hand_n that_o life_n or_o death_n plenty_n or_o poverty_n every_o thing_n depend_v upon_o his_o will_n for_o the_o wind_n and_o sea_n earth_n and_o air_n fire_n hail_n and_o vapour_n obey_v his_o voice_n and_o be_v all_o of_o they_o as_o often_o as_o he_o please_v the_o instrument_n and_o executioner_n of_o his_o will_n he_o that_o still_v the_o raging_n of_o the_o multitude_n and_o becalm_v the_o passion_n of_o the_o mighty_a he_o at_o who_o command_n new_a creature_n enter_v upon_o the_o stage_n of_o the_o world_n and_o the_o old_a leave_n it_o what_o be_v it_o impossible_a for_o he_o to_o do_v nay_o what_o be_v it_o this_o almighty_a governor_n can_v do_v without_o move_v one_o step_n out_o of_o the_o common_a road_n of_o his_o providence_n without_o employ_v any_o extraordinary_a instrument_n or_o exert_v any_o act_n of_o extraordinary_a power_n for_o what_o secular_a interest_n can_v there_o be_v imagine_v who_o success_n or_o disappointment_n depend_v not_o upon_o some_o or_o other_o of_o these_o natural_a cause_n and_o yet_o we_o must_v acknowledge_v further_a three_o that_o the_o almighty_a have_v not_o prefix_v or_o set_v himself_o such_o immutable_a inalterable_a law_n but_o that_o he_o have_v reserve_v to_o himself_o the_o prerogative_n of_o suspending_a or_o overrule_a they_o when_o he_o please_v i_o mean_v with_o respect_n to_o the_o motion_n of_o natural_a body_n or_o revolution_n of_o secular_a affair_n and_o if_o such_o a_o interposal_n of_o divine_a power_n can_v be_v conceive_v to_o be_v other_o than_o a_o miracle_n i_o must_v confess_v i_o do_v not_o look_v upon_o one_o age_n only_o but_o every_o age_n a_o age_n of_o miracle_n nay_o i_o believe_v such_o as_o these_o wrought_v every_o day_n for_o the_o protection_n or_o relief_n of_o those_o who_o depend_v upon_o this_o governor_n of_o the_o world_n for_o i_o know_v not_o to_o what_o purpose_n i_o shall_v like_o jonah_n or_o his_o mariner_n call_v upon_o god_n in_o a_o storm_n if_o it_o be_v never_o to_o be_v lay_v till_o it_o have_v natural_o spend_v its_o force_n and_o fury_n i_o know_v not_o to_o what_o purpose_n i_o shall_v implore_v the_o almighty_n direction_n upon_o all_o my_o deliberation_n in_o perplex_a and_o entangle_v affair_n if_o i_o can_v expect_v no_o other_o light_n than_o what_o my_o labour_a mind_n can_v give_v itself_o i_o know_v not_o why_o i_o shall_v address_v myself_o to_o god_n in_o the_o pain_n and_o danger_n of_o a_o insupportable_a disease_n if_o the_o medicine_n will_v be_v the_o same_o and_o their_o virtue_n the_o same_o if_o the_o fever_n will_v abate_v and_o its_o flame_n be_v extinguish_v or_o extinguish_v life_n in_o the_o same_o degree_n and_o manner_n if_o i_o pray_v or_o if_o i_o do_v not_o all_o these_o way_n of_o divine_a providence_n be_v very_o plain_a and_o intelligible_a and_o therefore_o it_o be_v manifest_a that_o we_o may_v without_o any_o absurdity_n ascribe_v to_o god_n such_o a_o super-intendency_a and_o direction_n over_o humane_a affair_n as_o may_v render_v the_o issue_n of_o they_o most_o serviceable_a to_o the_o true_a interest_n of_o those_o that_o worship_n he_o as_o to_o the_o second_o part_n of_o divine_a assistance_n which_o consist_v in_o aid_v we_o in_o the_o attainment_n of_o holiness_n and_o virtue_n i_o do_v ready_o acknowledge_v as_o far_o as_o this_o be_v perform_v by_o the_o internal_a operation_n of_o his_o spirit_n by_o the_o influx_n of_o divine_a light_n or_o heavenly_a vigour_n i_o do_v no_o more_o understand_v the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d the_o manner_n of_o sanctification_n than_o that_o of_o the_o creation_n of_o the_o soul_n this_o i_o know_v that_o virtue_n be_v the_o rational_a work_n of_o a_o rational_a creature_n it_o be_v the_o work_n of_o man_n tho'_o assist_v by_o