Whatever other knowledge a man may be endued withal, could he by a vast and imperious mind, and a heart as large as the sand upon the sea-shore, command all the knowledge of art and nature, of words and things; could he attain a mystery in all languages, and sound the depth of all arts and sciences; could he discourse of the interests of all states, the intrigues of all courts, the reason of all civil laws and constitutions, and give an account of all histories; and yet not know the Author of his being, and the Preserver of his life, his Sovereign, and his Judge; his surest refuge in trouble: his best Friend; the support of his life, and the hope of his death; his future happiness, and his portion for ever; he doth but _sapienter descendere in infernum_, with a great deal of wisdom go down to Hell. XIV. Francis Bacon, lord high-chancellor of England, some time before his death, confessed, that, to be religious, was to live strictly and severely; for if the opinion of another world be false, yet the sweetest life in this world is piety, virtue, and honesty; if it were true, there be none so wretched and miserable, as loose, carnal, and profane persons. XV. The great duke de Montmorency, colleague to the duke of Orleans, brother to the French king, Lewis XIII., in the war by them agitated against the ministry of Cardinal Richlieu, being taken and convicted at Lyons, a little before his beheading, looking upon himself, then very richly attired; "Ah!" says he, "this becomes not a servant of the crucified Jesus! What do I with these vanities about me? He was poor, despised, and naked, when He went to the cross to die for my sins;" and immediately he stripped himself of all his finery, and put a more grave and modest garment on him: a serious reflection, at a time when he best knew what was best.