The second Chapter. 124.
Proofes by the old and new testament, that certaine observations of the weather are lawfull.
WHEN God by his word and wisedome had made the heavens, and placed the starres in the firmament, he said; Let them be for signes,Psalm. 13.
Jerem. 54.
Gen. 1.
Ezech. 1.
Gen. 9. and for seasons, and for daies, and yeares. When he created the rainebowe in the clouds, he said it should be for a signe and token unto us. Which we find true, not onelie of the floud past, but also of shewers to come. And therefore according to Jesus Sirachs advise, let us behold it, and praise him that made it. The prophet DavidEcclus. 43.
Ps. 19. & 50. saith;Ecclus. 43.
Baruch. 3. The heavens declare the glorie of God, and the firmament sheweth his handie worke: daie unto daie uttereth the same, and night unto night teacheth knowledge. It is also written that by the commandement of the holie one the starres are placed, and continue in their order, & faile not in their watch. It should appeare, that Christ himselfe did not altogither neglect the course & order of the heavens, in that he said; When you see a/169. cloud rise out of the west, streight waie you saie a shewer commeth:Luk. 12, 24. and so it is. And when you see the southwind blowe; you saie it will be hot, and so it commeth to passe. Againe, when it is evening, you saie faire*[* Mispr. saire.] weather, for the skie is red: and in the morning you saie,Matt. 16. 2, 3. to daie shalbe a tempest, for the skie is red and lowring. Wherein as he noteth that these things doo trulie come to passe, according to ancient observation, and to the rule astronomicall: so doth he also by other words following admonish us, that in attending too much to those obsevations, we neglect not speciallie to follow our christian vocation.
The physician is commended unto us, and allowed in the scriptures: but so to put trust in him, as to neglect & distrust God, is severelie forbidden and reproved. Surelie it is most necessarie for us to know and observe diverse rules astrologicall; otherwise we could not with oportunitie dispatch our ordinarie affaires. And yet Lactantius Lactant. contra astrologos. condemneth and recounteth it among the number of witchcrafts: from whose censure Calvine doth not much varie. The poore husbandman perceivethPeucer. de astrol. pag. 383. that the increase of the moone maketh plants and living creatures frutefull: so as in the full moone they are in best strength, decaieng in the wane, and in the conjunction doo utterlie wither and vade. Which when by observation, use and practise they have once learned, they distribute their businesse accordinglie; as their times and seasons to sowe, to plant, to proine, to let their cattell bloud, to cut, &c./