Hagiastrologia, or, The most sacred and divine science of astrology 1. Asserted in three propositions, shewing the excellency and great benefit thereof, where it is rightly understood and religiously observed : 2. vindicated, against the calumnies of the Reverend Dr. More in his Explanation of the grand mystery of godliness : 3. Excused, concerning pacts with evil spirits, as not guilty, in humble considerations upon the pious and learned discourse upon that subject, by the Right Reverend Father in God, Joseph sometimes Lord Bishop of Norwich / by J.B., B.D. ...

The Introduction.

[Sect. 1] THE judicious Mr. Selden, I have done with, and that so much the sooner, for that he hath done with this World, by a good exchange of a transitory for an eter∣nal Life. And I doubt not, but I have so far done him right, by separating a few mistakes from amidst his so many, and such famous As∣sertions of Truth, as his Freinds and Kindred will give me thanks rather, for the good offi∣ces I have done the Dead, than be any ways displeased that I have taken notice, That the learned Selden, as well as the famous St. Augu∣••tine, was not without an Errour in his Pen.

[Sect. 2] I wish the Reverend Dr. More had done no worse, by the dumb ashes of the somtimes famous Apollonius, Cardan, and Va∣ninus, and others: The living memory of the great learning of those dead men, (I am sure) ••s but little indebted to the Doctor, for his un∣charitable censures vomited over their graves. ••t calls me to mind the saying of St. Jude, How Michael the Arch-angel, when he disputed with the Devil about the Body of Moses, durst not bring

against him a railing accusation, but said, [The Lord rebuke thee.] As the old saying is, [Give the Devil his due,] How much more then, ought men to have their's, and that though Heathens, and more yet, if Christians, but most of all▪ Christians of Reverend and sober Lives.

[Sect. 3] I am not at all concerned to vindicate all, or either of these, but let the Doctor speak on his pleasure for me. Only whereas it is this favour of Astrology, which has wrought them in∣to so much danger of the Doctor's wrath; and particularly, the Calculation of our Saviour's Na∣tivity by Cardan, which has set him upon Re∣cord in the Doctor's books, for a man of Levity of mind and vain glory, and by and by, of insuf∣ferable impudence, for so doing; and also the com∣mending of that Calculation by Vaninus, which has drawn him under the Doctor's Iron Pen also, as a vilainous Insulter: and whereas it is the su•• of these two Crimes alone, which has indited and convicted both of them with the Doctor, for combining together to blaspheme God, and to ma•• Religion contemptible, and useless to the World, and condemned their skill Astrological in it•• most harmless use, to be a vain and accursed An•• And whereas my self missing of the hap to re•••• the mystery of Godliness according to this Doctor's explanation; and therefore little dreaming o•• any Blasphemy or Irreligion, or Accursedness in the Art of Astrology; but rather verily expecting to do God Almighty and his holy Church all possi•••••• right and honour by it; even I my self also without consulting Cardan, have Calculated a Scheme of our ever blessed Saviour's Nativity, and made use of this very Astrology, against which the Doctor is so bitterly angry, together with other circumstances, to demonstrate the certain•••• of the Day and Year of Christ's Birth, which th•• Doctor say's, is so uncertain amongst the most ac∣curate

Chronologers; and e're I was aware, by so doing, I find my self also dropt within the com∣pass of the Doctor's long lash, and unhappily situate in company with the Light, Vain-glorious, Insufferably Impudent, Vilains, Insulters, Blas∣phemers, and Irreligious, Students of the accursed Art. Only I have this advantage, that I am yet alive, and have my pen in my hand to answer for my self. Which had Cardan, or Vaninus also been able to perform, certainly the Doctor had never written of them at this rate as we read him. I have therefore undertaken the quarrel of Astrology, against the Doctor, in order to shew that it is no such accursed Art, as he would make it; and the vindication of a Calculation of Christ's Nativity, and particularly of mine own Act in so doing, to demonstrate that it may be done without any thing of Blasphemy against God, or any matter of contempt against Religi∣on.

[Sect. 4] It was full ten years date, from it's first coming out, e're I had the hap, to meet with a sight of this Explanation, &c. And my Christologia was in the Press first; and also I had written my little Tract of Astrology for satisfacti∣on of the ignorant in the Art, and an answer to Mr. Selden by way of Postscript, before this of Dr. More's came to my hands. Only I had heard of such a Tract, and heard it very much commended by certain Anti-Astrologists. But these Hearsays notwithstanding, I felt not my af∣fections steel'd with so much vehemency of pas∣sion, as to concern my self, what other men thought, or wrote of this subject. As for what I studied my self in this Art, I was suffici∣ently satisfied in my own mind, as well concern∣ing the lawfulness, as usefulness of it, neither cared I to read either what Melancthon, or Sir Christo∣pher Heydon, or any other had written in de∣fence

