40 Quefiions,andCafes ofConfèierice Chap t g madd. Such are reckoned up with other Diabolical Arts , as being of the fame kind-, D4n.2.2. and AEI' 19. 18,19, ao. - -Many which -fed curious Arts ( filch as this is) brow-ht their books, and burned them before all men,and counted the price ofthem,ard found it fifty thoufandpieces offilvcr, &c. and this isafcri- bed. to the.power of the Gofpel, v; o. Secondly, that Art whereby men aflùmeto themfelves what is peculiar unto God, muff needs be finful , neither to be praetifed, countenanced , nor tot lerated : But th's is done by fuch as take upon them todivine of events toper- fow, and Nations by the Oars; therefore, theMajor is clear from Ifa. 41,22, a Sle;' things to comehereafter, that we may know that ye are Pods : where we fee that knowin ,and declaring things tocome isas peculiara prerogative of God as to know mens hearts. Thirdly, that which with-draws the heart from God the Father , and Chrifi the Son: from confideringthe worksóf the one, and heeding the words of the other , is an evil not tobe praetifed, countenanced, or tollerated : But A- flroloricalpredietionsdraws from God and Chrifi. Therefore , the Major is evident : Not to confider Gods works is a finful omitliota condemned , Ifa. 5.12. and the Apostle is as fey= .a ain(l every one that withdraws from Chuff , Col. 2. S, I S,19. Now that thefe Progno(licators withdraw mens niincies from Chiitt, may be gathered from that oppofition that is put be- tween them by Mofes, Dent. a8.1o;to x6. where they muff not hearken to Sorcerers that theymay hearken to Chrift : and whiled men afcribe fucceffcs . good or badto the (tars, they withdraw their mindes from beholding God in his works. Fourthly, that which is falfe, d_lufi,ve, and uncertaine is not tobe.pra5tifed, countenanced, or tolerated : but fuch is foretelling things by the flats : therefore that they are falle is clear. Ifai 4,;.15. that fruflrateth the tokens of the Lyars, andmakes the Diviners mad. If they fpeaktrue at any time, its more byhap than-any skill. For though Ecliples of the Sun, and Moon,and Conjunctions of other Planets may be certainly fo:eknown : yet there is no fuch certainty of the effeas thatwe may divineThereby, for they are but general, partial, and remote Caufes of Events in States, and affairs of men : and there is no certain con- nexionbetween Caufes general, partial, and remote, and their Effe&s. Betides, thole Effeets whichdepend on other Caufes.. upon which the Heavens haveei- ther none, or no direct power, cannot be certainly knownby the Pofitions of the Heavens : but fo it is with humane affairs : therefore the affairs ofmen depend principallyonGods Providence, and under him on the wills and mindes of men. ThatGods Providenceordereth things concerning Men and States is proved: Ephe(.1.1s. He worketh all things after thr comp of hts ownwill ; and that not always according to the ordinary difpolition of fecondCaufes : but turning and over-ruling things in a feeret way beyond the intentions of men, and the ordinary virtue of fecondCáufes a fo we fee in Rshoboam'sfolly. aChron.lo.r 5. Amaziah'sf owardnefs. 2 Chron.a5.1o. Hence Ecclef.9.11. The race is not to thefarift, &c. and Pfal.75,4,&c. Promotion corethneither from theEa1y, &c. But Godis fudg : ke palls down our, and Jets up another. Again, the Stars haveno power over mensfouls, and mitades: the Heathen could fay t Sapiens dominabi- cur Aflris. A wife man will rule over the oars. At the moll, that which they have, is but by way of inclination, which grace, education, civil wifdom, and many other things may overfway. Betides, the affairs of men , and Nations are profpered, and bladed, not according to the Life of natural means, but according to their carriage towards God, as they are Gnfull or obedient, peni- ent or impenitent ; and men a& in thefe moral performances as they are aflà(led,. of deferted. by God : for which fee, ¡fa; 6.9, &c. Earle 36. 25, a6, 3 3) 34.. pbjec`i.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=