A discovery of the impostures of witches and astrologers by John Brinley.
         Brinley, John.
      
       
         
           1680
        
      
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             A discovery of the impostures of witches and astrologers by John Brinley.
             Brinley, John.
          
           [6], 127 p.
           
             Printed for John Wright and sold by Edward Milward ,
             London :
             1680.
          
           
             Second part has special t.p. (p. [67]): The second part, being a discourse of the impostures practised in judicial astrology. London : Printed in the year 1680.
             Reproduction of original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Witchcraft -- Early works to 1800.
           Astrology -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           DISCOVERY
           OF
           THE
           IMPOSTURES
           OF
           WITCHES
           AND
           ASTROLOGERS
           .
        
         
           
             —
             Quicquid
          
           
             Dixerit
             Astrologus
             ,
             credunt
             à
             fonte
             relatum
          
           
             Ammonis
             ,
             quoniam
             Delphis
             Oracula
             cessant
             ,
          
           
             Et
             genus
             humanum
             damnat
             caligo
             futuri
             .
          
        
         
           Juv.
           
        
         
           By
           
             IOHN
             BRINLEY
          
           Gent.
           
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Iohn
             Wright
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Crown
           on
           Ludgate-Hill
           ,
           and
           Sold
           by
           
             Edward
             Milward
          
           Book-Seller
           ,
           in
           Leitchfield
           .
           1680.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           To
           the
           Honorable
           Sir
           Brian
           Broughton
           of
           Broughton
           ,
           Knight
           and
           Baronet
           .
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
        
         
           THose
           Infinite
           Obligations
           you
           have
           been
           pleas'd
           to
           lay
           upon
           me
           ,
           have
           emboldened
           me
           to
           present
           you
           with
           this
           Discourse
           ;
           not
           by
           way
           of
           Retaliation
           (
           for
           what
           proportion
           can
           this
           hold
           with
           your
           so
           many
           ,
           and
           so
           great
           favors
           ?
           )
           but
           by
           way
           of
           protection
           :
           that
           what
           is
           weak
           in
           it self
           ,
           being
           Cherished
           by
           the
           Rays
           of
           your
           kind
           Aspect
           ,
           may
           be
           able
           to
           pass
           through
           all
           those
           Affronts
           ,
           which
           works
           of
           this
           nature
           usually
           meet
           with
           .
           It
           had
           been
           easie
           to
           have
           varnisht
           this
           Work
           over
           with
           the
           finer
           Colours
           of
           Rhetoric
           ;
           but
           I
           well
           knew
           ,
           that
           you
           ,
           who
           are
           so
           great
           a
           
           Lover
           of
           Truth
           and
           Sincerity
           ,
           scorn
           all
           that
           Fucus
           ,
           with
           which
           men
           commonly
           daub
           over
           their
           Works
           .
           The
           occasion
           which
           drew
           me
           on
           to
           undertake
           a
           work
           of
           this
           nature
           ,
           was
           those
           frequent
           Cheats
           put
           upon
           honest
           and
           well-meaning
           people
           ,
           by
           these
           false
           pretenders
           to
           Arts.
           If
           therefore
           I
           have
           contributed
           any
           thing
           in
           order
           to
           undeceive
           the
           world
           ,
           which
           is
           too
           fond
           of
           such
           Trifles
           ,
           I
           have
           my
           end
           ;
           you
           Patronizing
           my
           endeavours
           .
           May
           Heaven
           ever
           prosper
           you
           ,
           and
           all
           those
           Hopefull
           Branches
           of
           your
           Family
           ,
           and
           may
           I
           rejoyce
           in
           your
           Patronage
           ,
           who
           am
           ,
        
         
           
             Honoured
             Sir
             ,
          
           
             Your
             most
             humble
             and
             most
             obliged
             Servant
             ,
             
               John
               Brinley
            
             .
          
           
             Brockton
             
               in
               the
               County
               of
            
             Stafford
             ,
             
               Novemb.
               7
               th
               .
               1679.
               
            
          
        
      
       
         
         
           THE
           PREFACE
           .
        
         
           CErtainly
           if
           the
           enjoyment
           of
           Truth
           be
           the
           beginning
           of
           our
           happiness
           in
           this
           Life
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           the
           perfection
           of
           it
           in
           the
           Life
           to
           come
           ,
           there
           can
           be
           no
           greater
           Charity
           ,
           than
           to
           reduce
           the
           Wanderers
           into
           the
           way
           ,
           and
           to
           undeceive
           a
           multitude
           ,
           which
           is
           always
           greedy
           of
           its
           own
           ruin
           ,
           and
           fond
           of
           every
           thing
           that
           carries
           in
           it
           any
           show
           or
           appearance
           of
           goodness
           .
           For
           I
           sadly
           observe
           ,
           that
           the
           common
           people
           are
           exposed
           to
           the
           deceipts
           of
           all
           Professions
           :
           They
           are
           the
           Issachars
           of
           the
           world
           ;
           They
           bear
           the
           burthens
           of
           all
           sorts
           of
           people
           ,
           and
           few
           of
           them
           have
           the
           Prerogative
           or
           the
           Abilities
           of
           Balaam's
           Beast
           to
           reply
           ;
           
             Am
             not
             I
             thine
             Ass
          
           ?
           Even
           in
           the
           concerns
           of
           Religion
           ,
           where
           we
           expect
           ,
           not
           only
           the
           most
           innocent
           ,
           
           but
           most
           infallible
           Truths
           ,
           are
           strange
           Deceptions
           and
           Pious
           Frauds
           ;
           and
           besides
           the
           little
           talking
           Schismaticks
           ,
           which
           fill
           our
           ears
           with
           the
           noise
           of
           Sermons
           ,
           there
           are
           greater
           heads
           ,
           and
           more
           advanced
           understandings
           ,
           who
           make
           it
           there
           business
           to
           abuse
           us
           .
           The
           Lawyers
           are
           grown
           delusive
           ,
           even
           to
           a
           Proverb
           ,
           of
           which
           the
           narrowness
           of
           some
           men's
           ,
           and
           the
           entangled
           condition
           of
           others
           Estates
           ,
           is
           too
           great
           an
           Evidence
           .
           Physicians
           have
           their
           Arts
           also
           ,
           not
           only
           of
           gaining
           our
           Coin
           ,
           but
           even
           of
           deceiving
           us
           into
           Death
           it self
           ,
           from
           hard
           and
           unintelligible
           names
           ,
           pretending
           as
           strange
           effects
           .
           Astrologers
           cheat
           our
           unwary
           and
           too
           forward
           beliefs
           into
           a
           conceit
           of
           things
           ,
           of
           which
           they
           even
           doubt
           themselves
           ;
           and
           impose
           upon
           us
           a
           belief
           ,
           that
           arbitrary
           events
           and
           accidental
           proceedings
           of
           things
           below
           ,
           have
           necessary
           causes
           above
           ;
           and
           the
           weakness
           of
           common
           judgments
           (
           which
           are
           ever
           more
           greedy
           of
           things
           to
           come
           ,
           than
           inquisitive
           of
           
           things
           past
           ,
           or
           carefull
           of
           those
           present
           )
           are
           ready
           to
           swallow
           the
           Predictions
           of
           the
           most
           ignorant
           men
           ,
           which
           considering
           the
           independency
           of
           their
           Causes
           ,
           and
           uncertainty
           of
           their
           Events
           ,
           are
           only
           in
           the
           foreknowledge
           of
           him
           ,
           to
           whom
           all
           things
           are
           as
           present
           .
        
         
           Hence
           proceed
           those
           swarms
           of
           
             Fortune-Tellers
             ,
             Geomancers
             ,
             Diviners
             ,
             Interpreters
             of
             Dreams
             ,
          
           who
           possess
           the
           Common
           people
           with
           apprehensions
           ,
           that
           they
           know
           all
           their
           Fate
           ,
           the
           number
           of
           their
           Days
           ,
           the
           Casualties
           of
           their
           Life
           ;
           and
           even
           their
           natural
           inclinations
           ,
           and
           thoughts
           of
           their
           hearts
           :
           by
           this
           means
           Cheating
           the
           poor
           innocent
           Souls
           into
           the
           grossest
           Superstition
           imaginable
           .
        
         
           The
           consideration
           of
           these
           things
           was
           the
           great
           motive
           ,
           that
           stirr'd
           me
           up
           to
           these
           undertakings
           ,
           in
           which
           I
           design
           nothing
           but
           the
           good
           of
           my
           poor
           illeterate
           Country-men
           ,
           whom
           I
           dayly
           see
           imposed
           upon
           by
           such
           Deluders
           ;
           
           who
           being
           generally
           persons
           of
           broken
           Fortunes
           ,
           have
           no
           other
           way
           to
           defend
           themselves
           from
           the
           miseries
           of
           poverty
           ;
           and
           therefore
           are
           forced
           to
           fall
           upon
           the
           honest
           plainness
           of
           the
           common
           people
           ,
           and
           by
           unnecessary
           and
           unlawful
           Arts
           ,
           patch
           up
           the
           breaches
           of
           their
           Fortune
           .
           And
           herein
           I
           hope
           I
           shall
           not
           in
           the
           least
           disoblige
           any
           wise
           or
           good
           men
           ,
           of
           what
           Profession
           soever
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
           
             
             
               CHAP.
               I.
               
            
             
               That
               most
               men
               are
               naturally
               inclin'd
               to
               Superstition
               ,
               especially
               the
               ignorant
               sort
               .
            
             
               AN
               Owl
               ,
               an
               Hare
               ,
               and
               an
               Old-woman
               ,
               was
               Anciently
               the
               Emblem
               of
               Superstition
               ;
               and
               truly
               if
               we
               shall
               diligently
               search
               into
               the
               Causes
               of
               this
               Error
               ,
               we
               shall
               find
               that
               Ignorance
               ,
               and
               Dotage
               ,
               vain
               hopes
               ,
               and
               foolish
               fears
               ,
               groundless
               expectations
               ,
               and
               casual
               events
               have
               been
               the
               Springs
               from
               whence
               this
               folly
               proceeds
               ,
               which
               is
               the
               Mother
               of
               all
               these
               Omens
               and
               Prognostications
               .
               It
               is
               an
               Ancient
               observation
               ,
               
               
                 Primus
                 in
                 orbe
                 Deos
                 timor
                 fecit
                 ,
              
               that
               fear
               Deified
               the
               first
               gods
               ,
               and
               without
               doubt
               there
               is
               much
               truth
               in
               the
               Assertion
               .
            
             
               For
               though
               the
               Idea
               of
               one
               true
               God
               ,
               and
               first
               Principle
               of
               all
               things
               ,
               was
               at
               first
               Imprinted
               upon
               the
               Soul
               of
               man
               ;
               yet
               the
               fears
               of
               after
               Ages
               Canonized
               the
               multitude
               of
               false
               gods
               .
               It
               was
               a
               Storm
               ,
               and
               an
               Eclips
               ,
               that
               Consecrated
               Romulus
               ;
               and
               Iove
               himself
               had
               not
               been
               Master
               of
               heaven
               ,
               or
               worshipped
               upon
               earth
               ,
               had
               not
               the
               terrors
               of
               his
               Thunders
               advanced
               the
               conceit
               of
               his
               Divinity
               amongst
               the
               ignorant
               ,
               and
               fearful
               multitude
               .
               Hence
               
                 Aulus
                 Gellius
              
               observes
               in
               
                 Noct.
                 Att.
                 l.
                 5.
                 c.
              
               12.
               
               That
               he
               was
               not
               only
               worshipped
               as
               a
               
                 Iuvans
                 Pater
              
               ,
               a
               friend
               and
               helper
               of
               Mankind
               ,
               but
               as
               a
               Vejovis
               and
               hurtful
               Deity
               ;
               and
               therefore
               his
               image
               was
               placed
               in
               a
               Temple
               near
               the
               Capitol-with
               darts
               in
               his
               hand
               ,
               to
               signifie
               his
               hurtful
               power
               ;
               and
               therefore
               for
               this
               reason
               ,
               Virgil
               
               in
               his
               Georgics
               is
               thought
               to
               deprecate
               these
               unlucky
               gods
               .
            
             
               
                 In
                 tenui
                 labor
                 ,
                 at
                 tenuis
                 non
                 gloria
                 ,
                 si
                 quem
                 .
              
               
                 Numina
                 laeva
                 sinunt
                 ,
                 auditque
                 vocatus
                 Apollo
                 .
              
            
             
               Upon
               the
               like
               grounds
               the
               rest
               of
               the
               Stars
               ,
               and
               Planets
               came
               to
               be
               reckoned
               amongst
               the
               gods
               .
               For
               the
               ignorance
               of
               vulgar
               apprehensions
               ,
               conceiting
               that
               it
               lay
               in
               their
               own
               powers
               to
               disperse
               what
               influences
               they
               themselves
               pleased
               ,
               were
               not
               only
               fearful
               to
               offend
               these
               new
               Deities
               ,
               which
               themselves
               had
               created
               ;
               but
               also
               took
               great
               care
               to
               win
               and
               please
               ,
               lest
               they
               should
               send
               forth
               such
               Malevolent
               Emissions
               of
               their
               fury
               ,
               as
               might
               be
               to
               the
               prejudice
               of
               Mankind
               ,
               or
               at
               least
               the
               ruin
               of
               those
               who
               neglected
               their
               worship
               .
               Hence
               also
               has
               it
               come
               to
               pass
               ,
               that
               the
               Devil
               himself
               has
               had
               his
               Votaries
               ,
               and
               hath
               still
               
               his
               devoutest
               worshippers
               ;
               and
               the
               cause
               of
               this
               has
               not
               only
               been
               envy
               ,
               or
               desire
               of
               Revenge
               ,
               which
               prompts
               men
               sometimes
               to
               the
               most
               wicked
               and
               unlawful
               practises
               ;
               but
               even
               cowardly
               and
               melancholly
               apprehensions
               .
               And
               this
               is
               evident
               ,
               first
               ,
               in
               that
               the
               most
               ignorant
               and
               Narrow-sould
               people
               are
               most
               often
               seduced
               by
               evil
               Spirits
               ,
               or
               by
               the
               weakness
               of
               their
               own
               imaginations
               ,
               to
               practise
               unlawful
               or
               unnecessary
               ,
               and
               fruitless
               Arts.
               And
               secondly
               ,
               in
               that
               all
               Witches
               and
               Necromancers
               in
               their
               Spells
               ,
               and
               most
               solemn
               Invocation
               of
               Devils
               ,
               have
               this
               ,
               or
               the
               like
               Form.
               
                 viz.
                 Whereas
                 thy
                 Servant
              
               N.
               
                 is
                 unworthy
                 to
                 crave
                 the
                 help
                 or
                 assistance
                 of
                 Good
                 Angels
                 ,
                 give
                 leave
                 to
                 the
                 Daemons
                 ,
              
               &c.
               
                 to
                 come
                 to
                 my
                 Aid
              
               .
               And
               yet
               these
               sort
               of
               abused
               people
               have
               as
               many
               Followers
               as
               the
               greatest
               Divines
               ,
               while
               the
               ignorant
               multitude
               in
               all
               Misfortunes
               ,
               Crosses
               and
               Afflictions
               ,
               forthwith
               make
               their
               Applications
               to
               
               them
               as
               the
               most
               ready
               help
               .
            
             
               If
               the
               man
               be
               sick
               ,
               where
               shall
               he
               have
               his
               Physick
               ,
               but
               from
               one
               that
               fetches
               it
               from
               behind
               the
               Curtain
               ?
               If
               he
               lie
               under
               any
               Misfortune
               ,
               he
               presently
               betakes
               himself
               to
               some
               Fortune-teller
               or
               Conjurer
               .
               If
               the
               Cattel
               be
               sick
               ,
               the
               White-Witch
               is
               presently
               sent
               for
               to
               bless
               it
               .
            
             
               I
               shall
               therefore
               make
               it
               my
               business
               to
               undeceive
               the
               people
               ,
               and
               to
               shew
               them
               that
               it
               is
               altogether
               unlawful
               to
               have
               recourse
               to
               such
               men
               ,
               who
               practise
               unlawful
               Arts
               ;
               that
               in
               all
               Trials
               ,
               Crosses
               ,
               and
               Afflictions
               whatever
               ,
               God
               alone
               is
               to
               be
               sought
               after
               ,
               who
               suffers
               us
               sometimes
               to
               fall
               into
               grievous
               troubles
               ,
               that
               we
               may
               the
               more
               devoutly
               call
               upon
               him
               .
            
          
           
             
             
               CHAP.
               II.
               
            
             
               That
               God's
               hand
               is
               in
               all
               Crosses
               ,
               who
               Ruleth
               over
               Devils
               and
               all
               their
               Instruments
               .
            
             
               THe
               want
               of
               due
               consideration
               of
               the
               first
               and
               leading
               Cause
               ,
               from
               whence
               all
               Crosses
               and
               afflictions
               proceed
               ,
               has
               not
               only
               been
               the
               occasion
               of
               many
               mens
               betaking
               themselves
               to
               unlawful
               Remedies
               ,
               but
               even
               of
               doubting
               either
               the
               Existence
               ,
               or
               Providence
               of
               the
               Deity
               .
               To
               see
               wicked
               men
               advanced
               to
               the
               greatest
               Honours
               ,
               enjoy
               the
               most
               splendid
               Fortunes
               ,
               and
               continue
               in
               the
               firmest
               health
               ,
               and
               strength
               of
               body
               ,
               and
               vigor
               of
               mind
               ;
               while
               others
               of
               the
               most
               temperate
               dispositions
               ,
               most
               holy
               habits
               ,
               and
               most
               constant
               Pieties
               ,
               labour
               under
               the
               greatest
               Crosses
               ,
               and
               Misfortunes
               imaginable
               ,
               has
               startled
               
               the
               belief
               of
               many
               wise
               and
               good
               men
               .
               At
               this
               block
               the
               ingenious
               Poet
               Claudian
               confesses
               that
               he
               stumbled
               .
            
             
               
                 Sed
                 cum
                 Res
                 hominum
                 tantá
                 caligine
                 volvi
              
               
                 Adspicerem
                 ;
                 laetosque
                 diu
                 florere
                 nocentes
                 ,
              
               
                 Vexarique
                 pios
                 ,
                 rursus
                 labefacta
                 cadebat
              
               
                 Religio
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 But
                 when
                 I
                 saw
                 things
                 so
                 confus'dly
                 hurl'd
                 ,
              
               
                 And
                 strangely
                 tost
                 in
                 this
                 our
                 lower
                 world
                 ,
              
               
                 The
                 wicked
                 flourish
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 pious
                 quail
                 ,
              
               
                 My
                 tottering
                 belief
                 began
                 to
                 fail
                 .
              
            
             
               There
               is
               no
               need
               to
               multiply
               examples
               of
               this
               kind
               ;
               t
               is
               the
               common
               Fate
               of
               man
               to
               fall
               into
               these
               doubts
               .
               The
               example
               of
               the
               holy
               David
               may
               serve
               for
               all
               ,
               whose
               foot
               had
               well
               nigh
               slipt
               
               upon
               the
               like
               consideration
               .
            
             
               But
               if
               we
               shall
               enquire
               into
               the
               Holy
               Scriptures
               ,
               we
               shall
               find
               that
               Afflictions
               come
               not
               but
               by
               the
               appointment
               or
               permission
               of
               God
               ,
               who
               governs
               and
               disposeth
               all
               things
               as
               seemeth
               best
               to
               his
               Godly
               wisdom
               ,
               and
               so
               as
               that
               the
               events
               of
               all
               things
               may
               contribute
               most
               to
               his
               own
               glory
               ,
               and
               suit
               best
               with
               the
               happiness
               of
               his
               Saints
               .
               We
               are
               assured
               in
               Iob
               ,
               that
               Afflictions
               come
               not
               out
               of
               the
               dust
               .
               Iob.
               5.
               6.
               
               The
               evil
               (
               of
               punishment
               )
               is
               from
               the
               Lord.
               Amos.
               3.
               6.
               
            
             
               ☞
               So
               the
               Lord
               smote
               all
               the
               first-born
               of
               man
               and
               beast
               in
               
                 Egypt
                 ,
                 Exod.
              
               21.
               29.
               
               So
               did
               he
               Iehoram
               the
               son
               of
               Iehosophat
               with
               an
               incurable
               disease
               ,
               till
               his
               bowels
               fell
               out
               .
               2
               Chron.
               21.
               18
               ,
               19.
               
               And
               so
               it
               was
               the
               hand
               of
               God
               ,
               that
               turned
               the
               Pride
               of
               Nebuchadnezzar
               into
               madness
               and
               brutishness
               .
               Dan.
               4.
               31.
               
               And
               it
               was
               the
               Angel
               of
               God
               that
               smote
               Herod
               ,
               causing
               worms
               to
               eat
               him
               to
               death
               .
               Acts.
               12.
               23.
               
               And
               all
               
               the
               Magicians
               and
               Sorcerers
               in
               the
               world
               ,
               nay
               ,
               nor
               all
               the
               power
               of
               Hell
               could
               never
               have
               relieved
               these
               .
               It
               was
               only
               in
               the
               power
               of
               him
               that
               sent
               these
               punishments
               ,
               to
               have
               removed
               them
               .
            
             
               'T
               is
               true
               indeed
               ,
               God
               sometimes
               sends
               out
               the
               evil
               Spirits
               ,
               as
               the
               executioners
               of
               his
               Justice
               ,
               as
               he
               did
               among
               the
               
                 Egyptians
                 .
                 Psal.
              
               78.
               49.
               and
               so
               did
               he
               send
               an
               evil
               Spirit
               upon
               Saul
               to
               vex
               him
               ,
               1
               Sam.
               16.
               15.
               
               But
               when
               he
               does
               send
               out
               these
               Instruments
               of
               his
               displeasure
               ,
               they
               have
               their
               Commissions
               and
               Orders
               ,
               beyond
               which
               they
               cannot
               go
               .
               The
               Devils
               could
               not
               enter
               so
               much
               as
               into
               the
               Swine
               of
               the
               filthy
               Gadarenes
               ,
               without
               the
               leave
               of
               Christ.
               Mat.
               8.
               31.
               
               The
               Witches
               and
               Sorcerers
               acknowledge
               their
               limits
               .
               It
               is
               not
               all
               persons
               ,
               that
               they
               can
               pretend
               to
               hurt
               .
               Lipsius
               well
               observes
               
                 Physiolog
                 .
                 Stoicor
                 .
                 lib.
                 1.
                 
                 Cap.
              
               17.
               that
               neither
               Magicians
               ,
               nor
               Devils
               themselves
               can
               take
               away
               Gold
               or
               Letters
               out
               of
               mine
               ,
               or
               
               
               Crassus's
               Chest
               ,
               
                 &
                 Clientelis
                 suis
                 largiri
              
               .
               For
               they
               are
               base
               ,
               poor
               ,
               contemptible
               fellows
               for
               the
               most
               part
               .
               Bodinus
               also
               .
               
                 Daemon
                 .
                 lib.
                 3.
                 cap.
              
               3.
               
               Notes
               that
               they
               can
               do
               nothing
               (
               
                 in
                 Iudicum
                 decreta
                 aut
                 poenas
                 ,
                 in
                 Regum
                 concilia
                 ,
                 vel
                 arcana
                 ,
                 nihil
                 in
                 rem
                 nummariam
                 aut
                 thesauros
                 ,
              
               They
               cannot
               give
               money
               to
               their
               Clients
               ,
               alter
               Judges
               Decrees
               ,
               or
               Councils
               of
               Kings
               :
               these
               
                 Minuti
                 Genij
              
               cannot
               do
               it
               .
               
                 Altiores
                 Genij
                 hoc
                 sibi
                 asservarunt
              
               ,
               the
               higher
               powers
               reserve
               these
               things
               to
               themselves
               .
               Now
               and
               then
               peradventure
               there
               may
               be
               more
               famous
               and
               powerful
               Magicians
               ,
               such
               were
               
                 Simon
                 Magus
                 ,
                 Apollonius
                 Tyaneus
                 ,
                 Pasetes
                 ,
                 Iamblicus
                 ,
                 Odo
                 de
                 Stellis
                 ,
              
               that
               for
               a
               time
               can
               build
               Castles
               in
               the
               air
               ,
               represent
               Armies
               ,
               and
               perform
               very
               strange
               Feats
               ;
               but
               all
               these
               end
               in
               nothing
               ,
               but
               the
               power
               of
               God
               protects
               those
               that
               fear
               him
               from
               their
               Malevolence
               ,
               and
               destroys
               all
               these
               Phantasms
               ,
               bringing
               their
               wicked
               works
               and
               
               the
               Authors
               of
               them
               to
               inevitable
               ruin
               .
               So
               it
               fared
               with
               that
               great
               enemy
               of
               the
               Christian
               Faith
               
                 Simon
                 Magus
              
               ,
               who
               when
               he
               had
               been
               several
               times
               bafled
               by
               Saint
               Peter
               ,
               at
               last
               ,
               to
               give
               further
               demonstration
               of
               his
               great
               power
               ,
               ascended
               the
               Capitol
               ,
               giving
               out
               to
               the
               people
               ,
               that
               he
               would
               fly
               up
               to
               Heaven
               from
               whence
               he
               came
               ,
               and
               accordingly
               began
               his
               flight
               ;
               upon
               which
               Saint
               Peter
               besought
               God
               ,
               that
               he
               would
               not
               suffer
               the
               world
               to
               be
               deluded
               by
               his
               Sorceries
               ;
               and
               forthwith
               the
               wicked
               wretch
               fell
               down
               ,
               and
               in
               his
               fall
               put
               an
               end
               at
               once
               to
               his
               delusions
               and
               his
               life
               .
               So
               soon
               can
               God
               bring
               to
               destruction
               all
               those
               that
               work
               wickedness
               .
               Wherefore
               he
               only
               is
               to
               be
               sought
               after
               ,
               in
               all
               our
               Calamities
               and
               Afflictions
               ;
               for
               he
               alone
               can
               remove
               them
               ,
               and
               will
               do
               it
               ,
               when
               he
               sees
               it
               most
               for
               his
               glory
               ,
               and
               the
               everlasting
               welfare
               of
               our
               Souls
               .
            
             
               ☞
               It
               is
               the
               greatest
               folly
               imaginable
               upon
               every
               Affliction
               ,
               to
               run
               
               forthwith
               to
               the
               Devil
               ,
               or
               any
               of
               his
               Instruments
               :
               for
               it
               is
               not
               his
               will
               that
               we
               should
               be
               cured
               of
               any
               of
               our
               Maladies
               .
               He
               rather
               glories
               in
               deceiving
               us
               ,
               and
               bringing
               us
               into
               all
               kind
               of
               misery
               ,
               both
               temporal
               and
               eternal
               .
               Besides
               he
               can
               neither
               do
               us
               good
               nor
               harm
               ,
               but
               by
               Godspermission
               ,
               and
               therefore
               all
               good
               men
               have
               ever
               acknowledged
               ,
               that
               whatever
               befel
               them
               ,
               was
               the
               hand
               of
               God
               ,
               yea
               ,
               even
               when
               they
               have
               known
               ,
               that
               the
               most
               Devilish
               instruments
               have
               been
               imployed
               against
               them
               .
               Thus
               Iob
               concludes
               ,
               
                 The
                 Lord
                 gave
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Lord
                 hath
                 taken
                 away
                 .
                 Iob.
              
               1.
               21.
               
               Histerrors
               he
               called
               the
               terrors
               of
               the
               Lord
               C.
               6.
               4.
               
               And
               he
               said
               also
               ,
               that
               God
               scared
               him
               with
               dreams
               ,
               and
               terrified
               him
               with
               visions
               .
               C.
               7.
               14.
               
               He
               therefore
               ,
               from
               whom
               all
               things
               have
               their
               being
               ,
               their
               life
               ,
               and
               their
               motion
               is
               to
               be
               Supplicated
               ,
               either
               to
               remove
               our
               Cross
               ,
               or
               so
               Sanctifie
               it
               to
               us
               ,
               as
               that
               it
               may
               turn
               to
               our
               health
               and
               Salvation
               .
            