god_n it_o be_v a_o rational_a work_n which_o imply_v the_o knowledge_n of_o our_o duty_n and_o a_o power_n to_o perform_v it_o and_o therefore_o this_o i_o know_v that_o this_o aid_n must_v consist_v in_o the_o improvement_n of_o my_o rational_a faculty_n in_o some_o accession_n to_o the_o reason_n of_o my_o understanding_n and_o to_o the_o power_n and_o liberty_n of_o my_o will_n now_o tho'_o i_o can_v comprehend_v how_o god_n do_v this_o yet_o how_o easy_o can_v i_o believe_v it_o possible_a for_o he_o to_o do_v it_o since_o it_o be_v natural_a to_o imagine_v that_o he_o who_o create_v my_o understanding_n can_v improve_v it_o and_o he_o who_o invest_v i_o with_o a_o rational_a liberty_n can_v confirm_v or_o enlarge_v it_o or_o if_o you_o please_v rescue_v it_o from_o that_o disease_a and_o servile_a condition_n unto_o which_o it_o be_v degenerate_v and_o restore_v it_o to_o the_o health_n and_o soundness_n of_o its_o first_o state_n the_o three_o act_n of_o divine_a providence_n do_v not_o imply_v a_o new_a manner_n but_o a_o new_a degree_n of_o assistance_n and_o therefore_o contain_v in_o it_o no_o further_a difficulty_n this_o time_n which_o i_o have_v spend_v upon_o the_o illustration_n of_o divine_a goodness_n towards_o man_n will_v not_o i_o hope_v be_v judge_v misemployed_a or_o lose_v if_o it_o be_v consider_v that_o such_o be_v the_o confidence_n or_o rather_o such_o be_v the_o wantonness_n of_o some_o man_n that_o they_o reject_v every_o thing_n which_o carry_v in_o it_o i_o will_v not_o say_v any_o seem_a contradiction_n but_o any_o seem_a difficulty_n but_o it_o do_v not_o so_o near_o concern_v the_o happiness_n of_o man_n to_o be_v instruct_v in_o the_o manner_n as_o to_o be_v thorough_o persuade_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o divine_a assistance_n and_o therefore_o choose_v rather_o to_o be_v tedious_a than_o defective_a in_o the_o proof_n of_o it_o i_o will_v add_v to_o those_o argument_n take_v from_o the_o nature_n of_o god_n whatever_o force_n and_o strength_n can_v be_v derive_v from_o the_o consideration_n of_o divine_a government_n which_o be_v the_o expression_n of_o the_o divine_a nature_n and_o the_o image_n of_o its_o perfection_n visible_a in_o its_o effect_n the_o gospel_n contain_v this_o doctrine_n in_o almost_o every_o page_n and_o the_o life_n of_o apostle_n and_o martyr_n be_v so_o many_o illustrious_a instance_n of_o the_o divine_a faithfulness_n and_o love_n perform_v those_o promise_n which_o he_o have_v make_v they_o by_o his_o son_n the_o jewish_a polity_n be_v a_o theocracy_n god_n do_v for_o a_o great_a while_n preside_v over_o they_o immediate_o and_o govern_v they_o if_o i_o may_v so_o speak_v without_o a_o substitute_n or_o viceroy_n repeat_v miracle_n repeat_v prophecy_n extraordinary_a manifestation_n of_o himself_o and_o extraordinary_a revelation_n be_v the_o illustrious_a proof_n of_o god_n affection_n and_o care_n for_o that_o people_n so_o that_o it_o be_v to_o insult_v over_o my_o reader_n be_v patience_n or_o to_o reproach_v his_o stupidity_n if_o i_o shall_v go_v about_o to_o confirm_v this_o truth_n from_o the_o old_a or_o new_a testament_n it_o be_v therefore_o only_o necessary_a to_o examine_v what_o the_o heathen_a thought_n of_o the_o necessity_n of_o this_o divine_a assistance_n and_o what_o instance_n of_o it_o may_v be_v find_v among_o they_o whether_o the_o gentile_n have_v any_o notion_n of_o the_o fall_n and_o corruption_n of_o man_n be_v not_o here_o necessary_a to_o be_v inquire_v but_o this_o i_o be_o sure_a they_o be_v extreme_o sensible_a of_o that_o opposition_n which_o virtue_n meet_v with_o from_o the_o world_n and_o the_o body_n they_o be_v extreme_o sensible_a that_o the_o inclination_n of_o the_o one_o and_o the_o affluence_n and_o trouble_n