it yet he is but a man and subject to errour as well as others and one that divers good Divines will beg leave to dessent from in some of his tenents As first the unlawfulnesse of Cock-fightings and Dog-fightings Secondly that it is unlawful to buy an Almanack because if that saith grain will â—e dear it makes men trust in it and â—listruft God I can not deny but if â—ny shall doe so as to put any absoâ—ute confidence in an Almanack or â—igure they greatly sin because there â—s in them a possibility of errour for â—everal occasions before alledged so â—s there not in Gods word yet there may be a kind of trust I doubt not â—n some measure or perswasion at â—east of the truth of the Almanack or Figure by how much the more experience I have had of the truth of the â—ike or the same mans making before For suppose I owe 20 l. to be paid upon bond the first day of April to such a one as I am sure will â—tand upon the forefeiter but I have â— trusty Tenant that never failes me â—ut payes me 40 l. Rent the 25 or 26 of March at furthest will not any one rather trust to such a Tenant though there be a possibility of failâ—ng as by thieves fire c rather then â—o borrow it elsewhere or sell commodities to lesse Neither can I think but according to Josephs example it is lawful in a plentiful time with the one to lay up against a time of scarcity The other of Mr. Perkins quoted by the said Rowland is concerning a rule used by some Astrologers concerning the time when the effects of an Eclipse begins which is this Observe at the middle of the Eclipse how far the Luminary eclipsed is distant from its rising and how long it continueth above the Horizon then reduce them into minutes and say by the golden Rule If the whole continuance of the Luminarie eclipsed give 365 dayes what shall its time from the rising give The time hereby found say some is the time of the beginning of the effects But Mr. Perkins there reckons many several Eclipses whose effects of his own knowledge began presently after the Eclipses Where note that we need no stronger witness to prove that Eclipses have their effects and that these effects are found by Astrology deny it they that can and for my part I am of his mind for the time of the beginning of the effects and so is Origanus and so is Mr. Wings Ephemeris Yet let me answer one objection more which is this Though in erecting of Figures you doe not work by the Devil yet they that come to you doe beleeve you doe I aske must I give over my calling of a Surveyor or Ingineeâ— because some great Professors thinking because I could tell distances without measuring them that I wrought by the Devil and thereon moved me to either leave it or my profession of the Gospel for I was a scandal to it Or must our Saviour Christ give over casting out Devils because some thought he wrought by Beelzebub yet I would have none so bold to tell the effects of Eclipses or great conjunctions before they fall least they misse of the time when they will fall as Lilly did for as Kâ—pler saith it is hard â—o hit Near the beginning of this letter I spake a word or two in commendation of Sr. Christopher Heydens Book and that I would fain see that answered It hath been mine hap very lately to see a Book coming under the name of one Vicars B. D. as if he were a Bachelor of Divinity But if that can be called an answer certainly it is so strange an answer that it gives me as little satisfaction as Rowlandâ— book that promised in the beginning of it to answer Sr. Christopher in the end of it but he would first answer an other which by that time he had done answering him Mr. Finis called him away that he could never attend to answer him since Just so dealeâ— Mr. Vicars he promiseth in his Title Page great matters but truly so far as I read which was more then â— quartern I may well say Parturiunt mâ—rtes nasâ—â—tur ridiculuâ— inus Much is promised but nothing performed I read till I was weary stilâ— expecting some arguments thaâ— should either disproove the lawfulnesse of Astrology in general or aâ—â—east something that Sir Christopherâ—ad defended But I found my expeâ—tation failed me for all that time â—o far was spent against Conjurers Witches Charmers Inchanters and â—uch as observe the flying of birds are â—uch as look into the River as if Sir Chrâ—sâ—opher had mainteined these â—hings Iâ— you did it not to make the world believe so truly you have â—aken a great deale of paines but nihil â—d thumbum you may as well tax Mâ—â—es as Sir Christopher for these things Again you say you have known â—ome were such dunses in the Univerâ—ities that being fit for no learning hey then set upon Astrology that hey may have the Devils help in it â—hough you speak never so mystically â—et I have a sound witness even your â—wn conscience that you would make â—en believe