A Generall Table OF EUROPE REPRESENTING The Present and Future State thereof VIZ. The PRESENT GOVERNMENTS LANGUAGES RELIGIONS FOUNDATIONS and REVOLUTIONS both of Governments and Religions The FUTURE MUTATIONS REVOLUTIONS GOVERNMENT and RELIGION of CHRISTENDOM and of the WORLD c. From the Prophecies of the three late German Prophets KOTTERUS CHRISTINA and DRABRICIUS c. ALL Collected out of the Originals for the common Use and Information of the ENGLISH Printed for Benjamin Billingsley at the Printing Press in Broadstreet 1670. GENTLE READER THis little Piece of History has stuck in the Birth well nigh a whole year and at last is forced to come forth an imperfect Embryo through the unhappy Midwifry of the Press Yet for thy encouragement thou oughtest to know That there is none such ever yet extant in the English Tongue For for the first Part there is 1. Not a more modern and later History of Christendom in English Nor 2. a better in so small a Volumn viz. None that gives a better account of the last fore-going and this present Age which two chiefly concern us to know that is of the last considerable Affairs of the World and present state of things We say there is none extant of the like nature so short and comprehensive And for the Second Part It is the most wonderful strangest History ever yet known in the World in the English yea or any other Language And indeed not to be parallel'd by all History and Antiquity Whether those Prophetical Revelations be from GOD Man or the Devil yet they exceed all comparison If they be from GOD they are the strangest and most miraculous ever since the Apostles days If they be Delusions and Imaginations of Man they are the strangest ever suffer'd or invented by Man If lastly Devices Fascinations and Bewitchings of the Devil transforming himself into an Angel of Light c. they are the strangest still and the least Footsteps of his Cloven Foot to be discerned that ever was in any of his Juggles Onely we have been unhappily hindred by the Press from giving you a short view and taste of the Prophecies themselves as was really intended And these two things may perhaps help to make it go down with the Reader as it is notwithstanding all its faults For 't is confess'd there are many Defects procur'd through manyfold Occasions not fit here to be mentioned And if Worthy Reader thou knewest all Circumstances thou wouldst certainly be so candid as to pardon all Faults Which I doubt not but thou wilt at least for the good will and Endeavours of the Author Farewel ERRATA Courteous Reader These three or four places thou must needs be desired to amend before thou readest the Book All other faults we are forc'd to let pass c. Page 15. line 15. for of Inorganick c. read To which add The greater knowledge of and insight into the Inorganick Motion and Fermentation of Nature and Cultivation thereof And blot out those words as it were Mechanick Page 72. line 20. blot out those words or Nevers and interpose these the Prince of Conde whom the King of France c. Page 113. line 5. Note There was such News at that time that the Vizier himself was slain in a violent On-set c. This Book should have come forth then Page 159. line ult for Holiness read unholiness A General Table OF EUROPE In its Present and Future Appearance The First Part Comparative Of the Advantages of Europe in comparison of other Parts of the Universe The ARGUMENT Europe compar'd with other Parts and former Times for Arms Arts Commerce and Religion The preheminence of Empire and Arms. The preheminence of Arts and Sciences The Chinois high esteem thereof Of Riccius and Adams Jesuites there The Emperours great Grace and Favour to Adams His Edict and Charter in favour of the Christian Religion engrav'd on a stone at the entrance of their Church and Title given to it by him The Jesuites Inscription thereon The preheminence as to former times in many rare Arts and Inventions The preheminence of Riches and Commerce Shipping and Navigation The preheminence of Religion or Priviledge of Christendom Christendom the Glory of Europe All its Advantages founded on Christianity and Disadvantages on Pagan-and-Anti-christianism Shameful Dissentions of Christians and Christian Princes and States Lamentable Disorders Persecutions and Inquisitions for Religion and Conscience in Europe Liberty of the same commended Revolutions of the World Present flourishing of Europe EUROPE is at this day the most flourising part of the Universe for Empire Religion and Learning Arts and Arms and all the high distinctions of Humane kind And as she now exceeds all other Parts so the present all former Ages and Generations It is not our purpose at present in this General Table to make Comparisons and set her off by the others sad countenance but onely in first drawing some plain and rude Lineaments to expose to general view her present Portraiture and Appearance with some prospect of her future Europe then might be compar'd either with other parts or former Times of the World and every way we should find her to excel For though for largeness of extent she yeilds both to Africa and to Asia yet she surpasses them in politeness and they all seem rude and barbarous in comparison and has got those advantages and felicities above them that all their Riches cannot equal And if for vastness of single Empire and Treasure and dependencies thereon she cannot come in competition with the times of the Roman Greatness yet take her divided and all her parts together and she far exceeds them And by how much her Empire since has been disposed into divers hands by so much have her several parts been more puissant and flourishing The whole Glory of Europe then was contracted into a very narrow compass and one little corner onely and as I may say Toe of Italy For what was England France Spain and Germany c. to wâ—â—â—â—â—â—y are now surely infinitly more inglorious and despicable She could not then look down upon her Feet and inferior parts and not be like the Peacock ashamed in the height of all her pride For if we should compare her for Arts or for Arms for the Virtues of War and of Peace and therein all things else her Courts her Camps her Schools her Cities and her Fields we should find no degrees of comparison nor room in this Table We will only touch upon things loosly here as besides our present intent Asia perhaps has shewn Europe that prodigious Art of Powder and Cannon But Europe in revenge has requited her with another as great and by the Chard and Compass taught her and the World besides the use of that Invention For with her Ordinance and Men of War she has secur'd all the Coasts both of Persia and the Indies and those moreover of Ethiopia and of Peru. She has quell'd the Sophies and the Mogulls and seiz'd on their
the divine Power that these Books also be publickly extant and exposed to be sold bought read and throughly considered and examined being certain that it will be for the great use of Gods People your Honour and the Glory of God Yea and read them your selves and delay not to offer them to your Counsellours to be read and judged Here is a thousand times a greater business then a Neighbouring War or Peace It 's worthy of all your Juncto's to consult of Let not O Kings the King of Kings seem to be so slighted by you or his Messengers pretending at least in his Name c. Believe it most Serene Princes nothing like to this Book has the World had since the Apostles times The next is to all the Angels of the Churches Bishops Pastors Doctors all Divines and Theologers and all Eclesiasticks where all prejudices of the Wise and Learned and Religious against these matters are clearly removed c. It hath pleased God in some Ages past to inspire before-hand Men and Women with a prophetick spirit as in the Book called the Burden of the Church and in the Catalogue of the Witnesses of the Truth and in Fabricius's Tryal of Visions are cited and in our age to stir up others and in greater numbers through Germany Amongst whom seeing these three write what they are commanded of that stupendous mutation of things in the World now at hand and the Glorious Kingdom of Christ Now now to begin And that indeed these are not fained as may appear plainly from the adjoyned History What hinders but that all these things also be known of you O