totally dissipated not can strike terror into us seeing we know that the Soul of Man is not extinguished it is not withal convenient 24. To believe the error of Transmigration It is convenient to know in the time of life to do good and evil each oâ— the Souls of men after death go to the judgment of God where they have a determinate 25. Place of their reward One place is above and haâ—â— all felicity namely which is called the Court or Palace oâ— Heaven That is the place of remunerating the good The second place is beneath and hath 26. All bitterness namely which is called the Prison of the Earth the place of punishing bad men For the Lord is most highly equal or just There is nothing of good which he doth not reward there is nothing of evil which he doth not punish Nevertheless in the present Age 27. There are some which do ill and are rich honour'd without trouble and joyful There are who do well and are poor contemn'd and oppres'd with calamity It is certain God waits till the death of that man and 28. After receives the Soul of the good Man and takes it up into the Court of Heaven to inhabit perpetual felicity and receives the Soul of the bad man and sends it into the Prison of the Earth to receive punishment without end If we grant that there are not 29. Rewards and punishments of Paradise and Hell to remunerate the men of this Age or present life who do good or evil How are the good not deceived then And how much better a lot and portion do the evil injoy And how can God be said most highly just 30. Some one will say That reward of good and evil is it not also in the present Age or life How goes the matter It is answered let us suppose those that receive the remuneration of good and evil 31. Altogether to wait even till after death On that very account men will be ignorant of the remuneration which is after death And how will it be proved to them that the Lord is above the Heavens Therefore frequently those who violate justice 32. Fall into calamities dangers and troubles that they may amend their past wickednesses beware of future Those who are obedient to Reason receive a blessing descending upon them to answer their good deeds past and stir them up to future 33. But if any well-doer be in want in dishonour full of labours and calamities perhaps it therefore happens because that amidst their good works they have something of evil Therefore God with these things 34. Chastises him at present but after death introduces him into the place of perfect felicity to injoy perpetual felicity If any do ill and yet are rich honour'd and happy according to the Age or present life 35. This therefore happens Because amids their doings ill they have some good mixt Therefore God remunerates them with these present felicities But after death tumbles them down headlong into the obscure Prison that perpetually they may receive all bitternesses 36. The men of this Age if they desire to avoid descending into Hell to undergoe all torments and to ascend into Heaven to injoy all felicity Three things are altogether necessary First 37. It is necessary to know the Lord of Paradise namely God For men of this Age to inhabit in one anothers house it is first necessary to know the Lord of the house then they may enter and stay 38. How much less any one ignorant of the Lord of Heaven can he ascend and enter into the place of universal felicity Secondly It is necessary to know the way to Heaven namely the Law of God 39. Men of this Age ignorant of the way thither whither they are a going by that very means cannot come there And any one ignorant of the way into Heaven how can he possibly come there 40. Thirdly It is altogether necessary to go on through the way which they now know Because a man although he knows the way which he desires to go yet if he sit idling at home and go not forth to make progress by no means will he ever be able to come to his journeys end 41. In like manner he who desires to ascend into Paradise the place of all felicity it is altogether necessary that he do the works of the Divine Holy Law Some one will say 42. God is the Lord of Heaven Earth Men and Things and his Doctrine is withall the way to Paradise Now I have clearly heard and understood this Now I desire to follow this Doctrine of the Holy God How 43. Therefore shall I be able to do it It is answered He who desires to follow the Holy Law ought to have two aims The first aim consists in this That he worship God with a perfect heart because he is of Heaven 44. Earth Men and Things the Universal Lord and created all things that he might nourish us The second consists in providing for a mans own Soul to avoid descending 45. Into Hell to receive all bitternesses and obtain ascent into Heaven to enjoy all felicities He who desires to obtain this three things are necessary The first of them is to keep the Commandments of God 46. The second is He ought to blieve the things of God The third is He ought to receive Sacred Baptism and to wash his past sins The Ten Commandments 1. To Honour and Worship God above all things 2. Not to name the Holy Name of God to utter a vain Oath 3. To observe Holy Dayes 4. To obey and honour Father and Mother 5. Not to kill men 6. Thou shalt not work Fornication 7. Thou shalt not Steal 8. Thou shalt not bear Witness rashly 9. Thou shalt not covet another mans Wife 10. Thou shalt not covet another mans Riches Matters The Ten Commandments summarily taken are reduced to two only To love God above all things and to love men as ones self This is that which of old God from Heaven taught and commanded that they should be honour'd and kept through all Ages The obedient to them ascend into Paradise and receive felicity Those that walk contrary descend into Hell where they suffer torments The above written Articles are only a Compendium If any one desire to have an absolute knowledge of the Divine Law it is necessary that he studiously apply himself to the study of the Holy Books treating of the true Law of God and go to the Temple of Christians to hear the Masters of the Law come out of the West Discoursing Disputing and Unfolding Then they shall be able to understand without doubting and this thing cannot be fully done in few words This we have translated as was requisite verbatim according to the property of the China Speech rather then the English From this Doctrine of the True and One God rightly expounded they proceed to expound the holy Trinity of the One God then to the incarnation of the Son of God the
