114 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING, [vil. 3. 



natural theology, which heretofore hath been handled 

 confusedly with metaphysic, I have inclosed and bounded 

 by itself. It is therefore now a question what is left 

 remaining for metaphysic; wherein I may without pre 

 judice preserve thus much of the conceit of antiquity, 

 that physic should contemplate that which is inherent in 

 matter, and therefore transitory ; and metaphysic that 

 which is abstracted and fixed. And again, that physic 

 should handle that which supposeth in nature only a 

 being and moving ; and metaphysic should handle that 

 which supposeth further in nature a reason, understand 

 ing, and platform. But the difference, perspicuously ex 

 pressed, is most familiar and sensible. For as we divided 

 natural philosophy in general into the inquiry of causes, 

 and productions of effects : so that part which concerneth 

 the inquiry of causes we do subdivide according to the 

 received and sound division of causes. The one part, 

 which is physic, inquireth and handleth the material and 

 efficient causes; and the other, which is metaphysic. 

 handleth the formal and final causes. 



4. Physic (taking it according to the derivation, and 

 not according to our idiom for medicine) is situate in a 

 middle term or distance between natural history and 

 metaphysic. For natural history describeth the variety 

 of things; physic the causes, but variable or respective 

 causes ; and metaphysic the fixed and constant causes. 



Limus ut hie durescit, et haec ut cera liquescit, 

 Uno eodemque igni. 



Fire is the cause of induration, but respective to clay ; 

 fire is the cause of colliquation, but respective to wax. 

 But fire is no constant cause either of induration or colli 

 quation : so then the physical causes are but the efficient 

 and the matter. Physic hath three parts, whereof two 



