The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

416 OF CHURCH CONTROVERSIES.
These be "6posthumi haresiuml filii;" heresies sule providentiam Dei, cum verbo Dei;" take
that arise out of the ashes of other heresies that counsel of the providence of God, as well as of
are extinct and amortised. his word. Neither yet do I admit that their form,
This manner of apprehension doth in some although it were possible and convenient, is better
degree possess many in our times. They think it than ours, if some abuses were taken away. The
the true touchstone to try what is good and evil, parity and equality of ministers is a thing of
by measuring what is more or less opposite to the wonderful great confusion, and so is an ordinary
institutions of the Church of Rome, be it cere- government by synods, which doth necessarily
niony, be it policy, or government; yea, be it ensue upon the other.
other institutions of greater weight, that is ever It is hard in all causes, but especially in reliinost perfect which is removed most degrees gion, when voices shall be numbered and not
fromt that church; and that is ever polluted and weighed: "L Equidem," saith a wise father, 1" ut
bulemlished, which participateth in any appearance vere quod res est scribam, prorsus decrevi fugere
with it. This is a subtile and dangerous conceit omnerm conventuri episcoporum; nullius enim
for men to entertain; apt to delude themselves, concilii bonum exitum unquam vidi; concilia
more apt to delude the people, and most apt of all enim non minuunt mala, sed augent potius." To
to calumniate their adversaries. This surely, but say the truth, I am utterly determined never to
that a notorious condemnation of that position was come to any council of bishops: for I never yet
before our eyes, had long since brought us to the saw good end of any council; for councils abate
rebaptization of children baptized according to not ill things, but rather increase them. Which
the pretended Catholic religion: for I see that is to be understood not so much of general counwhich is a matter of much like reason, which is cils, as of synods, gathered for the ordinary governthe reordaining of priests, is a matter already ment of the church. As for the deprivation of
resolutely maintained. It is very meet that men bishops, and such like causes, this mischief hath
beware how they be abused by this opinion; and taught the use of archbishops, patriarchs, and prithat they know, that it is a consideration of much mates; as the abuse of them since hath taught
greater wisdom and sobriety to be well advised, men to mislike theorn.
whether in general demolition of the institutions But it will be said, Look to the fruits of the
of the Church of Rome, there were not, as men's churches abroad and ours. To which I say, that
actions are imperfect, some good purged with the I beseech the Lord to multiply his blessings and
bad, rather than to purge the church, as they graces upon those churches a hundred fold. But
pretend, every day anew; which is the way to yet it is not good, that we fall on the numbering
make a wound in the bowels, as is already begun. of them; it may be our peace hath made us more
The fourth and last occasion of these controver- wanton: it may be also, though I would be loath
sies, a matter which did also trouble the church in to derogate from the honour of those churches,
former times, is the partial affectation and imita- were it not to remove scandals, that their fruits
tion of foreign churches. For many of our men, are as torches in the dark, which appear greatest
during the time of persecution, and since, having afar off. I know they may have some strict orders
been conversant in churches abroad, and received for the repressing of sundry excesses: but when
a great impression of the form of government there I consider of the censures of some persons, as
ordained, have violently sought to intrude the same well upon particular men as upon churches, I
upon our church. ButI answer, ", Consentiamus think on the saying of a Platonist, who saith,
in eo quod convenit, non in eo quod receptum est;'",, Certe vitia irascibilis partis animae sunt gradu
let us agree in this, that every church do that which praviora, quam concupiscibilis, tametsi occulis convenient for the state of itself, and not in tiora;" a matter that appeared much by the anparticular customs. Although their churches had cient contentions of bishops. God grant that we
received the better form, yet, many times it is to may contend with other churches, as the vine
be sought, 6" non quod optimum, sed e bonis quid with the olive, which of us shall bear the first
proximum;" not that which is best, but of good fruit; and not as the brier with the thistle, which
things which is the best and readiest to be had. of us is most unprofitable. And thus much touchOur church is not now to plant; it is settled and ing the occasions of these controversies.
established, It may be, in civil states, a republic Now, briefly to set down the growth and prois a better policy than a kingdom: yet, God for- gression of the controversies; whereby will be
bid that lawful kingdoms should be tied to inno- verified the saying of Solomon, that "' the course
vate and make alterations. "1 Qui mala introducit, of contention is to be stopped at the first; being
voluntaterm Dei oppugnat revelatam in verbo; qui else as the waters, which, if they gain a breach, it
nova introducit, voluntatem Dei oppugnat revela- will hardly ever be recovered.
taln in rebus;" he that bringeth in evil customs, It may be remembered, that on that part, which
reslisteth the will of God revealed in his word; calls for reformation, was first propounded some
he that bringeth in new things, resisteth the will dislike of certain ceremonies supposed to be superof God revealed in the things themselves. " Con- stitious; some complaint of dumb ministers who