CHAP. I.

BEfore we speak of the Centre, or the Circle of the Life of Man, we must con­sider the Matrix, which is the Centre and Essence of all Essences; all things are gene­rated out of the Centre, and out of that which is Generated, all things are Created which are [Page 2] in being. The ground how the Eternal Word was in the Beginning, and the Word is Gods, and the Eternal Will is that Word: for the Eter­nal God hath that Will in himself, and in that recomprehended Will is the Eternal Father of all things, the Eternal Deity hath its name God, for God and the Will hath no Maker; for he made himself from Eternity to Eternity.

Ex ipso, per ipsum, & in ipso sunt omnia: Of him, by him, and in him are all things.

Before we dive into the Bottomless Abyss of the Essential Philosophy, we must consider, that God is the true Wisdom and Foundation there­of. Sapientiam possidet [...] Deus in principium via­ram suarum, antequam quicquam faceret à princi­pio; ab Aeterno ordinata est; concepta erat cum nondum erant Abyssi; did possess Wisdom in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing; from Eternity was she ordained; she was conceived where there was no Abyss.

Sapientia à Deo profecta est, & prior omnium: Created Wisdom comes from God, and was the first that Created all things.

I do imagine, and my mind gives me, that al­tho' I be never so curious in my Indeavouring or Labour in this matter of my Expression, yet will my best Endeavours appear faulty in the cu­rious Eye-sight of some Men, tho' perchance acceptable enough to others.

1. In the Beginning the Word of the Eternal Spirit created the Heavens and the Earth. 2. And the Earth was without form, and void, and dark­ness was upon the face of the deep, and the Eternal [Page 3] Spirit moved upon the face of the Waters. 3. The Word said, Let there be Light, and there was Light. 4. The Word saw, that the Light was good; and the Word separated the Light from the Darkness. 5. The Word called the Light Day, and the Darkness he called Night. 6. And the VVord said, Let there be a Firmament in the midst of the Waters,—and divide the Waters from the Waters: And the Firmament was called Heaven. And the VVord said, Let the Waters under the Heaven be gathered together, and let the dry Land appear.

Seeing this Great Work of the Creation is not a matter of Faith, I leave the literal Sence of the Book of Genesis, and give you liberty to con­jecture of mine of the Creation, or the great Spagyrick VVork.

In Contemplating on the first of Genesis, and then from the VVords of God himself, I have a strong fancy, that God made that wonderful Fa­brick, viz. the Whole Universe, by a power­ful Command or Word, in a moment of time, and not as Moses says, in six days: mind Job 38. v. 4.

For, what may we hence conjecture, but that the Angels, Coche Boker, Stars of the Morning, [Page 4] and Beni Elohim, the Sons of God, beholding so great a Miraculous Wonder, together with their own as wonderful, formerly commanded at such an instant into a glorious Being, gave Shouts of Praise, and Acclamations of Joy, in Admiration of the great Creator's Omniporen­cy: And we find the Voice of God descending, or delivering the Story of his incomprehensible Wonders with such a lofty Brevity, that we may well believe, he performed those Wonders with the same swiftness that he spake them.

CHAP. II.

1. OBserve the Words of the most Excel­lent [...] [...] [...] [...] [Page 12] paration of the Divine Spirit, Elohim was effect­ed in the 6 days work of the Creation; it's expressed there, That Darkness was upon the face of the Abyss.

2. And that Terra erat inanis & vacuum, the Earth was without shape and form; a plain de­monstration, that the Heavens and the Earth were not as yet made, or in no Form; were one deformed Lump, or rude and indigested Mass; and all comprehended in one dark Abyss.

3. St. Augustin compares this Nothing unto a Speech; for while it's in the mind of the Speaker, it's nothing to him that is spoken to, before it's spoken. Plato compares it to a Dream, when a Man awakes, 'tis nothing but Imaginati­on. But consider well, there are none, unless on Presumption or Ignorance, will be of the opi­nion, that in those words, God made all things of nothing, ex Nihilo, of nothing; it ought not to be interpreted Nothing.

4. For the first Essence and Matter of all Things was from all Eternity in God, and with God, one and the same thing; and this we prove by [...]ipture; says Moses, In principio creavit Deus Coelum & Terram.

5. Principium is not to be taken as a negative Nothing: for in plain Terms, that ex ipso, & per ipsum, & in ipso sunt omnia; Of him, by him, and in him, are all things proceeding from the Creator.

6. Hermes hath it, Infinita in Abysso, Aqua in­super & Sp [...]ritus tenuis intellectualis per Divi­nam potentiam in Chaos inerant: There was [Page 13] (says he) an infinite Shadow upon the Abyss, also Water and a thin intellectual Spirit: we are in the Chaos by the Divine Puissance. Now that there was a contained Water and airy Spirit complicitly, where in the dark Chaos or Abyss, it appeared by the Revolution of the Waters, upon the which Elohim the Eternal Spi­rit was created.

By this you may discern, what the Substances of Beginnings of Things was, namely, the dark Abyss.

7. Observe now, that this generated Matter was Water, which the Presence of the all-in­forming Spirit of the Lord did vigorate and enact in a Generality, and termed them by the name Shamaim, and that the Waters were the first Matter and Principle of which the World was made; no otherwise than out of a rude Mass or Lump, a great Pallace is fashioned or framed. This Moses confirms, first, for that it doth mention the Water from which the Spirit of God was created, after he had nominated the confused Chaos under the Title of the dark A­byss; & Terra inanis & vacua, or the void and deformed Earth, and that before the first days Seperation; whereby it's plainly argued, that Water was the material Principle, created or inacted by Elohim Ruache; for as much as they were nominated before the first days work.

8. That it was the Eternal Wisdom or Spirit Elohim, who acted as it were the part of a Mid­wife, did deliver and bring forth this Birth, and gave it Act and Form; as Moses says, That [Page 14] the Waters were the subject of that Separation, and was effected by the Spagyrick or Fiery Vir­tue of the Word, or Elohim.

9. The Heavens above were made of the pu­rest Brights, and most worthiest Waters, and the Elementary World beneath, of the grossest dark fort of Water; and that there was a mid­dle kind of them, which participating of both extreams, was termed the Firmament, whose main Office was, to divide and separate the Water from the Waters.

10. Then out of the lower Waters, by the same Word or Spirit, three several Regions, namely, the Air, the Seas, and the dry Land; so the World, and every Member thereof, was out of this humid Spirit or aquatick Nature, which is visible by this Text; Coeli (saith he) erant prius & Terra, de Aqua & per Aquam existentes, verbo Dei.

11. The Heavens was Fire, and the Earth Water; and by Water existing in, and by the Word, the World is composed only of Heaven and Earth: and therefore it follows, that the whole World is made, and existeth of the Wa­ter, and by the Water. So it's evidently pro­ved, that the Original Maker of all things was Water.

12. The next thing I shew you, how all things were fashioned, formed and reduced into a spe­cifick Act, and essential Being.

It first distinguished, and separated the Dark­ness from the Light, and obscure and gross Wa­ter from the subtil or pure, and then it disposes the Heavens into Spheres.

[Page 15] 13. It divides the gro [...]est Waters into sublu­ [...]ary Elements: but observe in these Lines the great VVork:— Mundum ex materia infor­ [...]i creavit: Revelat fundamenta, & abscondita, [...]ovit in tenebris constituta, & Lux est cum co; [...]evelavit fundamenta è tenebris, & educit in lu­ [...]em [...]mbram lethalem; Aquilon [...]m extendit su­ [...]er inane, & vacuum, & suspendit Terram su­ [...]er nihilum: nam sapientia ab ore ejus prodeunte, [...]otundit at em Coelorum circumveniente sola, & in [...]rofundo abyssi ambulante, omnia fecit Deus. Ad­ [...]rat ipsa quando prepar̄avit Coelum, quando certa [...]ege & gyro velavit abyssos; quando Aethera fir­ [...]abat sursum, erat ipsa cum eo cuncta componens: [...]psa fundavit Terram, stabilivit Coelos, erupit a­ [...]yssos, [...]bes rore concrescere facit; aptat pondus [...]Aeri, appendit Aquos in mensura, dedit pluviae sta­ [...]uta, & viam fulgetro tonitruum: Coelos crea­ [...]at, & extendebat eos, firmabat T [...]rram, & quae [...]erminant ex ea; Sapientia creavit Deus terram, & stabilivit Coelos prudentia; facit ut oriatur lu­ [...]en in Coelis indeficienter; & sicut nebula tegit om­ [...]em Terram: facit anni cursus, & constituit dis­ [...]ositus Stellarum. Facit Arcturum & Orionem: [...]onvertit in mane tenebras, diem in noctem mutat; [...]acat aquas maris, & effundit eos super faciem [...]errae: preparavit terram in aeterno tempore, & [...]eplevit eam bipedibus & quadrupedibus: ipsam [...]ffudit Dens super omnia opera ejus, & super omnem [...]rnem secundum datum; ipsa denique operatur [...]nia, & Deus per ipsam operatur omnia in om­ [...]ibus, & ipse vivificat & animat omnia, ut Apo­ [...]olus: Quare Propheta recte, in sapientia omnia [...]isti, repleta est terra possessione tua, &c.

[Page 16] Wisdom created the World of Matter, without Form; she revealed the Foundations of t [...] deeoest, and discovereth the things that were h [...] in Darkness, and Light is with her: she make [...] the Foundations appear out of Darkness, an converteth the deadly Shadow into Light: s [...] spreadeth forth the North upon the void [...] empty Face of the Abyss, and hangeth the Eart [...] on nothing: for God made all things by h [...] Wisdom, which came out of his Mouth; at compassed about the Circuit of the Heavens, a [...] walked in the profoundness of the Abyss: s [...] was present when he prepared the Heavens, a [...] he covered by a certain Law or Compass, th [...] Abyss, when he established the Heavens [...] Aether, all the Regions above; then was S [...] with him, as the Composer of all those thing [...] she laid the Foundations of the Earth, and fa [...] ned the Heavens, and broke up the Abyss, a [...] made the Clouds together in a Dew: she ga [...] Weight to the Air: she hanged or ballan [...] the Water or Clouds by measure: she gave [...] to the Rain its Law, and ordered the way to [...] Lightning or Thunder: she created the Heavens, and spread them abroad: she fastned [...] Earth, and made things to grow on it, and es [...] blished the Heavens by his Providence: [...] causeth an indeficient Light to rise and app [...] in the Heavens, and she covered it as it were with a Cloud, the whole Earth: she makes [...] Causes of the Year, and institutes the Disposition or Nature of the Stars: she made the Pole Star and Orion, and turned Darkness into t [...] [Page 17] Morning, and changed the Day into Night: she calleth the Waters of the Sea, and pours them upon the Face of the Earth: she had prepared the Earth for Eternity, and filled it with two­footed and four-footed Creatures; God poured her forth upon all Flesh in a divine Measure: to conclude, she operateth and gives all things, as Solomon saith.

We should speak something of the two main Principles, viz. Heat and Cold: All Heat whatsoever doth attract and draw unto it, the Vapours and Humidity of the Earth and Wa­ter, &c. We find the contrary by a Weather-Glass; for in only laying the warm Hand upon the Glass, the Air dilates its self immediately, and is so far from being attracted by the Heat, that contrariwise it flies away from the Hand. These two Principles will lead me into a larger Field, than I shall be able to go through in this small Tract; therefore I shall forbear.

14. But to speak something of the Universal Mystery of Rarifaction and Condensation; for it's proved, that by them the whole World was made, the Heavens fashioned in due order, and the Universal Elements altered, and changed af­ter a Quadruple manner and condition.

15. The divine Philosopher Hermes saith, Mens ab essentia Dei nequaquam divisa, sed ille potius eo modo connexa quo Solis corpori Lumen: The mental Beam is not at all divided from the Essences of God, but rather joined and knit un­to him, after the same manner that the Light is continued unto the Sun; whereupon it's evi­dent, [Page 18] that the virtue of Heat is essential unto Light, as the act of Motion is never absent from emanating Brightness.

16. We may conclude then, that the Rari­faction is nothing else but the dilating of Wa­ter by Heat, which was first contracted by Cold; and Condensation on the other-side, is a con­traction, or sucking and drawing of those watry Parts, which were dilated or separated by Heat; so that the subject of both of those Actions is Water, and the Foundation as well of the priva­tive as positive Agent: the Nolunty or Volunty, that is to say, the Negative or the Affirmative Will of that one Eternal Unity, who is that all­informing and operating Spirit, which act his Pleasure in all and over all, by his divine Organ, as well Angelical as Celestial and Elementary; which according to their diversity in disposition, are moved by this internal Act, to operate in this World the Will of the Creator.

17. How this Ruach Elohim being put once in Essences, worketh by his Angels in this sublu­nary World, after four ways, viz. By his Ange­lical Organs, of a contrary Fortitude in the Uni­versal Element of the lower Water, both the ef­fects of Condensation and that of Rarifaction; and to verify it by those Words, That this one Spirit is the Arch-Lord and Primate of the four Winds; else the Command of God would not have said, Come ye Spirits from the four Winds, and make those dead Carcasses to live again. Now this one Spirit worketh in and by Spiritual and Angelical Organs, in the execution which is ef­fected by the four Winds.

[Page 19] Observe, I saw four Angels stand on the four Corners of the Earth, holding the four Winds of the Earth, that they should not blow, neither on the Earth nor Sea, &c. By which it's evident, that those Angelical Presidents over the four Winds, were the Organs by and in the which the Spirits of the Winds were emitted or retained, accord­ing to the Will of that Eternal Spirit which guided them, and where he listeth; so the said hot Winds do undo by Rarifaction, all that which the cold Northern Winds did effect by Conge­lation.

18. After what manner this Spirit Ruach E­lohim did frame out the Heavens, and shaped or made the Stars thereof, by his act of Conden­sation and Rarifaction. The Heavens and the Earth were of Water and by the Water; so we see that the Word is the Agent, in the Con­densation of the invisible Waters into a visi­ble Earth.

19. Thus was the World in general, distin­guished into thick and thin Regions by the divine Spirit, which was created on the Water. So says Hermes in these Words, Distinctis libra­tisque rebus, quae igneo Spiritu vehebantur, emicuit Coelum, septem in Circulos.—Things being di­stinguished and ballanced, which were sustained by a fiery Spirit, the Heavens did shine forth in seven Circles. It signifies, that it was a fiery Spi­rit; and a little before, he called it, Splendorem Sanctum, the Holy Splendor, which sustain and bear up every Circle or Sphere of the Heavens in its due place: And the Wise Man says, Om­nia [Page 20] Mensura Numeroque, & pondere, disposuis [...] seu temperāsti; Thou hast disposed all things i [...] Measure, Number and Weight, namely, into seven distinct Spheres, and an infinity of con­densed Bodies.

20. I may say, that as the Substance of the Heavens is invisible by reason of its rarity, i [...] like manner are the Stars visible by reason o [...] their density; for it was Condensation that caused Visibility and Rarifaction, which is the occasion of Invisibility: But Aristotle is of the opinion, That the Stars are the denser Parts o [...] their Orbs, but rather a Light which was in­cluded in the Spirit of the dark Shadow of the Abyss; which Spirit, in separating Light from Darkness, soared upwards by virtue of the in­cluded Light, and so according to the propor­tion of that eternal formal Fire, which is [...] ­tained unto this day.

21. How the lower Water or material sub [...] nary Element was distinguished and heaped i [...] to sundry distinct Spheres, which are particu­lar Elements.

The Universal Substance of the World, was made only out of one thing, of a Matter that was produced out of the dark Chaos or Abyss, b [...] the Spagyrick Virtue of the great World; t [...] which Matter, Moses calls Water, and Her [...] the Humid Nature; it must follow, that out [...] this Catholick Mass of Water, the Univers [...] Sublunary Element was derived, which is ca [...] led by the Name of Air. Now this gener [...] Element is by the Breath of the divine Spirit [...] [Page 21] Ruach Elohim, altered and changed from one Shape to another; for that which is made the vi­sible Waters, was made first of Air, which is an invisible Water: in this, observe the Words of St. Paul, Per fidem agnovimus, quod semper ita actum sit cum Mundo per Verbum, ut ex iis quae videri non poterant, fiunt ea quae possunt videri: We know by Faith, that has been ever acted with the World, by the Word, that those things which can be seen, were effected and made of those things which could not be seen.

