90 THEOLOGIANS AND NATURAL PHILOSOPHERS. 



his works. In the doubts which were felt as to 

 natural causation, we see proofs of the close rela- 

 tions between the Church, the State, and Science, 

 and that this principle, as well as that of Evolu- 

 tion, was under the ban of unorthodoxy. 



THE NATURAL PHILOSOPHERS. 



FRANCIS BACON (1561-1626) thought lightly of 

 Greek science. He strongly condemned the rever- 

 ence for it as a bar to progress, and in his sweeping 

 criticisms was far too severe, especially upon Aris- 

 totle, in whom he undoubtedly found his famous 

 principles of induction. 



" Nor," he says, " must we omit the opinion or, rather, proph- 

 ecy of an Egyptian priest in regard to the Greeks, that they 

 would forever remain children without any antiquity of knowledge, 

 or knowledge of antiquity ; for they certainly have this in com- 

 mon with children, that they are prone to talking and incapable 

 of generation, their wisdom being loquacious and unproductive of 

 effects. Hence the external signs derived from the origin and 

 birthplace of our philosophy are not favourable." 



He failed to appreciate Greek suggestiveness, 

 and little foresaw the influence it was destined to 

 exert in framing modern Evolution. If we are to 

 judge Bacon himself by his maxims and aphorisms, 

 no place would be too high for him ; but judging 

 him by his actual researches and practices, and 

 carefully estimating his real influence upon poster- 

 ity, we must place him below Harvey, whose brill- 



