90 The Advancement of Learning 



nature of evil spirits, than to inquire the force of poisons 

 in nature, or the nature of sin and vice in morality. But 

 this part touching angels and spirits I cannot note as defi- 

 cient, for many have occupied themselves in it ; ^ I may 

 rather challenge it, in many of the writers thereof, as 

 fabulous and fantastical. 

 VII. I. Leaving therefore divine philosophy or natural theology 

 (not Divinity or inspired theology, which we reserve for the 

 last of all, as the haven and sabbath of all man's contempla- 

 tions), we will now proceed to natural philosophy. 



If then it be true that Democritus said. That the truth of 

 nature lieth hid in certain deep mines and caves, "^ and if it be 

 true hkewise that the alchemists do so much inculcate, that 

 Vulcan is a second nature, and imitateth that dexterously 

 and compendiously, which nature worketh by ambages and 

 length of time, it were good to divide natural philosophy 

 into the mine and the furnace : and to make two professions 

 or occupations of natural philosophers, some to be pioneers 

 and some smiths; some to dig, and some to refine and 

 hammer: and surely I do best allow of a division of that 

 kind, though in more famihar and scholastical terms; 

 namely, that these be the two parts of natural philosophy, — 

 the inquisition of causes, and the production of effects ; 

 speculative, and operative ; natural science and natural 

 prudence. For as in civil matters there is a wisdom of 

 discourse and a wisdom of direction; so is it in natural. 

 And here I will make a request, that for the latter, or at 

 least for a part thereof, I may revive and reintegrate the 

 misapphed and abused name of natural magic ;^ which, in 

 the true sense, is but natural wisdom, or natural prudence ; 

 taken according to the ancient acception, purged from 

 vanity and superstition. Now although it be true, and I 

 know it well, that there is an intercourse between causes and 

 effects, so as both these knowledges, speculative and opera- 

 tive, have a great connection between themselves; yet 

 because all true and fruitful natural philosophy hath a 



* The nature of Angels was a favourite subject of speculation and 

 discussion among the Schoolmen, whose writings on it deserve 

 Bacon's censure. 



■ iv pvQ(^ yhp ij dX-^deia. Diog. Laert. ix. 72. — Whence our " Truth 

 lies at the bottom of a Well." 



■ Cf. Nov. Org. ii. 9 and 51, and De Augtn. iii. 5, where he asserts 

 for the term Magic its proper honours. 



