Authority committed to them of God out of the hands of the Antichristian usurper c. To call a General Council in order to a Universal Peace and Unanimity in Christendom and to agree for God and Religion for the publick good both of Church and State For that God will put it into their hearts to fulfil his Will and agree or make one Mind and Will and no longer give their Kingdoms to the Beast But that the Words of God shall be fulfilled To destroy Babylon and all her Abominations and Idols c. and to rule the World peacefully under the Banner of Christ and universally reform it out of all its horrible confusions and disorders according to the Will that is the Word of God c. And all Ecclesiasticks Angels of the Churches Pastors Bishops and Priests to perform the Ministry of their high Calling and the Service of God and the Church to restore the Primitive Reformation and do their first Works and repent and no longer neglect the Catholick Church of God through the whole World for worldly Dominion Honours Riches and Interests Nor to hinder Universal Reformation by wrangling and contesting for Opinions Ceremonies Revenues Prerogatives and Priviledges and such like vanities but rather to promote Catholick Charity and Indulgence and practise Christian Humility Self-Denyal and all the excellent virtues of the best Religion in the World which they are Chieftains of and to Sacrifice all their dearest concerns for the Salvation of Men And not mind their own things but the things of Jesus Christ c. And all Christians to endeavour and begin Reformation generally in their several places For that now is the time of Gods reforming the World more then ever That towards the end thereof it may be as from the beginning viz. one God and one Worship of God in Spirit and in Truth without Idols and false Godds and false Worships That all may inhabit peaceably the Earth without Wars Fightings Hatreds Contentions Envyings Strifes and without Sects and Parties lest his Wrath break forth upon them to the utmost and there be no Remedy for the Present Generation All which things to be sure are no other then was the drist of all the Prophets and extraordinary Messengers of God to Men of old when that all ordinary Persons Kings Princes Priests or People were become so corrupt and exorbitant that there were none that did his duty rightly but all desperately transgressed the Law of their God and provoked his Wrath without measure For what else was their Burthens but sad Lamentations for the Peoples sins and wickedness Exhortations to Repentance and amendment And denunciations of Grace upon Repentance and of Wrath upon Impenitence c. And what else are these likewise as to their main Scope and Intent The Sum and Substance of them in General now follows The Sum of all these Prophesies in the General is the same with all the Antient Prophets and indeed an Explication of them concerning the State of the Church in the last dayes And that our present Age is the last time of the World wherein shall be fully and finally accomplished all Scripture Prophesies I. Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth typified by the old to fall and its Builders to be dispersed Gen. 11. Jerem. 50. and 55. Revel 18. II. The Stone cut out of the Mountain without Hands to destroy the great Image of Iron and Clay and increase into a great Mountain filling the whole Earth Dan. 2. III. The very Relicks of all Nimrodian Tyranies and Oppressions to be abolished quite and the Kingdoms given to the Saints of the most high Dan. 7. IV. Both the Beasts in the Revelations The greater with seven Heads blaspheming God and making War against the Saints and the lesser with two Horns counterfeiting a Lamb yet speaking like a Dragon now to be slain Rev. 13. V. The great Harvest and Vintage of the whole Earth at hand Rev. 14. VI. All the Vials of Gods Wrath a pouring forth upon the Earth Rev. 16. VII Till the great Beast that carries the Whore with seven Heads and ten Horns be destroyed and the Whore her self forsaken by her ten Horns viz. Kings her once defenders and lovers be burnt with fire Rev. 17. VIII The Lamb to be Victor over all Enemies Satan bound in the bottomless Pit for a thousand years The Church to be quiet Rev. 20. IX And then the Marriage of the Lamb to be solemnized under the whole Heavens Rev. 19. X. And the Church to appear in its Splendour and Glory such as the Prophets have heretofore described of old Isa 60. Rev. 21. And indeed these Books of the three Prophets are a very Revelation of the Revelation of St. John to end and decide all further contentious Comments thereabouts They being a new Comment upon that old Revelation not Humane but Divine explaining what is that Babylonish Beast making War with the Saints and the great Whore the Mother of Harlots c. riding upon the Beast and who are those Kings commanded from God to execute the Judgement upon Both. And that those destroyers of Babylon are now Born now Chosen and Called And that this whole affair is now in doing And now shortly to be Sealed and concluded by a full and compleat effect in the sight of Heaven and Earth And that we are now under the sixth Seal sixth Trumpet sixth Vial. That is That upon our times happens the great Earthquake shaking the whole frame of Heaven both of Church and State c. and the day of his great Wrath come And the day of the sixth Trumpet when the Angels bound at the great River Euphrates shall be loosed and come and kill the third part of men with Fire and Smoak and Brimstome although the rest that escape repent not And the sixth Vial poured forth upon the great River Euphrates to prepare a way for the Kings of the East to root out Babylon the unclean