Page:A Discourse of Constancy in Two Books Chiefly containing Consolations Against Publick Evils.pdf/121

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100
A Diſcourſe
Book I.

How do you ward this blow? Or with what Ax do you sever the Links of this Chain? For we cannot otherwise conceive of God that eternal Mind; than that there should be in him an eternal knowledge and prevision of things: whom we believe to be fix'd, firme, and immutable, alwaies one and the same; not at all varying, or altering in those things, which he hath once willed, and beheld.

The Eternal Gods are not inclin'd,
To variations of the Mind.

which if you acknowledge to be true (as of necessity you must, unless you have divested your self of all Reason and Sense) you will then also acknowledge, that all the decrees of God are firme and immoveable from Eternity to Eternity. Now from thence doth Necessity derive it self together with that Fate which

you