The History of the Heavens

TO THE R E A D E R .

for all young people original: "Jongelingen" who apply themselves to the
sciences original: "Weetenſchappen"; it will teach them
to cut out many detours in the course of their studies,
to form accurate ideas of the value
of all that baggage of gods and
goddesses, and fictions, with which
the lower schools original: "Laege Schoolen," referring to the preparatory grammar schools where classical mythology was a primary subject have kept them occupied;
it will sharpen their understanding, clear their judgment, and
enable them to distinguish the truth from the
falsehood. Certainly no small advantages. It will be
useful to poets and lovers of poetry; and to show
the verse-makers original: "Vaerzemaekers," often a slightly derogatory term for those who write mere rhyme rather than true poetry the vanity of their unintelligible
language, and of the introduction of those
pagan original: "Heidenſche" imaginary gods, just as
if they were still heathens, and seemed to have
forgotten that

Poetry is given to mankind,
Only to serve the Holy with more splendor,
And to sing the praise of the Godhead day and night.

The second part contains the second,
third, and fourth books; or the World of the
Philosophers, the Physics of Moses A reference to "Mosaic Physics," a common 18th-century effort to harmonize the Book of Genesis with natural science,
and the consequences of the History of the Heavens original: "Heemel-Geſchiedenis," the Dutch title for Pluche's Histoire du ciel,
and the Appendix. Lovers
of physics original: "Natuurkunde," which then encompassed all natural sciences will not be able to—