2. Manners Of the law, as to substance and style. 314 It imposes restraint where God granteth liberty, or in taking liberty where God imposeth restraint. 3. Liturgy 4. Government. 1. Patrimony of the church. 2. The franchises of the church. 4. The laws of the church. 22. Diviations from religion. Atheism. 315 Heresy. Idolatry. Witchcraft. 23. There is no deficience in divinity. 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. THE FIRST BOOK OF FRANCIS BACON. OF THE PROFICIENCE AND ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING, DIVINE AND HUMAN. TO THE KING. THERE were, under the law, excellent king, both daily sacrifices, and freewill offerings; the one proceeding upon ordinary observance, the other upon a devout cheerfulness: in like manner there belongeth to kings from their servants both tribute of duty and presents of affection. In the former of these I hope I shall not live to be wanting, according to my most humble duty, and the good pleasure of your majesty's employments: for the latter, I thought it more respective to make choice of some oblation, which might rather refer to the propriety and excellency of your individual person, than to the business of your crown and state. Wherefore, representing your majesty many times unto my mind, and beholding you not with the inquisitive eye of presumption, to discover that which the Scripture telleth me is inscrutable, but with the observant eye of duty and admiration; |