as it were by stealth, and by way of insinuation without violence, they bedew and water in their passage. Of which sort we have recounted many in the fourth and seventh overations.

CANON XXII.

CANON XXVI.

Malacissation is wrought by consubstantials, by imprinters, and by closers up.

THE EXPLICATION.

The reason is manifest, for that consubstantials

Assimilation is best done when all local motion is do properly supple the body, imprinters do carry expended.

THE EXPLICATION.

in, closers up do retain and bridle the perspiration, which is a motion opposite to malacissation. And, therefore, (as we described in the ninth

This canon we have sufficiently explained in operation,) malacissation cannot well be done at our discourse upon the eighth operation.

CANON XXIII.

Alimentation from without, at least some other way than by the stomach, is most profitable for long life, if it can be done.

THE EXPLICATION.

once, but in a course or order. First, by excluding the liquor by thickness; for an outward and gross infusion doth not well compact the body; that which entereth must be subtile, and a kind of vapour. Secondly, by intenerating by the consent of consubstantials: for bodies upon the touch of those things which have good agreement with them, open themselves, and relax their pores. Thirdly, imprinters are convoys, and insinuate We see that all things which are done by nu- into the parts the consubstantials, and the mixtrition ask a long time, but those which are done ture of gentle astringents doth somewhat restrain by embracing of the like (as it is in infusions) the perspiration. But then, in the fourth place, require no long time. And, therefore, alimenta- follows that great astriction and closure up of the tion from without would be of principal use; and | body by emplasteration, and then afterwards by so much the more, because the faculties of con- inunction, until the supple be turned into solid, coction decay in old age; so that if there could as we said in the proper place. be some auxiliary nutritions by bathing, unctions, or else by clysters, these things in conjunction might do much, which single are less available.

CANON XXIV.

Where the concoction is weak to thrust forth the aliment, there the outward parts should be strengthened to call forth the aliment.

THE EXPLICATION.

That which is propounded in this canon, is not the same thing with the former, for it is one thing for the outward aliment to be attracted inward, another for the inward aliment to be attracted outward; yet herein they concur, that they both help the weakness of the inward concoctions, though by divers ways.

CANON XXV.

All sudden renovation of the body is wrought either by the spirit, or by malacissations.

THE EXPLICATION.

There are two things in the body, spirits and parts; to both these the way by nutrition is long and about; but it is a short way to the spirits by vapours, and by the affections, and to the parts by malacissations. But this But this is diligently to be noted, that by no means we confound alimentation from without with malacissation; for the intention of malacissation is not to nourish the parts, but only to make them more fit to be nourished.

CANON XXVII.

Frequent renovation of the parts reparable, watereth and reneweth the less reparable also.

THE EXPLICATION.

We said in the preface to this history, that the way of death was this, that the parts reparable died in the fellowship of the parts less reparable; so that in the reparation of these same less reparable parts, all our forces would be employed. And, therefore, being admonished by Aristotle's observation touching plants, namely, that the putting forth of new shoots and branches refresheth the body of the tree in the passage; we conceive the like reason might be, if the flesh and blood in the body of man were often renewed, that thereby the bones themselves, and membranes, and other parts, which in their own nature are less reparable, partly by the cheerful passage of the juices, partly by that new clothing of the young flesh and blood, might be watered and renewed.

CANON XXVIII.

Refrigeration, or cooling of the body, which passeth some other ways than by the stomach, is useful for long life.

THE EXPLICATION.

The reason is at hand; for seeing a refrigeration not temperate, but powerful, (especially of the blood,) is above all things necessary to long life, this can by no means be effected from within as

much as is requisite, without the destruction of the stomach and bowels.

CANON XXIX.

That intermixing, or entangling, that as well consumption as reparation are the works of heat, is the greatest obstacle to long life.

THE EXPLICATION.

CANON XXXI.

The living spirit is instantly extinguished, if it be deprived either of motion, or of refrigeration, or of aliment.

THE EXPLICATION.