Presidents of the Churches It is no burden to you to read humane commetaries upon the Scripture Why do you neglect to know these that as truly as God lives are not Humane Lay aside or at least suspend for a time the cushion of carnal security Rather read again attentively both the divine Book of the Prophets and Apostles and also these new repetitions of the same things and then if all things appear not a thousand fold clearer to you then through your false spectacles then let it be free for you to take them up again Unhappy interpreters of the Scripture who expresly deny what God expresly affirms in the Scripture that the Lord does nothing but he reveals his secrets to his Servants the Prophets From whom therefore doth the contrary assertion that God does all things without our privity come Expunge that out of your Bibles or say God is not that Antient mankind-loving God who takes pleasure to communicate his secrets to men I beseech you O Theologers be not more infidels to the world and works of God then Machiavil suspected of some of Atheisme as before quoted Take heed in the name of God Theologers to blind and hearden men while you would seem to make them see The Apostles have not said to the people of the new Law Admit no more Prophesie but he hath said Quench not the Spirâ—t dispise not Prophesie try all things c. O ye that are appointed Watchmen upon the Walls of Jerusalem examin the state of your Churches Whether they be truly called out of the world or rather relapsed into the world and become the verymost world indeed If the whole matter were seriously looked into perhaps you would see what heretofore so many holy men have seen viz. Among Modern Christians almost nothing of Christ besides the name is found for as much as 1st The humility of Christ is turned into haughtiness from the highest head of the Church to the lowest 2dly The Heavenly Kingdom of Christ into all things that are Earthly 3dly The Gentleness of Christ degenerated into fury and mad perversness of butchering one another that we are not now a tame flock of Tigers Lyons Wolves Serpents But a flock of Sheep turned into Wolves Bears Dragons Vipers greedy of nothing but to hurt one another in all the holy Mountains of God 4thly Lastly if it be true what a holy man said Christ reigns in internals Antichrist in externals we are all now become Antichrists Because none almost worship God in Spirit and Truth All living in the flesh seek to deceive God with a little paint and external daub of piety Again and again see what you do O Theologers lest if you will not admit these Preachers God send you more terrible Preachers Prodigies in Heaven and Earth and Blood and Fire and streams of Smoak and Fears and Pits and Snares and that like People like Priest c. If indeed they are Humane or Satanical you need not fear but contemn them but if truly from God wo unto you Guides of the people who in obedience of your ordinary vocation most scornfully contemn these extraordinary things that you account them neither worthy to be seen or heard orexamined O Consecrated Heads to God! Be not like the Preists and Prophets of Jerusalem drunken with Error not knowing the Seer and ignorant of the Judgement Behold here Seers Behold an obscure question Whether at this day there be Seers or no. Examin both it and them But Judge not according to outward appearance but Judge Righteous Judgement sayes Christ And what need you be troubled at them they are but the things foretold in the Scripture Of Tribulations to the wicked world and Rest and Peace to the Church c. Which if you cannot bear with in these Books expunge them out of the volumns of your Bibles But if you can and ought to bear them there bear them also here That old and new may accord together If you scruple because they were unlearned and Ideots Gamaliel's counsel in full Council of the Pharisees is moderate Abstain from these men and let them alone for if this counsel or word be of men it shall be brought to nought but if it be of God you cannot withstand it lest perhaps ye be found fightâ—â—s against God O Modern Councils Synods Consistories Universities suffer the same words Desist to prohibit this Book For no Human wit can refute nor no human force or power oppose this work of innovating the world nor no humane goodness able to wish better things to mankind If any dislikes this Counsel and will try his strength in overthrowing this work let him also attempt to stop the dayly Rise and Set of the Sun or the Flux and Reflux of the Sea or the Winds from blowing hither and thither But thou to thine own self O man art nor able to stop breathing in and out And how wilt thou go about to restrain the Eternal Spirits breathings and inspirations Cease ye Sparks to contend with the Flame ye Rivers with the Ocean ye shall not prevail Cease to befool men by attributing to Man or to Satan what cannot be attributed neither to Man nor to Satan viz. to speak with the voice of God and to seal his words with omnipotent virtue to effect them by shaking to wit the Earth and the Sea and the
beseeching you all by the adorable name of God to suffer your selves to be perswaded that nothing under Heaven greater can at this time be undertaken and performed by you then this very question to be determined Is it the Voice of God that sounds here or no c. Seeing O Kings Princes Common-wealths your duties are here set before your eyes with wholesome Counsels for the publick safty be you intreated in the name of God and by your own and the Worlds salvation this thing in the first place to take these very Books into your protection and command them to be exposed openly through all the Book-sellers Shops of your Kingdoms and Provinces as freely as any other Books whatever of good note Instilling into the Christian People the fear of God reverence of Kings and amendment of life As freely I say as other Books of this nature as the Book of the three men and three spritual Virgins Hermis Pastoris Ugutine the Monk Fryar Robert and Hildegard Elizabeth and Mathilda published by Jacob Faber at Paris 1513. who all had Revelations and Visions like these c. Hear O Kings Princes Common-wealths and every Power among Christian People this Book which is offered to you stirs you up against no man but exhorts you all in the name of God to do your duty in stopping the confusions brought in by Satan and restoring the order instituted from God As yet promising Benediction if you yet admit counsel or denouncing the last Wrath Plagues and Destruction if you yet harden your selves Let the fear of the Lord therefore be with you and deligently put in execution all things It is your glory O Kings to be nursing Fathers c. and also it is your Duty to restrain any Church that degenerating into Babylon exercises fierceness cruelty and if the Spouse of Christ putting on a whorish dress waxes wanton to hate the Whore and make her desolate and naked and to eat her flesh and burn her with Fire God putting it into your hearts to do his pleasure And no longer to give your Kingdoms to the Beast till the Word of God be finished Rev. 17. But behold in our times the words of all the Prophesies old and new are consummated which the universal commotion of Nations which you see and the universal change of things which you shall shorrly see do witness Ho! therefore take again unto you your power and leave not your Scepters any longer in a strange and wrong hand I have commanded you O Kings and Princes that you your selves Govern For you have even your name from me Gods on the Earth not from an Angel or any creature saies the Word of God to Drabricius c. But what must you do when you take unto you your power O Kings That very thing which the King of Kings whose Ministers you are at this time requires of you TO REFORM THE WORLD AND ALL THINGS IN IT THROUGH ALL NATIONS For he who has long since by the mouths of his most holy Prophets said that he would make all things new on you O Kings as his Vicegerents he confers this Honor that this glorious Renovation be begun by your happy undertaking and be done by your Co-working and Authority through the whole world And then shall be the peaceable state of the World and of the Church in the Kingdom of the Messiah promised in Paradise in the destroying of the Devils Kingdom And which all