Seeing they could not be destroy'd in the Ignorant Ages, they will be in no fear, at this time, by this Institution, which designs not only to inlarge them, but to promote the same rigid way of Conclusion, in all other Natural things, which only the Mathematics have hitherto maintain'd.
Metaphysics and Logic.Now then, this whole controversy is reduc'd to the alteration, which the Logic, and Physics of the Ancients, may receive by this change. As for their Metaphysics, they scarce deserve to have a place allow'd them in this consideration.
Nor does that prevail with me, which the Lovers of that Cloudy Knowledge are wont to boast, that it is an excellent instrument to refine, and make subtil the minds of men. For there may be a greater Excess in the subtilty of mens wits, than in their thickness: As we see those threads, which are of too fine a spinning, are found to be more useless, than those which are home-spun, and gross.
Logic is the Art of Conceiving, Arguing, and Method. And notwithstanding all the progress which may happen in Natural Knowledge, all the several parts of Reasoning, which it teaches in all manner of business, will continue the same: The operations, and power of the Mind will still be the same: They will still be subject to the same errors: They will still use the same degrees of Arguing from particular things, to Propositions and Conclusions; and therefore they will still require the same means, and exercises for direction. It is not the complaint of the promoters of Experiments, that men have been wanting to themselves, in regulating, disposing, or judging of their own thoughts. Nay, they rather condemn them, for being whollyim-
