AN ADmonicion against ASTROLOGY IVDICIALL and other curiosities that raigne now in the world written in the french tonge by IHON CALVINE and translated into Englishe by G. G. Austen of the citie of god Lib. 5. cap. 7. It is not without cause that men suppose that when the Astrologours do merueylously in their answeres declare manye truthes the same is done by a secrete instinct of wicked spirites whose care is to fasten and confirme in mens mindes these false and hurtfull opinions of statrie destinies and not by any art or connyng of the noting and beholding of the byrth star For there is no such art at all ¶ Imprinted at London by Roulande Hall dwellyng in Golding lane at the signe of the thre arrowes To the Reader BEcause the iudicials of Astrology â—â— casting of figurs to tel fortunes seme rather childishe plaies then weighty matters for graue meÌ„ to be occupied with al. In so much as god himself threatneth that he will send out his plages powre forth his iudgements vpon the wicked their so thsaiers and stargasers shall not know how nor when such things shal com vpon them And our experience teacheth vs the same in the late famine among vs in the losing of Calis in the burning of Pouls and the destruction of other cities and contreis Therfore am I bold thogh I be but a child to offer to the world soch things concerning the curiositie of that art and the abuse of the same as I bothe learned at the mouth of maister Caluine and red in his bokes the rather because I do se that my former labor in the translation of that epistle of Cicero vnto his brother Quintus hath not bene reiected Now again if my labors may be profitable to any I shal praise god giue my self to further studies that I mai more admire gods glory according to my smal talent profit his church which thing that lord that is the only author of al wisdom and geuer of all goodnes grant me to do always to my lyues end So be it An admonicion AGAYNST ASTROLOgye Iudiciall and other curiosities SAINCT PAVL DOeth admonishe vs of one thing very necessary to the which notwythstandynge fewe take good heede to witte that they which care nothiÌ„g for the walking in a good coÌ„science doe turne away and wander from the faith for he dothe meane that they which doe pollute their consciences in geuyng theÌ„ selues ouer to wickednes are not worthy to be mainteined in the pure knowledge of God but rather deserue to be made blinde to the entent that they may be deceiued by diuerse errours and lies And it is a wonderful matter that we set so litle by it since the euery day we se so great experience therof euen before our eies Thys is certayne that God dothe neuer take away hys truthe from them vnto whome he hath geuen some taste thereof onles it be for this cause that they haue not worthely receaued it but haue rather abused it to a folishe ambition or to others carnall affections In very dede seing that those that haue some portion of syluer are so carefull to keape it safely it is also good reason that this inestimable treasure of the Gospell seing God hath bestowed this riches vpon vs be as it were surely closed vp in a good conscience the which is the right coffre if I may so terme it to kepe it safe and sure that it should not be stollen from vs by the malice of satan And what cometh to passe in the seede hereof The moste parte causethe the word of God to serue theÌ„ only to this purpose that they may haue somethyng to talke vpon in company And one sort are led with ambition hereunto another sorte seke their own gayn yea and there be some that abuse it to practyse baudri therby to get accesse to ther wemen ladies Very many know not to what purpose they shold desire to vnderstand it saue only that they are ashamed to se others take holde vpon it and that they should be uespised by their ignorance In so much almost all a few excepted doe turne this doctrine of saluacion into a certaine prophane philosphy I know not how The which this is suche a vilany that God can not suffer it because that this his sacred word is a thing more holy theÌ„ that it shoulde be thus abused It oght to bellyuely of suche force efficacy that it shuld perce thorow the herts for to examine and try all that is within the man euen vnto the mary of the bones as the Apostle speaketh If a maÌ„ be ashamed thereof and cause it to serue for a pastyme thinke we that God can suffer suche a contempt of the power thereof It oght to reproue maÌ„ as S. Paul saith to thintent that he may lerne to condempne himself to giue the glory vnto God in humbling himself If any then turne it to boastyng and to vaine glory is not this an abuse that deserueth greuous punishmeÌ„t It ought to transforme change vs into the image of God and to reforme that which is ours in vs. If any take occasion vnder the cloke therof to mantain themselues in these vices must it not come to passe that God wyll punishe not onely suche an abuse that turne the men into poyson but also such a sacrilege as causeth the rule of good lyfe to serue as a licence to all euell It nedeth not here now to ciphre out euery perticular of the lyfe of the most part of them that say that they doo know the truthe of the Gospel For so muche that a man may see in effecte that certaine where as they should be amended are become rather worsse The residue kepe styll their olde course at the least a man can perceiue but small Amendement Sainct Paul speaking of the change that should be in the Christians and of the fruyts that should procede forth of their newe life when they are reformed to the image of the son of God saith that he that hath robbed shuld robbe no more Whereby he meaneth that if we haue folowed any euell trade so soone as God hath geuen vs the grace to know his wyll we muste turne backward But in the stead hereof those that at this day count themselues Christians dispense with themselues without scruple of conscience to be at the leaste like vnto others so that he which was accostomed to be an adulter dothe yet still continew in his vilany The playes and pastymes yea the blasphemies ar as outragious emongs them as they were afore time The superfluitees and pompes are excused as thiÌ„gs indifferent althogh a man may see that they serue for nothing but for prid ambition and all vanitie Moreouer euery estate wyll haue his Gospel a parte according as the forge it for their appetite so that there is as great diuersitie betwixt the gospel of the court and that of lawyers Iusticiaries and that of the
