A42469:224
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.
But howsoever he deem us persons that that have laesa principia ▪ a crew of cracked-brained coxcombs, fitter for a Bedlam cure, then for a Scholarlike dispute or debate; yet we shall (by Gods assistance, having him and his holy Prophets, we hope, on our side) take the boldness to examine the validity of his Arguments produced to prove the truth of that, which diametrically opposeth the dictate of Gods Spirit, and the verdict here passed upon their Judicial Astrology, which we conceive not without some ground from his own grants to be forbidden, and consequently condemned in his Text.
But howsoever he deem us persons that that have laesa principia ▪ a crew of crackt-braind coxcombs, fitter for a Bedlam cure, then for a Scholerlike dispute or debate; yet we shall (by Gods assistance, having him and his holy Prophets, we hope, on our side) take the boldness to examine the validitie of his Arguments produced to prove the truth of that, which diametrically opposeth the dictate of Gods Spirit, and the verdict here passed upon their Iudicial Astrologie, which we conceive not without some ground from his own grants to be forbidden, and consequently condemned in his Text.
In the first place therefore, to begin the fight, he sends out as the manner is a forlorn hope, some velites, levis armaturae milites, 1a few soldiers of light furniture, not so much skirmishing with the advers party, as falling foul upon their own, and fighting one against another. [Greek or Hebrew] one or two snips or odd ends of Poetry, masterless dictates of nameless Poets; but Poets at the best; and of what credit such mens sayings are, that old said saw, a saying of their own, may show us; it saith, [Greek or Hebrew].2 it tells us in plain terms, that they tell us many lies. But let us hear what they say. One of them tells us, Astra regunt homines, that the Stars rule men. and there is good cause indeed to fear those that rule over us, especially when we shall be taught, that they have very spiteful and malevolent affections and dispositions towards us, very malignant aspects and influences upon us. But how doth it appear that the Stars rule men? or whence had they that power and office of regiment or regency given them over mankind, thus to sway humane affairs, as these men would have them? Hath God any where in his Word made it known to us, that he hath assigned them any such office of rule over us? It is said indeed, that God made the Sun to rule the day, and the Moon and the Stars to rule the night.