The history of the world

About this Item

Title: The history of the world
Author: Raleigh, Sir, Walter, 1552?-1618.
Publication: At London :: Printed [by William Stansby] for Walter Burre[, and are to be sold at his Shop in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the Crane,; 1614 [i.e. 1617]]
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Subject terms: History, Ancient -- Early works to 1800.
Link to this Item: http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A10357.0001.001
Cite this Item: "The history of the world." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A10357.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 23, 2025.

Pages

§. I. That in old corruptions we may finde some signes of more ancient truth.

HERE before wee proceede any further, the occasion offereth it selfe for vs to consider, how the Greekes and other more ancient Nations, by fabulous inuentions, [unspec 20] and by breaking into parts the Storie of the Creation, and by deliuering it ouer in a mystical sense, wrapping it vp mixed with other their owne trumperie, haue sought to obscure the truth thereof; and haue hoped, that after-ages, being thereby brought into many doubts, might receiue those inter-mixt discourses of God and Nature, for the inuentions of Poets and Phi∣losophers, and not as any thing borrowed or stolne out of the bookes of God. But as a skilfull and learned Chymist can aswell by sepa∣ration of visible elements draw helpfull medicines out of poyson, as poyson out of [unspec 30] the most healthfull herbs and plants (all things hauing in themselues both life and death) so, contrarie to the purposes and hopes of the Heathen, may those which seeke after God and Truth finde out euery-where, and in all the ancient Poets and Philosophers, the Storie of the first Age, with all the workes and maruailes thereof, amply and liuely exprest.