14 THE GREAT INSTAURATION 



delivered down to us is barren in effects, fruitful in ques 

 tions, slow and languid in improvement, exhibiting in its 

 generalities the counterfeits of perfection, but meagre in 

 its details, popular in its aim, but suspected by its very 

 promoters, and therefore defended and propagated by ar 

 tifice and chicanery. And. even those who by experience 

 propose to enlarge the bounds of the sciences, scarce ever 

 entirely quit the received opinions, and go to the fountain- 

 head, but think it enough to add somewhat of their own; 

 as prudentially considering, that at the time they show 

 their modesty in assenting, they may have a liberty of add 

 ing. But while this regard is shown to opinions and moral 

 considerations, the sciences are greatly hurt by such a lan 

 guid procedure; for it is scarce possible at once to admire 

 and excel an author; as water rises no higher than the res 

 ervoir it falls from. Such men, therefore, though they im 

 prove some things, yet advance the sciences but little, or 

 rather amend than enlarge them. 



There have been also bolder spirits, and greater gen 

 iuses, who thought themselves at liberty to overturn and 

 destroy the ancient doctrine, and make way for themselves 

 and their opinions; but without any great advantage from 

 the disturbance; as they did not effectively enlarge philos 

 ophy and arts by practical works, but only endeavored to 

 substitute new dogmas, and to transfer the empire of opin 

 ion to themselves, with but small advantage; for opposite 

 errors proceed mostly from common causes. 



As for those who, neither wedded to their own nor 

 others opinions, but continuing friends to liberty, made 

 use of assistance in their inquiries, the success they met 

 with did not answer expectation, the attempt, though 

 laudable, being but feeble; for pursuing only the prob 

 able reasons of things, they were carried about in a circle 

 of arguments, and taking a promiscuous liberty, preserved 

 not the rigor of true inquirers; while none of them duly 

 conversed with experience and things themselves. Others 

 again, who commit themselves to mechanical experience, 



