The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2Browne, Thomas, Sir
Religion
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Christianity; Ethics; Religion and medicine
Lastly, However these or other difficulties intervene, and that we
cannot satisfie our selves in the exact compute of time, yet may we sit
down with the common and usual account; nor are these differences
derogatory unto the Advent or Passion of Christ, unto which indeed they
all do seem to point, for the Prophecies concerning our Saviour were
indefinitely delivered before that of _Daniel_; so was that pronounced
unto _Eve_ in paradise, that after of _Balaam_, those of _Isaiah_ and
the Prophets, and that memorable one of _Iacob_, the Scepter shall not
depart from _Israel_ untill _Shilo_ come; which time notwithstanding it
did not define at all. In what year therefore soever, either from the
destruction of the Temple, from the re-edifying thereof, from the flood,
or from the Creation he appeared, certain it is, that in the fulness of
time he came. When he therefore came is not so considerable, as that he
is come: in the one there is consolation, in the other no satisfaction.
The greater Quere is, when he will come again; and yet indeed it is no
Quere at all: for that is never to be known, and therefore vainly
enquired: 'tis a professed and authentick obscurity, unknown to all but
to the omniscience of the Almighty. Certainly the ends of things are
wrapt up in the hands of God, he that undertakes the knowledge thereof,
forgets his own beginning, and disclaims his principles of earth. No man
knows the end of the world, nor assuredly of any thing in it: God sees
it, because unto his Eternity it is present; he knoweth the ends of us,
but not of himself: and because he knows not this, he knoweth all
things, and his knowledge is endless, even in the object of himself.
CHAPTER II
Of mens Enquiries in what season or Point of the Zodiack it began,
that as they are generally made, they are in vain, and as
particularly, uncertain.
[Sidenote: _The world began in all the four quarters of the year._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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