XXV. i 4 .] THE SECOND BOOK. 361 



and at large, there have been divers kinds introduced 

 and devised; some of them rather curious and unsafe 

 than sober and warranted. Notwithstanding, thus much 

 must be confessed, that the scriptures, being given by 

 inspiration and not by human reason, do differ from all 

 other books in the author: which by consequence doth 

 draw on some difference to be used by the expositor. 

 For the inditer of them did know four things which no 

 man attains to know; which are, the mysteries of the 

 kingdom of glory, the perfection of the laws of nature, 

 the secrets of the heart of man, and the future succession 

 of all ages. For as to the first it is said, He that presseth 

 into the light, shall be oppressed of the glory. And again, 

 No man shall see my face and live. To the second, When 

 he prepared the heavens 1 was present, when by law and 

 compass he inclosed the deep. To the third, Neither was it 

 needful that any should bear witness to him of man, for he 

 knew well what was in man. And to the last, From the 

 beginning are known to the Lord all his works. 



15. From the former two of these have been drawn 

 certain senses and expositions of scriptures, which had 

 need be contained within the bounds of sobriety; the 

 one anagogical, and the other philosophical. But as to 

 the former, man is not to prevent his time: Vidtmus 

 nunc per speculum in cBmgmale, tune autem facie ad faciem : 

 wherein nevertheless there seemeth to be a liberty granted, 

 as far forth as the polishing of this glass, or some moder 

 ate explication of this aenigma. But to press too far 

 into it, cannot but cause a dissolution and overthrow 

 of the spirit of man. For in the body there are three 

 degrees of that we receive into it, aliment, medicine, 

 and poison : whereof aliment is that which the nature of 

 man can perfectly alter and overcome ; medicine is that 



