264 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



union of them in a perpetual and uniform law. And 

 therefore the speculation was excellent in Parmenides and 

 Plato, although but a speculation in them, That all things 

 by scale did ascend to unity. So then always that know- 

 ledge is worthiest, which is charged with least multiplicity ; 

 which appeareth to be Metaphysic ; as that which con- 

 sidereth the Simple Forms or Differences of things, which 

 are few in number, and the degrees and co-ordinations 

 whereof make all this variety. The second respect which 

 valueth and commendeth this part of Metaphysic, is that 

 it doth enfranchise the power of man unto the greatest 

 liberty and possibility of works and effects. For Physic 

 carrieth men in narrow and restrained ways, subject to 

 many accidents of impediments, imitating the ordinary 

 flexuous courses of nature ; but latae undique sunt sapien- 

 tibus viae : to sapience (which was anciently defined to 

 be rerum divinarum et humanarum sciential) there is ever 

 choice of means. For physical causes give light to new 

 invention in simili materia ; but whosoever knoweth any 

 form, knoweth the utmost possibility of superinducing 

 that nature upon any variety of matter, and so is less 

 restrained in operation, either to the basis of the Matter, 

 or the condition of the Efficient : which kind of knowledge 

 Solomon likewise, though in a more divine sense, elegantly 

 describeth : Non arctabuntur gressus tui, et currens non 

 habebis offendiculum. The ways of sapience are not much 

 liable either to particularity or chance. 



The second part of Metaphysic is the inquiry of Final 

 Causes, which I am moved to report not as omitted, but as 

 misplaced. And yet if it were but a fault in order, I would 

 not speak of it ; for order is matter of illustration, but 

 pertaineth not to the substance of sciences : but this mis- 

 placing hath caused a deficience, or at least a great impro- 

 ficience in the sciences themselves. For the handling of 

 final causes mixed with the rest in physical inquiries, hath 

 intercepted the severe and diligent inquiry of all real and 

 physical causes, and given men the occasion to stay upon 

 these satisfactory and specious causes, to the great arrest 

 and prejudice of further discovery. For this I find done 



