A42469:360
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.
It is a good rule, I say, in the negative, tho not in the Affirmative. It is not consequent, that whatsoever a creature in his utmost activity of natural power is able to do, that he should do. For it is not necessary that a creature in working should always put it self out to the utmost of his natural power. else the Argument would be good, A lazy man doth no more then as if he were asleep: therefore he can do no more then he does. or, A faithless friend, tho present, stands a man in no more steed, then if he were absent: therefore he can do no more then he doth. But in the Negative it holds well, for what the creature in its utmost activity cannot do, that without miracle cannot be done. And this very consideration furnishes us with a weapon of steel to dispatch that most frivolous and fabulous conceit of a Solar Eclipses working such dismal effects so long after it is over, as Mr. S.1 before informed us. for if it be beyond the uttermost activity of the total interception of the Sun-light for divers hours from us, by any natural power to produce some dismal effect a sevennight, or fortnight, or a month after, then undoubtedly it is much more above and beyond the uttermost activity of the interception of the Sun-light for a far shorter space, by its natural power to produce the like dismal effects, a twelve-month or two after. No wise man, I think, will deny the truth of the Antecedent, and no reasonable man, I suppose, will deny the necessity of the Consequence. If Mr. S. imagine he may, when he shall afford us his reason, if it appear to be sound, I shall begin to make doubt, whether I were in my right wits, or had any reason within my brain-pan, when I writ this.
It is a good rule, I say, in the negative, tho not in the Affirmative. It is not conseqent, that whatsoever a creature in his utmost activitie of natural power is able to do, that he should do. For it is not necessary that a creature in working should alwayes put it self out to the utmost of his natural power. else the Argument would be good, A lazie man doth no more then as if he were asleep: therefore he can do no more then he does. or, A faithlesse frend, tho present, stands a man in no more steed, then if he were absent: therefore he can do no more then he doth. But in the Negative it holds wel, for what the creature in its utmost activitie cannot do, that without miracle cannot be done. And this very consideration furnishes us with a weapon of steel to dispatch that most frivolous and fabulous conceit of a Solar Eclipses working such dismal effects so long after it is over, as Mr. S.