Ignorantia scientifica. A brief essay on mans not knowing his time: the just inferences…

BUT now, Let us make our more particular Improvement of these Faithful sayings.

I. SINCE our GOD will not let us know our Time, we must beware of curious Inquiries after the Future Events of our Time. There is a certain Prerogative, of which Vain Man that would be wise, is very ambitious; That is, that Prerogative of Divination: Men would fain know their Time, and what is to come hereafter. And, how many cursed Arts of Divination have been invented for the gratification of this Curiosity! But, O vain Man, Thou liftest up thy hand unto a Forbidden Tree of Knowledge, when thou art Inquisitive about Futurities. Take the Rebuke of GOD; Deut. XXIX. 29. Secret Things belong unto the Lord our GOD. Indeed there are some Things to come, whereof we may commendably & profitably be Inquisitive; But they are such Things as our GOD has Revealed ⟨p. 15⟩unto us, in the Prophecies of our Bible. These are Things, which Piety would make us Desire to look into. The Tribe which has Understanding in the Times, is to be applauded for it. They who Discern not the Signs of the Times, to be upbraided for it. But what is this, to the Impious and Criminal Curiosity of them, who will needs be prying into Futurities, which GOD will have to be concealed from us? I tell you, The Bethshemites might as well pry into the Ark of GOD. For Men to grasp after such a Knowledge of their Time, as may indispose them for a modest waiting upon the Providence of GOD; Verily, 'Tis a great Iniquity. Hence, to consult Astrologers and Fortune-tellers, about our Time, and the Events thereof; 'Tis a Crime; As to Believe them, 'tis a Weakness, 'tis a Madness. Those Prophetasters; Pitiful Jugglers Mankind strangely degrade and disgrace themselves, by suffering those Jugglers to impose upon them. Indeed, they have no Rules worth a straw to go by. If they do any thing to purpose, 'tis by a Satanical Impulse. Their pretended Rules of Art are mere cheats. And the wretches themselves usually have such Tragical, but Unforeseen Things befalling of them, 'tis marvellous that the credit of the whole Sect is not for ever Extinguished. Indeed, one can't but wonder, as the Roman Orator long ago did about their Augurs, how the wretches can look one another in the Face, without a scornful sneer at the cheats which they agree to put upon the Vast Herd that pay Regard unto them. Christians, Indulge not the Vice of