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178 Of the Advancetti^ftt of Learning. L i b. VI. 



be altogether ridiculous, cannot be made but out of the pythand. 

 heart of Sciences : For Illuftration and Excufiion are cut off^ variety of 

 examples is cut off 3 Dedu6tion and Connexion are cut off j Defcrip- 

 tion of Pradlice is cut off^ fo there remaineth nothing to fill the Apho- 

 rifras, but a good quantity of obfervations. And therefore no man 

 can fuffice, nor in reafon Will attempt to Write Aphorifms^ who is not 

 copioufly furnifh'd and folidly grounded. But in Methods^ 



H^rat.de Tatitumferies^ juhSuraqHepoUet 5 



■*"'^' Tjtntum de mediojHtftftis accedit Honoris. 



As oftentimes they make a great (hew of (I know not what) fingular Art, 

 which if they were disjoynted, feparated, and laid open, would come 

 to little or nothing. Secondly, Methodical Delivery is more fit to win 

 confent or belief; but lefs fit to point to Aftion , for they carry a ftiew 

 oi^Demotjjlrationin OrZ* or Circle, one part illuminating another; and 

 therefore do more fatisfiethe uriderftanding 5 but being that Adions 

 in common courfe of life are difperft, and not orderly digefted,they 

 do beft agree with difperfed DireftioDs. h2iMy^Aphorijms reprefenting 

 certain Portions only, and as it were fragments of Sciences, invite ci- 

 thers to contribute, and add fomething; whereas Methodical Delivery^ 

 carrying fhew of a total and perfect Knowledge, forthwith fecurethmen 

 as if they were at the furtheft. 



§ Another diverfity of Method follows, which is Iikewi(e of great 

 weight, whichiswhen<S«e»fcx are delivered either by Ajjerti on s w\t\i 

 their Proofs annext ; or by ^efiions together with their Detcrminati* 

 , ons. The later kind whereof,if it be immoderately followed, is as prei 



judicious to the progreffion of Sciences, as it is to the fortunes and 

 proceedings of an Army, to go about to befiege every little Fort or 

 Hold. For if the field be kept, and the fum of the enterprize with di- 

 ligence purfued, thofe fmaller places will come in of themfelves. Yet 

 this I cannot deny, that it is not alway fafe to leave any great and 

 fortified town at his back. In like manner the »fe of Confutations in the 

 Delivery of Sciences ought to be very (paring, and to ferve only to re- 

 move and break ftrong Preoccupations and Prejudgements of mens 

 minds, and not to excite and provokefntal/er Doubts. 



§ Another diverfity of Method followeth, which is, that the Method be 

 acccmmodatedto the furpofed matter which is to be handled^ For there 

 is a great difference in Delivery of the Mathematiek/iV/hich are of know- 

 ledges the mofl: ab(i:ra6i:ed and rao(i: fimple ; and the Politicks, which 

 are the mo(t immerfed and compounded .• Neither can an uniformity of 

 Method (zs wc haveobferv'd already) be fitly (brted with niulti-formity 

 of Matter ; and therefore as we have allowed Particular Topic^s for In- 

 vention ; fb we would likcwife in (bme meafure have Particular Methods 

 for Tradition. 



§ Another diverjity of JlfethodfoWowtth, with judgement to be pra- 

 ftis'd in the Delivery of Sciences 3 and\t is dire&cd according to the light' 

 of Informations, and anticipations, of the Knoveledge to be delivered, in- 

 fufed^ andimpreffcd in the minds of the Learners: For that Knowledge 

 which is new and foreign to mens minds, is to be delivered in another 

 form than that which by long receiv'd, and imbibed opinions is natu- 

 ralized 



