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         Edwards, John, 1637-1716.
      
       
         
           1684
        
      
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         A37977
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         ESTC R1452
         12265105
         ocm 12265105
         58008
         
           
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             Cometomantia, A discourse of comets shewing their original, substance, place, time, magnitude, motion, number, colour, figure, kinds, names, and more especially, their prognosticks, significations and presages ... : where also is inserted an essay of judiciary astrology, giving satisfaction to this grand question, whether any certain judgments and predictions concerning future events, can be made from the observation of the heavenly bodies : both occasioned by the appearance of the late comets in England and other places.
             Edwards, John, 1637-1716.
          
           [14], 296 p.
           
             Printed for Brab. Aylmer ...,
             London :
             1684.
          
           
             Attributed to J. Edwards. Cf Wing.
             Errata: p. [13].
             Reproduction of original in Harvard University Libraries.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Comets.
        
      
    
     
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           COMETOMANTIA
           .
        
         
           A
           DISCOURSE
           OF
           COMETS
           :
           Shewing
           their
           Original
           ,
           Substance
           ,
           Place
           ,
           Time
           ,
           Magnitude
           ,
           Motion
           ,
           Number
           ,
           Colour
           ,
           Figure
           ,
           Kinds
           ,
           Names
           ,
           and
           ,
           more
           especially
           ,
           their
           
             Prognosticks
             ,
             Significations
          
           and
           Presages
           .
        
         
           Being
           a
           brief
           Resolution
           of
           a
           seasonable
           Query
           ,
           viz.
           Whether
           the
           Apparition
           of
           Comets
           be
           the
           Sign
           of
           approaching
           Evil
           ?
        
         
           Where
           also
           is
           inserted
           an
           Essay
           of
           
             Iudiciary
             Astrology
          
           ,
           giving
           Satisfaction
           to
           this
           grand
           Question
           ,
           Whether
           any
           certain
           Iudgments
           and
           Predictions
           concerning
           future
           Events
           ,
           can
           be
           made
           from
           the
           Observation
           of
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           ?
        
         
           Both
           occasioned
           by
           the
           Appearance
           of
           the
           late
           Comets
           in
           England
           and
           other
           Places
           .
        
         
           London
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Brab
             .
             Aylmer
          
           ,
           at
           the
           
             Three
             Pigeons
          
           over
           against
           the
           
             Royal
             Exchange
          
           in
           Cornhill
           .
           1684.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           TO
           THE
           Right
           Reverend
           Father
           In
           GOD
           ,
           SETH
           ,
           Lord
           BISHOP
           OF
           SALISBURY
           ,
           AND
           CHANCELLOUR
           OF
           THE
           Most
           Noble
           ORDER
           OF
           THE
           GARTER
           .
        
         
           
             MY
             LORD
             ,
          
        
         
           I
           Dedicate
           This
           to
           your
           Lordship
           ,
           and
           if
           any
           shall
           ask
           the
           Reason
           ,
           I
           know
           
           no
           other
           than
           what
           all
           England
           knows
           as
           well
           as
           I
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           the
           place
           you
           hold
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           Esteem
           of
           the
           Learned
           World
           ,
           your
           great
           and
           admired
           Worth
           ,
           your
           Skill
           in
           the
           profoundest
           Sciences
           ,
           of
           which
           your
           Excellent
           Works
           of
           Astronomy
           ,
           and
           particularly
           your
           Praelections
           of
           Comets
           are
           an
           undeniable
           demonstration
           .
           Those
           that
           know
           either
           your
           Lordship
           or
           me
           ,
           will
           not
           say
           I
           flatter
           you
           ;
           for
           your
           vast
           Merits
           command
           all
           that
           can
           be
           said
           ,
           and
           for
           my
           part
           I
           am
           not
           inclined
           to
           fawn
           upon
           any
           Person
           .
        
         
         
           I
           cannot
           expect
           ,
           my
           Lord
           ,
           you
           should
           approve
           of
           this
           inconsiderable
           Present
           ,
           yet
           I
           persuade
           my self
           your
           Lordship
           will
           not
           be
           displeased
           at
           the
           good
           meaning
           of
           the
           Offerer
           .
           I
           need
           not
           acquaint
           your
           Lordship
           that
           it
           is
           part
           of
           one
           of
           the
           Canons
           of
           our
           Church
           ,
           That
           
             Poor
             Beneficed
             Men
             may
             go
             in
             short
             Gowns
             .
          
           
           We
           mean
           Folks
           ,
           my
           Lord
           ,
           must
           doe
           as
           well
           as
           we
           can
           .
           I
           submit
           the
           whole
           to
           your
           Lordship's
           Censure
           ,
           and
           hope
           you
           will
           not
           lay
           open
           those
           Faults
           which
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           none
           but
           your self
           can
           see
           .
           But
           I
           
           will
           usurp
           no
           farther
           on
           your
           Lordship's
           Patience
           ,
           than
           onely
           by
           begging
           your
           Pardon
           that
           I
           have
           done
           it
           so
           far
           already
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           ,
           
             My
             Lord
             ,
          
           
             Your
             Lordship
             's
             most
             Dutifull
             Son
             and
             Obedient
             Servant
             .
          
        
      
       
         
         
           THE
           PREFACE
           TO
           THE
           READER
           .
        
         
           THou
           seest
           here
           that
           I
           have
           sent
           a
           short
           Essay
           into
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           it
           will
           be
           an
           evident
           Conviction
           to
           all
           sober
           Minds
           of
           the
           
             Presaging
             Nature
          
           of
           
           Comets
           .
           That
           which
           I
           have
           to
           say
           in
           behalf
           of
           the
           Piece
           is
           this
           ,
           that
           I
           never
           met
           with
           so
           much
           on
           this
           Theme
           in
           any
           Writer
           ,
           whether
           English
           or
           Latin
           ,
           or
           of
           any
           other
           Language
           .
           If
           I
           had
           ,
           I
           protest
           to
           Thee
           seriously
           I
           would
           not
           have
           troubled
           Thee
           with
           this
           Essay
           of
           mine
           .
           To
           be
           plain
           ,
           if
           what
           is
           here
           presented
           be
           not
           the
           most
           rational
           and
           impartial
           ,
           the
           fullest
           and
           best
           Account
           that
           hath
           hitherto
           been
           given
           of
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Comets
           ,
           and
           of
           
             Judiciary
             Astrology
          
           ,
           I
           am
           sure
           it
           is
           that
           which
           I
           intended
           should
           look
           something
           like
           it
           .
           Nor
           do
           I
           pronounce
           this
           in
           Ostentation
           ,
           for
           I
           have
           
           considered
           the
           Point
           it self
           ,
           and
           I
           have
           likewise
           read
           other
           Mens
           Accounts
           .
           I
           may
           say
           with
           Seneca
           ,
           
           (
           in
           the
           Book
           where
           he
           purposely
           treats
           of
           Comets
           )
           That
           I
           have
           searched
           and
           enquired
           
             nec
             cum
             fiducia
             inveniendi
             ,
             nec
             sine
             Spe.
          
           I
           abandoned
           all
           Confidence
           and
           Presumption
           in
           this
           present
           Inquisition
           ,
           but
           withall
           I
           
             Despaired
             not
          
           of
           attaining
           to
           True
           Notions
           and
           Sentiments
           in
           this
           matter
           .
           I
           hope
           it
           will
           not
           be
           looked
           upon
           as
           an
           unpardonable
           Crime
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           got
           out
           of
           the
           common
           Road
           sometimes
           ,
           or
           when
           I
           light
           into
           it
           ,
           that
           I
           keep
           not
           pace
           with
           other
           Travellers
           .
           
           I
           declare
           I
           am
           for
           a
           free
           and
           rational
           way
           of
           thinking
           and
           discoursing
           .
           I
           have
           a
           great
           fancy
           for
           Rabbi
           
           Achiva's
           Advice
           ,
           
             Ne
             coquas
             in
             eadem
             olla
             in
             qua
             socius
             tuus
             jam
             coxerit
             ,
          
           Do
           not
           blindly
           adhere
           to
           what
           others
           have
           maintained
           .
           Brag
           not
           of
           other
           Mens
           Inventions
           ,
           but
           shew
           something
           of
           thy
           own
           .
        
         
           I
           might
           tell
           the
           Reader
           that
           I
           have
           endeavoured
           to
           proceed
           with
           all
           Caution
           and
           Modesty
           ,
           and
           have
           avoided
           the
           Imputation
           which
           generally
           lies
           upon
           those
           who
           handle
           this
           Subject
           ,
           viz.
           their
           fond
           and
           idle
           way
           of
           
             Pointing
             peremptorily
             at
             such
             and
             such
             particular
             Events
          
           
           which
           shall
           certainly
           follow
           the
           Appearance
           of
           Comets
           .
           Besides
           ,
           I
           have
           in
           other
           things
           studied
           to
           deliver
           my self
           with
           all
           Moderation
           ,
           which
           I
           am
           sure
           will
           not
           be
           displeasing
           to
           those
           who
           are
           Masters
           of
           Reason
           and
           Prudence
           .
           I
           could
           have
           said
           much
           more
           upon
           the
           Subject
           .
           The
           Reader
           may
           perceive
           from
           the
           numerous
           heap
           of
           particulars
           here
           inserted
           ,
           that
           I
           might
           have
           spun
           this
           Discourse
           into
           a
           far
           greater
           Length
           ,
           and
           swelled
           it
           into
           a
           larger
           Size
           .
           I
           have
           hinted
           Arguments
           ,
           and
           contracted
           some
           Topicks
           ,
           which
           I
           could
           easily
           have
           enlarged
           .
           But
           I
           was
           unwilling
           
           to
           be
           tedious
           ,
           and
           I
           had
           a
           mind
           the
           Reader
           should
           rise
           with
           an
           Appetite
           .
           As
           for
           the
           Idle
           and
           Envious
           ,
           and
           such
           who
           resolve
           that
           none
           shall
           see
           any
           thing
           of
           theirs
           in
           Publick
           ,
           I
           expect
           that
           they
           should
           cavil
           at
           my
           Endeavours
           .
           They
           that
           
             sit
             still
          
           and
           
             cannot
             afford
             to
             write
          
           ,
           are
           the
           
             dreadfullest
             Objectors
          
           ,
           the
           
             sorest
             Criticks
          
           of
           all
           .
           I
           have
           nothing
           to
           add
           now
           ,
           but
           to
           bid
           defiance
           to
           Them
           ,
           and
           to
           wish
           the
           Ingenuous
           and
           Candid
           Reader
           to
           doe
           so
           too
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           THe
           Absence
           of
           the
           Authour
           hath
           occasioned
           the
           omission
           of
           these
           two
           Clauses
           ,
           which
           the
           Reader
           is
           desired
           in
           his
           perusal
           to
           insert
           in
           the
           following
           places
           :
           viz.
           Page
           18.
           
           Line
           14.
           insert
           [
           And
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           greatest
           Lustre
           and
           Credit
           of
           this
           Opinion
           ,
           I
           find
           it
           espoused
           by
           that
           Profound
           Philosoper
           ,
           and
           Reverend
           Prelate
           of
           this
           Nation
           ,
           
           the
           present
           Lord
           Bishop
           of
           Sarum
           :
           He
           asserteth
           that
           Comets
           are
           Perpetual
           Bodies
           ,
           and
           that
           no
           new
           Comets
           appear
           ,
           but
           the
           very
           same
           which
           were
           seen
           before
           .
           ]
           Page
           59.
           line
           1.
           insert
           [
           And
           I
           might
           tell
           you
           here
           what
           a
           great
           Light
           of
           our
           Church
           and
           of
           Astronomy
           saith
           in
           the
           Conclusion
           of
           his
           Excellent
           Discourse
           concerning
           Comets
           :
           
             Taedet
             me
             divinationis
             in
             re
             tam
             incerta
             :
          
           I
           am
           weary
           of
           divining
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           upon
           this
           uncertain
           Subject
           :
           All
           our
           Philosophy
           here
           is
           but
           Conjectures
           and
           Surmises
           .
        
      
       
         
           ERRATA
           .
        
         
           PAge
           19.
           line
           22.
           read
           Manilius
           ,
           p.
           23.
           l.
           17.
           r.
           
             Iulius
             Caesar
             Scaliger
          
           ,
           p.
           27.
           l.
           11.
           r.
           
             Libertus
             Fromondus
          
           ,
           l.
           16.
           r.
           assert
           .
           p.
           40.
           l.
           3.
           r.
           
             the
             force
          
           ,
           p.
           41.
           l.
           18.
           r.
           Conick
           ,
           p.
           52.
           l.
           17.
           r.
           disquisition
           ,
           p.
           57.
           l.
           19.
           r.
           turning
           ,
           p.
           63.
           l.
           4.
           r.
           Impostures
           ,
           p.
           119.
           l.
           16.
           r.
           
             and
             Assistant
          
           ,
           p.
           124.
           l.
           18
           r.
           divinitùs
           ,
           p.
           268.
           l.
           ult
           .
           r.
           vacavi
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           Cometomantia
           .
        
         
           A
           DISCOURSE
           OF
           THE
           Original
           ,
           Substance
           ,
           Place
           ,
           Time
           ,
           Magnitude
           ,
           Motion
           ,
           Number
           ,
           Colour
           ,
           Figure
           ,
           Kinds
           ,
           Names
           ,
           and
           more
           especially
           the
           Prognosticks
           ,
           Significations
           and
           Presages
           OF
           COMETS
           .
        
         
           I
           Have
           observed
           that
           some
           of
           late
           ,
           who
           think
           they
           make
           no
           inconsiderable
           figure
           in
           the
           Age
           ,
           have
           bore
           up
           very
           briskly
           against
           that
           common
           and
           so
           long
           received
           Opinion
           ,
           That
           the
           Appearance
           of
           Comets
           is
           ominous
           ,
           
           and
           ▪
           portends
           some
           calamitous
           Events
           to
           the
           World.
           They
           look
           upon
           This
           as
           a
           mere
           vulgar
           Errour
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           be
           persuaded
           that
           it
           hath
           any
           other
           Foundation
           than
           the
           prejudicate
           Fancy
           and
           Imagination
           of
           the
           deluded
           People
           .
           I
           must
           freely
           profess
           my self
           to
           be
           one
           that
           hath
           other
           Notions
           of
           this
           matter
           ;
           and
           having
           satisfied
           my self
           about
           it
           ,
           I
           will
           try
           whether
           I
           can
           do
           the
           same
           to
           others
           :
           For
           I
           take
           it
           to
           be
           a
           laudable
           Endeavour
           ,
           and
           at
           present
           a
           seasonable
           one
           ,
           (
           we
           having
           so
           lately
           been
           allarmed
           by
           the
           sight
           of
           such
           glaring
           Bodies
           in
           the
           Heavens
           )
           to
           propogate
           the
           Sentiments
           which
           I
           have
           of
           this
           Doctrine
           ,
           and
           to
           reduce
           those
           that
           are
           mistaken
           to
           right
           Apprehensions
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           Four
           things
           then
           I
           design
           :
        
         
           1.
           
           To
           enquire
           into
           the
           Nature
           of
           Comets
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           (
           as
           the
           Title
           of
           this
           Treatise
           gave
           it
           you
           )
           their
           Original
           ,
           
           Substance
           ,
           Place
           ,
           Motion
           ,
           Figure
           ,
           (
           which
           last
           contains
           the
           different
           Species
           or
           Kinds
           )
           and
           whatever
           other
           circumstances
           and
           Phaenomena
           belong
           to
           them
           ,
           and
           from
           all
           these
           ,
           and
           the
           different
           Disputes
           ,
           Controversies
           and
           clashing
           Opinions
           concerning
           them
           ,
           to
           evince
           them
           to
           be
           Extraordinary
           and
           Portentous
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           I
           will
           from
           the
           consideration
           of
           the
           true
           Nature
           of
           Causes
           and
           Signs
           prove
           them
           to
           be
           both
           Effectual
           and
           Significant
           ,
           and
           particularly
           that
           they
           bode
           Calamities
           and
           Evils
           to
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           3.
           
           I
           will
           add
           the
           numerous
           suffrage
           of
           sacred
           and
           prophane
           Authours
           to
           back
           my
           Opinion
           ;
           for
           though
           I
           confess
           I
           never
           thought
           the
           Cause
           of
           Truth
           was
           to
           be
           decided
           by
           majority
           of
           Votes
           ,
           yet
           in
           this
           Case
           I
           dare
           venture
           to
           put
           it
           to
           the
           Poll.
           
        
         
           Lastly
           ,
           I
           will
           answer
           the
           Objections
           which
           are
           brought
           to
           invalidate
           
           my
           Assertion
           ,
           and
           there
           among
           my
           Replies
           to
           other
           Cavils
           ,
           I
           will
           purposely
           encounter
           
             Iudiciary
             Astrology
          
           ,
           and
           soberly
           and
           impartially
           give
           my
           Notion
           of
           it
           ;
           which
           if
           it
           prove
           not
           to
           be
           exactly
           adjusted
           to
           some
           Mens
           Measures
           ,
           yet
           I
           hope
           it
           will
           be
           found
           to
           answer
           to
           the
           Standard
           of
           Reason
           ,
           which
           I
           reckon
           to
           be
           much
           better
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           first
           place
           I
           am
           to
           enquire
           into
           the
           Nature
           of
           Comets
           :
           and
           here
           I
           must
           begin
           with
           the
           Substance
           or
           Matter
           of
           them
           .
           But
           behold
           !
           (
           as
           an
           Eviction
           of
           what
           I
           have
           already
           suggested
           ,
           and
           what
           will
           more
           evidently
           appear
           in
           the
           sequel
           ,
           viz.
           the
           dubious
           and
           uncertain
           Sentiments
           of
           Philosophers
           and
           others
           about
           these
           Bodies
           )
           there
           were
           some
           of
           old
           who
           would
           by
           no
           means
           allow
           them
           to
           have
           any
           Substance
           or
           Consistency
           at
           all
           ,
           but
           to
           be
           mere
           Appearances
           :
           which
           is
           as
           much
           as
           to
           say
           ,
           There
           are
           no
           such
           things
           in
           
           Reality
           .
           This
           Opinion
           is
           thus
           represented
           by
           Seneca
           the
           Philosopher
           ,
           in
           that
           Book
           which
           I
           shall
           have
           occasion
           often
           to
           cite
           ,
           
           
             Quidam
             nullos
             esse
             Cometas
             existimant
             ,
             sed
             species
             illorum
             per
             repercussionem
             vicinorum
             siderum
             ,
             aut
             per
             conjunctionem
             cohaerentium
             reddi
             .
          
           They
           held
           that
           the
           Phaenomena
           which
           are
           called
           Comets
           ,
           are
           caused
           by
           the
           Reflexion
           or
           Refraction
           of
           the
           Beams
           of
           the
           Sun
           ,
           or
           Moon
           ,
           or
           the
           neighbouring
           Stars
           ,
           or
           by
           a
           conjunction
           of
           many
           Stars
           together
           .
           They
           tell
           us
           at
           other
           times
           ,
           that
           their
           Production
           is
           the
           same
           with
           that
           of
           the
           Rain-bow
           ,
           the
           Parelion
           ,
           and
           Halo
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           are
           not
           distinct
           from
           those
           luminous
           Bodies
           which
           they
           are
           near
           to
           .
           But
           certainly
           it
           is
           a
           great
           piece
           of
           Philosophick
           Folly
           to
           think
           that
           they
           are
           mere
           shews
           ,
           and
           not
           of
           a
           real
           consistency
           .
           This
           might
           be
           confuted
           from
           several
           Topicks
           ,
           but
           especially
           from
           these
           Two
           :
           namely
           ,
        
         
         
           First
           ,
           Their
           Duration
           ,
           their
           constant
           and
           continued
           appearance
           for
           so
           long
           a
           time
           :
           whereas
           ,
           if
           they
           were
           onely
           seeming
           and
           phantastick
           Spectacles
           ,
           they
           would
           not
           hold
           out
           (
           as
           they
           do
           )
           so
           many
           days
           ,
           nay
           weeks
           ,
           not
           to
           say
           months
           .
        
         
           Again
           ,
           if
           they
           were
           Images
           they
           would
           not
           be
           seen
           Alike
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           same
           Shape
           to
           all
           persons
           in
           what
           situation
           soever
           ;
           the
           Angles
           of
           Incidence
           must
           needs
           vary
           .
           But
           it
           is
           well
           known
           that
           they
           appear
           with
           the
           same
           Figure
           in
           divers
           and
           distant
           Countries
           to
           all
           spectatours
           :
           whence
           it
           is
           proper
           to
           conclude
           that
           they
           are
           real
           Physical
           Beings
           .
           Well
           then
           ,
           granting
           them
           to
           be
           Substances
           ,
           what
           Kind
           of
           ones
           are
           they
           ,
           Spirit
           or
           matter
           ?
           Some
           have
           had
           so
           high
           an
           esteem
           of
           Comets
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           ranked
           them
           among
           Immaterial
           and
           Intellectual
           Spirits
           .
           Pliny
           ,
           the
           Elder
           ,
           in
           the
           Second
           Book
           of
           his
           
             Natural
             History
          
           ,
           and
           the
           Five
           and
           twentieth
           Chapter
           ,
           
           (
           which
           likewise
           I
           shall
           frequently
           quote
           in
           the
           following
           Discourse
           )
           acquaints
           us
           that
           the
           Comet
           which
           was
           seen
           seven
           nights
           together
           after
           the
           assassinating
           of
           
             Iulius
             Caesar
          
           in
           the
           Senate
           House
           ,
           was
           believed
           by
           the
           vulgar
           to
           be
           that
           Great
           Man's
           Soul
           received
           up
           into
           Heaven
           among
           the
           number
           of
           the
           Gods.
           
             Eo
             sidere
             significari
             vulgus
             credidit
             Caesaris
             animam
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           The
           same
           is
           testified
           by
           Suetonius
           and
           Plutarch
           ,
           in
           the
           Account
           which
           they
           give
           of
           
           Caesar's
           Life
           and
           Death
           .
           Nay
           ,
           this
           was
           not
           onely
           the
           conceit
           of
           the
           Roman
           Rabble
           ,
           but
           the
           said
           Pliny
           tells
           us
           ,
           that
           Democritus
           ,
           who
           one
           would
           think
           should
           have
           laughed
           at
           this
           among
           the
           other
           Follies
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           espoused
           this
           persuasion
           ,
           viz.
           That
           Comets
           are
           the
           Souls
           of
           Deceased
           Heroes
           .
           And
           (
           to
           see
           how
           taking
           such
           Dreams
           and
           Whimsies
           are
           with
           some
           heads
           )
           Bodinus
           seems
           to
           be
           hugely
           pleased
           with
           it
           ,
           
           and
           is
           very
           inclinable
           to
           believe
           that
           those
           
           Blazing
           Lights
           are
           the
           Souls
           of
           brave
           Men
           departed
           ,
           and
           carried
           up
           to
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           there
           triumphing
           .
           I
           might
           suggest
           here
           (
           as
           somewhat
           relating
           to
           this
           purpose
           )
           that
           the
           Transmigration
           of
           Souls
           into
           Stars
           was
           an
           ancient
           Ethnick
           Dream
           ,
           and
           so
           might
           be
           the
           occasion
           to
           some
           of
           thinking
           also
           that
           departed
           Spirits
           (
           if
           very
           brisk
           and
           generous
           )
           mount
           aloft
           ,
           and
           presently
           turn
           into
           Coments
           ,
           and
           in
           those
           fiery
           Mansions
           display
           their
           pristine
           vigour
           and
           mettle
           .
           Others
           ,
           though
           they
           hold
           them
           not
           to
           be
           Souls
           of
           Men
           ,
           or
           departed
           Ghosts
           ,
           yet
           they
           forsake
           not
           the
           notion
           of
           their
           being
           Spirits
           :
           that
           is
           ,
           they
           maintain
           that
           they
           are
           Spirits
           of
           a
           lower
           Rank
           and
           Quality
           ,
           near
           of
           kin
           to
           the
           finest
           and
           subtilest
           matter
           :
           Thus
           I
           remember
           the
           high-flown
           Chymist
           asserts
           them
           to
           be
           a
           certain
           
             Compound
             of
             Spirits
          
           ,
           
           but
           what
           he
           means
           I
           am
           not
           so
           skilfull
           an
           Adept
           as
           to
           understand
           .
           This
           only
           I
           apprehend
           ,
           that
           
           He
           ,
           and
           much
           more
           Those
           who
           make
           them
           to
           be
           irradiated
           Souls
           above
           ,
           exalt
           the
           Nature
           of
           Comets
           too
           high
           .
           It
           is
           enough
           that
           they
           are
           of
           the
           order
           of
           
             Corporeal
             Beings
          
           .
           And
           being
           so
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           asked
           in
           the
           next
           place
           .
           What
           are
           the
           Materials
           of
           these
           great
           Streaming
           Bodies
           ?
           Are
           they
           of
           Terrestrial
           or
           Celestial
           Matter
           ?
           Which
           of
           these
           two
           are
           they
           ,
           Earth
           or
           Aether
           ?
           Here
           likewise
           Philosophers
           are
           divided
           ,
           and
           cannot
           agree
           on
           their
           Verdict
           .
           Aristotle
           and
           his
           Partisans
           declare
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           of
           Earthly
           Extraction
           ,
           and
           no
           other
           than
           Meteors
           ,
           raised
           from
           great
           heaps
           of
           dry
           and
           viscous
           Exhalations
           .
           Many
           of
           the
           Stoicks
           are
           pleased
           to
           side
           with
           the
           Aristotelians
           ,
           and
           generally
           all
           those
           that
           hold
           them
           to
           be
           bare
           Meteors
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           placed
           under
           the
           Moon
           ,
           say
           they
           are
           of
           a
           Terrestrial
           origine
           .
           But
           here
           again
           they
           are
           subdivided
           ,
           
           for
           some
           maintain
           that
           they
           are
           Earthly
           matter
           
           Inflamed
           :
           Thus
           the
           great
           Aristotle
           ,
           and
           some
           late
           Astrenomers
           ,
           as
           Regiomontanus
           ,
           a
           groat
           Promoter
           of
           all
           Mathematical
           and
           Astronomical
           Studies
           ▪
           and
           that
           learned
           Frenchman
           Piso
           ,
           and
           others
           ,
           hold
           that
           Comets
           are
           set
           on
           fire
           by
           the
           rays
           of
           the
           Sun.
           Whereas
           others
           ,
           as
           
             Heraclides
             Ponticus
          
           of
           old
           ,
           and
           some
           of
           late
           will
           have
           them
           to
           be
           subtile
           and
           Diaphanous
           matter
           exhaled
           from
           the
           Earth
           into
           the
           Air
           ,
           and
           there
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           Sun-beams
           which
           they
           receive
           into
           them
           ,
           Enlightened
           and
           made
           bright
           ,
           but
           not
           Enflamed
           .
           But
           that
           Comets
           are
           of
           Earthly
           Original
           ,
           though
           it
           was
           credited
           of
           old
           ,
           and
           by
           a
           few
           of
           the
           Moderns
           ,
           yet
           it
           will
           hardly
           gain
           belief
           at
           this
           time
           of
           Day
           .
           It
           is
           now
           generally
           asserted
           ,
           that
           most
           of
           them
           are
           above
           the
           Moon
           (
           of
           which
           you
           shall
           hear
           more
           anon
           :
           )
           and
           if
           their
           Seat
           be
           so
           high
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           difficult
           to
           persuade
           men
           that
           they
           were
           exhaled
           from
           the
           Earth
           .
           
           It
           is
           impossible
           so
           much
           Matter
           should
           be
           amassed
           together
           as
           must
           serve
           for
           a
           Comet
           ,
           which
           is
           of
           so
           great
           a
           bulk
           ,
           and
           lasts
           so
           long
           as
           some
           of
           them
           have
           done
           .
           It
           the
           Diametre
           of
           some
           of
           them
           be
           four
           times
           ,
           nay
           ,
           of
           the
           larger
           sort
           of
           them
           ,
           be
           ten
           times
           greater
           than
           the
           Earth
           ,
           
           (
           as
           one
           who
           was
           Professor
           of
           Mathematicks
           at
           Leyden
           hath
           calculated
           it
           ,
           the
           Earth
           and
           Sea
           cannot
           afford
           Matter
           enough
           to
           make
           One
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           This
           Opinion
           then
           being
           exploded
           ,
           another
           is
           to
           take
           place
           ,
           according
           to
           which
           the
           Chaldeans
           among
           the
           ancient
           Philosophers
           ,
           and
           the
           Moderns
           generally
           ,
           as
           
             Cardan
             ,
             Tycho
             Brahe
             ,
             Galilaeus
             ,
             Des
             Cartes
             ,
          
           and
           many
           others
           ,
           affirm
           that
           Comets
           are
           constituted
           of
           
             Celestial
             Matter
          
           .
           But
           alas
           !
           though
           they
           agree
           in
           this
           in
           the
           general
           ,
           yet
           in
           the
           Particular
           Explication
           of
           it
           they
           are
           found
           to
           dissent
           from
           one
           another
           ;
           for
           it
           is
           hotly
           disputed
           whether
           
           these
           unusual
           Lights
           are
           bred
           from
           the
           Effluvia
           of
           all
           the
           Planets
           ,
           or
           from
           the
           Sun
           alone
           ,
           or
           from
           the
           other
           Stars
           .
           
           Hevelius
           the
           Learned
           Professor
           of
           Mathematicks
           at
           Dantzick
           undertakes
           to
           decide
           the
           Controversie
           by
           avowing
           that
           they
           are
           made
           of
           the
           Effluvia
           and
           Evaporations
           of
           both
           Erratick
           and
           Fixed
           Stars
           ,
           but
           especially
           of
           the
           Sun
           ,
           there
           being
           so
           great
           an
           Exhalation
           of
           matter
           from
           this
           vast
           Body
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           able
           it self
           alone
           in
           one
           Year
           to
           make
           innumerable
           Comets
           .
           So
           that
           according
           to
           this
           Gentleman
           ,
           these
           uncommon
           sights
           in
           the
           Heavens
           are
           so
           far
           from
           being
           Wonders
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           rather
           a
           Wonder
           ,
           and
           against
           the
           course
           of
           Nature
           ,
           that
           they
           do
           not
           always
           and
           in
           numberless
           Companies
           appear
           .
           An
           Assertion
           unworthy
           of
           so
           acute
           and
           ingenious
           a
           Philosopher
           !
           for
           he
           renders
           the
           most
           Glorious
           Luminary
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           that
           which
           is
           the
           Master-piece
           of
           all
           the
           Works
           of
           
           the
           Creation
           ,
           the
           most
           Irregular
           and
           Monstrous
           Body
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           whilst
           he
           would
           offer
           this
           to
           our
           belief
           ,
           that
           whereas
           by
           its
           natural
           Make
           ,
           it
           ought
           to
           afford
           matter
           for
           infinite
           Comets
           ,
           yet
           it
           perpetually
           acts
           contrary
           to
           its
           Frame
           and
           Constitution
           ,
           and
           produces
           not
           one
           Comet
           sometimes
           in
           Twenty
           Years
           .
           In
           my
           judgment
           this
           is
           but
           mean
           Philosophy
           ,
           and
           it
           can
           never
           prove
           good
           Astronomy
           ,
           though
           I
           have
           otherwise
           a
           profound
           Respect
           for
           that
           Worthy
           Person
           ,
           who
           by
           his
           excellent
           and
           elaborate
           Writings
           hath
           both
           merited
           and
           purchased
           a
           great
           Name
           and
           Repute
           among
           all
           those
           who
           are
           addicted
           to
           Mathematical
           Studies
           ,
           and
           hath
           particularly
           obliged
           the
           Virtuosi
           in
           England
           by
           communicating
           his
           Notions
           to
           them
           with
           so
           much
           freedom
           .
        
         
           Thus
           I
           have
           in
           some
           measure
           shewed
           the
           Disagreement
           of
           the
           Learned
           Tribe
           about
           that
           part
           of
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Comets
           which
           respects
           
           their
           Original
           ,
           whence
           I
           shall
           afterwards
           prove
           them
           to
           be
           Extraordinary
           and
           Presaging
           :
           but
           it
           is
           little
           I
           have
           hitherto
           effected
           ;
           I
           must
           hasten
           to
           dispatch
           what
           is
           yet
           behind
           of
           the
           same
           Argument
           .
           Let
           us
           then
           ask
           these
           Men
           of
           Skill
           ,
           What
           were
           Comets
           before
           they
           appeared
           to
           us
           in
           this
           shape
           ,
           and
           under
           this
           Name
           and
           Character
           ?
           Our
           great
           Mathematicians
           and
           Philosophers
           are
           at
           odds
           ,
           as
           to
           this
           point
           .
           If
           you
           enquire
           of
           the
           famous
           Monsieur
           
             Renatus
             des
             Cartes
          
           ,
           (
           that
           man
           of
           France
           who
           was
           as
           great
           a
           Reformer
           in
           Philosophy
           as
           Calvin
           ,
           his
           Country-man
           ,
           was
           in
           Divinity
           ,
           he
           whose
           Philosophy
           was
           so
           Taking
           and
           Charming
           ,
           that
           a
           wise
           Queen
           quitted
           her
           Crown
           to
           be
           at
           leisure
           to
           study
           it
           ,
           )
           this
           great
           Man
           tells
           you
           they
           were
           
             Fixed
             Stars
          
           ;
           for
           his
           Hypothesis
           in
           brief
           is
           this
           ,
           That
           those
           fixed
           Lights
           have
           their
           Maculae
           ,
           or
           thick
           matter
           ,
           which
           he
           
           calls
           the
           Third
           Element
           ;
           and
           being
           freed
           from
           these
           ,
           sometimes
           some
           of
           them
           come
           into
           view
           ,
           and
           go
           for
           
             New
             Stars
          
           ;
           but
           being
           over-run
           by
           them
           ,
           they
           are
           absorped
           into
           another
           Vortex
           ,
           and
           become
           Comets
           .
           So
           that
           Comets
           are
           fixed
           Stars
           first
           Incrassated
           ,
           and
           then
           Apostatized
           .
           This
           is
           the
           Noble
           Romantick
           Philosopher
           ,
           who
           mingles
           Heaven
           and
           Earth
           together
           ,
           or
           rather
           ,
           confounds
           one
           with
           the
           other
           ;
           and
           he
           that
           could
           imagine
           this
           Earth
           of
           ours
           once
           to
           have
           been
           a
           Sun
           ,
           may
           be
           pardoned
           if
           he
           presents
           us
           with
           such
           a
           notion
           of
           Comets
           as
           you
           have
           heard
           .
           Others
           are
           very
           vigorous
           in
           defending
           them
           to
           be
           Planets
           ,
           or
           
             Wandring
             Stars
          
           ,
           but
           distinct
           from
           the
           seven
           celebrated
           ones
           ,
           (
           for
           they
           hold
           that
           there
           are
           more
           than
           those
           which
           are
           ordinarily
           reckoned
           .
           )
           The
           Dogmatists
           of
           this
           Persuasion
           were
           the
           Pythagorean
           Philosophers
           of
           the
           Italick
           Sect
           ,
           the
           Chaldeans
           
           (
           as
           Stobaeus
           relates
           ,
           
             Ecolg
             .
             Physic.
          
           c.
           3.
           )
           
             Hippocrates
             ,
             Diogenes
             ,
             Phavorinus
             ,
             Epicurus
             ,
             Lucretius
             ,
          
           &c.
           and
           of
           late
           Cardan
           ,
           the
           noted
           Physician
           of
           
             Milan
             ,
             Fracastorius
          
           an
           excellent
           Professor
           of
           the
           same
           Faculty
           in
           
             Verona
             ,
             Fienus
             ,
             Vallesius
          
           ,
           (
           l.
           1.
           
             de
             Philos.
             Sacr.
          
           )
           and
           some
           others
           .
           These
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           contend
           that
           they
           are
           Planets
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           Thick
           ,
           Dark
           ,
           Opake
           Bodies
           in
           themselves
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           borrow
           all
           their
           Light
           from
           the
           Sun.
           And
           herein
           the
           learned
           Hevelius
           agrees
           with
           them
           ,
           who
           will
           not
           allow
           Comets
           to
           have
           the
           least
           Light
           of
           their
           own
           ,
           but
           they
           receive
           it
           all
           ,
           as
           other
           Planets
           do
           ,
           from
           the
           great
           Source
           of
           Light
           ,
           and
           propagate
           it
           to
           us
           by
           Reflexion
           ,
           as
           is
           the
           guise
           of
           Planets
           :
           and
           hence
           he
           gathers
           (
           and
           consistently
           enough
           with
           his
           own
           Hypothesis
           )
           that
           the
           Tails
           of
           Comets
           must
           needs
           be
           made
           by
           the
           Sun
           ,
           of
           which
           I
           shall
           speak
           immediately
           .
           
           And
           the
           French
           Philosoper
           before
           named
           ,
           though
           otherwise
           a
           Dissenter
           ,
           strikes
           in
           here
           ,
           and
           declares
           that
           they
           receive
           all
           their
           Light
           from
           the
           Sun
           ,
           and
           in
           that
           resemble
           Planets
           .
           You
           must
           know
           likewise
           ,
           that
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           judgment
           of
           the
           forementioned
           Philosophers
           ,
           these
           Planets
           or
           Comets
           (
           call
           them
           which
           you
           please
           ,
           for
           it
           is
           come
           to
           that
           )
           have
           existed
           always
           from
           the
           first
           Creation
           ,
           but
           have
           been
           hid
           in
           the
           Heavens
           for
           a
           time
           ,
           and
           at
           length
           come
           into
           view
           .
           They
           seem
           to
           us
           to
           be
           New
           ,
           but
           they
           are
           really
           of
           the
           same
           date
           with
           the
           first
           Origine
           of
           all
           things
           .
           Seneca
           lets
           you
           know
           this
           was
           his
           Opinion
           ,
           
             Non
             existimo
             Cometen
             subitaneum
             ignem
          
           ,
           
           
             sed
             inter
             aeterna
             opera
             naturae
          
           A
           Comet
           is
           a
           Temporary
           Planet
           ,
           in
           regard
           of
           the
           People
           to
           whom
           it
           appears
           ,
           but
           otherwise
           it
           is
           from
           Eternity
           ,
           supposing
           the
           World
           (
           as
           that
           Philosopher
           doth
           ,
           but
           falsly
           )
           to
           be
           so
           .
           A
           Comet
           is
           a
           wandring
           Star
           ,
           that
           after
           a
           certain
           Revolution
           
           wheels
           about
           ,
           and
           comes
           into
           sight
           :
           after
           it
           hath
           lost
           it self
           a
           great
           while
           ,
           it
           finds
           its
           way
           into
           our
           Hemisphere
           .
           It
           is
           a
           Planet
           that
           hath
           gone
           Incognito
           a
           long
           time
           ,
           and
           hath
           been
           seen
           by
           none
           but
           the
           Sun
           ,
           if
           our
           natural
           Philosopher
           represents
           it
           aright
           :
           
             Sunt
             qui
             haec
             sider
             a
             perpetua
             esse
             credunt
             ,
             
             suóque
             ambitu
             ire
             ,
             sed
             non
             nisi
             à
             sole
             cerni
             .
          
           They
           come
           into
           our
           sight
           after
           a
           long
           Circuit
           and
           Risque
           ,
           and
           then
           vanish
           ,
           and
           retire
           to
           those
           Remote
           places
           where
           they
           were
           at
           first
           .
           And
           there
           I
           leave
           them
           and
           proceed
           .
           According
           to
           the
           Assertion
           last
           propounded
           ,
           Comets
           are
           
             single
             Planets
          
           not
           before
           known
           ,
           seen
           and
           observed
           by
           us
           .
           Now
           in
           the
           next
           place
           you
           shall
           see
           that
           another
           pack
           of
           Philisophers
           will
           not
           suffer
           them
           to
           be
           
             single
             Stars
          
           :
           no
           ,
           they
           must
           be
           
             several
             Stars
             or
             Planets
          
           intermingling
           their
           Lights
           .
           The
           Patrons
           of
           this
           were
           
             Zeno
             ,
             Anaxagoras
             ,
             Democritus
          
           (
           even
           that
           Democritus
           who
           held
           
           they
           were
           the
           Souls
           of
           Heroes
           ;
           for
           you
           must
           take
           notice
           ,
           that
           one
           Philosopher
           may
           hold
           two
           or
           more
           opinions
           of
           the
           same
           thing
           ,
           )
           these
           would
           needs
           have
           Comets
           to
           be
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           a
           Coapparition
           of
           divers
           Errant
           Stars
           together
           ,
           viz.
           when
           they
           seem
           to
           touch
           one
           another
           by
           reason
           of
           their
           Neighbourhood
           ;
           as
           the
           great
           Stagyrite
           hath
           presented
           us
           with
           their
           Doctrine
           ,
           
             l.
             2.
             
             Meteor
             .
             c.
          
           8.
           
           Or
           as
           Seneca
           more
           briefly
           ;
           Comets
           according
           to
           them
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           are
           
             Conjunctio
             cohaerentium
             siderum
          
           ,
           (
           
             Nat.
             Qu.
             l.
             7.
             c.
          
           10.
           )
           a
           Club
           of
           many
           Stars
           :
           and
           
             Plures
             Stellae
             quae
             currant
          
           ,
           Many
           Stars
           running
           into
           one
           ,
           
             Nat.
             Quaest.
             l.
             7.
             c.
          
           3.
           
           Or
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Astronomical
           Poet
           ,
           
             Subjuncta
             Sidera
          
           ,
           Marilius
           ,
           
             l.
             1.
             
             Astron.
          
           Another
           thus
           ,
           a
           Comet
           is
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           a
           Synod
           ,
           or
           an
           Assembly
           of
           Stars
           joyning
           their
           Light
           together
           .
           
             Plutarch
             .
             de
             Placit
             .
             Philos.
          
           This
           ,
           it
           seems
           ,
           was
           
           the
           sense
           of
           that
           Historian
           who
           gives
           an
           account
           of
           a
           Comet
           of
           a
           dreadfull
           aspect
           which
           visited
           the
           Eastern
           part
           of
           the
           World
           in
           the
           Year
           383.
           and
           he
           expresseth
           it
           thus
           ,
           
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           &c.
           
           A
           great
           Company
           of
           Stars
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           was
           gathered
           together
           ,
           and
           the
           Light
           which
           came
           from
           them
           all
           with
           great
           violence
           made
           up
           one
           huge
           Flame
           ,
           which
           appeared
           in
           the
           likeness
           of
           a
           Sword.
           Some
           of
           the
           Moderns
           undertook
           to
           solve
           the
           Phaenomenon
           of
           a
           Comet
           after
           the
           same
           manner
           ,
           as
           Cysatus
           Professor
           of
           Mathematicks
           in
           the
           University
           of
           Ingoldstadt
           ,
           and
           Licetus
           a
           Philosopher
           of
           
             Genua
             lib.
             de
             Novis
             Astris
             &
             Cometis
             .
          
           After
           the
           rate
           of
           These
           Mens
           Astronomy
           a
           Comet
           is
           an
           Association
           or
           Fellowship
           of
           Stars
           ,
           which
           seem
           to
           be
           but
           one
           Star
           ,
           because
           they
           stick
           so
           close
           to
           another
           .
           It
           is
           a
           Congeries
           of
           Numberless
           Lights
           which
           lovingly
           mingle
           their
           Rays
           together
           ,
           and
           
           so
           make
           as
           it
           were
           one
           long
           stragling
           Star.
           This
           hath
           some
           affinity
           with
           their
           Fancy
           who
           think
           a
           Comet
           to
           be
           a
           kind
           of
           Galaxy
           ,
           and
           perhaps
           they
           might
           borrow
           their
           conceit
           from
           Father
           of
           Philosophers
           ,
           
           who
           treats
           of
           the
           Milky
           Circle
           and
           Comets
           in
           the
           same
           Chapter
           ,
           and
           seems
           to
           solve
           one
           by
           the
           other
           .
           From
           what
           hath
           been
           said
           it
           is
           evident
           that
           it
           is
           not
           agreed
           among
           the
           knowing
           and
           curious
           ,
           whether
           Comets
           be
           fixed
           or
           wandring
           Stars
           ,
           and
           if
           they
           be
           of
           this
           latter
           sort
           ,
           whether
           they
           be
           single
           ,
           or
           several
           ones
           .
           That
           they
           are
           not
           a
           Congeries
           or
           Heap
           of
           Stars
           is
           excellently
           well
           proved
           by
           One
           who
           treats
           on
           this
           Theme
           designedly
           :
           
           and
           I
           am
           clearly
           of
           the
           judgment
           that
           it
           may
           as
           substantially
           be
           demonstrated
           that
           they
           are
           
             No
             Stars
          
           at
           all
           .
           For
           weigh
           the
           nature
           both
           of
           the
           Planets
           and
           fixed
           Luminaries
           ,
           and
           you
           will
           find
           that
           Comets
           have
           nothing
           of
           their
           qualities
           
           and
           properties
           .
           It
           is
           not
           the
           nature
           of
           either
           of
           those
           kind
           of
           Stars
           to
           be
           greater
           at
           first
           ,
           and
           then
           to
           decay
           and
           dwindle
           ,
           and
           at
           last
           to
           be
           extinct
           ,
           or
           (
           as
           some
           few
           Comets
           have
           been
           ,
           as
           Seneca
           and
           Pontanus
           report
           )
           to
           be
           little
           at
           sirst
           ,
           afterwards
           to
           grow
           greater
           ,
           and
           at
           length
           to
           lose
           both
           their
           greater
           and
           lesser
           bulk
           .
           This
           never
           was
           of
           the
           constitution
           of
           Stars
           :
           Nor
           have
           Comets
           any
           thing
           of
           the
           Motion
           or
           other
           Properties
           of
           Stars
           (
           as
           I
           shall
           shew
           afterwards
           ,
           )
           and
           therefore
           I
           cannot
           discern
           how
           they
           can
           properly
           be
           called
           ,
           or
           thought
           to
           be
           Stars
           .
        
         
           Having
           thus
           far
           spoken
           of
           the
           
             Original
             Matter
          
           whereof
           Comets
           are
           thought
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           different
           Genius
           and
           Sentiments
           of
           Men
           ,
           to
           consist
           ,
           I
           come
           now
           to
           consider
           their
           Place
           and
           Situation
           ,
           though
           I
           have
           intimated
           something
           already
           of
           These
           ,
           and
           it
           was
           necessary
           
           to
           doe
           so
           ,
           because
           their
           Original
           and
           Place
           are
           so
           nearly
           related
           and
           depend
           upon
           each
           other
           .
           But
           I
           will
           now
           treat
           of
           This
           more
           designedly
           ,
           and
           from
           the
           wondrous
           variety
           and
           inconsistency
           of
           opinions
           concerning
           Comets
           I
           will
           advance
           to
           prove
           that
           they
           really
           are
           and
           ought
           to
           be
           reckoned
           as
           Prodigies
           .
        
         
           And
           first
           let
           us
           attend
           to
           those
           who
           place
           all
           Comets
           
             below
             the
             Moon
          
           .
           These
           are
           the
           Peripateticks
           ,
           and
           many
           of
           the
           Stoicks
           ;
           and
           they
           are
           followed
           by
           Philosophers
           and
           Mathematicians
           of
           later
           time
           ,
           as
           
             Regiomontanus
             ,
             Iunctinus
             ,
             Fracastorius
             ,
             Iulius
             Caesar
             ,
             Scaliger
             ,
             Claramontius
             ,
          
           and
           several
           others
           ,
           whose
           persuasion
           is
           this
           ,
           that
           Comets
           are
           sublunary
           Meteors
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           Exhalations
           mounted
           up
           to
           the
           upper
           and
           highest
           Region
           of
           the
           Air
           ,
           and
           that
           there
           they
           hover
           ,
           and
           at
           last
           are
           set
           on
           fire
           and
           blaze
           .
           But
           certainly
           we
           might
           be
           brought
           off
           from
           imbracing
           such
           a
           Tenet
           as
           this
           ,
           by
           
           considering
           ,
           that
           if
           Comets
           were
           Meteors
           ,
           they
           would
           jump
           and
           skip
           here
           and
           there
           ,
           as
           other
           Meteors
           are
           observed
           to
           doe
           ;
           and
           they
           must
           needs
           be
           subject
           to
           such
           a
           Motion
           ,
           both
           because
           they
           are
           often
           driven
           with
           the
           Wind
           ,
           and
           because
           they
           cannot
           but
           be
           set
           on
           running
           and
           leaping
           by
           their
           own
           fire
           .
           Such
           considerations
           as
           these
           have
           mov'd
           divers
           great
           Philosophers
           and
           Astronomers
           to
           reject
           the
           Aristotelian
           way
           ,
           and
           to
           enter
           upon
           another
           more
           probable
           and
           rational
           .
           They
           think
           it
           a
           degrading
           of
           Comets
           to
           thrust
           them
           down
           into
           the
           Elementary
           Region
           ,
           and
           therefore
           they
           have
           universally
           agreed
           to
           exalt
           them
           
             above
             the
             Moon
          
           .
        
         
           This
           was
           practised
           before
           Aristotle
           by
           the
           old
           Chaldean
           and
           Pythagorean
           Philosophers
           ,
           by
           
             Democritus
             ,
             Anaxagoras
          
           and
           Zeno
           ;
           and
           after
           their
           time
           by
           the
           Judicious
           Seneca
           ,
           and
           since
           that
           by
           the
           acutest
           and
           most
           discerning
           Moderns
           ,
           as
           
           
             Cardan
             ,
             Tycho
             ,
             Galilaeus
             ,
             Keplar
             ,
             Longomontanus
             ,
             Cartesius
             ,
          
           and
           great
           numbers
           of
           other
           Learned
           Men.
           They
           prove
           their
           point
           by
           the
           Paralax
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           Diversity
           of
           sight
           ,
           or
           change
           of
           Aspect
           ,
           or
           the
           Difference
           between
           the
           True
           and
           Seeming
           Place
           of
           a
           Star
           or
           any
           other
           thing
           hanging
           in
           the
           Region
           above
           us
           .
           This
           in
           all
           the
           Comets
           that
           have
           been
           observed
           by
           them
           was
           lesser
           than
           that
           of
           the
           Moon
           ;
           Ergò
           they
           are
           above
           the
           Moon
           :
           For
           it
           is
           certain
           that
           that
           Body
           is
           by
           so
           much
           the
           more
           elevated
           from
           the
           Earth
           ,
           by
           how
           much
           the
           lesser
           its
           Paralax
           is
           ,
           as
           the
           greater
           this
           is
           ▪
           the
           thing
           seen
           is
           the
           nearer
           ;
           and
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           the
           lesser
           this
           is
           ,
           that
           is
           the
           further
           off
           .
           And
           for
           this
           Reason
           the
           ingenious
           French
           Philosopher
           places
           Comets
           in
           the
           Liquid
           Aether
           ,
           between
           the
           Regions
           of
           the
           Planets
           and
           the
           fixed
           Stars
           ,
           because
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           they
           have
           none
           ,
           or
           an
           
             unspeakably
             small
             Paralax
          
           or
           Variation
           of
           
           Sight
           to
           those
           divers
           spectators
           that
           look
           on
           them
           at
           the
           greatest
           distance
           .
        
         
           I
           know
           the
           greatest
           Astronomers
           have
           differed
           about
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Paralaxes
           ,
           whereof
           the
           incomparable
           
             Tycho
             Brahe
          
           ,
           and
           that
           noble
           Italian
           Philosopher
           and
           Mathematician
           Claramontius
           ,
           are
           a
           famous
           Instance
           .
           The
           renowned
           
             Galilaeus
             ,
             Iulius
             Scaliger
          
           ,
           and
           Bodinus
           laugh
           at
           the
           proof
           which
           is
           brought
           from
           the
           Paralax
           .
           
           And
           a
           skilfull
           person
           of
           late
           ,
           who
           undertakes
           to
           be
           Umpire
           between
           the
           Aristotelians
           and
           Tychonists
           ,
           concludes
           peremptorily
           that
           there
           is
           no
           Mathematical
           demonstration
           for
           Comets
           being
           above
           or
           below
           the
           Moon
           .
           But
           it
           may
           be
           they
           mean
           no
           more
           than
           this
           ,
           that
           Paralaxes
           are
           uncertain
           ,
           or
           rather
           ,
           that
           the
           taking
           of
           them
           truly
           and
           exactly
           is
           extreme
           difficult
           ,
           the
           instruments
           are
           not
           every
           way
           good
           ;
           and
           several
           Refractions
           which
           happen
           may
           hinder
           the
           just
           sight
           .
        
         
         
           And
           now
           one
           would
           imagine
           there
           should
           be
           no
           farther
           disagreement
           than
           this
           ,
           that
           some
           Comets
           are
           above
           ,
           and
           some
           below
           the
           Moon
           ,
           some
           in
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           and
           others
           in
           the
           Air.
           But
           we
           shall
           find
           it
           otherwise
           ;
           for
           a
           third
           sort
           acquaint
           us
           ,
           that
           the
           very
           same
           Comets
           are
           sometimes
           below
           and
           at
           
             other
             times
          
           above
           the
           Moon
           :
           So
           
             Christopher
             Clavius
             ,
             Libertus
             ,
             Fromondus
             ,
             Licetus
             ,
             Resta
             ,
             Caboeus
          
           Professor
           of
           Mathematicks
           at
           
             Genua
             ,
             Bulialdus
          
           that
           eminent
           Gallick
           Astronomer
           ,
           and
           particularly
           the
           sagacious
           Kepler
           asserts
           that
           a
           Comet
           may
           come
           down
           from
           the
           Aether
           into
           the
           Air.
           
           Though
           it
           was
           generated
           above
           the
           Moon
           ,
           yet
           there
           is
           good
           reason
           to
           believe
           that
           it
           may
           fall
           down
           ;
           and
           such
           a
           one
           was
           that
           which
           appeared
           
             A.
             D.
          
           1450.
           
           and
           eclipsed
           the
           whole
           body
           of
           the
           Moon
           ,
           as
           the
           Histories
           and
           Catalogues
           of
           Comets
           inform
           us
           .
           Such
           was
           that
           which
           was
           seen
           at
           
           Christ's
           
           Nativity
           (
           if
           it
           were
           a
           Comet
           ,
           )
           and
           such
           was
           the
           famous
           Sword-Flame
           which
           appeared
           over
           the
           City
           of
           Ierusalem
           a
           year
           together
           .
           We
           are
           sure
           that
           two
           of
           these
           were
           Sublunary
           Comets
           .
        
         
           Some
           Comets
           then
           are
           situated
           as
           Aristotle
           saith
           they
           are
           ,
           and
           whilst
           the
           Astronomers
           ,
           that
           came
           afterwards
           ,
           endeavour
           to
           prove
           the
           contrary
           ,
           and
           that
           all
           the
           Comets
           that
           ever
           appeared
           are
           Celestial
           ,
           This
           attempt
           of
           theirs
           is
           to
           be
           looked
           upon
           as
           an
           extreme
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           .
           It
           is
           enough
           to
           say
           that
           most
           Comets
           have
           been
           high
           and
           lofty
           ;
           and
           indeed
           it
           was
           fit
           they
           should
           be
           so
           ,
           that
           the
           World
           might
           take
           the
           greater
           notice
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           As
           I
           hope
           I
           convinced
           the
           Reader
           before
           ,
           that
           the
           Generation
           and
           Production
           of
           Comets
           is
           a
           difficult
           search
           ,
           so
           from
           what
           hath
           been
           since
           delivered
           ,
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           their
           Situation
           and
           Place
           appears
           to
           be
           of
           the
           same
           quality
           .
           So
           perplexed
           are
           
           these
           Points
           ,
           that
           no
           less
           than
           a
           douzen
           Opinions
           are
           reckoned
           up
           by
           a
           modern
           Astronomer
           concerning
           the
           Matter
           and
           Place
           of
           Comets
           .
           
        
         
           There
           is
           still
           another
           great
           difficulty
           to
           be
           considered
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           the
           Motion
           of
           Comets
           ,
           which
           by
           all
           Astronomers
           is
           look'd
           on
           as
           extravagant
           and
           unaccountable
           .
           Whether
           these
           Bodies
           take
           their
           Journey
           in
           a
           direct
           Line
           ,
           or
           a
           circular
           one
           ,
           and
           arch-wise
           (
           as
           the
           Planets
           )
           is
           disputed
           by
           them
           ;
           and
           at
           last
           it
           is
           commoly
           said
           ,
           that
           the
           way
           they
           take
           is
           transverse
           and
           oblique
           .
           You
           may
           hear
           them
           cry
           out
           very
           despairingly
           ,
           that
           they
           imitate
           neither
           the
           motion
           of
           the
           Sun
           ,
           nor
           other
           settled
           Luminaries
           ,
           but
           are
           perfectly
           
             sui
             juris
          
           ,
           they
           take
           their
           own
           course
           ,
           and
           that
           commonly
           is
           very
           unnatural
           .
           Some
           go
           on
           directly
           in
           the
           true
           course
           of
           the
           Zodiack
           ,
           but
           others
           run
           through
           it
           backward
           ,
           as
           
           
             Bodinus
             (
             Theatr.
             Nat.
             l.
          
           2.
           )
           and
           
             Hevelius
             (
             Prod.
             Comet
          
           )
           observe
           .
           And
           not
           onely
           one
           Comet
           differs
           from
           another
           in
           its
           Motion
           ,
           but
           oftentimes
           from
           it self
           :
           Nay
           ,
           sometimes
           it
           remains
           fixed
           in
           the
           same
           place
           ,
           and
           stirs
           not
           one
           way
           or
           other
           ;
           which
           our
           Naturalist
           so
           often
           alledged
           takes
           notice
           of
           ,
           when
           he
           saith
           ,
           
             Moventur
             autem
             alii
             Errantium
             modo
             ,
             alii
             Immobiles
             haerent
             ,
             Nat.
             Hist.
             l.
          
           2.
           
