Preface, 1568-04, Thomas Erastus to the Reader
| Author: | Thomas Erastus |
| Recipient: | Reader |
| Type: | Dedication |
| Date: | April 1568 |
| Place: | no place |
| Pages: | 2 |
| Language: | Latin |
| Quote as: | https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=2977 |
| Editor: | Edited by Julian Paulus |
| Source: | Thomas Erastus, Defensio Libelli Hieronymi Savonarolae de Astrologia Diuinatrice, [Genève]: Jean Le Preux and Jean Petit 1569, sig. *3r–*3v [BP.Erastus.1569-01]
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| Abstract: | Erastus, after returning to Germany from Italy 13 years ago, was surprised and disheartened to find many in Germany heavily reliant on astrological predictions, in contrast to the limited astrological influence he observed in Italy. To counter this trend, he translated and published a work by Jerome Savonarola that criticized astrologers. Though some astrologers threatened and criticized Erastus, none provided solid counterarguments. Upon a friend's urging, Erastus added a treatise on divination, asserting that any divination not inspired by God is false and illicit. He hopes readers will move away from astrological and all other forms of divination, turning towards truth, piety, and the teachings of Jesus Christ. (generated by Chat-GPT) |
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[sig. *3r] Thomas Erastvs pio & Christiano lectori S[alutem] P[lurimam] D[icit].
Ante annos fermè tredecom, quum ex Italia in Germaniam, ab illustrissimis Principibus Hennenbergensibus euocatus, reuertissem, atque præter opinionem & spem meam plerosque sic reperissem vanis Astrologorum prædictionibus addictos, vt nec venam secare, nec pharmacum exhibere, nec aliud quidquam facere me sinerent, quod ratio rectáque methodus facere iuberet: variè sané affectus sum, admiratione videlicet ac dolore. Mirabar enim fieri potuisse vt in tanta veritatis luce tantæ regnarent superstitiones & tenebræ in illorum etiam animis, quos cœlestibus purissimæ lucis radiis illustratos nihil dubitabam: præsertim quum meminissem per totos illos vndecim annos, quibus in Italia partim præceptores meos summa cum laude, & felicissimo successu artem nostram exercentes conspexissem, partim per meipsum exercere ausus fuissem, nihil tale mihi accidisse. Etenim præter nouam plenámque lunam vix aliquid obseruant Itali. Quinimo ephemerides tales nullæ ab ipsis concinnantur, quales apud nos quotannis cuduntur, tempus annotantes scarificandi, venam secandi, pharmaca sumendi, adeóque capillos & vngues præcidendi: quæq́ue indicent, quotum quoque die signum & gradum luna pererret, quomodo cæteri eam Planetæ respectent, hilarine ac placido vultu, an verò turbato & iracundo. Singulis annis tantùm in breui charta notari vidi oppositiones & coniunctiones Lunæ festa mobilia, & huius generis alia: cæteris in rebus vtuntur Kalendariis, quæ libellis precatoriis vocatis præfixa sunt. Dolore afficiebar, non tam mea ipsius, (quanquam mihi non parum esset molestum, quòd non possem, vt res & morbus postularet, suo tempore omnia rectè adhibere) quam illorum causa, dum non solùm corporis valetudini officere, verùm etiam pietatem contaminare istam superstitionem intelligerem. Proinde pro virili mea de inueniendo remedio huic malo minimè contemnendo cogitare quum cœpissem, commodùm recordatus sum libelli, quem contra Astrologos Italicè scripsit Hieronymus Sauonarola, vir excellenti doctrina pietatéque præditus, ante annos propè nonaginta. Eum ex Italia allatum in nostratem linguam conuerti ac publicaui, quò nostris etiam hominibus vtilis fieret. Quomodo eum nonnulli exceperint Astrologi, partim ex publicis quorundam chartis, partim ex priuatis aliorum literis ac sermonibus abundè cognoui. Multi multa minati sunt: & quidem conuiciis strenuè oppugnarunt: qui argumentis ageret, prodiit nullus. Vnus Christophors Stathmion in arenam prosiliit: sed certè, mea quidem opi- [sig. *3v] nione, decertans ita, vt suos hostes quisque optet pugnare. Huic respondendum putaui, non tam profecto quòd responsione digna viderentur illius pleraque, quàm vt per eam occasionem res explicaretur meliús.
