The same things he saith again a little after in this manner: the Astrologer being in his Study, and consulting the Astronomical Rules upon the motions of the Heavens, the Conjunction and several Aspects of the Planets, he guesseth at some future events, of which being not certain, this Divine Light riseth in his mind, and imparteth clearly to him what he knew before, only _Ænigmatically_ and obscurely, and in the shade of that natural light. Sometimes also (saith he) this Light cometh the first into the Astrologers mind, and he afterwards comparing the thing revealed unto him with the Astronomical rules, he seeth that they do wholly agree together; and this is the method that he hath made use of, to know whether the inspired truths were agreeing with the Astronomical Calculations; a method that he hath made use of some times, but not always, for he hath foretold many things, which he could not read in the Heavens. By these testimonies of the Author himself, every one may see how he made use of Judicial Astrology, and wherefore he studied it so much; how far his knowledge did extend; the glory he giveth to God alone, for his Prophetical knowledge; what horrour he hath always had against unlawful means to attain unto it; how much he did value that Grace, considering his unworthiness; and the manner how the Lord was pleased to gratifie him. CHAP. VII. _Answer to the first Objection against ~Nostradamus~, which pretendeth to rank him among the false Prophets._ Let us see now what calumny pretendeth for the obscuring this Prophet of our days; the knowledge of future things (saith she) is a priviledge belonging to the Saints, and to those whom God hath endowed with an eminent vertue. I acknowledge, it is so commonly, and in the ordinary way of Grace, but if God be pleased to impart that priviledge to those that have not attained to that Degree of Holiness, and that it really appeareth by the reasons of Theologie, that they have been gratified with it, we are bound to admire his Royal bounty, which giveth when, and to whom he pleaseth: for example, no body deserveth to be a Marshal of _France_, but he that hath been in several Battles, and at the taking of many Towns; but if the King be pleased to honour with that Dignity a Gentleman that never Warred but against the Deer, the Kings goodness is to be praised, which extendeth even to those that have not deserved it; it is the same reason here, it is visibly apparent that _Nostradamus_ hath been enlightned by the Holy Ghost, and yet he hath not imitated the lifes of those great Saints of the Church: what can be inferred from thence, but that it was Gods pleasure to extend his bounty upon his poor Creatures, which is easie to be granted in this point, because the gift of Prophecy is not a sanctifying Grace, but a supernatural gift, of which a sinner is capable of, as we see in _Balaam_, _Caiaphas_, and the _Sybilles_, and much more in a Christian, who observeth Gods