A Discourse Touching the Spanish Monarchy

of the Caufes of Humane Principalities.

aN the acquiring, and managing of every Dominion, and Principality, there ufually concur three Caufes; that isto fay, God, Prudence, and Occajion: All which, being joyned together,are called by the name of Fate 3; which is nothing elfe, but a concurrence of all the Canfes, working by vertue of the Firft. And hence alfo is Fortwne {prung, which is the Succeffe of Earthly things, whether it be good, orevil; which, if it be rightly known, is called Prudence; but if otherwife, itis then called Fate, Fortune, or Chance. As for example, if a man find that which he had long fought after, it is called’ Underftanding, and Prudencet buc if helight upona thing which he did not feek after, nor knew where it was, itis called Chance, or Fortune. Among thefe three Caufes,One a prevailes inthe ruling oi. . Ql of things, more then Another; and perhaps more then the Other two. Yet notwithftanding, if we will confeffe che teuth, they are all Three Politically concurring in the bufineffe. Do but take notice of the Kingdome of the: as wherein God was the Principal Agent; who, by fending ‘Mofesand Aaron, furnifhed ourthe Other Two Caufes. For Mofes wasa perfon of extraordinary Wifdome, and Knowledge, not onely in Divine, but in Humane things alfo: for he was well verfedin ath the Learning of the Bgyptiant, and magaged.a War for King Rharach againft the King of Ethiopta; whom he vanquithed in the War, and whofe daughter alfo he took to Wife, as both Flavins ern and Philo tettifie. And yet for all this he defpifed not the advice of Fethro, his Father-in-law, touching the taking in of a certain number of perfous te aflift him in the Adminiftra» tion of the Government over the People of dfrael. And indeed They, being fore oppreffed, anit labouring under their Zgyptian Slavery, took Occafion, by his means, of fhaking that Yoak off their necks:, whence they were inclined to hearken the more willingly to Him; and to follow him whither he would lead them; the Occafion. alfa, taken from the Wickedneffe of thofe of Palaftine, concurrin: with their Inclinations. Befides, the - Great Monarch of all the Earth, God, ofhisown accord, and free grace, gave Wifdom to his People; ashe did likewife to the Apoftles, and to the Bifhop of Rome; which wasalfo aflifted by Occafion; which is nothing elfe, butto know howto make right ufeofthe Time: whence followed the Divifion of the Romane Empire, butthe utter Subverfion of the Fewi/o.