             
             
               Passionate
               people
               will
               not
               be
               content
               to
               wait
               the
               Lords
               leasure
               ,
               and
               so
               grow
               impatient
               and
               furious
               under
               the
               Chastisements
               of
               the
               Lord
               ,
               and
               are
               brought
               to
               destruction
               .
               So
               fared
               it
               with
               Iehoram
               the
               son
               of
               Iesabel
               ,
               who
               though
               he
               knew
               the
               Lords
               hand
               was
               upon
               him
               ,
               and
               his
               people
               ;
               yet
               was
               he
               so
               impatient
               to
               endure
               the
               misery
               ,
               and
               so
               Hellishly
               enraged
               ,
               that
               he
               Swore
               to
               take
               away
               the
               life
               of
               the
               Prophet
               
                 Eli.
                 2K
              
               .
               6.
               31
               ,
               33.
               
               But
               the
               end
               of
               this
               man
               was
               a
               short
               life
               ,
               a
               troublesom
               Reign
               ,
               &
               a
               violent
               death
               ,
               for
               he
               was
               trod
               to
               death
               by
               the
               people
               in
               the
               gate
               ,
               as
               the
               Prophet
               had
               foretold
               .
               2
               Kings
               .
               7.
               17.
               
               But
               it
               fell
               out
               much
               otherwise
               with
               the
               patience
               of
               Iob
               ,
               who
               never
               murmured
               at
               any
               of
               Gods
               dispensations
               towards
               him
               ,
               but
               contented
               himself
               with
               all
               occurrences
               ,
               and
               humbly
               submitted
               to
               the
               severest
               Chastisements
               .
               Him
               therefore
               did
               God
               deliver
               from
               all
               his
               troubles
               ,
               and
               doubled
               his
               Blessings
               and
               his
               Rewards
               upon
               ,
               and
               made
               his
               end
               glorious
               
               and
               happy
               .
               The
               same
               Method
               of
               deportment
               is
               observable
               in
               Saint
               Paul
               ,
               who
               when
               the
               messenger
               of
               Satan
               was
               sent
               to
               Buffet
               him
               ,
               betook
               himself
               to
               Prayer
               ,
               and
               had
               deliverance
               .
            
             
               I
               shall
               proceed
               no
               further
               in
               Instances
               ,
               to
               shew
               that
               God
               alone
               has
               the
               power
               to
               help
               us
               in
               all
               our
               needs
               ,
               and
               likewise
               such
               a
               Dominion
               over
               all
               creatures
               both
               good
               and
               bad
               ,
               that
               without
               his
               permission
               and
               assistance
               they
               can
               do
               nothing
               .
               I
               only
               shall
               mention
               that
               remarkable
               passage
               of
               Balaam
               ,
               whom
               Balac
               did
               imagine
               to
               have
               been
               endued
               with
               such
               a
               power
               ,
               as
               that
               he
               could
               Bless
               ,
               or
               Curse
               whosoever
               he
               pleased
               .
               But
               the
               Prophet
               assures
               him
               ,
               that
               though
               he
               would
               give
               him
               his
               houseful
               of
               Silver
               and
               Gold
               ,
               he
               could
               not
               go
               beyond
               the
               Word
               of
               the
               Lord
               ,
               to
               do
               more
               or
               less
               .
               Num.
               12.
               18.
               
               Therefore
               let
               no
               man
               think
               it
               lies
               in
               the
               power
               of
               Inchanters
               ,
               Witches
               ,
               or
               any
               of
               their
               Associates
               or
               Assistants
               ,
               the
               Divels
               ,
               to
               cure
               those
               whom
               the
               Lord
               
               hath
               smitten
               ,
               or
               to
               hurt
               any
               person
               ,
               whom
               the
               Lord
               is
               pleased
               to
               Bless
               .
            
          
           
             
               CHAP.
               III.
               
            
             
               Several
               strange
               Diseases
               happen
               only
               from
               natural
               Causes
               in
               which
               neither
               Divels
               nor
               any
               of
               his
               Instruments
               have
               any
               hand
               .
            
             
               THere
               is
               nothing
               (
               as
               we
               have
               formerly
               hinted
               )
               more
               usual
               with
               the
               Common
               people
               ,
               than
               to
               ascribe
               to
               Witchcraft
               ,
               all
               Disasters
               ,
               Mischances
               ,
               or
               Diseases
               whatever
               ,
               seeming
               strange
               to
               vulgar
               sense
               .
               I
               shall
               therefore
               in
               this
               Chapter
               give
               a
               brief
               account
               of
               some
               Diseases
               ,
               which
               though
               proceeding
               from
               Natural
               Causes
               ,
               I
               have
               observed
               that
               the
               people
               attribute
               to
               Sorcery
               ;
               and
               forthwith
               a
               Messenger
               in
               any
               of
               these
               Cases
               is
               dispatched
               ,
               either
               to
               a
               Cunning-man
               for
               a
               Blessing
               ,
               or
               else
               the
               next
               Old-woman
               is
               suspected
               for
               a
               Witch
               ,
               and
               the
               Curses
               of
               all
               the
               Neighbourhood
               
               hood
               are
               mustered
               against
               her
               .
            
             
               1
               st
               .
               For
               example
               ,
               in
               a
               Catalepsis
               ,
               the
               whole
               body
               is
               ,
               as
               it
               were
               ,
               in
               a
               minute
               suddenly
               taken
               in
               the
               midst
               of
               some
               ordinary
               Gesture
               or
               Action
               ,
               as
               Standing
               ,
               Sitting
               ,
               Lying
               ,
               Writing
               ,
               or
               Looking
               up
               to
               Heaven
               ,
               and
               is
               continued
               in
               this
               posture
               for
               some
               space
               together
               ,
               as
               if
               Frozen
               ,
               generally
               stark
               and
               stiff
               ,
               in
               all
               parts
               without
               Sense
               or
               motion
               .
               Now
               this
               disease
               ,
               being
               not
               so
               common
               as
               the
               Measles
               ,
               or
               the
               Small-Pox
               ,
               the
               Tooth-ach
               ,
               or
               the
               Ague
               ,
               the
               Countrey
               people
               forth
               with
               cry
               out
               there
               's
               Sorcery
               in
               the
               Case
               ;
               cut
               off
               some
               of
               his
               hair
               ,
               and
               bring
               it
               to
               the
               Wiseman
               .
            
             
               2
               dly
               .
               The
               Apoplexy
               ,
               wherein
               the
               Sick
               are
               also
               suddenly
               taken
               ,
               and
               surprised
               with
               a
               senseless
               Trance
               ,
               and
               general
               astonishment
               ,
               or
               sideration
               and
               benumming
               of
               all
               the
               Limbs
               ,
               void
               of
               all
               sense
               and
               moving
               ,
               many
               hours
               together
               ,
               only
               the
               breath
               striveth
               against
               the
               danger
               of
               Suffocation
               ,
               and
               
               still
               the
               Pulse
               beateth
               .
            
             
               3
               dly
               .
               Others
               are
               swiftly
               surprised
               with
               so
               profound
               and
               deadly
               a
               sleep
               ,
               that
               no
               call
               ,
               nor
               cry
               ,
               nor
               noise
               ,
               no
               pinching
               ,
               or
               stimulation
               can
               in
               many
               hours
               awake
               or
               raise
               them
               .
               Of
               this
               Disease
               ,
               as
               Bodin
               affirmeth
               in
               his
               
                 Daemonomania
                 ,
                 lib.
                 2.
                 cap.
              
               6.
               
               That
               
                 Iohannes
                 Scotus
              
               lying
               as
               if
               he
               had
               been
               dead
               ,
               was
               buried
               before
               he
               really
               was
               so
               .
            
             
               4
               
                 thly
                 .
                 Phrenitis
              
               ,
               which
               the
               Greeks
               derive
               from
               the
               word
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               is
               a
               disease
               of
               the
               mind
               ,
               with
               a
               continual
               Madness
               and
               Dotage
               ,
               which
               hath
               an
               accute
               Feaver
               annexed
               to
               it
               ,
               or
               else
               an
               inflamation
               of
               the
               Brain
               ,
               or
               the
               Membranes
               or
               Kells
               of
               it
               .
            
             
               5
               
                 thly
                 .
                 Hydrophobia
              
               is
               a
               kind
               of
               madness
               wel
               known
               in
               every
               Village
               ,
               which
               comes
               by
               the
               biteing
               of
               a
               Mad-dog
               .
               The
               reason
               of
               the
               name
               is
               ,
               because
               the
               persons
               thus
               affected
               cannot
               endure
               the
               sight
               of
               water
               ,
               or
               any
               liquor
               ,
               supposing
               still
               they
               see
               a
               Mad-dog
               in
               it
               .
               The
               part
               affected
               is
               the
               Brain
               ;
               the
               
               cause
               Poyson
               ,
               that
               comes
               from
               the
               Mad-dog
               ,
               which
               is
               so
               hot
               and
               dry
               ,
               that
               it
               consumes
               all
               the
               moisture
               in
               the
               body
               .
               Hildeshiem
               in
               Spicil
               .
               2.
               
               Relates
               of
               some
               that
               died
               so
               Mad
               ;
               and
               being
               Cut
               up
               ,
               had
               no
               water
               ,
               scarce
               any
               blood
               left
               in
               them
               .
               To
               such
               as
               are
               affected
               with
               it
               ,
               the
               fear
               of
               water
               begins
               at
               fourteen
               days
               after
               they
               are
               bitten
               ,
               to
               some
               again
               not
               till
               Forty
               or
               Sixty
               days
               .
               Some
               say
               not
               only
               biteing
               ,
               but
               touching
               or
               smelling
               a
               Dog
               infected
               ,
               may
               cause
               this
               disorder
               ;
               and
               then
               if
               any
               one
               chance
               to
               fall
               into
               such
               a
               condition
               ,
               and
               the
               cause
               not
               known
               ,
               straight-way
               half
               of
               the
               Parish
               is
               suspected
               of
               Witchery
               .
            
             
               ☞
               What
               would
               the
               people
               imagine
               of
               Lycanthropie
               ,
               when
               they
               are
               so
               strangely
               startled
               at
               these
               Diseases
               ?
               For
               in
               this
               ,
               as
               some
               Physicians
               tell
               us
               ,
               men
               run
               howling
               about
               Graves
               and
               Fields
               in
               the
               night
               ,
               and
               will
               not
               be
               perswaded
               but
               that
               they
               are
               Wolves
               ,
               or
               such
               like
               beasts
               .
               Forrestus
               in
               his
               
                 Observat
                 .
                 
                 de
                 morbis
                 cerebri
                 .
                 lib.
                 10.
                 cap.
              
               15.
               tells
               of
               some
               persons
               thus
               distracted
               ,
               to
               one
               of
               which
               himself
               was
               an
               eye-witness
               at
               Alcmaer
               in
               Holland
               ,
               a
               poor
               Husbandman
               that
               still
               hunted
               about
               Graves
               ,
               and
               kept
               in
               Church-yards
               ,
               of
               a
               pale
               ,
               black
               ,
               fearful
               and
               ugly
               look
               .
               Such
               belike
               were
               the
               Daughters
               of
               King
               Praetus
               ,
               who
               fancied
               themselves
               to
               be
               Kine
               .
               And
               Nebuchadnezzar
               in
               Daniel
               ,
               was
               only
               troubled
               with
               this
               kind
               of
               Madness
               ;
               and
               not
               really
               Metamorphosed
               into
               an
               Ox
               :
               For
               the
               soul
               of
               man
               could
               not
               possibly
               dwell
               in
               so
               unsutable
               an
               habitation
               as
               the
               body
               of
               an
               Ox
               ;
               but
               the
               proud
               King
               might
               be
               seized
               with
               so
               deep
               a
               Lycanthropie
               ,
               as
               to
               fancy
               himself
               to
               be
               so
               .
            
             
               Besides
               this
               ,
               we
               often
               see
               men
               laboring
               of
               very
               sad
               and
               violent
               Diseases
               ,
               as
               Convulsions
               ,
               Madnesses
               ,
               and
               such
               like
               ,
               and
               some
               will
               bite
               their
               Tongues
               and
               Flesh
               ,
               some
               make
               fearful
               Outcries
               ,
               and
               most
               hideous
               Shriekings
               ,
               some
               
               toss
               themselves
               violently
               from
               one
               place
               to
               another
               ,
               some
               Froth
               ,
               Gnash
               with
               their
               Teeth
               ,
               and
               draw
               their
               faces
               into
               strange
               and
               Ghastly
               Figures
               .
               All
               which
               though
               proceeding
               from
               natural
               causes
               ;
               yet
               the
               vulgar
               is
               ready
               to
               believe
               there
               is
               something
               more
               in
               the
               Case
               .
               And
               that
               which
               doth
               more
               confirm
               them
               in
               this
               Creed
               ,
               is
               either
               the
               want
               of
               able
               Physicians
               ,
               or
               their
               inability
               to
               employ
               them
               ;
               for
               they
               are
               seldom
               so
               Charitable
               as
               to
               make
               any
               more
               Recipe's
               ,
               than
               they
               receive
               Guinies
               .
               And
               so
               the
               poor
               people
               are
               forced
               to
               go
               to
               some
               sorry
               Emperick
               ,
               who
               't
               is
               certain
               ,
               will
               do
               them
               no
               good
               ,
               and
               upon
               that
               disappointment
               ,
               to
               some
               Cunning
               man
               ,
               who
               will
               do
               them
               less
               .
               Nay
               ,
               it
               has
               sometimes
               happen'd
               ,
               that
               honest
               persons
               have
               been
               apprehended
               ,
               Arraigned
               ,
               and
               Condemned
               ,
               through
               the
               advices
               of
               such
               men
               ;
               for
               in
               these
               Cases
               ,
               it
               is
               observable
               ,
               that
               a
               small
               matter
               will
               beget
               suspicion
               ,
               and
               upon
               this
               multitudes
               of
               Proofs
               shall
               be
               
               muster'd
               up
               ,
               and
               so
               by
               a
               ready
               Climax
               ,
               the
               poor
               people
               are
               hurried
               up
               to
               the
               Gallows
               it self
               .
               Such
               are
               the
               miseries
               on
               the
               one
               hand
               ,
               and
               the
               delusions
               on
               the
               other
               hand
               ,
               of
               the
               Superstitious
               ,
               and
               ignorant
               Multitude
               .
            
          
           
             
               CHAP.
               IV.
               
            
             
               That
               Devils
               may
               do
               mischief
               to
               man
               or
               beast
               ,
               without
               any
               Association
               with
               Witch
               or
               Wizard
               .
            
             
               THough
               we
               do
               not
               deny
               ,
               but
               shall
               hereafter
               prove
               that
               there
               are
               Witches
               ,
               and
               Necromancers
               ,
               and
               such
               persons
               as
               make
               wicked
               Contracts
               with
               the
               Devil
               ,
               to
               the
               ruin
               of
               their
               own
               souls
               ,
               and
               the
               prejudice
               of
               others
               ;
               yet
               it
               is
               most
               certain
               ,
               that
               the
               Devil
               often
               does
               much
               evil
               of
               himself
               (
               by
               Gods
               permission
               )
               without
               any
               Association
               with
               any
               of
               his
               forementioned
               
               Instruments
               .
               For
               being
               possessed
               with
               an
               irreconcilable
               malice
               against
               the
               welfare
               of
               Mankind
               ,
               he
               goes
               about
               continually
               seeking
               whom
               he
               may
               devour
               ,
               laying
               hold
               upon
               all
               opportunities
               and
               advantages
               ,
               whereby
               he
               may
               tempt
               or
               ensnare
               us
               ,
               or
               disturb
               our
               peace
               ,
               or
               endanger
               our
               Salvation
               .
               Thus
               in
               the
               begining
               did
               he
               enter
               into
               the
               Serpent
               ,
               while
               there
               was
               yet
               no
               Witch
               to
               employ
               him
               .
               So
               when
               God
               gave
               him
               leave
               ,
               he
               entred
               into
               the
               Sabaeans
               and
               Chaldeans
               ,
               and
               stirred
               them
               up
               to
               rob
               Iob
               of
               his
               Cattel
               .
               He
               burnt
               his
               sheep
               also
               with
               Fire
               ,
               blew
               down
               his
               house
               upon
               his
               Children
               ,
               and
               killed
               them
               ,
               and
               at
               last
               most
               cruelly
               tormented
               the
               body
               of
               Iob
               ,
               and
               affrighted
               him
               with
               Visions
               and
               Dreams
               ,
               and
               this
               without
               any
               the
               least
               suspicion
               of
               Witchery
               .
               To
               these
               examples
               we
               may
               add
               those
               ,
               whom
               the
               Gospels
               mention
               to
               have
               been
               possest
               in
               the
               days
               of
               our
               Saviour
               ;
               and
               the
               Herd
               of
               Swine
               which
               by
               Christs
               permission
               
               were
               driven
               head-long
               into
               the
               Sea
               by
               a
               Legion
               of
               Devils
               .
               He
               does
               not
               always
               need
               to
               be
               set
               at
               work
               by
               his
               Imps
               and
               Associates
               .
               If
               God
               permit
               him
               to
               afflict
               us
               ,
               either
               for
               our
               sins
               ,
               or
               for
               the
               tryal
               of
               our
               Faith
               ,
               or
               Patience
               ,
               or
               any
               other
               vertues
               ;
               he
               is
               soon
               ready
               to
               execute
               his
               Office
               ,
               and
               to
               proceed
               to
               the
               utmost
               of
               his
               command
               .
               It
               is
               our
               happiness
               that
               he
               hath
               his
               Chains
               of
               Restraint
               ,
               that
               his
               power
               is
               limited
               ,
               and
               his
               malicious
               nature
               kept
               within
               its
               bounds
               ,
               otherwise
               our
               condition
               were
               miserable
               ,
               even
               beyond
               relief
               :
               he
               would
               not
               stand
               to
               tempt
               some
               ,
               or
               more
               fully
               to
               contract
               with
               others
               ;
               but
               his
               first
               business
               would
               be
               utterly
               to
               destroy
               us
               all
               .
               Thanks
               therefore
               be
               given
               to
               thee
               ,
               O
               Almighty
               Iesus
               ,
               who
               hast
               overcome
               the
               Devil
               ,
               and
               dost
               still
               reserve
               him
               in
               Chains
               to
               the
               Judgment
               of
               the
               Last
               Day
               .
            
          
           
             
             
               CHAP.
               V.
               
            
             
               That
               seeing
               Men
               ,
               or
               Women
               ,
               or
               Beasts
               may
               be
               Afflicted
               from
               some
               natural
               Causes
               ,
               or
               that
               some
               persons
               may
               on
               purpose
               Counterfeit
               many
               things
               ;
               or
               that
               the
               Devil
               himself
               may
               be
               the
               sole
               Worker
               ,
               people
               ought
               to
               be
               cautious
               how
               they
               Ascribe
               their
               Distempers
               ,
               or
               Troubles
               to
               Witchcraft
               .
            
             
               THere
               is
               nothing
               more
               common
               with
               men
               of
               Shallow
               understandings
               and
               Loose
               lives
               ,
               than
               to
               Ascribe
               every
               little
               Cross
               ,
               or
               unfortunate
               accident
               to
               Witchcraft
               .
               It
               shall
               therefore
               be
               my
               Business
               in
               this
               Chapter
               to
               dissuade
               men
               from
               a
               Practice
               so
               vain
               ,
               and
               fruitless
               in
               it self
               ,
               so
               dishonorable
               and
               displeasing
               to
               God
               ,
               and
               so
               prejudicial
               to
               the
               health
               of
               their
               own
               Souls
               ;
               and
               there
               are
               many
               reasons
               
               to
               convince
               them
               of
               this
               folly
               ,
               as
               for
               example
               .
            
             
               1
               st
               .
               The
               consideration
               of
               Gods
               own
               hand
               afflicting
               us
               to
               bring
               us
               to
               the
               remembrance
               of
               our
               Duties
               ,
               and
               to
               call
               us
               to
               Repentance
               and
               Amendment
               of
               life
               ,
               the
               power
               of
               natural
               causes
               ,
               and
               the
               liberty
               which
               is
               sometimes
               given
               to
               Satan
               without
               any
               Association
               with
               a
               Witch
               ,
               as
               hath
               been
               shewed
               in
               the
               former
               Chapters
               .
            
             
               2
               dly
               .
               An
               approved
               truth
               by
               the
               experiences
               of
               all
               Ages
               ,
               That
               those
               ,
               who
               never
               Dream
               of
               Witches
               ,
               or
               ever
               regard
               them
               ,
               are
               hardly
               at
               any
               time
               tormented
               or
               hurt
               by
               them
               :
               But
               on
               the
               contrary
               ,
               such
               as
               live
               in
               suspicion
               of
               them
               ,
               such
               as
               are
               afraid
               of
               them
               ,
               or
               seek
               to
               please
               them
               with
               Gifts
               ,
               have
               commonly
               some
               mischief
               done
               ,
               as
               the
               Reward
               of
               their
               fears
               and
               jealousies
               .
               And
               truly
               the
               judgments
               of
               God
               in
               this
               particular
               are
               very
               just
               ,
               in
               punishing
               them
               by
               the
               same
               instruments
               they
               stood
               in
               fear
               of
               ,
               who
               have
               more
               awe
               
               for
               the
               Devil
               ,
               than
               confidence
               in
               God.
               
            
             
               3
               dly
               .
               All
               do
               grant
               ,
               which
               have
               any
               knowledge
               in
               the
               power
               of
               Witches
               ,
               that
               they
               work
               only
               by
               the
               Devil
               ;
               for
               though
               themselves
               do
               Threaten
               ,
               Curse
               ,
               make
               Images
               ,
               and
               the
               like
               ;
               yet
               the
               Devil
               is
               the
               great
               Instrument
               that
               works
               the
               Mischief
               .
               Therefore
               the
               advice
               of
               Saint
               Iames
               is
               not
               unseasonable
               in
               this
               Instance
               .
               
                 Resist
                 the
                 Devil
                 ,
                 and
                 he
                 will
                 flie
                 thee
                 .
              
               Resist
               him
               ,
               and
               he
               shall
               have
               no
               power
               to
               hurt
               thee
               ,
               either
               by
               himself
               or
               by
               the
               instigation
               of
               any
               Associates
               .
               She
               may
               bid
               him
               go
               ,
               but
               he
               cannot
               do
               till
               he
               hath
               leave
               from
               God
               ,
               who
               will
               never
               grant
               it
               to
               hurt
               his
               own
               peculiar
               people
               ;
               nay
               ,
               he
               will
               be
               as
               an
               Hedge
               about
               all
               those
               that
               put
               their
               trust
               in
               him
               .
            
             
               4
               thly
               .
               The
               manifold
               evils
               ,
               which
               continually
               result
               from
               wicked
               practice
               ,
               as
            
             
               1
               st
               .
               It
               draws
               mends
               minds
               from
               the
               true
               fear
               of
               God
               ,
               making
               them
               
               to
               stand
               in
               awe
               of
               the
               most
               wicked
               and
               wretched
               creatures
               in
               the
               world
               ,
               the
               Devil
               and
               a
               Witch
               ,
               than
               which
               nothing
               can
               be
               a
               greater
               dishonour
               to
               the
               Creator
               ,
               or
               more
               prejudicial
               to
               their
               own
               Souls
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               It
               bringeth
               honest
               and
               innocent
               people
               into
               suspicion
               and
               Infamy
               ,
               and
               the
               hatred
               of
               all
               the
               Neighbourhood
               :
               for
               thus
               if
               the
               Horse
               be
               sick
               ,
               or
               the
               Cow
               dead
               ,
               or
               the
               Plum-tree
               do
               not
               blossom
               kindly
               ,
               some
               harmless
               old
               woman
               is
               suspected
               ,
               all
               her
               words
               ,
               postures
               and
               actions
               are
               most
               criticaly
               observed
               ,
               and
               the
               most
               malicious
               reflections
               made
               of
               them
               ,
               that
               the
               envy
               of
               man
               can
               invent
               .
               So
               the
               poor
               creature
               comes
               to
               be
               hated
               and
               abused
               ,
               and
               revil'd
               by
               all
               that
               know
               her
               ,
               and
               that
               infamy
               shall
               never
               be
               wiped
               off
               her
               and
               her
               generation
               ,
               even
               by
               her
               most
               Religious
               or
               innocent
               deportment
               of
               her
               whole
               life
               .
               Hence
               the
               poor
               woman
               is
               made
               miserable
               all
               her
               life
               ,
               and
               her
               family
               Scandalous
               to
               succeeding
               
               Ages
               ,
               through
               the
               unreasonable
               fears
               and
               jealousies
               of
               foolish
               and
               inconsiderate
               people
               .
               But
               this
               is
               not
               all
               ;
               for
               it
               does
               sometimes
               happen
               ,
               that
               the
               suspected
               (
               though
               Innocent
               )
               is
               halled
               before
               Authority
               ,
               and
               her
               life
               not
               seldom
               endangered
               ,
               sometimes
               taken
               away
               .
            
             
               The
               last
               Argument
               is
               from
               this
               consideration
               ,
               That
               the
               Scriptures
               never
               ascribe
               our
               pains
               ,
               vexations
               ,
               anguish
               of
               body
               or
               of
               mind
               ,
               losses
               of
               our
               Goods
               ,
               or
               any
               other
               Cross
               whatever
               ,
               to
               Witches
               ;
               but
               to
               the
               hand
               of
               God
               ,
               or
               to
               men
               openly
               and
               violently
               Robbing
               ,
               Spoiling
               ,
               or
               Killing
               .
               Where
               it
               may
               be
               demanded
               why
               ,
               seeing
               there
               is
               such
               mention
               of
               Witches
               ,
               and
               Sorcery
               ,
               and
               the
               like
               ,
               unlawful
               Arts
               in
               the
               Scriptures
               ,
               they
               do
               not
               Ascribe
               any
               harms
               to
               them
               ,
               as
               men
               do
               in
               these
               days
               :
               and
               the
               reason
               is
               ,
               for
               that
               the
               Word
               of
               God
               doth
               never
               Assign
               Instruments
               to
               be
               set
               on
               work
               by
               him
               ,
               which
               have
               not
               power
               in
               themselves
               
               to
               do
               what
               he
               employeth
               them
               about
               ,
               whether
               it
               be
               Angel
               ,
               Devil
               ,
               or
               any
               other
               Creature
               ;
               and
               to
               teach
               us
               that
               they
               are
               but
               Satans
               slaves
               ,
               and
               that
               it
               is
               not
               they
               ,
               that
               do
               any
               ,
               but
               that
               whatever
               is
               done
               ,
               is
               the
               work
               of
               the
               Devil
               .
            
          
           
             
               CHAP.
               VI.
               
            
             
               That
               there
               are
               Witches
               .
            
             
               THat
               there
               are
               Witches
               ,
               and
               such
               Persons
               as
               from
               contracts
               with
               the
               Devil
               have
               undertook
               ,
               and
               seemingly
               performed
               some
               strange
               things
               ;
               (
               though
               denyed
               by
               some
               Sensual
               men
               of
               this
               Age
               ,
               whose
               Interest
               it
               is
               ,
               there
               should
               be
               neither
               Heaven
               nor
               Hell
               ,
               and
               who
               have
               therefore
               proceeded
               from
               the
               denial
               of
               the
               Soul
               ,
               to
               the
               denial
               of
               Spirits
               ,
               and
               from
               thence
               even
               to
               the
               denial
               of
               the
               Existence
               of
               God
               himself
               )
               is
               yet
               deducible
               from
               several
               reasons
               .
            
             
             
               1
               st
               .
               And
               first
               from
               the
               most
               Ancient
               and
               veracious
               Authority
               of
               the
               Word
               of
               God
               ,
               in
               its
               forbidding
               such
               Diabolical
               practices
               ,
               as
               in
               the
               first
               place
               .
               
                 Deut.
                 18.
                 10
                 ,
                 11
                 ,
                 12.
                 
                 There
                 shall
                 not
                 be
                 found
                 among
                 you
                 any
                 one
                 ,
              
               that
               maketh
               his
               Son
               or
               his
               Daughter
               to
               pass
               through
               the
               Fire
               ,
               or
               that
               useth
               Divination
               ,
               or
               an
               Observer
               of
               times
               ,
               or
               an
               Inchanter
               ,
               or
               a
               Witch
               ,
            
             
               Or
               a
               Charmer
               ,
               or
               a
               Consulter
               with
               Familiar
               Spirits
               ,
               or
               a
               Wizard
               ,
               or
               a
               Necromancer
               .
            
