Doctrine; they either made them fquare, by fubtile Diftinctions, or accommodated Explanations of their own Rules; or elfe, in a grofs manner, ftruck them out by Exceptions: at the fame Time, laboriously and obftinately wrefting, and fitting the more tractable Particulars to their own Principles. We muft add, that neither their Natural History, nor Experience, was any way fuch as the Cafe required; and that their Method of bounding at once to the most general Conclufions, was the Bane of Philofophy". APHORISM CXXVI. 24. It may also be objected, that as we difallow a Liberty of Pronoun- The Charge of cing, and laying down fure Principles, till, by intermediate Steps, we Scepticism. fhall have regularly come to the most univerfal Conclufions; we patronize a Sufpenfion of the Judgment, and bring all to a State of Scepticifm. The Truth is, we intend and propofe, not the Art of Doubting, Anfwer'd. in general; but the Art of Doubting, properly: for we do not detract from, but administer to the Senfe; and do not defpife, but regulate the Understanding. And 'tis better to know fo much as is neceffary, and yet not think ourselves to know all; than to think that we know all, and yet remain ignorant of that which is neceffary. APHORISM CXXVII. 25. It may likewife be doubted, whether we fpeak only of perfecting That the preNatural Philofophy, in our manner; or of the other Sciences alfo; as Logic, fent Defign Ethics, Politics, &c. Our Anfwer is, that what we here deliver re- regards the Whole of Phigards them all. And as the common Logic, which governs Things by lofophy. Syllogifm, belongs not only to the natural Sciences, but to all; fo our new Logic, which proceeds by Induction, comprehends every Thing. For we defign and draw up Hiftories, and Tables of Invention, (1.) for the Paffions of Anger, Fear, Modefty, and the like; (2.) for Models of Government and Civil Affairs; and, (3.) for the mental Actions of the Memory, Compofition, Divifion, Judgment, &c. (4.) for Heat, Cold, Light, Vegetation, &c. But as our Method of Interpretation, after our History fhall be once procured, and prepared, does not, like the common Logic, regard only the Motions and Reafonings of the Mind, but likewise the Nature of Things; fo we conduct the Mind, in fuch a manner, as that it may, in every refpect, properly apply itself to the Nature of Things: and therefore fhall deliver many different Precepts, in the Doctrine of Interpretation, which may, in fome Measure, relate to the Quality and Condition of the Subject enquired into, and the Manner of Invention. APHORISM See above Sect. I. and II. paffim. f A confiderable Part of this Direction comes in the Second Part of the prefent Work. And that the Author extended his View, and fitted his new Logic, to the Purposes not only of Phy 2 fics, The Defign, not to abolish the prefent Arts and Sci ences. APHORIS M CXXVIII. 26. But no one, fure, can suspect, that we defire to deftroy and demolish the Philofophy, the Arts, and the Sciences, at prefent in Ufe; for, on the contrary, we embrace their Ufe, and willingly pay them all due Honour and Obfervance. And, indeed, we would no ways hinder them. from being used in maintaining Difputes, adorning Difcourfes, and ferving in the profeffory Offices, and fhort Methods of acting in Civil Life; or, again, from being received, like Coin, by the common Confent of Mankind. For we openly declare, that the Things we offer, are not very conducive to thefe Purposes; as they cannot be brought down to vulgar Capacities, otherwife than by Effects and Works. And how fincerely we profefs this Affection and Good-will towards the Sciences already received, our former Attempt for their Advancement, may fave us the Trouble of repeating. But this we firmly and exprefly aver, that by the Methods now in Ufe, no great Progrefs can be made in the contemplative and doctrinal Sciences; nor they poffibly be employ'd for the enlarging and extending of Works". APHORIS M fics, but univerfal Philofophy, and the whole Body of Arts and Sciences, appears from his de Augmentis Scientiarum, and Sylva Sylvarum ; as well as from the prefent Piece, and the particular Enquiries himself has begun; fuch as the History of Life and Death, the Hiftory of Winds, the Hiftory of Aftronomy, the Hiftory of Philofophy, the History of Authors, Difcourfes of War, Government, Morality, Oeconomy, &c. So that the Method of working by Tables and InduEtion, feems excellently fitted for the due and commodious Profecution of all Kinds of Enquiries. 