neither also th Angels until they are fulfilled I will finish what I have begun Let who so will be scandalized as he will Let this be for thy comfort that what thou hast wrote thou hast heard of me not from any one of men that are like unto thy self Be confident therefore with me my beloved Friend that it will come to pass that accusers will grow mute when the hour of God comes For the Word of the Lord will be an heavy burden to deriders But for us let us more fear God who has power to kill Body and Soul then mortal men who can do nothing but what God permits them That of yours God forgive us the hasty Edition of the Book I thus change Praise be unto God who has vouchsafed us to free our Consciences in not hiding from the Sons of Men those things which the Mouth of God hath spoken Hereunto Comenius again from the increased taunts of divers and filled with greater bitterness retorted If you Friend are so certain of Gods speaking to you that you are willing to seal it with your death your certainty will serve for your self but not those whom the contrariety of events renders uncertain And we see continual examples of such as have embraced errors for truth have been willing to lay down their lives for them as for the very most truth being perswaded nothing else in the sight of God then that they had believed taught and wrought things most true And yet therefore did not Error cease to be Error You give firm belief to those words spoke to you Thou art that my last Trumpet I but this perpetually remains a question whose voice that may be c. Do you bid us put our hope in God There is no where where I can fix the Anchor of my Hope but in him who knows the simplicity of my heart that I have feigned nothing here nor have added any thing to nor taken from nor changed those things which were brought in the name of God In the thing it self if there be found error the goodness of God will overlook the fault of humane frailty committed by no manner of fraud or design And this should be taken as a sudden confusion in the sight and presence of God instead of a chastisment more cautiously to lead our life But if yet at length it shall appear to have been the work of God even this my fluctuation must necessarily serve for the greater glory of God and the comfort or instruction of the Godly Although I as Moses should suffer for it in this life God only forbid that others or even all our Church should necessarily suffer ignominy and persecution for us Whereas you exhort to praise God that notice of these things are given to the Sons of men I know it is written that also the fury of men must at length praise God and to that end the wisedom of God is illustrated by the foolishness of men Yet the question remains what we are to do in the mean while Some Friends here perswade Silence Others to give glory to God and forsake Drabricius from whom alone almost these scandals do come Answer what you think and that presently I will expect your answer with uncessant sighs and breathings to God And indeed most open heartedly as at the Tribunal of God whither I cite you to appear Deal I say candidly with me but even now at length I adjure you by that tremendous Name the salvation of your Soul by not concealing that some of those things which are so manifestly false have been additaments of your own conjecture This if you shall do the scandals in great part will cease Because we are admonished that humane devisings are fallacious I know no more efficacious remedy and it shall be that God will judge you according to the Integrity of your heart and being propitious to us all bruise Satan under our feet although in our own shame and confusion May only the glory of Gods Truth stand unshaken and none of the Godly be made sad by us or for us much less the whole Church I again and again conjure you by God and your own Soul deal sincerely with me in this matter now at length The Holy good Spirit rule you Farewel To so many obtestations of his Drabricius returned his contestations more sharply upbraiding the pusillanimity of his Faith And wrote down advise and counsel what he should do not in his own words but of the very Oracle it self Revelat. 460. afterwards And at length also a Preface wherein referring all things written by him to God alone required them to be printed and made known to all Nations of the Earth as the last will of God Thereby taking all our fears upon himself wholly The Preface or Appeal to Gods Tribunal goes before the Revelations And therefore seeing so great learned and Godly a man as Comenius after so long deliberation and consultation with others has thought it his duty to publish and dedicate them to all the world let none think amiss that they are thus summarily hinted in English which very great use may be made of however they prove true or false And the more to confirm Comenius herein was that Drabricius was not alone but two other Prophets of God had gone before all testifying the same things for the main substance and scope thereof The first was Cotterus a German the second Christina a Polonian Gentlewoman All whom briefly thus Comenius compares together 1. In respect of their end for which they were raised viz. One and the same To stir up the Godly to attend to the works of God which he has now in hand in purging his Church with the fire of Persecutions and soon after in reforming it gloriously and inlarging it through all the residue of the Nations of the World 2. In respect of time Cotterus Visions began before the beginning of the Pcrsecution in Germany An. 1616. and ended in their heat 1624. Christina's in the middle about the time of Imprisonments Apostasies and begun dispersion of the Church An. 1628 1629. Drabricius's after their dispersion about the time of deliverance drawing on and with it from 1638 to 1664. and some continuations since to 1668. For an Argument that God never forsakes his 3. If you compare them in respect of Age. The first was of full Age or mans estate the second young the third old For a Testimony that t is indifferent with God to use the Wit Tongue Hand whether of Young perfect Age or Old 4. If in respect of Sex The first and the third Men the middlemost a Virgin to confirm that of Joel 2. 28. 5. If in respect of Condition The first was a Tradesman or Artizan to be banished afterwards for the Word of God The second a noble Virgin on both Parents side born in Banishment and to suffer new Banishment The third a Minister of God's Word setled in Banishment and to be recalled out of Banishment
