友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
the advancement of learning-第44部分
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!
use they are hard to know; and some because they are not fit to utter。 We see all governments are obscure and invisible:
Totamque infusa per artus Mens agitat molem; et magno se corpore miscet。
Such is the description of governments。 We see the government of God over the world is hidden; inasmuch as it seemeth to participate of much irregularity and confusion: the government of the soul in moving the body is inward and profound; and the passages thereof hardly to be reduced to demonstration。 Again; the wisdom of antiquity; (the shadows whereof are in the poets;) in the description of torments and pains; next unto the crime of rebellion; which was the giants' offence; doth detest the offence of futility; as in Sisyphus and Tantalus。 But this was meant of particulars: nevertheless even unto the general rules and discourses of policy and government there is due a reverent and reserved handling。
48。 But contrariwise; in the governors toward the governed; all things ought; as far as the frailty of man permitteth; to be manifest and revealed。 For so it is expressed in the Scriptures touching the government of God; that this globe; which seemeth to us a dark and shady body; is in the view of God as crystal: ET IN CONSPECTU SEDIS TANQUAM MARE VITREUM SIMILE CRYSTALLO。 So unto princes and states; especially towards wise senates and councils; the natures and dispositions of the people; their conditions and necessities; their factions and combinations; their animosities and discontents; ought to be; in regard of the variety of their intelligences; the wisdom of their observations; and the height of their station where they keep sentinel; in great part clear and transparent。 Wherefore; considering that I write to a King that is a master of this science; and is so well assisted; I think it decent to pass over this part in silence; as willing to obtain the certificate which one of the ancient philosophers aspired unto; '75' who being silent; when others contended to make demonstration of their abilities by speech; desired it might be certified for his part; THAT THERE WAS ONE THAT KNEW HOW TO HOLD HIS PEACE。
49。 Notwithstanding; for the more public part of government; which is laws; I think good to note only one deficiency; which is; that all those which have written of laws; have written either as philosophers or as lawyers; and none as statesmen。 As for the philosophers; they make imaginary laws for imaginary commonwealths; and their discourses are as the stars; which give little light; because they are so high。 For the lawyers; they write according to the states where they live; what is received law; and not what ought to be law: for the wisdom of a lawmaker is one; and of a lawyer is another。 For there are in nature certain fountains of justice; whence all civil laws are derived but as streams: and like as waters do take tinctures and tastes from the soils through which they run; so do civil laws vary according to the regions and governments where they are planted; though they proceed from the same fountains。 Again; the wisdom of a lawmaker consisteth not only in a platform of justice; but in the application thereof; taking into consideration by what means laws may be made certain; and what are the causes and remedies of the doubtfulness and incertainty of law; by what means laws may be made apt and easy to be executed; and what are the impediments and remedies in the execution of laws; what influence laws touching private right of MEUM and TUUM have into the public state; and how they may be made apt and agreeable; how laws are to be penned and delivered; whether in texts or in acts; brief or large; with preambles; or without; how they are to be pruned and reformed from time to time; and what is the best means to keep them from being too vast in volumes; or too full of multiplicity and crossness; how they are to be expounded; when upon causes emergent and judicially discussed; and when upon responses and conferences touching general points or questions; how they are to be pressed; rigorously or tenderly; how they are to be mitigated by equity and good conscience; and whether discretion and strict law are to be mingled in the same courts; or kept apart in several courts; again; how the practice; profession; and erudition of law is to be censured and governed; and many other points touching the administration; and; as I may term it; animation of laws。 Upon which I insist the less; because I purpose; if God give me leave; (having begun a work of this nature in aphorisms;) to propound it hereafter; noting it in the meantime for deficient。
50。 And for your Majesty's laws of England; I could say much of their dignity; and somewhat of their defect; but they cannot but excel the civil laws in fitness for the government: for the civil law was NON HOS QUAESITUM MUNUS IN USUS; it was not made for the countries which it governeth: hereof I cease to speak because I will not intermingle matter of action with matter of general learning。
