Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	know_v	way_n	word_n	4,613	5	4.0368	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85938	Astrologo-mastix, or A discovery of the vanity and iniquity of judiciall astrology, or Divining by the starres the successe, or miscarriage of humane affaires. / By John Geree Master of Arts, and preacher of the word at St. Albanes. Published according to order.	Geree, John, 1601?-1649.	1646 (1646)	Wing G586; Thomason E344_13; ESTC R200963	16,037	26

Astrologo-Mastix OR A DISCOVERY Of the vanity and iniquity of Judiciall Astrology or Divining by the Starres the successe or miscarriage of humane affaires By JOHN GEREE Master of Arts and Preacher of the word at St. Albanes JER 10.22 Learne not the way of the Heathen and be not dismayed at the signes of Heaven for the Heathen are dismayed at them Sapiens dominabitur Astris Published according to Order LONDON Printed by Matthew Simmons for John Bartlet at the Guilt-Cup at Austines-Gate 1646. To my very loving and beloved brother Mr. Stephen Geree Preacher of the word at Guylford in Surrey Grace and Peace SIR DEdication of Bookes is used not onely as a Testimony of observance to great ones but of love also to Familiars especially such as are learned Famous Calvin who dedicated Treatises to divers Christian Princes presented one also to his Reverend Master Corderius What fitter name then can I prefixe to this short Treatise then yours To whom besides the respect of an elder brother I stand ingaged for my initiation into Logick and Divinity of both which I here present you some fruites I am not ignorant that many have written of this Subject But I observe withall that most men buy and read Books as they doe cloathes that is onely those that are new and in fashion So we must have new books to confute old errours because ancient Treatises are look't on but by a few else we may perish in the midst of Antidotes for want of using them But a short Book must not have a large Epistle therefore desiring your prayers for the Book and the Author I am From my study at St. Albanes June 1. 1646. your loving and obliged brother JO. GEREE QUESTION VVhether Judiciall Astrology or Prognostications touching persons or Realmes by the Stars may be lawfully practised countenanced or tolerated PAVL being at Athens had his spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stirred or provoked when he saw the City given to Idolatry therefore disputed he in the Synagogues and in the Market and was incountred by the Philosophers Act. 17.16 17 18. Though our Nation be not so given to Astrology as Ephesus to Idolatry nor my spirit so full of zeale as St. Pauls was yet such hath been of late the boldnesse of some Starre-gazers in their predictions touching the affaires of this Nation and some persons in it and many of all professions have cast such a respective eye upon them that my spirit hath been often stirred to enter the list with them to try if I might give some stop to this sinfull vanity by the same meanes and blessings wherewith St. Paul was mighty among the Ephesians Now this kind of Divination may be convinc't of iniquity by three Arguments Arg. 1 1. That which is condemned by the word of God as a grand offence is not to be practised countenanced or tolerated But Divining by the Starres is condemned in the word of God as a grand offence Ergo. The Major is a principle unquestionable the Minor I make good by the places following Deut. 18.10 11 12. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to passe through the fire or that useth Divination or an observer ●f times or an Enchanter or a Witch or a Charm●● or a Consulter with familiar Spirits or a Wizard or a N 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for all that doe these things are abomination unto the Lord. Here Moses reckoning up the divers kinds of Sorceries useth divers words that are taken to note out Astrology that is Divination by the Stars as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Diviner touching which word A●enza●● himself an Astrologer saith Hoc est quidem commune omnibus divinantibus sed proprium magis namen Astrologorum 〈◊〉 is a common name to all Diviners but more proper to Astrologers 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Planetarius as Junius renders it that is 〈…〉 that divines by the Planets or as our Translators render it an observer of times that is of lucky or unlucky times by the position of the Starres as Ha … did by another kind● of S●rcery Esther 3.7 and this as 〈◊〉 observes out of Ki … notes out curious Astrologers 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rend●●d Wizards Scioli Man that pretend to foretell things our of some knowledge that they have more then other living which Daniel disclaimed Dan. 2.30 And whose humour doth this more lively represent then our Astrologers Now all those are forbidden under this notion that those that doe them are an abomination Yes the looking after them is prohibited under the expression of going a ing after them Levit. 20.6 and doth not the expression Deut. 18.10 There shall not be found among you intimate that these things are neither to be practised by them nor tolerated among them Isa 2.6 you have a sad expression Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob because they be replerished from the East 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Sooth-sayers like the Philistines where the same originall word is translated Sooth-sayers which Interpreters most generally take to import Astrologers and these are sinners that when countenanc'd you see make God forsake his people Isay 47.13.14 Thou art wearied in thy Counsels let now the Astrologers the Star-gazers the monethly Prognosticators stand up and save thee from those things that shall come upon thee Behold they shall be as stubble the fire shall burne them Here you have held forth not onely the vanity but the iniquity of Astrologers they cannot help by their Divinations but they shall be punisht for them and that grievously Jer. 10.2 Thus saith the Lord learne not the way of the Heathen and be not dismayed at the Signes of Heaven for the Heathen are dismayed at them Here you have the use of Astrology forbidden as an heathenish way and that we should not be dismayed at the signes of Heaven where the same word is used in the originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in Isa 44.25 That frustrateth the takens of the lyars which intimates to us that the same Signes are meant in both places viz. Constellations pointed out by lying Astrologers Now these they were not to learne of these they were not to be afraid whence we may plainly gather that this Divining Astrology is a foule and a false Art soule because not to be learned false because not to be feared The Prophets that did foretell evill from God they were to be hearkned to and to be feared that by feare men might be excited to pray and prevent evills imminent so Hezekiah Jer. 26.19 so the Ninevites what is not then to be feared or learned it 's not of God nor hath it any truth in it but is an irregular way which is also hinted in that it is called the way of the Heathen and their feare the feare of the Heathens that is those wayes are heathenish sutable to those that know not God but unsutable to those that professe him and know