             
               For
               all
               that
               do
               these
               things
               are
               an
               abomination
               to
               the
               Lord
               :
               and
               because
               of
               these
               abominations
               ,
               the
               Lord
               thy
               God
               doth
               drive
               them
               out
               
                 before
                 thee
              
               .
            
             
               From
               which
               words
               ,
               it
               not
               only
               appears
               that
               there
               were
               those
               that
               worshiped
               Idols
               ,
               that
               gave
               themselves
               to
               Diabolical
               Arts
               ;
               but
               also
               that
               for
               these
               Abominations
               the
               Lord
               cast
               them
               out
               of
               the
               Land
               ,
               and
               introduced
               his
               own
               people
               the
               Israelites
               ,
               strictly
               charging
               them
               ,
               that
               they
               abstain
               from
               
               such
               unlawful
               practices
               .
               For
               the
               Ammonites
               caused
               their
               Children
               to
               pass
               through
               the
               fire
               ,
               not
               (
               as
               some
               have
               supposed
               )
               to
               kill
               them
               ,
               or
               burn
               them
               :
               but
               only
               to
               pay
               a
               kind
               of
               Adoration
               to
               that
               Element
               .
               For
               (
               as
               Heurnius
               saith
               )
               
                 Ignem
                 in
                 Vr
                 ,
                 Chaldaeorum
                 urbe
                 ,
                 Abrahami
                 Patriâ
                 adorandum
                 ponit
                 ,
                 gravi
                 poenâ
                 in
                 pertinaces
                 promulgatâ
                 .
              
               Where
               yet
               there
               is
               no
               mention
               made
               of
               burning
               or
               killing
               .
               For
               who
               can
               believe
               ,
               that
               Solomon
               Murthered
               little
               Children
               ,
               or
               cast
               them
               into
               the
               Fire
               ,
               because
               the
               Scripture
               saith
               of
               him
               ,
               
                 Colebat
                 Solomon
                 Astharten
                 ,
                 Deam
                 Sidoniorum
                 ,
                 &
                 Moloch
                 ,
                 Idolum
                 Ammonitarum
                 .
              
               And
               yet
               this
               unhappy
               Custom
               hath
               so
               spread
               it selfe
               ver
               since
               throughout
               the
               whole
               world
               ,
               that
               even
               in
               America
               ,
               the
               Brasilians
               do
               the
               same
               ,
               as
               
                 Iohannes
                 Lerius
              
               in
               
                 Nav.
                 Bras
              
               .
               reports
               of
               them
               .
               And
               among
               Christians
               also
               Mothers
               did
               yearly
               cause
               their
               Children
               to
               pass
               over
               the
               Fire
               of
               Saint
               Iohn
               ;
               which
               Custom
               ,
               though
               condemned
               
               by
               a
               Council
               held
               at
               Constantinople
               ,
               and
               proved
               by
               Theodoret
               to
               have
               been
               derived
               from
               this
               Custom
               ;
               is
               yet
               retained
               and
               practised
               amongst
               those
               of
               the
               Romish-Church
               .
               But
               to
               leave
               observations
               ,
               and
               return
               to
               our
               intended
               Business
               .
            
             
               We
               find
               in
               the
               History
               of
               the
               Bible
               ,
               the
               names
               and
               practices
               of
               certain
               Witches
               and
               Sorcerers
               ,
               as
               particularly
               we
               have
               the
               names
               of
               those
               two
               so
               famous
               or
               rather
               infamous
               Sorcerers
               of
               
                 Egypt
                 .
                 2
                 Tim.
                 3.
                 8.
                 
                 Dan.
              
               2.
               2.
               
               We
               read
               that
               Nebuchadnezzar
               had
               Dreamed
               certain
               Dreams
               ,
               at
               which
               he
               was
               much
               perplexed
               ,
               and
               very
               desirous
               to
               know
               the
               Interpretation
               of
               them
               ;
               he
               gave
               Commandment
               to
               call
               the
               Magicians
               and
               the
               Astrologers
               ,
               and
               the
               Sorcerers
               ,
               and
               the
               Chaldeans
               ,
               for
               to
               shew
               the
               King
               his
               Dreams
               .
               So
               we
               have
               also
               accounts
               of
               other
               Witches
               ,
               as
               Balaam
               ,
               of
               Iezabel
               and
               her
               Witchcrafts
               .
               2
               Kings
               9.
               22.
               of
               Manasses
               ,
               who
               to
               the
               rest
               of
               his
               wickedness
               ,
               caused
               his
               Children
               to
               
               pass
               through
               the
               fire
               in
               the
               Valley
               of
               the
               Son
               of
               Hinnom
               :
               Also
               he
               observed
               times
               ,
               and
               used
               Inchantments
               ,
               and
               used
               Witchcraft
               ,
               and
               dealt
               with
               a
               Familiar
               Spirit
               ,
               and
               Wizards
               .
               So
               have
               we
               Relations
               of
               the
               Sorcery
               of
               
                 Simon
                 Magus
              
               both
               in
               Holy
               Writ
               ,
               and
               other
               Authors
               of
               good
               Credit
               ,
               as
               
                 Act.
                 8.
                 9.
                 
                 Eusebius
              
               his
               
                 Eccles.
                 Hist.
              
               which
               Historian
               tells
               us
               how
               he
               came
               to
               Rome
               in
               the
               days
               of
               Nero
               ,
               and
               how
               strangely
               he
               Bewitched
               the
               people
               from
               the
               true
               Belief
               by
               his
               Magical
               Inchantments
               ,
               till
               undertaking
               to
               flie
               in
               the
               Air
               ,
               God
               was
               pleas'd
               ,
               at
               the
               Prayers
               of
               Saint
               Peter
               ,
               to
               throw
               him
               down
               ,
               in
               which
               fall
               he
               lost
               both
               his
               Life
               ,
               and
               Reputation
               .
            
             
               To
               these
               Proofs
               we
               may
               add
               ,
               the
               Practices
               of
               several
               Witches
               mentioned
               in
               the
               Word
               of
               God
               ,
               as
               
                 Exod.
                 7.
                 
                 Isaiah
                 .
                 47.
                 9.
                 
                 Ezeck
                 .
              
               21.
               21.
               and
               this
               we
               read
               of
               those
               that
               went
               to
               them
               .
               1
               Sam.
               28.
               7.
               
               For
               so
               goes
               the
               story
               of
               Saul
               ,
               when
               he
               
                 said
                 to
                 his
                 servants
                 ,
                 
                 Seek
                 me
                 a
                 woman
                 that
                 hath
                 a
                 Familiar
                 Spirit
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 may
                 go
                 to
                 her
                 ,
                 and
                 enquire
                 of
                 her
                 .
                 And
                 his
                 servants
                 said
                 to
                 him
                 ,
                 Behold
                 ,
                 there
                 is
                 a
                 woman
                 which
                 hath
                 a
                 Familiar
                 Spirit
                 at
              
               Endor
               .
               And
               Saul
               
                 disguised
                 himself
                 ,
                 and
                 put
                 on
                 other
                 raiment
                 ,
                 and
                 he
                 went
                 ,
                 and
                 two
                 men
                 with
                 him
                 ,
                 and
                 they
                 came
                 to
                 the
                 woman
                 by
                 night
                 .
              
               So
               also
               did
               Balack
               send
               to
               Balaam
               to
               Curse
               his
               enemies
               .
               All
               these
               things
               were
               done
               ,
               contrary
               to
               the
               practice
               of
               good
               Iosiah
               ,
               who
               ,
               as
               the
               Sacred
               Records
               report
               ,
               put
               away
               the
               workers
               with
               Familiar
               Spirits
               ,
               and
               the
               Wizards
               ,
               2
               Kings
               .
               23.
               24.
               
               These
               are
               such
               evident
               Proofs
               ,
               that
               it
               is
               to
               me
               a
               wonder
               that
               any
               one
               ,
               who
               believes
               the
               Scriptures
               ,
               can
               offer
               to
               deny
               the
               existence
               of
               Witches
               ,
               though
               there
               were
               no
               Demonstrations
               in
               these
               our
               days
               ,
               to
               evidence
               this
               so
               palpable
               a
               Truth
               .
            
          
           
             
             
               CHAP.
               VII
               .
            
             
               Of
               the
               ground
               of
               Witchcraft
               ,
               and
               of
               all
               the
               Practices
               thereof
               .
            
             
               ALthough
               some
               persons
               ,
               who
               have
               not
               altogether
               denied
               that
               there
               is
               a
               certain
               kind
               of
               Magick
               ,
               will
               not
               yet
               be
               perswaded
               ,
               that
               there
               is
               any
               Contract
               with
               the
               Devil
               ;
               we
               shall
               endeavour
               to
               prove
               that
               there
               are
               Leagues
               and
               Covenants
               made
               betwixt
               wicked
               persons
               and
               the
               Devil
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               The
               word
               Chabor
               ,
               which
               is
               an
               Inchanter
               ,
               signifies
               one
               joyned
               to
               another
               in
               League
               and
               Society
               ;
               now
               we
               cannot
               suppose
               this
               League
               to
               be
               with
               any
               other
               than
               the
               Prince
               of
               Darkness
               ,
               who
               Cooperates
               with
               these
               his
               Vassals
               ,
               in
               their
               black
               and
               ungodly
               Actions
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               From
               the
               Confessions
               of
               some
               of
               these
               miserable
               Creatures
               ,
               may
               be
               
               confirmed
               what
               we
               here
               go
               about
               to
               Demonstrate
               .
               One
               Cyprian
               (
               whether
               the
               Ancient
               Father
               ,
               or
               some
               other
               I
               am
               not
               certain
               )
               avouches
               it
               from
               his
               own
               experience
               ,
               who
               was
               himself
               once
               ensnared
               in
               an
               actual
               and
               explicit
               Obligation
               with
               this
               black
               Angel
               ;
               but
               afterward
               through
               Gods
               mercy
               ,
               was
               unloosed
               from
               thsoe
               destructive
               Ties
               .
               So
               that
               as
               his
               Experience
               in
               the
               practice
               of
               Magick
               ,
               rendred
               him
               a
               sufficient
               Witness
               ,
               his
               Conversion
               to
               Christian
               Principles
               should
               engage
               us
               to
               Credit
               what
               he
               says
               ,
               to
               be
               unfeigned
               .
            
             
               And
               lastly
               ,
               the
               privy
               marks
               and
               brands
               of
               the
               Beast
               ,
               found
               in
               several
               parts
               of
               Witches
               bodies
               do
               confirm
               it
               ;
               as
               also
               the
               very
               Copies
               of
               the
               Bonds
               ,
               wherein
               Witches
               have
               confirmed
               their
               League
               and
               Familiarity
               with
               their
               Lord
               and
               Master
               ,
               of
               such
               an
               one
               speaketh
               Mr.
               Fox
               ,
               where
               the
               Bond
               was
               thrown
               amongst
               an
               Assembly
               gathered
               together
               in
               Prayer
               and
               Fasting
               ,
               
               for
               the
               Deliverance
               of
               a
               Young-Man
               thus
               engaged
               to
               Satan
               .
               But
               it
               may
               be
               objected
               ,
               that
               such
               Leagues
               and
               Contracts
               are
               not
               needful
               ,
               forasmuch
               as
               the
               renouncing
               of
               God
               ,
               and
               giving
               ones
               self
               over
               to
               work
               uncleanness
               with
               greediness
               ,
               is
               an
               implicit
               Covenant
               with
               the
               Devil
               ;
               and
               that
               therefore
               no
               such
               express
               Ceremonies
               are
               necessary
               ,
               for
               the
               Holy
               Scriptures
               say
               ,
               
                 That
                 his
                 Servant
                 a
                 man
                 is
                 whose
                 work
                 he
                 doeth
                 ,
                 whether
                 of
                 unrighteousness
                 unto
                 Death
                 ,
                 or
                 of
                 Righteousness
                 unto
                 Salvation
                 .
              
               To
               this
               I
               answer
               ,
               that
               the
               Devil
               ,
               who
               has
               ever
               since
               his
               Fall
               from
               his
               glorious
               Dignity
               into
               the
               Regions
               and
               power
               of
               Darkness
               ,
               and
               Confusion
               ,
               made
               it
               his
               business
               to
               bring
               Mankind
               into
               the
               same
               State
               of
               Damnation
               ;
               and
               in
               that
               he
               could
               not
               violate
               the
               most
               Sacred
               Deity
               in
               his
               own
               nature
               ,
               he
               has
               gone
               about
               to
               deface
               his
               Image
               engraven
               in
               the
               Soul
               of
               man
               ;
               does
               delight
               to
               imitate
               God
               ,
               yet
               so
               as
               thereby
               to
               oppose
               him
               :
               so
               
               that
               as
               God
               makes
               a
               Covenant
               with
               his
               ,
               so
               will
               the
               Devil
               with
               his
               ;
               as
               God
               hath
               his
               Seal
               of
               Covenant
               ,
               so
               will
               the
               Devil
               have
               his
               mark
               ;
               as
               God
               confirmeth
               his
               by
               Blood
               ,
               so
               will
               the
               Devil
               have
               blood
               to
               ratifie
               the
               Covenant
               ,
               which
               he
               and
               his
               do
               make
               .
               Hence
               the
               Learned
               have
               observed
               ,
               that
               in
               the
               times
               of
               ignorance
               ,
               when
               the
               Devil
               had
               Dominion
               in
               the
               world
               ,
               and
               through
               Gods
               permission
               led
               Captive
               mens
               minds
               in
               the
               dark
               mazes
               ,
               and
               Maeanders
               of
               Superstition
               and
               Idolatry
               ;
               those
               Devil-Idols
               in
               their
               names
               ,
               had
               some
               resemblance
               to
               the
               Divine
               attributes
               ;
               and
               also
               most
               of
               the
               Rites
               and
               Ceremonies
               used
               in
               the
               Solemnities
               of
               those
               Pagan
               gods
               ,
               were
               in
               some
               measure
               (
               though
               not
               obvious
               to
               each
               capacity
               )
               conformable
               to
               the
               Divine
               Institutions
               injoyned
               to
               his
               people
               the
               Iews
               .
            
             
               A
               second
               reason
               of
               such
               Contracts
               may
               be
               ,
               thereby
               to
               aggravate
               the
               sins
               of
               Witches
               ,
               and
               thereby
               to
               engage
               
               them
               deeplier
               to
               do
               him
               Service
               .
               For
               having
               led
               them
               on
               beyond
               hopes
               of
               mercy
               (
               though
               that
               ,
               as
               the
               rest
               of
               his
               principles
               ,
               be
               but
               a
               Fallacy
               )
               they
               will
               be
               apt
               to
               wallow
               in
               all
               manner
               of
               Beastial
               and
               Sensual
               delights
               ,
               and
               without
               consideration
               plunge
               themselves
               into
               a
               desperate
               confusion
               ;
               which
               conceit
               is
               increased
               and
               confirmed
               in
               them
               ,
               when
               they
               remember
               how
               they
               have
               renounced
               God
               ,
               and
               given
               themselves
               to
               the
               Devil
               ;
               who
               by
               this
               means
               holds
               them
               fast
               ,
               and
               animates
               them
               to
               rush
               on
               ,
               as
               a
               Horse
               into
               the
               Battel
               ,
               to
               their
               utter
               ruin
               and
               destruction
               .
            
             
               And
               though
               it
               is
               sadly
               apparent
               to
               all
               those
               ,
               not
               wholly
               given
               over
               to
               a
               reprobate
               sense
               ,
               that
               this
               malicious
               enemy
               of
               our
               Souls
               ,
               goes
               about
               seeking
               all
               opportunities
               to
               hurt
               us
               ;
               yet
               so
               sadly
               are
               these
               poor
               Creatures
               stupified
               ,
               that
               they
               do
               ,
               
                 Festinanti
                 Equo
                 calcaria
                 adhibere
              
               ,
               lay
               an
               obligation
               upon
               him
               that
               is
               ready
               at
               any
               time
               to
               attend
               them
               .
               Hence
               is
               it
               that
               they
               
               need
               not
               much
               soliciting
               to
               a
               Contract
               ,
               forasmuch
               as
               they
               think
               thereby
               to
               secure
               themselves
               of
               his
               Service
               ,
               and
               have
               him
               always
               ready
               to
               prosecute
               their
               commands
               .
               This
               is
               that
               which
               disposes
               them
               to
               the
               reception
               of
               such
               agreements
               ,
               giving
               them
               (
               as
               they
               fondly
               conceit
               )
               Superiority
               over
               that
               mighty
               Spirit
               that
               rules
               in
               darkness
               ,
               though
               on
               the
               Devils
               part
               it
               extends
               no
               further
               ,
               than
               to
               a
               short
               compliance
               with
               their
               humours
               in
               order
               to
               his
               detaining
               them
               from
               works
               of
               repentance
               ,
               and
               a
               retrospection
               into
               their
               own
               wicked
               and
               wretched
               condition
               .
            
             
               Now
               although
               upon
               consideration
               of
               the
               infinite
               loss
               accruing
               to
               men
               from
               such
               actions
               ,
               it
               may
               seem
               strange
               ,
               nay
               almost
               incredible
               ,
               that
               they
               should
               be
               wheedled
               into
               such
               pernicious
               extravagancies
               ;
               yet
               if
               we
               have
               respect
               to
               the
               lamentable
               propension
               of
               humane
               nature
               ,
               to
               that
               which
               is
               contrary
               to
               the
               heavenly
               Injunctions
               ;
               and
               
               to
               the
               sinful
               follies
               proceeding
               from
               such
               propension
               ,
               it
               may
               be
               sufficient
               Demonstration
               to
               enforce
               us
               believe
               this
               assertion
               ;
               that
               there
               are
               such
               persons
               as
               (
               besides
               that
               indirect
               and
               unwilling
               Homage
               which
               is
               paid
               ever
               since
               the
               loss
               of
               integrity
               )
               do
               tie
               themselves
               in
               Spontaneous
               Indentures
               to
               the
               grand
               Master
               of
               Confusion
               .
            
             
               No
               wonder
               then
               if
               the
               Devil
               catch
               those
               that
               greedily
               come
               unto
               his
               bait
               ,
               since
               his
               Wiles
               and
               Devices
               are
               oft
               too
               powerful
               over
               the
               most
               Righteous
               and
               holy
               ;
               does
               he
               not
               many
               times
               lie
               at
               lurch
               ,
               and
               ensnare
               those
               who
               make
               it
               their
               business
               to
               watch
               against
               him
               ,
               and
               if
               he
               dares
               come
               into
               the
               most
               Sacred
               places
               of
               Devotion
               and
               Piety
               ,
               to
               molest
               ,
               no
               wonder
               if
               he
               Domineers
               amongst
               such
               Debaucheries
               and
               impiety
               as
               is
               usually
               found
               in
               these
               Covenanters
               ,
               who
               are
               such
               as
               are
               involved
               and
               swallowed
               up
               in
               Earthly
               thoughts
               and
               Meditations
               ,
               having
               lost
               the
               Sense
               and
               Knowledge
               
               of
               Divine
               Mysteries
               ;
               being
               given
               over
               of
               God
               unto
               Satans
               Temptation
               .
               How
               can
               they
               then
               resist
               ?
               Man
               is
               weak
               ;
               Satan
               is
               strong
               and
               subtle
               ,
               of
               great
               experience
               in
               serching
               out
               and
               prying
               into
               the
               several
               humours
               and
               inclinations
               of
               men
               ,
               and
               by
               his
               great
               skill
               enabled
               to
               make
               his
               approaches
               to
               'em
               in
               such
               a
               manner
               ,
               as
               is
               most
               agreeable
               to
               their
               humours
               .
            
             
               He
               can
               insinuate
               himself
               into
               their
               very
               thoughts
               ,
               filling
               them
               with
               Conceits
               and
               high
               Imaginations
               ;
               making
               them
               grow
               excessively
               Proud
               ,
               Luxurious
               ,
               and
               Ambitious
               ,
               desirous
               of
               vain
               knowledge
               ;
               tickling
               them
               with
               Pride
               of
               having
               Spirits
               at
               their
               beck
               ,
               to
               tell
               them
               strange
               and
               curious
               things
               ;
               acquaint
               them
               with
               the
               nature
               of
               Diseases
               ;
               and
               work
               miraculous
               and
               unusual
               Feats
               ,
               not
               practicable
               by
               others
               ;
               as
               also
               to
               supply
               them
               with
               what
               is
               satisfactory
               and
               pleasant
               to
               their
               unruly
               exorbitant
               Passions
               .
            
             
               There
               is
               one
               thing
               especially
               ,
               which
               
               has
               caused
               many
               to
               give
               themselves
               over
               to
               the
               Devil
               ;
               that
               is
               ,
               the
               desire
               of
               revenge
               .
               Many
               Examples
               may
               be
               had
               in
               Authors
               of
               this
               kind
               ;
               wherefore
               I
               thought
               it
               needless
               to
               trouble
               my self
               about
               setting
               them
               down
               .
            
             
               No
               wonder
               then
               if
               such
               disorderly
               ,
               violent
               ,
               inconsiderate
               persons
               ,
               so
               greedy
               of
               attaining
               their
               ends
               ,
               so
               wholly
               estranged
               from
               all
               goodness
               (
               as
               these
               who
               are
               the
               subject
               of
               our
               Discourse
               usually
               are
               )
               should
               seek
               for
               means
               to
               the
               Devil
               ,
               to
               enjoy
               their
               inordinate
               desires
               ,
               as
               regarding
               more
               the
               satisfaction
               of
               their
               present
               will
               ,
               then
               respecting
               their
               future
               state
               after
               death
               .
            
             
               All
               these
               things
               duly
               considered
               ,
               it
               is
               not
               strange
               to
               think
               ,
               that
               a
               man
               or
               woman
               may
               be
               so
               seduced
               as
               to
               revolt
               from
               God
               ,
               and
               make
               a
               Solemn
               Covenant
               with
               his
               ,
               and
               their
               utter
               and
               profest
               enemy
               .
            
          
           
             
             
               CHAP.
               VIII
               .
            
             
               That
               besides
               the
               forementioned
               open
               and
               express
               League
               ,
               there
               are
               certain
               practices
               used
               by
               Witches
               ,
               which
               imply
               a
               Compact
               without
               any
               form
               of
               words
               .
            
             
               THough
               the
               practices
               of
               those
               miserable
               Caitifs
               ,
               who
               do
               ,
               
                 conceptis
                 verbis
                 jurare
              
               ,
               to
               fight
               the
               Devils
               Battels
               ,
               be
               so
               abominable
               ,
               that
               no
               man
               ,
               not
               wholly
               destitute
               of
               grace
               ,
               but
               abhors
               them
               ;
               yet
               there
               are
               another
               sort
               ,
               not
               lookt
               upon
               with
               so
               much
               detestation
               ,
               which
               ought
               to
               be
               as
               much
               detested
               ,
               as
               lying
               under
               an
               equal
               pressure
               of
               Guilt
               with
               the
               former
               .
               I
               mean
               such
               as
               not
               being
               in
               actual
               League
               with
               Satan
               ,
               perform
               such
               acts
               of
               Witchery
               ,
               as
               do
               in
               a
               covert
               manner
               imply
               a
               League
               ,
               and
               Homage
               due
               to
               their
               Black
               Master
               .
            
             
             
               These
               are
               such
               as
               we
               usually
               call
               White
               Witches
               ;
               a
               sort
               of
               Sots
               who
               being
               Gull'd
               ,
               and
               having
               their
               understandings
               Debauch'd
               by
               Superstition
               ,
               do
               evil
               that
               good
               may
               come
               of
               it
               ,
               that
               is
               ,
               use
               Charms
               ,
               Spells
               and
               Incantations
               (
               all
               which
               are
               of
               no
               force
               without
               the
               Cooperation
               of
               the
               Devil
               )
               to
               remove
               Distempers
               ,
               and
               do
               certain
               Feats
               in
               some
               measure
               useful
               to
               Mankind
               ,
               yet
               of
               pernicious
               consequence
               to
               themselves
               .
            
             
               It
               may
               be
               objected
               ,
               that
               't
               is
               not
               probable
               the
               Devil
               will
               attend
               those
               his
               immediate
               Servants
               without
               some
               security
               ,
               that
               they
               shall
               continue
               his
               .
               To
               this
               I
               answer
               ,
               that
               they
               being
               something
               queasie
               ,
               and
               not
               able
               altogether
               to
               relish
               the
               open
               Blasphemy
               ,
               and
               Impiety
               the
               others
               run
               into
               ;
               he
               is
               contented
               to
               deal
               with
               them
               after
               another
               manner
               ,
               and
               so
               lets
               them
               think
               themselves
               loose
               ,
               whereby
               he
               holds
               them
               the
               closer
               to
               him
               .
               He
               lets
               them
               make
               a
               shew
               of
               Religion
               ,
               go
               to
               Church
               ,
               
               hear
               the
               Word
               ,
               and
               otherwise
               imploy
               themselves
               about
               seeming
               good
               things
               .
               And
               't
               is
               indeed
               a
               main
               Policy
               in
               the
               Mystery
               of
               iniquity
               ,
               to
               appear
               in
               feigned
               Colours
               .
            
             
               For
               if
               a
               man
               or
               woman
               delight
               to
               use
               Superstitious
               Forms
               of
               words
               ,
               and
               think
               there
               is
               a
               secret
               power
               ,
               and
               force
               in
               Herbs
               ,
               Minerals
               ,
               or
               the
               like
               ;
               and
               in
               using
               them
               ,
               desireth
               in
               heart
               to
               have
               the
               thing
               effected
               ;
               the
               Devil
               (
               who
               is
               ready
               to
               seize
               his
               prey
               upon
               any
               occasion
               )
               to
               comply
               with
               them
               ,
               seconds
               their
               Designs
               with
               success
               :
               and
               so
               there
               is
               a
               secret
               Compact
               ,
               for
               they
               have
               desired
               ,
               and
               he
               hath
               consented
               ,
               and
               wrought
               the
               Business
               too
               .
            
             
               Therefore
               those
               that
               do
               such
               things
               are
               in
               a
               kind
               of
               League
               with
               the
               Devil
               ,
               though
               ignorantly
               they
               think
               otherwise
               ;
               and
               as
               those
               which
               in
               Christs
               name
               Cast
               out
               Devils
               ,
               though
               they
               openly
               followed
               not
               Christ
               ,
               yet
               finding
               success
               in
               their
               attempts
               ,
               were
               
               not
               against
               Christ
               ,
               nor
               likely
               could
               speak
               ill
               of
               his
               power
               ,
               by
               reason
               of
               their
               Secret
               and
               implicit
               Faith
               ,
               and
               Covenant
               with
               Christ
               :
               so
               these
               kind
               of
               persons
               finding
               their
               practices
               succesful
               ,
               are
               not
               against
               Satan
               ,
               nor
               can
               lightly
               speak
               ill
               of
               his
               working
               power
               ,
               because
               of
               the
               secret
               and
               implicit
               League
               they
               have
               with
               him
               ;
               more
               especially
               ,
               because
               of
               the
               profit
               ,
               they
               find
               insuing
               to
               them
               thereby
               .
               And
               so
               he
               rests
               satisfied
               with
               this
               thought
               of
               them
               ,
               that
               they
               will
               be
               surely
               his
               ,
               because
               they
               are
               not
               against
               him
               ;
               as
               also
               he
               lets
               them
               please
               themselves
               with
               hopes
               of
               Gods
               mercy
               .
               For
               that
               in
               thus
               doing
               ,
               they
               suppose
               they
               sin
               not
               ,
               nor
               are
               in
               danger
               of
               the
               Devil
               ,
               nor
               under
               Gods
               wrath
               ,
               as
               are
               the
               others
               ,
               who
               are
               profest
               and
               direct
               Votaries
               of
               the
               Black
               Saint
               that
               rules
               in
               the
               Children
               of
               Disobedience
               .
            
          
           
             
             
               CHAP.
               IX
               .
            
             
               The
               reasons
               and
               grounds
               of
               Witchcraft
               further
               Debated
               on
               .
            
