6 THE GREAT INSTAUIUTIOS. 



-iot answer expectation, the attempt, though laudable, being 

 but feeble ; for pursuing only the probable reasons of 

 things, they were earned about in a circle of arguments, 

 and taking a promiscuous liberty, preserved not the rigour of 

 true inquirers ; whilst none of them duly conversed with 

 experience and things themselves. Others again, who 

 commit themselves to mechanical experience, yet make their 

 experiments at random, without any method of inquiry. 

 And the greatest part of these have no considerable views, 

 but esteem it a great matter if they can make a single dis 

 covery ; which is both a trifling and unskilful procedure, 

 as no one can justly or successfully discover the nature of any 

 one thing in that thing itself, or without numerous experi 

 ments which lead to farther inquiries. And we must not 

 omit to observe, that all the industry displayed in experiment 

 has been directed by too indiscreet a zeal at some prejudged 

 effect, seeking those which produced fruit rather than know 

 ledge, in opposition to the Divine method, which on the 

 first day created time alone, delaying its material creations 

 until the sun had illumined space. 



Lastly, those who recommend logic as the best and surest 

 instrument for improving the sciences, very justly observe, 

 that the understanding, left to itself, ought always to be 

 suspected. But here the remedy is neither equal to the 

 disease, nor approved ; for though the logic in use may be 

 properly applied in civil affairs, and the arts that are founded 

 in discourse and opinion, yet it by no means reaches the 

 subtilty of nature ; and by catching at what it cannot hold, 

 rather serves to establish errors, and fix them deeper, than 

 open the way of truth. b 



Upon the whole, men do not hitherto appear to be happily 

 inclined and fitted for the sciences, either by their own in 

 dustry, or the authority of authors, especially as there is little 

 dependence to be had upon the common demonstrations and 

 experiments ; whilst the structure of the universe renders it 

 a labyrinth to the understanding ; where the paths are not 

 only everywhere doubtful, but the appearances of things and 

 their signs deceitful ; and the wreaths and knots of nature 



b For exemplifications of these opinions, the reader may consult 

 Morhofa &quot;Polyhistor.,&quot; and the other writers upon polymathy and 

 literary history. Shaw. 