his word which is one of the very Arguments wherewith our Saviour convinceth the sinfulnesse of carking Mat. 6.32 Dan. 1.2 Then the King commanded to call in the Magicians and the Astrologers and the Sorcerer● and the Chaldeans Here you have Astrologers reck●●d up with other evill arts of Divination as being of the same kind whence we may justly gather that it is to be abandoned as an abomination with the rest It 's true that the originall words here used in Chaldee are not so exactly knowne to the Hebrewes as other words proper to their owne Language yet there be two of these words here used either of which by their etymology may appeare to note unto us th●se Star-gazers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 C●●lom because their Art is a●o●● the Heavens and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●●●p●●s●ntum because in the twilight they were used to observe the Heavens But what ever certainty there may be in the particular word● yet a certainty there is in the thing that these Star-gazers were one sort of their Diviners that they relyed on and sought to as is cleere by Isa 47.13 before opened And therefore no doubt they are to be understood under one or more expressions in this Catalogue which though it might be honourable among the Heathen yet is it indeed a black roule presenting to us evill Arts to be abandoned We may adde to these one testimony out of the New Testament Acts 19.18 19 20. And many of them which beleeved came and confessed and shewed their deeds many of them also which used curious Arts brought their bookes together to be burned before all men and counted the price of them and found it 50000 pieces of silver so mightily grew the word of God and prevailed Whence I argue that Art the practise whereof is by beleevers confest as a sinne the Books of it burnt and that as an effect of the power of the Gospel that is an evill art not to be practised countenanced or tolerated but such is this Astrology Ergo. The Major is cleer the Minor is proved by the words cited In the words foregoing you have a judgement related which befell some Exorcists v. 13 14 15 16. This was knowne at Ephesus v. 17. and thence feare and giving glory to the name of Christ and thence also the fruites in the words cited as confession of sinne as of others so no doubt principally of that which was punisht and all of that nature verse 18.2 the burning of their bookes that exercised these curious Arts ver 19. and this ascribed to the power of the Gospel ver 20. All the doubt is whether Divining Astrology be comprized under curious Arts or no and that is a needlesse doubt too for by the number and price of bookes which were burnt we may plainely gather that Astrology was at least one of those Arts for it must not be a Rusticall but a Learned Sorcery that was so bookish and what can be compared in that kind to this of Divining Astrology Besides that the Ephesians were addicted to Magick the Proverb witnesseth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephesiae literae as Beza notes on the place To this first and fundamentall Argument from expresse Scripture I may adde ex abundanti some others from the consequence of Scriptures Arg. 2 2. That Art whereby men assume to themselves what is peculiar to God must needs be sinfull neither to be practised countenanced nor tolerated But this we doe by divining of events to persons and Nations by the Starres Ergo. The Major is cleare from Isa 41.22 23. shew things to come hereafter that we may know that yee are Gods where you see the knowing and declaring things to come is as peculiar a being prerogative to the Deity as to know the heart Therefore the foresight of future contingent events cannot be within the compasse of any Art yea the attempting of it is parallel to the sinne of Evah in aspiring to be like God in fore-knowledge of things Arg. 3 3. That which withdrawes from God the Father and Christ the Sonne from considering the workes of the one or heeding the word of the other is an evill not to be practised countenanced or tolerated but our Astrologicall predictions drawes from God and Christ Ergo. The Major is evident not to consider Gods works is a sinfull omission condemned Isa 5.12 and the Apostle is as severe against every thing that withdrawes from Christ Col. 2.8.18 19. Now that these Prognosticatours withdraw the minds from Christ may be gathered by that opposition put between them by Moses Deut. 18.10 to 16. where the tenour of the word runnes that they must not hearken to Sorcerers that they may bearken to Christ And while men ascribe prosperity or ill successe in humane affaires to the Stars doe they not thereby manifestly withhold mens minds from beholding God in them or making use of them for while we are detained in the view of naturall causes we shall not looke to supernaturall ends or uses or not so much as we should and otherwayes would Arg. 4 4. That which is false un●ertaine deluding the mind with vaine speculations is not to be practised countenanced or tolerated But our Star-divining is false c. Ergo. The Major is evident The Minor I prove First that these predictions are false Isa 44.15 That frustrateth the tokens of the lyers and and maketh Diviners mad Who were those that were called lyers here but those spoken afterward Isa 47.12 13. for both are spoken with reference to the Caldeant So there you see Starre gazers by the Spirit of Truth are termed lyers their Artis false If they speake truth sometimes it 's at all adventures more by hap then skill Secondly much lesse is there any certainty in this art of Divining There 's certainty in the motions of the Stars but none in their influences to produce particular voluntary events among men Eclipses of Sun and Moone Conjunctions of other Planets may certainly be foreknowne but there 's no certainty of their effects or Estates The motions of the Heavens are so certaine that they may be certainly foretold because they cannot be altered without a miracle But ther 's no such certainty of the events of them that we may certainly divine by them For if their influences were so certaine to produce and so to discover future events then all here below were under a Stoicall Fate nay it would be unlawfull without a miraculous faith to pray against those calamities which are discovered to be imminent by the Stars for were there a certaine connexion between the influence and the effects as between the motions of the Heavens and Eclipses then as the latter so the former could not be hindred without a Miracle and a Miracle may not be prayed for without a miraculous faith Therefore we count it sinne and folly to pray against an Eclipse and so against a calamity prognosticated by it were