_Time_, and render a solid accompt of the _Phaenomena_, and _Effects_ of
_Nature_, the _Aspectable Works of God_, and their _Combinations_; so as
by _Causes_ and _Effects_, _certain_ and _useful_ Consequences may be
deduced. Therefore they do not fill their _Papers_ with _Transcripts_
out of _Rhapsodists_, _Mountebancs_, and Compilers of _Receipts_ and
_Secrets_, to the loss of Oil and Labour; but as it were, _eviscerating_
Nature, disclosing the _Ressorts_, and Springs of _Motion_, have
_collected_ innumerable _Experiments_, _Histories_ and _Discourses_; and
brought in _Specimens_ for the Improvement of _Astronomy_, _Geography_,
_Navigation_, _Optics_; all the Parts of _Agriculture_, the _Garden_ and
the _Forest_; _Anatomy_ of _Plants_, and _Animals_; _Mines_ and _Ores_;
_Measures_ and _AEquations_ of _Time_ by accurate _Pendulums_, and other
Motions, _Hydro_- and _Hygrostatics_, divers _Engines_, Powers and
_Automata_, with innumerable more _luciferous_ particulars, subservient
to human life, of which Dr. _Glanvil_ has given an ample and ingenious
_Accompt_ in his learned Essay: And _since_ in the _Posthumous_ Works of
Dr. _Hooke_, lately publish'd by the most obliging Mr. _Waller_, already
mention'd.

This is (_Reader_) what they have done; and they are but _part_ of the
_Materials_ which the _Society_ have hitherto _amassed_, and prepared
for this great and _Illustrious Work_; not to pass over an infinity of
_solitary_, and loose _Experiments_ subsidiary to it, gathered at no
small Pains and Cost: For so have they hitherto born the _Burden and
Heat of the day alone_; _Sapping_ and _Mining_ to lay the _Foundation_
deep, and raise a _Superstructure_ to be one day perfected, by the joint
_Endeavours_ of those who shall in a _kinder_ Age have little else to
do, but the _putting_ and _cementing_ of the _Parts_ together, which to
_collect_ and fit, have cost them so much Solicitude and Care. _Solomon_
indeed built the glorious _Temple_; but 'twas _David_ provided the
_Materials_: Did Men in those days insolently ask, _What he had done_,
in all the time of that tedious preparation? I beseech you what
_Obligation_ has the _R. Society_ to render an _Accompt_ of their
Proceedings to _any_ who are not of the _Body_, and that carry on the
_Work_ at their own _expence_ amidst so many Contradictions? It is an
_Evil Spirit_, and an _Evil Age_, which having sadly _debauch'd_ the
_Minds_ of Men; seeks with Industry to blast and und