THE PHILOSOPHICAL WORKS. 57 



cpntrivance displayed in the works of creation is entirely taken 

 away. 



This is, in effect, what Bacon says in the passage of the De 

 Augmentis in which he complains of the abuse of final causes. 

 If, he affirms, the physical cause of any phenomenon cun be 

 assigned as well as the final, so far is this from derogating from 

 our idea of the divine wisdom, that on the contrary it does but 

 confirm and exalt it. " Dei sapientia effulget mirabilius cum 

 natura aliud agit, providentia aliud elicit, quam si singulis sche- 

 matibus et motibus naturalibus providentiae characteres essent 

 impressi." 1 And a little farther on he expresses an opinion 

 which we shall do well always to remember, namely that so far 

 is the study of physical causes from withdrawing men from God 

 and providence, that on the contrary those who have occupied 

 themselves in searching them out have never been able to find 

 the end of the matter without having recourse at length to the 

 doctrine of divine providence. 



In one respect Bacon seems to have overlooked the advan- 

 tage which is to be derived from the study of final causes. In 

 the sciences which relate to animal and vegetable life, the con- 

 viction that every part of the organisation has its appropriate 

 function which conduces to the well-being of the whole, serves 

 not only to direct our thoughts to the wisdom of the Creator, 

 but also to guide our investigation into the nature of the orga- 

 nisation itself. 



(18.) It will now, I think, be well to attempt to arrange the 

 fundamental ideas of Bacon's system in the order in which, as 

 we may conceive, they presented themselves to his mind. To 

 do this will necessarily involve some degree of repetition ; but 

 it will enable us to form a better idea of the scope and spirit 

 of his philosophy. 



When, at the outset of his philosophical life, he looked round r 

 on the visible universe, it would seem that to him the starry 

 heavens, notwithstanding the grandeur of the spectacle they 

 present to us, were of less interest than things on earth. The 

 stars in their courses declare the glory of God ; but, excepting 

 the great lights which rule the day and night, they exert no 

 conspicuous influence on the welfare of mankind. And on the 



1 De Aug- iii. 4. 



