248 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



and in peace. This part I ought in no sort to note as 

 deficient ; only I would that the virtue and sincerity of it 

 were according to the mass and quantity. But I am not 

 now in hand with censures, but with omissions. 



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 therefore are not 

 fulfilled punctually at once, but have springing and germi- 

 nant accomplishment throughout many ages, though the 

 height 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. 



The third, which is History of Providence, containeth 

 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 confuting 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 judgments 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 judgments, chastisements, deliverances, 

 and blessings. And this is a work which hath passed 

 through the labour of many, and therefore I cannot present 

 as omitted. 



There are also other parts of learning which are 

 Appendices to history. For all the exterior proceedings of 



