230 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [l500X VI. 



to others for adding and landing their assistance, whereas 

 methods dress up the sciences into bodies, and make men 

 imagine they have them complete. 



There is a farther difference of method, and that too very- 

 considerable ; for as the sciences are delivered eitlier by 

 assertions with their proofs, or by questions with their 

 answers, if the latter method be pursued too far, it retards 

 the advancement of the sciences no less than it would the 

 march of an army, to be sitting down against every little fort 

 in the way; whereas, if the better of the battle be gained, 

 and the fortune of the war steadily pursued, such lesser 

 places will surrender of themselves, though it must be allowed 

 imsafe to leave any large and fortified place at the back of 

 the army. In the same manner confutations are to be 

 avoided or sparingly used in delivering the sciences, so as only 

 to conquer the greater prejudices and prepossessions of the 

 mind, without provoking and engaging the lesser doubts and 

 scruples. 



Another difference of method lies in suiting it to the 

 subject; for mathematics, the most abstract and simple of 

 the sciences, is delivered one way, and politics, the more 

 compound and perplexed, another. For an uniform method 

 cannot be commodiously observed in a variety of matter. 

 And as we approve of particular topics for invention, so 

 we must in some measure allow of particular methods of 

 delivery. 



There is another difference of method to be used with 

 judgment in delivering the sciences, and this is governed by 

 the informations and anticipations of the science to be deli- 

 vered that are before infused and impressed upon the mind 

 of tlie learner. For that science which comes as an entire 

 stranger to the mind is to be delivered one way, and that 

 which is familiarized by opinions already imbibed and re- 

 ceived another. And therefore, Aristotle, when he thought 

 to chastise, really commended Democritus, in saying, " If wo 

 would dispute in earnest, and not hunt after comparisons," 

 <kc. ; as if he would tax Democritus with being too full of 

 comparisons; whereas they whose instructions are already 

 grounded in pojnilar opinion have nothing left them bat to 

 dispute and prove, whilst others have a double task whose 

 ioctrines transcend the vulgar opinions ; viz., first to I'ender 