when it is rype euen so our sinnes do hasten Goddes plagues Nowe let vs see whether mans wickednes and transgressions do procede from the starres There haue bene of olde tyme certayne phantastical felowes which did imagine it but this madnes was iustly cast asyde by the whole worlde yea and was counted a deuilishe inuencion the which all Christians ought to abhore as in dede it can not be receyued but all the holy Scripture must be ouerthrowen and god blasphemed and libertye giuen vnto men to doe wickedly Therefore I take this article as concluded that the contempt of god and the dissolutions which are committed in any countrey that is in the earth haue respect to the stars Which if it be so we must also not attribute to the starres Gods vengeaunce that commeth for such causes If they obiect that god can vse the naturall meanes to chasten men withall I doe not denye it But must we saye that this is done by a continuall order euen as the starres are therevnto prepared No but contrarywise when God doth drye vp the redde sea and the riuer Iordan although he did vouchsafe to vse the winde proper to do it with all yet it was not sayde that that winde was stirred by any aspect of the starres but that God did raise it vp at that present Although I wyll wyllyngly agree with them in thys poynte that when it pleaseth him he doth applie the nature and propertie of the starres to his seruice Onely I saye this that nether famines pestilences nor warres come at any tyme by the disposition of the starres if it be not be cause god would declare his wrath vpon mankinde And contrariwise that the aboundance of good helth peace do not procede frō the influēce of the starres but from the blessing of God whether it be to exhorte brynge vs to repentaunce by suche gentilnes or that he will cause vs to feele his loue when we obey his iustice But let vs conclude vntyll these our counterfaite Astrologians haue shewed that the starres either make vs to serue God or do styrre vs vp to be rebelles and to resist him that they are neither causes of the good nor of the euyll whiche come vnto vs. For euerye one may see that the one foloweth of the other Yf I would gather al the examples which do agre with this matter the booke shoulde haue none ende And yet for all that there is none which may not easely of him selfe marke them and finde them out Wherefore let vs learne to staye oure selues on the promises and threateninges of God which seing they nothing depende of the situtiation of the starres do teache vs that we must not set our minde vpon the starres This is the cause that God by hys Prophet Esay did mocke the Egiptians and Caldeans whych for al that were the cunnest naciōs in this arte that euer were in the worlde rebukyng them and laying to their charge that by al their science they coulde not foresee the desolation which was nere to thē because it came not from the naturall course of the starres but of Gods secret iudgement Neither can one obiect that he doth rebuke the men whiche dyd falsely boast they were conning in Astrologie For he turneth himself namely to the arte declaryng that it is nothing els but vanitie For when he speaketh to the kyngdome of Egipte he sayeth Isa 19. 12. * where are nowe thy wyse men that they maye tell thee or maye know what the lord of hostes hath determined against Egipt And yet there was no part of astrologie but it was there The Prophet doeth as it were speake in despite agaynst all them that medle wyth it sayinge that it is not their office to knowe the thynges which come to passe as thei make profession There are more expres wordes when he speaketh to Babilon * Isa 47. 13. Thou arte weryed in the multitude of thy counsels let now the Astrologers the Stargasers and pronosticatours stand vp and saue thee from these thinges that shal come vpon thee Beholde thei shall be as stubble the fyre shall burne them The Chaldeans were moste renowmed in Astrologie that euer were anye so that all they which haue thruste them selues into this curiositie did borowe their name from them Wherfore we se howe God reproueth and condemneth them and pronounceth playnlye that men can not learne of the starres the mutations and falles of kyngdomes and that he wyll punishe the pryde of them whiche haue thruste themselues in to enterprise it Therefore he saith also by the same Prophet that he doth scatter abrod and bring to nought the signes of the Sothsayers and make Enchaunters mad that he wyll tourne the wise cleane contrary and make their science folishnes He doeth not rebuke the rashnes of them which ar not wel founded in the arte but he doth ouerthrowe theyr principles and marimies to wit this consideratiō of the starres whereof he speaketh in another place Wherfore Daniell entending to expounde Nabucadnezers dreame the whiche all the Astrologians and diuines cold not once attaine vnto doeth not make him more wise then they in the arte nor yet more subtell But he maketh their science and the reuelation of God as it were two contrary thinges The Astrologians sayth he diuines could not declare the secret vnto thee for it is God which is in heauen to whō thys doth appertaine to wit to declare secretes And to be shorte we see that this whole part of Astrology which doeth serue for diuination called iudgement is not onely counted of God as vaine and vnprofitable but is also condemned as derogatynge from his honour and diminishing his glorye Wherfore if we wil be of his people let vs harken what he sayth in his Prophet Ieremy * Iere. 10. 