the Patriarcks looked for and the Prophets prefigured in types and the Apostles prophesied of and the Prophets and Prophesies of God ever since have declared And which is so often reiterated in these Books that Peace shall return to the Earth before the end of the World with the divine benediction poured forth upon all Drabricius Rev. 107. Peace such as never was the like from the beginning of things Rev. 149. when all Wayes all Paths all the Trumphets all Books all Voices and Languages of all People and Nations shall agree in one angle of PEACE and in one common CHARITY Rev. 384. when the spiritual Jerusalem shall be built anew so beautifully that the very times of Solomon may not be compared to these Cotterus 18. When the Messias shall plant new Hevens and new Earth viz. new Churches and a new State wherein dwells Righteousness Which manner of things seeing they cannot but be an exultation to true Christians and that this Book declares them suffer it as well ye O Roman Chatholicks Princes as others whosoever love the coming of our Lord Jesus suffer it to live and to be taken for a publick Testimony of Gods being yet God doing nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the Prophets And for a publick looking or perspective-glass rationally to view all things which are here doing in the Ages of the world And for the last protestation and bearing witness of God that it will not be his fault if a new deluge come upon the impenitent world And then lastly for a Publick Alarum or Sermon-Bell to Universal repontance and for the last Trumphet after whose sound great Voices shall be made in the Heaven of the Church The Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ who now shall Raign throughout all Ages forever Rather do this O Kings and Powers for the Honour of Christ now taking unto him the Kingdoms of the World under the whole Heavens Learn who is the King of Kings against whom the Heathen rage in vain and the People imagin a vain thing c. To whom the Nations are given for an inheritance and the ends of the Earth for his possession who shall rule them with a Rod of Iron and shall break them as a Potters vessel Understand now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the Earth serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce before him with trembling learn discipline lest his wrath at length be kindled ye perish in the way understand the mystery of these times why the Nations are troubled and distrubed and the Kingdoms declining why the whole Earth is moved at the Voice of God Namely that these are the works of the Lord and set as Prodigies and Signs upon the Earth to take away War even unto the end of the Earth To snap the bow in sunder to break the Weapons in peieces and burn the sheilds with Fire Therefore cease O ye Kings from War see that the Lord is God that God will be exalted in the Nations that he will be exalted in the Earth c. O therefore Christian Kings take heed any longer to stand against the Prince of Peace Christ with your furious Arms disturbing and laying wast his Kingdom w ch Kingdom you your selves are as also the Universal Christian People committed to you Or it shall come to pass that he will find some one to send upon you even from the utmost East to devour your Armies if you will not know the thoughts of the Lord
nor understand his counsel Therefore Kings begin to know from his Oracles old and new founding in this very Book also that the Lord be not inraged against you and you perish in the way But how First By puting an end among your selves and all Christian People to WARS because now is the time for the King of Peace to Raign c. O Christian Kings Princes Common-wealths be Ministers of this Peacemaking King and cease to be a reproach to Christ For God will scatter the Nations that delight in War 2dly All mutual PERSECUTIONS for Religion are presently to be laid aside also which God never commanded but Satan began by Cain and by Ahab and Jezabel and the Babylonians and Antiochus and Caiphas with their bloudy Hypocrites and continued by Nero and other Pagans But among Christians only the impious Arrians dispairing to defend the depravity of their Opinion by Scripture first attempted to usurp against the most manifest Doctrine and practice of Christ and the Apostles and the holy Doctors and Martyrs of the Church who had rather be killed and devoured like Sheep then kill and devour like Wolves Thirdly Not to permit him neither who usurping primacy in the Church and supposing it to be defended by him with Sword and Fire hath now for some Ages raged do not suffer him to continue his rage and cruelty but that he also laying aside his Savageness may become a Lamb of Christs flock or an innocent Lyon Be mindful of that wise saying of Steven King of Poland that God hath reserved three things to himself 1. Creation out of nothing 2. Foreknowledge of things future 3. Domination or Lordship over Consciences Which the Roman Pope hath attempted to usurp and without either any Divine command or humane leave hath dared to build himself a Kingdom over all Kingdoms of the World and to maintain it by Sword and Flame And to lord it over the Consciences of all men even of his Brethren the Bishops and that which is more of Kings themselves who represent the divine Majesty on Earth Which what is it else but to climb into Gods Throne which if ye O Kings the Vicegerents of Divine Majesty on Earth continually tolerate God protests that he will no longer tole ate And to that end begins his Judgements against him and you and the world 4thly That what the season of the present Broils and Troubles of the world require of you O Kings that every one of you most solemnly proclaim to all your People universally publick Prayers Fastings and amendment of life and thereby true and general repentance after the example of the King of Nineveh Because this is the time of which Christ sayes that there shall be great Tribulation such as hath not been from the begining of the World nor ever shall be O ye Sons in high places now God arises to judge the Earth and to take his inheritance in all Nations 5thly If upon universal repentance God spare you a most solemn reformation and amendment of things is to be thought of Inquire into the Books of the Lord old and new hear your St. Bridgets most excellent counsel when St. Bernard inquired the counsel of God from her He that sat upon the Throne opening his mouth said Hear all my enemies living in the World because I speak not to my Friends who follow my will hear all Clergy men Arch Bishops Bishops and all inferior orders of the Church hear all Religious and Regulars of what soever order hear Kings and Princes and Judges of the Earth and all Ministirs and Subjects Hear Women Queens and Princesses and all Ladies Mistresses and Servants and all of what soever order and degree great and small that inhabit the world these words which I even I who have created you now speak unto you c. After complaining of all their sins impieties and vices Therefore I swear by my Deity that if you dye in the state wherein you are you shall never see my face nor escape my punishments c. Therefore return ye unto me with humiliations and I will receive you graciously as Sons c. And therefore for such an universal and serious return because serious and solemn thoughts once at length are to be entred upon counsel is given you even in these Books O Kings of convocating an UNIVERSAL COUNCIL out of all Christian People Holily to conspire together in a common universal repentance and universal serious deprecating and amendment of so great exorbitances now among us c. and to return all from curiosities and niceties about Articles and Questions of Faith which hath distracted us and from the many by-paths of error which we are run into and from earthly desires and lusts which have led us away into mutual strifes and Wars unto the simplicity and puriry of the Christian Faith and Life That all Christian Dissensions Strifes Hatreds Wars Devourings and Destroyings may be changed into Concord Peace Love Safety and Felicity and to this the only way is a COUNCIL truly universal truly free truly congregated in the Holy Ghost Arise O Christian Kings help things every where grown desperate the Patronage of this Book belongs to Kings