The World Bewitched, Preface
A PREFACE, TO THE Whole WORK in General, AND THE Firſt Book in particular.
IF ever any Author thought the Treatiſe he was publiſhing, needed an Introduction, methinks that I may not only have the ſame Opinion of this; but even that I cannot forbear it. Two particular Reaſons oblige me to it, one of which concerns the circumſtances of what happened during the impreſſion of this work, and the other, has relation to it's contents. Both theſe Reaſons has ſomething extraordinary, but the latter eſpecially appears ſtill more ſtrange, becauſe of the former; and therefore I intend to give the Reader ſome explanation upon both.
Having form'd a deſign to write upon the matter treated of in this Book, I begun Eight Years ago in my Preface to the Book of Comets, to give ſome hints of what I intend to explain here more particularly. I had choſen for the ſubject of my publick Sermons, the Prophecy of Daniel, when I was come to the 11th v. of the 2 Chapter, in which the Magicians confeſs, they were not capable of expounding the King's Dreams; I drew from that Declaration, ſuch inferences, as evidently ſhow'd what muſt be believed concerning the extent of knowledge, aſcribed to the Devil; afterwards judging it convenient to examine his power, and whether it extends as far as is ordinarily ſaid; the firſt occaſion I had of aſcending the Pulpit, I took my Text on Exodus Chap. 8. v. 18th, and examined why the Magicians could not as eaſily produce Lice, as Frogs and Serpents. The late Sieur de Tamininga, Lord of Belleingweer, a learned and pious Gentleman, heard my Sermon, and lik'd it extreamly; thinking that if what I had propoſed, were printed, it would obtain the approbation of underſtanding perſons, and inform the ignorant. He exhorted me himſelf ſeveral times to print that diſcourſe, and imployed other perſons to deſire me to do it; but I was ſo taken up with other buſineſs, as may be judged by the Books I have publiſhed, and by the aſſiſtance I have afforded my friends in the Edition of theirs, that I could not anſwer his expectation ſo ſoon, thô never abſolutely denyed to do it. Since that time, I preached twice again on the ſame matter, on occaſion of the Witch of Endor, whom Saul went to conſult, and of the Dev… who tormented Job, many perſons preſs'd it hard upon me, to publiſh my Opinion on this ſubject. In 1689, as I was explaining in the Hoſpital Church, the 19th and following verſes of the 5th Chap. to the Galatians, I ſearched deeper into this matter, expounding the Greek word foreign, which the French and Dutch interpreters have tranſlated Poiſoning, and the Engliſh, Witchcraft. But as I could not compriſe in a Sermon, whatever was to be ſaid upon this ſubject, I referr'd my hearers to a fuller inſtruction, in a larger volum that I was going to publiſh. I have given an account why it was not undertaken before, and now I ſhall inform the Reader, why it has been ſo long in the Preſs.
Going from Francker to Loen, where I was call'd to be a Miniſter, I promiſed my Bookſeller H. Nauta, that to keep our old acquaintance, I would give him to print the firſt Treatiſe I ſhould compoſe in Holland; almoſt as ſoon as I was come thither, there appeared a Comet in the Years 1680, and 1681, which gave me occaſion to write a Book, Intituled, An Examination of Comets, which I put out in 1683. But as the Bookſeller deſired the Book might be ſomewhat larger, and I found it inconvenient to take care of a long impreſſion beyond Sea; I obliged him to continue it for that time; promiſing him, that, if he ever re-printed the ſame Treatiſe, I would either increaſe it; or add ſome other to it. I had no occaſion to keep to the firſt promiſe, no body having ſaid or written any thing againſt it, that required a more particular explication. And therefore I thought fit to hold my Second promiſe, by adding to my Examination of Comets, another tract upon a matter ſomewhat relating to it, and on which I had meditated a long time. To that end, I compoſed an Examination of Magick, and Witchcraft, that contained very near as many ſheets as that of Comets; and I cauſed in Autumn laſt, a new Edition to be made of the latter, on purpoſe to joyn it to this new Treatiſe. But having ſometimes eſpecially in November 27th 1689, publickly confuted, in the Pulpit, the common Opinion; two days after, a Book was delivered me coming from England, where it was Printed, and Intituled, A Relation of the diſcovery of ſome Witchcrafts, in which very many particular things were ſaid to be contained. I thought by the reading of it, that it would quickly be tranſlated into our Tongue, to ſatisfy the curioſity of People. And as my Opinions are directly oppoſite