8 See Vol. I. p. 10-16. & alibi paffim. This feems the proper Place wherein to infert, and preferve, a few Aphorifms, belonging to the prefent Subject, that were found scatter'd in other Parts of the Author's Works. 1." But if any one fhall think it needlefs in us, to bestow fo much Pains and Diligence, in preparing the Minds of Men; or imagine, that we do it, in fome measure, to fhew our "Parts and Learning; and, therefore, had rather, without all Circumlocution, and prepara"tory Difcourfe, be told the Thing itfelf, directly, in few Words: We anfwer, that we "could wifh, for the Good of Mankind, this were the Cafe; or that it were as easy to fur"mount the Difficulties, and remove the Impediments in our Way, as it is for us to lay afide "empty Pride, and Oftentation. But we defire Mankind fhould know, that we have had "fome Experience of the Way, in this great Solitude we are entering; as the Subject we have "now in hand abfolutely requires we fhould; and that we would by no means expofe or betray fuch a Subject, thro' a Want of Skill to treat and deliver it. We muft, therefore, affure "them, from a thorough Confideration and Infight both of Things, and the Minds of "Men, that we find it almoft harder to gain Accefs to the Mind, than to Things; and "that we find the Labour and Difficulty of Delivering, not much less than of Difcovering. So "that we are here obliged to practice, what is almoft a new Thing in intellectual Matters, "Complaifance, or Courtship; and at once to bear the Load, not only of our own Thoughts, but thofe of other Men. For the only way of fubverting the Idols of Vanity, is by approaching them obfequioufly; and not by rufhing in upon them with Violence, and Fury. ་་ 2. And this does not wholly happen from hence, that Men are captivated with the Admi"ration of Authors; or fwollen with their own Conceits; or because, thro' Cuftom, and Pre58 judice, they will not be impartial: for, tho' a Man would very gladly impofe a juft and ❝even. APHORISM CXXIX. View. 27. It remains, that we fay fomething to the Excellency of the End The Exceller ce in View; which, if faid before, might have feemed no more than a of the End in good With: but now, when the Grounds of Hope are laid, and unjust Prejudices removed, it may, perhaps, have greater Weight. If, indeed, we had perfected the whole Defign; and did not defire others to fhare the Labour with us; we wou'd have dropp'd every thing 66 66 of even Temper upon himself; and, as it were, forfwear all Prejudice; yet even fuch a Difpofition of Mind cannot be trufted. For no Man has a Command over his own UnderStanding, which depends not upon his Will: Nor is the Spirit of the Philofophers, any more than "the Spirit of the Prophets, fubject to thofe it reigns in. 'Tis not, therefore, the Equity, the Sincerity, or the Facility, of other Men; but our own Conduct, Difcretion, and Condefcen"fion, that muft fecure us in our Undertaking, and render it successful. 66 66 66 3. "And here, again, we lie under no fmall Difficulty, on account of our own natural Temper and Manners; for it is an irrevocable Decree with us, ever to retain our native Can"dor and Simplicity; and not attempt a Paffage to Truth under the Conduct of Vanity; but "fo to moderate and behave our felves, as not by any Artifice, Craft, Cunning, Impofition, Impofture, or any thing like Impofture; but barely by the Ornament of Order; and by diligently engrafting new Difcoveries upon the foundest Part of the old ones; to work our Way, and effect our Defign. So far, therefore, from labouring this Point too much, that we rather judge we have bettow'd lefs Pains and Diligence in preparing Mens Minds, and conquering fuch great Difficulties, than the Nature of the Defign requires. 