             
               THat
               there
               are
               Witches
               ,
               Sorcerers
               ,
               aud
               such
               like
               ,
               may
               be
               observed
               from
               what
               hath
               been
               said
               in
               the
               former
               Chapters
               ;
               also
               that
               there
               are
               Leagues
               and
               Obligations
               ,
               both
               express
               and
               tacit
               ;
               now
               for
               a
               further
               confirmation
               ,
               let
               us
               a
               little
               observe
               ,
               what
               Force
               or
               Efficacy
               there
               lies
               in
               natural
               things
               .
            
             
               That
               which
               Philosophers
               affirm
               of
               Nature
               ,
               how
               she
               abhors
               a
               Vacuum
               ,
               may
               well
               mind
               us
               of
               the
               wonderful
               Connexion
               ,
               and
               strict
               Ties
               wherewith
               the
               things
               of
               this
               visible
               world
               are
               linkt
               together
               amongst
               themselves
               ,
               and
               the
               secret
               relation
               that
               is
               betwixt
               these
               and
               the
               intellectual
               world
               ,
               and
               of
               this
               
                 cum
                 Archetypo
              
               .
               This
               being
               
               observed
               by
               the
               Aegyptians
               ,
               they
               called
               Nature
               Magick
               ,
               by
               reason
               of
               the
               Efficacy
               it
               has
               ,
               
                 in
                 attractu
                 similium
                 per
                 similia
                 ,
                 &
                 convenientium
                 per
                 convenientia
                 .
              
            
             
               This
               Attraction
               ,
               or
               mutual
               Coherence
               of
               Superior
               with
               inferior
               things
               ,
               the
               Graecians
               call
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               which
               we
               have
               Englished
               Sympathy
               .
               So
               the
               Earth
               (
               to
               explain
               it
               )
               agrees
               with
               the
               Water
               in
               that
               they
               are
               both
               alike
               cold
               ;
               the
               Water
               with
               the
               Air
               in
               moisture
               ;
               the
               Air
               with
               the
               Fire
               in
               heat
               ;
               the
               Fire
               with
               the
               Heavens
               in
               purity
               of
               substance
               .
               Nor
               is
               the
               Fire
               joyned
               with
               the
               Water
               but
               by
               the
               Air
               ;
               nor
               the
               Air
               with
               Earth
               ,
               but
               by
               the
               Water
               :
               Stones
               and
               Mettals
               have
               
                 quid
                 commune
              
               with
               Herbs
               and
               Plants
               ,
               these
               with
               Animals
               ,
               Animals
               with
               the
               Heavens
               ,
               the
               Heavens
               with
               Intelligences
               ,
               these
               with
               the
               Divine
               Attributes
               ,
               and
               with
               God
               himself
               ,
               by
               whose
               Image
               or
               similitude
               all
               things
               are
               made
               .
            
             
             
               The
               Universe
               is
               the
               Image
               of
               God
               ,
               Man
               the
               extract
               or
               Epitome
               of
               the
               Universe
               ,
               sensitive
               Creatures
               of
               Man
               ,
               vegetatives
               of
               sensitives
               .
               Again
               ,
               Plants
               agree
               with
               Brutes
               in
               vegetation
               ;
               Brutes
               with
               Man
               in
               that
               they
               are
               both
               sensitive
               ;
               Man
               with
               Angels
               in
               Intellectuals
               ;
               Angels
               participate
               of
               Immortality
               .
               Divinity
               infuses
               it self
               into
               the
               mind
               ,
               the
               Mind
               is
               communicated
               to
               the
               Intellect
               ,
               the
               Intellect
               to
               the
               Will
               ,
               the
               Will
               to
               the
               Imagination
               ,
               this
               to
               Common
               sense
               ,
               Common
               sense
               to
               the
               Senses
               in
               particular
               ,
               and
               the
               Senses
               to
               the
               things
               sensible
               ;
               and
               such
               is
               the
               Coherency
               of
               Nature
               ,
               that
               every
               Superior
               power
               Communicates
               it self
               to
               the
               inferior
               ,
               by
               a
               continued
               Series
               of
               Mediums
               ;
               and
               every
               inferior
               being
               participates
               of
               the
               highest
               ,
               by
               being
               linckt
               to
               the
               middle
               Beings
               .
               So
               that
               ,
               as
               things
               being
               disposed
               into
               so
               wonderful
               Order
               ,
               into
               a
               capacity
               and
               possibility
               of
               effecting
               many
               things
               so
               remote
               ,
               and
               unusual
               
               to
               what
               commonly
               happens
               ,
               should
               Teach
               us
               to
               be
               cautious
               how
               we
               ascribe
               whatever
               is
               something
               strange
               ,
               to
               Witches
               and
               Magical
               operations
               ;
               So
               it
               may
               confirm
               us
               ,
               that
               what
               is
               related
               concerning
               the
               Practices
               of
               these
               wicked
               people
               ,
               is
               nothing
               but
               what
               is
               credible
               enough
               to
               be
               brought
               to
               pass
               ,
               considering
               the
               great
               power
               of
               these
               Spirits
               ,
               and
               the
               promptitude
               of
               Nature
               to
               strange
               effects
               .
            
             
               For
               't
               is
               the
               Opinion
               of
               
                 Cornelius
                 Agrippa
              
               ,
               that
               Spirits
               are
               easily
               induced
               to
               obey
               the
               Dictates
               of
               Witches
               and
               Wizards
               ,
               when
               they
               make
               use
               of
               Charms
               and
               Incantations
               .
               To
               which
               alludes
               Virgil
               ,
               where
               he
               says
               ,
               
                 Carmina
                 vel
                 Coelo
                 possunt
                 deducere
                 Lunam
                 .
              
            
             
               No
               marvel
               then
               if
               the
               Devil
               insinuate
               ,
               and
               twist
               his
               power
               into
               the
               operations
               of
               Nature
               ,
               when
               he
               is
               sought
               unto
               ,
               who
               is
               ready
               enough
               to
               
               dance
               attendance
               ,
               though
               not
               desired
               .
            
             
               Magicians
               affirm
               ,
               that
               with
               certain
               ingredients
               ,
               having
               a
               Sympathy
               with
               Supernatural
               things
               ,
               rightly
               disposed
               
                 debitis
                 circumstantijs
                 ,
                 partim
                 Physicè
                 ,
                 partim
                 Astronomicè
                 ,
              
               Devils
               may
               be
               drawn
               to
               have
               Commerce
               with
               men
               .
               Which
               is
               also
               the
               opinion
               of
               
                 Iamblichus
                 ,
                 Proclus
              
               and
               Synesius
               ,
               and
               of
               the
               whole
               Platonick
               School
               .
               And
               
                 Mercurius
                 Trismegistus
              
               tells
               ,
               that
               an
               Image
               made
               up
               of
               some
               certain
               things
               peculiarly
               Consecrated
               to
               such
               a
               Spirit
               (
               they
               have
               names
               for
               them
               too
               )
               has
               been
               actuated
               by
               some
               Daemon
               to
               perform
               most
               actions
               of
               the
               Animal
               life
               ,
               as
               to
               Walk
               ,
               Eat
               ,
               Drink
               ,
               &c.
               St.
               Augustine
               affirms
               the
               same
               
                 in
                 libro
                 octavo
                 de
                 Civitate
                 Dei.
                 
              
            
             
               A
               stone
               which
               is
               found
               in
               the
               eye
               of
               an
               Hyaena
               ,
               holden
               under
               the
               Tongue
               confers
               the
               faculty
               of
               Divination
               .
               The
               stone
               called
               Selenites
               does
               the
               same
               .
               The
               stone
               Synochitis
               will
               hold
               a
               Spirit
               
               raised
               up
               ,
               so
               that
               he
               cannot
               depart
               till
               Licence
               from
               the
               Magician
               .
               Xanthus
               the
               Historian
               tells
               of
               a
               young
               Dragon
               ,
               that
               was
               restored
               to
               Life
               by
               a
               certain
               Herb
               applyed
               to
               him
               by
               the
               Old
               one
               ;
               and
               that
               the
               said
               Herb
               wrought
               the
               like
               Cure
               upon
               one
               Tillo
               .
               And
               Iuba
               tells
               likewise
               of
               another
               man
               in
               Arabia
               ,
               that
               was
               restored
               to
               Life
               by
               the
               Efficacy
               of
               Herbs
               .
               It
               is
               to
               be
               observed
               ,
               that
               it
               is
               not
               my
               Design
               to
               ascribe
               every
               thing
               that
               happens
               
                 praeter
                 vulgaria
              
               ,
               to
               the
               working
               of
               the
               Devil
               and
               his
               Ministers
               ,
               since
               Nature
               is
               so
               prevalent
               as
               to
               shew
               Miracles
               :
               but
               to
               inculcate
               to
               my
               Reader
               ,
               that
               since
               Nature
               is
               so
               strong
               of
               it self
               ,
               the
               Votaries
               of
               Satan
               may
               play
               such
               Feats
               ,
               as
               makes
               them
               both
               admired
               and
               feared
               ;
               being
               aided
               by
               him
               ,
               who
               has
               for
               many
               Thousand
               years
               made
               Remarks
               ,
               and
               Collected
               the
               Experiments
               of
               this
               so
               Self-powerful
               Nature
               .
            
             
               Hence
               have
               Witches
               power
               to
               hurt
               
               not
               only
               in
               outward
               Goods
               ,
               or
               in
               our
               Bodies
               ;
               but
               they
               can
               work
               alterations
               in
               the
               Mind
               too
               ,
               by
               Spells
               ,
               Medicines
               ,
               and
               Fumigations
               ;
               stir
               up
               to
               Love
               ,
               Hatred
               ,
               Mirth
               ,
               Sorrow
               ,
               vex
               to
               Madness
               it self
               .
               Many
               instances
               might
               be
               brought
               to
               confirm
               what
               I
               say
               ,
               but
               I
               think
               it
               needless
               to
               produce
               Examples
               :
               I
               shall
               therefore
               only
               endeavour
               to
               speak
               something
               of
               the
               manner
               how
               the
               Devil
               ,
               at
               the
               Instigation
               of
               Witches
               ,
               enters
               into
               the
               Bodies
               of
               men
               or
               women
               ,
               and
               of
               the
               Symptoms
               usually
               attending
               the
               Possest
               .
            
             
               First
               then
               for
               the
               manner
               .
               The
               Devil
               is
               wont
               before
               he
               enter
               into
               a
               man
               ,
               to
               appear
               to
               him
               in
               some
               Frightful
               ,
               Deformed
               Shape
               ,
               uttering
               some
               strange
               and
               uncouth
               Noises
               ,
               whereby
               he
               Discomposes
               the
               mind
               of
               the
               man
               to
               whom
               he
               appears
               ,
               and
               disturbs
               his
               reason
               ,
               working
               a
               Confusion
               and
               Disorder
               in
               his
               Intellectuals
               ;
               and
               after
               having
               so
               done
               ,
               enters
               into
               the
               Soul
               ,
               
               now
               made
               a
               Chaos
               fit
               for
               the
               Reception
               of
               him
               who
               is
               the
               grand
               Author
               of
               Irregularity
               .
               This
               he
               most
               what
               does
               in
               the
               Night
               ,
               or
               in
               Dark
               ,
               Shady
               places
               ,
               frightful
               by
               reason
               of
               their
               horrid
               solitariness
               .
            
             
               He
               enters
               into
               the
               Possest
               thorough
               the
               Nose
               ,
               or
               Mouth
               ,
               or
               Ears
               ,
               like
               a
               thin
               subtle
               Wind
               ,
               or
               a
               Mouse
               ,
               or
               some
               such
               little
               Animal
               ;
               sometimes
               in
               their
               sleep
               ,
               producing
               in
               their
               Imagination
               terrible
               Dreams
               ,
               and
               so
               continuing
               those
               Devilish
               Phansies
               in
               them
               ,
               when
               the
               Vitals
               are
               Disentangled
               from
               the
               Bonds
               of
               sleep
               ,
               sometimes
               his
               Entrance
               is
               accompanied
               with
               a
               Chilness
               ,
               and
               stupifying
               Cold
               through
               the
               whole
               Body
               .
            
             
               The
               effects
               which
               unclean
               Spirits
               produce
               in
               these
               Demoniacks
               ,
               are
               noted
               unto
               us
               by
               Holy
               Writ
               ;
               which
               are
               as
               follows
               ,
            
             
               They
               sometimes
               make
               them
               Obstinate
               and
               Disobedient
               ,
               backward
               to
               all
               that
               is
               good
               ,
               and
               very
               desirous
               of
               
               doing
               Mischief
               to
               them
               ,
               whom
               the
               Devil
               stirs
               them
               up
               to
               hate
               ;
               as
               appears
               by
               Saul
               in
               the
               First
               Book
               of
               
                 Kings
                 .
                 Chap.
              
               18.
               who
               continued
               obstinate
               in
               persecuting
               innocent
               David
               ,
               all
               the
               days
               of
               his
               life
               .
            
             
               Sometimes
               they
               make
               them
               Lunatick
               ,
               as
               in
               Matthew
               17.
               he
               did
               his
               son
               ,
               who
               came
               and
               prostrated
               himself
               to
               our
               Blessed
               Saviour
               ,
               saying
               ,
               
                 Lord
                 have
                 mercy
                 on
                 my
                 Son
                 ,
                 for
                 he
                 is
                 Lunatick
                 .
              
            
             
               Some
               are
               made
               Dumb
               ,
               as
               appears
               from
               the
               8
               
                 th
                 .
                 Chap.
              
               of
               St.
               
                 Matthews
                 Gospel
              
               ,
               where
               't
               is
               mentioned
               how
               one
               spoke
               to
               our
               Saviour
               ,
               saying
               ,
               
                 Master
                 ,
                 I
                 have
                 brought
                 my
                 Son
                 unto
                 thee
                 ,
                 who
                 is
                 possest
                 with
                 a
                 Dumb
                 Spirit
              
               ;
               as
               likewise
               from
               St.
               
                 Luke
                 ,
                 Chap.
              
               11.
               others
               they
               deprive
               of
               Sight
               ,
               as
               
                 Mat.
                 Chap.
              
               12.
               others
               are
               Torn
               and
               Tortured
               in
               their
               Bodies
               ,
               and
               Pine
               away
               ;
               are
               brought
               into
               Fury
               ,
               so
               as
               to
               fall
               violently
               upon
               any
               they
               can
               come
               to
               :
               some
               are
               struck
               with
               Infirmities
               uncurable
               
               by
               any
               Natural
               means
               ,
               and
               of
               this
               sort
               was
               that
               Woman
               ,
               held
               with
               a
               Spirit
               of
               Infirmity
               Eighteen
               years
               ,
               healed
               by
               the
               Great
               Physician
               of
               our
               Souls
               ,
               
                 Christ
                 Iesus
                 .
                 Luke
                 Chap.
              
               13.
               
            
             
               Thus
               may
               be
               observed
               ,
               both
               from
               Sacred
               and
               Profane
               Authors
               ,
               the
               frequent
               and
               lamentable
               Mischiefs
               inflicted
               upon
               poor
               Man
               by
               the
               Devil
               ,
               both
               in
               entring
               into
               and
               possessing
               their
               Bodies
               ,
               as
               these
               before
               alledged
               ;
               and
               in
               the
               external
               Assaults
               made
               upon
               their
               Temporal
               goods
               ,
               of
               which
               the
               History
               of
               Iob
               is
               a
               sufficient
               Testimony
               :
               as
               also
               by
               his
               mediate
               practices
               ,
               performed
               by
               his
               Vassals
               the
               Votaries
               afore-mentioned
               ;
               whom
               indeed
               ,
               he
               more
               frequently
               imploys
               to
               execute
               his
               fierce
               Wrath
               upon
               Men.
               What
               power
               these
               have
               to
               do
               Mischief
               ,
               Isidore
               tells
               us
               
                 in
                 lib.
                 8.
                 
                 Etymologiarum
                 .
                 Cap.
              
               9.
               where
               he
               says
               ,
               
                 Malefici
                 dicuntur
                 ob
                 Facinorum
                 magnitudinem
                 .
                 Hi
                 Elementa
                 concutiunt
                 ,
                 mentes
                 hominum
                 
                 turbant
                 ,
                 &
                 sine
                 ullo
                 veneni
                 haustu
                 ,
                 violentiâ
                 tantum
                 Carminis
                 animas
                 interimunt
                 .
              
            
          
           
             
               CHAP.
               X.
               
            
             
               The
               Signs
               whereby
               one
               may
               Discover
               whether
               a
               Party
               be
               Possest
               or
               Bewitched
               .
            
             
               THat
               wicked
               Spirits
               have
               power
               to
               vex
               and
               disturb
               men
               ,
               we
               have
               proved
               before
               by
               divers
               Examples
               ;
               as
               also
               Cursorily
               shown
               the
               manner
               and
               most
               notable
               effects
               of
               such
               Practices
               :
               I
               now
               intend
               to
               say
               something
               of
               the
               Symptoms
               ,
               whereby
               it
               may
               be
               known
               whether
               the
               distresses
               wherewith
               a
               person
               is
               Afflicted
               ,
               ought
               or
               can
               be
               ascribed
               to
               Natural
               Causes
               ,
               or
               proceed
               from
               the
               Supernatural
               Operations
               of
               the
               Devil
               ,
               and
               his
               Ministers
               .
            
             
               These
               Supernatural
               Operations
               are
               
               reducible
               to
               two
               Heads
               ;
               either
               to
               the
               immediate
               working
               of
               Satan
               ,
               or
               to
               the
               mediate
               of
               Witches
               .
            
             
               For
               the
               first
               ,
               as
               it
               is
               unusually
               ,
               so
               is
               it
               the
               more
               discernable
               when
               it
               happens
               ,
               the
               Parties
               thus
               effected
               being
               Tormented
               with
               such
               Paroxysms
               ,
               and
               violent
               motions
               in
               their
               Bodies
               ,
               as
               cannot
               but
               give
               us
               to
               understand
               ,
               what
               is
               the
               Lord
               of
               that
               Misrule
               ,
               of
               those
               stupendous
               Gambols
               .
               As
               to
               the
               Second
               ;
               Those
               Perturbations
               and
               Mischiefs
               occasioned
               by
               Witchcraft
               ,
               are
               not
               so
               pernicious
               ,
               as
               being
               more
               twisted
               and
               assimulated
               to
               natural
               effects
               .
               Hence
               many
               Diseases
               and
               Calamities
               ,
               which
               do
               owe
               their
               Original
               really
               ,
               and
               truly
               to
               the
               Impiety
               and
               Revengeful
               Dispositions
               of
               Witches
               ,
               are
               mistaken
               to
               be
               nothing
               but
               the
               Disorder
               of
               the
               Natural
               humours
               of
               the
               Body
               ,
               or
               the
               Casualties
               of
               Fortune
               ,
               or
               rather
               Crosses
               designed
               to
               befall
               ,
               by
               foreseeing
               Fate
               .
            
             
               But
               to
               go
               on
               with
               our
               intended
               
               Discourse
               ;
               when
               Learned
               Physicians
               can
               find
               no
               probable
               reason
               or
               Natural
               Cause
               of
               such
               Grief
               ,
               Pangs
               ,
               and
               violent
               Vexations
               as
               the
               Patient
               does
               endure
               ,
               it
               may
               lawfully
               be
               Concluded
               that
               the
               Devils
               Finger
               is
               there
               .
               Persons
               Bewitched
               have
               sometimes
               a
               great
               swelling
               and
               heaving
               in
               the
               Belly
               ,
               thence
               passing
               to
               the
               Throat
               ,
               ready
               to
               stop
               their
               Breath
               ;
               set
               their
               Teeth
               together
               ,
               shake
               sometimes
               the
               Leg
               ,
               sometimes
               the
               Arm
               ,
               sometimes
               their
               Head
               ;
               will
               hold
               their
               Arms
               or
               Legs
               so
               stiff
               ,
               that
               they
               cannot
               be
               bowed
               .
            
             
               As
               also
               when
               no
               Rules
               of
               Art
               or
               Experience
               can
               do
               good
               ,
               but
               that
               the
               Disease
               grows
               worse
               thereby
               .
            
             
               When
               the
               Distressed
               Vomit
               up
               Crooked
               Pins
               ,
               Iron
               ,
               Coales
               ,
               Brimstone
               ,
               Nails
               ,
               Needles
               ,
               Wax
               ,
               lumps
               of
               Hair
               ,
               Knives
               ,
               and
               such
               like
               ,
               which
               are
               Noted
               to
               come
               from
               several
               persons
               ,
               as
               Witnesseth
               one
               Doctor
               Cotta
               ,
               and
               produces
               Witnesses
               for
               the
               same
               ;
               so
               
                 Delrio
                 ,
                 lib.
                 3.
                 par
                 .
                 1.
                 quest
                 .
                 4.
                 
                 Sect.
              
               6
               pag.
               410.
               
            
             
             
               Other
               Symptoms
               I
               find
               set
               down
               by
               
                 Hieronymus
                 Mengus
              
               in
               a
               Treatise
               called
               
                 Fustis
                 Daemonum
                 ,
                 lib.
                 1.
                 cap.
              
               12.
               
               
                 Potissima
                 (
                 inquit
                 )
                 signa
                 demonstrantia
                 hominem
                 esse
                 maleficiatum
                 ,
                 sunt
                 cordis
                 ,
                 &
                 oris
                 Stomachalis
                 constrictio
                 .
                 Aliqui
                 puncturas
                 in
                 corde
                 sentiunt
                 ,
                 acsi
                 acubus
                 pungerentur
                 ,
                 quibusdam
                 cor
                 eis
                 corrodi
                 videtur
                 ;
                 alij
                 in
                 collo
                 &
                 renibus
                 magnum
                 dolorem
                 sentiunt
                 :
                 aliquibus
                 ligata
                 est
                 vena
                 generationis
                 .
                 Quidam
                 ex
                 indispositione
                 stomachi
                 ,
                 quicquid
                 ad
                 sustentationem
                 comedunt
                 vel
                 bibunt
                 ,
                 per
                 vomitum
                 emittunt
                 .
                 Aliquibus
                 ventus
                 frigidissimus
                 ,
                 tanquam
                 flamma
                 ,
                 per
                 ventrem
                 discurrit
                 .
              
               These
               being
               the
               most
               remarkable
               Signs
               ,
               I
               shall
               not
               trouble
               my self
               ,
               or
               my
               Gentle
               Readers
               Patience
               with
               Inserting
               what
               
                 Delrio
                 ,
                 Boissardus
                 ,
                 Cornelius
                 Agrippa
                 ,
              
               and
               other
               Learned
               Authors
               say
               in
               this
               matter
               ;
               what
               I
               have
               here
               said
               being
               (
               as
               I
               suppose
               )
               sufficient
               .
            
          
           
             
             
               CHAP.
               XI
               .
            
             
               That
               Witches
               are
               not
               to
               be
               sought
               unto
               .
               The
               Conclusion
               of
               the
               whole
               work
               .
            
             
               THough
               some
               have
               made
               use
               of
               that
               common
               Distinction
               of
               good
               Witches
               and
               bad
               ,
               to
               encourage
               themselves
               ,
               and
               make
               some
               pretences
               for
               their
               recourse
               to
               those
               unlawful
               means
               ,
               yet
               therein
               they
               do
               but
               deceive
               themselves
               ;
               forasmuch
               as
               all
               sorts
               of
               Witchcraft
               and
               Divination
               are
               forbidden
               by
               the
               Holy
               Scriptures
               .
               It
               is
               expresly
               forbidden
               ,
               Levit.
               19.
               31.
               and
               in
               Saul
               we
               have
               an
               Example
               hereof
               ,
               who
               added
               to
               his
               sin
               of
               Disobedience
               ,
               that
               of
               enquiring
               at
               one
               that
               had
               a
               Familiar
               Spirit
               ;
               yet
               the
               profit
               he
               received
               was
               (
               but
               what
               is
               gotten
               by
               such
               as
               forsake
               the
               only
               true
               God
               ,
               and
               run
               after
               lies
               ?
               )
               the
               knowledge
               of
               his
               own
               and
               his
               sons
               Destruction
               .
            
             
             
               Learned
               men
               of
               all
               sorts
               ,
               generally
               condemn
               this
               running
               to
               Wizards
               ,
               as
               St.
               
                 Augustine
                 in
                 libro
                 10
                 de
                 Civit.
                 Dei
              
               ;
               King
               Iames
               in
               his
               
                 Daemon
                 ,
                 lib.
              
               3.
               cap.
               5
               ,
               St.
               Basil
               ,
               St.
               Chrysostome
               ;
               nay
               Hippocrates
               an
               Heathen
               ;
               some
               Schoolmen
               hold
               it
               to
               be
               an
               Apostasie
               ,
               as
               
                 Aquinas
                 ,
                 Bonaventure
                 ,
                 Albertus
              
               ,
               and
               the
               Edicts
               of
               Emperours
               ,
               and
               all
               Learned
               Divines
               in
               our
               days
               hold
               it
               unlawfull
               ;
               the
               Dead
               by
               Writing
               ,
               and
               the
               Living
               
                 Vivâ
                 voce
              
               in
               their
               Sermons
               .
            
             
               Nor
               is
               it
               at
               all
               consistent
               with
               reason
               ,
               to
               assert
               the
               Lawfulness
               of
               enquiring
               of
               Witches
               ,
               or
               using
               of
               Necromancers
               .
               For
               God
               who
               by
               his
               Eternal
               Wisdom
               created
               the
               World
               at
               first
               ,
               does
               still
               by
               his
               power
               preserve
               the
               works
               of
               his
               Creation
               ,
               and
               provides
               for
               every
               man
               ,
               according
               to
               that
               station
               wherein
               he
               sees
               it
               convenient
               to
               set
               him
               ;
               he
               has
               given
               him
               such
               opportunites
               ,
               as
               to
               make
               himself
               happy
               if
               he
               please
               .
            
             
             
               Has
               taught
               him
               to
               limit
               his
               Affections
               and
               Appetites
               ,
               and
               mark
               unto
               him
               the
               Race
               wherein
               he
               is
               to
               perform
               his
               Course
               ;
               and
               so
               ordered
               ,
               that
               the
               Restraints
               are
               void
               of
               all
               unsweetness
               ,
               and
               that
               a
               man
               is
               never
               more
               a
               Captive
               ,
               than
               when
               he
               lets
               himself
               loose
               to
               Carnal
               Delights
               .
               So
               that
               a
               man
               in
               using
               the
               said
               Practices
               ,
               does
               
                 ipso
                 facto
              
               declare
               himself
               a
               Rebel
               against
               the
               King
               of
               Heaven
               .
               Nor
               is
               this
               ever
               put
               in
               practice
               ,
               but
               by
               such
               as
               have
               given
               themselves
               over
               to
               the
               things
               of
               this
               World.
               Will
               any
               man
               seek
               for
               Revenge
               against
               those
               have
               displeased
               him
               ,
               at
               the
               Devils
               Instruments
               ;
               that
               remembers
               who
               it
               is
               commands
               us
               to
               forgive
               one
               another
               our
               Trespasses
               ?
               or
               inquire
               of
               what
               is
               to
               come
               ,
               that
               believes
               we
               ought
               not
               be
               solicitous
               for
               the
               Morrow
               ?
            
             
               The
               Arguments
               brought
               for
               the
               Lawfulness
               of
               Consulting
               with
               such
               as
               have
               Familiar
               Spirits
               ,
               are
               so
               weak
               and
               frivolous
               ,
               that
               I
               shall
               not
               trouble
               
               my self
               to
               answer
               them
               ,
               but
               only
               desire
               my
               Reader
               to
               take
               Notice
               ,
               that
               this
               Discourse
               was
               Writ
               for
               no
               other
               purpose
               ,
               than
               to
               Confute
               some
               Atheistical
               persons
               ,
               who
               under
               the
               maintaining
               of
               that
               Position
               ,
               That
               there
               are
               no
               Witches
               ,
               Mask
               their
               disowning
               of
               all
               Spiritual
               Beings
               ;
               and
               by
               consequence
               would
               take
               away
               all
               Religion
               ,
               and
               Worship
               of
               a
               Deity
               out
               of
               the
               world
               ,
               whereby
               they
               might
               the
               better
               deceive
               their
               own
               Souls
               ,
               and
               run
               on
               in
               all
               Sensual
               and
               Brutish
               pleasures
               .
            
             
               The
               End
               of
               the
               First
               Part.
               
