Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 625

;

Chap. IV]

§ 93.

PART OF AN ORGANISM

601

study, in the narrower sense, and of historical detail goes on outside of the afore-mentioned differentiation.

The

fact that

a person compares a few codices constitutes him by no means a philologist, nor because he studies a certain part of positive

law

is

he made a

jurist,

and much

less does

he become a theo-

logian because he inquires into the history of a monastery.

But

in doing this, such scholars

may

readily furnish contri-

butions which are of lasting value to their several depart-

ments. So far as the sciences exactes rest simply on counting, weighing and measuring, they do not stand very high neither ;

does this subordinate detail-study of the spiritual sciences

bear an ideal scientific character

;

but they have this in their

favor, that universal validity attaches to their results,

and

for this reason, though unjustly, they are largely credited

But

as being the onlt/ strictly scientific studies.

this

is

only

These studies derive their peculiar character simply from the fact that they do not touch the higher functions of the subject, and are affected by the subject only in so far as, standing outside the influence of sin, it is one and the same in all investigators. Science in the higher sense begins only where these higher functions operate, and then, of course, these two streams must separate, because the working of these higher functions, with and without palingenesis, differs. From this it follows, at the same time, that universal validity cannot be attained except in so far as, potentially self-deception.

at least, these higher functions

dents of science in

whom

work

The

identically.

stu-

these functions are unenlightened

can advance no farther than the recognition of their results own circle. And on the other hand, the students

in their

of science to whom the enlightening has come can never promise themselves anything more than the recognition of their results in the circle of those

ened.

From

who have been

the nature of the case this

is

enlight-

intended simply

Neither one of these sciences exan immediate recognition pects of their results and from all they simply assume that every one who reaches a logical and complete development within one of these two circles

in the potential sense.

will find the results to be thus

and not otherwise.

Hence the

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