XXV. i.] THE SECOND ROOK. 253 



XXV. i. H^HE prerogative of God extendeth as we 



to the reason as to the will 



:h as well 

 of man ; 



so that as we are to obey his law, though we find a re- 

 luctation in our will, so we are to believe his word, though 

 we find a reluctation in our reason. For if we believe 

 only that which is agreeable to our sense, we give consent 

 to the matter, and not to the author ; which is no more 

 than we would do towards a suspected and discredited 

 witness ; but that faith which was accounted to Abraham 



--* J 



for righteousness was of such a point as whereat Sarah 

 laughed, who therein was an image of natural reason. 



2. Howbeit (if we will truly consider of it) more worthy 

 it is to believe than to know as we now know. For in 

 knowledge man s mind suffereth from sense ; but in belief 

 it suffereth from spirit, such one as it holdeth for more 

 authorised than itself, and so suffereth from the worthier 

 agent. Otherwise it is of the state of man glorified ; for 

 then faith shall cease, and we shall know as we are 

 known. 



3. Wherefore we conclude that sacred theology (which 

 in our idiom we call divinity) is grounded only upon the 

 word and oracle of God, and not upon the light of nature: 

 for it is written, Cceli enarrant gloriam Dei; but it is not 

 written, Cecil enarrant voluntale7n Dei: but of that it is 

 said, Ad legem el testimonium : si non fecerint secundum 

 verbum istud &amp;lt;L c. This holdeth not only in those points 

 of faith which concern the great mysteries of the Deity, 

 of the creation, of the redemption, but likewise those 

 which concern the law moral truly interpreted: Love 



your enemies : do good to them that hate you : Be like to your 

 heavenly Father , that suffereth his rain to fall upon the just 

 and unjust. To this it ought to be applauded, Nee vox 

 hominem sonat: it is a voice beyond the light of nature. 



