Man and the Corruption and the Crush which the World endured thereupon nor the infinite Sins of after-Mankind and the Desolations that do continually follow thereupon did necessarily require any correction or amendment of that first Frame But such was the infinitely to be admired and never enough to be adored Forecast and Providence of God that at one View appearing unto him all the several Turnings and Windings of all mens Wills and the total Sum and Upshot of of all Virtue and Vice He did at once so contrive that all Fates of Prosperity and Adversity of Reward and Punishment should so fall out and come to pass as to answer the Virtues and Prayers of the Righteous and the Vices and Villanies of the Wicked each according to their Works in due and fit suiting times Now the Substance of this great and glorious Frame which the Almighty hath made is that which we call the World And this World consisteth of the Heavens Gen. 1.1 and the Earth And the Form of it is as the Prophet Ezekiel hath described it after the manner of a Wheel Ezek. 1.15 16. and that so as One Wheel hath many Wheels within the same involved one within another And as the Prophet sayes so we find it by Mathematical Demonstration that the Earth is indeed a round Globe of Sea and Land and this Globe is circumscribed by the Air as within a greater Wheel which is globous too and the Heavens are as it were a great Workmanship of many Wheels wrapt up together one within another and the Earth and the Air wrap't up in the innermost of them all Such are the Subjects of Nature The Forms informing this Natural Substance Ezek. 1.10 as the Prophet also describes them are four Living Creatures immeasurably endued with Wisdom and Courage and Agility and Strength as they are described unto us Hieroglyphically in the shapes of a Man an Eagle a Lyon and an Oxe and all of them with Wings for our better Understanding of the same And that work which the Prophet ascribes unto These seems to be the same which Plato attributed unto the Soul of the World By These are all the Wheels of Nature put into Motion and actuated and hence comes Life and spirit and power and virtue into the Heavens and from the Heavens into the Earth and from the Earth into Man and Beast so as one Wheel moveth another and all of them do move one within another and these in and thorow all of them and hence come the Magnetical Wonders in Nature and all Virtues of Sympathy and Antipathy which work by invisible concoction of sucking and expelling Now beyond and above these four Angels as the Prophet sayes is Fire and Light Ch. 1.22 26 27 28. and dreadful Majestie of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost Rom. 11.36 Of whom and for whom and to whom are all things To whom be glory and honour and praise for evermore The great and chief Subjects of this World are Angels and Men the one in Heaven and the other upon Earth The Angels are either Good or Bad and do know their Reward or Doom But Mens Works are yet upon the Anvil and Time with them is still going on Alas we Mankind are very miserable by Nature as we may thank our selves for it but yet is there an happiness in store for us may we be so wise as to lay hold of it Alas we are utterly lost in our selves and no strength remaineth either to will or to do ought that is good Only in Civil Affairs we have a Will to do a little weak as it is and free to do evil But thanks be to our God who has sent a Saviour and with him Grace that loosens the Fetters of Will and puts strength into us that we may be able to accept of good things that are offered He forceth no mans Will only by Grace infuses power and so leaves us to chuse or refuse and hence some do embrace Life and others oppose Hence followes Virtue and Vice and after that Prosperity and Adversity Sickness and Health Life and Death and all the Vicissitudes of Nature And though the Accidents Good and Bad of one mans Life are innumerable and though the men who are the Subjects of those Accidents in One Age are also innumerable and though the ages of men since the Creation are innumerable too Yet all these Accidents which do befal all the men of all Ages do come to pass according to a certain Scheme or Method as God by Nature hath appointed And in this Method Men do live by the Earth and the Earth sucks Hos 2.21 22. and drawes all its Virtue from the Heavens and they from the four Angels and they from the Holy Ghost and He receiveth from Christ and Christ from God the Father Now all Mankind have every one of them a certain portion of Wisdom Power and Wealth Wherewith they occupy in this World and operate their Contrivances And many men do take courage grow mighty and purpose as if they would do what they list upon Earth And yet there are two things we do see overtop the wisest greatest and proudest of men in all their enterprizes and these are Time and Chance two mighty Lords upon Earth that do strange things Time is that Motion of Space which proceeded out of Eternity that was before the World began and holdeth on unto Eternity which is to succeed at the Worlds end And out of this one long Time are engendred infinite spaces of Time of great variety of sorts And these are either general or special and both of these sorts are either fortunate or unfortunate Times Eccl. 3.1 2 c. There is a Time of Pleasure and another Time of Pain and Grief a time to rise and a Time to fall a Time to be born and