40 BACON'S ESSAYS 



even those barbarous people have the notion, though they 

 have not the latitude and extent of it. So that against 

 atheists the very savages take part with the very subtlest 

 philosophers. The contemplative atheist is rare : a 

 Diagoras, a Bion, a Lucian perhaps, and some others ; and 

 yet they seem to be more than they are ; for that all that 

 impugn a received religion or superstition are by the adverse 

 part branded with the name of atheists. But the great 

 atheists indeed are hypocrites ; which are ever handling 

 holy things, but without feeling ; so as they must needs be 

 cauterized in the end. 



The causes of atheism are ; divisions in religion, 

 if they be many ; for any one main division addeth 

 zeal to both sides ; but many divisions introduce atheism. 

 Another is, scandal of priests ; when it is come to that 

 which St. Bernard saith, Non est jam dicere^ ut populus 

 sic sacerdos; quia nee sic populus ut sacerdos. A third 

 is, a custom of profane scoffing in holy matters ; which 

 doth by little and little deface the reverence of religion. 

 And lastly, learned times, especially with peace and 

 prosperity ; for troubles and adversities do more bow 

 men's minds to religion. They that deny a God destroy 

 man's nobility ; for certainly man is of kin to the beasts 

 by his body ; and, if he be not of kin to God by his 

 spirit, he is a base and ignoble creature. It destroys like- 

 wise magnanimity, and the raising of human nature ; for 

 take an example of a dog, and mark what a generosity and 

 courage he will put on when he finds himself maintained by 

 a man ; who to him is instead of a God, or melior natura ; 

 which courage is manifestly such as that creature, without 

 that confidence of a better nature than his own, could never 

 attain. So man, when he resteth and assureth himself upon 

 divine protection and favour, gathereth a force and faith 

 which human nature in itself could not obtain. Therefore, 

 as atheism is in all respects hateful, so in this, that it 

 depriveth human nature of the means to exalt itself above 

 human frailty. As it is in particular persons, so it is in 

 nations. Never was there such a state for magnanimity as 

 Rome. Of this state hear what Cicero saith : Quam 