66 66 66 66 66 4 'Tis obfervable, that moft Men, in Delivering or Concealing their Knowledge, do not "deal fincerely; or as the Nature of the Thing demands. And tho' the Crime may be lefs, yet "the Mifchief is the fame, in those who are of found Morals, and approved Candor; but want "Prudence, or the Art and Method of delivering the Things in their just Order. Yet this "unfair, ungenerous, or unskilful Manner of delivering the Sciences, is not greatly to be complain'd of; as fuch Writers have not, by their Way of Delivering, broke the Force of the "Things they deliver: for a perverfe Way of Teaching is juftly preferved, where only Tri"fles are taught. But, as our Defign is not to deliver the Fictions of our own Fancy, the "Sport of Words, a Mixture of Philofophy and Religion, nor certain popular Obfervations, or "confiderable Experiments, work'd up into fabulous Theories; but real Nature, with all her "Fruits about her; we fhould think it a betraying of our Trutt, to infect fuch a Subject, either "with an ambitious, an ignorant, or any other faulty manner of treating it. Our utmost "Study is, therefore, bent upon a just and proper Method of delivering our felves. 5. Many will, doubtlefs, be inquifitive to know, what this juft and proper Method is; "and require it to be told them naked and artlefs, without any Preamble; that they may exer"cife their own Judgments upon it: and we wish, indeed, Matters were fo well with them, "that we might gratify their Request. But the Truth is, the Minds of Men have the Ways and "Paffages up to them, fo thick befet, and obstructed with fuch dark, deep rooted, and "inveterate Idols, as in no wife to be foon cleared, laid level, and polifh'd, to receive the true "and native Images of Things. Whence we are obliged to use our utmost Addrefs, to infinuate "and flide into thefe dark and thick Coverts. For as Lunaticks are only to be cured by "Art, and proper Applications; but are rather made worfe by Force, Oppofition, and rough Ufage; the fame Courfe are we obliged to take, and ufe a gentle Method in the Cure "of this univerfal Madness. And here we, furely, have a hard Task; to deliver Science fo "innocently, as to give no Occafion of Error and Offence; yet with fuch a native and implanted Force, as may procure Credit, guard against the Injuries of Time, and deliver Knowledge down to Pofterity; like a vigorous and lively Plant, that may daily grow and in"creafe; whilft, at the fame time, we fingle out for our felves, and, as it were, adopt a rightly difpofed and legitimate Race of Readers. But whether we have done all this, must be left to "the Judgment of Pofterity. 66 66 66 The Honour of Inventions. of this Kind; left it fhould be taken for publishing our own Merit: but as an Edge must be given to the Industry of others; and their Minds be excited and raised; 'tis proper we should here admonish Mankind of a few Particulars. 28. And, firft; the Introduction of noble Inventions feems to hold, by far, the most excellent Place among all human Actions. And this was the Judgment of Antiquity; which attributed divine Honours to Inventors; but conferr'd only heroical Honours upon thofe who deferved well in Civil Affairs; fuch as the Founders of Empires, Legislators, and Deliverers of their Country. And whoever rightly confiders it, will find this a judicious Custom in former Ages; fince the Benefits of Inventors may extend to all Mankind; but Civil Benefits only to particular Countries, or Seats of Men and these Civil Benefits feldom defcend to more than a few Ages; whereas, Inventions are perpetuated through the Course of Time. Befides, a State is feldom amended in its Civil Affairs, without Force and Perturbation; whilft Inventions spread their Advantage, without doing Injury, or caufing Difturbance. 29. Discoveries, alfo, are like new Creations, and Imitations of the divine Works. And, 'tis obfervable of Solomon, that he fixed not his Glory in any of the Privileges of Royalty, or other Excellencies, whereof he was poffeffed; but in this fingle Bufinefs of Invention. 'Tis the Glory of God, fays he, to conceal a Thing; and the Glory of the King to find it out. 30. Again; Let any one confider, what a Difference there is betwixt the Life led in any polite Province of Europe, and in the favage and barbarous Parts of the Weft-Indies; and he will find it fo great, that one Man may deservedly feem a God, to another; not only on account of greater Helps and Advantages; but alfo upon a Comparison of the two Conditions and this Difference is not owing to the Soil, the Air, or bodily Conftitution; but to Arts. The Efficacy of 31. Again; It may not be improper to obferve the Power, the Efficacy, and the Confequences of Inventions; which appear no where plainer, than in those three Particulars, unknown to the Ancients; and whofe Origins, tho' modern, are