NINTH BOOK 



The Compartments of Theology omitted. Three Deficiencies pointed 

 out. The Right Use of Reason in Matters of Faith. The Knowl- 

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

 of the Holy Scriptures 



HAVING 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 pos- 

 terity 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 theology. 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 pos- 

 sesses the divine needle for justly shaping the course. Nor 

 will the stars of philosophy, that have hitherto principally lent 

 their light, be of farther 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 reason, 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 di- 

 vinity, but only of the manner of forming it. Neither will we 

 here, as we have hitherto practised, give any sketches, annex 

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

 but leave all this to divines. 



The prerogative of God extends over the whole man, and 

 reaches both to his will and his reason ; so that man must ab- 

 solutely renounce himself, and submit to God : and therefore, 

 as we are obliged to obey the divine law, though our will mur- 

 mur against it, so are we obliged to believe the word of God, 



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