King it was granted him in Consideration of his great 〈◊〉 and the Profit and Advantage that his Philosophy and the Inquiries of his long Studies procured to Mankind as also to help him to pursue his mode Experiments that required much expence c. He was surprized to see the Expedition of the Letters Patents importing the Donation of a â—ension of 3000 Livres Sealed March the 6th before he had so much as heard of the Proceedings his Friends had made to that 〈…〉 and he found Marshal de 〈…〉 then Governour of the Finances who honoured him with 〈◊〉 particular Acquaintance a Person very punctual and careful to see it paid him The next day he thought upon his return into Holland just as he met near the Place Royal M. Paschal the Son who had a great desire to see him from the time he knew him to be in France Monsieur Des Cartes was much taken with his Discourse about the Experiments he 〈…〉 his Father's in Rouen of a Vacuumâ—â— matter of 15 Months before He found these Experiments pretty conformable to the Principles of his Philosophy notwithstanding M. Paschal was still averse to it by reason of the engagement uniformity of his Sentiment with M. Roberval and others who hold a Vacuum but yet that he might make some part of amends for his Conversation he advised him to try other Experiments upon the Mass of Air to whose Gravitation he referr'd that which vulgar Philosophers vainly ascribe to the fuga vâ—cui He assured him of the good success of his Experiments altho' he himself had not made them because he discours'd of them conformable to his Principles M. Paschal who was not yet perswaded of solidity of his Principles who also promised some Objections against his Materia subtilis perhaps would have had no respect to his advice if he had not been informed about the same time of such a like Notion that Torricelâ—ius a Mathematician of Florence entertain'd The Experiments he made upon this advice and which he also caused M. Perrier his Brother-in-Law to make in 1648. were very successful But methinks he looks upon himself beholding rather to Torricellius than Monsieur Des Cartes for them He departed as soon as ever he had received the Letters Parents for his Pension He arrived in Holland towards the end of September with Abbot Picot who kept him Company in his beloved solitude till the middle of January of the ensuing year They spent the three last months of the year in enjoying one another in cultivating Philosophy in a profound tranquillity being chiefly busied in divers Experiments of a Vacuum which they found more and more agreeing with his Principles improving to their best advantage the mildness of the Winter which was extraordinary that same year These Occupations were interrupted by a Letter of the 9th of November that Monsieur Des Cartes received from M. Chanut who beseeched him in the Queen of Swedens name to explain to her his opinion concerning summum bonum He acquitted himself as well as he could reasoning upon matters of Faith forasmuch as the Queen acquainted him that she only consider'd summum bonum in the sense of your ancient Philosophers He accompanied his writing with some Letters which he had heretofore directed to the Princess Elizabeth upon the same Subject together with his Manuscript Treatise of Passions The Queen was so well satisfied with them that she was pleased to write to him with her own Hand to give him thanks thinking at that very time to have him near her XIII Towards the end of the year there appear'd in Holland two Latine Pieces as to which Monsieur Des Cartes was not likely to shew himself unconcern'd Nevertheless he thought to have slighted the first as being directly against him intituled Consideration sur la Methode de la Philosophie Cartesienne Consideration upon the Method of the Cartesian Philosophy I say he thought to have slighted it because the Author of it was Revius his Enemy and because it was stufft with needles Caâ—ils and gross calumniating Abuses The other touched him more to the quick altho' it did not meddle with him but indirectly The Author was his old quondam Disciple Regius the Title of it was An Explanation of Humane Spirit or of the Soul of Man Monsieur Des Cartes took notice of several Opinions therein which he judged false and pernicious And because men were generally perswaded that Regius had still the same Sentiments be inspir'd him with he thought himself obliged to discover the Errors of this writing for fear they might be imputed to him by those who not having read his Works especially his Meditations might accidentally fall a reading this writing the Confutation of it writ in Latin was intituled Remarks upon a contain Placart c. was 〈◊〉 without his knowledge Regius answered it not that Des Cartes cared a straw for his Answer But it was confuted