The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

EDITOR'S PREFACE. 399
~ III. vernment; yea, be it other institutions of
greater weight, that is ever most perfect
1II. VIRTUES IN CHRISTIAN CONTROVERSIES. which is removed most degrees from that
" Qui pacem tractat non repetitis condi- church; and that is ever polluted and bletionibus dissidii, is magis animos hominum mished, which participateth in any appeardulcedine pacis fallit, quam aequitate com- ance with it. This is a subtile and dangerponit."................................. 412 ous conceit for men to entertain; apt to
delude themselves, more apt to delude the
1. CHRISTIAN FORBEARANCE. people, and most apt of all to calumniate
Let every man be swift to hear, slow to their adversaries........................ 416
speak, slow to wrath.................... ib. 4. Imitation of Foreign Churches........... {b
2. CHRISTIAN DEIEAN IOR. 2. IMPROPnor EXTENSION OF CONTROYERSY.
1. Conduct of Reformers.................. 417
3. CHRISTIAN LANGUGEU.................... ib. 2. Conduct of Anti-reformers............... ib.
If we did but know the virtue of silence Again, to my lords the bishops I say, that
and slowness to speak, our controversies of it is hard for them to avoid blame, in the
themselves would close and grow up to- opinion of an indifferent person, in standing
gether.................................. ib. so precisely upon altering nothing: " leges,
Brother, if that which you set down as an novis legibus non recreatwe, acescunt;" laws,
assertion, you would deliver by way of ad- not refreshed with new laws, wax sour.
vice, there were reverence due to your coun- " Qui mala non permutat, in bonis non persel, whereas faith is not due to your affirma- severat:" without change of ill, a man cantion. not continue the good. To take away many
A feeling Christian will express in his abuses, supplanteth not good orders, but estawords a character of zeal or love: although blisheth them. " Morosa moris retentio, res
we are not to contend coldly about things turbulenta est, aque ac novitas;" contentious
which we hold dear. 1.................... 413 retaining of customs is a turbulent thing, as
Impropriety of wit in religious contro- well as innovation. A good husband is
versy, " Non est major confusio, quam serii ever pruning in his vineyard or his field; not
et joci." unseasonably, indeed, not unskilfully, but
A fool should be answered, but not by be- lightly; he findeth ever somewhat to do.... ib.
coming like unto him................... ib. I pray God to inspire the bishops with a
fervent love and care of the people; and that
they may not so much urge things in con~ IV. troversy, as things out of controversy, which
all men confess to be gracious and good.... 418
IV. VICES IN CONTROVERSIES.
1. IN THE OCCASIONS. 3. UNBROTHERLY PROCEEDINGS.
1. The Vices of the Clergy. 1. By the possessors of church government... ib.
The imperfections in the conversation and Their urging of subscription to their own
government of those which have chief place articles, is but " lacessere, et irritare morbos
in the church, have ever been principal Ecclesive," which otherwise would spend and
causes and motives of schisms and divisions. exercise themselves. " Non consensum
For, whilst the bishops and governors of the qunerit sed dissidium, qui, quod factis praestachurch continue full of knowledge and good tur, in verbis exigit." He seeketh not unity,
works; whilst they deal with the secular but division, which exacteth that in words,
states in all liberty and resolution, according which men are content to yield in action.
to the majesty of their calling, and the pre- I know restrained governments are better
cious care of souls imposed upon them, so than remiss; and I am of his mind that said,
long the church is "situated" as it were Better is it to live where nothing is lawful,
" upon a hill;;" no man maketh question of than where all things are lawful. I dislike
it, or seeketh to depart from it. The hu- that laws should not be continued, or dismility of the friars did, for a great time, turbers be unpunished: but laws are likened
maintain and bear out the irreligion of bishops to the grape, that being too much pressed
and prelates............................. 414 yields a hard and unwholesome wine.
2. Prejudices of particular men............. 415 2. The opposers of church government.
The universities are the seat or the conti- 1. Supposition of exclusive perfection..... 420
nent of this disease, from whence it is derived 2. Their manner of preaching............ ib.
into the realm.......................... ib. 3. In not acting equally in liberty or restraint ib.
3. Detestation of former heresy............. ib. 4. Indiscriminate statements............. 421
This manner of apprehension doth in some 5. Mode of handling Scripture............ ib.
degree possess many in our times. They 6. Great reliance on trifles................ ib.
think it the true touchstone to try what is
good and evil, by measuring what is more or 4. IMPrrnopE PRUBLICATIONS................. id
less opposite to the institutions of the Church The press and pulpit should be freed and
of Rome, be it ceremony, be it policy, or go- discharged of these contentions; neither promotion on the one side, nor glory and heat
I Fuller says, " The Holy Ghost descended not in the spirit on the other side, ought to continue those
of a vulture, but in the spirit of a dove." challenges and cartels at the cross,