376 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



first cogitations of men to their second, and from the 

 nearer times to the times further 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 

 Sabaoth and port of all men's labours and peregrinations. 



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. 



Howbeit (if we will truly consider it) more worthy it is 

 to believe 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 

 authorised 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. 



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 light of nature : 

 for it is written, Coeli enarrant gloriam Dei, but it is not 

 written, Coeli 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 great mysteries of the Deity, of the 

 Creation, of the Redemption, but likewise those which 

 concern the law moral truly interpreted: 'Love your 

 enemies : do good to them that hate you : be like to your 

 heavenly Father, that suffereth his rain to fall upon the 

 just and unjust/ To this it ought to be applauded, Nee 

 vox hominem sonat : it is a voice beyond the light of nature. 

 So we see the heathen poets, when they fall upon a 