XXIV。 THUS have I concluded this portion of learning touching civil knowledge; and with civil knowledge have concluded human philosophy; and with human philosophy; philosophy in general。 And being now at some pause; looking back into that I have passed through; this writing seemeth to me; SI NUNQUAM FALLIT IMAGO; (as far as a man can judge of his own work;) not much better than that noise or sound which musicians make while they are tuning their instruments: which is nothing pleasant to hear; but yet is a cause why the music is sweeter afterwards: so have I been content to tune the instruments of the Muses; that they may play that have better hands。 And surely; when I set before me the condition of these times; in which learning hath made her third visitation or circuit in all the qualities thereof as the excellency and vivacity of the wits of this age; the noble helps and lights which we have by the travails of ancient writers; the art of printing; which communicateth books to men of all fortunes; the openness of the world by navigation; which hath disclosed multitudes of experiments; and a mass of natural history; the leisure wherewith these times abound; not employing men so generally in civil business; as the states of Graecia did; in respect of their popularity; and the state of Rome; in respect of the greatness of their monarchy; the present disposition of these times at this instant to peace; the consumption of all that ever can be said in controversies of religion; which have so much diverted men from other sciences; the perfection of your Majesty's learning; which as a Phoenix may call whole vollies of wits to follow you; and the inseparable propriety of time; which is ever more and more to disclose truth I cannot but be raised to this persuasion that this third period of time will far surpass that of the Grecian and Roman learning: only if men will know their own strength; and their own weakness both; and take one from the other; light of invention; and not fire of contradiction; and esteem of the inquisition of truth as of an enterprise; and not as of a quality or ornament; and employ wit and magnificence to things of worth and excellency; and not to things vulgar and of popular estimation。 As for my labours; if any man shall please himself or others in the reprehension of them; they shall make that ancient and patient request; VERBERA; SED AUDI; let men reprehend them; so they observe and weigh them: for the appeal is lawful; though it may be it shall not be needful; from the first cogitations of men to their second; and from the nearer times to the times further off。 Now let us come to that learning; which both the former times were not so blessed as to know; sacred and inspired divinity; the Sabbath and port of all men's labours and peregrinations。
XXV。 1。 THE prerogative of God extendeth as well to the reason as to the will of man; so that as we are to obey His law; though we find a reluctation in our will; so we are to believe His word; though we find a reluctation in our reason。 For if we believe only that which is agreeable to our sense; we give consent to the matter; and not to the author; which is no more than we would do towards a suspected '76' and discredited witness; but that faith which was accounted to Abraham for righteousness was of such a point as whereat Sarah laughed; who therein was an image of natural reason。
2。 Howbeit; if we will truly consider it; more worthy it is to believe than to know as we now know。 For in knowledge man's mind suffereth from sense; but in belief it suffereth from spirit; such one as it holdeth for more authorized than itself; and so suffereth from the worthier agent。 Otherwise it is of the state of man glorified; for then faith shall cease; and we shall know as we are known。
3。 Wherefore we conclude that sacred theology; (which in our idiom we call divinity;) is grounded only upon the word and oracle of God; and not upon the light of nature: for it is written; COELI ENARRANT GLORIAM DEI; but it is not written; COELI ENARRANT VOLUNTATEM DEI: but of that it is said; AD LEGEM ET TESTIMONIUM: SI NON FECERINT SECUNDUM VERBUM ISTUD; etc。 This holdeth not only in those points of faith which concern the mysteries of the Deity; of the Creation; of the Redemption; but likewise those which concern the moral law truly interpreted: LOVE YOUR ENEMIES: DO GOOD TO THEM THAT HATE YOU; BE LIKE TO YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER; THAT SUFFERETH HIS RAIN TO FALL UPON THE JUST AND UNJUST。 To this it ought to be applauded; NEC VOX HOMINEM SONAT: it is a voice beyond the light of nature。 So we see the heathen poets; when they fall upon a libertine passion; do still expostulate with laws and moralities; as if they were opposite and malignant to nature;
Et quod natura remittit; Invida jura negant。
So said Dendamis the Indian unto Alexander's messengers; THAT HE HAD HEARD SOMEWHAT OF PYTHAGORAS; AND SOME OTHER OF THE WISE MEN OF GRAECIA; AND THAT HE HELD THEM FOR EXCELLENT MEN: BUT THAT THEY HAD A FAULT; WHICH WAS THAT THEY HAD IN TOO GREAT REVERENCE AND VENERATION A THING WHICH THEY CALLED LAW AND MANNERS。 So it must be confessed; that a great part of the law moral is of that perfection; whereunto the light of nature cannot aspire: how then is it that man is said to have; by
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!