XXXVI PREFACE. 



2d. The style of the Paradoxes, if they are sup 

 posed to contain an indirect attack upon Chris 

 tianity, are in opposition to Lord Bacon s opinion 

 of the proper style for religious controversy. el To 

 search, he says, and rip up wounds with a laughing 

 countenance, to intermix Scripture and scurrility 

 sometimes in one sentence, is a thing far from the 

 devout reverence of a Christian, and scant beseeming 

 the honest regard of a sober man. Non est major 

 confusio quam serii et joci. There is no greater con 

 fusion than the confounding of jest and earnest. The 

 majesty of religion, and the contempt and deformity 

 of things ridiculous, are things as distant as things may 

 be. Two principal causes have I ever known of athe 

 ism ; curious controversies, and profane scoffing. () 

 3d. They have not any resemblance to the style of 

 Lord Bacon ; they are neither poetical adorned by 

 imagery, (c) nor learned enriched by rare quota- 

 pressed plainly enough, as being one that accounted words to be 

 but subservient, or ministeriall to matter ; and not the principall. 

 And if his stile were polite, it was because he could do no other 

 wise; neither was he given to any light conceits ; or descanting 

 upon words, but did ever, purposely and industriously avoyd 

 them ; for he held such things to be but digressions or diver 

 sions from the scope intended ; and to derogate from the weight 

 and dignity of the stile. 



(6) See page 32 of this volume. 



(c) As a specimen of his mode of illustrating by imagery, 

 see the Advancement of Learning, vol. ii, page 63. In &quot; Or- 

 pheus s theatre, where all beasts and birds assembled ; and, for 

 getting their several appetites, some of prey, some of game, 

 some of quarrel, stood all sociably together listening to the 



