424 NOVUM ORGANUM. [bOOK T. 



By en though it be an improvement, scarcely escapes banishment 

 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 prohi- 

 bition. Others with more cunning imagine and consider, that if 

 secondary causes be unknown, everything may more easily 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 philo- 

 sophy should terminate in an attack upon religion. 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 any one who properly considers the 

 subject will find natural philosophy to be, after the Word of 

 God, the surest remedy against superstition, and the most ap- 

 proved support of faith. She is, therefore, rightly bestowed 

 upon religion as a most faithful 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 uniting in one bond the revelation of his 

 will and the contemplation of his power. In the meanwhile, it 

 is not wonderful that the progress of natural philosophy has 

 been restrained, since religion, which has so much influence on 

 men's minds, has been led and hurried to oppose her through 

 the ignorance of some and the imprudent zeal of others. 



XC. Again, in the habits and regulations of schools, univer- 

 sities, and the like assemblies, destined for the abode of learned 

 men and the improvement of learning, everything is found to bo 

 opposed to the progress of the sciences ; for the lectures and 

 exercises are so ordered, that anything out of the common track 

 can scarcely enter the thoughts and contemplations of the mind. 

 If, however, one or two have perhaps dared to use their liberty, 

 they can only impose the labour on themselves, without deriving 

 any advantage from the association of others ; and if they put 

 up with this, they will find their industry and spirit of no slight 

 disadvantage to them in mating their fortune j for the pursuitii 



