the two great Supporters of Impoſture, gave Authority; and thus, many Rules for good Writing have been eſtabliſhed, which have not the leaſt Foundation in Truth or Nature; and which commonly ſerve for no other Purpoſe than to curbe and reſtrain Genius, in the ſame Manner; as it would have reſtrained the Dancing-maſter, had the many excellent Treatiſes on that Art, laid it down as an eſſential Rules, that every Man muſt dance in Chains.
To, avoid, therefore, all Imputation of laying down a Rule for Poſterity, founded only on the Authority of ipſe dixit; for which, to ſay the Truth, we have not the profoundeſt Veneration; we ſhall here wave the Privilege above contended for, and proceed to lay before the Reader, the Reaſons which have induced us, to interſperſe theſe ſeveral digreſſive Eſſays, in the Courſe of the Work.
And here we ſhall of Neceſſity be led to open a new Vein of Knowledge, which, if it hath been diſcovered, hath not, to our Remembrance, been wrought on by any antient or modern Writer. This Vein is no other than that of Contraſt, which runs through all the Works of theCreation,