afterwards by Tobie d' Andre He made no more account of two other Libels that appear'd against him about the same time and his undervaluing of them was followed by that of the Publick that suffer'd them to perish unregarded Scarce was the Winter over before he received a kind of Order from Court and that too as if it had been in the King's Name to command him to come back into France upon advantagious offers they consisted in proposing the acceptance of a new Pension and a considerable place which was to procure him more honour than trouble that so he might have leisure to continue his Studies he shewed an extraordinary backwardnesâ— to undertake this tedious Journey for he suspected the success by representing to himself the posture of the Affairs of the Kingdom But receiving a brief of his new Pension that an Officer at Court a friend of his sent him by M. Martigny He was no longer in a condition to be at his own disposal He departed therefore in May but scarce was he arrived at Paris but the state of Publick Affairs afforded him a fair Prospect of the incertainty of Humane things and shewed his own easiness to let himself be overcome troubles unexpectedly coming on were the cause why instead of effects and performances that they had made him hope for by their promises he found that they had made one of his Relations pay for the Letters they sent him and that he stood indebted to him for the Money they cost So that it was just as if he had come to Paris upon no other Errand but to buy a Scroll of Parchment ay and the dearest and most insignificant one that ever came to his hands That which he most took pet at was that none of those who were the occasion of his coming up to Court did declare that they had any other business with him but only to stare him in the face as if he had been some Elephant or Leopard This so unexpected adventure taught him never more to undertake a
his credit he gain'd at Court with him to recommend to him some learned persons of his friends namely Monsieur Balzac whose cause he defended before this Cardinal against Father Gorela General of the Feuillans After a Journey he took the year following with Monsieur Vasseur his Landlord and Relation he went and took him a Lodging in the Fauxbourg St. Germain to live more retired and private but it was not such an easie matter as it was before in the days of his leisure his old acquaintance especially Monsieur Mydorge and Father Mersennus had so far spread abroad his Reputation that in a short time he found himself worn out with frequent visits and the place of his retirement changed into a Rendezvouse of Conferences He could by no means hinder the number of his Friends from multiplying yet nevertheless He was his own Master as to the choice He made of them The chief of his Friends besides Monsieur Balzac whom we but just now mention'd was M. Hardy a Counsellour in the Chastelet a very able Man in Mathematicks and abundance of Languages M. de Beaune Sieur de Gouliou Counsellour in the Presidial of Blois one of the greatest Wits of his Time in respect of Mathematicks M. Morinus Regius Professour of Mathematicks in Paris Doctor of Physick Father Gibeuf Doctor of the Sorbonne Priest of the Oratory one of the greatest Divines of his Age Father dela Barde Father de Sancy Father de Goneren all of the same Congregation besides Cardinal de Berulle who was head of it M. Des Argues a Gentleman of Lyons an able Mathematician and Mechanick M. de Boissate a Gentleman â—f Dauphine whom he saw at the Siege of â—avi M. de Serizay Comptroller of the house of the D. de la Rochefoucault M. Sarazin Seâ—retary to the Prince of Conty M. Silhon a Gentleman of Gaseoigny M. Frenicle Sieur de â—essy M. Jumeau Prior of St. Cross who â—ent for one of the greatest Arithmeticians of that Age as did M. Frenicle Jumeau had â—een Tutor to M. the Duke de Vernevil M. de Marande Recorder of the Court of Aides M. the Abbot de Launay M. de Barreau M. the Abbot de Touchelaye the Elder M. de Gandais M. de Ville Arnou M. de Ville Bressieux a Physitian of Grenoble and a great many more besides of whom we shall name none besides M. de Picot Prior of Rouvre who would fain have been his correspondent afterwards and his agent concerning his Domestick affairs XII But of all his Friends there was none at that time next to Father Mersennus that he see oftner nor more constantly than Monsieur Mydorge neither was there any one whose Company was more Beneficial or whose Services were more Cordial and Sensible to him which he particularly experienced in respect of the Glasses he got cut in Paris in the year 2627 1628. when they enjoyed one anothers Company at leisure Nothing appeared to him more Serviceable than these Glasses for the Apprehending and Explaining the reflexion