Page 94
CHAP. II.
Proofes by the old and new Testament, that certain observations of the Weather are lawful.
WHen God by his Word and Wisdom had made the Heavens, and placed the Stars in the firmament, he said, Let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for dayes, and years. When he created the rain∣bow in the clouds, he said it should be for a sign and token unto us. Which we find true, not only of the flood past, but also of the showres to come. And therefore, according to Jesus Sirachs advice, Let us behold it, and prayse him that made it. The Prophet David saith, The heavens declare the glory of God, and the earth sheweth his handy work: day unto day uttereth the same, and night unto night teacheth knowledge. It is also written, That by the commandement of the the holy one, the Stars are placed, and continue in their order, and fail not in their watch. It should appear, that Christ himself did not altogether neglect the course and order of the heavens, in that he said, When you see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway you say a showre cometh; and so it is: And when you see the southwinde blow, you say it will be hot, and so it cometh to pass. Again, When it is evening, you say fair weather, for the skie is red; and in the morning you say, today shall be a tempest, for the skie is red and lowring. Wherein as he noteth that these things do truly come to pass, according to ancient observation, and to the rule Astronomical; so doth he also by other words following admonish us, that in attending too much to those observations, we neglect not specially to follow our Christian Vocation.
The Physician is commended unto as, and allowed in the Scriptures: but so to put trust in him, as to neglect and distrust God, is severely forbidden and reproved. Surely, it is most necessary for us to know and observe divers rules Astological; otherwise we could not with opportunity dispatch our ordinary affairs. And yet Lactantius, condemneth and recounteth it among the number of Witchcrafts; from whose censure Calvin doth not much vary. The poor hus∣bandman perceiveth that the increase of the Moon maketh Plants and living creatures fruitful; so as in the Full Moon they are in best strength, decaying in the wane, and in the conjunction do utterly wither and fade. Which when by observation, use and practice, they have once learned, they distribute their business accordingly; as their times and seasons to sow, to plant, to prune, to let their Cattel blood, to cut, &c.