vour to make men like you, rather than mindful of you, is not fubject to fuch ill confequences, but moves with its reward in its own hand; or, to speak more in the language of the world, a man with this aim is as happy as a man in an office, that is paid out of money under his own direction. There have been very worthy examples of this felf-denying virtue among us in this nation; but I do not know of a nobler example in this tafte, than that of the late Mr. Boyle, who founded a lecture for the "Proof of the Chriftian Religion, against " atheists, and other notorious infidels." The reward of perpetual memory amongst men, which might poffibly have fome share in this fublime charity, was certainly confidered but in a fecond degree; and Mr. Boyle had it in his thoughts to make men imitate him as well as fpeak of him, when he was gone off our stage. The world has received much good from this inftitu tion, and the noble emulation of great men on the inexhauftible fubject of the effence, praife and attributes of the Deity, has had the natural effect, which always attends this kind of contemplation, to wit, that he who writes upon it with a fincere heart, very eminently excels whatever he has produced on any other occafion. It eminently appears from this obfervation, that a particular bleffing has been bestowed on this lecture. This great philofopher provided for us, after his death, an employment not only fuitable to our condition, but to his own at the fame time. It is a fight fit for angels, to behold the benefactor and the perfons obliged, not only in different places, but under different beings, employed in the fame work. This worthy man studied nature, and traced all her ways to thofe of her unfearchable author. When he had found him, he gave this bounty for the praise and contemplation of him. To one who has not run thro regular courfes of philofophical inquiries, (the other learned labourers in this vineyard will forgive me) I cannot but principally recommend the book, intitled, Phyfico-Theology. Printed for William Innys in St. Paul's Church-yard. It is written by Mr. Derham, rector of Upminster in Effex. I do not know what Upminster is worth; but I am fure, had I the best living in England to give, I fhould not think the addition of it fufficient acknowledgment of his merit, especially fince I am informed, that the fimplicity of his life is agreeable to his useful knowledge and learning. The praise of this author feems to me to be the great perfpicuity and method which render his work intellig ble and pleafing to people who are ftrangers to fuch inquiries, as well as to the learned. It is a very defirable entertainment to find occafions of pleasure and fatisfaction in those objects and occurrences which we have all our lives, perhaps, overlooked, or beheld without exciting any reflexions that made us wifer or happier. The plain good man does, as with a wand, fhew us the wonders and spectacles in all nature, and the particular capacities with which all living creatures are endowed for their feveral ways of life; how the organs of creatures are made according to their different paths in which they are to move and provide for themselves and families; whether they are to creep, to leap, to swim, to fly, to walk; whether they are to inhabit the bowels of the earth, the coverts of the wood, the muddy or clear ftreams, to howl in forefts, or converfe in cities. All life from that of a worm to that of a man is explained; and as I may fo fpeak, the wondrous works of the creation, by the observations of this author, lie before us as objects that create love and admiration, which, without fuch explications, ftrike us only with confusion and amazement. The man who, before he had this book, dreffed and went out to loiter and gather up fomething to entertain a mind too vacant, no longer needs news to give himself amufement; the very air he breathes fuggests abundant matter for his thoughts. He will confider that he has begun another day of life, to breathe with all other creatures in the fame mafs of air, vapours and clouds, which furround our globe; and of all the numberless animals that live by receiving momentary life, or rather momentary and new reprieves from death, at their noftrils, he only itands erect, confcious and contemplative of the benefaction. A man A man who is not capable of philofophical reflexions from his own education, will be as much pleated as with any other good news which he has not before heard. The agitations of the wind, and the falling of the rains, are what are abfolutely neceffary for his welfare and accommodation. This kind of reader will behold the light with a new joy, and a sort of reasonable rapture. He will be led from the appendages which attend and furround our globe, to the contemplation of the globe itself, the diftribution of the earth and wa-ters, the variety and quantity of all things provided for. the ufcs of our world: Then will his contemplation, which was too diffufed and general, be let down to par-ticulars, to different foils and moulds, to the beds of minerals and ftones into caverns and volcanos, and then again to the tops of mountains, and then again to the fields and valleys. When the author has acquainted his reader with the place of his abode, he informs him of his capacity to make himfelf eafy and happy in it by the gift of fenfes, by their ready organs, by thewing him the ftructure of thofe organs, the difpofition of the ear for the receipt of founds, of the noftril for finell, the tongue for talte, the nerves to avoid harms by our feeling, and the eye by our fight. The whole work is concluded (as it is the fum of fifteen fermons in proof of the existence of the Deity) with reflexions which apply each diftinct part of it to an end, for which the author may hope to be rewarded with an immortality much more to be desired, than that of remaining in eternal honour among all the fons of men.. THE INDE X. A. ACTIVE parts of mankind compared with the fpeculative, Number 130. Adamites, a fect fo called, N. 133. Advertisement about a modefty-piece, N. 145. About Alehoufe-keeper, an elegant one on the road to Hamp- Alexander's letter to Ariftotle, N. 111. All for Love (tragedy of) faulty, and in what, N. 110. Alnarefchin, the Great, king of Perfia, his story, N. 167. N. 168. Anaximander, his faying upon being laughed at, N. 135- Anger, a definition of it, N. 129. Its ill confequences, Annihilation, a dull and phlegmatick thought, N. 89. Ancient authors, how diftinguished in Strada's prolu- Ariftotle, his contempt of cenfure, N. 135. Art, those that are capable of it most fond of nature, N. 173- Aftro- Aftronomy, the study of it recommended, N. 169. Auguftus, Virgil's praises of him, N. 138. Aurelia, a dream that he had a window in her breast, Aurengezebe, (tragedy of) faulty, and in what, N. 110. B. BATH, cuftons of that place, N. 174. Praises of the waters, ibid. Beauty at war with fortitude, N. 152. Binicorn (Humphrey) his letter to the Guardian, N. 124. Bofoms (naked) a grievance, N. 116. The pope's or- Boyle, (Mr.) his virtue and generofity, N. 175. Button (Daniel) his letter about twifling off buttons, Buttons, the twifting of them not eloquent, N. 84.. C. ARE (Dorothy) her letter againt men's open Cbofom, N. 171. Cenfure defpifed by philofophers, N. 135. Challenges, fober ones, N. 129. Chaplains to people of quality, to be refpected, N. 163. 'Charity-schools recommended, N. 105. A virtue of the heart, N. 166. Neftor Ironfide's intended chá- Chastity in men a noble virtue, N. 123. China (Emperor of) honours none till they are dead, N. 96. Chriftian religion promotes friendship, N. 126. Chri |