76 The order ofthe caufes contemplation ofGods prouidence,when as theyheare, that all things fall out by the motion,and difpofitionofzhe flarres. 4. Starres werenot ordained toforetell things tocome,but todiainguifh daies,moneths,andycares.Gen.r.. I4.Let there bee lights in thefirmament oftheheataen,tofeparate thedayfrom thenight: and let th.rnbeforJgnesandforfeafons, andfordares andforyeares, Efay 47. t 3.Thotsarr wearied in the mishit:deofthy counfels : let now the eA= ft rologers, the f arregatiers,andPrognoflicat orsBandvp andface thee frorn Chef things, thatfhali cornevpon thee.verf. t 4. Behold, theyfball beasflubble thefrrefballburne them. ejc.Dan. 2. z .Theking commanded to callthe Inchan- tern, Afírologcrs.,Sorcerers,and Chaldcds,tofhcw theKinghis dreamtr.A 1. 19. 19. Manyofthernwhich vfedctirio114arts,brought their 6a kes,and burned thé beforeallmen. 5. A(}rolot icallprediáions areconucrfant aboutfuch things, which eitherf tnply depend on themetrewill and difpofition ofGod ; andnot on the flarres : orels fuch, as depending vpon mans free-will, are altogether côtingent : and therefore can neither be forefeene,norforetold. 6. It is impof- fiblebythe bare knowledge of fuch a caufè, as isboth common tomany, and farrediflant from fuch thingsas it workethin, precifely to fet downe particu- lareffectls : but the flarres are filchcadges as are both common to many, and farce dif}ant from all things done vpon earth : and therefore a man can no more furely foretell what mallenfue by the contemplation oldie flarres, theta be which feeth anhenne fitting,can tell what kindeof chickensfhall be ine- ueryegge.. QLe.ftion. Haue then the flarresno force in irferiour things ? Anfwer..Yes vndoubtedly, thaflarres haue a very great torce, yet fuch as maniféíethitfelfe onely inthat operation which it bath in the routeprincipali qualities of:naturall rh:ingsnamely inheate,coid;moyf}ure,and drineffe: and therefore in altering the (late, and difpo{itianof theayre;and.in diuerfly afe- e}ingcompound bodies,theflarres bane nofinaleffea: But they are fo. farre from enforcing the will to doe anything, that they eannct fei much as giue unto it the lea(k inclination. Now CO define how great force theflarres haue, it isbeyond anymans reach. Foralbeitthe of ens cftheSunne,in the coin}itu- tionor the foure parts of theyeare,are anparant to.all}and theoperation ofthe Ivloone notvery obfcure; yet the force aidnature both ofplanets and fixed flarres, which are to vs innumerable, are not fomanife(?. Therefore Peeing manknoweth onely fame flarres, and their oríely.operation,ar-dnot all, with . theirforces,itcannotbe that hefhouldcertainlyforetel Future thin s,although. they did dependon the flarres. For whatif thepof rionof fuch and filchcer.. mine flarre ,doedemon(}ratefuchaneffe ' ltoenfre? maynot theafpcìs of %chas thou yet knoweflnot,hinderthat,and produce the contrarie ? QeFtion. Is then thevfeofAatokigieutterly impious ? .Anfrner. That part ofAtrölo ie, \ Which concerneth the alteration of the ayre,isalmoff all both £ilfe andfi iuolous; and therefore in amanner all pre- dieions grounded vpon that doarineare meere toyes,by which the 011ie and i orant
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