2. let vs not be lyke the Heathen fearyng the sygnes of heauen I knowe well inough the shifte that certaine do bring to witte that we must not feare the starres as though they had rule ouer vs and yet for all that they doe not cease to haue a certayne perticular superioritie vnder the hande and gouernaunce of God But there is no dout but that the Prophet woulde bring vs to the prouidence of God the which thīg to the intent he might bring to passe he goth about to bring vs from the vaine care that the heathen men did torment themselues withal for asmuch as he speaketh to the Israelites which were prouoked to geue themselues to such follye by the example of the Chaldeans and Egiptians Let a man aske nowe a dayes a Genethliake from what sprynge their arte is come They can not deny but Babilon was the fountaine and that that which they know is but as it were litle ryuers which runne frō thence Therefore since God hath once forbiddē his people to be like to these mens predecessoures and masters shall we doe well if we be lieue these their inferiers Thogh there were none othere euell
marchants and cōmune multitude as is betwyxt the mony made of manye diuers coygnes Saue that they all haue one marke a like that is that they are of the worlde Whereby they haue no agrement with Iesus who wolde seperate vs from the world Therfore it is good reason that they that thus dishonour the doctrine of the Gospel shoulde be confounded and that God should set them forth as a mocking stocke vnto eueri mā seing that they haue bene the occasion that his holy name hath bene blaspemed It is moste right also that he shoulde make them folishe and depryue them of all reason iudgement seing that they colde take no profite of that wysdome which is had in admiration of the Angels of paradise Beholde this day whence so many folishe opinions do aryse or rather dooting madnes which haue nether colour nor appearance and yet are they receaued as they were reuelations come down from heauen finally seing that presumptiō is the very roote of all heresies wandring phantasies of all false and wicked opinions it is no meruaile thoghe God do let them falle into so mani folies which haue not kept the right rule how they shuld abide in the obedience of his truth which is to humble themself in his feare And for so muche as this vice is as common now a dayes as euer it was we see also what frutes it hath so that all the errours which are abrode in all the worlde are no other thyng but so many punishements because that men haue abused the holy worde of God But because I doe not intend to make a longe rehearse of them all forsomuch as the nomber would be infinite I will holde my self contented with one example alone There hath bene of long time a folishe curiositie to iudge by the stars of all things what should chaunce vnto men and thence to enquire take councel as touching those matters which are to be done But we wil by and by God willing declare that it is nothing but a diuelish superstition Yea and it hath bene reiected by a common consent as peruīcious to man kind And yet at this day it hath gottē the vpperhand in such sorte that many whych thynk themselues wytty men yea haue bene so iudged are as it were bewitched therwith But althoughe the God had not reueled in our tyme the sincere truth of his Gospel notwithstandyng seyng he hath raised vp the humaine sciences which are apte and profitable to the guyding of oure life and in seruing to oure profite may also serue to his glory yet had he iust occasyon I say to punishe theyr ingratytude whych not contenting themselues with the things which are substancyall and groūded vpō good reasō do through an outragious pride desier to flye to and fro in the air But now since he hath giuen them both vnto vs to wit bothe that he hath sette the artes and sciences againe in their perfection especially since he hath restored the pure knowledge of hys heauenly doctrine to bring vs euen vnto him and to bryng vs in into his hie and merueilous secrets if it come to passe that any in steade of takyng profyte thereof had rather wander ouer wharte the fieldes thē kepe themselnes within the bondes are not they worthy to be double punished Which thing then commeth to passe in effect when they are so dull or rather so brutyshe that they will applie their hole study to a folishe abuse wherein they do nothing but torment themselues wtout any profit I know wel inough their goodly titles wherewith they sette vp and painte out so folishe a superstition No man can denie but that the science of Astrologie is honorable Therefore they couer themselues with this cloke They name thēselues Mathematiciens whych is as muche to say as professers of the liberall sciences But none of thys is newe for theyr forgoers haue also pretended the same to the intent they might deceiue the world Yet when we haue perceiued as it were sene with the eye that there is no ground in all their follie neither of Astrologye nor yet of any science we haue no occasiō why we should be abashed at these masques vnlesse it were that they would make litie children a fraide But al those whych haue any knowledge be it neuer so litle haue no great nede of this my aduertisment to be iustructed to beware how they mell therwith