EPISTLE TO THE READER. v 



"things that are made, even his Eternal Power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" 

 And a Poet could teach them a better lesson ; 



" Because out of thy thoughts God shall not pass, 



" His image stamped is on every grass." 



This indeed is true, God has stamped his image on every creature, and therefore the abuse 

 of the creature is a great sin ; but how much the more do the wisdom and excellency of God 

 appear, if we consider the harmony of the Creation in the virtue and operation of every Herb ? 



Secondly, Hereby you may know what infinite knowledge Adam had in his innocence, that 

 by looking upon a creature, he was able to give it a name according to its nature ; and by know- 

 ing that, thou mayest know how great thy fall was, and be humbled for it even in this respect, 

 because hereby thou art so ignorant. 



Thirdly, Here is the right way for thee to begin at the study of Physic, if thou art minded 

 to begin at the right end, for here thou hast the reason of the whole art. I wrote before in 

 certain Astrological Lectures, which I read, and printed, intituled, Astrological Judgment of 

 Diseases, what planet caused (as a second cause) every disease, how it might be found out what 

 planet caused it ; here thou hast what planet cures it by Sympathy and Antipathy ; and this brings 

 me to my last promise, viz. 



Instructions for the right use of the book. 



And herein let me premise a word or two. The Herbs, Plants, &c. are now in the book ap- 

 propriated to their proper planets. Therefore, 



First, Consider what planet causeth the disease ; that thou mayest find it in my aforesaid 

 Judgment of Diseases. 



Secondly, Consider what part of the body is afflicted by the disease, and whether it lies in 

 the flesh, or blood, or bones, or ventricles. 



Thirdly, Consider by what planet the afflicted part of the body is governed : that my Judg- 

 ment of Diseases will inform you also. 



Fourthly, You may oppose diseases by Herbs of the planet, opposite to the planet that 

 causes them : as diseases of Jupiter by Herbs of Mercury, and the contrary ; diseases of the 

 Luminaries by the Herbs of Saturn, and the contrary ; diseases of Mars by Herbs of Venus, and 

 the contrary. 



Fifthly, There is a way to cure diseases sometimes by Sympathy, and so every planet cures 

 his own disease ; as the Sun and Moon by their Herbs cure the Eyes, Saturn the Spleen, Jupiter 

 the Liver, Mars the Gall and diseases of choler, and Venus diseases in the Instruments of Gene- 

 ration. 



NICH. CULPEPER. 



From my House in Spital fields, 

 next door to the Red Lion, 

 September 5, 1653. 