22. We are taught by Chymical Experience, That Earth is nothing else but coagulated Wa­ter, not visible Water; nothing else but invi­sible Air reduced by condensation to a visibility; nor Fire, any thing else, but rarified Air: And in conclusion, all the sublunary Waters were in the Beginning but an invisible humid, or a watry Spirit or Air, and consequently the main sublu­nary Elements were in Original nothing but one Air, because that Heaven was made before the Sea or Earth, as Moses tells us.

[Page 22] 27. To conclude, I will demonstrate the My­stery of the Worlds Creation, by way of an A­r [...]hmetical Progression, after this manner:

Here we have the Progression in the Worlds Creation; where 1 is, it signifies the Unity which was before all things: which, while it was in it self, and did not shine forth, contained its inacted property within its potential Nolunty or Darkness; and therefore it was esteemed as nothing, in regard of Man's weak Capacity, al­tho' in its self, it's all in all. Then the Rank 2, sheweth the actual emanation of the increa­sed Light, out of the potential Unity; at the pre­sence whereof, the humid Nature did appear out of the dark Abyss, 10. in the shape of Waters; so that the Light and Waters as active and pas­sive, are ranked next after Unities.

Unity, thus,

• ○ Light
• ○ Water
• 2.

Then, [Page 23] by the Firy Spirit of Eternal Love and Unity, those two opposite Natures are joined together into the nature of Heaven by a spiritual Union or Composition; which is termed by the Platonicks, the Soul of the World, which the Philosopher calls by the name of Quinta Essen­tia, the Quintessence: so also are the Heavens said to animate the Elements, no otherwise than the Soul doth the Body; so that this de­gree of Progression in the Creation, standeth

Which importeth the four-fold alteration of the Catholick Element, by the four Winds, which was and is effected by the Word, the third day of the Creation; and this was nothing else but the general sublunary or lower Waters.

This therefore was the State of the VVorlds Creation, and in this very State (say many,) will continue, till it be Resined by the Firey Try­al. This the wise Hermes according to Moses, described unto us thus:

Erat umbra infinita in Abysso; Aqua insuper & Spiritus tenuis Intellectualis per divinam poten­tiam in Chaos inerant; storuit autem Splendor San­ctus, qui sub arena & humida natura Elementa deducit: cumque indistincta fuissent, levia post Mundum in excelsam regionem provolarunt; gravia sub arena humida residerunt: distinctis libratisque rebus quae Igneo Spiritus vehebantur, emicuit Coelum, septem in Circulos, &c. An [Page 24] infinite Shadow of Darkness was in the Abyss; moreover, VVater, and a subtil intellectual Spi­rit was by the divine Puissance in the Chaos, and a holy Brightness or Splendor, did flourish, which did reduce the Elements under the Heaven and humid Nature, and, as they were undistinguish­ed; and afterwards that Portion which was Light, did fly up into the highest Region. The weightier part did reside, and take its place un­der the Heaven. These things being thus di­stinguished and ballanced, were sustained by [...] fiery Spirit, the Heavens did shine forth in Seve [...] Circles, as in the Table or Speculum on the o­ther side.

In the first place, Behold the Circles and the Motions of the seven Properties of Nature.

You have seen already the Figure of the da [...] Abyss or Chaos, how by the VVord all thing sprung sorth from that Centre of Eternity; no [...] this signifies to you, the proper place or Circle of the seven Properties of Nature, viz. ♄, ♃ ♂, ☉, ♀, ☿, and the ☽, in their motion [...] working Posture. Cast your Eyes in the Hea [...] or Centre, and you will see A o, which is [...] and [...]. The great Spagyrick of the Mi [...] cosmus tells us, I am Alpha and Omega, the Be­ginning and Ending; Oculus Dei, the Eter [...] Eye of God, or Centre of Eternity. This Fi­gure comprehends whatsoever God and Eterni­ty, the Eternal Birth of the Divine Essence, a [...] all Eternal Mysteries are, both within Nature a [...] [Page]

[Page] [Page 25] without; and in its self (in the Eye) begetteth Majesty, which is the Heart and Power of the Eye.

But as for the Angelical Circle, and the work and nature of Angels, the Throne, and the Hea­vens of Glory, which you see in the highest Cir­cles, I shall pass by, and hasten on to my inten­ded Business.

CHAP. III.

BUT by the way, it may not be amiss to consider, what our Forefathers did call this Canopy or Heavens, which has so neatly com­posed round us, and left us as it were, in a Box.

Coelum potius Coelum, & Coelorum suprema Mundi pars: à Gr. [...], à concavitate; the Heavens, Firmament or Sky.

Now we will endeavour to prove out of Scri­pture, and leave Philosophy, that the ignorant may be satisfied in my intended Matter, viz. Predictions.

The Heavens have been called by the Holy Ghost, a Book; then doubtless we may conclude, [Page 26] that there are in this Book Letters or Characters which may be understood by some or other, t [...] read them. Now that it is called a Book, ap­pears out of Isaiah, who speaks of the last Day wherein all things shall cease; he saith, Compli [...] cabuntur, sicut Coeli; where the [...] Caph, in He­brew, which the Latins translate si [...]ut, signifi­eth in the Original, quia: so that the Heaven [...] shall be rolled together; and He at the same time gives the reason of it also, because they are a [...] Book: As for a more larger Definition of the Word, I leave it to the Divines, &c.

They may say, as a Book: To this it may be answered, That it doth elsewhere fully decide this Controversy. Seeing that we speak of the Heavens, it makes mention of Lines and Let­ters, which are Words that are most properly and essentially spoken of a Book, and make no use of the word sicut: which is an infallible Ar­gument, that those words in the Passages before cited, Complicabuntur sicut Liber Coeli, are not Expressions of Similitude. Now that the Scrip­ture, speaking of the Heavens, nameth expresly the word LETTER, will appear out of the First of Genesis; there the Hebrew Text runs thus: [...] Bere­shith bara El [...]im & Haschamaim: that is to say, In the Beginning, God created the Letters or Characters of the Heavens: for this is the meaning of the Hebrew word, [...] & [...], Aat, which is a Letter: and as for the word Line, we find in Psal. 19. v. 4. In omnem terram exivit, [...], K [...]vam, Linea corum; understanding it's [Page 27] spoken of the Stars which are ranked in the Hea­vens, after the manner of Letters in a Book, or upon a Sheet of Parchment: for God is said in the Holy Scriptures, to have str [...]tch [...]d out the Heavens as a Skin, calling this extension [...], Rachia; from whence the Greek might take the word [...], which signifies a Skin or Hid [...]; a Skin to be extended or stretched forth. God disposed and rankt the Stars in the manner of Characters, whereby, as a Book. Observe, and read them; Coeli enarrant gloriam Dei: The Prophets of old, called the Heavens a Sacred Book; as among the Jews, R S [...]meon Ben Jar­ [...]hay in the Zohar, on the Section Tem [...]ti.

Exodus, C [...]fr. 305. where he sp [...]s very [...]earnedly of this Celestial Writing, tho' very [...]bscurely. R. Abraham also, in his Jetsira, a Book of the Creation; and many more Authors may be named to this purpose: But this may [...]atisfy the Reader, that the Heavens are Books, wherein all things are Registred of those under [...]he Elements, either their good or ill Actions.

Now in this particular, we will endeavour to give you some account of the Primum Mobile, [...]r the moving Circles of the Elements, which is [...]y intended Business or material Subject; how [...]ur Bodies are captivated by the Elements; and [...]ave the Ang [...] Circle, and the Glory of the [...]ost High, to the Divines, and follow the lower [...]egions. You see the Primum Mobile, a round [...]ircle, with 12 Characters, called 12 Signs, [...]ow in our days; and by those Signs thus cha­racteriz'd, [Page 28] divides the Heavens in 12 parts, as every Sign into 30 dgrees; also you see the 7 Planets in their Circles in another place: You shall have a full demonstration by an Instrument: But I am willing to inform you, that in the begin­ning, those Signs and Planets were put in form of Letters by the Hebrews; and by the Jews, and others, in the form of Living Creatures: And then the Caldeans and others, brought them in­to these Forms, as in these latter times, ♈, ♉, ♊, ♋, ♌, ♍, ♎, ♏, ♐, ♑, ♒, ♓: ♄, ♃, ♂, ☉, ♀, ☿, ☽. Now it may please my Reader to take a view of Ancient Times, as in the following Chapter.

CHAP. IV.

THE Antients had of these Instruments, and made use of them in their Practices, as may be made appear out of the Historians; some of which have made mention of the Caldeans A­strology, as namely Q. Curtius, who gave a [...] account of all those that went forth out of Baby­lon, for to receive Alexander the Great; he saith, Magnum deinde suo more Carmen canen­tes; post Chaldaei Babyloniorum non Vates modo, se▪ [Page 29] etiam Artifices: Where, by the word Artifices, he means those Astrologers who made their Practice those Arts; and this is the gloss of Heur­nius, Ii Astrologi, qui Astrorum Cursus observa­bant, vera Instrumenta in eum usum fabricantes. Here we may discover what the Ground was, of that Fable of Atlas, King of the Mauritani­ans or Phoenicians, who fled before the Army of Joshua: for the Heavens, which the Greeks (whom we may truly say, have been the corrup­ters of all Antiquity) say, that this Man who was both King and Astrologer, bare up with his Shoulders, was only a Globe or Sphere, not much unlike ours in late time, which he made use of for the Motions of the Heavens. The first Piece of that Instrument, was the Base or Foot of it, which was made of a thin Plate of Copper, and hollowed in the manner of a Bason; the three small Pillars lifted up from the Super­ficies, whereon was written these three words, [...], Din, Schalom, Emet, viz. Judgment, Peace, Truth; These Pillars bare up two great Semicircles, which made up a Tri­angle, with such artifice, that it was neverthe­less in the Superficies. Within you have a great perfect Circle, and within it two others, and all the same Metal with the Base; the first, which was the greatest of these Circles, had these words upon it, [...], Schemai, Hascha­maim, the Heaven or Heavens; the second had only upon it, [...], Shamaim, the Heaven; the third had only one Word, [...], Raquiagh, which signifies Expansum. The last and the first [Page 30] are nothing so much admirable as the middle­most, which was beset round with very many lit­tle Circles, which were all movable; among which there were seven which appeared more emi­nent [...] [...]an the rest, because they were placed by the Centre of the Instrument; all these little Circles had small Stars on them: and those which were upon the seven Circles, were marked each of them with one of those Letters, [...], which signifies the Planets in or­der, first ♄: near these Letters was seen these following words in Hebrew,—Jom, Rischon, Schni, Schelicsi, Revighi, Chamischi, Chicsi, Sce­vighi, viz. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 days; every one of the Circles of the Planets, had upon them the number of Years they finished their Courses in, and that of the ☽, had Engraven on it these 12 Characters, viz.

א ש ט [...] ת ת א א [...] ת א נ

♓ ♒ ♑ ♐ ♏ ♎ ♍ ♌ ♋ ♊ ♉ ♈

These are the Names of the 12 Signs of the Months: And now I'll also give them at large in Hebrew, viz.

1 Nisan, 2 Atiri, 3 Stuan, 4 Tamuz, 5 Ab, 6 Aelot, 7 Tisri, 8 Tisuan, 9 Ristien, 10 Tebet, 11 Sch [...]bec, 12 and last, is Adar. And thus we reckon our Months, as March, April, &c.

Now these Circles were ordered so exactly, as that one might perfectly discern the degrees [Page 31] and distances there set down: in the middle of all, and in the very Centre, there was placed a little Blue Ball which was a little hollowed, sup­posed to be the Earth. Here you see, that A­strology is no new thing, and the heavenly Spheres in a perpetual motion.

I should not have here made this Observation, but only that I might be the better able here­after, to make known the Virtue of the Anti­ents Astrology, with that of the Egyptians, and the more Learned among the Arabians.

CHAP. V.

THe Seven Properties of Nature have their Names in several Languages, first, from the Hebrew; and also every Angel or Planet has its lay to Rule in, as we observe to this day.

• [...], Chauai, Saturn, Saturday.
• [...], Tsedek, Jupiter, Thursday.
• [...], Maactim, Mars, Tuesday.
• [...], Chamah, Sol, Sunday.
• [...], Nogah, Venus, Friday.
• [...], Cocab, Mercury, Wednesdaey.
• [...], Levanah, Luna, Monday.

[Page 32] A Planet, [...] Saturnus, [...] Jupiter [...] [...] Mars, [...] Sol, [...] V [...] [...] Mercurius, [...] Luna, [...].

In Latin, Planet a a Planet, ♄ Saturnus, Jupiter, ♂ Mars, ☉ Sol, ♀ Venus, ☿ M [...] curius, ☽ Luna.

In Arabick, ♄ Zazel, ♃ Hismal, ♂ Bar [...] bcl, ☉ Sorath, ♀ Kedemel, ☿ Taphtharthar [...] ☽ Hasmodiai.

The reason why they are called by the Names, as ♄, ♃, ♂, ☉, ♀, ☿, and ☽.

• ♄ à Saturo, to fill, or abundance; as our hot Authors says, that ♄ is wonderful, in Plenty Misery.
• ♃ à Juvando; quasi, est Juvans, from helpi [...] or liberal to Mankind.
• ♂ Mars, quasi Mavors, magna vertens; t [...] ning great Things, and acting high Exploits
• ☉ Sol, quasi Solus lucens, as only Shini [...] or the Eye of the World, or Candle.
• ♀ Venus, à Veneror, viz. Honour, and gi [...] due Reverence, and to Beautify, &c.
• ☿ Mercurius, quasi Merces, à merendo; sig [...] fying Wages and Mercature, being the Ca [...] and Author thereof.
• ☽ Luna, quia aliena Luce lucet, viz. shi [...] with a borrowed Light.

This may serve to convince those Unbelie [...] to this our Work, seeing our Authors have ta [...] [Page] [Page]

[Page 33] observation, and called the Seven Properties or Rulers of the World, after their nature and working, by Reason and Experience, and finding that God hath placed them in a working and na­tural Posture: which you shall see at large, when the Bosom of Nature is opened.

CHAP. VI.

THE Explanation of this Philosophical Fi­gure of the 7 Properties or Qualities of Nature, which are called 7 Spirits or Forms, and are vulgarly called 7 Planets, viz. 1 ♄, 2 ♃, 3 ♂, 4 ☉, 5 ♀, 6 ☿, 7 and last, ☽.

You must observe, that the Sun is placed in the midst of them all, and from him proceed­eth both Light and Darkness, as shall be demon­strated: for the ☉ is the Centre and Heart of the six Planets, and also the only Centre of the whole Earth, that is, the Light of this World.

For a further enlightning of your Under­standing, consider the Qualities of those afore-mentioned 7 Spirits: First of ♄, with his harsh, [Page 34] strong, and attractive Coldness, which shuts up the Abyss, and make Darkness in the Deep, and attracteth the substantiality of the outward Pow­er of this Quality; and the Centre winds about like a Wheel, and that which is opposite to the Wheel is the Moon: as you may plainly see Saturn highest, and the Moon lowest; so

♄ the first Quality, is the desire, which make Harshness, Sharpness, Cold, and Sub­stances; and in the beginning of this World, Salt, Scones and Bones; so all this was produced out of this Sharpness. I find, Saturnine Men have great Bones.

Jupiter, which ariseth from the first, and is the drawing Motion in the Hardness or Sharp­ness; ♄ makes hard, and ♃ softens it again, or breaks it; and there is a continual striving in its self, and it cuts asunder the attractive quality and desire of ♄, and brings it into multiplicity and variety; it's a ground of the bitter Pain, and also the true Root of Life, and the Strike of Fire.

But there is a great Understanding in the Power; yet the Power cannot of his own might, awaken the Understanding.

