Thomas Gataker B.D. his vindication of the annotations by him published upon these words,…

for of them it is agreed that the Prophet here speaks. and concerning what, but concerning the Signs of Heaven? the Prophets own express ⟨p. 113⟩terms lead us to it. So that its clear enough to any the meanest capacity that, by way is here meant, such rules, documents, or lessons, as the Chaldean Wizards taught the Heathen people concerning the Signs of Heaven, and their dismal operations, which produced in them such trouble and consternation or amazement of mind. God would not have his people to learn or regard the one, that they might not be affrighted and dismayed with the other. And this Branch therefore would not have ben either slyly slighted, or wholly overslipped by those, who had professedly undertaken the discussing of the Vers.

for of them it is agreed that the Prophet here speaks. and concerning what, but concerning the Signs of Heaven? the Prophets own express ⟨p. 113⟩terms lead us to it. So that its clear enough to any the meanest capacitie that, by way is here ment, such rules, documents, or lessons, as the Chaldean Wizards taught the Heathen people concerning the Signs of Heaven, and their dismal operations, which produced in them such trouble and consternation or amazement of mind. God would not have his people to learn or regard the one, that they might not be afrighted and dismaid with the other. And this Branch therefore would not have ben either slily slighted, or wholy overslipt by those, who had professedly undertaken the discussing of the Vers.

But there is another Branch, which tho it be crowded into the next verse, yet, (as the rationative particle appearing in its front shows) hath reference unto this. If we shall demand then why Gods people should not learn this Heathenish way, the reason is ready at hand, we need not go far to seek for it, the Prophet himself rendereth it; for the rules or lessons, that the Heathen are taught by and take out from their Wizards, are vain or vanity, as the word is in the abstract, that is, very vain, as vain as vanity it self. So that if Mr. Swan had ben pleased to step but one step further, and no long stride had needed, or to have cast but his eye to the very next line to his Text, he had there lighted on the true cause, why neither this way of the Heathen is to be learned by Gods people, they are not to take out such lessons as the Wizards would learn them; nor their minds consequently to be possessed with such frights and fears, as by telling them of the direful effects of the celestial Signs they endeavoured to work into them; to wit, because these things among other were mere Heathenish vanities; and a most vain thing therefore to be affected therewith. For to the former way, must this vanity necessarily have reference, and that way to their conceits concerning the Stars, that produced such fears with them, unless we will say of the passages of Gods Prophets,