           This
           onely
           is
           observed
           ,
           That
           though
           some
           at
           one
           time
           or
           other
           have
           moved
           to
           all
           the
           Points
           of
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           yet
           they
           generally
           and
           usually
           veer
           by
           their
           own
           proper
           Motion
           towards
           the
           Poles
           .
           But
           why
           they
           appear
           rather
           without
           the
           Tropicks
           than
           within
           ,
           and
           why
           they
           make
           their
           passage
           through
           Boötes
           ,
           and
           the
           great
           Bear
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           most
           part
           are
           seen
           about
           the
           Poles
           either
           Southern
           or
           Northern
           ,
           but
           especially
           the
           Northern
           ,
           and
           why
           they
           do
           not
           shew
           themselves
           in
           the
           height
           of
           the
           Heavens
           ;
           
           These
           are
           all
           unaccountable
           ,
           that
           their
           Motion
           may
           be
           answerable
           to
           all
           
             other
             things
          
           observed
           in
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           there
           may
           be
           some
           proof
           made
           of
           what
           I
           have
           undertaken
           ,
           viz.
           that
           Comets
           are
           an
           Irregular
           and
           Anomalous
           sort
           of
           Lights
           set
           up
           on
           purpose
           in
           the
           Heavens
           to
           invite
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           the
           Earth
           to
           behold
           them
           ,
           and
           to
           bid
           them
           doe
           something
           more
           than
           that
           ,
           as
           I
           shall
           shew
           afterwards
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           main
           thing
           that
           puzzles
           is
           the
           Figure
           which
           Comets
           appear
           in
           ,
           the
           affrightning
           Brush
           or
           Stream
           which
           they
           shew
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           how
           came
           they
           to
           have
           any
           such
           thing
           at
           all
           ?
           And
           ,
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           How
           comes
           it
           to
           pass
           that
           this
           Stream
           or
           Blaze
           is
           always
           opposite
           to
           the
           Sun
           ?
           And
           after
           I
           have
           examined
           this
           ,
           I
           will
           speak
           of
           the
           more
           
             particular
             Figures
          
           or
           
             several
             Species
          
           of
           Comets
           .
        
         
         
           First
           then
           ,
           what
           Philosophy
           can
           give
           an
           account
           of
           the
           Flaming
           Brush
           which
           issues
           from
           them
           ?
           But
           here
           ,
           before
           I
           pass
           any
           farther
           ,
           it
           must
           be
           remembred
           that
           Astronomers
           speak
           of
           three
           sorts
           of
           Comets
           :
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           which
           they
           call
           the
           Hairy
           one
           ,
           viz.
           when
           the
           Rays
           are
           spread
           on
           all
           sides
           alike
           ,
           and
           are
           equally
           in
           a
           Circle
           expanded
           ,
           like
           the
           Hair
           of
           a
           mans
           Head.
           
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           with
           a
           Beard
           ,
           which
           is
           when
           a
           Comet
           emits
           its
           Rayes
           towards
           that
           part
           of
           the
           Heaven
           to
           which
           it
           moves
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           That
           which
           appears
           with
           a
           
             Tail
             ,
             viz.
          
           when
           its
           Beams
           are
           extended
           towards
           that
           part
           of
           Heaven
           from
           which
           it
           recedes
           :
           Or
           the
           difference
           between
           the
           Bearded
           and
           Tailed
           Comet
           is
           onely
           from
           the
           different
           aspect
           to
           the
           Sun
           :
           the
           one
           shewing
           itself
           before
           the
           Sun
           riseth
           ,
           looks
           towards
           the
           West
           ;
           the
           other
           appearing
           after
           the
           Sun
           is
           down
           ,
           
           turns
           its
           Stream
           Eastward
           .
           I
           know
           some
           make
           the
           distinction
           otherwise
           ,
           namely
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Erection
           of
           the
           Figure
           ,
           it
           is
           like
           a
           Beard
           or
           Mustaches
           ;
           and
           as
           to
           the
           Depression
           of
           it
           ,
           or
           Hanging
           down
           ,
           like
           a
           Tail.
           But
           the
           old
           Dictatour
           of
           Philosophy
           reduces
           those
           three
           kinds
           into
           two
           ,
           
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           A
           Comet
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           is
           generated
           according
           to
           the
           Figure
           and
           Shape
           of
           the
           Exhalation
           which
           is
           drawn
           up
           by
           the
           Sun
           :
           if
           this
           be
           set
           on
           fire
           on
           all
           sides
           alike
           ,
           and
           be
           exactly
           round
           ,
           then
           it
           is
           properly
           called
           a
           Comet
           ,
           or
           
             Hairy
             Star
          
           ;
           but
           if
           it
           be
           extended
           in
           length
           ▪
           then
           't
           is
           a
           
             Bearded
             one
          
           :
           And
           this
           comprehends
           under
           it
           all
           the
           blaze
           and
           stream
           of
           Light
           which
           proceeds
           from
           Comets
           ,
           call
           it
           Beard
           ,
           or
           Tail
           ,
           or
           what
           you
           please
           .
        
         
           The
           former
           of
           these
           (
           which
           
           Aristotle
           saith
           is
           the
           
             True
             Comet
          
           )
           is
           seldom
           seen
           ,
           and
           I
           do
           not
           remember
           that
           I
           ever
           read
           above
           two
           or
           three
           Instances
           of
           it
           .
           The
           latter
           is
           the
           more
           known
           and
           celebrated
           kind
           ,
           and
           may
           ,
           by
           that
           great
           Philosopher's
           leave
           ,
           be
           properly
           called
           a
           Comet
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           true
           Etymology
           of
           it
           expressed
           by
           the
           Poet
           ,
           
             Flamma
             Comas
             imitata
             volat
             ,
             
             tenuésque
             Capillos
             .
          
        
         
           Now
           it
           may
           deservedly
           be
           asked
           ,
           What
           is
           the
           Reason
           of
           this
           strange
           Figure
           ?
           Why
           do
           not
           Comets
           appear
           to
           us
           round
           ,
           (
           be
           they
           flat
           or
           disciform
           in
           themselves
           ,
           as
           some
           imagine
           ,
           that
           is
           not
           much
           to
           the
           purpose
           ,
           but
           )
           why
           do
           not
           the
           whole
           bodies
           of
           the
           Comets
           appear
           to
           be
           Globous
           ,
           as
           all
           other
           Stars
           ,
           both
           fixed
           and
           erratick
           ,
           seem
           to
           be
           ?
           What
           makes
           those
           differ
           from
           these
           ?
           Why
           are
           the
           Rays
           and
           Splendour
           
           of
           a
           Comet
           carried
           further
           than
           that
           of
           other
           Stars
           ?
           Why
           sends
           it
           forth
           such
           stragling
           Beams
           ?
           Since
           the
           Figure
           of
           all
           Stars
           is
           Globular
           or
           Sphaerical
           ,
           what
           causes
           a
           Comet
           (
           if
           it
           be
           a
           Star
           )
           to
           be
           of
           a
           long
           Figure
           ?
           Why
           do
           not
           all
           other
           Stars
           shoot
           out
           such
           Streams
           as
           this
           ?
           I
           desire
           not
           to
           make
           difficulties
           ,
           but
           certainly
           these
           Questions
           have
           not
           been
           solved
           to
           the
           satisfaction
           of
           any
           diligent
           and
           curious
           Enquirer
           .
           Such
           Reasons
           as
           the
           learned
           have
           suggested
           I
           will
           set
           down
           ,
           and
           I
           am
           confident
           that
           it
           will
           be
           made
           clear
           from
           them
           ,
           as
           from
           all
           other
           things
           appertaining
           to
           Comets
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           a
           sort
           of
           Phaenomena
           which
           were
           made
           to
           puzzle
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           that
           their
           
             strange
             Nature
          
           signifieth
           to
           us
           their
           
             more
             strange
             events
          
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           to
           let
           you
           know
           then
           ,
           that
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           different
           Hypotheses
           taken
           up
           ,
           some
           write
           ,
           that
           the
           Tail
           or
           Beard
           is
           part
           of
           the
           Comet
           ;
           others
           on
           the
           contrary
           as
           stifly
           
           maintain
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           
             not
             part
          
           of
           it
           ,
           but
           is
           onely
           the
           Rays
           of
           the
           Sun
           shot
           through
           the
           Comet
           's
           Head.
           
        
         
           First
           ,
           It
           is
           said
           ,
           that
           the
           Tail
           is
           part
           of
           the
           Comet
           ,
           or
           (
           as
           Seneca
           represents
           Apollonius
           his
           judgment
           )
           the
           long
           Tail
           is
           the
           form
           of
           this
           kind
           of
           Planet
           :
           The
           Body
           of
           the
           Star
           is
           made
           of
           this
           Figure
           .
           But
           ,
           according
           to
           
             Aristotle
             ,
             i.
             e.
          
           if
           it
           be
           a
           Peripatetick
           Comet
           ,
           the
           Head
           of
           it
           is
           supposed
           to
           be
           troubled
           with
           Fumes
           and
           Vapours
           ,
           and
           these
           being
           over-heated
           by
           the
           Sun
           ,
           are
           set
           on
           fire
           ,
           and
           so
           the
           Tail
           is
           no
           other
           than
           the
           flame
           of
           the
           burning
           Meteor
           .
        
         
           But
           seeing
           a
           Flame
           by
           its
           natural
           Lightness
           tends
           upwards
           ,
           why
           is
           not
           the
           Tail
           of
           every
           Comet
           exactly
           erect
           ?
           For
           they
           suppose
           Comets
           to
           be
           low
           ,
           and
           their
           Flame
           to
           be
           seen
           in
           its
           just
           proportion
           ,
           whereas
           the
           fixed
           Stars
           and
           others
           are
           not
           
           supposed
           to
           appear
           Shaerical
           ,
           because
           of
           their
           vast
           Distance
           from
           us
           ,
           which
           confoundeth
           all
           distinction
           of
           Figures
           .
           
           One
           very
           Astronimically
           skill'd
           solves
           it
           thus
           :
        
         
           The
           Flame
           of
           the
           Comet
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           doth
           not
           move
           directly
           upwards
           ,
           and
           appear
           erect
           because
           of
           the
           solid
           Orb
           above
           it
           ;
           (
           for
           he
           believes
           these
           Comets
           with
           Tails
           or
           Beards
           are
           in
           the
           Concavity
           of
           the
           Orb
           of
           the
           Moon
           :
           )
           hence
           the
           Flame
           is
           forced
           downwards
           ,
           just
           as
           the
           Flame
           in
           an
           Oven
           or
           Fornace
           ,
           beaten
           from
           above
           ,
           strikes
           towards
           the
           sides
           .
           But
           if
           it
           be
           so
           ,
           how
           happens
           it
           that
           the
           Flame
           is
           not
           seen
           on
           both
           sides
           or
           ends
           ,
           but
           onely
           on
           the
           hinder
           part
           of
           the
           Comet
           ?
           How
           comes
           that
           part
           which
           is
           next
           to
           the
           Sun
           to
           be
           always
           without
           a
           Train
           or
           Stream
           ?
           The
           Flame
           of
           the
           Comet
           is
           driven
           by
           the
           Wind
           towards
           one
           side
           ,
           as
           we
           see
           plainly
           in
           Torches
           when
           the
           Wind
           blows
           ,
           so
           the
           Peripateticks
           give
           an
           account
           
           of
           the
           Tail
           or
           Bush
           of
           a
           Comet
           .
           But
           if
           it
           were
           caused
           by
           the
           Wind
           ,
           then
           there
           must
           be
           always
           a
           great
           Wind
           stirring
           as
           long
           as
           Comets
           appear
           ,
           and
           the
           Blaze
           of
           these
           would
           increase
           as
           that
           increases
           ;
           but
           I
           never
           read
           that
           any
           such
           Observation
           was
           made
           ,
           and
           we
           know
           by
           experience
           that
           Calms
           have
           accompanied
           the
           Appearance
           of
           Comets
           ,
           whatever
           violence
           of
           Weather
           happened
           afterwards
           .
        
         
           Besides
           ,
           if
           the
           long
           Train
           were
           occasioned
           by
           the
           Wind
           ,
           it
           would
           also
           disappear
           when
           the
           Wind
           is
           allaid
           .
           Moreover
           ,
           the
           Wind
           hath
           not
           blown
           from
           the
           same
           Point
           of
           Heaven
           all
           the
           time
           of
           the
           Comet
           's
           appearing
           .
           And
           that
           it
           should
           doe
           so
           to
           all
           Comets
           is
           yet
           stranger
           :
           You
           may
           as
           well
           say
           ,
           and
           maintain
           it
           ,
           that
           the
           Wind
           is
           ever
           in
           the
           same
           Corner
           .
           But
           ,
           after
           all
           ,
           if
           I
           should
           add
           ,
           that
           Comets
           are
           above
           the
           Wind
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           hugely
           probable
           
           they
           are
           ,
           then
           this
           way
           of
           solving
           the
           Difficulty
           is
           quite
           overthrown
           .
        
         
           In
           short
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Aristotelian
           Hypothesis
           of
           a
           Comet
           being
           a
           heap
           of
           Inflamed
           Exhalations
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           see
           how
           the
           Tail
           can
           be
           made
           out
           ;
           for
           this
           being
           a
           Flame
           ,
           and
           lighter
           and
           rarer
           Matter
           than
           the
           head
           of
           the
           Comet
           ,
           it
           should
           tend
           upwards
           in
           the
           form
           of
           a
           Pyramid
           ,
           as
           it
           fares
           with
           all
           other
           Flames
           .
        
         
           Again
           ,
           such
           a
           heap
           of
           viscous
           Vapours
           must
           needs
           burn
           on
           all
           sides
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           equally
           kindled
           ,
           and
           then
           the
           long
           Train
           is
           spoiled
           :
           or
           if
           the
           matter
           doth
           not
           burn
           equally
           ,
           then
           certainly
           There
           where
           the
           Fuel
           is
           most
           capable
           ;
           and
           how
           can
           that
           be
           supposed
           to
           be
           always
           just
           opposite
           to
           the
           Sun
           ?
           But
           if
           the
           Wind
           cannot
           solve
           the
           Phaenomenon
           the
           Sun
           must
           :
           accordingly
           
             Kepler
             ,
             Gassendus
          
           ,
           and
           others
           say
           ,
           that
           the
           Tail
           ,
           being
           of
           the
           same
           
           matter
           with
           the
           Head
           ,
           onely
           more
           rare
           and
           subtile
           ,
           is
           driven
           and
           thrust
           by
           that
           force
           of
           the
           Suns
           Rays
           towards
           that
           part
           of
           the
           Heavens
           which
           is
           contrary
           to
           the
           Sun.
           
        
         
           It
           was
           soon
           seen
           that
           this
           thrusting
           and
           shoving
           of
           Sun-beams
           was
           a
           very
           precarious
           Notion
           ;
           and
           therefore
           the
           most
           judicious
           Astronomers
           go
           another
           way
           to
           work
           .
           They
           abandon
           their
           Opinion
           who
           think
           the
           Tail
           belongs
           to
           the
           Substance
           of
           the
           Comet
           ,
           and
           is
           a
           Flame
           issuing
           from
           it
           ,
           and
           in
           stead
           of
           that
           they
           defend
           this
           for
           Truth
           ,
           that
           the
           Tail
           or
           Beard
           is
           no
           other
           than
           the
           Beams
           of
           the
           Sun
           transmitted
           through
           the
           Diaphanous
           Head
           of
           the
           Comet
           .
           This
           is
           embraced
           by
           
             Cardan
             ,
             Longomontanus
             ,
             Scaliger
          
           ,
           and
           that
           famous
           Triumvirate
           of
           Astronomers
           ,
           
             Tycho
             ,
             Kepler
             ,
             Galilaeus
          
           .
           If
           these
           say
           true
           ,
           the
           Transparent
           Body
           of
           the
           Comet
           is
           illuminated
           by
           the
           Solar
           Rays
           ,
           and
           the
           Sun
           ,
           thus
           shining
           through
           it
           ,
           
           and
           causing
           a
           various
           Refraction
           and
           Repercussion
           of
           Light
           ,
           makes
           that
           Splendour
           which
           we
           call
           the
           Tail
           or
           Tresses
           of
           a
           Comet
           .
           In
           order
           to
           this
           they
           fancy
           the
           Body
           of
           the
           Comet
           to
           be
           like
           a
           Globe
           or
           Ball
           of
           Glass
           ,
           which
           by
           its
           Diaphanousness
           imbibes
           the
           Beams
           received
           from
           the
           Sun
           ,
           and
           those
           Beams
           passing
           through
           it
           appear
           on
           the
           Reverse
           of
           it
           .
           Such
           a
           kind
           of
           Trajection
           or
           striking
           of
           the
           Sun's
           Rays
           through
           the
           Head
           or
           Body
           of
           a
           Comet
           ,
           is
           the
           cause
           of
           its
           Beard
           or
           Tail.
           But
           this
           will
           not
           clear
           the
           Point
           ;
           for
           then
           the
           Tail
           should
           not
           be
           of
           that
           Figure
           it
           appears
           ,
           but
           of
           a
           Comick
           one
           ,
           as
           the
           Rays
           appear
           behind
           a
           Glass-Ball
           ,
           viz.
           broad
           towards
           the
           Glass
           ,
           but
           narrower
           and
           sharper
           the
           other
           way
           .
           But
           the
           Trains
           of
           Comets
           appear
           otherwise
           ,
           they
           being
           large
           and
           wide
           at
           the
           Cuspis
           ,
           or
           end
           ,
           but
           lesser
           and
           more
           contracted
           towards
           the
           Head
           of
           the
           Comet
           .
           Thus
           the
           Laws
           of
           Opticks
           
           and
           the
           Rules
           of
           Perspectives
           will
           be
           indangered
           if
           we
           tie
           our selves
           to
           this
           Hypothesis
           .
        
         
           Besides
           ,
           This
           is
           attended
           with
           other
           insuperable
           Difficulties
           ;
           for
           if
           the
           Comet
           be
           Diaphanous
           ,
           where
           are
           the
           Suns
           Rrays
           terminated
           ,
           and
           by
           that
           means
           reflected
           to
           us
           ?
           There
           ought
           to
           be
           some
           Opake
           matter
           to
           stop
           the
           Rays
           ,
           and
           so
           to
           reverberate
           them
           to
           us
           .
           Say
           that
           by
           the
           Transparency
           of
           the
           head
           of
           the
           Comet
           the
           Sun's
           Rays
           are
           transmitted
           ,
           and
           so
           the
           Train
           is
           in
           a
           fair
           way
           to
           be
           made
           ,
           yet
           there
           is
           required
           moreover
           an
           Opacity
           to
           receive
           and
           turn
           back
           those
           Rays
           to
           our
           Eyes
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           see
           them
           .
           This
           is
           done
           ,
           if
           Tycho
           Brache's
           saying
           so
           will
           suffice
           :
           
           The
           Rays
           of
           the
           Sun
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           passing
           through
           the
           Comets
           Head
           meet
           with
           some
           matter
           in
           the
           Aethereal
           Region
           which
           is
           darkish
           ,
           and
           so
           reflects
           them
           back
           to
           us
           :
           thus
           the
           blazing
           Stream
           is
           produced
           .
           But
           ,
        
         
         
           First
           ,
           This
           supposes
           Thick
           and
           Opake
           Matter
           in
           the
           Aether
           ,
           which
           ever
           before
           passed
           for
           Pure
           ,
           Subtile
           ,
           and
           Perspicuous
           .
        
         
           Then
           ,
           Suppose
           there
           were
           such
           Matter
           in
           the
           Aethereal
           Regions
           ,
           yet
           if
           this
           reflexion
           were
           from
           the
           Aether
           ,
           why
           are
           we
           so
           long
           without
           Comets
           ?
           for
           in
           that
           Impure
           Aether
           ,
           which
           lies
           behind
           the
           Comets
           ,
           the
           beams
           are
           reflected
           constantly
           .
        
         
           Likewise
           ,
           if
           the
           Beard
           of
           a
           Comet
           had
           no
           other
           Production
           ,
           it
           would
           be
           spread
           not
           onely
           towards
           that
           part
           of
           the
           Heavens
           which
           is
           directly
           opposite
           to
           the
           Sun
           ,
           but
           on
           every
           side
           .
           And
           this
           also
           leads
           me
           to
           enquire
           after
           an
           answer
           to
           the
           
             Other
             Question
          
           I
           started
           ,
           viz.
           Why
           the
           Bush
           or
           Main
           of
           the
           Comet
           always
           turns
           it self
           from
           the
           Sun
           ,
           and
           consequently
           if
           it
           appears
           before
           Sun-rising
           ,
           it
           points
           towards
           the
           West
           ,
           and
           if
           it
           be
           seen
           in
           the
           Evening
           it
           stretches
           itself
           towards
           
           the
           East
           ,
           sometimes
           directly
           ,
           at
           other
           times
           with
           some
           Deviation
           more
           or
           less
           ,
           either
           Northward
           or
           Southward
           ?
        
         
           I
           having
           invalidated
           that
           Tenet
           of
           the
           Suns
           Beams
           passing
           through
           the
           Head
           of
           the
           Comet
           ,
           and
           being
           reflected
           to
           us
           from
           I
           know
           not
           whence
           ,
           there
           can
           no
           solid
           Reason
           be
           given
           of
           their
           direct
           Opposition
           to
           the
           Sun.
           And
           then
           as
           for
           those
           who
           say
           the
           Comets
           propagate
           and
           transmit
           such
           a
           glaring
           Light
           to
           us
           by
           Reflection
           (
           as
           all
           the
           Planets
           do
           )
           from
           the
           Sun
           ,
           (
           for
           according
           to
           Hevelius
           ,
           and
           some
           others
           ,
           the
           Head
           and
           Tail
           of
           Comets
           are
           dark
           Bodies
           ,
           )
           it
           is
           certain
           that
           if
           they
           borrow
           all
           their
           Light
           and
           Blaze
           from
           the
           Sun
           ,
           there
           is
           yet
           a
           more
           desparate
           and
           forlorn
           account
           given
           both
           of
           the
           Tail
           of
           a
           Comet
           ,
           and
           of
           its
           Opposition
           to
           the
           Sun
           ,
           and
           then
           also
           the
           Moon
           ,
           and
           Saturn
           and
           all
           the
           other
           Planets
           would
           be
           Bearded
           or
           Tailed
           .
        
         
         
           I
           might
           now
           enquire
           into
           the
           
             different
             Species
          
           ,
           the
           various
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           (
           as
           the
           Philosopher
           calls
           them
           )
           of
           Comets
           .
           For
           this
           Stream
           which
           I
           have
           been
           discoursing
           of
           is
           not
           always
           of
           the
           same
           Configuration
           ,
           but
           hath
           appeared
           in
           divers
           Shapes
           and
           Resemblances
           .
           These
           several
           Species
           are
           set
           down
           by
           an
           Ancient
           Astronomical
           Poet
           in
           a
           very
           Elegant
           manner
           ,
           
           and
           by
           a
           Philosopher
           almost
           as
           ancient
           ,
           (
           I
           mean
           him
           whose
           Treatise
           of
           Comets
           I
           have
           occasion
           often
           to
           use
           )
           who
           reckons
           up
           
             Twelve
             several
             Species
          
           of
           them
           ,
           
             Nat.
             Hist.
             2.
             l.
             25.
             c.
          
           But
           I
           foresee
           it
           will
           be
           more
           proper
           to
           enlarge
           on
           this
           particular
           when
           I
           come
           to
           the
           next
           general
           Head
           of
           this
           Discourse
           ,
           where
           I
           shall
           handle
           Comets
           as
           real
           Signs
           .
           In
           the
           mean
           time
           I
           will
           entertain
           the
           Reader
           with
           some
           other
           matter
           which
           is
           Pertinent
           to
           our
           business
           ,
           and
           which
           will
           give
           him
           a
           further
           Insight
           into
           the
           Nature
           and
           Quality
           of
           these
           
           
           
           
           
           marvellous
           Appearances
           ,
           and
           serve
           to
           advance
           the
           knowledge
           of
           such
           as
           are
           inquisitive
           Searchers
           into
           the
           Works
           of
           God.
           
        
         
           Of
           the
           Number
           of
           Comets
           somewhat
           may
           be
           said
           ;
           I
           will
           give
           you
           the
           Sum
           total
           of
           the
           Catalogue
           which
           
             Baptista
             Ricciolus
          
           hath
           made
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           154.
           for
           so
           many
           Comets
           had
           appeared
           in
           the
           World
           from
           480
           Years
           before
           Christ's
           Nativity
           to
           the
           Year
           of
           our
           Lord
           1618.
           
           His
           Catalogue
           reaches
           no
           further
           either
           backward
           or
           forward
           ;
           but
           Hevelius
           takes
           a
           wider
           compass
           ,
           for
           the
           Comets
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           recorded
           by
           the
           Historians
           ,
           or
           Philosophers
           ,
           or
           others
           ,
           from
           the
           time
           of
           
           Noah's
           Floud
           (
           of
           what
           was
           before
           that
           ,
           he
           pretends
           not
           to
           give
           any
           account
           )
           to
           this
           day
           (
           and
           he
           writ
           his
           Cometographia
           in
           the
           Year
           1668
           )
           are
           in
           number
           250.
           
           It
           is
           not
           unlikely
           that
           some
           others
           have
           appeared
           ,
           and
           even
           from
           the
           beginning
           of
           
           the
           World
           ,
           as
           when
           God
           cast
           Adam
           out
           of
           Paradise
           ,
           (
           of
           which
           anon
           ,
           )
           but
           they
           have
           not
           been
           registred
           and
           transmitted
           to
           the
           notice
           of
           Posterity
           .
        
         
           That
           which
           I
           shall
           observe
           to
           you
           is
           this
           ,
           That
           many
           of
           these
           Comets
           ,
           and
           others
           that
           appeared
           since
           ,
           have
           fallen
           to
           our
           share
           in
           a
           short
           time
           .
           We
           have
           seen
           five
           or
           six
           of
           them
           in
           less
           space
           than
           Twenty
           Years
           .
           For
           ,
           not
           to
           go
           back
           so
           far
           as
           the
           Year
           1618.
           when
           four
           Comets
           appeared
           one
           after
           another
           ,
           (
           some
           or
           all
           of
           which
           are
           discoursed
           of
           in
           the
           Writings
           of
           the
           greatest
           Astrologers
           of
           that
           time
           )
           we
           can
           with
           ease
           remember
           the
           years
           1664.
           and
           1665.
           both
           which
           are
           memorable
           for
           the
           dreadfull
           appearances
           in
           each
           of
           them
           ,
           but
           they
           are
           the
           rather
           to
           be
           mentioned
           by
           me
           now
           ,
           because
           they
           are
           most
           signal
           Instances
           of
           the
           
             Direfull
             Events
          
           which
           insue
           Comets
           ,
           if
           such
           a
           Pestilence
           and
           Fire
           as
           presently
           
           after
           happened
           may
           be
           styled
           so
           .
           Afterwards
           ,
           in
           the
           Year
           1672
           /
           3
           ;
           ,
           we
           were
           visited
           with
           another
           Comet
           ,
           and
           again
           ,
           in
           1680
           ;
           and
           lately
           ,
           in
           this
           present
           Year
           1682.
           
           These
           in
           so
           short
           a
           time
           ,
           in
           less
           than
           the
           space
           of
           Eighteen
           Years
           ,
           are
           very
           Notable
           .
           If
           I
           prove
           that
           these
           Strange
           Lights
           are
           Boding
           ,
           (
           which
           I
           am
           hastning
           to
           )
           I
           cannot
           see
           but
           that
           we
           shall
           be
           very
           much
           concerned
           .
        
         
           I
           might
           add
           one
           word
           of
           the
           Time
           ,
           which
           is
           another
           Apendage
           or
           Circumstance
           of
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Comets
           .
           It
           hath
           been
           observed
           that
           they
           appear
           indifferently
           at
           all
           Times
           of
           the
           Year
           ,
           the
           Spring
           and
           Fall
           ,
           Summer
           and
           Winter
           ,
           as
           is
           evident
           from
           the
           Tables
           of
           Comets
           which
           are
           extant
           ,
           which
           agrees
           with
           that
           of
           
             Seneca
             ,
             Non
             magis
             certum
             est
             illis
          
           (
           i.
           e.
           
             Cometis
             )
             Tempus
             quo
             appareant
             ,
             quàm
             Locus
             ullus
             ultra
             quem
             non
             exeant
             .
          
           cap.
           12.
           
           But
           the
           
             Autumn
             generally
          
           is
           the
           time
           
           of
           their
           appearing
           ,
           say
           the
           most
           Astronomers
           :
           but
           if
           you
           demand
           a
           Reason
           to
           be
           rendred
           of
           it
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           impossible
           to
           offer
           one
           that
           is
           satisfactory
           ,
           especially
           if
           Comets
           be
           acknowledged
           (
           as
           they
           have
           been
           for
           a
           considerable
           time
           )
           to
           be
           situated
           above
           the
           Moon
           ,
           and
           even
           among
           the
           highest
           Planets
           ;
           for
           earthly
           Exhalations
           cannot
           mount
           in
           a
           short
           time
           to
           so
           high
           a
           place
           .
           So
           that
           it
           is
           in
           vain
           to
           enquire
           into
           the
           Reason
           of
           the
           Time
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           
             other
             circumstances
          
           ,
           of
           their
           Appearance
           .
        
         
           I
           could
           say
           something
           also
           of
           the
           Colour
           of
           Comets
           ,
           for
           History
           is
           full
           of
           Variety
           here
           ,
           representing
           some
           as
           pale
           and
           wan
           ,
           others
           as
           darkish
           and
           cloudy
           :
           some
           as
           golden
           or
           yellow
           ,
           others
           ,
           as
           silver
           like
           ,
           bright
           ,
           clear
           ,
           and
           so
           transparent
           that
           Stars
           have
           been
           plainly
           seen
           through
           them
           :
           some
           of
           a
           ruddy
           complexion
           ,
           and
           bloudy
           ,
           and
           fiery
           ,
           
           others
           of
           a
           leaden
           and
           livid
           hue
           ,
           all
           differing
           according
           to
           the
           mixture
           of
           more
           or
           less
           Light.
           
        
         
           Lastly
           ,
           the
           Smell
           as
           well
           as
           Colour
           of
           Comets
           hath
           been
           taken
           notice
           of
           ;
           and
           this
           hath
           happened
           onely
           then
           when
           they
           have
           hung
           hovering
           near
           the
           Earth
           ;
           an
           Instance
           whereof
           Historians
           give
           us
           in
           that
           Comet
           which
           was
           seen
           
             A.
             D.
          
           396.
           in
           which
           they
           acquaint
           us
           that
           a
           strong
           and
           Sulphureous
           Smell
           was
           felt
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           I
           have
           ,
           in
           pursuance
           of
           the
           first
           Task
           I
           set
           my self
           ,
           enquired
           into
           the
           Nature
           of
           these
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           :
           I
           have
           particularly
           considered
           their
           Origine
           ,
           Make
           ,
           Figure
           ,
           Situation
           ,
           Motion
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Phaenomena
           appertaing
           to
           them
           .
           And
           I
           may
           with
           confidence
           aver
           in
           the
           close
           of
           all
           ,
           that
           he
           who
           sees
           not
           how
           difficult
           ,
           if
           not
           impossible
           ,
           it
           is
           to
           unriddle
           the
           Nature
           of
           Comets
           ,
           sees
           
           nothing
           in
           Philosophy
           and
           the
           Nature
           of
           Things
           .
        
         
           What
           contrary
           Accounts
           do
           Philosopher
           give
           of
           them
           ?
        
         
           Those
           that
           will
           not
           wholly
           grant
           the
           Efficacy
           and
           Operation
           of
           Comets
           ,
           must
           ,
           whether
           they
           will
           or
           no
           ,
           confess
           their
           Influence
           in
           This
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           caused
           grievous
           Wars
           and
           Feuds
           among
           Astronomers
           ,
           who
           (
           we
           see
           )
           are
           engaged
           with
           great
           vigour
           against
           one
           another
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           conclusion
           purchase
           nothing
           but
           Obscurity
           and
           Uncertainty
           .
           The
           variety
           of
           their
           Opinions
           ,
           and
           the
           interfering
           of
           some
           of
           them
           with
           Themselves
           ,
           undeniably
           prove
           to
           us
           ,
           that
           the
           things
           they
           search
           into
           are
           rather
           to
           be
           admired
           than
           explained
           .
        
         
           I
           think
           I
           have
           at
           one
           time
           or
           other
           read
           a
           good
           round
           company
           of
           Authours
           that
           treat
           of
           Comets
           ,
           and
           I
           could
           never
           yet
           find
           
           that
           the
           most
           knowing
           and
           judicious
           among
           them
           are
           confident
           and
           peremptory
           in
           the
           asserting
           of
           their
           Hypothesis
           about
           them
           :
           no
           ,
           they
           unanimously
           acknowledge
           their
           Ignorance
           and
           Shallowness
           ,
           they
           own
           themselves
           to
           be
           non-pluss'd
           ,
           and
           have
           no
           other
           Esteem
           and
           Apprehension
           of
           these
           strange
           Sights
           than
           of
           things
           most
           wonderfull
           and
           astonishing
           .
        
         
           One
           of
           the
           greatest
           Natural
           (
           as
           well
           as
           Moral
           )
           Philosophers
           that
           ever
           the
           World
           bred
           ,
           
           speaketh
           in
           the
           beginning
           of
           his
           Book
           of
           Comets
           after
           this
           manner
           concerning
           his
           intended
           Disposition
           of
           Comets
           :
           
             Quae
             an
             vera
             sint
             Dii
             sciunt
             ,
             quibus
             est
             scientia
             veri
             .
             Nobis
             rimari
             illa
             &
             conjecturare
             in
             Occulto
             tantùm
             licet
             .
          
           He
           pretends
           not
           to
           Science
           ,
           but
           contents
           himself
           with
           bare
           guessing
           .
           
           And
           (
           in
           the
           same
           book
           )
           he
           gives
           this
           Reason
           of
           it
           ,
           
             Quàm
             multa
             praeter
             Hos
          
           (
           i.
           e.
           
             Cometas
             )
             per
             secretum
             eunt
             ,
             nunquam
             humanis
             
             oculis
             orientia
             ?
             Neque
             enim
             omnia
             Deus
             humanis
             oculis
             nota
             fecit
             Quota
             pars
             operis
             tanti
             nostris
             oculis
             committitur
             ?
          
           The
           great
           Governour
           of
           the
           World
           hath
           thought
           fit
           to
           hide
           many
           things
           from
           us
           ,
           and
           amongst
           them
           the
           Account
           of
           these
           Phaenomena
           is
           one
           .
           More
           particularly
           he
           ingenuously
           confesses
           ,
           that
           that
           of
           the
           Tail
           or
           Bush
           must
           be
           attributed
           to
           the
           
             Nature
             of
             Comets
          
           ,
           (
           so
           he
           expresses
           it
           ,
           )
           
           and
           (
           as
           he
           explains
           himself
           )
           
             to
             causes
             which
             are
             occult
             to
             us
             .
          
        
         
           Though
           others
           have
           thought
           they
           have
           been
           able
           to
           solve
           these
           Phaenomena
           ,
           yet
           our
           great
           Philosopher
           was
           not
           ashamed
           to
           confess
           his
           Inability
           ,
           and
           therefore
           he
           chose
           to
           resolve
           them
           into
           some
           secret
           Virtue
           and
           wonderfull
           Power
           ;
           which
           also
           made
           him
           style
           a
           Comet
           
             Novum
             è
             coelo
             Miraculum
          
           .
           
           
             Tycho
             Brahe
          
           ,
           allied
           to
           the
           chief
           Nobility
           of
           Denmark
           ,
           but
           more
           related
           to
           generous
           Truth
           ,
           speaks
           thus
           ,
           
             Cum
             
             iis
             non
             invitè
             sentio
             qui
             Cometas
             intra
             Naturae
             secreta
             nondum
             explanata
             reponunt
             ,
             eósque
             ex
             occultis
             causis
             provenire
             asseverant
             .
          
           Comets
           are
           rightly
           ranked
           in
           the
           number
           of
           those
           secrets
           of
           Nature
           which
           are
           kept
           close
           to
           this
           very
           day
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           very
           rational
           to
           believe
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           the
           Products
           of
           hidden
           Causes
           .
           Both
           this
           excellent
           Astromer
           ,
           and
           another
           clebrated
           Mathematician
           ,
           
           whom
           Germany
           boasts
           of
           ,
           frankly
           acknowledge
           the
           shallow
           notices
           they
           have
           of
           these
           Bodies
           ,
           and
           ,
           like
           true
           Philosophers
           and
           Christians
           ,
           confess
           ,
           that
           the
           wonderfull
           Works
           of
           God
           surpass
           Man's
           profoundest
           Knowledge
           .
        
         
           And
           hear
           the
           faint
           words
           of
           that
           admirable
           Astrologer
           ,
           who
           is
           so
           famous
           for
           his
           several
           learned
           Treatises
           ,
           
           
             Quia
             quantum
             volo
             non
             possum
             ,
             liceat
             ergo
             quantum
             possum
             proestare
          
           ;
           Since
           I
           cannot
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           difficulty
           of
           the
           performance
           ,
           make
           what
           Discoveries
           I
           would
           
           about
           the
           nature
           of
           Comets
           ,
           I
           will
           sally
           out
           as
           far
           as
           I
           am
           able
           ,
           though
           I
           know
           (
           alas
           )
           my
           Attempts
           will
           be
           very
           Feeble
           and
           Imperfect
           ,
           where
           the
           Subject
           I
           treat
           of
           is
           so
           lofty
           and
           arduous
           .
        
         
           What
           saith
           that
           Modern
           Meteorologist
           ?
           
           
             Ego
             Cometas
             in
             maximis
             &
             abditissimis
             Naturae
             Miraculis
             pono
             :
          
           If
           any
           one
           would
           know
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           what
           account
           I
           make
           of
           Comets
           ,
           I
           declare
           ,
           that
           I
           rank
           them
           among
           the
           greatest
           and
           most
           hidden
           Miracles
           of
           Nature
           .
           And
           after
           he
           had
           been
           rendring
           a
           Reason
           of
           the
           Tails
           of
           Comets
           ,
           and
           refuting
           other
           mens
           Opinions
           ,
           he
           complaineth
           that
           he
           remains
           unsatisfied
           ,
           and
           that
           such
           Lank
           Accounts
           would
           rather
           starve
           than
           satiate
           an
           inquisitive
           Mind
           ,
           
             Haec
             tamen
             non
             omnino
             mihi
             mentem
             implent
             ,
          
           
           
             sed
             abeundum
             tamen
             jam
             est
             vel
             semifamelico
             .
          
           And
           speaking
           there
           of
           other
           Phaenomena
           of
           the
           Beard
           or
           Tail
           ,
           he
           concludes
           at
           last
           most
           devoutly
           
           and
           ingeniously
           in
           these
           words
           ,
           
             Sed
             quàm
             neque
             hoc
             ,
             neque
             quicquid
             aliud
             prospicio
             ,
             mihi
             intellectum
             in
             tranquillo
             ponit
             !
             Ite
             nunc
             ,
             mortales
             ,
             &
             acie
             illâ
             Divina
             rimamini
             &
             penetrate
             ,
             quam
             unius
             etiam
             Cometae
             barba
             vobis
             hebetat
             &
             obtundit
             .
          
           Neither
           this
           Hypothesis
           ,
           nor
           any
           other
           ,
           that
           I
           ever
           met
           with
           ,
           yields
           me
           satisfaction
           .
           How
           then
           can
           ye
           ,
           fond
           Wretches
           ,
           pretend
           to
           search
           ,
           and
           even
           pierce
           into
           
             Divine
             Mysteries
          
           with
           that
           sorry
           Wit
           of
           yours
           ,
           which
           you
           see
           
             one
             Hair
          
           of
           a
           Comet
           is
           able
           to
           blunt
           and
           
             turn
             the
             edg
             of
          
           ?
           And
           so
           he
           goes
           on
           to
           confess
           and
           bewail
           the
           defects
           of
           Philosophy
           and
           our
           Understandings
           .
        
         
           Another
           Writer
           ,
           
           on
           the
           same
           Subject
           ,
           talks
           after
           this
           rate
           ,
           
             Haec
             quidem
             possibilia
             sunt
             ,
             sed
             non
             nisi
             Divinando
             determinari
             possit
             qualiter
             de
             facto
             res
             se
             habeat
             :
          
           Perhaps
           this
           way
           of
           explaining
           the
           Nature
           of
           Cometh
           is
           not
           altogether
           impossible
           ,
           but
           in
           my
           mind
           there
           is
           no
           
           man
           can
           directly
           tell
           us
           how
           things
           really
           are
           ,
           unless
           he
           had
           the
           Art
           of
           Divining
           .
        
         
           A
           late
           Astronomer
           ,
           in
           imitation
           of
           the
           Great
           Men
           before
           cited
           ,
           
           reckons
           Comets
           
             inter
             Arcana
             mundi
             ,
             &
             abditissima
             naturae
             Miracula
             :
          
           and
           in
           the
           same
           place
           he
           makes
           bold
           (
           and
           yet
           with
           a
           great
           share
           of
           Modesty
           )
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           God
           propounds
           this
           
             Splendidum
             Aenigma
             nunquam
             solvendum
          
           :
           he
           puts
           this
           Riddle
           to
           the
           World
           which
           no
           Philosophy
           will
           be
           ever
           able
           to
           explain
           .
           This
           subtile
           Jesuite
           ,
           who
           had
           set
           down
           and
           examined
           whatever
           others
           had
           writ
           concerning
           the
           Production
           of
           a
           Comets
           Train
           ,
           and
           its
           turing
           it self
           constantly
           from
           the
           Sun
           ,
           as
           if
           he
           despaired
           of
           solving
           the
           difficulty
           in
           a
           Philosophical
           way
           ,
           at
           length
           betakes
           himself
           to
           this
           Freak
           ,
           viz.
           
           that
           the
           Face
           of
           the
           Comet
           is
           turned
           towards
           the
           Sun
           like
           an
           Heliotrope
           ,
           or
           as
           one
           Face
           of
           the
           Loadstone
           turns
           it self
           to
           
           one
           of
           the
           Poles
           .
           Would
           not
           one
           imagine
           that
           he
           might
           as
           well
           have
           said
           ,
           to
           solve
           all
           ,
           that
           the
           Head
           of
           the
           Comet
           had
           Brains
           ,
           and
           knew
           when
           it
           was
           to
           Face
           about
           ?
        
         
           There
           is
           Another
           who
           refers
           the
           business
           to
           a
           secret
           Antipathy
           between
           the
           Rays
           of
           the
           Sun
           ,
           
           and
           those
           of
           a
           Comet
           ,
           insomuch
           that
           these
           latter
           are
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           ,
           afraid
           of
           the
           former
           ,
           and
           consequently
           flie
           away
           from
           them
           .
           But
           the
           Jesuite
           grows
           more
           sober
           afterwards
           ,
           and
           finding
           ,
           after
           all
           his
           exquisitive
           Searches
           ,
           that
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Comets
           was
           obscure
           and
           unaccountable
           ,
           at
           last
           he
           ascribes
           the
           Make
           and
           whole
           Regimen
           of
           them
           to
           God
           ,
           
           or
           some
           Intelligences
           ;
           and
           in
           the
           close
           of
           his
           Learned
           Tractate
           of
           Comets
           he
           ends
           thus
           ,
           
             In
             re
             adeò
             incerta
             liceat
             tandem
             nobis
             ex
             hoc
             Labyrintho
             si
             non
             exire
             ,
             at
             certè
             evolare
             .
          
           It
           is
           impossible
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           in
           such
           a
           perplexed
           Maze
           as
           this
           ,
           to
           find
           my
           way
           out
           fairly
           and
           orderly
           ;
           
           and
           therefore
           I
           hasten
           to
           get
           out
           how
           I
           can
           .
        
         
           You
           hear
           in
           what
           humble
           and
           despairing
           Language
           they
           utter
           themselves
           .
           And
           it
           is
           certain
           ,
           that
           the
           Persons
           who
           speak
           after
           this
           manner
           had
           great
           Insight
           into
           Philosophy
           ,
           and
           were
           the
           chief
           Favourites
           and
           Confidents
           of
           Nature
           .
           It
           had
           been
           an
           easie
           thing
           for
           them
           to
           have
           pitched
           upon
           an
           Hypothesis
           ,
           and
           gone
           through
           with
           it
           against
           all
           Opposers
           ;
           and
           they
           had
           Credit
           and
           Authority
           enough
           to
           back
           what
           they
           had
           a
           mind
           to
           avow
           .
           This
           was
           not
           the
           course
           they
           took
           ,
           but
           they
           suspended
           their
           Judgments
           ,
           and
           nothing
           but
           mighty
           Dissatisfaction
           and
           Amazement
           appear
           in
           their
           Writings
           ;
           and
           instead
           of
           being
           positive
           and
           decretory
           ,
           they
           confessed
           themselves
           Silenced
           and
           Puzzled
           .
           These
           great
           Dictators
           in
           Philosophy
           would
           not
           be
           found
           in
           this
           odd
           posture
           ,
           if
           the
           matter
           of
           their
           disquisition
           were
           not
           some
           
           thing
           Extraordinary
           and
           Wonderfull
           ,
           nay
           ,
           if
           every
           thing
           in
           these
           Bodies
           were
           not
           Rare
           and
           Astonishing
           :
           which
           is
           a
           demonstration
           that
           they
           were
           set
           up
           in
           the
           Heavens
           on
           purpose
           to
           call
           our
           Eyes
           to
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           designedly
           placed
           there
           to
           create
           Wonder
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           taken
           notice
           of
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           are
           the
           Amazing
           Finger
           of
           God
           to
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           But
           though
           the
           wisest
           and
           subtilest
           Heads
           were
           backward
           in
           giving
           an
           Account
           of
           the
           Natural
           Philosophy
           of
           Comets
           ,
           yet
           (
           as
           you
           shall
           be
           convinced
           afterwards
           )
           they
           are
           plain
           and
           peremptory
           in
           delivering
           their
           Opinions
           concerning
           the
           
             Effects
             ,
             Ends
          
           and
           Events
           of
           them
           ,
           the
           consideration
           of
           which
           is
           my
           next
           ,
           and
           indeed
           my
           Main
           Business
           .
        
         
           Having
           then
           dispatch'd
           our
           Enquiry
           into
           the
           Matter
           ,
           Figure
           ,
           and
           other
           Properties
           of
           Comets
           ,
           I
           am
           
           to
           shew
           you
           in
           the
           
             Second
             Place
          
           ,
           that
           they
           carry
           in
           them
           the
           true
           Nature
           of
           Causes
           and
           Signs
           ,
           or
           (
           as
           others
           are
           pleased
           to
           word
           it
           )
           of
           Operative
           and
           
             Indicative
             Signs
          
           .
           Some
           have
           stifly
           denied
           both
           these
           ,
           but
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           I
           shall
           make
           it
           evident
           to
           any
           Considerative
           Man
           ,
           that
           they
           lie
           under
           a
           great
           Mistake
           .
        
         
           I
           assert
           then
           that
           Comets
           signifie
           both
           Naturally
           and
           Arbitrarily
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           in
           Themselves
           ,
           and
           likewise
           
             by
             Divine
             Institution
          
           .
           Whether
           you
           consider
           them
           Physically
           or
           Theologically
           ,
           they
           are
           certain
           Indications
           and
           Signs
           of
           future
           Evils
           .
        
         
           To
           prove
           them
           to
           be
           Causes
           or
           
             Operative
             Signs
          
           I
           will
           treat
           of
           them
           first
           Physically
           ,
           and
           here
           I
           will
           offer
           to
           you
           these
           two
           things
           ;
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           they
           have
           a
           Connexion
           with
           the
           Nature
           of
           the
           things
           produced
           .
        
         
         
           2.
           
           That
           they
           are
           plain
           Representations
           and
           Resemblances
           of
           the
           things
           signified
           ,
           as
           Signs
           ought
           to
           be
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           They
           have
           some
           Agreement
           and
           Connexion
           with
           the
           Nature
           of
           those
           things
           of
           which
           they
           are
           said
           to
           be
           Omens
           .
           And
           it
           is
           necessary
           that
           this
           be
           cleared
           unless
           we
           will
           step
           directly
           into
           Magick
           and
           Divination
           .
           The
           things
           which
           lead
           us
           to
           the
           knowledge
           of
           future
           Events
           must
           have
           a
           Natural
           Connexion
           with
           the
           things
           they
           are
           said
           to
           point
           at
           ,
           or
           else
           they
           may
           justly
           be
           reckoned
           to
           be
           vain
           and
           Fantastick
           :
           as
           Tully
           excellently
           proves
           the
           vanity
           of
           the
           Gentile
           Divination
           from
           this
           ,
           that
           those
           means
           which
           they
           used
           ,
           as
           the
           Bowels
           of
           Animals
           ,
           the
           Chattering
           of
           Birds
           ,
           and
           the
           like
           ,
           had
           no
           cognation
           and
           alliance
           with
           the
           fortuitous
           things
           ,
           the
           knowledge
           and
           foresight
           of
           which
           they
           pretended
           was
           acquired
           
           by
           them
           .
           He
           shews
           that
           there
           is
           not
           any
           Consent
           or
           Sympathy
           between
           these
           things
           ,
           and
           thence
           concludes
           they
           are
           Cheats
           and
           Impostors
           .
           And
           so
           here
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           justly
           asked
           ,
           Are
           future
           Evils
           produced
           by
           Comets
           as
           by
           their
           proper
           Causes
           ?
           What
           certain
           Connexion
           is
           there
           between
           those
           Calamities
           and
           these
           Apparitions
           ,
           so
           as
           that
           we
           should
           be
           able
           to
           gather
           from
           these
           ,
           that
           such
           effects
           will
           assuredly
           follow
           ?
           We
           are
           certain
           that
           the
           Philosophers
           of
           old
           thought
           there
           was
           some
           Affinity
           between
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           Comets
           were
           both
           Signs
           and
           Causes
           .
           It
           is
           vouched
           by
           them
           once
           and
           again
           ,
           that
           great
           and
           vehement
           Winds
           ,
           and
           excessive
           Drougth
           ,
           are
           the
           Physical
           Effects
           of
           these
           Appearances
           .
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           if
           they
           appear
           often
           ,
           
           they
           portend
           Winds
           and
           Drougth
           .
           And
           immemediately
           after
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           
           if
           they
           be
           frequently
           seen
           ,
           the
           years
           are
           remarkably
           Dry
           and
           Tempestuous
           .
           
           Our
           Philosopher
           in
           his
           Natural
           Questions
           is
           of
           this
           persuasion
           ,
           and
           observeth
           ,
           that
           after
           Comets
           (
           and
           he
           gives
           particular
           Instances
           )
           great
           and
           continued
           Tempests
           (
           accompanied
           with
           Earthquakes
           )
           followed
           ,
           as
           the
           Natural
           Effects
           of
           them
           .
           And
           not
           onely
           the
           Ancient
           ,
           but
           Modern
           Sages
           aver
           the
           same
           .
           Thus
           the
           Learned
           Kepler
           ,
           (
           
             lib.
             de
             Cometis
          
           )
           and
           
             Cardan
             (
             lib.
             de
             rerum
             varietate
             ,
             l.
             1.
             c.
          
           1.
           )
           prove
           the
           
             Natural
             Effects
          
           of
           Comets
           ,
           and
           the
           latter
           of
           these
           is
           not
           confuted
           by
           his
           acute
           Opposer
           ,
           
             (
             Scalig.
             Exercit
          
           .
           79.
           &c.
           )
           According
           to
           these
           it
           is
           no
           uneasie
           thing
           to
           make
           it
           evident
           ,
           how
           by
           the
           extraordinary
           and
           hurtfull
           Heat
           which
           is
           produced
           by
           a
           Comet
           ,
           both
           when
           it
           is
           in
           Sight
           ,
           and
           after
           its
           Extinction
           ,
           several
           other
           Evils
           are
           caused
           in
           a
           Natural
           way
           .
           From
           the
           Air
           and
           
           Earth
           being
           infected
           ,
           how
           easie
           a
           consequence
           is
           there
           of
           Barrenness
           and
           unfruitfull
           Seasons
           !
           If
           it
           once
           be
           admitted
           that
           Comets
           distemper
           and
           inflame
           the
           Air
           ,
           and
           exhaust
           the
           Succus
           of
           the
           Earth
           ,
           it
           will
           necessarily
           follow
           ,
           that
           a
           barren
           Soil
           ,
           and
           the
           corrupting
           and
           blasting
           of
           the
           fruits
           ,
           must
           be
           the
           Products
           of
           them
           :
           And
           from
           these
           will
           naturally
           ensue
           Dearth
           ,
           Scarcity
           and
           Famine
           .
           And
           ,
           as
           the
           inevitable
           Effect
           of
           both
           ,
           we
           must
           expect
           Sickness
           ,
           Diseases
           ,
           Mortality
           ,
           and
           more
           especially
           the
           sudden
           Death
           of
           many
           Great
           Ones
           ,
           because
           these
           are
           sooner
           and
           more
           easily
           hurt
           than
           others
           ,
           for
           their
           delicate
           Feeding
           ,
           and
           Luxurious
           course
           of
           Life
           ,
           and
           sometimes
           their
           great
           Cares
           and
           Watchings
           ,
           which
           weaken
           and
           infeeble
           their
           Bodies
           ,
           render
           them
           more
           obnoxious
           than
           the
           vulgar
           sort
           of
           People
           .
           Hence
           it
           is
           that
           Comets
           may
           deservedly
           be
           said
           to
           presage
           the
           Death
           of
           mighty
           Monarchs
           
           and
           Princes
           ,
           to
           be
           Funeral
           Torches
           to
           light
           Kings
           to
           their
           Tombs
           .
           And
           because
           by
           their
           noxious
           and
           infectious
           Irradiations
           ,
           Mens
           Bloud
           is
           apt
           to
           be
           heightned
           into
           Fevers
           and
           Calentures
           ,
           and
           all
           malignant
           Distempers
           ,
           and
           even
           into
           the
           most
           contagious
           Diseases
           ,
           the
           Consequence
           of
           a
           Raging
           Pestilence
           from
           a
           Comet
           is
           very
           easie
           and
           natural
           ,
           if
           not
           almost
           necessary
           .
           Thus
           it
           is
           plain
           ,
           that
           the
           greatest
           and
           most
           dreaded
           Calamities
           have
           a
           Dependence
           on
           these
           Prodigies
           ,
           and
           are
           the
           Real
           and
           Physical
           Effects
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           And
           whereas
           it
           is
           Objected
           ,
           That
           the
           Effects
           of
           Comets
           (
           as
           they
           are
           presented
           to
           us
           by
           those
           that
           treat
           of
           them
           )
           are
           contrary
           to
           one
           another
           ,
           this
           is
           soon
           answered
           ;
           for
           that
           there
           should
           be
           
             Contrary
             Effects
          
           from
           the
           
             same
             Cause
          
           is
           no
           unusual
           thing
           in
           Philosophy
           ;
           wherefore
           
             great
             Inundations
          
           likewise
           (
           no
           less
           than
           Drought
           )
           may
           be
           the
           Product
           
           of
           these
           Causes
           ;
           for
           that
           intemperate
           Weather
           which
           the
           Flames
           of
           Comets
           beget
           ,
           causeth
           an
           extraordinary
           heap
           of
           Vapours
           and
           Exhalations
           to
           be
           drawn
           up
           ,
           which
           form
           themselves
           Naturally
           into
           Clouds
           ,
           and
           those
           Clouds
           in
           a
           short
           time
           must
           needs
           fall
           down
           in
           excessive
           Showres
           and
           immoderate
           Rains.
           And
           it
           might
           be
           shewed
           also
           that
           great
           calms
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           Storms
           and
           Tempests
           ,
           Cold
           and
           Frost
           ,
           no
           less
           than
           extreme
           Heat
           ,
           may
           be
           the
           Effects
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           secondary
           Effects
           of
           the
           same
           Cause
           .
        
         
           Moreover
           ,
           It
           is
           no
           hard
           Enterprize
           to
           shew
           how
           Comets
           are
           the
           Causes
           of
           Civil
           and
           Political
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           
             Natural
             Events
          
           .
           For
           from
           what
           hath
           been
           said
           before
           ,
           viz.
           that
           they
           portend
           the
           Death
           of
           Princes
           ,
           it
           follows
           ,
           that
           they
           probably
           Bode
           great
           Changes
           and
           Vicissitudes
           in
           Kingdoms
           ,
           in
           reference
           to
           Religion
           and
           other
           Matters
           ;
           for
           History
           abundantly
           informs
           
           us
           ,
           that
           these
           are
           oftentimes
           the
           Consequences
           of
           a
           new
           Prince's
           succeeding
           in
           the
           Throne
           .
        
         
           Besides
           ,
           from
           the
           inflamed
           Spirits
           of
           Men
           ,
           caused
           by
           a
           distempered
           Air
           ,
           Wars
           and
           Tumults
           ,
           Broils
           and
           Seditions
           naturally
           proceed
           .
           So
           that
           Comets
           have
           been
           the
           Causes
           and
           Forerunners
           ,
           not
           onely
           of
           great
           Storms
           and
           Concussions
           in
           the
           Air
           ,
           but
           of
           Turbulent
           and
           Tempestuous
           Seasons
           in
           the
           State
           ,
           of
           Confusion
           ,
           Massacres
           ,
           Slaughter
           ,
           Bloudshed
           ,
           and
           Mischiefs
           of
           all
           Dimensions
           ,
           both
           at
           home
           and
           from
           foreign
           Quarters
           .
           These
           have
           been
           thought
           ,
           by
           men
           of
           sober
           Philosophy
           ,
           to
           have
           been
           the
           significations
           and
           Presages
           of
           Comets
           .
           I
           will
           sum
           up
           all
           their
           Dire
           Effects
           in
           these
           plain
           Verses
           which
           I
           lately
           met
           with
           :
           
             
               
                 Dira
                 Cometarum
                 proles
                 pestisque
                 famésque
                 ,
              
               
                 Seditio
                 ,
                 regum
                 foedera
                 ,
                 vincla
                 ,
                 neces
                 .
              
               
               
                 Excidium
                 patriae
                 ,
                 ventorum
                 praelia
                 ,
                 morbi
              
               
                 Insoliti
                 ,
                 caedes
                 ,
                 funera
                 ,
                 nulla
                 fides
                 .
              
               
                 Dissidium
                 nubis
                 ,
                 tremulae
                 telluris
                 hiatus
                 ,
              
               
                 Fulgetra
                 cum
                 tonitru
                 ,
                 fulmineaeque
                 faces
                 .
              
               
                 Aestates
                 siccae
                 ,
                 aut
                 nimio
                 mox
                 imbre
                 madentes
                 ,
              
               
                 Externo
                 infuso
                 milite
                 vastus
                 ager
                 .
              
