LXXIV other sign may be select from the increase and progress of particular  system of philosophy and the science for those which be find on nature grow  and increase while those which be find on opinion change and increase not if  therefore the theory we have mention be not like plant tear up by the root but  grow in the womb of nature and be nourish by her that which for the last two  thousand year have take place will never have happen namely that the science  still continue in their Beatrice tract and near stationary without have  receive any important increase nay have on the contrary rather bloom under the  hand of their first author and then fade away but we see that the case be  reverse in the mechanical be which be find on nature and the light of  experience for they as long as they be popular seem full of life and  uninterrupted thrive and grow be at first rude then convenient last polish and  perpetual improve LXXV there be yet another sign if such it may be term be  rather a evidence and one of the strong nature namely the actual confession of  those very authority who man now follow for even they who decide on thing so  dare yet at time when they reflect betake themselves to complaint about the  subtlety of nature the obscurity of thing and the weakness of man wit if they  will mere do this they may perhaps deter those who be of a timid disposition  from further inquiry but will excite and stimulate those of a more active and  confident turn to further advance they be not however satisfy with confess so  much of themselves but consider everything which have be either unknown or  unattempted by themselves or their teacher as beyond the limit of possibility  and thus with most consummate pride and envy convert the defect of their own  discovery into a calumny on nature and a source of despair to every one else  hence arise the new academy which open profess scepticism and consign mankind  to eternal darkness hence the notion that from or the true difference of thing  which be in fact the law of simple action be beyond man reach and can possible  be discover hence those notion in the active and operative branch that the  heat of the sun and of fire be total different so as to prevent man from  suppose that they can elicit or from by mean of fire anything similar to the  operation of nature and again that composition only be the work of man and  mixture of nature so as to prevent man from expect the generation or  transformation of natural body by be man will therefore easy allow themselves  to be persuade by this sign not to engage their fortune and labour in  speculation which be not only desperate but actual devote to desperation LXXVI  nor shall we omit the sign afford by the great dissension former prevalent  among philosopher and the variety of school which sufficient show that the way  be not well prepare that lead from the sense to the understanding since the  same groundwork of philosophy namely the nature of thing be tear and divide  into such wide differ and multifarious error and although in these day the  dissension and difference of opinion with regard to first principle and entire  system be near extinct yet there remain innumerable question and controversy  with regard to particular branch of philosophy so that it be manifest that  there be nothing sure or sound either in the system themselves or in the  method of demonstration LXXVII with regard to the supposition that there be a  general unanimity as to the philosophy of Aristotle because the other system  of the ancient cease and become obsolete on its promulgation and nothing  better have be since discover whence it appear that it be so well determine  and find as to have unite the suffrage of both age we will observe--1st that  the notion of other ancient system have cease after the publication of the  work of Aristotle be false for the work of the ancient philosopher subsist  long after that event even to the time of Cicero and the subsequent age but at  a late period when human learning have as it be be wreck in the inundation of  barbarian into the Roman empire then the system of Aristotle and Plato be  preserve in the wave of age like plank of a light and less solid nature d the  notion of unanimity on a clear inspection be find to be fallacious for true  unanimity be that which proceed from a free judgement arrive at the same  conclusion after a investigation of the fact now by far the great number of  those who have assent to the philosophy of Aristotle have bind themselves down  to it from prejudice and the authority of other so that it be rather  obsequiousness and concurrence than unanimity but even if it be real and  extensive unanimity so far from be esteem a true and solid confirmation it  shall even lead to a violent presumption to the contrary for there be no worse  augury in intellectual matter than that derive from unanimity with the  exception of divinity and politic where suffrage be allow to decide for  nothing please the multitude unless it strike the imagination or bind down the  understanding as we have observe above with the shackle of vulgar notion hence  we may well transfer an Athenian general remark from moral to the intellect  that man shall immediate examine what error or fault they have commit when the  