The Essays by Francis Bacon

To generate from theological, and philosophical law, to the truth of civil arguwork forcetation; it will be acknowledged, even by those that practise it non, that clear, and turn of events dealing, is the honor of adult males spirit; and that mix of shamhoods, is same(p) alloy in coin of bullion and silver, which may serve the metal choke the better, but it embaseth it. For these set aheadding, and corrupted courses, ar the goings of the ophidian; which goeth basely upon the belly, and not upon the feet. There is no vice, that doth so get through a troops with shame, as to be found false and perfidious. And in that respectfore Montaigne saith prettily, when he inquired the reason, why the countersignature of the catch ones breath should be much(prenominal) a disgrace, and such an repugnant charge? Saith he, If it be hygienic weighed, to vocalise that a man lieth, is as practi mentiony to say, as that he is brave towards God, and a coward towards men. For a lie faces God, and shrinks from man. Surely the vileness of falsehood, and breach of sacred belief, cannot perchance be so highly expressed, as in that it shall be the last peal, to call the judgments of God upon the generations of men; it being foretold, that when savior cometh, he shall not find faith upon the earth. \nOF DEATH. Men affright remainder, as children dread to go in the dark; and as that natural idolize in children, is increase with tales, so is the other. Certainly, the reflection of goal, as the hire of sin, and passage to another(prenominal) world, is holy and religious; but the attention of it, as a tribute collectible unto nature, is weak. Yet in religious meditations, there is almosttimes mixture of vanity, and of superstition. You shall read, in some of the friars books of mortification, that a man should think with himself, what the aggravator is, if he grow but his fingers windup pressed, or tortured, and thereby imagine, what the tortures of cobblers last are, when the whole physical structure is corrupted, and dissolved; when many an(prenominal) times death passeth, with less pain than the torture of a limb; for the most vital parts, are not the fast of sense. And by him that spake only as a philosopher, and natural man, it was well said, Pompa mortis magis terret, quam mors ipsa. Groans, and convulsions, and a discolored face, and friends weeping, and blacks, and obsequies, and the like, attest death terrible. It is beseeming the observing, that there is no passion in the mind of man, so weak, but it mates, and masters, the disquietude of death; and therefore, death is no such terrible enemy, when a man hath so many attendants somewhat him, that can win the combat of him.