But thou wilt say that, even although the foreknowledge is not the necessity of the future event's occurrence, yet it is a sign that it will necessarily happen.

Granted; but in this case it is plain that, even if there had been no foreknowledge, the issues would have been inevitably certain.

For a sign only indicates something which is, does not bring to pass that of which it is the sign.

We require to show beforehand that all things, without exception, happen of necessity in order that a preconception may be a sign of this necessity.

Otherwise, if there is no such universal necessity, neither can any preconception be a sign of a necessity which exists not.