But ♃ desireth a Freedom or Life in the Pow­er, and that is, about the Wheel of ☿, thus; and is a stirring, and making a noise and

sounding, and yet has not Life; for that consisteth in Fire. This we may take into consideration, That the Desire is the ground of something, so that something may come out of nothing; and this Desire has been, and was the beginning of the World; by which, God by his [Page 35] Power, hath brought all things to a Subsistance and Being, for the Desire, by which he said, Let there be, &c. and the Desire hath made some­thing where nothing was, but only a Spirit or the Word, which is God; and he hath made a spiritual and visibile Substantiality: We may see by the Elements, Stars, and other Creatures, the first Substantiality was the Heavens, &c.

Mars is the third Quality; seeing it is so, that ♃ and ☿ excelleth in the Fire, therefore it deno­teth the first Moving, which strikes up the Fire, which is ♂, &c. which is a Stirrer, and a Cin­der of the Fire, viz. a feelingness of the break­ing off the harsh Hardness, and the ground of An­guish, viz. a Flash or Lightning, wherein the Power, Colours and Virtues, do appear in these three first Qualities or Properties, and in it con­sisteth the Ground of Anger, Hell and Darkness.

But now observe, that this Quality of Heat and Fire it self, cannot consist; for Fire desires Substantiality; and Fire hath no Substantiality; for Fire its self subsisteth not without Fuel to work upon; which Substantiality desires Meek­ness, which is Venus, and is Light or Love, that are about the Wheel.

For it's the Meekness of the outward Na­ture,

and it's that which the other before desire, and that is Water, &c. So Venus hath, and is the Fire of Love, and the World of Power and Light, wherein Darkness dwells in its self, and the Darkness comprehendeth it not.

These 6 Properties are together, viz. ♄ ☽, ♃ ☿, ♂ ♀. So these Six are united into three substantial Qualities.

[Page 36] The ☉, which is in the midst of the 6 Qua­lities, is the Heart and Centre of them all, and is the spiritual Fire, wherein the Will of God, or Unity is made. You read in the Scripture, that God placed his Tabernacle in the Sun: all comes from this Unity, which hath incorporated and united its self with the natural Desire: for the burning Properties of Heat, proceed from the sharp Devouringness of the first Qualities, as follows: The Unity or Freedom, is the soft and still Tranquility, being amiable, and as a soft comfort, easy; and it cannot be expressed, how soft a Tranquility there is without Nature, in the Unity and Freedom of God. But the▪ Qualities, in order to Nature, are sharp, pain­ful, and terrible, &c. and all is produced by the Power and Word of God.

CHAP. VII.

THE 12 Stars, are the 12 Signs in number [...] Those the Woman in the Revelatis [...] (which the Dragon would have devoured) wo [...] upon her Head, being 12 Stars, for one num­ber: She received 6 from the Spirit of the [...] [Page 37] World, and the other 6 she had from the Ele­mentary Centre, which the Word, or the Eter­nal Centre, God created, &c. Two Numbers are come into one; for God became Man, and brought two numbers into one: she wore the Angelical Zodiac, and also the Human; and so the Image in the Revelations, had 12 Stars on her Grown; the Images represent God, and its the Similitude of God, in which he revealed himself: so those 12 Signs, or 12 Stars, are 12 Signs of the Zodiac, so called:

♈ ♉ ♊ ♋ ♌ ♍ ♎ ♏ ♐ ♑ ♒ ♓

A Figura Animalium quae in eo imaginantur▪ vel quod vitam & calorem Animalibus dare cre­ditur.

But of these in another place.

From these Signs, and the 7 Properties of Na­ture, proceed four Elements; which are nothing else but only from the Arches of the inward Centre, viz. from the 4 Properties of Eternal Nature, and breathed out from the inward Centre, and formed into a working Substance.

[Page 38] Now observe the Sympathy of the 7 Proper­ties, and the 12 Signs; they have Habitations or Places wherein they delight, which are called Houses, as in this Figure.

These 7 Properties of Nature, have their De­lights, viz. ♄, ♃, ♂, ♀, ☿, in two Houses, one for the Day, and the other for Night, mark­ed with D for Day, and N for Night, as you see in the Table; but the ☉ only one, viz. the Sign ♌, and the ☽ only ♋; and their Work­ings and Operations are wonderful, and past [...]inding out; in Ruling three Kingdoms, viz. Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals.

CHAP. VIII.

[...]is manifest, that all inferior things are sub­ [...]t to superior Bodies; after a manner (as [...]roclus) they are one in the other, viz. infe­ [...]r superior, and superior or inferior; so in [...]eavens are things Terrestrial, but as in [...]auses, and in a Celestial manner: And [...] Earth are things Celestial, but after a [...]strial manner, as in effect: so here are [...]n things which are Solary, and certain [...]s Lunary; the ☉ and ☽ make a strong [...]ssion of their Virtues; whence it is, that [...] kind of things receive more Operations [...]operties, than those of the Stars and before spoken of.

[...]t, ♄. Here are many things under the [...] of Saturn and his Angel; among Ele­ [...], are Earth, and also Water: amongst Hu­ [...]s, black Choler, and that is moist, as well [...]las adventitious, adust Choser excepted, [...]gst Tastes, sowr, tart, and dead; amongst [Page 40] Metals, Lead, by reason of its Weight and Cold; amongst Stones, the Onyx, the Ziaza, the Camomus, the Saphir, the proud Jasper; and several Plants and Trees, which are endless to name here.

Secondly, ♃ and his Angel; over Elements, the Air; over Tumours, Blood, and the Spi­rit of Life; things which respect Increase and Nourishment; amongst Tastes, such as are sweet and pleasant; amongst Metals, Tin, Silver and Gold, by reason of their Temperate­ness; amongst Stones, the Hyacinth, Beril, Sa­phire, the Emerald, the green Jasper, and Airy Colours; and Power over many Herbs, &c. Corn, Barley or Wheat, &c.

Thirdly, Under the Power of ♂, and his An­gel; of Elements, Fire and sharp acid things; amongst Humours, Choler, bitter Taste, tart and burning, and causing Tears; amongst Me­tals, Iron and red Brass, and all [...]iery, red, and sulphurous things; Stones, the Diamond, Load­stone, the Blood-stone; amongst Plants, Hellebor, Garlick, and many more.

Fourthly, Those things under the Power of ♀ and her Angel, are called Venereal: first, of the Elements, Air and Water; amongst Hu­mours, Flegm, with Blood, Spirit and Seed; of Taste, those which are sweet, unctious and de­lectable; of Metals, Silver and yellow Brass; of Stones, the Beryl, Chrysolite, Emerald, Sa­phire, the Cornelia, the Stone Aetites, the La­ [...]ll, Coral, and all of a various white, fair, and green Colour; of Plants and Trees, the Vervain, Violet and Marygold, &c.

[Page 41] Fifthly, ☿ and his Angel; first, Elements, Waters, altho' it moves all things indistinctly; as for Humours; those which are mixed with the Animal Spirits; as for Tastes, those that are various and strange, and mixed; as for Me­tals, Quicksilver; and, as for Stones, the Eme­rald and Achates, red Marble, Topaze, and those which are of divers Colours; as for Plants and Trees, the Hazel; and five leav'd-Grass, the Herb Mercury, and many others.

Sixthly, ☉ and his Angel, over Elements, the lucid Flame; in Humours, the pure Blood and Spirit of Life; as for Tastes, that which is quick, and sweetens; over Metals, Gold, by reason of its Splendor; amongst those which resemble the Rise of Sol, by their golden Sparkles; as doth the glittering Stone Aetites, and the Stone called the Eye of the S [...] so in Figure, from the middle thereof, shines forth a Rise and Go­vernour over many Vegetables.

Seventhly, ☽ and her Angel; Elements, Earth and Water, of the Sea and Rivers, and all moist things, in the midst of Trees and Animals; and they which are white; as Whites of Eggs, sweet Flegm; Metals, Silver; as for Stones, those that are white and green; as also Pearl, she hath power over many Vegetables.

Here you have but a glance of the Power of those Properties of Nature over the three King­doms; and as for the full Scope and Power at large, it would make a large Volume: for my intended Business, is to shew you, what Power [Page 42] those 7 Properties and Elements have over the Bodies and Minds of Mankind. I shall only i [...] form you, that those Planets and Angels R [...] gradually and in order, and take their turns every one hath a particular Day, and also cer­tain Hours, as shall be shewn in another place.

CHAP. IX.

THE Sun, Moon and Stars, were created on Wednesday, April 22, 18. h. p. m. about 4002 Years before Christ; this I understand by the [...]ews, and many Authors, of this matter; [...] some difference is amongst them: but be­ [...] [...]ere are some Philosophers in these our d [...]l v [...]ture to give the World this Form.

[...] [...]n that the Equinoctial is not perma­ [...] fixe [...] to one day, but oftentimes va­ [...] for certain, the Sun did enter the Ver­ [...] [...]ommonly called Aries, in the Morn­in [...] [...]nesday, April 22, being on the t [...] [...]ir Creation. Thus, as the Night [...] day, so was the Moon before the [Page 42]

[Page] [Page 43] [...]n, as is seen in the Figure: this was the Opi­ [...]on of Dr. Butler.

This we may perceive, that the Body of the [...] was created in its Sphere, yet it could not [...]ave Light till the Sun arose, and was created [...]ith ☋, or the South-Node, as it was rising out [...]f an Eternal Eclipse; out of which the Sun­ [...]e awakened her.

By this Form or Out-Birth, you may perceive [...]e whole Creation; and that the Earth or World which is the black Circle in the Figure, [...]epresents the Earth in which we live; so we [...]ay plainly see and understand, that the whole World is composed round with the Starry Hea­ven and Elements: the use of which is, the Sun [...]o give Light by Day, and the Moon by Night. So the Earth is as a round Ball or Apple, hanging [...] the midst of a Glass, in the Form of a Globe.

Then observe how the two Points are oppo­site to one another, viz. the Head of the Dragon, and Tail; ☊ in the Ascendant, and ☋ in the Se­venth.

Now the Learned Astrologers tell us, that the Heavens or Starry Firmament is divided in­to 360 Degrees, as you may see in the Circle, as [...]hall be demonstrated to you at large, when we come to that Art called Astrology.

Now we have demonstrated to you the Out-Birth, viz. the Forms of the Heavens and Earth, I shall proceed in order to the fifth Work, or Day of Creation; for we could not properly call Time Night or Day, before the Sun and Moon [Page 44] was created; so on the fourth day, by the Pow [...] of the Word, the great Sol of the World ope [...] it self in the Essence, viz. the Life of the [...] and watery, wherein God created all B [...] Fish, Fowls and Worms, every one accordi [...] to its Species and Forms; viz. from its pe [...] liar Qualites of the Divine Mercury: Thus [...] Eternal Qualities have moved themselves, a [...] cording to Evil and Good, as you may perce [...] by the foregoing Instrument, or Bosom of N [...] ture, where you may see the 7 Qualities, wi [...] their Essences and Mixture; for there are [...] and good Creatures created, every thing a [...] cording to the Scripture Original in [...] light of Nature; from which it is, that all Cre [...] tures in their Kind or Quality, do love one a [...] ther. Thus we may see, how the Creatures a [...] in the Centre, before they are in themselv [...] and that he knows, willeth, foreseeth, and fo [...] ordaineth all things, and every thing together once.

Now we are come to the last Creature, whi [...] is Man, the little World, and a wonderful Pi [...] of Wisdom, Master and Ruler over all t [...] Works of the Creatures, or Creation.

Therefore I have given you, as it were, Demonstration of the great World, or Ma [...] cosm, and I shall speak of Microcosmos; as y [...] shall find in the following Book.

CHAP. I.

POsteà dixit, faciamus Hominem ad imaginem nostram, secundum similitudinem nostram: qui dominentur in Pisces maris, & in Volucreis [Page 46] Coeli, & in Pecudes, & in universam Terram; que in omnia reptilia reptantia super Terr [...] Itaque creavit Deus Hominem, ad imaginem quam Dei creavit eum: marem & foeminam [...] vit eos.

God said, Let us make Man according t [...] Image; and God created Man according to his Image: And Moses says, That God made [...] with Clay, meaning, with the Composition the Elementary Powers: for tho' Adam was [...] first Man, yet we read, that he had his Fall t [...] he had his longing and eager Desires after m [...] Fancies, which brought himself to a great M [...] demeanor: But of this Man Adam, I'll say [...] more, and let the first Species alone.

We read in Genesis, that God on the fifth d [...] created all living Creatures, at one Revoluti [...] of the Earth: so likewise you may observe [...] one Revolution more, Adam was made.

[Page 47] Now we will present you with the Opinion of Learned Philosopher, with the Paradisial [...]ound and Turning of the Heavens from its [...]st Primum Mobile, viz. two days after the ☉ [...]d ☽ were created.

Thus Adam was created in that pleasant place [...]radise, about the year before Christ 4. 002. [...]z. on April 24. at 12 a Clock, or Midnight. [...]ow this place Paradise is in Mesopotamia, where [...]e Pole is elevated 34 deg. 30 min. and the ☉ [...]eth 4 Hours sooner, than under the elevation the Pole of London: Now our curious Rea­ [...]r may be inquisitive concerning this matter. [Page 48] If you will not credit these Reasons laid d [...] pray read Josephus; there you will see some [...] of this matter, viz. of the first Primum M [...] or moving Posture of the World, and plac [...] Paradise, and Elevation of its Pole. Many [...] troversies have been about the Time and Se [...] of the Year, therefore I shall not trouble Reader any further with them. Let the S [...] pture be our Guide in this Matter; Let the [...] (saith the Word) and there was: and also [...] fifth days Work of the Creation, when the G [...] hoppers were, and the Trees sprang out; this [...] give us to understand, that the Time of Creation must have its beginning in the Spri [...]

Now for the place or Centre of the Ea [...] from whence we may observe the Poles, as a [...] mentioned in Mesopotamia, where God pl [...] Adam: So the Spring is two months soo [...] there than here with us, under the Elevatio [...] the Pole at London.

But for the Ages of the World, many h [...] endeavoured to satisfie; Dr. Butler for one.

CHAP. II.

IN the last Chapter, you have an accou [...] the first Man Adam, of his wonderful C [...] ­tion [Page 49] and Situation, who was in himself, Male and Female. But he who made all things by his Word and Power, said, it was not conveni­ent for him to live alone; so there was a Divi­sion, a Woman, called Eve, who is the Matrix of the Genetrix, and thus it stands in the Eter­nal Will; and this is the Centre of Nature un­der the Elements, Man, Microcosmos, or that little World, as the Compendium of the whole Creation, partake of both these Kinds, consisting of Soul and Body, formed of the Elements; Mo­ses tells us, of the Dust of the Ground; also he partakes of an immediate Creation, with the cor­ruptible Creatures, incontroulable in his Soul, breathed of God: therefore, in his Body he is by Nature corruptible, and his Soul immortal.

Now we will proceed on the Words before, the Female taken out of the Male, which is for Procreation, Convocation, and Multiplication; observe the Words of Moses:

Dixerat autem Jehova Deus, non est bonum esse hominem solum: faciam ei Auxilium commo­dum ipsi.

These Words implie a Unity and Familiari­ty of Adam with his Female Creature; and this to Posterity. The Philosophers in these our days, are at a stand for the Reason of that Love arising between Male and Female, telling us, it's only a strong Sympathy in Nature. But of this enough. And seeing that the first Man is the first Woman, it may be convenient to de­monstrate [Page 50] to you something of the Egg of Multiplication.

But pray give me leave, before I run on wi [...] these Demonstrations of the Human Egg of Generation, to give you a Demonstration touchi [...] this Matter in Latin, from the wise Philosoph [...] of Old, that the Reader may not want a suffciency to whet his Understanding on.

Notwithstanding their high Learning, they are in the Dark, as the Quaker saith; but An [...] stotle in some of his Works, owns, that Wome [...] have Eggs. No more of this, but I shall proceed in my former Method.

If the method be observed in the knowledg of Generation, we may be confident we have arrived at the Principles themselves; and then will appear out of what first Matter, by wh [...] Efficient, and what Possession the Plastick Pow [...] hath its Original; and then also, what progres [...] Nature makes in this Work: for both the fir [...] and remote Matter appear the clearer (being stripped naked as it were) by Negation; an [...] whatsoever is first made in Generation, that as it were the material Cause of that which succeedeth; as for Example, a Man was first Boy (because from a Boy he grew up to a Man before he was a Boy, he was an Infant; and before an Infant, he was an Embryo.

