3. CHRISTIAN LANGUAGE A feeling Christian will express in his words a character of zeal or love: although we are not to contend coldly about things which we hold dear (a) If we did but know the virtue of silence and slowness to speak, our controversies of themselves would close and grow up together - 31 Brother, if that which you set down as an assertion you would deliver by way of advice, there were rever. ence due to your counsel, whereas faith is not due to your affirmation. Impropriety of wit in Religious Controversy, "Non est major confusio, quam serii et joci." (b) A fool should be answered, but not by becoming like unto him § IV. IV. VICES IN CONTROVERSIES. 1. IN THE OCCASIONS. 30 32 33 1. The Vices of the Clergy The imperfections in the conversation and government of those which have chief place in the Church, have ever been principal causes and motives of schisms and divisions. For whilst the bishops and governors of the Church continue full of knowledge and good works; whilst they deal with the secular states in all liberty and resolution, according to the majesty of their calling, and the precious care of souls imposed upon them, so long the Church is "situated" as it were upon an hill;" no man maketh question of it, or seeketh to depart from it. The humility of the friars 66 (a) Fuller says, “The Holy Ghost descended not in the spirit of a vulture, but in the spirit of a dove." (b) See Essay of Discourse, Vol. I. p. 113. did, for a great time, maintain and bear out the irre ligion of bishops and prelates 2. Prejudices of particular men The universities are the seat or the continent of this disease, from whence it is derived into the realm 3. Detestation of former heresy 37 40 41 42 This manner of apprehension doth in some degree possess many in our times. They think it the true touchstone to try what is good and evil, by measuring what is more or less opposite to the institutions of the church of Rome, be it ceremony, be it policy, or government; yea, be it other institutions of greater weight, that is ever most perfect which is removed most degrees from that Church; and that is ever polluted and blemished, which participateth in any appearance with it. This is a subtile and dangerous conceit for men to entertain; apt to delude themselves, more apt to delude the people, and most apt of all to calumniate their adversaries 4. Imitation of Foreign Churches 2. IMPROPER EXTENSION OF CONTROVERSY. 1. Conduct of Reformers 2. Conduct of Anti-reformers Again, to my lords the bishops I say, that it is hard for them to avoid blame, in the opinion of an indifferent person, in standing so precisely upon altering nothing: "leges, novis legibus non recreatæ, acescunt;" laws, not refreshed with new laws, wax sour. "Qui mala non permutat, in bonis non perseverat :" without change of ill, a man cannot continue the good. To take away many abuse, supplanteth not good orders, but establisheth them. "Morosa moris retentio, res turbulenta est, æque ac novitas;" contentious retaining of customs is a turbulent thing, as well as innovation. A good husband 43 44 47 48 is ever pruning in his vineyard or his field; I pray God to inspire the bishops with a 3. UNBROTHERLY PROCEEDINGS. 1. By the possessors of church government 49 50 51 Their urging of subscription to their own articles, is but" lacessere, et irritare morbos Ecclesiæ," which otherwise would spend and exercise themselves. "Non consensum quærit sed dissidium, qui, quod factis præstatur, in verbis exigit." He seeketh not unity, but division, which exacteth that in words, which men are content to yield in action. I know restrained governments are better than remiss; and I am of his mind that said, Better is it to live where nothing is lawful, than where all things are lawful. I dislike that laws should not be continued, or disturbers be unpunished: but laws are likened to the grape, that being too much pressed yields an hard and unwholesome wine. 2. The opposers of church government. The press and pulpit should be freed and discharged of these contentions; neither promotion on the one side, nor glory and heat on the other side, ought to continue those challenges and cartels at the cross. THE CHARACTERS OF A BELIEVING CHRISTIAN IN PARADOXES AND SEEMING CONTRADICTIONS. (m) This tract, published as it seems in the year 1645, was in 1648 inserted in the Remains, and in 1730 in Blackburn's edition of Lord Bacon's works. (a) Its authenticity seems to be very doubtful. It was inserted in Blackburn's edition, after the following notice :-"The following fragments were never acknowledged by Dr. Rawley, among the genuine writings of the Lord Bacon; nor dare I say that they come up to the spirit of penetration of our noble author. However, as they are vouched to be authentic in an edition of the Remains of the Lord Verulam, printed 1648; and as Archbishop Sancroft has reflected some credit on them by a careful review, having in very many instances corrected and prepared them for the press, among the other unquestioned writing of his lordship; for these reasons I have assigned them this place, and left every reader to form his own judgment about their importance :" and in a letter from Dr. Parr to his legatee and biographer, E. H. Barker, the doctor says, "it is, however, well known, that some of his fragments were not acknowledged by Dr. Rawley to be genuine, though vouched to be (m) In page 21 of this volume. (a) In Dr. Parr's annexed letter, it appears to have been published in 1645; and in Vol. I. of Blackburn's edition, he says, speaking of Archbishop Sancroft, to the characters of a believing Christian in paradoxes, &c. compared with the other copy, printed in 1645, I have not been able to see a copy of the tract published in 1645.-B. M. authentic in an edition of the Remains of Lord Verulam, printed in 1648, and though examined, corrected, and prepared for the press by Archbishop Sancroft among the other unquestionable writings of Bacon. Among those fragments are the Characters of a believing Christian, in paradoxes and seeming contradictions, compared with the copy printed Lond. 1645. The paradoxes are thirty-four; but it is sufficient for my purpose to quote the 2d and 3d. After frequent and most attentive perusal, I am convinced that these Fragments were written by Bacon, and intended only for a trial of his skill in putting together propositions, which appear irreconcileable, and that we ought to be very wary in drawing from such a work any positive conclusions upon the real and settled faith of Lord Bacon. Bacon perhaps was sincere, when he said, I had rather believe all the fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a mind.' But to many parts of the paradoxes we may apply his remark upon the fool, who said in his heart, but did not think There is no God.' He rather said these things for a trial of skill, as the fool talked by rote, than that he really believed them, or was persuaded of them. (a) (a) See Bacon's Essay on Atheism, vol. 1, p. 53. Dr. Parr does not speak with as much confidence in a letter to Mr. C. Butler, published in the second volume of Butler's Reminiscences, page 233, where he says, " But now comes a real difficulty. What shall we say to the Character of a believing Christian in paradoxes and seeming contradictions?' Here I |