[5] In spite of this, however, Descartes' works, in 1663, appeared in the Index of forbidden books: and his doctrines were banned by Royal decree from the French universities. Jesuit influences, which were not at all favourable to _native_ religion in France (or elsewhere!), may have been responsible for this obscurantist policy. [6] Merz, _History of European Thought in the Nineteenth Century_, Vol. I, p. 384. [7] Quoted by Ward, _Naturalism and Agnosticism_, p. 4. [8] Hoeffding, _History of Modern Philosophy_, Vol. I, p. 315. It may set the scruples of some at rest to be reminded that Aquinas himself applied the term _Natura Naturans_ to God as the cause of all existence. Eckhart and Bruno had made a similar application of it (cf. Martineau, _Study of Spinoza_, p. 226). [9] Here we may note, by way of an anticipation, a truth that Kant afterwards was the first to grasp clearly: that it is only when the mechanism of phenomena is proved, that religion can be purged of materialism. [10] Cf. letter to Arnauld, quoted by Hoeffding, I, p. 347: "The substantial unity presupposes a complete, indivisible being. Nothing of this kind is to be found in figure or motion ... but only in a soul or a substantial form similar to that which we call an 'I.'" [11] The _Monadology_ (quoted by Pattison, _Idea of God_, p. 180). [12] Inge, _Christian Mysticism_, p. 19. [13] Cf. "With space the universe encloses me and engulfs me like an atom, but with thought I enclose the universe." A great saying. [14] Novalis called him "the God-intoxicated": a bold phrase. [15] We refer, of course, to the promulgation of the Bull _Unigenitus_, procured from Pope Clement XI by the Jesuits; when their opponents, the Jansenists "of all professions and classes, were subjected to imprisonment, confiscation, and every species of oppression" (Jervis, _Student's History of France_, p. 415). The manoeuvre is characterised by another historian as a "struggle of narrow-minded fanaticism, allied to absolutely unscrupulous political ambition, against all the learning and virtue which the French clergy still possessed" (Chamberlain, _Foundations of the Nineteenth Century_, Vol. II, p. 379). [16] Even before the age of the Revolution, Paris possessed many great schools. The _College de France_ was founded in 1530; there was the _College et Ecole de Chirurgie_, the _Jardin des Plantes_, the _Ecole royale des Mines_, etc. (cf. Merz, _History of European Thought_, Vol. I, p. 107). [17] Merz says of Newton: "In his own country that fruitful co-operation which can only be secured by an academic organisation and by endowment of research was wanting" (I, p. 99). As late as 1740 the whole revenue of the Royal Society was only L232 _per annum_. [18] Morley, _Voltaire_, p. 41. [19] He published his _Elemens de la Philosophie de Newton_ in 1738. [20] Hoeffding, Vol. I, p. 481. [21] See note in Merz, Vol. I, p. 145. [22] Merz, Vol. I, p. 143.