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Vulgar Christian account, either by ascending to the Creation of the World, or by descending to our Age: He also for the sake of this Work acquaints the Reader, that he betook himself to the Explication and Castigation of the Bibliotheca Chronologica Classicorum Authorum Johannis Jacobi Frisii Tigurini; substituting, as he affirms, a true Calculation in the place of the false one; reducing the Authors, there enumerated, to the true time of their Age, distinguishing what is supposititious from genuine, and adding many things that were unhappily omitted. Which done, he saith, he proceeded from this Account of the Succession of the illustrious Writers, to the History of the Origin, Increase, Nature, and Constitution of all Professions, Sciences, and Arts, chusing the Eight Books of Polydore Virgil de rerum Inventioribus; and Diogenes Laertius, De Vitis, & Dogmatibus veteris Græciæ Philosophorum; as also, the Eight Books of Johannes Middendorpius De Celebribus Universi Orbis Academiis.
He excuseth himself for having made no further progress in this desirable Work, alledging the difficulty and trouble of the Undertaking, the unavoidable interruptions he hath met with, and the narrowness of a private Man's fortune to carry on so chargeable an Attempt, requiring a Royal encouragement and assistance.
This Author, a Friend to the Cartesian Philosophy, entertains the Curious in this Book with seven Exercitations, viz.
1. De Ratione Philosophandi: Where in the genuine Students of Natural Philosophy he first requires the study of Mathematicks, to accustom their Minds to a fixed Attention, and to strict Reasoning; and next directs them to study Nature it self, and to labour after a true History of Nature: recommending lastly and particularly the use of Chymistry, as an excellent key to open her Treasures, and the study of Mechanical Principles, as nearly allied to those of Nature.
2. De
