The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

140 ANALYSIS OF THE ADVAiNCEMENT OF LEARNING.
5. The abandoning universality............... 173 2. After the creation.
No perfect discovery can be made upon a 1. Before the flood..flat or a level: neither is it possible to discover 2. After the flood.
the more remote and deeper parts of any 1. Before Christianity...... 175
science, if you stand. but upon the level of the In the law of the leprosy, it is said, " If the
same science, and ascend not to a higher whiteness have overspread the flesh, the patient
science.' may pass abroad for clean; but if there be any
6. The having too much reverence for the human whole flesh remaining, he is to be shut up for
mind................................ 173 unclean;" one of them noteth a principle of
Upon these intellectualists, which are, not- nature, that putrefaction is more contagious
withstanding, commonly taken for the most before maturity than after: and another
sublime and divine philosophers, Heraclitus noteth a position of moral philosophy, that
gave a just censure, saying, "Men sought men abandoned to vice do not so much corrupt
truth in their own little worlds, and not in manners, as those that are half good and half
the great and common world." evil.
7. The tainting doctrines with favourite opinions. 2. After Christianity.
8. Impatience of doubt, and haste to assertion.2 2. Human proofs......................... 177
9. The delivering knowledge too peremptorily.3 1. Learning relieves man's afflictions which arise from
10. Being content to work on the labours of others nature............................... 177
instead of inventing.................... 174 Founders and uniters of states and cities,
11. The mistaking the furthest end of knowledge.4 173 lawgivers, extirpers of tyrants, fathers of tihe
Men have entered into a desire of learnling people, and other eminent persons in civil
and knowledge, sometimes upon a natural merit, were honoured but with the titles of
curiosity, and inquisitive'appetite; sometimes worthies or demi-gods; such as were Hercules,
to entertain their minds with variety and de- Theseus, Minos, Romulus, and the like: on
light; sometimes for ornament and reputation; the other side, such as were inventors and auand sometimes to enable them to victory of wit thors of new arts, endowments, and commoand contradiction; and most times for lucre dities towards man's life, were ever consecrated
and profession; and seldom sincerely to give amongst the gods themselves: as were Ceres,
a true account of their gift of reason, to the Bacchus, Mercurius, Apollo, and others: and
benefit and use of man: as if there were justly; for the merit of the former is confined
sought in knowledge a couch, whereupon to within the circle of an age or a nation, and is
rest a searching and restless spirit; or a ter- like fruitful showers, which though they be
rasse for a wandering and variable mind to profitable and good, yet serve but for that seawalk up and down with a fair prospect; or a son, and for a latitude of ground where they
tower of state, for aproud mind to raise itself fall; but the other is indeed like the benefits
upon; or a fort or commanding ground, for of heaven, which are permanent and universal.
strife and contention; or a shop, for profit or The former, again, is mixed with strife and
sale; and not a rich storehouse, for the glory perturbation; but the latter hath the true chaof the Creator, and the relief of man's estate. racter of divine presence, coming " in aura
leni," without noise or agitation.6
2. Learning represses the inconveniences which grow
I have no purpose to enter into a laudative from man to man.................... 177
of learning, or to make a hymn to the muses; In Orpheus's theatre, all beasts and birds
(though I am of opinion that it is long since assembled; and forgetting their several appetheir rites were duly celebrated:) but mny intent tites, some of prey, some of game, some of
is, without varnish or amplification, justly to quarrel, stood all sociably together listening to
weigh the dignity of knowledge in the balance the airs and accords of the harp; the sound
with other things, to take the truie value there- whereof no sooner ceased, or was drowned by
of by testimonies and arguments divine and some louder noise, but every beast returned to
human. his own nature: wherein is aptly described
Different proofs of the advantages of knowledge. the nature and condition of men, who arefull
1. Divine proofs. 5 174 of savage and unreclaimed desires ofprofit, of. Before the creation.5t, of revenge; which as long as they give
I See note (E) at the end of this Treatise. ear to precepts, to laws, to religion, sweetly
s see note (F) at the end of this Treatise. touched with eloquence andpersuasion of books,
3 See note (G) at the end of this Treatise. of sermons, of harangues, so long is society and
4 See note (H) at the end of this Treatise. peace maintained; but if these instruments be
a The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, be- silent, or sedition and tumult make them not
fore his works of old. audible, all things dissolve into anarchy and
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever confusion.
hen earthere re o depths Iwas rought forth; when 3. Proof of this position, by showing the conjunction
Where were ere no depountain s abounding was broughater. between learning in the prince and happiness
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I in the people......................... 177
brought forth. But for a tablet, or picture of smalle,.
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor
tne highest part of the dust of the world. not pass his commandment: when he appointed the founda.
When he prepared the heavens I was there: when he set tions of the earth:
a compass upon the face of the depth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was
When he established the clouds above: when he strengthen- daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.
ed the fountains of the deep: PROVERBS, chap. viii.
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should 6 See note (I) at the end of this Treatise.