The Second Book 209 



that ancient and patient request, Verhera, sed audi;^ let 

 men reprehend them, so they observe and weigh them: 

 for the appeal is lawful, though it may be it shall not be 

 needful, from the first cogitations of men to their second, 

 and from the nearer times to the times farther off. Now 

 let us come to that learning, which both the former times 

 were not so blessed as to know, sacred and inspired divinity, 

 the Sabbath and port of all men's labours and peregrinations. 



XXV. I. 



The prerogative of God extendeth as well to the reason as 

 to the will of man ; so that as we are to obey His law, though 

 we find a reluctation 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 

 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 it, more worthy it is 

 to beUeve than to know as we now know. For in know- 

 ledge man's mind suffereth from sense; but in belief it 

 suffereth from spirit, such one as it holdeth for more 

 authorized 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 Ught of nature: for 

 it is written, Cceli enarrant gloriamDei .-^ but it is not written, 

 Cosli enarrant voluntatem Dei : but of that it is said, Ad 

 legem et testimonium : si non fecerint secundum verbum 

 istud,^ etc. This holdeth not only in those points of faith 

 which concern the mysteries of the Deity, of the Creation, 

 of the Redemption, but Ukewise those which concern the 

 moral law truly interpreted : Love your enemies : do good 

 to them that hate you ; he like to your heavenly Father, thai 



* Themistocles to Eurybiades, Plut. Reg. et Imper. Apop. — 

 rdra^ov fih'odv, &Kovffoy 54. 



• Vid. Gen. xviii. • Ps. xix. i. * Isai. viii. 20. 



