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and Geometry, by applying its menfurations to that motion, erects this part of natural philofophy into the fcience of Mechanics: the fimilar Motion of bodies in the heavens is the phænomenon eftablished by Obfervation, which, whether the cause of that motion can be known or not, is the Phyfical Principle; and Geometry, by the application of fimilar menfurations, produces the fcience of Aftronomy: and the fame might be obferved of Mufic-All which departments of Philofophy, by this application of Mathematics, enjoy advantages, indeed, different and fuperior to other parts of Phyfics.

If he would, therefore, hope for fuccefs in his philofophical researches, he will not adapt Phyfics to Mathematics, but Mathematics to Phyfics, in obedience to the directions of the guide and patron of philofophy, who hath obferved that all Natural enquiries fucceed the best, when a Physical Principle is made

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Y Optime cedit inquifitio naturalis, quando phyficum terminatur in mathematico. Baconi Nov. Org. lib. iii.

AND

AND thus we have obferved, according to the Rule prescribed by LORD BACON, the friend and father of philofophers, and according to the Practice of SIR ISAAC NEWTON, who put in execution the precepts of his great mafter, that all REASONING in Natural Philofophy, is afcendent and defcendent-from Experiments up to Axioms, and from Axioms down to new Inventions.

SECT. III.

Of Phyfical TRUTH.

UT, as the best and most accurate Ex

BUT,

periments that are instituted and conducted by human skill, which are the basis and support of all found Philofophy, cannot pene

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Neque enim in plano via fita eft, fed afcendendo et defcendendo; afcendendo primo ad axiomata, descendendo ad opera. Baconi Nov. Org. lib. 1. Aph. 104.

See De Augm. Sc. lib. III. cap. 3.

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trate into the real effences of things; as they can only inform the Senfes of fome of their apparent qualities, and of fecondary, which we call phyfical, causes, and fometimes only of the phænomena or effects themselves; fince the Induction, by which the general truths are collected from particular Experiments, is only partial and confined, and extended by Analogy, which is an indirect species of reafoning, never abfolutely conclufive; fince these general truths, which become the Laws and Principles of Philofophy, do not poffefs the evidence of Mathematical Axioms; and, laftly, fince from thefe Principles particular, not general, conclufions are deduced, PHYSICAL TRUTH muft confequently partake of the nature and inferiority of their Principles and Mode of Reasoning. And though Mathematics, by a friendly mixture and communication, often facilitate their production and elucidate their force, imparting

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Διόπερ φανερὸν ὅτι οὐκ ἔσιν ἀπόδειξις ουσίας, οὐδὲ τῆ τί ἐσιν ἐκ τῆς τοιαύτης ἐπαγωγῆς, ἀλλά τις ἄλλος τρόπο Tus dnawpews. Ariftot. Metaph. lib. vi. cap. i.

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to them, in all fubjects capable of menfuration and where Quantity can apply, the use and fimilarity of fcientific demonstration ; however CERTAIN, they are NOT to be pronounced abfolutely NECESSARY: and, philofophically confidered, they are in nature and evidence greatly inferior to Mathematical conclufions.b

STILL, the Philofophy of Nature is the field of utility and glory. It ministers to the wants, and fupplies many of the ornaments, of life. It opens one of the universal books of God, in which his infinite Power, his stupendous Wifdom, and unbounded Goodness are written with his own finger in

Zealous for the honour and perfection of their favourite ftudy, fome of our modern philofophers ftrenuously contend that almost every thing in Phyfics is demonftrable. 'The ground and reafon of which,' obferves one of better information, I apprehend to be, that many of our geo'metricians, ambitious of dictating to us about the causes and firft fprings of Nature, while they can reach only to the measure of fome of its effects, have not been careful 'to diftinguish how far a Mathematical conclufion will fextend, and how far not.' Jones's Philofophy, p. 91.

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most fair and convincing characters: and thus the material world is made the counterpárt of the immaterial mind, in which the latter contemplates, as in a glass, the image of its Author. And, after all the improvements which have honoured the labours of a Boyle, a Newton, a Halley and others, whose studies, since the great Bacon founded the true, that is the Inductive, Logic, have conferred upon this nation the laurel of philofophy; fo great is its variety and extent, that our best knowledge of Nature is ftill partial and imperfect. The more we know, the more we shall acknowledge to remain unknown, and the more readily fubfcribe to the verdict of that illuftrious child of Wifdom who hath fublimely obferved, that "God "hath planted the world in man's heart; yet "cannot man find out the work which he "worketh from the beginning unto the end.""

Though not in the fenfe in which the word was used by the old philofophers, many Qualities and Causes are yet occult, which may be brought to light by future Experiments

Ecclef, iii.

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