tions, there were also to be wished a greater diligence therein; for there is no great action but hath fome good pen which attends it. And because it is an ability not common to Write a good Hiftory, as may well appear by the small number of them: yet if particularity of actions memorable were but tolerably reported as they pass, the compiling of a complete History of Times might be the better expected, when a Writer fhould arife that were fit for it: for the collection of fuch relations might be as a Nursery garden, whereby to plant a fair and stately garden, when time should serve. There is yet another portion of History which Cornelius Tacitus maketh, which is not to be forgot, especially with that application which he accoupleth it withal, Annals and Journals: appropriating to the former Matters of estate, and to the latter Acts and Accidents of a meaner nature. For giving but a touch of certain Magnificent buildings, he addeth, Cum ex dignitate populi Romani repertum fit, res illuftres annalibus, talia diurnis urbis Actis mandare. So as there is a kind of contemplative Heraldry, as well as Civil. And as nothing doth derogate from the dignity of a state more than confufion of degrees; fo it doth not a little embase the Authority of a History, to intermingle matters of triumph, or matters of Ceremony, or matters of Novelty, with matters of State. But the use of a Journal hath not only been in the History of Time, but likewise in the History of Persons, and chiefly of actions; for Princes in ancient time had, upon point of honour and policy both, Journals kept of what passed day by day for we see the Chronicle which was read before Abafuerus, when he could not take reft, contained matter of affairs indeed, but such as had passed in his own time, and very lately before: but the Journal of Alexander's House expressed every small particularity, even concerning his Perfon and Court; and it is yet a use well received in enterprises memorable, as expeditions of War, Navigations, and the like, to keep Diaries of that which paffeth continually. I cannot likewise be ignorant of a form of Writing which fome grave and Wife men have used, containing a scattered Hiftory of those actions which they have thought worthy of memory, with politic Difcourfe and Obfervation thereupon: not incorporated into the History, but separately, and as the more principal in their intention; which kind of Ruminated Hiftory I think more fit to place amongst Books of Policy, whereof we shall hereafter speak, than amongst Books of History: for it is the true office of History to Represent the events themselves together with the Counsels, and to leave the observations and conclufions thereupon to the liberty and faculty of every man's judgment: but mixtures are things irregular, whereof no man can define. So alfo is there another kind of History manifoldly mixed, and that is History of Cosmography: being compounded of Natural History, in respect of the Regions themselves; of History civil, in respect of the Habitations, Regimens, and Manners of the people; and the Mathematics, in respect of the Climates and Configurations towards the Heavens: which part of Learning of all others, in this latter time, hath obtained moft Proficience. For it may be truly affirmed to the honour of these times, and in a virtuous emulation with Antiquity, that this great Building of the world had never thorough lights made in it, till the age of us and our Fathers for although they had knowledge of the Antipodes, : Nofque ubi primus equis Oriens afflavit anhelis, yet that might be by demonstration, and not in fact; and if by Travel, it requireth the Voyage but of half the Globe. But to circle the earth, as the Heavenly bodies do, was not done nor enterprised till these latter times: and therefore these times may justly bear in their word, not only Plus ultra, in precedence of the ancient Non ultra, and Imitabile fulmen, in precedence of the ancient Non imitabile fulmen, Demens qui nimbos et non imitabile fulmen ; &c. Imitabile Colum; but likewise in respect of the many memorable Voyages, after the manner of Heaven, about the Globe of the earth. And this Proficience in Navigation and Difcoveries may plant also an expectation of the further proficience and augmentation of all Sciences; because it may seem they are ordained by GOD to be Coevals, that is, to meet in one Age. For fo the Prophet Daniel, speaking of the latter times, foretelleth, Plurimi pertranfibunt, et Multiplex erit Scientia: as if the openness and thorough paffage of the World and the increase of Knowledge were appointed to be in the fame ages; as we see it is already performed in great part: the Learning of these latter times not much giving place to the former two Periods or Returns of Learning, the one of the Grecians, the other of the Romans. Hiftory Ecclefiaftical receiveth the fame divifions with History Civil: but further, in the propriety thereof, may be divided into the History of the Church, by a general name; Hiftory of Prophecy; and Hiftory of Providence. The firft describeth the times of the militant Church, whether it be fluctuant, as the Ark of Noah; or moveable, as the Ark in the Wilderness; or at reft, as the Ark in the Temple: that is, the ftate of the Church in Perfecution, in Remove, and in Peace. This part I ought in no fort to note as deficient ; only I would that the virtue and fincerity of it were according to the mass and quantity. But I am not now in hand with cenfures, but with omiffions. The second, which is Hiftory of Prophecy, confifteth of two Relatives, the Prophecy, and the accomplishment; and therefore the nature of fuch a work ought to be, that every Prophecy of the Scripture be forted with the event fulfilling the fame, throughout the ages of the world; both for the better confirmation of faith, and for the better illumination of the Church touching thofe 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 germinant accomplishment throughout many Ages; though the height or fulness of them may refer to fome 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 Hiftory of Providence, containeth that excellent correspondence which is between God's revealed will and his fecret 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 fome 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 fuch Text and Capital Letters, that as the Prophet faith, He that runneth by may read it; that is, mere fenfual perfons, which haften by God's judgments, and never bend or fix their cogitations upon them, are nevertheless in their paffage and Race urged to discern it. Such are the notable events and examples of God's judgments, chastisements, deliverances, and bleffings: and this is a work |