TO THE READER

...poured out, in order to investigate these, His hidden mysteries, and to observe and describe them to eternal wonder.

How then could this Maker Maacker: the Creator or God not be All-wise Alwijs: possessing infinite wisdom, of which we perceive such tangible proofs and such incontrovertible signs in the production and the maintenance of this little Creature original: Beesken. Swammerdam uses this diminutive to emphasize the insect's fragility compared to God's greatness., so clearly that every year at the same time, and in the same month, it miraculously appears above the surface of the waters; so much so that our whole country is filled with its name. For who is unfamiliar with the proverb:

original: HET ISSER SOO DICHT ALS HAFT? A common Dutch expression used to describe a dense swarm or a great multitude, referring to the massive seasonal hatches of the insects.

Furthermore, the Goodness of God Goetheyd Gods: the benevolent and merciful nature of the Divine is evident regarding this little animal, since it receives that same goodness in a thousand ways at every moment; and that it, just like us, can deserve nothing whereby one could rightfully demand anything from God. And how could we deserve anything from God before we were brought forth and created, and had received everything from Him? And how could we—if we had fallen away from Him and were worth nothing to Him—deserve anything from Him; whereas our Intercessor Voorfpraack: an advocate or spokesperson; in this context, a reference to Christ and Surety Borgh: a legal guarantor or redeemer who takes on the debt of another, first had to obtain everything for us, and acquire the means and the strengths through which we might be pleasing to God?