Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

The Prophet expressly adds this, because Babylon not only surpassed all other nations in riches, men, and munitions: but also in a wonderful measure of wisdom, and that in such wise, as they seemed to pierce even the very skies. For what inconvenience could befall them which foresaw things to come a far off, and could prevent imminent dangers, as they imagined? Astrologers, which then were in great request among them, foretold of great matters, and thence came that bastard Astrology which we forsooth call Judicial,¹ wherewith many good and toward wits at this day are corrupted. They usurp the name also of Mathematicians,² that they may get them the more credit among the common people. But the Egyptians gloried as the only authors of this science, because they held themselves to be of greatest antiquity, and were the instructors of others. But this contention we leave to them. Sure it is, that the Chaldeans were practitioners of it from the beginning, and so highly esteemed of it, that both Greeks and Latins have given the name of Chaldeans to the Astrologians. For as much then as they trusted very much in this science, the Lord avoucheth that he vvill scatter all things belonging thereunto.

THe Prophet expresly addes this, because Babylon not onely surpassed all other nations in riches, men, and munitions: but also in a wonderfull measure of vvisdome, and that in such wise, as they seemed to pierce euen the very skies. For what inconuenience could befall them which foresaw things to come a farre off, and could preuent imminent dangers, as they imagined? Astrologers, which then were in great request among them, foretold of great matters, and thence came that bastard Astrologie which we forsooth call Iudiciall,¹ wherewith many good and toward wits at this day are corrupted. They vsurp the name also of Mathematicians,² that they may get them the more credit among the common people. But the Egyptians gloried as the only authors of this science, because they held themselues to be of greatest antiquitie, and were the instructers of others. But this contention we leaue to them. Sure it is, that the Chaldeans were practitioners of it from the beginning, and so highly esteemed of it, that both Greekes and Latins haue giuen the name of Chaldeans to the Astrologians. For as much then as they trusted very much in this science, the Lord auoucheth that he vvill scatter all things belonging thereunto.