Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Now by the word tokens, or signs, he understands the situation, concurrence, and divers aspects of the stars, from whence the Astrologers draw their conjectures. In the next place he saith he will make them fools. Some take the word Baddim, for lies: as if he should say, The divinations of Astrologers are but impostures, and mere illusions: but I had rather take it for soothsayers, it being often elsewhere taken in this signification.

Now by the word tokens, or signes, he vnderstands the situation, concurrence, and diuers aspects of the starres, from whence the Astrologers draw their coniectures. In the next place he saith he will make them fooles. Some take the word Baddim, for lies: as if he should say, The diuinations of Astrologers are but impostures, and meere illusions: but I had rather take it for soothsayers, it being often elsewhere taken in this signification.

But it may be demanded whether he utterly condemns the Astrology of the Chaldeans, Quest. or only the abuse and corruption of it.

But it may be demanded whether he vtterly condemnes the Astrologie of the Chaldeans, Quest. or only the abuse and corruption of it.

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,