obfcure and inglorious; viz. the Art of Printing, Gunpowder, and the Compass; which have altered the State of the World, and given it a new Face; (1.) with regard to Learning; (2.) with regard to War; and (3.) with regard to Navigation: Whence, numberless Viciffitudes of Things have enfued; infomuch that no Empire, no Set, no Celestial Body, could feem to have a greater Efficacy, and, as it were, Influence over human Affairs, than thefe three Mechanical Inventions have had. Ambition. Three Kinds of 32. Again; It may not be amifs to diftinguish three Kinds, and, as it were, Degrees of Ambition in Mankind; the first, that of fuch as defire to aggrandize their private Power in their own Country; which is the most vulgar and degenerate: the fecond, of fuch as endeavour to enlarge the the Power and Empire of their Country, in refpect of others; which is more noble, tho' no lefs cupidinous: but if any one fhould ftrive to reftore and enlarge the Power, and Empire of Mankind, over the Univerfe of Things; this Ambition, (if it deferves the Name of Ambition) is, without difpute, more folid and majeftic, than the others. But the Empire of Man over Things, is entirely founded in Arts and Sciences : for Nature cannot otherwife be commanded, than by obeying her Laws. 33. But if the Utility of any particular Invention, can affect Man- The great Adkind fo much, as to make them think him more than human, who vantage of the could, by any fingle Benefit, oblige the whole Species; how much more prefent Defign. noble muft it appear, to difcover fome one Thing, by which all others may readily be difcovered? And yet to fay the Truth, as we are greatly obliged to Light, because by its Means we can fee to Read, find our Way, exercise our Arts, and diftinguish one another; whilst the Sight of the Light it felf, is a more excellent and beautiful Thing, than thefe its various Ufes; fo, without difpute, the Contemplation of Things, as they are in themfelves, without Superftition or Impofture, Error or Confufion, is itself, of greater Dignity, than all the Benefits of Invention k. 34. If any one, in the laft Place, fhould object, that the Arts and That Arts and Sciences may be wrefted, and turned to evii Purposes or Sin, Luxury, &c. Sciences may this can have little Weight; becaufe it may be faid of all the best be mifemployd. Things in the World, fuch as great Capacity, Courage, Strength, Beauty, Riches, Light itfelf, &c. Let but Mankind recover their Right over Na- Answer'd. ture, which was given them by the divine Being; let them be well provided of Materials; and rectified Reafon, and found Religion, will direct the Ufe'. APHORISM Viz. A new Machine, or Logic, directing the Mind to act upon all Subjects, with great Advantage. This Difcovery the Author, in another Place, compares to the Discovery of the Compafs; thus." As in former Ages, when Navigation was directed barely by obfer"ving the Stars, Men could do no more than coaft it along the Shores of the old World; "or cross fome narrow Seas; whilst the Ufe of the Compaís was required, before the great "Ocean could be traverfed, and the new World be difcovered: In like manner, the prefent "Discoveries in Arts and Sciences, might be made by Instinct, Experience, Obfervation, and "Contemplation; as lying not very remote from Senfe; but, before the deeper and more re"mote Parts of Nature can be laid open, a better and more perfect Way of ufing and working with the Mind is neceffarily required." He farther obferves, that "the new World "of Knowledge, differs from the new World of America; the former being much better fur"nished with Arts, than the latter; fo that the known Arts of Europe are great Things there: "whereas, on the contrary, the Additions ftill required to the Arts in ufe, must be of a higher "kind, and fo effectual, as to bend, fubdue, and conquer Nature; or affect her radically for "it almost constantly happens, that the Things cafy to find, prove but of little Service; whilft "the Roots of greatest Virtue and Efficacy are deepest buried. 46 * See above, Aph. 124. 1 Perhaps it is not eafy to form any confiderable Objection to the present Defign, befides thofe that have been already anfwer'd. However, if any remain, they have a Right to be propofed; even tho' derived, as poffibly all the above-mention'd are, from Anticipation; or the VOL. II. Hhh common, |