OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [1.3. 



and limitations, whereby human knowledge is confined 

 and circumscribed ; and yet without any such contracting 

 or coarctation, but that it may comprehend all the uni 

 versal nature of things ; for these limitations are three : 

 the first, That we do not so place our felicity in knowledge, 

 trs we forget our mortality: the second, That we make 

 application of our knowledge, to give ourselves repose and 

 contentment, and not distaste or repining: the third, That 

 we do not presume by the contemplation of nature to attain to 

 the mysteries of God. For as touching the first of these, 

 Salomon doth excellently expound himself in another 

 place of the same book, where he saith : / saw well that 

 knowledge recedeth as far from ignorance as light doth from 

 darkness ; and that the wise mans eyes keep watch in his 

 head, whereas the fool roundeth about in darkness : but 

 withal I learned, that the same mortality involve th them both. 

 And for the second, certain it is, there is no vexation or 

 anxiety of mind which resulteth from knowledge other 

 wise than merely by accident; for all knowledge and 

 wonder (which is the seed of knowledge) is an impression 

 of pleasure in itself: but when men fall to framing con 

 clusions out of their knowledge, applying it to their par 

 ticular, and ministering to themselves thereby weak fears 

 or vast desires, there groweth that carefulness and trouble 

 of mind which is spoken of: for then knowledge is no 

 more Lumen siccum, whereof Heraclitus the profound 

 said, Lumen siccum optima anima ; but it becometh Lumen 

 madidum, or maceratum, being steeped and infused in the 

 humours of the affections. And as for the third point, it 

 deserve th to be a little stood upon, and not to be lightly 

 {passed over : for if any man shall think by view arid 

 1 inquiry into these sensible and material things to attain 

 that light, whereby he may reveal unto himself the nature 



