ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 113 



single age or moment. And this is a work which I find 

 deficient; but it should either be undertaken with wisdom, 

 sobriety, and reverence, or not at all. 



The third part the history of providence has been 

 touched by some pious pens, but not without a mixture 

 of party. This history is employed in observing that Di 

 vine agreement which there sometimes is between the re 

 vealed and secret will of God. For although the counsels 

 and judgments of God are so secret as to be absolutely un 

 searchable to man, 2 yet the Divine goodness has sometimes 

 thought fit, for the confirmation of his own people, and the 

 confutation of those who are as without God in the world, 

 to write them in such capital letters, as they who run may 

 read them. 3 Such are the remarkable events and examples 

 of God s judgments, though late and unexpected, sudden 

 and unhoped for deliverances and blessings, Divine coun 

 sels dark and doubtful at length opening and explaining 

 themselves, etc. All which have not only a power to con 

 firm the minds of the faithful, but to awaken and convince 

 the consciences of the wicked. 



CHAPTEE XII 



The Appendix of History embraces the Words of Men, as the Body of His 

 tory includes their Exploits. Its Division into Speeches, Letters, 

 and Apothegms 



AND not only the actions of mankind, but also their 

 sayings, ought to be preserved, and may doubtless 

 be sometimes inserted in history, so far as they de 

 cently serve to illustrate the narration of facts; but books 

 of orations, epistles, and apothegms, are the proper reposi 

 tories of human discourse. The speeches of wise men upon 

 matter of business, weighty causes, or difficult points, are of 



2 I. Cor. ii. 3 Epis. to the Ephesians ii. and Habak. ii. 



