lofing Repute by Oppofition. This breeds matter of wonder, why fo ma ny should hazard their Fame, by running and yelping after thofe prodigious Wits of this laft Age, B DH, &c. Men not unable with Abner, to filence thefe fwifter Writers with the Butt-end of their Quils; and fo richly endowed from Nature, as they are able to Trafick upon their fingle stock, without obliging the credit of ancient Authors; who, for ought I know, were of poorer Parts, and might learn of them, were they in being. This is faid to honour those that can take their pastime in the Depths of Reafon; and not to shroud my poor Intereft under theirs, whofe Books deferve better Coverings than can be picked out of the choiceft of my Papers, or theirs that have the impudence to traduce them. It cannot be denied, but that, in imitation of Sea-men, I may perhaps by defign have caft out fome empty stuff, to find play for the Whale mouthed gas pers

pers after Levity; left they should Spoil the Voyage, which for the good of Pofterity, I have fo long made, beyond thofe Pillars, the liberty of these times bath afforded Wisdom a larger Pafport to travel, than was ever able formerly to be obtained, when the World kept her fettered in an implicite Obedience, by the three-fold cord of Custom, Education and Ignorance.

The Reason why the Authors name is affixed to this Edition, is given by himself in another Piece in this Book.

A 4 TO

I

TO HIS SON.

SON,

Have forborn to fet your Name on the Forehead of thefe Aphorifms, not that Tam ashamed either of Them or Tou; but for fuch like Reasons.

Firft, Because fome Truths, I here indeavour to make legible, the Tyranny of Custom and Policy labours to conceal, as deftructive to the Project of Government; and therefore unlikely to pafs by wife men, without a formal reproof; who have been long fince taught by unerring Experience, that Ignorance draws with the leaft reluctancy in the yoke of Obedience; being of so sheepish a Nature, as she is no bodies Foe but her own.

Next, to fpare you the trouble of arming your Reason, in way of defence, upon every Alarm they may receive from the Cenfures of wifer or weaker Judgments: For not, carrying the marks of your particular Intereft, you may ftand, as it were, unfeen, behind the Curtain of Indifferenсу, and hear, without blushing, the Opi

nions of others, if Chance or your Will should please to make Them the object of their Difcourse.

Amongst whom, if any accuse them, as too cheap and obvious; they are unadvifed Questioners of their own Charter, in cafe they should be Fathers: who were never denied yet the freedom to teach their Children to manage an Hobby-horse, without offering violence to Gravity or Discretion.

Neither do we fo ordinarily fall through the unevenness or difficulty of the Way, as carelessness and Ignorance in the Journals of former Experience: This makes it the greatest demonstration of Paternal Affection, with the Pelican, to diffect my felf before you, and by ripping up mine own Bowels, to let you fee where the defects of Humanity refide; which are not only the occafions of many Difeafes, but of most of the Misfortunes accompanying this Life.

And though in paffing through fo much weakness, They are rendred more deficient, than confidered in their own Nature, in truth they are: Yet being the beft I am able to afford you, They cannot but be looked upon (by you)for as lively a Monument of my Love,as if they bare the Magi sterial Impress of a Work of Solomons.

And