Spirits of Frogs mustering up heaps of Armies against them in vain to the Battel of the great Day of the Lord God Omnipotent Which Day shall come as a Thief on a sudden and unlook'd for That so the seventh Seal being opened Silence may be in the Heaven of the Church And that the seventh Trumpet sounding the Mystery of God foretold by his Servants the Prophets may be finished Namely That all the Kingdoms of the World may become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christs c. And that the seventh Vial being poured forth there may be Voices and Thunders and Lightnings and Earthquakes such as have not been since men have been upon the Earth whereby the Cities of the Nations may fall and great Babylon it self c. More expresly and particularly I. That the World is become as corrupt now as it was in the dayes of Noah before the Flood and in Egypt Babylon and Jerusalem when she rebelled against God especially the Christian Nations By name Germany
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
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
corruption of manners which make the whole Creation of Church and State groan for ease and deliverance from such heavy burdens all these things I say seem to forspeak or intimate some dreadful matter drawing neer Methinks one may hear as the sounding of the Hoofs of Horses at hand and that all things will not continue still as to this day for ever The sixth day or thousandth year of the world is drawing on towards Evening and the Sabbath of the world to begin c. The number of the Beast 666. almost reckoned If we expect the number of years from the Birth and Death of Christ Behold 1666 is the number of this Age. 〈◊〉 the number of a man some more curious and witty parhaps then wise and prudent would have spelt it out of the last Popes Name Office or Title thus ALeXanDer EpIsCopVs RoMae which is 1666. or out of all his Names only viz. Christian Name Sirnam and added Name thus FabIVs ChIsIVs ALeXanDer which makes 666. the number of a Mans name Then some have added thereto VII viz. Alexander VII which makes 666. or 1666. and VII over which VII if you add to the VII of Alexanders name make XIV and shews the XIV chapter of the Revelations where first is shewn Babylon is fallen is fallen And they have observed it as ominous also in the present King of France's Name LVDoVICVs XIV Behold 666 and XIV over And because these are past parhaps the same francyful wits may rove still upon the XIV over c. And so there will be no end of such imaginations c. And therefore we pass by all such witty conceits as to unworthy of so great a Mystery more solid is that of a Prophet amongst our selves reckoning 1666 from the death of Christ whereby he got the Victory over all his Enemies rather then from his Birth though the foundation was laid there Further of the year 1670. I know not why Philip Nicholai wrote That if it did not bring the end of the world yet it should bring some wonderful and unexpected alteration of things But we pass over these and such like things c. and come to Revelations truly divine or which to be sure are most strange if not true Judge nothing before the time But first by the way we will entertain our Reader with the proud Sultans defiance of Christendom who first in disdain of the Emperor and all Christian Princes had struck off eight hundered Prisoners Heads before the Emperors Embassador himself Though indeed notwithstanding a fickle Peace has since been patch'd up and his power bent only against the Venetians c. The Great Turkes Letter of Defiance to the Emperor upon his last Incursion into Hungary with an Army of 250000. men besides his Tartarian Hirelings after the year 1660. Mahomet Son of the Emperor Son of God thrice Heavenly and thrice known by the renowned Emperor of the Turks King of Greece Macedonia and Moldavia King in Samaria and Hungaria King of Great and Lesser Egypt King of all the inhabitans of the Earth and the earthly Paradise Gaurdian of the Sepulchre of thy God Lord of the Tree of Life Lord of all the Emperors of the World from the east even to the west King of all Kings grand Persecutor of the Christians and all the wicked the Joy of the flourishing Tree the Chieftain and Gaurdian of thy Crucified God Lord of the Hope of thy Nation WE send greeting to thee Emperor Leopold if thou wilt be our Friend and submit to our Domination then we will that thy Greatness be Ample Since these times thou hast violated and shunned our freindship without having ever been offended either by War or the fighting of God Thou hast taken secret designs with other Kings and other Confederates in envy to shake of our yoak in which thou hast done imprudently This is it for which thou and thy People ought to live in fear to have no other hope but death for which cause thou hast prepared thy self But we tell thee that we will go forth and be thy Conquerour and we will pursue thee from the East even to the West and will make thee know our Majesty even to the utmost confines of the Earth thou shalt know our effects to thy great damage of which we assure thee and will have thee to expect our Greatness Thy hope shall melt away which thou hast in thy Cities and Fortresses We resolve absolutely to beat down and raze all that appeareth any thing considerable to thine Eyes And thou shouldst not expect any other thing or friendship and shouldst not put confidence in thy strong Walls for we have set up a resolution to destroy thee without remedy It pleaseth us to forrage Germany and to leave it behind us to the memory of our Bloudy Sword to the end all these things may be manifest to all It pleaseth us to establish our Religion and root out thy