6. If in respect of their fitness hereunto Cotterus altogether an Idiot ignorant not only of writing but of all things except his Trade or-Craft and a little knowledge of Religion that are or are done in the World Christina could both read and write and had learnt the Catechistical Principles of Religion but by her age uncapable of high things Drabricius not ignorant of the Divine Scriptures as became a Minister but scarce acquainted with the Latin Tongue and wholly ignorant of Philosophy History and all Sublimer things For an Argument That this is not a work of human wit but of an higher Virtue namely of the divine influx 7. If we consider the manner of Revelation They were made to Cotterus by Angels only To Christina by Angels and the Lord himself To Drabricius only by the Lord. And indeed to Cotterus sometimes by Extasies yet for the most part by corporal Apparition of Angels to the outward senses in constant health of Body To Christina by perpetual Exstasies yet her flesh for the most part prepared thereunto and as it were mortified by antecedent pains Then also by Dreams and sometimes with her corporeal Eyes and Ears To Drabricius by Dreams and by and by by a lively Voice sounding in his Ears The two first could remember to a word before they were committed to writing what they had seen and heard if asked a thousand times not changing a very tittle But Drabricius distrusting perpetually his own memory was not able to write the things revealed without the Lord repeating and as it were dictating unto him Which we conjecture to be from hence that their impressions came by extasies their minds being wholly abstracted from sense But his senses were left in their former state like to ours c. For he had only first a Dream and then a Voice when he was awak'd out of his dream God speaks after divers manners Heb. 1. 1. 8 If we regard the form of speech the stile is every where prophetick and Divine yet in Cotterus more sublime and high in Christina more low in Drabricius more familiar 9. If we attend the Types and Figures used in Prophecy there are many in Cotterus fewer in Christina scarce any in Drabricius or else presently explained c. Cotterus declaring the morning as it were break of day rising out of the deep of night Christina clear day light Drabricius's points out the Sun now rising 10. As to their willingness to divulge these Revelations and so to obey God in them Cotterus resisted three whole years Drabricius concealed his first Revelation five years and being reiterated again and again he as often suppressed them a long time till at length the Lyon roaring they began to be afraid and were compelled to prophecy the Lord commanding 11. If we respect the Opinion of men All of them were contemned and derided by some wholly condemned by others as frantick or Impostors yet this could not stop the work 12. If we observe to whom they were sent They were all sent primarily to their own Nation Secondarily also unto others Cotterus unto the Germans Christina to the Polonians Drabricius to the Hungarians and from hence to all the Nations of the Earth which they are all commanded to call unto and declare the last Will of God unto all 13. If for what they were sent the two formost were simply Prophets foretelling things to come But the last a Prophet preaching what ought to be done exhorting to duty and urging with promises and threatnings 14. They were all commanded to conceal their Prophesies for a time or to communicate them only to the Godly that were afflicted for their consolation yet at last not to hold their peace but to speak to Kings Princes and all People universally For Cotterus was sent to the Elector Palatine King of Bohemia and was heard in the presence of the Grandees as also to the Elector of Brandenburg more then once but to the Elector of Saxony did his errand by others several times Christina could not but write Letters to the Duke of Fridland and carry them her self as also Drabricius to the Princes of Transilvania Therefore none of these things were done in a corner 15. All of them were commanded to speak and do things unusual absurd to reason perilous to their lives declaring a thing incredible to the States-men the subversion of the house of Austria and to most of Divines offensive and scandalous the destruction of the Pope before the last day yet they were commanded constantly to speak and write these things Cotterus also to go to Glogovia where he knew he should suffer bonds and prison Christina to write terrible things against the Imperial General Wallestein and carry them herself to his house Drabricius to call the Nations together against the House of Austria and Popedom c. 16. They were all severally examined by Divines Physicians Politicians and States-men and intire Universities Consistories Synods Yet they all perplexed the reasoning of all the most High Learned and Wise c. 17. The last Revelation to Cotterus which was of the tirrible execution of God's Judgement against the Babylonish Whore to Christina which was against Wallestein which had its effect were made by Visions in their sleep the last made to Drabricius when he was first commanded to put to a close had its beginning in sleep but the rest awake and his Eyes open being roused up by the clamors of the Jesuits undoubtedly to represent that although all may seem to be but a dream even to the Godly yet it shall conclude in a real work and effect that the world by seeing may see 18. The two first Prophecies ended in silence after they had been commanded once to seal them suffering no more Visions nor did see the deliverance But Drabricius after he was commanded to conclude and dye yet was again commanded to resume both Life and a double Spirit to prophesie received a promise not to see death till he had seen the Glory of God spread upon the Nations of the Earth And for further confirmation it might be shewn from Church history that the spirit of Prophecy hath alwayes been in the Church and that in several ages God hath raised Prophets and sent Visions and Revelations unto men But that it would be to large for the design of this present Table We will only name the more known and recorded as Hermes the Shepherd The Monk of Uguetine Fryer Robert Capistran Lichtenbergts Carion Theophrastus St. Hildegardis Elizabeth Mechthilda Briget Katharin Senensis c. Particularly in the time of St. Bernard about 1150. the Religious Virgin Hildegardis approved of by the same Father about the same time Elizabeth a German Virgin Abbess of Schonaugh familiar with Hildegard Fryer Robert a Frenchman about the year 1290. about the year 1370. St. Briget in Swedland And 1380. St. Katharin of Senna And 1508. Joseph Grunpeck Priest All of them for the main tending to the same thing
