Winter meditations directions how to employ the leisure of the winter for the glory…

There is an Impious Interpretation that some have made of these words; as if being, In m• nu ⟨p. 5⟩Omnium Hominum signa posuit, they countenanced, Chiromancy; a foolish and absurd Science, which pretends from the Lines in our Hands, to read the Fates of our Lives. As for that curious Vanity, I shall say but thus much of it; The Lines in our Hands, are mostly formed, by the Accidental Uses and Motions of our Hands; and may accordingly, by the like means be altered. Opinions about our future Circumstances and Contingencies, cannot be drawn to any purpose from these Lines, unless they be done mee•ly by Impulse; and the Impulse, which has often darted many true Predictions into the Minds of Ungodly Fortune tellers, when they have been po•ing on the Hands of others, is ordinarily from some of the Demons, who are at Hand always to Encourage such Impieties; and of the Predictions which the Demons have thus perhaps Lit upon, but as probable Conjectures, they immediately Employ all their Interest, which in This world is very great, for the Accomplishment. Of the •i•ine Vengeance, leaving such wretched Fortune tellers unto the more than ordinary power of the Devil, we have in our own I and, lately seen most horrid Instances. Away then, with all such Diabolical Communions! Let us with a Christian Resignation, wait upon God, in a willing and a wi•ohome Ignorance of, The Secret Things which being unto the Lord.

There is an Impious Interpretation that some have made of these words; as if being, In m• nu ⟨p. 5⟩Omnium Hominum signa posuit, they countenanced, Chiromancy; a foolish and absurd Science, which pretends from the Lines in our Hands, to read the Fates of our Lives. As for that curious Vanity, I shall say but thus much of it; The Lines in our Hands, are mostly formed, by the Accidental Uses and Motions of our Hands; and may accordingly, by the like means be altered. Opinions about our future Circumstances and Contingencies, cannot be drawn to any purpose from these Lines, unless they be done meely by Impulse; and the Impulse, which has often darted many true Predictions into the Minds of Ungodly Fortune tellers, when they have been poing on the Hands of others, is ordinarily from some of the Demons, who are at Hand always to Encourage such Impieties; and of the Predictions which the Demons have thus perhaps Litt upon, but as probable Conjectures, they immediately Employ all their Interest, which in This world is very great, for the Accomplishment. Of the iine Vengeance, leaving such wretched Fortune tellers unto the more than ordinary power of the Devil, we have in our own I and, lately seen most horrid Instances. Away then, with all such Diabolical Communions! Let us with a Christian Resignation, wait upon God, in a willing and a wiohome Ignorance of, The Secret Things which being unto the Lord.