Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/377

 copy after, will do many things which politer People did not know, or else over-look'd.

Upon this Occasion, I cannot but take Notice that the Moderns have made clearer and shorter Institutions of all Manner of Arts and Sciences than any which the Ancients have left us. I have already instanced in the Method, whereto all the Parts of Natural History have been reduced. It is evident, That Method in all those things must be the Effect of a Comprehensive Knowledge of the Bodies so ranged and of a nice Comparison of every several Body and Animal one with another, since otherwise their mutual Differences and Agreements cannot possibly be adjusted; the same has been done in Anatomy, in Chymistry, in all parts of Physicks and Mathematicks: How confused many Times, and always lax are Galens Anatomical Discourses in Comparison of Bartholins, Diemerbroecks and Gibsons? Monsieur Perrault has observed already (h) that Aristotle expressed himself so obscurely in his Physical Discourses, that his Meaning is almost as variously represented as there have been Commen-