BOOK ILJ APHORISMS. 453 



contemplative branch, extends and advances its operation from 

 that which is usually observed in nature, to other subjects 

 immediately connected with it, or not very remote from such 

 immediate connexion. But the higher and radical operations 

 upon nature depend entirely on the primary axioms. Besides, 

 even where man has not the means oi acting, but only of acquir 

 ing knowledge, as in astronomy (for man cannot act upon, 

 change, or transform the heavenly bodies), the investigation of 

 facts or truth, as well as the knowledge of causes and co 

 incidences, must be referred to those primary and universal 

 axioms that regard simple natures ; such as the nature of spon 

 taneous rotation, attraction, or the magnetic force, and many 

 others which are more common than the heavenly bodies them 

 selves. For let no one hope to determine the question whether 

 the ear f h or heaven revolve in the diurnal motion, unless he 

 have first comprehended the nature of spontaneous rotation. 



VI. But the latent process of which we speak, is far from 

 being obvious to men s minds, beset as they now are. For wo 

 mean not the measure?, symptoms, or degrees of any process 

 which can be exhibited in the bodies themselves, but simply a 

 continued process, which, for the most part, escapes the observa 

 tion of the senses. 



For instance, in all generations and transformations of bodies, 

 we must inquire, what is in the act ot being lost and escaping, 

 what remains, what is being added, what is being diluted, what 

 is being contracted, what is being united, what is being separated, 

 what is continuous, what is broken off, what is urging forward, 

 what impedes, what predominates, what is subservient, and 

 many other circumstances. 



Nor are these inquiries again to be made in the mere genera 

 tion and transformation of bodies only, but in all other alterations 

 and fluctuations, we must in like manner inquire ; what pre 

 cedes, what succeeds, what is quick, what is slow, what produces 

 and what governs motion, and the like. All which matters are 

 unknown and unattempted by the sciences, in their present 

 heavy and inactive state. For, since every natural act is brought 

 about by the smallest efforts, h or, at least, such as are too small 

 to strike our senses, let no one hope that he will be able to direct 

 or change nature unless he have properly comprehended and 

 observed these efforts. 



VII. In like manner, the investigation and discovery of the 

 latent conformation in bodies is no less new, than the discovery 

 of the latent process and form. For we as yet are doubtless 



h Bacon here first seems pregnant with the important development 

 of the higher calculus, which, in the hands of Newton and D(;.-.&amp;lt;;;u tea, 

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