[_two rules_] AN ASTROLOGER I²S one that expounds upon the Planets, and teaches to conſtrue the _Accidents_ by the _due joining of Stars in Conſtruction._ He talks with them by dumb Signs, and can tell what they mean by their twinckling, and ſquinting upon one another, as well as they themſelves. He is a Spy upon the Stars, and can tell what they are doing, by the Company they keep, and the Houſes they frequent. They have no Power to do any Thing alone, until ſo many meet, as will make a _Quorum._He is Clerk of the Com- mittee to them, and draws up all their Orders, that concern either public or private Affairs. He keeps all their Accompts for them, and ſums them up, not by _Debtor,_ but by _Creditor_ alone, a more compendious Way. They do ill to make them have ſo much Authority over ------------------------------------------------------------------------ the Earth, which, perhaps, has as much as any one of them but the Sun, and as much Right to ſit and vote in their Councils, as any other : But becauſe there are but ſeven Electors of the _German_ Empire, they will allow of no more to diſpoſe of all other ; and moſt fooliſhly and unnaturally depoſe their own Parent of its Inheritance; rather than acknowledge a Defect in their own Rules. Theſe Rules are all they have to ſhew for their Title ; and yet not one of them can tell whether thoſe they had them from came honeſtly by them. _Virgil's_ Deſ- cription of _Fame,_ that reaches from Earth to the Stars, _tam ficti pravique tenax,_ to carry Lies and Knavery, will ſerve Aſtrologers with- out any ſenſible Variation. He is a Fortune- Seller, a Retailer of Deſtiny, and petty Chap- man to the Planets. He caſts Nativities as Gameſters do falſe Dice, and by ſlurring and palming _ſextile, quartile,_ and _trine,_ like _ſize,_ _quater, trois,_ can throw what chance he pleaſes. He ſets a Figure, as Cheats do a Main at Hazard ; and Gulls throw away their Money at it. He fetches the Grounds of his Art ſo far off, as well from Reaſon, as the Stars, that, like a Traveller, he is allowed to lye by Au- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ thority. And as Beggars, that have no Money themſelves, believe all others have, and beg of thoſe, that have as little as themſelves : So the ignorant Rabble believe in him, though he has no more Reaſon for what he profeſſes, than they. ------------------------------------------------------------------------