A42469:101
Thomas Gataker B.D. his vindication of the annotations by him published upon these words,…
Thomas Gataker B.D. his vindication of the annotations by him published upon these words, Thus saith the Lord, learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the heathen are dismayed at them, Jer. 10. 2 against the scurrilous aspersions of that grand impostor Mr. William Lillie : as also against the various expositions of two of his advocates, Mr. John Swan, and another by him cited, but not named : together with the annotations themselves : wherein the pretended grounds of judiciary astrology, and the Scripture-proofs produced for it are discussed and refuted.Thomas Gataker B.D. his vindication of the annotations by him published upon these words, Thus saith the Lord, learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signes of heaven, for the heathen are dismayed at them, Jer. 10. 2 against the scurrilous aspersions of that grand imposter Mr. William Lillie : as also against the various expositions of two of his advocates, Mr. John Swan, and another by him cited, but not named : together with the annotations themselvs : wherein the pretended grounds of judiciary astrologie, and the Scripture-proofes produced for it are discussed and refuted.
London: printed by J.L. for Richard Thrayle, 1653
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To this of Pericles we shall add from the same Author two other instances, in two likewise military Commanders, near about the same times, but men of divers dispositions, and accordingly of divers carriages, with no less divers event. The one of them was Nicias,1 who being sent from Athens with some Forces into Sicily to assist one party of the Islanders (for the Island was divided into factions) against the other, at first prevailed much and was very successful in his designs; but after the access of some Spartan forces, those of the Island deserting him, and timely supplies failing, he and his were both by Sea and Land so beset, that there seemed no way to escape but by a clancular flight▪ this when they were now addressing themselves unto and had fitted all things for it,2 a Lunar Eclipse came in the way: Whereupon Nicias a man of himself timorous and superstitious, being misled by such wizards as ⟨p. 47⟩he had then about him, who (contrary to the wonted opinion of others of that profession, that, as Autoclides reports of them, confined the dismal effects of such occurrents but to two or three days at most) enlarged the danger and disastrous events of them to a months time at least, would not be persuaded so much as to entertain any deliberation concerning stay or flight, until the full Moon came about again; but in a fond manner sat still so long idling and trifling out the time in superstitious rites, until the enemy having gotten further head and strength by new supplies, had so closely environed and overpowered him and his forces, that no way or means were now left for escape, and proved the utter destruction both of him and them. all which mischief and misery had with no great difficulty (saith mine Author) ben prevented,3 had Anaxagoras his doctrine of the nature of such Eclipses ben then commonly known, or had Stilbides an inward acquaintance of Nicias, and one well seen in those sciences, that died not long before that accident, ben then surviving, who by informing him aright of the nature of the matter, might both have freed him from his superstitious fear, and advised him better then his fond Wizards did, to make use of the darkness by the Eclipse produced for a speedy and more advantageous departure by stealth, wherein (saith Philochorus) he might by that event have ben furthered.