Hittorieofthefnctiei. 



the confederations of thefc wonders,to praife the pow 

 er and grcatnes of the Almightie, andreioyce in the 

 contemplation of his admirable vvorkes, and to fay 

 with&?/0w0#/peaking vpon this fubiedi, Ofathcrwhofe s t' l * f 

 frovidence governe* and maintaines A fctceofwood y gi 

 ving it an ajfiircdway vpon the fa , and in the midjl of the 

 fivellingwaves, toflwvjhatin the like fort 9 thou canftjavc 

 and deliver m^nfiomallperillandjhipryracke^ yea, although 

 he were in themtdft ofthefca without jhippe. But for that thy 

 works are full ofwifedome, men hazard their lives in afmall 

 peeceofwood, and p*(Ji through the fain aft: ppe, and are 

 faved. And vpon the fameYubied the Pfalmift: faieth, 

 Thej which got&thefea injhippts , and traffcke by the great p - ^ ^ 

 waters, fwvefeenc the workes of the Lord 5 And his wonders 

 in the dtpth of the fit . And in truth, it is not one of die 

 leaft wonders of God, thattheforceoffofinalla (tone 

 fhould command the fea , and force tlie infinite depth 

 thereof to obey him, and follow his commandemenr. 

 But for that it is an vfuall thing, and ieemes eafie, men 

 do not admire it,nor take any great regard thereof: and 

 for that his bountieis fuch , the ignorant make lefTe ac 

 count thereof . Notwkhftanding , fu<:has will duly 

 confident, are led by reafon, tobleflfc the wifedome 

 of God, and to givehim thankes for fo great a benefice. 

 Being then decreed in heaven, that thefe nations of the 

 Indies , which have lyen fo long hidden , fhould bee 

 knowne and difcovered , and that this rowt fhould be 

 frequented, to the end fo many foules fhould come to 

 the knowledge of lefus Chrift, and winne eternall life. 

 There was an allured guide provided for fuch as travell 

 that way, that is, the Compafle to faile by,and the ver- 

 tueofthe Adamant ftone . Wee doe not ccrtainely 

 know at what time this Art of failing was brought to 



light, 



