VII - His wisdom in regulating the Theological lectures of his Diocesan University of Oxford.

Summary

It is the gift and glory of the great physicians to search into and discover the root of the disease, and they who have the greatest quickness in discerning the causes and the greatest dexterity in applying the proper remedies, not only to assage but to eradicate the evil, are justly esteemed to bear away the laurel and take the lead among those of the profession. The same holds good with regard to the ecclesiasticks as well as to the natural body and this we see exemplified in the most wise and penetrating Bishop of Lincoln. Taught by long experience and observation how difficult it is to correct evil pastors, and how much more difficult to find out good ones, he sought out the roots and causes of so pernicious an evil, and having found that the disorders of ecclesiasticks are often owing either to the ill regulation, or ill performance of their studies, he carrieth his wise and piercing views into the seats of clerical education and laboured hard to bring the theological studies of his University of Oxford to a more rational and more useful method, or rather to prevent their forsaking the ancient method which it seems began to faulter. The primitive and ancient method of teaching theology was to explain the Divine Books by the rule of Catholick tradition and by the comments of preceeding doctors. This we see in all the ancient fathers and doctors of the first ages, whether in their commentaries on Scripture or in their polemick works. Their first proofs of the truth they explain, or defend, are taken from the Scriptures. The second, from ecclesiastick doctors, and third sort often from natural reasons where the subject will allow it. This also is the method of the most ancient school doctors and of many eminent modern theologians who have wrote since the revival of good studies. With this difference betwixt the scholastick doctors and the ancient fathers; that these latter wrote in a more prolix and oratorial style, and with all the charms of eloquence of which several of the ancient fathers were the greatest masters of the age.