6. Horrible and desperate temptations of the Devil overcome vanquish'd wonderfully by the Divine Power and Presence with her in her Visions or Extasies in more then an ordinary manner 7. Something inflicted by Gods immediate hand in a Vision to remain all the dayes of her life to humble her but she discovered not what it was 8. Her wonderful Death and indeed Resurrection as we may say All which her Tutour Comenius was an Eye witness of This last we will give you more fully and particularly for the confirmation of all The Virgin struck with an Apoplexy and forwarned by divers Signs of imminent Death On the second of Jan. 1629. at break of day desiring to rise from her Bed she beheld a Woman all in Mourning Habit with a Vail covering her face all over standing by With which sight affrighted she leapt out of Bed and her Chamber and told not till three dayes after upon occasion what she had seen Eight dayes after she was warned by an Angel of an Apoplexy to befal her speedily Which Dream having wrote down as all her former she declared to none At night rising from supper she fell down suddenly struck with a Dead Palsie on her Tongue Right Hand and Foot c. Next day at night calling for her Tutor Comenius she declared to him her approaching death by an Apoplexy She also heard strange knocking 's and as it were strikings of a Clock for several hours At last one of the company a Senatour and Magistrate of the City said I have counted the strokes now twice they are thirteen Then they all counted and found just so many six several times over Afterwards it sounded three times four and one besides By and by four times three and one again six times two and one and then two times six and one Infine the same number thirteen repeated eighteen times over and then ceased They all then began to presage her death thirteen dayes after The next day also in the presence of much company was heard a noise preceeding intimating that it was about to strike It struck then twelve nine times The next day only eleven four times And ceased till the day before her death which happened just thirteen days after accordingly A Certain Pastour coming and speaking to comfort and prepare her against approaching Death She said when he was gone to her Tutour Comenius That good old man little thinks that he must first of all the Pastors pass into the Eternal Country Being asked How she knew I was now with the Lord said she And I saw Pastors who live here coming one after another of whom he was first Comenius asked what Pastors she reckoned up several even Stadius a lusty strong and healfull man and younger then all the rest Comenius then asked concerning himself I saw not you said she and therefore I asked the Lord who answered he cannot come yet For he have some yet to reconcile It fell out accordingly The said Minister went first and one after another even Stadius himself at last in the fourtieth year of his age An. 1634. and Comenius yet lives now fourty years since who testifies all these things to be true as in the sight of God whose Testimony the world knows too well to be slighted But to return to her Several Students desiring some written remembrance from her she not only wrote her own name but also places of Scripture and with her left hand though never before as well as ever with her right And on the very day of her death she gave to her Tutour Comenius her Bohemian Psalter and wrote in the Frontispeece an excellent Valedictory Ejaculation as it yet remains to be seen Bring back Jehova our Captives like streams into a dry Land c. And underneath This I have written for a Remembrance to my Nursing and Beloved Father in Christ J. A. Comenius Christina Poniatovia The night before her death several present One knocked at the Gate They open'd and saw no body So that they were all aston shed Then presently they heard knocking 's by her Bed side two several times All present rising up amazed strokes were heard upon the Table whereat they all sat before five several times After Singing Psalmes c. She desired all to depart and leave her a light that she should pass that night waking and ordered Pen Ink and Paper to be brought her and wrote with her left hand 1. Her Will 2. An Epistle to her Lady where she resided and 3. The forementioned Valediction to her Tutour and spent the rest of her time in reading and prayer After midnight she heard knocking again and a Voice Come come come Next morning she said she waited for five a clock at night and bid farewel to all that came to visit her About three a clock the Superintendents of the Bohemian Church with some other Pastors thought good to examine her of her Faith Hope and Conscience specially in the business of her Visions Whether she did yet assert to have them truly from God whether that was certain whether she was sufficiently assured That she would confess now being about to go into the presence of the Eternal Judge what ever she was Conscious to her self of She answered as truly as God is God so truly are these Revelations his Work Which God will make your Eyes to see Being asked had she then written and sealed what she had revealed to her in good Faith and Truth She answered whatsoever I have heard and was commanded to be written is all written not one tittle omited added or altered And for the things I saw in Visions I have expressed as well as I could in my own words but with no fraud or counterfetting God knows Then she blessed them c. Her Death and Resurrection Half an hour before five she would be lifted up out of her Bed And then cryed out Lord Jesus have Mercy upon me and put an end to my pains About five she bad her last farewel to all with her left hand being not able with her right c. And after prayers of all present she fell into a fit and so quietly departed But after some time all went away save two Ladies and Comenius with the Nurses and when her feet and hands were quite grown cold and stiff like any dead person's Then those Ladies and Comenius also departed leaving the Nurses to lay her out But whilst they were yet going out of the door one of the Nurses cryes out They looking back saw her risen straight upright upon the Bed and asking for her cloaths Comenius intreats them to leave her and went down with them full of fear and trembling All leaving only their attendants to relate what was done Comenius returns goes into his Study But Behold She was now dressed and stood at the Wather-cistern washing her Hands and Face and his Wife with two other Nurses looking on Comenius stood astonished My Christina what is the matter In the