Sr. Christopher to be such â— one Iâ— he be not such a one why do â—ou speak it if he be such a one speak â—lain English a man may more easily â—eâ—end himself from a masty dog that flies at his face then from a little Whirpet that bites one by the heeles Truly Sir this is but backbiting at the best far unbeseeming the profession of a Divine neither is it the breach of the least Commandement though it were yet if you teach men so you are unfit for the kingdome oâ— God Besides this whether he be more in wealth or poor in gifts the Wise man tels you he that despisetâ— the poor reprocheth him that made him He could have made him wise and you foolish But what is this to the matter this is onely against the man Besides this How common a thing is it throughout your Book to call him My Gentleman My Gentleman Hath king James mâ—de him a Knight and will you degrade him and make him but a Gentleman Sir I am sure if I should call you so Would you not take it as irâ—nically spoken and is this to fulfill the Royal Law of Liberty to doe as you would be done to Quod tibi fierâ— non vis â—lteri ne feceris But whether this will beare an action in the Court of Honour I leave to others to judg Non nostram inter vos tantâ—s componere late 's am sure it will beare an action in he high Court of Heaven But sure 〈◊〉 his shews that learned king king Iames that great enemy to Astroloâ—ie whom you so boast of saw more â— him then Astrology though you â—ee it not otherwise he would never have made him a Knight for that he was so great an enemy to pretenders â—e did it after he had wrote his Book gainst Mr.
a save deliverance both of woman and child and the woman mended quickly after If an Astrologer should commit such an errour it would be recorded against him to all posterity And whereas Wendeline objects that an Astrologer can not give a right judgment because he knowes â—ot the true number and nature of all the Stars I confesse indeed sometimes the most skilful of all misse both of Astrologers and Physicians But what shall Wendeline doe then that knoweth not what an aspect is or his master Picus But though men doe not know all the Stars and â—earbs now yet Adam knew all but â—n him we lost it we have still the â—parks we know now but in part so that God made them not in vain in respect of their significations Therefore I end this argument with this that like as in Phyâ—ick Art â—ut of the knowledge of causes signes â—nd effects ariseth the art both of â—udging foretelling many changes and alterations of mens bodies â—ea even of death it self yet this is â—onfest to be free from superstition because it is the meditation of the divine works so in this divining art â—udging by the position and nature of the Stars of the causes signes and effects what other is the consideration â—ereof then the beholding the divine works of God and therefore as worthy the name of an art free from all superstition as Physick without Astrology is and far more for Physick cannot well exist without Astrology but Astrology can without Physick Besides I wonder they should approve it in Hypocrates and condemn it in all others And whereas Wâ—ndoline thinks he hath wonne Bullen or rather defended it against two or three of our breaches with his one bulwark this one distinction that the causes of all things either came by necessity or by contingency thinking thereby that because he knowes we maintain as litle necessity in them as himself therefore he would fain denie all influence and inclination of the Stars at all for my part I hold that the principal cause of all is God himself who sometimes indeed works alone by himself by stirring up principal motions in the minds of mens wherein the inclinations of the Stars have no place but proceed immediately from God such as in David who immediately was indued with singular courage and stirred up by Gods spirit to fight with Goliah A second cause is mans free will which either followes or resists the temperament of the body This free will of man should govern the Stars which both can and ought both by meditation invocation the fear of God and daily exercise bridle correct and take away invading evils and ingendred vices least that common song prove true Natura sequitur semina quisque suae So that we maintain no necessity that Nero Caligula or Anthony were compelled to commit their wicked acts but this we hold Fata moverâ— Deus tollere fata potest and that the will especially being holpen from above yea even its owne power may avoid many such inclinations of the Stars though it be seldome done A third cause is the Divel himself who doth often involve the wretched minds of men in this so great infirmitie in horid wickednesse And thus Nero's fury riseth not onely out 〈◊〉 his temperament but he also earnstlâ— affecting it and being in love witâ— pleasures and