426 NOTu:.! onGANtfM. [boo:: t. 



hope sliines upon ua, and in what direction it manifests itself, so 

 that, banishing her lighter dreams, we may discuss and weigh 

 whatever appears of more sound importance. We must consult 

 the prudence of ordinary life, too, which is diffident upon prin- 

 ciple, and in all human matters augurs the worst. Let us, then, 

 speak of hope, especially as we are not vain promisers, nor are 

 willing to enforce or ensnare men's judgment, but would rather 

 lead them willingly forward. And although we shall employ the 

 most cogent means of enforcing hope when we bring them to 

 particulars, and especially those which are digested and arranged 

 m our Tables of Invention (the subject partly of the second, but 

 principally of the fourth part of the Instauration), which are, 

 indeed, rather the very object of our hopes than hope itself; yet 

 to proceed more leniently we must treat of the preparation of 

 men's minds, of which the manifestation of hope forms no slight 

 part ; for without it all that we have said tends rather to produce 

 a gloom than to encourage activity or quicken the industry of 

 experiment, by causing them to have a worse and more contemp- 

 tuous opinion of things as they are than they now entertain, and 

 to perceive and feel more thoroughly their unfortunate condition. 

 We must, therefore, disclose and prefix our reasons for not 

 thinking the hope of success improbable, as Columbus, before 

 his wonderful voyage over the Atlantic, gave the reasons of his 

 conviction that new lands and continents might be discovered 

 besides those already known ; and these reasons, though at first 

 rejected, were yet proved by subsequent experience, and were 

 the causes and beginnings of the greatest events. 



XCIII. Let us begin from God, and show that our pursuit 

 from its exceeding goodness clearly proceeds from him, the 

 author of good and father of light. Now, in all divine works the 

 smallest beginnings lead assuredly to some result, and the remark 

 in spiritual matters that " the kingdom of God cometh without 

 observation," is also found to be true in every great work of 

 Divine Providence, so that everything glides quietly on without 

 confusion or noise, and the matter is achieved before men either 

 think or perceive that it is commenced. Nor should we neglect 

 to mention the prophecy of Daniel, of the last days of the world, 

 " Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased,"* 

 thus plainly hinting and suggesting that fate (which is Providence) 

 would cause the complete circuit of the globe (now accomplished, 

 or at least going forward by means of so many distant voyages), 

 and the increase of learning to happen at the same epoch. 



XCIV. We will next give a most potent reason for hope 

 deduced from the errors of the past, and the ways still un 

 attempted J for well was an ill-governed state thus reproved, 



<» Paniel xU, 4. 



