The Magical-Astrological-Diviner Posed and Puzzled, Title page – Dedication
Πῦς-μαντία THE MAG-ASTRO-MANCER, OR THE Magicall-Aſtrologicall-Diviner Poſed, and Puzzled.
Iſaiah. 44. 24, 25, 26.
Thus ſaith the Lord, thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb; I am the Lord that maketh all things; that ſtretcheth forth the heavens above; that ſpreadeth abroad the carth by my ſelf:
That frustrateth the tokens of the Lyars, and maketh Diviners mad; that turneth wiſemen backward, and maketh their knowledge fooliſh:
That confirmeth the word of his ſervant, and performeth the counſels of his meſſengers.—
Aug. De Doctrina Chriſtiana, Lib. 2.
Superstitioſum eſt, quicquid institutum eſt ab hominibus ad facienda & colenda Idola; pertinens vel ad colendam ſicui Deum creaturam; partemve ullam creaturae: vel ad conſultationes & pacta quaedam ſignificationum cum Daemonibus placita atque foederata. Qualia ſunt molimina Magicarum artium.—Noque illi ab hoc genere pernicioſae ſuperstitionis ſegregandi ſunt, qui Genethliaci propter natalium dierum conſiderationes, nunc autem vulgo Mathematici vocantur. Nam & ipſi, quamvis veram ſtellarum poſitionem, cum quiſque naſcitur, conſectentur, & aliquando etiam pervestigent: tamen quod inde conatur vel actiones nostras, vel actionum eventa praedicere, nimis errant; & vondunt imperitis hominibus miſerabilem ſervitutem.—Omnes igitur artes hujuſmod, vel nugatoriae, vel noxiae ſuperstitionis, ex quadam peſtifera ſocietate hominum & Daemonum, quaſi pacta infidelis & doloſae amicitiae conſtituta; ponitus ſunt repudianda & fugienda Christiano.
By John Gaule, Miniſter of Great Staughton in the County of Huntingdon.
LONDON, Printed for Joſhua Kirton at the Kings Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1652.
To his Excellency the Lord Generall CROMWELL.
SIR,
BEcauſe I have found your immerited and ſuperabounding favours for theſe ſundry years paſt: therefore it is that I have now preſumed (in dedicating this Book to your name) to the intent that I might ingenuouſly make ſome acknowledgment of my humble thankfulneſs before the world. It is known to ſome, and hoped by all, that you love the Truth. The truth not only of divine myſteries; but even of humane Sciences. And withall hate falſhood. The falſhood not in Religion only, but of Arts alſo. Eſpecially of all ſuch arts, as are utterly inconſiſtent with the very fundamental truths of Religion. Of which ſort (I dare boldly aver) is this fictitious art of Magicall Aſtrologie. And whether I have (by Gods mercifull enablement) here ſo proved it: that I humbly refer to be judged of by your own prudence; and the moſt truly diſcerning among Chriſtian profeſſours. Firſt it began as a Religion, amongſt the vileſt of Heatheniſh Idolatours. Then the Jewiſh Apoſtates Idolized with it, and by it, to the unredeemable prejudice of their own Religion. But after the Chriſtian Religion came to be graciouſly promulged, this Darkneſs durſt not now ſet up it ſelf for a Religion before that Light: only then it pretended to an art; and under that masked notion (through ſome kind of Chriſtianizers) ſought craftily to inſinuate into the Church, as lawfull; Till Chriſtian Conventions of Councils, Synods, Senates, and Parliaments truly examined it, and ſo juſtly condemned it for unlawfull. Since that, this Black Aart lurkt only in obſcure corners; and durſt never appear in publick: Save only in troubled times, to their further diſtraction. Becauſe it then preſumed Religion, and Laws to be at a loſs; or (at leaſt) not at leaſure to examine and ſuppreſs it. And ſo it took confidence to ominate alwaies moſt enviouſly againſt the Church. For, that being clouded, it then preſumed, that Planetarian Edicts might the more eaſily be impoſed upon a people: yea and Starry, Laws and Ordinances, ſoon after that, given, even to a State it ſelf. And in truth Sir! it was the impoſing upon the peoples faiths by them of this way (late ſtart up amongſt us, with unſufferable peremptorineſs and impudence) that urged me not a little to employ ſome ſpare time from my other ſtudies, upon this enterprize. For it was notorious both in City, and Country, (and not only ſo, but greatly ſcandalous) how that they began to look into, and commune of their Almanacks, before the Bible: and to make themſelves more infallibly aſſured of a Prognoſtication (as touching the government of the world, and of the Church alſo) than either of a prophecy, or a promiſe. Only their groſs hallucinating in their prodigious portending upon the laſt Eclipſe; hath proved not a little to Eclipſe their credit with them. And I hope all true meaſuring and ſober Aſtronomers, will deteſt, Diſtinguiſh, and detect theſe mad ominating Aſtrologers: which none indeed can doe ſo exactly (as concerning their pedanticall cantings, and myſterious juglings) as can they. For my part, I know, I muſt expect the utmoſt of their malice, and malignity: elſe it would fare better with me than with others that have oppoſed them in all ages. But I heartily believe, that God will bleſs me from their imprecating malefice, And I humbly beſeech you to bleſs me from their conſpiring violence, And the Church (I truſt) will bleſs me againſt their curſed calumny, And then let me alone to bleſs my ſelf againſt the fallacie of their art, or artifice. So (maugre all their malice) I ſhall live by Gods grace and bleſſing) a Miniſter of Chriſt, a Preacher of the word, a teacher of truth, a purſuer of peace, a refeller of falſhood; minding herein the glory of my God; and the edification of my Brethren. In all which, I ſhall greatly rejoyce to be approved
Your Excellencies moſt humble Servant. John Gaule.