10 PREFACE. 



where doubtful paths, deceitful imitations of things and 

 their signs, winding and intricate folds and knots of 

 nature everywhere present themselves, and a way must con 

 stantly be made through the forests of experience and par 

 ticular natures, with the aid of the uncertain light of the 

 senses, shining and disappearing by fits. But the guides 

 who offer their services are (as has been said) themselves 

 confused, and increase the number of wanderings and of 

 wanderers. In so difficult a matter we must despair of 

 man s unassisted judgment, or even of any casual good 

 fortune : for neither the excellence of wit, however great, 

 nor the die of experience, however frequently cast, can 

 overcome such disadvantages. We must guide our steps 

 by a clue, and the whole path, from the very first percep 

 tions of our senses, must be secured by a determined me 

 thod. Nor must I be thought to say, that nothing what 

 ever has been done by so many ages and so much labour; 

 for I regret not our discoveries, and the ancients have cer 

 tainly shown themselves worthy of admiration in all that 

 requires either wit or abstracted meditation. But as in 

 former ages, when men at sea used only to steer by their 

 observations of the stars, they were indeed enabled to 

 coast the shores of the Continent, or some small and inland 

 seas ; but before they could traverse the ocean and discover 

 the regions of a new world, it was necessary that the use 

 of the compass, a more trusty and certain guide on their 

 voyage, should be first known ; even so, the present disco 

 veries in the arts and sciences are such as might be found 

 out by meditation, observation, and discussion, as being more 

 open to the senses and lying immediately beneath our com 

 mon notions: bat before we are allowed to enter the more 

 remote and hidden parts of nature, it is necessary that a 

 better and more perfect use and application of the human 

 mind and understanding should be introduced. 



We, for our part at least, overcome by the eternal love of 

 truth, have committed ourselves to uncertain, steep, and 

 desert tracks, and trusting and relying on divine assistance, 

 have borne up our mind against the violence of opinions, 

 drawn up as it were in battle array, against our own inter 

 nal doubts and scruples, against the mists and clouds of 

 nature, and against fancies flitting on all sides around us : 

 that we might at length collect some more trustworthy 

 and certain indications for the living and posterity. And 

 if we have made any way in this matter, no other method 

 than the true and genuine humiliation of the human soul 



