Lib. III. Of the Advancement of Learning, lo:? 



of Mat aph^JTcli, whereof we now enquire. Not doth this lb preju- 

 dicate or hinder, but that rhyfick may confider the fame Natures alio 

 (as hath been (aid) bnt only according to the fluid and mutable caufes, 

 For example^ ifthecaufe ofrphitencjSin Snove or in Froth be enquired, 

 it is well rendredj that it is the fubtile intermixture of Air with water. 

 But this is far from being the Form of whitenef^ being that Air inter- 

 mixt with the duft, or powder of Glafs, or Chryftal, doth likewi(e 

 produce whitcncfs^ as well as if it were mingled with watery but this 

 is the efficient caufe only, which is no other than 'vehiculum Forma. But 

 if the enquiry be made in Metaphyficti, you (hall find fome fuch rule as 

 this. That trfio diaphanous bodies being inter mixt, their opticl^Portions in 

 afimple order, or equally placed^ do determine and conjiitute whiteneff. 

 This part of Metaphyjick^I find deficietit : and no marvail, becaufe by the 

 courfe of enquiring, which hitherto hath been praftifed, the Forms of 

 things will never appear, while the world endures. The root of this 

 error J as of all other, is this^ that men in their contemplations of nature 

 are acculiomed to make too timely a departure, and, too remote a recefsfrom 

 experience and particulars 5 and have yielded and refigned themfelves whol- 

 ly over to thejumes of their own fancies, and popular Argumentations, 

 But the u(e of this part of Mntaphyfick^, which I report as deficient, is 

 of the reft the moft excellent in two refpeds. 



§ Firjl, becau(e it is the duty and peculiar virtue of all Sciences, to 

 abridge (as much as the conception of truth will permitj the ambages 

 and long circuits of Experience, and fo to apply a remedy to the anci- 

 ent complaint of wV^ /ret;;/, arslonga. And this is excellently perfor-nlppl 

 med, by coUeBing and uniting the Axioms of Sciences, into more general Apho?j' 

 heads and conceptions 5 which may be agreeable to all Individuals. For 

 Sciences, are the Pyramids fupported by Hijiory j and Experience as their 

 only and true Bajls 3 andfo the Bafis of Natural Philojophy is Natural Hi- 

 jiory 5 the Jiage next the Bafis is Phific\ 5 thejiage next the vertical point 

 is Metaphyfick^: as for the Cone znd. vertical point it fdf(opus quod ope- ^ . «l, 

 raturDeusaprincipioufqueadfinemj the fummary law of Nature J we do 

 /uftly doubt, whether mans enquiry can attain unto it. But thefe three 

 be the truejiages of Sciences ; and are, to men fvvelled up with their 

 own knowledge, and a daring infolence, to invade Heaven, like the 

 three hills of the Giants. 



TerfuntConatiimponerePelionOjf<e, Gsot.u 



Scilicet atque Ope frondofum involvere Olympnm, 



But to thofe that difabling themfelves, and difcharging their pride, re- 

 fer all to the glory of God, they are the three acclamations, SanBe, 

 SanUe, SanUe : for God is holy in the multitude of his workj. Holy in the Apoe.#. ^ 

 order of them. Holy in the union. And therefore the fpeculation was " " ' 

 excellent in Parmenides and Plato j although but a fpeculation in 

 them. That all things byfcales did afcend to unity. So then, thatfcience 

 is the vvorthieft, which leaft chargeth mans underftanding with multi- 

 plicity 5 and it is evident, that that is Metaphyfick, as that which prin- 

 cipally fpeculates thofe fimpie Forms of things 5 (which we have (tiled 

 Forms ofthefirfl degree or order J which though they be fev^ in number, 

 yet in their Commenfuratipns and Co-ordinations, they make all kinds • 

 of variety, ^ ihs 



