34 6 BACON 



into a scientific form, have proceeded to mingle an undue pro- 

 portion of the contentious and thorny philosophy of Aristotle 

 with the substance of religion. 



The fictions of those who have not feared to deduce and con- 

 firm the truth of the Christian religion by the principles and 

 authority of philosophers, tend to the same end, though in a 

 different manner. They celebrate the union of faith and the 

 senses as though it were legitimate, with great pomp and solem- 

 nity, and gratify men's pleasing minds with a variety, but in the 

 mean time confound most improperly things divine and human. 

 Moreover, in these mixtures of divinity and philosophy the re- 

 ceived doctrines of the latter are alone included, and any nov- 

 elty, even though it be an improvement, scarcely escapes ban- 

 ishment and extermination. 



In short, you may find all access to any species of philosophy, 

 however pure, intercepted by the ignorance of divines. Some 

 in their simplicity are apprehensive that a too deep inquiry into 

 nature may penetrate beyond the proper bounds of decorum, 

 transferring and absurdly applying what is said of sacred mys- 

 teries in Holy Writ against those who pry into divine secrets, 

 to the mysteries of nature, which are not forbidden by any pro- 

 hibition. Others with more cunning imagine and consider, 

 that if secondary causes be unknown, everything may more eas- 

 ily be referred to the Divine hand and wand, a matter, as they 

 think, of the greatest consequence to religion, but which can 

 only really mean that God wishes to be gratified by means of 

 falsehood. Others fear, from past example, lest motion and 

 change in philosophy should terminate in an attack upon re- 

 ligion. Lastly, there are others who appear anxious lest there 

 should be something discovered in the investigation of nature 

 to overthrow, or at least shake, religion, particularly among the 

 unlearned. The two last apprehensions appear to resemble 

 animal instinct, as if men were diffident, in the bottom of their 

 minds and secret meditations, of the strength of religion and 

 the empire of faith over the senses, and therefore feared that 

 some danger awaited them from an inquiry into nature. But 

 anyone who properly considers the subject will find natural 

 philosophy to be, after the Word of God, the surest remedy 

 against superstition, and the most approved support of faith. 

 She is, therefore, rightly bestowed upon religion as a most faith- 

 ful attendant, for the one exhibits the will and the other the 

 power of God. Nor was he wrong who observed, " Ye err, 

 not knowing the Scriptures and the power of God," thus unit- 

 ing in one bond the revelation of his will and the contemplation 

 of his power. In the mean while, it is not wonderful that the 

 progress of natural philosophy has been restrained, since re- 

 ligion, which has so much influence on men's minds, has been 