not the other of Drabricius And Drabricius himself also believed this to be a Prodigy from God himself by a Vision concerning this thing Wherein yet God asserted no more than this 1. That his words by Dribricius were also true if the Prince would have followed them 2. That Counsellours that follow the figments of their own heart seduce themselves and know not how to counsel neither themselves nor their Masters 3. And that those that do so shall be destroyed Whence it may be well thought that this was a Satanical Mockery both the Sickness Death Resurrection and Prophesie seing nothing fell out accordingly but rather the ruine of the Prince who was seduced like Ahab by Zedekiah and his companions God giving them up to believe a lye who will not believe the Truth And therefore this is to be reckoned of the same nature with the former Extasies mentioned of the Geneva Boy opposed by Satan to the Exstasies of Christina As for the Evidence of Events Whatsoever concerned her own person alwayes came to pass But for those things which concerned the World or the Church although they may seem contrary yet because there seems to be a disposing of Providence towards the accomplishment of the main we may say with St. Austin says Comenius when many things are fulfilled He is preverse who contemns a Prophet Divine Prophesies said a great man alwayes smell of their Author to whom a thousand years are but as one day and one day a thousand years And about the events of Prophesies there are three cautions 1. of Chrysostom That all Prophesies are not fulfilled to Sense and the Letter c. and he instances out of Scripture Thus Jacob who received so many Blessings from his Father scarce injoyed one c. 2. Of Grotius that for some things not fulfilled are not to be called in question those things that are clearly fulfilled As the Jews bring many things obscure or that receive a divers signification concerning the Messiah for which those that are manifest ought not to be denyed 3. Of God To believe in Hope against Hope and not pass rash judgement through unbelief on Divine predictions though they never appear to our apprehension c. for Gods thoughts are not as our thoughts c. Again all things were not evidently fulfilled to appearance to the Ancient Prophets Therefore deriders said Where is the Word of the Lord let it come c. Jer. 17. 15. But God does not want causes to defer his promises or threatnings or to change them and has been pleased to render reasons Jona 4. Jer. 18. Psal 89. 1 Sam. 2. 30. Besides we understand not as his Works so neither his Words till performed and that not alwayes Ezek. 2. 5. John 16. The Beginning of a thing is taken with God for the thing it self God measures dayes and hours not as we That which is not fulfilled to day may be to morrow As Ninive after fourty years though not fourty dayes Gods Mercy is so great that he seems to appear false rather then not merciful If lastly events do'nt answer blame man as some way faulty Thus Comenius And Drabricius himself in several Visions is advertiz'd to the same sense and purpose c. But these things have been hinted once and again before But Behold the Atheistical age who think God reveals nothing now unto men All humble and sober observance of extraordinary Signs Dreams Extasies prophetick Inspirations Angelical Apparitions Prodigies in the Heavens c. As Comets New Stars Suns unusual Tempests Sights of Armies fighting in the Air Sounds of Drums and Trumpets c. passes for foolish superstition or fancy And all is attributed either only to natural causes or chance or vain imagination and nothing to God Which God grievously complains of Amos 4. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. This is the last security of the World that Faith will not be found on Earth c. And as in the dayes of Noah when all were so secure so it shall be in the last dayes all things shall be full of Prodigies in Heaven and Earth of Bloud Fire and Smoke of Dreams Visions and Prophesies Joel 2. 28. c. Matth. 24. And things speak as much so many various Prodigies in our age in Heaven Earth Sea and several Creatures were never in any Age before even in Germany alone within this half Century so many have been noted and recorded of this kind as never the like And of England the same c. Surely God means hereby to have men warned of greater and more wondrous works of his providence shortly to follow Nor were ever more Prophets and divinely inspired then in this Age at least since the Apostacy of the Church For there were and are Men and Women Old and Young Noble and Ignoble Learned and Unlearned Clergy and Secular who have had true prophetick Dreams Illuminations Raptures Angelical Apparitions and speakings with God who have spoken and written unusual things of the enkindled Wrath of God of approaching Judgements and the Universal change of Things Especially in Bohemia and Germany where the terrible Persecutions of the Church were foretold to begin Of whom sixteen that had Visions and Revelations and also printed Comenius reckons up And it is not unknown that of late and now there are Prophetick spirits in Holland and England c. But of all these the most Eminent are these three Cotterus Christina and Drabricius There were also between Christina and Cotterus two other Prophets foretelling the imminent Judgement upon Babylon and of the wrath of God kindled against the World and of the Plagues a coming The one a plain Country man to whom at his work in the Field an Augel of the Lord appeared An. 1625. The other a Taylor who from 1625. to 1628. had a certain voice sounding round about him revealing things to come and commanding him to write them And at length an Angel in a visible form appeared unto him to take his farewel with these words Because thou so much desirest to see me although I am by nature invisible c. And thus I hope we have not been too tedious to clear our Readers way from prejudice which we could not do with more brevity so as we ought And that they will think so long a preface altogether necessary and no wayes impertinent If at last there should prove nothing in all these things certainly the divine Providence seems to play with poor Mortals and the story deserves to be recorded We will conclude with Comenius caution concerning Christina Not to pass rash Judgement or over-hasty Execution This is the property of all Prophesies that they first fulfil'd before they are understood And if it shall happen that the events prove otherwise yet these things will be profitable and serviceable to Posterity I pray and tall to witness Let it suffice our Church once to have dared what no university or Consistory before us hath attempted to pass a Condemnatory Sentence against