Now we must search further, what he was [...] his Mothers Womb, before he was an Embryo [...] [Page 53] Foetus; whether their Bubbles, or some rude and indigested Lump, or a Conception, or Co­agulation of mixed Seed, or whether any thing else? According to the Opinion of Writers, an Egg or Eggs is the first Centre or Production under the Elements, of the Beginning of Man: so we come all from Eggs, &c. a Description of which, I will demonstrate at large in the follow­ing Chapter.

CHAP. II.

SEeing the Figures of Human Eggs are exem­plificated to your View, we will in this Chapter speak something in particular concer­ning the Body of Man, of his Formation, and some of his Parts.

It's well known, that the Soul's Bodily Union, and Conception in the Soul, is performed, or comes to pass after this manner: beneath in the Matrix, the Woman hath no Seed; but each side of her Womb hath many little Eggs, every one of which hangs by a small Filament: and these are born with her, and are found in all Female Creatures.

CHAP. III.

♄ ITaque supremus omnium Planetarum, primo Conceptum dirigit per primum mensem ab hora Conceptionis, materiam coagulat, constringit & exsiccat; sicut enim ipsa altior est caeteris Plane­tis, & prior, ita ejus Regimen primo Creaturam hu­manam ambit & gubernat. Si itaque ipse tum benè dispositus fuerit; erit Conceptio benè dispo­sita & statuta, praesertim partes sive Foetus Ele­menta Saturno subjecta.

♃ Disponit Conceptum in utero secundo mense; qui movet ventus coagulationis; & dispondit mate­tiam, ut fiat mollis; dirigitque ventus ejus colo­rem naturalem & commiscetur cum tali vento ma­teria, erit (que) quasi Dormiens, qui semper monitur ad vigiliam, nec cessabit moveri donec forma totius accedat & in hunc Mundum Generetur.

♂ Mars, disponit Conceptum tertio mense, qui materiam illam ad sui naturam & colo­rem mutat, in formam sanguinis deducendo, virtus (que) Jovis tunc latitat & quiescit; hinc fit, quod utero [Page 64] gerens tunc habeat propter ventus Jovis moventin Matricem cum materia in ea; sed in utero terus ferè mense semper cessat nausea propter Martem, qui tertium ipsum mensem dirigit: si it aque tunc benè fortunatur, eratque sanguis nati purus, & vix ac rarissimè super abundans nisi fortè propter vi­tam inordinatam. Si vero male ipse disponitur, contrarium accidit.

☉ Oculus Mundi quartum mensem sibi vendicat, qui benigno & salutari suo calore humiditate su­perfluas siccatis Membra Principalia conformat ca­lore qua rarificat: illo etenim mense largitur omnium formarum fortitudinem, in Concep­tum dando animam rationalem. Si igitur in quar­to mense Sol ascendit ad augem, fuerit (que) in digni­tatibus suis fortis, significat perfectionem & formo­siatem vultus, quoniam tunc etiam natus erat magne potentiae eorum quae jam est adeptus.

♀ Disponit quinto mense, illo enim mense ap­paret forma Membrorum & figuratur sexus, eri­guntur que capilli, & excrescunt crines; Si ipsa tunc fuerit benè disposita, fortis, in dignitate sui, erit natus formosus, amicabilis, & plenus dulce­dine, completus in facie & Membris; Si verò fue­rit descendens, vel in domicilio Saturni, Natus e­rit deformis & turpis.

☿ Sextum Mensem disponit; sed quia ipse e [...] Planeta loquentiae & sapientiae, Doctrinae, sensus, ac nutritionis facit discretionem, ut Foetus se nutriat, & extendit Membrum Linguae, & vocalem Ar­teriam ea ratione; Foetus eo mense validius incipit percutere manibus pedibusque in Matrice, & mo­tus ejus fortificatur, appetitque exire de tenebris; [Page 65] sed nondum est tempus. Si ipse fuerit ascendens in Circulo suo, fortis, & benè dispofit us, variis ex­ornatur donis, secundum varias irradiationes bono­rum Planetarum, sin vero, contra contraria acci­dent.

☽ Luna mense septimo; tunc Foetus formam com­pletum adipiscitur in utero materno, habebit tunc fi­duciam vitae & gubernationis; si isto mense nascatur puer, erit bona spes de vita nati, propter comple­mentum significationum Planetarum.

Now to begin again; first to Saturn, then Ju­piter.

Saturnus secundario Foetum mense octavo diri­git; cujus virtute ipse infrigidatur in Matrice vis seminum, ita quod vix in ea apparent motus; & si puer eo mense exibit, eo quod siccus & conge­latus quasi est, sepissimé moritur.

Jupiter sequitur, dirigit (que) Foetus nono in mense; qui facit ventum & motum, & tunc exit puer de tenebris & angustia ventris in hunc Mundum, eri­git (que) tum Oculos ad lumen Solis, si est de die; vel ad lumen Candelae, si fuerit de nocte; miraturque de non visis, & propter loci angustiam per quem exit: quoniam constringitur & coarctatur. Incipit flere, percipiens miseriam hujus Terrestris Seculi, in quo hic filius universi sit, omiumque miseriarum subictum; ut Xenocrates in libro de morte, Axiocho recte dixerat.—Quid autem de illo (inquit) tibi videtur qui Nascentem jubet miseriam sua vitae lugere?

[Page 66] Atque haec de Mundi Principiis, & Creatione, deque hominis principiis, & vertutibus siderum, acti­onibusque, in ejus procreatione; longe aliter quam à Paracelso, aut ejusdem farinae Philosophis tradi­ta sunt, persecuti sumus; in hac itaque via per­sistentes, ad veriora progrediendum est.

So much for the Creation of the great, and and little Worlds.

But to go gradually along as I have begun, I ought to speak something of the Nature of Man, De Natura Hominis; but I find it's a large Field, insomuch that I shall forbear, and make it a Sub­ject of it self, which will be ready for the Press very speedily.

Seeing Man by Nature is prone to Am­bition, and of a lofty Mind, and apt to dive into Knowledge and secret Mysteries; it might be very proper in this place, to give you a word or two, as an Introduction to­wards my present Task in Hand, viz. We have observed in this our Elementary Life, many certain and true Rules, by which we have foretold Events to come, &c. by the Canopy of Heaven and Stars, according to their Situation.

Now finding many Fools and Self-will'd People, that will not believe what is true or [Page 67] [...]ational, or what has been experienced from the beginning of the World.

So I am not willing here to trouble my self about any Vindication of this great Work, but direct you to that fa­mous Sir Christopher Heydon's Vindication of Astrology, which may be to your con­ [...]ent.

But for your further satisfaction, I have in the following Chapter, begun from the beginning, by the first Man Adam, down to this Day, very short and brief; shewing you, first, that Adam was the first Man that took notice of the Elements, Power and Signification of the Seven Properties of Nature.

You may see in the next Chapter, how they of Old did observe the Seven Pro­perties of Nature, in observing the ill Nature of Saturn, and the good Nature of Jupiter, because he was Author of Goodness; the old Hebrews called some of their Children by that Name Jupiter; Ja­cob's Wife called her Son Gad, which is Ju­piter, because he is to give a good brisk share of Body, and a good Principle; this was observed in old time, proved by Scri­pture.

[Page 68] In the third place, we have taken notice of Eleven Particulars, where we find by general Observations, the Changes and Turnings in this Box of Elements, of Pre­servation and Destruction, &c.

Then fourthly, We prove to you, that the Starry Heavens are Books, and they are to be rolled together, in which you may read your future Hope and Fortune in the World; thereby shewing you also, that the Hebrews and others, read the Hea­vens in their own Language, making up their Letters by the motion of the Stars.

So the main reason, why I thus trouble my self about the Hebrews, and Old Mat­ters, is only to convince the Ignorant what the Truth is.

Many there be that will not believe, that they are under the Power of the Canopies of Heaven.

Alas! our Saviour Christ himself, was (as Man) under the Jurisdiction of the Elements: so your Bodies must be under subjection of those Powers.

But if you desire to know how to be a­bove the Elements in your Mind, Will, and Understanding, strive to be as Saul when he sought his Fathers Asses, Sam. [Page 69] 10. 6. And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt Prophesie with them, and shalt be turned into another Man, viz. above the Elements.

Irruetque super te, ut prophetes cum eis, & muterberis in virum alium.

CHAP. IV.

ADam being the first Man, knew well that he was placed under the Elements, and he observed their Powers also.

This is prov'd by Josephus, that Adam and Seth were the first that practised this Science, or Power of the Elements; and that Abraham, when he fled into Egypt, taught it the Egyptians: this Truth hath so much the more force in it, in that it proceedeth from a Man whose Authority is unquestionable; so that we may perceive, that Pliny was much mistaken, when he affirmed, that none but Atlas was the Author of it: Besides, we are very certain, that Astrology was in use long before Atlas. Some say, that B [...]lus was [Page 70] the first that invented Astrology, and some as­sure us, the Phaenicians were the Men. But sup­pose it be so as others will have it, the Assyrians were the Inventers of it; yet still will it be true, that the Patriarchs were the Men, forasmuch as Abraham was an Assyrian, and his Predecessors were Phaenicians, a Colony of Assyrians having gone into Phoenicia. But if you will believe the Report of the two Pillars, which were erected before the Flood, upon one of which, all the Rules of Astrology was Engraven by Seth, and was preserved down to the very time that Josephus lived in, who assirms himself to be an Eye-wit­ness of it: and by this we may see, that the first Man had understanding in the Motions of the Heavens. In my foregoing Chapters, I have described to you, what Instruments the ancient Hebrews figured out their Astrology by, and the Table of Atlas discovered.

CHAP. V.

FOR consirmation then of what we have here proposed, we read in Genesis, that Leah, Jacob's Wife called one of her Sons by the name [Page 71] of the Planet ♃, which is called Gad; under which no doubt, he was born: Et peperit Zilpah, says the Latin, following the Original, ancilla Leah ipsi Jacob filium, & ait Leah, [...], Bagad, & vocavit nomen ejus Gad; the vulgar Transla­slation and St. Hierome, instead of Bagad trans­late Faeliciter, which is the same with, cum bo­na Fortuna: as it is proved by St. Augustine, who reprehendeth those that collected from the Text, that the Ancients worshipped Fortune; Unde videtur (saith he) non bene intelligentibus dari tanquam illi homines Fortunam, coluerint, &c. And that it may clearly and evidently appear, that the vulgar Translation understands by [...], Gad, fortuna bona, which is given to the Planet Jupiter; turn to Isaiah 65. 11. Thus you may observe, that in old time the nature of the Pla­nets was much observed.

Now if it be demanded, why do we not then any where else, meet with the like Example? Jacob Ben Samuel answered, That this was ob­served chiefly, by reason of the Jealousy that was between the two Sisters Leah and Rachel, Ja­cob's Wives; for Leah seeing that her Sister had two Children already, which made her so proud, that she began to boast, Comparavit me Deus cum sorore mea: fearing, lest that after she should have given over Child-bearing, her Sister would have the upper-hand of her, and that she should be no longer beloved of her Husband; she gave her Maid unto him, and caused him to go in un­to her; and as soon as she perceived her to be with Child, she observed so well the time of her [Page 72] falling in Travel; and seeing her bring forth a Man-Child, and that under the Planet ♃ too, as she had learned from her Husband to speak, she counted her self to be more happy than her Si­ster, and would have him to be called by that name, Fortuna.

These are the Astrological Observations of these Patriarchs, and which were Holy and Re­ligious, in that they wrought in these good Men a continual Admiration of the Works of God.

But those that came after them, mixed Super­stition with this Astrology of their Forefathers; it came in a short time to be corrupted, and to lose its first Purity.

You see in the very Beginning, that there was Enquiry after Fortune and Riches.

CHAP. VI.

First, KNowledge proceeds from Him who first created all things, who appeared in a Bush of Fire, and told us what he was, viz. I am your God, &c.

[Page 73] Secondly, He sends his Angels and bright Spi­rits, to tell us of things to come in this our Ele­mentary Life.

Thirdly, We are come now to take notice of the Canopy of Heaven, and the Elements, for our Observation, or Knowledge of Things to come. Here is a question; Whether it's possi­ble to read any things in the Clouds, and in o­ther Meteors? Answ. Many ways; first, Read­ing may be understood by Visible Signs, whe­ther it be in Letters, Characters, Marks, Ci­phers, Staves, Torches, Darts, Javelins, Knots, Streaks, Colours, Holes, Points, living Crea­tures, or any other sensible thing. Now all those Figures or Signs may be represented in the Clouds three manner of ways; first, By Letters, or known Characters; secondly, By Hierogly­phicks; and lastly, By Signs and Marks.

Fourthly, The most intelligible Signs, Marks, or Characters, that are Figured in the Clouds, are Armed Men, Battels, &c. which appear in order for many Days together, and do give no­tice to Man of some sensible Event to come, and that to the great astonishment of all those Men that would reduce all things to the Principles of Philosophy. Twenty-four Years before the Birth of our Saviour Christ, there were two Ar­mies seen to encounter each the other in the Air, miraculous to be seen: the running of their Horses, the voice of Men, and the clashing of their Armour. Soon after was this Vision made known to the World: for Marius and Sylla, by their Factions, making as it were a Shambles of [Page 74] the Field, were the cause of so much Bloodshed (Joseph. de Bel. Jud. l. 7. c. 12.) The Romans ne­ver received a greater Blow.

Many such Instances we may speak of ne [...] home, but I am afraid my Book will swell too big

The Philosopher gives us these Verses to the same effect:

Englished thus:

Fifthly, Observation of Knowledge is from the Air, the Clouds being a Representation of things here below, and consequently purely natural, and are formed by the Providence of God. Of this latter Kind, are those spoken of by the Author of the History of the Maeccabees, where Judas fighting in Heavens Quarrel, had an Apparition sent him, of five Horsemen appea­ring in the Air, which pursued his Enemies strongly, that above 20000 fell on the place; [Page 75] besides, this Prodigy happened also in a clear day, when the Air was not darkned with Clouds. So, I may be of the opinion with Car­dan and Pomponatus; that oftentimes, we may see in the Air or Cloud, as in a Looking-glass.

Sixthly, Now we come to that of Rain, wherein we can make no other use of Reading, but by Hieroglyphicks; and of this kind is the Raining of Blood, or Water of the Colour of Blood, such as fell in Switzerland, Anno 1534. which fell upon Peoples Cloaths in the form of Crosses.

Picus Mirandula hath given a large Copy of Verses; among which, you have the Story of a wonderful Deliverance, as followeth:

The same kind of Rain figured like Crosses, which hapned in the time of Julian the Apo­state; it signified, the Sufferings of the Church, and the Ignominy of the Cross, as you may see in the Chronicle for several Years, as 747, 783, 959, 1503, 1507. you shall find, the like has been the Forerunner of such Truths. It hath been observed in Germany, that an intollerable Dearth [Page 76] happened, to despair; they were suddenly com­forted by a Showre of Wheat, which was [...] to fall from the Clouds, signifying a great plenty of Corn.

Seventhly, Also Meteors, tho' they are natu­rally produced, do yet sometimes serve for Sig [...] which God makes use of when he intendeth t [...] communicate unto us some Secrets. As for the Wonders of the Israelites, they were in Hebre [...] Letters or Characters; [...], Vau, very perfectly expressed: and this was the reason, (say they) that the Israelites wondering at this Character [...] Vau, saying one to another, [...], Manh [...]n, viz. What meaneth this [...], Vau? and so on to a thousand Mysteries, and raising strange kinds of Significations, Exod. 6. When they saw this Letter, which is numb. 6, signifying, that six days of the Week, they were to gather their Manna.

This [...] Vau signifies, the Misery and Sorrow wherewith God threatned them for Murmuring; they say, it's the Hieroglyphick of Labour & Ser­vitude, appears out of Levit. 25. Exod. 21. and signifies Labour; they were to work six days.

The Meteors or Signs in the Heavens, have produced great things in these our Days; but being frequent, I shall not mention them. But the Observation of the Jews is something pretty.

