And Sold by T. PAYNE and SON; B. WHITE and SON; L. DAVIS; J. ROBSON; T. CADELL; LEIGH and Co. G. NicoL; R. FAULDER; and T. and J. EGERTON. PREFACE. THE defign of the prefent work is to bring us acquainted with the nature and end of Mathematics in general, and of Geometry in particular: and in the exccution of this design our Author has displayed an uncommon elegance of compofition, and a most valuable store of recondite learning. He is not content with every where unfolding the full, and most accurate meaning of Euclid; but he continually rifes in his difcourfe, and leads us into the depths of the Pythagoric and Platonic philofophy. We are surprised to find an use in Geometry, which at present it is by no means fufpected to afford. For who would conceive that it is the genuine paffage to true theology, and the vestibule of divinity? This, indeed, is by no means the cafe when it is ftudied for lucre, and applied to mechanical purposes; for then the foul is neither elevated nor enlightened, but degraded and filled with material darkness. Hence thefe Commentaries are alone valuable to the liberal part of mankind, who look beyond fenfe for certainty; and who prefer things defirable for their own fakes, before such as minifter to the neceffities of life. |