crucifi'd God And we fear no colours neither can there be any succour for thee that thou mayst escape our hands It pleaseth us also to condemn to the Chain thy holy Priests and to deliver to the Dogs and other Savage Beasts the dugs of thy Women Therefore thou shalt do very wisely if thou renounce thy Religion Otherwayes we do order and appoint that all be delivered to the fire This which is said may satisfie thee and thou mayst comprehend by this if thou wilt what our will is and the things concerning which we have discover'd the disposition of our suspition towards thee Then besieging Newhausal his General sends this proud Summons I that through the Grace of God and through the Miracles of our Prophet who is the Son of both Worlds and by whom there is Happiness and Glory I that am the first of the Council and General of the most mighty Emperor of the Turks that is the King of all Kings upon Earth to you Adam Forgats that are the cheif among the Nobility of Hungary do make known that through the command of my gracious Lord I am come with his forces before Newhausel to reduce it to his obedience Wherefore if you shall deliver up the place to us you shall have liberty to march out with what belongs to you from the Highest to the Lowest and to what place you please And he that will rather stay shall keep his goods and Estate But if you will not yeeld we will take it by force every man of ye from the Highest to the Lowest shall be put to the Sword If the Hungarians did but know the good intentions of the mighty Emperor they and their Childern would Bless God for them Peace be to the Obedient But to the business namely Debricius's Revelations But we must indeavour briefly first to prevent all occasion of prejudice and rash and indiscreet judgment and sensures of the impenitent unbeleiving and erring World By telling how they have been approved of as truly from God by most Godly
of JESUS AFTER the Faith first carried by St. Thomas the Apostle and after the same by the Syrians in the time of the Empire I am again further propagated Thirdly again under the Empire Mim after the same St. Francis Xaverius and Fa. Mattheus Riccius being Leaders By men of the Society of Jesus both by Word and Books in the China Language divulged indeed with very great study and labour but by reason of the Inconstancy of the Nation scarce sufficient the Empire being now devolved to the Tartars the same Society for a Crown of the labours in restoring by Theirs the Calender called Hien Lie A Temple to God the Best and greatest publickly at Pekin the Court of the Kings of China HATH ERECTED AND DEDICATED IN THE YEAR MDCL Xun Chi. VII FATHER John Adam Schall à Zell a German profess'd of the Society of Jesus and Author of the foresaid Calendar out of the labours of his hands bequeaths this House and Patience to Posterity And moreover he was so delighted with Globes Spheres and Astronomick Instruments sent for out of Europe that he would permit them no where but in the Closet of his own Chamber and would be instructed in the use of them by the Jesuites whom he bore out against all the envy and opposition of the proud Chineses who thought They should give the Laws of Arts and Sciences to all the World and not receive them from obscure Barbarians and unknown Sons of the Earth as they thought Indeed 't is pity the Christian Faith should be conveyed thither by no better hands and that it should be so mix'd and marr'd with their Jesuitism which yet they were so cunning as pritty well to hide and conceal and like the Serpent first to get in their head that afterwards they might winde and wriggle in their whole body As appears by their Catechism which we shall insert at the end of this Table by way of Appendix that you may have the sight thereof herewith And because it is a very good one for the most ignorant sort of people to apprehend else how could they think to win others from Idolatry that are such gross Idolaters themselves Also great pitty 't is that they that are so merciless and cruel to all other Religions and Christians themselves at home should finde such favour for their own abroad But however that which is Good and Laudable every where is to be approved of And 't is to be wish'd that all zealous and sincere Protestants would rather be more ready to imitate than envy their proceedings And if we compare latter times with former we shall sind the Arts and Sciences never more flourishing And though many rare ones it must be confessed have been lost yet amends has been made for that in more and better and more universally useful found out All Antiquity cannot shew the like to PRINTING the Chard and Compass Powder and Cannon Circulation of the Blood and perhaps hereafter may be added the Universal Character and Language PRINTING it self is so rare an Art that Bodin sayes That alone may contend for prize with all the Inventions of the Ancients whereby may be dispatched in a day and with greater fairness and much more neatness and elegancy by far as much as by the swiftest Pen in some years By the Loadstone Magelane Drake and Candish have sail'd round the Earth and prov'd Antipodes to be neither a Romance nor Heresie and have found out greater Worlds than all the other known and enlarged Commerce to the utmost East and West Indies So that We 're not to Ceres so much bound for Bread Nor yet to Bachus for his Clusters red As Segnior Flavio to thy witty Tryal For first inventing of the Seamans Dial. The use of th' Needle turning in the same Divine Device O admirable Frame Whereby through th' Ocean in the darkest Night Our hugest Carracks are conducted right Whereby we 're stor'd with Truce-man Guide and Lamp To search all