Chapter 42.—Sacred Scripture
Compared with Profane Authors.
63. But just as poor as the store
of gold and silver and garments which the people of Israel brought
with them out of Egypt was in comparison with the riches which they
afterwards attained at Jerusalem, and which reached their height in
the reign of King Solomon, so poor is all the useful knowledge
which is gathered from the books of the heathen when compared with
the knowledge of Holy Scripture. For whatever man may have learnt
from other sources, if it is hurtful, it is there condemned; if it
is useful, it is therein contained. And while every man may find
there all that he has learnt of useful elsewhere, he will find
there in much greater abundance things that are to be found nowhere
else, but can be learnt only in the wonderful sublimity and
wonderful simplicity of the Scriptures.
When, then, the reader is possessed
of the instruction here pointed out, so that unknown signs have
ceased to be a hindrance to him; when he is meek and lowly of
heart, subject to the easy yoke of Christ, and loaded with His
light burden, rooted and grounded and built up in faith, so that
knowledge cannot puff him up, let him then approach the
consideration and discussion of ambiguous signs in Scripture. And
about these I shall now, in a third book, endeavor to say what the
Lord shall be pleased to vouchsafe.