PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
ALL well considered our onely hope should be in God,* for in him consists all our assurance and all goodnesse, which can∣not bee found in any other thing in the world: But wee do, euery man, acknowledge it too late, and after that wee haue neede: yet it is better late then neuer.
Grace and good fortune comes from God.*
In all enterprises wee must haue God of our side.*
God hath alwaies loued the Realme of France.*
To see things which God hath done in our time,* and doth daily, shewes that he will leaue nothing vnpunished; And we may see plainely that these strange workes come from him, for they are su∣pernaturall, and his sodaine punishments, and especially against them that vse violence and cruelty: Who, commonly, are no meane men, but great Personages, either by their owne absolute power, or by the Princes authority.
When God meanes to change the fortune of a Prince,* from good to bad, or from prosperity to aduersity, he prepares him ene∣mies of no force, suffers his seruants to become treacherous, and makes him distrustfull and iealous of them that are most faithfull. Example of Charles Duke of Bourgundy.
God giues the Prince as he meanes to punish Subiects,* and to Princes Subiects, and disposeth of their affections towards them as he meanes to raise or ruine them.
Page 208 God hath not created any thing in this world,* neither men nor beasts, but he hath made him some thing opposite, to keepe him in feare and humility.
God speakes no more to men, neither are there any more Pro∣phets which speake by his Mouth; For his Faith is ample and plaine to all those that will heare and vnderstand it, and no man shall be excused for Ignorance, at least they which haue had hope and time to liue, and which haue had their naturall wits.
The misery of Princes is when as God is so offended as hee will no longer endure them,* but will shew his force and his Di∣uine Iustice, and then he doth first of all take away their iudge∣ments, which is a great wound for them it toucheth: He troubles their house, and suffers them to fall into diuision and murmure. The Prince fals into such indignation with God, as hee flies the counsell and company of wise men, and doth aduance Vp-starts, Indiscreete, Vnreasonable, Violent men, and Flatterers, who ap∣plaud whatsoeuer he saith: If he must impose a peny, they say two: If he threatens a man, they say he must be hanged; and in like man∣ner of all other things: And that aboue all things they cause them∣selues to be feared; They carry themselues insolently and proudly, hoping that they shall be respected and feared by this meanes, as if Authority were their inheritance.
