NOVUM ORGANUM 389 



from that which is apparent in the rainbow, or the radiation of 

 opal or the diamond ; death by drowning, from that by burn- 

 ing, the sword, apoplexy, or consumption; and yet they all 

 agree in the common natures of heat, redness, and death), let 

 him be assured that his understanding is enthralled by habit, 

 by general appearances and hypotheses. For it is most certain 

 that, however heterogeneous and distinct, they agree in the form 

 or law which regulates heat, redness, or death ; and that human 

 power cannot be emancipated and freed from the common 

 course of nature, and expanded and exalted to new efficients 

 and new modes of operation, except by the revelation and in- 

 vention of forms of this nature. But after this union of nature, 

 which is the principal point, we will afterwards, in its proper 

 place, treat of the divisions and ramifications of nature, whether 

 ordinary or internal and more real. 



1 8. We must now offer an example of the exclusion or re- 

 jection of natures found by the tables of review, not to be of 

 the form of heat; first premising that not only each table is 

 sufficient for the rejection of any nature, but even each single 

 instance contained in them. For it is clear from what has been 

 said that every contradictory instance destroys an hypothesis 

 as to the form. Still, however, for the sake of clearness, and in 

 order to show more plainly the use of the tables, we redouble or 

 repeat the exclusive. 



An Example of the Exclusive Table, or of the Refection of 

 Natures from the Form of Heat 



I. On account of the sun's rays, reject elementary (or terrestrial) 

 nature. 



II. On account of common fire, and particularly subterranean fires 

 (which are the most remote and secluded from the rays of the heavenly 

 bodies), reject celestial nature. 



III. On account of the heat acquired by every description of sub- 

 stances (as minerals, vegetables, the external parts of animals, water, 

 oil, air, etc.) by mere approximation to the fire or any warm body, 

 reject all variety and delicate texture of bodies. 



IV. On account of iron and ignited metals, which warm other 

 bodies, and yet neither lose their weight nor substance, reject the im- 

 parting or mixing of the substance of the heating body. 



V. On account of boiling water and air, and also those metals and 

 other solid bodies which are heated, but not to ignition, or red heat, 

 reject flame or light. 



VI. On account of the rays of the moon and other heavenly bodies 

 (except the sun), again reject flame or light. 



VII. On account of the comparison between red-hot iron and the 

 flame of spirits of wine (for the iron is more hot and less bright, whilst 

 the flame of spirits of wine is more bright and less hot), again reject 

 flame and light. 



VIII. On account of gold and other ignited metals, which are of 

 the greatest specific density, reject rarity. 



