45-47.] NOTES. 127 



same voice the praises of Jupiter and those of Christ. But the 

 evidence of his destructive rage is doubtful and recent." 

 Gibbon, ch. xlv. 



Page 46, 1. 2. the Scythians, the Scythians in Europe inhabited 

 the tract of country stretching from the Danube to the Crimea 

 and Mount Caucasus. They appeared on the boundaries of the 

 Roman Empire, A. D. 375. But the name is vaguely applied to a 

 great number of barbarian tribes. 



1. 3. the Saracens, this name is applied to the tribes who 

 dwelt between Mecca and the Euphrates. In the seventh century 

 they conquered Persia, Syria, and Africa ; and in the eighth 

 century they conquered Spain. 



1. 4. thereof, viz., of the church. 



1. 13. a renovation and new spring, etc. Bacon alludes to the 

 Renaissance, or Revival of Learning. As a matter of fact the 

 Reformation was due to the spirit of inquiry generated, and the 

 new ideas which were everywhere disseminated by the New 

 Learning. 



1. 14. partly In themselves, etc., i.e., partly by what they did 

 themselves, and partly by what their example induced others to 

 do. Cf. p. 19, 1. 25. 



1. 16. quickened, given life to. 



1. 18. reparation, restoration. Bacon means that the Jesuits 

 have increased the power of the Papacy, the Roman see, i.e., 

 the Papacy. "A see" is the district over which the authority 

 of a Bishop extends. The see of the Pope, of course, includes 

 all parts of the world in which there are any Catholics. 



1. 24. the Psalms, a book of hymns forming part of the Jewish 

 Scriptures. 



1. 29. construe of, form an opinion of. Our admiration of 

 God's power will be greater in proportion as we go beneath the 

 surface of things, and penetrate into the hidden workings of 

 nature. 



1. 34. if we will, if we wish to be. 



1. 36. the creatures, p. 29, 1. 16. expressing, showing. In 

 Bk. 2, pp. 35-6, Bacon says that natural theology can prove the 

 existence, power, providence, and wisdom of God, but that his 

 nature can only be learnt from the Bible, the contents of which 

 are to be taken on faith. 



Page 47, 1. 1. not only opening, etc., *.., study strengthens the 

 intellectual faculties, and so helps us to understand the Si-rip 

 tures : and it predisposes us to belief by the evidence which it 

 brings to light of God's power. 



1. 6. signed, stamped. 



