NOVUM OKGANUM. 117 



thentic instances (always, however, adding some note if 

 their credit or authority be doubtful), we are often forced 

 to subjoin &quot;Let the experiment be tried.&quot; &quot; Let further 

 inquiry be made.&quot; 



15. We are wont to term the office and use of these three 

 tables the presenting a review of instances to the under 

 standing ; and when this has been done induction itself is to 

 be brought into action. For on an individual review of all 

 the instances a nature is to be found, such as always to be 

 present and absent with the given nature, to increase and 

 decrease with it, and as we have said to form a more com 

 mon limit of the nature. If the mind attempt this affirma 

 tively from the first (which it always wilj when left to itself), 

 there will spring up phantoms, mere theories and ill defined 

 notions, with axioms requiring daily correction. These will 

 doubtless be better or worse according to the power and 

 strength of the understanding which creates them. But it 

 is only for God (the bestower and creator of forms), and per 

 haps for angels and intelligences, at once to recognise forms 

 affirmatively at the first glance of contemplation : man at 

 least is unable to do so, and is only allowed to proceed first 

 by negatives, and then to conclude with affirmatives, after 

 every species of exclusion. 



16. We must therefore effect a complete solution and 

 separation of nature ; not by fire, but by the mind, that di 

 vine fire. The first work of legitimate induction, in the dis 

 covery of forms, is rejection, or the exclusive instances of 

 individual natures, which are not found in some one instance 

 where the given nature is present, or are found in any one 

 instance where it is absent, or are found to increase in any 

 one instance where the given nature decreases or the re 

 verse. After an exclusion correctly effected, an affirmative 

 form will remain as the residuum, solid, true, and well de 

 fined, whilst all volatile opinions go off in smoke. This is 

 readily said, but we must arrive at it by a circuitous route. 

 We shall perhaps, however, omit nothing that can facilitate 

 our progress. 



17. The first and almost perpetual precaution and warn 

 ing which we consider necessary is this : that none should 

 suppose from the great part assigned by us to forms, that 

 we mean such forms as the meditations and thoughts of 

 men have hitherto been accustomed to. In the first place 

 we do not at present mean the concrete forms, which (as we 

 have observed) are in the common course of things com 

 pounded of simple natures, as those of a lion, an eagle, a 

 rose, gold, or the like. The moment for discussing these 