               
                 Dira
                 locustarum
                 volucrúmque
                 examina
                 ,
                 regum
              
               
                 Translata
                 hostili
                 sceptra
                 videnda
                 loco
                 .
              
               
                 Abdacti
                 ex
                 patria
                 populi
                 ,
                 civilia
                 bella
                 ,
              
               
                 Diluvia
                 ,
                 &
                 pecorum
                 non
                 abolenda
                 lues
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 When
                 once
                 a
                 direfull
                 Comet
                 spreads
                 its
                 Train
                 ,
              
               
                 Contagious
                 Deaths
                 ,
                 and
                 pining
                 Famine
                 reign
                 .
              
               
               
                 Monarchs
                 make
                 Leagues
                 to
                 render
                 Empire
                 sure
                 ,
              
               
                 Sedition
                 now
                 keeps
                 Gaols
                 and
                 Deaths
                 in
                 ure
                 .
              
               
                 Countreys
                 are
                 Sack'd
                 ,
                 impetuous
                 Storms
                 arise
                 ,
              
               
                 And
                 Bodies
                 feel
                 unheard-of
                 Maladies
                 :
              
               
                 Slaughter
                 grows
                 bold
                 ,
                 Faith
                 seeing
                 this
                 expires
                 ;
              
               
                 The
                 heated
                 Clouds
                 disclose
                 their
                 inbred
                 Fires
                 ,
              
               
                 And
                 now
                 by
                 Sympathy
                 in
                 Thunder
                 groan
                 ,
              
               
                 Th'
                 Earth
                 Quakes
                 and
                 Trembles
                 at
                 the
                 dismall
                 Tone
                 .
              
               
                 Heaven
                 mourns
                 in
                 scorching
                 droughts
                 ,
                 and
                 then
                 again
              
               
                 Despairing
                 weeps
                 in
                 lavish
                 showres
                 of
                 Rain
                 .
              
               
                 A
                 foreign
                 Foe
                 in
                 glittering
                 Arms
                 appears
                 ,
              
               
                 And
                 dries
                 up
                 the
                 poor
                 Remnant
                 of
                 our
                 Tears
                 .
              
               
               
                 The
                 Airy
                 Region
                 then
                 displays
                 its
                 Host
              
               
                 Of
                 scarce-known
                 Fowls
                 which
                 hover
                 o'er
                 the
                 Coast.
              
               
                 See
                 next
                 how
                 Sceptres
                 here
                 and
                 there
                 are
                 hurl'd
                 ,
              
               
                 And
                 Regal
                 Globes
                 are
                 tost
                 about
                 the
                 World.
              
               
                 Some
                 are
                 led
                 Captive
                 to
                 a
                 Foreign
                 Strand
                 ,
              
               
                 Whilst
                 Wars
                 at
                 home
                 afflict
                 their
                 Native
                 Land.
              
               
                 Great
                 Deluges
                 come
                 next
                 :
                 and
                 '
                 cause
                 the
                 Fate
              
               
                 Is
                 Vniversal
                 from
                 a
                 Comet
                 's
                 Date
                 ,
              
               
                 Not
                 onely
                 Men
                 but
                 Beasts
                 must
                 in
                 it
                 share
                 :
              
               
                 Hence
                 Rot
                 and
                 Murrain
                 are
                 the
                 Cattels
                 fare
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           Such
           Effects
           as
           these
           may
           be
           expected
           from
           those
           Causes
           ;
           and
           I
           do
           not
           see
           why
           they
           may
           not
           be
           called
           
             Physical
             Events
          
           ,
           since
           they
           proceed
           from
           those
           as
           from
           Natural
           Causes
           and
           Agents
           .
           Nor
           doth
           the
           eminently
           
           knowing
           Kepler
           dissent
           from
           this
           ,
           though
           (
           when
           he
           speaks
           of
           the
           Comets
           ,
           that
           appeared
           in
           the
           Years
           1607
           ,
           and
           1618.
           )
           he
           holds
           they
           are
           the
           Causes
           of
           Disorders
           and
           Calamities
           here
           below
           ,
           by
           a
           certain
           kind
           of
           Sympathy
           which
           the
           Sublunary
           Elements
           have
           with
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           :
           for
           notwithstanding
           his
           expressing
           himself
           after
           that
           manner
           ,
           he
           means
           no
           other
           than
           what
           
             Aristotle
             ,
             Ptolemy
             ,
             Cardan
          
           ,
           and
           others
           ,
           did
           ,
           viz.
           That
           there
           is
           a
           Natural
           Connexion
           between
           Comets
           and
           those
           Evils
           which
           are
           seen
           to
           ensue
           them
           ▪
           though
           it
           must
           be
           granted
           that
           these
           Portentous
           Sights
           are
           not
           
             Necessary
             Causes
             ,
             i.
             e.
          
           Those
           Dismall
           Effects
           do
           not
           certainly
           and
           infallibly
           follow
           them
           :
           one
           is
           not
           necessarily
           and
           always
           the
           Product
           of
           the
           other
           ,
           (
           of
           which
           more
           hereafter
           .
           )
        
         
           But
           that
           which
           I
           say
           ,
           and
           I
           think
           I
           have
           proved
           ,
           is
           this
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           commonly
           chained
           together
           like
           
           Natural
           Causes
           and
           Effects
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           Natural
           Power
           of
           those
           Causes
           is
           able
           to
           produce
           ,
           and
           generally
           doth
           actually
           produce
           such
           Effects
           ;
           and
           this
           is
           enough
           to
           prove
           them
           to
           be
           
             True
             Causes
          
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           They
           are
           (
           as
           Signs
           ought
           to
           be
           )
           
             Plain
             Representations
          
           of
           the
           things
           signified
           .
           We
           may
           learn
           from
           the
           very
           Make
           of
           Comets
           what
           they
           are
           
             designed
             for
          
           .
           Their
           Figure
           is
           representative
           of
           that
           which
           is
           meant
           by
           them
           .
           Sometimes
           they
           display
           themselves
           in
           the
           shape
           of
           Besoms
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           taught
           us
           by
           that
           homely
           Embleme
           ,
           what
           we
           ought
           to
           doe
           ,
           viz.
           to
           remove
           our
           Defilements
           and
           Pollutions
           ,
           not
           to
           say
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           were
           sent
           to
           tell
           a
           Nation
           that
           they
           shall
           be
           
             swept
             away
          
           and
           destroyed
           for
           their
           Sins
           .
           How
           often
           (
           without
           any
           help
           of
           Fancy
           )
           doth
           this
           prodigious
           Light
           appear
           in
           the
           likeness
           and
           proportions
           of
           a
           Rod
           ,
           to
           acquaint
           us
           that
           
           it
           was
           designed
           to
           correct
           and
           discipline
           a
           froward
           People
           ,
           and
           that
           we
           ought
           to
           submit
           to
           it's
           Pedagogy
           ?
           When
           we
           see
           it
           at
           another
           time
           representing
           it self
           like
           a
           Torch
           or
           Flambeau
           ,
           
           how
           can
           we
           think
           otherwise
           than
           that
           it
           is
           sent
           to
           give
           more
           Light
           to
           the
           dark
           World
           ,
           or
           if
           it
           despise
           that
           ,
           to
           shew
           that
           it
           deserveth
           to
           be
           
             burnt
             up
          
           ?
           I
           know
           that
           all
           this
           will
           pass
           with
           some
           for
           mere
           moral
           Reflexions
           or
           divine
           Fancies
           .
           It
           will
           be
           said
           that
           some
           devout
           Fools
           will
           make
           things
           to
           be
           like
           any
           thing
           they
           please
           .
           But
           then
           I
           desire
           to
           know
           whether
           the
           old
           Pagan
           Philosophers
           were
           a
           sort
           of
           Religious
           Fools
           ,
           whether
           Seneca
           and
           Pliny
           (
           whom
           I
           have
           often
           brought
           on
           the
           Stage
           ,
           )
           especially
           the
           latter
           of
           them
           ,
           whose
           Writings
           let
           us
           understand
           he
           was
           one
           of
           
             Those
             Fools
             who
             say
             in
             their
             Heart
             there
             is
             no
             God
             ,
          
           whether
           These
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           profound
           Astronomers
           who
           have
           writ
           of
           the
           Figures
           of
           Comets
           ,
           and
           did
           it
           not
           to
           exercise
           
           their
           Fancies
           ,
           but
           to
           display
           their
           Judgments
           ,
           whether
           These
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           were
           Religious
           and
           Fancifull
           Fools
           ?
           Untill
           this
           be
           Answered
           I
           proceed
           .
        
         
           Who
           knows
           not
           that
           these
           strange
           Flames
           appear
           most
           commonly
           in
           the
           shape
           of
           Military
           Weapons
           ,
           and
           Instruments
           of
           War
           and
           Bloud
           ?
           You
           may
           see
           one
           appear
           like
           a
           Dart
           or
           Arrow
           ;
           
           another
           like
           a
           Lance
           or
           Spear
           ;
           
           a
           third
           bowed
           like
           a
           Warlike
           Horn
           or
           Trumpet
           ;
           
           as
           it
           were
           to
           sound
           an
           Allarm
           from
           Heavens
           a
           fourth
           in
           the
           figure
           of
           a
           Sword
           ,
           
           a
           known
           Weapon
           of
           Bloud
           and
           Slaughter
           .
           The
           Head
           of
           
             This
             Last
          
           represents
           the
           Hilt
           ,
           and
           the
           Train
           the
           Blade
           of
           the
           Sword
           ,
           which
           sometimes
           is
           streight
           ,
           and
           sometimes
           like
           a
           Falchion
           .
           Several
           of
           this
           sort
           have
           been
           seen
           in
           the
           World.
           It
           is
           very
           probable
           that
           That
           at
           the
           beginning
           of
           things
           ,
           I
           mean
           that
           
             Flaming
             Sword
             which
             turned
             every
             ways
          
           at
           the
           entrance
           
           
           of
           Paradise
           ,
           belonged
           to
           this
           Species
           .
           Indeed
           this
           could
           not
           have
           been
           better
           expressed
           than
           by
           the
           Original
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           Version
           of
           the
           Seventy
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ;
           especially
           with
           the
           addition
           of
           the
           Adjective
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           
             anceps
             ,
             bipennis
          
           ,
           two
           edged
           ,
           representing
           a
           Sword
           which
           cutteth
           both
           ways
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           Both
           the
           sides
           of
           that
           Comet
           's
           Tail
           were
           alike
           ,
           and
           of
           equal
           make
           :
           And
           whereas
           the
           Text
           saith
           that
           
             Cherubims
             were
             placed
             at
             the
             entrance
             of
             Paradise
             ,
          
           it
           lets
           us
           understand
           that
           Angles
           were
           particularly
           Administring
           in
           shewing
           this
           extraordinary
           Prodigy
           ,
           and
           perhaps
           for
           this
           Reason
           among
           others
           these
           Ministring
           Spirits
           are
           called
           a
           
             Flaming
             Fire
          
           ,
           Psal.
           104.
           4.
           
           This
           Comet
           (
           as
           it
           is
           the
           Nature
           of
           them
           )
           produced
           Barrenness
           ;
           the
           Earth
           (
           according
           to
           the
           Curse
           )
           brought
           forth
           Thorns
           and
           Thistles
           .
           This
           likewise
           presaged
           all
           the
           other
           sad
           and
           deplorable
           Effects
           of
           our
           first
           
           Parents
           Expulsion
           out
           of
           Paradise
           .
           Such
           a
           Sword-Comet
           appeared
           in
           the
           Year
           of
           our
           Lord
           70
           ,
           or
           71
           ,
           being
           the
           first
           Year
           of
           the
           Emperour
           Vespasian
           .
           It
           hung
           over
           Ierusalem
           a
           whole
           Year
           before
           it
           was
           Taken
           and
           Sack'd
           by
           Titus
           ,
           
           as
           one
           who
           was
           an
           Eye-witness
           of
           it
           assures
           us
           .
        
         
           But
           lest
           that
           should
           be
           thought
           to
           be
           God's
           peculiar
           and
           singular
           Ensign
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           be
           parallel'd
           ,
           or
           to
           be
           made
           use
           of
           in
           the
           present
           Case
           ,
           (
           as
           some
           will
           not
           permit
           us
           to
           alledge
           this
           Instance
           of
           
           Ierusalem's
           Comet
           ,
           )
           I
           will
           produce
           some
           others
           ,
           and
           the
           most
           remarkable
           I
           have
           read
           of
           are
           these
           which
           follow
           :
        
         
           A
           terrible
           Xiphias
           ,
           or
           Sword-Comet
           ,
           appeared
           when
           the
           Civil
           War
           between
           Octavius
           and
           
             Mark
             Antony
          
           began
           ,
           which
           was
           42
           years
           before
           Christ's
           Birth
           .
           Another
           of
           the
           like
           Figure
           shewed
           it self
           
             A.
             D.
          
           
           383.
           or
           (
           as
           others
           )
           392.
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           Theodosius
           :
           This
           appeared
           
           40
           days
           ,
           and
           was
           a
           little
           before
           Valentinian
           was
           slain
           ,
           and
           Eugenius
           invaded
           the
           Western
           Empire
           .
           Such
           another
           Flaming
           Sword
           was
           seen
           over
           the
           City
           of
           Constantinople
           ,
           about
           the
           Year
           of
           our
           Lord
           400.
           
           This
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           (
           as
           the
           Historian
           calls
           it
           )
           was
           so
           great
           ,
           that
           it
           reached
           from
           the
           Horizon
           to
           the
           Zenith
           .
           
             Nicephor
             .
             Eccl.
             Hist.
             l.
          
           13.
           c.
           5.
           
           and
           of
           this
           likewise
           speak
           other
           Historians
           .
           This
           happened
           when
           the
           so
           much
           dreaded
           Gainas
           ,
           the
           Barbarous
           and
           Tyrannical
           Commander
           of
           the
           Gothes
           ,
           brought
           the
           Gothish
           Army
           into
           Thrace
           ,
           and
           miserably
           wasted
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           Greece
           ,
           and
           was
           about
           to
           encompass
           Constantinople
           ,
           and
           take
           it
           .
           An
           Ensiformis
           ,
           but
           of
           lesser
           size
           ,
           appeared
           30
           days
           in
           the
           Year
           632
           ,
           
           or
           633.
           before
           Persia
           was
           taken
           by
           the
           Saracens
           .
           These
           were
           no
           
             Fantastick
             shapes
          
           ,
           such
           as
           the
           feigned
           Images
           and
           Iconisms
           of
           the
           Constellations
           of
           the
           Dog
           and
           Bear
           ,
           &c.
           
           but
           they
           were
           Real
           and
           Substantial
           ,
           and
           no
           man
           need
           nourish
           any
           lavish
           Fancy
           to
           make
           out
           these
           Shapes
           and
           Resemblances
           ;
           from
           which
           we
           may
           certainly
           infer
           that
           they
           are
           
             truly
             Significant
          
           and
           Presaging
           .
           I
           must
           confess
           that
           Gaffarel
           (
           in
           his
           Book
           of
           Curiosities
           )
           and
           
             Cornelius
             Gemma
          
           (
           
             de
             Nat.
             Charact.
             divin
          
           .
           )
           are
           too
           Fantastical
           in
           their
           interpreting
           the
           Figures
           of
           Comets
           ,
           and
           too
           punctual
           in
           determining
           the
           effects
           from
           such
           Likenesses
           and
           Shapes
           .
           But
           ,
           as
           I
           am
           no
           Slave
           of
           these
           Cosmocriticks
           ,
           so
           I
           must
           needs
           profess
           that
           it
           is
           irrational
           and
           impious
           to
           disregard
           the
           Finger
           of
           God
           in
           the
           peculiar
           shape
           of
           some
           Comets
           ,
           because
           some
           idle
           Writers
           have
           indulged
           their
           Fancy
           and
           Humour
           ,
           and
           have
           shewed
           themselves
           conceited
           in
           the
           account
           they
           give
           of
           the
           Figures
           of
           Comets
           .
        
         
           Thus
           far
           I
           have
           considered
           these
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           Naturally
           ,
           and
           as
           they
           are
           
             in
             themselves
          
           :
           Now
           it
           remains
           
           that
           I
           treat
           of
           them
           Theologically
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           
             by
             Divine
             Appointment
          
           and
           Institution
           rendred
           Significative
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           the
           Pleasure
           of
           the
           great
           Moderatour
           of
           all
           things
           ,
           (
           and
           that
           is
           sufficient
           )
           that
           these
           should
           be
           set
           up
           as
           Signs
           .
           And
           This
           is
           acknowledged
           even
           by
           those
           who
           will
           not
           be
           brought
           to
           confess
           the
           former
           .
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           
           The
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           are
           not
           constituted
           Causes
           ,
           but
           Signs
           of
           Wars
           ,
           saith
           a
           Religious
           Man.
           Future
           occurrences
           are
           discovered
           by
           these
           Heavenly
           Lamps
           ,
           
             Non
             Naturali
             Causarum
             nexu
             &
             ordine
             ,
          
           
           
             sed
             Dei
             Natu
             &
             Auxilio
          
           ,
           saith
           another
           .
           
             Nego
             Cometam
          
           (
           saith
           
             Fromondus
             ,
             Meteor
             .
             l.
             3.
             c.
          
           3.
           )
           
             calamitatum
             Physicam
             causam
             ,
             non
             nego
             tamen
             Signum
             ex
             Institutione
             divina
             esse
             ,
             quam
             omnium
             temporum
             Historia
             affirmat
             .
          
           But
           I
           will
           make
           it
           plain
           ,
           that
           
             Both
             
             these
          
           are
           very
           consistent
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           consideration
           of
           Comets
           in
           both
           these
           respects
           is
           Rational
           and
           Accountable
           .
           We
           may
           treat
           of
           them
           not
           onely
           as
           Natural
           Philosophers
           ,
           but
           as
           pious
           Men
           and
           Christians
           .
           I
           know
           God
           sometimes
           speaketh
           to
           the
           World
           by
           Supernatural
           Signs
           ,
           without
           making
           use
           of
           Second
           Causes
           ,
           and
           even
           against
           the
           course
           and
           order
           of
           Nature
           .
           These
           are
           
             Divine
             Signs
             onely
          
           ;
           but
           now
           I
           am
           speaking
           of
           such
           as
           are
           
             Natural
             Signs
             and
             Causes
             ,
             i.
             e.
          
           produced
           in
           a
           Natural
           way
           wholly
           or
           partly
           ,
           and
           are
           Physical
           Causes
           of
           such
           and
           such
           Effects
           ,
           and
           yet
           are
           
             Divine
             Signs
             likewise
          
           :
           For
           it
           may
           be
           worth
           your
           observing
           ,
           that
           the
           
             Same
             things
          
           may
           be
           
             Natural
             Causes
             and
             Effects
          
           ,
           and
           yet
           
             Divine
             Tokens
          
           .
           The
           Rainbow
           signifies
           the
           Covenant
           between
           God
           and
           Man
           ,
           and
           therefore
           is
           styled
           the
           
             Token
             of
             the
             Covenant
          
           ,
           9.
           
           Gen.
           13.
           but
           withall
           it
           is
           a
           Meteor
           that
           hath
           a
           Natural
           
           Production
           ,
           and
           the
           Cause
           of
           it
           is
           made
           out
           by
           Philosophy
           .
           Fire
           and
           Brimstone
           from
           Heaven
           burnt
           up
           the
           lewd
           Sinners
           of
           Sodom
           and
           Gomorrah
           ,
           and
           yet
           when
           I
           reade
           in
           Gen.
           14.
           10.
           and
           in
           profane
           Writers
           ,
           that
           these
           Cities
           were
           near
           to
           many
           Pits
           of
           Slime
           ,
           and
           fat
           and
           pitchy
           Clay
           ,
           I
           can
           well
           conceive
           also
           how
           that
           dreadfull
           Conflagration
           was
           carried
           on
           even
           by
           Natural
           Causes
           ,
           how
           the
           Fire
           broke
           out
           of
           the
           Earth
           to
           meet
           that
           which
           rained
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           consequently
           how
           the
           Destruction
           of
           those
           places
           may
           partly
           be
           attributed
           to
           the
           Nature
           of
           the
           Soil
           ,
           and
           the
           Combustible
           Matter
           it
           afforded
           .
           The
           Tower
           of
           Babel
           was
           without
           doubt
           demolished
           by
           the
           Signal
           Hand
           of
           the
           Almighty
           ;
           
           yet
           it
           may
           be
           true
           which
           Iosephus
           relates
           ,
           and
           after
           him
           Eusebius
           ,
           that
           that
           great
           Pile
           was
           thrown
           down
           by
           a
           Tempest
           and
           extraordinary
           force
           of
           Wind.
           With
           which
           agrees
           the
           
           Sybil's
           Verse
           ,
           
             
             —
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
             —
             
          
           In
           Elias
           his
           time
           the
           Drought
           which
           happened
           in
           Syria
           and
           Iudaea
           ,
           was
           a
           Calamity
           which
           is
           wont
           to
           be
           produced
           by
           Natural
           Causes
           ,
           and
           from
           it
           Naturally
           followed
           a
           Famine
           ;
           but
           both
           these
           were
           peculiar
           Signs
           of
           the
           Divine
           Anger
           ,
           and
           by
           these
           God
           shewed
           his
           Wrath
           against
           the
           Sins
           of
           the
           People
           .
           The
           Thunder
           and
           Lightning
           which
           were
           procured
           by
           Samuel
           were
           in
           Harvest
           Time
           ,
           (
           1
           Sam.
           12.
           16.
           
           )
           which
           is
           supposed
           to
           be
           a
           warm
           Season
           ,
           and
           therefore
           according
           to
           the
           Natural
           course
           of
           things
           a
           fit
           time
           for
           that
           sort
           of
           Meteors
           ;
           yet
           we
           know
           that
           they
           were
           designed
           to
           be
           marks
           of
           God's
           displeasure
           and
           Anger
           .
           And
           the
           Holy
           Scripture
           informs
           us
           how
           at
           other
           times
           God
           hath
           created
           Awe
           and
           Terrour
           by
           them
           .
           The
           Jews
           received
           
           their
           Law
           in
           Thunder
           and
           Lightning
           ,
           and
           on
           other
           occasions
           were
           affrighted
           into
           a
           remembrance
           of
           their
           Duty
           by
           the
           same
           means
           .
           The
           voice
           of
           Thunder
           rouzes
           some
           stupid
           Souls
           into
           the
           serious
           belief
           of
           a
           Divine
           Power
           .
           
             Coelo
             Tonantem
             credimus
             Iovem
          
           .
           
           Nothing
           in
           Nature
           leaves
           such
           impressions
           of
           Fear
           as
           loud
           and
           repeated
           Thunderclaps
           .
           Some
           Emperours
           who
           were
           in
           a
           manner
           Atheists
           ,
           (
           and
           notwithstanding
           that
           (
           which
           is
           strange
           )
           made
           Themselves
           Gods
           )
           yet
           used
           to
           Tremble
           at
           this
           horrible
           Allarm
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           to
           confess
           a
           greater
           Power
           than
           themselves
           ,
           which
           is
           as
           much
           as
           to
           disown
           their
           Self-Divinity
           .
           This
           made
           Caligula
           get
           under
           his
           Bed.
           And
           Tiberius
           ,
           another
           of
           Iupiter's
           Brothers
           and
           Fellow-Gods
           ,
           was
           glad
           of
           his
           Chaplet
           of
           Laurel
           to
           secure
           him
           from
           Lightnings
           .
           These
           few
           Instances
           above
           named
           are
           sufficient
           to
           convince
           us
           ,
           that
           the
           same
           things
           
           are
           not
           onely
           
             Natural
             Causes
             or
             Effects
          
           ,
           but
           that
           they
           
             signifie
             by
             God's
             Appointment
          
           .
           And
           This
           may
           be
           applied
           to
           Comets
           ,
           which
           as
           they
           are
           produced
           themselves
           in
           a
           Natural
           way
           ,
           viz.
           from
           a
           Collection
           of
           matter
           in
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           though
           after
           some
           uncertain
           and
           unaccountable
           spaces
           of
           Time
           ,
           so
           they
           produce
           Effects
           in
           the
           same
           Natural
           course
           :
           and
           yet
           God
           uses
           them
           as
           Tokens
           of
           his
           Wrath
           ,
           and
           appoints
           them
           to
           be
           
             Divine
             Signs
          
           ,
           and
           to
           Bode
           extraordinary
           things
           to
           come
           .
           Which
           was
           the
           sense
           of
           one
           of
           the
           Writers
           of
           the
           Byzantine
           History
           .
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           
           The
           Comets
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           which
           are
           seen
           in
           the
           Air
           are
           produced
           in
           a
           Natural
           way
           ,
           yet
           withall
           they
           proclaim
           the
           Deaths
           of
           Kings
           or
           other
           Illustrious
           Personages
           :
           And
           for
           this
           he
           quotes
           St.
           Basil
           the
           great
           .
           From
           which
           it
           
           is
           evident
           that
           the
           same
           Things
           may
           have
           certain
           and
           manifest
           Causes
           in
           Nature
           ,
           and
           are
           likewise
           appointed
           by
           the
           Authour
           of
           Nature
           to
           presignifie
           future
           Events
           ,
           so
           that
           it
           is
           possible
           not
           onely
           to
           attain
           to
           a
           
             Physical
             Knowledge
          
           of
           them
           ,
           but
           a
           kind
           of
           Divination
           .
           But
           my
           main
           business
           at
           present
           is
           to
           make
           good
           this
           Latter
           ,
           and
           to
           prove
           that
           Comets
           are
           Signs
           of
           future
           Calamities
           
             ex
             Instituto
             Divino
          
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           God's
           Will
           and
           Pleasure
           they
           should
           signifie
           such
           things
           .
        
         
           In
           order
           to
           this
           I
           will
           onely
           premise
           that
           God
           gives
           Notice
           before-hand
           by
           evident
           Tokens
           what
           he
           intends
           to
           doe
           afterwards
           ,
           supposing
           there
           be
           no
           Prevention
           by
           amendment
           of
           Mens
           Lives
           .
           This
           is
           the
           meaning
           of
           the
           whole
           sixth
           Chapter
           of
           the
           Book
           of
           the
           Revelation
           ,
           which
           is
           an
           Account
           of
           the
           
             Opening
             of
             the
             Seals
          
           ,
           and
           sets
           before
           us
           the
           Forerunners
           of
           the
           Iudgments
           which
           were
           to
           follow
           .
           And
           
           though
           it
           is
           presented
           in
           the
           way
           of
           a
           Vision
           ,
           yet
           if
           Mens
           Eyes
           were
           Open
           it
           would
           be
           seen
           to
           be
           the
           
             usual
             Method
          
           of
           the
           Most
           High
           in
           the
           World.
           Accordingly
           I
           aver
           ,
           that
           Comets
           are
           
             Warnings
             and
             Harbingers
          
           of
           
             God's
             Wrath
             and
             Displeasure
          
           against
           the
           Wickedness
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           and
           also
           of
           the
           Effects
           of
           that
           Displeasure
           ,
           which
           are
           some
           ensuing
           calamities
           .
           They
           are
           undeniable
           Arguments
           that
           there
           is
           some
           great
           Disorder
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           that
           things
           are
           exceedingly
           amiss
           .
           They
           are
           signal
           Testimonies
           that
           Sin
           and
           Vice
           are
           predominant
           ;
           for
           these
           are
           the
           onely
           things
           that
           provoke
           God
           to
           Anger
           .
           Now
           those
           prodigious
           Appearances
           in
           the
           Heavens
           are
           fitted
           to
           this
           Purpose
           ,
           (
           viz.
           of
           allarming
           us
           ,
           and
           giving
           Notice
           of
           ensuing
           Evils
           )
           because
           they
           are
           both
           unusual
           and
           affrighting
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           As
           they
           are
           Rare
           and
           Unusual
           ,
           they
           are
           serviceable
           to
           this
           
           purpose
           .
           For
           it
           happeneth
           ,
           it
           seems
           ,
           by
           the
           Make
           ,
           or
           rather
           the
           perverse
           Disposition
           of
           Humane
           Nature
           ,
           that
           what
           is
           common
           and
           frequent
           ,
           and
           according
           to
           the
           ordinary
           course
           of
           things
           ,
           is
           slighted
           by
           us
           ,
           and
           thence
           it
           is
           necessary
           that
           we
           should
           sometimes
           be
           surprized
           and
           extraordinarily
           moved
           by
           Objects
           that
           are
           rare
           and
           uncommon
           .
           
             Sol
             spectatorem
             nisi
             cum
             deficit
             non
             habet
             .
          
           
           —
           
             Si
             quid
             turbatum
             est
             ,
             aut
             praeter
             consuetudinem
             emicuit
             ,
             spectamus
             ,
             interrogamus
             ,
             ostendimus
             .
             Adeò
             Naturale
             est
             magis
             Nova
             quàm
             Magna
             mirari
             .
          
           It
           is
           an
           Ecclipse
           that
           makes
           the
           Sun
           to
           be
           gazed
           at
           .
           If
           we
           espie
           any
           thing
           that
           is
           strange
           and
           out
           of
           Order
           we
           presently
           stare
           at
           it
           ,
           we
           start
           many
           Queries
           about
           it
           ,
           we
           point
           at
           it
           ,
           and
           shew
           it
           to
           others
           .
           So
           natural
           a
           thing
           is
           it
           become
           to
           admire
           what
           is
           Rare
           ,
           rather
           than
           what
           is
           Great
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           Appearances
           we
           are
           speaking
           of
           are
           both
           Rare
           and
           Great
           ,
           
           and
           therefore
           doubly
           deserve
           to
           be
           taken
           notice
           of
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           made
           the
           Subject
           of
           our
           deepest
           Admiration
           .
           Worthily
           did
           our
           Philosopher
           begin
           his
           Book
           of
           Comets
           with
           those
           excellent
           words
           ,
           
             Nemo
             usque
             eò
             tardus
             &
             hebes
             &
             demissus
             in
             terram
             est
             ut
             ad
             Divina
             non
             erigatur
             ,
             ac
             totâ
             mente
             consurgat
             ,
             utique
             ubi
             Novum
             aliquod
             è
             coelo
             Miraculum
             fulsit
             .
          
           He
           must
           be
           a
           Sot
           indeed
           ,
           and
           sunk
           into
           the
           very
           Earth
           who
           doth
           not
           lift
           up
           his
           Soul
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           what
           is
           Divine
           and
           Heavenly
           ,
           as
           soon
           as
           he
           beholds
           such
           a
           miraculous
           Apparition
           as
           a
           Comet
           .
        
         
           Again
           ,
           These
           great
           Bodies
           are
           Affrighting
           ,
           and
           that
           on
           a
           double
           account
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           The
           Rarity
           of
           them
           (
           which
           I
           before
           spoke
           of
           )
           makes
           them
           so
           .
           For
           to
           what
           purpose
           are
           these
           
             unusual
             Spectacles
          
           shewn
           by
           God
           to
           the
           World
           ?
           To
           what
           end
           are
           these
           
           strange
           Shapes
           set
           before
           us
           ?
           There
           are
           innumerable
           Lights
           of
           Heaven
           of
           an
           entire
           round
           Figure
           which
           we
           constantly
           behold
           ,
           but
           what
           mean
           these
           which
           appear
           but
           seldom
           ,
           with
           fiery
           Scrolls
           or
           flaming
           Labells
           issuing
           from
           them
           ?
           It
           is
           downright
           sottishness
           to
           think
           that
           these
           are
           set
           up
           for
           vain
           shews
           and
           useless
           sights
           .
           It
           is
           unworthy
           of
           Providence
           to
           defend
           this
           .
           But
           it
           is
           highly
           reasonable
           to
           think
           that
           they
           are
           appointed
           by
           God
           to
           affright
           and
           terrifie
           the
           World
           ,
           to
           denounce
           future
           Judgments
           ,
           and
           to
           forewarn
           Men
           of
           the
           Wrath
           to
           come
           ,
           and
           to
           let
           them
           expect
           the
           emptying
           of
           the
           Vials
           of
           God's
           Anger
           upon
           them
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           Their
           Posture
           and
           Figure
           ,
           (
           as
           hath
           been
           partly
           suggested
           already
           )
           render
           them
           Terrible
           .
           They
           have
           such
           a
           Frame
           and
           Shape
           given
           them
           by
           God
           as
           is
           apt
           to
           stir
           up
           Fear
           and
           Dread
           .
           You
           have
           read
           
           in
           what
           Images
           they
           appear
           :
           And
           though
           I
           know
           it
           may
           be
           said
           that
           there
           are
           other
           Shapes
           (
           besides
           those
           I
           mentioned
           )
           which
           are
           not
           danting
           and
           affrighting
           ,
           yet
           ,
           as
           those
           Bodies
           themselves
           are
           Irregular
           and
           Monstrous
           ,
           and
           of
           a
           Figure
           different
           from
           all
           the
           Luminaries
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           they
           are
           on
           that
           score
           Terrible
           .
           And
           you
           may
           remember
           that
           all
           the
           Phaenomena
           belonging
           to
           Comets
           (
           of
           which
           I
           have
           given
           a
           particular
           Narrative
           )
           breed
           an
           unspeakable
           amazement
           and
           Consternation
           .
           Wherefore
           are
           these
           strange
           Lights
           hung
           up
           so
           high
           in
           the
           great
           and
           spatious
           Theatre
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           but
           that
           all
           Eyes
           should
           behold
           them
           ,
           and
           tremble
           at
           them
           ?
           In
           short
           ,
           the
           Eternal
           Being
           looks
           angrily
           upon
           the
           World
           in
           the
           Blaze
           of
           a
           Comet
           .
        
         
           If
           it
           be
           asked
           Why
           God
           gives
           Warning
           of
           future
           Calamities
           by
           such
           Harbingers
           ?
           I
           answer
           ,
           He
           doth
           it
           ,
        
         
         
           1.
           
           That
           Men
           may
           Expect
           and
           Provide
           in
           time
           against
           those
           unhappy
           Events
           .
           And
           the
           mercifull
           Governour
           of
           the
           Universe
           bids
           us
           by
           such
           Monitors
           Prepare
           for
           his
           Judgments
           ,
           either
           by
           making
           our selves
           ready
           to
           receive
           them
           with
           Patience
           and
           contentment
           ,
           or
           by
           what
           wise
           Expedients
           we
           can
           to
           guard
           and
           defend
           our selves
           against
           them
           .
           Appositely
           whereunto
           saith
           the
           Byzantine
           Annalist
           ,
           
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           God
           indulges
           to
           men
           certain
           Signs
           by
           which
           they
           may
           have
           a
           Prospect
           of
           what
           shall
           be
           ,
           and
           so
           by
           that
           means
           consult
           their
           Safety
           when
           the
           Storm
           cometh
           :
           according
           to
           that
           remark
           of
           the
           wisest
           Head
           ,
           
             A
             prudent
             man
             foreseeth
             the
             Evil
             ,
          
           
           
             and
             hideth
             him self
          
           .
           Or
           ,
        
         
           2.
           
           We
           are
           admonished
           by
           these
           Heavenly
           Nuncio's
           wholly
           to
           Prevent
           
           and
           Divert
           the
           Evils
           which
           are
           Threatned
           .
           And
           this
           is
           to
           be
           effected
           by
           humble
           Prayer
           and
           Supplication
           ,
           by
           Repentance
           and
           Turning
           unto
           God.
           These
           Celestial
           Prodigies
           are
           purposely
           set
           up
           by
           the
           Omnipotent
           Creatour
           to
           fright
           the
           wicked
           out
           of
           their
           sins
           .
           They
           are
           Admonitions
           to
           them
           that
           they
           should
           not
           indulge
           their
           Pride
           ,
           Lust
           ,
           Oppression
           ,
           Covetousness
           ,
           Profaneness
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           should
           not
           think
           because
           of
           their
           greatness
           and
           Riches
           to
           goe
           unpunished
           .
           As
           often
           as
           a
           Comet
           appeareth
           ,
           a
           solemn
           Fast
           and
           Humiliation
           should
           be
           observed
           ,
           Devout
           and
           Earnest
           Prayers
           should
           be
           put
           up
           ,
           to
           divert
           the
           Storm
           from
           falling
           on
           our
           Heads
           ,
           and
           that
           utter
           Confusion
           and
           Destruction
           may
           not
           be
           our
           portion
           .
           Pope
           Calistus
           ,
           above
           200
           Years
           agoe
           ,
           
           ordered
           the
           Litany
           and
           Publick
           Prayers
           to
           be
           solemnly
           said
           several
           Days
           together
           ,
           merely
           upon
           the
           appearance
           of
           these
           Signs
           .
           The
           
           nicest
           Protestant
           may
           safely
           follow
           this
           Order
           ,
           I
           mean
           ,
           have
           recourse
           to
           his
           Prayers
           upon
           the
           same
           Account
           .
           A
           Christian
           Divine
           cannot
           have
           a
           better
           Text
           to
           preach
           Repentance
           from
           then
           a
           Comet
           .
           Hence
           he
           may
           with
           a
           becoming
           Warmth
           and
           Zeal
           invite
           Men
           to
           amend
           their
           ways
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           reconciled
           to
           the
           Incensed
           Majesty
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           so
           to
           flee
           from
           the
           Wrath
           and
           Vengeance
           which
           otherwise
           would
           fall
           upon
           them
           .
           This
           Finger
           of
           God
           beckoneth
           from
           Heaven
           to
           call
           us
           thither
           .
           These
           Signs
           Above
           are
           to
           make
           Us
           better
           who
           are
           Below
           .
           They
           are
           sent
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           the
           Good
           ,
           even
           the
           
             Wise
             Virgins
          
           ,
           who
           are
           sometimes
           inclined
           to
           Slumber
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           forgetfull
           of
           their
           Duty
           :
           for
           the
           sake
           likewise
           of
           the
           Worst
           and
           most
           secure
           Sinners
           ,
           who
           run
           greedily
           into
           all
           excess
           of
           Riot
           ,
           and
           refuse
           to
           be
           reclaimed
           by
           the
           usual
           means
           which
           are
           afforded
           them
           .
           Such
           
           Wretches
           may
           haply
           be
           startled
           out
           of
           their
           Security
           ,
           and
           have
           their
           Eyes
           opened
           by
           these
           unusual
           and
           strange
           Flashings
           of
           Fire
           from
           above
           ;
           these
           Flames
           from
           Heaven
           may
           be
           serviceable
           to
           keep
           them
           out
           of
           Hell.
           
        
         
           If
           this
           sounds
           like
           popular
           Preaching
           ,
           and
           be
           counted
           Pulpit-Harangue
           ,
           I
           will
           be
           cantent
           to
           sit
           down
           a
           while
           ;
           and
           let
           us
           hear
           what
           kind
           of
           Doctrine
           a
           Lay-Astronomer
           (
           and
           he
           one
           of
           the
           most
           accomplished
           and
           judicious
           that
           this
           latter
           Age
           can
           boast
           of
           )
           will
           deliver
           on
           this
           Subject
           .
           Thus
           he
           Preacheth
           on
           the
           Comet
           that
           appeared
           in
           the
           Year
           1607.
           
           
           
             Affirmo
             Cometam
             hunc
             à
             Deo
             inter
             sidera
             exhibitum
             ,
             ut
             esset
             Testimonium
             universis
             &
             singulis
             mortalitatis
             suae
             ,
             utque
             admoneantur
             decretum
             esse
             Deo
             brevi
             bonam
             generis
             humani
             partem
             promiscuae
             conditionis
             ,
             quacunque
             fati
             lege
             ,
             ex
             hoc
             mundo
             transferre
             .
             —
             Monere
             itaque
             Coelestem
             Praeconem
             ut
             
             pro
             se
             Deo
             quilibet
             reconcilietur
             ,
             migrationi
             se
             paret
             .
          
           The
           sum
           of
           this
           Great
           Man's
           Astrological
           Theology
           is
           this
           ,
           That
           the
           Appearance
           of
           Comets
           ,
           those
           Celestial
           Heralds
           and
           Criers
           ,
           is
           for
           such
           weighty
           purposes
           as
           these
           ;
           namely
           ,
           To
           remind
           men
           effectually
           of
           their
           Mortality
           and
           unsetled
           duration
           of
           Life
           ,
           to
           acquaint
           them
           that
           it
           is
           the
           design
           of
           Heaven
           in
           a
           short
           time
           to
           snatch
           the
           present
           Inhabitants
           out
           of
           this
           World
           ,
           and
           to
           translate
           them
           to
           another
           :
           and
           therefore
           that
           all
           ranks
           and
           conditions
           of
           men
           are
           concerned
           to
           fit
           themselves
           for
           their
           Departure
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           their
           Peace
           with
           God
           before
           they
           go
           hence
           .
           What
           an
           Admirable
           Funeral
           Discourse
           doth
           this
           Christian
           Astronomer
           make
           on
           a
           Comet
           !
           Let
           us
           hear
           another
           Sermon
           on
           the
           same
           Text
           ,
           a
           Text
           which
           I
           have
           already
           ,
           and
           shall
           yet
           farther
           prove
           to
           be
           the
           Word
           and
           
             Voice
             of
             God.
          
           Thus
           then
           I
           will
           give
           you
           in
           English
           the
           sense
           
           of
           what
           you
           may
           reade
           in
           another
           Language
           of
           that
           Modern
           Glory
           of
           Mathematicks
           ,
           
           Comets
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           are
           ordained
           by
           Divine
           Providence
           ,
           that
           we
           should
           lift
           up
           our
           Eyes
           to
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           admire
           God
           in
           his
           visible
           Tokens
           there
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           be
           invited
           to
           a
           Dread
           and
           Reverence
           of
           the
           Divine
           Majesty
           ,
           by
           beholding
           such
           wonderfull
           and
           unusual
           Signs
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           daily
           expect
           some
           great
           thing
           in
           our
           own
           and
           other
           Countreys
           ,
           and
           provide
           for
           such
           Tidings
           ;
           that
           we
           may
           ,
           by
           the
           Fear
           and
           Awe
           of
           God
           wrought
           in
           us
           ,
           betake
           our selves
           speedily
           to
           Repentance
           and
           a
           holy
           Life
           :
           and
           lastly
           ,
           that
           hence
           we
           might
           have
           some
           Representation
           and
           Specimen
           (
           as
           it
           were
           )
           of
           the
           Sign
           of
           the
           Son
           of
           Man
           ,
           and
           of
           those
           terrible
           wonders
           in
           Heaven
           and
           Earth
           ,
           which
           shall
           precede
           the
           Coming
           of
           Christ
           to
           Judgment
           .
           Lo
           !
           what
           excellent
           Divinity
           a
           Comet
           affords
           !
           How
           devoutly
           do
           these
           Sons
           of
           Vrania
           
           discourse
           !
           But
           you
           do
           not
           hear
           them
           talk
           thus
           of
           the
           Sun
           ,
           Moon
           and
           Stars
           ,
           the
           ordinary
           and
           leiger
           Luminaries
           of
           Heaven
           .
           No
           :
           They
           know
           there
           is
           a
           vast
           difference
           between
           Them
           and
           the
           other
           extraordinary
           Heralds
           that
           make
           their
           Appearance
           to
           us
           .
           These
           are
           made
           for
           other
           uses
           and
           purposes
           ,
           and
           as
           they
           are
           fatal
           in
           themselves
           ,
           and
           in
           their
           own
           Nature
           ,
           so
           they
           are
           signs
           set
           up
           by
           God
           
             ex
             Instituto
          
           ,
           to
           foretoken
           future
           Evils
           .
        
         
           But
           how
           can
           we
           certainly
           know
           that
           Comets
           are
           Appointed
           for
           such
           purposes
           ?
           If
           they
           are
           Divine
           Signs
           ,
           where
           hath
           God
           told
           us
           so
           ?
        
         
           I
           answer
           ,
           God
           speaks
           to
           and
           instructs
           Mankind
           not
           onely
           by
           his
           written
           Laws
           ,
           the
           Sacred
           Scriptures
           ,
           but
           by
           the
           Dictates
           of
           Reason
           ,
           by
           the
           course
           of
           Nature
           ,
           and
           by
           Acts
           of
           Providence
           .
           God
           speaks
           by
           These
           as
           well
           as
           by
           his
           Word
           .
           These
           are
           plain
           Intimations
           of
           his
           Mind
           ,
           and
           hereby
           he
           is
           used
           to
           discover
           
           to
           us
           what
           he
           would
           have
           us
           doe
           or
           forbear
           .
           I
           may
           know
           God's
           Will
           and
           Pleasure
           by
           the
           Order
           and
           Frame
           of
           things
           which
           he
           hath
           constituted
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           frequent
           Results
           and
           Consequences
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           From
           the
           Consideration
           that
           Comets
           are
           of
           a
           Peculiar
           Make
           and
           Figure
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           respects
           different
           from
           the
           other
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           ,
           and
           also
           from
           the
           General
           and
           Perpetual
           Observation
           that
           they
           prove
           Fatal
           to
           Countries
           and
           Kingdoms
           ,
           (
           as
           Kepler
           ,
           and
           several
           other
           eminent
           persons
           have
           observed
           ,
           and
           particularly
           set
           down
           the
           publick
           Miseries
           and
           Calamities
           which
           have
           insued
           in
           divers
           Nations
           soon
           after
           the
           appearing
           of
           Comets
           :
           and
           the
           History
           of
           all
           Ages
           hath
           given
           abundant
           proof
           of
           it
           )
           from
           these
           Considerations
           I
           am
           sufficiently
           Authorized
           to
           look
           upon
           them
           as
           God's
           Hand
           .
           I
           am
           forced
           by
           this
           to
           take
           notice
           of
           the
           Divine
           Pleasure
           and
           design
           in
           them
           .
        
         
         
           But
           if
           any
           one
           shall
           still
           urge
           the
           Question
           ,
           and
           ask
           me
           ,
           Where
           are
           we
           told
           that
           these
           Comets
           and
           Prodigies
           are
           Divine
           Signs
           ?
        
         
           I
           Answer
           ,
           We
           are
           told
           so
           directly
           in
           the
           Infallible
           and
           Holy
           Book
           ,
           by
           one
           who
           was
           an
           accurate
           Observer
           of
           the
           Works
           of
           God
           ;
           
             Thou
             hast
             given
          
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           
             a
             Banner
          
           (
           or
           )
           
             a
             Sign
          
           ,
           
           
             a
             Token
             unto
             them
             that
             fear
             thee
             ,
          
           Psal.
           60.
           4.
           
           Thou
           ,
           O
           God
           ,
           who
           are
           mercifull
           to
           all
           Mankind
           ,
           but
           in
           a
           special
           manner
           to
           those
           who
           fear
           and
           serve
           thee
           ,
           art
           pleased
           to
           give
           warning
           of
           approaching
           Evils
           ,
           and
           as
           it
           were
           to
           hold
           up
           a
           Signal
           ,
           that
           thy
           Servants
           may
           be
           admonished
           to
           avoid
           the
           impendent
           Danger
           ,
           even
           when
           hardned
           sinners
           are
           overtaken
           and
           crushed
           with
           it
           .
           Such
           a
           Banner
           was
           that
           which
           appeared
           to
           Constantine
           the
           Great
           ,
           presaging
           ,
           as
           Victory
           to
           his
           Army
           ,
           so
           Confusion
           to
           that
           of
           his
           Enemies
           .
           Such
           a
           Signal
           and
           Token
           is
           every
           
             Bearded
             Light
          
           that
           sheweth
           it self
           
           in
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           though
           't
           is
           difficult
           to
           bring
           some
           prejudiced
           minds
           to
           believe
           it
           .
        
         
           I
           answer
           again
           ,
           that
           the
           Scripture
           expresly
           abetts
           this
           Doctrine
           in
           the
           28th
           of
           Deuteronomy
           ,
           where
           Moses
           ,
           or
           rather
           God
           ,
           threatens
           the
           People
           ,
           that
           if
           they
           will
           not
           observe
           to
           doe
           all
           his
           Commandments
           ,
           all
           these
           Curses
           shall
           come
           upon
           them
           ,
           viz.
           Scarcity
           ,
           Famine
           ,
           Drought
           ,
           Pestilence
           ,
           Sword
           ,
           Blasting
           ,
           &c.
           
           Now
           these
           Calamities
           are
           the
           signs
           of
           God's
           Wrath
           ,
           for
           they
           are
           denounced
           and
           threatned
           here
           as
           such
           :
           whence
           it
           undeniably
           follows
           that
           the
           Causes
           and
           Procurers
           of
           them
           ,
           which
           I
           have
           proved
           Comets
           to
           be
           ,
           are
           no
           less
           the
           Signs
           and
           Marks
           of
           the
           Divine
           Displeasure
           ;
           for
           no
           rational
           Man
           can
           deny
           ,
           that
           the
           Cause
           here
           must
           be
           of
           the
           same
           nature
           with
           the
           Effect
           :
           So
           then
           
             these
             Menaces
             and
             Threatnings
          
           in
           Scripture
           prove
           
             those
             Appearances
          
           to
           be
           Significative
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           are
           appointed
           
           by
           God
           to
           portend
           evil
           Tidings
           to
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           You
           see
           then
           what
           it
           is
           I
           defend
           ,
           viz.
           That
           Comets
           are
           Signs
           of
           approaching
           Calamities
           ,
           and
           Monitors
           of
           God's
           Anger
           to
           Mankind
           .
           If
           upon
           some
           difficulties
           which
           might
           be
           alledged
           ,
           I
           should
           be
           induced
           to
           wave
           the
           one
           ,
           yet
           I
           persuade
           my self
           the
           other
           is
           impregnable
           :
           But
           I
           have
           proved
           both
           ,
           especially
           the
           latter
           ,
           which
           I
           most
           insist
           upon
           .
           And
           I
           may
           lawfully
           ,
           without
           being
           over-bold
           ,
           conclude
           from
           the
           Premisses
           ,
           that
           these
           extraordinary
           Lamps
           of
           Heaven
           are
           presages
           of
           future
           Evil
           ,
           and
           that
           God
           hath
           instituted
           and
           impowered
           them
           for
           that
           end
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           now
           dispatched
           my
           
             Second
             Task
          
           ,
           and
           in
           that
           I
           have
           partly
           prevented
           my self
           as
           to
           the
           Third
           which
           I
           propounded
           ,
           which
           was
           to
           shew
           what
           abundant
           Suffrage
           my
           Assertion
           hath
           from
           all
           ranks
           of
           Writers
           .
           But
           now
           I
           will
           purposely
           
           pursue
           that
           Undertaking
           ,
           and
           I
           will
           be
           the
           shorter
           in
           it
           because
           I
           have
           done
           so
           much
           towards
           it
           already
           .
        
         
           That
           it
           may
           appear
           then
           that
           I
           maintain
           no
           Paradox
           ,
           and
           that
           I
           dote
           not
           on
           an
           Opinion
           by
           my self
           ,
           I
           will
           let
           you
           see
           that
           what
           I
           have
           offered
           concerning
           the
           Presages
           and
           dreadfull
           Effects
           of
           Comets
           ,
           is
           the
           Sense
           of
           the
           Wise
           and
           Judicious
           ;
           and
           if
           Authority
           be
           an
           Argument
           ,
           we
           must
           needs
           close
           with
           the
           side
           I
           have
           taken
           .
           Let
           the
           Poets
           stand
           forth
           first
           ,
           who
           were
           the
           Earliest
           Philosophers
           ,
           Naturalists
           ,
           Astronomers
           ,
           nay
           ,
           the
           first
           Divines
           ,
           and
           therefore
           Competent
           Judges
           in
           the
           Case
           .
        
         
           The
           Prince
           of
           Poets
           (
           and
           therefore
           I
           will
           begin
           with
           him
           )
           enumerating
           the
           several
           Prodigies
           which
           fore-signified
           the
           Death
           of
           
             Iulius
             Caesar
          
           ,
           and
           the
           Civil
           Wars
           which
           afterwards
           followed
           ,
           makes
           this
           Remark
           among
           the
           rest
           ,
           
             
             
               
                 —
                 Nec
                 diri
                 toties
                 arsere
                 Cometae
                 .
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Never
                 so
                 many
                 cursed
                 Lights
              
               
                 Were
                 seen
                 before
                 to
                 plague
                 the
                 nights
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           And
           in
           another
           Book
           ,
           
             
               
                 —
                 Cometae
              
               
                 Sanguinei
                 lugubrè
                 rubent
                 .
                 
                 —
              
            
             
               
                 These
                 Comets
                 blush
                 in
                 Gore
                 to
                 think
              
               
                 What
                 Deluges
                 of
                 Bloud
                 they
                 drink
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           
             Marcus
             Manilius
          
           ,
           an
           Ancient
           Poetick
           Astrologer
           who
           lived
           in
           
             Caesar
             Augustus
          
           his
           days
           ,
           and
           dedicated
           his
           Books
           of
           Astronomy
           to
           him
           ,
           relates
           the
           dismal
           Effects
           of
           Comets
           in
           the
           close
           of
           the
           First
           Book
           of
           his
           excellent
           Poem
           ,
           
             
               
                 Nunquam
                 futilibus
                 excanduit
                 Igninibus
                 aether
                 .
                 
              
            
             
               
                 With
                 Lights
                 of
                 such
                 a
                 fiery
                 train
              
               
                 The
                 Heavens
                 never
                 burnt
                 in
                 vain
                 .
              
            
          
           
           And
           then
           he
           proceeds
           to
           particularize
           the
           horrid
           Effects
           of
           them
           ,
           
             
               Squalidáque
               elusi
               deplorant
               arva
               coloni
            
             
               Et
               steriles
               ,
               &c.
               —
            
          
        
         
           And
           afterwards
           ,
           
             
               Quin
               &
               bella
               canunt
               Ignes
               ,
               subitóque
               Tumultus
               ,
            
             
               Et
               clandestinis
               surgentia
               fraudibus
               Arma.
               
            
          
           It
           would
           be
           too
           tedious
           an
           Employment
           to
           transcribe
           all
           ,
           or
           to
           translate
           any
           thing
           in
           that
           place
           .
        
         
           The
           affrighting
           and
           fatal
           nature
           of
           Comets
           is
           excellently
           deciphered
           by
           
             Silius
             Italicus
          
           (
           who
           flourished
           in
           
           Vespatian's
           time
           )
           in
           these
           words
           ,
           though
           he
           brings
           them
           in
           by
           way
           of
           Comparison
           ,
           
             
               
                 Crine
                 ut
                 flammifero
                 terret
                 fera
                 regna
                 Cometes
                 
              
               
               
                 Sanguineum
                 spargens
                 Ignem
                 ,
                 vomit
                 atra
                 rubentes
              
               
                 Fax
                 coelo
                 radios
                 ,
                 &
                 saevâ
                 Luce
                 coruscum
              
               
                 Scintillat
                 sidus
                 ,
                 terríque
                 extrema
                 minatur
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 As
                 when
                 a
                 Comet
                 with
                 its
                 flaming
                 Beard
              
               
                 Appears
                 ,
                 at
                 which
                 the
                 fiercest
                 Realms
                 are
                 scar'd
                 ,
              
               
                 Scattring
                 abroad
                 its
                 bloudy
                 Fire
                 ,
                 and
                 soon
              
               
                 The
                 Heavenly
                 Torch
                 being
                 more
                 dismal
                 grown
              
               
                 Vomits
                 out
                 deeper-coloured
                 Flakes
                 ,
                 and
                 then
                 ,
              
               
                 Having
                 Disgorged
                 thus
                 ,
                 clears
                 up
                 again
                 ,
              
               
                 And
                 shines
                 with
                 Brisker
                 but
                 more
                 cruel
                 Light
                 ,
              
               
                 Threatning
                 the
                 World
                 with
                 Death
                 and
                 its
                 last
                 night
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           Though
           I
           know
           some
           will
           have
           this
           spoken
           of
           Three
           several
           sorts
           
           of
           Appearances
           ,
           and
           they
           hold
           that
           a
           Comet
           cannot
           be
           said
           Scintillare
           (
           as
           fixed
           Stars
           do
           ,
           )
           according
           to
           that
           of
           
             Cornelius
             Gemma
             ,
             Nullus
             Cometarum
             unquam
             visus
             est
             Scintillante
             lumine
             visum
             ferire
             ,
             sed
             tristis
             semper
             &
             lugubris
             tranquillo
             effluvio
             .
          
           But
           I
           onely
           Reply
           that
           Poets
           do
           not
           speak
           like
           Philosophers
           .
        
         
           The
           same
           Person
           relating
           the
           Prodigies
           that
           foreran
           the
           horrible
           Slaughter
           at
           the
           Battel
           of
           Cannae
           ,
           speaks
           directly
           and
           positively
           .
        
         
           
             
               —
               Non
               unus
               Crine
               Corusco
            
             
               Regnorum
               Eversor
               rubuit
               Lethale
               Cometes
               .
               
            
          
           
             
               See!
               Sholes
               of
               Comets
               their
               bright
               Tresses
               wave
               ,
            
             
               Blushing
               to
               send
               whole
               Kingdoms
               to
               their
               Grave
               .
            
          
        
         
           Another
           giving
           an
           account
           of
           the
           Portentous
           Sights
           that
           appeared
           before
           the
           Civil
           Wars
           which
           happened
           
           between
           Caesar
           and
           Pompey
           ,
           adds
           this
           black
           Character
           of
           a
           Comet
           ,
           
             
               
                 —
                 Crinémque
                 Timendi
              
               
                 Sideris
                 &
                 terris
                 mutantem
                 Regna
                 Cometen
                 .
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Lo
                 !
                 at
                 it
                 s
                 wild
                 dishevel'd
                 Hair
              
               
                 Kingdoms
                 run
                 mad
                 ,
                 and
                 Statesmen
                 stare
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           I
           might
           add
           
           Claudian's
           ,
           
             
               
                 —
                 Cometes
              
               
                 Prodigiale
                 rubens
                 .
                 —
                 
              
            
          
        
         
           And
           again
           ,
           
             Et
             nunquam
             coelo
             spectatum
             impunè
             Cometem
             .
          
        
         
           And
           Tibullus
           his
           
             —
             Belli
             mala
             signa
             Cometen
             .
             
          
           
           That
           likewise
           of
           another
           Astronomical
           Poet
           ,
           
             
               
                 Apparere
                 solent
                 ,
                 Regalia
                 Fata
                 ,
                 Cometae
                 .
                 
