and in so moche is þe þing more free { and} lovs fro destyne as it axeþ { and} holdeþ hym ner to þilke Centre of þinges. þat is to [[pg 137]] seyne god.
[Linenotes: 3894 _eyþer_--owther _seruaunte[gh]_--MS. seruaunce[gh] 3895 _somme_--som 3896 _al_--alle 3897 _moeuyng_--moeuynges 3900 _ywouen_--MS. ywonnen, C. ywouen _or_--{ and} 3902 _bonde_--bond 3904 _haþ_--MS. haþe 3905 _whiche_--which 3912 _as_--as of 3913 _about_--a-bowte _inrest_--innerest 3917 _larger_ (1)--a large 3918 _mochel_--moche _forþest_--ferther{ e} 3920 _selfe_--self 3921 _[vn]moeueablete_--vnmoeuablete 3922 _ceseth_--MS. fleþe, C. cesith 3923 _þinge_--thing 3924 _of_--MS. to, C. of 3926 _lovs_--laus 3927 _ner_--ner{ e}]
[Sidenote: And if we suppose that the thing in question is joined to the stability of the supreme mind, it then becomes immovable, and is beyond the necessity and power of destiny.]
¶ and if þe þinge cleueþ to þe stedfastnesse 3928 of þe þou[gh]t of god. { and} be wiþ oute moeuyng certys it so{ ur}mounteþ þe necessite of destyne.
[Sidenote: As reasoning is to the understanding, as that which is produced to that which exists of itself, as time to eternity, as the circle to the centre, so is the movable order of Fate to the stable simplicity of Providence.]
þan ry[gh]t swiche comparisou{ n} as [it] is of skilynge to vndirstondyng { and} of þing þat is engendred to þing þat is. { and} of tyme to 3932 eternite. { and} of þe cercle to þe Centre. ry[gh]t so is þe ordre of moeueable destine to þe stable symplicite of p{ ur}ueaunce.
¶ þilke ordinaunce moeueþ þe heuene { and} þe sterres { and} attempreþ þe elyment[gh] to gider 3936 amonges hem self. { and} t{ ra}nsformeþ hem by enterchau{ n}gable mutac{ i}ou{ n}. ¶ and þilke same ordre neweþ a[gh]ein alle þinges growyng { and} fallyng a-doune by sembleables p{ ro}gressiou{ n}s of seedes { and} of sexes. þat is 3940 to sein. male { and} female.
[Sidenote: It controls the actions of men by an indissoluble chain of causes, and is, like their origin, immutable.]
and þis ilke ordre co{ n}streyneþ þe fortunes { and} þe dedes of men by a bonde of causes nat able to ben vnbou{ n}den (indissolubili). þe whiche destinal causes whanne þei passen oute fro þe bygynnynges 3944 of þe vnmoeueable purueaunce it mot nedes be þat þei ne be nat mutable.