a Time to dy There is a lucky Time of mans life wherein if he go out to battel though with but few men Chap. 9.11 yet he carrieth the day and there is another Time wherein though he go out with forces never so great yet shall he be so unlucky as to lose all that he fights for So also is there a Time when Overtures of Marriage shall come luckily but a mans desires answer not and there is a Time when desires of Marriage shall strongly prompt but Overtures will prove unlucky but there is a Time too when desires and Overtures shall suit together And so also there is a Time when Riches shall offer themselves whether a man sleep or wake and anon again though a man pursue them with wings yet so unlucky a Time occurrs as shall render all his Endeavours fruitless Some men do come into the World in a lucky hour so as whether they be wise or foolish yet shall they be buoyed up upon the wings of fate for matter of Wealth or Honour or Pleasure in all that they take to while wiser and better men smitten
I have medled or dealt with in this kind and no more than what the most Learned and Famousest of our modern reformed Writers have done before me Wherefore I am none of those who pretend to be read in State-Astrology or to be versed in the curious tracks of Meteorology Nor am I any profest Artist either in the understanding of Hororary Questions or in scanning the abstruse paths of Genethliacal Predictions And how it shews him the great Glory of Gods works Onely so much have I learned as shews me the great glory of my Creator written in the Sacred frame of the Heavens while I behold their admirable operations and productions and how the frame of Nature hangs upon them and is contrived from the beginning continuing and going on as if all things came to pass by Chance and yet is there a dependance of all things one upon another and of all sublunary things upon the Heavens and of the Heavens upon God as if Nature it self were nothing else but an Artificial Fabrick made by God from the beginning And now Astrology is nothing else but that Study whereby a man perceiveth the secret Virtue of the Heavens and the shining Bodies therein contained and is induced by the more he knows of his handy-work to spend the more time in wondering at the most immense and infinite Wisdom and Power of God For the more a man attains to know of these Heavenly Virtues the more he sees of the reason and manner of Natures Operation in things that are past and the more he sees of this reason the more it makes him to admire him that made and laid the frame of it And as he attains to see the reason of things past by the same skill he attains to see things to come and by the Birth of a Native And profitably serves him in prediction of future Events he reads in the Heavens most part of that Natives whole life and the Story thereof as his Blessings and Crosses Gains and Losses Honour and Dishonour Sickness and Health and all the years of his Life and the time of Death even as if he had seen them acted in their several times and seasons Eccles 1.5 For this God hath given unto the wise man to know the time and the judgment Sect. 3 The reason of the Author in publishing this Treatise But many men do not believe that by Natural skill all or any of this can fairly and lawfully be procured And because amongst the many who believe us not and are therefore enemies to Astrology I have so much charity as to believe are some good and godly as well as wise men who more out of mistake than malice have taken up their prejudice And because amongst these also are many most Learned Astronomers And for whole sake he hath done it unto whose names the Astrologer is greatly obliged for much of his skill and especially because amongst these two may be found some whose prejudice to Astrology has rendred them so unhappy as not to have read that excellent piece of Art called The Doctrine of Nativities published by Mr. Gadbury a Person famous as well for Astronomy as Astrology or any other Learned Treatise of this nature and yet perhaps out of some curiosity may be drawn in to taste of these few Lines Therefore for satisfaction of all such I humbly offer these three Propositions 1. That there is an Astrology in the Heavens The sum of what he undertakes to prove consists in three Propositions 2. That this Astrology Man in the state of Corruption may attain in some measure to understand 3. That this understanding may be lawfully and fairly compassed by Natural means without any Diabolical helps The first Proposition Sect 1 THat there is an Astrology in the Heavens that is The Proposition explained The Heavenly Bodies have all their Influences wherewith they operate upon all Earthly Subjects and that upon the Intellectual and Sensitive as well as the Vegetative to incline and lead them here and there and more or less in the constitution of their Qualities and Contingencies of their Destinies though not absolutely to force their Wills according to the power and virtues of that place of Heaven and that band of Stars unto whose charge every of those Subjects are committed Sect. 2 God has not fix'd these mighty Bodies of the Sun Moon and Stars which The first Proof by Scripture shews that the Sun and Moon have as much to do with the sway of earthly affairs as hath a King amongst his Subjects to such as know their Dimensions are known to move in their Orbs as so many other Worlds in the Heavens