multitude concur with and applaud they this then be one of the most  unfavorable sign all the sign therefore of the truth and soundness of the  receive system of philosophy and the science be unpropitious whether take from  their origin their fruit their progress the confession of their author or from  unanimity LXXVIII we now come to the cause of error and of such perseverance  in they for age these be sufficient numerous and powerful to remove all wonder  that what we now offer shall have so long be conceal from and have escape the  notice of mankind and to render it more worthy of astonishment that it shall  even now have enter any one mind or become the subject of his think and that  it shall have do so we consider rather the gift of fortune than of any  extraordinary talon and as the offspring of time rather than wit but in the  first place the number of age be reduce to very narrow limit on a proper  consideration of the matter for out of twenty five century with which the  memory and learning of man be conversant scarce six can be set apart and  select as fertile in science and favourable to its progress for there be  desert and waste in time as in country and we can only reckon up three  revolution and epoch of philosophy the Greek the Roman our own that be the  philosophy of the western nation of Europe and scarce two century can with  justice be assign to each the intermediate age of the world be unfortunate  both in the quantity and richness of the science produce nor needs we mention  the Arab or the scholastic philosophy which in those age ground down the  science by their numerous treatise more than they increase their weight the  first cause then of such insignificant progress in the science be right refer  to the small proportion of time which have be favourable thereto LXXIX a  second cause offer itself which be certain of the great importance namely that  in those very age in which man wit and literature flourish considerable or  even moderate but a small part of their industry be bestow on natural  philosophy the great mother of the science for every be and science tear from  this root may perhaps be polish and put into a serviceable shape but can admit  of little growth it be well know that after the Christian religion have be  acknowledge and arrive at maturity by far the best wit be busy upon theology  where the high reward offer themselves and every species of assistance be  abundant supply and the study of which be the principal occupation of the  western European nation during the three epoch the rather because literature  flourish about the very time when controversy concern religion first begin to  bud forth in the precede age during the second epoch that of the Roman  philosophical meditation and labour be chief occupy and waste in moral  philosophy the theology of the heathen beside the great mind in these time  apply themselves to civil affair on account of the magnitude of the Roman  empire which require the labour of many the age during which natural  philosophy appear principal to flourish among the Greek be but a short period  since in the more ancient time the seven sage with the exception of Thales  apply themselves to moral philosophy and politic and at a late period after  Socrates have bring down philosophy from heaven to earth moral philosophy  become more prevalent and divert man attention from natural nay the very  period during which physical inquiry flourish be corrupt and render useless by  contradiction and the ambition of new opinion since therefore during these  three epoch natural philosophy have be material neglect or impede it be not at  all surprise that man shall have make but little progress in it see they be  attend to a entire different matter LXXX add to this that natural philosophy  especial of late have seldom gain exclusive possession of a individual free  from all other pursuit even among those who have apply themselves to it unless  there may be a example or two of some monk study in his cell or some nobleman  in his shaggy hair she have rather be make a passage and bridge to other  pursuit thus have this great mother of the science be degrade most unworthy to  the situation of a handmaid and make to wait upon medicine or mathematical  operation and to wash the immature mind of youth and imbue they with a first  die that they may afterward be more ready to receive and retain another in the  meantime let no one expect any great progress in the science especial their  operative part unless natural philosophy be apply to particular science and  particular science again refer back to natural philosophy for want of this  astronomy optic music many mechanical be medicine itself and what perhaps be  more wonder moral and political philosophy and the logical science have no  depth but only glide over the surface and variety of thing because these  science when they have be once partition out and establish be no long nourish  by natural philosophy which will have impart fresh vigour and growth to they  from the source and genuine contemplation of motion ray sound texture and  conformation of body and the affection and capacity of the understanding but  we can little wonder that the science grow not when separate from their root  LXXXI there be another powerful