4 io BACON 



solute affirmation or negation, even in universal propositions, for 

 if the exceptions be singular or rare, it is sufficient for our pur- 

 pose. 



The use of accompanying instances is to narrow the affirma- 

 tive of form ; for as it is narrowed by the migrating instances, 

 where the form must necessarily be something communicated or 

 destroyed by the act of migration, so it is narrowed by ac- 

 companying instances, where the form must necessarily be 

 something which enters into the concretion of the body, or, on 

 the contrary, is repugnant to it ; and one who is well acquainted 

 with the constitution or formation of the body, will not be far 

 from bringing to light the form of the required nature. 



For example : let the required nature be heat. Flame is an 

 accompanying instance; for in water, air, stone, metal, and many 

 other substances, heat is variable, and can approach or retire; 

 but all flame is hot, so that heat always accompanies the con- 

 cretion of flame. We have no hostile instance of heat ; for the 

 senses are unacquainted with the interior of the earth, and there 

 is no concretion of any known body which is not susceptible of 

 heat. 



Again, let solidity be the required nature. Air is a hostile 

 instance ; for metals may be liquid or solid, so may glass ; even 

 water may become solid by congelation, but air cannot become 

 solid or lose its fluidity. 



With regard to these instances of fixed propositions, there are 

 two points to be observed, which are of importance. First, that 

 if there be no universal affirmative or negative, it be carefully 

 noted as not existing. Thus, in heat, we have observed that 

 there exists no universal negative, in such substances, at least, 

 as have come to our knowledge. Again, if the required nature 

 be eternity or incorruptibility, we have no universal affirmative 

 within our sphere, for these qualities cannot be predicated of 

 any bodies below the heavens, or above the interior of the earth. 

 Secondly, to our general propositions as to any concrete, whether 

 affirmative or negative, we should subjoin the concretes which 

 appear to approach nearest to the non-existing substances ; such 

 as the most gentle or least-burning flames in heat, or gold in in- 

 corruptibility, since it approaches nearest to it. For they all 

 serve to show the limit of existence and non-existence, and cir- 

 cumscribe forms, so that they cannot wander beyond the con- 

 ditions of matter. 



34. In the twelfth rank of prerogative instances, we will class 

 those subjunctive instances, of which we spoke in the last 

 aphorism, and which we are also wont to call instances of ex- 

 tremity or limits ; for they are not only serviceable when sub- 

 joined to fixed propositions, but also of themselves and from 

 their own nature. They indicate with sufficient precision the 