for mere Signs like Beacons on an Hill nor yet for mere Seasons or Land-marks of Time so as to be no more but mere Boundments unto Days Months and Years Yea there is infinitely more in them than so for unto every one of them hath he committed an Authority and Power Gen. 1.16 as it were a King upon his Throne to Sway and Rule over all things subject unto Day and Night The Sun is the Fountain of heat and that Heat is the Nurse of Life and thence therefore find we every living Creature waiting upon this Sun for its life as it were so many Servants upon the Master of the House and this is palpable Now the Moon seems to be as much the Fountain of Moisture as the Sun is of Heat and Moisture being an Handmaid unto Life hence also may it seem requisite therefore that where the Sun is honoured as Master of the House the Moon may challenge the Title of Mistress and this also is palpable though not in that degree of it to the heat of the Sun For though the Moon doth not sensibly distil Dews of Moisture as does the Sun his Beams of Heat 't is because she is the weaker Vessel and wants of him so exceedingly in comparison of Power Yet that she is the Mistress of this Moisture as well as of the Night is apparent by the Tydes which constantly attend her Motion and that with increase and diminution of force as she appears in strength or want of Aspect and by the Eyes of Cats which sensibly swell and fall as the Moon is strong or weak Sect. 3 And that the Stars also have their sway and that by day as well as by Night But besides these Seigniories of the Sun and Moon the Stars also it seems have their Principalities in the Heavens The Lord who giveth the Sun for a Light by day giveth also the Ordinances of the Moon and Stars for a Light by night Jer. 31.35 And to these Stars also hath God committed a certain Rule or Dominion over the Day and Night Gen 1.18 and that promiscuously Now the Stars have no sensible operation upon us besides that little light they administer unto our eyes and that is so very small that all the Stars in Heaven besides the Sun
must be in charity conceited to mean and no other then he Which if so his words could be made out then say I he may deserve no less and as I would be no such my self so loath am I to pertake of his sin by disallowing of his deserved Chastisement and Rebuke Sect. 8 But is the Doctor thus angry at Cardan at Vaninus and at Apollonius singly and alone what would he be then should he meet them altogether It seems they ran in his mind much and conceiting as if he saw them so indeed loe how he kicks and flounces and throws about his Firebrands Arrows and Death at them all Prov. 26.18 B. 7. Ch. 17. § 8. A trim sight saith he would it be to see these three busie sticklers against Christianity like three fine fools so goodly gay in Astromantick disguizes exposed to the just scorn and deâ—ision of the World for their so high pretentions against what is so holy and solidâ— the Christian Faith is and that upon so fond and frivolous grounds as this of Astrology First He charges them all three as sticklers agaiâ— Christianity and high pretenders against the Christian Faith But alas why will the Doctor expose his Credit thus to scorn and laughter of all knowing men For however his quondam Pâ—pils may be so far deluded as to beleive as if Cardan had been some Jewish Rabbi or Maâ—meton Mufti yet all well read men do know that he was a Christian Philosopher and Physician and died a Professor of the Christian Faith and so did Vaninus too What a strange humoâ— then is this Doctor possessed with who so loudly chants his tales abroad as if they were quite contrary Oh but they were Astrologers and that makes them tanta-mount as if they were Enemies to the Faith But if so why then was not Melancthon that famous Pillar of the reformed Religion a stickler too against Christianity as well as Cardan For he also was an Astrologer and wrote in defence of it But secondly see what he calls them Three fine Fools so goodly gay Now had they been Fools indeed surely they had not altogether been worth the Doctor 's anger But now it seems by his fome at mouth the Doctor was pinch't by them and that meerly by shooting at Rovers for otherwise had Cardan lived in the Doctor 's days he 'd not have deign'd to talk to him but have set his Boys rather to answer him with school butter as best becoming his foul mouth And was the Doctor pinch't thus Why sure then they were no sâ—ll Fools who could make his Reverend Pen to wince thus But we may put it to the vote for I am sure there are but few Fellows with this Christ-College Doctor either in Cambridge or Oxford who will join with him in averment that either of the three were Fools And which if so then who for certain is the foul mouth'd slanderer who call'd them such But lastly see the Doctor Charity nothing will satisfie his vengeance against these three dead mens Ghosts but in their Astromantick disguizes they must be exposed to the scorn and derision of the World Is there no remedy but a word and a blow Acts 25.16 It was not the manner of the Heathens to deliver a man to condemnation before he had liberty to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him And the manner of the Gospel is that when no remedy remains against a greivous Crime but Exâ—tion of the Criminal yet are we taught not to â—â—â—gh but to weep rather over the ruins of the most notoriously wicked Luke 