              
            
             
               
                 A
                 Comet
                 in
                 the
                 Heavens
                 burns
              
               
                 To
                 light
                 great
                 Monarchs
                 to
                 their
                 Vrns.
                 
              
            
          
        
         
           I
           might
           add
           to
           these
           a
           piece
           of
           venerable
           Antiquity
           ,
           viz.
           part
           of
           the
           Sybills
           Verses
           ,
           (
           now
           they
           may
           deservedly
           be
           called
           Oracles
           )
           which
           speak
           of
           the
           Signs
           and
           Presages
           of
           future
           Distresses
           .
           
             
               
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 ,
                 
              
               
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
              
               
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 .
              
            
             
               
               
                 Look
                 what
                 Strange
                 Lights
                 do
                 mount
                 the
                 Hemisphere
                 ,
              
               
                 And
                 in
                 the
                 Skies
                 what
                 Bearded
                 Flames
                 appear
                 ;
              
               
                 Sure
                 Omens
                 ever
                 of
                 a
                 Labouring
                 State
                 ,
              
               
                 Of
                 bloudy
                 Battels
                 ,
                 and
                 a
                 Hostile
                 Fate
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           And
           in
           another
           place
           ,
           (
           l.
           3.
           )
           
             
               
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
              
               
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 ,
              
               
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 What
                 can
                 these
                 blazing
                 Tapers
                 else
                 portend
                 ,
              
               
                 But
                 Sword
                 ,
                 and
                 Famine
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 fatal
                 end
              
               
                 Of
                 some
                 great
                 Warriors
                 ,
                 who
                 are
                 wont
                 to
                 call
              
               
                 And
                 by
                 bold
                 Actions
                 court
                 their
                 sudden
                 Fall
                 ?
              
            
          
        
         
         
           I
           conclude
           this
           Rank
           of
           Authours
           with
           that
           plain
           Determination
           of
           some
           Ancient
           Sage
           ,
           now
           scarce
           known
           ,
           
             
               
                 
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                   〈◊〉
                
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 There
                 never
                 yet
                 a
                 Comet
                 shone
              
               
                 But
                 evil
                 followed
                 thereupon
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           But
           perhaps
           it
           will
           be
           said
           that
           Poets
           are
           a
           fancyfull
           sort
           of
           People
           ,
           and
           for
           that
           Reason
           are
           not
           much
           to
           be
           heeded
           .
           They
           talk
           of
           Men
           and
           Women
           turn'd
           into
           Stars
           ,
           and
           indeed
           they
           have
           a
           gift
           of
           Extolling
           persons
           to
           Heaven
           when
           they
           please
           .
           They
           will
           make
           a
           
             Head
             of
             Hair
             a
             Constellation
          
           ,
           as
           they
           did
           
           Berenice's
           ,
           and
           what
           will
           they
           not
           then
           doe
           with
           the
           
             Shagged
             Locks
          
           of
           a
           Comet
           ?
           We
           know
           what
           they
           
             have
             done
          
           in
           that
           Case
           :
           they
           have
           represented
           them
           (
           as
           they
           ought
           )
           fierce
           and
           terrible
           ,
           and
           though
           they
           cloath
           their
           matter
           in
           verse
           ,
           yet
           they
           are
           as
           serious
           
           as
           any
           prose
           .
           If
           it
           be
           said
           that
           they
           speak
           according
           to
           the
           sense
           of
           the
           Vulgar
           ,
           (
           whom
           it
           is
           their
           work
           to
           please
           ,
           )
           and
           therefore
           are
           the
           less
           to
           be
           attended
           to
           ,
           I
           answer
           for
           them
           and
           my self
           together
           ,
           that
           though
           I
           do
           not
           find
           my self
           inclined
           to
           be
           led
           by
           Popular
           Humour
           and
           Caprice
           ,
           yet
           I
           see
           no
           reason
           to
           reject
           and
           explode
           an
           Opinion
           because
           it
           is
           Common
           ,
           and
           hath
           had
           the
           General
           Suffrage
           of
           Mankind
           to
           vouch
           it
           .
           This
           should
           rather
           prompt
           us
           to
           embrace
           it
           with
           the
           greater
           Seriousness
           ,
           and
           induce
           us
           to
           believe
           ,
           that
           what
           hath
           thus
           gained
           the
           Universal
           Vogue
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           is
           certainly
           founded
           on
           some
           clear
           Deductions
           of
           Reason
           which
           are
           Common
           to
           the
           whole
           Race
           of
           Men.
           
        
         
           But
           I
           will
           pass
           from
           the
           Poets
           to
           Others
           who
           are
           thought
           to
           be
           of
           Profounder
           Judgments
           .
           Expect
           now
           no
           Fancies
           and
           Raptures
           ,
           but
           solid
           and
           judicious
           Determinations
           .
        
         
         
           To
           begin
           with
           the
           great
           Oratour
           and
           Philosopher
           ,
           he
           backeth
           the
           Prince
           of
           Poets
           ,
           acquainting
           us
           that
           in
           the
           Civil
           War
           between
           
             Octavius
             Augustus
          
           and
           
             Mark
             Anthony
          
           ,
           it
           was
           observed
           that
           Comets
           were
           the
           Harbingers
           of
           the
           Miseries
           that
           then
           befell
           them
           :
           
             Stellae
             quas
             Graeci
             Cometas
             ,
             nostri
             Cincinnatas
             vocant
             ,
             nuper
             bello
             Octaviano
             magnarum
             fuerunt
             Calamitatum
             praenunciae
             .
          
           Cicero
           .
           
             l.
             2.
             de
             Nat.
             Deor.
          
           And
           in
           the
           same
           place
           he
           leaveth
           this
           serious
           Memoire
           for
           Posterity
           to
           consider
           of
           ,
           That
           this
           is
           a
           Truth
           which
           hath
           been
           confirmed
           by
           various
           Examples
           (
           many
           of
           which
           he
           instances
           in
           )
           from
           All
           Antiquity
           .
        
         
           Next
           let
           us
           hear
           the
           two
           Excellent
           
             Natural
             Philosophers
          
           who
           writ
           purposely
           of
           Comets
           (
           if
           I
           may
           once
           again
           bring
           them
           in
           to
           testifie
           in
           this
           Cause
           ,
           after
           I
           have
           done
           it
           so
           often
           .
           )
           A
           Comet
           (
           saith
           
             Pliny
             ,
             l.
             2.
             c.
          
           25.
           )
           is
           
             Terrificum
             magna
             ex
             parte
             sidus
             ,
             ac
             non
             Leviter
             piatum
             .
          
           
           A
           Star
           (
           so
           he
           calleth
           it
           )
           which
           in
           a
           huge
           manner
           terrifies
           and
           astonishes
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           never
           goes
           off
           without
           great
           Mischief
           .
           And
           he
           sheweth
           the
           Truth
           and
           Experience
           of
           this
           in
           the
           foregoing
           Age
           and
           in
           his
           own
           .
           Take
           
           Seneca's
           Thoughts
           in
           those
           few
           but
           plain
           words
           ,
           
             Nat.
             Qu.
             l.
             7.
             c.
             17.
             
             Cruenti
             quidam
             ,
             Minaces
             ,
             qui
             Omen
             post
             se
             futuri
             sanguinis
             serunt
             .
             Some
          
           Comets
           (
           he
           would
           have
           said
           All
           ,
           but
           that
           his
           Master
           Nero
           was
           not
           to
           be
           offended
           ,
           as
           you
           shall
           perceive
           afterwards
           )
           are
           very
           cruel
           ,
           and
           threaten
           us
           with
           the
           worst
           of
           Mischiefs
           :
           they
           bring
           with
           them
           and
           leave
           behind
           them
           the
           seeds
           of
           Bloud
           and
           Slaughter
           .
        
         
           Next
           ,
           let
           us
           look
           into
           a
           few
           Historians
           ,
           and
           see
           whether
           they
           were
           of
           the
           same
           Mind
           .
           The
           Comet
           which
           was
           seen
           in
           
           Nero's
           time
           is
           thus
           mentioned
           by
           one
           that
           writes
           his
           Life
           ,
           
             Stella
             Crinita
          
           ,
           
           
             quae
             summis
             Potestatibus
             exitium
             portendere
             vulgò
             
             putatur
             .
          
           But
           this
           being
           an
           Account
           onely
           of
           the
           vulgar
           Opinion
           ,
           let
           us
           hear
           him
           speak
           his
           ownsense
           ;
           which
           he
           doth
           in
           another
           place
           thus
           :
           
             Praesagia
             mortis
             ejus
             praecipua
             fuerunt
             exortus
             Crinitae
             stellae
             ,
          
           
           
             quam
             Cometen
             vocant
          
           .
           The
           chief
           and
           most
           Considerable
           Presage
           of
           the
           Emperour
           Claudius
           his
           Death
           was
           a
           Comet
           which
           was
           observed
           to
           rise
           in
           the
           Heavens
           .
           The
           
             Ecclesiastical
             Historian
          
           gives
           us
           this
           Note
           upon
           Gainas
           (
           that
           bloudy
           Arian
           )
           his
           Beseiging
           Constantinople
           ,
           
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           So
           great
           was
           the
           danger
           which
           hung
           over
           the
           City
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           presignified
           and
           portented
           by
           a
           huge
           Comet
           that
           reached
           from
           Heaven
           to
           Earth
           ,
           the
           like
           to
           which
           no
           man
           ever
           saw
           before
           .
           What
           saith
           another
           in
           his
           Relation
           of
           a
           Comet
           which
           appeared
           before
           the
           Death
           of
           
             Iohannes
             
             
             
             
             
             Tzimiscas
          
           the
           Emperour
           of
           the
           East
           ?
           
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           It
           foreshewed
           the
           Death
           of
           the
           Emperour
           ,
           and
           those
           immediate
           Calamities
           which
           were
           to
           befall
           the
           Roman
           Dominions
           by
           reason
           of
           their
           Civil
           Wars
           .
           And
           of
           a
           wonderfull
           large
           Comet
           that
           was
           seen
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           Constantine
           ,
           Sirnamed
           Monomachus
           ,
           he
           speaketh
           thus
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           It
           Portended
           Calamities
           that
           were
           to
           befall
           the
           World
           in
           a
           short
           time
           after
           .
           Shall
           I
           set
           down
           here
           the
           memorable
           Words
           of
           
             Anna
             Comnena
          
           ,
           that
           Learned
           Lady
           ,
           the
           Daughter
           of
           Alexius
           ,
           the
           Greek
           Emperour
           ,
           whose
           Life
           she
           writ
           ,
           and
           call'd
           it
           Alexias
           ?
           She
           ,
           speaking
           of
           a
           great
           Comet
           that
           was
           taken
           notice
           of
           before
           the
           breaking
           in
           of
           the
           Galls
           upon
           them
           ,
           thus
           delivereth
           
           her
           sense
           :
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           This
           happened
           (
           saith
           she
           )
           by
           the
           usual
           Administration
           of
           Providence
           in
           such
           cases
           ,
           for
           it
           was
           not
           fit
           that
           so
           great
           and
           strange
           an
           Alteration
           of
           things
           as
           was
           brought
           to
           pass
           by
           that
           coming
           of
           theirs
           should
           be
           without
           some
           previous
           Denunciation
           and
           Admonishment
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           
             Alexiad
             .
             l.
          
           12.
           
           And
           this
           Noble
           Female
           Historian
           tells
           us
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           Enquiry
           then
           of
           Spectatours
           was
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ;
           What
           Evils
           doth
           this
           New
           Light
           in
           the
           Heavens
           come
           to
           warn
           us
           of
           ?
           What
           strange
           Tidings
           doth
           this
           Messenger
           from
           above
           arrive
           with
           ?
           Let
           me
           adjoin
           the
           remarkable
           words
           of
           Machiavel
           ,
           that
           great
           Master
           of
           History
           and
           Policy
           ,
           who
           thus
           speaks
           of
           Comets
           ,
           
             Vt
             ut
             se
             res
             habeat
             ,
             Experientiâ
             certè
             compertum
             habemus
             talia
             signa
             sequi
             solere
             magnos
             
             aliquos
             Motus
             .
          
           However
           it
           cometh
           to
           pass
           ,
           so
           it
           is
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           it
           vouched
           by
           Experience
           ,
           that
           some
           great
           commotions
           are
           the
           consequents
           of
           such
           Signs
           as
           these
           .
           
             Disp.
             l.
             1.
             c.
          
           56.
           
        
         
           Now
           I
           will
           produce
           professed
           Mathematicians
           and
           Astronomers
           who
           have
           maintained
           the
           
             Presage
             of
             Comets
          
           .
           And
           not
           to
           name
           
             Claudius
             Ptolemaeus
          
           ,
           the
           Prince
           of
           Astrologers
           ,
           who
           flourished
           about
           135
           Years
           after
           Christ
           ,
           and
           settled
           this
           Doctrine
           in
           the
           98
           ,
           99
           ,
           and
           100
           Aphorisms
           of
           his
           Centiloquium
           ;
           I
           will
           onely
           make
           use
           of
           such
           as
           are
           Enemies
           to
           the
           Judiciary
           part
           of
           Astrology
           ,
           and
           some
           of
           whom
           have
           professedly
           ,
           writ
           against
           it
           .
           Such
           a
           one
           was
           the
           admirable
           
             Tycho
             Brahe
          
           ,
           who
           yet
           denieth
           not
           the
           Presage
           of
           Comets
           ,
           It
           being
           irrational
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           to
           think
           that
           God
           and
           Nature
           shew
           these
           unusual
           Lights
           to
           no
           purpose
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           are
           of
           no
           use
           to
           the
           World
           :
           and
           accordingly
           
           he
           sets
           down
           his
           Conjectures
           and
           Prognostications
           of
           the
           New
           Appearances
           then
           in
           the
           Heavens
           .
           Onely
           he
           condemns
           those
           who
           are
           peremptory
           ,
           and
           imagine
           their
           Conjectures
           to
           be
           infallible
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           close
           of
           the
           first
           Tome
           of
           his
           Progymnasmata
           (
           where
           he
           delivers
           this
           )
           he
           laments
           the
           Weakness
           and
           Shallowness
           of
           our
           Knowledge
           concerning
           the
           Stars
           ,
           much
           more
           of
           those
           that
           are
           extraordinary
           Luminaries
           .
        
         
           I
           forbear
           to
           transcribe
           the
           words
           of
           another
           Modern
           Astronomer
           ,
           
           a
           Learned
           Dane
           ,
           and
           contemporary
           with
           the
           Assistant
           to
           the
           Noble
           Tycho
           .
           You
           may
           consult
           his
           Appendix
           
             ad
             Astronomiam
             Danicam
          
           .
        
         
           A
           Third
           great
           Ornament
           of
           Mathematicks
           his
           few
           words
           to
           this
           purpose
           are
           very
           observable
           .
           
           Writing
           concerning
           the
           New
           Appearance
           in
           1572
           ,
           
             It
             a
             mihi
             persuadeo
          
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           
             stellam
             illam
             vel
             tunc
             à
             Deo
             Opt.
             Max.
             procreatam
             esse
             ut
             Magnum
             aliquod
             Portenderet
             ,
             quod
             
             cujusmodi
             sit
             adhuc
             ignoratur
             .
          
           Which
           though
           ,
           it
           is
           confessed
           ,
           was
           not
           spoken
           of
           a
           Comet
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           sufficient
           to
           discover
           the
           sentiment
           of
           that
           profound
           Astronomer
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           
             Presaging
             Nature
          
           of
           
             Vnusual
             Sights
          
           in
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           and
           particularly
           of
           the
           
             Bearded
             Lights
          
           we
           are
           discoursing
           of
           .
        
         
           A
           fourth
           Learned
           Mathematician
           ,
           
           who
           writ
           of
           the
           Comet
           that
           appeared
           
             A.
             D.
          
           1618.
           and
           saith
           little
           there
           in
           favour
           of
           the
           Significancies
           of
           those
           Phaenomena
           ,
           yet
           at
           last
           he
           shuts
           up
           with
           these
           notable
           words
           ,
           It
           is
           not
           my
           design
           ,
           notwithstanding
           what
           I
           have
           delivered
           of
           Comets
           ,
           to
           reckon
           them
           as
           vain
           Scare-crows
           and
           Bugbears
           ,
           but
           let
           there
           be
           ,
           for
           all
           me
           ,
           this
           Opinion
           fixed
           in
           Mens
           Minds
           ,
           That
           there
           are
           portended
           by
           them
           great
           Evils
           and
           Calamities
           ,
           whereby
           God
           (
           who
           hears
           and
           sees
           what
           we
           doe
           ,
           and
           is
           both
           Judge
           and
           Avenger
           )
           is
           wont
           to
           revenge
           the
           Injuries
           
           which
           are
           done
           to
           him
           .
        
         
           I
           could
           give
           you
           several
           Passages
           (
           savouring
           of
           a
           Christian
           Philosopher
           )
           out
           of
           the
           Works
           of
           that
           learned
           Professour
           of
           Mathematicks
           in
           Maidenberg
           ,
           who
           Commented
           with
           so
           great
           Credit
           on
           the
           Second
           Book
           of
           
           Pliny's
           Natural
           History
           :
           take
           that
           short
           one
           thus
           ,
           
             Ideò
             Perterrefacti
             &
             Attoniti
             spectamus
             Cometas
             quia
             tot
             seculorum
             Observatio
             testatur
             magnas
             Clades
             orbi
             terrarum
             ,
          
           
           
             Excidia
             Civitatum
             ,
             Regnorum
             Mutationes
             ,
             &
             alias
             publicas
             Calamitates
             per
             Cometas
             denunciari
             .
          
           There
           is
           good
           ground
           for
           the
           usual
           behaviour
           of
           Men
           as
           to
           Comets
           ,
           for
           they
           have
           Reason
           to
           gaze
           at
           them
           with
           so
           much
           Terrour
           and
           Astonishment
           as
           they
           do
           ,
           because
           it
           hath
           been
           proved
           by
           a
           large
           Induction
           of
           Experience
           and
           Observation
           ,
           that
           they
           denounce
           great
           Slaughters
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           Sacking
           of
           Cities
           ,
           Subversion
           of
           Kingdoms
           ,
           and
           other
           publick
           Disasters
           .
        
         
         
           I
           will
           adjoyn
           also
           the
           Suffrage
           of
           the
           
             Skilfull
             in
             Theology
          
           ,
           who
           cannot
           be
           denied
           to
           be
           competent
           Judges
           of
           these
           
             Heavenly
             Objects
          
           .
           One
           of
           the
           Ancient
           and
           most
           Renowned
           Fathers
           telleth
           us
           that
           a
           Comet
           foresignified
           the
           Death
           of
           Constantine
           the
           Great
           ;
           
           and
           he
           proceeds
           to
           pronounce
           
             more
             generally
          
           ,
           that
           as
           often
           as
           those
           rare
           Spectacles
           visit
           the
           World
           they
           are
           the
           Signs
           of
           the
           Succession
           of
           Kings
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           And
           another
           speaks
           home
           to
           the
           point
           ,
           saying
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           
           When
           we
           see
           a
           Comet
           or
           Bearded
           Star
           ,
           we
           know
           thence
           that
           the
           Invasion
           of
           Enemies
           ,
           or
           the
           Destruction
           of
           Cattel
           ,
           or
           a
           great
           Mortality
           among
           Men
           are
           approaching
           .
           Those
           Venerable
           Lights
           of
           the
           Primitive
           Church
           ,
           
             Tertullian
             ,
             Augustine
             ,
             Chrysostome
          
           ,
           
           professed
           they
           were
           persuaded
           that
           these
           New
           Appearances
           are
           immediately
           sent
           by
           God
           as
           fore-runners
           of
           some
           dismal
           Effects
           ;
           but
           I
           forbear
           to
           set
           down
           their
           particular
           Words
           :
           and
           the
           rather
           because
           I
           am
           sensible
           that
           the
           Ancient
           Fathers
           are
           little
           regarded
           by
           our
           Youthfull
           Opiniators
           ,
           who
           are
           wont
           as
           rudely
           to
           pluck
           at
           
             these
             Reverend
             Beards
          
           as
           at
           those
           of
           Comets
           .
           I
           will
           give
           these
           men
           a
           Taste
           then
           of
           some
           Divines
           of
           
             Latter
             Times
          
           .
           Besides
           what
           hath
           been
           already
           alledged
           out
           of
           the
           Writings
           of
           the
           Learned
           Professor
           of
           Divinity
           at
           Lovaine
           ,
           This
           may
           be
           added
           out
           of
           the
           same
           Authour
           ,
           that
           the
           end
           and
           Design
           of
           all
           Comets
           is
           
             Comminatio
             Divinae
             Manûs
             &
             Flagelli
             imminentis
             ,
          
           
           ,
           a
           Threatning
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           the
           Earth
           with
           some
           wonderfull
           stroke
           and
           Scourge
           which
           they
           shall
           in
           a
           short
           time
           feel
           from
           God's
           Hand
           .
           An
           honest
           Preaching
           Frier
           will
           tell
           you
           as
           much
           in
           an
           Astrological
           
           
           Essay
           of
           his
           ,
           where
           he
           admires
           the
           sottishness
           of
           those
           Persons
           who
           cannot
           be
           brought
           to
           an
           Admiration
           of
           Comets
           ,
           and
           will
           by
           no
           Arguments
           be
           persuaded
           of
           a
           Truth
           which
           shines
           so
           bright
           ,
           viz.
           That
           these
           extraordinary
           Bodies
           Bode
           Disasters
           to
           the
           World.
           Another
           Modern
           Clergy-man
           of
           great
           Note
           (
           and
           who
           might
           also
           have
           been
           ranked
           among
           the
           Mathematicians
           )
           delivers
           his
           sense
           after
           this
           manner
           ,
           
             Ista
             quidem
             quae
             rariùs
             eveniunt
          
           ,
           
           
             neque
             Ratis
             ac
             Descriptis
             Intervallis
             existunt
             ,
             ut
             Cometas
             ,
             Igneas
             Effigies
             Armorum
             ,
             ac
             reliqua
             ejusmodi
             ,
             arbitror
             Signa
             esse
             Malorum
             ingruentium
             divitùs
             ,
             &
             ex
             Alto
             edita
             ad
             perterrendos
             &
             commonendos
             homines
             —
             Non
             temerè
             creduntur
             Crinita
             illa
             Sidera
             certis
             temporibus
             ostendi
             Divinitùs
             ,
             velut
             ex
             alto
             signa
             quaedam
             impendentium
             Malorum
             ,
             cujus
             rei
             plenae
             sunt
             Historiae
             .
             Nec
             is
             sensus
             est
             Mathematicorum
             tantùm
             ac
             Divinaculorum
             ,
             sed
             etiam
             
             Piorum
             &
             gravissimorum
             hominum
             ,
             quos
             omnes
             (
             ut
             de
             Vulgi
             tam
             altè
             conceptâ
             opinione
             taceam
             )
             falli
             ac
             decipi
             ,
             non
             est
             asseverare
             Prudentis
             .
          
           The
           Attestation
           of
           this
           person
           is
           the
           more
           considerable
           ,
           because
           he
           was
           a
           Professed
           Enemy
           not
           onely
           to
           Genethliacal
           Predictions
           ,
           but
           to
           all
           other
           Astrological
           Divinations
           ,
           which
           he
           undertakes
           to
           confute
           in
           the
           3d
           Tome
           of
           his
           
             Dogmata
             Theologica
          
           ,
           book
           1.
           chap.
           9.
           
           The
           import
           of
           his
           noble
           Testimony
           is
           no
           other
           than
           this
           ,
           that
           these
           rare
           and
           unusual
           Bodies
           ,
           which
           have
           no
           set
           and
           periodical
           Time
           of
           Appearing
           ,
           are
           Certain
           Signs
           of
           Future
           Events
           .
           It
           is
           no
           rash
           and
           groundless
           belief
           that
           these
           are
           on
           purpose
           set
           up
           on
           High
           to
           be
           as
           it
           were
           Beacons
           to
           give
           notice
           of
           some
           imminent
           danger
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           looked
           upon
           as
           significations
           of
           very
           dreadfull
           occurrences
           .
           This
           is
           confirmed
           by
           the
           History
           of
           all
           Ages
           ,
           and
           this
           is
           the
           sense
           not
           onely
           of
           Judiciary
           Astrologers
           ,
           
           and
           such
           as
           pretend
           to
           Divination
           ,
           but
           of
           the
           most
           godly
           and
           serious
           Heads
           ,
           who
           certainly
           make
           a
           considerable
           number
           in
           the
           World
           :
           and
           no
           man
           in
           his
           right
           Wits
           will
           say
           that
           
             All
             these
          
           (
           not
           to
           speak
           now
           of
           the
           Vulgar
           )
           are
           deceived
           ,
           and
           conspire
           in
           one
           grand
           Errour
           .
           
           I
           will
           offer
           you
           the
           words
           of
           a
           late
           Learned
           Italian
           Divine
           ,
           Professour
           of
           Ethicks
           in
           Padua
           ;
           they
           are
           these
           :
           It
           is
           assured
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           from
           the
           known
           Experience
           of
           all
           Times
           ,
           that
           whensoever
           Comets
           appear
           ,
           they
           portend
           some
           Changes
           ,
           Slaughters
           and
           Calamities
           ,
           but
           the
           Cause
           of
           such
           things
           is
           not
           easily
           assigned
           ,
           nor
           hath
           it
           been
           sufficiently
           searched
           into
           by
           any
           .
           
           And
           afterwards
           ,
           when
           he
           had
           enumerated
           several
           Comets
           which
           appeared
           in
           divers
           foregoing
           ages
           ,
           and
           had
           assigned
           the
           particular
           Fatal
           Accidents
           which
           were
           portended
           by
           them
           and
           presently
           broke
           out
           ,
           he
           concludes
           in
           such
           General
           words
           as
           These
           :
           
           In
           every
           age
           of
           the
           World
           Comets
           have
           been
           observed
           to
           give
           Notice
           of
           Publick
           and
           Common
           Evils
           which
           were
           forthwith
           to
           follow
           them
           ,
           nor
           is
           it
           necessary
           or
           expedient
           to
           quote
           the
           particular
           Annals
           of
           all
           Times
           to
           make
           this
           farther
           evident
           .
           And
           the
           Suffrage
           of
           this
           Learned
           Church-man
           is
           the
           more
           to
           be
           valued
           because
           the
           Design
           and
           Aim
           of
           his
           whole
           Book
           is
           to
           invalidate
           the
           Presages
           of
           all
           other
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           ;
           so
           that
           it
           was
           the
           mere
           conviction
           of
           Reason
           and
           Truth
           that
           made
           him
           
             Except
             these
          
           ,
           and
           declare
           that
           they
           are
           really
           portentous
           .
        
         
           Thus
           you
           hear
           what
           Poets
           ,
           Oratours
           ,
           Philosophers
           ,
           Historians
           and
           Politicians
           ,
           Mathematicians
           and
           Divines
           have
           said
           of
           this
           matter
           .
           I
           have
           one
           Testimony
           more
           to
           add
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           of
           a
           Person
           ,
           who
           was
           all
           these
           ,
           I
           had
           almost
           said
           ,
           more
           than
           these
           .
           For
           though
           he
           was
           no
           Divine
           by
           Function
           and
           Profession
           ,
           
           yet
           how
           vastly
           accomplished
           he
           was
           in
           the
           Study
           of
           Theology
           and
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           his
           Works
           have
           proclaimed
           to
           the
           World.
           And
           it
           is
           as
           well
           known
           how
           excellent
           a
           Poet
           ,
           Oratour
           ,
           Historian
           ,
           Statesman
           ,
           &c.
           and
           how
           great
           a
           Master
           of
           Reason
           and
           all
           usefull
           Learning
           he
           was
           .
           This
           man
           ,
           who
           was
           Himself
           a
           Prodigy
           ;
           thus
           gives
           us
           his
           Thoughts
           in
           few
           but
           decisive
           words
           concerning
           these
           wonderfull
           Ostenta
           we
           have
           been
           treating
           of
           ,
           
             Solent
             magnas
             rerum
             Conversiones
             praecedere
             Cometae
             ,
             Gladii
             Ardentes
             ,
             aliáque
             Signa
             ejusmodi
             .
          
           
           Comets
           ,
           and
           Fiery
           Swords
           ,
           and
           such
           like
           Signs
           are
           wont
           to
           be
           the
           Fore-runners
           of
           great
           Changes
           in
           the
           world
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           done
           now
           with
           my
           Testimonies
           ,
           and
           truly
           I
           am
           heartily
           glad
           of
           it
           ,
           for
           I
           affect
           not
           to
           muster
           up
           the
           Writers
           ,
           and
           to
           see
           Authours
           stand
           in
           Rank
           and
           File
           .
           I
           know
           that
           good
           Sense
           will
           defend
           itself
           without
           a
           Bead-roll
           of
           Learned
           
           Names
           .
           But
           it
           was
           Necessary
           on
           this
           occasion
           to
           heap
           up
           Quotations
           ,
           because
           those
           of
           the
           contrary
           Opinion
           are
           pleased
           to
           brag
           of
           their
           Authours
           .
           But
           I
           hope
           it
           will
           now
           appear
           that
           all
           the
           World
           is
           not
           of
           their
           side
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           assertion
           which
           I
           maintain
           is
           not
           onely
           the
           sense
           of
           the
           Many
           ,
           but
           of
           the
           grave
           and
           wise
           ,
           the
           sober
           and
           judicious
           ,
           and
           those
           whose
           Sedate
           Judgments
           over-rule
           their
           Imaginations
           .
           Men
           of
           all
           Studies
           agree
           in
           this
           ;
           Humanity
           and
           Divinity
           concenter
           here
           ;
           heathens
           and
           Christians
           ,
           the
           Popish
           and
           the
           Reformed
           ,
           and
           some
           of
           every
           Persuasion
           are
           heard
           to
           declare
           that
           Comets
           are
           supernatural
           Signs
           ,
           and
           were
           appointed
           to
           terrifie
           and
           admonish
           this
           Inferiour
           World
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           Precursors
           of
           approaching
           Miseries
           .
           But
           that
           which
           I
           most
           mind
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           on
           our
           side
           the
           ablest
           Judges
           and
           best
           Advocates
           of
           this
           Cause
           ,
           for
           such
           I
           reckon
           the
           truly
           
           Pious
           and
           Vertuous
           to
           be
           .
           I
           have
           observed
           both
           in
           Mens
           studied
           Writings
           and
           ordinary
           speakings
           ,
           that
           those
           who
           favour
           this
           Point
           are
           generally
           found
           to
           be
           Persons
           of
           a
           greater
           Inclination
           to
           Piety
           and
           Goodness
           than
           others
           are
           .
           They
           seem
           to
           have
           minds
           more
           Divinely
           enlightned
           ,
           and
           more
           inwardly
           touched
           with
           the
           sense
           of
           Religion
           and
           the
           Providence
           of
           God
           in
           managing
           the
           World.
           And
           who
           are
           they
           that
           defend
           the
           contrary
           ?
           Commonly
           (
           I
           do
           not
           say
           always
           )
           they
           are
           Men
           of
           greater
           Wit
           than
           Conscience
           ,
           they
           know
           how
           to
           blanch
           a
           bad
           Cause
           ,
           they
           delight
           to
           shew
           their
           Skill
           in
           maintaining
           an
           Argument
           and
           weathering
           a
           Paradox
           .
           They
           are
           likewise
           great
           Flatterers
           and
           Parasites
           ,
           and
           love
           to
           humour
           the
           Age.
           They
           nourish
           the
           sottishness
           of
           People
           ,
           and
           give
           Narcoticks
           and
           Opiates
           to
           those
           that
           are
           of
           themselves
           drowsie
           and
           stupid
           .
           And
           if
           this
           be
           done
           by
           
           those
           who
           are
           of
           that
           holy
           Functioon
           which
           engages
           them
           to
           give
           warning
           to
           their
           flock
           of
           imminent
           Dangers
           ,
           to
           discharge
           the
           Office
           of
           Watchmen
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           sow
           Pillows
           under
           a
           soft
           and
           Effeminate
           Generation
           of
           Men
           ;
           the
           Crime
           is
           yet
           more
           Black
           and
           Intolerable
           .
           They
           carry
           on
           the
           Plot
           of
           Atheists
           and
           Epicures
           ,
           to
           root
           out
           the
           Notion
           of
           a
           God
           ,
           to
           extirpate
           Providence
           ,
           to
           debauch
           Mens
           Lives
           and
           Manners
           ,
           and
           to
           blot
           out
           the
           sense
           of
           another
           World.
           
        
         
           I
           am
           now
           to
           enter
           upon
           the
           Fourth
           and
           Last
           General
           Part
           of
           my
           Discourse
           ,
           which
           is
           to
           Answer
           the
           Objections
           which
           are
           levelled
           against
           the
           foresaid
           Doctrine
           .
           For
           so
           it
           is
           that
           there
           are
           a
           sort
           of
           People
           who
           in
           defiance
           of
           the
           Nature
           of
           things
           ,
           the
           clear
           Discoveries
           of
           Reason
           ,
           the
           Direction
           of
           Providence
           ,
           the
           Divine
           Testimony
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           a
           Cloud
           of
           Humane
           Witnesses
           are
           resolved
           to
           maintain
           their
           Post
           ,
           
           and
           in
           order
           to
           that
           they
           discharge
           with
           great
           fury
           several
           severe
           Cavils
           against
           the
           opposite
           side
           ,
           and
           think
           thereby
           to
           fright
           others
           from
           coming
           over
           to
           Us
           ,
           and
           imbracing
           our
           Assertion
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           It
           is
           Objected
           that
           our
           Doctrine
           proceeds
           from
           Pride
           and
           a
           haughty
           Spirit
           .
           
           These
           Men
           (
           say
           they
           )
           have
           an
           over-fond
           conceipt
           of
           themselves
           ,
           as
           if
           God
           took
           especial
           care
           of
           them
           in
           every
           thing
           that
           happeneth
           .
           Can't
           a
           Star
           appear
           ,
           but
           it
           must
           be
           for
           their
           sakes
           ?
           What
           is
           the
           Reason
           they
           are
           so
           concerned
           ?
           It
           proceeds
           from
           no
           other
           bottom
           than
           this
           ,
           viz.
           The
           unsufferable
           Vanity
           which
           some
           abound
           with
           ,
           who
           think
           themselves
           such
           Persons
           to
           whom
           Prodigies
           (
           forsooth
           )
           must
           be
           sent
           .
        
         
           I
           answer
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           this
           is
           a
           gross
           mistake
           ,
           
           that
           Comets
           or
           the
           like
           Prodigies
           appear
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           one
           sort
           of
           Persons
           onely
           ,
           or
           that
           any
           Intelligent
           man
           ever
           said
           so
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Whereas
           it
           is
           said
           that
           it
           proceeds
           from
           the
           Pride
           and
           vain
           Conceit
           of
           Men
           ,
           that
           Comets
           are
           thought
           to
           signifie
           ,
           I
           retort
           with
           undeniable
           Truth
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           the
           effect
           of
           Pride
           and
           Arrogance
           to
           reckon
           them
           as
           needless
           and
           Trivial
           ,
           and
           to
           despise
           the
           manifest
           Work
           of
           God.
           Nay
           ,
        
         
           3.
           
           This
           is
           an
           Argument
           of
           gross
           Profaneness
           as
           well
           as
           Pride
           .
           This
           is
           clear
           from
           the
           
             present
             Cavil
          
           that
           the
           Patrons
           of
           that
           Cause
           carry
           on
           (
           as
           I
           said
           )
           the
           Plot
           and
           Design
           of
           Atheistical
           Spirits
           ,
           who
           would
           exclude
           God
           from
           the
           Government
           and
           
             Care
             of
             the
             World.
          
           Whereas
           it
           is
           certain
           that
           all
           ranks
           of
           Beings
           ,
           but
           especially
           rational
           Creatures
           ,
           are
           under
           the
           Eye
           and
           Conduct
           of
           Heaven
           .
           
           The
           Stoicks
           said
           well
           ,
           that
           as
           Man
           was
           made
           for
           God
           ,
           so
           all
           things
           were
           made
           for
           Man.
           The
           whole
           Mass
           of
           the
           Creation
           is
           serviceable
           to
           this
           Darling
           and
           Delight
           of
           the
           Almighty
           .
           Man
           
             is
             as
             it
             were
             the
             Centre
             of
             the
             World
             in
             respect
             of
             final
             Causes
             ,
          
           
           saith
           an
           understanding
           Person
           .
           The
           Celestial
           Bodies
           as
           well
           as
           those
           of
           a
           lower
           Order
           administer
           to
           his
           best
           Advantages
           .
           When
           the
           Man
           after
           God's
           own
           Heart
           had
           
             considered
             the
             Heavens
          
           ,
           
           
             the
             Work
             of
             God's
             Fingers
             ,
             the
             Moon
             and
             the
             Stars
             which
             he
             had
             ordained
             ,
          
           he
           cried
           out
           ,
           (
           as
           himself
           tells
           us
           )
           
             What
             is
             Man
             that
             thou
             art
             mindfull
             of
             him
             ?
             and
             the
             Son
             of
             Man
             that
             thou
             visitest
             him
             ?
          
           As
           if
           there
           were
           no
           greater
           Argument
           and
           Demonstration
           of
           the
           Divine
           Care
           and
           Providence
           over
           Mankind
           ,
           than
           what
           is
           to
           be
           observed
           in
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           .
           And
           if
           it
           be
           said
           that
           those
           words
           speak
           of
           the
           Natural
           and
           Regular
           Appearances
           
           in
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           as
           the
           Sun
           ,
           and
           Moon
           ,
           and
           ordinary
           Stars
           ,
           I
           reply
           that
           the
           Argument
           is
           the
           stronger
           on
           our
           side
           ;
           for
           if
           the
           usual
           and
           ordinary
           Luminaries
           are
           a
           proof
           of
           God's
           Mindfulness
           of
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           this
           Inferiour
           World
           ,
           then
           much
           more
           the
           strange
           and
           extraordinary
           ones
           are
           such
           .
           And
           this
           is
           sufficient
           ground
           to
           
             consider
             the
             Heavens
          
           (
           as
           that
           Holy
           man
           did
           ,
           )
           to
           regard
           and
           take
           notice
           of
           the
           Works
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           the
           Operation
           of
           his
           Hands
           ,
           especially
           to
           observe
           and
           admire
           those
           Signs
           in
           the
           Heavens
           which
           so
           seldom
           appear
           .
           To
           look
           up
           towards
           them
           ,
           and
           take
           an
           exact
           view
           of
           them
           ,
           is
           most
           suitable
           to
           the
           piercing
           Nature
           of
           Man's
           Soul
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           Erect
           Figure
           which
           God
           hath
           bestowed
           on
           his
           Body
           .
           It
           is
           so
           far
           from
           savouring
           of
           Vanity
           and
           Pride
           to
           think
           that
           those
           Prodigies
           are
           sent
           for
           his
           sake
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           his
           duty
           to
           believe
           so
           ,
           and
           to
           attend
           seriously
           
           to
           the
           import
           of
           them
           .
           For
           by
           Comets
           God
           is
           pleased
           as
           by
           new
           Arguments
           to
           urge
           and
           inculcate
           his
           presence
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           when
           the
           ordinary
           course
           of
           Nature
           and
           Providence
           doth
           not
           move
           men
           ,
           they
           may
           be
           rouzed
           by
           these
           Wonderous
           and
           Rare
           Objects
           ,
           and
           have
           their
           Eyes
           effectually
           opened
           to
           see
           and
           confess
           a
           God.
           
        
         
           A
           Second
           Cavil
           is
           of
           this
           nature
           ,
           viz.
           that
           it
           hath
           been
           observed
           that
           great
           Advantages
           have
           been
           the
           Events
           to
           some
           Persons
           and
           Places
           after
           a
           Comet
           hath
           appeared
           ,
           and
           therefore
           there
           is
           no
           reason
           to
           reckon
           it
           as
           a
           Sign
           of
           God's
           Anger
           ,
           but
           rather
           of
           his
           Favour
           .
           Doth
           not
           the
           Philosopher
           thus
           speak
           of
           the
           Comet
           which
           was
           seen
           at
           the
           beginning
           of
           
           Augustus's
           Reign
           ,
           
             Cometes
             in
             uno
             totius
             orbis
             loco
             colitur
             in
             Templo
             Romae
             ,
             admodum
             Faustus
             Divo
             Augusto
             judicatus
             ab
             ipso
             .
          
           And
           afterwards
           ,
           
             Si
             verum
             fatemur
             ,
             salutare
             
             id
             terris
             fuit
             .
          
           
           It
           was
           thought
           to
           be
           so
           auspicious
           that
           it
           was
           worshipped
           by
           the
           People
           of
           Rome
           ,
           and
           the
           Emperour
           himself
           judged
           it
           to
           be
           a
           most
           happy
           Phaenomenon
           .
        
         
           I
           Answer
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           If
           any
           one
           hath
           maintained
           that
           no
           good
           Effects
           or
           Advantages
           have
           ever
           followed
           the
           appearance
           of
           Comets
           ,
           it
           is
           nothing
           to
           me
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           defend
           it
           ,
           neither
           is
           there
           any
           Reason
           for
           it
           .
           It
           is
           my
           Opinion
           that
           the
           very
           Rise
           and
           Production
           of
           them
           in
           those
           parts
           of
           the
           Heavenly
           Regions
           where
           they
           are
           generated
           is
           to
           good
           and
           excellent
           Purposes
           ;
           for
           it
           is
           probable
           that
           the
           acute
           Kepler
           is
           in
           the
           right
           ,
           who
           conceiveth
           a
           Comet
           to
           be
           a
           long
           Collection
           of
           corrupt
           and
           filthy
           matter
           ,
           a
           kind
           of
           an
           Apostem
           in
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           that
           as
           in
           Man's
           Body
           putrid
           Humours
           often
           gather
           into
           one
           part
           ,
           so
           they
           do
           in
           the
           Heavenly
           
           ones
           .
           And
           these
           superfluous
           and
           excremental
           humours
           breaking
           out
           ,
           the
           Aether
           (
           like
           the
           Body
           of
           Man
           )
           is
           thereby
           kept
           Sound
           and
           Hale
           ,
           the
           unwholsome
           matter
           is
           purged
           and
           drained
           away
           by
           these
           Catharticks
           .
           By
           this
           means
           the
           Heavens
           exonerate
           themselves
           of
           Noxious
           Qualities
           which
           had
           been
           long
           gathering
           ,
           and
           would
           in
           time
           corrupt
           them
           .
           So
           that
           the
           evacuating
           of
           this
           matter
           is
           for
           the
           Preservation
           of
           the
           Heavens
           .
           The
           Sun
           and
           other
           Luminaries
           fare
           the
           better
           for
           the
           expulsion
           of
           this
           gross
           stuff
           which
           would
           otherwise
           over-run
           them
           with
           Thick
           Maculae
           .
        
         
           Thus
           the
           very
           Production
           of
           Comets
           is
           advantageous
           to
           the
           Heavens
           .
           But
           that
           is
           not
           all
           ;
           they
           are
           so
           likewise
           to
           the
           Inhabitants
           below
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           in
           the
           foregoing
           Discourse
           granted
           that
           Comets
           are
           sent
           out
           of
           Kindness
           and
           Favour
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           
           as
           well
           as
           to
           a
           
             Contrary
             End.
          
           They
           are
           to
           call
           the
           offending
           World
           to
           Repentance
           ,
           and
           to
           remind
           them
           of
           their
           greatest
           concern
           ,
           which
           things
           ,
           if
           they
           be
           heartily
           pursued
           ,
           will
           produce
           unspeakable
           Advantages
           and
           Blessings
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           I
           grant
           that
           Comets
           have
           not
           been
           without
           good
           and
           advantageous
           Consequences
           ;
           and
           indeed
           it
           cannot
           be
           otherwise
           .
           For
           the
           Calamities
           which
           happen
           to
           some
           prove
           beneficial
           to
           others
           .
           With
           evil
           Effects
           there
           are
           good
           ones
           always
           joined
           ;
           such
           is
           the
           excellent
           mixture
           of
           Providence
           in
           the
           administration
           of
           the
           World.
           Blessings
           then
           may
           follow
           Comets
           .
           As
           suppose
           the
           Plague
           (
           which
           none
           will
           deny
           to
           be
           a
           great
           evil
           )
           be
           the
           natural
           issue
           of
           these
           Prodigies
           ,
           yet
           by
           this
           a
           City
           and
           whole
           Countrey
           may
           receive
           great
           Advantage
           .
           A
           sweeping
           Pestilence
           made
           way
           for
           Queen
           Elizabeth
           to
           the
           Crown
           ,
           by
           
           removing
           those
           who
           were
           her
           most
           Implacable
           and
           potent
           Enemies
           .
           By
           this
           means
           a
           considerable
           number
           of
           bad
           men
           may
           be
           carried
           off
           ;
           and
           some
           of
           those
           who
           remain
           and
           are
           spared
           ,
           may
           by
           that
           Mercy
           be
           reduced
           to
           a
           better
           understanding
           of
           themselves
           ,
           and
           a
           thorough
           amendment
           of
           their
           Lives
           ,
           which
           are
           good
           and
           desirable
           Effects
           .
           Or
           suppose
           War
           to
           be
           the
           consequence
           of
           a
           Comet
           ,
           who
           knows
           not
           that
           if
           one
           party
           is
           vanquished
           ,
           the
           other
           overcomes
           ?
           Though
           Violence
           ,
           Death
           and
           Ruine
           be
           the
           allotment
           of
           the
           former
           ,
           yet
           Joy
           and
           Victory
           are
           the
           purchase
           of
           the
           latter
           .
           Thus
           that
           portentous
           Apparition
           which
           Constantine
           the
           Great
           beheld
           in
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           though
           it
           was
           auspicious
           to
           him
           and
           his
           Army
           ,
           as
           the
           Inscription
           of
           it
           told
           ,
           yet
           it
           proved
           most
           Fatal
           to
           Maxentius
           and
           his
           Forces
           .
           Or
           say
           that
           some
           great
           Prince
           is
           cut
           off
           by
           the
           malign
           Influence
           of
           one
           of
           those
           Heavenly
           
           Signs
           ,
           then
           what
           follows
           but
           this
           ,
           that
           as
           he
           loses
           his
           Crown
           ,
           so
           another
           gets
           it
           ?
           And
           as
           his
           being
           cut
           off
           may
           prove
           a
           deplorable
           Loss
           and
           Calamity
           if
           he
           were
           good
           ,
           so
           it
           may
           happen
           to
           administer
           the
           greatest
           matter
           of
           Joy
           ,
           and
           actually
           produce
           the
           most
           Happy
           Consequences
           imaginable
           if
           he
           were
           of
           a
           contrary
           quality
           ;
           and
           much
           more
           ,
           if
           he
           be
           succeeded
           by
           a
           Person
           who
           wants
           none
           of
           the
           Accomplishments
           belonging
           to
           the
           Character
           of
           a
           King.
           So
           that
           those
           who
           started
           the
           Objection
           have
           gained
           no
           more
           than
           this
           ,
           that
           what
           is
           good
           to
           one
           is
           oftentimes
           of
           a
           contrary
           Nature
           to
           another
           ;
           those
           very
           Events
           which
           some
           find
           to
           be
           Fortunate
           ,
           others
           experience
           to
           be
           unlucky
           and
           Fatal
           .
           Where
           there
           is
           the
           death
           of
           Princes
           there
           will
           be
           the
           Succession
           of
           new
           ones
           .
           And
           shew
           me
           any
           man
           that
           hath
           the
           confidence
           to
           deny
           this
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           I
           grant
           also
           ,
           that
           though
           Comets
           
           portend
           and
           bring
           evil
           upon
           Men
           ,
           yet
           the
           All-wise
           Maker
           and
           Disposer
           of
           the
           Universe
           can
           derive
           the
           greatest
           good
           to
           them
           thence
           .
           And
           on
           This
           Divine
           Consideration
           it
           must
           be
           acknowledged
           that
           they
           are
           Heavenly
           Evangelists
           ,
           and
           Messengers
           of
           glad
           Tidings
           ,
           they
           are
           propitious
           Flames
           ,
           and
           in
           a
           
             Remote
             manner
          
           signs
           of
           the
           Divine
           Favour
           and
           Good-will
           .
           But
        
         
           4.
           
           I
           Answer
           directly
           ,
           that
           though
           they
           may
           be
           followed
           with
           some
           
             Good
             Events
          
           ,
           yet
           This
           is
           merely
           Accidental
           ;
           because
           it
           is
           almost
           impossible
           that
           any
           evil
           should
           happen
           without
           some
           good
           .
           If
           we
           remember
           what
           was
           said
           before
           ,
           viz.
           That
           these
           Heavenly
           Preachers
           are
           sent
           to
           give
           notice
           of
           God's
           Displeasure
           for
           the
           sins
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           we
           cannot
           but
           acknowledge
           that
           their
           
             Primary
             Token
          
           is
           the
           Evil
           of
           Punishment
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           Divine
           Presages
           of
           Wrath
           and
           Vengeance
           ,
           if
           
           Men
           will
           not
           repent
           and
           amend
           .
           Particularly
           ,
           to
           reply
           to
           the
           Instance
           mentioned
           in
           the
           Objection
           .
           It
           is
           no
           wonder
           that
           the
           Comet
           which
           appeared
           after
           Iulius
           Caesar's
           Death
           ,
           was
           thought
           by
           Augustus
           to
           be
           auspicious
           ,
           since
           by
           his
           Death
           he
           came
           to
           succeed
           in
           the
           Empire
           .
           But
           he
           that
           shall
           reade
           the
           Relation
           of
           the
           bloudy
           Wars
           and
           horrid
           Commotions
           which
           the
           People
           of
           Rome
           had
           experience
           of
           immediately
           after
           the
           Rising
           of
           that
           Comet
           ,
           will
           be
           of
           another
           judgment
           ,
           and
           not
           call
           it
           (
           as
           Pliny
           flatteringly
           doth
           )
           Salutary
           and
           Lucky
           .
           The
           grave
           Stoick
           (
           whose
           Morality
           one
           would
           imagine
           should
           not
           teach
           him
           to
           be
           a
           Parasite
           )
           saith
           that
           the
           Comet
           which
           shone
           in
           the
           beginning
           of
           
           Nero's
           joyfull
           and
           happy
           Reign
           ,
           
           
             Neronis
             Principatu
             laetissimo
             Cometis
             detraxit
             Infamiam
             ,
          
           took
           away
           from
           that
           sort
           of
           Prodigies
           the
           Infamy
           which
           they
           lay
           under
           .
           It
           seems
           then
           they
           had
           before
           an
           ill
           
           name
           ,
           they
           were
           thought
           till
           that
           time
           to
           be
           unlucky
           and
           ominous
           .
           Yes
           ,
           and
           they
           were
           thought
           so
           then
           ,
           and
           
             ever
             after
          
           ;
           onely
           Nero
           it
           seems
           was
           to
           be
           flattered
           ,
           and
           Seneca
           was
           to
           let
           him
           know
           that
           that
           strange
           Spectacle
           in
           the
           Heavens
           assured
           great
           Happiness
           to
           the
           whole
           World
           by
           reason
           of
           his
           Reign
           .
           But
           will
           not
           any
           one
           who
           hath
           read
           the
           passages
           of
           that
           Emperour's
           Life
           abhor
           such
           rank
           flattery
           ,
           and
           with
           greater
           Reason
           conclude
           that
           that
           Comet
           ,
           and
           others
           that
           appeared
           in
           his
           Time
           ,
           (
           as
           no
           less
           than
           four
           appeared
           ,
           one
           whereof
           lasted
           six
           months
           )
           presaged
           the
           monstrous
           and
           unheard
           of
           Villanies
           committed
           by
           him
           when
           he
           ruled
           ?
           That
           as
           he
           came
           into
           the
           World
           with
           his
           Feet
           forward
           ,
           which
           made
           his
           
             Birth
             ominous
          
           ,
           so
           the
           unusual
           Blazes
           in
           the
           Heavens
           rendred
           his
           
             whole
             Life
             portentous
          
           ?
           Who
           will
           not
           say
           that
           they
           fore
           told
           the
           World
           of
           his
           cruel
           ,
           inhumane
           and
           barbarous
           Exploits
           ,
           
           void
           of
           all
           Compassion
           and
           Remorse
           ?
           viz.
           his
           setting
           Rome
           on
           fire
           that
           he
           might
           better
           conceive
           the
           Flames
           of
           Troy
           ,
           and
           sing
           to
           his
           Harp
           the
           Destruction
           of
           that
           City
           :
           his
           killing
           his
           own
           Mother
           ,
           his
           putting
           his
           own
           Wife
           to
           Death
           ,
           his
           dispatching
           with
           a
           kick
           of
           his
           foot
           his
           Mistress
           (
           or
           rather
           his
           Wife
           afterwards
           )
           Poppaea
           ,
           his
           slaying
           his
           Aunt
           ,
           his
           killing
           his
           Tutour
           and
           Master
           Seneca
           ,
           (
           the
           very
           man
           who
           here
           flattereth
           him
           and
           his
           Comet
           ,
           )
           his
           bloudy
           Rage
           against
           all
           his
           Kindred
           and
           Friends
           ,
           (
           as
           Suetonius
           saith
           of
           him
           ,
           
             Nullum
             adeò
             necessitudinis
             genus
             est
             quod
             non
             scelere
             perculerit
             ,
          
           )
           his
           Madness
           against
           the
           Christians
           ,
           on
           whom
           he
           maliciously
           laid
           the
           firing
           of
           Rome
           ,
           his
           implacable
           Hatred
           of
           Christianity
           it self
           ,
           which
           he
           shewed
           in
           being
           the
           first
           that
           ever
           made
           an
           Edict
           against
           it
           .
           It
           was
           rightly
           therefore
           said
           of
           an
           Historian
           ,
           
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           To
           all
           his
           other
           Villanies
           he
           added
           this
           ,
           That
           he
           fought
           against
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           was
           the
           first
           Persecutor
           of
           the
           Word
           of
           God.
           And
           ,
           as
           notorious
           Instances
           of
           this
           cursed
           and
           Hellish
           Rage
           ,
           Those
           two
           great
           Apostles
           and
           Pillars
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           St.
           Paul
           and
           St.
           Peter
           fell
           by
           his
           Hands
           .
           Pliny
           had
           Reason
           then
           to
           call
           this
           Emperour
           
             humani
             generis
             hostem
          
           ,
           one
           that
           had
           bid
           defiance
           to
           all
           Ranks
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           and
           to
           style
           one
           of
           the
           Comets
           that
           was
           seen
           in
           his
           Reign
           
             Sidus
             Saevum
          
           ,
           a
           furious
           and
           outragious
           Star
           ,
           
             l.
             2.
             c.
          
           25.
           
           Nay
           ,
           we
           are
           told
           that
           upon
           the
           sight
           of
           a
           Comet
           he
           found
           himself
           enflamed
           afresh
           to
           Bloudshed
           :
           and
           he
           used
           to
           put
           some
           Noblemen
           to
           Death
           to
           expiate
           and
           purge
           away
           the
           Hurt
           which
           these
           Prodigies
           procure
           ,
           as
           an
           Astrologer
           taught
           him
           ,
           saith
           Suetonius
           .
           And
           the
           same
           is
           averred
           by
           another
           credible
           Historian
           ,
           
           
             Sidus
             Cometes
             ,
             sanguine
             illustri
             semper
             
             Neroni
             expiatum
             .
          
           And
           who
           will
           not
           likewise
           think
           that
           the
           unusual
           and
           strange
           Appearance
           in
           the
           Heavens
           in
           his
           days
           signified
           his
           unheard-of
           and
           prodigious
           Lust
           ,
           his
           Filthyness
           and
           Lasciviousness
           of
           so
           monstrous
           a
           nature
           ,
           described
           partly
           by
           the
           Authour
           who
           writes
           his
           Life
           ,
           
           and
           it
           may
           be
           reflected
           on
           by
           St.
           Paul
           ,
           in
           Rom.
           1.
           26
           ,
           27
           ?
           Who
           is
           not
           enclined
           to
           believe
           that
           the
           strange
           Ostenta
           in
           those
           days
           seen
           at
           Rome
           ,
           pointed
           at
           this
           execrable
           Emperour
           ,
           
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           who
           practised
           all
           kind
           of
           Lasciviousness
           and
           Wickedness
           to
           the
           full
           ?
           Lastly
           ,
           may
           it
           not
           be
           thought
           that
           they
           portended
           his
           violent
           and
           Tragical
           End
           ,
           the
           just
           Guerdon
           of
           his
           bloudy
           Life
           ?
           Thus
           maugre
           the
           flattering
           humour
           of
           a
           few
           vain
           Men
           ,
           these
           Sights
           were
           Boding
           and
           Prophetick
           ,
           the
           Forerunners
           and
           Signs
           both
           of
           moral
           and
           penal
           Evils
           .
           And
           the
           same
           
           
           
           
           
           may
           be
           pronounced
           of
           all
           the
           Bearded
           Flames
           that
           ever
           shone
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           nay
           even
           of
           the
           Star
           which
           appeared
           at
           Christ's
           Nativity
           ;
           for
           though
           the
           Officious
           Sages
           who
           came
           from
           the
           East
           rejoyced
           at
           its
           Appearance
           ,
           yet
           without
           Controversie
           ,
           when
           it
           appeared
           more
           openly
           and
           universally
           ,
           (
           as
           it
           is
           probable
           it
           did
           afterwards
           ,
           as
           I
           may
           have
           occasion
           to
           shew
           at
           another
           time
           ,
           and
           on
           another
           Subject
           ,
           )
           it
           threatned
           Woe
           and
           Misery
           to
           the
           Unbelieving
           World
           ,
           and
           likewise
           presignified
           the
           bloudy
           Persecutions
           which
           the
           Devil
           and
           his
           Instruments
           would
           be
           Authours
           of
           against
           the
           Followers
           of
           our
           Saviour
           .
        
         
           A
           Third
           Objection
           is
           formed
           thus
           :
           
           Many
           Comets
           have
           been
           seen
           by
           us
           ,
           but
           they
           have
           been
           followed
           with
           no
           mischief
           throughout
           all
           Europe
           :
           Besides
           ,
           many
           Eminent
           and
           Illustrious
           Men
           have
           dyed
           ,
           Kingdoms
           
           and
           Principalities
           ,
           and
           Noble
           Families
           have
           been
           destroyed
           without
           any
           Notice
           given
           by
           a
           Comet
           .
        
