148 BACON 



were composed beforehand, relating to such things as frequent- 

 ly happen and come in dispute ; and this we call the promptu- 

 ary way : but the latter can scarce be called a part of science, as 

 consisting rather in diligence than any artificial learning. Ar- 

 istotle on this head ingeniously derides the sophists of his time, 

 saying, they acted like a professed shoemaker, who did not 

 teach the art of shoemaking, but set out a large stock of shoes, 

 of different shapes and sizes.** But it might be replied, that the 

 shoemaker who should have no shoes in his shop, and only 

 make them as they were bespoke, would find few customers. 

 Our Saviour speaks far otherwise of divine knowledge, saying, 

 " Therefore every scribe which is instructed into the kingdom 

 of heaven, is like unto a man that is a householder, which 

 brings forth out of his treasure things new and old."& 



We-find also that the ancient rhetoricians gave it in precept 

 to the orators to be always provided of various commonplaces, 

 ready furnished and illustrated with arguments on both sides ; 

 as for the intention of the law against the words of the law ; for 

 the truth of arguments against testimonies, and vice versa.c 

 And Cicero himself, being taught by long experience, roundly 

 asserts, that a diligent and experienced orator should have such 

 things as come into dispute, ready labored and prepared, so as 

 that in pleading there should be no necessity of introducing 

 anything new or occasional, except new names, and some par- 

 ticular circumstances.^ But as the first opening of the cause 

 has a great effect in preparing the minds of the audience, the 

 exactness of Demosthenes judged it proper to compose before- 

 hand, and have in readiness, several introductions to harangues 

 and speeches ; and these examples and authorities may justly 

 overrule the opinion of Aristotle, who would have us change a 

 whole wardrobe for a pair of shears. This promptuary method, 

 therefore, should not be omitted ; but as it relates as well to 

 rhetoric as to logic, we shall here touch it but slightly ; design- 

 ing to consider it more fully under rhetoric. ? 



We divide topical inventions into general and particular. 

 The generally is so copiously and diligently treated in the com- 

 mon logics, that we need not dwell upon its explanation : we 

 only observe, by the way that this topical method is not only 

 used in argumentation and close reference, but also in contem- 

 plation, when we meditate or revolve anything alone. Nor 

 is its office only confined to the suggesting or admonishing us 