Namely, these are those three which before we called the porches of death, and they are the proper and immediate passions of the spirit. For all Almost all great works are destroyed by the the organs of the principal parts serve hereunto, natures of things intermixed, when as that which that these three offices be performed; and again, helpeth in one respect, hurteth in another; there- all destruction of the organs which is deadly fore men must proceed herein by a sound judg- brings the matter to this point, that one or more ment, and a discreet practice. For our part, we of these three fail. Therefore all other things are have done so far as the matter will bear, and our the divers ways to death, but they end in these memory serveth us, by separating benign heats three. Now, the whole fabric of the parts is the from hurtful, and the remedies which tend to both. | organ of the spirit, as the spirit is the organ of the reasonable soul, which is incorporeous and divine.

Those things which come by accident, as soon This matter stands in need both of a higher as the causes are removed, cease again; but the indagation, and of a longer explication than is continual course of nature, like a running river, pertinent to the present inquisition. Meanwhile requires a continual rowing and sailing against we must know this, that flame is almost every the stream, therefore we must work regularly by moment generated and extinguished; so that it is diets. Now, diets are of two kinds; set diets, continued only by succession; but air is a fixed which are to be observed at certain times, and body, and is not dissolved; for though air begets familiar diet, which is to be admitted into our new air out of watery moisture, yet, notwithstanddaily repast. But the set diets are the more ing, the old air still remains; whence cometh that potent, that is, a course of medicines for a time; superoneration of the air whereof we have spoken for those things which are of so great virtue that in the title De Ventis. But spirit is participant they are able to turn nature back again, are, for of both natures, both of flame and air, even as the the most part, more strong, and more speedily nourishments thereof are, as well oil, which is altering, than those which may without danger be homogeneous to flame, as water, which is homoreceived into a continual use. Now, in the reme-geneous to air; for the spirit is not nourished dies set down in our intentions, you shall find only three set diets, the opiate diet, the diet malacissant or supplying, and the diet emaciant and renewing. But amongst those which we prescribed for familiar diet, and to be used daily, the most efficacious are these that follow, which also come not far short of the virtue of set diets. Nitre, and the subordinates to nitre; the regiment of the affections, and course of our life; refrigerators which pass not by the stomach; drinks roscidating, or engendering oily juices; besprinkling of the blood with some firmer matter, as pearls, certain woods, competent unctions to keep out the air and to keep in the spirit. Heaters from without, during the assimilation after sleep; avoiding of those things which inflame the spirit, and put it into an eager heat, as wine and spices. Lastly, a moderate and seasonable use of those things which endue the spirits with a robust heat, as saffron, crosses, garlic, elecampane, and compound opiates.

either of oily alone, or of watery alone, but of both together; and though air doth not agree well with flame, nor oil with water, yet in a mixed body they agree well enough. Also the spirit hath from the air his easy and delicate impressions and yieldings, and from the flame his noble and potent motions and activities. In like manner the duration of spirit is a mixed thing, being neither so momentary as that of flame, nor so fixed as that of air. And so much the rather it followeth not the condition of flame, for that flame itself is extinguished by accident, namely, by contraries, and enemies environing it; but spirit is not subject to the like conditions and necessities. Now, the spirit is repaired from the lively and florid blood of the small arteries which are inserted into the brain; but this reparation is done by a peculiar manner, of which we speak not now.

END OF THIRD PART OF THE INSTAURATIO.

THE FOURTH PART

OF THE GREAT INSTAURATION.

SCALING LADDER OF THE INTELLECT; OR, THREAD OF THE LABYRINTH.

any fellowship between the ancients and ourselves, it is principally as connected with this species of philosophy: as we concur in many things which they have judiciously observed and stated about the varying nature of the senses, the weakness of human judgment, and the propriety of withholding or suspending assent; to which we might add innumerable other remarks of a similar tendency. So that the only difference between them and ourselves is, that they affirm

whatever; we, that "nothing can be perfectly known by the methods which mankind have hitherto pursued." Of this fellowship we are not at all ashamed. For the aggregate, if it consists not of those alone who lay down the abovementioned dogma as their peremptory and unchangeable opinion, but of such also as indirectly maintain it under the forms of objection and interrogatory, or by their indignant complaints about the obscurity of things, confess, and, as it were, proclaim it aloud, or suffer it only to transpire from their secret thoughts in occasional and ambiguous whispers; the aggregate, I say, comprises, you will find, the far most illustrious and profound of the ancient thinkers, with whom no modern need blush to be associated; a few of them may, perhaps, too magisterially have assumed to decide the matter, yet this tone of authority prevailed only during the late dark ages, and now main

