Physiologia Epicuro-Gassendo-Charltoniana, or, A fabrick of science natural, upon the hypothesis of atoms founded by Epicurus repaired [by] Petrus Gassendus ; augmented [by] Walter Charleton ...

CONCLUSION:

Ingenious Reader,

I Have kept you long at Sea, I confess, and (such was the Unskilfulness of my Pen, though steered, for the most part, according to the lines drawn on those ex∣cellent Charts of Epicurus and Gassendus) often shipwrackt your Patience. But, be pleased to consider, that our way was very Long and taedious; insomuch as we had no less than the whole of that vast and deep Ocean of Sublunary Corporeal Natures, to sayl over: that our passage was full of Difficulties, as well in respect of those sundry Rocks of Incertitude, which the great Obscurity of most of those Arguments, whose discovery we attempted, ine∣vitably cast us upon; as of those frequent Mists and Foggs, which the exceeding Variety of mens Opinions, concern∣ing them, surrounded and almost benighted our judgement withal: and chiefly, that if by the voyage your Understand∣ing is brought home not only safe, but inriched, though in the least measure, with that inestimable Wealth, the Knowledge of Truth, or what is so Like to Truth, as to sa∣tisfie your Curiosity as fully; as I have reason to congratu∣late my self, for the happiness of my Care and Industry, in being your Pilot, so must you to esteem the adventure of your Time and Attention compensated with good Advan∣tage. And, now you are on Land agen, give me leave, at parting, to tell you; That all the Fare I shall ever demand of you, is only a Candid sentiment of my Good-will and cor∣dial Devotion to the Commonwealth of Philosophy. Which, indeed, doth so strongly Animate me on to enterprizes of Publique Utility, though but to those in the Second Form of Scholars; that I can be well contented, not only to neglect opportunities of Temporal advantages to my self, while I am imployed in the study, how to contribute to the Intellectual promotions of others; but also to stand in the number of those Active and Free Spirits, who have, through want of Abilities only, miscarried in their well intended

Endeavours for the benefit of Learning; rather than in the list of those Idle, or Envious ones, who having more of Wit, than of Humanity, and wanting nothing but the In∣clination to do Good, have buried their Talents, and lest the Republique of Arts and Sciences, to suffer in the want of such means of Advancement, as their Capacities might ea∣sily have afforded unto it.

'Tis the Custom of the Multitude, you Know, always to estimate the Counsel of Designs only by their Success; and never allowing for Impediments or sinister Accidents, to ac∣count the Goodness of an Undertaking to consist wholly in the Felicity of its Event: but, such is the justice of Wis∣dom, that it consigns a Reward to a good Intention; and decrees a Lawrel to be planted on his Grave, who fals in the generous Attempt of any noble Discovery, as well as one to be placed on his Head, who shall be so much beholding to the Favour and Assistance of his Fortune, as to Accomplish it. This I put you in mind of, not out of Arrogance, as if I challenged any thing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 due to me, besides a lively Resent∣ment of my constant and sincere Zeale to the Encrease of Knowledge; but, to possess you more fully with the Equi∣ty of my Expectation, which aims at no other Reward, but what Detraction it self dares not dispute my Right unto, and much less tha•• what, I presume, your own Charity would, if I had referred my self thereunto, have readily as∣signed me.

But, lest I seem to prevent you in your Inclination, or to Extort that from you by force of Argument, which as well your own innate Candor, as judicious Aequanimity, had sufficiently praepa••ed you to offer me of your own accord; I resigne you to your Peace, and the undisturbed enjoy∣ment of those Pleasures, which usually result from the me∣mory of Difficulties once overcome: Having first assured you, that your benigne Acceptance of my Services, and Par∣don of my Misfortunes (so I may call all such Errors, whose praecaution was above the power of my humble judgement) in this Voyage; may prove a chief Encourage∣ment to me, to adventure on a Second, without which this

First must be Imperfect; and that is for a Description of the Nature of that Paradise of the World, that bright sha∣dow of the All-illuminating and yet Invisible Light, that Noble Essence, which we know to be within us, but do not understand because it is within us, and cannot understand without it, the Humane Soul; and that, so soon as Quiet and Physick shall have repaired those Decays in the Weather-beaten Vessel of my Body, which long Sitting, frequent Watchings, and constant Solicitude of mind have therein made.

In the meantime, I conjure you, by your own Humanity, to remember and testifie, that in this my Conversation with you, you have found me so far from being Magisterial in a∣ny of the Opinions I praesented; that considering my own Humor of Indifferency, and constant Dubiosity (frequent∣ly professed, but more expresly, in the First Chapter of this Work, and 1. Art. of the 1. Chap. 3. Book.) it hath somewhat of wonder in it, that I ever proposed them to Others: nor▪ indeed, can any thing solve that wonder, but my Hope•••• thereby secretly to undermine that lofty Confidence of yong∣er Heads, in the Certitude of Positions and Axioms Physi∣ological; and by my declared Scepticism even in such No∣tions, as my self have laboured to assert, by the firmest Grounds, and strongest Inducements of Belief, to reduce them to the safer level of

Quo magis quaerimus, magis dubitamus.