Eighthly, Snow, Hail and Fro [...]t, do sometimes bear strange Characters, the Reading whereof we will not neglect: There have been often seen, strange Figures, which have born a Cross, [Page 77] a Buckler, a Heart, or a Death's Head. It's not many years since those Hieroglyphical Figures were seen in Provence; and soon after a destru­ction of Beasts: and a little while after that, this miserable Country had their Fields covered with Souldiers, and all their strong Places Be­sieged and Assaulted, with so much Bloodshed, that the very Memory of it will be always grievous unto them. The Story of these Figures confirms that which Cornelius Gemma hath ob­observed, in these words, Inventa est saepius Grando cui futurarum rerum manifest ê ut more Clypei, aut Pugnae, aut Crucis insculpta imagines spectarentur. Kepler hath observed, that the Snow is not without its Wonders: but no more of this.

Ninthly, The Rainbow, one of the most No­ble Meteors that is formed in the Clouds, name­ly, that the Figure of it (as R. Capel says) repre­sents the Letter [...] Caph, which the Jews writes in this manner [...], which might be the reason why God placed it in the Heavens, to be a sor­rowful Memorial of the Deluge; for this Letter stands for 20, which is the number of Sorrow. Jacob served in Laban's House 20 Years; Joseph was sold for 20 Pieces of Silver; the flying Roll, wherein was written the Sins of all Men, and was 20 Cubits long; and at 20 years of Age the Is­raelites began to serve in the Wars.

Helena in Homer, complain'd of her own Misfortune, takes notice of this number 20.

[Page 78] Also the Poets, when they expressed any thing of Sorrow, in this Number 20. Thus Ulys­ses is reported, to have undergone 20 years Misfortune.

Many more of the like nature are produced by Bungus.

Tenthly, Comets are the chiefest, which are in use in the Discovery of such Secrets, which is usually the Death of Princes. Julius Caesar died shortly after the appearance of a Comet; this is no News: But we may take an Example of this present Time, where effects of a Comet is fresh in mind; I saw my self, with many others, a strange Comet but two days before the Duke of Monmouth was taken in the West, and a Bla­zing Star over all Europe, before the Death of K. Charles II. These are the true Signs, which God is pleased to foretell of great Troubles to come.

I will give you the words of Virgil.

They do not only respect Death of Kings and Princes, but also of great and mortal Diseases, Drought, and Barrenness of Fruit, a strange Heat in the Air.

[Page 79] Eleventhly, Here is another sort of Reading, which might be perform'd in the Air; first, it may be taken from the flying of Cranes; of which St. Jerom saith, Grues viam sequuntur [...]dine literato; flying in order, and keeping their Ranks: at an instant that the Wind turns, by this means they defend themselves from Assaults; for on which side the Eagle comes, he encoun­ters with nothing but Bills; just as a Body of Horse setting upon a Body of Foot, meets with [...]othing but Points and Pricks.

Now the Letters and Forms, shews us only the diversity of the Winds, or else their manner of ordering themselves in Battel; the History of Birds and Fowls of the Air, is wonderful in knowledge and Apprehension, too large for [...]is Place.

But meeting with a Verse of Ovid, touching this matter, I must go on further. Many call Ovid a Heathen; if so, he was a witty one.

Observation hath been taken, from the meet­ing together of the two Superior Properties of Nature, viz. ♄ and ♃, in matters of the Church, Laws and Governments, which may [Page 80] well be the Alteration of Kings, Princes [...] Governments, &c. being Seven in number.

• The first meeting of ♄ and ♃ from the be­ginning of Times, was in 600 years of the world, viz. 3200 before Christ.
• The second was in the year of the World 1600.
• The third did fall out 2400, which was 1600 years before Christ.
• The fourth, in the year 3200 of the World.
• The fifth, the coming of Christ 4000 years of the World.
• The sixth falls out in 800 years after Christ which was 4800 years of the World.
• And the seventh was 1600 years after Christ.

Now the Effects or Wonders of them, are, [...] First, Under Enoch; his name signifies (Cate­chised) as, Gen. 14. 14. (Chanikan,) Catechised or Trained up in Religion as well as Warfare [...] he was taught of God to walk with God; he [...] ­ved 360 years before his Translation, after good pleasing Life; he was as the Patriar [...] were, viz. as a chief Bishop in his time; and [...] his Labours the Church was preserved in [...] Age.

CHAP. VII.

REader, did you never take notice of the Celestial Writing, seeing that the Scri­pture so plainly speaks of it?

Pray take notice of this curious piece of Anti­quity: Seeing that the Heavens are Books, and at the last day, they are to be rolled together, as a Book or Rolls; therefore they must have Let­ters. And I am willing to give you the method of the ways of the Old Hebrews, who searched after the Heavenly Writing for News.

And for confirmation of this, observe a Book, [Page 85] Entituled, Narratio Joseph, in his time highly in esteem amongst all Men; wherein the Patri­arch Jacob gave his Blessing to all his Children, telling them, That he had read in the Tables of the Heavens, all that ever was to befall them and their Posterity. Legi (saith he) in Tabulis Coeli quaecunque contingent vobis, & filiis vestris. Where the same Original concludes as well in this Tract, as in this Question, Utrum Stellae a­liquid Agant? as in his Book, De Facto, chap. 6. That the greatest Mysteries may assuredly be read in the Heavens, by reason that the Stars are disposed and ordered there, in the Form of Characters. Nay, John Damascene says, That they are CLEAR MIRROURS; inti­mating, that we may see distinctly see there, even as far as to the most secret motions of our Souls, which was the Saying of St. Augustine.

For my part, I shall not question the Truth of it, but proceed to the Practical Part, as the He­brews did in their Hebrew Characters: This Holy Language being the first in the World, and sometimes there are New Stars, which take their Method thus:

As for Example, in this Word AKE, if one add an L, it will be no longer AKE but LAKE, or if in the middle of a Word, or this Word; as thus an R, it will alter the Word, and make it ARKE; so that we see one Letter, as an L or an R, absolutely change the whole sence; in the same manner is it with the Stars, where the New Stars are added, varieth both in the Writing and Sence.

CHAP. VIII.

TO perfectly understand this Celestial Wri­ting, we must observe the Vertical Stars; for, those which are over a Kingdom (saith A­bindan) do shew whatever is like to befall it, and as the Astrologers observe in this our time.

Now saith the Author of this Celestial Wri­ting, We know that these Mutations shall hap­pen on the Earth, because we see they are writ­ten in the Heavens: And this is the reason, that R. Chomer affirms, that the aforesaid Medusa's Head, or the Stars that compose it, did foretell the lamentable Desolation of Greece; because, that five of the principal Stars did for a good while together, make up this Word:

Which is in the Conjugation Charab Second, signifying, to be Desolate; understanding particularly this of Greece, over which these [Page 87] Stars did shine; because that the number of its Letters, which are Jod, Vau, Nun, and which being put together, make up [...] Javan, that is to say, Greece doth yield the same number that Charab doth; as you may behold in the follow­ing Example.

[Page 88] According to these Principles, any Man might fore-see by the putting the Stars together of the same Constellation, the destruction that Italy was threatned with.

One Junctin, and Italian Priest, who was a great Astrologer, hath these words:

Illud verò (saith he, speaking of this Medusa's Head,) nunc Apuliae & Neapolitanorum Reg­no est verticale, moxque Italiam invadet; quibus suam quoque cladem allaturum esse, maximopere est verendum.

Now how long before-hand, these Celestial Letters do fore-shew the Changes that are to happen, you are to take notice of the Hebrew Letters before-mentioned.

In the next place, the method how to be able to understand this Celestial Writing; we must learn to know the true Stars, as Oriental, Occi­dental, Meridional, and Septentrional; the Quar­ters of the Heavens are very essential in this way of Reading: For if we desire to know the good Fortune and Prosperity of a Kingdom, or any other Affair, we must read those Letters which are vertical to it, or which want not much of being so, from the West towards the East; and if you would be informed of the ill Fortune, look out, and read from the North towards the West.

This is the way of the Hebrews. Now con­cerning the Rules laid down; some certain Se­crets of this Celestial Writing, which are spoken of by R. Rapol, Chomer and Abindan, which are [Page 89] the Three which have most written on this Sub­ject. I have before shewn you, how the Stars of the Constellation, called Caput Algol, being ver­tical to Greece, did foreshew the Destruction of it. The like is to be observed in the rest of the Stars, when they are vertical to any other Kingdom; tho' they are ordered, and are to be understood otherwise.

Some time before the Temple of Jerusalem was burnt and consumed by Nabuzaradan, it was observed, that Eleven of the Stars that were the most vertical to it, composed for a considerable time together, these five Letters:

and being joined together, makes up this word, (reading it from the North to the West) Hicks­chich, which signifies to reject and forsake, with­out any Mercy, and the number of Three of them added together, comes to 423, which is the space of time that this stately piece of Build­ing had stood.

Also, before the Jews saw their Scepter cast down to the ground, and their Liberty carried Captive unto Babylon, five Stars were for a long time together, observed to compose these three Mystical Letters:

[Page 90] a word, which signifies to break, cast down, and to drive out; and the number of the Letters, which is 505, was the number of years that the Jewish Kingdoms had stood, from Saul to King Zedechias.

Thus the Persians or Assyrians, who were the ruine of the Monarchy of the Jews, saw the Pe­riod of their own Empire; after that, four of the Vertical Stars had composed these 3 Letters,

which makes up the Number 208, which was the time of the Duration of this Monarchy, which was founded by Cyrus. At the end of which, the Grecian Empire was likewise fore-shewn by four Stars, which made

up the Verb Parad, which signifies to divide; and that in this wonderful manner, as that the very same Letters did produce the number of years that the Monarchy lasted, and took his be­ginning at that time that Alexander the Great subdued the last Durius: R. Chomer says, that this Celestial Writing, hath pointed out the de­clining of two great Empires of the East, one is [Page 91] that of the Turk, which was observed seven Vertical Stars, which being read from the West to the East, makes up this Word:

which signifies to be Battered, Feeble, Languish­ing, and drawing to an End.

Many more such-like Examples we may pre­sent the Reader with, concerning this Celestial Writing, but this may give an insight of the method and way of reading the Will of God in that Heavenly Book, which is said to be at the last Day rolled together as a Roll of Parchment.

But if these few Examples are not sufficient for your Understanding, pray read my Authors, Ropol, Chomer and Abindan; there you will find it expressed, that it's not every one that can read these Hebrew Letters, or Celestial Writing, but whom God is pleased to give that Gift of Reading; as, none but Daniel, who was a just Man, none but he could interpret those Visions.

Remember still, that the Elementary Life of Man is very Changeable and Transitory; it's na­tural for all Men to be inquisitive after future Changes and Alterations during their Lives, see­ing it's as a Bubble, or as a Snip tossing up and down by the Waves of the Sea.

CHAP. I.

[...], DIVINATIO, signifies no more but Elementary and Earthly things; the searching after which, concerns the Trans­actions of our Lives here below, by the Power of the superiour Bodies of the Four Elements [Page 94] and Seven Properties of Nature, which we have formerly spoken of, and also the Twelve Signs (♈ ♉ ♊ ♋ ♌ ♍ ♎ ♏ ♐ ♑ ♒ ♓) of the Heavens, which sympathize with our Bodies and Actions at home, and produce good or ill Fortune.

To be more plain, we may call it by this name, Sortitor, Consortitor: Take your Lott, or cast your Lott.

Let us speak a Word or two of Providence.

Quid sit Providentia?

Verum esse Providentiam, cum per haec apertum est, tam per ea quae dicentur, deinceps elucescet: dicamus igitur quid sit Providentia. Providentia est rerum procuratio, à Deo suscepta. Definunt eandem sic; Providentia est Dei voluntas, per quam omnia quae sunt, aptè gubernantur: quod si Dei volunt as est providentia, necesse est recta ra­tione, & optimè, & divinissimè, & qua sola ra­tione recte se habeant fieri quae sunt, neque melioris ordinis esse capacia. Necesse est autem eundem esse qui res efficiat, & effectis provideat. Neque enim rectum est, nec decet, alium efficere, alium ea quae effecta sint procurare; nam hoc quidem certe imbecillitatis est: multa sunt etiam in Ani­malibus simulachra, & imagines eorum quae dixi­mus: Quidquid enim genuit, cibum quoque foetui procurat; & Homo etiam de caeteris omnibus quae ad vitam degendam spectant, quoad ejus fieri potest prospicit: Quae vero non provident, ob imbecillita­tem non provident. Quare ostensum est, Deum esse qui provideat, & Providentiam esse ejusdem.

[Page 95] Thy Lott and thy Providencs are in general, all things that thou canst enjoy in this Elementary Life; and God is the Fountain and Free-giver, and gives thee Rules and Understanding to know them.

This is inter nos, amongst us, or our selves; to know whether the Lott will be good or ill, is my present Task in this Chapter: but before we go on, a word or two concerning the word LOTT; it has two significations, it is first counted a square Thing, as a Dye, or other thing cast into a Pitcher or Pot, thence to be drawn out again, to end Strife or Difference.

This is not our meaning: But to take our Lott from him who made all things, Acts 1. 26. not that the Event of a Lott comes from Stars, Fortune-tellers, Devils or Saints, but from God only, whose priviledge is, to order the Successi­on of them. This we own as a Truth; but we are not unsensible, but that God hath laid open his Heavenly Book before our Eyes, and given [...]s Knowledge, from the Heavenly Motions and Influences of the glorious Light of his Will and Intentions towards mortal Men. Tho' we find good Fortune proceeding from the Beams of ♃, or ill from ♄, we are to look to God, from whence it comes, and on ♃ or ♄ as Messengers from him: To cast Lotts upon a People, to challenge Lordships and Power over a People, to dispose of them at their pleasure, as Men account that which is their own, which by casting a Lott, falls to be their Portion, Joel 3. 3. Many pla­ces [Page 96] in Scripture may be to our purpose; but th [...] may satisfy us, as to divide a thing by Lott.

We all have a desire by Nature, to know what may be had by Lott.

On my Vesture did they cast Lotts.

The whole Verse runs thus:

Et quum crucifixissent eum, dispertiverunt [...] stimenta ejus Sorte.

CHAP. II.

CHAP. III.

THese Questions or Desires, are divided into 12 Parts; so also are the Heavens divided into Numb. 12. being twelve Divisions, an­swering in particular these twelve Questions.

Take an Example as followeth.

[Page 106] The Parts of Man's Body is signified by 12 Parts, or Signs of the Zodiack.

Example.

These are the Deys which you may cast your Lotts withal, and the same which the Indians, Caldeans and Hebrews, made use of, as their good Angels, in directing their Hands to know Good or Ill in this Life: And it lyes in Dark­ness to this Day, by reason it's in Hebrew or in strange Characters, which are unknown to us; and by that reason, many are afraid of this Art, because of the VVord Geomancy or Conjuration.

Now in plain English, it's no more than the 12 Signs of the Zodiack, and the 7 Properties of Nature, or Rulers of the VVorld, which we have formerly spoken of, viz. ♄ ♃ ♂ ☉ ♀ ☿ ☽, composed and joined together, according to Strength, VVeakness, or Meanness.

[Page 110] Take the Example by this Table.

This Table being so plain, it needs no fur­ther Explanation: therefore we will proceed to shew you, how to project a Figure, wherein you may understand your Lott.

[Page 111] First consider, before thou Raisest these 16 Lotts, that it's a Divine Work; for it's the Di­vine Power above, or thy good Angel which guides thy Hand: Therefore be thou prudent [...] all this Matter, free thy self from Passion and Malice: Let not thy Head or Fancy be cap­tivated with strong Wine: for if thou art vain and childish in this Work, thou wilt bring thy self to Disgrace; for in it lyes a great Myste­ry, in Raising those Figures by an Angelick Hand.

I shall say no more; but pray mind the Ground-work, and consider from whom thy Lott comes; it's from him which is the Maker of all things, which gives thee thy Lott, and casts thy Dey for thee.

CHAP. IV.

HEre you shall have an Example, in order that you may make Strokes, Stars, Circles, Pricks; as thus:

[Page 112] When thou goest about these, look on th [...] four Fingers; for you are to prick four lines, o [...] longer than the other, as your Fingers are which serves for the first Element, and four line [...] more for the second Element, and four mo [...] for the third, and so for the fourth, &c. a [...] at every end of the Lines, leave Two, or One But number them not when you prick the [...] down, but follow this Example:

Remains [...]

