corruption, and so hurtfull and pernicious to those who set their hearts on them, that they iustly deserue to be hated and reiected. Now it followeth, that according to my order pro∣pounded, I adde some thing of the gifts and ornaments of the mind, namely, the gifts of humane learning, and of sci∣ence and knowledge, which the world abuseth as occasions and grounds of dangerous tentations. And first I will speake briefly of humane learning; consisting principally in the knowledge, memorie and skilfull vse of arts and languages; the which is in it owne nature good, as being an excellent gift of God, whereby the mind of man is adorned, and his naturall gifts and faculties much improued, polished and perfected; so as it is a question disputable, whether nature, or this art and learning are of greater vse and efficacie, for the directing and perfecting of such humane affaires, as are of greatest excellencie. By it the harshnes and roughnesse of nature is mollified and mitigated, barbarisme banished, ci∣uilitie preserued and increased, all things which tend to the well-being and bettering of humane societie perfected, and in a word, hereby the rough fallow grounds of our hearts are as it were ploughed vp, and fitted and prepared to re∣ceiue the seeds of diuine knowledge. In it owne nature ther∣fore, humane learning is not only good but very excellent, and is not contemned and hated by any, but those who are rude and ignorant, yea it ought in this sense to be esteemed and sought after as a pearle of price, which is much to be pre∣ferred before all the treasures and honors of the world; as being a singular ornament of the mind, which euen in the iudgement of Gods Spirit maketh his faithfull seruants more praise-worthie; for thus the holy Ghost commendeth Mo∣ses for his excellent learning, saying, that he was learned in all the wisedome of the Aegyptians, among whom learning in those daies chiefely flourished; and Apollos, whom he also praiseth for his eloquence and knowledge.
But if we consider of this learning as it is in vs, then is it to be esteemed among things indifferent, the which according as they are vsed by the partie that hath them, are either good when they are well vsed, or euill when they are abused, and