Hierarchy was founded by Boniface as Universal Bishop and high Priest And from him to Hildebrand for about 400. years more Hence the Titles of Divine Celestial Majesty The Popedom Temporal was founded by Hildebrand as Universal Monarch Hence from both Innocent the 8th is stilled one above all Principalities and Powers and every name that is named in this or the other World And the Height and flourishing of both under Alexander the 3d. and Boniface the 8th who boasted that all powers were become subject to him c. to the dawning of the Reformation by Wicklif c. another four hundred years the Brightnes whereof has been ever since by degrees a consuming it And if we may guess by the Stars the last great Conjunction of the two Superior Planets in the fiery Trigon in 1663. which never happened before since Charls the Great 's time 800. years agoe they bode no good predictions for the Popedom but look as if they would burn up Alsted sayes all the dross and dregs of Rome more then the fire of London was ever like to do as they accounted of the Protestants But we must not think that Rome is only in Rome though there she sits as a Queen seing no sorrow During the first 400. years they contended for preeminence priviledges dominion and riches to maintain it and began to Lord it over and incroach upon other Churches as the best the most orthodox and most Apostolick as the chiefest and most flourishing and Imperial Church For Pope Victor about the year 192. excommunicated the Eastern Bishops for not keeping Easter the same day with him concerning which point the West or Roman Church afterwards prevailed under Constantine the Great by the Council of Nice the Eastern standing for the tradition of St. John and Philip the Western for that of St. Peter and St. Paul Afterwards they induced Constantine upon his Infant conversion as the first Christian Emperor to be good to the Church which had so suffered under the Heathen Emperors and to make it great glorious and flourishing in the world and peace setled in the Church together with Dignities Dominions and Preferments in a politick and prudential way namely to avoid Heresies Schismes and Factions of Opinions c. they began now to Lord it over one another and over Gods Heritage which they had not opportunity to do before under persecution nor sufficiently to shew the rottenness of their Religion at the heart They brought Constantine to decree Tithes to be paid of all things to all Churches At which time was heard this voice in the air now is poyson poured into the Church which refers to the pride of the Bishops and Clergy which these riches occasioned afterwards For Hormisda was so malpert upon 't about the year 500. as to excommunicate the Emperor because he stood upon 't That it was the Emperors part to command and not be subject to Bishops During the next 400. years they contended with the Eastern Bishops and Patriarchs of Constantinople for Universal Supremacy devising divers sad stories and complaints and incroached more and more upon the Emperors and civil matters of State and became as well Troublers of the Empire as of the Church For the other four hundred they contended with the Emperors themselves for Universal Monarchy or Supremacy in Church and State iuterwove Temporal Jurisdiction with Spiritual and at last withdrew themselves from all subjection to the Emperors and brought them indeed under their feet usurping and inlarging power and dominion to themselves out of others ruines c. as by the forgoing story may partly appear But this last neer 300. years they have swelled only with Titles and big words and roared a little with their cursed Bulls with short Horns And thus Pride begat Prelats Prelats Patriarchs Patriarchs Popes answerable to worldly Empire and Dignities and Popes would be Kings and Emperors and not only so but Gods too but indeed and in truth very Devils For Pope Sixtus they say gave his soul to the Devil for seven years Popedom Such a sweet proud Tyranny it is And now this long lived Popedom is come to its old age and drawing towards its end and from 666 plainly lyes a dying against which year it strove as it were for life again once more in England Ireland Holand France Poland Suitzerland Piemont c. with struglings in the world afresh are to be reckoned but as lightenings before death Unto which if it fill up the 100. current or more 't will but be answerable to such tough and lasting heart of Oak too great to be rooted up in one generation In a word four hundred years or more a rising as we may say four hundred a growing and increasing and four hundred more a flourishing in it's height and towards three hundred a decreasing So that least of all of any Kingdom can it be said of this Few though evill have the dayes of the years of the Popedom been Taking evil for wicked and mischievous or doing evil c. And so significently enough and not unworthily may his Evilness now be stilled Pope that is Ancient or old Father But There is another Reason Would you know why Their Bastards swarm as thick as Stars i' th Sky But we meddle not with the Personal Vices of his Holiness Conclusion Thus have we seen in this last and worst age of the World all Christendom all on a flame of Wars and Confusions like Wildfire every where catching from Country to Country and then taking its course round Neither has any Nation escaped scot-free from Stupendous Revolutions both Ecclesiastick and Civil We have seen within the compass of a few years above a thirty years bloudy War in Germany almost laying it desolate which divided it self into several Streams as first the Wars of Bohemia then of Denmark then of the Swedes of Saxony of the French of Hungary and of Italy too c. Above a fourscore years War in the Low-Countries with all the cruelties imaginable and at last the most mighty Monarch of Christendom outed of his own dominions by his Subjects and forc'd to acknowledg them a free State by a publick Treaty at Munster 1648. A twenty years War between the two most mighty Monarchs and Sons of the Church with the Revolt of Catalonia A threescore years Usurpation of the Kingdom of Portugal from the right Heirs brought to nought in a day and without bloud but neer a thirty years effusion of bloud and Treasure ensuing thereupon yet at last that great Monarchy forced to consent to the lopping off this so Principal a member from its body by a late Peace 1667. above a twenty years Wars of the hugeous Grand Turk against Christendom We have seen a lamentable twenty years Civil Wars in England c. The whole Subversion both of Church and State A Glorious King brought before the Tribunal of his own Rebellious Subjects and unmercifully put to death by a faction of Republicans An ancient and