because it comes in the name of the King of Kings and is printed with priviledge of the King of Kings and committed to the favor of all the Kings of the Earth every where to spread and divulge it and contains nothing hurtful to any but profitable and most useful to all If you hear not these divine counsels O Christians the Lord will send more Plagues Intestine Wars Famine Plague Savage Beasts i. e. Men worse then Beasts so that Christians shall be more savage and rage one against another more inhumanly then Turks and Barbarians because the condemnation of the great Whore is at hand Not for our selves O Kings and Princes do we the Publishers of this Book require your protection thereof but for your selves and the Christian People lest you perish from the fury of all the divine premointions It is comfort and protection enough to us from God who can boldly say with Hildegardis I have both spoke and writ these things not according to the invention of my own heart or of any man but as I have seen heard and perceived them in the Heavenly places or visions through the secret mysteries of God Therefore hear ye who preside in the place of God on Earth undertake so to manage this cause of God against Satan or of Satan against God for so different persons interpret differently that it may be ended and none may err concerning these things This lyes upon you upon a double right 1st because you are Kings 2dly Because you are the Churches nursing Fathers c. Therefore constitute forthwith a Judgement O ye who judge the Earth wherein may be decided whether our God that hath pity towards us all in common speakes here things profitable to his Reaple or some Devil instil things hurtful If the latter that the
Islands and breaking in peeces the Peoples one by another Behold It is the Lord who both speaks and does Let not the Protestants and the Evangelicks say they are reformed and comeout of Babylon and forsaken Antichrist Alas Alas We lack not Popes but Rome the spirit of Antichrist has notforsaken us in all things but only dispersed it self into more things How many Universities Doctors Masters Bishops Pastors we have so many Popes And every common man of the people would be a Pope and Dictatour above all Law and Discipline The Thunderbolts of God comprehended in these Books do reach all corrupt Christendom Let no party of Christians think that this Book is for them alone to destroy all others The world is full of Babylonish works therefore the whole World is Babylon And every Kingdom State City House Church and School hath its Babylon Every Faction would build a Tower to climb into the Heaven of Glory nor will cease from their own wayes and thoughts to bring them to pass Have we no Nimrods hunters of Dominion and Lordship over others and destroyers of the Christian Evangelick liberty Antichrist is not hard to be found even among the Evangelicks who for liberty in Christ began to shake off and would be now thought to have shook off the Antichristian yoak Either the Evangil is not Evangil or we are not Evangelicks But there are reformed Evangelicks Would there were not in name but in deed For the Kingdom of God is not in Word but in Power That Christians as they now are are of all which the Earth bears most perverse as who do all things against their profession believe against their Creed live against their decalogue and Law pray against their Lords prayer hope against their hope and before all other Nations to be reformed from the very foundation or to be rooted up from the very foundation may be here read Alas Alas Moses and Mahomet have theirs more dutiful then Christ For the Jews strictly observe through all sufferings their Ceremonies Christ has commanded to worship God in spirit and truth only and to love one another and no ceremonies and yet these Christians are mad for and quite regardless of the other Charity alone was commended to us not Ceremonies yet these only urged Among us perpetual fallings out all sorts of oppressions bloody Wars and mutual horrid butcherings of one another testifie that we have no charity Mahomet forbad his Wine and they abstain Christ forbad no good thing and taught only Temperance yet Christians live most intemperatly He forbad his to dispute of Faith they dispute not content with their blind faith Christ taught to do and not to say like the Pharisees yet we do nothing but scold about Faith but lead for the most part prophane lives Mahomet commanded to tolerate both Jews and Christians and they do molesting none for difference of Religion But Christ hath in vain forbid us to pluck up the Tares before the Harvest most deadlily raging against one another for Religion And so all things otherwise then he has commanded by whose name we are called O good Jesus the whole universe of Christians seems to have conspired against thee and they are first or prime in persecuting thee who have the primacy in thy Church c. But they are not fulfilled say some of the wise and learned in the particulars T is answered In Prophesies old and new the scope of God is not to satisfie humane curiosity about this or that particular thing or person But to ingenerate in mens minds Terror in the Evil Hope in the Good and Repentance and Patience in all And we are not primarily to seek what may be future as what is our duty what God requires or forbids promises or threatens and how to escape the Wrath and to obtain Grace which when men do not God blinds them so that to them Every Vision becoms a sealed Book not able to be read and the prophane find there nothing but stumbling stones of offence and darkness to blind them and to grope in That God fulfils things in his own time and way though we mistake That Instruments miscarry and God defers till the last till the very hour of desperation c. He that believes will not make hast That in promises and threatnings God intends them conditionally though spoken as it were many times absolutely Of which enough already c. O Protestants Christians Reform'd Evangelicks Because most of you are contemners of extraordinary works of God Visions and Revelations Charity compels to warn you that you do not proceed to sin against God and your own souls by a pertenacious Judgement condemning those things which you neither understand nor that you might understand ever made it your work or took any leisure for Run through all your Bibles you shall never find God complaining of mens too much credulity towards him and his words and other signs of his Anger or Grace but the contrary Shall we therefore now amongst so many Prodiges of Heaven and of Earth and the cryes of God Angels Men and almost of the very stones and whilst the Signs of Gods Wrath dart forth every where into our very faces fear to sin by too much credulity Specially when by new Revelations no new opinion is suggested only new incitements to weigh throughly the ancient words and works of God and to return into the ancient wayes of Faith and Obedience with perpetual revoking us from our negligence to the Scriptures And shall we yet go on to ascribe these things rather to Satan than give glory to God The conversion of the Jews and the Nations unto God with terrible foregoing Judgments and Plagues is the Theme of this Book And therefore no cause why any one should like to condemn this Book or prohibit it to any to be read For certainly Christians ought to rejoyce that what all have pray'd in the name of Christ this sixteen hundred years is now declar'd to be at hand Dissenters in opinion ought to rejoyce Because an end of Dissentions is declar'd and Universal Peace and Concord establishing Protestants ought to rejoyce Because God himself protests for them Catholicks ought to rejoyce Because the Pale of the Catholick Church is promised to be extended even to the ends of the Earth Zealots ought to rejoyce who have hitherto laboriously might and main persecuted those that erred in Faith and dangerously though with never so much pious Zeal endeavoured to root out the Tares out of the Lords Feild whilst Behold God himself now takes this his own work upon himself to purge his own Floor They that suffer or have suffered Persecution ought to rejoyce Because the times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord are declared Neither ought this day of the Lord coming as Fire terrifie any man Because this Fire is the Refiners Fire and Fullers Soap wherewith the Sons of Levi namely the Clergy of all parties are throughly purged that they may be
