J/ r 5. III. Of the Advancement of Learning. . 105 



than that of Arijlotle and PUto for this reafon alone^ that thofe Anciem 

 Philofophers never tvajled time in final Caufes'-, but thefe perpetually prefi 

 and inculcate them. And in this point Arijlotle is more to blame thaq 

 Tlato^ feeing he hath omitted the foiintain of all final Caufcs , God 5 

 and in the place of God fubftituted Nature 5 and hath imbraced _/?»<«/ 

 Canfes rather as a lover oi^Logic^^ than an adorer of Divinity. Nor do 

 \ye therefore fpeak thus much , becaufe thofe final Canfes are not true, 

 30d very worthy the enquiry in Metaphyfick^SpecHiationt ; but becaufcg 

 Yi'h^le they fally outjand break in upon thePoffeffions o^PhyJicaiCattfes^ 

 tJ^ey dp uiJrappily depopulate and wafte that Province: For Otherwife, 

 it they keep themfelves within their precinfts and borders, they are ex- 

 tremely deceiv'd^who ever think that there is an enmity or repugnancy 

 between ^>6p/;/ and Phyfica.1 Caufes. For the caufe render'd,ry&<2^ the hairs 

 rJidHt.theej^rlidiarefor thefafe-gardof the fight, doth .not indeed im- 

 ^gn that 'other Caufe , That pilojitie is incident to Orifices of 



\ior the Caufe render 'djt^^t thefirmnefs of Hides is in Beafisfor arfnor tt^ 

 ^tinji the injuries of extreme n>eather:,doth impugil that other Caufe^TiOa* 

 that firmnefs is caufed by the contra3ion of pores in the onttvard. parts of 

 the body throHgh cold, and depredation of Air , and fo of the reft : both 

 caiifes excellently confpiring, faye that, , the pnedeclares an intention, 

 the other a confequence only : Neither doth this call jn queftion, or de- 

 rogate from divine Providence '■} but rather wonderfully confirms and 

 exalts it. For as in Civil Aftions, that Politick wjfdom will be more 

 deep, and admired, if a man can ufe jthe (ervice of other men to his 

 own ends and defires 5 andyet never^ acquaiot them with his purpofe 

 ((b as they (hall do what he would they (hould do, and yet not under- 

 u.Andi what^they do) 5 then if he (hould impart his counfels to thofe he 

 imploys : So the wifdom of God fiiines more wonderfully, when Na-, 

 ture^ntends one thing, and Providence draws forth another , then if 

 the Charafters o^ Divine Providence were impreft upon every particular 

 habitude and motion of Nature. Surely Arijiotle, afiier he fwelled up 

 Nature with F/«4/C4«/e/^ Naturam nihil frujirafacere'-^ frnqnevoti fern- ^^ C«Io. 

 per.ejfe compotem (fi impedimenta, al^ejfent^ 5 and had fet down many ilb.'dc' 

 fuch tending to that purpofe ; had no farther need of God: But Democri^ part, a. 

 Ins and EpicHrus, when they publiftit aqd celebrated the'iv Atoms ^ were "'™'' 

 thus far by the more fubtile wits liftned unto with Patience : but when 

 they would avouch, that the Fabrick and Contexture of- all things in 

 Nature, knit and united it lelf without a /I//«^, from a fortuitous Con- 

 courfe of tho(e Atoms, they Were entertain'd with laughter by all. So 

 that Phyftcal Caufes are fo fer from withdrawing mens minds from God 

 and Providence ^ as rather contrariwife thofe Philofbphers which vvere 

 raoft exercifed in contriving thofe Atoms , found no end and illue of 

 their travail, until they had refolved all at laft into God and Providence, 

 Thus much of Metaphyfick^, a part whereof touching Final Caufes I de- 

 ny not to have been handled both in the Phyficks and Metaphyficks 5 

 in thele truly, in thofe improperly 5 for the inconvenience haijuenfuei 

 thereupon. 



' O ■ ' CHAP.. 



