Daniel Marsh
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OF ASTRONOMY AND ASTROLOGYHow does a geocentric model account for the transit, and phases of Venus as seen from earth? Likewise, how does a geocentric model account for lunar eclipses?
-CryptoLutheran
DCCXCVII.
Astronomy is the most ancient of all sciences, and has been the introducer of vast knowledge;
it was familiarly known to the Hebrews, for they diligently noted the course of the heavens, as God
said to Abraham: “Behold the heavens; canst thou number the stars?” etc. Haven’s motions are
threefold; the first is, that the whole firmament moves swiftly around, every moment thousands of
leagues, which, doubtless, is done by some angel. `Tis wonderful so great a vault should go about
in so short a time. If the sun and stars were composed of iron, steel, silver, or gold, they must needs
suddenly melt in so swift a course, for one star is greater than the whole earth, and yet they are
innumerable. The second motion is, of the planets, which have their particular and proper motions.
The third is, a quaking or a trembling motion, lately discovered, but uncertain. I like astronomy
and mathematics, which rely upon demonstrations and sure proofs. As to astrology, `tis nothing.
DCCXCVIII.
Astronomy deals with the matter, and with what is general, not with manner of form. God
himself will be alone the Master and Creator, Lord and Governor, though he has ordained the stars
for signs. And so long as astronomy remains in her circle, whereunto God has ordained her, so is
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Table Talk Martin Luther
she a fair gift of God; but when she will step out of her bounds—that is, when she will prophecy
and speak of future things, how it will go with one, or what fortune or misfortune another shall
have, then she is not to be justified. Chiromancy we should utterly reject. In the stars is neither
strength nor operation; they are but signs, and have, therefore, just cause to complain of the
astrologers, who attribute unto them what they have not. The astrologers commonly ascribe that to
the stars, which they ought to attribute to the planets, that announce only evil events, except that
star which appeared to the wise men in the east, and which showed that the revelation of the Gospel
was at the door.
In the year 1538, the Seigneur Von Minckwitz made a public oration in honor of astrology,
wherein he sought to prove that the sentence in Jeremiah, chap. x: “Be not dismayed at the signs
of heaven,” applied not to astrology, but to the images of the Gentiles. Luther said hereupon: These
passages may be quibbled with, but not overthrown. Jeremiah speaks as Moses did of all the signs
of heaven, earth, and sea; the heathen were not so silly as to be afraid of the sun or moon, but they
feared and adored prodigies and miraculous signs. Astrology is no art; it has no principle, no
demonstration, whereupon we may take sure footing; `tis all haphazard work; Philip Melancthon,
against his will, admits unto me, that though, as he says, the art is extant, there are none that
understand it rightly. They set forth, in their almanacs, that we shall have no snow in summer time,
nor thunder in winter; and this the country clowns know as well as the astrologers. Philip Melancthon
says: That such people as are born in ascendant Libra, in the ascension of Liber towards the south,
are unfortunate people. Whereupon I said: The astrologers are silly creatures, to dream that their
crosses and mishaps proceed not from God, but from the stars; `tis hence, they are not patient in
their troubles and adversities. Astrology is uncertain; and as the predicamenta are feigned words
in Dialectica, even so astronomy has feigned astrology; as the ancient and true divines knew nothing
of the fantasies and divinity of the school teachers, so the ancient astronomers knew nothing of
astrology. The nativities of Cicero and of others were shown me. I said: I hold nothing thereof, nor
attribute anything unto them. I would gladly have the astrologers answer me this: Esau and Jacob
were born together, of one father and one mother, at one time, and under equal planets, yet they
were wholly of contrary natures, kinds, and minds. What is done by God, ought not to be ascribed
to the stars. The upright and true Christian religion opposes and confutes all such fables. The way
of casting nativities is like the proceedings in popedom, whose outward ceremonies and pompous
ordinances are pleasing to human wit and wisdom, as the consecrated water, torches, organs,
cymbals, singing, ringing, but withal there’s no certain knowledge. An astrologer, or horoscope
monger, is like one that sells dice, and bawls: Behold, here I have dice that always come up twelve.
If once or twice their conjectures tell, they cannot sufficiently extol the art; but as to the infinite
cases where they fail, they are altogether silent. Astronomy, on the contrary, I like; it pleases me
by reason of her manifold benefits.
General prophecies and declarations, which declare generally what in future shall happen accord
not upon individuals and particular things.
When at one time many are slain together in a battle, no man can affirm they were all born
under one planet, yet they die altogether in one hour, yea, in one moment.
DCCXCIX.
God has appointed a certain and sure end for all things, otherwise Babylon might have said: I
will remain and continue; and Rome: To me is the government and rule given without ceasing. To
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Table Talk Martin Luther
Alexander and others were given empires and kingdoms, yet astrology taught not that such great
kingdoms were to be raised, nor how long they were to last.
Astrology is framed by the devil, to the end people may be scared from entering into the state
of matrimony, and from every divine and human office and calling; for the star-peepers presage
nothing that is good out of the planets; they affright people’s consciences, in regard of misfortunes
to come, which all stand in God’s hand, and through such mischievous and unprofitable cogitations
vex and torment the whole life.
Great wrong is done to God’s creatures by the star-expounders. God has created and placed the
stars in the firmament, to the end they might give light to the kingdoms of the earth, make people
glad and joyful in the Lord, and be good signs of years and seasons. But the star-peepers feign that
those creatures, of God created, darken and trouble the earth, and are hurtful; whereas all creatures
of God are good, and by God created only for good, though mankind makes them evil, by abusing
them. Eclipses, indeed, are monsters, and like to strange and untimely births. Lastly, to believe in
the stars, or to trust thereon, or to be affrighted thereat, is idolatry, and against the first
commandment.http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF Books/Luther Table Talk.pdf
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