For the former Branch; Learn not, saith God, the way of the Heathen, where by the way of the Heathen, what can be meant, but such courses as the Heathen held and took, either concerning the Signs of Heaven, which they superstitiously regarded, or concerning their idols, which having framed they adored, and we see the learning of their way, and the dreading of the signs, to be two distinct branches of the present Prohibition, the former whereof these Patrons of Astrology slightly pass over, or slyly pass by, as a needless branch, or a luxuriant sprig, not worthy of regard, but such as might well be spared, and would therefore the more handsomely to conceal it and keep it out of sight, involve and wrap it up in the same sentence with the next: as if the meaning were no more then this, Learn not the way of the Heathen, nor be dismayed; that is, Learn not to be dismayed. It is true indeed, that sometime two Verbs either standing loose, as Psal. 51.2. and 106.13. Hosh. 9 9. or knit together with a copulative, as Gen. 26.18. Dan. 9.21 may be combined into one sentence; that which by many instances I show both in some part of my Cinnus, and in divers places of mine Annotations among those fruitless Criticisms, that Mr. Lily finds there. But that will not hold here for two causes. 1. It is not an Injunction, but an Inhibition. Its one thing to say, Learn, not to fear: another thing to say, Learn not, to fear ▪ the former is an injunction; and the negative particle therefore adheres not to the imperative precedent, but to the infinitive subsequent, the latter is an inhibition, and the negative therefore must be joined to the imperative; which being here done would produce a strange sense, inhibiting, not simply to be afraid, but to learn to be afraid; Do not learn to be afraid. But 2. the two Verbs here have two several subjects that they pass unto. the Heathens way is the subject not to be learned; the Signs of Heaven are the Subject not to be dreaded. and if any shall ask what is meant by the way of the Heathen, the other branch in the frontispiece of the 3 vers will tell us; to wit, that this [Greek or Hebrew] or way, is [Greek or Hebrew] the rules, the lessons, the dictates, the documents, the precepts, the prescripts (for the word will well admit any of these expressions) of the Heathen. and of what Heathen think we, but of the Heathen Astrologers?
For the former Branch; Learn not, saith God, the way of the Heathen, where by the way of the Heathen, what can be ment, but such courses as the Heathen held and took, either concerning the Signs of Heaven, which they superstitiously regarded, or concerning their idols, which having framed they adored, and we see the learning of their way, and the dreading of the signes, to be two distinct branches of the present Prohibition, the former whereof these Patrons of Astrologie slightly pass over, or slily pass by, as a needless branch, or a luxuriant sprig, not worthy of regard, but such as might wel be spared, and would therefore the more handsomely to conceal it and keep it out of sight, involv and wrap it up in the same sentence with the next: as if the meaning were no more then this, Learn not the way of the Heathen, nor be dismayed; that is, Learn not to be dismaid. It is tru indeed, that sometime two Verbs either standing loose, as Psal. 51.2. and 106.13. Hosh. 9 9. or knit together with a copulative, as Gen. 26.18. Dan. 9.21 may be combined into one sentence; that which by many instances I shew both in some part of my Cinnus, and in divers places of mine Annotations among those fruitless Criticisms, that Mr. Lilie finds there. But that will not hold here for two causes. 1. It is not an Injunction, but an Inhibition. Its one thing to say, Learn, not to fear: another thing to say, Learn not, to fear ▪ the former is an injunction; and the negative particle therefore adheres not to the imperative precedent, but to the infinitive subseqent, the latter is an inhibition, and the negative therefore must be joyned to the imperative; which being here done would produce a strange sense, inhibiting, not simply to be afraid, but to learn to be afraid; Do not learn to be afraid. But 2. the two Verbs here have two several subjects that they pass unto. the Heathens way is the subject not to be learned; the Signs of Heaven ar the Subject not to be dreaded. and if any shall ask what is meant by the way of the Heathen, the other branch in the frontispiece of the 3 vers will tel us; to wit, that this 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 or way, is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 the rules, the lessons, the dictates, the documents, the precepts, the prescripts (for the word will well admit any of these expressions) of the Heathen. and of what Heathen think we, but of the Heathen Astrologers?
