the Royal Society.
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from ever falling back again into a Subjection to one usurping Philosopher. But if their Purpose was, to erect those Schools which they reviv'd, into as absolute a Power, as the Peripateticks had heretofore; if they strive to make a Competition between Aristotle and Epicurus, or Democritus, or Philolaus; they do not contribute very much, towards the main Design: For towards that, it is not enough, that the Tyrant be chang'd; but the Tyranny it self must be wholly taken away.
Sect. XVI. Modern experimenters.The third Sort of new Philosophers have been those, who have not only disagreed from the Ancients, but have also propos'd to themselves the rig Course of flow and sure Experimenting; and have prosecuted it as far, as the Shortness of their own Lives, or the Multiplicity of their other Affairs, or the Narrowness of their Fortunes, have given them leave. Such as these we are to expect to be but few; for they must divest themselves of many vain Conceptions, and overcome a thousand false Images, which lye like Monsters in their Way, before they can get as far as this. And of these, I shall only mention one great Man, who had the true Imagination of the whole Extent of this Enterprise, as it is now set on foot; and that is, the Lord Bacon; in whose Books there are every where scattered the best Arguments, that can be produced for the Defence of experimental Philosophy, and the best Directions, that are needful to promote it: All which he has already adorn'd with so much Art; that if my Desires could have prevailed with some excellent Friends of mine, who engag'd me to this Work, there should have been no other Preface to the History of the Royal So-E 2
ciety,
