NOVUM ORGANUM. 307 



division of Philosophy and the Sciences, adapting the received 

 terminology (which conies nearest to the description of the thing) to 

 our views. For instance, let the inquiry into Forms, which are (in 

 reason at least, and by their peculiar law) eternal and unchangeable, 

 constitute Metaphysics; and let the inquiry into the F.flicient and the 

 Material Causes and the Latent Process and Latent Structure (all of 

 which regard the common and ordinary course of Nature, not her 

 fundamental and eternal laws) constitute Physics ; and to these let 

 there be subordinate two practical subdivisions ; to Physics, Mechanics; 

 to Metaphysics (the word being used in its purest sense), Alagic, on 

 account of its extended field and greater command over Nature. 



x. And so, having fixed the object of our teaching, we must go on 

 to precepts, and that in an order as little irregular and disturbed as 

 possible. And our directions for the Interpretation of Nature are 

 twofold in kind ; the first kind concerns the drawing out or eliciting 

 Axioms from Experiments ; the second, the deducing or deriving new 

 Experiments from Axioms. Now, the former is divided into three 

 heads or ministrations : viz. ministration to the sense ; ministration 

 to the memory; and ministration to the mind, or the reason. 



For first, a natural and experimental History must be prepared, 

 sufficient and good, this being the foundation of the business ; and 

 we must not imagine or think, but discover, what Nature may do or 

 bear. 



liut natural and experimental History is so varied and scattered as 

 to confuse and distract the Intellect, unless it be stayed and appear 

 in proper order. And so Tables and Co-ordinate Instances must be 

 formed, in such a manner and arrangement, that the Intellect may be 

 able to act upon them. 



Hut even when this is done, the Understanding, left to itself and 

 acting spontaneously, is incompetent and ill-suited for the construc 

 tion of Axioms, unless it be regulated and guarded. And so, in the 

 third place, we must employ a legitimate and true Induction, which is 

 the very key of Interpretation. And here we must begin at the end, 

 and work backward to what remains. 



xi. The inquiry after Forms proceeds thus : when a Nature has 

 been given, we must first make a joint presentation to the Under 

 standing of all known Instances which agree in the same Nature, 

 although in matter most dissimilar. And a collection of this kind 

 must be made in the fashion of a history, and without over-hasty 

 speculation or too great refinement. For example, in an inquiry after 

 the form of Heat, we have, 



Instances agreeing in the Nature of Heat. 



1. Rays of the Sun, especially in summer and at noon. 



2. Rays of the Sun, reflected and condensed, as b-twecn mountains 

 or from walls of houses, and especially in burning glasses. 



\ Flaming Meteors. 



4. Burning Thunderbolts. 



5. Eructations of Flame from the cavities of mountains, &c. 



