THE

TRANSLATOR

TO THE

READER.

A decorative woodcut initial 'A' features floral patterns and scrollwork, a traditional ornamental start to an 18th-century Dutch preface.

All our actions must serve the Glory of God and the benefit of our neighbor original: "Naesten," referring to fellow human beings in a biblical and charitable sense; the tongue and the pen both play a part in this, and thus both are more suited to the benefit of others than to the benefit of ourselves.

The primary aim of a writer original: "Schryver" must be to make his fellow human beings original: "Meeden-Mensch" wiser and better, by sharing with them the enlightenment original: "verlichtingen," literally 'enlightenments,' a term frequently used during this era to describe intellectual or spiritual insights that he has received from God beyond the common lot of men; and subsequently to choose such subject matter as may be capable of achieving that end; whether by shedding some light on subjects already treated, or by bringing new insights to light. The benefit of the Human Race original: "Menschelyk Geslacht" in general, and of society in particular, is