II.] ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 161 



But to me, on the other side, that do desire as much as lieth in my pen 

 to ground a sociable intercourse between antiquity and proficience, it 

 seemeth best to keep way with antiquity usque ad aras ; and therefore 

 to retain the ancient terms, though I sometimes alter the uses and 

 definitions ; according to the moderate proceeding in civil government, 

 where although there be some alteration, yet that holdeth which 

 Tacitus wisely noteth, &quot; eadem magistratuum vocabula.&quot; 



To return therefore to the use and acception of the term metaphysic, 

 as I do now understand the word ; it appeareth, by that which hath 

 been already said, that I intend////Aw////Vz/r////&amp;lt;f, summary philosophy, 

 and metaphys.c, which heretofore have been confounded as one, to be 

 two distinct things. For the one I have made as a parent, or common 

 ancestor, to all knowledge ; and the other I have now brought in, as a 

 branch, or descendent, of natural science. It appeareth likewise that 

 I have assigned to summary philosophy the common principles and 

 axioms which are promiscuous and indifferent to several sciences : I 

 have assigned unto it likewise the inquiry touching the operation of 

 the relative and adventivc characters of essences, as quantity, simili 

 tude, diversity, possibility, and the rest ; with this distinction and 

 provision ; that they be handled as they have efficacy in nature, and 

 not logically. It appeareth likewise, that natural theology, which 

 heretofore hath been handled confusedly with metaphysic, I have 

 inclosed and bounded by itself. 



It is therefore now a question, what is left remaining for metaphysic ; 

 wherein I may without prejudice preserve thus much of the conceit of 

 antiquity, that physic should contemplate that which is inherent in 

 matter, and therefore transitory ; and metaphysic, that which is 

 abstracted and fixed. 



And again, that phjsic should handle that which supposeth in 

 nature only a being and moving ; and metaphysic should handle that 

 which supposeth farther in nature a reason, understanding, and plat 

 form, liut the difference perspicuously expressed, is most familiar and 

 sensible. 



For as we divided natural philosophy in general into the inquiry of 

 causes, and productions of effects ; so that part which concerncth the 

 inquiry of causes, we do subdivide according to the received and sound 

 division of causes ; the one part which is physic, inquireth and hancileth 

 the material and efficient causes ; and the other, which is metaphysic, 

 handleth the formal and final causes. 



Physic, taking it according to the derivation, and not according to 

 our idiom for medicine, is situate in a middle term, or distance, 

 between natural history and metaphysic. For natural history describeth 

 the variety of things, physic the causes, but variable or respective 

 causes ; and metaphysic, has fixed and constant causes. 



Limns ut hie durescit, et haec ut ccra quicscit, 

 Uno codemque igni. 



Fire is the cause of induration, but respective to clay : fire is the cause 

 of colliquation, but respective to wax. But fire is no constant cause 



it 