Therefore this simple treatise shall rather be for the simple unlearned multitude whych might easelye be deceiued because they can not put a difference betwixte the right Astrologie and these supersticiōs of charmers forcerers Wherefore lette vs firste see how sarre the true Astrologie dothe extend it self which is the knowledg of the naturall order disposition that God hath set in the starres and planets to iudge of their office propertie and vertue to bring all to their end and vse We know wel enough what Moises faith the God hath made the sonne and the moone to rule the daies and the nights the moneths the yeares and all seasons In the which he doth comprehend all which toucheth either tilling of the erthe and. Husbandry or ciuille policye And as touching that gouernaunce trule whereof he speaketh it is most certaine that the very ignoraunt haue some taste and feling but this science of astrologie besides the effectes dothe also declare the causes As for example The most rude simple people do playnly perceiue that the daies are shorter in winter then in sumer that it is whotte in sumer and colde in winter but they come neuer so his as to iudge how or wherefore that cometh to passe All the world doth know the eclipses of the sonne and of the moone but the causes are hide vnlesse one haue learned them by doctrine and science We need not go to the scoole to see that ther are starres in heauen But it is not for al persones to comprehend the measure of their courses their reuolutions theyr aspectes and other lyke things for that doth requir a speciall knowledge Wherefore the Astrologie doth serue to discusse the course of the planetts and starres aswell for the time as for their situacion order I saye that it serueth for the times because we may knowe what space of tyme euery planet yea and the firmament also dothe require to fulfil their course Againe it serueth for the situacion to knowe howe farre one is distāt from an other to discerne the mocions which are streight or croked or one against an other further more to knowe why the sonne is rather further from vs in winter then in sommer and wherfore it tarieth longer ouer vs in sommer then in winter To know how to compasse and measure in what signe of the Zodiaque it is eueri moueth what aspectes it and the other planets haue wherfore the moone is in the full or in the weane according as shee either draweth from the sonne or draweth
nere how eclipses come yea it serueth thus farre euen to measure the degres the minutes This ground being laid the effects which we se here beneth do folowe the which by the meanes of Astrologie we knowe to come frō aboue and that not onely when they are come but also we are aduertised before they come There is none but he heareth the noise of the windes and seeth the raine haile snowe but none knoweth the causes saue onely by the meanes of Astrologie which as I haue saide geueth also some coniectures for the tyme to como Although that we may not make therof a general rule I speak therfore of the ordinary course which is not letted by other accedents or chaūces comming from some other cause But well this is the matter which we haue to intreate of for our feined Astrologians do take a principle which is true to witte that the earthly bodies and generally all creatures which are vnder heauen are subiecte to the order of heauen to draw from it some qualities Howbeit they applye it ful il And thoghe the case were euen so the naturall Astrologie wil shew well enough that the bodies which are here beneth doe receiue some influence of the moone by that that the oysters are either full or empty as the moone is eyther in the full or weane Likwise that the bones are either full of marowe as the moone is either in the ful or els weaneth Likewise the phisicians doe drawe out of the true Astrologye all the iudgement that they haue to ordeyne bloode lettings or drinks or pilles other things in due time Therefore we must needes confesse that is a certain conuenience betwyxte the starres or planets and the disposition of mans body And all this as I haue said is conteined vnder the naturall Astrologie But the shameles deceiuers which wold vnder the cloke of the science haue gone furder haue counterfeicted an other kynd whych they call Iudicialle which consisteth in two princypall articles whereof the first is to know not onely the nature and complexion of mē but also al their fortunes as they call them yea and all that they shal either do or suffer in ther life The second is what end those matters shall haue which they go aboute when they traffike and occupie one with an other and generally of the whole estate of the world But let vs first entreate of the complexion of euery one according to his birthe And as ther was neuer lie so great nor so impudent which will not borrowe some coulour of truthe I graunt surely that as touching the complexions of men and chiefly as concerning the affections which are partakers of the qualities of their bodies that they partly depend of the starres or at least haue some agreement therewith As to say that a man is of a more coloricke thē flegmaticke complexion or contrariwise Neuerthelesse euen in this ther are many things to be noted Our Mathematiciens to whom I speake doe found theyr iudgement vpon the houre in the which one is borne But I say contrariwise that the hour of the generation is more to be considered the which for the most part is vnknowen for the mother hath not allwais a time certaine wherein she shoulde bring for the her childe And whatsoeuer they haue to reply agaynst it yet for all that shall they be conuinced by reason that the starres haue not so greate force to prynt qualities in a man at his birthe as at his conception yea I