Chapter I. Knowledge may be acquired by Astronomy to a certain Extent（续 2）

These coincidences are, at least, highly remarkable. .

the rejection of the art of preacience: the magnitude of its scope, and the faint resemblance that it beara to a divine: attribute, should rather demand grateful commendations, and receive the utmost regard and attention. And, since . no weakness is imputed to a physician, because he enquires into the individual babit of his patient, as well as into the nae - ture of the disease, no imputation can justly attach to the professor of prognostication, because he combines the cons sideration of species, nurture, education snd country, with that of the motion of the heavens: for as the physician acts but reasonably, in thus considering the proper constitution of the sick person as well as his disease.; so, in forming predictions, it must surely be justifiably allowable to comprehend in that consideration every other thing connected with the subject, in addition to the motion of tbe heavens, and to collect and compare with that motion all other co-operating circumstances arising elsewhere.

It appears, then, that presciende by astronomy is possible under certain adaptation 5 and that alone it will afford premonition, as far as symptoms in the Ambient enable it to do so, of all such events as happen to men by the influence of the Ambient. These events are, from their commence- Ment, always in conformity with the spiritual and corporeal faculties, and their occasional affections ; as well as with the shorter or longer duration of those affections. They are also conformable with other things which, although not actually seated in man’s immediate person, are still absolutely and naturally connected with him :—in connection with his body they are applicable to his estate, and his conjugal cohabitations 5 in connection with his spirit, they relate to his

offspring * and his rank; and they are also connected with all fortuitous circumstances which may occasionally befall him.

That the foreknowledge of these can be attained has already been demonstrated; and it remains to speak of the utility of the attainment. First, however, het it be said in what respect and with what view it is proposed to draw advantage from this science ;—if it be considered in its tendency to promote the good of the mind, no object more advantageous can: surely be wanting to induce the world to rejoice and delight in it, since it offers an acquaintance with things divine and human: if it be considered in respect to the benefits it is capable of conferring on the body, its utility, in this view also, will be found on comparison to excel that of all other arts conducive to the comforts of life, for it is of more general application and service than all the others together, And, although it may be objected to the art of prescience, that it does not co-operate towards the acquirement of riches or glory, let it also be remembered that the same objection attaches to every other art and science; since there is not one which can of itself produce either riches or glory, nor yet is there one which is on that plea deemed useless : it seems, therefore, that the science of prognostication, with its high qualificatioys and its aptitude to the most important objects, does not, in any greater degree, deserve to be condemned. |

In general, however, the persons who attack and reprobate it as being useless, do not pay due regard to the manner in which it becomes necessary; but deny its utility on the

* The Greek word for this, yer, though found in the Elzevir edition from which this translation is made, does not appear in other copies; the Basle edition of 1553 says merely, n Ts ri4n as ro afiapa, “ honor and rank,” which is the sense also given in the Latin transiation of Perugio, 1646, without ay mention of “ offspring.”

specious argument that it is superfluous and puerile to attempt to foreknow things which must inevitably come to pass: thus considering it in a mode at once abstracted, unlearned, and unfair. For, in the first place, this fact ought to be kept in view, that events which necessarily and fully happen, whether exciting fear or creating joy, if arriving unforeseen, will either overwhelm the mind with terror or destroy its composure by sudden delight; if, however, such events should have been foreknown, the mind will have been previously prepared for their reception, and will preserve an equable calmness, by having been accustomed to contemplate the approaching event as though it were present, so that, on its actual arrival, it will be sustained with tranquillity and constancy.

In the next place, it must not be imagined that all things happen to mankind, as though every individual circumstance were ordained by divine decree and some indissoluble supernal cause; nor is it to be thought that all events are shewn to proceed from one single inevitable fate, without being influenced by the interposition of any other agency. Such an. opinion is entirely inadmissible; for it is on the contrary most: essential: to obserye, not only the heavenly motion which, perfect in its divine institution and order, is eternally regular. and undeviating; - but also the variety which exists in earthly things, subjected to and ‘diversified by the institutions and courses of nature, and in connection with which the superior a aed in respect to the accidents produced. | 7

It is further to-be remarked that -man is subject, not only to events applicable to his own private and individual nature, but also to others arising from general causes. He \ suffers, for instance, by pestilences, inundations, or confla- ~ grations, produced by certain extensive changes in the Ambient, and destroying multitudes at once; since a greater” and more powerful agency must of course always absorb

and overcome one that is more minute and weaker. In great changes, cfore, where 2 stronger cause predominates, more general affections, jike those just mentioned, ate put in operation, but affections which attach to one individual solely are excited when his own natural constitution, peculiar to himself, may be overcome by some opposing impulse of the Ambient, however small or faint. And i this point of view it is manifest that all events whatsoever, whether genera] or particular, of which the primary cause is strong and irresistible, and against which no other contrary agency has sufficient power to interpose, must of necessity be wholly fulfilled; and that events indicated by a minor cause must of course be prevented and annihilated, when some other agency may be found contending for an opposite effect; if, however, no such opposing agency can be found, they also must be fulfilled, in due succession to the primary cause. Nevertheless, the fulfilment of events thus indicated must not be ascribed solely to the vigour of the cause producing them, nor to any inevitable fate, but rather to the absence of any opposing influence capable of prevention. And thus, with all things whatsoever which trace their cause and origin to nature, the case is exactly similar; for stones *, plants, animals, wounds, passions and , Giseases, all will of necessity operate on man to a certain degree; and they fail to do so, if antidotes be found and apphed against their influence.

In exercising prognostication, therefore, strict care must be taken to foretel future events by that natural proeess only - which is admitted in the docttine here delivered; and, setting aside all vain and unfounded opinions, to Agee that, when the existing agency is manifold and great, and

of 3 power sie acai to be resisted, the corresponcing

* In allusion to the sympathetic powers mia attributed to conta stones,

Chap. U1].] procasry’s rzTRamuzos. 15 event which {t indicates shall sbgolutely take place; and also, in other cases, that another event shalj not happen when its exelting causes are counteracted by some intérposing in- " fluence. ‘{t is in this manner that experienced physicians, accustomed to the observation of diseases, foresee that some will be inevitably mortal, and that others are susceptible of cure.