to what is laid down in that Book, I perceived it might breed prejudices againſt what I had ſo freely and openly declared in the Pulpit, and ſuch as I ſhould ſcarce be able to deſtroy afterwards; becauſe of the apparent ſtrength of the proofs brought forth in that work; for that Reaſon, I rather choſe to tranſlate it my ſelf, than to leave it to another, adding ſome remarks, fit to open the Eyes of the Reader, by diſcovering the grounds on which ſuch relations are laid; that he might not thereby be in danger of being confirmed in the vulgar error; but that he might make uſe of theſe Annotations, until my compleat work concerning Magick and Witchcraft were printed, which was to be, according to my expectation, in the following Months. But beſides the inconveniences of the Weather in Winter, and the diſtance of the place where it was printed, viz. beyond Sea, together with the Book of Mr. Ainſworth, for which the ſame preſs was imployed, cauſed a great deal of delay; during that time, I had leaſure to review my Treatiſe of Magick, and to increaſe it ſo, that it became much larger, than that of Comets; beſides, the tranſlation and publiſhing of the Engliſh Book, procured me letters from ſeveral learned Men, and afforded matter to many Converſations, as well with thoſe that were of my Opinion, as with thoſe that were contrary to it. Thus having had occaſion to ſearch deeper into this ſubject, to give new explanations of my Opinion, and to confirm them by new Reaſons; this works went on always increaſing, and the order and diſpoſition of it was ſo far changed; that from a ſmall Book it became a bulky Volumn. In the mean while, the impreſſion that was made at Leeuwarden, ſeem'd to me, not only ſlow, but alſo very inconvenient, by Reaſon of the faults of the Preſs; of which I could not ſo well purge it, but that the firſt Book is ſtill full of them. I reſolved therefore to print the Second part at Amſterdam. Some time paſt, before that could ſucceed; however, without any inconveniency to the Book, for the Reaſons juſt now alledged. The cauſe of this ſlowneſs being unknown, ſome were not afraid to publiſh, that I had loſt courage, and durſt not attempt to enter the Liſts with the Devil: thoſe Rumours, the queſtions that were continually put to me, and the writings that were ſent me, when my Treatiſe was juſt coming out, obliged me to publiſh the two firſt Books, in which I mentioned ſomething of the two laſt, that they might the better pleaſe the Reader. Beſides I hop'd, God would give me the Grace to make an end of the whole work, and to add what the Readers might think wanting or convenient. But it could not be performed before the end of 1690, as I intended it, and the Bookſeller deſired it, for his own Intereſt; for the Froſt that came in on a ſudden, retarded the execution of it; it being not poſſible to ſend the Three laſt ſheets to Leeuwarden, and to get from thence thoſe that were printed there, by reaſon of the Ice that put a ſtop to Navigation; ſo that I could have no Copy to preſent my friends with. I hoped ſtill however that it might be done, but the Froſt continuing, my Book thus imperfect was publiſht, and came without my knowledge, into the hands of many People in Friezeland. It was therefore only ſeen by piece-meal and without coherency, which gave occaſion to ſome of the Readers, and others that had heard of it, publickly to paſs heard, judgments upon it; even ſome intended, as I am informed, to make me explain my ſelf more preciſely, had I not done it in the Book it ſelf. For at laſt, when they read it intire and in order, they all agreed, I had given all the explications that, could be wiſht, either as to the Reaſons that had moved me to write it; or as to to the ſcope I propoſed to my ſelf, which appears in the Preface, and in the firſt Chapter of the Book; or as to the neceſſity and uſefulneſs of its publiſhing, which I have ſhown in the ſame Chapter, and the laſt but one. They were juſt the places that were wanting, for which Reaſon I wrote to the Bookſeller of Leeuwarden, and forbad him to give out any Copy of this Book, until the whole was compleat. Beſides, during the Froſt, I had time to add two Chapters to the end of the Second Book, and to enlarge the Preface, in order to inform the Reader of my Opinions, and the purity of my intentions, which has not proved altogether fruitleſs; for I have heard that moſt of thoſe, that have read the Preface and the work afterwards, have been ſatisfied, as they have told one another and my ſelf; whereas thoſe that had taken upon them to criticiſe it, had read but ſome looſe parcels of it, or had not read it at all, or perhaps had not ſo much as vouchſafed to read it.
