Phillip Stubbes's Anatomy of the abuses in England in Shakspere's youth, A.D. 1583 / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

  • Stubbs, Philip, active 1581-1593.
Date:
1877-1882
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Phillip Stubbes's Anatomy of the abuses in England in Shakspere's youth, A.D. 1583 / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    pofitions and ends. Finally I would learne of them, whither none that euer lined fince the beginning of the worlde, nor any that (hall be borne to the end of the fame, hath not, or may not be borne in the fame houre, and vnder the fame planet & conftellation, that Chrift lefus was borne in. If they fay there haue not beene any borne in the fame houre that Chrift lefus was borne in, common reafon, and daily experience would difprooue them, for there is not one minute of an houre wherein there are not infinite children borne into the world. And if they fay that there are that haue beene borne in the fame houre, and vnder the fame ftarre and planet, than muft it needes follow (if man fhould neceflarily be ruled, gouerned, difpofed ic affected according to the naturall difpofition, and inclination of the planets & ftars) that he that hath bin, is, or fhall be, borne in the fame howre, and vnder the fame planet or ftar that lefus Chrift was borne vnder, ftiould bee as good & as perfect in euery refpeft, as Chrift lefus himfelfe^ and fo ftiould we haue had manie chrifts before this time. But God bleflTe all his children from once thinking of any fuch impietie, and blafphemie. By all which reafons and arguments it apeareth manifeftly that man is nothing lelfe, than ruled, gouerned or deftined, after the inclination, or influence of ftars or planets, but onely by the liuing God, who doeth ^whatfoeuer pleafeth him in lieauen & in earth. This being fo, twife vnhappy be thofe parents that thinke any moneth, day or houre, infortunate for their children to be borne in, or that fome be more fortunate and happie than other- fome. And thrife curfed be thofe wicked deuils, that taught them thofe leflbns. What? Doe they thinke that the Lorde is a fleepe thofe houres ; or being wake, hath no power to rule ? Hath he not made all things pure and good ? Then cannot the good creatures of God make vs euil, or incline vs to finne. But it is the malice of the deuill, the corruption of our nature, and the wickednes of our owue harts, that draweth vs to euill, and fo to ftiamefull deftinies, and imfamous ends, and not the ftarres, or planets. Whereof if we were truely perfwaded, we wold leaue of, when we come to any fhamefull end, to faie : “ Oh, I was borne to it, it was my deftonie,” and I can- not tell what: whereas in truth we were borne to no fuch ends. But rather to glorifie our heauenly father by integritie of life & godlines of conuerfation, whilft we line vpon the face of the earth. Certein [' Sig. I. 4. back] why the children born when Christ was, were not like him. Man is not swayd by Stars, but by the living God. [“ Sig. I si It's the Devil and our own wickedness, and not planets, that make us sin. (Cf. Edmund in Lear I, ii.)