I answer, Ans. he here only condemns the signs whereby the Chaldeans conjectured, as if ⟨p. 473⟩they could judge of things to come:1 for the Lord pronounceth that all such things are merely vain. It is not without cause then that he forbids his people to ask counsel of Astrologers, Soothsayers, Prognosticators, & such like Magicians, and that no man should have to deal with men of such professions under pain of death, Deut. 18.10.11. But if any could have gathered certain conjectures from the situation and aspect of the stars, no doubt the Lord would never have condemned such sciences. Seeing then without exception he forbids them, it clearly shows they contain nothing but mere illusions, and therefore that all his people should esteem them as abominations. Object. But those that plead for this vanity, allege, that the Lord hath given the planets and stars for signs, Ans. Gen. 1.14. Be it that I grant them this principle, yet we must consider whereof they be signs. For we condemn not that Astrology which contemplates the course of the stars,2 wherein Gods wonderful Majesty is to be seen: but we reject as vain such curious heads as will thence conclude how long kingdoms and common-wealths shall stand; 3what accident shall befall this City, or nation: that man, or such a woman, for herein they pass their bounds, and abuse these signs, which were never ordained to foretell things to come.4 I confess indeed that sometimes we are admonished by these celestial signs to behold Gods wrath, which we have justly inflamed, and also the plagues which hang over our heads, but not to make us so fool-hardy as thence to conclude of every particular accident, much less to search out things hidden and unrevealed, which it is not lawful for us once to enquire after. But above all things we are to find out the cause and spring of this mystery of iniquity which is in it:5 for a man no sooner receives this error, to wit, that mans life is governed by the stars, but Gods providence is by and by overthrown, and he turned out of his judgement seat: or thus, that they may take from him the authority of punishing the wicked any more, or, in his mercy to give life to those that were lost.
I answere, Ans. he heere only condemnes the siges whereby the Chaldeans coniectured, as if ⟨p. 473⟩they could iudge of things to come:1 for the Lord pronounceth that all such things are meerely vaine. It is not without cause then that he forbids his people to aske counsell of Astrologers, Southsayers, Prognosticators, & such like Magicians, and that no man should haue to deale with men of such professions vnder paine of death, Deut. 18.10.11. But if any could haue gathered certaine coniectures from the situation and aspect of the starres, no doubt the Lord would neuer haue condemned such sciences. Seeing then without exception he forbids them, it clearly shewes they conteine nothing but meere illusions, and therefore that all his people should esteeme thē as abominations. Obiect. But those that pleade for this vanitie, alledge, that the Lord hath giuen the planets and starres for signes, Ans. Gen. 1.14. Be it that I grant them this principle, yet we must consider vvhereof they be signes. For we condemne not that Astrologie which contemplates the course of the starres,2 wherein Gods wonderfull Maiestie is to be seene: but we reiect as vaine such curious heads as will thence conclude how long kingdomes and common-wealths shal stand; 3vvhat accident shall befall this Citie, or nation: that man, or such a vvoman, for herein they passe their bounds, and abuse these signes, which were neuer ordeined to foretell things to come.4 I confesse indeed that sometimes we are admonished by these celestiall signes to behold Gods wrath, which we haue iustlie enflamed, and also the plagues which hang ouer our heads, but not to make vs so foole-hardie as thence to conclude of euery particular accident, much lesse to search out things hidden and vnreuealed, which it is not lawfull for vs once to enquire after. But aboue all things we are to finde out the cause and spring of this mysterie of iniquitie which is in it:5 for a man no sooner receiues this error, to wit, that mans life is gouerned by the starres, but Gods prouidence is by and by ouerthrowne, and he turned out of his iudgement seate: or thus, that they may take from him the authoritie of punishing the wicked any more, or, in his mercie to giue life to those that were lost.
- 1Whether Astrology be utterly condemned or no.Whether Astrologie be vtterlie condemned or no.
- 2The course of the stars.The course of the starres.
- 3What is to be condemned in Astrology.
- 4Planets never ordained to tell things to come.Planets neuer ordained to tell things to come.
- 5Wherein the mystery of this iniquive consists.Wherein the mysterie of this iniquiue consists.
