Physico-theology

Horn,not bollow, as Malpighi found it in fome Animals. And I have found both those great Men to be in fome measure in the right, the Hair of fome Animals, or in fome parts of the Body being very little, if at all tubular; and in others, particularly Mice,Rats,and Cats, to be as I have represented in my Fig. 14, c.

And now if my Inadvertency in other things bath no worfe Effect than it hath had in thefe, namely, to confirm, correct, or clear others Obfervations, I hope the Reader will excuse it, if he meets with any more of the like kind. But not being confcious of any fuch thing (although probably there may be many fuck) I am more follicitous to beg the Reader's Candour and Favour with Relation both to the Text and Notes: in the former of which, I fear he will think I have as much under-done, as in the latter over-done the matter: But for my Excufe, I defire it may be confidered that the Textual Part being Sermons, to be delivered in the Pulpit, it was neceffary to infift but briefly upon many of the Works of GOD, and to leave out many things that might have been admitted in a more free Difcourfe. So that I wish it

may

may not be thought I have fail too much rather than too little for fuch an Occafion and Place. And indeed I had no fmall Trouble in expunging fonte Things, al tering many, and foftening the most, and, in a word, giving in fome measure the Whole a different Dress than what I had at first drawn it up in, and what it now appears in

And as for the Notes, which may be thought too large, I confefs I might have shortened them, and bad Thoughts of doing it, by cafting fome of them into the Text, as an ingenious, learned Friend advised But when I began to do this, I found it was in a manner to it new-make all, and that I should be neceffitated to tranfcribe the greatest part of the Book, which (ba ving no Assistant) would have been too tedious for me, being pretty well fatigued with it before. I then thought it beft to pare off from fome, and to leave out others, and accordingly did fo in many Places, and would have done it in more, particularly, in many of the Citations out of the Ancients,, both Poets and in others, as alfo in many of the Anatomical Obfervat tions, and many of my own and others Obfervations. But then I confidered as to the Fift, that thofe Citations do (many of then at least) fhew the Senfe of Mankind about God's Works, and that the most of them may be acceptable to Toung Gentlemen at the Universities, for whofe Service thefe Lectures are great ly intended. And as to the Anatomical Notes, and Jome others of the like Nature, most of them ferve either to the Confirmation, or the Illuftration, or Explication of the Text, if not to the Learned, yet to the unskilful, lefs learned Reader for whofe fake, if I had added more, I believe he would forgive me. And lastly, as to the Obfervations of my self and Some others, where it happens that they are long, it is commonly where a Neceffity lay upon me of fully expreffing the Author's Senfe, or my own, or where the Thing was new, and never before Published; in which

Cafe,

Cafe, it was neceffary to be more Express and Particu lar, that in Marters better known, or where the Au thors may be referred unto.

In the former Editions I promifed another Pant A had relating to the Heavens, if I was thereunto en couraged. And two large Impreffions of this Book baving been fold off, fo as to admit of a Third befores the Year was gone about; and hearing that it is tranf lated into two, if not three Languages but especials ly being importuned by divers learned Perfons, books known and unknown, I have thought my self fuffici ently engaged to perform that Promife; and have a cordingly published that Part.

So that I have now carried my Survey through moft parts of the Vifible Creation, except the Watery which are for the vrst part omittedy wand the Vege tables, which, for want of time, I was forced to treat of in a perfunctory manner. And to the undertaking of the former of thefe, having received divers Sollici tations from Perfons unknown as well as known, I think my felf bound in Civility to own their favour, and to return them my hearty Thanks for the kind Opinion they have shewn of my other Performances, that they have encouraged me to undertake this other Task. And accordingly I have begun it; and (as far as my conftant attendance on my Cure, and my other Affairs will admit of) I have made fome Progrefs in it. But I fear I shall fearce be able to finish it as I would, unless I had more leisure than my present Circumftances will admit of and therefore recommend that ample and noble Subject to others, who have more leifure, and would do it better than In id Jason'de y As to Additions, I have been much follicited theres to by divers curious and learned Perfons, who world have bad me to infert fome of their Obfervations, and many more of my own: but in a Work of this nature, this would have been endlefs; and although the Book would thereby be rendered much better, and more compleat,

pleat, yet Icould by no means excufe fo great an Injustice to the Purchafers of the former Editions. And therefore (except in the 2d Edit. where it was not eafy tos be avoided few Additions or Alterations have been made, befides what were Typographical, or of small confideration. Only in the Third Edition I amended the firft Paragraph of Note 1. Chap 5. B 1. con cerning Gravity; and in this Fourth, Page 16, and 18. I have inferted two Paffages out of Seneca, that were inadvertently left out, and corrected many things, that upon a careful Review, feemed to want amend

ment.

And lastly, as to the following Analyfis, it was added at the request of fome of my learned and ingenious Friends and although it might have been contracted, they would not suffer it to be fo. deber *w molder

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PAge 34. Note 3. Line 1o. read 22528364. p. 200. 1. 5. dele to. p. 224. Notes 1. 1. for IV. r. IX. p. 343. 1. ult.. beli p. 360. Notes 1. 6. r. & potiffimum humani fitim. 1. 7. dele mani, fitim. p. 401. 1. 12. dele at prefent. P. 414. 1. 25. r. detergaturve P. 435, 1. ult. r. 1336. p. 437. I. 22. r. was. p. 439. 1. 7. r. Avocations.

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