to_o see_v that_o the_o follow_a letter_n be_v swell_v to_o a_o bulk_n far_o great_a than_o its_o be_v but_o a_o letter_n promise_n and_o then_o i_o first_o intend_v for_o i_o confess_v that_o when_o the_o occasion_n happen_v that_o make_v i_o put_v pen_n to_o paper_n as_o i_o chance_v to_o be_v in_o a_o very_a unsettle_a condition_n which_o i_o fear_v have_v have_v too_o much_o influence_n on_o what_o i_o have_v write_v so_o i_o do_v not_o design_n the_o insist_v near_o so_o long_o upon_o my_o subject_n as_o i_o have_v do_v but_o new_a thing_n spring_v up_o if_o i_o may_v so_o speak_v under_o my_o pen_n i_o be_v content_a to_o allow_v they_o room_n in_o my_o paper_n because_o write_v as_o well_o for_o my_o own_o satisfaction_n as_o for_o that_o of_o my_o friend_n i_o think_v it_o will_v not_o be_v useless_a to_o lay_v before_o my_o own_o eye_n as_o well_o as_o he_o those_o consideration_n that_o seem_v proper_a to_o justify_v to_o myself_o as_o well_o as_o to_o he_o the_o preference_n i_o give_v divine_a truth_n before_o physiological_a one_o and_o to_o confirm_v
nature_n and_o infirmity_n of_o man_n who_o can_v imagine_v the_o divine_a perfection_n to_o be_v subject_n who_o investigation_n a_o man_n may_v inculpable_o despise_v or_o be_v so_o much_o as_o full_o sufficient_a for_o not_o only_o the_o scripture_n tell_v we_o 145._o that_o his_o greatness_n be_v incomprehensible_a 113.6_o and_o his_o wisdom_n be_v inscrutable_a that_o he_o humble_v himself_o to_o look_v into_o or_o upon_z the_o heaven_n and_o the_o earth_n and_o that_o not_o only_o this_o or_o that_o man_n 40.15_o but_o all_o the_o nation_n of_o the_o world_n be_v in_o comparison_n of_o he_o but_o like_o the_o small_a drop_n of_o a_o bucket_n or_o the_o small_a dust_n of_o a_o balance_n but_o even_o the_o heathen_a philosopher_n who_o write_v that_o eloquent_a book_n de_fw-fr mundo_fw-la ascribe_v to_o aristotle_n in_o his_o ripe_a year_n speak_v of_o the_o power_n and_o wisdom_n and_o amiableness_n of_o god_n in_o term_n little_o less_o lofty_a though_o necessary_o inferior_a 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and_o now_o the_o chinese_n and_o east-indians_a and_o among_o the_o eminent_a of_o the_o wiseman_n and_o philosopher_n themselves_o as_o aristotle_n homer_n hesiod_n epicurus_n and_o other_o beside_o that_o the_o book_n of_o scripture_n disclose_v to_o we_o much_o more_o of_o the_o attribute_n of_o god_n than_o the_o book_n of_o nature_n there_o be_v another_o object_n of_o our_o study_n for_o which_o we_o must_v be_v entire_o behold_v to_o theology_n for_o though_o we_o may_v know_v something_o of_o the_o nature_n of_o god_n by_o the_o light_n of_o reason_n yet_o we_o must_v owe_v the_o knowledge_n of_o his_o will_n or_o positive_a law_n to_o his_o own_o revelation_n and_o we_o may_v guess_v how_o curious_a great_a prince_n and_o wise_a man_n have_v be_v to_o inform_v themselves_o of_o the_o constitution_n establish_v by_o wise_a and_o eminent_a legislator_n partly_o by_o the_o frequent_a travel_n of_o the_o ancient_a sage_n and_o philosopher_n into_o foreign_a country_n to_o 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against_o they_o that_o they_o can_v assume_v body_n shape_v like_o we_o and_o yet_o disappear_v in_o a_o trice_n that_o they_o be_v sometime_o employ_v about_o humane_a affair_n and_o that_o not_o only_o for_o the_o welfare_n of_o empire_n and_o kingdom_n but_o to_o protect_v and_o rescue_v single_a good_a man_n and_o though_o they_o be_v wont_n to_o appear_v in_o a_o dazzle_a splendour_n and_o a_o astonish_a majesty_n yet_o they_o be_v all_o of_o they_o minister_a spirit_n employ_v for_o the_o good_a of_o the_o design_a heir_n of_o salvation_n 9_o and_o they_o do_v not_o only_o refuse_v man_n adoration_n and_o admonish_v they_o to_o pay_v it_o unto_o god_n but_o as_o they_o be_v in_o a_o sense_n make_v by_o jesus_n christ_n who_o be_v true_a man_n as_o well_o as_o god_n so_o they_o do_v not_o only_o worship_v he_o 10_o and_o call_v he_o simple_o as_o his_o own_o follower_n be_v be_v wont_a to_o do_v the_o lord_n but_o style_v themselves_o fellow_n servant_n to_o his_o disciple_n 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themselves_o which_o the_o naturalist_n challenge_v as_o his_o peculiar_a theme_n we_o may_v name_v particular_n and_o those_o of_o the_o most_o comprehensive_a nature_n and_o great_a importance_n who_o knowledge_n the_o naturalist_n must_v owe_v to_o theology_n of_o which_o truth_n i_o shall_v content_v myself_o to_o give_v a_o few_o instance_n in_o the_o world_n itself_o or_o the_o universal_a aggregate_v of_o thing_n corporeal_a that_o be_v look_v upon_o as_o the_o noble_a and_o chief_a object_n that_o the_o physics_n afford_v we_o to_o contemplate_v and_o first_o those_o that_o admit_v the_o truth_n reveal_v by_o theology_n do_v general_o allow_v that_o god_n be_v not_o only_o the_o author_n but_o creator_n of_o the_o world_n i_o be_o not_o ignorant_a of_o what_o anaxagoras_n teach_v of_o what_o he_o call_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d and_o tully_n mention_n in_o the_o production_n of_o the_o world_n and_o that_o what_o many_o other_o grecian_n afterward_o teach_v of_o the_o 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he_o to_o have_v give_v form_n only_o not_o matter_n to_o the_o world_n and_o to_o have_v but_o contrive_v the_o pre-existent_a matter_n into_o this_o orderly_a systeme_n we_o call_v the_o universe_n next_o whereas_o very_o many_o of_o the_o philosopher_n that_o succeed_v aristotle_n suppose_v the_o world_n to_o have_v be_v aeternal_a and_o those_o that_o believe_v it_o to_o have_v be_v produce_v have_v not_o the_o confidence_n to_o pretend_v to_o the_o know_v how_o old_a it_o be_v unless_o it_o be_v some_o extravagant_a ambitious_a people_n such_o as_o those_o fabulous_a chaldaean_n who_o fond_a account_n reach_v up_o to_o 40000_o or_o 50000_o year_n theology_n teach_v we_o that_o the_o world_n be_v very_o far_o from_o be_v so_o old_a by_o 30_o or_o 40_o thousand_o year_n as_o they_o and_o by_o very_a many_o age_n as_o divers_a other_o have_v presume_v and_o do_v from_o the_o scripture_n give_v we_o such_o a_o account_n of_o the_o age_n of_o the_o world_n that_o it_o have_v set_v we_o 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