of it, to encrease my kindness for it. And on the other side, as for what others wrote a∣gainst it, I therefore cared as little to concern my self. There is no need of it, that all the World should be Astrologers, no more than there is that all men be Musicians. Suppose a man has a sin∣gular skill in managing the Harp, or Lute, or the Organs; he will not yet be so mad sure, as to call all men fools, who either cannot tune it like unto himself, or that care not for learning, or if neither, yet that they come not to hear, or wonder at his Musick. So on the other side, suppose a man, a famous Scholar, endued with all manner of profound learning; only being of a melancholly, and reserved humour, he hath no phancy to the knack of Musick, and neither does he understand it, or care to learn: Yet what a wretch would he be esteemed by the ge∣nerality of mankind, should he therefore write a Treatise against Musick, as a study wholly groundless and frivolous, and therefore a vain and accursed Art; that draws in men to Blaspheme God, and to make Religion a meer song, and by degrees useless to the World, (as the Doc∣tor says of Astrology) and all meerly upon this account, because himself does not understand it, whether it be by Nature, or by Art, or by Witchcraft, or by God, or by the Devil, o•• which way soever, seeing all ways are alike un∣to him that has no understanding therein. Now such is the moroseness of some humours, that they are easily transported with such kind of pas∣sions. And if a man chance to study Musick, that is of this kind of humour, he must cer∣tainly fail of his endeavours, because Nature has not cut him out for melody: But when this comes to pass, then (have he not the more go∣vernment of himself) immediatly he is trans∣ported with such an Envy against the study of

Musick, and all Musicians, that he invents all manner of ways to blast both the Art, and Ar∣tists. And after the same manner are we en∣countred with many Anti-Astrologists. Now I had thought, I might have enjoyed a kind of li∣berty of Conscience to my self, in this thing at least: That if I find a great benefit to my self, in the study of the Stars and Heavenly Bodies, without any harm to other men; so long as I blame none for not studying the same things, why (methinks) should any man envy me, for that either he can't, or wo'nt do the same? And hence was it, that I never read Dr. More's Explanation, &c. Because I thought it meet, that Dr. More might enjoy his liberty of Consci∣ence also, to leave the study of Astrology, and to follow whatever else lik't him best in turn of it: Neither did I at all envy him, in that he was as much against Astrology, as my self was for it.

[Sect. 5] But since my Christologia in the Press, I was given to understand, how much I was condemned for Blasphemy, before the words were yet clear out of my mouth: And the Doc∣tor's Explanation was laid before me, in order to make me know, what a Chapter I am to run thorow, unless I do suppress the Press. But well! there needed not many words to the bar∣gain, I was hardly so long amusing, as Caesar was at the River Rubicon. I found the Doctor smiling at us Astrologers; and I was as apt to be merry at the Anti-Astrologer; and having read out his lines, as many as I found of this subject, I presently resolved to strein courtesie with my other (though urgent) occasions, to join issue with the Doctor in exchange of a few argu∣ments, in vindication of Astrology, That it is a Science more Sacred and Divine, than he esteems it as an Art Accursed, and Vain.

Sect. 6. But be it known unto all the World, that it is more greivous, than natural to me, to argue upon this subject. For we do not profess Astrology as a Science in any wise absolutely ne∣cessary to Salvation: Neither do I at any time preach it from the Pulpit. But as Gentlemen do by their Swords, some wear them by their sides for their reasonable defence, or ornament; and others leave them off. So say I by Astrology, I know it to be much conducing to a wise mans common good, and it were well, if all such men would study it more, than it is done; but as for fools it's like enough they mayn't be fit for it; let every man therefore follow his own rea∣son, as for this matter. But here's the mischief now, Some Clergy-men are so humoursom in their Pulpits, that they'l spend an hours time i•• railing against Astrology, when it may be neither themselves, nor any man in presence, either know's, or care's to know, what 'tis. But no wonder, for some there are, who, would people be led by them, would preach them out of their cloaths upon their backs. And if preaching will not do, they'l add scribble to their babble, but they'l have their wills. Be it known therefore, that I had never set pen to paper up∣on this subject, had it not been meerly for my own necessary defence, and for the necessary de∣fence of this Science, with next under Theology, I know to be the most useful, divine, and most sacred and laudable Study, when religiously and wisely practised, as either a Clergyman, or Gentleman can busie himself about. And had not this necessary defence required, I had never fpo••••n of Mr. Selden, nor should I have trou∣bled this Reverend Doctor.

[Sect. 7] Now it may so fall-out, that my soft Answers, may possibly pacifie the Doctor's great wrath against Astrology and Astrologers, or

it may be these ten years time have strew'd so many gray hairs in his head, since his humours first vented, as have ripened his judgment, to a more reconcileable opinion of the Starry Influ∣ences. Which if either of the two shall take, then happily may this my pains in peaceable si∣lence, and shaking hands, be well ended. But otherwise may I justly expect no better language than Cardan, and Vaninus met with at the Doctor's hands. Only I would have the Doctor know, that I undertake not this encounter, without a Patience that shall quench all the utmost brands of his fury, insomuch as can his Pen sputter out altogether wildfire, yet shall he never hurt me. And as for his dint of argument, may he manage his weapons so lustily, and so fairly, as to over∣come; I do assure him, I shall esteem it more honour to me, to submit unto his vassalage, than to brangle out a bad cause, with meer scoffs and compliments; as it seems to me, as if hitherto the Doctor ha's done by his own. And with this humour I give the Onset.

Notes

• Jude 9.
• Dr. More's Explan. B. 7. Ch. 14. §. 8. §. 9.