238 NATURAL AND EXPERIMENTAL HISTORY. 



upon it immediately. For although in our Organon there 

 are many things of especial consequence to be finished, yet 

 we think it fitting rather to promote or set forward the 

 general work of Instauration in many things, than to perfect 

 it in a few, always desiring with extreme fervency (such as 

 we are confident God puts in the minds of men) to have 

 that which was never yet attempted, not to be now at 

 tempted in vain. Likewise there came this thought into 

 my mind, namely, that there are questionless in Europe 

 many capable, free, sublimed, subtile, solid, constant wits ; 

 and what if any one endued with such a wit do betake 

 himself to the use and manner of our Organon, and approve 

 of it ? yet hath he nothing to do nor knows not how to 

 address himself to, or fit himself for philosophy. If it 

 were a thing which might be effected by reading of philo 

 sophy books, disputation, or meditation, that man (whoso 

 ever it be) might sufficiently and abundantly perform it ; but 

 if we remit him, as indeed we do, to natural history, and 

 experiments of arts, he is gravelled or sticks in the mire; 

 it is not his intention, he hath no time, nor will not be at 

 the charge : yet we must not desire to have men cast off 

 old things before they have gotten new. But after a copious 

 and faithful history of nature and arts is gathered and di 

 gested, and as it were set and laid open before men s eyes, 

 there is no small hope that such great wits as we have 

 before spoken of (such as have been in ancient philosophers, 

 and are at this day frequent enough) having been hereto 

 fore of such efficacy, that they could out of cork or a little 

 shell (namely by thin and frivolous experience) build cer 

 tain little boats for philosophy, gallant enough for art and 

 structure, how much more gallant and solid structures will 

 they make, when they have found a whole wood, and stuff 

 enough ; and that, though they had rather go on in the old 

 way, than make use of our Organon s way, which (in our 

 opinion) is either the only, or the best way. So that the 

 case stands thus : our Organon (though perfect) could not 

 profit much without the Natural History ; but our Natural 

 History without the Organon might much advance in- 

 stauration, or renewing of sciences. Wherefore we have 

 thought it best and most advisedly to fall upon this before 

 any thing else. God the maker, preserver, and renewer of 

 the universe, guide and protect this work, both in its ascent 

 to his own glory, and in its descent to the good of man, 

 through his goodwill towards man, by his only begotten 

 Son God with us. 