and refraction in vision Mr. Mydorge caused some concave ones to be made for him as also Hyperbolick Oval and Elliptick ones and having an Hand as sure and fine as hiâ— Wit was quick and subtil he was willing to describe these Hyperboles and Ellipses himself Monsieur Des Cartes himself proved to be a great Master in the Art of cutting Glasseâ— in a short time Now since the Mathematicians industry oftentimes signifie nothing foâ— want of Work-men whose dexterity doth not always answer the ingenuity of those thâ—â— set them a work he therefore apply'd himself particularly to direct the Hand of some Turners that he found the most expert and best capable of performing this sort of Workmanship Which he did particularly in favour to the Famous Monsieur Ferrier Mathematicial Instrument-maker who was nothing else but a plain downright Artificer that could only move his Hand he was likewise master of the Theory of his Profession and not altogether ignorant in Mathematicks He stuck closs to Monsieur Des Cartes who took a particular affection for him not being content to employ him after a way that might raise his Fortune was moreover willing to instruct him after what manner he might perfect himself in his Art Nevertheless he perceived himself up to the ears again in abstruse Sciences which he had declined he retires once again seeing how few People there was in Paris with whom he might Communicate his Notions But sets himself again with more earnestness than ever to the Study of Man in which he had made so â—dvantagious progress during his Travels This Study let him sufficiently understand that these â—bstracted Sciences are not too necessary and â—onvenient for us and he himself in diveing inâ—o them was more at a loss than they who were â—gnorant of them he thought to have found 〈◊〉 least amongst so many generous Souls maâ—y Companions in his Study of Man since it is â—hat Study that is most convenient and agrees â—est with us but he found he was mistaken â—nd he observed that in that great City which â—asseth for the Epitome of the World as well â—s Rome and Venice or any other place where â—e had been that there are fewer persons who study Man than study Geometry That made him resolve once more to â—eny himself as much as possible and be content with a small number of choice Friends for the Comfort of his Life but his Reputation was a great hindrance to his Resolution This Reputation had made Monsieur Vasseur's House whither he was return'd from the Fauxbourg St. Germain a kind of an Academy by drawing thither abundance of People who were introduced into his Chamber by the favour of his friends those that had a curiosity for ingenious Learning were forward to slip in amongst the rest and accompanying such of his Friends as took delight in spreading his Reputation they ventured to propose to him to put Pen to Paper to make the Publick a sharer of his fine conceptions The very Booksellers who always seek to make a Trade of the reputation of Authors seem'd also as if they had a mind to be in the Plot with those that lay close Siege to him at Mons Vasseur's He acquaints us that from that very time one or other of that Profession caused Presents to be offered to him to engage him to Promise them the Copy of what he should Compose not being ashamed to desire to buy the honour of serving him This was it that made his Sojourning in Paris very tedious and burthensom to him and made him feel his own Reputation to be an insupportable Load for him He could not bethink himself any Remedy for it but Retirement and to begin to deliver himself from the Importunities of those haunted too often he once again quitted the House of Monsieur Vasseur and withdrew to the Extremity of the City where he might have chused whether he would let himself be seen or no except only to a
it made the Queen â—udge that whatsoever M. de Chanut had told her concerning Monsieur Des Cartes came short of the real Truth She seemed so abundantly pleased with it that she was never â—eary of commending the Author and began to inquire into some particulars of his Person Life and Conversation Monsieur Des Cartes says she to M. Chanut as far as I perceive by his writing and by the Character you give me of him is the most happy man alive and his Condition seems to me to deserve envying you will do me a Kindness to assure him of the great esteem I have for him She consented to all that was contained in the writing except one word that shew'd by the by that Monsieur Des Cartes was not of their opinion that hold the World to be finite she signified her doubting whether or no one can admit the Hypothesis of an infinite World without doing Injury to Christian Religion M Chanut was required to signifie so much to him and demand his Explanation of this difficulty