NOVUM ORGANUM 409 



an imitation of nature, or, on the other hand, powerfully govern 

 and change her course. 



Again, in these instances which we term the wit and hands of 

 man, charms and conjuring should not be altogether despised, 

 for although mere amusements, and of little use, yet they may 

 afford considerable information. 



Lastly, superstition and magic (in its common acceptation) 

 are not to be entirely omitted; for although they be over- 

 whelmed by a mass of lies and fables, yet some investigation 

 should be made, to see if there be really any latent natural opera- 

 tion in them ; as in fascination, and the fortifying of the im- 

 agination, the sympathy of distant objects, the transmission of 

 impressions from spirit to spirit no less than from body to body, 

 and the like. 



32. From the foregoing remarks, it is clear that the five last 

 species of instances (the similar, singular, deviating, and bor- 

 dering instances, and those of power) should not be reserved 

 for the investigation of any given nature, as the preceding and 

 many of the succeeding instances must, but a collection of them 

 should be made at once, in the style of a particular history, so 

 that they may arrange the matter which enters the understand- 

 ing, and correct its depraved habit, for it is necessarily imbued, 

 corrupted, perverted, and distorted by daily and habitual im- 

 pressions. 



They are to be used, therefore, as a preparative, for the pur- 

 pose of rectifying and purifying the understanding; for what- 

 ever withdraws it from habit, levels and planes down its sur- 

 face for the reception of the dry and pure light of true notions. 



These instances, moreover, level and prepare the way for the 

 operative branch, as we will mention in its proper place when 

 speaking of the practical deductions. 



33. In the eleventh rank of prerogative instances we will 

 place accompanying and hostile instances. These are such as 

 exhibit any body or concrete, where the required nature is con- 

 stantly found, as an inseparable companion, or, on the con- 

 trary, where the required nature is constantly avoided, and ex- 

 cluded from attendance, as an enemy. From these instances 

 may be formed certain and universal propositions, either af- 

 firmative or negative ; the subject of which will be the concrete 

 body, and the predicate the required nature. For particular 

 propositions are by no means fixed, when the required nature is 

 found to fluctuate and change in the concrete, either approach- 

 ing and acquired, or receding and laid aside. Hence particular 

 propositions have no great prerogative, except in the case of 

 migration, of which we have spoken above. Yet such particular 

 propositions are of great use, when compared with the universal, 

 as will be mentioned in its proper place. Nor do we require ab- 



