An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

We plainly do affirm, that the opinion of the Stoics is damnable and false:¹ for they did place such power in the stars and in their oppositions, that impossible (they affirmed) it was to change or avoid that which by their constellation and influence was appointed to come. In so much that they held, that Jupiter him self (whom they called the great, and supreme God) could neither alter nor stop the operation of the stars and the effects that should follow thereupon: and so they affirmed, that the mutations of kingdoms the honours of some men, the dejection of others, and finally that both vice and virtue were all together in the power of the stars. Against this pestilent opinion strongly and learnedly disputeth Augustin in diverse places,² but chiefly in his fifth book of that work entitled of the city of God: affirming, that only by the providence of God are kingdoms erected, maintained and changed: that stars have no power, neither to incline man to virtue nor to vice: that such blasphemies ought to be repelled from the ears of all men. Which sentences, because they do most perfectly agree with gods infallible word, we reverently embrace, and constantly do believe: And so, why that ye should thus impudently accuse us of that which we never thought, wise men may wonder.³ O say, you, ye take away the word of Stoical necessity, but yet ye affirm the self same thing which they affirmed. I answer: if ye can make no difference betwixt the omnipotent, most perfect, most just, and immutable will of God, and the opposition of stars, called constellation, you have evil profited, not only in Gods school, but also in those arts, in which […] of you would seem to be subtle. Do we affirm, that of necessity it was, that Pharaoh after many plagues sustained, should with his great host be drowned? that Nebuchadnezzar should be transformed in to a brute beast? ⟨p. 20⟩that Cyrus should first destroy Babylon, and after proclaim liberty to the people of God (after their long and dolorous captivity) because the influence of the stars did lead them to that end? or do we not rather most constantly affirm, that the eternal counsel of God, his immutable decree, and most holy will (which only is the most perfect rule of all justice and equity) did bring all these things to pass by such means as he had appointed, and by his Prophets fore spoken?