A42469:209
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.
Or if by Fate in a stricter notion, they will have to be understood that which is by the Stoics called [Greek or Hebrew], that is, according to rhe Greek notation of the word; a continued series, or concatenation of causes by a necessary consequence successively ensuing one upon an other, as links of a chain, and depending upon that natural course, whereinto by the first cause of all things they were entered at the first: neither so can they avoid the term of fatality. For as we all grant that the motions of the Celestial bodies do hold on constantly in an unvariable course according to that which they were entered into by God their Creator, when he created them at first; in regard whereof their risings and settings, oppositions and conjunctions, applications and separations, aspects and respects, may be undoubtedly foreknown and infallibly foretold: so withal these men maintain, that those virtues and powers by which they work, (they are Mr. Swans own words; and in such manner you must understand him to mean as they maintain;1 otherwise he saith nothing either to his Clients cause, or his own intendment) were at the first divinely stamped in them; and are ⟨p. 106⟩in Job called by the name of influences, which no man is able to restrain, Job 38.31. whereof further in its place. And yet the same man refuseth to acknowledge the old Chaldeans fatality, 2and would fain free his Clients from the admittance of it: which yet by his and their grounds can not be avoided. For if these things be effected of them and produced by them through a natural power enstamped on them by God their Creator, the operation whereof neither is it in their power to intermit at their pleasure, being no voluntary but mere natural agents, neither can it by any other created power be restrained or suspended; no more then their motions, meetings or intercourses can by any such means be interrupted; then are they as sure to produce these their effects; and men may as undoubtedly before hand be assured-of them, as they may that the Sun will at such a certain time set at even, or rise the next day.
Or if by Fate in a stricter notion, they will have to be understood that which is by the Stoiks called , that is, according to rhe Greek notation of the word; a continued series, or concatenation of cavses by a necessary conseqence successively ensuing one upon an other, as links of a chain, and depending upon that natural cours, whereinto by the first cause of all things they were entred at the first: neither so can they avoid the term of fatality. For as we all grant that the motions of the Celestial bodies do hold on constantly in an unvariable cours according to that which they were entred into by God their Creator, when he created them at first; in regard whereof their risings and settings, oppositions and conjunctions, applications and separations, aspects and respects, may be undoubtedly foreknown and infallibly foretold: so withal these men maintain, that those virtues and powers by which they work, (they are Mr. Swans own words; and in such manner you must understand him to mean as they maintain;