         
           Here
           are
           two
           grievous
           Impeachments
           together
           of
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Comets
           .
           As
           to
           the
           former
           ,
           viz.
           That
           it
           hath
           been
           observed
           that
           no
           Hurt
           hath
           followed
           Comets
           ,
        
         
           I
           Answer
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           notwithstanding
           what
           this
           daring
           Objector
           suggests
           ,
           you
           have
           heard
           what
           others
           ,
           and
           those
           of
           great
           Credit
           and
           Fame
           ,
           have
           said
           and
           writ
           .
           The
           Renowned
           Kepler
           hath
           set
           down
           the
           fatal
           Events
           of
           many
           Comets
           .
           Ricciolus
           ,
           and
           Hevelius
           after
           him
           ,
           give
           us
           a
           Catalogue
           of
           all
           the
           Comets
           that
           appeared
           before
           and
           since
           Christ's
           Birth
           ,
           with
           the
           remarkable
           occurrences
           that
           ensued
           upon
           them
           in
           the
           World.
           And
           now
           judge
           whether
           Scaliger
           (
           who
           was
           a
           man
           that
           would
           
           say
           any
           thing
           for
           his
           Cause
           )
           outweigheth
           this
           Tripple
           Testimony
           of
           Persons
           of
           so
           good
           Account
           :
           besides
           that
           Others
           might
           be
           made
           use
           of
           here
           to
           attest
           the
           ill
           effects
           of
           Comets
           in
           the
           several
           Ages
           of
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           2.
           
           Whereas
           some
           tell
           us
           that
           no
           evils
           have
           been
           the
           Consequences
           of
           the
           Comets
           which
           they
           have
           seen
           ,
           I
           have
           this
           to
           say
           to
           them
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           none
           of
           my
           fault
           that
           they
           do
           not
           live
           to
           see
           those
           Consequences
           .
           They
           profess
           they
           behold
           no
           hurtfull
           Effects
           of
           Comets
           ,
           and
           thence
           rashly
           infer
           there
           are
           none
           .
           But
           I
           retort
           upon
           them
           with
           that
           which
           is
           satisfactory
           to
           me
           ,
           (
           and
           may
           be
           so
           to
           them
           ,
           )
           that
           the
           Hurt
           and
           Evil
           are
           deferred
           ,
           but
           may
           
             come
             at
             last
          
           .
           This
           may
           happen
           thus
           ,
           because
           of
           the
           Nature
           of
           Things
           themselves
           ,
           Comets
           do
           not
           always
           operate
           presently
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           some
           Indispositions
           and
           Alterations
           
           in
           the
           Elements
           ,
           and
           the
           Dependence
           they
           often
           have
           on
           several
           Causes
           .
           For
           this
           Reason
           it
           may
           be
           we
           feel
           at
           this
           very
           hour
           part
           of
           the
           Effects
           of
           those
           Comets
           ,
           which
           visited
           us
           in
           1664
           ,
           and
           1665.
           
           And
           it
           may
           be
           we
           shall
           not
           experience
           the
           full
           Influence
           of
           the
           two
           last
           which
           appeared
           ,
           till
           some
           years
           hence
           .
           Say
           not
           then
           ,
           because
           you
           see
           not
           the
           Effects
           of
           these
           strange
           Shews
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           vain
           Sights
           ,
           and
           because
           they
           are
           not
           followed
           forthwith
           with
           notable
           Alterations
           ,
           that
           therefore
           there
           are
           no
           Evils
           that
           issue
           from
           them
           .
           Moreover
           ,
           It
           is
           against
           the
           Nature
           of
           these
           Prodigies
           that
           they
           should
           have
           a
           speedy
           effect
           ,
           for
           (
           as
           hath
           been
           said
           )
           they
           are
           sent
           to
           warn
           Men
           of
           the
           Judgments
           which
           their
           repeated
           Crimes
           deserve
           ,
           and
           to
           stir
           them
           up
           effectually
           to
           be
           sensible
           of
           their
           condition
           ,
           and
           to
           mourn
           for
           their
           Offences
           ,
           and
           implore
           the
           Divine
           Favour
           ,
           and
           betake
           themselves
           to
           
           Newness
           of
           Life
           .
           For
           the
           Performance
           of
           These
           the
           great
           Lover
           of
           Mankind
           allots
           them
           some
           considerable
           time
           ,
           and
           accordingly
           doth
           not
           presently
           inflict
           the
           punishments
           which
           he
           threatneth
           ,
           but
           expecteth
           and
           waiteth
           for
           their
           amendment
           .
           And
           if
           that
           happens
           ,
           He
           wholly
           Averteth
           his
           Wrath
           and
           Indignation
           .
           Which
           directs
           me
           to
           another
           Answer
           to
           the
           Objection
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           this
           ,
        
         
           Suppose
           the
           Observation
           had
           some
           Truth
           in
           it
           ,
           viz.
           That
           fatal
           Changes
           and
           calamitous
           Accidents
           have
           not
           ever
           been
           seen
           to
           be
           the
           consequences
           of
           Comets
           ,
           who
           is
           there
           that
           cannot
           dive
           into
           the
           Reason
           of
           it
           ?
           Which
           is
           no
           other
           than
           this
           ,
           That
           the
           Divine
           Goodness
           and
           Philanthropy
           ,
           and
           Man's
           timely
           Repentance
           and
           Conversion
           prevent
           the
           inflicting
           of
           those
           Calamities
           which
           were
           portended
           by
           the
           appearing
           of
           the
           Heavenly
           Prodigies
           .
           
           God
           
             sends
             not
          
           those
           Evils
           which
           he
           Threatned
           .
           That
           is
           all
           that
           can
           be
           gathered
           .
           How
           idly
           and
           incoherently
           then
           do
           they
           discourse
           who
           deny
           all
           Presage
           of
           Comets
           ,
           because
           they
           do
           not
           presently
           feel
           the
           Effects
           of
           them
           ?
           Nay
           ,
           how
           impiously
           and
           blasphemously
           do
           they
           talk
           who
           assert
           it
           Ridiculous
           that
           God
           should
           intend
           these
           to
           be
           Monitors
           of
           Repentance
           ,
           and
           yet
           not
           let
           us
           see
           the
           Fatal
           Events
           produced
           by
           them
           ?
        
         
           And
           thus
           I
           think
           the
           first
           part
           of
           the
           Objection
           is
           pretty
           well
           cleared
           :
           and
           Men
           may
           sometimes
           look
           for
           the
           Effects
           of
           Comets
           ,
           and
           not
           espie
           them
           ,
           not
           because
           Comets
           are
           not
           by
           God's
           Appointment
           Threatning
           and
           Presaging
           ,
           but
           because
           the
           Infinite
           Compassion
           of
           Heaven
           deferreth
           or
           averteth
           the
           impendent
           Judgments
           .
           Which
           agreeth
           with
           what
           was
           maintained
           before
           ,
           viz.
           That
           Comets
           are
           not
           Presages
           wholly
           of
           Evil
           ,
           but
           they
           are
           likewise
           
           Collaterally
           and
           Remotely
           Tokens
           of
           Mercy
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           if
           they
           Repent
           :
           otherwise
           they
           denounce
           nothing
           but
           Vengeance
           .
        
         
           These
           Bodies
           then
           do
           not
           Necessarily
           and
           Vnalterably
           signifie
           Evil
           ,
           but
           
             Conditionally
             ,
             i.
             e.
          
           if
           it
           shall
           seem
           good
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           if
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           the
           Earth
           do
           not
           repent
           of
           their
           sins
           .
           And
           indeed
           it
           was
           rightly
           said
           by
           a
           celebrated
           Jewish
           Doctor
           ,
           
           All
           the
           Evils
           that
           God
           threatneth
           to
           Men
           ,
           are
           threatned
           with
           this
           condition
           ,
           If
           they
           do
           not
           repent
           .
           So
           that
           Comets
           speak
           not
           the
           absolute
           and
           
             inevitable
             Futurity
          
           of
           such
           Events
           ,
           but
           let
           the
           Persons
           know
           to
           whom
           they
           are
           shewed
           what
           they
           are
           to
           expect
           ,
           and
           what
           shall
           certainly
           happen
           unless
           God
           be
           pleased
           ,
           for
           Reasons
           and
           Inducements
           best
           known
           to
           himself
           ,
           to
           interpose
           between
           the
           Sign
           and
           the
           Events
           .
           The
           great
           and
           excessive
           Drought
           in
           1681.
           may
           be
           reasonably
           looked
           upon
           as
           the
           Effect
           
           of
           the
           Comet
           in
           1680.
           
           And
           we
           may
           remember
           what
           was
           the
           consequent
           of
           that
           unusual
           driness
           of
           the
           Earth
           ,
           viz.
           The
           price
           of
           Hay
           in
           a
           Months
           time
           ,
           or
           a
           little
           more
           ,
           was
           risen
           from
           15
           s.
           a
           Load
           to
           40
           s.
           and
           we
           were
           in
           expectation
           of
           more
           dismal
           Effects
           of
           that
           Drought
           .
           But
           the
           price
           of
           the
           aforesaid
           commodity
           fell
           in
           few
           months
           to
           its
           ordinary
           Rate
           ,
           and
           we
           were
           delivered
           from
           our
           other
           Fears
           .
           Thus
           the
           God
           of
           Heaven
           shewed
           us
           what
           we
           deserved
           ,
           and
           then
           was
           pleased
           to
           remove
           it
           .
        
         
           Thus
           it
           is
           possible
           some
           expected
           Events
           may
           be
           frustrated
           ,
           and
           yet
           Comets
           in
           their
           own
           Nature
           ,
           and
           by
           God's
           Appointment
           ,
           are
           ominous
           and
           prognostick
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           for
           the
           latter
           part
           of
           the
           Objection
           ,
           viz.
           That
           it
           is
           observed
           sometimes
           that
           God
           sends
           Calamities
           where
           Comets
           have
           not
           been
           the
           Forerunners
           ,
           and
           therefore
           it
           is
           
           likely
           no
           Calamities
           are
           caused
           or
           signified
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           these
           two
           things
           to
           answer
           :
        
         
           First
           ,
           it
           doth
           not
           follow
           that
           ,
           because
           Comets
           foresignifie
           Wars
           ,
           Pestilence
           ,
           Famine
           and
           the
           Death
           of
           Princes
           ,
           therefore
           a
           Comet
           must
           necessarily
           appear
           as
           often
           as
           Famine
           or
           Plague
           approach
           ,
           or
           whenever
           Wars
           and
           Deaths
           of
           Princes
           allarm
           the
           World
           ;
           for
           it
           dependeth
           wholly
           on
           God's
           free
           Will
           and
           Pleasure
           ,
           whether
           there
           shall
           be
           
             any
             Signs
          
           or
           no
           :
           and
           as
           to
           the
           Time
           of
           exhibiting
           them
           ,
           that
           also
           is
           at
           God's
           disposal
           .
           Besides
           ,
           the
           Argument
           is
           fallacious
           ,
           for
           though
           
             every
             Plague
          
           ,
           or
           War
           ,
           or
           Dearth
           be
           not
           ushered
           in
           with
           a
           Comet
           ,
           yet
           it
           doth
           not
           follow
           thence
           that
           none
           are
           ,
           or
           may
           be
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           Though
           all
           the
           great
           and
           publick
           Calamities
           that
           happen
           
           be
           not
           presaged
           by
           Comets
           ,
           (
           as
           I
           readily
           grant
           )
           yet
           they
           may
           be
           ,
           and
           usually
           ,
           if
           not
           always
           ,
           are
           by
           
             some
             other
             Forerunners
             and
             Signs
          
           ,
           if
           not
           in
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           yet
           in
           the
           Air
           ,
           or
           Earth
           ,
           or
           Waters
           ;
           for
           there
           are
           other
           Omens
           beside
           those
           above
           .
        
         
           This
           then
           doth
           not
           in
           the
           least
           disanul
           what
           I
           assert
           ,
           that
           some
           great
           and
           extraordinary
           Events
           (
           and
           such
           are
           supposed
           to
           be
           rare
           as
           Comets
           themselves
           are
           )
           are
           presignified
           and
           procured
           by
           those
           Bodies
           ,
           and
           that
           at
           what
           time
           soever
           they
           appear
           ,
           future
           Perils
           and
           Distresses
           ,
           of
           one
           kind
           or
           other
           ,
           are
           threatned
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           though
           they
           are
           not
           seen
           or
           felt
           in
           one
           part
           of
           it
           ,
           yet
           they
           may
           be
           in
           another
           .
        
         
           And
           under
           this
           Head
           likewise
           ,
           and
           by
           virtue
           of
           what
           hath
           been
           said
           here
           ,
           the
           frivolous
           Objection
           of
           those
           Men
           is
           removed
           ,
           who
           deny
           all
           Significancy
           of
           Comets
           ,
           because
           they
           are
           not
           such
           Signs
           as
           directly
           
           and
           positively
           point
           at
           
             particular
             Evils
             and
             Events
          
           ,
           because
           we
           cannot
           learn
           from
           them
           what
           certain
           Evil
           will
           befall
           the
           World.
           Hence
           they
           are
           styled
           by
           the
           Objectours
           
             Useless
             and
             Fallacious
             Signs
          
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           unbecoming
           God's
           Wisedom
           (
           say
           they
           )
           to
           set
           up
           such
           in
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           Thus
           they
           irreverently
           and
           wickedly
           teach
           men
           to
           despise
           God's
           Works
           .
           And
           (
           which
           is
           the
           more
           to
           be
           lamented
           )
           such
           Language
           falls
           from
           the
           Pens
           of
           great
           Pretenders
           to
           Divinity
           and
           Philosophy
           .
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           It
           is
           Objected
           that
           some
           Comets
           travell
           many
           Countries
           ,
           and
           pass
           over
           the
           Heads
           of
           divers
           People
           ,
           as
           particularly
           the
           Dreadfull
           Comet
           in
           1680.
           was
           seen
           not
           onely
           all
           over
           Europe
           ,
           but
           in
           the
           most
           remote
           parts
           of
           the
           World
           :
           How
           then
           can
           it
           be
           known
           what
           particular
           place
           it
           was
           designed
           
           for
           ?
           Who
           can
           tell
           where
           its
           Influence
           is
           to
           light
           ?
           Is
           there
           any
           Reason
           why
           we
           of
           this
           Island
           should
           be
           concerned
           ?
           Many
           things
           may
           be
           said
           to
           silence
           this
           Cavil
           :
        
         
           1.
           
           If
           a
           Comet
           be
           universal
           (
           as
           is
           supposed
           in
           the
           Objection
           )
           then
           its
           Influence
           is
           such
           likewise
           ,
           and
           then
           we
           are
           certain
           that
           we
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           other
           Countries
           ,
           are
           concerned
           But
           ,
        
         
           2.
           
           Suppose
           we
           cannot
           tell
           to
           what
           place
           a
           Comet
           hath
           a
           special
           Respect
           ,
           and
           at
           which
           Nation
           it
           doth
           as
           it
           were
           levell
           its
           malign
           Rays
           ,
           yet
           the
           
             Appearance
             it self
          
           ought
           to
           make
           us
           carefull
           ,
           and
           to
           provide
           against
           such
           Events
           as
           may
           happen
           ,
           because
           we
           may
           be
           (
           for
           ought
           we
           know
           )
           particularly
           concerned
           .
           And
           this
           is
           the
           whole
           design
           of
           this
           Treatise
           .
           Yet
           let
           it
           be
           remembred
           ,
        
         
         
           3.
           
           That
           though
           a
           Comet
           travells
           through
           several
           Countries
           ,
           and
           sheweth
           its
           flaming
           Train
           among
           many
           People
           ,
           yet
           they
           are
           not
           all
           equally
           under
           its
           Influence
           .
           For
           though
           it
           may
           be
           seen
           by
           several
           Countries
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           not
           directly
           and
           vertically
           placed
           over
           them
           all
           ,
           but
           darts
           its
           Beams
           Perpendicularly
           on
           one
           or
           some
           onely
           .
           And
           whereas
           some
           curiously
           observe
           
             which
             way
          
           these
           blazing
           Lights
           
             cast
             their
             Rays
             and
             spread
             their
             Train
             ,
          
           I
           look
           on
           it
           as
           the
           product
           of
           vulgar
           Errour
           and
           Mistake
           ,
           (
           though
           I
           know
           too
           that
           some
           of
           the
           Learned
           are
           pleased
           with
           it
           )
           for
           this
           sort
           of
           Bodies
           always
           turn
           their
           Faces
           to
           the
           Sun
           ,
           and
           their
           Tails
           from
           it
           :
           so
           that
           there
           can
           be
           no
           ground
           to
           make
           any
           Judgment
           of
           their
           looking
           towards
           this
           or
           that
           Countrey
           or
           Kingdom
           .
           But
           it
           is
           reasonable
           to
           observe
           how
           high
           they
           mount
           ,
           and
           whether
           they
           hang
           perpendicularly
           over
           our
           Heads
           ;
           for
           the
           farther
           they
           
           climb
           in
           our
           Hemisphere
           ,
           the
           more
           powerfull
           are
           their
           Rays
           ,
           and
           their
           Influence
           the
           more
           pregnant
           .
           This
           too
           is
           to
           be
           considered
           that
           the
           
             longer
             Time
          
           they
           stay
           with
           us
           ,
           and
           the
           oftner
           they
           appear
           ,
           the
           greater
           undoubtedly
           is
           the
           Presage
           which
           we
           may
           expect
           from
           them
           .
           And
           we
           are
           to
           consider
           the
           Magnitude
           of
           a
           Comet
           as
           well
           as
           the
           time
           of
           its
           Duration
           ;
           for
           the
           greater
           it
           is
           ,
           the
           Effects
           of
           it
           are
           proportionably
           so
           too
           ,
           and
           they
           continue
           the
           longer
           .
           All
           these
           things
           must
           be
           attended
           to
           ,
           and
           then
           we
           shall
           easily
           be
           induced
           to
           grant
           that
           the
           Influence
           of
           Comets
           is
           not
           alike
           as
           to
           all
           Countries
           and
           People
           .
           To
           instance
           in
           the
           Comet
           in
           1680.
           whatever
           Influence
           and
           Aspect
           it
           had
           on
           other
           Regions
           and
           Inhabitants
           ,
           We
           of
           this
           Island
           may
           be
           convinced
           from
           the
           Premisses
           that
           it
           nearly
           concerned
           us
           :
           for
           its
           
             apparent
             Greatness
             ,
             height
             of
             Ascension
             ,
          
           and
           Continuance
           are
           so
           many
           Demonstrations
           
           of
           it
           .
           How
           large
           must
           it
           needs
           be
           when
           ,
           being
           situated
           not
           far
           from
           the
           Horizon
           ,
           it
           almost
           reached
           with
           its
           Tail
           to
           the
           Zenith
           ,
           or
           Mid-Heaven
           ?
           How
           great
           think
           you
           was
           it
           when
           it
           was
           seen
           to
           extend
           it self
           in
           length
           about
           50
           ,
           nay
           ,
           sometimes
           60
           Degrees
           of
           our
           Hemisphere
           ?
           And
           the
           
             time
             of
             its
             stay
          
           also
           was
           very
           considerable
           ,
           and
           made
           it
           the
           more
           portentous
           and
           terrible
           :
           for
           it
           appeared
           two
           whole
           months
           together
           ,
           unless
           when
           the
           Clouds
           hindred
           it
           from
           being
           seen
           ;
           and
           it
           was
           three
           months
           visible
           in
           one
           place
           or
           other
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           utmost
           and
           longest
           Duration
           generally
           of
           a
           Comet
           .
           I
           have
           read
           but
           of
           two
           that
           attained
           to
           this
           ,
           viz.
           That
           Sword-Comet
           which
           hung
           over
           Ierusalem
           ,
           and
           that
           which
           was
           seen
           in
           the
           beginning
           of
           
           Nero's
           Reign
           ,
           which
           lasted
           six
           months
           ,
           if
           Seneca
           may
           be
           credited
           (
           
             Nat.
             Qu.
             l.
             7.
             c.
          
           21.
           )
           though
           Pliny
           ,
           who
           lived
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           tells
           us
           ,
           (
           
             Nat.
             
             Hist.
             l.
             2.
             c.
          
           25.
           )
           that
           Fourscore
           days
           is
           the
           longest
           space
           of
           time
           any
           Comet
           continueth
           ,
           which
           wanteth
           a
           hundred
           days
           of
           six
           months
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           certain
           that
           the
           extraordinary
           Continuance
           and
           Duration
           of
           that
           late
           terrible
           spectacle
           ,
           signified
           that
           the
           Events
           which
           were
           to
           insue
           it
           should
           continue
           long
           .
           And
           the
           last
           which
           appeared
           ,
           viz.
           in
           the
           Year
           1682.
           made
           a
           considerable
           stay
           ,
           and
           tarried
           many
           weeks
           with
           us
           ,
           and
           though
           its
           Magnitude
           was
           not
           to
           be
           compared
           with
           that
           of
           the
           former
           ,
           yet
           its
           Aspect
           and
           Influence
           are
           to
           be
           accounted
           the
           more
           significant
           ,
           because
           it
           visited
           us
           with
           such
           quick
           returns
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           not
           onely
           in
           the
           Evenings
           ,
           but
           in
           the
           mornings
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           I
           add
           ,
           that
           even
           all
           those
           Countries
           and
           Nations
           which
           Comets
           successively
           visit
           ,
           may
           successively
           ,
           and
           in
           due
           time
           ,
           feel
           the
           effects
           of
           them
           .
           The
           Influence
           may
           
           reach
           every
           one
           of
           them
           at
           last
           :
           for
           there
           is
           at
           the
           same
           time
           a
           circular
           and
           periodical
           Motion
           in
           Bodies
           Politick
           as
           well
           as
           Natural
           :
           and
           Countreys
           by
           Sympathy
           communicate
           Evils
           to
           one
           another
           ,
           particularly
           we
           may
           gather
           that
           that
           astonishing
           Comet
           in
           1680.
           which
           was
           visible
           to
           all
           Europe
           ,
           and
           other
           parts
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           shall
           be
           of
           universal
           Influence
           ,
           and
           many
           Nations
           shall
           share
           in
           the
           Revolutions
           and
           Occurrences
           which
           it
           shall
           produce
           .
           Common
           Artists
           take
           occasion
           to
           speak
           of
           the
           Signs
           it
           passed
           through
           ,
           and
           there
           they
           are
           full
           of
           roving
           Conjectures
           and
           Uncertainties
           ;
           but
           we
           may
           safely
           infer
           this
           from
           its
           passing
           through
           so
           
             Many
             ,
             viz.
          
           Seven
           Signs
           and
           an
           half
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           probable
           a
           very
           considerable
           part
           of
           the
           World
           is
           concerned
           in
           the
           Effects
           and
           Consequences
           of
           it
           .
           General
           Distresses
           and
           Troubles
           shall
           be
           complained
           of
           ,
           there
           shall
           happen
           Catholick
           
           and
           spreading
           Calamities
           ,
           and
           (
           which
           is
           always
           to
           be
           implied
           ,
           if
           God
           or
           Man
           do
           not
           interpose
           ,
           the
           one
           by
           infinite
           Clemency
           and
           Forbearance
           ,
           or
           the
           other
           by
           Repentance
           and
           Amendment
           )
           Evils
           of
           a
           very
           vast
           Circumference
           shall
           environ
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           A
           Fifth
           Objection
           is
           plausibly
           raised
           from
           10.
           
           Ier.
           2.
           
           Thus
           faith
           the
           Lord
           ,
           
             Learn
             not
             the
             way
             of
             the
             Heathen
             ,
             and
             be
             not
             dismayed
             at
             the
             Signs
             of
             Heaven
             ,
             for
             the
             Heathen
             are
             dismayed
             at
             them
             .
          
           Whence
           it
           may
           be
           inferred
           that
           it
           is
           wicked
           and
           Paganish
           to
           imagine
           any
           Signs
           or
           Tokens
           in
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           is
           the
           guise
           onely
           of
           the
           deluded
           Gentile
           World
           to
           be
           afraid
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           therefore
           the
           Presage
           of
           Comets
           is
           hereby
           cashiered
           .
        
         
           I
           Reply
           ,
        
         
         
           1.
           
           It
           is
           Nonsense
           to
           argue
           from
           this
           place
           that
           there
           are
           no
           Signs
           in
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           when
           the
           very
           Text
           supposes
           and
           grants
           it
           ,
           expresly
           calling
           them
           the
           
             Signs
             of
             Heaven
          
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           These
           Signs
           are
           the
           ordinary
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           ,
           called
           in
           the
           Holy
           Style
           the
           
             Host
             of
             Heaven
          
           ,
           the
           Sun
           ,
           Moon
           and
           Stars
           ;
           and
           to
           these
           may
           be
           adjoined
           the
           extraordinary
           Bodies
           which
           are
           seen
           in
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           as
           Comets
           .
           Now
           God
           commands
           his
           own
           People
           not
           to
           be
           dismayed
           at
           any
           of
           these
           ,
           as
           the
           Heathens
           were
           wont
           to
           be
           ,
           who
           believed
           these
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           to
           be
           alive
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           governed
           all
           things
           here
           below
           by
           their
           great
           Power
           :
           they
           thought
           that
           all
           their
           affairs
           depended
           wholly
           on
           these
           ,
           and
           therefore
           they
           were
           put
           into
           great
           Disorders
           by
           such
           Notions
           ,
           and
           were
           struck
           with
           strange
           Affrightment
           and
           Astonishment
           .
           Their
           fearing
           of
           them
           put
           them
           upon
           worshipping
           
           them
           as
           Gods
           ,
           and
           as
           if
           they
           had
           Divine
           Power
           .
           Thus
           the
           Heathens
           thought
           and
           practised
           ,
           but
           God's
           
             Chosen
             People
          
           are
           forbid
           the
           superstitious
           reverencing
           and
           worshipping
           of
           these
           .
           And
           not
           onely
           an
           Idolatrous
           Fear
           is
           disallowed
           them
           but
           any
           other
           that
           is
           unbecoming
           and
           disorderly
           :
           they
           must
           not
           be
           troubled
           and
           cast
           down
           ,
           dismayed
           and
           dejected
           at
           any
           unusual
           Appearance
           in
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           distrust
           God's
           Providence
           ,
           and
           act
           things
           unworthy
           of
           their
           Holy
           Profession
           .
           The
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           are
           Signs
           ,
           and
           some
           of
           them
           very
           terrible
           ones
           ,
           but
           they
           must
           by
           no
           means
           fright
           good
           men
           out
           of
           their
           Duty
           ,
           or
           into
           a
           disesteem
           of
           God's
           governing
           the
           World.
           Queen
           
           Elizabeth's
           
             Iacia
             est
             alea
          
           ,
           was
           very
           brave
           and
           becoming
           upon
           occasion
           of
           one
           of
           her
           Courtiers
           dissuading
           her
           from
           looking
           on
           a
           Comet
           which
           appeared
           when
           the
           lay
           at
           Richmond
           .
           But
           she
           commanded
           the
           Windows
           
           to
           be
           set
           open
           ,
           and
           uttered
           those
           gallant
           words
           ,
           
             Iacta
             est
             alea
          
           ,
           The
           Die
           is
           cast
           (
           saith
           she
           )
           by
           the
           Divine
           Hand
           ;
           as
           we
           cannot
           disappoint
           ,
           so
           neither
           ought
           we
           to
           be
           unchristianly
           afraid
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           Comets
           being
           Signs
           ,
           they
           must
           be
           taken
           notice
           of
           ,
           for
           they
           were
           set
           up
           for
           that
           end
           ,
           or
           rather
           not
           they
           ,
           but
           the
           Hand
           and
           Voice
           of
           God
           in
           them
           are
           to
           be
           observed
           and
           dreaded
           .
           Most
           apposite
           to
           which
           purpose
           is
           that
           which
           I
           have
           read
           in
           the
           Life
           of
           Charles
           the
           Great
           .
           
           A
           vast
           and
           dreadfull
           Comet
           shone
           in
           the
           close
           of
           this
           great
           Monarch's
           Reign
           :
           Upon
           the
           rising
           of
           which
           new
           Light
           in
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           he
           asked
           what
           it
           foretold
           ?
           Imagining
           (
           what
           indeed
           happened
           ,
           and
           is
           often
           foresignified
           by
           such
           Apparitions
           )
           that
           his
           Death
           was
           near
           at
           hand
           .
           Eginardus
           ,
           with
           whom
           he
           held
           conference
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           (
           a
           great
           Philosopher
           and
           his
           Secretary
           ,
           who
           writ
           this
           Prince's
           Life
           )
           
           answered
           him
           more
           like
           a
           Divine
           than
           a
           Philosopher
           ,
           in
           those
           words
           of
           Scripture
           which
           I
           just
           now
           descanted
           upon
           ,
           
             Be
             not
             dismayed
             at
             the
             Signs
             of
             Heaven
             .
          
           To
           which
           the
           Emperour
           replied
           ,
           that
           he
           was
           not
           dismayed
           at
           such
           kind
           of
           Signs
           ,
           but
           feared
           and
           reverenced
           the
           Powerfull
           Cause
           and
           Divine
           Framer
           of
           them
           ,
           who
           being
           incensed
           with
           Anger
           against
           a
           People
           or
           Prince
           ,
           is
           wont
           by
           these
           to
           admonish
           them
           of
           his
           Wrath
           ,
           and
           to
           call
           them
           to
           Repentance
           that
           they
           may
           avoid
           it
           .
           And
           this
           is
           the
           sum
           of
           all
           that
           I
           have
           said
           concerning
           the
           Presages
           of
           Comets
           .
        
         
           Sixthly
           ,
           and
           Lastly
           ,
           It
           is
           objected
           that
           if
           Comets
           be
           significative
           and
           portentous
           ,
           then
           there
           is
           as
           much
           Reason
           to
           believe
           that
           the
           other
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           ,
           as
           the
           Planets
           and
           the
           fixed
           Luminaries
           ,
           and
           their
           several
           Motions
           and
           Aspects
           are
           so
           too
           ,
           and
           by
           this
           means
           we
           
           open
           a
           door
           to
           all
           the
           superstitious
           Observations
           ,
           and
           groundless
           Prognostications
           of
           
             Iudiciary
             Astrology
          
           ,
           whereby
           some
           men
           pretend
           to
           divine
           the
           greatest
           Events
           that
           shall
           happen
           ,
           and
           to
           foretell
           the
           Fate
           of
           Kingdoms
           and
           Common-wealths
           .
        
         
           Having
           delivered
           my
           Sentiments
           freely
           and
           impartially
           concerning
           those
           great
           and
           glaring
           Lights
           and
           their
           Presages
           ,
           which
           I
           undertook
           chiefly
           to
           treat
           of
           ,
           it
           remaineth
           now
           that
           in
           Answer
           to
           this
           Objection
           ,
           I
           do
           with
           the
           same
           freedom
           present
           you
           with
           my
           thoughts
           concerning
           the
           
             Iudiciary
             part
          
           of
           that
           Noble
           Science
           of
           Astrology
           ,
           and
           that
           I
           enquire
           whether
           there
           can
           be
           any
           real
           Presaging
           from
           the
           ordinary
           Bodies
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           as
           the
           Sun
           ,
           Moon
           and
           Stars
           ,
           and
           what
           insight
           into
           futurities
           any
           man
           of
           Reading
           ,
           Study
           and
           Observation
           may
           gain
           by
           being
           acquainted
           with
           their
           Motions
           .
        
         
         
           I
           know
           very
           well
           that
           it
           is
           the
           humour
           of
           Writers
           to
           oppose
           and
           flatly
           deny
           all
           that
           their
           Adversaries
           say
           ,
           and
           to
           run
           counter
           with
           every
           Proposition
           they
           lay
           down
           ,
           and
           for
           no
           other
           Reason
           oftentimes
           than
           because
           they
           are
           theirs
           .
           And
           the
           main
           and
           onely
           design
           of
           these
           Persons
           being
           this
           ,
           to
           be
           victours
           ;
           it
           is
           not
           to
           be
           wondred
           at
           ,
           that
           they
           behave
           themselves
           after
           this
           rate
           .
           But
           I
           (
           having
           no
           other
           design
           than
           that
           
             Truth
             onely
          
           may
           have
           the
           Victory
           )
           will
           not
           tread
           in
           their
           steps
           .
           And
           indeed
           it
           is
           fond
           and
           absurd
           Custome
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           is
           unbecoming
           Rational
           Minds
           ,
           to
           hold
           all
           or
           nothing
           of
           an
           Opinion
           about
           which
           the
           Dispute
           is
           raised
           .
           I
           am
           sure
           if
           this
           had
           not
           been
           wilfully
           kept
           up
           ,
           there
           had
           been
           an
           end
           e'er
           this
           of
           most
           of
           the
           Controversies
           that
           trouble
           the
           World.
           I
           will
           endeavour
           therefore
           to
           silence
           and
           compose
           this
           Quarrel
           which
           I
           am
           now
           entring
           upon
           by
           going
           another
           
           way
           to
           work
           ,
           namely
           ,
           by
           fairly
           granting
           something
           ,
           that
           I
           may
           more
           impregnably
           hold
           the
           rest
           .
        
         
           How
           zealous
           are
           some
           in
           discarding
           the
           whole
           Host
           of
           Heaven
           from
           influencing
           in
           the
           least
           on
           things
           here
           below
           ,
           even
           the
           meanest
           Occurrences
           of
           Man's
           Life
           ?
           They
           think
           they
           are
           bound
           to
           run
           down
           all
           the
           orders
           of
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           at
           once
           .
           The
           Sun
           (
           say
           they
           )
           which
           is
           the
           greatest
           Luminary
           ,
           hath
           no
           way
           to
           act
           but
           by
           its
           Light
           and
           Heat
           ,
           and
           its
           business
           is
           onely
           with
           the
           Earth
           ,
           Minerals
           ,
           Plants
           ,
           and
           mere
           Animals
           .
           The
           Moon
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Planets
           are
           heavy
           ,
           dull
           things
           ;
           they
           cannot
           doe
           more
           than
           the
           Earth
           ,
           that
           being
           as
           good
           a
           Planet
           as
           any
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           the
           Earth
           influenceth
           as
           much
           on
           them
           as
           they
           upon
           it
           .
           The
           fixed
           Stars
           are
           too
           far
           off
           ,
           besides
           that
           the
           Situation
           of
           them
           is
           ever
           the
           same
           .
           And
           thus
           they
           are
           all
           uncapable
           of
           doing
           any
           feats
           in
           this
           
           lower
           World
           wherein
           we
           live
           .
           But
           I
           must
           declare
           for
           my
           part
           ,
           that
           I
           look
           upon
           this
           as
           too
           high
           and
           ranting
           .
           I
           am
           willing
           to
           grant
           that
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           Act
           on
           Things
           and
           Persons
           on
           Earth
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           are
           likewise
           Signs
           :
           and
           yet
           this
           is
           no
           prejudice
           to
           our
           fore-established
           Doctrine
           .
           To
           prove
           this
           let
           us
           look
           into
           the
           first
           Creation
           and
           Institution
           of
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           :
           and
           there
           it
           is
           most
           likely
           we
           shall
           find
           the
           
             true
             Ends
          
           and
           Vses
           of
           them
           .
           And
           these
           are
           no
           less
           than
           five
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Authentick
           and
           Canonical
           Account
           which
           is
           given
           of
           them
           in
           Gen.
           1.
           14.
           
           &c.
           I
           will
           not
           set
           them
           down
           in
           the
           order
           they
           are
           in
           there
           ,
           yet
           I
           will
           be
           exact
           in
           the
           enumerating
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           The
           First
           End
           of
           them
           is
           
             to
             give
             Light
             upon
             the
             Earth
             ,
          
           (
           v.
           15.
           )
           that
           Men
           may
           see
           how
           to
           dispatch
           their
           Affairs
           with
           Ease
           and
           Chearfulness
           .
           
           An
           ineffable
           Blessing
           certainly
           !
           and
           such
           as
           the
           wisest
           man
           takes
           particular
           notice
           of
           ,
           when
           he
           saith
           ,
           
             Truly
             the
             Light
             is
             sweet
             ,
             and
             a
             pleasant
             thing
             it
             is
             for
             the
             Eyes
             to
             behold
             the
             Sun
             ,
          
           Eccl.
           11.
           7.
           
           Of
           this
           the
           Learned
           Jew
           speaks
           ,
           
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           What
           were
           these
           glittering
           Lights
           set
           up
           for
           ,
           unless
           it
           were
           for
           the
           service
           of
           the
           Eyes
           ,
           to
           see
           by
           them
           ?
        
         
           A
           Second
           Use
           of
           these
           Luminaries
           is
           to
           be
           
             for
             Seasons
          
           ,
           (
           v.
           14.
           )
           Those
           Commentatours
           that
           interpret
           it
           of
           the
           Season
           of
           Weather
           ,
           shew
           that
           they
           attend
           not
           to
           the
           genuine
           sense
           of
           the
           Original
           Word
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           But
           the
           true
           meaning
           is
           ,
           That
           those
           Heavenly
           Luminaries
           were
           appointed
           for
           distinction
           of
           Times
           and
           Seasons
           ,
           whether
           they
           be
           for
           Natural
           ,
           Civil
           or
           Religious
           
           Affairs
           Thus
           among
           the
           Jews
           the
           Feasts
           of
           the
           New-moons
           ,
           and
           Sabbaths
           ,
           and
           other
           sacred
           Solemnities
           depended
           on
           the
           Returns
           and
           Courses
           of
           these
           Bodies
           .
           And
           still
           the
           orderly
           Service
           of
           God
           is
           kept
           up
           by
           observing
           the
           First
           Day
           of
           the
           Week
           ,
           and
           other
           Periods
           of
           Time
           ,
           either
           expressed
           by
           the
           first
           Founder
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           or
           laudably
           constituted
           by
           the
           Church
           .
        
         
           Understand
           here
           also
           
             other
             Seasons
             and
             Opportunities
             ,
             viz.
          
           of
           several
           Professions
           and
           Employments
           in
           the
           Life
           of
           Man.
           Husbandmen
           learn
           hence
           to
           plow
           ,
           sow
           ,
           plant
           ,
           lop
           Trees
           ,
           &c.
           according
           to
           the
           right
           Season
           ;
           of
           which
           you
           may
           reade
           in
           
             Virgil's
             Georgicks
          
           ,
           and
           
           Hesiod's
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           And
           as
           the
           Luminaries
           of
           Heaven
           are
           usefull
           in
           Husbandry
           ,
           so
           are
           they
           no
           less
           in
           Navigation
           ,
           to
           direct
           Mariners
           to
           guide
           their
           Vessels
           with
           safety
           and
           Success
           .
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ;
           
           What
           but
           the
           knowledge
           of
           the
           Periodical
           motions
           and
           revolutions
           of
           the
           Stars
           opened
           and
           shewed
           the
           way
           to
           Seamen
           in
           so
           many
           vast
           and
           spacious
           Seas
           ?
           And
           not
           only
           the
           Husbandman
           and
           Mariner
           ,
           but
           the
           Masters
           of
           Medicks
           gratefully
           acknowledge
           those
           Luminaries
           to
           be
           
             for
             Seasons
             .
             Hippocrates
          
           and
           Galen
           assert
           the
           usefulness
           ,
           nay
           ,
           the
           necessity
           of
           Astrology
           in
           Physick
           .
           They
           acquaint
           us
           that
           Diseases
           are
           rendred
           critical
           by
           such
           and
           such
           Returns
           of
           Planets
           ,
           and
           according
           to
           this
           they
           give
           directions
           at
           what
           Seasons
           to
           administer
           Medicines
           .
           
             Marcilius
             Ficinus
          
           ,
           that
           Noble
           Platonick
           Philosopher
           and
           Physician
           ,
           wrote
           a
           Piece
           
             de
             Medicina
             Astrologiae
             jungenda
             .
             Fernelius
          
           that
           Learned
           French
           Physician
           ,
           his
           Judgment
           and
           Practice
           in
           this
           case
           are
           well
           known
           .
           I
           question
           not
           but
           the
           carefull
           
           observing
           and
           due
           attending
           of
           the
           Times
           of
           the
           Heavenly
           Aspects
           and
           Influences
           are
           very
           usefull
           in
           Physick
           ,
           though
           now
           that
           course
           be
           laid
           aside
           generally
           by
           Practitioners
           .
        
         
           A
           Third
           End
           of
           these
           Lights
           in
           the
           Heavens
           is
           to
           be
           
             for
             Days
             and
             Years
          
           .
           v.
           14.
           that
           is
           ,
           by
           the
           constant
           Motion
           of
           these
           Bodies
           Time
           is
           measured
           and
           numbred
           ,
           by
           these
           Time
           is
           divided
           and
           distinguished
           into
           greater
           and
           lesser
           portions
           ,
           as
           Years
           ,
           Months
           ,
           Weeks
           ,
           Days
           ,
           Hours
           ,
           &c.
           
           By
           these
           we
           keep
           an
           account
           of
           our
           Actions
           ,
           we
           call
           to
           mind
           ,
           reckon
           ,
           compute
           ,
           forecast
           :
           we
           understand
           the
           duration
           of
           Beings
           ,
           the
           certain
           Intervalls
           and
           distances
           of
           things
           ,
           the
           Ages
           and
           Generations
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           which
           is
           of
           singular
           Use
           in
           Man's
           Life
           .
        
         
           Their
           Fourth
           Use
           is
           
             to
             divide
             the
             Day
             from
             the
             Night
             ,
          
           v.
           14.
           or
           
           (
           as
           it
           is
           said
           afterwards
           ,
           v.
           18.
           )
           
             to
             divide
             the
             Light
             from
             the
             Darkness
             ,
             and
             to
             rule
             over
             the
             Day
             and
             over
             the
             Night
             .
          
           These
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           by
           their
           Setting
           and
           Rising
           ,
           cause
           Light
           and
           Darkness
           ,
           and
           consequently
           are
           the
           Authours
           of
           the
           successive
           Returns
           of
           Day
           and
           Night
           to
           us
           .
           This
           is
           set
           them
           as
           an
           immoveable
           and
           never
           failing
           constitution
           ,
           and
           therefore
           is
           styled
           
             the
             Covenant
          
           of
           the
           Day
           and
           Night
           ,
           Ier.
           33.
           20.
           and
           the
           Ordinance
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           Ier.
           31.
           35
           ,
           36.
           
           And
           under
           
             This
             Vse
          
           of
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           is
           comprehended
           their
           Warming
           and
           
             Chearing
             Virtue
          
           ,
           (
           especially
           of
           the
           Sun
           ,
           which
           brings
           to
           us
           Day
           and
           This
           together
           ,
           and
           of
           which
           the
           great
           Observer
           of
           God's
           Works
           thus
           speaketh
           ,
           
             There
             is
             nothing
             bid
             from
             the
             heat
             thereof
             ,
          
           )
           and
           also
           their
           
             fructifying
             ,
             generative
          
           and
           
             prolifick
             Faculty
          
           ,
           whereby
           they
           may
           justly
           be
           said
           to
           Rule
           ,
           and
           bear
           sway
           in
           the
           World.
           
        
         
         
           The
           Fifth
           and
           Last
           Use
           of
           these
           glorious
           Lights
           in
           the
           firmament
           of
           Heaven
           (
           and
           which
           is
           the
           use
           of
           them
           wherein
           we
           are
           most
           concerned
           at
           present
           )
           is
           to
           signifie
           something
           to
           the
           World
           :
           
             Let
             them
             be
             for
             Signs
          
           ,
           v.
           14.
           
           And
           in
           the
           place
           before
           commented
           upon
           they
           are
           called
           the
           
             Signs
             of
             Heaven
          
           .
           Which
           an
           Astronomical
           Poet
           expresseth
           thus
           ,
           
             
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               
            
             
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               .
               —
            
          
        
         
           Here
           then
           may
           Business
           is
           to
           shew
           how
           they
           are
           said
           to
           be
           
             for
             Signs
          
           ,
           or
           What
           it
           is
           that
           they
           signifie
           to
           the
           World.
           Accordingly
           I
           assert
           that
           they
           signifie
           three
           forts
           of
           Occurrences
           ,
           viz.
           Natural
           ,
           Civil
           and
           Divine
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           They
           give
           notice
           to
           us
           of
           Natural
           things
           ,
           as
           Rain
           or
           Drought
           ,
           
           Storms
           or
           Calms
           ,
           Heat
           or
           Cold
           ,
           Winter
           or
           Summer
           ,
           with
           the
           other
           Seasons
           of
           the
           Year
           ,
           the
           Ebbing
           and
           Flowing
           of
           the
           Sea
           ,
           Plenty
           or
           Scarcity
           of
           the
           Fruits
           of
           the
           Earth
           ;
           in
           short
           ,
           the
           Change
           of
           Weather
           ,
           and
           Alteration
           of
           the
           temper
           of
           the
           Elements
           .
           These
           are
           signified
           by
           the
           Sun
           's
           Rising
           or
           Setting
           with
           such
           and
           such
           Stars
           or
           Constellations
           ,
           by
           the
           Access
           or
           Recess
           of
           the
           Planets
           to
           and
           form
           the
           Sun
           ,
           and
           among
           themselves
           .
           This
           ,
           it
           seems
           ,
           is
           a
           thing
           which
           was
           thought
           worthy
           to
           be
           mentioned
           by
           a
           Divine
           Pen-man
           ,
           for
           he
           biddeth
           the
           Rebellious
           Jews
           seek
           
             him
             that
             maketh
             the
             Seven
             Stars
             and
             Orion
             ,
          
           
           
             i.
             e.
          
           God
           ,
           who
           by
           the
           Appearing
           of
           these
           ,
           and
           other
           Constellations
           at
           certain
           times
           ,
           gives
           notice
           of
           the
           different
           Seasons
           of
           the
           Year
           .
           And
           this
           was
           a
           way
           of
           speaking
           which
           well
           became
           
             Amos
             the
             Herdsman
          
           ,
           who
           had
           been
           used
           to
           keep
           his
           Cattel
           ,
           and
           watch
           in
           the
           Fields
           all
           Night
           ,
           
           and
           there
           had
           leisure
           and
           opportunity
           to
           observe
           how
           the
           several
           Seasons
           were
           ushered
           in
           by
           these
           Lamps
           of
           Heaven
           .
           But
           hear
           what
           another
           inspired
           Searcher
           into
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           saith
           of
           the
           great
           Creatour
           ,
           viz.
           that
           
             He
             maketh
             Arcturus
             ,
             Orion
             ,
             and
             Pleiades
             ,
          
           
           
             and
             the
             Chambers
             of
             the
             South
             .
          
           That
           is
           ,
           he
           maketh
           the
           Year
           ,
           the
           Parts
           of
           which
           are
           signified
           and
           known
           by
           the
           rising
           of
           these
           Constellations
           ;
           for
           Arcturus
           ,
           or
           the
           Bear
           's
           Tail
           ,
           a
           Star
           of
           the
           first
           Magnitude
           in
           the
           Northern
           Hemisphere
           ,
           is
           said
           to
           arise
           in
           
             Autumn
             .
             Orion
          
           ,
           a
           Southern
           Constellation
           ,
           made
           up
           of
           many
           splendent
           Stars
           ,
           arises
           in
           Winter
           .
           It
           is
           called
           
             Nimbosus
             Orion
          
           by
           Virgil
           ,
           and
           is
           accordingly
           deemed
           by
           Astrologers
           to
           be
           the
           Cause
           of
           great
           Storms
           and
           Tempests
           .
           It
           s
           name
           in
           Hebrew
           is
           Kesil
           ,
           whence
           perhaps
           the
           Month
           Kisleu
           among
           the
           Jews
           (
           which
           answers
           to
           November
           )
           had
           its
           denomination
           ,
           this
           
           Constellation
           rising
           in
           that
           Month.
           And
           by
           the
           bye
           let
           me
           shove
           in
           this
           Criticism
           ,
           when
           we
           reade
           that
           the
           same
           word
           Kesil
           signifies
           a
           Fool
           ,
           (
           as
           in
           
           Solomon's
           Proverbs
           and
           other
           places
           )
           we
           need
           not
           wonder
           that
           a
           Constellation
           which
           causes
           Change
           of
           Weather
           ,
           gives
           name
           to
           a
           
             foolish
             ,
             light
          
           ,
           and
           
             unconstant
             Person
          
           .
           The
           Pleiades
           ,
           or
           Seven
           Stars
           ,
           arise
           in
           the
           Spring
           .
           And
           Iob
           makes
           mention
           of
           the
           
             Chambers
             of
             the
             South
          
           ,
           which
           perhaps
           are
           the
           Stars
           which
           arise
           in
           the
           Summer
           :
           and
           so
           the
           four
           several
           Quarters
           of
           the
           Year
           are
           set
           down
           .
           Aratus
           and
           Hyginus
           ,
           and
           other
           Ancients
           ,
           discourse
           of
           this
           kind
           of
           Prognosticks
           .
           Of
           these
           Philo
           the
           Jew
           speaks
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           
           The
           Stars
           were
           made
           not
           onely
           to
           enlighten
           the
           Earth
           ,
           but
           to
           be
           signs
           of
           future
           Accidents
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           (
           as
           he
           there
           explaineth
           himself
           )
           of
           different
           Seasons
           
           of
           Weather
           .
           Which
           is
           his
           meaning
           in
           another
           Treatise
           ,
           where
           he
           saith
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           
           The
           Signs
           of
           all
           these
           things
           that
           you
           see
           upon
           Earth
           ,
           are
           set
           up
           and
           erected
           in
           the
           Heavens
           .
           And
           I
           am
           mistaken
           if
           the
           Learned
           Father
           speaketh
           not
           of
           these
           Prognosticks
           when
           he
           telleth
           us
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           
           The
           Observation
           of
           the
           Luminaries
           of
           Heaven
           is
           usefull
           and
           even
           necessary
           for
           Man's
           Life
           ,
           unless
           People
           will
           beyond
           measure
           ,
           and
           with
           an
           unlawfull
           curiosity
           ,
           search
           into
           the
           Signs
           which
           those
           Bodies
           afford
           us
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           These
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           were
           created
           not
           onely
           to
           
             signifie
             Natural
             things
          
           ,
           but
           
             Humane
             and
             Civil
             Occurrences
          
           ,
           and
           these
           either
           Private
           or
           Publick
           ,
           the
           Concerns
           
           of
           Families
           or
           Kingdoms
           .
           All
           sorts
           of
           Actions
           and
           Events
           ,
           whether
           good
           ,
           or
           evil
           ,
           or
           indifferent
           ,
           may
           (
           at
           one
           time
           or
           other
           )
           be
           partly
           discerned
           from
           the
           Observation
           of
           the
           Natural
           and
           usual
           Motions
           of
           the
           Host
           of
           Heaven
           .
           For
           though
           I
           cannot
           
             make
             out
          
           the
           dependence
           and
           affinity
           between
           them
           and
           these
           ,
           as
           of
           Effects
           and
           Causes
           ,
           and
           though
           the
           Knowledge
           which
           is
           gained
           thence
           is
           usually
           uncertain
           ;
           yet
           I
           cannot
           assert
           with
           the
           boldness
           which
           I
           see
           others
           do
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           no
           Natural
           Effects
           following
           from
           such
           Positions
           and
           Situations
           of
           the
           Stars
           ,
           but
           I
           have
           reason
           to
           believe
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           that
           their
           various
           Motions
           and
           Aspects
           are
           in
           some
           measure
           Significant
           .
        
         
           Let
           us
           consider
           then
           that
           the
           Seven
           Planets
           are
           always
           in
           one
           or
           other
           of
           the
           Twelve
           Signs
           ,
           or
           (
           which
           is
           the
           same
           thing
           )
           they
           are
           directly
           under
           some
           part
           of
           the
           Zodiack
           ,
           (
           which
           is
           divided
           into
           12
           parts
           in
           
           all
           ,
           )
           or
           (
           to
           speak
           plainer
           yet
           )
           the
           Wandring
           Stars
           move
           under
           some
           particular
           fixed
           ones
           ,
           and
           the
           mutual
           Habitude
           which
           those
           have
           to
           one
           another
           as
           they
           are
           placed
           under
           these
           (
           or
           ,
           as
           Artists
           speak
           ,
           as
           they
           move
           through
           these
           Signs
           )
           causeth
           several
           Aspects
           .
           And
           these
           Aspects
           are
           either
           Right
           or
           Collateral
           .
        
         
           A
           Right
           Aspect
           is
           when
           one
           Planet
           hath
           a
           Relation
           to
           another
           in
           a
           Right
           Line
           .
           And
           this
           is
           either
           Conjunction
           or
           Opposition
           .
           Conjunction
           is
           when
           two
           Planets
           meet
           together
           in
           the
           same
           Sign
           of
           the
           Zodiack
           :
           Its
           mark
           is
           this
           ,
           ☌
           .
           Opposition
           (
           marked
           thus
           ,
           ☍
           )
           is
           when
           Planets
           are
           in
           Diametrical
           or
           opposite
           Signs
           ,
           viz.
           when
           they
           are
           distant
           from
           one
           another
           half
           the
           Circle
           of
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           Six
           Signs
           ,
           or
           180
           Degrees
           .
        
         
           A
           Collateral
           Aspect
           is
           when
           Planets
           look
           on
           one
           another
           in
           Collateral
           and
           Oblique
           Lines
           ;
           and
           this
           
           is
           Threefold
           ,
           namely
           ,
           Sextile
           ⚹
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           distant
           from
           one
           another
           a
           Sixth
           part
           of
           the
           Zodiack
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           two
           Signs
           ,
           or
           60
           Degrees
           .
           Quadrate
           □
           ,
           when
           Planets
           are
           removed
           from
           one
           another
           90
           Degrees
           of
           the
           Zodiack
           ,
           or
           3
           Signs
           ,
           which
           is
           a
           fourth
           part
           of
           the
           Circle
           .
           Trine
           ,
           or
           Triangular
           △
           ,
           when
           one
           Planet
           is
           distant
           from
           another
           a
           Third
           part
           of
           the
           Zodiack
           ,
           which
           contains
           40
           Signs
           ,
           or
           120
           Degrees
           .
           These
           Configurations
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           Aspects
           (
           no
           less
           than
           five
           in
           all
           )
           happen
           according
           to
           the
           different
           parts
           of
           the
           Zodiack
           which
           the
           Planets
           are
           in
           ,
           or
           move
           under
           .
           Hence
           arise
           the
           Dignities
           and
           Infirmities
           ,
           the
           Fortitudes
           and
           Debilities
           of
           the
           Planets
           ,
           for
           they
           are
           supposed
           to
           help
           or
           hinder
           ,
           to
           promote
           or
           indamage
           one
           another
           ,
           according
           to
           their
           various
           Situation
           ,
           Aspects
           and
           Agreements
           with
           other
           Planets
           .
           And
           among
           the
           forenamed
           Aspects
           ,
           Opposition
           and
           Quadrate
           
           are
           reckoned
           as
           malign
           :
           the
           rest
           are
           thought
           to
           be
           favourable
           and
           benign
           .
           And
           among
           these
           latter
           ,
           Conjunction
           is
           the
           most
           effectual
           of
           all
           the
           Radiations
           of
           the
           Planets
           ,
           and
           Sextile
           is
           the
           weakest
           and
           Faintest
           .
        
         
           Now
           I
           propound
           it
           fairly
           and
           peaceably
           to
           any
           considerative
           Person
           ,
           whether
           he
           can
           imagine
           that
           the
           Heavens
           ring
           all
           these
           Changes
           to
           no
           purpose
           ,
           and
           shift
           their
           postures
           so
           often
           without
           some
           effect
           ?
        
         
           I
           might
           add
           ,
           That
           the
           Planets
           in
           regard
           of
           their
           Motion
           are
           
             Direct
             ,
             Retrograde
          
           and
           Stationary
           ;
           whence
           must
           arise
           different
           Sites
           and
           Postures
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           from
           these
           different
           Effects
           and
           Consequences
           .
           And
           particularly
           ,
           as
           for
           the
           Aspects
           and
           Phases
           of
           the
           Moon
           ,
           there
           are
           more
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           those
           likewise
           more
           observable
           and
           lasting
           ,
           than
           of
           all
           the
           other
           Stars
           .
           Mark
           how
           often
           this
           Proteus
           changeth
           Shapes
           ,
           and
           according
           to
           its
           various
           Access
           
           unto
           and
           Recess
           from
           the
           Sun
           ,
           appeareth
           in
           divers
           Figures
           and
           Countenances
           .
        
         
           Let
           us
           recount
           the
           several
           Metamorphoses
           of
           this
           Fickle
           Creature
           .
        
         
           When
           she
           is
           in
           Conjunction
           with
           the
           Sun
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           when
           she
           is
           exactly
           between
           us
           and
           the
           Sun
           ,
           her
           enlightned
           Part
           (
           which
           is
           more
           than
           half
           the
           Moon
           always
           ,
           the
           Sun
           exceeding
           her
           in
           magnitude
           )
           is
           towards
           the
           Sun
           altogether
           ,
           insomuch
           that
           no
           part
           of
           her
           is
           seen
           by
           us
           .
           This
           is
           New-moon
           ,
           which
           lasts
           three
           days
           ,
           all
           which
           time
           it
           shineth
           not
           to
           us
           .
           Soon
           after
           its
           Conjunction
           ,
           viz.
           on
           the
           fourth
           day
           ,
           and
           when
           it
           is
           about
           60
           degrees
           distant
           from
           the
           Sun
           ,
           it
           is
           Horned
           ,
           and
           it
           sets
           soon
           after
           Night
           cometh
           .
           On
           the
           seventh
           or
           Eighth
           day
           a
           Moiety
           of
           her
           appeareth
           ,
           and
           she
           is
           called
           Bisect
           ,
           or
           a
           Half-Moon
           :
           she
           now
           riseth
           about
           10
           a
           Clock
           in
           the
           morning
           ,
           and
           she
           is
           distant
           from
           
           the
           Sun
           about
           90
           Degrees
           .
           Hitherto
           is
           her
           First
           Quarter
           .
        
