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The heavens shall be rolled together as a scroul.
What kind of scroul or book are the heavens said to be? Are they a very book because of the comparison? why then are they not also as really a Curtain; Psal. 144. 2. Isa. 40. 22. a Garment; Psal. 101. 26. and Smoak; Isa. 51. 6. And why more really a book, than a leaf. a fig, or a tree: Since all are used here in a joynt comparison? And what kind of book will they have them to be? A book wherein are written all the contingent events that have been, are, or shall be in the world; From the beginning to the end of it? And so written in letters, and legible characters, that a man may fore-spell, and fore-read them, and all mens fates and fortunes in them? Now, in what kind of character or language is all this to be read? In Hebrew, Chaldee, Arabick, Syriack, Aegyptian, Greek or Latin? &c. And how are these coelestial or sydereal letters to be read? backward or for∣ward? from the right hand, or the left? from the East, West, North, or South? If all this Magic-astrologicall reading, be no more (as it appears by the character) but drawing a line or a circle, or a square, or a triangle, from one Star to another: what hindereth, but that the characters of any lan∣guage may be imagined or fancied to any purpose, as they please? Nay, is it not as easie and arbitrary to imagine letters among the starres; as for chil∣dren and fools, to fancie faces, and figures in the clouds?
But (to bring this their arrogated Text a little neerer to their refuta∣tion) Doe we not well and aptly translate it a Scroul? In as much as the antient books were like to extended skinnes or Parchments. And then, may not the comparison well be (from the matter, not from the form) of their shrivelling like a skin or parchment before the fire? How ever, is not this Scroul, or Book here said to be complicated, or rolled up, or together? Whats here then for the magicall or astrologicall Lecturer, to peep, or pore upon, whereby to spell, or spie mens fates, or fortunes? Moreover, are not the heavens here compar'd, or described as passive, and not as active? And what Magician will account of them so, in his way of lection? or Astrolo∣ger, in his way of configuration? Furthermore, if they will adde to this, that place (Revel. 6. 14.) then let them see and say; whether that be to be un∣derstood of the materiall, or of the mysticall starrs and heavens? Lastly, is not the Prophecy here a judgement? Now, though we may grant their judicious vaticinations to be grounded upon such a thing: yet one would think they should not seek to ground them upon such a place.