say that it may be accounted for this way, or that way, or the other Way, though these wayes be perhaps inconsistent among themselves. Because it is enough for him, if either of the proposed Hypotheses be but as probable as that he calls in question. And if he proposes many that are Each of them probable, he do’s the more ratify his doubts, by making it appear the more difficult to be sure, that that way which they all differ from is the true. And our Carneades by holding the Negative, has this advantage, that if among all the Instances he brings to invalidate all the Vulgar Doctrine of those be Disputes with, any one be Irrefragable, that alone is sufficient to overthrow a Doctrine which Universally asserts what he opposes. For, it cannot be true, that all Bodies whatsoever that are reckon’d among the Perfectly mixt Ones, are Compounded of such a Determinate Number of such or such Ingredients, in case any one such Body can be produc’d, that is not so compounded; and he hopes too, that Accurateness will be the less expected from him; because his undertaking obliges him to maintain such Opinions in Chymistry, and that chiefly by Chymical Arguments, as are Contrary to the very Principles of the Chymists; From whose writings it is not Therefore like he should receive any intentional Assistance, except from some Passages of the Bold and Ingenious Hel-