to which he answered that he did not hold the World infinite but indefinite as much as to say that he had no Reasons to prove it to bâ— finite And withal he satisfied M. Chanut who had added another of his own head touching the true Rule that we ought to follow in dividing and sharing our Inclinationâ— concerning friendship in the exchange of mutual offices of Benevolence and in the distinguishing of esteem and respect from Affection XI The pleasure Monsieur Des Cartes tasted in his Communication with the Queen of Sweden and M. Chanut about Moral Philosophy was disturb'd at the beginning of this year 1647. by certain Leiden Divines who did their utmost to put him to some trouble in their University Revius Principal of the Colledge of Divines suborned as is credibly given out by the secret Artifice of Voetius who could not endure that Cartesianism that he laboured to root out at Vtrecht should get ground at Leiden thought good to cause Four different Theses against Monsieur Des Cartes to be disputed on in January and February Revius his intent was to pervert the sence of the Metaphysical Meditations of our Philosopher In which business he was seconded by Triglandius the Minister Head-Professor of Divinity in the University Their design was to have him condemned by their Classes and Consistory as a blasphemer an impious Person and a Pelagian Monsieur Des Cartes being acquainted that these new Slanderers did not oppose any one of his true opinions but only that they charged him with false ones which had never entered into his thoughts writ to the Curators of the University to demand Satisfaction for the same The Curators having â—ited the Rector and Professors to know what was the matter issued out a Decree in all â—aste on the 20th of May to forbid them to make any mention of Monsieur Des Cartes and â—is Opinions in their Lectures for the future Whereupon they write to Monsieur Des Cartes â—o give him notice That having satisfy'd him to their Power in what he demanded of them they hoped that on his part he would likewise answer their Desires That to this effect they intreated him that he would forbear to debate any longer that question which he said had been opposed by the Professors of their University to prevent the inconvenience that might ensue to both Parties Monsieur Des Cartes was very much dissatisâ—y'd with their Carriage towards him and â—ound nothing commendable in it but the ciâ—ility of terms He wrote to them to let â—hem understand how much he was astonish'd â—hat he was able to comprehend their meanâ—ng or that he had not made his plain enough 〈◊〉 to make them understand what it was he â—esired of them These Gentlemen were â—istaken to think that the Business was about 〈◊〉 Question that had â—een opposed by the two Divines Revius and Triglandius It was only â—bout giving him satisfaction for a Calumny whose dangerous Consequences were to be â—eared because of the rank and credit of the Calumniators Monsieur Des Cartes seeing the niceness of the Curators who were afraid to put a bâ—â—t upon the 〈◊〉 of their University and knowing besides that Revius and Triglandâ—◠〈◊〉 who had 〈◊〉 brought over to their side the 〈…〉 of the Ministers Divines and Professors 〈◊〉 went to get him condemned 〈…〉 their Consistories or Synods thought 〈◊〉 best to make use of the Prince of 〈…〉 Authority as he had done in the business of 〈◊〉 To that purpose he writes to M. 〈◊〉 Plenipotentiary for the Peace of Munstâ—â— who supply'd the place of an Ambassador for some time at the 〈◊〉 The purport of this Letter was that the Divines might be made to hold their peace and that the Faculty of Divinity might be Judges in this case yet they took 〈◊〉 care not to do any thing that miâ—ht offend or discourage the Ministers and Professâ—â—rs in their Funetions and Zeal they shewed for the Service of their Religion Nevertheless the Divines very sorry to siee Monsieur Des Cartes and his writings snatch'd out of their clutches wreaked their Malice upon 〈◊〉 of their Colleagues whom they knew followers of his Philosophy The Storm fell heaviest upon Professor Heerebord and du Ban. and also upon Heydanus the Minister whom they accused to be a favourer of the Popish Religion because he Preached like a Cartesian But they durst not meddle with either Golius or the two 〈◊〉 nor with young Dr. de 〈◊〉 who professed Physick in private XII These new Troubles were not capable to make him any longer put off his Journey into France which de designed at the beginning of them He departed from the Hague the 7th of June and got to Paris with a resolution to pass into Bretaign at the beginning of July to regulate his Affairs that furnish'd him with a pretence for his Journey But the French Edition of his Principles which was finished in the hands