I. Fortune is a mere fiction. Fortune, I say, as commonly it is taken, in opposition to Gods Providence. For, afolly, error, and blindness hath brought in the name of Fortune. What fortune or chance is, to take it positively as a distinct thing that may have a being, none ever could tell. It is a mere fancy, and vain conceit, or rather a plain deceit of mans idle brain. Yet bthe Heathen have set her in the number of their goddesses, and placed her in heaven. cThey prepare a table for fortune, believing nothing to belong to God, but all things to be ordered either by the course of the stars, or by the mutability of fortune. Yea, not only the ⟨p. 380⟩vulgar, but many others also among those that profess Christianity, dote too much upon her, and attribute too many things unto her, whereby God is robbed of much honour. I know not any one other thing, whereunto, more of those things which are done by God, are attributed, then to fortune, or chance, or luck, (for these are but several titles which are used to set out one and the same thing.) Commonly those things which are most immediately done by the divine Providence, are ascribed to Fortune. For, when they see not any apparent external cause of a thing, they conceit it to be done by Fortune. How frequent in mens mouths are those phrases, good luck, ill luck: By good fortune I got this: It was my ill fortune to lose this. Yea, Christians have learned of Heathen Philosophers to entitle all the external good things of this world with this stile, goods of Fortune: and still that old distinction of good things is retained, Goods of the Mind, (as knowledge, wisdom, temperance, and all sorts of such virtues) Goods of the Body (as, Health, strength, beauty, 4&c.) Goods of Fortune (as, Honour, Wealth, Peace, &c.)
I. FOrtune is a meere fiction. Fortune, I say, as commonly it is taken, in opposition to Gods Providence. For, afolly, errour, and blindnesse hath brought in the name of Fortune. What fortune or chance is, to take it positively as a distinct thing that may have a being, none ever could tell. It is a meere fancy, and vaine conceit, or rather a plaine deceit of mans idle braine. Yet bthe Heathen have set her in the number of their goddesses, and placed her in heaven. cThey prepare a table for fortune, beleeving nothing to belong to God, but all things to be ordered either by the course of the starres, or by the mutability of fortune. Yea, not onely the ⟨p. 380⟩vulgar, but many others also among those that professe Christianity, dote too much upon her, and attribute too many things unto her, whereby God is robbed of much honour. I know not any one other thing, whereunto, more of those things which are done by God, are attributed, then to fortune, or chance, or lucke, (for these are but severall titles which are used to set out one and the same thing.) Commonly those things which are most immediately done by the divine Providence, are ascribed to Fortune. For, when they see not any apparent externall cause of a thing, they conceit it to be done by Fortune. How frequent in mens mouths are those phrases, good luck, ill luck: By good fortune I got this: It was my ill fortune to lose this. Yea, Christians have learned of Heathen Philosophers to entitle all the externall good things of this world with this stile, goods of Fortune: and still that old distinction of good things is retained, Goods of the Mind, (as knowledge, wisdome, temperance, and all sorts of such vertues) Goods of the Body (as, Health, strength, beauty, 4&c.) Goods of Fortune (as, Honour, Wealth, Peace, &c.)
- aStultitia, & error, & caecitas fortunae nomen induxit. Lactan. Instit 3. 29.
- bTesacimus fortuna Deam, coeloque l•camus. Juvenal.Tesacimus fortuna Deam, coeloque l•camus. Iuvenal.
- cParant fortunae mensam, nihil ad Deum pertinere credentes: sed vel stellarum cursu, vel varie tate fortunae omnia gubernari. Hier. Comment. l. 18. in Esa. 65.Parant fortunae mensam, nihil ad Deum pertinere credentes: sed vel stellarum cursu, vel varie tate fortunae omnia gubernari. Hier. Cōment. l. 18. in Esa. 65.
- 4Bona animi, Bona corporis, Bona fortunae.