19.41 42 43. c. as our Saviour by the Jews And yet says the Doctor a Trim sight to see them expos'd to scorn of the World Yea though unheard and uncondemned only because the Doctor has a prejudice against them But alas the Doctor does but shew his teeth in all this kind of Language and shews the World That he is an angry man And such an one must needs come upon the Stage to chastise Astrology Ah but says Solomon Anger resteth in the bosome of Fools Eccles 7.9 And said the Heathen man of his Ass when he had transgressed Now would I beat thee were I not angry And 't was well remembred for an angry passionate and haâ— brain'd Fellow is not fit to be trusted to drive the Plow nor to whip Dogs And shall such an one be made a Reverend Monitor that there be no more Astrology No surely every wise man will rather like the better of it for being rail'd at by passionate angry men Sect. 9 Well against these three sufficiently has he disgorg'd a full stomach and one would think he should be grown so empty now that all other Astrologers might meekly be intreated by him at this time at least and 'till passions get time enough to gain new breath But alas what rest or peace can we expect while we have to do with waters continually troubled For do we rage Prov. 29.9 or do we laugh yet no rest comes Whether Seniors or Juniors Gentle or Simple Christian or Heathen be we but Astrologers with this Reverend Doctor we are all and altogether either Knaves or Fools or both without so much as except Melancthon no nor Abraham nor Seth nor Shem from whom Astrology derives by no small Authority and Tradition To tast therefore of the Doctor 's well wishes to us all Astrologers in general First Having seriously acknowledged certain Astrological acts and effects of the Moon which he says are sensible palpable and reasonable He concludes that we are all insufferable Fools to argue from such effects of the Moon that the other Planets also and fixt Stars have as powerful effects upon us which yet we can deprehend by neither Reason nor Experience Explan B. 7. Ch. 15. § 3. But mark now to make us such insufferable Fools First The Doctor blabs forth a great untruth He says we argue from the effects of the Moon that the other Planets have effects as powerful upon us which yet cannot be deprehended neither by Reason nor Experience But let him quote his Author for we deny it For first all Astrologers do hold the Moon to be the nearest to us and the nimblest plying about us above all the other Planets and therefore to have more powerful effects upon us then any one other Planet again And therefore one exception be it to our unsufferable Follies that the Reprover himself was not quite so much in his Wits as he made account of But secondly that the other Planets have effects upon us as well if not so much as the Moon has we can deprehend by manifest experience and that not without reason too and if the Doctor cannot or will not deprehend it as Nemo omnibus horis sapit yet let him not abuse them who do But yet thirdly suppose we Astrologers pass for insufferable Fools for this kind of argument yet why should St. Paul be hook't in too for
sick-brain'd persons can beleive and all in the same Section But the more to betray his own ignorance of the things he treats see how he adds fictitious stories of his own brain to make out his matters For what Astrologer holds or writes who understands himself that the â–¡ Aspect is stark naught but rather that it is very good and of great use in many respects and at worst yet is not above half so bad as the ☠or the ♂ of the Infortunes Oh that the Doctor therefore had it been but for his own credit sake had either studied a little more Astrology or that he had never read a tittle of it For then these Misunderstandings I will not say insufferable Follies rash Censures I will not say intollerable Impudencies Mistakes I will not say impudent Impostories and unhappy Untruths I will not say Wilful Knavish and notorious Lies and Slanders of the Doctor might have well been spared and happily have salved much of his lost Credit and Reputation by medling beyond his reach But let us go on They have feigned the rest of their houses at random B. 7. Ch. 15. § 13. That is the Doctor understands not the reason of the Houses and hence so seems it to him though who have read and studied farther know it to be otherwise This recourse to their fictitious phancies proves nothing Id. § 16. That is in the Doctor 's judgment only but we have sufficiently proved both his judgment erroneous and his own phancy fictitious and He therefore no competent Judg. Lastly He concludes his Chapter with a strange kind of wonder in his own Eyes at his close Reasonings and mighty strength of Argument as if all the skilful World were forced to acknowledg how fundamentally he has confuted the whole Art of Astrology and proved all their fine termes of Art to be a Company of meer sonorous Nothings and that he hath made them fall down with a clatter like a pile of dry bones by the battery he hath laid against them And now would he sing victory yea absolute victory were it not for a blind Fort he spies to which the Fugitives as he counts us all Astrologers do usually make our escape B. 7. Ch. 15. § 17. Just thus did Cajus Caesar utterly overthrow the Seas when the Tides made way for him and his Host to pick up Cockle-shels and he went clear away with them triumphantly into