of Abbot Picot the Translator gave him an occasion to defer a little longer as well to put a Preface before it as to see a man who was to be his Companion in his Journey freed from this business he see no body during this interval but Father Mersennus Monsieur Mydorge who he was never to see more as also M. Clersellier who after a tedious Sickness had some Months before that procured the publishing the Meditations in French translated by the D. de Lucines and himself When he had settled his Affairs in Bretaign and Poicton he came back through Tourain where M. de Crenan a Gentleman of his Acquaintance detain'd him for some time At his return he found a great deal of disorder in his Acquaintance Father Mersennus sick Monsieur Mydorge dead about a Fortnight before Yet he had some other Friends at Court who thought of him tho' he never dreamt of them they made their interest with Cardinal Richelieu to procure him a Pension from the
health of his Son before he attempted any thing upon his mind To this effect they carried on the business that nothing was spoiled So that a Man may say these first studies were nothing but sleight Essays and but superficial rude draughts and delineations at those they intended to make him perform when he was of Age. His Father considering he was going into his ninth year thought it behoved him to take the advantage of the new foundation of that famous Colledge of La fleche in favour of the Jesuits he admitted him and put him into Commons there Anno 1604. after Winter was over and recommended him particularly to the care of Father Charlet his Kinsman This Father who was along time Rector of this Colledge before he proceeded to the chief employments of the Company conceived such a tender affection for young Des Cartes du Perron the willinger took upon him all the care in reference to his Body as well as his Mind He was like both a Father and Governour to him above eight years together that he stay'd in the Colledge and helped him to Father Dineâ— for a tutour who was since Provincial and Confessour to our Kings Both of them perceiving our young Scholar pretty sensible of all their kindnesses were not long before they joined to them some esteem and affection for him and after that had been his directours as to his Studies Conduct and Behaviour so they made him their Friend and continued so to be till death whom also they were careful to discourse with and entertain by a mutual commerce of Lettâ—â—â— and Recommendations Young Des Cartes whom we shall no longer call du Perron but only at such time as there is need to distinguish him in His Parentage Had brought along with him at his first coming to the Colledge a more than ordinary Passion to acquire the Sciences and this Passion being backt with a solid understanding yet quick lively and free withal he evermore answered the intentions of his Father and diligence of his Tutors beyond expectation in all the course of his Humanity which was five years and an half none ever perceived in him the least affectation of singularity except that which emulation produced for he took some Pride to out-run such of his companions who had out-stript others Being of a very good nature of an easie complying humour he never found himself uneasie at the submission he paid to his Masters Will and his diligence in plying his business and performing his task both of the Classe and Chamber cost him nothing With these two hopeful dispositions he made great proficiency in the knowledge of the two Tongues the importance and necessity whereof for understanding ancient Authors he early apprehended He loved Poetry a great deal more than those who look upon him but as a Philosopher can possibly imagin Nay he had even something of a Talent for Poetry he hath made it plainly appear that he was not astranger to the phancies and niceties thereof He found moreover a great deal of pleasure in the Fables of the Ancients not so much because of some mysteries of natural and moral Philosophy that was couched under them as that they roused his Spirit by their genteil phancies In recompence of his faithfulness and exactness wherewith he discharged his duty he obtain'd liberty not to keep close to Lectures nor compositions which otherwise were enjoin'd him in Common with his associates Now his business was to make use of this liberty to satisfie his passion which he felt to increase in him to acquire a clear and certain knowledge of whaâ—â—oever conduceth to the profit and advantage of Life which they had put him in hopes to attain by means of humanity upon this account not taking up with that which is taught in the Colledge he run over If a man may believe him all the Books that treat of Sciences that men account the most rare and curious which you must understand only