An admonition against astrology judicial and other curiosities, that reign now in the worldAn admonicion against astrology iudiciall and other curiosities, that raigne novv in the vvorld

If men were ruled by Astrology they would be so far from ever ending any process and action that one should not be able to bring three Judges together to here a mans cause. Therefore it must needs be that either the stars must be removed to the intent they may otherwise agree or else that all policy should be beaten down.

If men were ruled by Astrology they would be so far from euer endyng any proces and action that one should not be able to bryng three Iudges together to here a mans cause. Therefore it must nedes be that either the stars must be remoued to the intent thei may otherwise agree or els that al policie should be beaten downe.

But we know that god doth approve this order that there should be certain hours appointed to keep justice to hear his word to receive the sacraments, without having regard to the opposition of heaven. If that in musing upon the stars men do forsake the order which God hath appointed, and that every one go aside without accommodating him self to the common society of mankind: should ⟨image 17⟩not God be contrary to himself? Where shall that incomprehensible wisdom appear by the which he hath so well ordered all things that it doeth seem that he hath made all by line and measure? If one can not obey him in this one point, except he do contrary to the order which he hath placed in nature? A man may very well apply that merry taunt to this kind of men which an ancient Philosopher heard of his maid, who whiles he marked over earnestly the stars and the firmament, had no leisure to look to his feet, and so stumbled & fell into a ditch. Then said his maid unto him, there is nothing better then to think upon those things that are most near unto us. I would not turn nor apply this taunt or mock to the true Astrologians whose labours and pain which they have taken to make us know the secretes of heaven, can never be overmuch praised: for so much as it was ⟨image 17⟩good both to glorify God and also to serve us to our use and commodity. But for these speculative fools which walk above the clouds, and in the mean season do not consider whither God doth call them, nor have regard of their duty, which (I say) wander out of the way which God showeth them and forget their duty which they owe to their neighbours: is there not good cause why one should mock and deride their vanity, and that God also should make them ignominious and shameful & cause them not only to stumble, but also in the end to fall and to break their necks?