But this is certain; by how much one man has more experience of things past, than another; by so much also he is more Prudent, and his expectations the seldomer faile him.

The Present onely has a being in Nature; things Past have a being in the Memory onely, but things To Come have no being at all; the Future being but a fiction of the mind, applying the sequels of actions Past, to the actions that are Present; which with most certainty is done by him that has most Experience; but not with certainty enough.

And though it be called Prudence, when the Event answereth our Expectation; yet in its own nature, it is but Presumption.

For the foresight of things to come, which is Providence, belongs onely to him by whose will they are to come.

From him onely, and supernaturally, proceeds Prophecy.