ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 173 



and judgment, but is of late dishonored by many, who use it as 

 a false light to set off their counterfeit wares. The design of it 

 seems to have been, by the veil of tradition to keep the vulgar 

 from the secrets of sciences, and to admit only such as had, by 

 the help of a master, attained to the interpretation of dark say- 

 ings, or were able, by the strength of their own genius, to enter 

 within the veil. 



The next difference of method is of great moment with regard 

 to the sciences, as these are delivered either in the way of aphor- 

 ism or methodically. It highly deserves to be noted, that the 

 general custom is, for men to raise as it were a formal and sol- 

 emn art from a few axioms and observations upon any subject, 

 swelling it out with their own witty inventions, illustrating it by 

 examples, and binding the whole up into method. But that 

 other way of delivery by aphorisms has numerous advantages 

 over the methodical. And first, it gives us a proof of the au- 

 thor's abilities, and shows whether he hath entered deep into 

 his subject or not. Aphorisms are ridiculous things, unless 

 wrought from the central parts of the sciences ; and here all il- 

 lustration, excursion, variety of examples, deduction, connec- 

 tion, and particular description, is cut off, so that nothing be- 

 sides an ample stock of observations is left for the matter of 

 aphorisms. And, therefore, no person is equal to the forming 

 of aphorisms, nor would ever think of them, if he did not find 

 himself copiously and solidly instructed for writing upon a sub- 

 ject. But in methods so great a power have order, connection, 

 and choice 



" Tantum series juncturaque pollet ; 

 Tantum de medio sumptis accedit honoris,"* 



that methodical productions sometimes make a show of I know 

 not what specious art, which, if they were taken to pieces, sepa- 

 rated, and undressed, would fall back again almost to nothing. 

 Secondly, a methodical delivery has the power of enforcing be- 

 lief and consent, but directs not much to practical indications, 

 as carrying with it a kind of demonstration in circle, where the 

 parts mutually enlighten each other, and so gratifies the imag- 

 ination the more ; but as actions lie scattered in common life, 

 scattered instructions suit them the best. Lastly, as aphorisms 

 exhibit only certain scraps and fragments of the sciences, they 

 carry with them an invitation to others for adding and lending 



