THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE WORK. 



IT CONSISTS OF SIX PARTS I 



1. Divisions of the Sciences. 



2. Novum Organum ; or, Precepts for the Interpreta 



tion of Nature. 



3. Phenomena of the Universe; or, Natural and Expe 



rimental History on which to found Philosophy. 



4. Scale of the Understanding. 



5. Precursors or Anticipations of the Second Philosophy. 



6. Sound Philosophy, or Active Science. 



THE ARGUMENTS OF THE SEVERAL PARTS. 



ONE point of our design is that every thing should be set 

 out as openly and clearly as possible. For this nakedness, 

 as once that of the body, is the companion of innocence 

 and simplicity. The order and method of the work, there 

 fore, shall first be explained. We divide it into six parts. 

 The first part exhibits a summary, or universal description 

 of such science and learning as mankind is, up to this time, 

 in possession of. For we have thought fit to dwell a little 

 even on received notions, with a view the more easily to 

 perfect the old, and approach the new : being nearly equally 

 desirous to improve the. former, and to attain the latter. 

 This is of avail also towards our obtaining credit : according 

 to the text, &quot; The unlearned receives not the words of know 

 ledge unless you first speak of what is within his own 

 heart.&quot;* We will not therefore neglect coasting the shores 

 of the now received arts and sciences, and importing thither 

 something useful on our passage. 



But we also employ such a division of the sciences, as 

 will not only embrace what is already discovered and 

 known, but what has hitherto been omitted and deficient. 

 For there are both cultivated and desert tracts in the intel 

 lectual as in the terrestrial globe. It must not therefore 



* Prov. xviii. 2. &quot;A fool hath no delight in understanding but that his 

 heart may discover itself.&quot; Bacon quotes from the Vulgate. 