and consider But to such as are of a single heart and have a light kindled by thy Law and Prophets a light burning and shining in truth Rev. 259. Give also that very Kings and Princes with Queens and Priests and all the People may so read these things as Josias the King with his Princes the words of thy threatnings to tremble at thy Judgements and repent Drabr Rev. 325. Thou thy self O Lord work in those to whom the voice of thy Trumpet shall reach that thy Word may be as fire consuming the Abominations of Desolation Rev. 559. And whomsoever these voices of thine shall sound about that together thy Coelestial Light may shine about That there may be none so blind with Zeal nor a Saul so obstinate in his Opinion that may not fall down prostrate and cry Lord What wilt thou have me to do Seeing the Abyss of thine Anger to have opened it's Jaws to swallow up false Christians except they repent Rev. 325. But if even yet they will not permit thy Witnesses to speak but will command them to hold their peace will stop their ears it will be high time that thy self O Lord speak for thine own self Speak therefore speak by the work it self by accomplishment of the Predictions that they may understand that it is Thou who speakest and doest Bring forth thy Witnesses as thou hast promised whom the World may be full of Rev. 569. O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord hearken and do Defer not for thine own sake O my God! In his Appeal before his Epitome such passages as these occur O thou Adorable dwelling in the Heavens give testimony that Nothing is here offered unto men in thy Name which is feigned of men and onely covered over with thy Name That so if this Light of Revelations for so the Book is called be lighted and kindled by thee in thy Church it may be as inextinguishable as the light of the Sun and Stars in the Firmament But if otherwise and a trap be laid for thy Christian People bring to naught the fraud with the Zeal of thine own self O Lord God of Zebaoth That as every Plant which the Heavenly Father has not planted may be rooted up so every light which the Father of Lights has not kindled may be put out Yea as Nadab and Abihu offering strange fire before the Lord which was not commanded but were consumed with fire from the Lord So let the like Example be now shewn O God! That if any have dared and do dare to offer the figments of their own brain in the Name of the Light of thy Revelations they may fall down dead in thy Presence and the Presence of all thy People By thy commands these things are brought to pass Behold we again speak seeing thou commandest and drivest us with terrors The words received not from men but from thee whether they will hear or whether they will forbear Never man spake as Christ and never spake Satan as these even as God speak by his Prophets 1. Thundring against the sins of men 2. Denouncing Punishments and whence except they repent 3. Offering Grace to the Repentant Which three so holy things Satan neither will nor can counterfeit And for men they are above the wit of man especially of these men Kotterus an Artizan and most simple Ideot Christina a young Virgin by her Age uncapable of such things Drabricius an old doting Man as his Enemies traduce him Do they not then speak things more then humane Therefore being neither Humane nor Diabolical they must certainly be Divine But I cease to contend with Arguments whether these things be Divine and not Humane committing it to every mans own Conscience and circumspection and the divine Illumination For as none can convince by Arguments whether it be Day or Ninght except the Sun be risen to cause day and men open their eyes So none can better demonstrate that God speaks then God himself speaking and man attending to God and that the Voice of God be sealed also with Omnipotent Effects That the very things may speak for themselves and their Author By the light only we see the Light and things done by day c. Wilt thou know therefore O Man whether God speaks here three things are to be done 1. To Pray Lord open mine eyes that I may see whether it be thou that speakest or a Spirit of Delusion 2. To hearken to the Voice of him that speaks That is to know and examine all things in order and not be ignorant of the particulars and all circumstances 3. To look about circumspectly whether any such things be now a doing in the World or no c. If for all this any one likes not to read this Book let him do as he likes best Let him turn away his eyes stop his cars harden his heart c. And if he will add furies also let him rear the Book in pieces cut it burn it as Joakim did Jer. 36. Or fall on Gods Witnesses as on Jeremiah or Baruch or Steven c. But whosoever thou art that art wise take heed of Precipices 'T is dangerous to meddle with Prophetick Matters 'T is most safe counsel to abstain from these men Specially the Persons that undergoe and tell such Dreams Raptures Apparitions being otherwise innocent and harmless Rather say as the Pharisees of Paul We have found no evil in this man But if a Spirit have spoken unto him or an Angel let us not fight against God He wages War with God who by force seeks to oppress the Spirit of Prophesie But if by no obtestations we can obtain moderation with men I humbly throw my self prostrate with this whole Cause at thy feet Lord Jesus who art constituted Judge of quick and dead distinguish betwixt and pronounce with thy true Mouth for the Truth against a lie But there are so many frauds and cheats in the World will some say But however the Apostle bids Despise not Prophesie Try the Spirits whether they be of God or no. Try all things hold fast that which is Good We will but add lastly having gone so far already beyond our intent at the first in these Apologetick Discourses and Collections the most weighty passages out of their solemn Prayer and appeal to Christ in that publick form made for the tryal of Drabicius by the forecited dreadful Oath All for the further evidence and confirmation of the whole matter with the candid and ingenuous Reader and to give the greater authority if it may be to such a prophetick History before we pass to the Prophesies themselves We know the impudence of that Enemy who is so bold as to mix himself with thy Sons and to counterfeit an Angel of Light when he is but the Prince of Darkness and to offer himself to be a Leader and Counsellor to men when he is the worst and vilest Betrayer and so to colour over his Prophets and Apostles as to appear thy Prophets and
false prophets and fainers of dreams may be put to death and iniquity be taken away from the midst of the people Deut. 13. And because the Eclesiasticks are ordinarily inclined to slay the Prophets behold we solemnly appeal from all Universities and Consistories to your tribunal O Kings and secular Powers Like Jeremiah from the Priests to the Princes and to the King himself and Paul the Apostle from the Council of the Priests to the Political Judges Felix Festus Agrippa and lastly to Caesar himself We beseech you undertake 1st the Patronage of this Book Permitting none to rage against it till plenary examination and delusion of the cause For what have these papers offended in receiving these Lamentations Mournings and Woes especially denouncing no sad things to the people of God But to Sodom Egypt Babylon the World Hell and the Devils afflicting the people of God Nor perswade any Nation or any Man any Rebellion against their Kings but all Loyalty that all things may return from all manner of confusions into all manner of order and peace Lastly because This Book is one of them by which God Convocates the Kings of the Earth from the four Corners of the World to reverence him it is your part therefore O Kings not to hinder but promote this Trumpet of God if you would be Ministers of his Kingdom Next The publishers themselves of this Book commend themselves to your Patronage O Gods Protectors of the Earth That you permit no unjust violence against them As the Princes and the King himself did not against Jeremiah and Baruch nor the Tribune of the Band and Felix Governor of Judea against Paul For