38 History of Nature. [BooK II. 



From hence proceed the Admonitions of Lightnings, the 

 Foreknowledge by Oracles, the Predictions of Aruspices, 

 yea, and other contemptible Things, as Auguries of Sneezing, 

 and stumbling with the Foot. Divus Augustus Ccesar hath 

 recorded that his left-foot Shoe was untowardly put on be- 

 fore the right, on that very Day when he had like to have 

 suffered in a Mutiny among his Soldiers. 



Thus all these Things entangle silly Mortals, so that this 

 only point remaineth certain that Nothing is certain : nei- 

 ther is there any Thing more wretched and proud than 

 Man. For all living Creatures beside take Care only for 

 their Food : wherein Nature's Goodness of itself is sufficient : 

 which one Point is to be preferred before all good Things 

 whatsoever, inasmuch as they never think of Glory, Riches, 

 Ambition, nor, beyond all the rest, of Death. However, the 

 Belief that in these Matters the Gods have care of Men's 

 Estate, is profitable to the Course of Life : as also that the 

 Punishment of Malefactors will come, though late (whilst 

 God is busily occupied in so huge a Frame of the World), 

 but that it never misseth in the End : and that Man was not 

 made so near in Degree unto God, for this, that he should 

 be almost as base as the brute Beasts. Moreover, the chief 

 Comfort that Man hath, for his Imperfections in Nature, is 

 this, that even God himself cannot do all Things. For nei- 

 ther is He able to work his own Death, if even He desired it, 

 as He hath given to Man as his best Gift when he is weary 

 of the Miseries of his Life ; nor endow Mortals with ever- 

 lasting Life ; nor recall the Dead to Life again ; nor bring to 

 pass that one who lived did not live ; nor he that bore 

 honourable Offices, has not borne them. Nay, He hath no 

 Power over Things past, save only Oblivion : no more than 

 He is able to effect (to come with Arguments to prove our 

 Fellowship therein with God) that twice ten should not make 

 twenty : and many similar Things. Whereby is evidently 

 proved the Power of Nature, and how it is she only which we 

 call God. I thought it not impertinent thus to digress to 

 these Points, by Reason of ordinary Questions regarding the 

 Essence of God. 



