88 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OP LEARNING 



plishment ; 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 prophecies which are yet un- 

 fulfilled : 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 therefore are not ful- 

 filled punctually at once, but have springing and 

 germinant accomplishment throughout 

 ProphTtka. «iany ages ; though the height or ful- 

 ness 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 secure, 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 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 

 judgements, 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, deliver- 

 ances, and blessings : and this is a work which hath 

 passed through the labour of many, and therefore 

 I cannot present as omitted. 



4. There are also other parts of learning which are 

 appendices to history. For all the exterior proceed- 

 ings of man consist of words and deeds ; whereof 

 history doth properly receive and retain in memory 

 the deeds, and if words, yet but as inducements and 



