That we ought not to seeke out the cause of the vicious will. CHAP. 7.
LEt none therefore seeke the efficient cause of an euill will: for it is not efficient but deficient, nor is there effect but defect: namely falling from that highest essence, vnto a lower, this is to haue an euill will. The causes whereof (beeing not efficient but deficient) if one endeuour to seeke, it is as if hee should seeke to see the darknesse, or to heare silence: wee know them both, this by (a) the eare, and that by the eye: but not by any formes of theirs, but priuation of formes. Let none then seeke to know that of mee which I know not my selfe: vnlesse hee will learne not to know what hee must know that hee cannot know: for the things that we know by priuation and not by forme, are rather (if you can conceit mee) knowne by not knowing: and in knowing them, are still vnknowne. For the bo∣dyes eye coursing ouer bodyly obiects, sees no darkenesse, but when it ceaseth to see. And so it belongs to the eare, and to no other sence to know silence, which notwithstanding is not knowne but by not hearing. So our intellect doth speculate the intelligible formes, but where they faile it learneth by not learning: for who can vnderstand his faults? This I know, that Gods nature can neuer faile in time, nor in part: but all things that are made of nothing may decay: which * 1.1 doe not-with-standing more good, as they are more essentiall: for then doe they some-thing when they haue efficient causes: but in that they faile, and fall off, and doe euill, they haue deficient causes: and what doe they then but vanity?
L. VIVES.
BY the (a) eare] Contraries are knowne both by one methode, say the Philosophers, and the primatiue is knowne onely by seperation of the knowledge of the Positiue.