Balder Ex-Libris

Author : Ussher James
Title : The annals of the World
Year : 1658

Link download : Ussher_James_-_The_annals_of_the_World.zip

The Epistle to the Reader. Censorinus, in his little book, the "Explication of Times Intervals", written to Q. Cerellius on his birthday, wrote in the preface of it. "If the origin of the world had been known to man, I would have started there." (Consor. in c. 20.) And a little later, speaking of this time: "Whether time had a beginning or whether it always was, the exact number of years cannot be known.'' (Consor. in c. 21.) Therefore Ptolemy, from "Astronomical Supputations", concerning the creation and history of the world states that it is beyond the knowledge of man. "To find the details of the history of the whole world or such an immense period of times, I think it is beyond us that desire to learn and know the truth." (Ptolem. l. 3.) Julius Firmius Maternus in his discourse of history, that "Geniture of the World", received from Esculapius and Anubius. "That was not the creation of the world. Nor, indeed, had the world any certain day for its beginning. Nor was there anything existing at the time when the world was formed by the wisdom of the Divine Understanding and Provident Deity. Nor could man in his human frailty so far extend itself, that it could conceive or unfold, easily the world's origin." (Jul. Firm. Mattes. l. 3. c. 2.) It is not strange that the heathens who are totally ignorant of the Holy Bible, should despair of ever attaining the knowledge of the world's beginnings. ...