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THE SECOND BOOKE 343
have beene made to proceed from it? What heresie
hath not found testimonies and ground sufficient, both
to undertake and to maintaine itself? It is, therefore,
that the Authors of such errors will never goe from
this proofe of the testimony of words interpretation.
A man of worth going about by authority to approve
the search of the Philosophers stone (wherein he was
overwhelmed) alleadged at least five or six several passages
out of the holy bible unto me, upon which (he
said) he had at first grounded himselfe, for the discharge
of his conscience (for he is a man of Ecclesiastical
profession), and truly the invention of them was not
only pleasant, but also very fitly applied to the defence
of this goodly and mind-inchanting science. This way
is the credit of divining fables attained to. There is
no prognosticator if he have but this authority that
any one wil but vouchsafe to read him over, and curiously
to search all the infoldings and lustres of his
words, but a man shall make him say what he pleaseth,
as the Sibils. There are so many means of interpretation
that it is hard, be it fiat-long, side-long, or
edge-long, but an ingenious and pregnant wit shal in
all subjects meet with some aire that wil fit his turn.
Therfore is a clowdy, darke and ambiguous stile found
in so frequent and ancient custome, that the Author
may gaine to draw, allure, and busie posterity to himselfe,
which not only the sufficiency but the casuall
favour of the matter may gaine as much or more. As
for other matters let him, be it either through foolishnes
or subtilty, shew himself somewhat obscure and divers,
it is no matter, care not he for that. A number of
spirits sifting and tossing him over will finde and
express sundry formes, either according, or collaterally,
or contrary to his owne, all which shall do him
credit. He shal see himselfe enriched by the meanes
of his Disciples, as the Grammer Schoole Maisters.
It is that which hath made many things of nothing,
to pass very currant, that hath brought divers books
in credit, and charged with all sorts of matter that
any hath but desired: one selfsame thing admitting