History Ecclesiasticall
History ecclsiastical, receiveth the same divisions with History civil; but furder in the proprietie thereof may bee devided into History of the Church, by a general name. History of Prophecie, & Historie of Providence: The first describeth the times of the militant Church; whether it be fluctuant, as the Arke of Noah, or moveable, as the Arke in the Wildernes, or at rest, as the Arke in the Temple; That is, the state of the Church in Persecution, in Remove, and in Peace. This part I ought in no sort to note as deficient, onely I would the vertue and sinceritie of it, were according to the Masse, and quantitie. But I am not now in hand with censures, but with omissions.
The second, which is History of Prophecie, consisteth of two Relatives, the Prophecie, and the accomplishment: and therefore the nature of such a worke ought to be, that every prophecie 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 unfulfilled: allowing neverthelesse that Latitude, which is agreable, and familiar unto divine Prophecies, being of the nature of their Author, with whom a thousande yeares 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 fulnesse of them may referre to some one age: This is a worke which I finde deficient, but is to bee1Historia Prophetica. done with wisedom, sobrietie, and reverence, or not at all.
The third, which is History of Providence, containeth that excellent correspondence, which is betweene Gods revealed will, and his secret will: which though it be so obscure, as for the most part it is not legible to the Naturall 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 Capitall Letters, that, as the Prophet saith, He that runneth by, may read it: that is, meere sensual persons, which hasten by Gods judgements, and never bend or fixe their cogitations upon them, are neverthelesse in their passage and race urged to discerne it. Such are the notable events and examples of Gods judgements, chastizements, 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 al the exterior proceedings of man consist of Wordes and Deeds: whereof History doth properly receive, and retaine in Memory the Deedes, and if Wordes, yet but as Inducements and passages to Deedes: So are there other Books and Writings, which are appropriat to the custodie, and receite of Wordes onely: which likewise are of three sorts: Orations, Letters, & Briefe Speeches, or Sayings: Orations are pleadings, speeches of counsell; Laudatives, Invectives, Apologies, Reprehensions; Orations of Formalitie, or Ceremonie, and the like: Letters are according to all the varietie of occasions; Advertisments, Advises, Directions, Propositions, Peticions, Commendatorie, Expostulatorie, Satisfactorie, of complement, of Pleasure, of Discourse, and all other passages of Action. And such as are written from wise men, are, of all the words of Man, in my judgement the best, for they are more Naturall then Orations, and publike speeches, & more advised then conferences, or present speeches: So againe Letters of Affaires from such as Manage them, or are privie to them, are of all others the best instructions for History, and to a diligent reader, the best Histories in themselves. For Apothegmes: It is a great losse of that Booke of Cæsars; For as his History, and those fewe Letters of his which wee have, and those Apothegmes which were of his owne, excell all mens else: So I suppose would his collection of Apothegmes have done; For as for those which are collected by others, either I have no tast in such Matters, or else their choice hath not beene happie. But upon these three kindes of Writings I doe not insist, because I have no deficiences to propound concerning them,
Thus much therefore concerning History, which is that part of learning, which answereth to one of the Celles, Domiciles, or offices of the Mind of Man; which is that of the Memorie.