            
          
        
         
      
       
         
           
             
             
             
               THE
               SECOND
               PART
               ,
               BEING
               A
               DISCOURSE
               OF
               THE
               IMPOSTURES
               Practised
               in
               JUDICIAL
               ASTROLOCY
               .
            
             
               LONDON
               ,
               Printed
               in
               the
               Year
               1680.
               
            
          
        
         
           
             
             
             
               A
               Discourse
               concerning
               Astrology
               .
            
             
               
                 CHAP.
                 I.
                 
              
               
                 Of
                 the
                 Original
                 thereof
                 .
              
               
                 THat
                 Astrology
                 ,
                 which
                 in
                 our
                 days
                 by
                 its
                 being
                 mixt
                 with
                 so
                 many
                 Superstitious
                 Fopperies
                 ,
                 is
                 become
                 suspicious
                 and
                 almost
                 Ridiculous
                 ,
                 was
                 at
                 the
                 first
                 a
                 thing
                 of
                 great
                 Value
                 ,
                 and
                 worthy
                 of
                 the
                 greatest
                 consideration
                 ,
                 may
                 be
                 concluded
                 from
                 the
                 acceptance
                 it
                 found
                 with
                 the
                 most
                 Famous
                 men
                 in
                 the
                 very
                 Infancy
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 ;
                 we
                 may
                 ascertain
                 our
                 
                 selves
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 was
                 in
                 use
                 before
                 the
                 Deluge
                 ,
                 from
                 Genesis
                 18
                 ,
                 where
                 't
                 is
                 said
                 that
                 Noah
                 enterd
                 the
                 Ark
                 on
                 the
                 seventeenth
                 day
                 of
                 the
                 second
                 Month
                 ,
                 and
                 came
                 out
                 again
                 (
                 the
                 Waters
                 being
                 gone
                 from
                 the
                 face
                 of
                 the
                 Earth
                 )
                 upon
                 the
                 27
                 th
                 .
                 day
                 of
                 the
                 second
                 Month
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 year
                 following
                 .
                 That
                 it
                 is
                 of
                 great
                 Antiquity
                 cannot
                 be
                 denied
                 ,
                 but
                 who
                 was
                 the
                 first
                 Author
                 of
                 it
                 is
                 uncertain
                 :
                 yet
                 its
                 Credible
                 that
                 it
                 begun
                 at
                 Adam
                 ,
                 and
                 was
                 continued
                 by
                 his
                 son
                 Seth
                 ,
                 and
                 Communicated
                 to
                 Posterity
                 ;
                 in
                 reference
                 to
                 which
                 Opinion
                 ,
                 is
                 the
                 Story
                 of
                 Seth's
                 Pillars
                 ;
                 which
                 Pillars
                 were
                 made
                 (
                 by
                 reason
                 of
                 what
                 they
                 had
                 heard
                 from
                 
                   Adam
                   ,
                   (
                   viz.
                
                 )
                 that
                 the
                 World
                 should
                 be
                 Twice
                 destroyed
                 ,
                 once
                 by
                 Water
                 ,
                 and
                 afterwards
                 by
                 Fire
                 )
                 to
                 preserve
                 the
                 Sciences
                 to
                 them
                 that
                 were
                 to
                 replenish
                 the
                 Earth
                 after
                 the
                 Deluge
                 .
                 One
                 of
                 which
                 Pillars
                 was
                 remaining
                 in
                 Iosephus
                 his
                 time
                 ,
                 as
                 himself
                 Testifies
                 ,
                 
                   in
                   lib.
                   Antiq.
                   
                   cap.
                
                 11.
                 
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 .
                 But
                 whether
                 this
                 of
                 the
                 Pillars
                 be
                 Fabulous
                 or
                 no
                 ,
                 it
                 matters
                 not
                 ;
                 it
                 is
                 probable
                 enough
                 that
                 it
                 was
                 found
                 by
                 the
                 Ancients
                 before
                 the
                 Floud
                 ,
                 whose
                 Lives
                 usually
                 extended
                 to
                 some
                 Hundreds
                 of
                 years
                 ,
                 a
                 thing
                 very
                 requisite
                 to
                 the
                 perfection
                 of
                 Astrology
                 ;
                 nor
                 was
                 it
                 (
                 considered
                 in
                 its
                 purity
                 )
                 a
                 Study
                 unbeseeming
                 those
                 Noble
                 Spirits
                 .
                 In
                 favour
                 of
                 this
                 Opinion
                 may
                 be
                 alledged
                 that
                 of
                 Iosephus
                 in
                 
                   cap.
                   7.
                   lib.
                
                 1.
                 that
                 Enoch
                 left
                 a
                 Treatise
                 of
                 Astrology
                 ,
                 or
                 (
                 Astrology
                 being
                 taken
                 after
                 the
                 Modern
                 distinction
                 )
                 of
                 Astronomy
                 ;
                 which
                 Treatise
                 is
                 yet
                 extant
                 in
                 the
                 Kingdom
                 of
                 the
                 Queen
                 of
                 
                   Sheba
                   .
                   Tertullian
                
                 quotes
                 it
                 in
                 the
                 4
                 th
                 .
                 and
                 15
                 th
                 .
                 Books
                 
                   de
                   Idololatriâ
                
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 the
                 Book
                 
                   De
                   habitu
                   muliebri
                   .
                   cap.
                
                 3.
                 where
                 he
                 proves
                 by
                 many
                 Arguments
                 ,
                 that
                 those
                 Books
                 are
                 not
                 spurious
                 ;
                 and
                 answers
                 the
                 Objections
                 that
                 may
                 be
                 brought
                 against
                 it
                 .
                 Now
                 although
                 the
                 Testimony
                 
                 of
                 so
                 Learned
                 a
                 man
                 as
                 Tertullian
                 ,
                 may
                 stop
                 the
                 Mouths
                 of
                 all
                 such
                 as
                 out
                 of
                 Sceptical
                 humour
                 may
                 doubt
                 the
                 verity
                 of
                 what
                 has
                 been
                 said
                 ;
                 yet
                 considering
                 the
                 great
                 propension
                 of
                 some
                 in
                 our
                 days
                 ,
                 to
                 overthrow
                 what
                 ever
                 sound
                 Doctrine
                 has
                 been
                 Taught
                 by
                 the
                 Seniors
                 ,
                 aswell
                 in
                 Knowledge
                 as
                 in
                 years
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 endeavour
                 to
                 prove
                 the
                 Antiquity
                 of
                 this
                 most
                 Noble
                 Science
                 by
                 force
                 of
                 reason
                 .
              
               
                 1.
                 
                 'T
                 is
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 doubted
                 that
                 Adam
                 ,
                 both
                 by
                 reason
                 of
                 his
                 Converse
                 with
                 Angels
                 ,
                 and
                 his
                 great
                 insight
                 into
                 the
                 Intellectual
                 world
                 ;
                 as
                 also
                 by
                 his
                 great
                 knowledge
                 of
                 this
                 visible
                 world
                 ,
                 which
                 render'd
                 him
                 capable
                 of
                 distinguishing
                 things
                 ,
                 and
                 giving
                 a
                 name
                 sutable
                 to
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 each
                 thing
                 ;
                 could
                 understand
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 the
                 Heavens
                 ,
                 and
                 those
                 splendid
                 Bodies
                 there
                 placed
                 .
                 So
                 that
                 if
                 the
                 Beauties
                 of
                 those
                 Caelestial
                 Bodies
                 were
                 Created
                 to
                 be
                 subservient
                 and
                 significant
                 to
                 the
                 Microcosm
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 most
                 certain
                 ,
                 that
                 
                 the
                 first
                 Father
                 of
                 Mankind
                 ,
                 understood
                 it
                 .
              
               
                 2.
                 
                 The
                 Wise
                 and
                 ever-True
                 God
                 ,
                 who
                 has
                 made
                 every
                 thing
                 good
                 ,
                 and
                 made
                 nothing
                 that
                 was
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 of
                 some
                 use
                 to
                 man
                 ,
                 did
                 certainly
                 never
                 design
                 that
                 Glorious
                 and
                 Resplendent
                 part
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 to
                 be
                 for
                 a
                 Gazing-stock
                 only
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 have
                 operation
                 or
                 influence
                 in
                 the
                 Universe
                 ;
                 but
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 general
                 Moderator
                 ,
                 and
                 Govenor
                 of
                 the
                 most
                 material
                 Actions
                 of
                 Mortal
                 Bodies
                 ;
                 as
                 he
                 has
                 reserved
                 to
                 himself
                 the
                 disposing
                 of
                 that
                 pure
                 substance
                 Mans
                 Soul.
                 And
                 such
                 was
                 his
                 love
                 to
                 Mankind
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 would
                 Teach
                 a
                 way
                 whereby
                 they
                 might
                 recover
                 part
                 of
                 that
                 Knowledge
                 was
                 lost
                 in
                 the
                 first
                 Mans
                 Fall
                 and
                 Disobedience
                 .
                 And
                 so
                 that
                 they
                 might
                 not
                 be
                 altogether
                 involved
                 in
                 Darkness
                 ,
                 and
                 obscurity
                 of
                 what
                 was
                 to
                 come
                 ,
                 he
                 Taught
                 them
                 to
                 Read
                 in
                 that
                 Great
                 Volume
                 ,
                 the
                 Chief
                 Contingencies
                 of
                 their
                 Life
                 .
              
               
                 That
                 what
                 I
                 say
                 is
                 probable
                 ,
                 and
                 
                 not
                 an
                 Idle
                 Whimsey
                 of
                 some
                 Melancholick
                 Brain
                 ,
                 is
                 Manifest
                 from
                 the
                 common
                 Opinion
                 of
                 Learned
                 Men
                 among
                 the
                 
                   Iews
                   ,
                   Greeks
                
                 ,
                 and
                 Latines
                 ,
                 and
                 others
                 ,
                 who
                 call
                 the
                 Heavens
                 a
                 Sacred
                 Book
                 ,
                 wherein
                 by
                 those
                 Capital
                 Letters
                 (
                 the
                 Stars
                 )
                 may
                 be
                 read
                 the
                 Events
                 of
                 things
                 below
                 .
                 The
                 Learned
                 Origen
                 ,
                 upon
                 this
                 place
                 of
                 
                   Genesis
                   ,
                   Et
                   erunt
                   in
                   signa
                   ,
                
                 Affirms
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Stars
                 were
                 placed
                 in
                 this
                 Order
                 in
                 the
                 Heavens
                 for
                 no
                 other
                 end
                 ,
                 but
                 to
                 shew
                 ,
                 by
                 their
                 diverse
                 Aspects
                 and
                 Figures
                 ,
                 whatever
                 is
                 to
                 happen
                 while
                 the
                 World
                 indures
                 ,
                 aswell
                 in
                 general
                 as
                 in
                 particular
                 ;
                 yet
                 not
                 so
                 ,
                 as
                 that
                 they
                 were
                 the
                 Causes
                 of
                 all
                 these
                 things
                 :
                 never
                 any
                 such
                 thing
                 came
                 into
                 the
                 Thoughts
                 ,
                 much
                 less
                 into
                 the
                 Writings
                 of
                 this
                 Learned
                 Man.
                 For
                 as
                 the
                 Prophecies
                 that
                 are
                 Written
                 in
                 Books
                 ,
                 are
                 not
                 the
                 Causes
                 of
                 those
                 Events
                 ,
                 which
                 they
                 foretel
                 shall
                 happen
                 ,
                 but
                 only
                 the
                 Signs
                 ;
                 so
                 may
                 the
                 Heavens
                 be
                 (
                 says
                 he
                 )
                 very
                 justly
                 
                 called
                 a
                 Book
                 ,
                 wherein
                 God
                 hath
                 Written
                 ,
                 
                   all
                   that
                   is
                   ,
                   hath
                   been
                   ,
                   and
                   hereafter
                   shall
                   be
                   .
                
                 And
                 for
                 Confirmation
                 Cites
                 a
                 Passage
                 out
                 of
                 a
                 Book
                 called
                 ,
                 
                   Narratio
                   Ioseph
                
                 ,
                 wherein
                 the
                 Patriarch
                 Iacob
                 ,
                 giving
                 his
                 Blessing
                 to
                 all
                 his
                 Children
                 ,
                 upon
                 his
                 Death-bed
                 ,
                 says
                 ,
                 
                   Legi
                   in
                   Tabulis
                   Coeli
                   ,
                   quaecunque
                   contingent
                   vobis
                   &
                   Filijs
                   vestris
                   :
                
                 whence
                 the
                 same
                 Origen
                 concludes
                 on
                 this
                 Question
                 ,
                 
                   Vtrum
                   Stellae
                   aliquid
                   agant
                
                 ?
                 That
                 some
                 Mysteries
                 may
                 be
                 assuredly
                 Read
                 in
                 the
                 Heavens
                 ;
                 by
                 reason
                 that
                 the
                 Stars
                 are
                 disposed
                 and
                 Ordered
                 there
                 in
                 the
                 Form
                 of
                 Characters
                 .
                 
                   Iulius
                   Syrenus
                
                 has
                 undertaken
                 the
                 Defence
                 of
                 this
                 Doctrine
                 ,
                 and
                 holds
                 it
                 a
                 most
                 safe
                 and
                 true
                 Opinion
                 .
                 St.
                 
                   Augustine
                   lib.
                   2.
                   contra
                   Manichaeos
                   ,
                   cap.
                
                 2.
                 has
                 this
                 Expression
                 ;
                 
                   Neque
                   in
                   illis
                   corporibus
                   Caelestibus
                   hic
                   latere
                   posse
                   Cogitationes
                   credendum
                   est
                   ,
                   quemadmodum
                   in
                   his
                   corporibus
                   latent
                   ;
                   sed
                   sicut
                   nonnulli
                   motus
                   animorum
                   apparent
                   in
                   Vultu
                   ,
                   &
                   maximè
                   in
                   oculis
                   ,
                   sic
                   in
                   
                   illâ
                   perspicuitate
                   ac
                   simplicitate
                   Caelestium
                   corporum
                   ,
                   omnes
                   motus
                   animi
                   latere
                   arbitror
                   .
                
                 All
                 the
                 Platonists
                 in
                 a
                 manner
                 were
                 likewise
                 of
                 the
                 same
                 Persuasion
                 ,
                 and
                 this
                 is
                 the
                 reason
                 that
                 Porphyrie
                 assures
                 us
                 ,
                 that
                 when
                 he
                 had
                 resolved
                 to
                 have
                 killed
                 himself
                 ,
                 Plotinus
                 who
                 had
                 Read
                 his
                 intention
                 in
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 hindered
                 him
                 from
                 doing
                 it
                 .
                 To
                 the
                 same
                 purpose
                 is
                 that
                 of
                 Orpheus
                 ,
                 
                   
                     
                       —
                       
                         〈◊〉
                         〈◊〉
                         〈◊〉
                         〈◊〉
                         〈◊〉
                      
                    
                     
                       
                         〈◊〉
                         〈◊〉
                         〈◊〉
                         〈◊〉
                         〈◊〉
                      
                       .
                    
                  
                   
                     
                       —
                       certus
                       tuus
                       Ordo
                    
                     
                       Immutabilibus
                       mandatis
                       ,
                       currit
                       in
                       Astris
                       .
                    
                  
                
              
               
                 Amongst
                 the
                 Modern
                 men
                 ,
                 Flud
                 has
                 this
                 expression
                 in
                 his
                 Apology
                 for
                 the
                 Rosie
                 Cross
                 men
                 ,
                 
                   In
                   Coelo
                   (
                   inquit
                   )
                   inserti
                   &
                   impressi
                   hujusmodi
                   Characteres
                   ,
                   qui
                   non
                   aliter
                   ex
                   Stellarum
                   ordinibus
                   conflantur
                   ,
                   quàm
                   lineae
                   Geometricae
                   ,
                   &
                   Literae
                   Vulgares
                   ex
                   punctis
                   ,
                   
                   superficies
                   ex
                   lineis
                   ,
                   Corpus
                   ex
                   superficiebus
                   .
                
              
               
                 Postellus
                 gives
                 us
                 this
                 account
                 of
                 his
                 own
                 Experience
                 in
                 this
                 matter
                 ,
                 in
                 these
                 words
                 ;
                 
                   Si
                   dixero
                   me
                   in
                   Coelo
                   vidisse
                   ,
                   in
                   ipsis
                   Linguae
                   Sanctae
                   Characteribus
                   ,
                   ab
                   Esrâ
                   primum
                   publicè
                   expositis
                   ,
                   ea
                   omnia
                   quae
                   sunt
                   in
                   rerum
                   naturâ
                   constituta
                   ;
                   ut
                   vidi
                   non
                   explicitè
                   ,
                   sed
                   implicitè
                   ;
                   vix
                   ullus
                   mihi
                   crediderit
                   :
                   tamen
                   testis
                   Deus
                   ,
                   &
                   Christus
                   ejus
                   ,
                   quia
                   non
                   mentior
                   .
                
              
               
                 After
                 the
                 Deluge
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 scattering
                 abroad
                 of
                 the
                 Nations
                 through
                 the
                 whole
                 Earth
                 ,
                 the
                 Study
                 of
                 Astrology
                 was
                 likewise
                 Dilated
                 ,
                 and
                 become
                 common
                 to
                 many
                 Nations
                 :
                 so
                 that
                 they
                 not
                 only
                 Vied
                 one
                 with
                 another
                 in
                 the
                 accurateness
                 and
                 perfection
                 of
                 Skill
                 ,
                 but
                 also
                 about
                 the
                 Invention
                 of
                 it
                 ;
                 every
                 one
                 desiring
                 to
                 ascribe
                 the
                 Invention
                 of
                 so
                 Noble
                 a
                 Science
                 to
                 their
                 own
                 Country
                 :
                 but
                 't
                 is
                 most
                 probable
                 ,
                 nay
                 in
                 a
                 manner
                 certain
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 of
                 Asia
                 ,
                 (
                 considering
                 
                 that
                 Adam
                 was
                 there
                 made
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 Noahs
                 Arks
                 rested
                 upon
                 a
                 Mountain
                 in
                 that
                 part
                 of
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 from
                 whom
                 the
                 Face
                 of
                 the
                 whole
                 Earth
                 was
                 Inhabited
                 )
                 were
                 they
                 who
                 first
                 improved
                 this
                 Study
                 .
                 Nor
                 is
                 it
                 reasonable
                 to
                 think
                 that
                 the
                 Asians
                 ,
                 who
                 were
                 setled
                 in
                 a
                 Residence
                 ,
                 and
                 had
                 both
                 Motives
                 and
                 Opportunities
                 enough
                 ,
                 should
                 let
                 the
                 Africans
                 or
                 Europoeans
                 outstrip
                 them
                 in
                 the
                 Invention
                 of
                 Arts
                 ,
                 who
                 were
                 Cumbered
                 for
                 many
                 years
                 in
                 finding
                 out
                 convenient
                 Habitations
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 defending
                 themselves
                 from
                 the
                 Incursions
                 of
                 their
                 troublesome
                 Neighbours
                 .
              
               
                 Amongst
                 the
                 Asians
                 the
                 Chaldaeans
                 Challenge
                 Priority
                 in
                 this
                 mater
                 ,
                 and
                 glory
                 of
                 instructing
                 other
                 Nations
                 herein
                 ,
                 according
                 to
                 which
                 is
                 that
                 of
                 
                   Herodotus
                   in
                   Euterpe
                
                 :
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 .
                 
                   i.
                   e.
                
                 The
                 Graecians
                 Learned
                 of
                 the
                 Babylonians
                 or
                 Chaldeans
                 the
                 Doctrine
                 of
                 the
                 Poles
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 of
                 dividing
                 the
                 Day
                 into
                 Twelve
                 parts
                 .
                 Likewise
                 
                   Didorus
                   Siculus
                
                 in
                 the
                 Third
                 Book
                 of
                 Antiquities
                 ,
                 Testifies
                 of
                 the
                 Chaldaeans
                 ,
                 that
                 by
                 long
                 observation
                 of
                 the
                 Course
                 of
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 they
                 found
                 out
                 their
                 Nature
                 ,
                 and
                 Foretold
                 things
                 that
                 were
                 afterwards
                 to
                 come
                 to
                 pass
                 ;
                 Tully
                 likewise
                 
                   in
                   primo
                   de
                   Divinatione
                   ;
                   Principio
                   (
                   inquit
                   )
                   Assyrij
                   ,
                   ut
                   ab
                   ultimis
                   auctoribus
                   repetam
                   ,
                   propter
                   planitiem
                   magnitudinemque
                   regionum
                   ,
                   quas
                   incolebant
                   ,
                   cum
                   Caelum
                   omni
                   ex
                   parte
                   patens
                   ,
                   atque
                   apertum
                   intuerentur
                   ,
                   trajectiones
                   ,
                   motusque
                   Stellarum
                   observaverunt
                   .
                
                 Nor
                 is
                 it
                 meet
                 that
                 we
                 forget
                 Abraham
                 ,
                 a
                 man
                 so
                 highly
                 approved
                 of
                 by
                 God
                 ,
                 who
                 was
                 a
                 Chaldaean
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Chief
                 Astrologer
                 of
                 the
                 East
                 ,
                 of
                 whom
                 Berosus
                 ,
                 as
                 Eusebius
                 says
                 ,
                 spoke
                 in
                 this
                 manner
                 ,
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 .
                 
                   Decimâ
                   vero
                   post
                   Diluvium
                   generatione
                   apud
                   Chaldaeos
                   erat
                   vir
                   justus
                   ,
                   &
                   magnus
                   ,
                   &
                   Coelestium
                   
                   habens
                   experientiam
                   .
                   i.
                   e.
                
                 in
                 the
                 Tenth
                 Generation
                 after
                 the
                 Floud
                 there
                 was
                 amongst
                 the
                 Chaldaeans
                 ,
                 a
                 Just
                 and
                 Great
                 Man
                 ,
                 one
                 well
                 skill'd
                 in
                 the
                 Heavens
                 ;
                 which
                 no
                 doubt
                 is
                 meant
                 of
                 Abraham
                 ,
                 who
                 was
                 so
                 Famous
                 in
                 respect
                 of
                 the
                 great
                 sway
                 he
                 bore
                 as
                 a
                 Nobleman
                 ;
                 but
                 more
                 especially
                 for
                 his
                 Piety
                 ,
                 and
                 Sober
                 manner
                 of
                 Living
                 ,
                 and
                 his
                 Miraculous
                 and
                 Conspicuous
                 Preservation
                 in
                 all
                 Dangers
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 immediate
                 hand
                 of
                 Providence
                 .
                 Abraham
                 Learn'd
                 of
                 his
                 Father
                 Thare
                 or
                 Terah
                 ,
                 which
                 is
                 the
                 Opinion
                 of
                 Philo
                 in
                 his
                 Book
                 of
                 Nobility
                 ,
                 where
                 he
                 Writes
                 thus
                 of
                 Abraham
                 ,
                 and
                 his
                 Father
                 Thare
                 ,
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 .
                 
                   Primus
                   Parens
                   Iudaeorum
                   Chaldaeus
                   erat
                   Natione
                   ,
                   Patre
                   prognatus
                   dedito
                   syderali
                   Scientiae
                   ,
                   uno
                   ex
                   ijs
                   ,
                   qui
                   circa
                   Mathesin
                   versarentur
                   .
                
                 Where
                 by
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 is
                 meant
                 Thare
                 the
                 Father
                 of
                 Abraham
                 .
              
               
               
                 Now
                 although
                 we
                 ought
                 to
                 look
                 upon
                 the
                 Chaldaeans
                 as
                 the
                 First
                 and
                 most
                 Eminent
                 in
                 this
                 Faculty
                 ,
                 yet
                 we
                 are
                 not
                 to
                 look
                 upon
                 them
                 as
                 the
                 sole
                 Monopolists
                 of
                 Sydereal
                 knowledge
                 ;
                 the
                 Bactrians
                 will
                 put
                 in
                 for
                 a
                 share
                 ,
                 and
                 say
                 ,
                 that
                 though
                 they
                 did
                 not
                 first
                 lay
                 down
                 the
                 Rules
                 ,
                 yet
                 they
                 improved
                 them
                 as
                 high
                 as
                 any
                 ;
                 Witness
                 their
                 so
                 famous
                 Zoroaster
                 ,
                 who
                 as
                 Iustin
                 tells
                 us
                 ,
                 
                   in
                   lib.
                   primo
                   Epitomes
                   Trogi
                   ,
                   Primus
                   Magicas
                   Artes
                   dicitur
                   invenisse
                   ,
                   &
                   mundi
                   principia
                   ,
                   Siderumque
                   motus
                   diligenter
                   observasse
                   :
                
                 and
                 was
                 doubtless
                 as
                 expert
                 in
                 this
                 Reading
                 the
                 Starry
                 Book
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 greatest
                 Chaldaean
                 of
                 them
                 all
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 Aegyptians
                 Learned
                 from
                 the
                 Assyrians
                 ,
                 and
                 had
                 the
                 same
                 convenience
                 for
                 the
                 Business
                 ;
                 that
                 is
                 ,
                 a
                 plain
                 Champaign
                 Country
                 ,
                 and
                 an
                 Air
                 seldom
                 or
                 never
                 Overcast
                 with
                 Clouds
                 ,
                 or
                 Vapours
                 to
                 hinder
                 the
                 Eye
                 from
                 Viewing
                 the
                 Motions
                 of
                 those
                 Glorious
                 Bodies
                 .
                 'T
                 is
                 the
                 Opinion
                 of
                 
                 Vossius
                 in
                 his
                 Book
                 
                   De
                   quatuor
                   artibus
                   popularibus
                
                 ,
                 That
                 Abraham
                 brought
                 it
                 amongst
                 them
                 when
                 he
                 Travelled
                 into
                 that
                 Country
                 ;
                 but
                 however
                 it
                 was
                 ,
                 they
                 proved
                 so
                 good
                 Proficients
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 invite
                 the
                 Graecians
                 to
                 come
                 into
                 their
                 Schools
                 for
                 Instructions
                 in
                 this
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 curious
                 Arts
                 ,
                 as
                 
                   Theon
                   Alexandrinus
                
                 upon
                 Aratus
                 his
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 tells
                 us
                 ,
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 :
                 
                   i.
                   e.
                
                 The
                 Graecians
                 received
                 these
                 Arts
                 from
                 the
                 Aegyptians
                 and
                 Chaldaeans
                 .
                 And
                 as
                 Pride
                 is
                 still
                 Fatal
                 to
                 great
                 Parts
                 ,
                 the
                 Aegyptians
                 puffed
                 up
                 with
                 their
                 Learning
                 began
                 to
                 be
                 Ungrateful
                 ,
                 and
                 Kick
                 at
                 their
                 Masters
                 the
                 Chaldaeans
                 ,
                 they
                 thought
                 themselves
                 more
                 Skilful
                 ,
                 and
                 would
                 have
                 the
                 Credit
                 of
                 Invention
                 to
                 themselves
                 ;
                 on
                 their
                 side
                 was
                 
                   Diodorus
                   Siculus
                
                 ,
                 who
                 to
                 make
                 the
                 Story
                 Plausible
                 Affirms
                 ,
                 that
                 Babylon
                 is
                 a
                 Colony
                 of
                 the
                 Aegyptians
                 ,
                 first
                 Planted
                 by
                 Belus
                 the
                 Son
                 of
                 Neptune
                 and
                 Lybie
                 ,
                 who
                 Erected
                 a
                 
                 Colledg
                 in
                 Babylon
                 ,
                 and
                 set
                 Scholars
                 therein
                 to
                 Study
                 Astrology
                 ,
                 as
                 they
                 did
                 in
                 Aegypt
                 .
                 Yet
                 
                   Diodorus
                   Siculus
                
                 is
                 to
                 be
                 suspected
                 ,
                 as
                 being
                 too
                 great
                 a
                 Favourer
                 of
                 the
                 Aegyptians
                 ;
                 and
                 another
                 thing
                 which
                 makes
                 this
                 Opinion
                 Invalid
                 is
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Egyptians
                 can
                 produce
                 no
                 Observations
                 before
                 Alexander
                 the
                 Great
                 ;
                 whereas
                 the
                 Chaldoeans
                 can
                 prove
                 theirs
                 to
                 be
                 of
                 far
                 greater
                 Antiquity
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 Arabians
                 too
                 were
                 Skill'd
                 in
                 Astrology
                 ,
                 as
                 may
                 be
                 gathered
                 from
                 
                   Chap.
                   9.
                   verse
                
                 9.
                 of
                 Iob
                 ,
                 where
                 mention
                 is
                 made
                 of
                 the
                 
                   Pleiades
                   ,
                   Orion
                
                 ,
                 and
                 Arcturus
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 Aethiopians
                 were
                 not
                 ignorant
                 of
                 the
                 Stars
                 and
                 their
                 different
                 influences
                 ,
                 for
                 which
                 they
                 were
                 beholding
                 to
                 Atlas
                 King
                 of
                 Mauritania
                 ,
                 who
                 is
                 said
                 to
                 have
                 Lived
                 about
                 the
                 time
                 of
                 Ioseph
                 the
                 Patriarch
                 ,
                 or
                 as
                 others
                 ,
                 about
                 the
                 time
                 of
                 Moses
                 ;
                 and
                 was
                 so
                 excellent
                 in
                 this
                 Study
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Poets
                 Feigned
                 him
                 to
                 bear
                 up
                 Heaven
                 with
                 
                 his
                 Shoulders
                 .
                 Having
                 Traced
                 Astrology
                 through
                 Asia
                 and
                 Africa
                 ;
                 we
                 will
                 now
                 bear
                 it
                 company
                 into
                 Europe
                 ,
                 and
                 see
                 ,
                 by
                 whom
                 it
                 was
                 first
                 Taught
                 in
                 this
                 Part
                 of
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 which
                 is
                 not
                 inferior
                 to
                 the
                 other
                 for
                 curious
                 knowledge
                 .
              
