A new and complete illustration of the occult sciences / [E. Sibly].

  • Ebenezer Sibly
Date:
1807
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new and complete illustration of the occult sciences / [E. Sibly]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    figns—not to brutes, for they have not the faculty of undemanding them; nor to angels, for they continually behold the face of God, and obey his will in the government of the heavenly bodies, at his pleafure. There- fore, when God faith, Let them be for figns, he muft fpeak in reference to man, whom he formed a rational creature, capable of diftinguifhing one fign from another, and of improving by them. Nor are we to look upon them as mere ligns, like beacons upon a hill, or as only fetting bounds to days, months, and years; but we are to coniider them as figns and tokens of thofe hidden events of futurity, which it concerns every wife and good man to know; and which he may always forefee, by a virtuous and fober ftudy of thefe intelligent figns, placed by God for that purpofe in the fir- mament of heaven. And that this was the intent of them, is clearly de- monflrated by the words of our Saviour, when he foretold the deflrudtion of Jerul'alem, and the final confummation of all things. His apoftles alked him, What {hall the fign of thefe things be? He replies. Earth- quakes, famines, and peftilences; fearful fights in the heavens, and figns in the fun, in the moon, and in the Jlars.* Such alfo was the fign by which the Eaftern fages difcovered the birth of our Saviour, and the place of his nativity; and numerous other inftances may be adduced both from {acred and profane hiflory, in fupport of this dodtrine.—The fourth ufe of thefe celeflial luminaries, is for feafons. This is alfo obvious; for we find that heat and cold, and draught and moiffure, are all guided and go- verned by the heavenly bodies; and that not only fpring and autumn, and fummer and winter, bear teftimony of it; but we have it confirmed by the evidence of our own conftitution and feeling; for, when the weather is heavy and lowering, we find ourfelves dull and languid; when bright and radiant, we are cheerful and merry; and, when unfettled and unl'ea- fonable, we feel it bv indifpofition and melancholy; and this is all brought about by the operation of thefe luminaries upon the feafons of the year, in the due courfe of nature. The next ufe alloted them is, fifthly for days, and iixthly for years; and that thefe are meafuredout, and governed by them, is everyway apparent; by the fun’s circuit, and the moon’s energy.—The lun, like a ftrong man, rejoices to run his race; he rifeth out of the chambers of the eaft, and with golden rays dilpels the morn- ing clouds, and exhales the pearly dew; cheering and refrefhing all na- ture with his prefence. Hence it is evident that thefe luminaries were not only placed in the heavens to give light upon the earth, to govern the feafons, and to let bounds to time; but alfo to communicate fgns and tokens to mankind, of things to come. We {hall now coniider how far it is fcriptural, and confonant to reafon, to allow them thofe influ- - ences attributed to them by Aftrology. * Lukexxi. 6, 7,11, 25, See. That
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