wherein they may read before-hand the ftories of fortuitous accidents; for I believe that all caufes are fo immediately chained to their effects, that if a perfect knowing nature get hold but of one link, it will drive the entire series or pedigree of the whole to each utmoft end; (as I think I have proved in my forenamed treatife) fo that in truth, there is no fortuitoufnefs or contingency of things, in refpect of themfelves, but only in refpect of us, that are ignorant of their certain and neceffary causes. ER No 46-320. Now a like feries or chain and complex of all outward circumftances, (whose highest link, poets fay prettily, is fastened to Jupiter's chair, and the loweft is riveted to every individual on earth) fteered and levelled by God Almighty at the first fetting out of the first mover, I conceive, to be that divine providence and mercy, which (to was this published?.

ufe

ufe our author's own example) giveth a thriving genius to the Hollanders, and the like: And not any fecret, invifible, myftical bleffing, that falleth not under the fearch or cognizance of a prudent inquiry.

I muft needs approve our author's æquanimity, and I may as juftly fay his magnanimity, in being contented fo cheerfully (as he faith) to fhake hands with the fading goods of fortune, and be deprived of the joys of her most precious bleffings; fo that he may, in recompence, poffefs in ample meafure the true ones of the mind; like Epictetus, that great mafter of moral wisdom and piety, who taxeth them of high injuftice that repine at God's distribution of his bleffings, when he puteth not into their fhare of goods, fuch things as they ufe no industry or means to purchafe. For why fhould that man who above all things esteemeth his own fredom,

and

and who to injoy that, fequeftreth himfelf from commerce with the vulgar of mankind, take it ill of his ftars, if fuch preferments, honours, and applaufes meet not him, as are painfully gained after long and tedious fervices of princes, and brittle dependencies of humorous favourites, and fupple compliances with all forts of natures? As for what he faith of astrology, I do not conceive that wife men reject it fo much for being repugnant to divinity (which he reconcileth well enough) as for having no folid rules, or ground in nature. To rely too far upon that vain art, I judge to be rather folly then impiety unless in our cenfure, we look to the first origin of it, which favoureth of the idolatry of thofe heathens who worthipping the stars and heavenly bodies for deities, did in a fuperftitious devotion, attribute unto them the cauHh fality

fality of all effects beneath them. And for ought I know the belief of folid orbs in the heavens, and their regularly irregular motions, fprung from the fame root. And a like inanity, I should fufpect in chiromancy as well as in aftrology, (efpecially, in particular contingent effects) however our author, and no lefs a man than ariftotle, feem to attribute fomewhat more to that conjectural art of lines.

مجھے

I should much doubt (tho' our author fheweth himself of another mind, that Bernardius Ochinus grew at laft to be a meer atheist; when, after having been first the inftitutor and patriarch of the capuchin order, (fo violent was his zeal then, as no former religious inftitution, tho' never fo rigorous, was ftrict enough for him). he from thence fell to be firft an Heretick, then a Jew, and after a while became a Turk and at the laft wrote

a

a furious invective against those whom he called the three grand impoftors of the world, among whom he ranked our Saviour, Christ, as well as Mofes and Mahomet.

I doubt he mistaketh in his chronology, or the printer in the name, when he maketh Ptolomy condemn the Alcoran.

He needeth not be fo fcrupulous, as he feemeth to be in averring down rightly, that God cannot do contradictory things, (tho' peradventure it is not amifs to sweeten the manner of the expreffion, and the found of the words) for who understandeth the nature of contradiction, will find non-entity in one of the terms, which of God, were impiety not to deny peremptorily, for he being in his proper nature felf-entity, all being muft immediately flow from him, and all nonentity be totally excluded from that efflux. Now for the recalling of