A discourse concerning prodigies: wherein the vanity of presages by them is reprehended. And their true and proper ends asserted and vindicated / By John Spencer, B.D.

  • John Spencer
Date:
1663
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A discourse concerning prodigies: wherein the vanity of presages by them is reprehended. And their true and proper ends asserted and vindicated / By John Spencer, B.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    107/150 (page 85)
    4 Se&.i. *5 CHAP. VI.: Concerning Prodigies Pend. HAving thus (in a method as much required to the rules of Lo- gick, as the uncertain and doubtfull colour and condition of the Subject would allow) difcourfed the firft part of my Argument, [ Prodigies Barely fignal ] that which the order propos’d lays next before us, is the conlideration of Prodigies penal. By which I under- Hand [ poznarum monftra] judgements ofanunufual make and more dreadfull afpe£t Now thefe are either Perfonal, befalling fome particular members of the common body, who (toufe thefignifi- cant language of Scripture ) hjfup not died the common death of all men. Numb, if* 1 nor been vifited after the vifitation of all men; or Rational, when the 24. whole body of a Nation, or the greater part thereof, is fmitten with a rod of an unufual fize. Thefe alfo may eafily be conceived by men as a kinde of hand out of the clouds to write Te^el upon perfons or caufes diftaftfull to themfelves, and therefore I (hall fas I canj direct to a fober notion concerning them both in thefe five Con- clufions. i • sect. 1. Prodigies Pend bow to be interpreted. • * - - ^ .. .. r . ' - • ^ . x • ■ < f j - ‘ r * ■ * « • Two conclufions here laid down to dircft to a right notion in reference to judgements extraordinary, Thefe without other proof, no fafe jigns of the extraordinary finfulnefs ofPerfons. Men apt to thinly them fo and why. Ror yet of caufes : proved by feveral confiderations. Eminent judge¬ ments upon eminent [inners to be greatly heeded. A judgement fignal and remarkable in three cafes efpecially, Two mifcarriages to be avoided in the obfervationof the punifhments upon our Reighbour. OUr firft Conclufion is this. Judgements Extraordinary, are not Concluf. 1 * (without further evidence) concluding Arguments of the extraordinary finfulnefs of Perfons or caufes. Firft, Rot of the extraordinary finfulnefs of Perfons. Men are gene¬ rally prone to finde their own vertues in Fortunce blanditiis (to weigh their own merits at the falfe beam of outward hillings and fuccef- fes ) and their brothers faults in Parcarum tabulis, the fad deftinies and evils which lie upon his lot. friends judged the dimenfions of his iniquity by the (hadow of the fufferings which were laid upon him, and concluded the former great becaufe the latter werefo. i.t Skimei concluded David to be a man of bloud, becaufe evil was raifed J0D 2< v up to him out of his own houfe, 1 Sam. 1 $. 8. The Difciples that the man