220 Bacon 



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 pro 

 gress 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. 



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 con 

 fessions : but now the adoration being in spiritu et veritate, 1 

 there remaineth only vituli labiorum ; 2 although the use 

 of holy vows of thankfulness and retribution may be 

 accounted also as sealed petitions. 



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. 



This matter of divinty is handled either in form of in 

 struction of truth, or in form of confutation of falsehood. 

 1 John iv. 24. a Hosea xiv. 2. 