and great cause of the little advancement of  the science which be this it be impossible to advance proper in the course  when the goal be not proper fix but the real and legitimate goal of the  science be the endowment of human life with new invention and riches the great  crowd of teacher know nothing of this but consist of dictatorial hireling  unless it so happen that some artisan of a acute genius and ambitious of fame  give up his time to a new discovery which be general attend with a loss of  property the majority so far from propose to themselves the augmentation of  the mass of be and science make no other use of a inquiry into the mass  already before they than be afford by the conversion of it to some use in  their lecture or to gain or to the acquirement of a name and the like but if  one out of the multitude be find who court science from real zeal and on his  own account even he will be see rather to follow contemplation and the variety  of theory than a severe and strict investigation of truth again if there even  be a unusual strict investigator of truth yet will he propose to himself as  the test of truth the satisfaction of his mind and understanding as to the  cause of thing long since know and not such a test as to lead to some new  earnest of effect and a new light in axiom if therefore no one have lie down  the real end of science we can wonder that there shall be error in point  subordinate to that end LXXXII but in like manner as the end and goal of  science be ill define so even be the case otherwise man have choose a  erroneous and impassable direction for it be sufficient to astonish any  reflect mind that nobody shall have care or wish to open and complete a way  for the understanding set off from the sense and regular well conduct  experiment but that everything have be abandon either to the miss of tradition  the whirl and confusion of argument or the wave and maze of chance and  desultory ill-combined experiment now let any one but consider sober and  diligent the nature of the path man have be accustom to pursue in the  investigation and discovery of any matter and he will doubtless first observe  the rude and inartificial manner of discovery most familiar to mankind which  be no other than this when any one prepare himself for discovery he first  inquire and obtain a full account of all that have be say on the subject by  other then add his own reflection and stir up and as it be invoke his own  spirit after much mental labour to disclose its oracle all which be a method  without foundation and mere turn on opinion another perhaps call in logic to  assist he in discovery which bear only a nominal relation to his purpose for  the discovery of logic be not discovery of principle and lead axiom but only  of what appear to accord with they and when man become curious and importunate  and give trouble interrupt her about her proof and the discovery of principle  or first axiom she put they off with her usual answer refer they to faith and  order they to swear allegiance to each be in its own department there remain  but mere experience which when it offer itself be call chance when it be seek  after experiment but this kind of experience be nothing but a lose faggot and  mere grope in the dark as man at night try all mean of discover the right road  while it will be better and more prudent either to wait for day or procure a  light and then proceed on the contrary the real order of experience begin by  set up a light and then show the road by it commence with a regulate and  digest not a misplace and vague course of experiment and thence deduce axiom  and from those axiom new experiment for not even the divine word proceed to  operate on the general mass of thing without due order let man therefore cease  to wonder if the whole course of science be not run when all have wander from  the path quit it entire and desert experience or involve themselves in its  maze and wander about while a regular combine system will lead they in a sure  tract through its wild to the open day of axiom LXXXIII the evil however have  be wonder increase by a opinion or inveterate conceit which be both  vainglorious and prejudicial namely that the dignity of the human mind be low  by long and frequent intercourse with experiment and particular which be the  object of sense and confine to matter especial since such matter general  require labour in investigation be mean subject for meditation harsh in  discourse unproductive in practice infinite in number and delicate in their  subtlety hence we have see the true path not only desert but intercept and  block up experience be reject with disgust and not mere neglect or improper  apply LXXXIV again the reverence for antiquity and the authority of man who  have be esteem great in philosophy and general unanimity have retard man from  advance in science and almost enchant they as to unanimity we have speak of it  above the opinion which man cherish of antiquity be altogether idle and scarce  accord with the term for the old age and increase year of the world shall in  reality be consider as antiquity and this be rather the character of our own  time than of the less advance age of the world in those of the ancient for the  latter with respect to ourselves be ancient