II.] ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 153 



The second, which is history of prophecy, consisteth of two 

 relatives, the prophecy, and the accomplishment ; and therefore the 

 n iture of such a work ought to be, that every prophecy of the Scrip- 

 lure 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 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 

 gcrminant 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, &quot;he that runneth by may read it ;&quot; 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 labours 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 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 passages to deeds : 

 so are there other books and writings, which are appropriate to the 

 custody and receipt of words only, which likewise are of three sorts : 

 Orations, Letters, and Brief Speeches or Sayings. 



Orations are pleadings, speeches of counsel, laudatives, in 

 vectives, apologies, reprehensions ; orations of formality or ceremony, 

 and the like. 



Letters are according to all the variety of occasions, advertise 

 ments, advices, directions, propositions, petitions, commendatory, 

 cxpostulatory, satisfactory ; of compliment, of pleasure, of discourse, 

 and all other passages of action. And such as arc written from wise 

 men, are of all the words of man, in my judgment, the best ; for they 

 are more natural than orations and public speeches, and more ad 

 vised than conferences or present speeches. So again letters of affairs 

 from such as manage them or are privy to them, are of all others the 

 best instructions for history, and to a diligent reader the best 

 histories in themselves. 



For Apophthegms, it is a great loss of that book of Caesar s ; for as 



