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Of the Division of the Second Book.
The Preface.
BY the clew of Daedalus we are at last got out of the Camps of winged horsemen; where should I relate with how many stings the Infects of the lower ranks have assaulted me, how much they have troubled my brain, my right hand, my eyes, whilest I accurately dissected and observed all their parts, truly I should either faint in rehearsing the wounds, or what I was resolved in my minde to fi∣nish, I should not be able to do. Wherefore, what valiant souldiers are wont to do, whilest the wound is yet fresh and hot, we will break forth into both Armies, and with better undertakings, so far as may be, strive to overcome them. Thou O great God, who in the Inventory of these smallest Creatures, makest the most excellent understandings to stand ama∣zed and stupid; give me strength, that as by thy goodness I have muste∣red those Insects that fly, by the same I may be enabled to draw forth all those Foot-forces that want wings; so that in all my labour, I may seem to have no other end than to seek thy glory, to advance learning, and nothing that concerns my own particular, but that I may finde thee in these thy works. Go to therefore bold Atheist, who art ignorant of God and the Divine Perfection: endure, if thou canst, the biting of the Spider Phalan∣gium, or of the Scorpion; abide the pain of the Worm Scolopendra; swal∣low down the Pine-tree Catterpiller, contend with Worms, despise with Herod, biting Lice, so much as thou art able, at last thou shalt finde that there is no foot Souldier so mean in this Army, that will not quickly overcome all the forces of thy body and minde, and will make thy foul mouth to confess, by their ministry, that there is a God. Thus then I draw forth my Regiments, so I muster the Souldiers.