mercenary employments, in a few months time, by their mother wit, (which for want of good neighbours they greatly cry up themjelves, and instead of bad neighbours do clofely infinuate as tf all others wanted it) can get knowledge enough in phyfick to coniemn and vilify, and in two words (viz. Calenifts and fools) abundantly confute all thofe worthy perfons, who from childhood to gray-hairs, have been studying, endeavouring, and praying; have been exercising both their minds and their bodies; their heads, their hearts, and their hands; that they may become expert feconds unto nature, and meet combatants for all thofe dreadful enemies that the fins of man bave stirred up against the peace of his own body. But befide this fcum of ill conditioned Zoili, there are others alfo nibbling at the heel of learned phyficians; whofe wounds, though feemingly lightly inflicted, yet are far worse than the former, and that not only because they are perfons of credit and knowledge, but because they pretend friendship, and kifs while they do the mischief. These are those, whom birth, education, and industry, have fo fecurely feated in honour, that nothing can poffibly dethrone them, but that which caft the angels from heaven, and man out of pr radife; that abominable Quoíwers, which ever did, and for ever will fet God in a r fiftance; and the best of their friends can

but in time mind them, that those fmart reflections without caufe, both in private and publick, not only upon particular perfons, but upon whole focieties of men, balf of whom they know not so much as by bear-fay) feem to have a tincture of that virulent poifon, which as cafily and as quickly proceeds out of knowledge, as the worm did out of Jonah's gourd; and will (if not speedily prevented) foon wither into nothing all that content under which they have for a feafon gladly fhadowed themselves. And bere I am afresh put in mind of the story of Herod, who perfecuted the world's worthies, and, because he saw it pleased the people, be proceeded farther alfo : And thus profecuting bis rage and ambition, in royal apparel, and with popular oratory, the angel of the Lord fmote bim, because be gave not God the glory, and be was eaten of worms. That main and beft end, which fecureth all men in their undertakings, was it which first moved the author hereof to study facred philofophy, and to apply himself to the interpretation of fuch fcriptures, as border upon that faculty unto which he bath betook himself ever fince be bath had the judgment of election wherein be might be most ferviceable in his generation, This was the good feed: but falling into a and ill manured foil, bath, for the pre

ed no better a blade, than what

ch however, if it please the

Lord

the Lord to profper, may bring forth as ufeful fruit as thofe that feem more fair and flourishing. Herein old men may fee their own natural faces, as in a glass, and young men may forefee, what (if they live) will certainly betide them in their latter end. Systems and compleat treatifes (though out of fashion, and confequently neglected in this mimical age) are of better ufe, than fragments of mechanism, and independent pieces of experimental knowledge, which by most men at prefent are bad. in greatest honour and reputation; but, in this respect of honour, the groundwork of what is bere difcourfed upon far furpaffeth them all, the author thereof being the wifeft, and the greatest earthly potentate throughout all generations. The portraiture that is here drawn, is done by the hands of no meaner a perfon than king Solomon, and may justly be called, εἰκὼν βασιλική; that fuperabundant wisdom in natural things, which it pleafed God miraculously to enrich him withal, beyond all that were before him, or fince to this very day, being no where more graphically delineated, than in this defcription of age; whereby it plainly appears that Solomon was not like that forward traveller, who was well killed in foreign countri and, in the mean time, knew littl thing of his own native Land.

very well knew all vegetar

C

cedar in Labanon, to the hyffop that Springeth out of the wall, and thofe creatures alfo of an higher rank, namely, all beafts, fowls, creeping things, and fishes: So neither was be ignorant at home; but that wherein bis greatest wisdom confifted, was, that he perfectly knew himself; and that intus et in cute; both in respect of the inward and the outward man: All the fecret and mysterious powers of the mind were as naked and open before him, as the vifible parts of the body are before a vulgar anatomist, and bis fuxoroyía in this allegory contained, doth more fully and fatisfactorily declare and diftinguish them, than whatsoever hitherto bath been endeavoured to that purpose, by the best of moralifts; and as for the parts of the body, thofe appofite fymbols which are here all along the defcription brought to express them, do abundantly declare his most exquifite and exact knowledge in them all. Not only fuch a knowledge, as was then attained in the world, or as fhould in after-ages be attained by any; but fuch an one, as was attainable, or as the human nature was able to comprebend; and whatsoever certain inventions in anatomy bave crowned the ingenious inquirers Succeeding time, lie couched in fome one or expreffion of this allegory. Among many ngs, it is bere clearly demonftrated, on perfectly knew, and as plainly tive method would give leave,

de

defcribed the circular motion of the blood; the best and most useful invention of this latter age. And as for the fubject which is directly bere intended, viz. the description of the infirmities of age, though it be compendiously bandled by him, yet it is compleatly done in all things appertaining thereunto, both moral, natural, and divine. And indeed, what can the man fay that comes after the king? The most knowing and ingenious perfons in the best enlightned generations, can add no more bereunto, than they can unto their own ftature: It only remains, that fome fuch give us the full interpretation of what is bere delivered, fince it pleased the king to leave it to after ages, inveloped with a canopy of the fame wisdom that indited it. And if this weak effay may excite any fuch, for the future. lovingly to correct what is here amifs, and to Supply what is here deficient ; it will be a most acceptable work; but if for the prefent, courteous reader, it may be of any use to thee, as a man, as a scholar, as a philofopher, as a phyfician, as a chriftian, follow the intimation. that is here given thee, and I will follow thee with a good wish, which I am sure shall be accomplished for thee, and for all thofe, that boneftly labour in God's word and work; I mean,

I bid thee God f