Advancement of Learning 2 1 5 



law exceed those of the ancient jurisconsults, of which 

 Tribonian * compileth the digest. So as this course of 

 sums and commentaries is that which doth infallibly make 

 the body of sciences more immense in quantity, and more 

 base in substance. 



And for strength, it is true that knowledges reduced 

 into exact methods have a show of strength, in that each 

 part seemeth to support and sustain the other; but this is 

 more satisfactory than substantial: like unto buildings 

 which stand by architecture and compaction, which are 

 more subject to ruin than those which are built more strong 

 in their several parts, though less compacted. But it is 

 plain that the more you recede from your grounds, the 

 weaker do you conclude: and as in nature, the more you 

 remove yourself from particulars, the greater peril of error 

 you do incur: so much more in divinity, the more you 

 recede from the Scriptures by inferences and consequences, 

 the more weak and dilute are your positions. 



And as for perfection or completeness in divinity, it 

 is not to be sought; which makes this course of artificial 

 divinity the more suspect. For he that will reduce a 

 knowledge into an art, will make it round and uniform: 

 but in divinity many things must be left abrupt, and con 

 cluded with this : altitude sapientice et scienticz Dei ! 

 quam incomprehensiUlia sunt judicia ejus, et non investi- 

 gabiles vice ejus ! 2 So again the apostle saith, Ex parte 

 scimus : 3 and to have the form of a total, where there is 

 but matter for a part, cannot be without supplies by 

 supposition and presumption. And therefore I conclude, 

 that the true use of these sums and methods hath place 

 in institutions or introductions preparatory unto know 

 ledge: but in them, or by deducement from them, to 

 handle the main body and substance of a knowledge, is 

 in all sciences prejudicial, and in divinity dangerous. 



As to the interpretation of the Scriptures solute and at 

 large, there have been divers kinds introduced and devised ; 

 some of them rather curious and unsafe than sober and 

 warranted. Notwithstanding, thus much must be con- 



1 Tribonian, Quaestor, Consul and Master of the Offices to Jus 

 tinian. With sixteen others he compiled the Digest promulgated 

 it in 533. 



2 Rom. xi. 33. 3 i Cor. xiii. 9. 