it would be most unjust by force to act any thing against him who appealing to Justice sets himself before the Judgement As the Jewish Priests with their flatterers did against the Lord himself and against Paul c. 3. We commend to you O Powers of the Earth the very cause it self pleaded in these Books to be throughly examined for in the name of one more powerful these Oracles do come fulminating your People your Priests and your Selves with your Princes and citing all the inhabitants of the Modern World to a certain supreme invisible yet terrible Tribunal For if the words which these Books denounce be truly the words of God it is more Glorious then any thing yet in the Church since the Apostles time If Satanical Impostures they are more terrible and fearful ones then ever any have yet been If figments of humane craft nothing like hath ever yet come forth in any Nation by any humane wit But whether this or that or the other It is a matter most worthy of the care of Kings that at length what it is may appear whereunto serious Judgement is needful not neglect not contempt not fury Hasten O Kings to know and examine what matter of things these are before all the Plagues here denounced be powred forth upon your Kingdoms Deliver these things to wise men and fearing God and of publick spirits seriously to be weighed If you hear humane counsels why not also these which many wayes may appear to come by men indeed yet not from men If any one say Dare you broach and vend these things for Prophesies undoutedly Divine I will answer with Philip to Nathaniel Come and see For the offices and marks of true Prophets are here to declare to the people of God fallen into abominations their sins To denounce wrath and punishment to the impenitent and again Mercy and Grace to the penitent this and not another thing for the main scope and end you shall see is done here Only be sure to see that you make your selves certain which you may from the adjoyned history 1st That there have been really and indeed persons in this our Age who have written these things greater then any human wit 2ly And that they were simple Idiots not able to fain such things Act. 4. 13. 3ly And Godly fearing God not willing to deceive 4ly Incompassed with a cloud of Witnesses that there could be no place for Impostures 5ly Lastly that many Godly and solid Divines not in one Nation only do give testimony that greater wisedom shines forth in these things then that they can be attributed to men and that the whole work is more sanctions and holy then that it can be attributed to Satan Yet lest we may seem to obtrude any private Authority on the Publick we earnestly intreat a publick and solemn examination of these things under your Auspicions beginnings O Kings And that as soon as may be while witnesses are alive who can give it on their Faith that they have seen the fingers writing viz. Things flowing forth or droping from the pen of the Seers not what they themselves would but what by themselves for the most part not understood some certain invisible dictatour instilled into them which also their own hand writing viz. The originals themselves kept in a certain place further testifie The last thing we desire of you O most serene Princes is that if these be Counsels divine you would seriously purpose and resolve to obey and execute the divine Will saying All that the Lord hath said we will do Why may not these things be thus recommended c. seeing no man brings them forth of his own daring but they are offered in the name of God who is the God of all and takes care of all It is the Law of Arms and custom of the Nations that Trumpeters pass freely amongst the most deadly enemies even ready to give Battel bringing the command of their Principals Why may not he therefore be safe between the safeguards of your Majesty O Christian Kings who is your Interpreter from the King of Kings But they who would perswade you that this Book is hurtful stirring up to War and Arms betray their folly malice and impiety Because it does not make but after the manner of all the Prophets forewarn denounce and threaten Wars and Desolations without Repentence and Amendment And because none has ever drawn his Sword for the sake of this Book when yet all people draw their Swords one against another who is so blind yet and besotted as not to see his Arm stretched forth out of whose mouth are denounced these things beforehand Was Rome unwise in permitting it to be cry'd through all the City Hannibal s before the Gates Cease Mortals to be mad and quite out of your wits The voice of God and Angels forewarning you from destruction sound even in these Books The World is full of the Judgements of God The present commotion of the World and so many unlooked for Mutations do not signifie nothing Lest therefore the Christian people be still so grosly ignorant as they are of the terrible Judgements of God now in the world viz. of their Causes Manner End and Issue do ye who preside over the people in the place of God command that among other helps ministred from
Servant Drabricius some ten years since therfore will your Majesty also vouchsafe a peculiar Audience to his Messengers sent not with naked words but with testimonies gaining credit and with most ample instructions unto you Read O King or deliver these things to be read by your wise men You Great Lewis King of France does the great Lord by name invite yea call hither to his Glorious work of renewing the World Take counsel with your Collegues the Christian Kings of Europe to Convocate a Council of the Christian World to settle Truth and Peace and Righteousness therein That Angels may again sing Glory to God on High on Earth Peace Good will towards men If you will follow most Christian King with other Christian Kings the conduct of the Counsel of this Book undoubtedly all the World will shortly become Christian and the Times Peaceful Religious Inlightened and Happier than Solomons according as God did of old promise and does now remind us of that they are approaching Prepare for Christ a quiet Kingdom in the Earth removing his proud Rival Rejoyce that the like things are commanded and promised to you as once to Cyrus To be the Shepherd of the Lord that is a keeper of his Flock the Church the whole Church not any part only thereof as the Greek or the Latin or the French or the English or German-Churches c. For whoever calls on the Name of Christ are the People of Christ and the Sheep of his Flock fulfilling all his will saying to Jerusalem Thou shalt be built c. Isa 44. 28. and 45. 1 2 3 4. Cyrus the King when after the Conquest of Babylon he read the Prophecy of Isaiah presented to him by the Jews as Josephus witnesses and saw his name expressed believed God and presently freed the People of God from captivity O second Cyrus revived will not you imitate c. It is the work of the Devil and of Antichrist to destroy and take away the Liberty of Humane Nature which is the top of the Image of God in Man Whoever therefore shall be the Instrument of this Glorious Restitution of things shall be more than Cyrus more than Alexander more than Augustus more than Constantine or Charles the Great Arise therefore against all Antichrists i. e. Oppressors of Liberties thou King of France King of Liberties for so the word signifies And succour the Christian Nations where-ever groaning under any Corporal or Spiritual yoke Make to cease unchristian Wars and destroyings of one another by Rapines Fires Slaughters c. But especially free the Christian People from the Slaughterhouse of Consciences which they call the Inquisition and execute by Swords Halters Burnings alive Prisons Banishments and other kind of Tortures Let this most abominable Abomination be cast out of the Christian World as the manifest work of Satan by his Antichrists which he began by the impious Kill-Brother Cain and continued by Pharao's Saul's Ahab's Jezebel's Antiochus's Caiphas's Nero's Julians c. but has brought to the height only among us these one or two Ages last past Christ practised or commanded no force but only to teach the Nations and shake off the dust of their feet c. There 's no necessity for Force and Violence because Religion cannot be forced nor compelled They are plainly unteachable who do not observe that those former