Things remained a while in that ſtate, every one enquiring after the Reaſon that hindered the publiſhing of my Book, and how it happened that I had none my ſelf, ſince it had been ſold in Friezeland for ſome time. The Thaw came at laſt, and many Perſons arrived with News of the Edition of my Book, but brought no Copies along with them, ſave ſome privately, and as ſtolen goods; then every body wondered, a Book ſhould have been put out, in theſe Provinces, and it ſhould not be found in Holland, where the Author lived; and not only my Brother Paſtors ſhould not have ſeen it, but I ſhould ſay, I had none my ſelf to preſent them with. At laſt I received 26 Copies of it from Leeuwarden, but had ſcarce one for my ſelf; my friends came and took them away themſelves, as they were ſowed; and moſt of thoſe that ask'd for them, could not get 'em, unleſs they came juſt when they were ſow'd up. So greedy Men are of Novelties, eſpecially when they can hardly get 'em.
Nitimur in vetitum, ſemper cupimuſ que negata.
So much we love, and ſeek, what is deny'd.
However it be, the Book could not be expoſed to Sale before the 11th day of March. A long time after I had ſent the laſt Sheets to Leeuwarden, to Mr. Nauta, Bookſeller, who had had the Book perfect in his hands for a long time, A Bookſeller ask'd 50 Copies from him, and thought to receive them ſpeedily, but had none ſent to him. In the mean while, I find my ſelf much perplext. I was deſir'd, during two Months, by my beſt Friends, to communicate this Work to them, which they had never ſeen, and had heard commended; for this reaſon I wrote to Mr. Nauta, I would take all the Copies upon me; and pay them at ſuch reaſonable rates, that he would be ſatisfied with it; he need but to ſend them to me without delay, with the firſt Veſſel. Then I thought to conſult with my Friends, whether I ſhould ſell the two Firſt Books, that had already appear'd imperfect in Frieſland, and elſewhere, or whether I ſhould keep them until the whole Work was finiſhed. The firſt ſeem'd to be the beſt Advice, to avoid the ſuſpicion, that I durſt not publiſh my Book, or that I was forced to ſuppreſs it, becauſe of many things that were ſpread abroad to diſcredit it; however, the laſt counſel ſuited better with my inclinations. I conceived that a Work that was at firſt but a ſmal Treatiſe, thô it had ſince been much enlarged, would be more favourably received, and prove of greater uſe, if it were given compleat at the ſame time to the publick; that the deſign and cohering of it might be better ſeen, its Doctrines be more eaſily comprehended, and the happy effects it was able to produce be more plainly perceived, which is chiefly done by the laſt Part. But as the cauſes before alledged, had already once ſmother'd this deſign, ſo they did it again this time; for perceiving by the Letters of Mr. Nauta, it was impoſſible to agree with him, as to the price, and that it was unlikely he ſhould ever do it, I was at laſt forced to give up the Book to him, that I might (with the Bleſſing of God,) purſue my deſign. So having altogether broken with that Bookſeller, I have agreed ſome Months ſince, with another of this City, Mr. Daniel Vanden Dalen, to put divers Preſſes going upon it, and re-print the whole Work, reviſed and corrected, that I might inceſſantly publiſh all the four Parts, one after another, in the form in wnich the Reader now ſees them. For as to the 750 Copies which Mr. Nauta had printed of the two Firſt Books, and are moſt of them ſtill upon his hands; they being an inconſiderble number, that could not go very far, and the haſty Edition of the Book, being as yet imperfect, ſeem'd to give room to a new Edition, that the Pulick might be more ſpeedily ſatisfied. I therefore here preſent the Reader with the Firſt Book, enlarged with a new Chapter, that I thought neceſſary to add at the end. I hope, with the Bleſſing of God, that the three others ſhall ſucceſſively appear every Month; and I perſuade my ſelf, that the reading of the Firſt Parts, will excite ſome Curioſities for the later; and that altogether may invite the Reader to a ſerious conſideration upon the Contents, and capacitate him to judge more ſoundly of this matter than he did, while this Treatiſe appear'd but in part, and confuſedly. This is what I had to ſay, as to this Edition, that was made in ſuch an extraordinary manner, and publiſh'd without my knowledge.