         
           Then
           tending
           to
           her
           Opposition
           to
           the
           Sun
           ,
           she
           sheweth
           a
           
             little
             more
             than
             half
          
           of
           her
           Enlightned
           Body
           ,
           and
           on
           the
           11th
           day
           is
           Bunched
           ,
           being
           120
           degrees
           from
           the
           Sun.
           Then
           on
           the
           14th
           or
           15th
           day
           it
           comes
           to
           its
           Opposition
           to
           the
           Sun
           ,
           viz.
           when
           it
           is
           180
           degrees
           distant
           from
           it
           ,
           and
           when
           we
           are
           just
           between
           the
           Sun
           and
           it
           .
           This
           is
           Full-Moon
           ,
           and
           is
           called
           her
           Second
           Quarter
           .
        
         
           These
           are
           the
           shapes
           she
           hath
           in
           her
           Increase
           ;
           and
           she
           hath
           the
           very
           same
           in
           her
           Decrease
           ,
           according
           to
           her
           various
           Aspects
           to
           the
           Sun.
           She
           appeareth
           Bunched
           on
           the
           4th
           day
           after
           ▪
           Full-moon
           ,
           Bisect
           on
           the
           7th
           ,
           Horned
           on
           the
           11th
           ,
           till
           at
           last
           she
           comes
           to
           turn
           her self
           wholly
           to
           the
           Sun
           ,
           and
           to
           shew
           no
           Light
           to
           us
           ,
           and
           then
           it
           is
           New-moon
           .
           Onely
           this
           difference
           is
           to
           be
           observed
           between
           the
           Aspects
           of
           the
           Moon
           in
           her
           Increase
           ,
           and
           those
           in
           her
           Decrease
           ,
           
           that
           her
           Horns
           are
           turned
           towards
           the
           West
           in
           the
           latter
           ,
           but
           Eastward
           in
           the
           former
           ,
           because
           that
           that
           part
           of
           the
           Moon
           which
           is
           enlightned
           is
           always
           towards
           the
           Sun.
           
        
         
           These
           are
           the
           usual
           Transfigurations
           of
           the
           Moon
           ;
           and
           what
           wise
           Man
           can
           think
           that
           all
           these
           Changes
           and
           Shiftings
           throughout
           the
           whole
           Year
           ,
           have
           no
           Influence
           upon
           things
           below
           ,
           and
           work
           not
           considerable
           Alterations
           and
           Changes
           on
           the
           Bodies
           and
           Minds
           of
           Men
           ?
           Their
           Operation
           as
           to
           Weather
           ,
           and
           as
           to
           some
           
             Inferiour
             Animals
          
           is
           freely
           confessed
           by
           all
           ,
           long
           Observation
           and
           Experience
           having
           extorted
           that
           Acknowledgment
           .
           And
           there
           is
           as
           good
           ground
           to
           own
           their
           Influence
           on
           the
           Tempers
           and
           Dispositions
           of
           Reasonable
           and
           Humane
           Creatures
           ,
           for
           the
           Returns
           of
           Madness
           and
           a
           Distempered
           Mind
           are
           observed
           by
           the
           exact
           Practitioners
           in
           Medicks
           ,
           to
           be
           according
           to
           the
           
           Revolutions
           of
           this
           Planet
           .
           And
           what
           reason
           can
           be
           rendred
           why
           the
           sober
           and
           well-ordered
           Actions
           of
           Man's
           Life
           ,
           which
           are
           more
           Natural
           ,
           and
           easie
           to
           be
           governed
           ,
           receive
           not
           some
           Impressions
           from
           the
           same
           Mover
           ?
           Say
           not
           that
           the
           several
           Phases
           of
           the
           Moon
           ,
           though
           they
           seem
           to
           be
           different
           Apparitions
           ,
           yet
           are
           but
           accidental
           Changes
           ,
           and
           the
           Moon
           is
           always
           the
           same
           ,
           notwithstanding
           all
           her
           change
           of
           Apparel
           ,
           and
           consequently
           that
           no
           real
           Effects
           ought
           to
           be
           expected
           from
           onely
           seeming
           Revolutions
           .
        
         
           This
           plausible
           Cavil
           is
           easily
           taken
           off
           by
           replying
           that
           the
           Moon
           in
           going
           her
           monthly
           Circuit
           about
           the
           Earth
           ,
           turns
           her self
           variously
           to
           the
           Sun
           ,
           and
           
             really
             changes
          
           her
           situation
           ,
           and
           there
           are
           different
           Transmissions
           of
           the
           Solar
           Rays
           from
           her
           ,
           and
           we
           receive
           new
           Reflexions
           and
           Refractions
           of
           Light
           thence
           ,
           And
           let
           it
           be
           considered
           both
           in
           respect
           of
           the
           Aspects
           of
           
           the
           Moon
           ,
           and
           those
           which
           are
           common
           to
           the
           other
           Planets
           (
           of
           which
           I
           spoke
           before
           )
           that
           the
           greatest
           Effects
           in
           the
           World
           are
           produced
           by
           the
           frequent
           changing
           of
           a
           few
           things
           .
           Though
           I
           am
           not
           of
           the
           Philosopher's
           Mind
           ,
           who
           contends
           that
           Matter
           and
           Motion
           solve
           All
           Phaenomena
           ,
           yet
           thus
           far
           I
           agree
           with
           him
           ,
           (
           and
           I
           have
           the
           Suffrage
           of
           all
           Intelligent
           Men
           )
           that
           new
           Modifications
           ,
           as
           change
           of
           Place
           ,
           Figure
           ,
           Motion
           ,
           and
           the
           like
           ,
           effect
           most
           of
           the
           considerable
           things
           that
           happen
           in
           the
           World.
           Upon
           which
           account
           it
           must
           needs
           be
           that
           the
           different
           Situations
           ,
           new
           Configurations
           ,
           mutual
           Mixtures
           and
           repeated
           Vicissitudes
           of
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           prove
           some
           ways
           effectual
           and
           operative
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           for
           Eclipses
           (
           which
           may
           be
           reckoned
           here
           )
           I
           cannot
           but
           say
           in
           behalf
           of
           this
           part
           of
           Astrology
           ,
           that
           these
           and
           the
           foresaid
           Aspects
           are
           in
           a
           Natural
           way
           Signs
           of
           future
           
           things
           ,
           and
           productive
           of
           considerable
           Events
           ;
           
             and
             upon
             long
             and
             faithfull
             Observation
             ,
          
           we
           may
           find
           out
           
             what
             kind
          
           of
           accidents
           happen
           in
           the
           several
           quarters
           of
           the
           World
           where
           they
           are
           seen
           .
        
         
           I
           conclude
           this
           Head
           with
           the
           memorable
           words
           of
           a
           foreign
           Divine
           ,
           (
           a
           Person
           of
           great
           Moderation
           and
           Judgment
           ,
           )
           
             Hic
             ergo
             est
             usus
             verae
             Astrologiae
             ,
             ut
             multorum
             effectuum
             qui
             in
             terris
             fiunt
             causas
             quae
             in
             coelo
             sunt
             cognoscant
             ;
             aliquando
             etiam
             antequam
             fiunt
             ,
             ipsos
             effectus
             in
             suis
             causis
             praevideat
             .
          
           
           This
           is
           the
           use
           of
           true
           Astrology
           to
           understand
           from
           it
           the
           Causes
           which
           are
           in
           the
           Heavens
           of
           many
           Effects
           that
           are
           on
           Earth
           ;
           and
           sometimes
           to
           foresee
           those
           Effects
           in
           their
           Causes
           before
           they
           come
           to
           pass
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           The
           heavenly
           Bodies
           are
           Signs
           (
           as
           of
           Natural
           and
           
             Political
             Affairs
          
           ,
           so
           )
           of
           
             things
             Divine
             ,
             and
             above
             Nature's
             Order
             .
          
           And
           as
           
           the
           two
           former
           are
           signified
           by
           the
           
             Ordinary
             Motions
          
           of
           these
           Bodies
           ,
           so
           the
           last
           are
           discovered
           by
           the
           
             extraordinary
             and
             unusual
             aspect
          
           of
           them
           .
           When
           those
           great
           Luminaries
           are
           
             disturbed
             and
             out
             of
             Order
          
           ,
           then
           ,
           and
           onely
           then
           they
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           those
           extraordinary
           Bodies
           in
           Heaven
           which
           this
           discourse
           hath
           designedly
           treated
           of
           ,
           are
           certain
           Indications
           of
           the
           exerting
           of
           some
           Divine
           Power
           ,
           and
           the
           bringing
           to
           pass
           some
           strange
           things
           in
           the
           World.
           For
           this
           I
           take
           to
           be
           an
           unquestionable
           Maxim
           ,
           that
           those
           Accidents
           which
           exceed
           the
           ordinary
           course
           of
           Nature
           ,
           and
           are
           above
           the
           usual
           Laws
           and
           Power
           of
           it
           ,
           are
           the
           particular
           Finger
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           are
           for
           extraordinary
           ends
           and
           purposes
           .
           From
           whence
           I
           gather
           ,
           that
           the
           
             constant
             Courses
          
           of
           the
           Celestial
           Luminaries
           portend
           not
           evil
           and
           hurt
           to
           Mankind
           ;
           but
           they
           are
           the
           
             unnatural
             Motions
          
           ,
           Alterations
           and
           Appearances
           of
           them
           ,
           which
           render
           
           them
           prodigious
           .
           As
           when
           the
           Sun
           hath
           been
           extraordinarily
           deficient
           ,
           as
           at
           that
           darkness
           which
           was
           one
           of
           the
           Plagues
           of
           Egypt
           ,
           when
           the
           Sun
           and
           Moon
           have
           stood
           still
           ,
           as
           when
           Ioshuah
           was
           taking
           vengeance
           on
           his
           Enemies
           :
           when
           the
           Stars
           fought
           against
           the
           Host
           of
           Sisera
           :
           when
           the
           Sun
           went
           back
           in
           King
           
           Hezekiah's
           days
           .
           Not
           onely
           Poets
           but
           Historians
           take
           notice
           of
           ,
           and
           transmit
           to
           posterity
           the
           remarkable
           Obscuring
           of
           the
           Sun
           which
           was
           observed
           almost
           that
           whole
           year
           in
           which
           
             Iulius
             Caesar
          
           was
           unfortunately
           killed
           .
        
         
           
             
               —
               Solis
               quoque
               
               tristis
               Imago
            
             
               Lurida
               sollicitis
               praebebat
               lumina
               terris
               .
            
          
           
             
               From
               Heaven
               a
               shadow
               onely
               then
               was
               hurl'd
            
             
               Of
               the
               Sun's
               Light
               ,
               to
               scare
               the
               won
               dring
               World.
               
            
          
        
         
         
           And
           another
           Poet
           thus
           ,
           
             
               
                 —
                 Caput
                 obscurâ
                 nitidum
                 ferrugine
                 texit
                 ,
                 
              
               
                 Impiáque
                 aeternam
                 timuerunt
                 secula
                 noctem
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 A
                 rusty
                 scum
                 eclips'd
                 Sol's
                 glorious
                 Light
                 ,
              
               
                 And
                 th'impious
                 Age
                 dreaded
                 an
                 endless
                 Night
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           And
           we
           are
           told
           by
           a
           grave
           .
           
           Historian
           too
           ,
           that
           this
           presaged
           and
           accompanied
           that
           horrid
           Murther
           .
           The
           Eclipse
           at
           Christ's
           Passion
           was
           a
           miraculous
           darkning
           of
           the
           Sun's
           Body
           ;
           for
           against
           the
           course
           of
           Nature
           it
           was
           obscured
           in
           Full-moon
           .
           Great
           
             Signs
             from
             Heaven
          
           (
           as
           it
           was
           prophesied
           by
           our
           Saviour
           )
           were
           the
           forerunners
           of
           
           Ierusalem's
           Destruction
           ,
           Luk.
           21.
           11.
           
           There
           was
           an
           Example
           of
           an
           extraordinary
           Defect
           in
           the
           Sun
           about
           an
           hundred
           
           years
           after
           ,
           
           saith
           a
           Learned
           Father
           .
           Seventeen
           days
           darkness
           was
           the
           attendant
           of
           
           Constantine's
           Death
           ,
           who
           had
           his
           Eyes
           put
           out
           by
           his
           Mother
           Irene
           ,
           if
           some
           Historians
           may
           be
           believed
           .
           We
           have
           it
           from
           the
           Testimony
           of
           him
           who
           is
           Infallible
           ,
           and
           Truth
           it self
           ,
           That
           
             there
             stall
             be
             signs
             in
             the
             Sun
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             Moon
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             Stars
             ,
          
           before
           his
           last
           coming
           ,
           Luk.
           21.
           25.
           
           
             The
             Sun
             shall
             be
             darkned
             ,
             and
             the
             Moon
             shall
             not
             give
             her
             light
             ,
             and
             the
             Stars
             shall
             fall
             from
             Heaven
             ,
             and
             the
             powers
             of
             the
             Heaven
             shall
             be
             shaken
             ,
          
           Mat.
           24.
           29.
           
           We
           see
           then
           what
           it
           is
           that
           makes
           the
           ordinary
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           Prodigious
           and
           
             Presaging
             ,
             viz.
          
           Their
           being
           disordered
           ,
           and
           going
           against
           their
           natural
           course
           .
           When
           they
           are
           thus
           ,
           they
           are
           of
           the
           nature
           of
           those
           extraordinary
           and
           preternatural
           Lights
           which
           I
           have
           before
           discoursed
           of
           ,
           whose
           very
           Appearance
           is
           Ominous
           .
        
         
         
           By
           this
           we
           may
           know
           what
           notions
           to
           frame
           of
           the
           
             Aspects
             of
             the
             Stars
          
           ,
           the
           particular
           
             Phases
             of
             the
             Moon
          
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Eclipses
             of
             the
             Sun
             and
             Moon
             ,
          
           before
           spoken
           of
           .
           It
           is
           certain
           that
           these
           ,
           although
           they
           may
           signifie
           in
           General
           ,
           and
           cause
           several
           Events
           ,
           yet
           contain
           not
           any
           thing
           in
           them
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           in
           their
           own
           Nature
           ,
           which
           is
           Boding
           and
           Unfortunate
           .
           Nor
           are
           they
           designed
           (
           as
           Comets
           are
           )
           to
           be
           Signs
           of
           some
           remarkable
           Evils
           and
           Calamities
           .
           For
           I
           build
           on
           this
           ground
           ,
           that
           extraordinary
           Events
           are
           not
           foresignified
           by
           ordinary
           and
           natural
           Accidents
           :
           but
           such
           are
           the
           
             Aspects
             of
             the
             Planets
          
           ,
           and
           particularly
           the
           Conjunction
           of
           Saturn
           and
           Iupiter
           this
           year
           ,
           so
           much
           talked
           of
           by
           the
           common
           Prognosticatours
           .
           These
           are
           made
           and
           come
           to
           pass
           by
           the
           usual
           and
           Fixed
           Motion
           of
           the
           Planets
           .
           They
           fall
           of
           themselves
           into
           these
           Figures
           .
           These
           are
           the
           Natural
           Shiftings
           of
           the
           Stars
           .
           And
           
           (
           as
           a
           demonstration
           of
           it
           )
           these
           ,
           like
           the
           rising
           and
           setting
           of
           the
           Sun
           ,
           and
           the
           entry
           of
           it
           into
           the
           Equinoctial
           and
           Solstitial
           Points
           ,
           and
           the
           Phaenomena
           of
           that
           nature
           are
           certainly
           discerned
           ,
           and
           may
           be
           foretold
           many
           hundred
           years
           before
           hand
           .
           And
           therefore
           they
           are
           not
           in
           themselves
           portentous
           ,
           they
           are
           no
           tokens
           of
           God's
           Wrath
           ,
           there
           is
           nothing
           signified
           of
           the
           Divine
           Displeasure
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           But
           this
           cannot
           be
           said
           of
           Comets
           ,
           because
           they
           are
           Preternatural
           Appearances
           ,
           and
           being
           such
           cannot
           possibly
           be
           foreknown
           by
           Art.
           I
           never
           read
           that
           any
           Astrologer
           put
           out
           Ephemerides
           of
           them
           .
           Nor
           can
           
             the
             Shiftings
             of
             the
             Moon
          
           be
           said
           to
           be
           Presaging
           ,
           and
           in
           themselves
           Ominous
           ,
           and
           that
           for
           the
           foresaid
           Reason
           .
           For
           though
           I
           deny
           not
           her
           Influence
           on
           the
           Bodies
           and
           Minds
           of
           Men
           ,
           and
           as
           to
           her
           producing
           of
           Changes
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           plain
           that
           she
           was
           not
           set
           up
           in
           the
           
           Firmament
           to
           portend
           approaching
           Distresses
           by
           her
           various
           Figures
           and
           Faces
           which
           she
           sheweth
           ,
           for
           all
           these
           are
           Natural
           ,
           and
           of
           course
           .
           She
           is
           constant
           and
           unvariable
           in
           her
           Changes
           :
           they
           may
           be
           all
           known
           and
           told
           long
           before
           .
           Besides
           ,
           any
           man
           of
           common
           sense
           will
           grant
           me
           this
           ,
           that
           what
           is
           usual
           and
           frequent
           cannot
           be
           prodigious
           .
        
         
           I
           might
           here
           say
           something
           of
           Eclipses
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           this
           ;
           I
           declare
           against
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           those
           well-willers
           to
           the
           Mathematicks
           ,
           who
           generally
           reckon
           these
           as
           ominous
           .
        
         
           From
           what
           hath
           been
           said
           it
           may
           be
           gathered
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           not
           to
           be
           judged
           as
           such
           ;
           for
           they
           are
           not
           contrary
           to
           the
           usual
           course
           of
           Nature
           :
           and
           what
           is
           not
           so
           ,
           cannot
           carry
           any
           ill
           Omen
           with
           it
           .
           If
           an
           Eclipse
           (
           particularly
           that
           of
           the
           Sun
           )
           be
           portentous
           in
           it self
           ,
           then
           every
           Night
           ,
           which
           is
           no
           other
           than
           the
           Interposition
           of
           the
           Earth
           between
           the
           Sun
           and
           us
           ,
           is
           of
           that
           Nature
           
           also
           ,
           and
           consequently
           we
           have
           an
           unlucky
           time
           of
           it
           all
           our
           Lives
           .
           It
           was
           the
           Ignorance
           of
           the
           Cause
           of
           Eclipses
           which
           first
           gave
           occasion
           to
           People
           to
           think
           they
           presignified
           some
           Evil
           ;
           and
           hereupon
           the
           foolish
           Pagans
           were
           mightily
           disturbed
           at
           this
           Sight
           ;
           and
           as
           for
           the
           Moon
           ,
           they
           imagined
           she
           was
           in
           Labour
           ,
           and
           accordingly
           came
           with
           great
           Noise
           and
           Officiousness
           (
           no
           other
           than
           the
           Midwifery
           of
           Pans
           and
           Kettles
           )
           to
           relieve
           the
           teeming
           Lady
           .
           But
           we
           know
           that
           the
           Sun
           and
           Moon
           come
           naturally
           to
           this
           Situation
           and
           Posture
           ;
           and
           the
           time
           of
           their
           Eclipses
           may
           certainly
           be
           foreknown
           ,
           for
           they
           depend
           on
           the
           determined
           and
           unerring
           Motions
           of
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           :
           they
           must
           happen
           at
           such
           times
           ,
           and
           no
           others
           .
           The
           Eclipse
           of
           the
           Sun
           can
           onely
           be
           in
           New-moon
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           when
           the
           Sun
           and
           Moon
           are
           together
           in
           either
           of
           the
           two
           Points
           ,
           Caput
           or
           
             Cauda
             Draconis
          
           ,
           
           for
           the
           Moon
           cuts
           or
           crosses
           the
           Ecliptick
           but
           in
           these
           two
           Nodes
           .
           The
           Moons
           Eclipse
           is
           onely
           when
           she
           is
           at
           the
           Full
           ,
           viz.
           when
           the
           Earth
           is
           exactly
           interposed
           between
           the
           Sun
           and
           her
           ,
           which
           is
           called
           Opposition
           .
           If
           I
           were
           purposely
           furnished
           ,
           and
           had
           all
           the
           Implements
           of
           the
           Art
           about
           me
           ,
           I
           could
           Infallibly
           foretell
           and
           set
           down
           all
           the
           Eclipses
           that
           shall
           happen
           from
           this
           day
           to
           the
           end
           of
           the
           World.
           The
           
             ordinary
             defections
          
           then
           of
           these
           Luminaries
           ,
           being
           Natural
           and
           foreknown
           Events
           ,
           are
           not
           
             Prodigious
             and
             Fatal
          
           .
           And
           though
           the
           common
           Astrologers
           reckon
           them
           among
           Presages
           ,
           yet
           I
           am
           well
           satisfied
           that
           they
           doe
           it
           onely
           to
           amuse
           the
           People
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           themselves
           and
           their
           Art
           more
           formidable
           .
        
         
           Thus
           we
           see
           there
           is
           a
           vast
           difference
           between
           the
           ordinary
           Luminaries
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           those
           that
           are
           extraordinary
           ,
           as
           Comets
           .
           Though
           
           the
           former
           are
           not
           divine
           Presages
           (
           unless
           when
           they
           are
           disordered
           ,
           and
           extraordinarily
           obscured
           ,
           )
           yet
           the
           latter
           always
           are
           so
           in
           their
           own
           Nature
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           Appointment
           of
           Heaven
           .
        
         
           I
           presume
           this
           is
           a
           satisfactory
           Answer
           to
           the
           Objection
           ,
           and
           gives
           a
           true
           and
           impartial
           account
           of
           the
           Nature
           of
           both
           sorts
           of
           Celestial
           Bodies
           .
           The
           ordinary
           Luminaries
           may
           sometimes
           be
           put
           out
           of
           their
           Courses
           ,
           to
           be
           Signs
           to
           the
           World
           of
           what
           the
           great
           Ruler
           of
           it
           is
           acting
           ;
           but
           Comets
           are
           the
           
             Onely
             heavenly
             Bodies
          
           which
           ,
           as
           to
           their
           Make
           ,
           and
           Original
           ,
           and
           all
           other
           Considerations
           whatsoever
           ,
           discover
           themselves
           to
           be
           portentous
           .
           For
           as
           for
           the
           strange
           Apparitions
           of
           Armies
           and
           Skirmishes
           seen
           in
           the
           Air
           ,
           I
           rank
           them
           not
           among
           the
           Bodies
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           because
           they
           are
           placed
           in
           a
           lower
           Region
           .
           And
           as
           for
           those
           Appearances
           which
           are
           called
           Parelia
           ,
           and
           
             Paraselene's
             ,
             i.
             e.
          
           Mock-Suns
           ,
           
           and
           Mock-Moons
           ,
           Halo's
           ,
           &c.
           they
           are
           onely
           Reflexions
           of
           the
           Clouds
           ,
           and
           are
           not
           real
           things
           ,
           but
           mere
           Images
           .
        
         
           You
           have
           heard
           then
           at
           large
           the
           Ends
           of
           God's
           creating
           the
           
             ordinary
             Luminaries
          
           of
           Heaven
           .
           I
           have
           set
           down
           both
           the
           Natural
           and
           Instituted
           ,
           the
           Common
           and
           Extraordinary
           Uses
           of
           them
           .
           One
           common
           Use
           (
           and
           that
           is
           it
           wherein
           Astrology
           is
           concerned
           chiefly
           )
           is
           to
           be
           Signs
           of
           Natural
           and
           Humane
           Actions
           of
           all
           kinds
           ,
           to
           Influence
           by
           their
           Motion
           and
           Aspects
           on
           this
           Inferiour
           World.
           They
           are
           deservedly
           styled
           the
           Host
           of
           Heaven
           not
           onely
           because
           of
           their
           
             great
             Multitude
          
           ,
           and
           their
           
             exact
             Order
          
           ,
           but
           for
           their
           Force
           and
           Power
           .
           Shall
           every
           creeping
           Plant
           and
           Drug
           ,
           every
           fading
           Herb
           and
           Flower
           ,
           have
           their
           certain
           Virtues
           ,
           and
           proper
           Offices
           ,
           and
           shall
           we
           deny
           the
           glorious
           and
           exalted
           Stars
           of
           Heaven
           a
           
           peculiar
           Power
           to
           be
           serviceable
           to
           the
           World
           ?
           Have
           we
           not
           equal
           Reason
           to
           persuade
           us
           that
           every
           Planet
           hath
           its
           ▪
           particular
           Property
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Fixed
           Lights
           have
           their
           several
           faculties
           and
           distinct
           powers
           ?
           I
           must
           needs
           profess
           I
           am
           of
           that
           Wise
           Man's
           Opinion
           ,
           
           who
           said
           ,
           The
           Stars
           are
           of
           far
           greater
           Use
           than
           to
           yield
           an
           obscure
           Light
           ,
           and
           for
           men
           to
           gaze
           on
           them
           after
           the
           Sun
           is
           set
           .
           Yes
           certainly
           ,
           God
           makes
           use
           of
           the
           Ministery
           of
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           in
           the
           Oeconomy
           of
           the
           lower
           World.
           We
           are
           surrounded
           with
           Stars
           ,
           shut
           up
           within
           the
           Heavenly
           Circle
           .
           All
           things
           that
           happen
           in
           this
           World
           have
           a
           near
           affinity
           with
           that
           other
           .
           So
           thought
           the
           great
           Soul
           of
           Philosophy
           ▪
           
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           This
           inferiour
           World
           is
           in
           a
           manner
           necessarily
           tied
           to
           the
           Motions
           of
           the
           upper
           one
           ,
           in
           so
           much
           that
           
           all
           its
           Powers
           are
           governed
           by
           it
           .
           And
           therefore
           it
           is
           not
           to
           be
           denied
           that
           the
           glorious
           Lights
           of
           Heaven
           were
           constituted
           by
           the
           first
           Framer
           of
           them
           ,
           to
           act
           and
           influence
           upon
           humane
           Bodies
           as
           well
           as
           others
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           then
           a
           lawfull
           Natural
           Knowledge
           of
           the
           Influence
           of
           the
           Stars
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           position
           of
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           which
           is
           serviceable
           to
           it
           .
           Astrology
           is
           a
           part
           of
           Natural
           Philosophy
           ,
           which
           from
           the
           knowledge
           of
           Celestial
           Bodies
           prognosticateth
           of
           Events
           in
           the
           Sublunary
           Bodies
           below
           :
           and
           consequently
           the
           Actions
           of
           Men
           ,
           who
           are
           partly
           made
           of
           those
           ,
           depend
           in
           some
           manner
           on
           their
           Influences
           .
           But
           
             Iudiciary
             Astrology
          
           hath
           heard
           ill
           ,
           because
           by
           it
           some
           make
           a
           Judgment
           of
           the
           Inclinations
           of
           
             Mens
             Wills
          
           ,
           on
           which
           depend
           the
           chief
           Events
           of
           Humane
           Life
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           remarkable
           Affairs
           of
           States
           and
           Kingdoms
           .
           Wherefore
           the
           great
           Question
           is
           ,
           whether
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           have
           an
           
           Influence
           on
           the
           Mind
           and
           Thoughts
           ,
           the
           Free-will
           and
           Determinations
           of
           Men
           ?
           In
           satisfaction
           to
           this
           main
           Demand
           I
           assert
           ,
           That
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           act
           upon
           the
           Bodies
           of
           Men
           ,
           and
           these
           influence
           upon
           their
           Minds
           .
           I
           do
           not
           say
           that
           the
           Celestial
           Luminaries
           act
           immediately
           and
           directly
           on
           the
           Soul
           of
           Man
           ;
           for
           after
           that
           manner
           onely
           they
           work
           on
           his
           Body
           :
           but
           this
           is
           it
           which
           I
           maintain
           ,
           That
           the
           Motions
           and
           Aspects
           of
           the
           Heavens
           incline
           the
           Mind
           and
           Will
           by
           Mediation
           of
           the
           Sensitive
           Appetite
           ,
           which
           is
           stirred
           by
           the
           constitution
           of
           the
           Body
           .
           For
           I
           take
           it
           to
           be
           an
           indisputable
           Truth
           ,
           that
           Bodies
           strong
           in
           humours
           ,
           and
           weak
           in
           Vertue
           or
           Grace
           ,
           draw
           and
           incline
           the
           Mind
           and
           Affections
           :
           and
           therefore
           those
           Creatures
           that
           are
           guided
           by
           their
           Natural
           and
           Sensual
           Appetites
           ,
           as
           Brutes
           and
           wicked
           Men
           ,
           do
           most
           of
           all
           feel
           the
           force
           of
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           .
           And
           for
           this
           Reason
           the
           
           Astrologers
           of
           this
           degenerate
           Age
           ,
           these
           dreggs
           of
           Time
           ,
           have
           the
           better
           of
           most
           of
           those
           who
           have
           been
           their
           Predecessors
           .
           Now
           they
           may
           come
           the
           nearest
           to
           Certainty
           in
           their
           Prognosticks
           .
           They
           may
           the
           more
           easily
           tell
           true
           ,
           because
           so
           few
           resist
           their
           own
           vitious
           Inclinations
           .
           One
           would
           think
           on
           this
           score
           that
           Judiciary
           Astrology
           were
           now
           at
           its
           height
           and
           utmost
           culmination
           .
           It
           must
           needs
           prove
           succesfull
           now
           or
           never
           ,
           for
           the
           debauched
           Lives
           of
           Men
           acquaint
           us
           ,
           that
           they
           follow
           their
           own
           Natural
           Genius
           and
           pronity
           of
           Mind
           ,
           they
           are
           led
           wholly
           by
           their
           depraved
           Wills
           and
           Affections
           .
           Wicked
           and
           dissolute
           Men
           ,
           whom
           an
           inspired
           Writer
           calleth
           
             Wandring
             Stars
          
           ,
           
           know
           no
           other
           conduct
           but
           their
           extravagant
           Lusts
           ,
           and
           those
           inbred
           Inclinations
           and
           Propensions
           which
           they
           derive
           from
           their
           Fleshly
           Constitutions
           and
           Bodily
           Tempers
           :
           and
           thus
           the
           Stars
           may
           be
           said
           to
           influence
           
           on
           the
           Natural
           Inclinations
           of
           Men
           ,
           and
           consequently
           such
           Acts
           as
           proceed
           from
           them
           :
           for
           they
           act
           on
           the
           Body
           ,
           and
           the
           Body
           worketh
           on
           the
           weak
           and
           ungoverned
           Mind
           ,
           and
           so
           Evil
           Actions
           are
           produced
           .
        
         
           From
           what
           hath
           been
           hitherto
           discoursed
           ,
           we
           may
           in
           some
           part
           understand
           the
           
             true
             Vse
          
           of
           Astrology
           ,
           and
           likewise
           the
           Abuse
           of
           it
           ,
           which
           is
           no
           other
           than
           this
           ,
           viz.
           Attributing
           too
           little
           or
           too
           much
           to
           the
           Stars
           :
           We
           may
           frequently
           see
           men
           running
           into
           these
           Extremes
           either
           of
           Defect
           or
           Excess
           .
           The
           Abuse
           of
           Astrology
           on
           one
           hand
           is
           depriving
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           of
           all
           Influence
           and
           Operation
           on
           the
           Sons
           of
           Men
           :
           and
           this
           I
           have
           spoken
           of
           already
           .
           On
           the
           other
           hand
           this
           Science
           is
           abused
           whilst
           too
           great
           a
           Power
           and
           too
           exorbitant
           a
           Regency
           is
           ascribed
           to
           those
           Bodies
           .
           This
           is
           done
           when
           
           such
           an
           Agency
           and
           Virtue
           is
           given
           to
           them
           by
           us
           ,
           as
           is
           prejudicial
           and
           derogatory
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           To
           God's
           universal
           Power
           and
           Government
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           To
           the
           Agency
           of
           Man's
           Will
           :
           And
           ,
        
         
           3.
           
           To
           the
           Concurrence
           of
           other
           Causes
           .
        
         
           In
           
             these
             Three
          
           the
           Judicious
           Reader
           will
           find
           the
           whole
           Abuse
           of
           Astrology
           (
           as
           to
           this
           latter
           extreme
           of
           it
           )
           summ'd
           up
           .
           For
           they
           who
           immeasurably
           and
           proudly
           brag
           of
           this
           Science
           ,
           defend
           the
           Stars
           to
           be
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           ,
           Divine
           Agents
           ,
           or
           that
           they
           are
           instead
           of
           God
           :
           and
           they
           go
           so
           far
           as
           to
           destroy
           the
           native
           or
           acquired
           Freedom
           of
           Man's
           Faculties
           :
           and
           they
           exclude
           all
           other
           Causes
           (
           but
           the
           Stars
           )
           from
           having
           a
           share
           in
           mens
           Actions
           .
           On
           the
           Contrary
           ,
           if
           we
           would
           avoid
           the
           excess
           and
           Extravagancy
           of
           Astrology
           ,
           if
           
           we
           would
           correct
           so
           wild
           a
           Folly
           we
           must
           let
           
             God
             ,
             Man's
             Will
          
           ,
           and
           
             Ioynt
             Causes
          
           have
           their
           due
           place
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           Astrology
           is
           shame
           fully
           abused
           when
           Men
           attribute
           such
           a
           Power
           to
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           as
           to
           deny
           God's
           Government
           and
           Superintendency
           ,
           or
           ,
           (
           which
           is
           all
           one
           )
           when
           they
           deprive
           God
           of
           his
           Sovereign
           Power
           and
           Dominion
           to
           give
           it
           to
           the
           Stars
           .
           Some
           of
           the
           High-flown
           of
           this
           Faculty
           have
           been
           guilty
           of
           excluding
           the
           Divine
           Providence
           and
           Concourse
           ,
           whilst
           they
           have
           defended
           the
           Influence
           or
           rather
           Efficiency
           of
           the
           Celestial
           Powers
           .
           This
           is
           a
           kin
           to
           that
           Pagan
           Persuasion
           ,
           That
           these
           Bodies
           have
           a
           certain
           Divinity
           in
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           fatally
           and
           necessarily
           act
           upon
           us
           .
           Hence
           the
           Chaldeans
           and
           others
           offered
           Sacrifice
           to
           the
           Stars
           ,
           and
           expected
           all
           good
           or
           evil
           from
           them
           (
           which
           is
           making
           them
           Gods.
           )
           The
           Epicureans
           
           held
           that
           every
           one
           had
           his
           proper
           Star
           ,
           
           as
           a
           peculiar
           Daemon
           or
           ▪
           Numen
           .
           And
           not
           onely
           the
           Gentiles
           but
           Iews
           polluted
           themselves
           with
           the
           Worship
           of
           the
           Host
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           Manasses
           being
           their
           chief
           Perverter
           herein
           ,
           2
           Chron.
           33.
           3.
           
           But
           if
           some
           who
           pretend
           to
           Astrological
           Studies
           are
           not
           directly
           guilty
           of
           this
           ,
           (
           as
           I
           cannot
           prove
           they
           are
           )
           yet
           they
           act
           almost
           as
           profanely
           ,
           whilst
           they
           extravagantly
           and
           impiously
           extoll
           the
           Power
           of
           those
           Bodies
           above
           ,
           even
           so
           far
           as
           to
           deny
           God
           to
           be
           the
           principal
           Moderatour
           and
           Disposer
           of
           all
           Affairs
           ;
           and
           whilst
           they
           assert
           that
           extraordinary
           and
           preternatural
           Events
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           depend
           wholly
           on
           God's
           mere
           Pleasure
           ,
           and
           have
           no
           Relation
           at
           all
           to
           natural
           and
           common
           Causes
           ,
           are
           the
           Effects
           of
           the
           Motions
           and
           Aspects
           of
           the
           Stars
           ,
           and
           might
           have
           been
           foretold
           and
           prognosticated
           by
           them
           .
           A
           most
           Intolerable
           Arrogance
           and
           Blasphemy
           !
           
           For
           though
           I
           have
           above
           granted
           (
           and
           am
           always
           ready
           to
           grant
           what
           is
           Reason
           and
           good
           Sense
           )
           that
           God
           may
           and
           doth
           make
           use
           even
           of
           natural
           Instruments
           in
           the
           production
           of
           supernatural
           Effects
           ,
           yet
           this
           is
           a
           thing
           that
           is
           exceeding
           rare
           ;
           and
           then
           also
           it
           is
           impossible
           that
           these
           Arbitrary
           Effects
           should
           be
           foretold
           by
           any
           Knowledge
           that
           Men
           have
           of
           the
           Stars
           .
           But
           there
           are
           some
           supernatural
           Effects
           and
           Productions
           which
           depend
           not
           in
           the
           least
           on
           second
           Causes
           ,
           but
           are
           wrought
           by
           God
           himself
           ,
           without
           the
           assistence
           of
           Instruments
           or
           any
           Means
           ,
           nay
           ,
           even
           in
           defiance
           of
           all
           Secondary
           Causes
           ,
           as
           most
           of
           the
           Miracles
           of
           the
           Old
           and
           New
           Testament
           ,
           and
           these
           could
           never
           be
           prognosticated
           by
           the
           Stars
           .
           And
           therefore
           the
           Insolency
           and
           Impiety
           of
           those
           is
           to
           be
           abhorred
           ,
           
           who
           have
           told
           the
           World
           in
           Print
           ,
           that
           the
           Judgment
           of
           God
           in
           the
           Deluge
           of
           old
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Appearances
           
           of
           Angels
           afterwards
           ,
           
           and
           the
           Prophesies
           and
           Wondrous
           Dispensations
           to
           the
           Jewish
           People
           were
           from
           the
           particular
           Influence
           and
           Operation
           of
           the
           Stars
           at
           those
           Times
           ;
           and
           that
           all
           Christ's
           Actions
           ,
           Life
           and
           Death
           ,
           and
           consequently
           our
           Redemption
           ,
           depended
           on
           the
           Figure
           of
           the
           Heavens
           at
           his
           Nativity
           :
           in
           short
           ,
           that
           Christianity
           itself
           was
           beholding
           to
           the
           Constellations
           ,
           that
           the
           Gospel
           was
           indebted
           to
           the
           Aspects
           of
           the
           Stars
           ,
           and
           that
           all
           things
           of
           Religion
           are
           from
           the
           Position
           of
           the
           Heavens
           .
        
         
           If
           the
           Reader
           pleaseth
           to
           cast
           his
           Eye
           on
           the
           Margent
           ,
           he
           will
           see
           that
           this
           cursed
           Doctrine
           was
           patronized
           not
           onely
           by
           professed
           Atheists
           ,
           but
           by
           great
           Divines
           and
           Church-men
           ;
           but
           let
           not
           that
           offend
           him
           ,
           for
           they
           were
           such
           as
           belonged
           to
           that
           Church
           which
           is
           said
           by
           some
           to
           be
           the
           Nurse
           of
           Atheism
           and
           Profaneness
           ,
           witness
           
           the
           swarms
           of
           Atheists
           in
           Italy
           and
           the
           adjacent
           Countries
           .
           But
           sober
           Reason
           as
           well
           as
           Religion
           will
           inform
           us
           ,
           that
           the
           things
           before
           named
           are
           above
           the
           power
           of
           Nature
           ,
           and
           therefore
           out
           of
           the
           reach
           of
           Astrology
           .
           This
           Art
           hath
           nothing
           to
           doe
           with
           supernatural
           Events
           ,
           with
           the
           Divine
           Oeconomy
           ,
           and
           God's
           immediate
           Will
           and
           Pleasure
           .
           And
           though
           in
           respect
           of
           things
           of
           another
           Nature
           I
           grant
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           to
           have
           an
           Influence
           ,
           yet
           this
           must
           be
           remembred
           ,
           that
           they
           cannot
           Act
           without
           the
           Almighty's
           Order
           .
           
             He
             telleth
             the
             number
             of
             the
             Stars
             ,
          
           
           
             and
             calleth
             them
             all
             by
             their
             Names
             ,
             i.
             e.
          
           He
           hath
           the
           full
           Command
           and
           Disposal
           of
           them
           .
           It
           is
           no
           Dream
           ,
           but
           a
           Reality
           ,
           that
           the
           
             Sun
             ,
             Moon
             and
             Stars
             come
             ,
             and
             bow
             down
             ,
             and
             make
             Obeysance
             to
             Him.
          
           Which
           indeed
           is
           after
           the
           rate
           of
           the
           sober
           Philosophy
           of
           the
           Stoicks
           ,
           viz.
           That
           the
           First
           Cause
           is
           not
           tied
           to
           the
           Stars
           .
           
           These
           are
           subject
           to
           the
           Prime
           and
           Omnipotent
           Being
           ,
           who
           can
           suspend
           their
           Influences
           whensoever
           He
           pleaseth
           .
           This
           I
           suppose
           is
           the
           meaning
           of
           what
           the
           Hebrew
           Doctors
           tell
           us
           God
           said
           to
           Abraham
           in
           Chaldaea
           ,
           when
           he
           studied
           Judiciary
           Astrology
           there
           ,
           
             Abraham
             ,
             egredere
             de
             Astrologia
             tua
             ,
             nullum
             enim
             est
             sidus
             Israeli
             :
          
           Trouble
           not
           thy self
           about
           the
           Stars
           ,
           for
           there
           is
           not
           one
           of
           them
           can
           be
           unlucky
           to
           Israel
           .
           And
           on
           this
           consideration
           it
           might
           be
           made
           evident
           ,
           that
           no
           man
           can
           be
           Positive
           in
           foretelling
           future
           Events
           by
           the
           Stars
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           Astrology
           is
           abused
           and
           perverted
           by
           those
           who
           attribute
           such
           a
           Power
           and
           Sovereignty
           to
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           ,
           as
           whereby
           they
           destroy
           the
           liberty
           of
           mans
           Will
           ,
           and
           introduce
           a
           kind
           of
           fatal
           Necessity
           ,
           whereupon
           they
           ground
           the
           certainty
           of
           their
           Prognostications
           .
           For
           these
           men
           fondly
           hold
           ,
           that
           we
           are
           all
           
           fatally
           tied
           to
           the
           Stars
           :
           whereas
           ,
           Man
           being
           a
           free
           Agent
           ,
           it
           is
           folly
           to
           imagine
           that
           his
           Will
           can
           be
           constrained
           .
           This
           faculty
           remaineth
           Arbitrary
           and
           Unconsined
           ,
           and
           therefore
           no
           Artist
           can
           Divine
           what
           the
           Acts
           and
           Exertments
           of
           it
           shall
           be
           .
           It
           is
           true
           that
           Reason
           and
           Wisedom
           have
           the
           Dominion
           but
           in
           few
           Men.
           The
           Generality
           are
           led
           by
           their
           sensitive
           and
           brutish
           part
           ,
           which
           is
           immediately
           Subject
           to
           the
           Influence
           of
           the
           Heavens
           .
           But
           it
           is
           not
           impossible
           ,
           nay
           ,
           it
           is
           easie
           by
           the
           aid
           of
           Divine
           Grace
           ,
           and
           by
           a
           resolute
           Resisting
           ,
           to
           avoid
           their
           Operation
           upon
           us
           .
           Prayers
           and
           Endeavours
           frustrate
           the
           Stars
           ,
           for
           their
           Influence
           is
           not
           inevitable
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           force
           any
           Man's
           Will
           :
           and
           hereupon
           it
           is
           undeniably
           consequent
           ,
           that
           voluntary
           Actions
           cannot
           be
           Infallibly
           foretold
           .
           I
           have
           shewed
           already
           that
           
             Supernatural
             Actions
          
           cannot
           be
           predicted
           by
           the
           Stars
           :
           Now
           I
           believe
           it
           will
           as
           
           palpably
           appear
           ,
           that
           
             Free
             and
             voluntary
             ones
          
           cannot
           .
           As
           the
           things
           which
           depend
           on
           the
           
             mere
             Power
             and
             Pleasure
             of
             God
             ,
          
           so
           those
           that
           issue
           from
           the
           Freedom
           and
           
             Election
             of
             Man
          
           are
           beyond
           the
           reach
           ,
           and
           out
           of
           the
           ken
           of
           Astrological
           Predictions
           .
           Mens
           Wills
           are
           the
           Planets
           that
           guide
           them
           ,
           and
           make
           them
           Erratical
           .
           It
           is
           not
           in
           the
           power
           of
           Astrologers
           to
           fix
           these
           ,
           and
           to
           bring
           them
           within
           the
           sphere
           of
           their
           Knowledge
           .
           We
           see
           and
           observe
           that
           their
           Conjectures
           are
           uncertain
           concerning
           the
           change
           of
           Weather
           .
           How
           often
           may
           they
           be
           confuted
           in
           their
           Predictions
           of
           Rain
           ,
           Snow
           ,
           Frost
           ,
           Winds
           ,
           
             &
             c
          
           ?
           Some
           have
           writ
           down
           the
           weather
           quite
           contrary
           to
           their
           Prognosticks
           (
           as
           Buchanan
           dealt
           with
           his
           Almanack
           above
           fifty
           Years
           together
           ,
           and
           as
           the
           Earl
           of
           Mirandula
           hath
           observed
           )
           and
           have
           found
           that
           what
           they
           set
           down
           came
           nearest
           to
           the
           truth
           .
           If
           an
           Astrologer
           then
           
           faileth
           so
           mnch
           in
           telling
           the
           weather
           ,
           how
           much
           more
           in
           undertaking
           to
           determine
           those
           Events
           which
           depend
           on
           the
           Will
           and
           choice
           of
           Man
           ?
           If
           he
           cannot
           exactly
           foretell
           the
           Changes
           of
           the
           Clouds
           and
           Elements
           ,
           how
           will
           he
           be
           able
           to
           acquaint
           us
           before-hand
           with
           the
           Alterations
           in
           Families
           and
           Kingdoms
           ,
           which
           are
           more
           uncertain
           ?
           It
           is
           by
           reason
           of
           such
           bold
           Pretenders
           and
           Undertakers
           ,
           that
           Astrology
           is
           rendred
           vile
           and
           scandalous
           ,
           and
           the
           Professours
           of
           it
           looked
           upon
           as
           Lyars
           and
           Impostours
           .
           For
           what
           can
           be
           more
           like
           cheating
           ,
           than
           for
           a
           man
           to
           take
           upon
           him
           to
           determine
           certainly
           of
           future
           Contingencies
           ,
           when
           the
           Objects
           of
           his
           Predictions
           are
           every
           minute
           alterable
           by
           the
           interposal
           of
           free
           Agents
           ,
           who
           have
           power
           to
           interrupt
           the
           Causality
           of
           the
           Stars
           ?
           For
           though
           men
           may
           be
           thus
           and
           thus
           Disposed
           and
           Inclined
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           different
           Constellations
           
           and
           their
           Aspects
           ,
           yet
           they
           are
           
             left
             free
          
           ,
           and
           are
           not
           constrained
           and
           forced
           to
           doe
           this
           or
           that
           .
           And
           if
           this
           be
           true
           ,
           the
           most
           sagacious
           Artist
           on
           Earth
           cannot
           punctually
           determine
           their
           Actions
           ,
           this
           being
           an
           impregnable
           Proposition
           ,
           That
           nothing
           can
           be
           certainly
           foretold
           by
           Man
           ,
           which
           is
           in
           the
           power
           of
           a
           free
           Agent
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           Astrology
           is
           abused
           not
           onely
           when
           the
           free
           Agency
           of
           God
           and
           Man
           are
           infringed
           ,
           but
           when
           the
           
             Concurrence
             of
             those
             other
             Causes
          
           which
           are
           requisite
           in
           the
           life
           of
           Man
           is
           wholly
           neglected
           .
        
         
           This
           then
           must
           be
           laid
           down
           as
           a
           necessary
           Proposition
           ,
        
         
           That
           the
           Tempers
           and
           Constitutions
           of
           Men
           ,
           and
           consequently
           their
           Dispositions
           and
           Actions
           ,
           and
           all
           humane
           Affairs
           which
           are
           the
           issue
           of
           them
           ,
           depend
           upon
           several
           conjoyned
           Causes
           .
        
         
         
           It
           is
           true
           that
           we
           receive
           our
           Complexion
           and
           Temperature
           from
           the
           quality
           of
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           ,
           but
           not
           from
           them
           only
           ,
           but
           from
           other
           Causes
           and
           Authours
           .
           I
           have
           granted
           once
           and
           again
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           a
           great
           consent
           and
           intercourse
           between
           the
           upper
           and
           lower
           World.
           Heaven
           and
           Earth
           are
           confederate
           .
           Many
           things
           are
           derived
           to
           our
           Natures
           from
           above
           ,
           many
           of
           our
           Inclinations
           are
           received
           from
           thence
           ,
           many
           Events
           and
           Accidents
           are
           depending
           on
           the
           Astral
           Revolutions
           ,
           but
           they
           do
           not
           derive
           their
           force
           from
           them
           alone
           .
           There
           are
           other
           Causes
           besides
           the
           Prime
           Efficiency
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           free
           Agency
           of
           Men
           ,
           which
           powerfully
           influence
           on
           Humane
           Actions
           .
           Say
           then
           that
           the
           Stars
           act
           on
           the
           Body
           of
           Man
           ,
           and
           say
           that
           the
           Complexion
           of
           the
           Body
           swayeth
           the
           Mind
           ,
           (
           as
           is
           acknowledged
           ,
           )
           yet
           this
           Complexion
           depends
           on
           the
           Temper
           of
           the
           Parents
           ,
           and
           the
           quality
           of
           their
           
           Seed
           ;
           on
           the
           temper
           of
           the
           Air
           of
           that
           Countrey
           which
           he
           was
           born
           in
           ,
           and
           afterwards
           lived
           in
           ;
           on
           his
           Diet
           and
           Food
           he
           constantly
           takes
           ;
           on
           his
           Education
           and
           manner
           of
           Life
           .
           All
           these
           ,
           and
           several
           other
           things
           make
           a
           great
           difference
           in
           men
           :
           and
           the
           influence
           of
           the
           Stars
           may
           be
           hindred
           by
           any
           of
           them
           ,
           much
           more
           by
           all
           of
           them
           together
           .
           Though
           the
           Heavens
           dispose
           to
           such
           and
           such
           Temperatures
           of
           Body
           ,
           yet
           they
           are
           easily
           changed
           and
           over-ruled
           by
           the
           Concurrence
           of
           these
           .
           To
           speak
           freely
           ,
           the
           Stars
           act
           ,
           as
           all
           other
           natural
           Causes
           do
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Capacity
           and
           Disposition
           of
           the
           matter
           they
           work
           upon
           .
           Now
           the
           Disposition
           of
           Inferiour
           Bodies
           is
           very
           different
           ,
           and
           on
           that
           account
           they
           receive
           not
           the
           Heavenly
           Influences
           alike
           .
           Just
           as
           we
           see
           the
           Effects
           of
           Diseases
           are
           according
           to
           the
           Diversities
           of
           Mens
           Bodies
           ,
           and
           therefore
           no
           certain
           Judgment
           can
           be
           made
           of
           the
           issue
           of
           one
           Man's
           
           Distemper
           ,
           from
           what
           is
           observed
           in
           another
           .
           For
           Example
           ,
           a
           Physician
           sees
           such
           and
           such
           Signs
           of
           Death
           in
           two
           persons
           who
           have
           high
           Fevers
           ,
           but
           though
           the
           Prognosticks
           are
           equal
           in
           both
           ,
           yet
           the
           Natural
           Temper
           of
           one
           may
           be
           stronger
           than
           the
           others
           ,
           and
           so
           be
           too
           hard
           for
           the
           Disease
           and
           overcome
           it
           :
           but
           it
           was
           not
           possible
           for
           the
           Master
           of
           Medicks
           to
           foresee
           this
           .
           The
           Case
           is
           the
           same
           here
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           confirmed
           by
           Experience
           .
           All
           persons
           who
           were
           born
           under
           the
           same
           Planets
           are
           not
           of
           the
           same
           condition
           and
           Fortune
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           the
           Conditions
           and
           Fates
           of
           Men
           are
           alike
           (
           as
           when
           many
           thousands
           fall
           in
           Battel
           in
           one
           day
           )
           though
           different
           Stars
           reigned
           at
           their
           Births
           :
           and
           the
           Reason
           is
           ,
           because
           all
           men
           are
           not
           alike
           capable
           of
           the
           Influence
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           for
           there
           may
           be
           wanting
           a
           
             Concurrence
             of
             several
             Causes
          
           (
           which
           I
           have
           before
           named
           )
           to
           
           make
           them
           equal
           :
           and
           it
           is
           undeniably
           true
           ,
           that
           the
           Heavens
           are
           not
           the
           Integral
           Causes
           of
           Mens
           Conditions
           and
           Actions
           .
           I
           infer
           then
           irrefragably
           ,
           That
           no
           Astrologer
           can
           certainly
           foretell
           future
           Events
           which
           depend
           upon
           so
           many
           Causes
           ,
           whilst
           he
           is
           carefull
           onely
           to
           be
           acquainted
           with
           one
           sort
           of
           them
           .
           And
           from
           all
           the
           premised
           Heads
           it
           is
           easie
           to
           conclude
           how
           shallow
           and
           imperfect
           the
           Judgments
           of
           common
           Astrologers
           are
           ,
           and
           what
           little
           reason
           they
           have
           to
           be
           absolute
           and
           peremptory
           in
           their
           Predictions
           .
           For
           the
           Actions
           of
           Mens
           Lives
           ,
           and
           the
           different
           Events
           that
           happen
           to
           them
           ,
           are
           derived
           from
           several
           Springs
           and
           Originals
           ,
           besides
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           .
           A
           Judgment
           cannot
           be
           made
           of
           a
           Man's
           Life
           from
           one
           of
           these
           onely
           ,
           but
           from
           all
           .
           The
           Prime
           Source
           and
           Fountain
           of
           all
           is
           God
           ,
           or
           the
           Divine
           Providence
           ,
           which
           
             Commandeth
             the
             Sun
             ,
             and
             it
             riseth
             
             not
             ,
             and
             sealeth
             up
             the
             Stars
             ,
          
           Job
           9.
           7.
           which
           can
           countermand
           the
           Ordinary
           course
           of
           Nature
           ,
           and
           particularly
           that
           of
           the
           Celestial
           Bodies
           .
           Or
           ,
           the
           same
           infinite
           Power
           can
           change
           the
           Temper
           which
           was
           received
           from
           the
           Stars
           ,
           and
           cause
           his
           Grace
           to
           check
           and
           controll
           the
           Influence
           of
           their
           Aspects
           ,
           so
           that
           it
           shall
           be
           out
           of
           the
           reach
           of
           any
           humane
           Science
           ,
           to
           make
           a
           steddy
           Judgment
           of
           any
           Actions
           or
           Events
           that
           belong
           to
           such
           Persons
           .
           And
           as
           for
           that
           other
           Spring
           of
           Mens
           Actions
           ,
           their
           Wills
           ,
           these
           being
           Free
           and
           Arbitrary
           cannot
           be
           confined
           by
           Art
           ;
           and
           whatever
           Actions
           depend
           on
           voluntary
           choice
           and
           determination
           ,
           cannot
           be
           foreknown
           ,
           unless
           they
           be
           revealed
           by
           him
           who
           is
           the
           onely
           knower
           and
           Searcher
           of
           Hearts
           .
           It
           is
           His
           sole
           Pretogative
           to
           foresee
           future
           Contingencies
           which
           depend
           on
           free
           Causes
           :
           Though
           it
           is
           true
           the
           Devil
           hath
           claimed
           This
           in
           all
           Ages
           ,
           
           (
           witness
           the
           many
           ways
           of
           Divination
           by
           Oracles
           ,
           Auguries
           ,
           &c.
           )
           and
           for
           this
           he
           hath
           been
           consulted
           and
           adored
           by
           the
           Gentile
           World.
           Besides
           ,
           it
           is
           above
           humane
           Art
           to
           foretell
           certainly
           future
           Contingencies
           ,
           because
           the
           Actions
           of
           Men
           ,
           and
           the
           Events
           which
           follow
           them
           are
           not
           always
           ,
           or
           for
           the
           most
           part
           according
           to
           their
           Wills
           and
           Inclinations
           :
           for
           they
           may
           be
           swayed
           and
           over-ruled
           by
           Providence
           ,
           they
           may
           act
           against
           their
           purposes
           and
           Resolves
           .
           Not
           to
           mention
           this
           also
           ,
           that
           Hypocrisie
           often
           puts
           a
           veil
           and
           disguise
           on
           mens
           doings
           .
           Lastly
           ,
           those
           
             other
             associate
             Causes
             and
             Springs
          
           of
           Actions
           and
           Events
           in
           the
           Life
           of
           Man
           ,
           as
           the
           first
           Principle
           of
           Generation
           derived
           from
           the
           Parents
           ,
           and
           the
           like
           ,
           may
           prove
           too
           strong
           for
           the
           Influence
           of
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           and
           so
           make
           all
           Prognosticks
           uncertain
           .
        
         
         
           But
           it
           will
           be
           said
           ,
           that
           those
           who
           divine
           by
           the
           Stars
           are
           consulted
           frequently
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           known
           that
           they
           sometimes
           exactly
           foretell
           what
           shall
           come
           to
           pass
           .
        
