L t B. III. Of the Advancement ofLemiing, 07 



as theih^fouKci A^rologie is compilediand according to thefe onIy5fhould 

 Schemes and configurations of Heaven, be corapofedand interpreted. 

 Sound Ajirologie is likewi(e applied and referred with more confidence 

 to Precli3ions '-, io Elections^ with more Catttion^ within due limits td 

 both. Frediffions may be made of future Comets^ which as we con- 

 je(Sure may be foretold, and of all forts of Meteors 5 of Deluges 3 

 Droughts, Heats, Canglaciations, Earth-quakes, overflowing of Wa- 

 ters; breaking out of Fires, Winds, great Kains, divers Tempefts, and 

 ftrange feafons of the Year j Ptftilences, Epidemical difeafes ; Plenty 

 and dearth of Grain \ Wars, Seditions, Sefts, Plantations of new Colo- 

 nies; laftly,ofall Commotions and greater Innovations, either in Nn' 

 Sure J or in State-Governntent: fo thefe predidtions may be drawn dowri 

 (though not with like certainty) to more fpecial occurrence t^ and pW- 

 dmnccto fingulitrities--^ if the general inclinations of fuch times and 

 feafons, being firft difcovered and found out, thefe be applied by a 

 (harp piercing judgement Philolbphical or Political, to fpecial or more 

 particular events, which may be moft fubjeft to fuch Accidents. As 

 for example, a man (hall find out from a fore-fight of the (eafons ofthd 

 year, fuch temperatures of Weather, as are propitious orpernitious ra- 

 ther to Olives, than to Vines ; x^Lthzv to Phthifickj^ and ulcerations of 

 Lungs, than to Ht'/'iif/c^f and obftruftions of the Liver; more to the 

 inhabitantsof high and mountainous, than low and cham pain Coun- 

 tries j more to Monks than Courtiers, by reafon of their different kind 

 of diet: Or if one from the knowledge he hath of the influence, the 

 Heavens have over the fpirits of men, fhould find out a man to be of 

 fuch a complexion and difpofition; to affect ordiftaft rather the peo- 

 ple than Princes ; rather learned and curiousj than couragious and 

 warlike difpofitions ; rather (enfual and voluptuous, than adivc and po- 

 litick natures. Such inftances as thele are infinite , but ("as we have 

 faid) they require not only that general knowledge, taken from the 

 Stars, which are aftive ; but alio a particular knowledge of Subjects 

 which are Paffive. Nor are EleSions altogether to be rejefted^but more 

 fparingly to be credited, than Predictions. For we fee in Planting, and 

 in Sowing, and in Grafting, that the obfervation of the age of the 

 Moon is a matter, not altogether vain and frivolous. But thefe EleSfi-' 

 ons, are by our rules more reflirained than Predictions: and this mud 

 ever be obferved, that Ele&ions are of force, in fuch cafes alone, where 

 both the Influx of the Heavens is fuch, as doth not (uddenly pafs over 5 

 and likewile the ACfion of inferionr Bodies fuch, as is not prefently per- 

 feOred : for neither the Encreafes of the A^oon, nor of the Planets are 

 accomplifiit in an inflant : but pnn&uality oi^ time, is by all means to 

 be rejected. There are found many of the like precile obfervationu 

 (which a man would hardly believe) in Elei^ ions about Civil affairs* 

 But ifany man in this cale (hall except againft us, laying, that we have 

 indeed made fome remonftrance out of what this reformed Ajirologid 

 fliould be deduced ; and likewife to what it may with profit be referred i 

 but the manner how it is to be deduced, we have given no precept at 

 all 5 he fhould not deal equally with uS , to cxadl at our hands the 

 Art it felf, which we never promifed, or purpofed to handle. Yet not- 

 vyithftanding touching fuch a point of Demand, thus much we will ad- 

 mooifh; that there are only four means, which may prepare the way 



N to 



