CCCCxliv LIFE OF BACON. 



of experience, that a little or superficial knowledge of 

 philosophy may incline the mind of man to atheism, but 

 a farther 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 farther, 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.&quot; (a) 



Itawley s The testimony of his friends is of the same nature. His 

 statement. chaplain and biographer, Dr. Rawley, says, &quot; That this 

 lord was religious and conversant with God, appeareth 

 by several passages throughout the whole current of his 

 writings. He repaired frequently, when his health would 

 permit him, to the service of the church ; to hear sermons ; 

 to the administration of the sacrament of the blessed body 

 and blood of Christ; and died in the true faith established 

 in the Church of England.&quot; (b) 



in this edition there is an essay on Atheism, containing the very same 

 sentiments. In 1623, he repeats it in his treatise De Augmentis; and in 

 1625, the year before his death, he published another edition of his Essays, 

 in which there are additions and alterations, and considerable improvement 

 of the essay on Atheism, but a repetition of the same opinion : &quot; I had 

 rather believe all the fables in the legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran, 

 than that this universal frame is without a mind; and, therefore, God 

 never wrought miracle to convince atheism, because his ordinary works 

 convince it. It is true that a little philosophy inclineth man s mind to 

 atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men s minds about to religion ; 

 for while the mind of man looketh upon second causes scattered, it may 

 sometimes rest in them, and go no further ; but when it beholdeth the chain 

 of them confederate and linked together, it must needs fly to providence 

 and deity.&quot; 



0) 8 Iliad. (b} Life by Rawley. 



