10 THE GREAT IKSTAURATION. 



prejudices of opinions, and endeavour tjie common good ; 

 and that being, by our assistance, freed an3~^ept clear from 

 the errors and hinderances of the way, they would themselves 

 also take part of the task. 3. That they do not despair, as 

 imagining our project for a grand restoration, or advancement 

 of all kinds of knowledge, infinitely beyond the power of 

 mortals to execute ; whilst in reality, it is the genuine stop 

 . and prevention of infinite error. Indeed, as our state is 

 /niortal, and human, a full accomplishment cannot be expected 

 I in a single age, and must therefore be commended to 

 I posterity. Nor could we hope to succeed, if we arrogantly 

 searched for the sciences in the narrow cells of the human 

 understanding, and not submissively in the wider world. 

 4. In the last place, to prevent ill effects from contention, 

 we desire mankind to consider how far they have a right 

 to judge our performance, upon the foundations here 

 laid down : for we reject all that knowledge which is too 

 " hastily abstracted from things, as vague, disorderly, and ill- 

 formed ; and we cannot be expected to abide by a judgment 

 which is itself called in question. 



DISTRIBUTION OF THE WORK. 



IN SIX PAETS. 



1. Survey and Extension of the Sciences; or, the Advancement of 



Learning. 



2. Novum Organum ; or, Precepts for the Interpretation of Nature. 



3. Phenomena of the Universe ; or, Natural and Experimental History, 



on which to found Philosophy. 



4. Ladder of the Understanding. 



5. Precursors, or Anticipators, of the Second Philosophy. 

 3. Second Philosophy ; or, Active Science. 



We divide the whole of the work into six parts : the fii-st 

 whereof gives the substance, or general description of the 

 knowledge which mankind at present possess ; choosing to 

 dwell a little upon things already received, that we may the 

 easier perfect the old, and lead on to new ; being equally in- 

 clined to cultivate the discoveries of antiquity, as to strike 

 out fresh paths of scieuce. In classing the sciences, we com 