and elder with respect to the  world modern and young and as we expect a great knowledge of human affair and  more mature judgement from a old man than from a youth on account of his  experience and the variety and number of thing he have see hear and meditate  upon so we have reason to expect much great thing of our own age if it know  but its strength and will essay and exert it than from antiquity since the  world have grow old and its stock have be increase and accumulate with a  infinite number of experiment and observation we must also take into our  consideration that many object in nature fit to throw light upon philosophy  have be expose to our view and discover by mean of long voyage and travel in  which our time have abound it will indeed be dishonourable to mankind if the  region of the material globe the earth the sea and star shall be so prodigious  develop and illustrate in our age and yet the boundary of the intellectual  globe shall be confine to the narrow discovery of the ancient with regard to  authority it be the great weakness to attribute infinite credit to particular  author and to refuse his own prerogative to time the author of all author and  therefore of all authority for truth be right nam the daughter of time not of  authority it be not wonder therefore if the bind of antiquity authority and  unanimity have so enchain the power of man that he be unable as if bewitch to  become familiar with thing themselves LXXXV nor be it only the admiration of  antiquity authority and unanimity that have force man industry to rest satisfy  with present discovery but also the admiration of the effect already place  within his power for whoever pass in review the variety of subject and the  beautiful apparatus collect and introduce by the mechanical be for the service  of mankind will certain be rather incline to admire our wealth than to  perceive our poverty not consider that the observation of man and operation of  nature which be the soul and first mover of that variety be few and not of  deep research the rest must be attribute mere to man patience and the delicate  and well regulate motion of the hand or of instrument to take a instance the  manufacture of clock be delicate and accurate and appear to imitate the  heavenly body in its wheel and the pulse of animal in its regular oscillation  yet it only depend upon one or two axiom of nature again if one consider the  refinement of the liberal be or even that exhibit in the preparation of  natural body in mechanical be and the like as the discovery of the heavenly  motion in astronomy of harmony in music of the letter of the alphabet still  unadopted by the Chinese in grammar or again in mechanical operation the  production of Bacchus and Ceres that be the preparation of wine and beer the  make of breed or even the luxury of the table distillation and the like if one  reflect also and consider for how long a period of age for all the above  except distillation be ancient these thing have be bring to their present  state of perfection and as we instance in clock to how few observation and  axiom of nature they may be refer and how easy and as it be by obvious chance  or contemplation they may be discover one will soon cease to admire and rather  pity the human lot on account of its vast want and dearth of thing and  discovery for so many age yet even the discovery we have mention be more  ancient than philosophy and the intellectual be so that to say the truth when  contemplation and doctrinal science begin the discovery of useful work cease  but if any one turn from the manufactory to library and be incline to admire  the immense variety of book offer to our view let he but examine and diligent  inspect the matter and content of these book and his astonishment will certain  change its object for when he find no end of repetition and how much man do  and speak the same thing over again he will pass from admiration of this  variety to astonishment at the poverty and scarcity of matter which have  hitherto possess and fill man mind but if any one shall condescend to consider  such science as be deem rather curious than sound and take a full view of the  operation of the alchemist or magii he will perhaps hesitate whether he ought  rather to laugh or to weep for the alchemist cherish eternal hope and when his  labour succeed not accuse his own mistake deem in his self accusation that he  have not proper understand the word of be or of his author upon which he  listen to tradition and vague whisper or imagine there be some slight  unsteadiness in the minute detail of his practice and then have recourse to a  endless repetition of experiment and in the meantime when in his casual  experiment he fall upon something in appearance new or of some degree of  utility he console himself with such a earnest and ostentatious publish they  keep up his hope of the final result nor can it be deny that the alchemist  have make several discovery and present mankind with useful invention but we  may well apply to they the fable of the old man who bequeathe to his son some  gold bury in his garden pretend not to know the exact spot whereupon they work  diligent in dig the vineyard and though they find no gold the vintage be  render more abundant by their labour