It would be difficult to find fault with tnose who affirm that "nothing is known," if they had tempered the rigour of their decision by a softening explanation. For, should any one contend, that science rightly interpreted is a knowledge of things through their causes, and that the knowledge of causes constantly expands, and by gradual and successive concatenation rises, as it were, to the very loftiest parts of nature, so that the knowledge of particular existences cannot be properly possessed without an accurate compre-"nothing can be perfectly known by any method hension of the whole of things; it is not easy to discover, what can reasonably be observed in reply. For it is not reasonable to allege, that the true knowledge of any thing is to be attained before the mind has a correct conception of its causes and to claim for human nature such a correct conception universally, might justly be pronounced perhaps not a little rash, or rather the proof of an ill-balanced mind. They, however, of whom we are writing, shrink not from thus desecrating the oracles of the senses, which must lead to a total recklessness. Nay, to speak the truth, had they even spared their false accusations, the very controversy itself appears to originate in an unreasonable and contentious spirit; since, independently of that rigid truth to which they refer, there still remains such a wide field for human exertion, that it would be preposterous, if not symptomatic of an unsettled and disturbed intellect, in the anxious grasping at distant ex-tains its ground simply through a spirit of party, tremes, to overlook such utilities as are obvious the inveteracy of habit, or mere carelessness and and near at hand. For, however they may seek, neglect. by introducing their distinction of true and pro- Yet, in the fellowship here spoken of, it is bable, to subvert the certainty of science, without easy to discover that, agreeing as we do with the at the same time superseding the use or practically great men alluded to, as to the premises of our affecting the pursuit of it, yet, in destroying the opinions, in our conclusions we differ from them hope of effectually investigating truth, they have most widely. Our discrepancies may, indeed, at cut the very sinews of human industry, and by a first sight, appear to be but inconsiderable; they promiscuous license of disquisition converted asserting the absolute, and we the modified inwhat should have been the labour of discovery, competency of the human intellect; but the pracinto a mere exercise of talent and disputation. tical result is this, that as they neither point out, We cannot, however, deny, that if there be] nor, in fact, profess to expect any remedy for the

defect in question, they wholly give up the busi- | ries, lays firm hold of certain fixed principles in ness; and thus, by denying the certainty of the the science, and, with immovable reliance upon senses, pluck up science from its very foundation; them, disentangles (as he will with little effort) whereas, we, by the introduction of a new me- what he handles, if he advances steadily onward, thod, endeavour to regulate and correct the aber- not flinching out of excess either of self-confirations both of the senses and of the intellect. dence or of self-distrust from the object of his The consequence is, that they, thinking the die pursuit, will find he is journeying in the first of finally cast, turn aside to the uncontrolled and these two tracks; and if he can endure to suspend fascinating ramblings of genius; while we, by his judgment, and to mount gradually, and to our different view of the subject, are constrained climb by regular succession the height of things, to enter upon an arduous and distant province, like so many tops of mountains, with persevering which we unceasingly pray we may administer and indefatigable patience, he will in due time to the advantage and happiness of mankind. attain the very uppermost elevations of nature, The introductory part of our progress we de- where his station will be serene, his prospects scribed in our second book, which, having delightful, and his descent to all the practical entered, in the third we treated on the pheno- arts by a gentle slope perfectly easy. mena of the universe, and on history, plunging into and traversing the woodlands, as it were, of nature, here overshadowed (as by foliage) with the infinite variety of experiments; there perplexed and entangled (as by thorns and briers) with the subtilty of acute commentations.

