382 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



into exact methods have a shew of strength, in that each 

 part seemeth to support and sustain the other ; but this 

 is more satisfactory than substantial ; like unto buildings 

 which stand by architecture and compaction, which are 

 more subject to ruin than those which are built more 

 strong in their several parts, though less compacted. But 

 it is plain that the more you recede from your grounds 

 the weaker do you conclude ; and as in nature the more 

 you remove yourself from particulars the greater peril 

 of error you do incur, so much more in divinity the more 

 you recede from the Scriptures by inferences and con- 

 sequences, the more weak and dilute are your positions. 



And as for perfection or completeness in divinity, it 

 is not to be sought ; which makes this course of artificial 

 divinity the more suspect. For he that will reduce a 

 knowledge into an art, will make it round and uniform : 

 but in divinity many things must be left abrupt and 

 concluded with this : O altitudo sapientiae et scientiae Dei ! 

 quam incomprehensibilia suntjudicia ejus^ et non investigabiles 

 viae ejus ! So again the apostle saith, Ex parte scimus, and 

 to have the form of a total where there is but matter 

 for a part, cannot be without supplies by supposition and 

 presumption. And therefore I conclude, that the true use 

 of these Sums and Methods hath place in institutions or 

 introductions preparatory unto knowledge ; but in them, 

 or by deducement from them, to handle the main body 

 and substance of a knowledge, is in all sciences prejudicial, 

 and in divinity dangerous. 



As to the interpretation of the Scriptures solute 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 



