XXV. 10.| THE SECOND BOOK. —= = *~— 259 
10. For the obtaining of the information, it resteth upon 
the true and sound interpretation of the scriptures, which 
are the fountains of the water of life. ‘The interpretations 
of the scriptures are of two sorts ; methodical, and solute 
or at large. For this divine water, which excelleth so 
much that of Jacob’s well, is drawn forth much in the 
same kind as natural water useth to be out of wells and 
fountains; either it is first forced up into a cistern, and 
from thence fetched and derived for use; or else it is 
drawn and received in buckets and vessels immediately 
where it springeth. The former sort whereof, though 
it seem to be the more ready, yet in my judgement is 
more subject to corrupt. This is that method which 
hath exhibited unto us the scholastical divinity; where- 
by divinity hath been reduced into an art, as into a 
cistern, and the streams of doctrine or positions fetched 
and derived from thence. 
11. In this men have sought three things, a summary 
brevity, a compacted strength, and a complete perfection ; 
whereof the two first they fail to find, and the last they 
ought not to seek. For as to brevity, we see in all sum- 
mary methods, while men purpose to abridge, they give 
cause to dilate. For the sum or abridgement by con- 
traction becometh obscure; the obscurity requireth ex- 
position, and the exposition is deduced into large com- 
mentaries, or into common places and titles, which grow 
to be more vast than the original writings, whence the 
sum was at first extracted. So we see the volumes of the 
schoolmen are greater much than the first writings of the 
fathers, whence the Master of the Sentences made his 
sum or collection. So in like manner the volumes of the 
modern doctors of the civil law exceed those of the an- 
cient jurisconsults, of which Tribonian compiled the digest. 
$2 
