L I B. VIII. Of the Advancement of Learning, i c)j 



a Reformation mufl: be made. Modern Prefuktits tafte more of their 

 own Times^ than of right Reafon. 



i 



APHORISM XXIV, 



But f»ore Aftcient Trefidents muft be received with caution, and 

 choice ; for the Revolution of an Age altereth many things 3 fb as 

 what might feem Ancient for Time, the fame through perturbation, 

 and inconformity to the prefent Age,may be altogether Ncn>. Where- 

 fore the examples of a middle time are beft ; or of fuch ati Age, as 

 beft (brts with the Tr.efentTifitesj which now and then the Time fur- 

 ther off better reprelents, than the Tit»e clofe at hand, 



APHORISM XXV. 



Keep your felf within, or rather on this fide the limits of an £.v- 

 afaple, and by no means furpafs thofe bounds : for where there is no 

 Bule ofLarv, all ought to be entertain'd with jealoufie : v^'herefore 

 here, as in obfcure Cafes, folloiP that which is leaji doubtful. 



: APHORISM xxvr. 



Beware of Fr4gz»e»/j and Compends o( Examples -^ and view the 

 Examples entire , and every particular paflage thereof: for if it be 

 inequitable and unreafonable before aperfe& comprehenfion of the whole 

 Laxf>,to make a judgement upon a Partner Paragraph thereof j much more 

 (hould this Rule hold in Examples , which unlets they be very fquare 

 and proper, are of doubtful ufe and application. 



4 P HO R ISM XXVIT. 



■ In Exramples it imports very much thorough what hands they ha^e 

 paft, and have been tranlafted 5 for if they have gone current with 

 ClerJ^s only and Minijiers ofjttjiice, from the conrfe of fame Courts ,^ 

 without any notice taken thereof by fuperiour Counfellors •-, or with 

 the Majier of Errors, the People-^ they are to be rejefted and little 

 fefteeraed of: but if they have been fuch precife r/-e/?<s^e»// to Coun* 

 fellors of Eftate, Judges or Principal Courts, as that it muft needs 

 be, that they have been ftrengthened by the tacite approbation, at 

 leaftj of Judges 5 they carry the more Reverence with them. 



APHORSIM XXVin. 



Pre/?<5/f?«// that have been publifht, however lelspraftifedj which 

 being debated and ventilated by mens difcourfes and dilceptatioris 

 have yet ftood out unargued, are of greater j^uthority : but fuch as 

 have remained buried^ as it were, in Clofets and Archives, are of Icls i 

 for^Examples like waters arc mofi wholjome in the running (iream. 



P p' APtid' 



