Now how often doth such a kind of Man talke after this manner with himselfe. What have I done? Whither am I running headlong, so basely spending my goods that I got, who will repaire my estate? If ever I shall receive what hath been thus spent, I will take a far other course of life, and will by my harms learne to bee wise, and will make amends for my evill deeds.
No man is wise by his own harmes, but by anothers.
But it is convenient to know, that no man can bee wise by his owne harme. For it is a foolish, and senselesse thing to bee wise by ones owne harme. Let him that will be wise, be wise by another mans example, not by his owne. For hee that hath once spent his estate, would spend it againe if hee should have it, and he that once perisheth, perisheth for ever. Hee which once hath cast a Dice, casts it again. Hee which once stole, and escaped the gallowes, will endeavour to steal the second time also. For hee thinkes thus with himselfe. My enterprizes have succeeded once, and again, and why not the third, or fourth time? If God should once restore what I have lost, hee would restore it the second, and third time, &c. If hee did not forsake mee in my first misery, hee will not in the second, or third, &c.
All these doth an Animall man doe, the servant, and slave of the stars, who is turned every where, and moved by the stars, as a Reed in water.
And this is the reason why his life is spent in misery, and he dies in infamy.
Who therefore will sustain such servitude, and not deliver himselfe from such a nasty prison? For any one may by his owne wisdome, together with the help of his star, deliver, and free himselfe from thence. Consider the matter thus:
A Fowler by his prudence, and help of his star, overcoming another starre, needs not goe after birds, for they will come after him flying to unusuall places, contrary to their nature.
So a Fisherman can by making use of the wisdome which God hath given him make fishes swim to him of their own accord, so that he may take them up with his hands.
A Hunter improving his wisdome, doth by his star so compell the wild beasts, that hee need not follow them, but they will follow him without any impulse of nature. So also of the rest of living creatures.
Stars are twofold.