say more ouer that putte the case the starres did giue vs our qualities or properties by their influence that that doeth not come by our birthe for cōmune experience doeth proue it Neither is it wtout cause that Persius saith Geminos Horoscope Varo Producis genio which is as muche to saie as that vnder the same Horoscope or ascendent two may be borne of diuerse natures Whych is allways sene yea and that in brethren which are twynnes whych wyll so dyffer one frō an other as thogh the positions of the starres had bene clene contrary I will not say that to iudge surely by the natiuitie of the nature of a man beside this the he must haue all the degrees of the Climate wel marked moreouer this genethliak and teller of mens fortune by the starres must haue his Astrolobe in his hand For to trust to the clocke or diall is scant sure enough For if one doe misse but a fewe minuts a man shall finde great chaunges in the beholding of the starres But whether it be that one must iudge by the conceiuing or by the birth it is no matter this I will aske if the sexe of male and famale do not surmount all the rest of the qualities which ar in the creature But if this be true that in one moment and in one belly a sonne a daughter shal be conceiued yea in one moment one womā shal be brought to bedde of a man childe and an other of a woman childe Whence cometh this diuersitie which is the principall but that the starres planets haue no suche power as those felowes wolde haue men to beleue If a man shoulde make a comparison Ther is nothing more certaine thē that the sede of the father of the mother haue an influence and vertue of an hundreth folde more power then hath all the starres together yet notwithstanding a man may see that it faileth oftentimes and the disposytion also may be diuerse Let vs take two men of contrary and diuerse natures hauing either of them a wyfe lykewise of a contrary complexion and nature the do begett children in the selfe same houre and are broght to bed in the self same houre it cometh commonly to passe that the children wil take their complexion rather of their fathers mothers then of the aspecte of the starres which they both had like And the reason is so euident that none of good iudgement wyll speake any thing to the contrary What should we say then of the influence that the starres of heauen giue to men I graunt according to that that I touched before that the starres haue in deed some concourse to forme the complexions specially those that concerne the body but for all that I denie that the principall cause cometh frō thense I vnderstand as concerning naturall causes euen those whiche they call inferior causes For the seede whereof the children are procreated and made dothe goe before and is of greater importaunce Secondly I say that the Astrologians doe make an euill foundation and are not of a sure ground when thei wil rather iudge by the natyuitye and byrthe then by the generatyon and conceptyon but it is true that the generatyon and conceptyon is vnknowen vnto them therfore haue they no certaynty of iudgement Thirdly I say that God worketh in many by a speciall grace euen in forming their nature so that the constellation hath no place at all or at the
stars had any powre to conducte and gyde mans enterprises shoulde we not rather haue regarde to them which then beare rule when the matter is a doyng What foly is it to saye yf I ought to bye marchandies of a man which is beyonde the sea that the starre which ruleth at my departure shall giue me good successe and they which rule when the bargaine is made can do nothyng I remembre the tale that they are wont to tell of the Cardinall Farnesus who by the counsel of an astrologer was compelled to leaue his dinner to get on horsebacke to the entent that he might haue good succes in his embassage And if he had departed two houres after hauing dined at his leasure and had come that night to the same lodgyng what woulde that either haue furthered or hyndered hym who is it that doth not perceyue that the chiefest point is to know the situatioÌ„ of the stars wheÌ„ we shuld end the matter I meane yf there were anye controuersitie whether we ought to beleue them or no. But we may easely perceyue that all is but a mere abuse I haue heard tell of certayne phantasticall felowes which are in honor which durst not get vpon their mules without thei had afore asked leaue of the stars Put the case it were a counseller of some hie court there is a certain time appoynted to assemble together there are twentye which are subiect to one rule law yet for all that theyr stars are diuers the law calleth theÌ„ all together what shall they doe If men were ruled by Astrology they would be so far from euer endyng any proces and action that one should not be able to bryng three Iudges together to here a mans cause Therefore it must nedes be that either the stars must be remoued to the intent thei may otherwise agree or els that al policie should be beaten downe But we knowe that god doth approue this order that there shoulde be certayne houres appoynted to kepe iustice to heare his worde to receyue the sacramentes without hauing regarde to the opposition of heauen If that in musing vpoÌ„ the starres men doe forsake the order which God hath appoynted and that euery one go asyde without accommodating hym selfe to the common societie of mankind shuld not God be contrary to himselfe Where shall that incomprehensible wisdome appeare by the which he hath so well ordered all thyngs that it doeth seeme that he hathe made all by line and measure If one can not obey hym in thys one poynt except he do contrary to the order which he hath placed in nature A man may very well applie that mery taunte to this kinde of men which an