The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral

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Francis Bacon. The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral

Of Truth

Of Death

Of Unity In Religion

Of Revenge

Of Adversity

Of Simulation And Dissimulation

Of Parents And Children

Of Marriage And Single Life

Of Envy

Of Love

Of Great Place

Of Boldness

Of Goodness and Goodness Of Nature

Of Nobility

Of Seditions And Troubles

Of Atheism

Of Superstition

Of Travel

Of Empire

Of Counsel

Of Delays

Of Cunning

Of Wisdom For A Man's Self

Of Innovations

Of Dispatch

Of Seeming Wise

Of Friendship

Of Expense

Of the True Greatness Of Kingdoms And Estates

Of Regiment Of Health

Of Suspicion

Of Discourse

Of Plantations

Of Riches

Of Prophecies

Of Ambition

Of Masques And Triumphs

Of Nature In Men

Of Custom And Education

Of Fortune

Of Usury

Of Youth And Age

Of Beauty

Of Deformity

Of Building

Of Gardens

Of Negotiating

Of Followers And Friends

Of Suitors

Of Studies

Of Faction

Of Ceremonies, And Respects

Of Praise

Of Vain-glory

Of Honor And Reputation

Of Judicature

Of Anger

Of Vicissitude Of Things

Of Fame

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The fruits of unity (next unto the well pleasing of God, which is all in all) are two: the one, towards those that are without the church, the other, towards those that are within. For the former; it is certain, that heresies, and schisms, are of all others the greatest scandals; yea, more than corruption of manners. For as in the natural body, a wound, or solution of continuity, is worse than a corrupt humor; so in the spiritual. So that nothing, doth so much keep men out of the church, and drive men out of the church, as breach of unity. And therefore, whensoever it cometh to that pass, that one saith, Ecce in deserto, another saith, Ecce in penetralibus; that is, when some men seek Christ, in the conventicles of heretics, and others, in an outward face of a church, that voice had need continually to sound in men's ears, Nolite exire,—Go not out. The doctor of the Gentiles (the propriety of whose vocation, drew him to have a special care of those without) saith, if an heathen come in, and hear you speak with several tongues, will he not say that you are mad? And certainly it is little better, when atheists, and profane persons, do hear of so many discordant, and contrary opinions in religion; it doth avert them from the church, and maketh them, to sit down in the chair of the scorners. It is but a light thing, to be vouched in so serious a matter, but yet it expresseth well the deformity. There is a master of scoffing, that in his catalogue of books of a feigned library, sets down this title of a book, The Morris-Dance of Heretics. For indeed, every sect of them, hath a diverse posture, or cringe by themselves, which cannot but move derision in worldlings, and depraved politics, who are apt to contemn holy things.

As for the fruit towards those that are within; it is peace; which containeth infinite blessings. It establisheth faith; it kindleth charity; the outward peace of the church, distilleth into peace of conscience; and it turneth the labors of writing, and reading of controversies, into treaties of mortification and devotion.

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Concerning those that are more or less subject to envy: First, persons of eminent virtue, when they are advanced, are less envied. For their fortune seemeth, but due unto them; and no man envieth the payment of a debt, but rewards and liberality rather. Again, envy is ever joined with the comparing of a man's self; and where there is no comparison, no envy; and therefore kings are not envied, but by kings. Nevertheless it is to be noted, that unworthy persons are most envied, at their first coming in, and afterwards overcome it better; whereas contrariwise, persons of worth and merit are most envied, when their fortune continueth long. For by that time, though their virtue be the same, yet it hath not the same lustre; for fresh men grow up that darken it.

Persons of noble blood, are less envied in their rising. For it seemeth but right done to their birth. Besides, there seemeth not much added to their fortune; and envy is as the sunbeams, that beat hotter upon a bank, or steep rising ground, than upon a flat. And for the same reason, those that are advanced by degrees, are less envied than those that are advanced suddenly and per saltum.

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