110 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [VI. i. 



received and may receive by being commixed together; 

 as that which undoubtedly will make an heretical religion, 

 and an imaginary and fabulous philosophy. 



2. Otherwise it is of the nature of angels and spirits, 

 which is an appendix of theology, both divine and natural, 

 and is neither inscrutable nor interdicted. For although 

 the scripture saith, Let no man deceive you in sublime dis 

 course touching the worship of angels, pressing into that he 

 knoweth not, &c. t yet notwithstanding if you observe well 

 that precept, it may appear thereby that there be two 

 things only forbidden, adoration of them, and opinion 

 fantastical of them, either to extol them further than 

 appertaineth to the degree of a creature, or to extol a 

 man s knowledge of them further than he hath ground. 

 But the sober and grounded inquiry, which may arise out 

 of the passages of holy scriptures, or out of the grada 

 tions of nature, is not restrained. So of degenerate and 

 revolted spirits, the conversing with them or the employ 

 ment of them is prohibited, much more any veneration 

 towards them ; but the contemplation or science of their 

 nature, their power, their illusions, either by scripture or 

 reason, is a part of spiritual wisdom. For so the apostle 

 saith, We are not ignorant of his stratagems. And it is no 

 more unlawful to inquire the nature of evil spirits, than to 

 inquire the force of poisons in nature, or the nature of 

 sin and vice in morality. But this part touching angels 

 and spirits I cannot note as deficient, for many have 

 occupied themselves in it ; I may rather challenge it, in 

 many of the writers thereof, as fabulous and fantastical. 

 VII. i. Leaving therefore divine philosophy or natural 



! /theology (not divinity or inspired theology, which we re 

 serve for the last of all as the haven and sabbath of all 

 //man s contemplations) we will now proceed to natural 



J 



