BACON 



abstract opinions on nature and the principles of things are of 

 much importance to men's fortunes, since it were easy to revive 

 many ancient theories, and to introduce many new ones ; as tor 

 instance, many hypotheses with regard to the heavens can be 

 formed, differing in themselves, and yet sufficiently according 

 with the phenomena. 



We bestow not our labor on such theoretical, and, at the same 

 time, useless topics. On the contrary, our determination is 

 that of trying, whether we can lay a firmer foundation, and ex- 

 tend to a greater distance the boundaries of human power and 

 dignity. And although here and there, upon some particular 

 points, we hold (in our own opinion) more true and certain, and 

 I might even say, more advantageous tenets than those in gen- 

 eral repute (which we have collected in the fifth part of our 

 Instauration), yet we offer no universal or complete theory. The 

 time does not yet appear to us to be arrived, and we entertain no 

 hope of our life being prolonged to the completion of the sixth 

 part of the instauration (which is destined for philosophy dis- 

 covered by the interpretation of nature), but are content if we 

 proceed quietly and usefully in our intermediate pursuit, scat- 

 tering, in the mean time, the seeds of less adulterated truth for 

 posterity, and, at least, commence the great work. 



117. And, as we pretend not to found a sect, so do we neither 

 offer nor promise particular effects ; which may occasion some 

 to object to us, that since we so often speak of effects, and con- 

 sider everything in its relation to that end, we ought also to give 

 some earnest of producing them. Our course and method, 

 however (as we have often said, and again repeat), are such as 

 not to deduce effects from effects, nor experiments from experi- 

 ments (as the empirics do), but in our capacity of legitimate in- 

 terpreters of nature, to deduce causes and axioms from effects 

 and experiments ; and new effects and experiments from those 

 causes and axioms. 



And although anyone of moderate intelligence and ability 

 will observe the indications and sketches of many noble effects 

 in our tables of inventions (which form the fourth part of the 

 Instauration), and also in the examples of particular instances 

 cited in the second part, as well as in our observations on his- 

 tory (which is the subject of the third part) ; yet we candidly 

 confess that our present natural history, whether compiled from 

 books or our own inquiries, is not sufficiently copious and well 

 ascertained to satisfy, or even assist, a proper interpretation. 



If, therefore, there be any one who is more disposed and pre- 

 pared for mechanical art, and ingenious in discovering effects, 

 than in the mere management of experiment, we allow him to 

 employ his industry in gathering many of the fruits of our his- 

 tory and tables in this way, and applying them to effects, re- 



