Unheard-of Curiosities/13

by Jacques Gaffarel

the contents.

1. The Celestiall Configurations, devised by the Greeks, permitted by the Church, though dangerous. This New doctrine, of the Reading of the Stars, no whit repugnant to the Christian Faith.
2. This Reading, proved out of the Scripture. Diverse passages of Scripture, tending to this purpose, interpreted.
3. The Opinions of the ancient Hebrewes, Greeks, and Latines, in this Particular.
4. The reason, why so few Authors of these later times have medled herein. What our Moderne Writers, as Reuchlin, Picus Mirandula, Agrippa, Kunrath, Banelli, and R. Flud, have delivered of this Subject.
5. Postell's Intention of bringing it into Europe.
6. The Stars ranged, not in the forme of Arabick, nor Samaritan, but of Hebrew Characters. The Superstition of the Arabians, in the reading of some kinds of words. Their letters borrowed from the Hebrewes.
7. The Hieroglyphicall Living creatures of the Ægyptians, placed in the Heavens, are not to serve for Letters. The Constellations Imperfect.
8. What things are to be observed, that one may be able to read the Heavens. What the reason is, that New Stars often appeare, according to the Rabbins.
9. A continued Enumeration of the severall Meanes that nust be used, for the rendering a man capable of this Reading. The Star in the Taile of Ursa Major, the Fore-shewer of the Change of Empires; and how.
10. On which side we are to begin this Reading in the Heavens : and how we must interpret the words we find there.
11. Of those Celestiall Letters, that have foreshowne all the great Mutations in States. The Fall of two Powerfull Kingdomes of the East, read in the Heavens, by R. Chomer.
12. The Author's Judgment, concerning this Reading of the Heavens.