Neither are those minuter events, which, seemingly, are the result of chance, excluded from the law. Even these do not happen , but come to pass in a regular order of succession, and at their doe period of time. The Longus ordo rerum ,mentioned by Seneca, is what he elsewhere styles Causarum implexa series , or a perpetual implication of causes. Reason, you see, or wisdom, in the Deity, is an antecedent cause, from whence both providence and inferior nature are derived. It is added, in Strobaeus, that Chrysippus sometimes varies his terms, and, instead of the word reason, substitutes the words truth, cause, nature, necessity, intimating that fate is the true, natural, necessary cause of all things that are, and of the manner in which they are.
Necessity is the consequence of fate.
Thus, all things are ultimately resolved into their great primary Cause, by Whom the chain was originally let down from heaven, and on whom every link depends. Ille ipse, sequitur. The supreme Author and Governor of the universe hath indeed written and ordained the fates, but, having once ordained them, He ever after obeys them. He commanded them at first, for once, but His conformity to them is perpetual. This is, without doubt, very irreverently and very incautiously expressed.