Astrologia restaurata, or, Astrologie restored being an introduction to the general and chief part of the language of the stars : in four books ... / by VVilliam Ramesey, Gent. ...

CHAP. IV. That the Heavens and Stars have influence on inferiour and Elemen∣tary things, Proved by Scripture or the word of God; And acknow∣ledged by Philosophers, and the learned in former ages.

LEt us now then, (having cleered this Objection, viz. That Astronomie is an Art or one of the Liberal Sciences, but not Astrology, and proved that they are one and the same Science, though distinct parts, and that they were distinguished but of late times by ignorant cavillers against it,) prove that the Heavens have influence toge∣ther with the Stars, on Elementary and sublunary things; being also by many un∣known in the works of God, (not to use a harsher terme) denyed to have any.

That the Heavens have a great and strong influence on sublunary Elementary things, as touching sterility and fertility, which we shall here begin first with, there is none but who are most impious, will dare to deny, since the Word of God himselfe sheweth us the truth thereof: for first if you look into the 26 of Leviticus, ver. 19. you shall finde there, the Lord threatning his children with sterility for disobedience, saith, I will make your Heaven as Iron, and your Earth as Brass; viz. The Heavens shall not duly by their influence distill those comfortable showers of fertility, they shall be hard as Iron, and your earth as brass, that it shall not receive any impression there from, &c. And so like∣wise on the contrary, when of his infinite Goodness and Mercy he promiseth plenty, he sayeth, I will hear the Heavens, and the Heavens shall hear the earth, and the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oile, and they shall heare Jezreel, Hos. 2.21, 22. So that hereby you see cleerly a dependency of the earth on the Heavens, and their influence; Jezreel the people of the Lord, when their ways shall please him, shall be heard by the corn, wine, and oile, viz. all sufficient necessaries, they being comprehended under these words; and these having their dependency as it were from the earth, as growing out of it, shall be heard or assisted by it, or furthered to its utmost ability; but all this will not do, without the Heavens hear or assist the earth with its sweet influence; nor, then, except God the disposer and orderer of all things, hear and give his blessing to the Heavens; so that here∣by we see God most cleer in the order and disposal of nature, who is the first moving and efficient cause, to whom all causes are but subordinate; yet you see that next unto himself the Stars are secondary causes, and from him immediate causes of all our earthly enjoy∣ments or afflictions; for what causeth that amongst corn, the ground being diligently tilled and painfully mannured by the Husband-man, and the Corn sowed herein being clean

and pure, from other mixture of seeds; what causeth, I say, that yet notwithstanding, there will several flowers both blew, red, and purple, grow amongst it, also out of the same seed, Darnel, solders, and smutty geare? if this be not occasioned through and by the influence of the Heavens, it is occasioned by nothing in the whole fabrick of the world. But yet for further confirmation hereof, the 33 of Deut. v. 14. you see, doth manifestly make it apparent, where the whole influence of the Heavens, and the increase of all Vegeta∣tives are attributed to the Sun and Moon, viz. For the precious fruits brought forth by the Sun, [Nota.] and for the precious things put or thrust forth by the Moon.

Again we see cleerly in many places of Scripture, the stars are called the Hoasts of Heaven, which certainly would never have been thus named, were they of no force and efficacy, the word hosts intimating their power and strength; see 2 King. chap. 17. ver. 16. and chap. 21. ver. 3.5. and chap. 23. ver. 4, 5, &c. So likewise God himselfe expressing his omnipotent and irresistible power and force, he is called the Lord of Hosts, Isa. 24. v. 23. Is. 23.9. and chap. 22. v. 5.12.14, 15, 25, and many several other places which are worth the while to peruse.

But further to put this matter quite out of doubt, viz. That the stars have their in∣fluence on Elementary bodies, see Deut 4.19. where you see cleerly they are for the use of man divided or imparted unto all Nations under the Sun, by which if any man shall conclude and affirm is meant their light, [Object.] or that distinction which they cause between day and night, and of seasons; I must needs tell him his conclusion is very weak, since we have so small use of their light either in the day or night, that it may very well be counted none at all; and as touching that distinction of days and seasons, the Sun and Moon would be sufficient for that matter without those innumerable Hoasts of Heaven the starres: [Nota.] therefore the use of the stars must in this place have a further constru∣tion.

Moreover that their influences have power and extend to the temperature of men, appeareth Matth. 17.14. where the lunatick is offered unto Christ to be healed, whose distemper, as experience and common example sheweth, followeth the course of the Moon, and to the success of mens affairs, doth yet further appeare by Judg. 5.20. where it is recorded that the stars in their courses fought against Sisera, of the which more anon, as also that passage in the 38 of Job, and the 19 Psal. as touching the Pleiades and Orion, and that the Heavens declare the glory of God, their voice or language of the stars being gone through the whole earth, &c.

Thus have we cleerly seen the influence of the stars proved by the Word of God; how they were esteemed in former ages by all Philosophers, Emperours, Kings, and the nobler spirited people you may see if you will have regard to the 4 Sec. chap. 1. of my Lux Veritatis, where you may see not onely the great esteem the Art was in amongst all wise and learned men in former ages, but also the names of the chiefest Patriarchs, Fa∣thers, Philosophers, Emperours, and Kings that were students herein; which notwith∣standing the pretended arguments of the envious against it, stands unshaken, as will ap∣peare to any that shall peruse it, comparing it with the pretended Replyers discourse; therefore here I shall refer thee thereunto, being desirous to be as short as possibly I can.

Notes

• The Heavens or influence of the stars cause of Fertility and Sterility. Of Sterility.
• Of Fertility.
• God is to be seen in the or∣der of nature, and in his works. Nota.
• Further that the stars have in∣fluence.
• Answ.
• The influence of the stars ex∣tends to the temperature of men, as we see in Lunatick. To the success of mens affairs also, though denyed by some. The influence of the stars ac∣knowledged by Philosophers.