Now I would know what would Remain? take my Pen and bring two and two together, [...] you may observe in the uppermost Line.

And as this,

Remains [...]

So this in Pricks.

Remains 1.

So couple them together, and you will [...] what will remain.

[Page 113] Now we will Frame the four Elements, or four Figures, as follows.

Behold the first four Lines; the odd makes [...] the first Figure, and the other 3, 4 lines, make [...] in all 1, 2, 3, 4 Figures, which are set in or­ [...]r in the following Page.

[Page 114]

These four are called the Increase or Ma [...] from whence all the other Figures are Pr [...] ­ced; the first is attributed to the Fire, the [...] con [...] to the Air, the third to the Water, and [...] fourth to the Earth. From these four, co [...] four more, in taking of the first four Heads [...] Stars for the first Figure, the second Stars for [...] second Figure, the third Rank of Stars for [...] third Figure, and the lower Rank for the [...] Figure; which makes Eight Figures.

Now from these 8 Figures, you are to mak [...] four more.

Observe, you must take the first Stars [...] the first, and two Figures just under them: i [...] the Stars be even, so place them: and if they be uneven, as one: so the two Figures: and so of the third and fourth: you must do as mu [...] [Page 115] [...]o make the ninth Figure, as you did the first and second, and also the tenth, eleventh and twelfth; [...] here by Example.

Now we will shew you, how to frame the Witness and the Judge, out of the foregoing Fi­ [...]re: The Witness called Right, is taken from [...]m the ninth and tenth Figure, the Left is from [...] eleventh and twelfth; and from the two Witnesses we form the Judges; and if those are [...]od Figures, the Demand will be good; if ill, [...] will come to a bad End.

[Page 116] Here is the whole Figure in the old Fashion.

[Page 117]

[Page 117] This is the Way and Method of Raising your Lotts, which are 16 in all, and cannot be more, and by those well understood, you may see how Transitory your Elementary Life is: But to be more plain, we will make use of these Lotts in the manner and form as the Astrologer doth, viz. in 12 Divisions of the Heavens or Earth, which you please to call it, and the two Wit­nesses and Judges in the Model. Behold the Figure on the other side.

Thus, after you have raised your Lotts of Fi­gures, you may easily transform them in this manner as you see, viz. into Signs and Planets united, as you have in the foregoing Tables, or as in this Figure, where you have the true Me­thod and Form of all your Lotts in English Names; for we have cast off all the strange and hard Characters and Names of the Arabians, Hebrews, Greeks and Latins, because you should not be frightned thereby, or of the Word Geo­mancy or Conjuration, &c.

CHAP. V.

IN this Chapter, you will be shewn the great Strength, Ability, Force and Power of those 16 Lotts, and how the Divine Spirits are infused into the 16 Figures, by the Seven Properties of Nature, by the Power of him which made the World, and how the Planets and Spirits are in­corporated into the Figures.

All inferior Bodies are exemplified by the su­perior Powers or Spirits, which are above our Bodies, Minds or Souls.

They place themselves very intelligibly in the Soul of the World, differing the one from the other by absolute Forms; so that all Power in God, is but one Form; but in the Soul of the World, they are many: they are placed in the midst of all things; whether they be joined to the Body, or separated from the Body; by a certain Participation they are placed in Na­ture, as certain small Seeds of Forms, are infused by the Power above.

[Page 119] They are placed also in those 16 Figures; whereon the Shapes and Properties of Virtues of inferiour Species, as also their Properties do depend; so that every distinct Lott or Figure, hath its Power that is suitable to its Form: which also proves a wonderful Power, according to the Disposition of things, good or ill; for all these Influences, these Figures may be received, and may also be hindred by the indisposition of the Matter, or according to the Person, or his Quality: such is the signification of the Lotts, which receive Virtue and Power from above: Thus the Seven Properties and their Powers are incorporated into these 16 Lotts, and are the cause of the Virtue of the Figures, of their Signi­fication, of their Product, and all things past, present, and to come.

In the next place, those that intend to under­stand the Lotts aright, must know their Ele­ments. By which, you may see from whence all things come, whence Mankind and Beasts; whence Fire, Rain, Snow and Earthquakes are; the great Sea-beats over her Banks, and then a­gain returns; whence the Power and Strength of Herbs, Courage and Rage of Brutes, all kind of Stones, and all sorts of Worms, &c.

[Page 120]

[Page 121] First, The Element of Fire is the Principle of all the other; for it's the reception of all Ce­lestial Rays and Influences; in it are contained Seminal Virtues of all things.

Secondly, The Element of Water is wonder­ful, and to be admired; for there is so great a necessity of Water, that there is no living Creature can live without it; the moistnings of Water can bring forth in it the Seminary Virtues of all Vegetables, &c.

Thirdly, The Element of Air, is a Vital Spi­rit passing through all things, and gives Life to all Living or Breathing whatever, and unites its self into all mixed Bodies.

Fourthly and Lastly, These four Elements are the ground of all compounded things, viz. Fire, Air, Water and Earth; of which all Elementa­ry inferiour Bodies are comprehended, not by way of heaping up together, but by Transmu­tation and Motion; and when they are de­stroy'd, they are dissolv'd into Elements again: for there is none of the sensitive Elements that are pure, but they are more or less mixed, and apt to be changed one into the other.

CHAP. VI.

First, THE Spring Quarter hath these four Lotts in order, four in every Quar­ter, as followeth:

[Page 123] In Divisions of Elements, as,

• First, Fiery, hot and dry, ☉ dir. ♒. ☿ dir. ♎. ♃ dir. ♈. ♄ ♂ ♐.
• Secondly, Cold and Earthy, ♀ retr. ♎. ☿ retr. ♍. ♄ dir. ♓. ♃ ☿ ♍.
• Thirdly, Airy, hot and moist, ♀ dir. ♋. ♀ dir. ♎. ♄ retr. [...] ☉ retr. ♉.
• Fourthly, Watry, cold, ☽ full ♑. [...] retr. ♉. ☽ dec. ♌. ♄ retr. ♊.

• First, Over the Fire, trip ☉ rules by Day, ♃ by Night.
• Secondly, Over the Earth, trip. ♀ rules by Day, ☽ by Night.
• Thirdly, Over the Air, trip. ♄ rules by Day, ☿ by Night.
• Fourthly, Over the Watry, trip. ☽ rules by Day and Night.

Now Eight of these are Masculine, and the other Feminine; The Masculine are these in La­tin; Albus, Fortuna Major, Puella, Acquisitio, Tristitia, Populus, Caput Draconis.

The Female, are Amissio, Via, Conjunctio, Ru­ [...], Carcer, Laetitia, Fortuna Minor, and Cauda Draconis.

The English Names are as follows:

1. Wh [...]e, 2. Great Fortune. 3. Girl. 4. Obey­ing. 5. Sa [...]ness. 6. People. 7. Height. 8. Lost. 9 Way. 10 Together. 11. Red. 12. Prison. 13. [...]y. 14. Little Fortune. 15. Below. 16. Youth, [...] Beardless Boy.

[Page 124] Example: If you find a Masculine Lott in a Masculine House, governed by a Masculine Pla­net, it shews the Person to be manly; if Fe­male, more womanly, &c.

These Lotts are Quadrupeian; viz. Youth, Joy, great Fortune, Obeying, Prison, all four-footed Creatures.

Fruitful People, Red, Low, Joy, Way.

Barren, White, Great Fortune, Together, Sad.

Courteous, are, White, Together, Sad, Girl,

Slow-voic'd People, Way, Red, Low, Joy.

The use by way of Example: Suppose you have those Figures and Planets incorporated in­to the Ascendant, as Puer, Amissio, Fortuna Major, Fortuna Minor, Acquisitio, Caput Draco­nis, Carcer, Cauda Draconis: The condition of the Party is something of the nature of the Crea­ture which the Planets, Figures or Lotts, signi­fie. If the Lott be Puer, the Man or Person is rash and hasty, &c. if Amissio, stedfast and resolved, his Countenance or Complexion swar­thy, and so on; for the Signs and Planets signi­fie any thing that may be proposed. Consider always, the Strength and Weakness, good or ill by Nature: If we find when a Question is ask­ed, That Albus, Conjunctio, Puella, or Tristitia, is in the Ascendant, then we may expect the Party to be of civil Carriage, very easy to be Pleased, and of a good Understanding.

[Page 125]

[Page 126] This Table differs but little from that of A­strology, only for your satisfaction, to see how the Lotts or Figures are united in Nature with the Signs and Planets.

First, Planets. Secondly, Figures. Thirdly, Houses. Fourthly, Exaltation. Fifthy, Tri­plicity. Sixthly, Detriment, Loss and Fall.

• First, You have that Figure or Lott called Puer; it tells you, that he is of the nature of the Sign ♈, and his Planet ♂, and of his House.
• Secondly, You have the Planets House by Day and Night; if you find it so in a Question, it's as a Man in his own Castle, strong and powerful.
• Thirdly, If in his Exaltation, as a Man proud, and without fear or care.
• Fourthly, In Triplicity, as a Man in Business or Trading.
• Fifthly, If in his Detriment, as a Man going the way of Ruine.
• Sixthly, If in his Fall, as a Man ruined, or in Prison.

CHAP. VII.

NOw Direction and Retrogradation are two. First, Dir. signifies, a Man to go swift in [...]is Business or Trade; then Retr. signifies, one to decay, or to consume his Money.

This following Table of Lotts, gives you to understand, what Figure or Lott is Direct, and which Retrograde, and signified by three Letters; as I have shewn in my first Demonstra­tion of the Figures, or Lotts.

[Page 128]

[Page 129] We have already told you, that this Work is divided in 12 parts or Houses: Now observe, some are good, and some again are ill.

• First, Good, 1, 10, 11,—Houses.
• Secondly, Mean, 2, 3, 4, and 9,—Houses.
• Thirdly, The Evil, 6, 7, 8, and 12,—Houses.

Observe these Rules, and you will have Knowledge.

[Page 132] The Aspects of the Houses, and the Figures, you may see by the Table on the other side.

The Use of this Figure, is of great conse­quence; the outwardmost, are 12 Lotts or Fi­gures; the second, is their Nature, as to Mas­culine and Feminine; the third, is the 12 Signs of the Zodiack, with their Elements, being uni­ted with the 12 Houses, &c.

Then lastly, in the middle, you have the Lines and Aspects from one House to another, both dexter and sinister; the first House begins with the Sign ♈, and so in order; which will give you a clear light of the usefulness of your Lotts, either for good or ill: A Figure in the first House, beholds another in the eleventh House with a Sextile dexter Aspect, and so of the rest.

The Houses are fix'd, movable, and common.

• First, Fix'd, 2, 5, 8 and 11—Houses.
• Secondly, Common, 3, 6, 9 and 12—Houses.
• Thirdly, Moveable, 1, 4, 7 and 10—Houses.

Albus and Laetitia, are double-Bodied.

[Page]

[Page 133] Observe, what by a Figure or Lott is here meant.

Acquisitio is raised by Pricks, as,

And taken for the Nature, Virtue and Power of ♃ dir. in ♈, which makes a complete Figure, as ♃ dir. ♈, joined and united together, as one Body, and so of the rest; Planets are join­ed to the Figures, some Retrograde some Direct, which differs much from the Rules of Astrolo­gy: for they place ♂ in ♈, and ♀ in ♎, &c. but ours are select Bodies.

On the other side, I will give you a Table of the Hours of the Lotts, and the Planets.

CHAP. VIII.

IN my former Chapter, I have demonstrated to you, near Two hundred Questions to be Answered, naturally desired in this Elementary Life, and easily to be answered by these Lotts: As you may see, the Questions are divided in 12 Parts, or Houses; therefore, when you have a Question to be resolved, turn your Eyes to the foresaid Chapter, and you will find what House it belongs to.

[Page 138] As for Example; If for your self, the first House or Ascendant; if for Money or Goods, the second; if concerning Brothers or Sisters, the third; if the Father, the fourth; if Pleasure and Children, the fifth; and so of the rest. Mind still, that the Ascendant is for him that asks the Question, and the other Houses are to answer the Question: and according to the Nature, Power and Strength of your Lott or Figure, judge of the Matter or Thing enquired after, either good, or ill Success, &c. Here follow certain Tables, which are the Foundation of the whole Work.

Note, That you are to vary your Judgment according to the Houses, Aspects and Company, both for stature of Body, and Nature: or if a good Figure be in a good House, it augments the goodness; but if an ill Figure be in an ill House, it multiplies the evil; which makes a cursed Per­son for all ill: If you find a good Figure in a bad House, you may suppose, it will be good for the present, and will last but a small time; and so judge according to Reason.

The good Houses, 1, 5, 10, 11. The mean, 2, 3, 4, 9. The ill, 6, 7, 8 and 12. Also consi­der the Strength and Weakness of the 16 Lotts, by the foresaid Rules, and the Table of Hours; for in it, there's the Power and Strength of the Figures.

CHAP. IX.

These two Lotts, Acquisitio and Amissio, may serve you as an Example for all the rest, if you observe their Natures; one is good, and the other bad; as you see Acquisitio, is throughout all the Houses, good in all things, according to the na­ture of the House, or Matters they signifie: so likewise Amissio, is ill in all things or de­mands, which may be drawn from the 12 Hou­ses, as you have been formerly taught; and al­so, what Lotts are good or ill, and the good and ill Houses. So vary your Judgment accordingly.

Again, If the second House or Lott, go into the third, thy Brethren will rule over thy Goods; the fourth, thy Father; fifth, thy Children, or the Alehouse; and so of the rest, according to the Rules of all the other.

If the Question be, Shall I see or speak with my Brother? If thy Lott is found in the third House, it's a true testimony that thou shalt speak with thy Brother; and so on.

CHAP. X.
First House.

CHAP. XI.

CHAP. I.

I Told this Gentleman exactly what would befall him in a Months time, or thereabouts.

This Gentleman came to me in a distracted [Page 250] Condition, saying, Tuli multa mala in Vita mea▪ ‘I have had (says he) much Trouble, and have suffer'd much Wrong in my life-time, and am fearful of much more to come: for a considera­ble time together, I have dream'd wonderfully of Distraction and Consuming. But the last night I had a terrible Dream indeed, of such a Bloody Nature, that I am besides my self, or quite distracted, in consideration of what may become of me: my Spirits are cast down, and overwhelmed with Grief.’

I look'd sharply on him, perceiving him to be disturbed in his Spirits, and thinking some ill had hapned to him; and to abate something of his Fury, I said thus, Homo natus Muliere brevis est aetatis; satur commotione: ut Flos egressus est, & succiditur; & fugit velut umbra; ne­que consistit.

This Gentleman reply'd, ‘I know that a Man born of a Woman, is full of Misery, and his time short, &c. I have much Dissatisfaction within my self, by reason of a terrible Vision in my Sleep, or a Dream, (which you please,) inso­much that it puts me a thinking, what may happen to me; for this Vision appearing so dreadful before my Eyes, makes me fear, is a token of some Judgment which the great [...] awakens me withal; to consider my latter End, or some great Work to pass through.’

Further, says the Querent, or the Gentleman, ‘I am now come to you, hearing of your Ange­lical Art by way of Lotts, or Angelical Enqui­ry, to make a Discovery, or to give me a lit­ [...]le [Page 251] insight of the meaning of this dreadful Visi­on: pray give me the best of your Opinion.’

Resp. I believe that this Vision or frightful [...]ream of yours, is a sign of some great Alterati­ [...] in matters of your Body or Estate. Dreams [...]e of great consequence; for our Saviour Christ [...]as carried into Egypt, by reason of a Dream. [...]seph by a Dream, told his Brethren, That they [...]ould Worship, and fall down, and give Obe­ [...]ience to him. I shall not in this place trouble by Reader with the Scripture, but follow my [...]resent Task.

SIR, I will do to the uttermost for you in [...]his my Angelical Enquiry, which are the Rules that I have follow'd these many Years, and find [...]em true in most things. So that I will not [...]sk you, kind Sir, what the Vision was, or the Nature thereof, for I will endeavour to find it [...]ut my self, and give you an Answer two days [...]ence. Kind Reader, this is of great moment, [...]nd worth Observation, and will open to you [...]he Secrets of Nature, or hidden Mysteries.

