Collection of Bacon (17)

    Of Superstition

    It were better to have no opinion of God at all, than such an opinion, as is unworthy of him： for the one is unbelief, the other is contumely：and certainly superstition is the reproach of the deity. Plutarch saith well to that purpose：

    Surely （saith he） I had rather, a great deal, men should say, there was no such man at all as Plutarch； than that they should say, that there was one Plutarch, that would eat his children, as soon as they were born, as the poets speak of Saturn.

    And, as the contumely is greater towards God, so the danger is greater towards men. Atheism leaves a man to sense； to philosophy； to natural piety；to laws； to reputation； all which may be guides to an outward moral virtue, though religion were not； but superstition dismounts all these, and erecteth an absolute monarchy in the minds of men.

    Therefore atheism did never perturb states； for it makes men wary of themselves, as looking no further： and we see the times inclined to atheism（as the time of Augustus Caesar） were civil times. But superstition halh been the conclusion of many states； and bringeth in a new primum mobile, that ravisheth all the spheres of government The master of superstition is the people； and in all superstition, wise men follow fools； and arguments are fitted to practice, in a reversed order. It was gravely said, by some of the prelates, in the Council of Trent, where the doctrine of the schoolmen bare great sway； that the schoolmen were like astronomers, which did feign eccentrics and epicycles, and such engines of orbs, to save me phenomena； though they knew, there were no such things： and, in like manner, that the schoolmen had framed a number of subtle and intricate axioms, and theorems, to save the practice of the Church.

    The causes of superstition are： pleasing and sensual rites and ceremonies； excess of outward and pharisaical holiness； over-great reverence of traditions, which cannot but load the Church； the stratagems of prelates for then-own ambition and lucre； the favouring too much of good intentions, which openeth the gate to conceits and novelties； the taking an aim at divine matters by human, which cannot but breed mixture of imaginations； and lastly, barbarous times, especially joined with calamities and disasters. Superstition, without a veil, is a deformed thing； for, as it addeth deformity to an ape, to be so like a man； so the similitude of superstition to religion, makes it the more deformed. And as wholesome meat corrupteth to little worms, so good forms and orders corrupt into a number of petty observances.

    There is a superstition, in avoiding superstition； when men think to do best, if they go furthest from the superstition formerly received： therefore, care would be had, that （as it fareth in ill purgings） the good be not taken away with the bad； which commonly is done, when （he people is the reformer.

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