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[ 255] God, the proper object of Man's memory.
SEneca writeth of himself,* 1.1 that he had a very flourishing memory, being able to recite by heart 2000 names, in the same order they were first digested. Portius La••ro writ that in his mind, which others did in Note-books. He was a man of cun∣ning in History, that if you had named a Captain unto him, he would have run through all his acts presently;* 1.2 a singular gift from God. But, as Tully, comparing Lucullus and Hortensius together, both being of a vast memory, yet he preferreth Lu∣cullus before Hortensius, because he remembered matter, this but words. Thus cer∣tainly, as the object about which memory is conversant, is more principall, so the gift more commendable:* 1.3 And the most excellent object of all others, either for the memory to account, or for any part of the soul to conceive, is, God the Lord; for, he that remembereth the Lord, as the Lord hath remembered him; that nameth his blessings by their names, as God the stars, and calleth them to mind in that number and order, that God hath bestowed them upon him, if not to remember them in particular, which are more then the hairs of his head, yet to take their view in grosse,* 1.4 and to fold them up in a generall sum with David, What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits? Though he forget his own, and his father's house; though the wife of his bosom,* 1.5 and the fruit of his loyns; yea, though his memory be so trea∣cherous unto him, that be forget to eat his bread; it is no matter, he remembereth all in all, and his memory hath done him service enough, in reaching this object, God the Lord.