I come now to treat of my ſcope, and what has obliged me to embrace the Opinions I aſſert in this Book. In all my Studies I was always inclin'd, not to reſt upon probabilities, but to ſearch into the whole matter, and to get a clear and diſtinct knowledge of what I ſhould know. Beſides, many ſtrange things had happen'd to me in Frieſland, upon the firſt Writings I had publiſh'd, and experience had aſſured me, how little one ought to relye upon the Judgment of Men, eſpecially when what they are accuſtomed to teach, is call'd in queſtion. For is it not wonderful that my Book upon the Catechiſm ſhould have been unanimouſly condemn'd in Frieſland, thô amongſt above 200 Miniſters, who conſented to that Judgment, none could alledge ſo much as one ſolid Reaſon againſt it; and that afterwards it ſhould have been twice unanimouſly approved of, without any change, as to the Doctrine and the controverted Points, having been made in it? This has confirm'd me in this perſuaſion, that a true Chriſtian, eſpecially a Doctor of Divinity, ought groundedly himſelf to enquire into things, without reſting upon the Judgment of others, that he may obtain a full certainty of the object of his Faith, and the matter of his Precepts. Since that time I reſolved only to follow the Holy Scripture, and Reaſon, in ſuch things in which it ought to ſupply the ſilence of the Sacred Writings, and to aſſure my ſelf by thoſe two means, of what I was to believe, and to teach others, without taking the trouble of following the ſteps of other Men; never putting Pen to Paper, but to write upon thoſe ſubjects, the importance of which I was convinced of, or had not been ſufficiently explain'd and examin'd. I have therefore endeavour'd to free, as much as poſſible, our Holy Doctrine from ſuch errors, as moſt Men appear to me to be taken with; or at leaſt, to ſet in order, ſuch things whic I conceive to be confuſed; Whether I was the firſt that diſcover'd it, or whether I needed only to promote what had been begun by others. There are other Reaſons that have engag'd me in that deſign. For having ſworn in the Univerſity of Franeker, faithfully to maintain the pure Doctrine of the Reformed Church, and defend it both by words and writings, in all neceſſary occaſions; I may now ſay with Prudentius, and as it becomes my Age.
Per quinquennia jam decem,
Ni fallor fuimus: ſeptimus inſuper
Annum cardo rotat, dum fruimur ſole volubili.
Vicinum ſenio jam Deus applicat.
Quid nos utile tanti ſpatio tempor is egimus?
Two ſcore years are paſt, the third is running,
Since the Sun's light is upon me ſhining;
Old Age comes on, What have I been doing?
But it would be too long to enter into particulars, I ſhall only ſay that I intend to imploy the reſt of my Life; firſt, to the Duties and Functions of my Miniſtry, which the circumſtances and largeneſs of this Town make more painful than in other places; and than to make an exact enquiry after whatever is falſly believed in the World, and the Erroneous Opinions that are entertained without any other ground then that they are every day told and heard of. For my moſt earneſt deſire is, to ſee Men become more wiſe and honeſt than they are, th…ugh very few ſincerely intend it, or at leaſt do their Endeavours to attain to that perfection; moſt …art chooſing rather to believe, and to do, what is commonly believed and done, than to be at the trouble of freeing themſelves from Errors. In the mean while; what paſt in Freiſeland, when my firſt Book appear'd abroad, ought to have taught me, how dangerous it is to write upon ſuch matters; there being neither favour nor profit to be expected for ſuch Authors as rid themſelves from all prejudices; and having no regard, either for the Credit or Power of the Faction, whoſe Sentiments they reject, reſolve to follow only what the Scripture teaches, or Reaſon dictates to them, and to embrace no Opinions, but ſuch as are founded upon thoſe two Grounds. Perhaps after my Death the uſefulneſs of this Undertaking will be known; and tho' I dare not hope that it will be done in my Life time; yet I publiſh it my ſelf, to learn the Judgment of the publick, to defend my Works, and to enlarge or correct them, according to the Light I may acquire a-new, or that ſhall be communicated to me. For methinks, I am more able to do it, and to be Interpreter of my own Words and Thoughts, than thoſe that may afterwards adopt my Opinions, and have ſome regard for my Memory.