the follower of natural magic who explain  everything by sympathy and antipathy have assign false power and marvellous  operation to thing by gratuitous and idle conjecture and if they have ever  produce any effect they be rather wonder and novel than of any real benefit or  utility in superstitious magic if we say anything at all about it we must  chief observe that there be only some peculiar and definite object with which  the curious and superstitious be have in every nation and age and even under  every religion be able to exercise and amuse themselves let we therefore pass  they over in the meantime we can wonder that the false notion of plenty shall  have occasion want LXXXVI the admiration of mankind with regard to the be and  science which be of itself sufficient simple and almost puerile have be  increase by the craft and artifice of those who have treat the science and  deliver they down to posterity for they propose and produce they to our view  so fashion and as it be mask as to make they pass for perfect and complete for  if you consider their method and division they appear to embrace and comprise  everything which can relate to the subject and although this frame be bid fill  up and resemble a empty bladder yet it present to the vulgar understanding the  from and appearance of a perfect science the first and most ancient  investigator of truth be wont on the contrary with more honesty and success to  throw all the knowledge they wish to gather from contemplation and to lie up  for use into aphorism or short scatter sentence unconnected by any method and  without pretend or profess to comprehend any entire be but accord to the  present system we can wonder that man seek nothing beyond that which be hand  down to they as perfect and already extend to its full compliment LXXXVII the  ancient theory have receive additional support and credit from the absurdity  and levity of those who have promote the new especial in the active and  practical part of natural philosophy for there have be many silly and  fantastical fellow who from credulity or imposture have load mankind with  promise announce and boast of the prolongation of life the retard of old age  the alleviation of pain the remedy of natural defect the deception of the  sense the restraint and excitement of the passion the illumination and  exaltation of the intellectual faculty the transmutation of substance the  unlimited intensity and multiplication of motion the impression and change of  the air the bring into our power the management of celestial influence the  divination of future event the representation of distant object the revelation  of hide object and the like one will not be very wrong in observe with regard  to such pretender that there be as much difference in philosophy between their  absurdity and real science as there be in history between the exploit of  Caesar or Alexander and those of Amadis de Gaul and Arthur of Britain for  those illustrious general be find to have actual perform great exploit than  such fictitious hero be even pretend to have accomplish by the mean however of  real action and not by any fabulous and portentous power yet it be not right  to suffer our belief in true history to be diminish because it be sometime  injure and violate by fable in the meantime we can wonder that great prejudice  have be excite against any new proposition especial when couple with any  mention of effect to be produce by the conduct of impostor who have make a  similar attempt for their extreme absurdity and the disgust occasion by it  have even to this day overpower every spirit attempt of the kind LXXXVIII want  of energy and the littleness and futility of the task that human industry have  undertake have produce much great injury to the science and yet to make it  still worse that very want of energy manifest itself in conjunction with  arrogance and disdain for in the first place one excuse now from its  repetition become familiar be to be observe in every be namely that its  promoter convert the weakness of the be itself into a calumny upon nature and  whatever it in their hand fail to effect they pronounce to be physical  impossible but how can the be ever be condemn while it act as judge in its own  cause Even the present system of philosophy cherish in its bosom certain  position or dogma which it will be find on diligent inquiry be calculate to  produce a full conviction that no difficult command and powerful operation  upon nature ought to be anticipate through the mean of be we instance above  the allege different quality of heat in the sun and fire and composition and  mixture upon a accurate observation the whole tendency of such position be  wilful to circumscribe man power and to produce a despair of the mean of  invention and contrivance which will not only confound the promise of hope but  cut the very spring and sinew of industry and throw aside even the chance of  experience the only object of such philosopher be to acquire the reputation of  perfection for their own be and they be anxious to obtain the most silly and  abandon renown by cause a belief that whatever have not yet be invent and  understand can never be so hereafter but if any one attempt to give himself up  to thing and to discover something new yet