FRANCIS OP VEUULAM'S 



GEEAT INSTAUEATION. 



Announcement of the Author. 



/RANCIS OP VERULAM THOUGHT THUS, AND SUCH IS THE METHOD 

 WHICH HE DETERMINED WITHIN HIMSELF, AND WHICH HE THOUGHT 

 IT CONCERNED THE LIVING AND POSTERITY TO KNOW. 



Being convinced, by a careful observation, tha t the huma n 

 understanding perplexes itself, or makes not a sober and 

 advantage(5us\ise 7)T the real helps within its reach, whence 

 manifold ignorance and inconveniences arise, he was deter- 

 mined to employ his utmost endeavours towards restoring 

 or cultivating a just and legitimate familiarity betwixt the 

 mind and things. 



But as the mind, hastily and without choice, imbibes and 

 treasures up the first notices of things, from whence all the 

 rest proceed, errors must for ever prevail, and remain uncor- 

 rected, either by the natural powers of the understanding 

 or the assistance of logic ; for the original notions being 

 vitiated, confused, and inconsiderately taken from things, 

 jind the secondary ones formed no less rashly, human know- 

 ledge itself, the thing employed in all our researches, is not , 

 well put together nor justly formed, but resembles a magni-y 

 licent structure that has no foundation. \ 



And whilst men agree to admire and magnify the false 

 powers of the mind, and neglect or destroy those that might 

 be rendered true, there is no other course left but with 

 better assistance to begin the work anew, and raise or re- 

 build the sciences, arts, and all human knowledge from a 

 firm and solid basis. 



This may at first seem an infinite scheme, unequal to 

 human abilities, yet it will be found more sound and judi* 

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