of what could at that time come to his hands I shall add for the undeceiving those who have suspected that in the whole series of his life that he had but small inclination or value for Books that we meet with but very few sentiments more advantagious than those he past upon them in those days He was fully persuaded that reading of good Books is as it were the conversing with the greatest wits and honestest persons of former ages who were Authors of them but withal that it was a studied conversation in which they discovered to us their best thoughts only V. Besides emulation of study behaviour and genteil breeding Colledges do yet produce another advantage of which Monsieur Des Cartes would not be deprived that is to say the advantage of friends and acquaintance which one does there contract with those of his own age and humour and which prove the Seeds of the strongest and most durable friendship the antientest of his Friends were without doubt those he got acquaintance with in the Colledge of La fleche But besides Renatus le clerc since Bishop of Glandave and the Sieur Chauveau of Melun who afterward became a grand Mathematician and a zealous Cartesian we know no more besides in those days but Father Marinus Marsennus a Minim who past for Monsieur Des Cartes his Resident at Paris amongst Learned men and for the Dean of his friends and followers notwithstanding he was near upon eight years older than he and albeit he was in his Rhetorick when the other did but begin his Accidence M. Des Cartes was in the first year of his course of Philosophy when the news of the Kings Death slain upon Friday May 4. 1610. made a Non term in the Colledge this Prince upon bestowing his house of La fleche upon the Jesuits desired his Heart that of the Queen and his Successours might be carried thither after their Death and kept in their Church so that all the time that past between that fatal news and the removing the Kings Heart to La fleche was spent in publick Prayers in the Colledge in funeral compositions both in Verse and Prose and in preparations for the reception of this depositum It was performed on the first of June with a great deal of Ceremony and it was constituted and agreed upon in the Townhall of La flesche that upon the aniversary day their should be performed every year a solemn Procession with Service suitable thereto for the Kings Soul and that the said day should be observed thence forward just as Holy days are in shutting up all Courts of Indicature in making vacation in the several closses and causing all shops to be close shut up Monday following of June the term begun again for performing the usual exercises in the Colledge and Monsieur Des Cartes continued his Study of Ethicks The Logick he studied the Winter foregoing was the only one of all the parts of Logick whereto as he afterwards declared he applied
dâ—cided at his return He had hopes to see the finishing of the Impression of his Principles before he took hâ— Journey But the tediousness of those thâ— Graved the Figures obliged him to leave thâ— to M. Schooten and depart in Company 〈◊〉 Monsieur de Ville Bressieux the First of May putting his Cause depending at Groninguen 〈◊〉 to such a posture that it was not likely 〈◊〉 create him the least trouble or surprize From Egmond de Hoef he came to Leiden froâ— thence to Amsterdam and then pas'd through the Hague to take leave of his Friends Monsieur Sorbiere who feigned himself to be one of that Number expected him there supply'd with such Arms as he had required of M. Gassendus to assault him about his opinion of a Vacuum Monsieur Des Cartes was armed with the patience to Answer all his Difficulties without complaining of the unseasonableness of the time whereby he was straiten'd M. Sorbiere having spent his whole stock of Ammunition against him could not for shame beg any new Arguments touching a Vacuum of M. Gassendus but sought out other Subjects to plague and quite weary Monsieur Des Cartes out of his Skin applying himself rather to find what to object than to comprehend what Answer was given him The next day he writes to M. Gassendus to give him an account of whatever he had performed against Monsieur Des Cartes to be serviceable to him yea and he set them so very much at variance that they were very shy of one anothers Company and treated one another with a great deal of indifference for a pretty while without so much as careing to see one another when they were both in Paris XIV Elziver perceiving the Impression of Mons Des Cartes his Principles to be brought almost to a Conclusion intreated the Author to permit him at the same time to Print the Latine Translation of his Essays which Foreigners that had no knowledge of the French Tongue earnestly longed for Mons Curcellaeus was Author