Preface
But I cannot find such a treatise as
this in any modern, any more than ancient language. And I am certain
there is none such in the English tongue. What comes nearest to
it, of any thing I have seen, is Mr. Ray’s “ Wisdom
of God in the Creation ;“ Dr. Derhani’s “Physico
and Astro-Theology ;“ Niewentyt’s “Religious Philosopher;”
Mather’s “Christian Philosopher,” and “Nature
Delineated.” But none of these, single, answers the design.
And who will be at the pains to extract the substance of
them all, and add the later discoveries, of which they had little
knowledge, and therefore could take but little notice? This is
a desideratum still; and one that a lover of mankind would rejoice
to see even tolerably supplied.
I am thoroughly sensible, there are
many who have far more ability, as well as leisure, for such a work, than me.
But as none of them undertake it, I have myself made some little attempt in
the ensuing volumes. Herein following Mr. Derham’s plan, I divide the work
into text and notes. [So it was in the first edition. Many of’ these are now
taken into the text.] The text is in great measure translated from the Latin work
of John Francis Buddœus, the late celebrated professor of philosophy, in
the university of Jena, in Germany. But I have found occasion to retrench,
enlarge, or alter every chapter, and almost every section. So that it is now,
I believe, not only pure, containing nothing false or uncertain; but as full
as any tract can be expected to be, which is comprised in so narrow a compass:
and, likewise plain, clear, and intelligible to one of a tolerable understanding.
The notes contain the sum of what is most valuable, in the above named writers:
to which are added the choisest discoveries both of our own, and of the foreign
societies. These likewise, I trust, are as plain and clear, as the nature of
the things spoken will allow: although some of them, I know, will not be understood
by an unlearned, or inattentive reader.
Mean time I must apprise the reader,
that I have sometimes a little digressed, by reciting both uncommon appearances
of nature, and uncommon instances of art: and yet this is not properly a digression,
from the main design I have in view. For surely in these appearances also, the
wisdom of God is displayed : even that manifold wisdom, which is able to answer
the same ends by so various means. And those surprising instances of art do
likewise reflect glory upon Him, whose spirit in man giveth that wisdom, whose
inspiration teacheth understanding.
It will be easily observed, that I
endeavòr throughout, not to account for things; but only to describe
them. I undertake barely to set down what appears in nature; not the cause
of those appearances. The facts lie within the reach of our senses and understanding;
the causes arc more remote. That things are so, we know with certainty: but
why they are so, we know not. In many cases we cannot know; and the more we
enquire, the more we are perplexed and entangled. God “ hath so done his
works,” that we may admire and adore : but “ we cannot search them
out to perfection.”
And does nothing open to us another
prospect? although one we do not care to dwell upon. Does not the same survey
of the creation, which shews us the wisdom of God, shew the astonishing ignorance,
and short-sighted-ness of man? For when we have finished our survey, what do
we know? How inconceivably little! Is not every thinking man constrained to
cry out, “and is this all? Do all the, boasted discoveries of so enlightened
an age, amount to no more than this ?“ Vain man would be wise ! But with
how little success does he attempt it? How small a part do we know even of the
things that encompass us on every side? I mean as to the very fact: for as to
the reasons of almost every thing which we see, hear, or eel, after all our
researches and disquisitions, they are hid in impenetrable darkness.
I trust, therefore, the following sheets
may. in some degree, answer both these important purposes. It may be a means,
on the one hand, of humbling the pride of man, by shewing that he is surrounded
on every side, with things which he can no more account for, than for immensity
or eternity: and it may serve on the other, to display the amazing power, wisdom,
and goodness of the great Creator; to warm our hearts, and to fill our mouths
with wonder, love and praise!
JOHN WESLEY
MARCH 25, 1775
I HAD finished the additions which
I designed to make to the System of Natural Philosophy, before I saw Dr. Goldsmith’s
“ History of the Earth and Animated Nature.” I had not read over the
first volume of this, when I almost repented of having wrote any thing on the
head. It seemed to me, that had he published this but a few years sooner, my
design would have been quite superseded: since the subject had fallen into the
hands of one, who had both greater abilities, and more leisure for the work.
It cannot be denied, that he is a fine writer. He was a person of strong judgment,
of a lively imagination, and a master of language; both of the beauty and strength
of the English tongue.
Yet I could not altogether approve
of this, that it seemed the design of the author, to say all he could upon
every article; rather than all he should say. Hence arose his numerous
and large digressions, making no inconsiderable part of his work. Hence his
minute description of cows, horses, dogs; of cocks, hens, and pigeons, and of
abundance of animals equally known to every man, woman and child: descriptions
that are of little or no use, and no more entertaining than useful: at least
useful only tò the bookseller, by swelling the bulk, and consequently the price
of his book.
Indeed this, the price of it, must
ever remain a weighty objection to many readers. They cannot afford to purchase
eight volumes, at six or seven shillings a volume. Ten or fifteen shillings
they may possibly afford, for five or six smaller volumes;, especially when
they contain all that is curious, or useful, in the far more costly work. Nay,
I hope considerably more than all; as I have con-suited abundance of authors,
and taken abundance of passages from them, whom, I apprehend, the doctor had
not seen, I have another objection to this ingenious book: I doubt, some parts
of it are not true. The author indeed has corrected many vulgar errors; but
has, I fear, adopted others in their place. Many times he exposes the credulity
of other writers: but does he not sometimes fall under the same imputation?
As where he terms presumption, to deny the existence of Bishop Pontopedan’s
cracken, and the sea-serpent: the one a mile across, the other raising himself
out of the water, higher than the main mast of a man of war! Could one who made
the least scruple of rejecting these gross absurdities, accuse other writers
of credulity?
Mean time the accounts which he has
given of many animals, being taken from the best, and latest authorities, are
both more accurate, and more to be depended on, than any which had been published
before. Many of these I have inserted in their places (only contracting thirty
or forty pages into four or five); often in the room of those, which were less
accurate, and probably, less authentic: as also several of his beautiful remarks,
such as directly tended to illustrate that great truth, “0 Lord, how manifold
are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all !“
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