The historie of the world. In five bookes. Intreating of the beginning and first ages of the same, from the creation unto Abraham. 2 Of the times from the birth of Abraham to the destruction of the Temple of Salomon. 3 From the destruction of Jerusalem, to the time of Philip of Macedon. 4 From the Raigne of Philip of Macedon, to the establishing of that Kingdome in the Race of Antigonus. 5 From the settled rule of Alexanders Sucessors in the East, untill the Romans (prevailing over all) made conquest of Asia and Macedon / By Sir Walter Ralegh, Knight.

  • Raleigh, Walter, Sir, 1552?-1618.
Date:
[1652]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The historie of the world. In five bookes. Intreating of the beginning and first ages of the same, from the creation unto Abraham. 2 Of the times from the birth of Abraham to the destruction of the Temple of Salomon. 3 From the destruction of Jerusalem, to the time of Philip of Macedon. 4 From the Raigne of Philip of Macedon, to the establishing of that Kingdome in the Race of Antigonus. 5 From the settled rule of Alexanders Sucessors in the East, untill the Romans (prevailing over all) made conquest of Asia and Macedon / By Sir Walter Ralegh, Knight. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Egrcgia eft foboles fcelerato nut a parcnie : A worthy Ton is borne of a wicked father. , But there is nothing (after Gods referved power) that fo much fetteth this art of in¬ fluence out offquare and rule., as education doth : for there are none in the World fo wickedly inclined;, but that a religious inftruefion and bringing up may fafhion anew and reforme them 5 nor any fo well difpofed, whom (the reines being let loofe) the continuall fellowfhip and familiarity, and the examples of diflolute men may not cor¬ rupt and deforme. Veffels will ever retain a favour of their firft liquor : it being equally difficult either to clenfe the minde once corrupted, of to extinguifh the fweet favour IO ofvertue firft received, when the minde was yet tender, open, and eafily feafoned} but where a favourable conftellation (allowing that the Stars incline the will) and a ver- tuous education doe happily arrive, or the contrary in both, thereby it is that men are found fo exceeding vertuous or Vicious,Heaven and Earth(as it werejrunning together and agreeing in one; for as the feeds of vertue may by the art and hulbandry of Ch'ri- ftiancounfaileproducebetterandmorebeautiful fruit, than the ftrength of felf-na- ture and Kind could have yeelded them} fo the plants apt to grow wilde,and to change themfelves into weeds, by being fet in a foyle futable, and like themfelves, are made more unfavoury and filled with poy fon. It was therefore truly affivmedfapiens adjuva¬ nt opus ajlrorum, quemadmodiim agricola terree naturam} A wife man ajfijleth the work of the 20 Stars as the Hufbandman helpeth the nature of the foyle. And Ptolemie himfelfe confefleth thus much ,Sapiensr>& omina fapientis medici dominabuntur aftrn } A wife man, and the ominous art of a wife Thyfcian jball prevaile againftthe Stars. Laftly, we ought all to know, that God created the Stars, as he did the reft of the Uni verfal, whofe influences may be called his referved and unwritten Lawes. But let us confiderhow they bind.* even as the Lawes of men doe 5 for although the Kings and Princes of the World have by their Lawes decreed, that a Thiefe and a Murderer (hall fuffer death} and though their Ordinances are daily by Judges and Magi ftrates (the Stars of Kings) executed accordingly} yet thefe Lawes doe not deprive Kings of their naturall or religious compaflion, or binde them without prerogative, tofuch afevere execution, 20 as that there Ihould be nothing left of liberty to judgment, power, or confidence: the 6 Law in his owne nature,being no other than a deafe Tyrant. But feeing that it is other- wife, and that Princes (who ought to imitate God in all they can) doe fometimesfor caufes to themfelves knowne, and by mediation, pardon offences both againft others and themfelves, it were then impious to take that power and liberty from God him¬ felfe, which his Subftitutes injoy} God being mercy, goodnefle, and charity itfelf. M*t*. 13. Otherwife that example of Prayer by our Saviour taught} And let us not be led into temptation, but deliver us from evill, had been no other but an expence of words and time} but that God (which only knoweth the operation of his owne creatures truly) hath allured us, that there is no inclination or temptation fo forcible, which' our hum- ble Prayers and Defires may not make fruftrate and breake afunder : for were it(as^ the Stoicks conceive) that Fate or Deftiny, though depending upon eternall power, yet being once ordered and difpofed, had fuch a connexion and immutable depen¬ dency, that God himfelf Ihould in a kinde have (hut up himfelfe therein: How miferable then were the condition of men (faith S. Augujline) left altogether without hope. And if this ftrength of the Stars were fo transferred, as that God had quitted unto John 17.4. them all dominion over his creatures} be he Pagan or Chriftian that fo beleeveth the only true God of the one, and the imaginary gods of the other, would thereby be de- fpoyledofall worlhip, reverence, or refped. And certainly,God which hath promifed us the reward of well-doing, which Chrift 50 himfelfclaimedatthehands ofthe Father, (lhavefinifed the works which thougavefi niee to doe:) and the fame God, who hath threatned unto us the forrow and torment of offences, could not, contrary to his merciful nature,be fo unjuft,as to bind us inevi¬ tably to the Deftinies or influences of the Stars, or fnbjeft our foulesto any impofed neceffity. But it was well faid of Plotinus, that the Stars were fignificant, but not effid- ent, giving them yet fortlething lefle than t hei r due: and therefore as I doe not confent with them, who would make thofe glorious creatures of God vertuelefife:To I thinke that wee derogate from his eternall and abfolute power and providence, to aferibe to ‘ 1 * them