ASTRA,
the Stars, Luminions Bodies, which move in the Heavens above the Ele∣mentary Region. Porphery had reason to say, that the Ancients admiring the extraordinary Beauty and Splendor of the Star Venus, thought that by her Influence she contribu∣ted very much to Generation, which mov'd them to represent her under the Figure of a Woman of extraordinary Beauty. This Pla∣net Venus is also call'd the Star of the Shep∣herds. It is call'd Lucifer or the Morning Star, when it goes before the Sun, and Vesper, when it follows him. Mercury is another Pla∣net which scarce ever parts from the Sun, upon which Account he is rarely visible, and the Ancients confounded him sometimes with the Sun, and said that this Planet was as it were his Soul and Intelligence, for which reason they made him the Teacher of Wis∣dom and Knowledge.
From whence it appears that the Gentiles look'd upon these Stars living and intelli∣gent Beings, and that they managed their Influences by their Intelligences.
Horace calls learned Men Viros Mercuriales, as being more plentifully enrich'd with the Gifts and Influences of Mercury. In this Sense we must understand the beginning of the first Book of Manilius, where he says that the Stars know and work our Destiny by their Wisdom and Influences.
Hesychius says, that the Babylonians call'd the Star Mercury, Sechez. The Western Nations were no less perswaded that Mercury was a Star that had Dominion over Reason, Discourse and Understanding.
The Gaules mention'd by Caesar in his Commentaries, regarded more the Fabulous History of Mercury, than the Nature of the Star that goes under that Name. From the same Principle it was, that the ancient Re∣presentations of Mercury had neither Arms nor Legs, to give us to understand, if we may believe Plutarch in this Case, that the Wit and Wisdom of the Mind alone can compass all things, without the help of the Senses, and the Members of the Body: [Propterea Mercurios seniores sine manibus & sine pedibus fingunt, hoc obscuras quasi per Aenigma inducentes haud qua∣quam à senibus requiri ut corporis ministeria obe∣ant, dummodo oratio sit efficax & facunda.