260 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [XXV.11. 
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. 
12. 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 that 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 conse- 
quences, the more weak and dilute are your positions. 
13. And as for perfection or completeness in divinity, 
it is not to be sought; which makes this course of arti- 
ficial 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: O alhtudo sapientie et sctentie Det! 
quam incomprehenstbilia sunt judicia gus, et non investiga- 
biles vie ejus. So again the apostle saith, Hx part sci- 
mus: and to have the form of a total, where there is but 
matter for a part, cannot be without supplies by sup- 
position and presumption. And therefore I conclude, that 
the true use of these sums and methods hath place in 
institutions or introductions preparatory unto knowledge: 
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. 
14. As to the interpretation of the scriptures solute 