of_o the_o other_o do_v natural_o tend_v to_o engage_v they_o in_o vice_n and_o therefore_o tho'_o they_o do_v sometime_o magnify_v humane_a nature_n yet_o they_o be_v not_o so_o forgetful_a of_o their_o own_o infirmity_n or_o the_o condition_n of_o this_o life_n as_o not_o to_o judge_v the_o assistance_n of_o god_n indispensable_o necessary_a to_o render_v they_o virtuous_a and_o happy_a hence_o it_o be_v that_o pythagoras_n socrates_n and_o plato_n be_v eminent_a in_o that_o part_n of_o religion_n which_o consist_v in_o prayer_n and_o invocation_n 30._o max._n tâ—t_n disser_fw-fr 30._o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d the_o life_n of_o socrates_n be_v a_o life_n of_o prayer_n and_o hence_o it_o be_v that_o they_o do_v general_o ascribe_v their_o law_n to_o those_o god_n from_o who_o they_o receive_v their_o oracle_n the_o cretanes_n roman_n etc._n etc._n not_o more_o confident_o believe_v that_o they_o receive_v their_o law_n from_o minos_n numa_n pompilius_n etc._n etc._n than_o that_o these_o receive_v they_o from_o jove_n aegeria_n and_o other_o god_n and_o i_o wonder_v not_o that_o cicero_n shall_v somewhere_o say_v nunquam_fw-la vir_fw-la magnus_fw-la sine_fw-la divino_fw-la afflatu_fw-la that_o there_o never_o be_v a_o great_a man_n who_o enjoy_v not_o some_o divine_a impulse_n since_o
good_a or_o ill-behaviour_n of_o man_n to_o any_o thing_n rather_o than_o to_o god_n what_o impiety_n but_o i_o have_v do_v i_o have_v sufficient_o consider_v which_o way_n the_o stream_n of_o authority_n run_v and_o it_o evident_o appear_v to_o be_v against_o all_o such_o notion_n of_o fate_n as_o put_v it_o out_o of_o a_o man_n power_n to_o be_v virtuous_a and_o happy_a and_o determine_v his_o sin_n and_o misery_n whole_o necessary_a and_o unavoidable_a i_o will_v now_o proceed_v to_o consider_v fate_n reason_n and_o revelation_n against_o fate_n second_o what_o plain_a reason_n and_o as_o plain_a revelation_n do_v dictate_v in_o this_o point_n thou_o do_v believe_v fate_n and_o therefore_o do_v despair_v of_o happiness_n thy_o sense_n must_v be_v plain_o this_o all_o be_v in_o the_o power_n of_o fate_n nothing_o in_o thou_o own_o there_o be_v nothing_o in_o thou_o to_o do_v that_o can_v contribute_v to_o make_v thou_o virtuous_a or_o happy_a whence_o can_v this_o necessity_n this_o fate_n proceed_v there_o be_v but_o two_o principle_n that_o be_v ever_o fancy_v to_o be_v the_o first_o cause_n of_o all_o thing_n god_n and_o matter_n do_v thou_o believe_v this_o necessity_n proceed_v from_o matter_n from_o the_o motion_n of_o atom_n or_o the_o influence_n of_o star_n this_o belief_n as_o st._n austin_n argue_v do_v subvert_v the_o foundation_n of_o all_o religion_n for_o he_o who_o believe_v that_o he_o depend_v upon_o fate_n not_o god_n can_v have_v no_o sufficient_a reason_n for_o the_o worship_n of_o that_o god_n on_o who_o he_o have_v no_o dependence_n but_o this_o be_v that_o peradventure_o thou_o will_v have_v well_o when_o thou_o be_v able_a to_o prove_v reason_n and_o understanding_n to_o derive_v themselves_o from_o senseless_a atom_n when_o thou_o can_v find_v out_o any_o kind_n of_o natural_a motion_n of_o matter_n or_o atom_n which_o can_v be_v the_o cause_n of_o liberty_n or_o freedom_n in_o the_o will_n any_o motion_n that_o can_v at_o once_o be_v necessary_a for_o so_o all_o motion_n of_o atom_n must_v be_v it_o of_o what_o kind_n it_o will_v and_o yet_o free_a too_o for_o such_o all_o my_o deliberation_n and_o all_o my_o choice_n i_o make_v prove_v the_o motion_n of_o the_o mind_n to_o be_v than_o i_o will_v acknowledge_v a_o fate_n not_o only_o independent_a from_o but_o if_o thou_o will_v superior_a to_o god_n then_o i_o will_v forbear_v all_o far_a attempt_n of_o charity_n as_o vain_a and_o leave_v thou_o