THE FIRST BOOK. 17 



were in favour towards God, and nothing else but to offer to 

 the Author of truth the unclean sacrifice of a lie. But further, 

 it is an assured truth, and a conclusion of experience, that a 

 little _or superficial knowledge of philosophy may incline the 

 mind of man to atheism, but a further proceeding therein doth 

 bring the mind back again to religion. For in the entrance of 

 philosophy, when the second causes^ which are next unto the 

 senses, do offer themselves to the mind of man, if it dwell 

 and stay there it may induce some oblivion of the highest 

 cause ; but when a man passeth on further and seeth the 

 dependence of causes and the works of Providence ; then, 

 ~ according to the allegory of the poets, he will easily believe 

 that the highest link of Nature s chain must needs be tied to 

 the foot of Jupiter s chair.. To conclude, therefore, let no man 

 upon a weak conceit of sobriety or an ill-applied moderation 

 think or maintain that a man can search too far, or be too well 

 studied in the book of God s word, or in the book of God s 

 works, divinity or philosophy ; but rather let men endeavour 

 an endless progress or proficience in both ; only let men beware _ 

 that they apply both to charity, and not to swelling ; to use, 

 and not to ostentation ; and again, that they do not unwisely 

 mingle or confound these learnings together. 



II. (1) And as for the disgraces ^hich learning receiveth 

 from politics, they be of this nature : that learning doth soften 

 , men s minds, and makes them more unapt for the honour a-nd 

 exercise of arms ; that it doth mar and pervert men s disposi 

 tions for matter of government and policy, in making them too 

 curious and irresolute by variety of reading, or too peremptory 

 or positive by strictness of rules and axioms, or too immoderate 

 and overweening by reason of the greatness of examples, or 

 too incompatible and differing from the times by reason of the 

 dissimilitude of examples ; or at least, that it doth divert 

 men s travails from action and business, and bringeth them to 

 a love of leisure and privateness ; and that it doth bring into 

 states a relaxation of discipline, whilst every man is more 

 ready to argue than to obey and execute. Out of this conceit 

 Cato, surnamed the Censor, one of the wisest men indeed that 

 ever lived, when Carneades the philosopher oame in embassage 

 to Koine, and that the young men of Home began to flock 

 about him, being allured with the sweetness and majesty of 

 his eloquence and learning, gave counsel in open senate that 

 they should give him his despatch with all speed, lest he should 

 infect and enchant the lainds and affections of the youth, and 

 at unawares bring in an alteration of the manners and customs 

 of the state. Out of the same conceit or humour did Virgil, 



