ch should never _succumb_ to _Time_, but
with the _Ruines_ of _Nature_, and the _World_ it self.
In order to _this_, how many, and almost _innumerable_ have been their
_Tryals_ and _Experiments_, through the large and ample Field both of
_Art_ and _Nature_? We call our _Journals_, _Registers_,
_Correspondence_, and _Transactions_, to witness; and may with modesty
provoke all our _Systematical Methodists_, _Natural Histories_, and
_Pretenders_ hitherto extant from the _beginning_ of _Letters_, to this
_period_, to shew us so _ample_, so _worthy_ and so _useful_ a
Collection. 'Tis a _Fatality_ and an _Injury_ to be deplored, that those
who give us _hard words_, will not first vouchsafe _impartially_ to
_examine_ these _particulars_; since all _Ingenuous Spirits_ could not
but be abundantly _satisfied_, that this _Illustrious Assembly_ has not
met so many _Years_ purely for _Speculation_ only; though I take even
_that_ to be no ignoble _Culture_ of the _Mind_, or time mispent for
Persons who have so few _Friends_, and slender _Obligations_, to those
who should _Patronize_ and _Encourage_ them: But they have aimed at
_greater things_, and _greater things_ produc'd, namely, by
_Emancipating_, and freeing themselves from the _Tyranny_ of _Opinion_,
_delusory_ and fallacious shews, to receive nothing upon _Trust_, but
bring it to the _Lydian Touch_, make it pass the _Fire_, the _Anvil_ and
the _File_, till it come forth perfectly _repurged_, and of consistence.
They are not hasty in _concluding_ from a _single_, or _incompetent_
number of _Experiments_, to pronounce the _Ecstatic Heureca_, and offer
_Hecatombs_; but, after the most diligent _Scrutiny_, and by degrees,
and wary _Inductions_ _honestly_ and _faithfully_ made, to _record_ the
_Truth_, and event of _Tryals_, and transmit them to _Posterity_. They
resort not immediately to _general Propositions_, upon every _specious
appearance_; but stay for _Light_, and Information from _Particulars_,
and make Report _de Facto_, and as _Sense_ informs them. They reject no
_Sect_ of _Philosophers_, no _Mechanic_ Helps, _except_ no _Persons_ of
Men; but chearfully embracing _all_, cull out of _all_, and alone
_retain_ what abides the _Test_; that from a plentiful and well
furnish'd _Magazine_ of true _Experiments_, they may in time advance to
solemn and established _Axiomes_, _General Rules_ and _Maximes_; and a
_Structure_ may indeed lift up its head, such as may stand the shock of
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