230 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



and, therefore, the more comprehensive and sure our antici 

 pation is, the more direct and short will be the investiga 

 tion. And hence the same topics which conduce to the 

 close examining into our own understandings, and collect 

 ing the notices there treasured up, are likewise assistant in 

 drawing forth our knowledge. Thus, if a person, skilful 

 in the point under question, were at hand, as we might 

 prudently and advantageously consult him upon it; in like 

 manner, we may usefully select and turn over authors and 

 books, to instruct and inform ourselves about those things 

 we are in quest of. 



But the particular topical invention is much more con 

 ducive to the same purposes, and to be esteemed a highly 

 fertile thing. Some writers have lately mentioned it, but 

 it is by no means treated according to its extent and merit. 

 Not to mention the error and haughtiness which have too 

 long reigned in the schools, and their pursuing with infinite 

 subtilty such things as are obvious, without once touching 

 upon those that lie remote, we receive this topical invention 

 as an extremely useful thing, that affords certain heads of 

 inquiry and investigation appropriated to particular subjects 

 and sciences. These places are certain mixtures of logic 

 and the peculiar matter of each science. It is an idle thing, 

 and shows a narrow mind, to think that the art of discover 

 ing the sciences may be invented and proposed in perfection 

 from the beginning, so as to be afterward only exercised 

 and brought into use ; for men should be made sensible that 

 the solid and real arts of invention grow up and increase 

 along with inventions themselves; so that when any one 

 first comes to the thorough examination of a science, he 

 should have some useful rules of discovery ; but after he has 

 made a considerable progress in the science itself, he may, 

 and ought to, find out new rules of invention, the better 

 to lead him still further. The way here is like walking on 

 a flat, where, after we have gone some length, we not only 

 approach nearer the end of our journey, but also have a 

 clearer view of what remains to be gone of it; so in the 



