Aphorisms of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of…Aphorismes of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of…

3. But the greatest enemy to knowledge of all, is mens studying only names and words, in stead of things. Both in Sciences and Divinity this hath debased mens understandings. Men get all the terms of Art, and Theological definitions, Distinctions, Axioms, &c. at their fingers end; but to study the nature of the things themselves, they are utterly careless. Their learning lieth more in their memory, than in their reason and judgement: There you may find perhaps a large Nomenclature, or a Farrago Notionum secundarum, sed ferè sine primis. They have learned (as Parrots) to speak the same words which their Tutors and Authors have put into their mouths; but put them out of their beaten road, and they are at a stand: These men may with industry make good Linguists or Historians▪ or perhaps be able to muster an Army without their Roles: But for Philosophy and Divinity, they have little more then the Carriers horse when he hath a Library on his back. As learned Thomas White saith, in Dialog de mundo, pag. 370▪ Doctorum duae sunt Classes, Alii enim cruditi sunt quasi memoria tenus docti; alii veritatum pensitatores. Duo itaque ad authoritatem petuntur, ut & artis peritus sit, & ex eorum numero penes quos depositum est scientiae Tribunal. What I would say to these men, they may read (if they will bestow the labour) in Ritschell's Preface to his late Contemplationes Metaphysicae.

3. But the greatest enemy to knowledge of all, is mens studying onely names and words, in stead of things. Both in Sciences and Divinity this hath debased mens understandings. Men get all the termes of Art, and Theologicall definitions, Distinctions, Axiomes, &c. at their fingers end; but to study the nature of the things themselves, they are utterly carelesse. Their learning lyeth more in their memory, than in their reason and judgement: There you may finde perhaps a large Nomenclature, or a Farrago Notionum secundarum, sed ferè sine primis. They have learned (as Parrots) to speak the same words which their Tutors and Authors have put into their mouthes; but put them out of their beaten road, and they are at a stand: These men may with industry make good Linguists or Historians▪ or perhaps be able to muster an Army without their Roles: But for Philosophy and Divinity, they have little more then the Carriers horse when he hath a Library on his back. As learned Thomas White saith, in Dialog de mundo, pag. 370▪ Doctorum duae sunt Classes, Alii enim cruditi sunt quasi memoria tenus docti; alii veritatum pensitatores. Duo itaque ad authoritatem petuntur, ut & artis peritus sit, & ex eorum numero penes quos depositum est scientiae Tribunal. What I would say to these men, they may read (if they will bestow the labour) in Ritschell's Preface to his late Contemplationes Metaphysicae.