New Atlantis (utopian novel)

The Preface.

It is true that religion is the tie (from the Latin meaning to bind fast original Latin: a religando); it must lay the foundation, but wise men must foresee that bad behavior original: "ill manners" does not undermine it. Now, just as only that religion which conforms to God’s revealed holy will should be allowed, so too should only those human laws be established that come nearest to being just and honest—that is, those following the rule of right reason and consistent with that divine truth.

It would indeed be desirable if men could live without any law; that is, if men were so just that St. Paul’s words might be proven true of us now: “The law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient...” A reference to 1 Timothy 1:9. But such has always been the frailty of human nature (which is still more prone to evil than to good) that it became necessary to bridle that unruly original: "enormous" disposition, and to restrain and compel people through severe discipline where religion, conscience, and reason would not lead them.

Good laws and boundaries original: "fences" were therefore made and set in place. However, the irregular and inconsistent people, unwilling to be confined, broke them or plucked them up. Hence these tears original Latin: Hinc illæ lacrymæ. A classical idiom meaning "this is the source of the trouble.". After a time, they grew lawless and disobedient, attempting to seize original: "wrest" that sword of authority they had placed in their legislator's hand, and by dishonest original: "sinister" pretenses to re-