Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times

IF the Author of these united Tracts had been any Friend to Prefaces, he wou'd probably have made his Entrance after that manner, in one or other of the Five Treatise formerly publish'd apart. But as to all Prefatory or Dedicatory Discourse, he has told us his Mind sufficiently, in that Treatise which he calls Soliloquy. Being satisfy'd however, that there are many Persons who esteem these Introductory Pieces as very essential in the Constitution of a Work; he has thought fit, in behalf of his honest ​Printer, to substitute these Lines under the Title of a Preface; and to declare, "That (according to his best Judgment and Authority) these Presents ought to pass, and be receiv'd, constru'd, and taken, as satisfactory in full, for all Preliminary Composition, Dedication, direct or indirect Application for Favour to the Publick, or to any private Patron, or Party whatsoever: Nothing to the contrary appearing to him, from the side of Truth, or Reason". Witness his Hand, this Fifth Day of December, 1710.