Breviloquium

At the beginning it must be understood that sacred doctrine, namely theology, which principally treats of the first principle, that is, of the triune and one God, treats in sum of seven things: first,¹ of the Trinity of God; second, of the creation of the world; third, of the corruption of sin; fourth, of the incarnation of the Word; fifth, of the grace of the Holy Spirit; sixth, of sacramental medicine; and seventh, of the state of the final judgment.

The reason² for this truth is as follows: since Sacred Scripture, or theology, is a science that gives sufficient knowledge of the first principle according to the state of the way, insofar as is necessary for salvation; and since God is not only the principle and efficient exemplar of things in creation, but also their restorer in redemption and perfecter in retribution: therefore it treats not only of God the creator, but also of creation³ and creature. And because the rational creature, which is in a certain way the end of all things, did not remain standing but, through its fall, needed to be restored; therefore it treats of the corruption of sin, the physician, health, and medicine, and finally of perfect healing, which will be in glory, with the impious cast out into punishment. And therefore it alone is the perfect science, because it begins from the first, which is the first principle, and reaches the last, which is the eternal reward; it begins from the highest, which is the most high God, creator of all, and reaches the lowest, which is infernal punishment. It alone is also the perfect wisdom, which begins from the highest cause, insofar as it is the principle of caused things, where philosophical knowledge comes to an end;⁴ and passes through it, insofar as it is the remedy for sins; and leads back into it, insofar as it is the reward of merits and the end of desires. And in this knowledge there is perfect savor⁵, life, and salvation of souls; and therefore the desire of all Christians ought to be inflamed to learn it.

From these things it is clear that, although theology concerns so many and such diverse things, it is nonetheless one science, whose subject, as that from which all things are, is God; as that through which all things are, Christ; as that to which all things are directed, the work of restoration; as that around which all things are, the single bond of charity by which heavenly and earthly things are joined; as that concerning which everything contained in the canonical books is credible precisely as credible; as that concerning which everything in the books of commentators is credible precisely as intelligible, according to Augustine, On the Usefulness of Believing,⁶ because “what we believe, we owe to authority; what we understand, to reason.”