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in the world; and careless of their own present times, by dating on the past: This Experimental Philosophy will turn men to Trials and Works; cure their minds of Romantick swelling, by shewing all things familiarly to them, just as large as they are; free them from perversity, by not permitting them to be too peremptory in their Conclusions: accustome their hands to things, which have a near resemblance to the business of life: and draw away the shadows, which either enlarge or darken humane affairs: And of the Crafty, the Formal, and the Prudent (the usual Titles, by which men of business are wont to be distinguished:) Our Author resembles the Crafty, to the Emperick in Philosophy; the Formal, to the meer Speculative Philosopher; but the Prudent man, to him, who proceeds on a constant and solid course of Experiments: the one in Civil life, rejecting neither the wisdom of Ancient, nor that of Modern times; the other in Philosophy, having the same reverence for former Ages, and regard for the present; both raising their Observations unto Use not suffering them to lie idle, but employing them to direct the actions, and supply the wants of humane life.
And as this Experimental way will afford much help to our Publick duties, and Civil actions, so it is proved to be very useful for the Cure of mens Minds and the management of their private motions and passions, by keeping them from idleness with full and earnest employments, and by possessing them with innocent, various, lasting, and even sensible delights.
From hence our Author proceeds to make a defence of the Royal Society, and this new Experimental Learning, in respect of the Christian Faith; fully evincing, that as it is not at all dangerous to Religion in general, so it is not to the Doctrine of the Gospel, nor that of the Primitive Church, or of the Church of England.
This done, he declares, on what account the Study of Experiments is the most seasonable study for the present Temper of the English Nation; and then goes on to manifest the probable Effects of Experiments, in respect of all the Manual Trades, which have been heretofore found out and adorned. This Argument he dispatches in a clear Resolution of these Four Questions:
1. Whether the Mechanick Arts are still improvable by humane Industry?
2. If they be, whether they may be advanced by any others, besides, the Mechanick Arts themselves?