As for the reſt, though my intention and ſcope may be plainly perceived by the firſt Chapter; yet I ſhall add, that no Men in the World are more remote from any Atheiſtical Sentiments, more perſuaded of the Divinity of the Holy Writ, and more diſpoſed to render to God the Honour and Reverence due to him, than thoſe, who as I am, are oppoſed to the common Opinion of the Power and Vertue of the Devil. Whoever ſhall read this Book with attention, and without partiality, will undoubtedly be perſuaded of it; at leaſt, I mean, that there is enough to ſatisfie thoſe that abſolutely reject the Principles of Deſcartes, concerning the uſe of Reaſon; and at the ſame time ſuch as give too much extent to thoſe Principles; and that thoſe two Parties will equally approve of the manner in which I diſtinguiſh Spirits from Bodies, and both from God, without however eſtabliſhing any thing as to their Operations that cannot be proved by plain and neceſſary Inferences. So that I powerfully confute the fooliſh Errors of Spinoſa, who confounds God and Nature together. I believe not that there is any Author, who has more ſolidly eſtabliſht the infinite difference that there is betwixt God and the Creature, and the inconſiſtency of the Properties of Bodies with thoſe of Spirits, then I do here; as was neceſſary to be done to lay a firm foundation to this work, that is wholly grounded upon that Principle, at leaſt as to thoſe things that are the object of the Light of Reaſon. Beſides, I have this internal ſatisfaction, that I confirm by an evident proof the Doctrine of our Churches, that tends ſtill to diminiſh the Honour paid to the Creatures, in order to increaſe that which is due to God. This Book witneſſes for me that I ſet up the Glory, Power, and Wiſdom of the Soveraign Maſter of the World, as much as they had been taken from him, to be communicated to the Devil. I baniſh from the Univerſe that abominable Creature to chain him in Hell, that Jeſus, our Supream King, may more powerfully and ſecurely reign. Though his Empire that is to endure to the laſt day, is likewiſe to ſubſiſt in the midſt of his Enemies, that are here upon Earth, that is amongſt the People of the Devil, or ſuch in whom Sin keeps ſtill imprinted the Image of the Devil. With that intention I am not afraid to explain in my ſecond Book ſeveral paſſages of the H…ly Writ in another Senſe, than they have hitherto been taken: But if by the publiſhing of ſuch new explications, one aimed not at the Honour of God, and only ſought to impair and ſtain the Reputation of thoſe that are of contrary Opinion, he ſhould take more to heart his own Credit than the Glory of God. As for me, who have formerly been in Opinions contrary to thoſe I ſpeak of, and which are ſtill held by the greateſt part of Men; I willingly propoſe my preſent Sentiments, but only with a ſincere intention of glorifying God, and bringing Truth to Light. I think not therefore to be blameable for not ſticking to the vulgar explications, I had formerly follow'd, and preferring before them thoſe of ſome Perſons, who have not done what I now ſuppoſe to be obliged to do. Yet I am not alone in theſe Opinions; for they are agreeable to thoſe of many others, ſome of whom have appear'd in the World even after me. And though they have produced and aſſerted in Writing thoſe new Interpretations and Tranſlations of the Bible, but by way of Exerciſes, and to ſhew what ſubtilty and parts they acquir'd in their Youth, by the alteration of ſuch Expoſitions as had learned Men for their Authors; yet as for me, methinks that in my old Age I ought to make uſe of my own Eyes, and to ſpeak with liberty. As for the reſt, if there are amongſt us, who, to multiply the proofs of our Opinion, and diminiſh thoſe of the contrary Party, ſtretch the Holy Scripture too far, that's their own fault, and not ours. We preſume to be provided with better Arms, to dcfend the Fundamental Truths of the Church. But it muſt be obſerv'd as a general fault, that the reading of the Bible is undertaken with a Mind full of its own prejudices, or thoſe of its Maſters; and that 'tis generally explain'd according to thoſe Notions, without any other Reaſon or Ground but that of chance, or of ſome caſes that have occaſioned the choice of ſuch parts as is then followed. I take the Vail from thoſe prejudices, and ſhew what Method is to be obſerv'd to undertake the explication of the Holy Writ, without any prevention. For I hold it for certain, that none would have explain'd ſuch paſſages of the ſaid Writings as I here treat of, ſo as they are uſually Interpreted, had he not been imbu'd with a prejudice of the great and extraordinary power of the Devil, or had he not intended to confute ſome particular Errors. I have already proofs of it; for ſeveral learn'd and pious