Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 277

OF THEOLOGY

Chai'. I]

253

can also speak of an ectypal zoology, botany, etc. For these parts of His creation are also known to God before they are known to us and all our knowledge of the world of animals and plants, etc., is either in harmony with the knowledge God has of them and then true, or in antagoThis distinction between nism with it and then false. ;

archetypal and ectypal knowledge is valid in every department, and therefore may not be claimed as something char-

Theology. But this objection is altogether instance, I can order a sketch to be made For inaccurate. upon examination is seen to agree which of a gable-roof, but entirely with the original drawing of the architect from copied been does that prove that this last sketch has No, only if this sketch had not been the original drawing ? made from the gable, but immediately from the original but not now. It is drawing, would it have been ectypal not true, therefore, that our botanical and zoological knowledge can be called ectypal. It would be this, if we did not draw this knowledge from the world of animals and plants, but copied it apart of these realities from the decree of We creation, as far as it referred to animals and plants. knowlour whether question will not stop to consider the acteristic

of

;

;

edge of the world of angels, of the

soul, of the other side

of the grave, of the future, etc., is not ectypal

tion

is

in order in

the section on the

;

this ques-

ambitus (circle) of

It is enough if the essential difference is Theology. clear between a knowledge which is the result of the active investigation of an object, and that wholly different knowledge which we must first passively receive and then

actively investigate.

And

with the old Theologians we

maintain the ectypal character of the knowledge of God, since no man can investigate God Himself, and all the

knowledge which we shall have of God can only be a copy of the knowledge God has of Himself, and is pleased to communicate to us. Besides the strictly dependent character of Theology, there lie

in this ectypal characteristic

be emphasized.

two suggestions, which must

First, that there is

no involuntary revela-

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