Persecutors gain'd nothing so but at length to ruine themselves Christ lives conquers reigns with his but Tyrants perish one after another with theirs Therefore take away that foolishness as Lactantius calls it from the Christian People most Christian King Take away that violent Tyranny of Consciences and Bodies from the Catholick People King of Liberties Most Serene of Kings God and the Christian People expect nothing but to answer your Name and what the Names and Titles given you by the Providence of God sound forth Lewis Deodat XIV most Christian King of France Lewis Refuge of the People Deodat Given of God XIV Most Christian King Christ's Vicegerent not Antichrists Of France i. e. Of Liberty The Devil and malicious and evil-minded men O King will stand in your way which two things you and all that love you for God's sake ought to fear For the Devil loth to have his Babylonish Kingdoms disturb'd will undoubtedly withstand you And malignant men seek your ruine as they did of your Heroick Ancestors c. But wise men fear more lest you your own self raise Impediments to your self and to your Victories O King by harkning to evil Counsellours and Instruments rather than to God But and if you refuse God will find out another to plead his Cause We do not stir you up against the Church greatest King but for it Nor against the Roman Church but for it also to restore it to its primitive Apostolick state from which it is deeply fallen God threatens here to send the barbarous Nations to reform us if none else will lend an helping hand Be intreated therefore by your own Salvation and of your most ample Kingdom and the whole Worlds not to let pass into the empty Air these Voices both Humane and Divine The Holy Spirit write in your Heart if not in Golden yet in flaming Letters that twice-made Protestation to negligent Eli High-Priest and disobedient Saul Those that honour me I will honour But those that contemn me shall be contemned of me In the Information to the Readers But are these things certain or are they not fables contriv'd and composed by the Art of some ingenious and witty to deceive T is answered It might be doubted at the first and was every-where doubted as the History of these things will shew But now there is no time for doubting seeing these things are confirmed both by abundant witnesses and confirm'd by divine signs and miracles as the same History will shew and now publickly appears And lastly where the truth of the Predictions are in apparent view and the very event does seal their divine authority Machiavillian Politicians Atheists imagining the World to be ruled by Humane Counsels have laughed at these as Phanatick things But behold God shews himself to be the Rector of the World These things being powerfully fulfilled which he hath commanded to be fore-denounced in his Name If any shall say therefore This Book is the Trumpet to Wars It must be answered 'T is so indeed but the Book of the Wars of the Lord as the Revelation of St. John and the Book of all the Prophets yea and the Book of the Gospel it self perhaps according to that of Christ Do you think that I came to send Peace on Earth c. For this Book describes 1. The Wars of God Jehovah against Idols As Ezek. 30. 13. 2. The Wars of the Lamb against the Beast already heretofore sounded Rev. 1714. 3. The Wars of the holy Spirit of God against all erroneous and unclean spirits in the Earth Zach. 13. 2. I say That here is the Revelation of the Revelation of
many years and to this very day seeking to please not men but God For I can with Paul a chosen Vessel to bear the Name of Christ before the Gentiles and Kings and the Children of Israel Act. 9. 15 confidently say that I have the same Spirit of Faith So that I dare say I believed and therefore have I spoken what I have spoken and written what I have written 2 Cor. 4. 13. And first indeed to my beloved Adjunct John Comenius then residing in Hungary afterwards departing by command of the Lord into Holland that he would make all these things known to Christian Peoples in the Tongue known to the Europaeans the Latin But for the Turkish Nation that he would take care to have the Sacred Books of both Testaments adorn'd in their Tongue at the Cost and Charges which the Princess the Mother of the Ragotzi 's ought to furnish him with But She esteeming more the Dirt of the Earth Gold than the Words of God although often admonished did none of those things and which is more was the cause why her Sons also did nothing about those things And therefore God took away Mother with Father and Sons and the Vncle Ladislaus one onely Granchild Francis being left To what end He himself onely knows But that they object That the Crown of Hungary was promis'd to them It is true But the Condition often iterated That they would purge this Land from Idolatry deliberating and consulting upon this matter with the Eastern and Northern But what did it profit to be admonish'd When neither They nor the King of Swede would do any of those things they drew themselves by their disobedience headlong into destruction as the World now sees Therefore I Drabricius publickly profess That I believe with my whole heart that Divine Promise made by Haggai I am with you faith the Lord Chap. 1. 13. and iterated by our Lord Christ himself Behold I am with you always even unto the end of the World Mat. 28 27. And again pronounced by Haggai Chap. 2. v. 22 23. I will shake the Heavens and the Earth and I will overthrow the Thrones of Kingdoms and I will break in pieces the strength of the Nations c. And to Christ declaring the distress and pressure of Nations Luk. 21. 25. And that I expect yea now see with mine Eyes how the Lord overthrows the Chariots and the Riders that every one may fall by the Sword of his Brother Hag. 2. 23. And that by it the glory of God may be revealed That all Flesh in like manner may see that the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken Isa 40. 5. by us Two also to you O Nations That the will of God is That the Beast counterfeiting a Lamb but speaking like a Dragon together with the false Prophet that wrought Miracles before him seducing those who had received the Mark of the Beast be both apprehended and cast alive into the Lake of Fire burning with Brimstone Rev. 19. 20. But the Beast being destroyed and the Whore drunk with the bloud of the Saints and the bloud of the Martyrs of Jesus burnt with fire Chap. 17. 16. That the Kings of the Earth who have committed Fornication and lived deliciously with her bewail her and lament for her standing afar off for fear of her Torments and saying Alas alas That great City Babylon that mighty City For in one hour is thy Judgment come Rev. 18. 9 10. But at the length Babylon being overturn'd that all Nations of the Earth run together into the Unity of the Faith and Acknowledgement of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4. 13. I Drabricius dare I dare with the Apostle Paul say That I in my Writings have not sought my own things as appears others do Phil. 2. 21. but the things which are Jesus Christs doing nothing through strife or vain glory but in humility v. 3. For I have learnt out of the VVord of my God That God resists the Proud but gives grace to the Humble 1 Pet. 5. 5. and puts down the Mighty from their Seats and scatters the Proud in the Imagination of their Hearts and exalts the Humble Luk 1. 51. And because with the Apostle I believe with my Heart and confess with my Mouth That Prophecy never comes by the will of Man but holy men of God to be inspir'd by the holy Spirit and to speak 2 Pet. 1. 21. Therefore I hope also that it will be given unto me from the Lord and my God to overcome the malicious Enemies of God and mine 1 Joh. 2. 3. Because the VVorld passes away and the Lusts thereof but he who doth the will of God abideth for ever v. 17. Therefore into whose-soever Hands or Eyes of those known or unknown to me in any Nation mine and my beloved Adjuncts Labour shall come I beg and pray and in the Name of God with Adjuration intreat Grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby you are seal'd up unto the day of Redemption Eph. 4. 