L I B. VI. Oftbe Advancement of Learning, lyy 



ted (if it were poflible) into the mind of another^ in the ftmc Method 

 wherein it vaasatfirji invented. And furely this may be done in know- 

 ledge acquired by Indu&ion : But in this lame anticipated and preven- 

 ted knowledge, which we ufe, a man cannot eafily fay, by what courfe 

 of ftudy he came to the knowledge he hath obtained. But yet cer- 

 tainly more or lefs a man may revifit his own Knoivledgc, and measure o- 

 ver again the footfteps of his Knowledge, and of his confent , and by 

 this means fo tranfplant Science into the mind of another, as it grew in 

 his own. For it is in Jrts, as it is in Plants j if you mean to u(e the 

 riant, it is no matter for the Roots 5 butif you would remove into a- 

 nother fbyl, than it is more affured to reft upon roots than flips. So 

 the Deliver)/ of Knowledge, as it is now ufed, doth prefentunto us fair 

 Bodies indeed of Sciences, but without th^ Roots •'^ good, doubtlefs for 

 the Carpenter, btitnotfor the rltnter. But if you will have Sciences 

 grow, you need not be fo follicitous for the Bodies 5 apply all your 

 care that the Roots may be taken up found, and entire, with fome little 

 earth cleaving to them. OfwhichkindofDe/zz^ery, the Method ofthe 

 Alatbematickj in that fubjeft, hath fome fhadow, but generally I fee it 

 neither put in ure, nor put in Inquijltion j and therefore number it a- 

 mongft Deficients, and we will call it Traditionem Lampadis, the 

 Delivery of the Lamp, or the Method bequeathed to the fons of Sapi- 

 enct. 



§ Another diversity of Method followeth, in the intentfon like the 

 former, but for moft part contrary in the ilTue. In this both thele Me- 

 thods agree, that they feparate the vulgar Auditors from the Scle^ ^ here 

 they differ, that the former introduceth a more open way of Delivery 

 than is uftial ^ x}aeother (of which we (hall now fpeakj a more referved 

 aadfecret. Let therefore the diftindtion of them be this, that the one 

 is an Exoterical or revealed , the other an Acroam.itical, or concealed Me- 

 thod. For the lame difference the Ancients Tpecially obferved in pub- 

 lilhiag Books, the lame we will transfer to the manner itfelfofDe/zyt^ry. 

 So the Acroamatick. Method was in ule with the VVrircrs of former Ages, 

 and wifely, and with judgement applied 5 but that Acroamatick, and 

 ^^oigmatick kind of expreffion is dilgraced in thefe later times, by ma- 

 ny who have made it as a dubious and falfe light, for the vent of their 

 counterfeit merchandife. But the pretence thereof feemeth to be this, 

 that by the intricate envelopmgs oi Delivery, the Prophane Vulgar may 

 be removed from the fecrets of Sciences , and they only admitted,which 

 had either acquired the interpretation of Parables by Tradition froni 

 their Teachers , or by the fharpncfs and fubtilty of their own wit, 

 could pierce theveil. 



' § Another diver (ity of Method {oWows, of great confequence to *f/- 

 ettces^ which is, when Sciences are delivered by way of Aphorifm, or 

 Methods. For it is a thing worthy to be preciiely noted, that it hath 

 been often taken into Cuftom, that men out of a few Axioms and Ob- 

 fervations upon any Subjeft, have made a compleat and folcmn Art, 

 filling itwithlbmedifcourfesofwit, illuftrating it with examples, and 

 knitting it together by fome Method. But that other way of Delivery 

 by Aphorifms, brings with it many advantages, whereto Delivery by 

 Method doth not approach. For firlt it trycs the Writer whether he 

 be fuperficial orlblid in knowledge. For /?p/jm/«// except they fhould 



2 be 



