Adamic Magic, or the Antiquity of Magic

To the Reader.

they will view it, and study it for some short Time, and when they can know no more, then they will play with it. It is well known, that if you hold a candle near to a little Child, he will (if you prevent him not) If you do not stop or hinder him. put his finger into the flame, for he desires to know what it is, that shines so bright; but there is something more than all this, for even these Infants desire to improve their Knowledge. Thus when they look upon any thing, if the sight informs them not sufficiently, they will, if they can, get it into their hands, that they may feel it: but if the touch also does not satisfy, they will put it into their Mouths to taste it, as if they would examine Things by more senses than one. Now this Desire to know is born with them, and it is the Best, and most mysterious part of their Nature. It is to be observed, that when men come to their full Age, and are serious in their Disquisitions Formal, systematic investigations or scholarly inquiries., they are ashamed to Err To be mistaken or fall into falsehood; the author suggests that as adults, we fear being wrong, whereas children are driven purely by the search for truth.,