THE FIRST BOOK. 9 



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, 10 

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

 too well studied in the book of God's word, or in the_book of 

 Groji'8_ 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. 



And as for the disgraces which learning receiveth from 

 politicians, they be of this nature ; that learning doth 20 

 soften men's minds., and makes them more unapt for the ^ 

 honour and exercise of arms ; that it doth mar and pervert & 

 men's dispositions 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 anrl privat.pr>P ; 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 came in 



