XXV. io.] 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. 



1 1 . 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 



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