Perſons have very much approv'd of my Method of examining thoſe Texts, and the ſearching into their Senſe; and having treated in my Sermons of the chief Points of this ſubject, I am inform'd that many People ſhew a great impatience to ſee my Writings upon it. I have frequently been in Converſations, where the moſt important matters, eſpecially thoſe that are contain'd in my ſecond and third Book, were diſcuſs'd, and they ſeem'd partly ſatisfi'd with my Explications, and in hopes of being fully convinc'd by thoſe they expected from me: I refer my ſelf to their Judgment, to know whether their expectation has been deceived or fulfill'd; being perſuaded that if they do not agree to ſome particulars, yet they will approve of my intention, and contribute their utmoſt, that the greateſt part of the things I propoſe may be receiv'd and reliſh'd. If I were ſo capricious as to diſturb my ſelf on account of what may be ſaid and believ'd of my deſign, and to make more of the number than of the quality of the Readers, I ſhould undergo great hardſhips: For I doubt not but moſt Men, having little meditated upon this matter, will think that I commit a great Sin in publiſhing this Treatiſe; not however in reference to the firſt Book, where I only relate the various Opinions of the ſeveral Nations from very credible Authors, without declaring my own Sentiments, or confuting thoſe of others. Neither do I believe that the two laſt parts will be found fault with, but only the ſecond, where the moſt important Doctrines are diſcuſs'd, will raiſe ſome difficulty, and not pleaſe every one. It will eſpecially ſeem ſtrange, that I make ſo little account of the Devil, and endue him with ſuch an inconſiderable Power. For matters have been carried ſo far, that ſome Men think it a piece of Piety to aſcribe many Miraculous Effects to the Devil, and to hold for raſh and impious People thoſe that cannot believe, that he does what is teſtified by thouſands of Witneſſes. If any contradict their Opinion, he is taken for an Atheiſt, that is, ſuch as denies the Exiſtence of one God, tho' he is only guilty of the Crime of not believing two, viz. a good and a bad. But thoſe that are of your Mind, deſerve themſelves to be called Ditheiſts, or ſuch as believe two Gods: [as the Arians] got the name of Tritheiſts, becauſe they believ'd three Gods [of different nature.] If any deſire to put a new name upon me, in reference to my Opinions, I willingly yield to that of Monotheiſts, that is, who believes but one God, and one Saviour Jeſus Chriſt; upon whoſe words I wholly truſt, where he ſays, Fear not them who kills the Body, but fear him who can deſtroy both Soul and Body, Mat. 10.28. I fear him much leſs, who has no power either over Body or Soul, and trouble not more my head with the judgments of thoſe Judg 6.13. In the name of the Lord the God of hoſts, I encounter that Goliah; let's ſee who will lend him a helping hand! It any think to have reaſons ſo ſtrong as to confute my Opinion, I deſire him to propound them, with as much ſoftneſs, as I am favourably diſpos'd to hear them; but at the ſame time I intreat him to ſpare to himſelf and to me, an unprofitable labour, and to wait till he have read the whole work, from the beginning to the end, before he makes his objections. By thoſe means he ſhall perfectly know whether thoſe particular and private places which he has read, and with which he had not been ſatisfyd, have afterwards been explain'd, and made worthier of his approbation, by the concatenation of the whole Treatiſe, and the reaſons contain'd in it: For it would be troubleſome to view and examine again, all the places of my Anſwers I would quote. So that it muſt not be take ill, if I give none to thoſe that ſhall follow another Method, and would make me waſte with them the time that can be better ſpent.
Revis'd, enlarg'd, and given to the Printer,
March 16. 1691
May 26. 1691
Auguſt 1. 1691
I may aſſure here, that nothing has ben taken off, from what is contain'd in the Edition of Leeuwarden. It's true, ſomething has been added in ſome places, for the better underſtanding of the matter; as may be ſeen at the end of the Original, where a whole Chapter has been added, in which, the laſt Chapter of the Frieſland Edition is compriz'd. It ſeeming to me it was convenient to inlarge a little more in that place; more exactly to ſhew the uſe and deſign of the ſearch I make in this Firſt Book, after the various opinions of all Nations, and better to diſcover the foundation of thoſe prejudices, that have ſo long kept us from examining the true ſtate of the matters contain'd in the following Parts. Many other additions have been made to the French Tranſlation, which it is not needful preciſely to mark. The curious may compare the Tranſlation with the Original.