covetousnesse is morâ— and more instigated of the Devil and he himself forcing it forwardâ— is become much worse then his owâ— nature though otherwise bad enough of it self gave him to be And 〈◊〉 an innumerable company of men who together with the helpe of the Stars are of very good natures mosâ— horribly rush into such wickednesse whole facts and events are not to bâ— referred to coelestial causes and the will of man 25 Whether is it possible or whether is it lawful for one to tell of one that died this very hour 100 miles off This is not a foretelling but anâ— aftertelling but such a one as exceeds the common apprehension of man If you say it is impossible I proove it thus I teaching a School at Hitchiâ— in Hartfordshere about anno 16â—4 where amongst others I teaching three of one Mr. Christopher Butlerâ— children of Stapleford neer Hartford who inviting me to keep my Christmas with them I being there discourâ—ing with his wife a godly Gentlewoman she told me she was the famous Doctor Foxes grand-child that wrote the Book of Martyrs and withall told me this story of him that he being beyond Sea at the time of the death of Queen Mary as he was preaching about the midst of his Sermon he stood still a pretty while and paused inâ—omuch that the people marveiled by and by he stands up and utters these words My Brethren I can do no lesse then impart unto you what the Spirit of God hath now revealed to me that this very hour Queen Mary is dead in England and so it proved And further she told me of an old man then alive that heard him which thing I being there at Whit-suntide following meeting there with him he did constantly affirm And I fully beleeve Sr. Kenâ—elme Digby her neer kinsman can say more in it then I have done And thus much and a great deale more is recorded of him of the like kind in a Book intitled the lives of holy men of these latter times Now if you say that he did this by revelation our Church will condemn you for an Heritick If you say they are all deceived I ask why may not a few of you more easily be mistaken in point of Astrology then all of them in point of revelation Again if you say he did it by Astrology then you not onely confesse that you denied all this while that an Astrologer can not tell true Wendolâ—ne page 646 but it is either by some compact with the Divel or by his secret instinct whereon he quotes Aug. lib. 5. cap. 7 De civitat Deâ— I say as much credit is to be given to Doctor Fox as to Augustin Dare you or Augustine either if he were living say Doctor Fox did it either by compact of the Devil surely if you say that he casts out Devils through Beelzebub we lesser punies must not take it a mis however you raile of us 26 What I pray you is becomge of Mercury when saw you him sure he is but an ill servant to you that will scarce be feen three times in a twelve moneth he alwayes hides himself that seldome or never he will hold the Caldle unto you yet I beleeve that is all the work you have to set him on other service he doth you little They count him a great Astronomer but I doubt he will scarce tell when begins Spring Summer Autumn or Winter nor when Sunday comes nor yet whether Easter-day will fall on the Sunday this year or no me thinks such a servant should be small ornament to your house and my thinks such idle Fellowes as will no wayes doe you good
If you love to keep such God send you enough of them When he was my servant you see he is pictur'd with wings If I sent him presently he would fly to heaven If I were casting a Nativity he would straight bring me word whether the Child would be a good Mathematician and whether he would prove ingenious or not and of this he never failed me if he had I would never have owned him but have blotted him out of the number of my servants for ever 27 Lastly is it not the constant teneâ— of all Divines that that doctrinâ— which makes most for the glory of God that is the truest doctrine that this is such appeareth thus what was the reason the Chaldeans and Egyptians worshipped the whole host of Heaven but this that generally they were Astrologians and that by their skill they found out their wonderful effects and operations and withall not knowing the Maker of them went as far as their knowledge led them to worship the creature in stead of the Creator And what can more move a Christian Astrologer to admire the wisedome the glory the bounty and goodnesse of God that knows there is a God that made them then this it will enforce him with David to say Lord When I consider the Sun Moon and Stars the works of thy hands especially in their uses what is maÌ„ theÌ„ that thou shouldst once remember him to make him little inferiour to the angels to crown him with glory in making so many glorious lights not onely to give him â—ight both day night to distinguish â—easons but