oo Of the Advancement of Learning, Lib. III. 



Ancient terms : For being we hope, that the method it felf, and a per- 

 fpicuous explication of the Matter, which we labour to annex, may re- 

 deem us from an incongruous conception of the words we ufe, we are 

 other wife zealous (fo far as we can without prejudice of Truth and 

 Sciences) to depart as little as may be, from the opinions and expref- 

 fions of Antiquity. And herein I cannot but marvail at the confidence 

 oi' Arijiotlc^ who pofleft with a fpirit of contradiftion 5 and denouncing 

 war againft all Antiquity, not only ufurpt a licenfe to coyn new terms 

 of Arts at pleafure j but hath endeavoured to deface and extinguilh 

 all ancient wifdom. In fo much as he never names any ancient Authors 5 

 or makes any mention of their opinions , but to reprehend their Per- 

 fons ; or to redargue [their Placits , and Opinions. Certainly if he 

 aftedted glory , and drawing difciples after him, he took the right 

 courfe : For the fame comes to pafs in the aflerting and receiving 1 

 Philofbphical Truth.that doth in a Divine Truths veai in nomine Pa" 

 triSi necrecipftis me, Jiquis vencrit in nomine fuo turn recipietis. But 

 loan. 5. from this divine Aphorifm, if we confider whom fpecially it hath de- 

 figned fnaraely Antichrift the greateft Impoftor of all timesjwe may 

 CoUecft,^^^ the coming in a mans own name, without any regard of^»- 

 tiqyity, or ( if I may fo fpeak) of Paternity, is no good Augury of 

 Truth, however it be joyned with the fortune and fuccefs of an eunt 

 recipietis. But for Ar'i(iot\e, certainly an excellent man, and of an admi^ 

 r able profound wit, I pould eajilji be induced to believe --^ that he learned 

 this ambition of his Scholar, rohom perhaps he did emulate : that if one 

 conquered all Nations •-, the other would conquer all Opinions, and raife ta 

 himfelfa kjnd of Monarchy in contemplations. Although it may (b fall 

 out, that he may at fome mens hands,that are of a bitter dilpolition,and 

 biting language, get a like title, as his Scholar did. 



Liican.l, 

 10. 



Tcelix terrarum Frado, non utile Mundo 

 Editus exemplum. So 



Fcelix Do&rin£ Prado, &c. But to us on the other fide that do de- 

 Gre, fo much as lies in the power of our pen, to contradt a league and 

 commerce between Ancient and Modern knowledge ; our judgement 

 [bnds firm,^ l{ccp way vpith Antiquity. ufq'-^ ad Aras , and to retain the An- 

 cient termSjthough lometimeswe alter their Sence,and Definitions : ac- 

 cording to the modern arid approved manner of Innovation, in Civil 

 Government , where the ftate of things being changed , yet the (b- 

 Annal.i. lemnity of words and Itiles is obferved which Tacitus notesj EadtM 

 Magijiratuum vocabula. 



§ To return therefore to the acception of the word Metaphyficl{^ m 

 our fence. It appears, by that which hath been already faid, that we 

 diftinguifh Primitive Phylofophy, from Afetaphyfic/i , which heretofore 

 hath been confounded and taken for the fame thing. The one we have 

 fet down as a commune Parent of all Sciences j the other, as a portion of 

 Natural Philofophy. We have allign'd Common and Promi(cuous 

 Axioms of Sciences j to Prim/tive Philofophy. Likewife all Relative 

 and Adventive Conditions at:d CharaCfcrs of Fjjences , which we 

 have named Tranfcendents -, as /Uultitude, Paucity, Identity, Diverfity^ 



Polfihle, 



