CHAP. III.] STORE OF COMMON-PLACES. 197 



As regards the Novum Organum, we shall state here 

 nothing either summarily or in detail, it being our intention, 

 with the Divine assistance, to devote an entire treatise to 

 that subject, which is more important than all the rest. 



CHAPTER ITT. 



Division of the Invention of Arguments into Promptuary, or Places of 

 Preparation, and Topical, or Places of Suggestion. The Division of 

 Topics into General and Particular. An Example of Particular Topics 

 afforded by an Inquiry into the Nature of the Qualities ot Light and 

 Heavy. 



THE invention of arguments is not properly an invention ; 

 for to invent, is to discover things unknown before, and not 

 to recollect or admit such as are known already. The office 

 and use of this kind of invention seems to be no more than 

 dexterously to draw out from the stock of knowledge laid up 

 in the mind such things as make to the present purpose ; for 

 one who knows little or nothing of a subject proposed, has 

 no use of topics or places of invention, whilst he who is pro 

 vided of suitable matter, will find and produce arguments, 

 without the help of art and such places of invention, though 

 not so readily and commodiously ; whence this kind of in 

 vention is rather a bare calling to memory, or a suggestion 

 with application, than a real invention. But since the term 

 is already received, it may still be called invention, as the 

 hunting in a park may be called hunting no less than that in 

 the open field. But not to insist upon the word, the scope 

 and the end of the thing itself, is a quick and ready use of 

 our thoughts, rather than any enlargement or increase of 

 them. 



There are two methods of procuring a stock of matter for 

 discourse ; viz., 1. either by marking out, and indicating the 

 parts wherein a thing is to be searched after, which is what 

 we call the topical way ; or 2. by laying up arguments for 

 use, that were composed beforehand, relating to such things 



as to judge what may be done in this way ; or how the numerous dis 

 coveries of Lord Bacon, Mr. Boyle, Dr. Hook, Sir Isaac Newton, &c., 

 weie made. An attentive perusal of the Novum Organum, where thli 

 fubject in largely prosecuted, will unravel the mystery. Skaw. 



