have them made a Trade, instead of a Divertisement. But especially those that are managed by Skill, and not Fortune, may be Learned, for these acquaint a man with Numbring, and quicken the Fancy and Memory, and recreate the Mind.

And as Recreation is thus natural and necessary, so is it Commendable too, and recommended by the Practises of all Ages; as well sacred as prophane Histories plainly testifying the Truth of it. But I shall not trouble you any longer by detaining you at the Door, and enumerating the various Examples, which may Authorize a vertuous Use of Recreations, and apologize for this Work: The severest Stoick being never so cruel to himself or Nature, as not to give his mind some Relaxation, and recreate it in some more pleasant Pathes, than the miry heavy wayes of his own sullen and wilful Resolutions. Nor do our Modern Stoicks, tho of the strictest Lives, deny themselves some Mental, if not bodily Recreations; altho perhaps Infirmity, Age, Station, Degree, may render their Divertisements the more private, yet not totally denyed. Solomon had his Ittan for Recreations, as Josephus informes us, and the Heathen Sages their Olympiques, wherein were exercised, Wrestling, Running with Horses, Leaping, Coursing with Chariots, Contention of Poets, Rhetoricians, Disputations of Phylosophers, &c.

And because Velle suum cuique, every Mans Nature claimes a special Prerogative, in the electing a Recreation Suitable to it self, one thing being very pleasing and delightful to one, and offensive and troublesome to another, I have therefore like the industrious Bee gathered Honey from various Flowers, and according to your Palate taste and Eat; I have carefully Delineated and drawn to the Life the divers Figures of the several Recreations, and leave you to admire that Peice you fancy best; intreating you to put them to the best Use, not to make them your Trade instead of Recreation; in which sence I would have you to accept this: And now you may walk in and view the Structure.