Lib. IV. Of the Advancement of Learning. 1^21 



tunes. For the vexations of fickncfs j the fvveetnefs of life 5 the flatte- 

 ry hope ^ the commendation of friends j maketh men to depend up- 

 on Phyficians with all their defefts : But if a man feriouOy weigh the 

 matterj thefe things rather redound to the imputation of Phyficians j 

 than their excufation ; who lliould not for thefe prejudices caft away 

 hope ; but encreafe their pains and diligence. For whofoever pleafeth 

 to excite and awake his obfcrvation, and a little look about him, (hall 

 eafily deprehend even from common and familiar examples, what a com* 

 mand and foveraignty the fubtilty and fliarpnefs of the underftanding 

 hath over the variety either of matter^or of the form of things. isSothing 

 is more variable than mens faces and countenances ; yet the memory re- 

 tains the infinite diftinftions of them : Nay, a Painter with a few fhells 

 of Colours •■) the benefit of his eye ; the habit of his imagination •■, and 

 the fteadinels of his hand 3 can imitate and draw with his pencil all 

 faces that are, have been, or ever (hall be 5 if they were brought before 

 him : Nothing more variable than mans voice 5 yet we can ealily difcerri 

 their differences in every particular perfon 3 nay, you (hall have a Buf- 

 foon, or a Pantomimus will render and expre/s to the life, as many as 

 he pleafeth. Nothingmorc variable than articulate founds ofrvords^ yet 

 men have found away to reduce them to a few Letters of the Alphabet. 

 And this is moft certain, that it is not the infufjiciency^ or incapacity of 

 mans mind 5 but rather the remote fianding , or placing of the object that 

 breeds thefe Alaz^cs^ and Incomprehenfions. For asthefenfea far off is 

 full of miftaking 3 but within due diftance errs not much 3 (b it is in 

 the under(tanding. For men ufe commonly to tal{e a proJpeCf of Nature 

 as from fome high Turret , and to view her a far ojfj and are too much 

 tik^n up vpith generalities^ whereas if they would vouchfafe to defcend and 

 approach nearer to particulars 3 and more exa&ly and confiderately bob in- 

 to things themfelves 3 there might be made a mote true and profitable difco- 

 very and comprehenfion. Novv the remedy of this error, is not alone this 

 to quicken orfirengthen the Organ ; but withal to go nearer to the object : 

 And therefore there is no doubt but if Phyficians, letting Generalities 

 go for a while , and fufpending their afl'cnt thereto, would make their 

 approaches to Nature , they might become Maftcrs of that Art^where- 

 of the Poet fpeaks, 



Et quoniam variant morbi^ variabimus Aries $ q^-^ 5^. 



MiUe malifpeeiesj millefalutis erunt. A, l.i. ° 



Which they ought the rather to endeavour becaufe the Philofophers 

 themfelves, upon the which Phyficians, whether they be Methodifts, or 

 ChymiftSj do rclye (/<?r Medicine not grounded t/pon Philofophy is a weal^ 

 thing) are indeed very flight and fuperficial. Wherefore if too wide 

 Generalities, though true, have this defcft, that they do not well bring 

 men home to Aftion^ certainly there is greater danger in thofe Gene- 

 rals, which are in themfelves falfe, and in(lead of direfting to truth , 

 miflead the mind into the by-paths of Error. 



^ Medicine therefore (as we have feen) hitherto hath been fuch, as 

 hath been more profeiled, than laboured 3 and yet more laboured than 

 advanced j feeing the pains beltowed thereon, hath been rather in cir- 



