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

Wherefore if we will be of his people let us hearken what he saith in his Prophet Jeremiah: *¹ let us not be like the Heathen, fearing the signs of heaven. I know well enough the shift that certain do bring: to wit, that we must not fear the stars as though they had rule over us: and yet for all that they do not cease to have a certain particular superiority under the hand and governance of God. But there is no doubt but that the Prophet would bring us to the providence of God, the which thing to the intent he might bring to pass, he goeth about to bring us from the vain care that the heathen men did torment themselves withal: forasmuch as he speaketh to the Israelites which were provoked to give themselves to such ⟨image 23⟩folly by the example of the Chaldeans and Egyptians. Let a man ask now a days a Genethliac from what spring their art is come. They can not deny but Babylon was the fountain: and that that which they know is but as it were little rivers which run from thence. Therefore since God hath once forbidden his people to be like to these mens predecessors and masters: shall we do well if we be lieve these their inferiors? Though there were none other evil but this, that in attributing the causes of our prosperous success and afflictions to the stars and to their influence, we put as it were clouds before our eyes to drive us away from the providence of God: we may already see that it is a thing over dangerous to meddle withal. But more over this followeth that those men which wander amongest the stars, do descend no more into their own consciences to examine their life: ⟨image 23⟩although they know that they carry within themselves the matter and cause of all evil, and their since are the wood to kindle Gods wrath, for the which wars famine, pestilence, hail, frost and other like things do come.

Wherfore if we wil be of his people let vs harken what he sayth in his Prophet Ieremy: *¹ let vs not be lyke the Heathen, fearyng the sygnes of heauen. I knowe well inough the shifte that certaine do bring: to witte, that we must not feare the starres as though they had rule ouer vs: and yet for all that they doe not cease to haue a certayne perticular superioritie vnder the hande and gouernaunce of God. But there is no dout but that the Prophet woulde bring vs to the prouidence of God, ye which thīg to the intent he might bring to passe, he goth about to bring vs from the vaine care that the heathen men did torment themselues withal: for asmuch as he speaketh to the Israelites which were prouoked to geue themselues to such