TO

THE READER.

I T is related of Htraclitus r that whenhis Schollars had found him in aTradesmans shop, 'whither they wereashamed to enter, He told them, Quodneqne tali loco dii defunt immortales , that thegods were as well conversant in such placesas in others; Intimating that a divine pow-er and wisdome might be discerned even inthose common arts, yvhich are so much de-spised ; And though the manual exerciseand practise of them be esteemed ignoble,yet the study of their general cautes andprinciples cannot be prejudical to any other(though the most sacred) profession.

It Hath been my usual custom in the courseof my other studies, to propose divers Mathe-matical or Philosophical inquiries, for therecreation of ray leisure-hours; and as I could .gather satisfaction, to compose them to someform and method.

Some os these have been formerly publi-A 4 shed.