7. Other helps to reason than syllogism should be sought.
I doubt not, nevertheless, but there are ways to be found
to assist our reason in this most useful part; and this the judicious Hooker encourages me to say, who in his Eccl.
Pol. 1. i. SS 6, speaks thus: "If there might be added the right helps of true art and learning, (which helps, I must
plainly confess, this age of the world, carrying the name of a learned age, doth neither much know nor generally
regard,) there would undoubtedly be almost as much difference in maturity of judgment between men therewith
inured, and that which men now are, as between men that are now, and innocents." I do not pretend to have found
or discovered here any of those "right helps of art," this great man of deep thought mentions: but that is plain, that
syllogism, and the logic now in use, which were as well known in his days, can be none of those he means. It is
sufficient for me, if by a Discourse, perhaps something out of the way, I am sure, as to me, wholly new and
unborrowed, I shall have given occasion to others to cast about for new discoveries, and to seek in their own
thoughts for those right helps of art, which will scarce be found, I fear, by those who servilely confine themselves
to the rules and dictates of others. For beaten tracks lead this sort of cattle, (as an observing Roman calls them,)
whose thoughts reach only to imitation, Non quo eundum est, sed quo itur. But I can be bold to say, that this age
is adorned with some men of that strength of judgment and largeness of comprehension, that, if they would
employ their thoughts on this subject, could open new and undiscovered ways to the advancement of knowledge.