               
                 Though
                 Learning
                 be
                 never
                 more
                 Disturbed
                 and
                 Eclypsed
                 ,
                 than
                 where
                 a
                 Country
                 is
                 embroyled
                 in
                 War
                 ,
                 Mars
                 his
                 Drum
                 being
                 too
                 obstreperous
                 for
                 the
                 sweet
                 lays
                 of
                 the
                 Muses
                 ,
                 yet
                 't
                 is
                 observable
                 that
                 it
                 follows
                 the
                 Victor
                 ,
                 and
                 delights
                 to
                 fix
                 her
                 Seat
                 where
                 the
                 Sword
                 has
                 drawn
                 a
                 place
                 of
                 Defence
                 to
                 secure
                 her
                 from
                 the
                 Affronts
                 of
                 those
                 that
                 desire
                 to
                 enjoy
                 the
                 Liberties
                 and
                 conveniences
                 others
                 have
                 in
                 Lawful
                 Possession
                 .
              
               
                 It
                 was
                 then
                 Learning
                 began
                 to
                 flourish
                 in
                 Greece
                 ,
                 when
                 they
                 had
                 by
                 their
                 Prowess
                 awed
                 those
                 that
                 before
                 Lorded
                 it
                 over
                 them
                 .
                 And
                 though
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 observed
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 were
                 not
                 altogether
                 ignorant
                 in
                 Astrology
                 ,
                 but
                 
                 had
                 some
                 Glimpses
                 thereof
                 at
                 the
                 time
                 of
                 the
                 Trojan
                 War
                 ,
                 from
                 Homers
                 telling
                 ,
                 how
                 Achilles
                 his
                 Armour
                 had
                 Stars
                 Engraven
                 on
                 it
                 by
                 Vulcan
                 ;
                 as
                 also
                 from
                 the
                 Story
                 of
                 Endymions
                 being
                 Loved
                 by
                 the
                 Moon
                 ,
                 which
                 was
                 occasioned
                 from
                 his
                 Observations
                 concerning
                 the
                 Moon
                 ;
                 as
                 also
                 Phaethons
                 Guiding
                 the
                 Chariot
                 of
                 the
                 Sun
                 ,
                 from
                 the
                 like
                 occasion
                 :
                 the
                 Stories
                 of
                 Orion
                 ,
                 and
                 Perseus
                 ,
                 and
                 Orpheus
                 his
                 Harp
                 ,
                 being
                 made
                 Stars
                 ,
                 all
                 which
                 only
                 intimate
                 unto
                 us
                 ,
                 their
                 skill
                 in
                 the
                 Course
                 of
                 the
                 Stars
                 ;
                 yet
                 't
                 was
                 never
                 improved
                 to
                 any
                 considerable
                 height
                 till
                 Thales
                 .
                 Before
                 his
                 time
                 ,
                 they
                 had
                 only
                 so
                 much
                 knowledge
                 therein
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 know
                 the
                 Seasons
                 of
                 the
                 year
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Rising
                 and
                 Setting
                 of
                 some
                 remarkable
                 Stars
                 ;
                 such
                 an
                 Astrologer
                 was
                 Hesiod
                 ,
                 and
                 such
                 Plato
                 calls
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 ,
                 men
                 only
                 indued
                 with
                 the
                 little
                 Rudiments
                 ,
                 and
                 unacquainted
                 with
                 that
                 accurateness
                 which
                 Thales
                 brought
                 in
                 ;
                 of
                 
                 whom
                 
                   Diogenes
                   Laertius
                
                 gives
                 this
                 account
                 in
                 
                   Vitâ
                   Thaletis
                
                 ;
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 .
                 
                   i.
                   e.
                
                 most
                 are
                 of
                 opinion
                 that
                 Thales
                 was
                 the
                 first
                 that
                 Studied
                 Astrology
                 (
                 in
                 Greece
                 )
                 and
                 observed
                 the
                 Course
                 of
                 the
                 Sun
                 ,
                 and
                 Taught
                 the
                 reason
                 of
                 the
                 Eclypses
                 ,
                 as
                 Eudemus
                 says
                 in
                 his
                 Astrological
                 History
                 .
                 
                   Anaximander
                   Milesius
                
                 was
                 the
                 Scholar
                 of
                 Thales
                 ;
                 he
                 Taught
                 that
                 the
                 Earth
                 was
                 the
                 Center
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 it
                 was
                 Round
                 ,
                 observed
                 the
                 Tropicks
                 ,
                 and
                 Equinoctials
                 ,
                 and
                 Taught
                 to
                 know
                 the
                 hours
                 by
                 the
                 shadow
                 of
                 a
                 Gnomon
                 .
                 Scholar
                 to
                 Anaximander
                 was
                 
                   Anaximenes
                   Milesius
                
                 ,
                 who
                 found
                 that
                 the
                 Moon
                 borrowed
                 her
                 Light
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 the
                 Interposition
                 of
                 the
                 Earth
                 betwixt
                 her
                 and
                 the
                 Sun
                 ,
                 was
                 the
                 Cause
                 of
                 her
                 several
                 Phases
                 .
              
               
                 After
                 Anaximines
                 ,
                 was
                 
                   Anaxagoras
                   Clazomenius
                
                 ,
                 who
                 Taught
                 that
                 the
                 
                 Moon
                 had
                 in
                 it
                 Hills
                 ,
                 and
                 Valleys
                 like
                 the
                 Earth
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 it
                 was
                 Habitable
                 ;
                 that
                 the
                 Milky-way
                 was
                 made
                 by
                 the
                 Reflection
                 of
                 the
                 Sun-beams
                 ;
                 that
                 Comets
                 are
                 a
                 Mass
                 of
                 Sparkles
                 ,
                 proceeding
                 from
                 the
                 Stars
                 by
                 reason
                 of
                 their
                 Swift
                 Motion
                 ,
                 Collected
                 into
                 one
                 Body
                 ;
                 that
                 the
                 Sun
                 was
                 a
                 Round
                 ,
                 Fiery-Ball
                 ,
                 Bigger
                 than
                 all
                 Peloponnesus
                 ;
                 that
                 the
                 Heavens
                 consisted
                 of
                 Stones
                 ,
                 which
                 yet
                 do
                 not
                 Fall
                 ,
                 by
                 reason
                 of
                 that
                 extraordinary
                 Circumgyration
                 .
                 In
                 the
                 second
                 year
                 of
                 the
                 Seventy
                 Eight
                 Olympiad
                 he
                 foretold
                 ,
                 that
                 one
                 of
                 those
                 Stones
                 should
                 Fall
                 from
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 which
                 (
                 they
                 say
                 )
                 came
                 to
                 pass
                 by
                 the
                 River
                 Aegos
                 in
                 Thrace
                 ;
                 how
                 much
                 he
                 was
                 addicted
                 to
                 the
                 Study
                 of
                 Astrology
                 ,
                 may
                 be
                 gathered
                 from
                 this
                 ;
                 One
                 asking
                 wherefore
                 he
                 was
                 Born
                 ,
                 he
                 Answer'd
                 ,
                 to
                 Contemplate
                 the
                 Sun
                 ,
                 and
                 Moon
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Heavens
                 ;
                 to
                 another
                 ,
                 Rebuking
                 him
                 for
                 neglecting
                 his
                 Temporal
                 Affairs
                 ,
                 and
                 asking
                 him
                 if
                 he
                 did
                 not
                 care
                 for
                 
                 his
                 Country
                 ,
                 he
                 said
                 ,
                 Yes
                 I
                 do
                 ,
                 (
                 pointing
                 with
                 his
                 Finger
                 towards
                 Heaven
                 )
                 that
                 is
                 my
                 Country
                 .
              
               
                 Pythagoras
                 is
                 accounted
                 Chief
                 of
                 the
                 Italian
                 Sect
                 ,
                 and
                 Taught
                 in
                 Italy
                 at
                 the
                 same
                 time
                 as
                 Anaximenes
                 did
                 at
                 Miletum
                 :
                 he
                 is
                 said
                 to
                 have
                 first
                 observed
                 the
                 Obliquity
                 of
                 the
                 Eclyptick
                 ;
                 he
                 Taught
                 that
                 the
                 Earth
                 moved
                 about
                 the
                 Sun
                 ,
                 betwixt
                 Mars
                 and
                 Venus
                 .
                 After
                 him
                 was
                 Democritus
                 the
                 Abderite
                 ,
                 and
                 
                   Empedocles
                   Agrigentinus
                
                 .
                 About
                 the
                 first
                 year
                 of
                 the
                 Eighty
                 Seventh
                 Olympiad
                 flourished
                 Meton
                 ,
                 the
                 Son
                 of
                 Panthias
                 ,
                 who
                 Corrected
                 the
                 Calendar
                 ,
                 and
                 found
                 out
                 the
                 
                   Circulum
                   decennovennalem
                
                 ,
                 which
                 we
                 call
                 the
                 Golden
                 Number
                 ;
                 of
                 whom
                 
                   Festius
                   Avienus
                
                 .
              
               
                 
                   Illius
                   ad
                   numeros
                   prolixa
                   decennia
                   rursum
                
                 
                   Adjecisse
                   Meton
                   Cecropeâ
                   dicitur
                   arte
                   ,
                
                 
                   Inseditque
                   animis
                   ,
                   tenuit
                   rem
                   Graecia
                   sollers
                
                 
                 
                   Protinus
                   ,
                   &
                   longos
                   inventam
                   misit
                   in
                   annos
                   .
                
              
               
                 Whereby
                 is
                 meant
                 that
                 Meton
                 added
                 Ten
                 years
                 to
                 the
                 Computation
                 of
                 Harpalus
                 ,
                 who
                 made
                 Tables
                 for
                 Eight
                 years
                 only
                 .
                 This
                 period
                 of
                 Nineteen
                 years
                 was
                 approved
                 of
                 by
                 Euctemon
                 and
                 Philippus
                 ,
                 as
                 best
                 reconciling
                 the
                 Differences
                 in
                 the
                 Sun
                 and
                 Moons
                 Revolutions
                 .
                 Eudoxus
                 the
                 Son
                 of
                 Aeschines
                 a
                 Cnydian
                 ,
                 a
                 Famous
                 Geometrician
                 and
                 Astrologer
                 ,
                 opposed
                 the
                 Period
                 found
                 by
                 Meton
                 ,
                 by
                 one
                 of
                 Eight
                 years
                 ,
                 but
                 to
                 no
                 purpose
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 Multitude
                 of
                 Commentators
                 upon
                 Aratus
                 ,
                 will
                 not
                 permit
                 me
                 to
                 leave
                 him
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 Roll
                 ;
                 he
                 Wrote
                 in
                 Verse
                 the
                 time
                 of
                 the
                 Rising
                 ,
                 and
                 Setting
                 of
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 and
                 gave
                 Rules
                 to
                 know
                 what
                 Temperatures
                 of
                 Air
                 would
                 be
                 upon
                 the
                 different
                 Aspects
                 and
                 Positions
                 of
                 the
                 Heavenly
                 Bodies
                 .
              
               
               
                 About
                 the
                 time
                 of
                 
                   Ptolomaeus
                   Philadelphus
                   ,
                   Conon
                
                 Flourished
                 ,
                 who
                 Collected
                 the
                 Eclypses
                 of
                 the
                 Sun
                 and
                 Moon
                 ;
                 and
                 it
                 was
                 he
                 that
                 first
                 gave
                 Notice
                 of
                 the
                 Star
                 called
                 Berenices
                 Hair
                 ,
                 as
                 Catullus
                 says
                 in
                 his
                 Poem
                 
                   de
                   comâ
                   Berenices
                
                 .
              
               
                 
                   Idem
                   me
                   ille
                   Conon
                   caelesti
                   lumine
                   vidit
                   ,
                
                 
                   E
                   Bereniceo
                   vertice
                   Caesariem
                
                 
                   Fulgentem
                   clarè
                   ,
                   quam
                   multis
                   illa
                   Deorum
                
                 
                   Non
                   sine
                   taurino
                   sanguine
                   pollicita
                   est
                   .
                
              
               
                 About
                 Ten
                 years
                 after
                 him
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 ,
                 about
                 the
                 Hundred
                 and
                 Fortieth
                 Olympiad
                 ,
                 
                   Aristarchus
                   Samius
                
                 was
                 Famous
                 for
                 his
                 skill
                 ;
                 he
                 followed
                 the
                 Opinion
                 of
                 
                   Pythagoras
                   ,
                   Philolaus
                
                 ,
                 and
                 those
                 who
                 held
                 the
                 Motion
                 of
                 the
                 Earth
                 .
                 About
                 the
                 same
                 time
                 Flourished
                 the
                 Famous
                 Archimedes
                 ,
                 who
                 made
                 the
                 Flying
                 Dove
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Artificial
                 
                 Sphere
                 ,
                 wherein
                 were
                 Motions
                 answerable
                 to
                 that
                 of
                 the
                 Caelestial
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 the
                 Artificial
                 Planets
                 keeping
                 Correspondence
                 with
                 the
                 Natural
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 Study
                 of
                 the
                 Stars
                 being
                 now
                 grown
                 to
                 a
                 considerable
                 height
                 ,
                 wanted
                 not
                 Admirers
                 in
                 all
                 the
                 succeeding
                 Ages
                 ,
                 who
                 imployed
                 their
                 Parts
                 and
                 Indeavours
                 in
                 these
                 Speculations
                 ;
                 and
                 by
                 their
                 Industry
                 and
                 good
                 Fortune
                 ,
                 dayly
                 added
                 to
                 the
                 perfection
                 of
                 this
                 Art
                 :
                 It
                 were
                 easie
                 for
                 me
                 to
                 give
                 you
                 their
                 Names
                 in
                 Order
                 ,
                 as
                 they
                 appeared
                 to
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 to
                 these
                 very
                 times
                 :
                 but
                 that
                 not
                 being
                 so
                 necessary
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 only
                 speak
                 something
                 of
                 the
                 Progress
                 it
                 had
                 ,
                 after
                 the
                 Decay
                 of
                 the
                 Graecian
                 Monarchy
                 ,
                 and
                 then
                 proceed
                 to
                 my
                 intended
                 Discourse
                 against
                 the
                 Defamers
                 ,
                 and
                 Blots
                 to
                 this
                 Noble
                 Science
                 ,
                 the
                 Judicial
                 Astrologers
                 .
              
               
                 I
                 begin
                 with
                 Alcuinus
                 ,
                 otherwise
                 call'd
                 
                   Flaccus
                   Albinus
                
                 ;
                 not
                 that
                 he
                 was
                 the
                 first
                 ,
                 who
                 deserved
                 to
                 be
                 taken
                 
                 Notice
                 of
                 ,
                 but
                 for
                 Brevity
                 ;
                 considering
                 it
                 would
                 Swell
                 my
                 Volume
                 to
                 too
                 large
                 a
                 Bulk
                 to
                 name
                 them
                 all
                 .
                 He
                 was
                 Born
                 in
                 England
                 ,
                 a
                 Yorkshire-Man
                 ,
                 and
                 was
                 made
                 Deacon
                 in
                 the
                 days
                 of
                 Offa
                 King
                 of
                 the
                 Mercians
                 ,
                 and
                 was
                 by
                 him
                 ,
                 for
                 his
                 great
                 Learning
                 ,
                 but
                 especially
                 for
                 his
                 skill
                 in
                 the
                 Mathematical
                 Studies
                 ,
                 sent
                 over
                 to
                 Charles
                 the
                 Great
                 ,
                 and
                 was
                 by
                 him
                 Honourably
                 received
                 ,
                 and
                 staid
                 with
                 him
                 in
                 France
                 .
                 He
                 got
                 a
                 Grant
                 for
                 an
                 University
                 at
                 Paris
                 ,
                 and
                 Taught
                 the
                 Liberal
                 Sciences
                 there
                 .
                 He
                 Read
                 Astronomy
                 to
                 Charles
                 the
                 Great
                 ,
                 and
                 shew'd
                 him
                 the
                 use
                 of
                 an
                 Ephemeris
                 :
                 't
                 was
                 he
                 gave
                 the
                 German
                 Names
                 to
                 the
                 Winds
                 ,
                 by
                 which
                 our
                 seamen
                 at
                 this
                 day
                 call
                 them
                 .
              
               
                 This
                 Kings
                 being
                 delighted
                 so
                 much
                 with
                 Astronomy
                 ,
                 brought
                 him
                 into
                 a
                 good
                 Esteem
                 with
                 the
                 then
                 King
                 of
                 Persia
                 ,
                 who
                 was
                 addicted
                 the
                 same
                 way
                 ,
                 and
                 sent
                 him
                 a
                 Dial
                 for
                 the
                 Planets
                 ,
                 which
                 was
                 no
                 less
                 pleasant
                 
                 for
                 the
                 Favour
                 ,
                 than
                 useful
                 for
                 the
                 Ingenuity
                 of
                 it
                 .
              
               
                 Not
                 long
                 after
                 lived
                 Maimon
                 King
                 of
                 the
                 Saracens
                 ,
                 who
                 caused
                 Ptolomies
                 System
                 to
                 be
                 brought
                 in
                 again
                 ,
                 after
                 it
                 had
                 been
                 a
                 long
                 time
                 neglected
                 .
                 And
                 Contemporary
                 with
                 him
                 ,
                 was
                 the
                 Famous
                 Albumassar
                 the
                 Arabian
                 .
              
               
                 In
                 the
                 year
                 One
                 Thousand
                 Four
                 Hundred
                 and
                 Eighty
                 ,
                 flourished
                 
                   Marsilius
                   Ficinus
                
                 ,
                 at
                 first
                 a
                 great
                 Favourer
                 of
                 Judicial
                 Astrology
                 ;
                 but
                 afterwards
                 Reading
                 that
                 Excellent
                 Treatise
                 of
                 
                   Picus
                   Mirandula's
                
                 ,
                 concerning
                 that
                 Subject
                 ,
                 he
                 Recanted
                 ,
                 being
                 convinced
                 of
                 the
                 Fopperies
                 thereof
                 by
                 the
                 reasons
                 of
                 so
                 Learned
                 a
                 Man.
                 He
                 was
                 a
                 Great
                 man
                 in
                 all
                 Learning
                 ,
                 but
                 an
                 especial
                 Admirer
                 of
                 Plato's
                 Philosophy
                 .
              
               
                 In
                 the
                 year
                 One
                 Thousand
                 Five
                 Hundred
                 flourished
                 
                   Abraham
                   Zacuti
                
                 ,
                 Mathematician
                 to
                 Emanuel
                 King
                 of
                 Portugal
                 ;
                 he
                 left
                 a
                 perpetual
                 Almanack
                 for
                 the
                 Revolutions
                 of
                 all
                 the
                 Stars
                 .
              
               
               
                 From
                 the
                 year
                 of
                 Christ
                 One
                 Thousand
                 and
                 Five
                 Hundred
                 ,
                 Mathematical
                 Studies
                 grew
                 so
                 Universal
                 ,
                 and
                 well
                 known
                 in
                 the
                 Christian
                 World
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 is
                 impossible
                 to
                 Rank
                 them
                 in
                 their
                 Order
                 ,
                 the
                 Multiplicity
                 of
                 Students
                 bringing
                 Confusion
                 into
                 the
                 History
                 .
                 I
                 shall
                 only
                 therefore
                 speak
                 of
                 the
                 most
                 Renowned
                 .
                 And
                 first
                 ,
                 with
                 
                   Ioannes
                   Wernerus
                
                 a
                 German
                 ,
                 who
                 was
                 a
                 most
                 exact
                 Observer
                 of
                 the
                 Starry
                 Motions
                 ;
                 he
                 Wrote
                 two
                 Books
                 of
                 the
                 Motion
                 of
                 the
                 Eighth
                 Sphere
                 .
              
               
                 Contemporary
                 with
                 him
                 was
                 
                   Ioannes
                   Blanchinus
                
                 ,
                 and
                 about
                 sixteen
                 years
                 after
                 was
                 
                   Ioannes
                   Staeflerus
                
                 ;
                 he
                 Taught
                 the
                 way
                 to
                 make
                 an
                 Astrolabe
                 ,
                 and
                 Wrote
                 Commentaries
                 upon
                 Proclus
                 his
                 Sphere
                 ;
                 he
                 was
                 sometimes
                 Master
                 to
                 
                   Philip
                   Melancthon
                
                 ,
                 and
                 inflamed
                 that
                 Learned
                 man
                 with
                 such
                 a
                 Love
                 to
                 Mathematicks
                 ,
                 as
                 endured
                 to
                 his
                 very
                 Death
                 .
                 After
                 him
                 was
                 
                   Henricus
                   Baersius
                
                 ,
                 and
                 
                   Iohn
                   Cario
                
                 ,
                 
                 both
                 very
                 Eminent
                 men
                 ,
                 of
                 which
                 the
                 first
                 Wrote
                 a
                 Book
                 of
                 the
                 Composition
                 ,
                 and
                 use
                 of
                 the
                 Quadrant
                 ,
                 the
                 other
                 of
                 Practical
                 Astrology
                 ,
                 and
                 Ephimeredes
                 for
                 many
                 years
                 .
              
               
                 In
                 the
                 year
                 One
                 Thousand
                 Five
                 Hundred
                 Thirty
                 Six
                 ,
                 
                   Nicolaus
                   Copernicus
                
                 became
                 Eminent
                 ,
                 one
                 who
                 revived
                 many
                 Opinions
                 that
                 had
                 for
                 a
                 long
                 time
                 been
                 Buried
                 in
                 obscurity
                 ;
                 of
                 whom
                 
                   Ismael
                   Bulialdus
                
                 in
                 his
                 Prolegomena's
                 to
                 Phylosophical
                 Astronomy
                 ,
                 gives
                 this
                 Character
                 ,
                 
                   Nicolaus
                   Copernicus
                   vir
                   absolutae
                   subtilitatis
                   ,
                   non
                   solum
                   observator
                   fuit
                   ,
                   sed
                   etiam
                   Hypotheseos
                   Pythagoricae
                   antiquae
                   instaurator
                   .
                   Per
                   eum
                   enim
                   ex
                   humanis
                   cogitationibus
                   exemptoe
                   Ptolomaicarum
                   Hypotheseon
                   tricae
                   ,
                   &
                   circulorum
                   multiplicium
                   involutiones
                   ,
                   &
                   ad
                   Physicam
                   simplicitatem
                   revocatae
                   sunt
                   hominum
                   mentes
                   .
                
              
               
                 After
                 him
                 was
                 
                   Petrus
                   Apianus
                   ,
                   Lucas
                   Gauricus
                
                 a
                 Neopolitan
                 ,
                 and
                 
                   Ioachinus
                   Fortius
                   Rithenbergius
                
                 ,
                 commonly
                 
                 called
                 Sterck
                 ,
                 who
                 lived
                 at
                 the
                 same
                 time
                 with
                 
                   Erasmus
                   Roterodamus
                
                 ;
                 and
                 was
                 first
                 moved
                 to
                 apply
                 himself
                 to
                 study
                 ,
                 by
                 Conversing
                 with
                 Erasmus
                 ,
                 and
                 more
                 particularly
                 (
                 as
                 himself
                 Confesses
                 )
                 by
                 Reading
                 that
                 little
                 Treatise
                 
                   De
                   ratione
                   studij
                
                 .
              
               
                 In
                 the
                 year
                 of
                 Christ
                 One
                 Thousand
                 Five
                 Hundred
                 and
                 Sixty
                 ,
                 Lived
                 
                   Gerardus
                   Mercator
                
                 ,
                 a
                 man
                 well
                 Read
                 in
                 Astrology
                 .
              
               
                 Many
                 others
                 there
                 are
                 ,
                 whom
                 it
                 is
                 needless
                 to
                 insert
                 ,
                 not
                 that
                 they
                 were
                 less
                 deserving
                 than
                 others
                 ,
                 but
                 because
                 these
                 I
                 have
                 mentioned
                 may
                 serve
                 to
                 shew
                 by
                 whom
                 ,
                 and
                 at
                 what
                 times
                 this
                 Science
                 has
                 been
                 propagated
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 though
                 some
                 may
                 object
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 go
                 against
                 my self
                 in
                 thus
                 playing
                 the
                 Herald
                 ,
                 and
                 reckoning
                 the
                 Ancestors
                 of
                 Astrology
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 it
                 had
                 been
                 more
                 advantageous
                 to
                 my
                 Cause
                 to
                 have
                 sought
                 to
                 have
                 proved
                 ,
                 that
                 none
                 of
                 Ingenuity
                 or
                 Learning
                 had
                 ever
                 studied
                 in
                 these
                 matters
                 :
                 yet
                 let
                 
                 them
                 know
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 makes
                 much
                 for
                 me
                 upon
                 Consideration
                 ,
                 that
                 none
                 of
                 these
                 ever
                 descended
                 to
                 these
                 Nonsensical
                 Fopperies
                 ,
                 wherewith
                 Judicial
                 Astrology
                 is
                 stuffed
                 full
                 ,
                 and
                 which
                 has
                 brought
                 into
                 Question
                 the
                 more
                 material
                 points
                 of
                 the
                 Heavenly
                 Reading
                 .
                 Nor
                 have
                 these
                 Fortune-tellers
                 any
                 more
                 reason
                 to
                 boast
                 ,
                 that
                 so
                 many
                 Worthy
                 men
                 have
                 imployed
                 themselves
                 in
                 Contemplating
                 the
                 Starry
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 Romanists
                 to
                 boast
                 of
                 St.
                 Peter
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Apostles
                 Doctrine
                 ,
                 forasmuch
                 as
                 both
                 of
                 them
                 have
                 lost
                 their
                 Art
                 and
                 Religion
                 with
                 Superstition
                 and
                 Fopperies
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 CHAP.
                 II.
                 
              
               
                 A
                 Discourse
                 concerning
                 Iudicial
                 Astrology
                 .
              
               
                 THat
                 Curiosity
                 is
                 the
                 Epidemick
                 Disease
                 of
                 the
                 Mind
                 ,
                 every
                 man
                 may
                 Experience
                 in
                 himself
                 ,
                 and
                 
                 observe
                 in
                 others
                 ,
                 which
                 if
                 it
                 was
                 not
                 so
                 ,
                 there
                 had
                 been
                 no
                 occasion
                 of
                 the
                 present
                 Discourse
                 .
                 Yet
                 forasmuch
                 as
                 through
                 the
                 Impudent
                 Rashness
                 of
                 some
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Serious
                 simplicity
                 of
                 others
                 ,
                 not
                 only
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 but
                 also
                 the
                 Votes
                 and
                 Desires
                 of
                 men
                 are
                 reduced
                 into
                 an
                 Art
                 ,
                 and
                 made
                 (
                 against
                 their
                 own
                 Nature
                 )
                 Foretellers
                 of
                 future
                 Contingencies
                 ;
                 it
                 will
                 not
                 be
                 ,
                 I
                 hope
                 ,
                 impertinent
                 to
                 our
                 present
                 purpose
                 ,
                 to
                 Discusse
                 the
                 Business
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 Search
                 out
                 what
                 Solidity
                 and
                 Truth
                 there
                 is
                 in
                 their
                 Opinions
                 and
                 Tenets
                 .
                 Which
                 that
                 we
                 may
                 do
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 reduce
                 my
                 Discourse
                 to
                 Three
                 Heads
                 .
              