Rome Thus also have I seen boys throwing their Caps against the Wind and when the empty darts were driven back into their faces they would shout for victory And thus Childen use to make Pigeon Houses with Cards in our Countrey and when they have done blow all down with a breath and then laugh they altogether most heartily to see with what a clatter like a pile of dry bones they come tumbling all of an heap Also such another victory have I heard tell of on Westborne Green There were a great flock of Geese feeding at what time an Horseman riding by and minding them not disturbed the gagling Crew whereat the whole gang grown wrath the old Gander stretching forth his haughty neck and brandishing his angry beak gave notice of his wrath by hissing after the Horses heels But neither the Horseman nor his Steed once minding the assailants as neither feeling force nor dreading danger rode on without stop or turn or regard to what was said or done Whereupon Sr. Gander seizing an absolute victory over both the Horse and Rider returned to his Host where they all laying heads together with cackling and gagling in their way raised such a shout of laughter as any one that stood by would easily understand they had overrun the whole World And thus the Doctor in his own conceit having hiss't the Fugitives all out of the Cockpit I wish him as much joy of his victory as had this couragious Gander and his Geese over the Horse and his Rider Sect. 14 Well suppose we our selves all the Astrologers Fugitives as we are driven into this blind Fort the Doctor talks on but alas for we this is not so strong neither as is our Impudence great B. 7. Ch. 17. § 1. Oh this railing language shall we never have done with it Say we not true when we predict by Astrology what 's like to be As none of us that I know of pretending to infallibility but may do so many times then we are Fools And again at other times say we never so true yet will it not excuse us but then we are most impudent and rashly presumptuous Id. § 3. And a shameless peice of imposture he says it is to impute the truth of predictions to Art But lastly lest all he hath brought hitherto of his railing Language should not amount hâ—â—ugh to make us acquit our station he 〈◊〉 concludes that the Devil is in us affirming that vagrant Daemons of the air secretly insinuate themselves into our actions B. 7. Ch. 17. § 6. And to make this good How say's he shall it appear that Cardan 's and others Death were not predicted by familiarity of Daemons but by pure principles of Astrology Id. How shall it appear that it was not very good Logick but better Railery The Doctor it seems ha's no ground to prove the affirmative but by railing Language and therefore he challenges us to prove the negative And lastly he concludes That if any thing have fallen out punctually right it may as well nay better be suspected to proceed from the secret insinuations or visible converse with the aiery Wanderers than from the indication of the Stars Id. § 7. It may be suspected Well now I see we are beholding to the Doctor he doth not call us down right Conjurers Sorcerers or Witches but it is to be suspected so But I would inquire whether as it lies thus it be not the greater slander For had he said expresly that we wrought by the Devil Then when our selves once cleared the Doctor had been proved a Slanderer and a Lyar utterly disabled to be beleived any more But now lying couched under a may be prove we our selves never so clear of that may be yet still has he room left him for more and more shifts to abuse us I deny not but that there are such Creatures as Sorcerers and Witches in the World but yet between Astrology and Sorcery there is as vast and wide a difference as can be between Sorcery and natural Philosophy But this is the usual shift of Envy and base Ambition that when a man is overdon in curiosity and neatness of skill learning or acâ— they will strait cry out as the Pharisee◠〈◊〉 Christ he do's it by Baalzebub Matth. 10.25 or by the 〈◊〉 â—evils And so the Doctor cry's here Now by what kind of language this discourse of the Doctor 's yeilds I would fain be resolved if or no the Doctor have not a prejudice against all Astrologers Afore indeed one would have thought his preiudice had gone no
demand how it can be proved that Astrology was not here only for a vizard and that a Magician or a Wizard was not underneath By how much more accurate their predictions are by so much the more cause of suspicion You must note now that to have familiarity with these Daemons so as to predict or tell any thing by virtue of such a familiarity is punishable with Death both by the Law of God and Man And yet in this case of Life and Death when a man is accused for a Wizard and no proof can be brought against him but a meer think so and Judg and Jury are all ready to acquit him yea but says the Doctor let him prove himself that he is not one or else let him be trust up Why good Mr. Doctor says the Prisoner at the Bar if you must needs be answered to such a demand that is as unreasonable as it is simple and foolish know you that it is proof enough of my innocency in that all the World can say nothing to the contrary or at least it is enough to stop the mouth of any the most slanderous Gown-man that ever used his tongue to lying and slander Suppose now a hagling Disputant in the Schools should take upon him to prove that Dr. More is