auncient Philosopher heard of his maide who whiles he marked ouer earnestly the starres and the firmament had no leasure to loke to his fete and so stumbled fel into a ditche Then sayde his mayde vnto hym there is nothyng better then to thinke vpon those thinges that are most neare vnto vs. I woulde not turne nor applye this taunt or mocke to the trewe Astrologians whose labours and paine which thei haue taken to make vs know the secretes of heauen can neuer be ouermuch praised for somuch as it was good bothe to glorifie God and also to serue vs to our vse and commoditie But for these speculatiue fooles which walke aboue the cloudes and in the meane season doe not consider whither God doth cal them nor haue regarde of their dutie which I saye wander out of the way which God sheweth them and forget their dutie which they owe to their neighbours is there not good cause why one shoulde mock and deride their vanitie and that God also shoulde make them ignominius and shameful cause them not onely to stumble but also in the ende to fall and to breake their necks After that these our good maisters the Genethliaks which tell mens fortunes by their birth haue broght euery one of vs vnder their perticular iurisdiction by Astronomy they vsurpe also the same power ouer the vniuersall estate of the worlde And surely I do confesse accordynge to that that I haue afore sayde that in so muche as the earthly bodies haue a certain agrement with the heaueÌ„ we mai well note that certaine causes in the starres why thyngs come so to pas here beneth For euen as the influence of heauen doth often times cause tempest whirle windes and chaunge of weather and continuall raines so consequently it bringeth barrennes and pestilences Therefore in that that we see an order and as it were a knotte and tying together of the things whiche ar aboue with the things that are beneth I am not against but that one may seeke in the heauenly creatures the begynnyng and cause of the accedentes which are sene here in the earth I take this worde beginninge not as the first and principall cause but as an inferiour meanes to Goddes wyll yea and such a one as he vseth as a preparation to accomplyshe hys worke euen so as he determined in his eternall counsell How be it we must not altogether deny but that there is sometime a certaine agrement of a pestilence which we see here and the influence of the stars which is knowen by Astrologye Yet this in no case can be general for when the choyse was lefte to Dauid which of the thre roddes of God he woulde chuse and that he had chosen the pestilence we may not say that that did procede of the starres Likewise when the famin was so great in Siria and in Israell in the time of Elias and that the drought was there so longe it were a point of great folishenes to seke wither the starres were there vnto disposed or no synce it was an extraordinary miracle Neither must we take this example as one amonge others very rare since God speakyng generally in the bokes of Moyses sayeth that all aduersities that come vnto mâ—n are hidde in his treasures Whereby he doeth signifie that he powreth them furthe to punishe mans sinnes and that if maÌ„ by his malice did not prouoke his wrath he woulde shut them vp as it were in a coffer And surely there is not anye more common doctrine thoroughout all the Prophetes then this to wit that he wyl make the heauen and the earth as brasse And seyng he assigneth the cause to our sinnes all influence of the starres is excluded As for the warres there is lesse matter why thei should searche the cause in the starres wherfore they come since they also are Gods scourges to correct synnes which depende nothing of the starres God promising to Abraham that he woulde geue the lande of Canaan to his posteritie sayth that the terme is not yet come He doth not say that the aspect of the stars doeth not beare it What doeth he say then He sayth that the iniquitie of the Ammorities is not yet com to the perfectioÌ„ Wherfore as men vse to gather the fruicte of a tree
but this that in attributyng the causes of our prosperous successe and afflictions to the starres and to their influence we put as it were cloudes before oure eyes to driue vs awaye from the prouidence of God we maye already see that it is a thyng ouer dangerous to medle withall But more ouer thys foloweth that those men whiche wander amongest the starres doe descende no more into their owne consciences to examine their life although they know that they carye within themselues the matter and cause of all euyll and theyr synnes are the woode to kyndle Gods wrathe for the which wars famine pestilence hayle frost and other lyke thynges do come Likewise they that loke for good lucke by the prediction of the stars restyng fully vpon them do wythdraw theyr hope from God and become sluggishe to demaunde it as though they had alreadye wonne that which they looked for I am not ignoraunt what they haue to say against it and to cauill They wyll alledge a saying of Ptolome that the significations of starres are not lyke the decrees of a parlament which should haue their execution ready because god is aboue them But when they haue sayde all that they can this is but a shifting hole for seyng all the euylles wherewith the starres threaten vs do procede from the order of nature we must nedes conceyue this phantasie that our sinnes are not then the cause I wyll let passe the absurditie and contradiction that is in theyr wordes to witte that the order which God hath appoynted to be euerlastyng is changed by causes that come by chaunce As though god were contrary to himselfe It is inough for me that I haue gotten the minde of the Prophet which is that he doth set forth as it wer two contrary thynges the respect which the Heathen haue to the starres in imaginynge that theyr condition and estate of their lyfe dyd whollye depende thereon and the knowledge on the which the faithfull oughte to rest to witte that they are in the hande of God and that he wyll blesse them yf they serue him with a good conscience and the all the euils that they susteine are so many punishments for theyr synnes Our Genethliaks thinke they haue a great solution in that the prophet nameth the starres sygnes for thence they conclude that theyr office is to signifie thynges before they come And for confirmation of that they alledge that whiche is written in the first chapter of Genesis to wit that God created them to this ende But since they make so great bragges of this word signes what wyll they say to that which is written in Esay * Isa 44. 