Intheseventeenthcenturyableargumentsagainstthesuperstition，ongeneralgrounds，begantobemultiplied。InHolland，BalthasarBekkeropposedthis，asheopposedthewitchcraftdelusion，ongeneralphilosophicgrounds；andLubienitzkywroteinacompromisingspirittoprovethatcometswereasoftenfollowedbygoodasbyevilevents。InFrance，PierrePetit，formerlygeographerofLouisXIII，andanintimatefriendofDescartes，addressedtotheyoungLouisXIVavehementprotestagainstthesuperstition，basinghisargumentsnotonastronomy，butoncommonsense。AveryeffectivepartofthelittletreatisewasdevotedtoansweringtheauthorityofthefathersoftheearlyChurch。Todothis，hesimplyremindedhisreadersthatSt。AugustineandSt。JohnDamascenushadalsoopposedthedoctrineoftheantipodes。ThebookdidgoodserviceinFrance，andwastranslatedinGermanyafewyearslater。[116]
[116]ForBlaisedeVigenere，seehisTraitedesCometes，Paris，1578。ForDudith，seehisDeCometarumDignificatione，Basle，1579，towhichtheletterofErastusisappended。Bekker’sviewsmaybefoundinhisOnderzoekvandeBetekeningderCometen，Leeuwarden，1683。ForLubienitsky’s，seehisTheatrumCometicum，Amsterdam，1667，inpartii：HistoriaCometarum，preface“tothereader。”ForPetit，seehisDissertationsurlaNaturedesCometes，Paris，1665Germantranslation，DresdenandZittau，1681。
Alltheseweredenouncedasinfidelsandheretics，yetnonethelessdidtheysetmenatthinking，andpreparethewayforafargreatergenius；fortowardtheendofthesamecenturythephilosophicattackwastakenupbyPierreBayle，andinthewholeseriesofphilosophicchampionsheischief。WhileprofessorattheUniversityofSedanhehadobservedthealarmcausedbythecometof1680，andhenowbroughtallhisreasoningpowerstobearuponit。Thoughtsdeepandwittyhepouredoutinvolumeaftervolume。CatholicsandProtestantswerealikescandalized。
CatholicFrancespurnedhim，andJurieu，thegreatReformeddivine，calledhiscometaryviews“atheism。”andtriedhardtohaveProtestantHollandcondemnhim。ThoughBayledidnottouchimmediatelythemassofmankind，hewroughtwithpoweruponmenwhogavethemselvesthetroubleofthinking。ItwasindeedunfortunatefortheChurchthattheologians，insteadoftakingtheinitiativeinthismatter，leftittoBayle；for，intearingdownthepretendedscripturaldoctrineofcomets，hetoredownmuchelse：ofallmeninhistime，noonesothoroughlypreparedthewayforVoltaire。
Bayle’swholeargumentisrootedintheprophecyofSeneca。Hedeclares：“CometsarebodiessubjecttotheordinarylawofNature，andnotprodigiesamenabletonolaw。”Heshowshistoricallythatthereisnoreasontoregardcometsasportentsofearthlyevils。Astothefactthatsuchevilsoccurafterthepassageofcometsacrossthesky，hecomparesthepersonbelievingthatcometscausetheseevilstoawomanlookingoutofawindowintoaParisstreetandbelievingthatthecarriagespassbecauseshelooksout。Astotheaccomplishmentofsomepredictions，hecitestheshrewdsayingofHenryIV，totheeffectthat“thepublicwillrememberonepredictionthatcomestruebetterthanalltherestthathaveprovedfalse。”Finally，hesumsupbysaying：“Themorewestudyman，themoredoesitappearthatprideishisrulingpassion，andthatheaffectsgrandeureveninhismisery。Meanandperishablecreaturethatheis，hehasbeenabletopersuadementhathecannotdiewithoutdisturbingthewholecourseofNatureandobligingtheheavenstoputthemselvestofreshexpense。Inordertolighthisfuneralpomp。Foolishandridiculousvanity！Ifwehadajustideaoftheuniverse，weshouldsooncomprehendthatthedeathorbirthofaprinceistooinsignificantamattertostirtheheavens。”[117]