Lib. III. Of the Advancement of Learnincr. §n 



the Alchimiftsdo fo much inculcate , 7hat Vulcan is a fccond Ntture, paracef. 

 a»d pcrje&s that com^cndioiify which Nature ttfeth to effect by a;»ba(ycs ^= *'*''''^^' 

 and length of time : why then may we not divide Philofophy into two '"^'^"' 

 parts ^ the /W»e, and the Fornace -j and make two profelfions, or oc- 

 cupations of ^'^/«n^/ rhilofophers 5 Pyonersot workers in the Mine 3 and 

 Smithy or Refiners ? Certainly however we may feem to be conceited, 

 and to fpeak in jell: s yet we do bed allow of a divifion in that kind, if 

 it be propofed in more familiar and Scholaftical terms, namely, that 

 the knoxoledge of Nature, be divided into the Inquifition of Caufcs \ and 

 the Produciion of Effeds ^ Speculative, and Operative j the one fearch- 

 eth the bowels of Nature , the other fafhions Nature, as it were, upon 

 the Anvile. 



^ Now although I know very well with what a ftrift band, caufes 

 and efFefts are united 3 fo as the explication of them, muft in a fort be 

 coupled and conjoyned; yet becaufeallfolid and fruitful Natural know- 

 ledge hath a double, and that diftindt, fcale or ladder 5 Afcendent and 

 Defcendent ; From Experiments to Axioms^ and from Axioms to the nen> 

 Experiments. I judge it moft requifitc, that thefe two parts. Speculative 

 zndoperative, befeparate, both in the intention of the Writer^ind the 

 Body of the Treatife. 



Chap. IV. 



I. The Partition of the Speculative knowledge of Nature into Phy- 

 fick fpecial, and Metaphyfick : Whereof Phyfick enquires the Effi- 

 cient Caufe, and the Matter : Metaphyfick the final Caufe and the 

 Form. II. The Partition of Phyfick, into the knowledges of the 

 Principles of Things; of the Fabrick of Things, or of the World: 

 And of the variety of things. III. The Partition tf/ Phyfick, /tf«<:A. 

 ingthe variety of things, into theDoftrine of Concretes ; and in- 

 to the Dodrine of Abftrafts. The Partition of the knowledge of 

 Concretes, is referred over to the fame Partition which Natural Hi- 

 fiory Comprehends. IV. The Partition of the knowledge of Ab- 

 ftrads, into the knowledge of the Schemes of Matter j and into 

 the knowledge of Motions. V. Troo Appendices c/ Speculative 

 Phyfick s Natural Problems ; And the Placits of Ancient Philofo- 

 phers. VI. The Partition of Metaphyfick , into the Doftrine of 

 Forms 3 And into the Doctrine of the Final Caufes. 



J. '"T~*Hat part o^ Natural Philofophy which is Speculative and Thcori- 

 ^ cal, we think convenient to divide \mo Phyfick fpecial, and 

 Metaphyfick. And in this Partition I defire it may be conceiv'd, that we 

 ufe the iilctaphyjickjn a different fence from that, that is received. And 

 here it fecms to fall out not unfitly, to advertife in general of our pur- 

 pofe and meaning touching the ufe of words, and terms of Art. And 

 it is this, that as well in this word Mctaphyfukno''' delivered, as in o- 

 ther terms of Art, wherefbever our conceptions and notions are nev/, 

 and differ from the received 3 yet with much reverence, we retain the 



M Ancient 



