INTERPRETATION OF NATURE. Ill 



as to cast away idle pomp and false elaboration. But this 

 we would have men believe, that it is not without due 

 exploration of the route, that we pursue our path in such a 

 desert, especially having in hand such a theme, as it were 

 monstrous to lose by incompetent handling, and to leave 

 exposed, as by an unnatural mother. Wherefore, duly 

 meditating and contemplating the state both of nature 

 and of mind, we find the avenues to men s understandings 

 harder of access than to things themselves, and the labour 

 of communicating not much lighter than of excogitating ; 

 and, therefore, which is almost a new feature in the in 

 tellectual world, we obey the humour of the time, and 

 play the nurse, both with our own thoughts and those of 

 others. For every hollow idol is dethroned by skill, in 

 sinuation, and regular approaches; whereas by violence, 

 by opposition, and by irregular and abrupt attacks, it is 

 exasperated into energy. Nor does this take place only 

 because men, enslaved by admiration of certain authors, or 

 bloated with self-sufficiency, or reluctant from some habit, 

 will not exert their candour. Even were any one willing 

 in the utmost degree to exact of himself impartiality as a 

 duty, and to forswear as it were every prejudice, it does 

 not follow that we are to repose unlimited confidence in the 

 award of a mind so disposed. For no man by mere energy 

 of will commands his intellect, the spirits of the philosophers 

 (as it is written of the prophets) are not subject to the 

 philosophers. Wherefore it is not the honesty, candour, or 

 openness to conviction of other men, which we are to confide 

 in for support, but our own care, address, and conciliation. 



In which respect no small difficulty is further created to 

 us from our own character, having laid it down as an in 

 violable law evermore to hold fast our integrity and in 

 genuousness, and not to seek an entrance for truth through 

 hollow ways, but so to regulate our compliance as by no 

 subtle deception, by no imposture or ought that resembles 

 imposture, but only by the light of order and the skilful 

 grafting of new shoots upon the healthier part of the old, 

 to hope for the attainment of our desires. Wherefore we 

 return. to this assertion, that the labour consumed by us in 

 paving the way, so far from being superfluous, is truly too 

 little for difficulties so considerable. 



Leaving, therefore, the preparatory part, we now come to 

 the informing, and shall exhibit a simple and bare outline 

 of that art which we intend. 



