the advancement of learning-第47部分

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o　the　unity　of　the　Godhead；　so　in　their　parts　they　refer　to　the　three　persons：　that　of　the　creation；　in　the　mass　of　the　matter；　to　the　Father；　in　the　disposition　of　the　form；　to　the　Son；　and　in　the　continuance　and　conservation　of　the　being；　to　the　Holy　Spirit。　So　that　of　the　redemption；　in　the　election　and　counsel；　to　the　Father；　in　the　whole　act　and　consummation　to　the　Son；　and　in　the　application；　to　the　Holy　Spirit；　for　by　the　Holy　Ghost　was　Christ　conceived　in　flesh；　and　by　the　Holy　Ghost　are　the　elect　regenerate　in　spirit。　This　work　likewise　we　consider　either　effectually；　in　the　elect；　or　privatively　　in　the　reprobate；　or　according　to　appearance；　in　the　visible　church。

21。　For　Manners；　the　doctrine　thereof　is　contained　in　the　law；　which　discloseth　sin。　The　law　itself　is　divided；　according　to　the　edition　thereof；　into　the　law　of　nature；　the　law　moral；　and　the　law　positive；　and　according　to　the　style；　into　negative　and　affirmative；　prohibitions　and　commandments。　Sin；　in　the　matter　and　subject　thereof；　is　divided　according　to　the　commandments；　in　the　form　thereof；　it　referreth　to　the　three　persons　in　Deity：　sins　of　infirmity　against　the　Father；　whose　more　special　attribute　is　power；　sins　of　ignorance　against　the　Son；　whose　attribute　is　wisdom；　and　sins　of　malice　against　the　Holy　Ghost；　whose　attribute　is　grace　or　love。　In　the　motions　of　it；　it　either　moveth　to　the　right　hand　or　to　the　left；　either　to　blind　devotion；　or　to　profane　and　libertine　transgression；　either　in　imposing　restraint　where　God　granteth　liberty；　or　in　taking　liberty　where　God　imposeth　restraint。　In　the　degrees　and　progress　of　it；　it　divideth　itself　into　thought；　word；　or　act。　And　in　this　part　I　commend　much　the　deducing　of　the　law　of　God　to　cases　of　conscience；　for　that　I　take　indeed　to　be　a　breaking；　and　not　exhibiting　whole　of　the　bread　of　life。　But　that　which　quickeneth　both　these　doctrines　of　faith　and　manners；　is　the　elevation　and　consent　of　the　heart；　whereunto　appertain　books　of　exhortation；　holy　meditation；　Christian　resolution；　and　the　like。

22。　For　the　Liturgy　or　service；　it　consisteth　of　the　reciprocal　acts　between　God　and　man；　which；　on　the　part　of　God；　are　the　preaching　of　the　word；　and　the　sacraments；　which　are　seals　to　the　covenant；　or　as　the　visible　word；　and　on　the　part　of　man；　invocation　of　the　name　of　God；　and　under　the　law；　sacrifices；　which　were　as　visible　prayers　or　confessions：　but　now　the　adoration　being　IN　SPIRITU　ET　VERITATE；　there　remaineth　only　VITULI　LABIORUM；　　although　the　use　of　holy　vows　of　thankfulness　and　retribution　may　be　accounted　also　as　sealed　petitions。

23。　And　for　the　Government　of　the　church；　it　consisteth　of　the　patrimony　of　the　church；　the　franchises　of　the　church；　and　the　offices　and　jurisdictions　of　the　church；　and　the　laws　of　the　church　directing　the　whole；　all　which　have　two　considerations；　the　one　in　themselves；　the　other　how　they　stand　compatible　and　agreeable　to　the　civil　estate。

24。　This　matter　of　divinity　is　handled　either　in　form　＇80＇　of　instruction　of　truth；　or　in　form　of　confutation　of　falsehood。　The　declinations　from　religion；　besides　the　privative；　which　is　atheism；　and　the　branches　thereof；　are　three；　Heresies；　Idolatry；　and　Witchcraft；　heresies；　when　we　serve　the　true　God　with　a　false　worship；　idolatry；　when　we　worship　false　gods；　supposing　them　to　be　true：　and　witchcraft；　when　we　adore　false　gods；　knowing　them　to　be　wicked　and　false：　for　so　your　Majesty　doth　excellently　well　observe；　that　witchcraft　is　the　height　of　idolatry。　And　yet　we　see　though　these　be　true　degrees；　Samuel　teacheth　us　that　they　are　all　of　a　nature；　when　there　is　once　a　receding　from　the　word　of　God；　for　so　he　saith；　QUASI　PECCATUM　ARIOLANDI　EST　REPUGNARE　ET　QUASI　SCELUS　IDOLOLATRIAE　NOLLE　ACQUIESCERE。

25。　These　things　I　have　passed　over　so　briefly　because　I　can　report　no　deficience　concerning　them：　for　I　can　find　no　space　or　ground　that　lieth　vacant　and　unsown　in　the　matter　of　divinity：　so　diligent　have　men　been；　either　in　sowing　of　good　seed；　or　in　sowing　of　tares。

…

THUS　have　I　made　as　it　were　a　small　globe　of　the　intellectual　world；　as　truly　and　faithfully　as　I　could　discover：　with　a　note　and　description　of　those　parts　which　seem　to　me　not　constantly　occupate；　or　not　well　converted　by　the　labour　of　man。　In　which；　if　I　have　in　any　point　receded　from　that　which　is　commonly　received；　it　hath　been　with　a　purpose　of　proceeding　in　melius；　and　not　in　aliud；　a　mind　of　amendment　and　proficience；　and　not　of　change　and　difference。　For　I　could　not　be　true　and　constant　to　the　argument　I　handle；　if　I　were　not　willing　to　go　beyond　others；　but　yet　not　more　willing　than　to　have　others　go　beyond　me　again：　which　may　the　better　appear　by　this；　that　I　have　propounded　my　opinions　naked　and　unarmed；　not　seeking　to　preoccupate　the　liberty　of　men's　judgments　by　confutations。　For　in　anything　which　is　well　set　down；　I　am　in　good　hope；　that　if　the　first　reading　move　an　objection；　the　second　reading　will　make　an　answer。　And　in　those　things　wherein　I　have　erred；　I　am　sure　I　have　not　prejudiced　the　right　by　litigious　arguments；　which　certainly　have　this　contrary　effect　and　operation；　that　they　add　authority　to　error；　and　destroy　the　authority　of　that　which　is　well　invented：　for　question　is　an　honour　and　preferment　to　falsehood；　as　on　the　other　side　it　is　a　repulse　to　truth。　But　the　errors　I　claim　and　challenge　to　myself　as　mine　own：　the　good；　if　any　be；　is　due　TANQUM　ADEPS　SACRIFICII；　to　be　incensed　to　the　honour；　first　of　the　Divine　Majesty；　and　next　of　your　Majesty；　to　whom　on　earth　I　am　most　bounden。

DEO　GLORIA






The　End