more Knave then Fool and when he can make nothing on it so as to produce any one act of his Knavery but to the contrary rather yet he sticks to his points still and answers let the Doctor prove it that he is not so if he can Would the Doctor take this kindly think you at the man's hands But again suppose we the Devils may secretly insinuate themselves into some mens actions and afterwards offer themselves unto a greater familiarity and converse and suppose they might gain a right against a man without explicit Contract if he be but once so rash as to tamper with the mysteries of the dark Kingdom What 's all this to the purpose unless there could be no such things as Conjurers but what are first Astrologers Or suppose we these Conjurers should pretend as Sr. Christopher Heydon observes to be Astrologers in order to paliate their diabolical Arts. Is Astrology any whit the worse for being belied on Our Saviour himself would be a Devil then too if this might go But suppose farther that some who are Astrologers at first should afterwards step from Astrology to become Wizards or Daemonalators must all necessarily who are Astrologers be so therefore Do we not know that many Divines do study unlawful Magick and Negromancy as much or more then Divinity must all Divines be Magicians therefore and that in an evil sense We know also that many Physicians become Atheists must all Physicians be so therefore But it is worth our Observation very much how prettily the Doctor lays his Plot concerning Horary Questions How the Devil should excite men to make their demands at such a point of time as the Heavens should suit with those demands in all circumstances according to the known rules of Astrology Now although the Devils may very possibly excite men to make their demands yet be sure the Heavens at those times it is not in the Devils power to frame at all and yet these Heavens have perfect Astrological Significations in them according to the punctual solution of all Circumstances in the demands So that it shall seem the Doctor does verily beleive there is such a thing as Astrology in the Heavens Only he would have no body to deal in the skill of it but under the Devil's Patent But then as for Nativities the predictions related to them must not be effected but by help of the invisible Powers and men's Deaths must be effected by the Devil in order to make good Astrological Predictions It seems then with the Doctor these Devils can kill whom and when they list and that as well Saints as Sinners and the Anti-Astrologists as well as Philo-Astrologists For thus was predicted the death of Picus as well as Cardan and of Gassendus as well as Ascletarion And thus was predicted the death of that quondam Saint of the late times Oliver Cromwel And thus also strictly agreed with the predictions of Astrology the death of the innocent Prince of Spain Philip Prosper as well as the blustering King of Sueden the late Charles Gustavus the three last all performed by that most ingenious Artist Mr. John Gadbury at such time as all of them were at the highest of their Expectations Sect. 24 Thus now have I answered as well to the wickedness as to the vanity and foolery wherewith the Doctor charges Astrology I am not concerned here I make account for that I have done before elsewhere to give reasons for each part of the Science but only to answer what reasons the Doctor pretends against it Neither do I think my self bound to content my Antagonist in all my answers it is enough that I have paid and satisfi'd him off The Vsurer when he had his money and use all pay'd him in yet was not contented though fully satisfied but sued his Bond after all this And truly the Doctor is like enough to do as much by me For he seems very hard to be pleased If our Predictions miscarry any of them then he laughs and crys out We are Fools If part does hit and another part does miscarry then are all by chance But if any fall out punctually as predicted then its Daemonalatry and antient Heathen Paganism and the more true we speak the worse he likes us as he says himself So that right or wrong be we well or ill laugh or cry hee 'l never be pleased And win or lose he is resolved to publish Victory What I have said therefore I humbly commit to publick view that when the Doctor shall at any time deny that I have made him a full answer I may not want for Evidence that he is paid and satisfied and then chuse him whether he be contented or no. But I am not utterly out of hope that all the Doctor has said or done was no more but as I said before purposely to be baffled and to make his Pen a Sacrifice for Astrology in order to excuse him when hereafter he shall publickly turn Fortune-teller And so No More but the Doctor 's humble Servant John Butler An humble Consideration by way of Comment upon the pious and learned Discourse of the Right Honourable and Right Reverend Father in God Joseph late Lord Bishop of Norwich concerning Pacts with evil Spirits and particularly concerning his judgment of Judiciary Astrology therein also mentioned Sect. 1 THUS far have I humbly adventured in defence of this Sacred and Heavenly Science of Astrology and now having waded so far I would willingly enjoy some fruits of my pains before I make my return though it cost me something of a swimming for it I am sensible that say we never so clearly for our selves yet will there be still Objectors found to say