XVII.;.] THE SECOND LOOK. 173 



agree with dispersed directions. And lastly, aphorisms, 

 representing a knowledge broken, do invite men to in 

 quire further ; whereas methods, carrying the show of 

 a total, do secure men, as if they were at furthest. 



8. Another diversity of method, which is likewise of 

 great weight, is the handling of knowledge by assertions 

 and their proofs, or by questions and their deter 

 minations. The latter kind whereof, if it be immoderately 

 followed, is as prejudicial to the proceeding of learning, 

 as it is to the proceeding of an army to go about to 

 besiege every little fort or hold. For if the field be kept, 

 and the sum of the enterprise pursued, those smaller 

 things will come in of themselves : indeed a man would 

 not leave some important piece enemy at his back. In 

 like manner, the use of confutation in the delivery of 

 sciences ought to be very sparing; and to serve to re 

 move strong preoccupations and prejudgements, and not 

 to minister and excite disputations and doubts. 



9. Another diversity of methods is, according to the 

 subject or matter which is handled. For there is a great 

 difference in delivery of the mathematics, which are the 

 most abstracted of knowledges, and policy, which is the 

 most immersed. And howsoever contention hath been 

 moved, touching an uniformity of method in multiformity 

 of matter, yet we see how that opinion, besides the weak 

 ness of it, hath been of ill desert towards learning, as 

 that which taketh the way to reduce learning to cer 

 tain empty and barren generalities; being but the very 

 husks and shells of sciences, all the kernel being forced 

 out and expulsed with, the torture and press of the method. 

 And therefore as 1 did allow well of particular topics for 

 invention, so I do allow likewise of particular methods of 

 tradition. 