         
           I
           answer
           ,
           I
           am
           not
           unwilling
           to
           grant
           that
           they
           doe
           so
           ,
           and
           by
           virtue
           of
           their
           Art.
           For
           I
           have
           intimated
           before
           ,
           that
           I
           am
           none
           of
           those
           who
           cut
           down
           a
           whole
           Art
           right
           or
           wrong
           ,
           who
           admit
           of
           no
           Limitations
           and
           Cautions
           in
           the
           Subject
           they
           treat
           of
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           cause
           they
           undertake
           ,
           a
           sort
           of
           men
           that
           spoil
           all
           Sciences
           ,
           and
           have
           done
           as
           much
           harm
           in
           Divinity
           as
           in
           any
           thing
           whatsoever
           .
           I
           make
           no
           question
           but
           the
           Stars
           point
           out
           some
           Futurities
           to
           us
           ,
           but
           it
           seldom
           happens
           that
           we
           know
           what
           they
           are
           ,
           because
           the
           persons
           who
           are
           truly
           skilfull
           and
           can
           direct
           us
           ,
           are
           very
           few
           and
           scarce
           :
           because
           the
           Art
           is
           intricate
           ,
           and
           taketh
           up
           much
           time
           ,
           and
           requireth
           
           a
           singular
           Honesty
           joyned
           with
           an
           exquisite
           Knowledge
           .
           For
           it
           is
           not
           every
           Well-willer
           to
           the
           Mathematicks
           can
           set
           up
           for
           Prognosticks
           .
           An
           Astrologer
           must
           not
           onely
           be
           skilled
           in
           the
           Starry
           Revolutions
           ,
           but
           ought
           to
           be
           a
           profound
           Philosopher
           ,
           Politician
           ,
           Historian
           ,
           Physician
           ,
           Divine
           ,
           and
           in
           a
           word
           ,
           universally
           instructed
           ;
           for
           he
           is
           to
           look
           into
           ,
           and
           be
           acquainted
           with
           other
           Causes
           and
           Springs
           of
           Actions
           besides
           those
           above
           ;
           he
           is
           to
           attend
           to
           divers
           things
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           pronounce
           rashly
           :
           Hear
           what
           a
           wise
           Head
           uttereth
           to
           this
           purpose
           ,
           '
           H
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           
           The
           Study
           of
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           is
           not
           the
           employment
           of
           a
           rude
           and
           barren
           Mind
           ,
           but
           of
           one
           that
           is
           extremely
           ingenious
           and
           docile
           ,
           and
           pregnant
           with
           the
           most
           complete
           and
           accomplished
           Notions
           .
           An
           Astrologer
           
           must
           be
           a
           man
           of
           great
           thoughtfulness
           and
           Study
           ,
           of
           mighty
           Wisedom
           and
           Sagacity
           ,
           of
           long
           Trial
           and
           Experience
           ,
           of
           exact
           and
           wary
           Observation
           ,
           and
           in
           order
           to
           this
           latter
           he
           should
           constantly
           reside
           in
           a
           place
           proper
           for
           his
           Employment
           ,
           a
           plain
           champain
           Countrey
           ,
           a
           clear
           and
           uncloudy
           Skie
           ,
           fit
           to
           promote
           the
           Observations
           of
           the
           Heavens
           :
           and
           on
           this
           account
           I
           question
           whether
           the
           accurate
           notice
           of
           the
           Stars
           can
           be
           attained
           to
           in
           Islands
           and
           such
           like
           places
           .
           When
           the
           Person
           is
           rightly
           accomplished
           for
           his
           work
           ,
           and
           when
           all
           things
           belonging
           to
           the
           Art
           favour
           and
           befriend
           him
           ,
           (
           which
           is
           very
           rare
           )
           his
           Astrological
           Judgments
           may
           prove
           successfull
           .
           But
           even
           then
           he
           cannot
           promise
           and
           assure
           any
           man
           of
           the
           certainty
           and
           infallibility
           of
           what
           he
           saith
           ,
           but
           must
           desire
           People
           to
           be
           contented
           with
           Likelihood
           and
           Probability
           .
           This
           is
           the
           true
           scale
           of
           Astrology
           ,
           and
           
           he
           that
           takes
           its
           height
           otherwise
           deceiveth
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           I
           Answer
           again
           ,
           It
           is
           no
           wonder
           that
           they
           seem
           sometimes
           to
           foretell
           aright
           things
           to
           come
           ,
           for
           this
           they
           may
           doe
           merely
           by
           chance
           .
           It
           will
           happen
           so
           at
           one
           time
           or
           other
           .
           But
           then
           how
           often
           do
           they
           feed
           those
           who
           consult
           them
           with
           Lies
           ?
           Though
           the
           Art
           be
           fallacious
           ,
           yet
           it
           may
           hit
           sometimes
           ,
           and
           so
           Events
           may
           answer
           to
           the
           Predictions
           .
           Why
           may
           they
           not
           light
           on
           truth
           by
           chance
           ?
           Of
           so
           many
           things
           foretold
           some
           one
           will
           come
           to
           pass
           .
           But
           if
           the
           number
           of
           the
           things
           which
           happen
           ,
           and
           of
           those
           which
           do
           not
           ,
           be
           compared
           ,
           for
           one
           Truth
           you
           will
           find
           a
           Thousand
           Falshoods
           .
        
         
           This
           also
           I
           have
           to
           Answer
           ,
           That
           sometimes
           they
           are
           thought
           to
           foretell
           ,
           because
           they
           speak
           ambiguously
           ;
           and
           fond
           People
           are
           prone
           
           to
           interpret
           in
           favour
           of
           the
           Fortune-teller
           .
           Thus
           Nostrodamus
           (
           who
           was
           Physician
           to
           three
           Kings
           of
           France
           successively
           )
           his
           Prognostications
           are
           so
           obscure
           and
           equivocal
           ,
           that
           some
           of
           them
           have
           been
           thought
           to
           be
           fulfilled
           when
           they
           were
           not
           ,
           and
           that
           merely
           because
           they
           are
           so
           shaped
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           be
           understood
           and
           applied
           divers
           ways
           .
           Moreover
           ,
           there
           is
           Reason
           to
           believe
           ,
           that
           they
           sometimes
           foretell
           things
           from
           a
           Confederacy
           and
           Compact
           with
           Spirits
           .
           I
           am
           confident
           I
           am
           not
           uncharitable
           in
           thinking
           that
           some
           of
           those
           who
           take
           upon
           them
           to
           predict
           future
           Events
           by
           Judiciary
           Astrology
           ,
           step
           beyond
           the
           bounds
           of
           their
           Art
           ,
           and
           hold
           Correspondence
           with
           Lucifer
           ,
           that
           great
           fallen
           Star.
           By
           his
           means
           they
           may
           shrewdly
           foretell
           (
           as
           some
           of
           them
           have
           done
           )
           the
           exact
           time
           and
           manner
           of
           their
           own
           and
           others
           Deaths
           .
           As
           Suetonius
           ,
           in
           the
           Life
           of
           Domitian
           ,
           tells
           
           of
           an
           Astrologer
           ,
           who
           having
           foretold
           the
           Emperour's
           Fortune
           ,
           which
           it
           seems
           was
           not
           pleasing
           to
           him
           ,
           and
           being
           asked
           by
           the
           Emperour
           what
           should
           be
           his
           own
           ,
           he
           said
           he
           was
           to
           be
           devoured
           by
           Dogs
           .
           To
           frustrate
           his
           Prediction
           the
           Emperour
           ordered
           he
           should
           presently
           be
           killed
           and
           buried
           :
           but
           whilst
           they
           were
           burying
           him
           a
           great
           storm
           arose
           ,
           and
           made
           them
           relinquish
           the
           Corps
           ,
           and
           by
           that
           means
           it
           was
           left
           to
           the
           Dogs
           ,
           who
           came
           and
           tore
           it
           in
           pieces
           and
           devoured
           it
           .
           Cardan
           foretold
           the
           Year
           and
           Day
           of
           his
           own
           Death
           .
           One
           warned
           
             Iulius
             Caesar
          
           of
           the
           Ides
           of
           March
           ,
           which
           were
           approaching
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           well
           known
           that
           they
           proved
           fatal
           to
           him
           .
           
             Picus
             Mirandula
          
           ,
           who
           by
           his
           Writings
           shewed
           himself
           
             the
             greatest
             Adversary
             that
             ever
             Astrology
             had
             ,
          
           
           (
           as
           one
           who
           was
           the
           greatest
           Patron
           ,
           and
           learnedst
           Defender
           of
           Judiciary
           Astrology
           ,
           styleth
           him
           )
           was
           told
           by
           
             Lucius
             Bellantius
          
           ,
           and
           
           two
           other
           Astrologers
           ,
           that
           he
           should
           die
           in
           the
           three
           and
           thirtieth
           Year
           of
           his
           Age
           ,
           and
           he
           did
           so
           .
           This
           might
           fall
           out
           by
           Chance
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           said
           :
           or
           ,
           as
           I
           am
           now
           suggesting
           ,
           by
           the
           
             Devil's
             help
          
           ,
           for
           he
           is
           ready
           to
           assist
           in
           Predictions
           those
           that
           too
           narrowly
           prie
           into
           such
           Mysteries
           ,
           and
           thereby
           he
           promotes
           his
           Kingdom
           and
           Interest
           .
           And
           that
           some
           Futurities
           of
           great
           moment
           may
           be
           discovered
           by
           his
           Assistence
           is
           evident
           ,
           because
           he
           is
           (
           as
           the
           sacred
           Writ
           calleth
           him
           )
           the
           
             God
             of
             this
             World
          
           ,
           and
           
             ruleth
             in
             the
             Children
             of
             Disobedience
             ,
          
           because
           he
           is
           engaged
           in
           all
           the
           black
           Crimes
           men
           are
           guilty
           of
           ,
           and
           stirreth
           them
           up
           to
           the
           commission
           of
           those
           horrid
           Villanies
           which
           are
           acted
           :
           he
           may
           in
           a
           manner
           be
           said
           to
           doe
           them
           ,
           and
           therefore
           can
           tell
           that
           they
           are
           to
           be
           done
           .
           Or
           ,
           he
           being
           prosent
           at
           the
           Clubs
           and
           Consults
           of
           the
           Wicked
           ,
           heareth
           such
           and
           such
           things
           from
           the
           Mouths
           
           of
           those
           who
           design
           to
           act
           them
           ,
           Or
           ,
           evil
           Spirits
           can
           guess
           futurities
           by
           what
           is
           past
           or
           present
           .
           They
           can
           partly
           see
           the
           things
           to
           come
           in
           those
           that
           have
           been
           already
           .
           These
           subtile
           Creatures
           ponder
           the
           Nature
           and
           Effects
           of
           all
           things
           ,
           and
           by
           their
           long
           continuance
           and
           experience
           are
           skilled
           in
           the
           temper
           of
           the
           Elements
           ,
           and
           of
           Mens
           Bodies
           ,
           and
           the
           Inclinations
           proceeding
           thence
           ,
           insomuch
           that
           they
           can
           foresee
           Famine
           ,
           Pestilence
           ,
           and
           other
           Diseases
           ,
           Wars
           and
           Deaths
           .
           Or
           God
           may
           permit
           evil
           Spirits
           to
           foretell
           Events
           ,
           Suffering
           them
           thereby
           to
           seduce
           the
           Wicked
           ,
           and
           to
           punish
           them
           ,
           or
           for
           other
           Reasons
           which
           are
           hid
           to
           us
           .
           From
           such
           Considerations
           as
           these
           it
           is
           not
           unreasonable
           to
           gather
           .
           That
           the
           consulting
           of
           Ghosts
           and
           Familiar
           Spirits
           ,
           in
           plain
           terms
           ,
           Devils
           ,
           is
           too
           often
           palliated
           under
           the
           pretence
           of
           Astrology
           .
           I
           have
           it
           from
           the
           Pen
           of
           Paracelsus
           ,
           
           (
           who
           some
           
           think
           was
           a
           competent
           Judge
           in
           this
           case
           ,
           )
           That
           
             the
             Devil
             often
             insinuateth
             himself
             into
             Astrologers
             .
          
           Nor
           is
           it
           necessary
           that
           he
           should
           formally
           and
           solemnly
           converse
           with
           them
           ,
           (
           though
           it
           is
           probable
           he
           doth
           so
           with
           some
           :
           )
           it
           is
           enough
           for
           their
           purpose
           ,
           and
           the
           Devil
           's
           too
           ,
           that
           they
           tacitly
           hold
           commerce
           with
           him
           :
           an
           implicit
           compact
           may
           suffice
           sometimes
           .
           And
           thus
           the
           Daemon
           ,
           or
           evil
           Spirit
           ,
           who
           actuateth
           them
           ,
           keeps
           them
           in
           pay
           with
           constant
           Intelligence
           ,
           till
           at
           last
           he
           gives
           them
           the
           full
           Reward
           of
           their
           serving
           him
           in
           the
           Regions
           of
           Darkness
           forever
           .
        
         
           I
           hope
           I
           have
           by
           this
           time
           made
           it
           manifest
           ,
           that
           future
           Events
           may
           be
           predicted
           in
           some
           measure
           ,
           or
           seem
           to
           be
           so
           ,
           and
           yet
           that
           this
           is
           not
           to
           be
           attributed
           to
           Astrological
           Skill
           .
           No
           :
           This
           Art
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           managed
           ;
           seldom
           reacheth
           so
           far
           .
           If
           it
           had
           light
           into
           the
           hands
           of
           Persons
           who
           were
           both
           
             knowing
             and
             
             good
          
           ,
           it
           might
           have
           come
           to
           some
           thing
           :
           but
           as
           it
           hath
           been
           used
           ,
           or
           rather
           abused
           and
           perverted
           ,
           no
           great
           matter
           can
           be
           expected
           from
           it
           .
           And
           to
           offer
           yet
           a
           farther
           Conviction
           of
           this
           ,
           and
           to
           prove
           that
           it
           is
           not
           in
           the
           power
           of
           Astrology
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           now
           framed
           ,
           to
           foretell
           future
           Contingencies
           ,
           nay
           ,
           not
           Natural
           Occurrences
           with
           any
           certainty
           ,
           I
           will
           lead
           you
           to
           a
           clear
           Apprehension
           of
           it
           by
           these
           following
           Steps
           :
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           Hypotheses
           they
           commonly
           go
           upon
           ,
           are
           not
           the
           same
           that
           we
           reade
           of
           heretofore
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           They
           proceed
           upon
           seigned
           and
           precarious
           Principles
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           And
           more
           particularly
           ,
           Their
           Doctrine
           of
           Genitures
           is
           fond
           and
           groundless
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           They
           go
           beyond
           the
           Rules
           of
           the
           wisest
           in
           the
           Art.
           
        
         
           5.
           
           They
           pretend
           to
           tell
           others
           of
           their
           affairs
           ,
           but
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           know
           not
           their
           own
           .
        
         
         
           In
           the
           First
           place
           ,
           I
           tender
           this
           to
           be
           considered
           ,
           That
           the
           Hypotheses
           which
           the
           old
           Astrologers
           and
           the
           new
           ones
           proceed
           upon
           ,
           are
           not
           the
           same
           ,
           but
           differ
           
             toto
             coelo
          
           ,
           and
           therefore
           it
           is
           impossible
           that
           the
           Astrological
           Judgments
           made
           from
           them
           should
           be
           true
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           ,
           if
           they
           be
           true
           on
           one
           side
           ,
           they
           are
           false
           on
           the
           other
           .
           Ricciolus
           in
           his
           
             Astronomia
             Reformata
          
           ,
           hath
           learnedly
           shewed
           the
           variety
           of
           Astronomical
           Hypotheses
           ,
           and
           the
           uncertainty
           of
           them
           ;
           and
           from
           thence
           he
           moves
           for
           a
           Reformation
           in
           the
           Principles
           of
           Astronomy
           and
           Astrology
           .
           That
           excellent
           Writer
           will
           inform
           us
           ,
           that
           the
           ancient
           Astrology
           was
           false
           and
           frivolous
           ,
           because
           it
           was
           grounded
           on
           gross
           mistakes
           in
           Philosophy
           ,
           on
           palpable
           Errours
           concerning
           the
           Systeme
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           as
           the
           Ptolemaick
           Hypothesis
           ,
           which
           is
           now
           laughed
           at
           .
           The
           Moderns
           will
           tell
           you
           that
           the
           
           fixed
           Stars
           have
           altered
           their
           places
           ,
           and
           do
           not
           set
           and
           rise
           at
           the
           same
           time
           they
           did
           of
           old
           ,
           but
           a
           Month
           later
           .
           For
           Example
           ,
           the
           
             Dog
             Star
          
           arose
           about
           the
           middle
           of
           Iuly
           heretofore
           ,
           but
           now
           in
           the
           middle
           of
           August
           .
           The
           fixed
           Stars
           of
           Scorpio
           and
           Taurus
           have
           changed
           their
           Site
           .
           The
           Star
           in
           the
           Tail
           of
           the
           lester
           Bear
           ,
           called
           the
           Pole
           Star
           ,
           hath
           insensibly
           crept
           nearer
           the
           Pole.
           It
           was
           heretofore
           the
           most
           Southerly
           Star
           in
           that
           Constellation
           ,
           but
           is
           now
           the
           most
           Northerly
           .
           
           Hipparchus
           ,
           a
           famous
           Pythagorean
           Philosopher
           ,
           who
           lived
           in
           Egypt
           in
           the
           reign
           of
           
             Ptolemaeus
             Philadelphus
          
           ,
           saith
           it
           was
           12
           Degrees
           from
           the
           Pole
           in
           his
           days
           :
           but
           now
           it
           is
           not
           above
           3
           or
           4.
           
           And
           the
           Planets
           are
           altered
           as
           well
           as
           the
           
             fixed
             Lights
          
           .
           The
           Entrance
           of
           the
           Sun
           into
           the
           Cardinal
           Points
           (
           a
           mighty
           considerable
           thing
           in
           Astronomy
           ,
           and
           whence
           the
           Judgments
           of
           Artists
           concerning
           the
           Quarters
           
           of
           the
           Year
           take
           their
           measures
           )
           is
           determined
           by
           some
           otherwise
           than
           it
           was
           heretofore
           .
           Nay
           ,
           it
           is
           known
           that
           the
           Moderns
           do
           not
           agree
           about
           the
           punctual
           Time
           of
           the
           Sun's
           Entrance
           ,
           Copernicus
           and
           other
           Mathematicians
           say
           the
           Sun
           is
           come
           nearer
           to
           the
           Earth
           than
           it
           was
           heretofore
           by
           vast
           proportions
           ;
           some
           say
           Ten
           Thousand
           Miles
           .
           The
           Centre
           of
           the
           Sun
           was
           distant
           from
           the
           Centre
           of
           the
           Earth
           24
           ▪
           Diameters
           of
           the
           Earth
           in
           
           Ptolemy's
           time
           :
           now
           it
           is
           distant
           18.
           
           The
           Sun
           's
           Apogaeum
           in
           
           Ptolemy's
           days
           was
           in
           the
           5th
           Degree
           of
           Gemini
           ,
           now
           according
           to
           Tycho
           it
           is
           in
           the
           6th
           Degree
           of
           Cancer
           .
           Some
           likewise
           are
           of
           Opinion
           ,
           that
           the
           Reason
           why
           so
           many
           Eclipses
           appear
           ,
           is
           because
           the
           Equinoxes
           are
           transposed
           ,
           and
           remain
           not
           what
           they
           were
           at
           first
           .
           Now
           this
           I
           say
           ,
           If
           there
           ,
           be
           not
           the
           same
           distance
           of
           the
           Earth
           from
           the
           Heavens
           that
           was
           heretofore
           ,
           and
           if
           the
           Stars
           are
           
           displaced
           ,
           there
           will
           follow
           thence
           an
           Increase
           or
           Abatement
           of
           their
           Influences
           :
           or
           ,
           though
           they
           be
           not
           altered
           (
           as
           I
           cannot
           tell
           whether
           my
           Authours
           fail
           me
           or
           no
           in
           their
           Accounts
           )
           yet
           if
           some
           modern
           Artists
           have
           thought
           so
           ,
           and
           have
           framed
           their
           Conclusions
           accordingly
           ,
           there
           must
           needs
           be
           some
           alteration
           in
           Judgments
           made
           thence
           .
           And
           yet
           these
           Moderns
           (
           which
           is
           very
           strange
           )
           adhere
           to
           the
           Aphorisms
           of
           the
           Ancients
           in
           the
           Judiciary
           part
           of
           Astrology
           .
           The
           old
           Hypotheses
           are
           exploded
           ,
           and
           yet
           no
           new
           Rules
           and
           Maxims
           are
           introduced
           .
           The
           antiquated
           Aphorisms
           must
           hold
           on
           still
           ,
           though
           the
           Heavens
           are
           not
           now
           conformable
           to
           the
           old
           Systeme
           of
           them
           .
           Who
           would
           not
           think
           that
           the
           new
           discoveries
           in
           the
           Heavens
           must
           needs
           make
           some
           Alteration
           in
           the
           Judgments
           made
           from
           them
           ?
           Since
           many
           things
           concerning
           the
           Stars
           are
           known
           and
           acknowledged
           now
           which
           former
           
           times
           were
           ignorant
           of
           ,
           how
           can
           it
           otherwise
           happen
           than
           that
           there
           should
           be
           sometimes
           different
           ,
           if
           not
           
             contrary
             Observations
          
           ?
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           their
           Art
           is
           founded
           ,
           as
           on
           suspected
           Hypotheses
           ,
           so
           upon
           
             false
             and
             feigned
             Principles
          
           .
           As
           to
           Instance
           ,
           they
           build
           upon
           the
           
             groundless
             Suppositions
          
           of
           the
           Zodiack
           ,
           that
           great
           and
           spatious
           Circle
           which
           containeth
           the
           several
           Roads
           and
           Inns
           which
           the
           Sun
           turns
           into
           in
           his
           travelling
           round
           the
           World.
           Having
           named
           this
           ,
           perhaps
           it
           will
           be
           expected
           I
           should
           declame
           against
           the
           
             imaginary
             Signs
          
           in
           that
           Circle
           ,
           for
           they
           confess
           themselves
           that
           there
           is
           not
           the
           least
           Similitude
           of
           a
           Lion
           ,
           a
           Scorpion
           ,
           or
           a
           Crab
           in
           the
           Heavens
           .
           If
           it
           had
           pleased
           the
           first
           Nomenclators
           ,
           the
           Lion
           might
           have
           been
           a
           Jaccal
           ,
           the
           Scorpion
           a
           Crocodile
           ,
           and
           the
           Crab
           a
           Whale
           .
           One
           of
           the
           Constellations
           in
           this
           Circle
           is
           called
           Libra
           ,
           but
           it
           is
           no
           
           more
           like
           a
           Balance
           than
           a
           pair
           of
           Bellows
           ,
           nor
           so
           much
           neither
           .
           But
           Libra
           is
           a
           Symbol
           of
           Justice
           ,
           Ergò
           They
           that
           are
           born
           under
           this
           Sign
           shall
           prove
           Just
           and
           Even
           Men.
           This
           it
           is
           to
           argue
           from
           arbitrary
           and
           fictitious
           things
           ,
           as
           if
           real
           Effects
           were
           like
           to
           be
           produced
           from
           Chimaera's
           .
           Those
           that
           remonstrate
           against
           Judiciary
           Astrology
           ,
           use
           to
           be
           very
           brisk
           here
           ,
           and
           fly
           with
           great
           Zeal
           at
           these
           Imaginary
           and
           feigned
           Signs
           in
           the
           Heavens
           .
           But
           I
           have
           premised
           before
           ,
           that
           I
           design
           not
           Conquest
           but
           Truth
           in
           this
           short
           Essay
           .
           My
           work
           is
           not
           to
           run
           at
           all
           adventures
           against
           an
           Opinion
           ,
           but
           to
           strike
           at
           so
           much
           of
           it
           onely
           as
           ought
           to
           be
           opposed
           .
           I
           hold
           therefore
           ,
           That
           though
           those
           Constellations
           have
           imaginary
           Names
           ,
           yet
           they
           may
           be
           indued
           with
           a
           real
           Influence
           .
           And
           the
           Reason
           why
           they
           call
           them
           by
           such
           Names
           ,
           is
           because
           it
           is
           likely
           those
           Figures
           from
           whence
           they
           are
           denominated
           ,
           
           (
           as
           a
           Ram
           ,
           a
           Bull
           ,
           &c.
           )
           express
           something
           of
           the
           Nature
           and
           Effects
           ,
           the
           Power
           and
           Operation
           of
           those
           Stars
           on
           the
           Body
           of
           Man.
           However
           ,
           these
           Names
           and
           Figures
           were
           appropriated
           to
           them
           to
           distinguish
           them
           from
           one
           another
           .
           Waving
           then
           these
           ,
           let
           us
           consider
           the
           Distribution
           of
           the
           Signs
           of
           the
           Zodiack
           ,
           and
           here
           indeed
           we
           shall
           find
           mere
           Fictions
           and
           Delusions
           .
           Take
           this
           convincing
           demonstration
           of
           it
           :
           Astrologers
           teach
           ,
           that
           the
           several
           Countries
           and
           Regions
           of
           the
           World
           are
           under
           their
           particular
           and
           proper
           Signs
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           all
           provided
           and
           served
           with
           their
           different
           Configurations
           :
           and
           so
           their
           way
           is
           ,
           when
           there
           are
           Conjunctions
           ,
           Eclipses
           ,
           and
           the
           like
           in
           these
           Signs
           ,
           to
           see
           what
           Countreys
           and
           Cities
           are
           liable
           to
           the
           Dominion
           of
           these
           Constellations
           .
           But
           you
           must
           note
           that
           when
           the
           Astrologers
           made
           the
           Distribution
           of
           the
           Signs
           ,
           there
           
           were
           but
           three
           parts
           ,
           or
           rather
           half
           of
           the
           World
           known
           ,
           and
           the
           Regions
           of
           that
           known
           World
           shared
           all
           the
           Signs
           among
           them
           ;
           so
           that
           if
           any
           other
           parts
           should
           be
           found
           out
           afterwards
           ,
           they
           were
           to
           shift
           for
           themselves
           ,
           and
           be
           contented
           without
           Signs
           .
           Now
           it
           happened
           that
           America
           was
           discovered
           since
           ,
           and
           this
           is
           as
           large
           as
           the
           other
           Three
           Parts
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           hath
           not
           one
           Sign
           allotted
           it
           .
           An
           Astrologer
           still
           proceeds
           as
           if
           there
           were
           no
           such
           place
           in
           Nature
           ;
           for
           if
           he
           should
           allow
           it
           any
           Signs
           then
           this
           new
           World
           must
           rob
           the
           old
           one
           of
           half
           its
           Constellations
           ,
           and
           by
           this
           means
           the
           ancient
           Rules
           of
           Astrology
           (
           on
           which
           they
           still
           proceed
           )
           are
           baffled
           and
           cashier'd
           .
           It
           is
           clear
           then
           that
           the
           Dividing
           of
           these
           Signs
           was
           an
           idle
           and
           foolish
           Invention
           .
           Or
           ,
           to
           couch
           the
           matter
           in
           short
           thus
           ,
           The
           old
           Division
           of
           the
           Signs
           among
           the
           Nations
           of
           the
           Earth
           was
           either
           right
           or
           wrong
           .
           If
           
           it
           was
           right
           ,
           then
           one
           half
           of
           the
           World
           hath
           engrossed
           all
           the
           Signs
           ,
           which
           is
           as
           ridiculous
           and
           absurd
           as
           can
           be
           ,
           and
           the
           poor
           People
           of
           America
           ,
           though
           they
           be
           a
           Moiety
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           can
           have
           no
           Prognosticks
           made
           upon
           them
           .
           Or
           if
           the
           ancient
           way
           of
           Dividing
           the
           Signs
           was
           wrong
           ,
           then
           all
           the
           Astrological
           Judgments
           of
           Places
           of
           the
           World
           before
           Two
           Hundred
           Years
           agoe
           ,
           were
           mere
           Shams
           :
           and
           as
           for
           the
           Modern
           Astrologers
           ,
           if
           they
           follow
           
             that
             Division
          
           ,
           they
           are
           deluded
           ,
           and
           if
           they
           make
           a
           
             new
             one
          
           ,
           they
           thereby
           disgrace
           and
           abuse
           the
           greatest
           Patrons
           of
           their
           Art
           ,
           and
           they
           may
           as
           well
           renounce
           their
           other
           Hypotheses
           and
           Principles
           as
           this
           ,
           and
           so
           the
           whole
           Fabrick
           of
           Astrology
           will
           be
           in
           danger
           of
           tumbling
           down
           .
           The
           order
           of
           the
           Regimen
           of
           the
           Twelve
           Signs
           ,
           in
           respect
           of
           Man's
           Body
           ,
           will
           be
           call'd
           in
           question
           ,
           viz.
           why
           the
           Head
           is
           governed
           by
           this
           Sign
           ,
           
           and
           the
           Neck
           by
           that
           ?
           why
           such
           Members
           are
           under
           the
           Dominion
           of
           such
           particular
           Constellations
           ,
           and
           not
           others
           ?
           And
           the
           Division
           of
           these
           Signs
           into
           Hot
           and
           Cold
           ,
           Dry
           and
           Moist
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Qualities
           of
           the
           Four
           Elements
           ,
           or
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           same
           ,
           the
           Division
           of
           them
           into
           Four
           Trigons
           ,
           the
           Fiery
           Trigon
           (
           
             Aries
             ,
             Leo
             ,
             Sagittarius
          
           ,
           )
           the
           Earthly
           
             (
             Taurus
             ,
             Virgo
             ,
             Capricorn
             ,
          
           )
           the
           Aerial
           
             (
             Gemini
             ,
             Libra
             ,
             Aquarius
             ,
          
           )
           and
           the
           Watry
           
             (
             Cancer
             ,
             Scorpio
             ,
             Pisces
             ,
          
           )
           may
           be
           looked
           on
           as
           groundless
           and
           Precarious
           .
        
         
           Next
           ,
           I
           am
           not
           satisfied
           about
           their
           
             Distribution
             of
             the
             Heavens
          
           into
           the
           
             Twelve
             Houses
          
           ,
           which
           they
           talk
           much
           of
           ,
           and
           of
           which
           they
           make
           as
           much
           use
           in
           the
           Erection
           of
           their
           Schemes
           .
           When
           they
           are
           to
           judge
           of
           the
           Events
           that
           appertain
           to
           any
           Person
           they
           fly
           to
           these
           Houses
           presently
           ,
           to
           see
           what
           Planets
           ,
           or
           other
           Stars
           ,
           were
           situated
           in
           any
           of
           these
           at
           the
           Birth
           of
           
           him
           they
           enquire
           about
           .
           The
           first
           House
           begins
           at
           the
           East-Horizon
           ,
           and
           is
           to
           be
           numbred
           according
           to
           the
           Series
           of
           the
           Signs
           Eastward
           .
           In
           Nativities
           it
           is
           called
           the
           Horoscope
           ,
           and
           the
           House
           of
           Life
           .
           It
           is
           also
           named
           the
           Ascendent
           ,
           because
           the
           Sun
           ascends
           there
           in
           this
           first
           House
           :
           and
           according
           to
           the
           quality
           of
           any
           Man's
           Ascendent
           they
           tell
           you
           what
           his
           Fortunes
           shall
           be
           .
           This
           and
           the
           other
           Eleven
           Houses
           with
           their
           Virtues
           and
           Properties
           ,
           are
           represented
           in
           order
           in
           the
           following
           Distich
           ,
           
             
               Vita
               ,
               Lucrum
               ,
               Fratres
               ,
               Genitor
               ,
               Nati
               ,
               Valetudo
               ,
            
             
               Vxor
               ,
               Mors
               ,
               Pietas
               ,
               Regnum
               ,
               Benefactáque
               Carcer
               ,
            
          
        
         
           These
           Houses
           (
           say
           they
           )
           have
           their
           particular
           and
           distinct
           Relation
           to
           all
           things
           that
           can
           happen
           to
           Man
           ,
           and
           according
           to
           these
           the
           various
           Events
           of
           Life
           and
           Death
           
           are
           to
           be
           Judged
           of
           .
           But
           what
           can
           be
           more
           imaginary
           and
           fancyfull
           ?
           It
           is
           a
           mere
           Arbitrary
           Invention
           that
           there
           should
           be
           just
           Twelve
           Houses
           ,
           and
           no
           more
           or
           less
           .
           And
           what
           is
           there
           in
           one
           of
           these
           Houses
           more
           than
           in
           another
           that
           signifies
           these
           distinct
           Natures
           and
           Properties
           ?
           What
           Reason
           can
           be
           given
           why
           the
           first
           House
           should
           be
           the
           Horoscope
           ,
           and
           why
           Judgment
           must
           be
           made
           there
           of
           the
           Birth
           of
           the
           Child
           ?
           And
           not
           onely
           in
           this
           ,
           but
           in
           every
           one
           of
           these
           Houses
           there
           are
           many
           things
           wholly
           feigned
           ,
           fabulous
           and
           precarious
           .
           When
           you
           come
           to
           take
           an
           account
           of
           them
           from
           the
           Artist
           ,
           you
           hear
           nothing
           but
           a
           mere
           Jargon
           and
           unintelligible
           Gibberish
           .
           But
           this
           is
           plain
           English
           ,
           and
           easie
           to
           be
           understood
           ,
           that
           from
           consulting
           of
           imaginary
           and
           fictitious
           Houses
           nothing
           is
           to
           be
           expected
           but
           imaginary
           Predictions
           .
           And
           so
           for
           the
           
             Planetary
             Hours
          
           ,
           which
           are
           the
           12
           
           equal
           parts
           which
           Astrologers
           divide
           the
           artificial
           Day
           and
           Night
           into
           ,
           be
           it
           long
           or
           short
           .
           There
           are
           6
           Planetary
           Hours
           constantly
           in
           a
           day
           before
           Noon
           ,
           and
           6
           after
           ;
           and
           in
           these
           a
           Planet
           is
           said
           to
           reign
           or
           rule
           ,
           and
           the
           Hours
           take
           their
           Denomination
           from
           the
           7
           Planets
           ,
           beginning
           with
           Luna
           ,
           and
           so
           proceeding
           to
           Saturn
           ,
           and
           then
           beginning
           again
           with
           Luna
           ,
           &c.
           
           This
           ,
           no
           less
           than
           the
           position
           of
           the
           Twelve
           Houses
           ,
           seemeth
           to
           be
           wholly
           Arbitrary
           ,
           and
           founded
           on
           no
           solid
           Bottom
           ;
           and
           I
           could
           never
           find
           that
           the
           stoutest
           Champion
           that
           the
           Stars
           ever
           had
           ,
           could
           keep
           his
           ground
           here
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           and
           more
           particularly
           ,
           Their
           Doctrine
           of
           Genitures
           is
           fond
           and
           ridiculous
           .
           But
           here
           first
           I
           will
           (
           according
           to
           the
           Method
           I
           always
           prescribed
           my self
           )
           grant
           what
           is
           to
           be
           granted
           ,
           viz.
           That
           as
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           ,
           which
           are
           
           so
           great
           and
           vast
           ,
           and
           always
           surround
           and
           incircle
           us
           ,
           shed
           their
           Influence
           and
           Efficacy
           continually
           upon
           us
           ,
           so
           they
           do
           it
           especially
           at
           our
           first
           entring
           into
           the
           World
           ,
           when
           our
           Bodies
           are
           moist
           ,
           soft
           and
           tender
           .
           Then
           chiefly
           they
           receive
           Impressions
           from
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           and
           so
           the
           Temperament
           is
           partly
           derived
           from
           above
           ,
           and
           if
           long
           custome
           of
           acting
           be
           added
           to
           the
           Natural
           Temper
           and
           Complexion
           ,
           here
           is
           some
           ground
           for
           Astrological
           Judgments
           in
           a
           sober
           manner
           .
           But
           the
           common
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Genethliaci
           ,
           and
           their
           Boasts
           and
           Undertakings
           are
           vain
           upon
           these
           following
           Accounts
           ;
           because
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           Judgment
           concerning
           the
           Complexion
           and
           Inclination
           of
           Men
           should
           be
           made
           not
           onely
           from
           their
           Nativity
           ,
           but
           from
           the
           Time
           of
           their
           Generation
           and
           Conception
           ,
           when
           the
           first
           Lineaments
           of
           their
           Temper
           were
           drawn
           ,
           and
           the
           Ground
           work
           of
           Nature
           was
           laid
           .
           
           If
           any
           thing
           be
           impressed
           on
           Men
           by
           the
           Stars
           ,
           it
           is
           rather
           done
           upon
           the
           Seed
           in
           Conception
           ,
           than
           on
           the
           Foetus
           at
           the
           Birth
           :
           and
           therefore
           the
           Judgment
           should
           rather
           be
           taken
           from
           that
           Principle
           ,
           and
           from
           the
           time
           of
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           when
           the
           Infant
           first
           of
           all
           moveth
           and
           liveth
           ,
           than
           from
           the
           hour
           of
           the
           Nativity
           .
           And
           yet
           I
           could
           never
           observe
           that
           these
           Diviners
           trouble
           their
           Heads
           about
           this
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           Foundation
           of
           all
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Knowledge
           of
           the
           Efficacy
           of
           the
           Stars
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Nativity
           of
           Persons
           ,
           is
           very
           hard
           to
           come
           by
           ,
           for
           the
           exact
           time
           of
           Birth
           is
           seldom
           known
           and
           set
           down
           .
           Many
           can
           assign
           the
           Day
           or
           Night
           ,
           the
           Forenoon
           or
           Afternoon
           ,
           or
           perhaps
           the
           Hour
           in
           any
           of
           these
           ,
           but
           not
           one
           in
           a
           million
           directly
           knoweth
           the
           
             just
             and
             precise
             time
          
           when
           he
           was
           born
           .
           And
           yet
           many
           of
           those
           who
           maintain
           the
           Judgment
           of
           Genitures
           say
           ,
           that
           the
           Day
           or
           
           Hour
           are
           not
           enough
           ,
           but
           it
           is
           necessary
           to
           know
           the
           true
           Minute
           of
           the
           Nativity
           ,
           for
           on
           that
           depends
           the
           exact
           Judgment
           of
           the
           Person
           and
           his
           Actions
           .
           Thus
           we
           see
           (
           say
           they
           )
           that
           the
           little
           distance
           between
           the
           Birth
           of
           Twins
           causeth
           a
           vast
           difference
           in
           their
           respective
           Fortunes
           and
           course
           of
           Life
           ,
           as
           in
           the
           Examples
           of
           Iacob
           and
           
             Esau
             ,
             Remus
          
           and
           Romulus
           ,
           and
           others
           .
           These
           Twins
           ,
           though
           they
           may
           be
           said
           to
           be
           born
           together
           ,
           yet
           because
           they
           came
           not
           into
           the
           World
           at
           the
           very
           same
           moment
           ,
           differed
           exceedingly
           in
           their
           conditions
           ,
           and
           all
           circumstances
           of
           their
           Lives
           ;
           for
           every
           single
           minute
           the
           influence
           of
           the
           Heavens
           altereth
           .
           So
           that
           according
           to
           the
           concessions
           of
           Astrologers
           themselves
           there
           is
           no
           accurate
           Judging
           from
           the
           Nativity
           .
           If
           the
           Clocks
           went
           false
           at
           the
           time
           of
           the
           Midwifery
           ,
           all
           is
           gone
           .
           The
           Hour
           (
           if
           that
           would
           serve
           )
           cannot
           be
           perfectly
           told
           ,
           much
           less
           the
           Quarter
           
           and
           Minute
           :
           and
           yet
           if
           there
           be
           any
           failing
           in
           the
           least
           portion
           of
           Time
           ,
           the
           Stars
           change
           their
           Influences
           .
           Nor
           can
           they
           salve
           the
           matter
           (
           but
           rather
           give
           farther
           proof
           of
           their
           groundless
           Confidence
           )
           by
           saying
           that
           if
           the
           just
           time
           of
           the
           Nativity
           be
           forgot
           ,
           or
           not
           known
           ,
           they
           can
           by
           a
           Rule
           of
           Hermes
           (
           which
           Sir
           
             Christopher
             Heydon
          
           sets
           down
           in
           his
           Defence
           of
           Judiciary
           Astrology
           ,
           p.
           170.
           )
           help
           themselves
           and
           supply
           the
           defect
           .
           But
           others
           ,
           who
           are
           not
           so
           punctual
           ,
           say
           it
           sufficeth
           that
           they
           have
           a
           more
           general
           account
           of
           the
           time
           of
           Birth
           .
           And
           these
           men
           see
           they
           must
           be
           forced
           to
           acknowledge
           this
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           impossible
           sometimes
           that
           the
           exact
           Minute
           of
           the
           Nativity
           should
           be
           known
           ,
           as
           when
           the
           Birth
           is
           retarded
           by
           some
           accident
           or
           other
           .
           Nay
           ,
           every
           Child
           is
           born
           by
           parts
           ,
           he
           comes
           successively
           into
           the
           World
           ,
           so
           that
           there
           is
           a
           great
           Latitude
           in
           the
           time
           of
           Nativity
           .
           
           The
           Head
           may
           have
           received
           its
           Impression
           from
           the
           heavenly
           Bodies
           before
           the
           Breast
           or
           the
           Belly
           have
           theirs
           ,
           and
           these
           before
           the
           Feet
           and
           lower
           Parts
           can
           come
           to
           have
           their
           Doom
           .
        
         
           Thus
           the
           several
           Regions
           and
           Members
           of
           the
           Body
           will
           be
           diversly
           affected
           by
           the
           Stars
           .
           If
           Twins
           were
           not
           born
           under
           the
           same
           Constellation
           ,
           because
           not
           born
           in
           the
           same
           moment
           ,
           but
           one
           after
           another
           ,
           then
           for
           that
           Reason
           no
           
             one
             Man
          
           is
           born
           under
           the
           same
           Constellation
           ,
           for
           he
           cometh
           not
           all
           at
           once
           into
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           Moreover
           ,
           It
           is
           against
           the
           Nature
           of
           Astrology
           it self
           ,
           to
           judge
           of
           the
           course
           of
           Mens
           Lives
           from
           their
           Nativity
           ,
           because
           that
           teacheth
           that
           a
           diversity
           of
           Aspects
           causeth
           divers
           Inclinations
           in
           humane
           Bodies
           .
           Now
           it
           is
           known
           that
           the
           Aspects
           of
           the
           Planets
           vary
           much
           in
           one
           day
           in
           divers
           Countries
           .
           It
           is
           vain
           then
           to
           judge
           of
           Persons
           of
           
           divers
           Countries
           and
           Regions
           from
           their
           Nativities
           .
           Though
           many
           are
           born
           about
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           yet
           the
           places
           being
           different
           ,
           there
           must
           be
           a
           diversity
           of
           Position
           of
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           and
           what
           Star
           ariseth
           in
           one
           place
           in
           such
           an
           instant
           ,
           sets
           in
           another
           ;
           therefore
           the
           Judgments
           of
           Astrologers
           in
           this
           case
           are
           uncertain
           .
        
         
           Farther
           ,
           Though
           I
           cannot
           disprove
           what
           one
           hath
           related
           ,
           
           viz.
           that
           two
           persons
           born
           at
           the
           same
           time
           were
           observed
           afterwards
           to
           be
           of
           the
           same
           Genius
           ,
           they
           were
           Philosophers
           of
           the
           same
           School
           and
           Sect
           ,
           and
           died
           both
           in
           the
           same
           Moment
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           known
           ,
           that
           as
           some
           Twins
           came
           into
           the
           World
           ,
           so
           they
           went
           out
           together
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           as
           evident
           also
           ,
           that
           those
           who
           had
           the
           same
           Stars
           at
           their
           Births
           ,
           proved
           to
           be
           of
           different
           Qualities
           and
           Success
           in
           their
           Lives
           ;
           and
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           they
           who
           were
           born
           under
           different
           Stars
           met
           with
           the
           
           same
           Fortunes
           .
           An
           Example
           of
           this
           latter
           is
           given
           us
           by
           the
           great
           Roman
           Pleader
           ,
           and
           thus
           urged
           by
           him
           ,
           as
           a
           full
           Eviction
           of
           the
           vanity
           of
           the
           Genethliack
           Divination
           ,
           
             Omnésne
             qui
             Cannensi
             pugnâ
             ceciderunt
             ,
             
             uno
             Astro
             fuerunt
             ?
             Exitus
             quidem
             omnium
             unus
             &
             idem
             fuit
             .
          
           In
           some
           Battel
           (
           as
           suppose
           at
           Cannae
           )
           there
           fell
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           same
           kind
           of
           Death
           ,
           Twenty
           Thousand
           Men.
           If
           this
           happened
           from
           the
           Stars
           ,
           then
           they
           were
           all
           born
           under
           the
           same
           Constellation
           ;
           but
           none
           hath
           the
           impudence
           to
           say
           so
           :
           and
           therefore
           to
           argue
           from
           the
           Stars
           reigning
           at
           Mens
           Births
           to
           their
           future
           adventures
           and
           success
           ,
           is
           irrational
           .
           It
           is
           absurd
           to
           believe
           that
           all
           which
           happeneth
           in
           the
           whole
           Life
           ,
           dependeth
           on
           that
           moment
           in
           which
           the
           Child
           was
           born
           ,
           or
           that
           as
           the
           Stars
           stood
           affected
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           so
           ever
           after
           he
           should
           act
           .
        
         
         
           Lastly
           ,
           you
           may
           see
           how
           liable
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Genitures
           is
           to
           Fraud
           and
           Deceit
           ,
           from
           the
           general
           Use
           that
           is
           made
           of
           it
           by
           those
           who
           undertake
           to
           erect
           Astrological
           Schemes
           :
           For
           a
           Person
           and
           his
           Actions
           being
           once
           known
           ,
           they
           presently
           make
           some
           Star
           ,
           House
           ,
           Aspect
           or
           other
           ,
           answer
           to
           his
           Actions
           ,
           and
           make
           those
           to
           be
           certain
           Arguments
           of
           these
           .
           
             Richard
             Cromwell
          
           his
           Nativity
           is
           one
           of
           the
           meanest
           and
           poorest
           that
           ever
           I
           saw
           ,
           
           saith
           a
           Student
           in
           this
           Art
           ;
           there
           is
           not
           one
           Planet
           here
           essentially
           dignified
           .
           Major
           General
           Lambert
           began
           his
           March
           1659.
           
           Nov.
           3.
           10
           h.
           15.
           m.
           towards
           the
           North
           ,
           against
           General
           Monk.
           The
           Position
           of
           the
           Heavens
           was
           most
           sad
           ,
           saith
           the
           same
           Person
           ;
           the
           Moon
           was
           in
           a
           
             Watry
             Sign
          
           ,
           therefore
           he
           had
           like
           to
           have
           been
           drowned
           in
           Yorkshire
           ,
           riding
           through
           a
           River
           towards
           his
           Army
           .
           But
           you
           may
           take
           notice
           by
           the
           bye
           ,
           (
           from
           the
           same
           hand
           )
           that
           
           those
           who
           are
           born
           under
           Pisces
           ,
           shall
           fall
           into
           a
           River
           some
           time
           or
           other
           ,
           but
           not
           be
           drowned
           ,
           because
           forsooth
           
             Fishes
             swim
             .
             Cardinal
             Signs
          
           possessing
           the
           Angles
           of
           a
           Nativity
           make
           the
           Person
           most
           eminent
           and
           famous
           in
           his
           Generation
           ,
           saith
           the
           same
           Artist
           ,
           (
           the
           greatest
           Actions
           of
           the
           World
           depending
           on
           the
           Cardinal
           Points
           of
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           
             viz.
             Aries
             ,
             Cancer
             ,
             Libra
             ,
             Capricorn
             .
          
           )
           Thus
           
             Tullius
             Cicero
             ,
             Gustavus
             Adolphus
          
           ,
           late
           King
           of
           Sweden
           ,
           Archbishop
           Laud
           and
           
             Oliver
             Cromwell
          
           (
           are
           they
           not
           well
           suited
           by
           him
           ?
           )
           had
           the
           Cardinal
           Points
           upon
           the
           Angles
           of
           their
           Nativities
           .
           
             Peter
             Gassendus
          
           ,
           poor
           Man
           ,
           because
           he
           writ
           against
           Judiciary
           Astrology
           ,
           and
           checked
           and
           confuted
           the
           Art
           of
           Genitures
           ,
           hath
           all
           things
           naught
           in
           his
           Nativity
           .
           His
           ill
           habit
           of
           Body
           ,
           and
           worser
           (
           if
           this
           Censor
           is
           to
           be
           credited
           )
           of
           Mind
           ,
           is
           plainly
           to
           be
           seen
           in
           the
           Heavens
           .
           Never
           was
           wretch
           
           so
           bespattered
           by
           Man
           of
           Art.
           What
           work
           would
           this
           man
           make
           with
           the
           Nativity
           of
           the
           worthy
           Dr.
           
             Henry
             More
          
           ,
           if
           he
           could
           get
           a
           sight
           of
           it
           ?
           He
           would
           reade
           his
           Life
           and
           all
           his
           Writings
           in
           it
           at
           the
           first
           view
           .
           He
           would
           make
           the
           Lord
           of
           his
           Ascendent
           plainly
           shew
           him
           to
           be
           a
           Retired
           ,
           Melancholick
           Collegian
           all
           his
           days
           ,
           a
           Philosopher
           ,
           and
           particularly
           of
           the
           Platonick
           Sect
           ,
           and
           (
           which
           is
           as
           ugly
           a
           thing
           as
           can
           be
           in
           any
           Man's
           Geniture
           )
           a
           professed
           Adversary
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           and
           all
           its
           Corruptions
           .
           Thus
           ,
           but
           more
           grievously
           ,
           he
           should
           smart
           for
           writing
           against
           dear
           Vrania
           ,
           for
           daring
           to
           insert
           his
           Confutation
           of
           Judiciary
           Astrology
           into
           the
           
             Mystery
             of
             Godliness
          
           ,
           and
           for
           Printing
           it
           lately
           by
           it self
           .
           But
           look
           you
           now
           ,
           because
           
             Vincent
             Wing
          
           published
           a
           piece
           against
           Gassendus
           ,
           (
           wherein
           this
           excellent
           Person
           's
           Objections
           against
           Astrology
           are
           pretended
           to
           be
           answered
           )
           
           and
           was
           
           himself
           a
           Well-willer
           and
           
             Brother
             Philomathemat
          
           .
           his
           Nativity
           hath
           all
           things
           good
           and
           laudable
           in
           it
           .
           But
           then
           again
           he
           tells
           us
           that
           
             William
             Lilly
          
           ,
           his
           Enemy
           ,
           though
           Fellow
           Astrologer
           ,
           had
           the
           Moon
           in
           Pisces
           ,
           a
           Wet
           and
           
             Drinking
             Sign
          
           ,
           which
           made
           him
           a
           piece
           of
           a
           Good
           Fellow
           .
           But
           I
           am
           weary
           of
           such
           light
           and
           ludicrous
           Stuff
           ,
           and
           have
           more
           serious
           and
           weighty
           matter
           to
           set
           before
           the
           Reader
           .
           Onely
           from
           this
           it
           appeareth
           ,
           that
           Astrological
           Observations
           and
           Genethliacal
           Judgments
           are
           oftentimes
           the
           products
           of
           a
           capricious
           and
           fancifull
           ,
           and
           (
           as
           you
           see
           here
           )
           of
           a
           spightfull
           and
           malitious
           Brain
           .
           And
           for
           this
           Reason
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           some
           Others
           ,
           (
           particularly
           because
           these
           Men
           have
           undertaken
           to
           calculate
           the
           Nativity
           of
           Buildings
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           of
           
             Humane
             Bodies
          
           ,
           of
           
             hard
             Stones
          
           no
           less
           than
           of
           
             soft
             Flesh
          
           ,
           )
           the
           most
           Learned
           and
           Judicious
           Astrologers
           have
           not
           asserted
           
           the
           
             Doctrine
             of
             Genitures
          
           ,
           although
           in
           other
           things
           they
           have
           defended
           Astrological
           Judgments
           .
        
         
           Thus
           I
           have
           searched
           into
           those
           feigned
           Hypothese
           and
           fallacious
           Principles
           on
           which
           a
           great
           part
           of
           Judiciary
           Astrology
           is
           founded
           .
           And
           though
           I
           do
           not
           think
           the
           Whole
           Art
           is
           rendred
           altogether
           vain
           and
           useless
           by
           them
           ,
           yet
           I
           assure
           my self
           that
           there
           can
           be
           no
           
             true
             Predictions
          
           from
           any
           thing
           that
           is
           
             false
             in
             any
             Art
          
           :
           and
           for
           that
           Reason
           the
           Common
           Astrologers
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           confident
           of
           their
           Undertakings
           ,
           and
           those
           that
           consult
           them
           may
           justly
           suspect
           their
           performances
           .
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           These
           Pretenders
           to
           Astrology
           go
           beyond
           the
           wisest
           Patriarchs
           and
           Founders
           of
           their
           Art
           :
           they
           exceed
           the
           limits
           of
           their
           Science
           ,
           and
           the
           Sentence
           is
           passed
           against
           them
           by
           their
           own
           Judges
           .
           I
           will
           name
           onely
           two
           of
           them
           ,
           
           
           
           
           
           but
           they
           are
           the
           chiefest
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           greatest
           Renown
           .
        
         
           The
           first
           is
           Ptolemy
           ,
           the
           Prince
           of
           Astrology
           ,
           whose
           first
           and
           leading
           Aphorism
           is
           this
           ,
           
           That
           generals
           onely
           can
           be
           foretold
           by
           this
           Art
           ,
           and
           that
           those
           alone
           who
           are
           Divinely
           inspired
           are
           able
           to
           predict
           particular
           Events
           .
           An
           Astrologer
           may
           tell
           the
           Propension
           and
           Inclination
           of
           a
           Man
           from
           his
           Natural
           Temperament
           ,
           and
           this
           from
           the
           Stars
           ;
           but
           he
           cannot
           from
           that
           general
           Inclination
           tell
           what
           determinate
           Effects
           will
           ensue
           .
           He
           ought
           to
           content
           himself
           with
           a
           general
           Judgment
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           be
           definitive
           in
           special
           Cases
           ,
           in
           particular
           and
           individual
           Accidents
           .
           This
           is
           the
           Decision
           of
           the
           great
           Father
           of
           Astrologers
           .
           What
           then
           becomes
           of
           their
           
             Horary
             Questions
          
           ,
           which
           descend
           even
           to
           the
           most
           particular
           and
           Personal
           Affairs
           ?
           What
           Resolution
           is
           to
           be
           expected
           of
           the
           Queries
           about
           the
           Marriage
           of
           such
           an
           
           individual
           Couple
           ,
           the
           particular
           Events
           of
           this
           Seaman's
           Voyage
           ,
           that
           Counsellor's
           Cause
           ,
           this
           Merchant's
           Adventure
           ,
           that
           Soldier
           's
           Engagement
           ,
           the
           time
           of
           the
           Death
           of
           any
           of
           these
           ,
           and
           (
           rather
           than
           they
           will
           stand
           out
           )
           the
           retrieving
           of
           any
           Neighbour's
           Silver
           Spoon
           lost
           or
           stollen
           ?
        
         
           Again
           ,
           it
           is
           confessed
           by
           the
           same
           Master
           and
           Dictatour
           of
           Astrology
           ,
           that
           the
           Influence
           of
           the
           Stars
           is
           not
           Necessary
           and
           Unavoidable
           ,
           but
           may
           be
           evaded
           by
           Mens
           Industry
           and
           Care.
           
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           A
           wise
           man
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           is
           able
           to
           avert
           the
           Effects
           of
           the
           Stars
           when
           he
           knoweth
           the
           Nature
           of
           them
           :
           and
           he
           adjoineth
           Socrates
           as
           an
           Example
           of
           this
           ,
           who
           ,
           when
           an
           Astrologer
           had
           told
           him
           his
           Natural
           Inclinations
           ,
           confessed
           them
           true
           ,
           but
           these
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           are
           all
           conquered
           by
           Prudence
           and
           vertuous
           
           Endeavours
           ;
           my
           Soul
           hath
           got
           the
           Mastery
           of
           my
           Body
           ,
           Philosophy
           and
           Moral
           Discipline
           have
           corrected
           my
           Natural
           Propensions
           .
           A
           wise
           Man
           hath
           Dominion
           over
           the
           Stars
           ,
           he
           subdueth
           those
           Motions
           which
           come
           to
           him
           from
           thence
           ,
           and
           they
           are
           Fools
           onely
           who
           are
           led
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           The
           second
           great
           Judge
           and
           Rabbi
           of
           this
           Art
           ,
           is
           that
           noted
           Florentine
           Iunctinus
           ,
           an
           Authour
           that
           Judiciary
           Astrologers
           deal
           very
           much
           in
           ,
           and
           therefore
           I
           will
           alledge
           four
           or
           five
           set
           Determinations
           of
           his
           ,
           wherein
           the
           vanity
           and
           (
           I
           may
           say
           )
           Nullity
           of
           the
           common
           and
           Irrational
           way
           of
           Astrologizing
           are
           discovered
           and
           condemned
           .
           And
           what
           he
           saith
           is
           the
           more
           observable
           ,
           because
           I
           take
           it
           out
           of
           that
           Treatise
           which
           is
           intituled
           ,
           
             The
             Defence
             of
             Astrologers
             .
             Those
             Astrologers
          
           (
           saith
           he
           there
           )
           
             who
             will
             needs
             know
             and
             predict
             all
             kinds
             of
             particulars
             are
             Fools
             .
          
           And
           in
           the
           same
           
           place
           ,
           
             An
             Astrologer
             can
             tell
             nothing
             certainly
             as
             to
             such
             things
             as
             concern
             Man's
             Will.
          
           This
           is
           often
           repeated
           by
           him
           .
           Excellently
           again
           in
           the
           same
           Treatise
           ,
           
             The
             Significations
             of
             the
             Stars
             are
             not
             like
             the
             Commands
             and
             Edicts
             of
             Praetors
             ,
             (
             i.
             e.
          
           necessary
           and
           indispensable
           ,
           )
           
             but
             are
             in
             Subjection
             to
             the
             Command
             and
             Will
             of
             God.
          
           And
           what
           the
           Sense
           of
           all
           sober
           Astrologers
           is
           ,
           we
           may
           learn
           from
           those
           words
           of
           his
           ,
           viz.
           Astrologers
           do
           not
           hold
           that
           the
           Heavens
           are
           wholly
           and
           altogether
           the
           Cause
           of
           our
           Fortunes
           or
           Misfortunes
           ,
           but
           that
           they
           act
           onely
           according
           to
           the
           Subject
           Matter
           ,
           which
           accordingly
           as
           it
           is
           disposed
           ,
           doth
           more
           or
           less
           receive
           the
           Celestial
           Influence
           .
        