to_o thy_o fate_n and_o misery_n but_o these_o be_v notion_n so_o absurd_a in_o themselves_o that_o no_o similitude_n no_o argument_n can_v make_v they_o appear_v one_o jot_n more_o ridiculous_a or_o irrational_a than_o they_o do_v to_o all_o man_n of_o sense_n at_o the_o first_o hear_v there_o be_v some_o error_n as_o well_o as_o truth_n that_o be_v self-evident_a there_o need_v no_o demonstration_n to_o convince_v we_o that_o the_o one_o be_v error_n and_o the_o other_o truth_n and_o of_o this_o kind_n be_v the_o error_n we_o be_v speak_v of_o if_o a_o man_n shall_v assert_v that_o death_n be_v the_o original_a of_o life_n that_o senseless_a matter_n give_v be_v to_o a_o understanding_n mind_n that_o necessity_n be_v the_o parent_n of_o liberty_n and_o such_o like_a it_o be_v a_o unpardonable_a weakness_n in_o any_o man_n to_o think_v that_o such_o assertion_n do_v stand_v in_o need_n of_o a_o laborious_a confutation_n but_o there_o be_v who_o suppose_v god_n the_o author_n of_o all_o thing_n and_o yet_o suppose_v event_n fatal_a too_o the_o former_a opinion_n be_v ridiculous_a this_o be_v impious_a for_o suppose_v mankind_n fatal_o guide_v by_o the_o influence_n of_o the_o star_n and_o these_o star_n to_o have_v receive_v this_o power_n and_o energy_n from_o god_n be_v it_o not_o natural_a for_o every_o man_n to_o break_v out_o into_o the_o word_n of_o st._n austin_n 1._o aug._n de_fw-fr c._n d._n l._n 5._o c._n 1._o illi_fw-la verò_fw-la qui_fw-la positionem_fw-la stol_n alarm_n quodammodo_fw-la decernentium_fw-la qualis_fw-la cuique_fw-la sit_fw-la &_o quid_fw-la ei_fw-la proveniat_fw-la boni_fw-la quidve_fw-la mali_fw-la accidat_fw-la ex_fw-la dei_fw-la voluntate_fw-la suspendunt_fw-la si_fw-la easdem_fw-la stellas_fw-la putant_fw-la habere_fw-la hanc_fw-la potestatem_fw-la traditam_fw-la sibi_fw-la à _fw-la summâ_fw-la illius_fw-la potestate_fw-la ut_fw-la volentes_fw-la ista_fw-la decernant_fw-la magnam_fw-la coelo_fw-la faciunt_fw-la injuriam_fw-la in_fw-la cujus_fw-la velut_fw-la clarissimo_fw-it senatu_fw-la ac_fw-la splendidissima_fw-la curiâ_fw-la scelera_fw-la facienda_fw-la decerni_fw-la qualia_fw-la si_fw-la aliqua_fw-la terrena_fw-la civitas_n decrevisset_fw-la genere_fw-la humano_fw-la decernente_fw-la fuerat_fw-la evertenda_fw-la how_o outrageous_o do_v these_o man_n reproach_n heaven_n whilst_o they_o believe_v those_o crime_n and_o villainy_n decree_v by_o that_o august_n senate_n and_o glorious_a court_n in_o heaven_n which_o have_v any_o city_n upon_o earth_n decree_v it_o have_v deserve_v to_o have_v be_v damn_v by_o the_o common_a vote_n and_o raze_v to_o the_o ground_n by_o the_o unite_a arm_n of_o mankind_n when_o i_o consider_v that_o the_o star_n be_v the_o work_n of_o god_n that_o their_o order_n and_o motion_n be_v prescribe_v by_o he_o that_o whatever_o vigour_n and_o efficacy_n they_o have_v they_o have_v receive_v it_o from_o he_o and_o then_o remember_v that_o god_n be_v a_o most_o infinite_o kind_a and_o good_a be_v i_o shall_v easy_o suffer_v myself_o to_o be_v persuade_v that_o they_o can_v shed_v no_o influence_n upon_o this_o low_a world_n but_o what_o be_v extreme_o beneficial_a to_o it_o that_o they_o can_v have_v no_o aspect_n but_o what_o be_v favourable_a and_o benign_a i_o can_v easy_o believe_v that_o all_o the_o inclination_n they_o form_n in_o the_o body_n if_o they_o form_v any_o can_v be_v no_o other_o than_o innocent_a and_o virtuous_a i_o can_v never_o believe_v that_o lust_n or_o falshood_n malice_n or_o cruelty_n can_v come_v down_o from_o above_o or_o that_o our_o mind_n shall_v be_v impregnate_v with_o sin_n and_o folly_n by_o the_o influence_n of_o heaven_n no_o certain_o if_o there_o be_v any_o virtue_n in_o the_o star_n that_o extend_v itself_o to_o man_n it_o must_v rather_o be_v