HI. 2 .] THE SECOND BOOK. 99 



2. The second, which is history of prophecy, consisteth 

 of two relatives, the prophecy, and the accomplishment ; 

 and therefore the nature of such a work ought to be, that 

 every prophecy of the scripture be sorted with the event 

 fulfilling the same, throughout the ages of the world ; both 

 for the better confirmation of faith, and for the better 

 illumination of the Church touching those parts of pro 

 phecies which are yet unfulfilled : allowing nevertheless 

 that latitude which is agreeable and familiar unto divine 

 prophecies ; being of the nature of their author, with 

 whom a thousand years are but as one day ; and there 

 fore are not fulfilled punctually at once, but have 



springing and germinant accomplishment 



. Htstona 



throughout many ages ; though the height a 



or fulness of them may refer to some one 

 age. This is a work which I find deficient ; but is to 

 be done with wisdom, sobriety, and reverence, or not 

 at all. 



3. The third, which is history of providence, con- 

 taineth that excellent correspondence which is between 

 God s revealed will and his secret will: which though 

 it be so obscure, as for the most part it is not legible 

 to the natural man; no, nor many times to those that 

 behold it from the tabernacle; yet at some times it 

 pleaseth God, for our better establishment and the con 

 futing of those which are as without God in the world, 

 to write it in such text and capital letters, that, as the 

 prophet saith, He that runneth by may read it ; that is, 

 mere sensual persons, which hasten by God s judge 

 ments, and never bend or fix their cogitations upon 

 them, are nevertheless in their passage and race urged 

 to discern it. Such are the notable events and examples 

 of God s judgements, chastisements, deliverances, and 



H 2 