         
           It
           might
           be
           added
           that
           Iunctinus
           ingenuously
           confesseth
           ,
           That
           the
           Wonders
           and
           Miracles
           of
           the
           Old
           and
           new
           Testament
           ,
           being
           works
           brought
           to
           pass
           by
           God
           himself
           ,
           and
           not
           depending
           on
           second
           Causes
           ,
           
           cannot
           be
           foretold
           by
           Astrology
           .
           This
           is
           the
           sense
           of
           the
           two
           great
           Dictatours
           of
           Judiciary
           Astrology
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           sober
           of
           that
           Study
           acquiesce
           in
           it
           .
           Thus
           though
           the
           Hebrew
           Rabbies
           (
           several
           of
           whom
           were
           notable
           Students
           and
           Proficients
           in
           Astrology
           ,
           as
           
             Aben
             Ezra
          
           in
           particular
           ,
           the
           greatest
           Divine
           and
           Astrologer
           the
           Jews
           ever
           had
           ,
           )
           say
           Proverbially
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           All
           things
           depend
           on
           the
           Stars
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           plain
           that
           they
           do
           not
           think
           their
           Influence
           is
           necessary
           and
           inevitable
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           carrieth
           force
           and
           constraint
           along
           with
           it
           ;
           for
           none
           are
           more
           for
           Free-Will
           than
           the
           Rabbies
           and
           the
           Jewish
           Doctours
           .
           And
           
             this
             Adage
          
           of
           theirs
           may
           be
           qualified
           with
           that
           other
           which
           they
           make
           use
           of
           ,
           viz.
           The
           Stars
           neither
           make
           a
           Man
           poor
           nor
           rich
           ;
           
           and
           with
           that
           
             known
             one
          
           already
           mentioned
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           No
           Star
           shines
           with
           an
           evil
           Aspect
           upon
           Israel
           ,
           the
           felicity
           or
           infelicity
           
           of
           the
           Pious
           depend
           not
           on
           the
           Host
           of
           Heaven
           .
           Those
           that
           are
           good
           need
           not
           dread
           being
           Planet-struck
           .
        
         
           Fifthly
           ,
           There
           cannot
           be
           a
           greater
           Proof
           of
           the
           Uncertainty
           and
           Vanity
           of
           Astrological
           Judgments
           than
           this
           ,
           That
           those
           Men
           who
           profess
           to
           tell
           others
           what
           shall
           happen
           to
           them
           even
           in
           relation
           to
           their
           secretest
           and
           most
           concealed
           affairs
           ,
           yet
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           know
           not
           what
           shall
           befall
           themselves
           ,
           and
           are
           ignorant
           about
           their
           own
           concerns
           .
           These
           bold
           Diviners
           have
           not
           so
           much
           skill
           as
           to
           reade
           the
           Destiny
           of
           their
           own
           Families
           ,
           and
           yet
           they
           will
           undertake
           to
           tell
           others
           whether
           they
           shall
           be
           rich
           or
           poor
           ,
           whether
           they
           shall
           be
           long-liv'd
           or
           no.
           Whilst
           they
           soar
           alott
           ,
           and
           with
           a
           
             Mene
             Tekel
          
           pronounce
           the
           fate
           of
           Kingdoms
           ,
           they
           are
           blind
           about
           their
           own
           little
           Affairs
           ,
           of
           which
           without
           doubt
           they
           might
           have
           a
           better
           insight
           ,
           than
           of
           the
           
           Intrigues
           that
           relate
           to
           the
           Publick
           ;
           for
           it
           is
           far
           easier
           to
           dive
           into
           their
           own
           private
           Fortunes
           at
           home
           ,
           than
           those
           which
           relate
           to
           Princes
           and
           States
           ,
           and
           great
           Communities
           .
           I
           may
           take
           leave
           then
           to
           collect
           ,
           that
           those
           who
           cannot
           foresee
           the
           Evils
           which
           may
           befall
           themselves
           ,
           are
           unable
           to
           foretell
           contingent
           Events
           to
           others
           .
           And
           this
           is
           the
           Case
           of
           the
           Men
           I
           am
           speaking
           of
           ,
           and
           it
           appears
           from
           thence
           how
           groundless
           their
           Predictions
           are
           .
           Even
           the
           great
           
             Iulius
             Caesar
          
           ,
           who
           had
           throughly
           studied
           this
           part
           of
           Astrology
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           very
           time
           of
           War
           and
           Business
           ,
           used
           to
           set
           some
           hours
           apart
           for
           it
           ,
           as
           he
           is
           brought
           in
           by
           the
           Poet
           ,
           speaking
           of
           himself
           :
           
             
               
                 —
                 Media
                 inter
                 praelia
                 semper
              
               
                 Stellarum
                 Coelique
                 plagis
                 ,
                 Superisque
                 vacari
                 .
              
            
             
               
               
                 In
                 midst
                 of
                 Battels
                 and
                 of
                 bloudy
                 Wars
              
               
                 I
                 could
                 find
                 leisure
                 for
                 the
                 Heavens
                 and
                 Stars
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           This
           great
           Proficient
           in
           Astrology
           ,
           after
           all
           his
           Study
           ,
           had
           not
           so
           well
           conned
           the
           Alphabet
           of
           the
           Stars
           ,
           as
           to
           spell
           out
           his
           own
           Destiny
           ,
           nay
           ,
           not
           to
           reade
           it
           after
           he
           had
           been
           
             taught
             it
          
           by
           Spurina
           .
        
         
           If
           it
           shall
           be
           said
           here
           ,
           That
           the
           Prophets
           of
           the
           Old
           and
           New
           Testament
           were
           able
           to
           inform
           the
           World
           of
           future
           things
           of
           the
           highest
           Moment
           ,
           and
           yet
           oftentimes
           fore-saw
           not
           what
           should
           befall
           themselves
           :
        
         
           I
           Answer
           ,
           That
           these
           Holy
           Persons
           were
           extraordinarily
           inspired
           by
           God
           for
           the
           good
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           the
           great
           purpose
           of
           Religion
           in
           it
           .
           It
           was
           in
           order
           to
           this
           that
           
           they
           were
           enabled
           to
           foretell
           Futurities
           :
           still
           they
           were
           like
           other
           Men
           ,
           as
           to
           their
           own
           private
           notices
           of
           things
           .
           But
           these
           Men
           who
           started
           the
           Objection
           ,
           pretend
           not
           to
           be
           extraordinarily
           assisted
           ,
           they
           proceed
           according
           to
           their
           Art
           :
           and
           if
           so
           ,
           This
           would
           direct
           them
           as
           certainly
           to
           a
           knowledge
           of
           their
           own
           Affairs
           ,
           as
           to
           that
           of
           others
           ,
           nay
           more
           certainly
           .
        
         
           Many
           other
           things
           might
           be
           heaped
           up
           together
           ,
           to
           evince
           the
           Uncertainty
           of
           the
           Vulgar
           Prognostications
           of
           Astrologers
           ,
           as
           namely
           ,
           that
           if
           we
           consult
           several
           of
           them
           ,
           we
           shall
           be
           sure
           to
           hear
           our
           Doom
           in
           a
           different
           ,
           nay
           contrary
           manner
           :
           That
           those
           Astrologers
           who
           are
           subject
           to
           a
           bad
           Fate
           (
           though
           their
           Skill
           may
           be
           good
           )
           are
           apt
           to
           err
           in
           their
           Judgments
           :
           (
           It
           is
           one
           of
           the
           Astrological
           Aphorisms
           in
           Gadbury
           :
           A
           ticklish
           business
           indeed
           !
           We
           had
           need
           first
           consult
           Mr.
           Astrologer's
           Nativity
           ,
           before
           
           we
           desire
           him
           to
           search
           into
           our
           own
           :
           )
           That
           this
           sort
           of
           Men
           generally
           are
           made
           up
           of
           vain
           Boastings
           ,
           and
           their
           Art
           is
           calculated
           for
           Pride
           and
           Ostentation
           .
           Any
           one
           that
           readeth
           Cardan
           ,
           who
           was
           the
           chiefest
           of
           their
           Order
           ,
           will
           find
           that
           he
           vaunted
           of
           more
           than
           he
           did
           ,
           or
           ever
           could
           doe
           .
           But
           it
           happened
           that
           the
           Lies
           he
           telleth
           in
           one
           place
           are
           confuted
           by
           him
           (
           having
           forgotten
           them
           )
           in
           another
           ,
           as
           concerning
           several
           Cures
           of
           Diseases
           ,
           his
           Familiar
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           Astrological
           Achievements
           .
           And
           This
           is
           the
           fault
           of
           all
           the
           Tribe
           ,
           I
           mean
           of
           those
           who
           are
           guilty
           of
           Abusing
           the
           Astrological
           Science
           ,
           and
           there
           cannot
           be
           a
           greater
           Argument
           of
           their
           Folly
           and
           Vanity
           .
        
         
           On
           all
           these
           Considerations
           aforesaid
           ,
           
           the
           unlawfull
           Use
           of
           Astrology
           hath
           been
           condemned
           by
           Decrees
           ,
           
           and
           Anathematized
           by
           Councils
           .
           It
           was
           prohibited
           by
           the
           Edicts
           of
           Constantine
           the
           Great
           ,
           
             The
             
             odosius
             ,
             Iustinian
          
           ,
           
           and
           other
           Christian
           Emperours
           and
           Kings
           .
           
             Ars
             autem
             Mathematica
             Damnabilis
             est
             ,
             &
             interdicta
             omnino
             ,
          
           And
           a
           Capital
           Punishment
           by
           the
           same
           imperial
           Law
           was
           inflicted
           on
           those
           who
           consulted
           these
           Mathematici
           ;
           for
           that
           was
           the
           Word
           then
           for
           all
           kinds
           of
           Unlawfull
           Diviners
           and
           Soothsayers
           ,
           whether
           they
           practised
           by
           the
           Stars
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           ways
           ;
           not
           that
           Mathematicks
           was
           Damnable
           ,
           and
           that
           every
           one
           who
           
             described
             a
             Circle
          
           ,
           setched
           the
           Devil
           into
           it
           presently
           ,
           but
           because
           some
           of
           those
           who
           were
           conversant
           in
           Geometrick
           Figures
           ,
           and
           other
           Mathematical
           Studies
           ,
           practised
           also
           in
           Unwarrantable
           Divination
           ,
           and
           thence
           Mathematici
           became
           the
           Name
           of
           all
           that
           did
           so
           .
           
           The
           Ancient
           Fathers
           speak
           freely
           against
           these
           rash
           Astrologers
           ,
           
           who
           tie
           the
           Actions
           of
           Men
           to
           the
           Stars
           ,
           and
           pretend
           to
           foretell
           future
           Contingencies
           and
           Events
           ,
           that
           are
           Free.
           
           One
           of
           them
           especially
           ,
           and
           he
           of
           as
           great
           Learning
           as
           any
           ,
           and
           (
           which
           is
           yet
           more
           )
           who
           in
           his
           Youth
           had
           been
           of
           the
           Tribe
           of
           Diviners
           and
           Astrologers
           ,
           being
           at
           length
           converted
           took
           occasion
           often
           in
           his
           Writings
           to
           condemn
           the
           Folly
           and
           Impiety
           of
           their
           Practices
           ;
           though
           he
           was
           still
           willing
           to
           give
           Astrology
           its
           due
           ,
           as
           when
           he
           said
           ,
           
             In
             illa
             perspicuitate
             corporum
             Coelestium
             non
             omnes
             omnino
             motus
             Animi
             latere
             :
          
           
           which
           is
           no
           other
           than
           what
           I
           have
           asserted
           ,
           viz.
           That
           it
           is
           possible
           to
           arrive
           to
           a
           Notice
           of
           some
           Motions
           and
           Inclinations
           of
           the
           Mind
           from
           the
           Astral
           Influences
           on
           the
           Body
           .
           And
           thus
           it
           appeareth
           that
           the
           indirect
           and
           unwarrantable
           course
           of
           Divining
           by
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           was
           disallowed
           by
           the
           Church
           ,
           forbid
           by
           Councils
           and
           Synods
           ,
           punished
           by
           the
           
             Imperial
             Constitutions
          
           ,
           confuted
           by
           the
           learnedst
           and
           most
           pious
           Fathers
           ,
           it
           being
           an
           impious
           and
           foolish
           Enterprize
           ,
           
           directly
           against
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Divine
           Providence
           ,
           and
           the
           Exercise
           of
           Christian
           Faith
           ;
           it
           being
           the
           Mother
           of
           Superstition
           ,
           the
           guide
           to
           distrusting
           in
           God
           ,
           and
           in
           some
           to
           downright
           Atheism
           .
           Nay
           ,
           
             Picus
             Mirandula
          
           hath
           shewed
           in
           several
           Citations
           ,
           that
           even
           the
           great
           Philosophers
           and
           Wits
           among
           the
           Pagans
           despised
           the
           Follies
           of
           Astrology
           and
           Prediction
           from
           the
           Stars
           .
           It
           is
           the
           joint
           Testimony
           of
           Historians
           ,
           
           that
           the
           Mathematici
           were
           often
           expelled
           the
           City
           of
           Rome
           ,
           and
           even
           banished
           out
           of
           Italy
           by
           the
           Emperours
           ;
           though
           we
           are
           told
           indeed
           that
           they
           were
           sometimes
           called
           back
           again
           ,
           as
           Tacitus
           speaking
           of
           these
           Astrologers
           ,
           saith
           they
           are
           a
           sort
           of
           Men
           
             quod
             in
             Civitate
             nostra
             &
             vetabitur
             semper
             &
             retinebitur
             .
          
           Hist.
           l.
           1.
           
           Thus
           among
           all
           wise
           and
           sober
           Persons
           whether
           Christians
           or
           Gentiles
           ,
           the
           common
           Prognosticatours
           have
           been
           odious
           and
           execrable
           .
        
         
         
           If
           my
           business
           lay
           in
           this
           sort
           of
           Studies
           ,
           I
           would
           present
           the
           Reader
           with
           the
           excellent
           Sense
           of
           those
           Authours
           who
           have
           with
           equal
           Solidity
           and
           Acuteness
           ,
           encountred
           this
           Imposture
           .
           Such
           were
           
             Sextus
             Empiricus
          
           of
           old
           ,
           in
           his
           
             Hypoiyp
             .
             Pyrrhon
             .
             Cicero
             ,
             l.
             2.
             de
             Divinat
             .
             Phavorinus
          
           in
           an
           Oration
           against
           Astrologers
           ,
           in
           
             A.
             Gellius
             ,
             l.
             14.
             
             Plotinus
             ,
             l.
             3.
             
             Ennead
             .
             2.
             
             Marcilius
             Ficinus
             ,
          
           that
           Learned
           Platonick
           Philosopher
           and
           Astronomer
           ,
           who
           writ
           
             Contra
             Iudicia
             Astrologorum
             .
             Iohn
             Picus
             ,
          
           Count
           of
           
             Mirandula
             :
             Thomas
             Erastus
          
           ,
           a
           Physician
           and
           Philosopher
           :
           Causinus
           the
           Jesuite
           ,
           
             De
             Domo
             Dei
          
           :
           The
           admirable
           
             Gassendus
             ▪
             Chamber
          
           (
           publick
           Lecturer
           of
           Astronomy
           in
           Oxford
           )
           his
           Treatise
           against
           Judiciary
           Astrology
           :
           Barclay
           in
           his
           Argenis
           ,
           where
           Nicopompus
           is
           introduced
           ,
           making
           an
           ingenious
           speech
           on
           this
           Subject
           .
           I
           could
           mention
           others
           ,
           and
           set
           before
           you
           the
           summ
           of
           their
           several
           Topicks
           ,
           but
           that
           it
           
           would
           seem
           to
           savour
           something
           of
           the
           vanity
           of
           those
           I
           am
           confuting
           ,
           who
           are
           wont
           to
           boast
           of
           Authority
           ,
           great
           Names
           and
           numerous
           Arguments
           .
           But
           waving
           these
           ,
           let
           it
           satisfie
           the
           Religious
           Enquirer
           ,
           that
           the
           Astral
           Influences
           ,
           in
           that
           Sense
           which
           I
           have
           explained
           them
           ,
           are
           disallowed
           by
           the
           Infallible
           Test
           of
           all
           verity
           ,
           the
           
             Holy
             Scriptures
          
           .
           When
           the
           Divine
           Law
           saith
           ,
           
             There
             shall
             not
             be
             found
             among
             you
             any
             one
             that
             useth
             Divination
             ,
          
           or
           more
           exactly
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Original
           ,
           in
           the
           plural
           ,
           
             he
             that
             divineth
             Divinations
          
           ,
           Deut.
           18.
           10.
           the
           unlawfull
           foretelling
           by
           the
           Stars
           is
           here
           forbid
           among
           other
           ways
           of
           Divining
           .
           And
           to
           this
           Prohibition
           perhaps
           may
           allude
           that
           Jewish
           Saying
           ,
           (
           though
           I
           know
           it
           admits
           of
           another
           sense
           )
           
             The
             Law
             is
             not
             found
             among
             Astrologers
             and
             Genethliacks
             .
          
           
           This
           impious
           Art
           is
           reckoned
           among
           the
           Abominations
           of
           the
           Gentiles
           in
           that
           fore-named
           place
           ,
           Ier.
           10.
           2.
           
           
           Where
           the
           Israelites
           who
           were
           shortly
           to
           be
           Captives
           among
           the
           Chaldeans
           are
           forbid
           ,
           not
           onely
           to
           learn
           their
           Idolatrous
           Astrology
           ,
           and
           worshipping
           the
           Heavenly
           Host
           ,
           but
           even
           to
           attend
           to
           their
           Divination
           by
           those
           ordinary
           Stars
           ,
           which
           being
           natural
           and
           usual
           cannot
           be
           ominous
           .
           This
           likewise
           is
           condemned
           in
           Isa.
           47.
           11
           ,
           12
           ,
           13.
           where
           ,
           after
           God
           by
           the
           Prophet
           had
           told
           the
           Chaldeans
           (
           who
           were
           hugely
           addicted
           to
           Astrology
           ,
           and
           first
           brought
           in
           the
           abuse
           of
           it
           )
           that
           
             Evil
             should
             come
             upon
             them
             ,
             and
             they
             should
             not
             know
             from
             whence
             it
             riseth
             ,
          
           (
           whereas
           they
           pretended
           to
           spy
           the
           Cause
           of
           all
           Events
           in
           the
           Stars
           )
           
             and
             mischief
             should
             fall
             upon
             them
             ,
             and
             they
             should
             not
             be
             able
             to
             put
             it
             off
             :
          
           (
           whereas
           the
           guise
           of
           the
           great
           Star-gazers
           was
           to
           flatter
           those
           who
           consulted
           them
           with
           Promises
           and
           Assurance
           of
           happy
           Occurrences
           )
           in
           an
           Ironical
           and
           upbraiding
           manner
           he
           addeth
           ,
           
             Let
             now
             the
             Astrologers
             and
             
             Star-gazers
             and
             monthly
             Prognosticatours
             ,
             stand
             up
             and
             save
             thee
             from
             these
             things
             that
             shall
             come
             upon
             thee
             .
          
           In
           which
           bitter
           Sarcasm
           that
           Astrology
           which
           ascribes
           all
           to
           the
           Stars
           is
           exploded
           ,
           and
           their
           folly
           is
           laid
           open
           who
           trust
           not
           in
           God
           ,
           but
           in
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           ,
           or
           rather
           in
           those
           who
           pretend
           to
           know
           by
           observing
           them
           when
           Kingdoms
           shall
           be
           saved
           or
           destroyed
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           I
           have
           largely
           set
           down
           the
           
             true
             Vse
          
           of
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           ,
           and
           also
           the
           too
           frequent
           Abuse
           of
           the
           Knowledge
           of
           them
           .
           I
           have
           endeavoured
           rightly
           to
           state
           the
           Controversie
           ,
           and
           to
           distinguish
           between
           Art
           and
           Imposture
           ,
           between
           True
           Knowledge
           and
           Vain
           Pretences
           .
           And
           if
           this
           were
           impartially
           done
           in
           all
           Sciences
           ,
           we
           should
           see
           an
           unspeakable
           advancement
           of
           all
           sorts
           of
           Learning
           ,
           and
           Truth
           would
           have
           an
           uncontrollable
           Dominion
           in
           the
           World.
           I
           have
           made
           it
           my
           business
           to
           
             fix
             the
             true
             Limits
             and
             Boundaries
             of
             
             Astrology
          
           (
           a
           thing
           which
           I
           saw
           was
           very
           much
           neglected
           .
           )
           It
           hath
           also
           offended
           me
           to
           see
           how
           some
           Writers
           treat
           all
           the
           
             Sons
             of
             Vrania
          
           with
           Contempt
           and
           Derision
           ,
           and
           affect
           jeering
           rather
           than
           arguing
           :
           therefore
           I
           have
           been
           carefull
           to
           carry
           my self
           inoffensibly
           as
           to
           this
           .
           It
           becomes
           sober
           persons
           to
           dispute
           with
           Civility
           .
           It
           is
           best
           to
           confute
           an
           Opinion
           without
           railing
           at
           them
           that
           hold
           it
           .
           In
           short
           ,
           I
           have
           been
           so
           just
           and
           equal
           as
           to
           give
           Astrology
           its
           due
           ,
           and
           no
           more
           .
           It
           was
           truly
           said
           by
           an
           observing
           Person
           ,
           
             Est
             Astronomiae
             nobilis
             &
             gloriosa
             Scientia
             ,
             
             si
             Clientelam
             suam
             intra
             Moderationis
             metas
             cohibeat
             :
             quam
             si
             licentiore
             vanitate
             excedat
             ,
             non
             tam
             Philosophiae
             species
             quàm
             Impietatis
             decipula
             est
             .
          
           The
           Knowledge
           of
           the
           Stars
           is
           a
           noble
           and
           glorious
           Science
           ,
           if
           it
           keepeth
           its
           Retainers
           within
           the
           bounds
           of
           Moderation
           ;
           but
           if
           it
           once
           leaps
           over
           those
           ,
           and
           runs
           into
           Vanity
           and
           Extravagancy
           ,
           
           it
           is
           no
           longer
           a
           part
           of
           Philosophy
           but
           becomes
           a
           wicked
           Engine
           to
           entrap
           Mankind
           .
           Here
           is
           the
           right
           and
           the
           wrong
           side
           of
           the
           Art.
           Take
           it
           in
           the
           former
           representation
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           worthy
           of
           our
           Thoughts
           and
           Studies
           ,
           as
           without
           doubt
           it
           was
           of
           those
           who
           lived
           in
           the
           first
           and
           best
           Times
           .
           It
           is
           not
           improbable
           that
           Adam
           delivered
           it
           to
           his
           Children
           .
           
           Thus
           the
           
             Iewish
             Antiquary
          
           relateth
           ,
           he
           instructed
           Seth
           in
           it
           ,
           and
           that
           Seth
           left
           the
           Rudiments
           of
           it
           inscribed
           on
           two
           Pillars
           .
           
           A
           Learned
           Man
           telleth
           us
           of
           a
           Book
           yet
           extant
           of
           Enoch
           concerning
           Astrology
           .
           And
           the
           
             Iewish
             Historian
          
           in
           his
           Antiquities
           before
           quoted
           acquainteth
           us
           that
           Abraham
           was
           skilled
           in
           this
           Art
           ,
           and
           was
           the
           first
           that
           taught
           it
           to
           the
           Egyptians
           ,
           
           a
           People
           rude
           and
           unlearned
           in
           that
           and
           all
           Sciences
           ,
           till
           he
           came
           among
           them
           .
           This
           was
           the
           good
           and
           lawfull
           ,
           the
           natural
           and
           usefull
           Astrology
           ,
           but
           it
           was
           soon
           abused
           and
           
           corrupted
           ,
           as
           Philosophy
           ,
           Natural
           Magick
           ,
           and
           other
           Studies
           were
           .
           The
           Devil
           at
           last
           stept
           in
           ,
           and
           with
           Superstition
           and
           Lies
           depraved
           the
           Practice
           of
           it
           .
           And
           now
           many
           pretend
           to
           doe
           that
           by
           this
           Art
           which
           it
           is
           utterly
           impossible
           to
           doe
           ,
           either
           by
           it
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           .
           Especially
           the
           Masters
           of
           Genethliacal
           Predictions
           are
           rash
           and
           daring
           ,
           and
           deliver
           things
           false
           and
           absurd
           ,
           having
           no
           ground
           for
           their
           Principles
           and
           Conclusions
           .
           How
           often
           do
           these
           Barchocabs
           ,
           Sons
           of
           the
           Stars
           ,
           prove
           Barcoziba's
           ,
           Sons
           of
           a
           Lye
           and
           Imposture
           ?
           How
           frequently
           do
           those
           ignorant
           or
           inconsiderable
           People
           who
           consult
           them
           ,
           those
           who
           affect
           to
           have
           their
           Purses
           emptied
           ,
           so
           their
           Heads
           may
           be
           filled
           with
           pleasing
           Fancies
           ,
           how
           frequently
           are
           they
           heard
           to
           complain
           of
           these
           cheating
           Oracles
           ?
           Nor
           do
           I
           speak
           this
           to
           disparage
           and
           blacken
           the
           whole
           Science
           ,
           for
           I
           know
           it
           is
           usual
           with
           the
           Professours
           of
           an
           Art
           to
           carry
           
           it
           farther
           than
           is
           fitting
           and
           lawfull
           .
           The
           common
           Astrologers
           undertake
           more
           than
           they
           know
           they
           can
           give
           a
           fair
           account
           of
           :
           and
           they
           are
           not
           the
           onely
           People
           that
           doe
           so
           .
           Some
           Physicians
           and
           Lawyers
           will
           put
           their
           Patients
           and
           Clients
           on
           mad
           Adventures
           ,
           and
           some
           that
           pretend
           to
           Divinity
           will
           assert
           any
           thing
           .
           It
           is
           unreasonable
           therefore
           to
           condemn
           all
           ,
           because
           Frauds
           and
           Cheats
           may
           be
           espied
           in
           some
           .
           If
           some
           Astrologers
           attribute
           more
           to
           the
           Art
           than
           they
           should
           ,
           that
           is
           no
           disparagement
           to
           the
           Art
           it self
           .
           The
           abuse
           of
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Stars
           must
           not
           make
           us
           discard
           the
           Science
           .
           Though
           most
           of
           Judiciary
           Astrology
           be
           vain
           ,
           yet
           all
           may
           not
           be
           so
           .
           Though
           I
           have
           offered
           Reasons
           which
           are
           able
           to
           diminish
           Mens
           fond
           Opinions
           of
           that
           Study
           ,
           and
           to
           take
           off
           the
           certainty
           which
           some
           pretend
           to
           in
           their
           Astrological
           Judgments
           ,
           nay
           ,
           though
           all
           the
           Rules
           and
           Aphorisms
           of
           Ptolemy
           and
           
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Astrologers
           were
           vain
           and
           false
           ,
           yet
           there
           may
           be
           some
           Divination
           from
           the
           Heavenly
           Bodies
           ,
           and
           that
           innocent
           and
           lawfull
           ;
           but
           this
           is
           such
           a
           one
           as
           is
           not
           derogatory
           to
           Man's
           free
           acting
           :
           it
           doth
           no
           more
           impair
           the
           liberty
           of
           Mens
           Actions
           than
           the
           Prophecies
           in
           the
           Old
           Testament
           of
           future
           things
           infringed
           the
           freedom
           of
           those
           who
           were
           to
           act
           afterwards
           according
           to
           those
           unerring
           Predictions
           .
           And
           this
           I
           will
           add
           ,
           that
           if
           God's
           Decrees
           and
           Concourse
           are
           reconcilable
           with
           Man's
           free
           Actions
           ,
           so
           may
           the
           Influence
           of
           the
           Stars
           be
           likewise
           .
           If
           the
           Abuse
           then
           of
           Astrology
           be
           taken
           away
           ,
           and
           it
           keepeth
           it self
           within
           its
           due
           Limits
           (
           which
           I
           have
           set
           down
           )
           it
           may
           be
           made
           serviceable
           to
           good
           and
           lawfull
           ends
           ,
           and
           may
           justly
           be
           recommended
           to
           the
           World
           as
           the
           choicest
           Accomplishment
           of
           all
           Natural
           Philosophy
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           been
           the
           longer
           on
           this
           Theme
           ,
           because
           the
           right
           understanding
           
           of
           it
           is
           necessary
           ,
           not
           onely
           for
           settling
           our
           Minds
           and
           Judgments
           about
           so
           celebrated
           a
           Problem
           as
           this
           is
           ,
           but
           principally
           for
           the
           full
           and
           complete
           answering
           of
           the
           
             Last
             Objection
          
           which
           was
           levelled
           against
           the
           foregoing
           Discourse
           .
           It
           was
           necessary
           to
           shew
           the
           true
           difference
           between
           the
           
             Ordinary
             Luminaries
             of
             Heaven
          
           ,
           and
           
             those
             Strange
             and
             Vnusual
             Lamps
          
           which
           are
           lighted
           and
           set
           up
           there
           sometimes
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           it
           evident
           ,
           that
           the
           Prognosticks
           which
           are
           made
           from
           the
           Aspects
           and
           Configurations
           of
           the
           Stars
           ,
           are
           nothing
           allied
           to
           those
           which
           are
           made
           from
           the
           Appearance
           of
           Comets
           .
           In
           defiance
           then
           of
           all
           Cavils
           and
           Objections
           ,
           our
           Assertion
           stands
           unshaken
           and
           immoveable
           ,
           That
           these
           rare
           and
           amazing
           Sights
           in
           the
           Heavens
           portend
           some
           strange
           and
           unusual
           thing
           to
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           the
           Earth
           .
           A
           Comet
           is
           the
           Prodromus
           of
           some
           notable
           Calamity
           ,
           and
           is
           sent
           on
           purpose
           to
           give
           notice
           and
           warning
           of
           it
           .
        
         
         
           Take
           then
           the
           Conclusion
           of
           all
           (
           which
           will
           chiefly
           relate
           to
           our
           present
           Condition
           and
           Circumstances
           in
           this
           Nation
           )
           in
           these
           following
           Particulars
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           Let
           us
           remember
           that
           we
           have
           felt
           the
           Effects
           of
           Comets
           ,
           and
           upon
           that
           Consideration
           let
           us
           not
           be
           tempted
           to
           dis-believe
           what
           hath
           been
           suggested
           in
           this
           Discourse
           .
           It
           hath
           been
           proved
           to
           us
           experimentally
           ,
           that
           Comets
           are
           denunciations
           of
           God's
           Anger
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           Products
           of
           these
           Apparitions
           are
           direfull
           and
           fatal
           ,
           if
           Fire
           and
           Pestilence
           ,
           if
           
             bloudy
             Conspiracies
          
           and
           
             Intestine
             Divisions
          
           and
           Separations
           be
           any
           proofs
           .
           We
           have
           found
           that
           these
           Monitors
           have
           not
           been
           sent
           in
           vain
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           no
           
             Bruta
             Fulmina
          
           ,
           no
           idle
           and
           insignificant
           Flashes
           ,
           but
           that
           they
           have
           really
           done
           Execution
           .
           And
           if
           we
           are
           not
           convinced
           of
           this
           ,
           but
           still
           remain
           incredulous
           and
           senseless
           ,
           the
           wife
           
           Disposer
           of
           all
           things
           may
           hereafter
           multiply
           these
           Prodigies
           ,
           and
           cause
           two
           or
           more
           of
           them
           to
           appear
           together
           ,
           on
           purpose
           to
           upbraid
           our
           incredulity
           and
           unbelief
           ,
           and
           to
           force
           our
           assent
           for
           the
           future
           .
           
           
             Aristoteles
             tradit
             &
             simul
             plures
          
           (
           Cometas
           )
           
             cerni
             :
             nemini
             compertum
             alteri
             ,
             quod
             equidem
             sciam
             .
          
           Though
           a
           certain
           Philosopher
           reporteth
           concerning
           Comets
           ,
           that
           more
           than
           one
           of
           them
           have
           been
           seen
           at
           a
           time
           ,
           yet
           I
           cannot
           find
           (
           saith
           the
           Natural
           Historian
           ,
           who
           had
           made
           a
           Collection
           out
           of
           all
           Histories
           that
           were
           extant
           )
           that
           any
           one
           hath
           observed
           this
           besides
           himself
           .
           But
           who
           knoweth
           but
           that
           we
           (
           who
           boggle
           at
           this
           Doctrine
           )
           may
           see
           a
           pair
           of
           them
           
             at
             once
          
           ,
           as
           
           Pharaoh's
           Dream
           (
           which
           was
           the
           Sign
           and
           Forerunner
           of
           a
           great
           Calamity
           that
           was
           to
           ensue
           )
           was
           doubled
           ,
           to
           render
           the
           belief
           of
           the
           thing
           more
           firm
           and
           certain
           ?
           I
           do
           the
           rather
           think
           this
           not
           to
           be
           improbable
           ,
           because
           both
           our
           
           Sins
           and
           our
           Insensibleness
           exceed
           those
           of
           former
           Ages
           ,
           and
           therefore
           the
           Divine
           Hand
           may
           shew
           that
           to
           us
           which
           was
           never
           known
           before
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Although
           we
           do
           not
           yet
           perhaps
           feel
           the
           sensible
           Effects
           of
           the
           Comets
           which
           appeared
           last
           ,
           yet
           we
           have
           no
           Reason
           to
           be
           confident
           that
           we
           shall
           not
           experience
           any
           .
           The
           God
           we
           have
           to
           doe
           with
           is
           long-suffering
           and
           slow
           to
           Wrath
           :
           He
           threatneth
           before
           he
           striketh
           .
           Besides
           ,
           a
           Comet
           may
           not
           visibly
           and
           apparently
           opperate
           for
           a
           considerable
           time
           .
           The
           Evil
           which
           a
           Comet
           portendeth
           seizeth
           oftentimes
           by
           Degrees
           .
           It
           is
           a
           great
           mistake
           to
           imagin
           that
           it
           shall
           Never
           come
           because
           it
           hath
           not
           visited
           us
           already
           .
           Or
           ,
           the
           Fatal
           Season
           of
           its
           Operating
           may
           be
           just
           Entring
           ,
           but
           not
           yet
           Accomplished
           ;
           as
           Spurina
           replied
           to
           
             Iulius
             Caesar
          
           ,
           who
           merrily
           said
           the
           Ides
           of
           March
           were
           Come
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           not
           
             yet
             Past.
          
           
        
         
         
           3.
           
           When
           I
           speak
           of
           black
           Events
           which
           are
           the
           Consequents
           of
           Comets
           ,
           it
           is
           to
           be
           known
           that
           it
           is
           intolerable
           Folly
           and
           Presumption
           to
           
             Determine
             peremptorily
             what
             particular
             ones
          
           they
           shall
           be
           .
           Many
           have
           Fondly
           and
           Rashly
           set
           down
           before
           hand
           the
           
             Particular
             Events
          
           of
           such
           and
           such
           Comets
           ,
           but
           they
           have
           thereby
           rendred
           themselves
           obnoxious
           to
           the
           Censure
           of
           all
           sober
           Persons
           .
           Strange
           Vicissitudes
           ,
           Distractions
           ,
           Perils
           and
           Mischiefs
           are
           the
           Attendants
           of
           these
           Dreadfull
           Spectacles
           ,
           but
           it
           surpasseth
           all
           Humane
           Knowledge
           to
           define
           Particularly
           and
           absolutely
           of
           what
           Kind
           they
           shall
           be
           .
           Great
           Distresses
           for
           Mens
           Sins
           and
           Miscarriages
           are
           threatned
           ,
           but
           we
           know
           not
           certainly
           whether
           Pestilence
           ,
           or
           War
           ,
           or
           Famine
           ,
           or
           Which
           of
           the
           many
           other
           Judgments
           is
           to
           be
           Our
           Allotment
           .
           All
           Comets
           are
           not
           Alike
           ,
           but
           of
           Different
           ,
           and
           it
           may
           be
           
           Contrary
           Qualities
           ,
           and
           consequently
           the
           Effects
           are
           so
           too
           .
           And
           though
           one
           Comet
           may
           seem
           to
           be
           of
           the
           same
           Nature
           with
           another
           as
           to
           Bigness
           ,
           Colour
           ,
           Motion
           and
           Duration
           ,
           yet
           it
           may
           be
           very
           unlike
           in
           Figure
           ,
           Place
           ,
           Time
           ,
           and
           other
           Circumstances
           .
           And
           perhaps
           there
           never
           were
           any
           two
           Comets
           of
           a
           like
           Nature
           as
           to
           all
           things
           .
           There
           is
           therefore
           no
           judging
           of
           the
           particular
           Effects
           of
           this
           or
           that
           Comet
           ,
           because
           we
           saw
           such
           Events
           follow
           another
           of
           that
           likeness
           .
           Indeed
           by
           our
           Undertaking
           to
           specifie
           directly
           before
           hand
           the
           individual
           Evils
           that
           shall
           come
           ,
           we
           are
           so
           far
           from
           making
           a
           good
           use
           of
           these
           Signs
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           that
           we
           rather
           provoke
           the
           Divine
           Anger
           by
           our
           being
           so
           daring
           and
           presumptuous
           .
           Onely
           this
           may
           be
           done
           by
           us
           ;
           we
           may
           
             with
             modesty
             guess
          
           (
           but
           go
           no
           farther
           )
           that
           God
           will
           trie
           us
           with
           
             those
             Evils
             which
             we
             have
             not
             very
             lately
             experienced
             and
             groaned
             under
             ,
          
           and
           
           this
           not
           onely
           that
           we
           may
           feel
           
             all
             kinds
             of
             Scourges
          
           for
           our
           Offences
           ,
           but
           that
           our
           
             new
             and
             unheard
             of
             Debaucheries
          
           may
           be
           punished
           with
           
             fresh
             Calamities
          
           .
           We
           may
           (
           without
           limiting
           and
           confining
           God's
           Hand
           )
           expect
           Famine
           and
           Scarcity
           after
           so
           great
           Plenty
           ,
           nay
           ,
           not
           onely
           a
           
             Famine
             of
             Bread
          
           ,
           but
           
             of
             hearing
             the
             Word
             of
             the
             Lord.
          
           We
           may
           look
           for
           
             Invasion
             from
             abroad
          
           ,
           when
           we
           are
           so
           
             divided
             and
             distracted
             at
             home
          
           ,
           and
           that
           under
           so
           Gracious
           a
           Prince
           .
           And
           truly
           this
           seemeth
           to
           be
           the
           
             Vniversal
             and
             Epidemick
             Plague
          
           designed
           for
           all
           Christendom
           .
           The
           
             Mahometan
             Crescent
          
           may
           in
           time
           
             grow
             to
             the
             Full.
          
           The
           
             Turkish
             Cymetar
          
           ,
           though
           often
           Blunted
           ,
           may
           be
           so
           Edged
           once
           and
           again
           ,
           as
           at
           last
           to
           doe
           
             fatal
             Execution
          
           over
           all
           those
           spatious
           Territories
           where
           Christianity
           is
           professed
           ,
           and
           (
           which
           I
           am
           loth
           to
           add
           )
           where
           the
           Professours
           of
           it
           dishonour
           the
           Religion
           it self
           by
           their
           Lives
           .
           To
           be
           brief
           ,
           the
           
           Age
           we
           live
           in
           hath
           been
           already
           an
           Age
           of
           great
           and
           wonderfull
           Occurrences
           ,
           and
           we
           may
           expect
           that
           the
           remainder
           of
           it
           will
           produce
           great
           and
           tremendous
           Changes
           to
           the
           World
           :
           so
           that
           if
           Diogenes
           were
           alive
           ,
           he
           might
           now
           more
           eagerly
           desire
           than
           once
           he
           did
           to
           be
           buried
           with
           his
           Face
           downward
           ,
           and
           that
           for
           the
           same
           Reason
           which
           he
           then
           gave
           ,
           viz.
           Because
           the
           World
           would
           in
           a
           short
           time
           be
           turned
           upside
           down
           .
           But
           lest
           I
           should
           be
           mistaken
           ,
           and
           some
           should
           think
           I
           am
           Positive
           and
           Definitive
           in
           what
           I
           say
           ,
        
         
           4.
           
           That
           which
           I
           have
           asserted
           before
           must
           be
           called
           to
           mind
           here
           in
           the
           close
           of
           all
           ,
           viz.
           That
           though
           Comets
           are
           
             certain
             Signs
          
           of
           God's
           Displeasure
           ,
           yet
           they
           are
           not
           
             Necessary
             Causes
          
           of
           the
           Evils
           they
           threaten
           .
           Our
           Doom
           ,
           I
           hope
           ,
           is
           not
           irreversible
           .
           Nay
           ,
           it
           is
           certain
           that
           He
           who
           sheweth
           us
           the
           Tokens
           of
           his
           Anger
           ,
           can
           divert
           it
           when
           He
           
           pleaseth
           .
           How
           glad
           should
           I
           be
           if
           all
           the
           Intimations
           I
           have
           given
           of
           approaching
           Evils
           should
           be
           frustrated
           !
           I
           shall
           not
           ,
           like
           Ionas
           ,
           be
           angry
           because
           Nineveh
           is
           not
           destroyed
           .
        
         
           Lastly
           ,
           If
           all
           that
           hath
           been
           said
           amounts
           not
           to
           a
           Demonstration
           ,
           (
           as
           I
           do
           not
           pretend
           it
           doth
           ,
           and
           above
           half
           the
           Subjects
           that
           are
           treated
           of
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           that
           have
           evident
           Truth
           on
           their
           sides
           ,
           never
           reached
           to
           That
           :
           If
           I
           have
           not
           demonstrated
           )
           that
           Comets
           are
           Signs
           of
           impendent
           Evils
           ,
           yet
           this
           ought
           to
           be
           remembred
           ,
           that
           no
           Man
           can
           be
           certain
           that
           they
           
             signifie
             Nothing
          
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           stand
           for
           Cyphers
           in
           the
           Heavens
           .
           The
           rashest
           .
           Determiners
           have
           not
           concluded
           that
           it
           is
           impossible
           they
           should
           be
           forerunners
           of
           Calamities
           ,
           and
           Messengers
           of
           Divine
           Vengeance
           .
           Now
           if
           they
           prove
           to
           be
           so
           (
           as
           the
           abundant
           Reasons
           and
           Arguments
           
           above
           produced
           solicite
           us
           to
           believe
           )
           it
           will
           be
           a
           heinous
           Offence
           if
           we
           take
           no
           notice
           of
           them
           .
           However
           it
           will
           be
           best
           for
           us
           to
           look
           upon
           them
           as
           such
           ,
           and
           then
           ,
           if
           we
           are
           mistaken
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           on
           the
           
             safest
             side
          
           ,
           and
           we
           shall
           err
           with
           the
           wisest
           and
           soberest
           Persons
           .
           At
           least
           it
           becometh
           us
           to
           
             suspend
             our
             Iudgments
          
           in
           a
           
             dubious
             Case
          
           .
           It
           is
           inconsistent
           with
           the
           Wisedom
           and
           Piety
           of
           a
           Christian
           Philosopher
           peremptorily
           to
           deny
           what
           hath
           some
           shew
           of
           Probability
           .
           Much
           less
           will
           it
           become
           him
           to
           
             make
             a
             Mock
          
           of
           that
           which
           may
           be
           a
           
             serious
             Truth
          
           ,
           and
           the
           greatest
           Reality
           in
           the
           World
           :
           as
           Vespasian
           (
           they
           say
           )
           made
           himself
           merry
           with
           a
           Comet
           that
           appeared
           in
           his
           days
           ?
           for
           being
           told
           by
           one
           that
           it
           portended
           Ill
           to
           him
           ,
           he
           jestingly
           said
           ,
           that
           that
           Star
           with
           long
           Hair
           concerned
           the
           
             Kings
             of
          
           Persia
           ,
           
             who
             wore
             long
             shaggy
             Hair
          
           ,
           and
           not
           
             Bald
             Emperours
          
           ,
           such
           as
           he
           was
           .
           
           Which
           is
           thus
           expressed
           by
           an
           Historian
           :
           
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           Although
           Dio
           relateth
           that
           he
           spoke
           it
           of
           the
           King
           of
           Parthia
           ,
           
           yet
           it
           is
           most
           probable
           that
           he
           reflected
           on
           the
           Persians
           ,
           who
           were
           known
           by
           their
           long
           Hair
           ,
           and
           thence
           were
           called
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           by
           the
           Father
           of
           History
           .
           
           Far
           be
           it
           from
           us
           ,
           who
           are
           a
           Civilized
           People
           ,
           and
           (
           which
           is
           yet
           higher
           )
           a
           Nation
           professing
           Christianity
           to
           jest
           with
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           exercise
           our
           Drollery
           on
           those
           rare
           and
           stupendious
           Appearances
           which
           we
           have
           so
           great
           Reason
           to
           be
           persuaded
           are
           the
           
             Almighty's
             Messengers
          
           ,
           a
           sort
           of
           
             mute
             Prophets
          
           sent
           to
           instruct
           us
           in
           our
           Duty
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           forewarnings
           to
           us
           of
           the
           Wrath
           to
           come
           .
           Let
           us
           rather
           be
           directed
           by
           these
           Heavenly
           Signs
           ,
           as
           the
           Magi
           were
           of
           old
           by
           an
           unusual
           Star
           that
           appeared
           to
           them
           ,
           to
           seek
           our
           Saviour
           .
           
           Let
           us
           prepare
           for
           God's
           Judgments
           by
           Repentance
           and
           Amendment
           of
           Life
           ,
           and
           by
           these
           excellent
           Preparatives
           let
           us
           endeavour
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           possible
           ,
           to
           prevent
           them
           .
           Let
           us
           abandon
           those
           Sins
           and
           Vices
           which
           we
           may
           justly
           believe
           are
           pointed
           at
           by
           these
           Signs
           from
           Heaven
           .
           
             Those
             ,
             those
          
           are
           the
           
             direfull
             Prodigies
          
           which
           threaten
           Christendom
           at
           this
           day
           .
           Those
           are
           as
           Ominous
           and
           Presaging
           as
           all
           the
           Glaring
           Comets
           that
           have
           shaked
           their
           fiery
           Trains
           over
           our
           Heads
           .
        
         
           Let
           us
           therefore
           ,
           as
           we
           are
           desirous
           that
           God's
           Judgments
           may
           be
           averted
           ,
           and
           his
           Blessings
           conferred
           upon
           us
           ,
           as
           we
           are
           willing
           that
           Christianity
           should
           thrive
           and
           get
           ground
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           as
           we
           tender
           the
           Well-fare
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           Pillar
           and
           Ground
           of
           Truth
           ,
           as
           we
           hope
           to
           have
           the
           best
           and
           
             purest
             Religion
          
           (
           derived
           from
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           )
           continued
           amongst
           us
           to
           all
           succeeding
           
           Generations
           ,
           and
           as
           we
           wish
           well
           to
           our
           Countrey
           ,
           the
           most
           flourishing
           and
           Happy
           Region
           under
           Heaven
           ,
           let
           us
           break
           off
           our
           Sins
           by
           Repentance
           ,
           and
           a
           speedy
           Reformation
           of
           our
           Manners
           ;
           which
           was
           the
           principal
           thing
           Designed
           ,
           and
           I
           hope
           will
           partly
           be
           Effected
           by
           this
           Discourse
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A37977-e180
           
             Can.
             74.
             
          
        
         
           Notes for div A37977-e340
           
             Sen.
             Nat-Qu
             .
             1.
             7.
             c.
             29.
             
          
        
         
           Notes for div A37977-e630
           
             Praelect
             .
             de
             Comet
             .
          
        
         
           Notes for div A37977-e850
           
             Senec.
             
               Nat.
               Quaest.
            
             l.
             7.
             cap.
             19.
             
          
           
             Theatr.
             Natur.
             l.
             S
             2.
             
          
           
             Paracels
             .
             
               Iid.
               de
               Meteor
            
             .
          
           
             Meteor
             .
             l.
             1.
             c.
             7.
             
          
           
             Snellius
             
               de
               Cometa
               anni
            
             1618.
             
          
           
             Cometograph
             .
             l.
             7.
             
          
           
             Nat.
             Quaest.
             l.
             7.
             c.
             22.
             
          
           
             Plin.
             Nat.
             Hist.
             l.
             2.
             c.
             25.
             
          
           
             Nicephor
             .
             Eccles.
             hist.
             l.
             12.
             c.
             37.
             
          
           
             Aristot.
             l.
             1.
             
             Meteor
             .
             c.
             10.
             
          
           
             Senec.
             Nat.
             Quaest.
             l.
             7.
             c.
             12
             ,
             13
             ,
             14.
             
          
           
             Ricciolus
             Almagest
             .
             
               lib.
               de
               Cometis
            
             .
          
           
             In
             Cometar
             .
             Physiolog
             .
          
           
             Phranza
             .
             Chronic.
             l.
             3.
             c.
             20.
             
          
           
             Ricciol
             .
             Almagest
             .
          
           
             Aristot.
             Meteor
             .
             l.
             1.
             c.
             9.
             
          
           
             manilius
             
          
           
             
             Piso's
             Specul
             .
             Comet
             .
          
           
             Astronom
             .
             Instaur
             .
             Progymnasm
             .
          
           
             Manilii
             Astronom
             .
             1.
             l.
             
          
           
             Senec.
             
               Nat.
               Quaest.
               l.
               7.
               c.
            
             1.
             
          
           
             Cap.
             30.
             
          
           
             Cap.
             27.
             
          
           
             Tychon
             .
             
               Progymnasm
               .
               tom
            
             .
             1.
             
          
           
             Regiomontanus
             .
          
           
             Kepler
             
               Optic
               .
               Astron.
            
             
          
           
             Fromondus
             .
          
           
             Meteorolog
             .
             l.
             3.
             c.
             4.
             
          
           
             Franc
             Resta
             
               Meteorol
               .
               l.
               1.
               c.
            
             5.
             
          
           
             Ricciol
             .
             Almagest
             .
             
               Tom.
               1.
               pars
               poster
            
             .
          
           
             Ricciol
             .
             
               Tom.
               1.
               de
               Cometis
            
             .
          
           
             Fancisc
             .
             Fernandez
             .
          
           
             Tom.
             1.
             pars
             poster
             .
          
           
             Aristot.
             
               Meteor
               .
               l.
               1.
               c.
            
             9.
             
          
           
             Lib.
             2.
             7.
             c.
             28.
             
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             &
             Ensiformis
             .
          
           
             Gen.
             3.
             24.
             
          
           
             Joseph
             .
             de
             Bell.
             Iudaic
             .
             l.
             6.
             c.
             31.
             
          
           
             Nicephor
             .
             Eccles.
             hist.
             l.
             12.
             c.
             37.
             
          
           
             Socrates
             Eccl.
             Hist.
             l.
             7.
             c.
             6.
             
             
               Sozomen
               l.
            
             8.
             c.
             4.
             
          
           
             Funccius
             Spondanus
             
          
           
             Damascen
             .
             de
             Fid.
             Orthod
             .
             l.
             2.
             c.
             7.
             
          
           
             Petav.
             Theol
             .
             Dogm
             .
             Tom.
             3.
             l.
             1.
             
          
           
             Antiquit.
             l.
             1.
             c.
             15.
             
             De
             Praep.
             Evang.
             l.
             9.
             c.
             4.
             
          
           
             Lib.
             3.
             
             Orac.
             
          
           
             Horat.
             
          
           
             Mich.
             Glycas
             .
             
               Annal.
               pars
            
             1.
             
          
           
             Senec.
             Nat.
             Quaest.
             l.
             7.
             cap.
             1.
             
          
           
             
               Mich.
               Glyc
            
             .
             Annal
             .
             par
             .
             1.
             
          
           
             Prov.
             22.
             3.
             
          
           
             Platina
             
               in
               vit
            
             .
             Calist.
             
          
           
             Kepler
             De
             Physiologia
             Cometarum
             ,
             l.
             3.
             p.
             3.
             
          
           
             Bapt.
             Ricciol
             .
             Almagest
             .
             
               Nov.
               Tom.
               1.
               par
               .
               poster
               .
               l.
            
             8.
             
          
           
             Signum
             ,
             Syr.
             Arab.
             Castal
             .
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             
               Seventy
               Interp.
            
             Significationem
             ,
             Vulg.
             Lat.
             
          
           
             Virgil.
             Georg
             .
             1.
             
          
           
             Aeneid
             .
             10.
             
          
           
             Manil.
             
               Astronom
               .
               1.
               l.
            
             
          
           
             Silius
             ,
             
               l.
               1.
               
               Punic
            
             .
          
           
             Punic
             .
             l.
             8.
             
          
           
             Lucan
             .
             
               l.
               1.
               
               Pharsal
            
             .
          
           
             De
             Raptu
             .
          
           
             Lib.
             2.
             
             E.
             leg
             .
             5.
             
          
           
             Palingen
             .
             l.
             11.
             
             Zodiack
             .
          
           
             Sibyl
             .
             l.
             8.
             
          
           
             Sueton.
             in
             Nerone
             .
          
           
             Sueton.
             in
             Claudio
             .
          
           
             Socrates
             Eccl.
             Hist.
             l.
             6.
             c.
             6.
             
          
           
             Cedren
             .
             
               Hist.
               com
               .
               pend
            
             .
          
           
             Longomontanus
             .
          
           
             Christoph.
             Clavius
             .
          
           
             Piso.
             
               Specul
               .
               Cometae
            
             .
          
           
             Milichius
             Commentar
             .
          
           
             Basil
             the
             great
             .
             Hexaëmer
             .
          
           
             Theodoret
             
               Quaest.
               15.
               in
               Genes
            
             .
          
           
             Fromond
             .
             
               Meteor
               .
               l.
               3.
               c.
            
             3.
             
          
           
             Campanella
             ,
             
               Astrolog
               .
               l.
            
             2.
             
          
           
             Dionys.
             Petav.
             
               Theol
               .
               Dogm
               .
               Tom.
               3.
               l.
            
             1.
             c.
             10.
             
          
           
             Maraviglia
             .
             Pseudomant
             .
             Ex.
             plos
             .
             Dissertat
             .
             13.
             
          
           
             Dissertat
             .
             22.
             
          
           
             Grotius
             in
             Proph.
             Joel
             .
             cap.
             2.
             v.
             30.
             
          
           
             Gassend
             .
             Meteor
             .
          
           
             
             Bacon's
             Sapient
             .
             Ve●er
             .
          
           
             Psal.
             8.
             3
             ,
             4.
             
          
           
             Plin.
             Nat.
             Hist.
             l.
             2.
             c.
             25.
             
          
           
             Senec.
             Nat.
             Quaest.
             l.
             7.
             cap.
             17.
             
          
           
             Cedren
             .
             Hist.
             compend
             .
          
           
             Tacit.
             
               Annal
               .
               l.
            
             15.
             
          
           
             Sueton.
             in
             Nerone
             .
             c.
             28
             ,
             29.
             
          
           
             Theodoret
             .
             de
             Cur.
             Graec.
             Affectib
             .
             Serm.
             3.
             
          
           
             J.
             Scaliger
             .
             
               Exercitat
               .
               79.
               sect
            
             .
             2.
             
          
           
             R.
             Kimchi
             in
             Jon.
             
          
           
             Eginhardus
             
               in
               vit
            
             .
             Car.
             Mag.
             
          
           
             Philo
             de
             Abrahamo
             .
          
           
             Philo
             
               de
               Monarch
            
             .
          
           
             Aratus
             .
          
           
             Amos
             5.
             8.
             
          
           
             Job
             9.
             9.
             
          
           
             L.
             de
             mundi
             Opificio
             .
          
           
             Lib.
             de
             Monarchia
             .
          
           
             Basil.
             Hexa●mer
             .
          
           
             Zanchius
             
               de
               Astronom
            
             .
          
           
             Ovid.
             
               Metamorph
               .
               l.
            
             15.
             
          
           
             Virgil.
             
               Georg
               .
               l.
            
             1.
             
          
           
             Plutarch
             .
             in
             Jul.
             Caesar
             .
          
           
             Tertullian
             ad
             Scapulam
             ,
             c.
             3.
             
          
           
             Sir
             W.
             Raleigh's
             Essays
             .
          
           
             Aristot.
             
               Meteor
               .
               l.
            
             1.
             
          
           
             Ep.
             Jude
             ,
             13.
             v.
             
          
           
             Plin.
             
               Nat.
               Hist.
               l.
               2.
               c.
            
             8.
             
          
           
             Albumasar
             ,
             Pomponatius
             ,
             Cardan
             ,
             Vaninus
             .
          
           
             Albertus
             Magnus
             ,
             Lucas
             Gauricus
             ,
             Prelates
             .
             Petrus
             de
             Aliaco
             ,
             Cusanus
             ,
             Cardinals
             .
          
           
             Psal.
             147.
             4.
             
          
           
             Philo
             
               de
               Nomin
               .
               Mutat
            
             .
          
           
             Sir
             Christoph
             .
             Heydon
             .
             
               Def.
               of
               Iud.
               Astrol.
               p.
            
             193.
             
          
           
             L.
             de
             Praesagiis
             .
          
           
             
             Hackwell's
             Apol.
             l.
             2.
             
             Sect.
             4.
             
          
           
             Valer.
             Max.
             
               l.
               1.
               c.
            
             8.
             
          
           
             Cicero
             .
             
               l.
               2.
               de
               Divinat
            
             .
          
           
             
             Gadbury's
             Collectio
             Genitur
             arum
             .
          
           
             Ibid.
             
          
           
             Ptolem.
             
               Centiloq
               .
               Aph.
            
             1.
             
          
           
             Centiloq
             .
             ibid.
             
          
           
             Alchish
             
               in
               1.
               c.
            
             Job
             .
          
           
             Decret
             .
             2.
             pars
             .
             c.
             26.
             
             Concil
             .
             Tolet
             .
             1.
             
          
           
             
               Lateran
               .
               Conc.
               sub
            
             Jul.
             &
             Leone
             .
          
           
             Codex
             de
             Malefic
             .
             &
             Mathemat
             .
             leg
             .
             2.
             
             Leg.
             5
             ,
             &
             7.
             
          
           
             Origen
             .
             l.
             contra
             Fatum
             .
          
           
             
               Greg.
               Nyss.
            
             l.
             de
             Fato
             .
             Euseb.
             de
             Praep.
             Evang
             .
             l.
             6.
             
          
           
             Augustin
             .
             de
             Gen.
             l.
             2.
             c.
             21.
             
          
           
             Liv.
             Tacitus
             .
             Valer.
             M.
             Dio.
             
          
           
             Sepher
             .
             Hammus
             .
          
           
             
               Johan
               .
               Sarisb
            
             .
             de
             Nug.
             Cur.
             l.
             2.
             c.
             19.
             
          
           
             Joseph
             .
             Antiq.
             l.
             1.
             c.
             3.
             
          
           
             Vossius
             de
             Scient
             .
             Mathemat
             .
          
           
             Joseph
             .
             
               Antiq.
               l.
            
             1.
             
             C.
             9.
             
          
           
             Plin.
             Nat.
             Hist.
             l.
             2.
             c.
             25.
             
          
           
             
               Xiphilinus
               Aurel.
            
             Victor
             .
          
           
             Sueton.
             in
             Vespas
             .
             c.
             23.
             
          
           
             Herodot
             .
             l.
             6.
             c.
             19.
             
          
        
      
    
  

