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] IT may seem something strange, in this Censorious Age, that the Pen of a Divine should be found writing in vindication of Judi∣cial Astrology; but be it so, yet blush we not, nor know I why I should be ashamed. True it is indeed, that through mistake, this Noble Science hath greatly suffered in its reputation, and that from the Tongues and Pens of the Pious and Learned, as well as Ignorant and Envious Adversaries; in so much as many young Students, however sufficiently well qua∣lified with the endowments of Nature, to read the Sacred Lessons of Heaven, yet have feared to employ their Talents that way, meerly because of the Ill Name. But God for∣bid

that all the World should be pusillani∣mous; for it is not evident, that it is not the Blame, but the Ill luck rather of this Cele∣stial Science, that here and there a Wise man hath despised it. First, it hath fallen into the hands of many Chimney-sweeping Fellows, who have so besmutch'd it with their unclean and sooty fingers, that many times it looks not like it self. And next, being in this case, it hath happened upon the fists of many such angry Zealots, whose hair-brain'd wisdom having no leisure to examine the reason of the abused disguise, have persecuted in their chafe they knew not who, nor what. And now if a wise and good man hath sometimes met with a Prince in his Exile, cloathed in rags, and beaten all over black and blue, and besmeared with blood and dirt; is it not so much the more a case to be pitied, if he also has gone by with scorn, and despised even Virtue it self, because under the clowds of its persecution he could not know its face?

[Sect. 2] My self also must needs acknow∣ledge, that some years since, I also was one of those Enemies to this Noble Science, who buf∣fetted in the dark I knew not what; until soberly tempted to taste a few Lines reading of this Subject, although it was with a serious purpose; to take up the apter occasion to throw dirt at it; yet by this means attaining to un∣derstand who it was I spoke to, it begat in me a reverence to those Gray Hairs, which as un∣justly as ignorantly I had despised. My Study of Duty is Theology, and they are not the Tythe of my Meditations, which by Astrology are claimed. Wherefore counting it a kind of Treason to my Function, to rob it of so much leisure, as would carry me thorow-stitch

with the acquaintance of the Arabian, Chal∣dean, and all other Forreign Authors of this Subject; I contented my self onely to peruse such English Books as came ready to my hand, (for it was but merely a divertisement, and, as it were, an Handmaid to Divinity, all what∣soever I have medled or dealt with in this kind, and no more than what the most Learned and Famousest of our modern re∣formed Writers have done before me.) Where∣fore I am none of those who pretend to be read in State-Astrology, or to be versed in the curious tracks of Meteorology: Nor am I any profest Artist either in the understanding of Hororary Questions, or in scanning the ab∣struse paths of Genethliacal Predictions. One∣ly so much have I learned, as shews me the great glory of my Creator, written in the Sacred frame of the Heavens; while I behold their admirable operations and productions, and how the frame of Nature hangs upon them, and is contrived from the beginning, continuing and going on, as if all things came to pass by Chance; and yet is there a depen∣dance of all things one upon another, and of all sublunary things upon the Heavens, and of the Heavens upon God; as if Nature it self were nothing else but an Artificial Fabrick, made by God from the beginning. And now Astrology is nothing else, but that Study, whereby a man perceiveth the secret Virtue of the Heavens, and the shining Bodies therein contained, and is induced, by the more he knows of his handy-work, to spend the more time in wondering at the most immense and infinite Wisdom and Power of God. For the more a man attains to know of these Hea∣venly Virtues, the more he sees of the reason

and manner of Natures Operation in things that are past: and the more he sees of this rea∣son, the more it makes him to admire him that made and laid the frame of it. And as he at∣tains to see the reason of things past, by the same skill he attains to see things to come; and by the Birth of a Native, he reads in the Heavens most part of that Natives whole life, and the Story thereof, as, his Blessings and Crosses, Gains and Losses, Honour and Disho∣nour, Sickness and Health, and all the years of his Life, and the time of Death, even as if he had seen them acted in their several times and seasons. For this God hath given unto the wise man to know the time and the judgment.

[Sect. 3] But many men do not believe, that by Natural skill, all or any of this can fairly and lawfully be procured. And because amongst the many who believe us not, and are there∣fore enemies to Astrology, I have so much charity as to believe, are some good and godly, as well as wise men, who more out of mistake than malice, have taken up their prejudice. And because amongst these also are many most Learned Astronomers, unto whose names the Astrologer is greatly obliged for much of his skill; and especially because amongst these two may be found some, whose prejudice to Astrology has rendred them so unhappy, as not to have read that excellent piece of Art, called, [The Doctrine of Nativities] published by Mr. Gadbury, (a Person famous as well for Astronomy as Astrology) or any other Learned Treatise of this nature, and yet perhaps out of some curiosity may be drawn in to taste of these few Lines. Therefore for satisfaction of all such I humbly offer these three Propo∣sitions.

1. That there is an Astrology in the Heavens.

2. That this Astrology, Man (in the state of Corruption) may attain in some measure to understand.

3. That this understanding may be lawfully and fairly compassed by Natural means, with∣out any Diabolical helps.

Notes

• The Introdu∣ction.
• Shewing the occasion how this Noble Sci∣ence hath been misunderstood by many learned and good men.
• How the Au∣thor, from an Enemy became a Well-willer to the Study of Astrology.
• And of what great and good use he finds by it; how it it serves him as an hand∣maid to Divi∣nity.
• And how it shews him the great Glory of Gods works.
• And profitably serves him in prediction of future Events.
• Eccles. 1.5.
• The reason of the Author in publishing this Treatise
• And for whole sake he hath done it.
• The sum of what he undertakes to prove con∣sists in three Propositions.