418 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



NINTH BOOK 



The Compartments of Theology omitted. Three Deficiencies pointed out. 

 The Right Use of Reason in Matters of Faith. The Knowledge of the 

 Degrees of Unity in the City of God. The Emanations of the Holy 

 Scriptures 



HAYING now, excellent King, with our small bark 

 of knowledge, sailed over, and surrounded the 

 globe of the sciences, as well the old world as 

 the new (let posterity judge with what success), we should 

 pay our vows and conclude; did there not still remain 

 another part to be viewed; viz., sacred or inspired the 

 ology. But if we were disposed to survey it, we must quit 

 the small vessel of human reason and put ourselves on 

 board the ship of the church, which alone possesses the 

 divine needle for justly shaping the course. Nor will the 

 stars of philosophy, that have hitherto principally lent their 

 light, be of further service to us; and, therefore, it were not 

 improper to be silent, also, upon this subject, as well as 

 upon that of government. For which reasoD, we will omit 

 the just distribution of it, and only contribute, according to 

 our slender ability, a few particulars in the way of good 

 wishes. And this we do the rather, because we find no 

 tract in the whole region of divinity, that is absolutely 

 deserted or uncultivated: so great has the diligence of men 

 been, in sowing either wheat or tares. We shall, therefore, 

 only propose three appendages of theology; treating not of 

 the matter already formed, or to be formed by divinity, but 

 only of the manner of forming it. Neither will we here, 

 as we have hitherto practiced, give any sketches, annex any 

 specimens, or lay down any precepts for these treatises; but 

 leave all this to divines. 



