Candid Reader,
_In these few Pages, I expose to thee openly and ingenuously, by what
means I can learn the Deaf, (and because they were born so) the Dumb
to speak articulately_, and easily to understand others also when they
are speaking, so as they may be able both to read, and to understand a
Book, or Letter, and to discover their own Minds, either by Speach or
Writing.
How important a Benefit is this? How advantageous is the not hearing
supplied by this Art? If Envy, or the detestable greedy Desire of
Gain_ _could have prevailed with me, I had retained this Art, as lockt
up in my own Breast. But alass! How miserable is the condition of the
Deaf? How lame and defective is that Speach, which is performed by
Signs and Gestures? How little are they capable to receive of those
things which concern their eternal Salvation? Who doth not
commiserate_ _this sort of Persons? Who can refuse to help them by all
means which are possible? For my part, I, by the help of God's Grace,
will not only help them, but will make publick and vulgar what is best
to be done therein, yea, and have done so already, that they can
understand others speaking, even with the softest_ Voice, _or rather
whispering_.
_This Doctrin will seem new and incredible to most Men, yet is not
plainly altogether unheard of; for, as I heard, there have been some,
who engaged themselves in this cure; but what they effected therein, I
must acknowledge is unknown to me; yea, I Religiously attest, that
before I did excogitate this Matter, I met not with the least_
_foot-step thereof in any Author. Notwithstanding, some there be, who
reject at first sight this Doctrin as fabulous; others, and those
perhaps the same also; who when I shall have discovered to them the
manner thereof, will cry, that they could do the same thing: I, for my
part; am not concerned at either of them, well knowing, that those who
are just in their_ _Estimation of things, will judge otherwise.
When thou, by reading shalt arrive thus far (good_ Reader) _stop a
little (I pray thee) and use the liberty granted to every one, and
attentively revolve in thy Mind, what thou thy self would'st do, if
such a case as this was committed to thy care. If so be thou shaltst
find out the right way, give God_ _thanks, and let it suffice, that I
have admonished thee; if not, go on to read what follows, where thou
wilt find it, with very little trouble. This very way is that, by
which I taught_ Ehster Kolard, (_a young Virgin of great Hopes, the
only Daughter of Mr_ Peter Kolard, _who was born Deaf) not only to
read, but also to speak readily, yea, and to_ _hold Discourse with
others and in a short time she profited so much, as to remember a many
Questions and Answers in the Catechism, yea, and as far as her young
Years were capable, she understood the Sense of them also: She
rejoyced greatly when I told her, that I was willing to make this
Method, by which she learned to speak, common_ to all. Friendly_
Reader, _use and accept well these things; and if thou knowest any
things better, Candidly impart them, and make not thy self Ungrateful.
Farewell._
* * * * *
An Advertisement to the _English Reader_.
About 26 Years since, the Honourable, Learned, and Pious F.M. Baron of
_Helmont_ caused to be published in Latin a small Treatise; wholly and
fully to the same purpose, with what is here published: Which said
Treatise, entituled, _The Alphabet of Nature_, is now in Hand to be
Translated, and Publish'd in _English_; of which it was thought fit
here to give thee this Notice.
Thou art also (kind _Reader_) to be advertised, that there is very
lately Translated into the _English_ a very learned Tract, entituled,
_The Divine Being, and its Attributes_; demonstrated from the Holy
Scriptures, and Original Nature of things, according to the Principles
of the aforesaid F.M. Baron of _Helmont_. Written in _Low-Dutch_, by
_Paulus Buchius_, Dr. of Physick, &c. and Licensed according to Order,
and are to be sold by _T. Howkins_, Bookseller, in _George-yard,
Lumbard-Street_.