Sect. XVII.
* 1.1 VEnus is said to commend Fate. The order and concatenation of causes and effects in this sensible World, called Fate, de∣pends on the order of the Intelligible World, Providence. Hence Platonists place Providence (the ordering of Ideas) in the first Minde, depending upon God, its ultimate end, to which it leads all other things. Thus Venus, being the order of those Ideas, whereon Fate, the Worlds order, depends, commands it.
Fate is divided into three parts, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos: That which is one in Providence, indivisible in Eternity, when it comes into Time and Fate is divisible, into Past, Present, and Future. Others apply Atropos to the fixed Sphear, Clotho to the seven Planets, Lachesis to sublunary things.
Temporall corporeall things only are subjected to Fate; the Rationall Soul being incorporeall, predominates over it; but, is subjected to Providence, to serve which is true liberty. By whom the Will (obeying its Lawes) is led to the Acquisition of her de∣sired end. And as often as she endeavours to loose her selfe from this Servitude, of Free she becomes a Servant and Slave to Fate, of whom before she was the Mistresse. To deviate from the Laws of Providence, is, to forsake Reason, to follow Sense and Irrati∣onall Appetite, which being corporeall, are under Fate; he that serves these, is much more a servant then those he serves.