commonly confound weaker Minds, and make Mens Hearts to fail and boggle at Trifles; there is so little hope of having them remov'd by Speculation alone, that it is evident they were first produc'd by the most contemplative Men amongst the Ancients; and chiefly prevailed of late Years, when that way of Learning flourished. The Poets began of old to impose the Deceit. They to make all Things look more venerable than they were, devis'd a thousand false Chimæras; on every Field, River, Grove, and Cave they bestow'd a Fantasm of their own making: With these they amaz'd the World; these they cloath'd with what Shapes they pleas'd; by these they pretended, that all Wars, and Counsels, and Actions of Men were administred. And in the modern Ages these Fantastical Forms were reviv'd and possess'd Christendom, in the very height of the Schoolmens time: An infinite Number of Faries haunted every House; all Churches were fill'd with Apparitions; Men began to be frighted from their Cradles, which Fright continu'd to their Graves, and their Names also were made the Causes of fearing others. All which Abuses if those acute Philosophers did not promote, yet they were never able to overcome; nay, even not so much as King Oberon and his invisible Army.
But from the time in which the real Philosophy has appear'd, there is scarce any whisper remaining of such Horrors; Every Man is unshaken at those Tales at which his Ancestors trembled: The Course of Things goes quietly along in its own true Channel of Natural Causes and Effects. For this we are beholden to Experiments; which though they have not yet compleated the Discovery of the true World, yet they have already vanquish'd those wild Inhabitants of the false
