THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 



perspicuous expressing of that I do propound, I am otherwise 

 zealous and affectionate to recede as little from antiquity, 

 either in terms or opinions, as may stand with truth and the 

 proficience of knowledge. And herein I cannot a little marvel 

 at the philosopher Aristotle, that did proceed in such a spirit 

 of difference and contradiction towards all antiquity ; under 

 taking not only to frame new words of science at pleasure, but 

 to confound and extinguish all ancient wisdom ; insomuch as 

 he never nameth or mentioneth an ancient author or opinion, 

 but to confute and reprove ; wherein for glory, and drawing 

 followers and disciples, he took the right course. For certainly 

 there cometh to pass, and hath place in human truth, that 

 which was noted and pronounced in the highest truth : Veni 

 in nomine patris, nee recipitis me ; si quis venerit in nomine suo 

 eum recipictis. But in this divine aphorism (considering to 

 whom it was applied, namely, to antichrist, the highest de 

 ceiver), we may discern well that the coining in a man s own 

 name, without regard of antiquity or paternity, is no good 

 sign of truth, although it be joined with the fortune and 

 success of an eum recipietis. But for this excellent person 

 Aristotle, I will think of him that he learned that humour of 

 his scholar, with whom it seemeth he did emulate ; the one to 

 conquer all opinions, as the other to conquer all nations. 

 Wherein, nevertheless, it may be, he may at some men s 

 hands, that are of a bitter disposition, get a like title as his 

 scholar did : 



&quot; Felix terrarum prsedo, non utile mundo 



Editus exemplum, &c.&quot; 

 So, 



&quot; Felix doctri nee prsedo.&quot; 



But to me, on the other side, that do desire as much as lieth 

 in my pen to ground a sociable intercourse between antiquity 

 and proficience, it seemeth best to keep way with antiquity 

 usque ad aras ; and, therefore, to retain the ancient terms, 

 though I sometimes alter the uses and definitions, according 

 to the moderate proceeding in civil government ; where, al 

 though there be some alteration, yet that holdeth which 

 Tacitus wisely noteth, cadcm magistratuum rocabula. 



(3) To return, therefore, to the use and acception of the 

 term metaphysic as I do now understand the word ; it ap- 

 peareth, by that which hath been already said, that I intend 

 philosophia prima, summary philosophy and metaphysic, which 

 heretofore have been confounded as one, to be two distinct 