Post scriptam autem responsionem expectaui dum alij nonnulli apparerent, qui communicatis consiliis, vt narratum mihi fuit, atrox bellum Sauonarolæ, seu potiùs mihi indicturi ferebantur, vt vno scuto vtrorumque tela exciperem. Sed audio vicisse quorundam sententiam, qui prudentia cæteris antecellentes, monuerunt non esse hanc litem mouendam, quòd ex eius declaratione & decisione commodi nihil, incommodi plurimum videretur ad Astrologos rediturum. Accidit deinde, vt aliis rebus occupatus, ipse etiam cogitationes hasce deponerem. Nuper verò quum à quodam amico meo rogarer, illis propositis rationibus, quæ animum pietatis studiosum quemlibet permouere possent, vt quæ de hac re scripsissem, ederem: nec potui nec debui hoc ei denegare. Cæterùm quia nuda responsio minùs videbatur plenè rem declarere, tractatum breuem de diuinatione inserere placuit: in quo generaliter vniuerséque magis explanarem diuinationis naturam, ortum, autorem ac plarentem. Docui ergo quid sit diuinatio, sic propriè nominata: quot & quas habeat partes principes: quid ab aliis prænotionum generibus differat. Illud etiam in hac tractatione demonstraui, Diuinationem omnem propriè sumtam supra vires creatæ mentis, ideóque falsam, impossibilem, & illicitam esse, nisi si inspirante ac patefaciente Deo aliquid prædicitur. Confido futurum, vt qui hæc leget ac ponderabit, deinceps non ab Astrologica duntaxat, verùm aliis quoque omnibus diuinationibus, vt à peste caueat, so modò veritatis ac pietatis studio aliquo tenetur.
Deus Opt[imus] M[aximus] Spiritu Filij sui Domini nostri Iesu Christi corda nostra sic illustret, vt fugatis errorum nebulis, ei toti ac soli semper adhæreamus. Amen. Heidelbergæ, anno M. D. LXVIII. Mense Aprili.
English Raw Translation
Generated by ChatGPT-4 on 15 August 2023. Attention: This translation is a machine translation by artificial intelligence. The translation has not been checked and should not be cited without additional human verification.
Thomas Erastus to the pious and Christian reader extends his most abundant greetings.
Almost thirteen years ago, when I had returned from Italy to Germany, having been summoned by the most illustrious Princes of Henneberg, and contrary to my expectation and hope, I found that many were so enthralled by the vain predictions of astrologers that they wouldn't let me bleed a vein, administer a medicine, or do anything else that reason and proper method would dictate. I was indeed greatly moved, both by astonishment and sorrow. For I wondered how it was possible that in such a light of truth, such superstitions and darkness could rule, especially in the minds of those whom I had no doubt were illuminated by the pure rays of heavenly light; especially when I remembered that during those eleven years in Italy, both when I had observed my teachers practicing our art with great acclaim and success and when I had dared to practice it myself, nothing of the sort had befallen me. Indeed, the Italians observe hardly anything other than the new and full moon. Moreover, no such almanacs are produced by them, like the ones minted annually amongst us, noting the proper times for cupping, bleeding, taking medicines, and even for cutting hair and nails; or which show which sign and degree the moon will traverse each day, how the other planets regard her, whether with a cheerful and pleasant face, or indeed with an angry and irate one. I have only seen the oppositions and conjunctions of the moon, movable feasts, and the like briefly noted each year on a chart; for everything else they use calendars prefixed to booklets called prayer books. I was distressed, not so much for my own sake (although it was very troublesome for me that I could not, as the situation and disease would demand, apply everything correctly in its own time) as for theirs, understanding that this superstition was not only detrimental to the health of the body but also contaminated piety. Therefore, when I began to think about finding a remedy for this by no means negligible evil, I conveniently remembered a booklet written in Italian against astrologers by Jerome Savonarola, a man endowed with excellent doctrine and piety, nearly ninety years ago. I translated and published this work from Italian into our language, so that it might also be beneficial to our countrymen. How some astrologers received it, I have known abundantly both from the public charts of some and from the private letters and conversations of others. Many have threatened much and indeed have vigorously attacked with invectives; yet none came forth with arguments. Only Christopher Stathmion jumped into the arena, but certainly, in my opinion, he fought in such a way that everyone would wish their enemies to fight. I thought it necessary to respond to him, not so much because most of his points seemed worthy of response, but rather so that through it, the matter could be more clearly elucidated.
After writing the response, I waited to see if some others would appear. Sharing their plans, as was told to me, they were said to be preparing to wage a fierce war against Savonarola, or rather against me. My intention was to intercept the arrows of both parties with a single shield. However, I heard that the judgment of some had prevailed, those of greater prudence than the rest, warning that this dispute should not be stirred up; because from its clarification and resolution, they foresaw no benefit, but much harm returning to astrologers. Subsequently, being occupied with other matters, I also set aside these thoughts. But recently, when a certain friend of mine urged me, presenting reasons that could sway any devout mind, to publish what I had written on this topic, I could neither refuse nor deny him. However, since a mere response seemed to inadequately clarify the matter, I decided to include a brief treatise on divination, wherein I would more generally and fully explain the nature, origin, author, and parent of divination. Thus, I elucidated what divination is, as properly termed: its main components, and how it differs from other types of premonitions. I also demonstrated in this treatise that all divination, properly taken, is beyond the power of a created mind and thus is false, impossible, and forbidden, unless something is predicted by God inspiring and revealing it.
I trust that whoever reads and considers this will not only be wary of astrological predictions but will also shun all other forms of divination as they would a plague, provided they are at all driven by the pursuit of truth and piety.
May the Best and Greatest God illuminate our hearts with the Spirit of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, so that, with the mists of error dispelled, we may always and solely cling to Him. Amen. Heidelberg, in the year 1568, in the month of April.
