Vol. 3: I. Excerpts by Stob us: Excerpt XII. Of Providence and Fate

Gnosticism and Hermetica EXCERPT XII.

OF PROVIDENCE AND FATE (Title from Patrizzi (p. 38); followed by: “From the [Sermons] to Ammon.”

Text: Stob., Phys., v. 20, under heading: “Of Hermes from the [Sermons] to Ammon”; G. p. 70; M. i. 48, 49; W. i. 82.

Ménard, Livre IV., No. ii. of “Fragments of the Books of Hermes to Ammon,” p. 258.)

All things are born by Nature and by Fate, and there is not a [single] space bereft of Providence.

Now Providence is the Self-perfect 1 Reason.

And of this [Reason] there are two spontaneous powers,—Necessity and Fate.

And Fate doth minister to Providence and to Necessity; while unto Fate the Stars 2 do minister.

For Fate no one is able to escape, nor keep himself from their 3 shrewd scrutiny. 4 For that the Stars are instruments of Fate; it is at its behest that they effect all things for nature and for men. 5