The Magical-Astrological-Diviner Posed and Puzzled, Treatise · Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVII.
27. From obſervation upon Story.
WHether▪ beſides theſe irrefragable concluſions in generall, That all Hiſtories make mention of Magicians, Aſtrologers, Mathematitians, Diviners, Sooth-ſayers, &c. doe it ſeldome without ſome brand of infamy both upon them, and their Arts. That theſe kind of Artiſts were more rife in Heatheniſh, then in Chriſtian; in Popiſh, then in Proteſtant; in former, then in latter times, and ſtories. That they were alwaies moſt buſie in turbulent and diſtracted times, and affaires; as in warres domeſtick and forraine) in ſeditions, factions, ſchiſmes, &c. That when or where their divinations and preſagings were moſt received; it was no little preſage of the decay of Religion, and of a declining Church. That thoſe Emperours, Kings, Princes, Magiſtrates, people, that moſt credited, or favoured them, were moſt unfortunate in the end. That the proper fruits of their Schooles, Colledges, Societies, Religion, profeſſion, practice, were the nouriſhing of Nations in Idolatry, ſuperſtition, ſorcery, impiety, &c. That the cauſes of mens ſeeking after, or conſulting with any ſuch, have been alwaies ſome depraved paſſion, and corrupt affection. That alwaies men of the greateſt learning, wiſdome, valor, vertue, conſcience, have derided and deſpiſed; but they have been men of the contrary diſpoſition, that have moſt believed, or feared their prognoſtications, or predictions. That after a Kingdom, or land had ſmarted in a long deluſion of their divinations and impoſtures: they themſelves ſmarted at laſt, by ſevere edicts, and executions. I ſay, beſides theſe generals; whether theſe particular obſervations, or the ſtories they are grounded upon, be to be denied as not true; or to be avoyded, as not concerning them in one kind or another? And yet they are not the tenth part of thoſe that might be collected, and thus ordered.