Page:The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy - 1729 - Volume 1.djvu/43

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Mr. Cotes's Preface.

periments. He who thinks to find the true principles of phyſics and the laws of natural things by the force alone of his own mind, and the internal light of his reaſon muſt either ſuppoſe that the World exiſts by neceſſity, and by the ſame neceſſity follows the laws propoſed; or if the order of Nature was eſtabliſhed by the will of God, that himſelf, a miſerable reptile, can tell what was fitteſt to be done. All found and true philoſophy is founded on the appearances of things; which if they draw us never ſo much againſt our wills, to ſuch principles as moſt clearly manifeſt to us the moſt excellent counſel and ſupreme dominion of the All-wiſe and Almighty Being; thoſe principles are not therefore to be laid aſide, becauſe ſome men may perhaps diſlike them. They may call them, if they pleaſe, miracles or occult qualities; but names maliciouſly given ought not to be a diſadvantage to the things themſelves; unleſs they will ſay at laſt, that all philoſophy ought to be founded in atheiſm. Philoſophy muſt not be corrupted in complaiſance to theſe men; for the order of things will not be changed.

Fair and equal judges will therefore give ſentence in favour of this moſt excellent method of philoſophy. which is founded on experiments and obſervations. To this method it is hardly to be ſaid or imagined, what light, what ſplendor, hath accrued from this admirable work of our illuſtrious author; whoſe happy and ſublime genius, revolving the moſt difficult problems, and reaching to diſcoveries of which the mind of man was thought incapable before, is deſervedly admired by all thoſe who are ſomewhat more than ſuperficially verſed in

theſ matters. The gates are now ſet open; and by

his