THE SECOND BOOK 105 



inducing that nature upon any variety of matter ; 

 and so is less restrained in operation, either to the 

 basis of the matter, or the condition of the efficient ; 

 which kind of knowledge Salomon likewise, though in 

 a more divine sense, elegantly describeth ; non arcta- 

 buntur gressus tui, et currens non habebis offendiculum. 

 The ways of sapience are not much liable either to 

 particularity or chance. 



7. The second part of metaphysic is the inquiry of 

 final causes, which I am moved to report not as omitted 

 but as misplaced. And yet if it were but a fault in 

 order, I would not speak of it : for order is matter of 

 illustration, but pertaineth not to the substance of 

 sciences. But this misplacing hath caused a deficience, 

 or at least a great improficience in the sciences them 

 selves. For the handling of final causes, mixed with 

 the rest in physical inquiries, hath intercepted the 

 severe and diligent inquiry of all real and physical 

 causes, and given men the occasion to stay upon these 

 satisfactory and specious causes, to the great arrest 

 and prejudice of further discovery. For this I find 

 done not only by Plato, who ever anchoreth upon that 

 shore, but by Aristotle, Galen, and others which do 

 usually likewise fall upon these flats of discoursing 

 causes. For to say that the hairs of the eye-lids are 

 for a quickset and fence about the sight ; or that 

 * the firmness of the skins and hides of living creatures 

 is to defend them from the extremities of heat and cold ; 

 or that the bones are for the columns or beams, where 

 upon the frames of the bodies of living creatures are 

 built : or that the leaves of trees are for protecting of 

 the fruit ; or that * the clouds are for watering of the 

 earth ; or that the solidness of the earth is for the station 

 and mansion of living creatures, and the like, is well 

 inquired and collected in metaphysic, but in physic they 

 are impertinent. Nay, they are indeed but remoraes 

 and hindrances to stay and slug the ship from further 

 sailing ; and have brought this to pass, that the search 

 of the physical causes hath been neglected and passed 

 ill silence. And therefore the natural philosophy of 



