1.3] ~~ +HE FIRST BOOK. ” 
be referred to the impediments, as of shortness of life, ill 
conjunction of labours, ill tradition of knowledge“ over 
from hand to hand, and many other inconveniences, 
whereunto the condition of man is subject. For that 
nothing parcel of the world is denied to man’s inquiry 
and invention, he doth in another place rule over, when 
he saith, Zhe spirzt of man ts as the lamp of God, where- ut 
with he searcheth the inwardness of ali secrets. If then 
such be the capacity and receipt of the mind of man, it 
is manifest that there is no danger-at all in the proportion 
or quantity of knowledge, how large soever, lest it should 
make it swell or out-compass itself; no, but it is merely 
the quality of knowledge, which, be it in quantity more or 
less, if it be taken without the true corrective thereof, hath 
in it some nature of venom or malignity, and some effects 
of that venom, which is ventosity or swelling. This cor- 
rective spice, the mixture whereof maketh knowledge so 
sovereign, is charity, which the Apostle immediately 
addeth to the former clause: for so he saith, Knowledge 
bloweth up, but charit ty buildeth up ; not unlike unto that 
which he delivereth in another place : J/ J spake, saith he, «| 
with the tongues of men and angels, and had not charity, it 
were but as a tinkling cymbal; not but that it is an 
excellent thing to speak with the tongues of men and 
angels, but because, if it be severed from charity, and not 
referred to the good of men and mankind, it hath rather 
a ‘sounding ‘and unworthy glory, than a “meriting and 
substantial virtue. And as for that censure of Salomon, 
concerning the excess of writing and reading books, and 
the anxiety of spirit which redoundeth from knowledge; _ 
and that admonition of Saint Paul, Zhat we be not seduced *| 
_ by vain philosophy ; \et those places be rightly understood, 
and they do indeed excellently set forth the true bounds 
