Volume 1

The works of Sir Thomas Browne / edited by Charles Sayle.

  • Browne, Thomas, Sir, 1605-1682.
Date:
1927
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The works of Sir Thomas Browne / edited by Charles Sayle. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    21/418
    first. Hereupon it was, that in the tenth Age Pope Silvester PART I, the second pass’d for a Magician, because he understood sect. i. Geometry and natural Philosophy. Baron. Annul. 990. And Apuleius long before him laboured of the same suspicion, upon no better ground ; he was accus’d, and made a learned Apology for himself, and in that hath laid down what the ground is of such accusations, in these words : Hcec ferme communi quodam errore imperitorum Philosophis objectantur, ut partem eorum qui corporum causas rrusras et simplices rimantur, irreligiosos put ant, eosque aiunt Deos abnuere, ut Anaxagoram, et Lucippum, et Demo- critum, et Epicurum, coeterosq; rerum natures Patronos. Apul. in Apolog. And it is possible that those that look upon the second Causes scattered, may rest in them and go no further, as my Lord Bacon in one of his Essayes observeth; but our Author tells us there is a true Philosophy, from which no man becomes an Atheist, Sect. 46. The indifferency of my behaviour and Discourse in matters of Religion.] Bigots are so oversway’d by a preposterous Zeal, that they hate all moderation in discourse of Religion; they are the men forsooth—qui solos credant habendos esse Deos quos ipsi colunt. Erasmus upon this accompt makes a great complaint to Sir Tho. More in an Epistle of his, touching one Dorpius a Divine of Lovain, who because, upon occasion of discourse betwixt them, Erasmus would not promise him to write against Luther, told Erasmus that he was a Lutheran, and afterwards published him for such; and yet as Erasmus was reputed no very good Catholick, so for certain he was no Protestant. Not that I meerly owe this Title to the Font] as most do, taking up their Religion according to the way of their Ancestors ; this is to be blamed among all persons : It was practised as well amongst Heathens as Christians. Per caput hoc juro per quod Pater ante solebat, saith Ascanius in Virgil: and Apuleius notes it for an absurdity. Utrum Philosopho, putas turpe scire ista, an nescire ? negligere, an curare ? nosse quanta sit etiam in istis providentice ratio, an de diis im- mortalibus Matri et Patri cedere f saith he in Apolog. and so doth Minutius. Unusquisq; vestrum non cogitat prius se debere deum nosse quam colere, dum inconsulte gestiuntur parentibus obedire, dum fieri malunt alieni erroris accessio, quam sibi credere. Minut. in Octav. But having in my ripers examined, etc.] according to the Apostolical Precept, Omnia probate, quod bonum est tenete. There being a Geography of Religion] i.e. of Christian Religion, Sect. 2. which you may see described in Mr. Brerewood’s Enquiries : Pagm 8> he means not of the Protestant Religion ; for though there be a difference in Discipline, yet the Anglican, Scotic, Belgic, Gallican, and Helvetic Churches differ not in any essential matter of the Doctrine, as by the Harmony of Confessions