mere Fodder of them; as Eagles do of Pidgeons and Hares; and large Fiſh of the helpleſs little ones. We have different ſorts of Dogs for Hunting, and what our own Legs cannot, that their Noſe and Legs can help us to. But the Uſe and Profit of Herbs and Animals are not the only Things they are good for, but they raiſe our Delight and Admiration when we conſider their various Forms and Natures, and enquire into all their different ways of Generation: Things ſo infinitely multifarious, and ſo delightfully amazing, that the Books of natural Philoſophers are deſervedly filled with their Encomiums. For even in the very Inſects, who can but admire the ſix-corner’d Cells of the Bees, or the artificial Web of a Spider, or the fine Bag of a Silk-worm, which laſt affords us, with the Help of incredible Induſtry, even Shiploads of ſoft delicate Clothing. This is a ſhort Summary of thoſe many profitable Advantages the animal and herbal World ſerve us with. But this is not all. The Bowels of the Earth likewiſe contribute much to Man’s Happineſs. For what Art and Cunning does he employ in finding, in digging, in trying Metals, and in melting, refining, and tempering them? [And from Metals.] What Skill and Nicety in beating, drawing or diſſolving Gold, ſo as with inconſiderable Changes to make every Thing he pleaſes put on that noble Luſtre? Of how many and admirable Uſes is Iron? and how ignorant in all Mechanical Knowledge were thoſe Nations that were not acquainted with it, ſo as to have no other Arms but Bows, Clubs, and Spears, made of Wood. There’s one Thing indeed we have, which it’s a Queſtion whether it has done more harm or good, and that is Gun-powder made of Nitre and Brimſtone. At firſt indeed it ſeem’d as if we had got a more ſecure Defenſe than former Ages againſt all Aſſaults, and could eaſily guard our Towns, by the wonderful Strength of that Invention, againſt all hoſtile Invaſions: but now we find it has rather encouraged them, and at the ſame time been no ſmall Occaſion of the Decay of Valour, by rendring it and Strength almoſt uſeleſs in War. Had the Grecian Emperor who ſaid, Virtue was ruin’d only when Slings and Rams firſt came into uſe, liv’d in our Days, he might well have complain’d; eſpecially of Bombs, againſt which neither Art nor Nature is of ſufficient Proof: but which lays every Thing, Caſtles and Towers, be they never ſo ſtrong, even with the Ground. If for nothing elſe, yet upon this one account, I think we had better have been without the Diſcovery. Yet, when we were talking of our Diſcoveries, it was not to be paſs’d over, for the Planets too may have their miſchievous as well as uſeful Inventions.