flourishing Monarchy laps'd into a short liv'd Commonwealth A State A Protector and a Miraculous return to where they began an unheard of Restitution of the Banished and wonderful preserved Prince without War or Bloud-shed We have seen the mightiest Emperor deposed and strangled by his own Vassals in the same year 1648. and his Successor much a-doe to escape the Rout in 1656. that made sixteen Bashaws one Vizier forcing the Emperess and the High Priest almost equal with the Emperor himself to the Seraglio c. And the Brother of a King to depose his Prince under pretence of Loyalty and the publick good keep him in durance Rule in his stead and make the Father and High Priest of the Church give his Queen to him for wife and all the Princes of Christendom even their late Master of Spain too himself by their Embassies and for their own Interests to approve in a manner all and to Complement the new Prince Regent from all parts We have seen also above twenty years civil Wars Broyls Commotions and Factions in Poland and the poor old King made weary of his Scepter by his own restless and unconstant Subjects We have seen him and a Queen besides to lay down their Crowns of their own accord for a more quiet and happy life We have seen a Universal Calme as it were and Peace for a while but a sudden Eruption of fierce Wars again both by Sea and Land and again a present deep Silence and stand as it were of a sudden and the World gazing on one another what they are about to do c. Lastly we have seen Grand Eclipses Conjunctions Comets and new Stars Innumerable Prodigies and Signs in the Heavens in the Earth in the Waters a raging Plague marching from Country to Country together with raging Wars and the most dreadful Fire that ever was designed or contrived of one of the greatest and most flourishing Cities in Christendom And behold greater things yet to come ch following c. An additional Observation concerning the late Popes designes There has already been hinted his new Negotiation with the Kings of the Earth to establish the Papal Sea's Infalibility He had a great zeal besides in rapairing the Church of St. Peter Paul and to erect there a new Apostolick Chair And would have imposed this Inscription thereon although hindred by the wiser Cardinals In the year of the Apostolick Authority restored the first He spent likewise all the time of his Priestdom in adorning Rome with new Palaces and Basilicon's especially in raising a Palace designed for the future choice of Popes called the Conclave into a stupendons Grandure To Erect which that there might not want room he commanded many Streets of the City with Temples and Monasteries to be demolished and sent for all sorts of Artificers out of Italy as if like Nebuchadnezer he meant to say This is Babilon the Great which I have built for an house of my Kingdom and for the Glory of my Majesty c. And now we should pass to the Foundations and Revolutions of the present Religion of Christendom but that they would swell this Table of the general heads of things only into a volumn already too larg And for that they may be also somewhat apprehended from this general View of the Revolutions of States and Kingdoms Behold the desolutions of the Earth For want of the King of Peace to rule The Pretensions and Interest of Europe The pretensions of Europe are either of one part to another as of England to France Spain to Portugal c. of which 't will be needless to speak a word or else to other parts of the World as to Asia Africa or America Of which a word or two These pretences are founded on wrong and false titles as Right of discovery or of Christianity and Religion and the Popes donation and disposal of the whole Infidel world accordingly thereupon For towards the year 1500. Pope Alexander the 6th as if he was Master of the whole Earth distributed by his Bull all the new World between Ferdinand the 5th King of Spain and John King of Portugal Here was a wonderful donation indeed of the World from East to West parted between two Princes And to make them agree it was accorded that the Portuguess should equally share from the fortunate Islands or Canaries by one streight line from North to South for the first Meridian an hundred and eighty degrees that is one half of the World Eastward and the Spaniard as many Westward And that both one and the other should have right to take possession of all the Earth they could seize on and all upon this title forsooth That they should convert the Infidels and Barbarous Nations to the Christian Faith which they did indeed more like Infidels and Barbarians then Christians So mankind preys one upon another like ravenous Beasts and Birds of prey Neither can the Protestans perhaps much reproach the Papists upon this account and both will alwayes agree in this point that glory and gain are not to be neglected what ever becoms of Christianity or humanity it self But when the Portuguese through ignorance and impudence judged that they had wrong done them as yet ignorant that the World was round or might be sail'd round by great importunity they extorted that the first Meridian should be removed from the Canary Islands to the Azores three hundred miles more Westward Hence the first Meridian ever since has place not in the Canaries but the Azores Islands the cause of which mutation is not the declination of the Margent and variation of the Needle or Compass but this division between the Portuguess and Spaniard Now by this change it happened that the Portugals afterwards obtained Brasil in the West Indies which fell within the Meridian of the Azores but the Spaniards reaped a far greater advantage because they from that time chalenge right to the greatest part of the East Indies viz. the Philippy Islands which they have to this day to the Molucco's and others c. then out of dispute the Portugals And this made the Spaniard alwayes retire and adhere to the Azores for the first Meridian As for the Interests of Europe in these sad dis-unions revolutions and confusions of Christendom The Interests of the whole and of every part seems mainly to be to agree in Religion and known Articles of Faith and not devour one another as Infidels and Pagans for Opinions or Ceremonies and exclude not only one another their Church but their Nation and the World too for Hereticks or if not agreement at least Freedom and liberty of Religion which is no unpracticable Romance we see also for Christian Princes to unite not so much against the Turk as with one another and not destroy and ruine one anothers Kingdoms and so many Subjects lives in unnatural unchristian Wars and quarrels and lastly each Nation to accord and conspire together into mutual correspondence and free intercourse in all their
