The history of the church from our Lords incarnation, to the twelth year of the Emperour Maricius Tiberius, or the Year of Christ 594 / as it was written in Greek, by Eusebius Pamphilius ..., Socrates Scholasticus, and Evagrius Scholasticus ... ; made English from that edition of these historians, which Valesius published at Paris in the years 1659, 1668, and 1673 ; also, The life of Constantine in four books, written by Eusibius Pamphilus, with Constantine's Oration to the convention of the saints, and Eusebius's Speech in praise of Constantine, spoken at his tricennalia ; Valesius's annotations on these authors, are done into English, and set at their proper places in the margin, as likewise a translation of his account of their lives and writings ; with two index's, the one, of the principal matters that occur in the text, the other, of those contained in the notes.

CHAP. VII. That, * 1.1 in things which we can't understand, we ought to glorifie the Creator's Wisdom; nor must we suppose Chance, or any thing else [save God,] to be the cause [of them.]

FOr Chance, 'tis most certain, is a Term [in∣vented] by men, whose thoughts are rash and inconsiderate; and who cannot † 1.2 understand the cause it self: but, by reason of their weakness of apprehension, suppose that all these things, whereof they are unable to give a reason, have been framed and ordered without any thing of reason. There are indeed some things endued with an admirable nature, the certain and evident knowledge of the Truth whereof, lies deep: of which sort is the Nature of Warm Waters. For no person can readily assign the reason of so great a fire. And 'tis strange, that [that fire,] though encompassed round with cold water, nevertheless, should not loose its Native Heat. And these things are found to be very rare, and few in number thorowout the whole world; for this reason, as I perswade my self, that men might easily know the power of [Divine] pro∣vidence; which has ordered two most contrary Natures, Heat namely and Cold, to spring from one and the same Root. Indeed, the things are many, and almost innumerable, which God hath bestowed on men, in order to their comfort and delight: but, the fruit of the Olive-tree and of the Vine, are chiefly [to be accounted such.] Of which two, a 1.3 this has a power of recreating and exhilerating the mind. But the other is fit not only for delight: but of use in order to the curing of Bodies. The perpetual and ever∣lasting course of Rivers deserves likewise the highest admiration; which, by their flowing night and day, give a representation of an eternal and never-ceasing life. Also, the con∣tinual vicissitude of night and day, is in the same manner admirable.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, As to things in∣comprehen∣sible.
• † 1.2

  Or, Ap∣prehend their own opinion.
• a 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Learned men have mended this place thus▪ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. But, whereas the particle 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 occurs neither in the Kings Copy, nor Robert Stephens's Edition, I had rather read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which is plainly confirmed by the succeeding words. For it follows, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Nevertheless, the Fuk. Sav. and Turneb, Copies do plainly confirm that emendation of Learned men. The same Fuketian Manuscript sets two points after the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 right. Vales.