The Modern Statesman, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Of Providence, and Vertue, and the concurrence of ſecond cauſes.
ANd ſure now no Chriſtian but will acknowledge a divine hand over-ruling in theſe actings for Englands preſervation, which even the Heathen obſerv'd by their dim light, in Romes advancement.
Thus we find that ingenuous moraliſt Plutarch affirming, that though there hath been a great and continual war, and feud between Fortune and Vertue, yet it is probable, they made a truce, and united their forces for Romes aſſiſtance.
Again, as they report Venus paſſing over the River Eurotas laid aſide her looking-glaſſe, attire, and girdle, and took a ſpear and a ſhield to accompany Lyeurgus; ſo Fortune having deſerted the Aſſyrians, and Perſians, hovered over Macedon, ſuddenly ſhook off Alexander, view'd Egypt and Syria, ſeemingly advanc'd Carthage, at laſt paſt Tiber, laid aſide her wings, and ſet up her reſidence in the Capitol.
And as He, ſo the Romans themſelves were ſenſible of this divine aid, as the multitude of Temples dedicated to Fortune may demonſtrate; there was the Temple of Fortunae virilis: Fortunae muliebris: Fortunae primogeniae & obſequentis: Fortunae privatae & Viſcatricis: Fortunae virginis: Fortunae bonae ſpei: Fortunae maſculae: Fortis Fortunae, &c.
Yet did they not attribute all to Fortune, and neglect Vertue, of which they were as great admirers, and honourers, as they were adorers of the other; and Plutarch gives it a due place: Rome was (ſaith he) conducted and encompaſſed with whole troops of Citizens, brandiſhing bloody weapons, enobled with ſcars received before, bedewed with blood and ſweat, and leaning on half-broken Trophies, ſuch as her Fabricii, Cimilli, Cincinnati, Fabii, Aemillii, Marcelli, Scipiones, &c.
And let us but conſider, and we ſhall ſee that Providence works by inſtruments, and God expects the uſe of means; we cannot ſuppoſe a victory without a fight; lying ſtill, and wiſhing will do nothing, D…i muneraſua laboribus vendunt, it was not hid from the Heathen, that the active onelyonly were to expect a bleſſing; the hand of the diligent makes rich, and vertuous actions advance States and Perſons to honour and dignity. For though ſcientia Dei, the knowledg of God be the Cauſe of things, yet being but the Remote cauſe it takes not away Contingency: God himſelf perceives that ſome things will evenire contingenter, for he doth not onelyonly cognoſcere res, ſed ordinem et modum rerum, know things, but the order and manner how they ſhall come to paſſe; He knows there are cauſae intermediae, which are impedibiles et defectibiles (as the Schoolmen ſay) and from the wavering of theſe Second cauſes the whole riſe of Contingency flowes; thus in a Syllogiſm, let the Major be Neceſſary, if the Minor be Contingent, the Concluſion will be ſo too; though the Firſt cauſe be certain, yet if there be obſtructions in the Second, no man can aſſure himſelf what will be the effect; though the ſpring of motion cannot fail, yet if the wheels break, the progreſſe will be very uncertain to all but God, who knows whether they will break or no; He knows whether ſuch a Nation will uſe the means or no; whether it will improve his bleſſings, or abuſe them; whether it will imploy the Peace, Plenty, Wealth, Power, and Strength it hath received for his glory, and the common good, or for Pride, Luxury, and riot: ſo that we only are in the dark; yet not altogether are we blind, but where we ſee Vertue on the throne in a Nation, there we may foretel a bleſſing to that people, and where Vice predominant, that its attendant Ruin is not far off; and for this the before-mentioned Common-wealth of Rome affords us an example in both kinds; which as it grew up by Vertue to an unparallel'd height, ſo by Vice was its ſtrength broken, and its renown turned into ſhame, that Dalilah betraying this mighty Sampſon into the hands of his enemies, who have fettered him, and pulled out his eyes: It will not therefore I ſuppoſe be a work unworthy our labour to take a veiw of thoſe vertues, by which, that, as other Nations have become renowned, and ſet them for our example; for though Heathens, they attained to a great height of morality, yea ſuch an one as may put moſt that wear the ſtile of Chriſtians to the bluſh.