2 that God doeth destroye the signes of the diuiners It is moste certaine that he speaketh there of the Astrologians So if I confesse to them that they maye haue signes but that God wyll ouerthrowe them what haue they gayned Moreouer this cauillation is ouer impudent to saye that Ieremy doeth after a sorte confesse that there is some signification in the starres because he calleth them signes Yea and it is a common kinde of speche in rebuking an abuse to vse the wordes customable amongest them whome they wyll rebuke The scripture calleth the Idols the heathen mens Goddes Yf any vnder pretense of that name would proue the Idols to be gods who is it that woulde not mocke his folishenes Brieflye the Prophete doeth admonishe the people that they shoulde not be troubled nor vexed with this opinion of the Heathen that the starres should signifie this or that As also at this presente we can not rebuke this errour but we must say that we muste not occupie our mindes with such significations As for the texte of Moyses they pull it in peces whilest they wyll stretche it to their folyshe phantasye God hath ordeyned the starres to be sygnes But we must marke of what thynges how be it euerye one of sounde iudgement doth wel inough vnderstande that Moyses would haue touched that which I haue heretofore declared concerning the true vse of Astrologye Although the starres be signes vnto vs to shewe vs times to sow or plant to let bloode or to minister Phisike and to cut wood yet for al that thei are no signes to know when we should put on new garmentes whether we shoulde hys and sell the Mondaye rather then the Twesday and other like thynges whiche haue no respect nor agrement with the starres Therefore as we do confesse the naturall sygnes so as we detest the sorcerie that the Deuyll hath inuented Wherefore it is an impudent slaunder wherewith they slaunder vs in that they go about to make men beleue that we do destroy the order which God hath established in takyng awaye from the starres the propertie that they haue to signifie things afore hand yea that we condemne a very excellent and profitable science All this cloke is taken away in one word when we put a difference betwixte the naturall Astrologie and this bastardly Astrologye which the Magicians haue fayned I know that to knowe the course of the starres their vertue and that which is of this sort is not onely very profitable to men but also doth styrre thē vp to magnifie the name of God in his wonderfull wisedom which he sheweth there For although the very ignorant and Idiots can not lifte vp theyr eyes to heauen but they shal haue great occasion to glorifie God yet thei which haue studied to comprehend the secretes of nature which are not knowen of all men ought to be a great deale more styrred vp to doe their dutye But it is another matter to speake of the right and moderat vse and to speake of the abuse and excesse If any man woulde in praising of Wine allowe dronkennesse woulde not all the worlde rise by against him because he shoulde be a wicked corrupter of Gods workes The same do they which do borow or rather steale the tytle of a good and approued science to colour certaine phantasticall imaginations cleane contrarye to the truth of the science which they do boast of And surelye I preuented their subtiltie in the beginning when I made a protestation that I woulde not onely reiect the art which hath her beginning in the order of nature but also that I do esteme it and prayse it as a singular gifte of God Therefore when the Genethliaks would haue their gew gwaes and folyshe toyes to be of forse vnder pretence that it is a holye and good thyng to consider the works of god let euery one be warned the he should bring them to this point and not suffer himselfe to be caried out of the waye by their far fetched circumstances But they doe euen as the Alchumistes which do insinuate them selues by long prefaces of the temperature of the elementes and of the agrement whiche is amongest them and other lyke thinges which are trew and founded on good reason But after they haue long gone about the bushe at length thei do
