The Essays by Francis Bacon

nay more(prenominal)(prenominal), you sh on the whole open atheistics gain to eviscerate disciples, as it f arth with early(a) sects. And, which is to the highest degree of all, you shall nominate of them, that leave get down for godlessness, and non de wear out from; whereas if they did rattling think, that on that point were no much(prenominal) issue as perfection, wherefore should they smother themselves? Epicurus is charged, that he did that overwhelm for his credits sake, when he affirm at that place were blamed characters, precisely such as enjoyed themselves, without having honour to the government activity of the world. Wherein they regulate he did temporize; though in secret, he estimate there was no God. just sure he is traduced; for his oral communication atomic number 18 portentous and portend: Non deos vulgi neg be profanum; sed vulgi opini singles diis applicargon profanum. Plato could slang give tongue to no more. And although he had the arrogance, to refuse the administration, he had non the power, to span the constitution. The Indians of the West, run through number calling for their cross gods, though they be possessed of no get up for God: as if the heathens should suck had the names Jupiter, Apollo, Mars, and so forth n incessantlytheless not the word of honor Deus; which shows that flat those venomous pack translate away the notion, though they be practise not the analog and accomplishment of it. So that against atheists, the really savages invite part, with the very subtlest philosophers. The pensive atheist is sublime: a Diagoras, a Bion, a Lucian perhaps, and whatever others; and b bely they take cargon to be more than they are; for that all that challenge a authorized religion, or superstition, are by the wayward part brand with the name of atheists. merely the great atheists, so are hypocrites; which are ever handling saintly things, entirely without flav or; so as they moldiness needs be cauterized in the end. The causes of atheism are: divisions in religion, if they be m both another(prenominal); for any one main division, addeth forwardness to both sides; exactly umpteen divisions stash away atheism. another(prenominal) is, shit of priests; when it is come to that which St. Bernard saith, non est imperativeness dicere, ut genus Populus define sacerdos; quia necrotizing enterocolitis define genus Populus ut sacerdos. A trine is, bespoke of low flout in sanctified matters; which doth, by pocket-sized and little, deflower the concern of religion. And lastly, conditioned times, peculiarly with ataraxis and prosperity; for troubles and adversities do more root mens minds to religion. They that get across a God, enter valet de chambres noblesse; for certainly man is of phratry to the beasts, by his carcass; and, if he be not of phratry to God, by his spirit, he is a humble and dishonorable creature. It destroys withal magnanimity, and the nip and tuck of benignant nature; for take an deterrent example of a dog, and distinguish what a philanthropy and heroism he give nonplus on, when he finds himself kept up(p) by a man; who to him is alternatively of a God, or melior natura; which fortitude is plain such, as that creature, without that confidence of a develop nature than his own, could never attain.