30. Being solicitous to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace v. 3. That we all may be one Body and one Spirit as we are call'd into one hope of our Calling v. 4. For there is one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in us all v. 5 6. who believe that we are Called and Chosen Rom. 8. 33. And that our names are written in the Lambs Book of Life who was slain from the beginning of the World Rev. 13. 8. If any have Ears to hear let him hear v. 9. Let him hear I say and weigh well who is that Lord of the holy Prophets who is wont to send his Angel to shew unto has Servants the things which must shortly be done Chap. 22. 6. He himself namely who is the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End who Is and who Was and who is To Come Chap. 1. 8. That Omnipotent Prince of the Kings of the Earth who hath lov'd us and washed us from our sins in his own Bloud and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to whom be Glory and Empire for ever and ever Amen! v. 5 6. Take heed also All I beseech you of that Pharisaical haughtiness to disdain others and say I thank God I am not as other men or as this Publican Luk. 18. 11. For God resists the Proud but gives grace unto the Humble Jam. 4 6. Detract not from one another Brethren For he that detracts from his Brother detracts from the Law v. 11. As that light Soul Veterine does to me his Brother and which is more the Servant of Christ and Minister of the Gospel and Pastor of Souls whom the Apostle reckons worthy of Double Honour 1 Tim. 5. by by word of Mouth and Pen lyingly spreading concerning me whatsoever he can unto my contempt even also
Eternal Word After to the Sacraments by him appointed for the remedy of Sin and so of all the other Articles of Faith from first to last and when they are well tinctured with these they then innitiate them to a more perfect course of the Christian Life And this is the manner how they propound the Christian Mysteries to the Gentiles and Idolaters beginning first with the principal Articles of the One and True God and the reward of the just and unjust c. as in this Catechism Besides this they published innumerable excellent Spiritual Books and Books of Practical Divinity and Moral Philosophy to which the Chineses are much devoted and endeavour'd to add to all rare specimens of an innocent spiritual and divine Life if we may believe their own Testimony which I confess Protestants in this end of the World have little reason to do For the Ignatians of Europe for the generality of them are more excellent at Fire Works then any thing else here and the works of the Devil then to work the Works of God But it 's like they were better there being likewise at the beginning of their Order more Spiritual and Religious then ever since the World hath found them especially England And yet we have a taste of their true Spirit in their obstructions of the Hollanders Embassy there Their first great Disciple was Paul the great Colao or Governor of the Chineses and propagator of Christianity among them Riccius put forth many admirable Books in the China Language viz. several Mathematical Books of Euclid Clavius c. Universal Geography and History of the World with Globes Maps c. Natural Philosophy the Art of Dialling Books of Astrolabes and Astronomick Instruments of Musick Musical Instruments and Organs Moral Philosophy about Friendship moderating the Passions and to live according to the dictates of right Reason and the rule of a good and happy life For the Chinois were much given to moral Philosophy and the study of virtue and happiness And Ten Paradoxes Moral and Spiritual a Book famous through all China and in great esteem and admiration among them and illustrated with Comments and high Encomiums by the most excellent of all their learn'd Leo and Paul young Convert Colao's But that which wrought unexpressible compunction of heart in them for their ill past life as they say not only among the common people but the greatest and most learned of their Monarchy viz. the Mandarins and Colao's and Eunuchs of the Kings Pallace was the Catechism of Bellarmine translated by the said Riccius The fame of which Book spread so that they were fain to print it a new several times whereby the Christian Light and Knowledge shone into every corner of the Land With several other Books for the use of others that should come thither out of Europe The next famous was Trigautius Procurator of the China expedition who return'd from China 1612. and return'd thither again with all manner of Rarities and wrote several Books for the use chiefly of the Europeans Next Father Rho Professor of Mathematicks in the Jesuites Colledge at Milan who in a short time spoke and wrote their Language like any Native and wrote several Books for the use of young Converts and with Father Schall mentioned in the first part laboured in Mathematicks for the benefit of the Chinois Who both by common and joynt study put forth above an hundred Books and especially in emendation of their Calender he was founder of a Church in the Kingdom of Sciamsi Vagnonius followed who found in the Province of Chianceu only after his return thither again from Banishment 8000 Christians and of those the chief Learned and Mandarines and afterwards died in Chianceu Anno 1640. and wrote many Books Divers others also wrote innumerable Books for the Europeanâ— help so that there were Books written by them in the China Language by the Year 1636. to the number of 340. The Mandarines and Colao's also wrote Comments on their Books c. Also when their Converts began to be too numerous for the present Fathers they began an Institution of Chatechists from amongst them to initiate persons into the Christian Mysteries These Catechists were persons much and long vers'd in the Mysteries of Religion and the Christian Law and of a very divine Life better then themselves 't is like by far and such as were inflamed with servour of the Apostolick Spirit and Zeal for the Conversion of others and they were not easily admitted unto this Office but after long experience first had of them c. Their work was to go up and down the streets and on all occasions by word and example to bring the rude and ignorant to the knowledge of the True God And as they have opportunity to sprinkle Infants and Children with Holy Water to communicate Spiritual Books to those that lack'd to resolve Doubts and Questions c. And at a certain time of the day when the Gentiles flock to their Churches out of curiosity to wait there and to explain the first Principles and Elements of the Christian Faith which were wrote or engraven in fair and large Tables and Characters hung up and down upon the Walls and by their splendid Altars to any that were desirous or curious and to shew the vanity of the false Godds And moreover to invite them home for farther instruction And by these means they got many Proselytes daily They are obliged also every day to give an account to the Fathers that are Superiors in those places what they have done that day The number of Christians in Pekin was about fourscore thousand about 1655. And though this be short of the Apostolick way of Preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles yet they seem herein to out-do the Protestants and in industry labours and zeal and more abundant then they to propagate the Faith Look here you Zealous Protestants look with shame From hated Jesuites learn to spread Christs Name And Heathens form their Idols to reclaim Things proving thus prosperous they likewise had procured the Royal Patent for Power and Liberty to divulge the Gospel through all the Empire by the favour of the Grandees of the Court and Kingdom But the irruption of the Tartars about 1647. interrupted all Which hapned by reason of the Civil Wars of the Chinois among themselves which invited the Tartars to take the opportunity to break into China through the Portal of their great Wall once more as they had done formerly before in the Year 1256. which they held for above 200 years during nine Kings reigns but were at last beat and kept out again by the Chinois till this last sudden and violent return But now they over-ran it like a flood and subjected all China to their Empire the King of China was reduced to such streights that finding no way to escape from his own rebelling Subjects and so great a Monarch forsaken of all rather desirous to die then live to see worse ended his