of this Translation who desired Monsieur Des Cartes to review it before he gave leave to publish it He did so and withal took occasion to take another touch at some of his Notions and to make some Alterations in his Original Insomuch that these Translations have as great an advantage as that of his Principles which surpasses the Originals in goodness Now M. Curcellaeus translated nothing but his Discourse de Methodo and the Treatise of Dioptriques and Meteors He did not meddle with Geometry whether he judged it above his reach or whether he had notice that M. Schooten had undertaken to translate it we know not Monsieur Des Cartes embarked and set sail from Holland to the great sorrow of his friends fearing the great Obstacles that might hinder his return but especially they feared the resentment of the Indignities committed in respect of him by the Magistrates and Professors of Vtrecht He arrived at Paris towards the latter end of June and went to lodge at Abbot Picet's in the Rue des Ecouffes He departed from thence for Orleans the 12th of July from whence he went down the Loire to Blois to Monsieur de Beaune's House who was a Counsel in the Presidial from thence to Tours to Abbot de Touchelay Junior's House in the Absence of the Elder Brother There he see a great many of his Friends and Acquaintance and some of his Relations After that he pass'd to Nantes and so to Rennes from whence accompanied with his two Brethren Counsellors in Parliament he went to Crevis in the Diocese of St. Malo to his Brother-in-Law Monsieur Rogiers a Widdower who married his Sister Jane Des Cartes there they all laid their heads together how to settle and accommodate their Domestick Affairs He was to go from thence to Kerleau near Vannes to his Eldest Brother's House and then to Chavagnes in the Diocese of Nantes to his Younger Brother's After that he went as far as Poictou upon no other Errand than he did in Britagne to visit his Friends and Relations and so came back to Paris towards the middle of October BOOK VII From 1644 till 1650. I. II. AT his Arrival he found the Edition of his Principles and the Latine Translation of his Essays finished and the Copies come out of Holland The Treatise of Principles did not come out neither did that Piece he called his World nor his Course of Philosophy both of which were suppress'd He had a mind to divide them into other Parts The First of which contains the Principles of Humane Knowledge which one may call the first Philosophy or Metaphysicks wherein it hath very much relation and connexion with his Meditations The Second contains what is most general in Philosophy and the Explanation of the first Laws of Nature and of the principles of natural things the Proprieties of Bodies Space and Motion c. The Third contains a particular Explanation of the System of the World and more especially of what we mean by the Heavens and Celestial Bodies The Fourth contains whatsoever belongs to the Earth That which is most remarkable in this Work is That the Author after having first of all established the distinction and difference he puts between the Soul and the Body when he hath laid down for the Principles of corporeal things bigness figure and local motion all which are things in themselves so clear and intelligible that they are granted and received by every one whatsoever he hath found out a way to explain all Nature in a manner and to give a reason of the most wonderful Effects without altering the Principles yea and without being inconsistent with himself in any thing whatsoever Yet had he not the presumption for all that to believe he had hit upon the explication of all natural things especially such that do not fall under our senses in the same manner as they really and truly are in themselves He should do something indeed if he could but come the nearest that it was possible to likelihood or verisimilitude to which others before him could never reach and if he could â—o bring the matter about that whatsoever â—e had written should exactly agree with all â—he Phenomena's of Nature this he judged sufficient for the use of Life the profit and benefit of which seems to be the main and only end one ought to propose to himself in Mechanicks Physick or Medicine and in all Arts that may be brought to perfection by the help of Physick or natural Philosophy But of all things he hath explained there is not one of them that doth not seem at least morally certain in respect of the profit of life notwithstanding they may be uncertain in respect of the absolute Power of God Nay there are several of them that are absolutely or more than morally certain such as are Mathematical Demonstrations and those evident ratiocinations he hath framed concerning the existence of material things Nevertheless he