1in all humane Sciences; but making no account of theſe things
he profeſſeth that it was his deſire to teach them no more but the
way to Heaven. Hence is that which God ſpeaketh to us by
Iſaiah, (i) Ego Dominus Deus, docens te utilia [I am the Lord
thy God which teacheth thee profitable things:] Where the Gloſ
ſary addeth, non ſubtilia [not ſubtilties.] For God neither taught
us, Whether the Materia Prima of Heaven, and the Elements
be the ſame; nor Whether Cominual be compoſed of Indiviſi
bles, or whether it be diviſible in infinitum; nor, whether the
Elements are formally mixt; nor how many the Cœleſtial
Spheres, and their Orbs are; Whether there be Epicycles or
Eccentricks; nor the Vertues of Plants and Stones; nor the Na
ture of Animals; nor the Motion and Influence of the Planets;
nor the Order of the Univerſe; nor the Wonders of Minerals,
and univerſal Nature: but only [utilia:] things profitable, to
wit, his Holy Law ordained to the end, that we being put into
poſſeſſion of Bleſſedneſs, might at length be made capable of all
perfect knowledge, and the viſion of the whole Order and ad
mirable Harmony, as alſo the Sympathy and Antipathy of the
Univerſe and its parts, in his Word, wherein all thoſe
things ſhall moſt clearly and diſtinctly, then, appear to us, which
mean while, in this life, he hath remitted (as far as its ability
reacheth) to humane ſearch and enquiry: But it was not his
purpoſe to determine any thing, directly or indirectly, touching
the truth of them. Becauſe as the knowledge thereof would lit
tle or nothing profit Us, but might in ſome caſes prove prejudi
cial; ſo the ignorance thereof can doubtleſs be no detriment,
but may in ſome caſes be very beneficial to us. And therefore
by his moſt admirable Wiſdome it comes to paſs, that though all
things in this World are dubious, uncertain, wavering, and per
plexed; yet his Holy Faith alone is moſt certain; and although
the opinions about Philoſophical and Doctrinal points be divers,
there is in the Church but one Truth of Faith and Salvation.
Which Faith, as neceſsary to Salvation, is ſo ordered by Divine
Providence, that it might not only be indubitable, but alſo un
ſhaken, ſure, immutable, and manifeſt to all men: the infallible
Rule of which he hath appointed the Holy Church, that is waſh
ed with his precious Blood, and governed by his Holy Spirit, to
whom belongs our Sanctification, as being his work. This there
fore is the Reaſon why God would have Speculative Queſtions,
which nothing conduce to our Salvation and Edification, and why
the Holy Ghoſt hath very often condeſcended to Vulgar Opini
ons and Capacities, and hath diſcovered nothing that is ſingular
or hidden to us, beſides thoſe things that pertain to Salvation.
So that conſequently it is clear by what hath been ſaid, how and
he profeſſeth that it was his deſire to teach them no more but the
way to Heaven. Hence is that which God ſpeaketh to us by
Iſaiah, (i) Ego Dominus Deus, docens te utilia [I am the Lord
thy God which teacheth thee profitable things:] Where the Gloſ
ſary addeth, non ſubtilia [not ſubtilties.] For God neither taught
us, Whether the Materia Prima of Heaven, and the Elements
be the ſame; nor Whether Cominual be compoſed of Indiviſi
bles, or whether it be diviſible in infinitum; nor, whether the
Elements are formally mixt; nor how many the Cœleſtial
Spheres, and their Orbs are; Whether there be Epicycles or
Eccentricks; nor the Vertues of Plants and Stones; nor the Na
ture of Animals; nor the Motion and Influence of the Planets;
nor the Order of the Univerſe; nor the Wonders of Minerals,
and univerſal Nature: but only [utilia:] things profitable, to
wit, his Holy Law ordained to the end, that we being put into
poſſeſſion of Bleſſedneſs, might at length be made capable of all
perfect knowledge, and the viſion of the whole Order and ad
mirable Harmony, as alſo the Sympathy and Antipathy of the
Univerſe and its parts, in his Word, wherein all thoſe
things ſhall moſt clearly and diſtinctly, then, appear to us, which
mean while, in this life, he hath remitted (as far as its ability
reacheth) to humane ſearch and enquiry: But it was not his
purpoſe to determine any thing, directly or indirectly, touching
the truth of them. Becauſe as the knowledge thereof would lit
tle or nothing profit Us, but might in ſome caſes prove prejudi
cial; ſo the ignorance thereof can doubtleſs be no detriment,
but may in ſome caſes be very beneficial to us. And therefore
by his moſt admirable Wiſdome it comes to paſs, that though all
things in this World are dubious, uncertain, wavering, and per
plexed; yet his Holy Faith alone is moſt certain; and although
the opinions about Philoſophical and Doctrinal points be divers,
there is in the Church but one Truth of Faith and Salvation.
Which Faith, as neceſsary to Salvation, is ſo ordered by Divine
Providence, that it might not only be indubitable, but alſo un
ſhaken, ſure, immutable, and manifeſt to all men: the infallible
Rule of which he hath appointed the Holy Church, that is waſh
ed with his precious Blood, and governed by his Holy Spirit, to
whom belongs our Sanctification, as being his work. This there
fore is the Reaſon why God would have Speculative Queſtions,
which nothing conduce to our Salvation and Edification, and why
the Holy Ghoſt hath very often condeſcended to Vulgar Opini
ons and Capacities, and hath diſcovered nothing that is ſingular
or hidden to us, beſides thoſe things that pertain to Salvation.
So that conſequently it is clear by what hath been ſaid, how and