to the other What an abhomination is that The Gospell is Gods Scepter by the which he raigneth ouer vs it is the vertue of his arme whiche he openeth as Sainct Paul sayth for the saluation to all beleuers it is his stedfaste trueth vnder the which all the angels of Paradise ought to be humbled the holy gost is he who maketh it to profite geuyng it forse and victorie against all that resist it against the Deuyl and the worlde But these phantastical felowes say that some corner of some signe of the Zodiak doeth cause man to beleue it Contrariwise the sect of Mahomet as the Scripture teacheth vs is a iust plague of God to punish the ingratitude of the world And yet they wyll make men beleue that it is set vp and aduanced by the disposition of the stars To be shorte it is euident that all they which mainteyne such madnes know not what it is to speake of God and his religion no more then brute beastes But to the intent they myghte make all thynges serue them as men famished vse to doe they obiect the eclipses and comettes and saye that if they haue any signification then we may saye the same of the rest of the starres I answer that as for the eclipses if they be naturall they haue no signification vnlesse it be that they may engender raine or winde or a whirle winde or such like accordyng as we haue afore expressed But we will suffer fooles to imagine that one may by them foreshewe what shall chaunce to kingdomes dignities yea and to perticular persons Now we read that it was necessary sometymes that some skilfull man in Astrologye shoulde warne the armye of the Romaines of the Eclipse of the Moone which shuld be to the entent that the souldiars which ignorant in those matters might not be troubled as with some euyll signe or token We see then that the true astrologye doth take awaye the superstition that these mad men do go aboute to bringe in againe * As did C. Sulpitius Gallus tribunâ—â— milituâ—â— As for the wonderfull Eclipses as that which came at the deathe of oure lord Iesus I do not deny but that they haue certayne significations But that dothe so lytle serue for oure deuiners that it is rather to stoppe and beate downe their bablyng For if it be necessarye that there shoulde be an extraordinary miracle to signifie thinges aforehande howe wyll they fynde that propertie and force in the common order It is almost the lyke in the comettes although it be not altogether so For they are inflamacious which are engendred naturallye not at any certaine tyme but as it pleaseth God Wherein one may see how much the comets do differ from the starres since that they are engendred by the accidentall causes And yet neuerthelesse I wil not agre with them in this that their foretellyng are certaine as also verye experience doth shewe it For if a comet do appeare and soone after some noble man die the people wil say that it came to sommon him to appeare But if the death of no noble man do folowe they wyll let it passe and neuer speake on it And yet neuerthelesse I do not denye but that when God wyll stretche out his hande to execute some iudgement worthy to be remembred in the worlde he wyll some tymes admonishe vs by comets but that doth nothing serue to bynde men and theyr condicion to a continuall influence of heauen Now it remaineth that we shuld answere to the examples whych they alledge to vs. And surelye it woulde seme that theyr arte were wholly approued by them But amongest all others there is one that maketh all them astonished that reade him to wit of the Mathematician called Ascletarius which foretold that Domician the Emperour should be kylled But Domician being angry with him called him and sayde vnto hym that since he occupied himselfe so muche in diuining of others that he shoulde diuine also of himselfe He answered the hour of his death was at hande and that his bodye shoulde be pulled in peces of the dogges Domician maketh him to be kylled and doeth commaunde that he shoulde be burnt to the entent they might bury his ashes as they were wont But lo such a storme came so sodenly that it did put out the fyre dogges fell to eate the body But within a while after Domician was killed Moreouer that which thei say of Iulius Cesar his Mathematician Spurina is not altogether so merueilous although it come some thing neare For he did admonishe Cesar that he shoulde beware of the fyrst day of Marche But the daye beynge come Cesar saide vnto him Loe the first day of Marche is com The other answered it is not yet passed And surely Cesar coÌ„ming iÌ„to the senat was ther slaine Thus our Genethliakes thinke the they haue won the fielde so that none can resist them to wit that they can shewe that there is a sure trueth in their arte But I will aske them if they thinke none other were borne in Rome and in Italy the same daye at the same houre wherein Iulius Cesar was borne And it is like that manye were borne vnder one selfe same Horoscope The same may be said of Domician But did they al therfore dye in the same day Or had they a violent death No but contrariwise euen as the same horoscope did not make them all Emperours so likewise it did not cause that they shoulde all dye one maner of death Therfore we may see that there is neither reason nor truth in their art for if there wer any it wold take place euery where But we se that somtime .xxx. are borne at one time one dyeth at twenty an other at fiftye one of an ague the other in the warre Likewise afore they die euery one hath his seuerall kind of life and his state doth differ from euerye mans estate And what hath euery one his own starre in heauen wherein he may learne what shall come vnto him For if the constellacion coulde doe any thynge it woulde be equall in euery one After the same sort that may easily be refuted whiche they allege of Augustus the Emperore who hauing heard Theogines sai that his natiuitie did promes him the Empyre of Rome And in remembraunce of this he coyned his money with the signe of Capricorne vnder the whiche he was borne Who will doute but that many poore wretches were borne vnder the same signe of whoÌ„ some was a swineheard another a netehard euery one in such a kind of empyre dominion Yf the horoscope or the respect of the starres had gyuen the Romaine Empire to all them which were borne the same time that Augustus was there woulde haue ben but a lytle portion left him Whereof I conclude that al the diuinations which haue ben wer founded nether vpoÌ„ reason nor vpon science Thei wil obiect that yet for all that we see the trueth by the issue I answere that