               
                 1.
                 
                 A
                 proposal
                 of
                 their
                 Principles
                 ,
                 who
                 are
                 persuaded
                 of
                 the
                 Omniscience
                 of
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 and
                 have
                 given
                 up
                 their
                 Votes
                 for
                 Judicial
                 Astrology
                 .
              
               
                 2.
                 
                 An
                 Examination
                 of
                 those
                 Principles
                 ;
                 to
                 see
                 how
                 their
                 Principles
                 accord
                 with
                 reason
                 .
              
               
                 3.
                 
                 A
                 Confutation
                 of
                 their
                 False
                 and
                 Erroneous
                 Opinions
                 ,
                 not
                 only
                 in
                 the
                 
                 smaller
                 Deductions
                 and
                 Conclusions
                 ,
                 but
                 also
                 in
                 the
                 very
                 Fundamentals
                 .
              
               
                 Of
                 which
                 I
                 do
                 not
                 intent
                 to
                 make
                 a
                 long
                 Treatise
                 ,
                 but
                 only
                 briefly
                 to
                 Touch
                 at
                 the
                 foresaid
                 Method
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 have
                 done
                 .
              
               
                 Grand
                 Patrons
                 and
                 Favourites
                 of
                 the
                 affirmative
                 (
                 I
                 mean
                 Sticklers
                 for
                 Judicial
                 Astrology
                 )
                 were
                 the
                 Priscillianists
                 ,
                 spawned
                 from
                 the
                 Gnosticks
                 ;
                 who
                 amongst
                 other
                 their
                 prodigious
                 Errours
                 had
                 this
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Stars
                 had
                 especial
                 and
                 supreme
                 Influence
                 and
                 Predominance
                 over
                 man
                 ,
                 and
                 Taught
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 several
                 parts
                 of
                 his
                 Body
                 were
                 in
                 Subordination
                 to
                 the
                 Twelve
                 Constellations
                 :
                 Assigning
                 to
                 the
                 Head
                 
                   Aries
                   ,
                   Taurus
                
                 to
                 the
                 Neck
                 ,
                 Gemini
                 to
                 the
                 Shoulders
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 of
                 the
                 rest
                 ,
                 as
                 you
                 may
                 be
                 informed
                 from
                 every
                 Almanack
                 Writer
                 ,
                 affirming
                 that
                 in
                 good
                 Earnest
                 ,
                 which
                 the
                 Poets
                 only
                 spoke
                 Allegorically
                 ,
                 or
                 rather
                 
                   Poeticà
                   Licentiâ
                
                 ;
                 introducing
                 Old
                 Atlas
                 with
                 
                 the
                 Heavens
                 on
                 his
                 Shoulders
                 ,
                 and
                 his
                 Body
                 finely
                 Spangled
                 with
                 Stars
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 to
                 proceed
                 to
                 our
                 present
                 purpose
                 ;
                 their
                 main
                 Arguments
                 ,
                 and
                 Strong
                 Cables
                 ,
                 the
                 Homerick
                 Chains
                 wherewith
                 they
                 would
                 Pull
                 down
                 Iupiter
                 and
                 the
                 rest
                 of
                 the
                 Stars
                 to
                 the
                 very
                 Earth
                 ,
                 and
                 imploy
                 them
                 as
                 Link-boys
                 ,
                 to
                 direct
                 us
                 in
                 our
                 very
                 Pilgrimage
                 here
                 upon
                 Earth
                 ,
                 are
                 reducible
                 to
                 these
                 Heads
                 .
              
               
                 1.
                 
                 To
                 places
                 of
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 seeming
                 to
                 make
                 for
                 their
                 purpose
                 .
              
               
                 2.
                 
                 To
                 reasons
                 which
                 they
                 bring
                 to
                 make
                 good
                 their
                 party
                 .
              
               
                 3.
                 
                 To
                 Experiments
                 and
                 Observations
                 ,
                 by
                 which
                 they
                 would
                 expect
                 Credit
                 and
                 consent
                 to
                 their
                 Art.
                 
              
               
                 First
                 for
                 places
                 of
                 Scripture
                 .
                 Those
                 that
                 are
                 most
                 urged
                 by
                 them
                 are
                 Genesis
                 1.
                 14.
                 where
                 its
                 said
                 ,
                 
                   Luminaria
                   caelestia
                   a
                   Deo
                   posita
                   esse
                   in
                   signa
                   .
                   Iudges
                   .
                
                 That
                 the
                 Stars
                 fought
                 against
                 Sisera
                 in
                 their
                 courses
                 .
                 Also
                 
                 
                   Iob
                   38
                   31.
                   
                   Canst
                   thou
                   bind
                   the
                   sweet
                   influences
                   of
                   the
                   Pleiades
                   ?
                   or
                   loose
                   the
                   bands
                   of
                   Orion
                   ?
                   Canst
                   thou
                   bring
                   forth
                   Mazzaroth
                   in
                   his
                   season
                   ,
                   or
                   canst
                   thou
                   guide
                   Arcturus
                   with
                   his
                   sons
                   ?
                   Knowest
                   thou
                   the
                   Ordinances
                   of
                   Heaven
                   ?
                   Canst
                   thou
                   set
                   the
                   Dominion
                   thereof
                   in
                   the
                   Earth
                   ?
                
              
               
                 That
                 likewise
                 Psalm
                 the
                 19.
                 1.
                 
                 
                   The
                   Heavens
                   declare
                   the
                   glory
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   Firmament
                   sheweth
                   his
                   handy-work
                   .
                
                 And
                 above
                 all
                 ,
                 that
                 of
                 the
                 Star
                 which
                 appeared
                 to
                 the
                 Wise-men
                 or
                 Magi
                 ,
                 who
                 came
                 to
                 see
                 Christ
                 ;
                 from
                 all
                 which
                 places
                 they
                 would
                 conclude
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Stars
                 are
                 Signs
                 of
                 Future
                 Events
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 diversly
                 ,
                 according
                 to
                 their
                 several
                 Aspects
                 ,
                 Conjunctions
                 ,
                 and
                 Oppositions
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 second
                 Rank
                 of
                 Arguments
                 ,
                 are
                 such
                 as
                 are
                 drawn
                 from
                 reason
                 ,
                 which
                 they
                 Form
                 on
                 this
                 manner
                 ,
                 as
                 First
                 ,
              
               
                 That
                 there
                 can
                 be
                 no
                 other
                 reason
                 given
                 of
                 the
                 vast
                 number
                 of
                 Wandring-Stars
                 .
              
               
               
                 2.
                 
                 There
                 can
                 be
                 no
                 reason
                 given
                 of
                 the
                 several
                 Motions
                 ,
                 so
                 many
                 Conjunctions
                 ,
                 Oppositions
                 ,
                 Trines
                 and
                 Quartiles
                 ,
                 or
                 why
                 a
                 Planet
                 (
                 suppose
                 )
                 should
                 be
                 sometimes
                 in
                 one
                 Sign
                 ,
                 sometimes
                 in
                 another
                 ,
                 now
                 exalted
                 in
                 his
                 Dignities
                 in
                 his
                 own
                 house
                 in
                 full
                 force
                 and
                 power
                 ,
                 again
                 sneaking
                 amongst
                 his
                 Enemies
                 in
                 some
                 Constellation
                 ,
                 clearly
                 contrary
                 to
                 his
                 own
                 Natural
                 Inclination
                 ;
                 or
                 why
                 two
                 or
                 three
                 Planets
                 meeting
                 at
                 the
                 Bull
                 ,
                 or
                 Ram
                 ,
                 or
                 any
                 other
                 Sign
                 ,
                 should
                 be
                 very
                 Civil
                 and
                 Sober
                 ,
                 and
                 all
                 agree
                 to
                 one
                 thing
                 ;
                 and
                 on
                 a
                 sudden
                 (
                 no
                 body
                 knows
                 for
                 what
                 )
                 fall
                 out
                 and
                 come
                 to
                 Daggers
                 drawing
                 .
              
               
                 3.
                 
                 They
                 say
                 there
                 is
                 a
                 strict
                 Coherence
                 ,
                 and
                 Bond
                 of
                 Amity
                 betwixt
                 the
                 Caelestial
                 and
                 Sublunary
                 Bodies
                 ;
                 that
                 the
                 Stars
                 have
                 certain
                 Influences
                 upon
                 the
                 Bodies
                 of
                 men
                 ,
                 which
                 prevail
                 more
                 or
                 less
                 according
                 to
                 their
                 divers
                 Positions
                 :
                 for
                 example
                 ,
                 that
                 those
                 who
                 are
                 Born
                 in
                 the
                 Interlunium
                 ,
                 
                 should
                 be
                 weak
                 and
                 subject
                 to
                 Diseases
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 those
                 who
                 are
                 Born
                 when
                 the
                 Moon
                 is
                 in
                 Conjunction
                 with
                 Malevolent
                 ill-natur'd
                 Planets
                 ,
                 do
                 either
                 die
                 presently
                 ,
                 or
                 are
                 troubled
                 with
                 Epilepsies
                 at
                 the
                 New-Moons
                 :
                 that
                 Physicians
                 observe
                 some
                 Diseases
                 to
                 increase
                 or
                 abate
                 according
                 to
                 the
                 several
                 Aspects
                 and
                 Positure
                 of
                 the
                 Moon
                 with
                 other
                 Stars
                 .
                 They
                 reason
                 further
                 ,
                 that
                 considering
                 it
                 is
                 undeniable
                 that
                 the
                 Stars
                 have
                 influence
                 over
                 the
                 Elements
                 ,
                 it
                 should
                 be
                 absurd
                 to
                 deny
                 that
                 man
                 is
                 exempt
                 from
                 that
                 Influence
                 ,
                 since
                 he
                 does
                 infallibly
                 Participate
                 of
                 the
                 Nature
                 and
                 Quality
                 of
                 the
                 Elements
                 ;
                 this
                 is
                 for
                 the
                 Body
                 .
                 That
                 they
                 Swagger
                 over
                 his
                 Mind
                 too
                 ,
                 they
                 Argue
                 thus
                 ;
                 The
                 inclinations
                 of
                 the
                 Mind
                 follow
                 the
                 Temperature
                 of
                 the
                 Body
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 Temperature
                 of
                 the
                 Body
                 is
                 altered
                 and
                 disposed
                 of
                 by
                 the
                 Elements
                 ,
                 the
                 Elements
                 by
                 the
                 Caelestial
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 therefore
                 't
                 is
                 certain
                 ,
                 that
                 one
                 may
                 judge
                 of
                 the
                 Manners
                 
                 and
                 Inclinations
                 of
                 men
                 by
                 the
                 Stars
                 .
              
               
                 Another
                 reason
                 they
                 bring
                 ,
                 is
                 from
                 the
                 Author
                 of
                 Astrology
                 ,
                 who
                 (
                 as
                 they
                 say
                 )
                 was
                 Seth
                 ,
                 and
                 his
                 Children
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 he
                 ,
                 by
                 reason
                 of
                 what
                 he
                 had
                 heard
                 from
                 Adam
                 concerning
                 the
                 Two-fold
                 Destruction
                 of
                 the
                 World
                 ,
                 Wrote
                 the
                 Fundamentals
                 and
                 Principles
                 of
                 this
                 Science
                 on
                 two
                 Pillars
                 ,
                 the
                 one
                 of
                 Brick
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 other
                 of
                 Stone
                 ;
                 as
                 also
                 that
                 Moses
                 and
                 Daniel
                 were
                 skill'd
                 in
                 all
                 the
                 Learning
                 of
                 the
                 Aegyptians
                 and
                 Chaldaeans
                 ,
                 and
                 were
                 not
                 reprehended
                 for
                 it
                 from
                 the
                 Mouth
                 of
                 God.
                 
              
               
                 The
                 last
                 File
                 to
                 patch
                 up
                 a
                 plausible
                 Toleration
                 for
                 Judicial
                 Astrology
                 is
                 ,
                 from
                 Experiments
                 and
                 Observations
                 Collected
                 by
                 Practitioners
                 ,
                 and
                 Recorded
                 by
                 Historians
                 of
                 very
                 good
                 Credit
                 and
                 Authority
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 first
                 is
                 that
                 of
                 
                   Iulius
                   Caesar
                
                 ,
                 Written
                 by
                 Suetonius
                 ,
                 who
                 being
                 Warned
                 by
                 an
                 Astrologer
                 ,
                 to
                 beware
                 of
                 the
                 Ides
                 of
                 March
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 time
                 
                 being
                 come
                 ,
                 and
                 seeing
                 no
                 danger
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 prediction
                 seemed
                 to
                 signifie
                 ,
                 he
                 jeered
                 the
                 Artist
                 ,
                 telling
                 him
                 that
                 the
                 Ides
                 were
                 come
                 ;
                 who
                 answer'd
                 ,
                 They
                 were
                 indeed
                 come
                 ,
                 but
                 not
                 past
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 very
                 same
                 day
                 was
                 Caesar
                 Stab'd
                 in
                 the
                 Senat-house
                 ,
                 and
                 dyed
                 of
                 two
                 and
                 thirty
                 Wounds
                 .
                 At
                 the
                 Nativity
                 of
                 
                   Augustus
                   ,
                   Publius
                   Nigidius
                
                 who
                 had
                 calculated
                 it
                 ,
                 cryed
                 out
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Lord
                 of
                 the
                 whole
                 Earth
                 was
                 then
                 born
                 ,
                 which
                 made
                 Augustus
                 favour
                 the
                 Astrologers
                 ever
                 after
                 ,
                 and
                 caused
                 the
                 Image
                 of
                 a
                 Goat
                 to
                 be
                 set
                 upon
                 his
                 Coin
                 ,
                 being
                 born
                 under
                 that
                 Sign
                 .
              
               
                 Thrasillus
                 and
                 Tyberius
                 walking
                 together
                 the
                 Emperour
                 design'd
                 to
                 have
                 thrown
                 him
                 down
                 a
                 steep
                 place
                 ,
                 and
                 have
                 slain
                 him
                 ,
                 but
                 he
                 coming
                 near
                 the
                 place
                 begun
                 to
                 tremble
                 ,
                 look
                 pale
                 ,
                 and
                 shew
                 divers
                 Signs
                 of
                 horrour
                 and
                 amazment
                 ;
                 which
                 being
                 observed
                 by
                 the
                 Emperour
                 ,
                 he
                 asked
                 what
                 was
                 the
                 matter
                 :
                 the
                 Astrologer
                 
                 answer'd
                 ,
                 He
                 perceived
                 some
                 great
                 danger
                 very
                 near
                 him
                 ;
                 hereupon
                 the
                 Emperor
                 relented
                 ,
                 and
                 forbore
                 to
                 execute
                 his
                 Tragical
                 Design
                 .
              
               
                 Vitellius
                 being
                 yet
                 a
                 Private
                 man
                 ,
                 the
                 Astrologers
                 told
                 him
                 he
                 should
                 be
                 Emperor
                 ,
                 and
                 afterwards
                 told
                 him
                 the
                 day
                 of
                 his
                 Death
                 ;
                 for
                 the
                 Emperor
                 being
                 displeased
                 with
                 the
                 Astrologers
                 ,
                 commanded
                 they
                 should
                 all
                 depart
                 out
                 of
                 Italy
                 by
                 such
                 a
                 day
                 :
                 they
                 cast
                 out
                 a
                 Paper
                 or
                 Libel
                 ,
                 wherein
                 they
                 desired
                 him
                 not
                 to
                 trouble
                 himself
                 with
                 their
                 going
                 out
                 of
                 Italy
                 on
                 that
                 day
                 ,
                 for
                 he
                 should
                 then
                 go
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 world
                 ;
                 which
                 according
                 to
                 their
                 Praedictions
                 proved
                 true
                 .
              
               
                 
                   Xiphilinus
                   in
                   vitâ
                   Neronis
                
                 ,
                 Relates
                 that
                 when
                 Nero
                 was
                 Born
                 ,
                 the
                 Astrologers
                 foretold
                 that
                 he
                 should
                 be
                 Emperor
                 ,
                 and
                 slay
                 his
                 Mother
                 ,
                 which
                 also
                 came
                 to
                 pass
                 .
              
               
                 Many
                 other
                 Experiments
                 may
                 be
                 brought
                 for
                 the
                 Credit
                 of
                 Astrologers
                 ,
                 which
                 I
                 shall
                 not
                 set
                 down
                 ,
                 to
                 avoid
                 
                 Prolixity
                 ;
                 who
                 has
                 a
                 mind
                 to
                 know
                 them
                 ,
                 may
                 Consult
                 Latin
                 Authors
                 ,
                 and
                 find
                 to
                 their
                 Content
                 :
                 these
                 being
                 of
                 most
                 Validity
                 I
                 have
                 taken
                 Notice
                 of
                 ,
                 partly
                 engaged
                 thereunto
                 by
                 my
                 proposed
                 Method
                 ,
                 and
                 partly
                 to
                 avoid
                 the
                 Censure
                 of
                 the
                 adverse
                 party
                 ,
                 who
                 might
                 else
                 have
                 complained
                 of
                 Foul-play
                 .
                 That
                 we
                 may
                 in
                 short
                 lay
                 down
                 what
                 is
                 to
                 be
                 thought
                 of
                 this
                 Art
                 in
                 general
                 ,
                 and
                 its
                 Fundamentals
                 ,
                 we
                 must
                 make
                 a
                 distinction
                 between
                 certainties
                 and
                 uncertainties
                 ,
                 distinguishing
                 them
                 both
                 from
                 what
                 is
                 manifestly
                 False
                 ,
                 and
                 examine
                 what
                 power
                 the
                 Stars
                 have
                 over
                 inferior
                 sublunary
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 how
                 far
                 this
                 Art
                 extends
                 it self
                 ;
                 and
                 what
                 is
                 beyond
                 the
                 Reach
                 both
                 of
                 the
                 Stars
                 and
                 Astrologers
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 we
                 may
                 come
                 to
                 know
                 ,
                 what
                 Praedictions
                 may
                 be
                 certainly
                 had
                 from
                 the
                 Heavens
                 ,
                 what
                 only
                 probably
                 ,
                 and
                 what
                 cannot
                 be
                 known
                 at
                 all
                 .
              
               
                 From
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 especially
                 from
                 
                 the
                 Sun
                 and
                 Moon
                 ,
                 may
                 be
                 known
                 the
                 Succession
                 of
                 Day
                 and
                 Night
                 ,
                 the
                 Four-fold
                 Distinction
                 of
                 the
                 year
                 ,
                 Remarkable
                 Alterations
                 and
                 Changes
                 of
                 Weather
                 ,
                 as
                 Winds
                 ,
                 Rain
                 ,
                 Tempests
                 ,
                 &c.
                 
              
               
                 Also
                 it
                 cannot
                 be
                 denied
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Caelestial
                 Bodies
                 have
                 their
                 Influence
                 and
                 Operation
                 upon
                 the
                 Elements
                 ,
                 especially
                 upon
                 the
                 Air
                 ,
                 so
                 as
                 to
                 make
                 it
                 sometimes
                 Healthful
                 and
                 Sweet
                 ,
                 sometimes
                 Noxious
                 and
                 Destructive
                 .
                 Also
                 that
                 there
                 several
                 things
                 ,
                 which
                 have
                 a
                 particular
                 dependance
                 upon
                 the
                 Moon
                 ,
                 and
                 those
                 not
                 only
                 Vegetatives
                 ,
                 but
                 also
                 Men
                 ,
                 as
                 may
                 be
                 observed
                 from
                 those
                 we
                 call
                 Lunaticks
                 ,
                 which
                 is
                 thus
                 effected
                 .
                 The
                 Devil
                 who
                 is
                 of
                 great
                 Experience
                 and
                 Subtlety
                 ,
                 Chooses
                 those
                 times
                 for
                 the
                 Disturbance
                 of
                 such
                 persons
                 ,
                 when
                 the
                 humours
                 flow
                 abundantly
                 in
                 the
                 Body
                 (
                 occasioned
                 by
                 the
                 Course
                 of
                 the
                 Moon
                 )
                 and
                 so
                 insinuating
                 himself
                 into
                 the
                 humour
                 ,
                 easily
                 Disturbs
                 the
                 Imagination
                 .
              
               
               
                 Astrologers
                 may
                 also
                 give
                 certain
                 information
                 of
                 the
                 Periods
                 and
                 Motions
                 of
                 the
                 Caelestial
                 Orbs
                 ,
                 the
                 distances
                 ,
                 Rising
                 and
                 Setting
                 of
                 the
                 Stars
                 ;
                 the
                 Conjunctions
                 ,
                 Oppositions
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 Aspects
                 ,
                 of
                 the
                 Eclypses
                 of
                 the
                 Sun
                 and
                 Moon
                 ,
                 because
                 those
                 things
                 depend
                 upon
                 the
                 Regular
                 and
                 necessary
                 Course
                 of
                 Nature
                 .
              
               
                 Amongst
                 those
                 things
                 which
                 are
                 only
                 probable
                 ,
                 and
                 Contingent
                 or
                 to
                 be
                 Guest
                 at
                 ,
                 are
                 particular
                 alterations
                 in
                 the
                 Air
                 ,
                 Collected
                 from
                 the
                 observation
                 of
                 certain
                 Changes
                 ,
                 usually
                 attending
                 such
                 an
                 Aspect
                 of
                 the
                 Planets
                 ,
                 as
                 also
                 Epidemical
                 Diseases
                 ;
                 all
                 which
                 are
                 only
                 Contingent
                 ,
                 because
                 there
                 may
                 ,
                 besides
                 those
                 general
                 and
                 remote
                 Causes
                 (
                 I
                 mean
                 the
                 positure
                 of
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 )
                 occur
                 several
                 more
                 immedate
                 Causes
                 ,
                 which
                 may
                 disturb
                 the
                 iotherwise-natural
                 Effects
                 .
                 Such
                 are
                 the
                 Interposition
                 of
                 some
                 Star
                 in
                 the
                 Aspect
                 observed
                 of
                 a
                 contrary
                 Nature
                 ,
                 not
                 known
                 of
                 by
                 the
                 Astrologer
                 ;
                 the
                 
                 different
                 Qualities
                 of
                 Countreys
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 diverse
                 Temperatures
                 of
                 the
                 Air
                 ,
                 which
                 may
                 abate
                 the
                 Influence
                 ,
                 and
                 perhaps
                 change
                 the
                 Nature
                 of
                 the
                 Effect
                 .
              
               
                 If
                 Astrologers
                 Err
                 so
                 frequently
                 in
                 their
                 Praedictions
                 of
                 the
                 Weather
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 things
                 which
                 depend
                 upon
                 Natural
                 Causes
                 ,
                 we
                 may-confidently
                 affirm
                 ,
                 that
                 those
                 things
                 which
                 depend
                 meerly
                 at
                 the
                 will
                 and
                 pleasure
                 of
                 man
                 ,
                 are
                 such
                 ,
                 as
                 Astrologers
                 cannot
                 at
                 all
                 judge
                 of
                 .
              
               
                 To
                 shew
                 the
                 vanity
                 and
                 idleness
                 of
                 this
                 Science
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 make
                 use
                 of
                 Authority
                 ,
                 both
                 Divine
                 and
                 Humane
                 ,
                 2.
                 
                 Reason
                 ,
                 and
                 3
                 dly
                 .
                 their
                 own
                 False
                 Observations
                 and
                 Praedictions
                 .
              
               
                 As
                 for
                 Divine
                 Authority
                 ,
                 no
                 greater
                 Argument
                 can
                 be
                 brought
                 against
                 it
                 ,
                 than
                 that
                 it
                 is
                 so
                 often
                 spoken
                 against
                 in
                 Holy
                 Scriptures
                 ,
                 as
                 in
                 Numb
                 .
                 23.
                 22.
                 where
                 all
                 manner
                 of
                 Divination
                 is
                 forbidden
                 ,
                 inquiring
                 after
                 that
                 which
                 is
                 to
                 come
                 is
                 forbidden
                 ,
                 Prov.
                 27.
                 
                 
                 Eccles.
                 8.
                 6.
                 
                 God
                 by
                 his
                 Prophet
                 Esaiah
                 Taxes
                 the
                 vanity
                 of
                 this
                 Art
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 those
                 that
                 are
                 Deluded
                 by
                 them
                 ,
                 Esai
                 .
                 47.
                 12.
                 13.
                 
                 
                   Stand
                   now
                
                 (
                 says
                 he
                 )
                 
                   with
                   thy
                   Enchantments
                   ,
                   and
                   with
                   the
                   multitude
                   of
                   thy
                   Sorceries
                   ,
                   wherein
                   thou
                   hast
                   laboured
                   from
                   thy
                   Youth
                   ;
                   if
                   thou
                   shalt
                   be
                   able
                   to
                   profit
                   ,
                   if
                   so
                   be
                   thou
                   maist
                   prevail
                   .
                   Thou
                   art
                   wearied
                   in
                   the
                   multitude
                   of
                   thy
                   Counsels
                   :
                   let
                   now
                   the
                   Astrologers
                   ,
                   the
                   ;
                   Star-gazers
                   ,
                   the
                   monthly
                   Prognosticators
                   stand
                   up
                   ,
                   and
                   save
                   thee
                   from
                   these
                   things
                   that
                   shall
                   come
                   upon
                   thee
                   .
                
                 God
                 likewise
                 commands
                 the
                 Israelites
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 Learn
                 not
                 the
                 ways
                 of
                 the
                 Gentiles
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 they
                 be
                 not
                 afraid
                 of
                 the
                 Signs
                 of
                 heaven
                 ,
                 which
                 the
                 Gentiles
                 fear
                 .
                 God
                 threatens
                 Confusion
                 ,
                 Folly
                 ,
                 and
                 Destruction
                 to
                 such
                 like
                 ,
                 Esai
                 .
                 44.
                 20.
                 
              
               
                 Next
                 come
                 the
                 Ancient
                 Fathers
                 ,
                 who
                 subscribe
                 to
                 the
                 Authority
                 of
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 ,
                 and
                 vote
                 down
                 this
                 way
                 of
                 Divination
                 ;
                 out
                 of
                 whose
                 Writings
                 many
                 things
                 tending
                 to
                 this
                 purpose
                 may
                 be
                 gathered
                 .
              
               
               
                 Nay
                 so
                 unreasonable
                 and
                 Prophane
                 has
                 this
                 Science
                 always
                 been
                 accounted
                 that
                 (
                 except
                 a
                 few
                 Brainsick
                 persons
                 ,
                 who
                 have
                 practised
                 it
                 )
                 it
                 has
                 been
                 condemned
                 by
                 most
                 Grave
                 and
                 Judicious
                 men
                 ,
                 and
                 by
                 the
                 Edicts
                 of
                 several
                 Heathen
                 aswell
                 as
                 Christian
                 Emperours
                 ,
                 as
                 also
                 by
                 General-Councils
                 ;
                 see
                 the
                 Acts
                 of
                 the
                 first
                 General-Council
                 of
                 Toledo
                 ,
                 in
                 which
                 the
                 Priscillianists
                 (
                 as
                 I
                 said
                 before
                 )
                 great
                 Favourers
                 of
                 this
                 Art
                 were
                 Condemned
                 and
                 Excommunicated
                 .
                 Nor
                 did
                 this
                 sort
                 of
                 men
                 fare
                 better
                 with
                 the
                 Emperors
                 ;
                 they
                 were
                 Banished
                 the
                 City
                 by
                 Augustus
                 ;
                 Expelled
                 out
                 of
                 Italy
                 first
                 by
                 Tiberius
                 ,
                 afterwards
                 by
                 Claudius
                 ;
                 afterwards
                 by
                 Vitellius
                 they
                 were
                 Sentenced
                 to
                 Death
                 :
                 twice
                 by
                 Domitian
                 were
                 they
                 Banish'd
                 out
                 of
                 Italy
                 ,
                 as
                 being
                 a
                 sort
                 of
                 men
                 Treacherous
                 to
                 Princes
                 ,
                 and
                 Faithless
                 to
                 those
                 that
                 Trusted
                 in
                 them
                 .
                 There
                 is
                 also
                 (
                 which
                 ought
                 to
                 have
                 been
                 named
                 first
                 )
                 a
                 Law
                 made
                 by
                 Caesar
                 to
                 this
                 purpose
                 ,
                 
                 
                   If
                   any
                   Magician
                   ,
                   or
                   Conjurer
                   ,
                   or
                   Soothsayer
                   ,
                   or
                   Mathematician
                   ,
                   or
                   Interpreter
                   of
                   Dreams
                   be
                   taken
                   within
                   my
                   Iurisdiction
                   ,
                   let
                   him
                   suffer
                   Punishment
                   ;
                   but
                   if
                   he
                   be
                   Convict
                   ,
                   and
                   continue
                   obstinate
                   ,
                   let
                   him
                   be
                   Wrackt
                   ,
                   and
                   Lanced
                   according
                   to
                   his
                   Desert
                   .
                
