A42469:276
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.
5. If the Efficacy of the Stars hang upon such loose links, as the long chain, (the longer, and the more links, the weaker) of Mr. Swans sorites consists of; how uncertain must his Clients Predictions all of them prov? which yet with such confidence they are wont to give out, as hath formerly ben showed. Mars ⟨p. 139⟩doth sometime sow seeds of War, (not ever belike then.) and, Disorders of mind breaking out into acts do many times (not at all times; or necessarily then) either disturb States, or work some unlucky disaster; (but not unless they break out into action; nor then this or that disaster more then any other;) and again, Choler adust stirs up anger: (but not necessarily, unless it be stirred) and anger breeds War; (and so oft as men are once angry, must War needs ensue?) and, from war comes victory; (not always neither: how oft do forces come off with equal loss on either side?) & from Victory proceeds change of Common Weals and translations many times (not always belike then) of Kingdoms. But how many fights may there be, yea and victories too on either side, between State and State, (I spare instances) and yet no change of State with either? And what an heap of Inferences are here packed and patched up together to make up Mr. Swans Sorites ▪ no one whereof hath any necessary. connection with another? for men may have store of Choler, and yet not be angry; be angry, and not not fight; fight, and not overcome; overcome, and not change State, or translate Kingdom. Whereas in a Sorites, if any one link fail, the conclusion is of no force. So that we may well say here as Pliny in somewhat the like case,1 Solum inter ista certum est, nihil esse certi, there is no certainty of ought in these things, but that nothing is certain.
5. If the Efficacy of the Stars hang upon such loos links, as the long chain, (the longer, and the more links, the weaker) of Mr. Swans sorites consists of; how uncertain must his Clients Predictions all of them proov? which yet with such confidence they are wont to give out, as hath formerly ben shewed. Mars ⟨p. 139⟩doth sometime sow seeds of War, (not ever belike then.) and, Disorders of mind breaking out into acts do many times (not at all times; or necessarily then) either disturb States, or work some unlucky disaster; (but not unless they break out into action; nor then this or that disaster more then any other;) and again, Choler adust stirs up anger: (but not necessarily, unless it be stirred) and anger breeds War; (and so oft as men ar once angry, must War needs ensu?) and, from war comes victory; (not alwayes neither: how oft do forces come off with eqal loss on either side?) & from Victorie proceeds change of Common VVeals and translations many times (not alwayes belike then) of Kingdomes. But how many fights may there be, yea and victories too on either side, between State and State, (I spare instances) and yet no change of State with either? And what an heap of Inferences are here packt and patcht up together to make up Mr. Swans Sorites no one whereof hath any necessary. connexion with another? for men may have store of Choler, and yet not be angry; be angrie, and not not fight; fight, and not overcome; overcome, and not change State, or translate Kingdom. Whereas in a Sorites, if any one link fail, the conclusion is of no force. So that we may well say here as Plinie in somewhat the like case,