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
Catalogue details

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.

    14/150
    Eccl.9.7> Si ful{er it tonueritt ft taftum diquid fueritde ccelo, ft oflenti fimi- le, natum fa¬ ff umve quip- film, (quorum tie c c(fe pier un- q\ diquod eve- niai) fuperfti- tiofo nunquam liceat quieta Tnenteconpfle- re. Tul .de *Dmn, 1,2, The Preface. report and confirm the truths and counfels of God *, fo Natura impedL tay Nature diflurb'd and hinder’d ( as in a Prodigy ) doth proclaim his ( approaching ) judgements. i The aefigne therefore of the prefent Difcourfe, is fwith freedom and fobriety ) to make enquiry how far any kinde of Prodigies {fig- nal orpoend ) may be drawn into confequence to conclude the coun¬ fels of heaven from them j and whether that Faith and Religion with which the multitude receive them, be not ( efpecially ) owing to thofe two credulous and fnperftitious principlesfFearandlgnorance] which ufually manageand deprave their affections and conclufions. I readily forefee, that as to fome perfons ( more eafily moved by the common ayr of popular prejudice ) Religion and a great Truth will feem too much concerned in the argument, to be difhonour- ed to a quellion • fo to others of more levere and examined prin¬ ciples, it will appear to hold too much of imagination or impofture, to receive the credit of a ferious debate.; and therefore hadlde- ligned no higher (in thefe papers) then barely to be publick, 1 fliould have made choice of fomemore obliging and inviting theme, and with which my thoughts have been longer acquainted: But that which thus far reconciled me to the Argument, was a regard to thz Profitable¬ ness, Pleafure3 Sea[onablencfs3 of a Difcourfe thereupon. Firft,rt will (in defigne at leafi) be profitable to very great purpofes3\\z, Firlt, To fecure the peace and tranquillity of common life. For if when¬ ever the sk.ie # fcd and lowring ( the face of heaven puts on a different colour and appearance from what it ufually looks upon us with ) we muft conclude fome approaching florin in the Rate, every man mult needs hold the peace and ferenity of his mindeby avery crackt and litigious title. How can a man (as he is counfelled) cat bis bread with joy and drin\ his wine with a cheerfull heart3 if every ftrange accident mull perfwade him that there is fome fword of vengeance hanging o- ver his head ( byathreed) ready to fall down upon himfelf, or that common body he relates to, inwhofe welfare every good man con¬ cerns himfelf Mens hearts will be alway failing them for fear,and for loofi- ing after the things which are coming on the earthyLuke zi.i 6- A fenfe hereof gave occafionto the Heathen Poet C whofe Philo- fophy or Divinity ferved him not to reprehend the fuperftition of Pro¬ digies ) thus to implead the Majefty of heaven for alarming the world continually with thefe direfull Omens of an approaching evil. _Cur hanc Tibi {Rector Olympi) Sollicitis vifum mortalibus addere curamy Nofcant ventures Ut dira per Omina clades ? Lucan. Pharfa. /• Which words (that I may the better fervc my purpofe of them ) I thus make Englifh. Why doth Heavens Lord foretell mens fate By Omens ? and fo, antedate Their evils *, (twice unhappy.! ) mulV ^len take up mifery on trull ? I’d yeeld ex tempore my breath, Nor would I die for fear of death. And