              
               
                 Likewise
                 't
                 was
                 Decreed
                 by
                 Honorius
                 and
                 Theodosius
                 the
                 Emperours
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Books
                 of
                 the
                 Mathematicians
                 should
                 be
                 Burnt
                 in
                 the
                 presence
                 of
                 the
                 Bishops
                 .
              
               
                 Thus
                 much
                 for
                 Authority
                 of
                 Scripture
                 and
                 Fathers
                 ;
                 now
                 I
                 come
                 to
                 the
                 second
                 particular
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 ,
                 Reason
                 .
                 Whereupon
                 I
                 thus
                 Argue
                 ,
                 Forasmuch
                 as
                 Natural
                 things
                 and
                 such
                 as
                 depend
                 meerly
                 upon
                 Natural
                 Causes
                 ,
                 cannot
                 be
                 positively
                 affirm'd
                 ,
                 but
                 only
                 go
                 under
                 the
                 Notion
                 of
                 probabilities
                 ;
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 thought
                 that
                 Contingencies
                 and
                 things
                 depending
                 upon
                 mans
                 will
                 ,
                 (
                 and
                 such
                 are
                 most
                 wherein
                 Astrologers
                 have
                 to
                 do
                 )
                 should
                 be
                 hit
                 of
                 by
                 their
                 doubtful
                 and
                 Fantastical
                 Rules
                 of
                 Art.
                 
              
               
               
                 2.
                 
                 If
                 the
                 Stars
                 have
                 such
                 Praedominancy
                 as
                 is
                 pretended
                 ,
                 it
                 must
                 either
                 be
                 as
                 Causes
                 ,
                 or
                 Signs
                 ;
                 but
                 they
                 cannot
                 be
                 Causes
                 ,
                 for
                 that
                 would
                 infer
                 a
                 necessity
                 of
                 similar
                 Effects
                 ,
                 which
                 no
                 man
                 will
                 either
                 pretend
                 to
                 ,
                 or
                 Demonstrate
                 ;
                 nor
                 can
                 it
                 be
                 a
                 Causality
                 ,
                 or
                 to
                 speak
                 plainer
                 ,
                 an
                 inclining
                 ,
                 but
                 not
                 a
                 compelling
                 Power
                 ,
                 that
                 being
                 of
                 as
                 bad
                 consequence
                 ,
                 for
                 then
                 how
                 should
                 Partial
                 and
                 Remote
                 Causes
                 produce
                 real
                 and
                 positive
                 Effects
                 ?
              
               
                 But
                 if
                 they
                 be
                 only
                 Signs
                 ,
                 they
                 must
                 be
                 either
                 Natural
                 ,
                 or
                 Supernatural
                 .
                 Natural
                 they
                 cannot
                 be
                 ,
                 since
                 they
                 can
                 upon
                 that
                 Score
                 have
                 no
                 agreement
                 with
                 the
                 things
                 signified
                 ,
                 nor
                 proceed
                 from
                 the
                 same
                 Cause
                 :
                 nor
                 can
                 they
                 be
                 Supernatural
                 ,
                 for
                 then
                 we
                 ought
                 to
                 suppose
                 an
                 Infallibility
                 in
                 the
                 Event
                 .
              
               
                 Now
                 as
                 Chymists
                 and
                 Mountebanks
                 use
                 to
                 flourish
                 in
                 Oratory
                 ,
                 and
                 tell
                 the
                 Credulous
                 Vulgar
                 many
                 fine
                 Stories
                 of
                 the
                 Temperature
                 of
                 the
                 Elements
                 ,
                 of
                 the
                 proportion
                 of
                 Qualities
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 such
                 like
                 puzling
                 Terms
                 ,
                 to
                 wheedle
                 an
                 opinion
                 of
                 their
                 Skill
                 into
                 their
                 Auditors
                 :
                 so
                 do
                 Astrologers
                 lash
                 out
                 into
                 large
                 and
                 extravagant
                 Encomiums
                 of
                 the
                 Heavenly
                 Bodies
                 ,
                 urge
                 the
                 Coherence
                 betwixt
                 Caelestial
                 and
                 sublunary
                 things
                 ,
                 and
                 tell
                 fine
                 Stories
                 that
                 so
                 many
                 Orbs
                 ,
                 Stars
                 and
                 Motions
                 were
                 not
                 made
                 by
                 God
                 Almighty
                 to
                 no
                 end
                 ;
                 and
                 after
                 much
                 proving
                 of
                 that
                 which
                 none
                 denies
                 ,
                 they
                 descend
                 to
                 their
                 particulars
                 ,
                 their
                 little
                 Casualties
                 ,
                 and
                 Tie
                 every
                 mans
                 Fortune
                 to
                 some
                 Star
                 or
                 other
                 .
                 What
                 (
                 say
                 they
                 )
                 shall
                 we
                 think
                 that
                 the
                 most
                 glorious
                 part
                 of
                 the
                 Creation
                 ,
                 in
                 which
                 (
                 as
                 in
                 a
                 large
                 expanded
                 Volume
                 )
                 may
                 be
                 Read
                 the
                 wonderful
                 power
                 and
                 Wisdom
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 was
                 made
                 to
                 serve
                 to
                 no
                 use
                 ?
                 or
                 shall
                 we
                 set
                 at
                 nought
                 those
                 things
                 which
                 have
                 so
                 abundantly
                 shewn
                 forth
                 their
                 power
                 upon
                 the
                 Earth
                 ?
              
               
                 Let
                 us
                 now
                 descend
                 to
                 their
                 Master-piece
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 ,
                 Nativities
                 ,
                 and
                 see
                 
                 what
                 semblance
                 of
                 truth
                 there
                 is
                 in
                 it
                 .
              
               
                 They
                 pretend
                 to
                 observe
                 the
                 very
                 point
                 of
                 their
                 Nativity
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 places
                 of
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 which
                 are
                 Fixed
                 ,
                 which
                 are
                 Erratick
                 ,
                 in
                 what
                 Houses
                 they
                 arise
                 ,
                 which
                 Planets
                 are
                 in
                 their
                 Exaltation
                 ,
                 which
                 not
                 ;
                 whether
                 in
                 a
                 right
                 Triplicity
                 ;
                 whether
                 in
                 a
                 Masculine
                 or
                 Faeminine
                 Sign
                 ;
                 what
                 Aspects
                 ,
                 whether
                 Trine
                 ,
                 or
                 Quartile
                 ,
                 or
                 Sextile
                 ,
                 or
                 Opposition
                 ,
                 or
                 Conjunction
                 ;
                 and
                 several
                 other
                 hard
                 and
                 Conjuring
                 Terms
                 .
                 From
                 hence
                 (
                 say
                 they
                 )
                 it
                 is
                 easie
                 ,
                 either
                 by
                 the
                 Planets
                 considered
                 particularly
                 ,
                 or
                 altogether
                 ,
                 or
                 with
                 the
                 Signs
                 of
                 the
                 Zodiack
                 ,
                 to
                 Collect
                 the
                 Events
                 of
                 humane
                 Affairs
                 ,
                 to
                 Describe
                 a
                 mans
                 Inclinations
                 ,
                 and
                 give
                 an
                 account
                 of
                 his
                 good
                 or
                 bad
                 Fortune
                 .
              
               
                 Now
                 let
                 us
                 allow
                 them
                 this
                 (
                 which
                 is
                 indeed
                 more
                 than
                 they
                 can
                 prove
                 )
                 that
                 the
                 Fortunes
                 of
                 men
                 are
                 Guided
                 by
                 the
                 Stars
                 ;
                 yet
                 what
                 Midwife
                 or
                 
                 Astrologer
                 ,
                 either
                 can
                 be
                 so
                 exact
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 know
                 the
                 very
                 Minute
                 of
                 a
                 Nativity
                 ,
                 which
                 is
                 necessary
                 to
                 be
                 known
                 ,
                 forasmuch
                 as
                 in
                 the
                 space
                 of
                 one
                 Minute
                 there
                 is
                 a
                 vast
                 and
                 unalterable
                 Celerity
                 in
                 the
                 Motion
                 of
                 the
                 Heavens
                 ;
                 so
                 that
                 before
                 the
                 Infant
                 be
                 wholly
                 Born
                 ,
                 the
                 Constellation
                 will
                 be
                 changed
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Head
                 will
                 be
                 Born
                 under
                 one
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Feet
                 under
                 another
                 ,
                 which
                 will
                 (
                 if
                 it
                 was
                 significant
                 )
                 prove
                 but
                 Cross
                 Fortune
                 to
                 the
                 Party
                 .
              
               
                 But
                 supposing
                 that
                 this
                 small
                 moment
                 of
                 time
                 do
                 not
                 Disturb
                 the
                 signification
                 of
                 the
                 Horoscope
                 ;
                 how
                 comes
                 it
                 to
                 pass
                 that
                 Twins
                 are
                 oftentimes
                 observed
                 to
                 have
                 such
                 different
                 Fortunes
                 ,
                 the
                 one
                 of
                 them
                 Dying
                 in
                 their
                 Infancy
                 ,
                 the
                 other
                 Living
                 to
                 Decrepit
                 Age
                 :
                 or
                 one
                 of
                 them
                 (
                 perhaps
                 )
                 exalted
                 to
                 Honours
                 and
                 Dignities
                 ,
                 and
                 continually
                 Courted
                 with
                 opportunities
                 of
                 Advancement
                 ,
                 the
                 other
                 not
                 able
                 to
                 get
                 out
                 of
                 a
                 mean
                 and
                 abject
                 Condition
                 ;
                 the
                 one
                 is
                 inclined
                 to
                 
                 Peace
                 ,
                 the
                 other
                 to
                 Quarrelling
                 and
                 Disorder
                 ;
                 the
                 one
                 is
                 strong
                 of
                 Constitution
                 ,
                 the
                 other
                 weak
                 and
                 sickly
                 .
              
               
                 A
                 greater
                 difference
                 arises
                 ,
                 if
                 the
                 Twins
                 be
                 one
                 of
                 them
                 Male
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 other
                 Female
                 :
                 is
                 it
                 possible
                 in
                 such
                 a
                 Case
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 should
                 both
                 have
                 the
                 same
                 Genius
                 ,
                 and
                 Inclinations
                 ?
                 which
                 ought
                 according
                 to
                 these
                 men
                 ,
                 necessarily
                 to
                 follow
                 .
                 I
                 hope
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 man
                 but
                 may
                 be
                 convinced
                 of
                 the
                 vanity
                 of
                 this
                 Science
                 ,
                 if
                 he
                 take
                 Notice
                 of
                 those
                 that
                 die
                 in
                 the
                 Field
                 ,
                 men
                 of
                 different
                 Ages
                 ,
                 Born
                 under
                 different
                 Constellations
                 ;
                 yet
                 all
                 Perishing
                 by
                 one
                 common
                 Fate
                 .
              
               
                 Were
                 all
                 the
                 First-born
                 of
                 Aegypt
                 slain
                 at
                 the
                 Departure
                 of
                 the
                 Children
                 of
                 Israel
                 ;
                 The
                 Aegyptians
                 Drowned
                 in
                 the
                 Red-sea
                 ;
                 The
                 Philistins
                 Slain
                 by
                 Sampson
                 ;
                 The
                 Children
                 put
                 to
                 Death
                 by
                 Herods
                 Officers
                 ,
                 Born
                 under
                 the
                 same
                 Stars
                 ?
                 I
                 think
                 none
                 will
                 Affirm
                 it
                 ;
                 If
                 not
                 ,
                 Why
                 did
                 they
                 Die
                 by
                 the
                 same
                 Death
                 ?
                 Are
                 all
                 that
                 are
                 
                 Born
                 under
                 Saturn
                 ,
                 Melancholick
                 ?
                 Under
                 Iupiter
                 or
                 the
                 Sun
                 ,
                 Princes
                 and
                 Potentates
                 ?
                 Under
                 Mars
                 ,
                 Souldiers
                 or
                 Highway-men
                 ?
                 Under
                 Venus
                 ,
                 Whoremasters
                 ?
                 Under
                 Mercury
                 ,
                 Merchants
                 ?
              
               
                 I
                 shall
                 now
                 come
                 to
                 Answer
                 those
                 Arguments
                 which
                 Astrologers
                 bring
                 out
                 of
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 from
                 Reason
                 ,
                 or
                 Experiments
                 .
              
               
                 First
                 for
                 Scriptures
                 :
                 to
                 that
                 out
                 of
                 Genesis
                 ,
                 1.
                 14.
                 
                 I
                 answer
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 assume
                 more
                 than
                 the
                 Sence
                 of
                 the
                 words
                 will
                 permit
                 ;
                 for
                 though
                 it
                 be
                 there
                 said
                 ,
                 that
                 God
                 set
                 the
                 Caelestial
                 Lights
                 for
                 signs
                 of
                 things
                 necessarily
                 depending
                 upon
                 their
                 Course
                 and
                 Nature
                 ,
                 yet
                 it
                 cannot
                 thence
                 be
                 infer'd
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 are
                 also
                 signs
                 of
                 things
                 meerly
                 Contingent
                 ,
                 and
                 proceeding
                 from
                 the
                 different
                 Motions
                 of
                 mans
                 Will
                 and
                 Appetite
                 .
              
               
                 To
                 that
                 of
                 the
                 Stars
                 fighting
                 against
                 Sisera
                 in
                 their
                 Courses
                 ,
                 I
                 answer
                 ;
                 That
                 by
                 Stars
                 in
                 that
                 place
                 (
                 according
                 
                 to
                 some
                 Interpreters
                 )
                 is
                 meant
                 Angels
                 ,
                 which
                 is
                 plausible
                 enough
                 ,
                 forasmuch
                 as
                 both
                 are
                 promiscuously
                 called
                 the
                 Host
                 of
                 Heaven
                 :
                 or
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 said
                 ,
                 that
                 at
                 that
                 time
                 they
                 did
                 not
                 Operate
                 by
                 a
                 Natural
                 Influence
                 ,
                 but
                 a
                 Supernatural
                 and
                 extraordinary
                 Power
                 ,
                 God
                 raising
                 up
                 an
                 unusual
                 Effect
                 in
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 of
                 causing
                 Tempests
                 to
                 the
                 Annoyance
                 of
                 those
                 Enemies
                 of
                 his
                 people
                 .
              
               
                 In
                 that
                 place
                 of
                 Iob
                 so
                 much
                 by
                 them
                 insisted
                 on
                 ,
                 is
                 nothing
                 at
                 all
                 to
                 their
                 purpose
                 :
                 since
                 it
                 may
                 with
                 ease
                 be
                 Turned
                 against
                 them
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 is
                 to
                 be
                 understood
                 ,
                 that
                 no
                 man
                 can
                 understand
                 the
                 Statutes
                 of
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 God
                 has
                 reserved
                 the
                 Knowledge
                 of
                 such
                 things
                 to
                 himself
                 ;
                 besides
                 ,
                 there
                 is
                 nothing
                 said
                 of
                 the
                 Influence
                 ,
                 and
                 Rule
                 of
                 the
                 Stars
                 over
                 mens
                 Minds
                 or
                 Actions
                 ,
                 nothing
                 of
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 Future
                 Events
                 ,
                 but
                 only
                 Arguments
                 of
                 the
                 Divine
                 Wisdom
                 ,
                 to
                 convince
                 Iob
                 of
                 his
                 weakness
                 and
                 Frailty
                 .
              
               
               
                 And
                 though
                 it
                 be
                 said
                 ,
                 
                   The
                   Heavens
                   shew
                   forth
                   the
                   glory
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   Stars
                   declare
                   his
                   Handy-work
                
                 ;
                 that
                 makes
                 not
                 for
                 them
                 neither
                 ,
                 the
                 meaning
                 of
                 the
                 place
                 being
                 partly
                 the
                 same
                 with
                 that
                 last
                 mentioned
                 ,
                 (
                 viz.
                 )
                 that
                 Casting
                 up
                 our
                 Eyes
                 to
                 those
                 glorious
                 Luminaries
                 ,
                 we
                 may
                 remember
                 the
                 power
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 who
                 has
                 made
                 them
                 all
                 ,
                 and
                 continues
                 them
                 in
                 so
                 wonderful
                 and
                 unerring
                 Courses
                 .
              
               
                 As
                 for
                 the
                 Star
                 which
                 appeared
                 to
                 the
                 Magi
                 coming
                 to
                 Christ
                 ,
                 it
                 was
                 no
                 Natural
                 but
                 a
                 Supernatural
                 Star
                 ,
                 having
                 a
                 Motion
                 contrary
                 to
                 that
                 of
                 other
                 Stars
                 ;
                 few
                 will
                 (
                 I
                 suppose
                 )
                 be
                 so
                 impudent
                 as
                 to
                 affirm
                 ,
                 our
                 Saviour
                 was
                 Governed
                 by
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 who
                 Created
                 ,
                 should
                 be
                 in
                 Subjection
                 to
                 his
                 Creatures
                 .
                 And
                 though
                 it
                 appear'd
                 at
                 his
                 Birth
                 ,
                 and
                 usher'd
                 him
                 into
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 yet
                 (
                 as
                 St.
                 Augustine
                 says
                 )
                 
                   Non
                   dominabatur
                   Christo
                   ad
                   decretum
                   ,
                   sed
                   famulabatur
                   ad
                   Testimonium
                   ,
                   
                   nec
                   enim
                   subjiciebat
                   imperio
                   ,
                   sed
                   judicabat
                   obsequio
                   .
                
                 To
                 make
                 this
                 an
                 Argument
                 for
                 their
                 Art
                 would
                 be
                 an
                 absurdity
                 ;
                 for
                 if
                 it
                 had
                 force
                 and
                 signification
                 in
                 his
                 Nativity
                 ,
                 why
                 had
                 it
                 not
                 over
                 all
                 those
                 Born
                 at
                 the
                 same
                 time
                 with
                 him
                 ?
                 I
                 hope
                 they
                 will
                 not
                 say
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 were
                 all
                 to
                 share
                 in
                 the
                 same
                 Circumstances
                 of
                 Life
                 .
              
               
                 Let
                 us
                 now
                 examine
                 their
                 Reasons
                 ,
                 and
                 see
                 how
                 they
                 will
                 stand
                 Trial.
                 
              
               
                 Their
                 first
                 Reason
                 is
                 grounded
                 upon
                 a
                 false
                 Supposition
                 ,
                 that
                 there
                 can
                 be
                 no
                 other
                 use
                 for
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 than
                 to
                 be
                 Characters
                 wherein
                 men
                 may
                 Read
                 their
                 own
                 Fortunes
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 second
                 likewise
                 ,
                 (
                 viz.
                 )
                 that
                 we
                 know
                 no
                 other
                 reason
                 for
                 the
                 several
                 Motions
                 ,
                 and
                 Aspects
                 ,
                 is
                 not
                 good
                 Reasoning
                 ,
                 for
                 't
                 will
                 not
                 hold
                 to
                 Argue
                 from
                 the
                 Negation
                 of
                 our
                 knowledge
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 Negation
                 of
                 the
                 thing
                 we
                 cannot
                 apprehend
                 ;
                 so
                 that
                 if
                 we
                 cannot
                 find
                 what
                 a
                 thing
                 is
                 for
                 ,
                 we
                 
                 cannot
                 justly
                 cut
                 it
                 out
                 a
                 piece
                 of
                 Service
                 ,
                 and
                 infer
                 a
                 necessity
                 of
                 its
                 being
                 design'd
                 for
                 that
                 use
                 we
                 have
                 devised
                 to
                 apply
                 it
                 to
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 third
                 reason
                 from
                 the
                 Cohaerence
                 betwixt
                 Caelestial
                 and
                 Sublunary
                 things
                 is
                 no
                 better
                 Logick
                 ;
                 for
                 although
                 they
                 may
                 sway
                 the
                 Elements
                 ,
                 yet
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 reason
                 they
                 should
                 do
                 so
                 in
                 things
                 meerly
                 Contingent
                 ,
                 and
                 depending
                 upon
                 the
                 Will
                 and
                 slippery
                 Appetites
                 of
                 Man
                 :
                 though
                 Iupiter
                 ,
                 or
                 Mars
                 ,
                 or
                 any
                 of
                 the
                 rest
                 ,
                 meeting
                 in
                 such
                 an
                 Aspect
                 and
                 Position
                 one
                 with
                 another
                 ,
                 may
                 produce
                 a
                 Tempest
                 in
                 the
                 Air
                 ;
                 yet
                 I
                 cannot
                 perceive
                 a
                 necessity
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 must
                 Dart
                 a
                 Disorder
                 into
                 my
                 Affections
                 with
                 their
                 Malevolent
                 Rays
                 .
                 And
                 supposing
                 the
                 time
                 of
                 a
                 Nativity
                 can
                 be
                 exactly
                 gathered
                 ,
                 yet
                 what
                 reason
                 can
                 they
                 shew
                 for
                 Confirmation
                 of
                 their
                 Rules
                 :
                 they
                 are
                 only
                 such
                 as
                 men
                 have
                 devised
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 without
                 any
                 ground
                 or
                 Warrant
                 
                 from
                 Scripture
                 :
                 what
                 reason
                 can
                 they
                 give
                 that
                 any
                 Aspect
                 should
                 portend
                 that
                 which
                 they
                 say
                 it
                 does
                 ,
                 but
                 only
                 some
                 Observation
                 of
                 a
                 thing
                 happening
                 in
                 that
                 time
                 ,
                 which
                 they
                 cannot
                 averr
                 to
                 proceed
                 from
                 that
                 Aspect
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 it
                 had
                 been
                 so
                 without
                 it
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 though
                 Enoch
                 ,
                 and
                 Ioseph
                 were
                 given
                 to
                 Studies
                 of
                 this
                 Nature
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 Moses
                 was
                 skill'd
                 in
                 the
                 Learning
                 of
                 the
                 Aegyptians
                 ,
                 and
                 Daniel
                 of
                 the
                 Chaldaeans
                 ,
                 yet
                 it
                 cannot
                 be
                 proved
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 ever
                 favoured
                 this
                 way
                 of
                 Divining
                 at
                 things
                 to
                 come
                 :
                 their
                 knowledge
                 proceeded
                 from
                 another
                 Cause
                 ,
                 to
                 wit
                 ,
                 immediate
                 Revelation
                 ;
                 or
                 else
                 was
                 gathered
                 from
                 certain
                 and
                 Solid
                 Principles
                 .
              
               
                 It
                 must
                 be
                 confessed
                 that
                 the
                 Chiefest
                 Bulwarks
                 wherewith
                 Astrologers
                 defend
                 themselves
                 ,
                 are
                 Experiments
                 ;
                 yet
                 are
                 they
                 not
                 so
                 strong
                 ,
                 but
                 they
                 may
                 be
                 Battered
                 .
                 For
                 some
                 particular
                 Praediction
                 proving
                 true
                 ,
                 does
                 not
                 make
                 
                 the
                 Rules
                 Infallible
                 ,
                 one
                 amongst
                 an
                 hundred
                 (
                 perhaps
                 made
                 at
                 the
                 same
                 time
                 )
                 Hitting
                 ,
                 the
                 rest
                 proving
                 False
                 :
                 why
                 then
                 should
                 all
                 those
                 that
                 Fail
                 be
                 slip'd
                 by
                 and
                 not
                 spoken
                 of
                 ,
                 or
                 not
                 be
                 brought
                 in
                 judgment
                 against
                 the
                 Art
                 ,
                 as
                 those
                 few
                 which
                 are
                 True
                 ,
                 are
                 made
                 so
                 stifly
                 to
                 plead
                 for
                 it
                 .
              
               
                 Many
                 very
                 Eminent
                 and
                 Learned
                 men
                 have
                 Discussed
                 the
                 vanity
                 of
                 Judicial
                 Astrology
                 ,
                 as
                 
                   Picus
                   Mirandula
                   ,
                   Cornelius
                   Agrippa
                   ,
                   Franciscus
                   Vallesius
                   ,
                
                 and
                 divers
                 others
                 ,
                 to
                 whose
                 Writings
                 I
                 refer
                 my
                 Reader
                 .
              
               
                 Galeatius
                 Prince
                 of
                 Millain
                 gave
                 a
                 notable
                 Check
                 to
                 one
                 of
                 these
                 men
                 ;
                 who
                 was
                 arrived
                 at
                 that
                 height
                 of
                 impudence
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 tell
                 the
                 Prince
                 ,
                 he
                 was
                 shortly
                 to
                 Die
                 a
                 sudden
                 and
                 unusual
                 Death
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 himself
                 was
                 to
                 Live
                 a
                 long
                 time
                 after
                 him
                 .
                 But
                 mark
                 how
                 prettily
                 Galeatius
                 Confuted
                 the
                 Astrologer
                 ;
                 he
                 caused
                 him
                 to
                 be
                 forthwith
                 lead
                 to
                 Execution
                 ,
                 the
                 Prince
                 surviving
                 
                 him
                 many
                 years
                 :
                 and
                 indeed
                 't
                 is
                 observable
                 that
                 most
                 of
                 them
                 are
                 ignorant
                 of
                 what
                 shall
                 happen
                 to
                 themselves
                 ,
                 and
                 whilst
                 they
                 foretel
                 great
                 Success
                 ,
                 and
                 promise
                 Golden
                 Mountains
                 to
                 others
                 ,
                 cannot
                 Enrich
                 themselves
                 .
              
               
                 Nor
                 ought
                 we
                 to
                 be
                 Seduced
                 by
                 the
                 Experiments
                 they
                 Brag
                 of
                 ,
                 since
                 they
                 are
                 most
                 of
                 them
                 only
                 Collected
                 by
                 little
                 and
                 pretending
                 Sciolists
                 ,
                 men
                 of
                 no
                 Faith
                 nor
                 Reputation
                 ,
                 most
                 of
                 them
                 too
                 being
                 Feigned
                 and
                 Falling
                 out
                 no
                 body
                 knows
                 where
                 nor
                 when
                 .
              
               
                 Again
                 ,
                 in
                 those
                 few
                 which
                 truly
                 happen
                 according
                 to
                 their
                 Praedictions
                 ;
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 certain
                 whether
                 the
                 Artist
                 might
                 Consult
                 with
                 something
                 else
                 besides
                 the
                 Stars
                 ,
                 since
                 many
                 who
                 Deal
                 with
                 Familiar
                 Spirits
                 ,
                 Mask
                 their
                 Impieties
                 under
                 the
                 Vizor
                 of
                 Astrology
                 .
                 So
                 St.
                 
                   Augustine
                   lib.
                
                 5.
                 
                   de
                   Civitate
                   Dei.
                   Non
                   immerito
                   creditur
                   ,
                   
                   cum
                   Astrologi
                   mirabiliter
                   multa
                   vera
                   respondent
                   ,
                   occulto
                   instinctu
                   fieri
                   spirituum
                   non
                   bonorum
                   ,
                   quorum
                   cura
                   est
                   has
                   falsas
                   &
                   noxias
                   opiniones
                   de
                   Astralibus
                   fatis
                   inserere
                   humanis
                   mentibus
                   ,
                   atque
                   firmare
                   ,
                   non
                   Horoscopi
                   notati
                   &
                   inspecti
                   arte
                   ,
                   quae
                   nulla
                   est
                   .
                
              
               
                 FINIS
                 .