It is therefore, our purpose, as in the second book we laid down the precepts of genuine and legitimate disquisition, so in this to propound and establish, with reference to the variety of subjects, illustrative examples; and that in the form which we think most agreeable to truth, and regard And now, perhaps, by our advance from the as approved and authorized. Yet, we do not alter woods to the foot of the mountains, we have the customary fashion, as well to all the constituent reached a more disengaged, but yet a more ardu-parts of this formula on absolute necessity, as if ous station. For, from history we shall proceed they were universally indispensable and inviolaby a firm and sure track, new indeed, and hitherto ble: for we do not hold, that the industry and the unexplored, to universals. To these paths of happiness of man are to be indissolubly bound, contemplation, in truth, might appositely be ap- as it were, to a single pillar. Nothing, indeed, plied the celebrated and often quoted illustration need prevent those who possess great leisure, or of the "double road of active life," of which have surmounted the difficulties infallibly enone branch, at first even and level, conducted the countered in the beginning of the experiment, traveller to places precipitous and impassable; from carrying onward the process here pointed the other, though steep and rough at the entrance, out. On the contrary, it is our firm conviction terminated in perfect smoothness. In a similar that true art is always capable of advancing. manner, he who, in the very outset of his inquiF. W.

THE FIFTH PART

OF THE GREAT INSTAURATION.

PRECURSORS; OR, ANTICIPATIONS OF THE SECOND PHILOSOPHY.

THAT person, in our judgment, showed at once our ambition to withdraw men, either all, or altoboth his patriotism and his discretion, who, when gether, or all at once, from what is established he was asked, "whether he had given to his fel- and current. But as an arrow, or other missile, low-citizens the best code of laws," replied, "the while carried directly onward, still, nevertheless, best which they could bear." And, certainly, during its progress incessantly whirls about in those who are not satisfied with merely thinking rapid rotation; so we, while hurrying forward to rightly, (which is little better, indeed, than dream- more distant objects, are carried round and round ing rightly, if they do not labour to realize and by these popular and prevalent opinions. And, effectuate the object of their meditations,) will therefore, we do not hesitate to avail ourselves of pursue not what may be abstractedly the best, the fair services of this common reason and these but the best of such things as appear most likely popular proofs; and shall place whatever concluto be approved. We, however, do not feel our- sions have been discovered or decided through selves privileged, notwithstanding our great affec- their medium (which may, indeed, have much of tion for the human commonwealth, our common truth and utility in them) on an equal footing country, to adopt this legislatorial principle of with the rest; at the same time protesting against selection; for we have no authority arbitrarily to any inferences thence to be drawn in derogation prescribe laws to man's intellect, or the general of what we have above stated about the incompenature of things. It is our office, as faithful secre-tency of both this reason and of these proofs. taries, to receive and note down as such have been We have rather, in fact, thrown out the preceding enacted by the voice of nature herself; and our hints, as it were, occasionally, for the sake of trustiness must stand acquitted, whether they are such as, feeling their progress impeded by an acaccepted, or by the suffrage of general opinions tual want either of talent or of leisure, wish to rejected. Still we do not abandon the hope, that, confine themselves within the ancient tracts and in times yet to come, individuals may arise who precincts of science, or, at least, not to venture will both be able to comprehend and digest the beyond their immediately contiguous domains; choicest of those things, and solicitous also to since we conceive that the same speculations carry them to perfection; and, with this confi- may (like tents or resting-places on the way) dence,we will never, by God's help, desist (so long minister ease and rest to such as, in pursuance of as we live) from directing our attention thither- our plan, seek the true interpretation of nature, ward, and opening their fountains and uses, and and find it; and may, at the same time, in some investigating the lines of the roads leading to slight degree, promote the welfare of man, and them. infuse into his mind ideas somewhat more closely

Yet, anxious as we are with respect to the sub-connected with the true nature of things, This jects of general interest and common concern, in aspiring to the greater, we do not condemn the inferior, for those are frequently at a distance, while these are at hand and around us, nor though we offer (as we think) more valuable things, do we therefore put our veto upon things received and ancient, or seek to cover their estimation with the multitude. On the contrary, we earnestly wish them to be amplified and improved, and held in increased regard; as it is no part of VOL. III.-66

result, however, we are far from anticipating in confidence of any faculty which we ourselves possess, but we entertain no doubt that any one even of moderate abilities, yet ripened mind, who is both willing and able to lay aside his idols, and to institute his inquiries anew, and to inves tigate with attention, perseverance, and freedom from prejudice, the truths and computations of natural history, will, of himself, by his genuine and native powers, and by his own simple anti2 x 2 521