infinitely more when he considers Gods mercy and goodness in sending such Heralds and Embasâ—adours to tell wife men of a plague a far of that they may hide themselves But as for the Christian Astrologer to whom God reveals this Magnalia Dei makes him in stead of a Prophet amongst the people I know not what to make of him if he should not cry out and say I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to me a Babe and a Suckling and me thinks I can but wonder that such a one shall not at one time or other in the consideration and meditation thereof be as it were ravisht in spirit and in some measure to think himself with Paul taken up into the third Heaven and to feele such joy as Salomon saith a stranger shal not meddle withal But this is the reason that the Divines are so mistaken your taking things upon trust one of another without examination I remember that this was the reason that M. Wilson beforenamed gave to one Ms. Hatley who desiring of him the reason why that doctrine of the return of the Jews to Jerusalem should lie hid and altogether unknown till Mr. Brightman found it out gave her as I say this the onely cause thereof never was there that Divine known to this day that can be prooved to have had any good knowledge in Astrology that ever wrote against it and therefore I conclude with that in Judges first consider then consult and last of all give sentence All that I have yet spoken with finding no use for divers Stars here especially Mercury are driven to this that there may be use for them in the world of the moon let us therefore essay to take that away also and to leave them no colour for it Siâ— probo Where Christ never redeemed any God never created any But Christ never redeemed any in the moon Ergo the Major thus God never created any reasonable creature viz. angels or men but he in his secret election created or at least permitted some to proove Vessels or Instruments to glorifie his mercies others to glorifie his Justice but such God created not in the moon Ergo where Christ redeemed no elect God created nâ—ne elect but Christ redeemed none there Ergo The Minor thus Christ redeemed none but the seed of Adam and such as were lost in his fall 1 Cor. 15. v. 21. 32. Or thus Christ redeemed none but in that world in which he was both born lived and did miracles and suffered but none of these he did in the moon for as it had been injustice in God to have cast off Adam for the fall of the angels in another world so neither shall the fall of angels nor of Adam be imputed to them to ther condemnation nor yet any actions of Christ here to their salvation As man sinned so Christ must be made man as man sinned in this world so Christ must become a man and suffer for man in this world not in heaven much lesse in the moon for us nor here for those in the moon Neither did Christ die anywhere else but here for he died but once Heb. 9. 28. and where is now the man in the moon But grant it yet Mercury is as seldome in the moon as here by reason of his proximity to the Sun But they say each star is a several world neither doth Mendeline content himself with 1022 but saith they are infinitely more now if Christ must suffer once for each Star how many times must he suffer in all He had better content himself with the redemption of one then be troubed with so many Suppose there be but 1022 of them and that each of them cost him but 33 years time in redeeming it will take him up 33726 years which in the judgment of most if he â—ad begun as soone as Adam had fell â—ould have took him up as much â—ime as the lasting of five worlds one â—fter another Heb. 1. 11. Look where the same reason o â—overnment holds there the sams â—dministration But the same reasone â—olds with them as with us Ergo If each world should have a seveâ—al government and there can be but â—ne best then God did not order all â—y the best But God did order all â—y the best Ergo Sun Moon Stars â—nd Earth are ordered all by the â—ame government But there is but â—ne faith one Christ one Baptisme â—nd thus Christ died but once and in he earth and for the seed of Adam onely Ergo THere is one Rowland who hath lately wrote against Astrology but all that he hath of his own is not worth the naming onely to make up his Book he comes at last to quote some arguments of Mr. Perkins against it where two especially are Mr. Perkins own the rest are common with others and answered before The first is that men have more trust to it then to Gods word and thereupon if the Astrologer tell them by a figure that Corne will be dear such a year they will hard it up till it rot I answer that though I ingenuosly confesse Mr. Perkins to have been a worthy Divine of his time and one whom I ever reverenced and further to be as I verily think the best skild in Astrology of all that ever wrote against