In the first place, I entred into my Close [...], de­ [...]ring the Powers of Heaven and good Angels▪ [...] ­ [...]ide my Hand, putting all things else out of my [...]ind, and Raised my Lotts, as you may see in [...]g. 115. cap. 4. where you are plainly [...] [...] [...]he manner and ways of making the 16 Lott [...].

[Page 252] Now follows the whole Work in this Form.

Now for your further understanding, I will place it in an Astrological Form, as I have shewn you in the Table, pag. 110. in Signs and Planets that those of a slender Apprehension may know that this Work is not Conjuration: but the Lotts, Planets and Signs, are united into one Body.

[Page 253] As for Example, Acquisitio is in the First [...]ouse turned into ♃ dir. in ♈, as you may see [...] this Figure following.

Because we will be very curious in this great Work of Enquiry, after the State and Condition [...]f Man's Elementary Life, and to satisfy the Cu­riosity of the Reader, we will place before your [...]yes a Figure of this Angelical Work; and also [...]he Astrological Work together, or in one Fi­gure, containing 24 Parts.

CHAP. II.

IN the first place, the main Point is to be drawn from the 9th House; but, because it's of a [...]rge Consequence, and the Querent's desire is [...] know in full; therefore, First, I will enquire [...]hat this Gentleman is, from the first House. Secondly, The 7th House for his open Enemies. Thirdly, The 12th House for his private and se­ [...]ret Enemies. Fourthly, To the 9th House, to [...]fold the Vision: And Fifthly and Lastly, To [...]d out what Company this Querent keeps.

Now of these five Particulars in order. The first House signifies the Querent's Shape of Bo­ [...]y, and of his Will and Humour, as you may see [Page 256] in pag. 138, to 145; but to save you the labour [...] turning back to that place, I will here repea [...] them over again.

I find in the First or Ascendant, the Lott cal­led Acquisitio, which is a good Lott, and repre­sents one of a middle Stature, fair and full Fac'd Meanly Sanguine Complexion, full Ey'd; a come­ly Person, of a good Behaviour, something Shame fac'd or Blushing, of a good and plausible Be­haviour.

And this is all very true, for I have been very familiar with him; and he is also a Man of good Esteem in the World, in matter of Reputation.

Secondly, We will now search in the 7th House; there we find that Lott called Populu [...] or the ☽ in her Full in Capricorn, which is a Lot [...] of a strange nature, as you may in pag. 130 [...] which gives you a full Relation of it, viz. it be speaks this Querent to have many Enemies, o [...] a multitude of People gathered together, or [...] pack of knavish Contrivers.

So I rest my self satisfied, that this Queren [...] of ours hath some treacherous Persons designing ill against him.

But now we are to come to consider, how o [...] by what means? or by whom?

I have already given you a Table of the Aspect [...] and Unity of the Lotts, in the following page. But now in this place, I will present you with a new one, very easy to be comprehended; whereby to understand, from whence Affliction comes whether it comes from Brothers, Sisters, Relati­ons or Strangers; as is generally taken from [...] [Page 257] 7th, 12 or 9th Houses, being Travellers; or from the 5th House, from some drinking, idle Person; or the 6th House, from some Servant, or Person of low Degree.

The First House afflicted, generally the Per­sons themselves create Trouble to themselves: from the Third House, Brethren; the Fourth, from the Father, or Old People; the 10th, from the Mother, or Persons of Honour; if from the 11th House, your former Friends, or your fami­liar Acquaintance.

[Page 258] Now if you are desirous to know the Unity and Place of the Lotts, by way of Aspects or Si­tuation, behold the Table: ♄ is the Example, throughout the 12 Signs or Lotts.

See ♄, or the Lott Acquisitio; he beholds the third House by a ⚹ Aspect, a □ to the Fourth House, a △ to the 5th, and a ☍ to the 7th [...] his △ to the 9th h. his □ to the 10th h. and his ⚹ to the 11th h. So you have both Dexter and Sinister; and you have the Second, 6th, 8th and 12th Houses, that behold not one the other.

We may very well discern by this, what Evil is pointed out against this Querent of ours.

Observe the Lott that is in the 4th House, which is of an ill nature, casting his ill Beams to the Ascendant; the Lott is called Carcer, in Eng­lish, a Prison, or a dismal Place; which is no way agreeing with the Lott in the Ascendant: therefore I conclude, that this Gentleman and Old People cannot agree; and besides that, there will be an Old Man which lyes still in the Grass, like a Snake, to do him a private Mischief; and the more certain, because the 7th House is possessed with an ill Lott, as also the Lott in the 12th h. His secret Enemies, and his open Enemies, noto­rious by nature; we may well conjecture, that there is a notorious Plot contriving against this Man, arising from Enmity and Malice; and that he will be brought before Judges or Justices of the Peace, or such sort of Persons.

[Page 259] If you do observe the □ Aspect from Car­cer, the 10th h. from the 7th. h. in taking Coun­sel from a sort of petty Fellows, having some­thing to do under the King. So here is good Reason for this Querent to fear, lest Treason b [...] maliciously sworn against him.

Then again, another Inquiry may be made, viz. To know what Company this our Querent had, or did keep; because it's a common Saying, and I believe it's true, Bad or ill Company brings ma­ny to the Gallows: And in pag. 150. you have the Rules, to know good or ill Company.

Now note, that the second h. is Company for the first.

As for Example, we have in the Ascendant, the Lott Acquisitio, a very good Lott; and in the second h. his Company was Tristitia, viz. ♄ retr. in ♏, signifies a cursed Pack, not fit for the Society of Christians.

I conclude then, this was or would be, the Foundation and Ground of this Man's Trouble; then finding this, I could not be quiet, before I had spoke with him, to know the truth of the Matter: And then he told me plainly, That he had formerly lodg'd in his House, PORNE, & Homo scelestus, about three years past, and that he put them out of his House by violence.

Now it plainly appears, if you consider my former Rules, and also this my present Judgment, that those are the Ground from whence springs this Wickedness against this our Querent; for behold, ♄ is Lord over the Lott in his second h. which is his bad Company, thinking to gain Mo­ney, [Page 260] because of the second h. Behold again, ♄ is Lord or Ruler over the Lott of the 4th h. too; they would willingly handle some of our Que­rent's unmoveable Goods And more than all this, observe, ♄ is also Rul [...]r over the 5th h. [...] our Querent; they do not produce the Ma­ [...]i [...]e from his turning out of ♄ out of Doors, but pretend to have a spleen against him, by reason of his similiarity with a Feminine Creature of their Acquaintance; and this is very true.

But if you would know the bodily Shape, State and Condi [...]ion of these Caballers, turn back to pag. 138. and you may be satisfied at large.

Then here is another thing to be observed, When, or at what time will this Ill happen to this our Querent, seeing it's so, that it will be?

Why truly, the Caldeans, Egyptians and Rosie-Gru [...]ians, and others, hath encourag'd me in this Work, finding them true, to number out Times and Seasons; and they have given us those Lotts, in poiuting out some for Years, some for Months, some for Days, and some for Hours, viz. the fix­ed for Years, the common for Months, and move­able for Days and Hours, as is already shewn you.

Now some observe for Weeks, the Lott Cauda Draconis; for Days, the Lott Conjunct [...]o; and for Hours, the Lott Amissio.

So I consider'd my Rules, and found, that this Trouble would fall on this Man in about a Months time; and so it was, a Month and three Days after the Vision or Dream; and at that time the two forementioned Persons went to a Ju­stice of the Peace, and swore this▪ Q [...]erent of [Page 261] ours had robb'd Money, and that he kept com­pany with Clippers and Coiners: so his House was searched, and they found nothing; but he was apprehended, and carried before such Persons as before-mentioned, and was there Examined: And as for his Freedom or Deliverance, you shall have it at large in the next Chapter.

But Reader, this is no new thing now in our Days; for it's very frequent, that such Per­sons of a double dye in Knavery, for a re­venge to gratify their own Will, to make no­thing to [...]wear Treason against a Man, fallly and maliciously.

But in this particular, I will open to you the Way and Method, to know the Nature of a Dream or Vision, or the word Somnium; it's no more, but an Observation drawn from the 9th h. which is the House of our Querent's Spiritual Guide, which did reveal to him this Trouble, Shame and Disgrace, a Month before it came.

Now we will take a view of our great Work, and we may find, that on the 9th House, is that Lott called Rubeus; which is of a bloody, and harsh nature, insomuch that our former Phi­losophers said, If that Figure Rubeus ariseth in your Figure, let it be (say they) depopulated, or destroyed. Now I am of the contrary opi­nion; for as long as we live under the Elements, we must expect ill, as well as good.

The Astrologers do not destroy their Fi­gures, when they find the ☋ in the Ascendant, or elsewhere; for they observe some Knavery forth coming thereby, to themselves, or to the Q [...]nt.

[Page 262] Neither do I advise you, when you find the Lott Rubeus, or ill Lotts, to cast it aside; but observe the Nature and Qualities thereof.

As for Example, Rubeus is in the 9th; turn back to the main Rule, viz. to the Lotts in the 9th h. and you will find what that Lott Rubeus is; what it signifies in the 12th House: in eve­ry House, he differs something. But in the main, it's a Lott of a destructive Nature, and of a Wa­tery Triplicity; but many Writers compare it to both Fire and Water, upon extreams, having no mercy.

And very like unto this Nature, was the Vision of our Querent, viz. Burning and Consu­ming by Fire or Water, or both, in a most frightful and terrible manner.

And this is my Opinion and Judgment, on the Vision of this Gentleman.

Now I went to him, and laid down this my Judgment concerning the Vision; and he told me, it was very true: for Fire and Water, with Destruction, was the ground-work of his fright­ful Dream.

Then I desired this our Querent, to reveal to me the whole Matter.

CHAP. III.

1. IN the first place, observe, that we have here two Witnesses and one Judge; and first, we will speak of the two Witnesses: the Right Witness is called Laetitia, a Lott, in Eng­lish, signifying Joy and Gladness. Now this Right Witness is always taken for the Querent, and signifies his Concern, either good or ill; and to be more larger, it hath also an inspection in­to all the Houses, on that side; that is to say, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10; it discovers what the Motion of the Querent is, before propounded. And this I must tell you, is a good Testimony of the Gentleman's Integrity and Honesty.

And in this I am more plain, because I would instruct young Students.

Secondly, As for the Left Witness, it bears Testimony, of the Mind and Intention of your Enemies, and as a Landskip of the other Heuses in that side, &c.

[Page 265] The Lott, which is the Left Witness, is cal­led Rubeus, a Lott of a desperate bloody-mind­e [...] Nature, which very patly represents the horrid Treason sworn by PORNE, & Homo scelestus, and with the Lott Populus in the 7th House; these together, give you a plain Discovery of the forementioned Knavery, as if you had it printed before your Eyes.

Thirdly, Another Testimony of our Querent's speedy Delivery, is, by that Lott which we call the Judge, viz. ☉ retr. in ♉. Observe here, Rules of truth, taken from the Caldeans and the Rosie-Crucian-men; When the Judge moves himself into the [...]oth h. of the Quer [...]nt, it's an absolute Testimony, that the Judge of the Law will do Justice. This happens to our Querent; if you look back to our great Work, you will plainly see it: and the Judge freed this our Prisoner, and the Clerks also of the Law, cry'd out shame on this PORNE, & Homo scelestus; and said, they ought to be hang'd.

Fourthly, It's a strong Argument of Recovery, from the Lott in the Ascendant, which is cal­led, ♃ dir. in ♈; you have its Description at large, in pag. 151. signifying a Man of Power, and one that lives in Pomp and Credit in the World; and such a one generally crusheth the Power and Malice of poor inconsiderable Earth-worms, that shew their Teeth, and are not able to bite: so you have often heard, that Populus signifies ma­ny Enemies. It's a common Saying, that when a Man lives well, and gets Money, he is general­ly hated by some, because they think he lives a­bove them.

[Page 266] Fifthly, Now the reason of Redemption, is, because, if you mind the great Work, you will find, the Lott in the Ascendant moves it self in­to the third House; a true token or testimony, of this Querent to have many true and faithful Friends, or Neighbours we may call them: and as now I say, so it was; for he had many of the best of the Parish in which he lived; the Church-warden for one, to be Surety or Security for him, on occasion.

Then behold the Table of Aspects, and you will find an Aspect of Love, between the Lott in the Ascendant, and the third house, which strengthens the foresaid Arguments.

Then again, Sixthly, you will find Friends, from the 11th house; First, Because the Lott there is ♀ dir. in ♎, a pure good Lott, of Truth and Stability; and this is the more verified, be­cause there are Aspects of Love between the Lott of the Ascendant and the 11th house, the house of Friendship: and this Gentleman infor­med me, that he had, at that time of Trouble, two Eminent Doctors of Physick came willingly and freely, proffering their Service to him; they were both of great Eminence and Renown: their Description of Body and Dispo­sition, is exactly represented, according to our former Rules.

Seventhly, If you desire to know, if the Que­rent was long in Custody, or in Prison, look in­to the 12th h. the house of Imprisonment, and you will find, that the Lott called Via, signifies the Way, and is a sure Testimony; pray turn [Page 267] back to Via in the 12th house: it positively says, a speedy delivery out of Prison; and so it was to admiration, (says the Querent) considering the nature of the thing.

Reader, the truth of this our Angelical Me­thod, or by way of Lotts, ought to be much esteemed by the Lovers of Art; for my Experi­ments in this, have been very large.

Eighthly, and Lastly, The death of our Que­rent's secret Enemies, Homo scelestus died in the Bosom of PORNE, our Enemy: and no won­der, if you consider, that the 8th h. of the Que­rent, the Counsel or Company to the Querent's Enemies, is moved into the 12th h. of secret Enemies, and is called Via, and is in ☍ to his 8th, a terrible Lott, viz. ♄ retr. in ♏, called Tristitia; and this in one Month from the Vi­sion: and PORNE submitted her self to the mercy of the Querent.

CHAP. IV.

NOW behold the great Work, and you will find, the Figure of Astrology is pla­ced [Page 268] in the inner 12 Houses, which was Erected at the very instant of this our Querent's first ap­prehending, being Jan. 30. at 10 in the Fore­noon; at that time, this Gentleman was seized on by a parcel of Aegyptian Caterpillers; but considering what they were, they were, indiffe­rent civil.

It's a common Rule for the Astrologers, to be­hold the Ascendant first; and if you do, you will find there the Tail of the Dragon, which bespeaks such a parcel of Fellows, &c. Now ♎ ascends the Horoscope, and the ☽ was in ☍ to to Venus, ad △ ♄, and ⚹ ♄, and ♀, &c.

Then Secondly, We are to consider the 7th House; and there we find the Sign ♏, which very well resembles the Lott Populus, as I have before spoken of: for the 7th house is our Que­rent's open Enemies, and the 12th h. is his pri­vate ones: So we may plainly see, that the Planet ♂ is Lord of the 7th. h. posited in the 12th house; a plain Testimony, that our Que­rent hath malicious and bitter enemies to deal with; and the more, because ☿ is in the 12th House also, which signifies a malicious, lying, prating Tongue; for ☿ naturally signifies Li­ars, Dissemblers, and forsworn, perjur'd Per­sons, in the Sign ♓, because he is in ☍ to his own House: the Querent hath good reason to fear envious Fools, forsworn Persons, thinking to get Money.

Thirdly, We must now begin to take notice of the ☍ of ♀, Lady of the Ascendant to the ☽, layes down the same reason as the Lotts did; [Page 269] the main Instrument was Porne, and ♋ in the 4th h. some old Knaves of the Acquaintance of the Querent's spur her on in the Wickedness; and the more, if you take notice of her 11th h. being the House of Advice; and not only so, but ♃ retr. in the 6th h. The Description of this PORNE, is one of an indifferent high and long Neck, a cloudy Complexion, a dark Hair, some­thing Melancholy, Pensive, apt to Cry or Weep, and much given to Drowsiness, Heavy-headed­ness, yet something covetous, or saving of Mo­ney, performing no good Action.

