CHAP. XXVIII. Against Feare.
LEt no man attend euils before they come, because it may be they will neuer come: our feares are as likely to de∣ceiue vs as our hopes; and it may be that those times that we thinke will bring most affliction with them, may bring grea∣test comfort. How many vnexpected aduentures may hap∣pen that may defend a man from that blow we feare? Light∣ning is put by with the winde of a mans hatte, and the for∣tunes of the greatest states with accidents of small moment. The turne of a wheele mounteth him that was of lowest de∣gree, to the highest step of honour; and many times it fal∣leth out that wee are preserued by that, which we thought would haue beene our ouerthrow. There is nothing so easily deceiued as humane foresight. That which it hopeth, it wan∣teth; that which it feareth, vanisheth; that which it expecteth hapneth not. God hath his counsell by himselfe; That which man determineth after one maner, he resolueth after another. Let vs not therefore make our selues vnfortunate before our time, nay when perhaps we are neuer likely to be so. Time to come which deceiueth so many, will likewise deceiue vs as soone in our feares, as in our hopes. It is a maxime commonly receiued in Physicke, that in sharp maladies the predictions are neuer certaine: and euen so is it in the most furious threat∣nings of fortune; so long as there is life, there is hope, for