were the two first Fathers who were order'd to learn the China Charecter and Language and sent thither Who at last entred into the City Canto but fain to return twice disappointed of their design till in the end they make a new attempt furnished with all curiosities together with a solemn Embassy in form to the Vice-Roy of Canto and so were received with all possible demonstration of respect as before hath been related of Riccius c. In process of time many were Converted and Baptized among whom were some Mandarines and Calao 〈…〉 chief Governors and Officers of the Kingdom But the Priests and Priestlings stir up Persecution against them make them odious and abominable and Teachers of new Godds imprison torment and banish them But at length through the favour of great persons they obtain'd freedom and peace and the Christian Religion the more spread But by the way Had the same measure been meted to the Jesuites there by Heathens as they mete to fellow Christians here or as we say had they serv'd them in the same sauce they might have had indeed a few Martyrs and Confessors perhaps but never Evangelists and Preachers or Apostles of the Chinois unless at Stake only We shall not go about here to give the History of the manner of their proceeding in conversion of those Infidels and Idolaters but only present you with their Compendium or Catechism of the Divine Law in the China Tongue as we promised at the beginning together with the Letters of their Queen and chief Minister of State to the Pope and their Answers c. A Compendium of the Divine Law 1. Perhaps some one may ask what God is 'T is answered God is no other thing then the Creator of all things as also the great Governor and Lord of all things who made the Heavens who made the Earth who made Spirits who made Men. 2. The Heavens Earth Men and all things before were nothing and afterwards were Therefore before the Heavens Earth Men and all things there was some Lord necessarily before to create them 3. Because all things cannot be made of themselves all have that from out of which they are made or a Maker of them as Towers Palaces and Houses cannot be made of themselves but must necessarily be the work of some Artificer 4. Therefore the Heavens Earth Men and Creatures how can they be created of themselves There is therefore an Author of these things whom we name God If men do name an Age Puencu and make others like themselves and a first Grand-father Parent 5. Then these also were after the Heavens and the Earth were All had a Father and a Mother from whom they were procreated And of these to make a Creator of Heaven and Earth of Men and of Things is a great Error 6. Some will say The Heavens Earth Men and Things seeing they depend on God in their Creation I am bold to ask This God of whom does he depend in his Creation 7. 'T is answer'd God is the first Root and Principle of Things If he had dependence in his Creation for that very thing he would not be God 8. For things either have a beginning and end as Herbs Trees Fowls and creeping things or they have a beginning and no end as Heaven Earth Angels Devils and the Intellective souls of Men God only is without beginning and end and can give a beginning and end to all things 9. If there was not God there would not be other created things As for Example Of one Tree the Flowers Fruits Boughs Leaves and Body are all generated out of the Root If there be not the Root for that very thing the rest will not be But 10. Coming to the Root of the Tree by no means is there another Root out of which to be sprung or proceed God seeing he is the Root and Foundation of all things out of what other thing can himself proceed 11. God when he first created all things in the beginning he divided the Heavens from the Earth created all species or kinds of things Afterwards he created Male and Female the Male was call'd Adam 12. The Woman was call'd Eve For these two had not Father and Mother and are the first Parents of all People All else as Fo Ki not excepting those whom they make Immortal All have 13. A Father and a Mother of whom they are born and they could not avoid it but that sooner or later they should be corrupted and die God seeing he is the true Lord of Heaven Earth Men and Things c. together withal created all things 14. That they should be for mens use Consequently it altogether behoves us Men to love and worship God By not loving and worshipping great sin is thereupon committed For example A couple of Parents produce a Son 15. They nourish cloath educate him If the Son know not to honour Father and Mother certainly he is called disobedient and most grievously sins How much more 16. Seeing God is the chief Parent of Men does it not behove us to love and reverence him since it is now declar'd what God the Lord of all things is It is easie to explain the the things of this Age or World that is of Mankind 17. This same Man hath naturally two parts Soul and Body His Body although it be corrupted and die his Soul cannot he extinguished even to eternity For in this Age or time of the World Souls have three differences 18. The lowest Order is call'd the Vegetative Soul namely the Soul of Herbs and Trees This Soul helps Herbs and Trees to live and grow Herbs and Boughs or Wood cut down wither and perish 19. Their Soul follows and is extinguished The middle Order is called the Sensitive Soul to wit the Soul of Fowls creeping things and Beasts 20. This Soul gives faculty or Power to Fowls creeping things and Beasts of living and growing and makes withal that they hear and see through their ears and eyes and tast and smell through their Pallates and Nostrils through the rest of their Members that they feel pain and pleasure but yet they cannot discourse and reason and when they die even their Soul also is extinguished 21. The highest Order is call'd the Intellective Soul to wit the Soul of Man This withal contains the faculty of the two Souls the Vegetative and the Sensitive Therefore it can give a faculty to men of living and growing together also of feeling and sense 22. Moreover it gives him a faculty of discerning all reason to discern all things by His body although it die yet his Soul is perpetually conserv'd nor is extinguished Therefore the Men of this Age only fear dead men and do not fear dead Animals That arises from the natural discourse or reason of man that he can animadvert and think after the death of men Moreover the Soul of man not dead 23. Remains and therefore can fear But the Soul of creeping things and Beasts is