Some say, (and many men doe these commend) That, all our _deeds_, and _Fortunes_ doe depend Vpon the motions of celestiall _Spheres_; And, on the constellations of the _Starres_. If this were true, the _Starres_, alone, have bin Prime cause of all that’s _good_, and of all _sinne_. And, 'twere (me thinkes) injustice to _condemne_, Or, give rewards to any, but to _them_. For, if they made mee _sinne_, why for that ill, Should I be damn’d, and they shine brightly, still? If they inforc’d my _goodnesse_, why should I Bee glorified for their _Pietie_? And, If they neither _good_ nor _ill_ constraine, Why then, should wee of _Destinie_ complaine? For, if it bee (as tis) absurd to say, The starres enforce us (since they still obay Their just _Commander_) 'twere absurder, farre, To say, or thinke, that God’s _Decree_ it were, Which did _necessitate_ the very same, For which, we thinke the _starres_ might merit blame. Hee made the _starres_ to bee an ayd unto us, Not (as is fondly dream’d) to helpe undoe us: (Much lesse, without our fault, to ruinate, By doome of irrecoverable _Fate_) And, if our good Endeavors, use wee will, Those glorious creatures will be helpfull still In all our honest wayes: For, they doe stand To helpe, not hinder us, in God’s command; And, hee not onely rules them by his pow’rs, But, makes their Glory, servant unto ours. _Who, =Patience= tempts, beyond her strength, Will make it =Fury=, at the length._ [Illustration: FUROR FIT LÆSA SÆPIUS PATIENTIA. ILLVSTR. XLIIII. _Book. 4_]