Advancement of Learning 95 



the other side, to inquire the Form of those sounds or voices 

 which make simple letters is easily comprehensible; and 

 being known, induceth and manifesteth the Forms of all 

 words, which consist and are compounded of them. In 

 the same manner to inquire the Form of a lion, of an oak, 

 of gold; nay, of water, of air, is a vain pursuit: but to 

 inquire the forms of sense, of voluntary motion, of vegeta 

 tion, of colours, of gravity and levity, of density, of tenuity, 

 of heat, of cold, and all other natures and qualities, which, 

 like an alphabet, are not many, and of which the essences, 

 upheld by matter, of all creatures do consist; to inquire, 

 I say, the true Forms of these, is that part of metaphysique 

 which we now define of. Not but that Physic doth make 

 inquiry, and take consideration of the same natures: but 

 how? Only as to the material and efficient causes of them, 

 and not as to the Forms. For example; if the cause of 

 whiteness in snow or froth be inquired, and it be rendered 

 thus, that the subtile intermixture of air and water is the 

 cause, it is well rendered; but, nevertheless, is this the form 

 of whiteness ? No ; but it is the efficient, which is ever but 

 mehiculum forma. 1 This part of Metaphysique I do not find 

 laboured and performed : whereat I marvel not ; because I 

 hold it not possible to be invented by that course of inven 

 tion which hath been used; in regard that men, which is the 

 root of all error, have made too untimely a departure and 

 too remote a recess from particulars. 



But the use of this part of Metaphysique, which I report 

 as deficient, is of the rest the most excellent in two respects : 

 the one, because it is the duty and virtue of all knowledge 

 to abridge the infinity of individual experience, as much as 

 the conception of truth will permit, and to remedy the 

 complaint of vita brevis, ars longa ; 2 which is performed by 

 uniting the notions and conceptions of sciences : for know 

 ledges are as pyramids, whereof history is the basis. So of 

 natural philosophy, the basis is natural history; the stage 

 next the basis is physique ; the stage next the vertical point 

 is metaphysique. As for the vertical point, opus quod 

 operatur Deus a principio usque adfinem, 3 the summary law 



1 Nov. Org. ii. 3, efficiens et materialis causa (quae causae fluxae 

 sunt, et nihil aliud quam vehicula et caus;e formam deferentes in 

 aliquibus). 



* Hippoc. Aph. i. * Eccles. iii. n. 



