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THE Authours Promises.
I Will shew the Errours of the Schooles, about things which they have rashly judged to be the fundamentals or ground-works of na∣ture; afterwards, in the decay of nature, I will shew the defects, or diseases unknown to the Antients: to wit, that they do not arise from the co-mingling, fight, contrariety, or unequal tempering of the Ele∣ments; nor also from the qualities, which they feigne to be the first, and proper to the Elements. Wherefore, that vain are the medita∣tions of Complexions, as well in temperate, as in intemperate bodies. I will also teach, that the four humours are frivolous, and that whatsoever hath hitherto been attributed to them, hath been devised by the Heathens; and of these, the unhappy or evil spirit, to the destruction of mankinde. To wit, that the composition, con∣nexion, qualities, effects of humours, and the diseases that are dreamed to arise from thence, are meer fictions: also that the Lessons touching laxative Medicines, sup∣posing the Elections or seperations, with drawings, and lessenings of humours, are false. Indeed, that vain hopes, uncertain healings, dangerous experiments, in so great a sluggishness of ignorance, have not constituted the art of Medicine: but uncertain conjectures, Students covering their errours by privy escapes, and in the dust. At length, that hopes no less vain than pernicious, have been set to sale instead of true; but that bloud-letting never helps, unless it be by accident, to wit, through want of art, and a more courteous or bountiful Medicine: but, that cuttings of a vein do al∣wayes take away long life. Also that Cauteries or searing Remedies have been brought in without ground, after that by the effect, they had already bewailed in vain, the uncertain and weak help of their Remedies. Next I will make manifest, that nei∣ther are Tartarous humours the causers or Patrons of infirmities. Likewise, that neither do Diseases arise from three beginnings as neither out of the essentials, which Che••neia or Chymistry boasteth of. I will also discover the vanities or fictions of a Catarrhe, or Rhume, that, that may not be a disease, which may be begotten by this parent: at length, I will lay the ground work, that errours have been diligently taught concerning Winds. Lastly, I will vindicate the Heaven to be free, or harmless from seminal Diseases. The value of Medicines, and also the abuse of Physitians, on both sides, for Charities sake, I will explain. In the mean time, I will frame an Anatomy, or difect∣ing of Diseases by their true Roots, and now and then I will unfold some, under an occasion of Discourse, by seperating them from the common errour: to wit, the Apoplexie, Leprosie, Asthma, the Dropsie Ascites, Gout, Disease of the Stone, silthinesses of the Wombe: at last, I have represented the Tragedies of Poysons, and of the Plague that Medicines and healing Remedies may be appointed, not by contraries, nor by alike things, but onely by things that are endowed and appropriated: which way indeed, was the work, to destroy the whole natural Phylosophy of the Antients, and to make new the Doctrines of the Schools of natural Phylosophy. Last of all, I will treat of the Root of Life, whereof none hath treated. I beg of the Lord God, that he may vouchsafe to illustrate his free gifts sent into the place of Medicinal Ex∣ercise