Page:A Discourse of Constancy in Two Books Chiefly containing Consolations Against Publick Evils.pdf/224

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Chap. 12.
of Conſtancy.
203

coursing you the Ends of Calamities; that if you are good, you may know your self exercised by them, if offending corrected, if wicked punish'd, and you forthwith hale me away to speak of the causes. And what would that wandring Mind of yours, by its so curious an inquisition? Would you touch those heavenly fires? They will melt you. Would you scale that Tower of Providence? You will fall headlong. As Moths and other little winged insects, towards Night, will fly round about a Candle till they are burnt: With the same danger doth the Mind of Man, sport it self and wanton about that secret fire. Assign the causes (say you) why divine vengeance overpasses these; and seises upon these? The causes? I may lawfully say I know them not. For that Heavenly Court never admitted me, nor I its decrees. This only I know, that the chief cause of all other causes is the will of God: Beyond which if

any