Nev, Vain Hiliories, andother Men: Matters, &C. 1.65 Many fchool-boyes, and young effeminate wits are as much poyfoned and carried away with reading Romances,. feigned hiftories and tale-books and play-books, as by almolt any piece of fenfuality. the precions hours that have been folk upon this trafh and trumpery ; but of this I fpoke before : that which now I fpeak, is, even true Hiftory and Reports, as matter of meer News, to pleafe a bufie ranging mind. Hitto- ry is a very profitable ftudy if it be ufed for right ends, and be rightly chofen. Its a very great help to underiland the Scriptures, and to know the former and prefent Rate of the Church ; and fee the wonderful works of providence, that otherwife would be as loft to us:It is not fit that the wondrous works of God fhoulddie with thofe that have feen them, and not be tranfinitted to pofierity. God fhouldhave the honour of his glorious works, from generation to generation : and how fhould that be if all be forgotten ? ,He that knoweth nothingof any age but that which he lives in, is as foolifh as he that knows nothing of any Country or Town but that which he lives in Some Hiftory is effential to our faith; and much more is integral to it. and yet much more is very fer- viceable to it. He that bath not tome competent acquain- tance with Church-hiftory, will be at great difadvantages in the holding and defendinghis faith it felf againit an Infidel, or thepurity of Religion againft a Papift. And he that knoweth not the prefent flute of the world, and of the Church through the world, doth fcarce know how toorder his affetions, or compofe his prayers even in thofe greateft petitions, about the honour and. Kingdom and, will of God. They cannot grieve with the Church in grief; nor mourn with it when it mourns : fo that it is a great duty.of a Chriftian to labour to underhand by Hiftory the former and prefent !tateof the Church : And it is a great mark of a gracious foul that longs to hear of the profperity of the Saints, and free progrefs of the Gofpel ; and amark of agracelefs perfon that careth not for thefe things. But when hiftory is not ufed to acquaint us with the mat- ters of God, or-to furnifhus with ufeful knowledge, but to pleafe a raging carnal mind, then it is but fitful fenfuality or Y 3 vanity.
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