the_o seed_n of_o life_n and_o health_n and_o virtue_n than_o of_o disease_n death_n or_o vice_n 20._o antiq._n lect._n l._n x._o c._n 20._o i_o can_v easy_o fall_v in_o with_o the_o opinion_n of_o those_o learned_a man_n in_o coelius_n rhodiginus_fw-la who_o think_v that_o that_o virtue_n of_o celestial_a body_n which_o tend_v of_o itself_o to_o excellent_a end_n be_v mar_v and_o pervert_v by_o a_o vicious_a education_n and_o so_o the_o gravity_n of_o saturn_n do_v degenerate_a into_o sullenness_n niggardliness_n and_o melancholy_n the_o magnanimity_n of_o mars_n into_o rashness_n and_o fool-hardiness_n the_o sharpness_n and_o sagacity_n of_o mercury_n into_o mischievous_a craft_n and_o deceitful_a subtlety_n the_o sweetness_n and_o gentleness_n of_o venus_n into_o filthy_a lust_n and_o so_o on_o and_o this_o thought_n do_v well_o become_v every_o one_o that_o pretend_v to_o any_o religion_n whether_o reveal_v or_o natural_a for_o this_o be_v consonant_a to_o the_o excellency_n of_o the_o divine_a nature_n but_o this_o sort_n of_o fate_n spring_v from_o the_o influence_n of_o any_o natural_a body_n be_v not_o only_o repugnant_a to_o reason_n but_o to_o our_o sense_n and_o experience_n for_o nothing_o be_v more_o plain_a than_o this_o that_o any_o such_o influence_n can_v affect_v the_o mind_n but_o through_o the_o body_n and_o we_o do_v frequent_o find_v our_o reason_n assert_v its_o power_n and_o dominion_n against_o all_o the_o force_n and_o strength_n of_o the_o body_n nor_o do_v reason_n only_o but_o in_o every_o nation_n law_n and_o custom_n triumph_v over_o the_o strong_a inclination_n of_o nature_n as_o the_o innocence_n of_o the_o seres_z the_o chastity_n of_o those_o in_o arabia_n and_o osroene_n the_o abstinence_n of_o the_o brahmin_n and_o numerous_a instance_n which_o he_o that_o please_v may_v see_v in_o bardesanes_n the_o syrian_a and_o other_o do_v abundant_o manifest_a that_o their_o manner_n be_v the_o effect_n not_o of_o the_o influence_n of_o those_o planet_n that_o rule_v their_o birth_n but_o of_o those_o law_n and_o custom_n that_o rule_v their_o country_n since_o therefore_o that_o necessity_n which_o our_o natural_a temper_n and_o inclination_n do_v impose_v upon_o the_o mind_n be_v the_o utmost_a fate_n that_o we_o can_v imagine_v to_o proceed_v from_o the_o influence_n of_o any_o natural_a body_n it_o be_v nonsense_n to_o suppose_v that_o fate_n insuperable_a or_o incontroulable_a which_o we_o see_v baffle_v and_o defeat_v every_o day_n and_o in_o every_o nation_n the_o sum_n of_o those_o reason_n i_o have_v offer_v against_o fate_n be_v this_o if_o we_o make_v god_n the_o author_n of_o it_o we_o impious_o charge_v he_o with_o what_o be_v repugnant_a to_o his_o nature_n for_o a_o good_a
i_o once_o prevail_v with_o myself_o to_o stoop_v to_o they_o but_o when_o the_o toil_n and_o difficulty_n and_o meanness_n too_o of_o this_o attempt_n have_v give_v i_o a_o little_a disgust_n and_o the_o pleasure_n of_o friendship_n and_o fortune_n by_o neither_o of_o which_o have_v i_o ever_o be_v utter_o desert_v encounter_v my_o natural_a inclination_n to_o ease_v and_o softness_n i_o soon_o exchange_v my_o former_a notion_n of_o happiness_n for_o a_o more_o calm_a and_o quiet_a one_o i_o begin_v to_o think_v it_o wise_a to_o live_v to_o day_n and_o to_o prefer_v my_o present_a blessing_n in_o possession_n before_o the_o uncertain_a future_a one_o of_o opinion_n and_o expectation_n i_o wish_v for_o a_o opportunity_n to_o retire_v from_o every_o thing_n that_o may_v awaken_v my_o ambition_n or_o interrupt_v my_o quiet_n and_o think_v that_o in_o a_o lazy_a shade_n and_o obscure_a retreat_n i_o may_v with_o most_o freedom_n and_o true_a contentment_n enjoy_v myself_o a_o cheap_a 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