,6 2 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [Book 



either of induration or colliquation : so then the physical causes are but 

 the efficient and the matter. 



Physic hath three parts, whereof two respect nature united or 

 collected, the third contemplated! nature diffused or distributed. 



Nature is collected either into one entire total, or else into the same 

 principles or seeds. So as the first doctrine is touching the contexture 

 or configuration of things, as de mttndo, de universitate rernm. 



The second is the doctrine concerning the principles or originals of 



* 111 HITS. 



The third is the doctrine concerning all variety and particularity of 

 things ; whether it be of the differing substances, or their differing 

 qualities and natures ; whereof there needeth no enumeration, this 

 part being but as a gloss, or paraphrase, that attendeth upon the text 

 of natural history. 



Of these three I cannot report any as deficient. In what truth or 

 perfection they are handled, I make not now any judgment : but they 

 are parts of knowledge not deserted by the labour of men. 



For Metaphysic, we have assigned unto it the inquiry of formal and 

 final causes ; which assignation, as to the former of them, may seem 

 to be nugatory and void, because of the received and inveterate opinion, 

 that the inquisition of man is not competent to find out essential forms, 

 or true differences : of which opinion we will take this hold, that the 

 invention of forms is of all other parts of knowledge the worthiest to 

 be sought, if it be possible to be found. 



As for the possibility, they are ill discoverers that think theie is no 

 land, when they can see nothing but sea. 



But it is manifest, that Plato, in his opinion of ideas, as one that 

 had a wit of elevation situate as upon a cliff, did descry, &quot; That forms 

 were the true object of knowledge ; &quot; but lost the real fruit of his 

 opinion, by considering of forms as absolutely abstracted from matter, 

 and not confined and determined by matter ; and so turning his 

 opinion upon theology, wherewith all his natural philosophy is 

 infected. 



But if any man shall keep a continual watchful and severe eye 

 upon action, operation, and the use of knowledge, he may advise and 

 take notice what arc the forms, the disclosures whereof are fruitful and 

 important to the state of man. For as to the forms of substances, man 

 only except, of whom it is said, &quot; Formavit hominem de limo terrse, et 

 spiravit in faciem cjus spiraculum vita?,&quot; and not as of all other 

 creatures, &quot; Producant aqua;-, producat terra;&quot; the forms of sub 

 stances, I say, as they are now by compounding and transplanting 

 multiplied, are so perplexed, as they arc not to be inquired ; no more 

 than it were either possible or to purpose, to seek in gross the forms o{ 

 those sounds which make words, which by composition and trans- 

 position of letters are infinite. 



But, on the other side, to inquire the form of those sounds or voices, 

 which make simple letters, is easily comprehensible ; and being known, 

 induceth and manifesteth the forms of words, which consist and are 

 compounded of them. In the same manner to inquire the form of a 



