N00277:55
Kometographia. Or A discourse concerning comets; wherein the nature of blazing stars is enquired…
Kometographia. Or A discourse concerning comets; wherein the nature of blazing stars is enquired into: with an historical account of all the comets which have appeared from the beginning of the world unto this present year, M.DC.LXXXIII. : Expressing the place in the heavens, where they were seen, their motion, forms, duration; and the remarkable events which have followed in the world, so far as they have been by learned men observed. : As also two sermons occasioned by the late blazing stars. / By Mr. Increase Mather, teacher of a church at Boston in New-England. ; [Three lines of Scripture texts]Kometographia. Or A discourse concerning comets; wherein the nature of blazing stars is enquired into: with an historical account of all the comets which have appeared from the beginning of the world unto this present year, M.DC.LXXXIII. : Expressing the place in the heavens, where they were seen, their motion, forms, duration; and the remarkable events which have followed in the world, so far as thay have been by learned men observed. : As also two sermons occasioned by the late blazing stars. / By Mr. Increase Mather, teacher of a church at Boston in New-England. ; [Three lines of Scripture texts]
printed by S.G. for S.S. i.e, 1683
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.
and if an Astrologer (as the blind man hits the mark) chance to praedict right once, more notice is taken of that, then of his mistaking an hundred times over. Very notable Conjunctions of the Planets happened this present, and will do so again the next year, (as shall be more particularly mentioned) If any man should now positively affirm, that within this twelve month another Blazing Star will appear, it would be presumptuous, although it is both possible and probable that it may so come to pass. But the observation doth not always hold good; For there have been both greater and lesser Conjunctions of the Planets, when no Comet hath appeared, and many Comets without any such Conjunctions immediately preceding. In few words, sometimes, many Blazing Stars have been seen within the compass of a few years; there have been at least ten within these eighty years last past. But in some ages, not one Comet hath appeared for an hundred years together. Since several may appear (in two, nay) in one year, and it may be not one in fifty nor ⟨p. 18⟩in an hundred years, the appearance of such Phenomena's, cannot be infallibly foreseen by any humane understanding upon Earth.
and if an Astrologer (as the blind man hits the mark) chance to praedict right once, more notice is taken of that, then of his mistaking an hundred times over. Very notable Conjunctions of the Planets hapned this present, and will do so again the next year, (as shall be more particularly mentioned) If any man should now positively affirm, that within this twelve moneth another Blazing Star will appear, it would be presumptuous, although it is both possible and probable that it may so come to pass. But the observation doth not alwayes hold good; For there have been both greater and lesser Conjunctions of the Planets, when no Comet hath appeared, and many Comets without any such Conjunctions immediately praeceding. In few words, sometimes, many Blazing Stars have been seen within the compass of a few years; there have been at least ten within these eighty years last past. But in some ages, not one Comet hath appeared for an hundred years together. Since several may appear (in two, nay) in one year, and it may be not one in fifty nor ⟨p. 18⟩in an hundred years, the appearance of such Phaenomena's, cannot be infallibly foreseen by any humane understanding upon Earth.