Page:A Discourse of Constancy in Two Books Chiefly containing Consolations Against Publick Evils.pdf/106

Chap. 15. A valiant, stout, and Steel temper'd Squadron it is; and such as I may not unfitly compare to that Legion which the Romans call'd Fulminatrix: The stubborn and unbroken force of it is such, as doth conquer and subdue all things, and I shall wonder Lipsius if you should be able to resist it. Thales when one ask'd him what was the strongest, answered rightly, necessity; for that Conquers all things. There is an old saying too, about the same thing; although not so advised, that the Gods themselves cannot force necessity. This necessity I annex to Providence, because of its near relation to it; or to speak truly, because it is born of it. For this necessity is from God, and his decrees; nor is it any other thing than as the Greek Philosopher hath defin'd it: A FIRME SANCTION AND IMMUTABLE POWER OF PROVIDENCE. Now that it doth interweave and Rh