[Butler, John[1]], B.D., A Protestant Minister of the true Antient Catholick and Apostolick Faith of the Church of England ‘ΆΓΙΑΣΤΡΟΓΊΑ[2]. Or, Astrology A Sacred Science. Shewing, The Excellency and great Benefit thereof, where it is rightly understood, and Religiously observed. As it is handled in the Display of Three Propositions: I. That there is an Astrology in the Heavens. II. That this Astrology, Man (in this state of Corruption) may attain in some measure to understand. III. That this Understanding may be lawfully and fairly compassed by Natural means, without any Diabolical Helps’ London, 1680[3].
Old leather with decoratively border-stamped boards (detached; heavily worn at outer corners; worn at inner margins, and scuffed to parts of surface), raised bands to spine, and gilt titling to panel on same (heavy wear to extremities of spine, and rubbing to bands). (Early owner’s name hand-inked to title page. Hand-inked note dated 22d. June 1738 to rfep. Small stain to p. 101, partly affecting visibility of one character, but without loss of legibility.) [1 leaf] + [9] + [27] + [7] + 91 + [1 page of advertisements] + [1 leaf] + [4] + 128
[1] Credited on the title page merely as J. B.
[2] This title is commonly rendered into English characters as ‘Hagiastrologia’
[3] This appears to be properly the inner title page to the first of the three books. The overall volume title page bearing a different extended title, as recorded by other library records, is missing from this copy. With separate title page introducing Book II to leaf following p. [92] of advertisements at the end of first section: ‘ΆΣΤΡΟΛΟΓΊΑ. Or, The most Sacred and Divine Science of Astrology Vindicated, Against The Reverend Dr. More’s Calumnies, in his Explanation of the Grand Mystery of Godliness. – By J. B., B. D., A Minister of Gods Word – London, 1680’. [No separate title page was issued to the third internal book, comprising the last 16 pages of the second main run of pagination, thus pp. 113-128. This has only a half-title on p. 113.]
About this Book Scan
Carefully reproduced in full colour from our original printing of the 1680 first edition.
The Reverend John Butler’s Hagiastrologia, or Astrology, a Sacred Science, was an influential late 17th century discourse in favour of astrology by a that remained widely cited by astrologers throughout the 19th century.
The identity of the author is not entirely clear, as John Butler was a common name. In 1675, there appeared a work credited to John Butler, rector Lichborrow Peterburgh, entitled God made Man… Verified by the Rules of Practi-cal Astrologie. It is possible though not certain that this is the same author. We do not believe he was John Butler DD, Canon of Windsor from 1669 to 1682, since the author of Hagiastrologia is referenced only as BD (Bachelor of Divinity).