Fourthly, We plainly see the Death and De­struction of our Querent's secret Enemies, if we observe the Rulers of Nature, viz. to take notice of the 12th House. Now we find ♂ in the 12th h. or Lord of the 12th, of the Enemies, in his Ascendant; and not only so, but ♃ retr. in ☍, and the ☽ too; a positive Sign of the de­struction of Homo scelestus; and indeed, he dy'd in the Bosom of PORNE: And according to the best Information I had, he was destroy'd by the Disease caused by the Planet ♂. The time of the Death of Homo scelestus, was about five Weeks after our Querent's Vision.

Fifthly, A word or two concerning our Que­rent's Friends, who would have Assisted him. They are exactly represented by ♄, and the ☉, in the 11th House, which bespeak Men of a mid­dle Stature, full and plump; and so they were, and Persons of good Quality and Reputation.

Sixthly, Another Observation we have taken for his Delivery, is the ☽ to a Trine of ♄, [Page 270] and ♀ and ♄ to a ⚹. Now to demonstrate this to you, observe thus, that ♄ is Lord of our Que­rent's 10th House, in ⚹ to ♀, Lady of the A­scendant; a pure Truth: the Judge was his Friend, and many more; perceiving it was a piece of Villany, to get Money. And lastly, you may perceive by the Rules of Astrology, that POR­NE submitted to the mercy of the Querent.

The Rules of Astrology might have been more enlarged here in this Concern, but I will leave it to the Wise.

CHAP. V.

I Shall not trouble my self here, to give you the whole Figure of the Lotts; but tell you, that Via was raised in the Ascendant, and that bloody Lott Rubeus was raised in the 7th House; a Lott which I have often told you, causeth ma­ny Enemies, of very ill Life and Conversation, unsetled in their Wills and Minds.

[Page 271] The Story runs thus: The Querent having [...]oney due to him a considerable time, and no [...]opes of it without trouble, he Sued him in the Court of Conscience, and got his Money.

Now mark what follows: This Debtor of the Querent's had a Wife, and a Daughter about the age of 30, or upwards; so for Revenge, these two consulted together to swear, that this [...]an that prosecuted her Husband, stole a par­tel of Silk from a certain Merchant; insomuch [...]ut this Querent was taken up, and carried be­fore the Lord Mayor of London: and upon Ex­amination, the Mother and Daughter (in not having a good Memory, as Liars ought to have) betray'd themselves in telling their Stories, and were punished, according to their Deserts.

The Gentleman proved himself to live in one place as a Shopkeeper for 15 years, and many friends to testifie of his Truth and Fidelity.

Now this Querent came to me with a very heavy Heart, fearing his utter Ruine: but I bade him not fear, for it would come to nothing. I being something intimate with him, he told me, he was for some time in Oxford; and I found him to be ingenious in many things: He knew something of Astrology, and said, that he had the ☋ in his Ascendant; which many may believe, or think, that he was a Man of a tardy Conver­sation; but he was not, for I made enquiry; so I told him: and it's my Opinion, that tho' a Man may have the Dragons Tail in his Ascen­dant, it doth not infuse Knavery into the Na­tive, [Page 272] but stores up many false, base and treache­rous Enemies, against his Body and Purse.

Secondly, A certain Gentleman came to me, desiring me to Raise his Lotts for him, to know if he should speak with his Common Dealer, (if he went to his House, being seven Miles;) he was willing to be certain before he went.

I follow'd my Method of my Angelical Work, and Acquisitio was raised in the Ascendant, and moveth it self into the 7th House, which is the House of Dealing. I bade him go speedily, and he should see him, and speak with him; and so he did.

Thirdly, A certain Woman came to me, de­siring me to tell her where her Horse was, for she could not find him: I raised my Lotts, and found the Lott of the 12th House, which signi­fy'd the Horse; and finding this same Lott mo­ved himself into the 4th House of the Querent, I bade the Woman go home, for the Horse was in her own Ground, in some Corner, or watery Ditch; for the Lott was of the watery Tripli­city. And accordingly the Woman went home, and found her Horse, as I told her.

Fourthly, A Man of my Acquaintance, gave his Wife leave to go to Greenwich, some distance from London; expecting her home at night, but she did not come; insomuch that the Man cani [...] to me the next day, desiring me to tell him wh [...] was become of his Wife; he was fearful le [...] some ill had happen'd to him.

I examin'd her Lott, viz. in the 7th House and found it to be Amiss [...], and moved it self to [Page 273] a ⚹ of the 11th House, which is the 5th from the 7th. I told the Man, that his Wife was making him a Cuckold, and that all that Night she lay with a tall, black Man. The Man seem'd to be angry with me; but in four days time, he was well satisfied in the Matter, for his Wife gave him a damn'd swinging Clap. In pag. 181. you will find, that Amissio in the 7th House sig­nifies a Whore; and being in ⚹ to her 5th, you may well judge what she was about, &c.

Fifthly, A certain Man came to me, very mournfully; for he had given his Wife some sharp Words, upon which she went away from him, he knew not where.

I raised his Lotts, and guided my Eyes to the 7th House, and finding that Lott was moved into the 9th House, viz. the third from the 7th. I desired this Man to go to his Wives Sister, and there he should find his Wife: and he found it very true.

Sixthly, A certain Woman came to me, tel­ling me, that she had lost or missed her Husband for two days; desiring me to tell her what was become of him.

I found that Via, the Lott in the Ascendant, was moved into the 12th House: I said to the Woman, thy Husband is in Prison, but will soon be freed, and set at liberty. She went speedily from me, to the Marshalsea in South­park, and met her Husband at the Prison Gate, coming out, being just releas'd.

Seventhly, A Gentlewoman came to me, with a dreadful noise, to know if her Husband would [Page 274] die, for he lay very ill. Women generally make a noise in such a case, whether they love their Husbands or no. But in short, I Rais'd her Lotts, and found a good Lott in the Ascendant, viz. Albus, and mov'd it it self into the 10th h. I bade the Gentlewoman be contented; for in six hours, or in a small time, her Husband will cer­tainly Recover. And true it was; for this Rule I have of [...]en Examin'd, and sound it never fail.

Eighthly, If the Question be to know, If the Sick Person shall Recover?

I go on in this manner: First, I find a good Lott in the Ascendant, as Albus; I say, the Pa­tient shall Recover: in the 2d. h. is Carcer, no good Habit of Body; in the Third h. is Acqui­sitio, signifies a good Issue; the Fourth h. is Po­pulus, a long Sickness; the Fifth h. is Rubeus, tells you, that all things the Patient takes, is ob­noxious to the inward Parts; the Sixth h. is Albus, shews the Disease it self, to be of Melan­choly, and Oppression of the Heart; the Se­venth h. is Laetitia, and his Company is Cauda Draconis, the Elements of Air and Fire, telling you the Party is dangerously ill, and signifies Death, because of the 7th and 8th h. the Ninth house is Amissio, and is a plain demonstration, that the Person, or Minister of the Parish, will have no Gain; the 10th is Acquisitio, which gives hope of Life and Recovery, the 11th is Conjunctio, and signifies, that his Friends believe his Disease is mortal, and are out of hopes; and i [...] Conjunctio be also in the 12th, it tells you plain­ly, that his Enemies are in great hopes of his Death.

[Page 275] Ninthly, This is a true way of judging, if you observe the Lotts and their Natures, and consi­der their Differences of Elements. And while it's fresh in mind, I will give you a true Method of Judging the ☍, □, ☌, ⚹ and △ Aspects.

Now for a further Demonstration of the Aspects, worth your Observation.

An Example of the Aspect of Oppositi­on, viz. the first beholds the 7th, which is an ill Aspect, as well for the distance of the Place, as for the contrariety; because the first is Orien­tal, and the seventh Occidental.

And the like is from the 4th to the 10th, not only ☍ by place, but the 4th h. is Darkness, and the 10th h. is Light. Now here lyes the My­stery: If you find a good Lott in the first, and so in the 7th, and of one Nature, Planet, and Ele­ment, the things demanded, will come to a good end; and the Place of ☍ is only to signifie, that Matters of Things between them, are strange, and unacquainted: but Friendship will soon come, if you find Fortuna Major in the first h. and in the 7th too, you may well conclude of Unity, Peace and Tranquility: but if contra­ry to the afore-mentioned, judge otherwise.

And in like manner, consider the □ Aspect, and also the △ and ⚹; altlio' those are count­ed good in Astrology, yet in those Lotts we must consider the Nature, Quality and Elements; and if we find a good and bad, by a △ Aspect, we may conclude, that their Friendship appears outwardly by a flattering Tongue, but Enmity lyes at the Heart.

CHAP. VI.

THis is of great moment, if you understand it aright, viz. to understand the Minds of People.

The first Rule, how to know the Intent; is to see when the first House or Lott goeth into a­ny of the other, and judge according to the Sig­nification of the Houses wherein he or she goeth: if the Second h. Money, third h. Brethren, &c.

The second Rule, is to take all the uneven Points of all the 12 Lotts, and give one to the first, and another to the second, and third; and so consequently to the other, until that all the Points are bestowed; then if the Points remain on the first h. it signifies thereby, that the Person hath a desire to know something of the Questions belonging to the first house: if it resteth on the second h. Money, or Moveable Goods, as you have been formerly shewn. So you may judge of all the other Houses, where the Points or Pricks stay.

Not long since, I had a certain Midwife came to me; she ask'd me, What she was come [Page 277] to me for? I desir'd her to sit down a while, and I should tell her. I Rais'd my Lotts, and found, that Rubeus was in the Ascendant, and moved it self into the seventh h. I presently told her, she was come to me about a wicked Husband, having to do with more Women than he ought; and I consider'd the Nature of the Lott Rubeus, and concluded within my self, that the Midwife was as right as her Husband. But in short, she told me, that I hit right on the matter; for her Husband was a very wicked Man, (said she) for he keeps Whores; and I hear, he is Married again, says she; but I am quit of him, and have not liv'd with him a long time; and I am Mar­ry'd again, and he is at Sea, but no body knows it. I spoke a pertinent Word, and said, I had the knowledge of that before.

Now her Question was to know of me, When her first Husband would die, and the second come home from Sea.

Kind Reader, I will shew you one Example more, as a new Method in Raising these Our Angelical Lotts, and so shall conclude: For I protest to you, That I have found more Truth in this Angelical Art, than in Astrology; and then again, it's a Method far more easie, and pleasanter than Astrolygy.

Another Way of Raising these Angelical Lotts, Much on the Astrological Method.

THIS Method indeed, I have not follow'd, because I have found so much Truth in the forementioned. But to satisfie the Curiosity of the Reader, I will lay down the Rules.

Observe therefore, to make four unequal Lines, as is taught in my former Lotts, by the Points casually set down; and to join together these Points: And out of these Points which are not joined together, and which do remain in the Head of the Lines, extract one Figure; and the Sign of the Zodiack that answereth to that Figure, put for the Ascendant.

An Example may be proper; if Acquisitio a­rise from the Head of those four LInes, let ♈ be placed in the Ascendant: but if Laetitia, or the Lesser Fortune, put ♉ in the Ascendant: if Puer, or Rubous, place ♊: if Albus, ♋: if Via, ♌: if Conjunctio, or the Drag. Head, ♍: if Puella, ♎: if Amissio or Tristitia, ♏: if Drag Tail, ♐: if Populus, ♑: if Fortuna Major, ♒ [Page 279] if Carcer, then put ♓ for the Ascendant. So place them in order in their Houses, as ♈ in the first, ♉ in the second, ♊ in the second h. as you see in the Figure following, not regarding the Witness or Judge.

So, out of 16 Figures, you make use but of 12, which answers to the 12 Signs of the Zodiack; and this may serve for your purpose.

And as for placing into those 12 Signs, the Seven Properties of Nature, observe to make four Lines by course, for every Planet by Points, casually pricking, or pricked down; and like­wise for the Drag. Head, as you have done for the Ascendant, and divide those Points by 12, [Page 280] and that which remaineth above 12, or the 12 it self, if a greater number doth not remain, re­tain; and the Planet for which the Projection was made, place in that House of which the superabounding number shall be; that is, if there remains 12, let the Planets be placed in the 12th house; if ten, in the 10th; if one, in the first h. if two, in the second h. and so of the rest: And you ought always to begin from the ☉, and af­terwards from the ☽, then from ♀ and ☿, and from ♄, ♃ and ♂.

But it's the advice of our Fore-fathers, not to make a Question in Rain, Clouds, or a very Win­dy Season, or when thou art Angry; not but that you may take your time for the same pur­pose again, as you have heard in my former Rules.

And as for this Method of Raising your Lotts, you may, according to this Rule, place your Pla­nets, (as you see in the Figure;) and that may serve for your Example.

Then for your Judgment, turn to pag. 151, to 210. which tells you of all the Power and Strength of all the Houses: As for Example, if your Question be of the 7th house, see what Lott there is; if for a Brother, consider the Lott on the third house; and so of the rest, and you will find an Answer to your desire.

Then observe how pure and easie it is, to that which we call Astrology, is so transcendent and subtil an Art in it self, that therein a Man ought to have a respect to many things, before he can obtain a true Judgment, because the Eye of our Understanding will not pierce into the half [Page 281] thereof; and many there be that pretend to it, and know nothing thereof, because their Under­standing is weak: for he that made all things, gives not to all Men alike.

Again, kind Reader, notwithstanding I have roved thro' the two great Bodies, of that we call in Philosophy, Macro­cosmus and Microcosmus, you shall find me distinct from all you, that pin your selves upon Points of Religion; for it's base, and an absurd thing, that those who are so seemingly united together, should so barbarously exclaim one against the other, not minding the Scripture; when he that crea­ted you all, hath not given you Gifts alike; some for Teachers, and others for Evangelists.

I have not, in all my Works, exclaimed against weak Judgments, nor extolled the Wise; but I retain it in my Brest, and keep it to my self, considering, that Man is the little World; and every Man acts within himself, and deli­vers his Sentiments, as his Spirit gives him leave. But of this no more; only I must tell you my Opinion, that this Angelical Art is pure and undefiled: if you are willing to enquire, come without Fraud or Deceit, and you may have your Desire answered by the Powers above; if you are afflicted, come in a right Method: for it's the Powers above that guides thy Hand, and gives thee thy A B C, &c.

It was Abraham that found out the only true God, by his wonderful Works, viz. in observing the Motions of the whole Creation. You that are counted Atheists or Hea­thens, may be brought to true Faith, and the sooner, if you observe the wonderful Works of God: then you will lay aside caviling about silly Words, or Things of no value, between you, that are so near united together; and the Will of God may be found out by the Wise and Prudent, and by his Rules, given to us in the beginning of the World.

Observe the Faithful of Old, how they admired the great Works of Providence, and Worshipped God by the Power of his Works. Adam being the first Man, Ergo, most law­ful; and those that are Unbelievers, God threatens, Lev. 26. 29. A dependance of the Earth from the Heavens, Hos. [Page 282] 2. 21, 22. And by his Works, God is to be seen, Deut. 33. 14. God expresseth himself by his Works, 2 Kings 17. 16. The Element [...] ought to look into, Deut. 4. 19. The necessity of our [...]ing into the Elements, Mat. 17. 14.

These, with many more places of Scripture, shew plain­ly to Human Nature, That God is to be known by his Works.

I will make a Final End of my Work, in these fol­lowing Words.

DOmine, Domine Deus noster; quam admira­bilis est Nomen t [...]um in universa terra! quoniam elevata est Magnificentia tua supra Coe­los: ex ore infantium & lactantium pèrfecisti lau­dem, propter inimicos tuos; ut destruas inimicum & ultorem: Quum videbo C [...]s, ope [...] digitorum tuorum, Lunam & Stellas quas [...]u fuadâsti; quid est Homo, quod memor es ejus, aut filius Hominis, quoniam visit as eum? Minuisti eum paulo minus ab Angelis, Gloriâ & honore coronâsti eum, & con­stituisti eum supra opera manuum tuorum; omnia subjecisti sub pedibus ejus; oves & boves univer­sas; volueres coeli & pisces maris, qui peram­bulant semitas maris.

Domine Deus noster, quam admirabilis est No­men tuum in Universa Terra!