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

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.

125/150 (page 103)

$and Sciences- InAftronomy t we are detain'd with the vain words of fome that tell us of a Scriptura ccclcftis, of the fates and deftiniesof Nations and Princes, the ifliies of any great Actions > written upon the great fcroll of heaven and plainly legible by the Sons of Art; of a way and method of deriving down and continuing the ver- tues of Planets and Conttellations in certain images prepared ac¬ cording to art. In Natural Pkilofophy, we are as much abuled by others, which tell us of a way to procure Prophetical dreams, to ex¬ alt all bodies into gold, to make mighty imprcffions upon the air, to advance imagination to a capacity of working wonders both upon the minds of men,and (even greatly diifant) bodies: of an art to read and expound all the cryptick lines in your hand and face. In Me¬ dicos , we have fome confident undertakers to refcue the Science from all its reproaches and diflionours, nay to cut off the very en¬ tail of death from mankinde-. In Science in General, we meet With fome ofthe Tons of pride whichtell us of an Ars magna, a Panfophia., a method to blefs man with the real fubltance of that happinefs [ A univerfal knowledge ] the catching at whofe vain and flying fliadow coif him the lofs ofParadife. In Divinity, Gad, behold a troup cometb of perfons which begin their enquiries where all wife men make an end [ Cabaliits, pretenders to Revelations, to an underiianding of pens, and myjterious prophecies, grange providences, things to come» the pretended mysteries wrapt up in the facred numbers and names, the intent andmeaningof Prodigies, fome more fpiritual difeoverics and myftcriovs notions in Religion, &c. r , , . , All which pretenders to a ii <^piosov3 fomewhat beyond the com¬ mon fize of humane ability , men are eafily perfwaded into great thoughts of, either becaufe in magnis vel voluif\emirandumj or became all thefe pretences are but the many and various repeats of that hrlt and moft inviting temptation [ the promife of a more rais’d and ex¬ cellent knowledge, then we have already ] or becaufe the general ignorance of fuch pretenders,helps them tofet off their wares and themfelves, with a great confidence, which hath the power of talci- nation upon weaker minds, perfons not fecured by the countercharm of a great knowledge and refolution. . r And therefore 1 think it not fafe to truft the conftancy of our minds againft all opinjon of Prophecies* Omens, Signs of times, Pre- faces by Prodigies, as alfo thole other Splendid* mm ( nearly rela- ted to them) julf now mentioned, folely with reafon and argu¬ ment. It is a little neceffary to confront a kmde of fullen refolution, againjl, to an almoff obftinate propenfion of minde towards them. And if men would once value their Underltandings fo far , as to call all fuch husky and curious arts and ftudies (as the Chaldee Oracle doth all divinations, by the Exta3 the motions of birds, fmoke_, &c, —’ASvfpunv- TTOLVl'-t zvettoic TUTric ~ T -,, , , but the recreations and entertainments of children , and the weak fupportsof thegainfulltrade of cheating and impoilurej they would alb (like fables Which want Auditours ) quickly fink into darknels /$