PHYSICO-THEOLOGY: FOR, A R2801 DEMONSTRATION OF THE BEING and ATTRIBUTES of GOD, Being the Subftance of XVI SERMONS With large NOTES, and many curious OB- By W. DERHAM, Rector of Upminster in Mala & impia confuetudo eft contra Deos difputare, five Falls LONDON: Printed for W. INNYS, at the Princes Arms in TO THE Most Reverend Father in GOD, THOMAS; Lord ARCH-BISHOP of Canterbury, Prié mate of all ENGLAND, &c. The furviving Trustee of the Honourable Mr. BOTLE'S LECTURE S. May it' please your Grace, May juftly put these Les Etures under Your Graces Patronage,their Publication being wholly owing to You. For having the Honour to be a Member of the Royal Society,as well as a Divine, I was minded to try what I could do towards the improvement of Philofophical Matters to Theological Ufes; and accord ingly laid a Scheme of what I have here published a Part of, and when I had little elfe to do, I drew up what I had to fay, making it rather the divert ing Exercises of my Leifure Hours, than more ferious Theological Studies. This Work, although I made a confiderable Progress in at firft, yet, having no Thoughts of Publishing, I laid afide; until your Grace, being informed of my Defign by fome of my Learned Friends both of the Clergy and Laity,was pleased to call me to the unexpected Honour of Preaching Mr. Boyle's Lectures : an Honour I was little aware of in my Country-Privacy, not much acquainted with Perfons in high Stations, and not at all with your Grace particularly. So that therefore as it pleafed your Grace, not only to confer fo unlooked for an Honour upon me, a Stranger, and that too maugre the Oppofition Your Grace at firft met with in Your Choice of me,but alfo to continue that Honour and Benefit for Two Years, out of Your good Opinion of my Performance, in fome measure, anfwering Mr. Boyle's End; fo I can do no less than make this publick Acknowledgment of your Graces great and un |