he will only propose and destine  for his object the investigation and discovery of some one invention and  nothing more as the nature of the magnet the tide the heavenly system and the  like which appear envelop in some degree of mystery and have hitherto be treat  with but little success now it be the great proof of want of skill to  investigate the nature of any object in itself alone for that same nature  which seem conceal and hide in some instance be manifest and almost palpable  in other and excite wonder in the former while it hardly attract attention in  the latter thus the nature of consistency be scarce observe in wood or stone  but pass over by the term solid without any further inquiry about the  repulsion of separation or the solution of continuity but in water bubble the  same circumstance appear matter of delicate and ingenious research for they  from themselves into thin pellicles curious shape into hemisphere so as for a  instant to avoid the solution of continuity in general those very thing which  be consider as secret be manifest and common in other object but will never be  clear see if the experiment and contemplation of man be direct to themselves  only yet it common happen that if in the mechanical be any one bring old  discovery to a fine polish or more elegant height of ornament or unite and  compound they or apply they more ready to practice or exhibit they on a less  heavy and voluminous scale and the like they will pass off as new we can  therefore wonder that no magnificent discovery worthy of mankind have be bring  to light while man be satisfy and delight with such scanty and puerile task  nay even think that they have pursue or attain some great object in their  accomplishment LXXXIX nor shall we neglect to observe that natural philosophy  have in every age meet with a troublesome and difficult opponent I mean  superstition and a blind and immoderate zeal for religion for we see that  among the Greek those who first disclose the natural cause of thunder and  storm to the yet untrained ear of man be condemn as guilty of impiety towards  the God nor do some of the old father of Christianity treat those much better  who show by the most positive proof such as no one now dispute that the earth  be spherical and thence assert that there be antipode Even in the present  state of thing the condition of discussion on natural philosophy be render  more difficult and dangerous by the summary and method of divine who after  reduce divinity into such order as they can and bring it into a scientific  from have proceed to mingle a undue proportion of the contentious and thorny  philosophy of Aristotle with the substance of religion the fiction of those  who have not fear to deduce and confirm the truth of the Christian religion by  the principle and authority of philosopher tend to the same end though in a  different manner they celebrate the union of faith and the sense as though it  be legitimate with great pomp and solemnity and gratify man please mind with a  variety but in the meantime confound most improper thing divine and human  moreover in these mixture of divinity and philosophy the receive doctrine of  the latter be alone include and any novelty even though it be a improvement  scarce escape banishment and extermination in short you may find all access to  any species of philosophy however pure intercept by the ignorance of divine  some in their simplicity be apprehensive that a too deep inquiry into nature  may penetrate beyond the proper bind of decorum transfer and absurd apply what  be say of sacred mystery in holy Writ against those who pry into divine secret  to the mystery of nature which be not forbid by any prohibition other with  more cunning imagine and consider that if secondary cause be unknown  everything may more easy be refer to the divine hand and wand a matter as they  think of the great consequence to religion but which can only real mean that  God wish to be gratify by mean of falsehood other fear from pass example lest  motion and change in philosophy shall terminate in a attack upon religion last  there be other who appear anxious lest there shall be something discover in  the investigation of nature to overthrow or at least shake religion particular  among the unlearned the last two apprehension appear to resemble animal  instinct as if man be diffident in the bottom of their mind and secret  meditation of the strength of religion and the empire of faith over the sense  and therefore fear that some danger await they from a inquiry into nature but  any one who proper consider the subject will find natural philosophy to be  after the word of God the sure remedy against superstition and the most  approve support of faith she be therefore right bestow upon religion as a most  faithful attendant for the one exhibit the will and the other the power of God  nor be he wrong who observe you err not know the scripture and the power of  God thus unite in one bind the revelation of his will and the contemplation of  his power in the meanwhile it be not wonder that the progress of natural  philosophy have be restrain since religion which have so much influence on man  mind have be lead and hurry to oppose her through the ignorance of some and  the imprudent zeal of other