PHYSICAL SCIENCE IN THE MIDDLE AGES. 517 



" The remedies which he recommends for these evils, are, in the 

 first place, the study of that only perfect wisdom which is to be found 

 in the Sacred Scripture;" in the next place, the study of mathematics 

 and the use of experiment. 12 By the aid of these methods, Bacon an- 

 ticipates the most splendid progress for human knowledge. He takes 

 up the strain of hope and confidence which we have noticed as so pe- 

 culiar in the Roman writers ; and quotes some of the passages of Seneca 

 which we adduced in illustration of this : — that the attempts in science 

 were at first rude and imperfect, and were afterwards improved ; — that 

 the day will come, when what is still unknown shall be brought to 

 light by the progress of time and the labors of a longer period ; — that 

 one age does not suffice for inquiries so wide and various ; — that the 

 people of future times shall know many things unknown to us ; — and 

 that the time shall arrive when posterity will wonder that we over- 

 looked what was so obvious. Bacon himself adds anticipations more 

 peculiarly in the spirit of his own time. ' We have seen,' he says, at 

 the end of the work, ' how Aristotle, by the ways which wisdom teaches, 

 could give to Alexander the empire of the world. And this the Church 

 ought to take into consideration against the infidels and rebels, that 

 there may be a sparing of Christian blood, and especially on account 

 of the troubles that shall come to pass in the days of Antichrist ; which 

 by the grace of God it would be easy to obviate, if prelates and princes 

 would encourage study, and join in searching out the secrets of nature 

 and art.' 



" It may not be improper to observe here that this belief in the ap- 

 pointed progress of knowledge, is not combined with any overweening 

 belief in the unbounded and independent power of the human intellect. 

 On the contrary, one of the lessons which Bacon draws from the state 

 and prospects of knowledge, is the duty of faith and humility. ' To 

 him,' he says, 13 ' who denies the truth of the faith because he is unable to 

 understand it, I will propose in reply the course of nature, and as we 

 have seen it in examples.' And after giving some instances, he adds, 

 ' These, and the like, ought to move men and to excite them to the 

 reception of divine truths. For if, in the vilest objects of creation, 

 truths are found, before which the inward pride of man must bow, and 

 believe though it cannot understand, how much more should man 

 humble his mind before the glorious truths of God !' He had before 

 said : 14 ' Man is incapable of perfect wisdom in this life ; it is hard for 



'i Part ii. > 2 Parts iv. v. and vi. " Op. Maj. p. 476. " lb. p. 15. 