corners of the Watry Camp Whereby a Ship that stormy Heav'ns have hurld Near in one Night into another World Knows where she is and in the Chard descries What degrees thence the Aequinoctial lies DUBARTAS And as by the Chard and Compass new Worlds have been discovered so by Powder and Cannon they have been conquered And wicked Mortals seem now to imitate the dread Thunderer and his Thunderbolts by those terrible Instruments of death and execution which Liphus therefore calls the Invention of Spirits and not of Men and yet they sooner put an end to fight and perfect victory than all the lingring tools of death among the Ancients The Turks imployed a Peece of Ordnance against Constantinople that required seventy yoke of Oxen and two thousand Men to hale it along The Circulation of the Bloud is such an invention for which the Ancients would certainly have deified the Author no less than Ceres or Bachus Aesculapius and Apollo The Universal Character and Language almost equals that of Letters in the Invention as it is far beyond it in the Thing They have no less also transcended the Ancients in Chymistry and Destillation of Inorganick and as it were Mechanick Motion and Fermentation of Nature To wit of the Principles Particle Ferments and Archeus's or Vital movers of Nature and all natural Bodies specially as to the Bloud and Feavers and all preternatural Effervescencies of this Microcosm or little World of Man And indeed in all the New Modern Mechanick Philosophy or as it were Mechanism and Magnatism of Universal Nature Viz. In all the Atomick Chymick Magnetick Magick and whole Mechanick or Corpuscular Philosophy both the rational and the experimental or in another sense the indeed Mechanick i. e. Operative Philosophy In all the Mathematicks and Mechanicks their Subtilties Rarities Curiosities and Wonders If Archytas had his Dove Regiomontanus had no less his Wooden Eagle and Iron Fly animated as it were with artificial life and soul Why should I not the Wooden Eagle mention A Learned German's late admir'd Invention Which mounting from his fist that framed her Flew far to meet an Almain Emperor And having met him with her nimble train And weary wings turning about again Follow'd him close unto the Castle Gate Of Norimberg whom all their Shews of State Streets hang'd with Arras Arches curious built And Pageants with their rich devices guilt Gray-headed Senate and Youths gallantize Grac'd not so much as only this Device DUBARTAS He goes on and describes the Fly Once as this Artist more with mirth their meat Feasted some Friends whom he esteemed Great From under 's hand an Iron Fly flew out Which having flown a perfect round about With weary wings return'd unto her Master And as Judicious on his Arms he plac'd her O Divine Wit that in the narrow Womb Of a small Fly could find sufficient room For all those Springs Wheels Counterpoise and Chains Which stood instead of Life and Spurs and Reigns DUBART And if the Persian
Lutherans and the Calvinists which we put both together as Protestants united against the Romanists and now also labouring hard on both sides to unite among themselves though the latter only took the Title of Reformed As we blame the pride and haughtiness of the Chineses who before that the Tartars had humbled them believed that all the rest of the Universe beyond their Mountains and Walls that encompass them was wholly desolate or barbarous In like manner ought we not to suffer an infinity of Ignorants who because perhaps in Colen they see but an hundred Protestants or so presently imagine the same of all Germany and of the whole World and reckon their Church Catholick when 't is but a moity of the least part of the Earth and not esteeming things but by their outward splendor and glittering pass unjustly from the unequal esteem and false count of their number to the unequal esteem or false count of their Virtue and Cause Besides the advantage of Number is no great advantage The Mahometans on this account carry it from the Christians and the very Heathens from both So that neither the one or the other have any great reason to glory The only glorying is to have God on their side But let us come to the Countries which each possess Europe as was said is almost all Christendom Yet Idolaters and Heathen are still found in the cold Region of the Laplanders and although they are distinguished into Danes Swedes and Moscovites yet they hardly obey either the Duke Moscovy or the King of Suede or of Denmark Mahometanism is more spread but not beyond the Turks Territories It is follow'd at Constantinople in Romania and in the places of Dalmatia and Hungary where he is Master It has its course also in the Taurick Chersonese and the lesser Tartary But all these Countries together make not above one tenth part of Europe Lastly Judaism onely lurks in little corners and holes of Christendom and dares hardly shew its face but with some kind of disgrace and infamy Witness their yellow Hats in Italy and Avignon for a mark of dishonour Yet the Jews have their Synagogues and their principal ones are at Amsterdam Avignon Rome Venice and divers other places of Holland and Italy They are found moreover at Franck-fort Hamburgh and other Cities of Germany and some at London also through connivance though the Laws be against them But they are least troubled in Poland and Bohemia and there as well for their Number as for their Priviledges through the force of Silver Weapons they make something a greater noise than elsewhere Greece is yet fuller they have free Trade at Constantinople and Grand Caire They manage principal Affairs they have places of Profit and Revenues and generally they are powerful through all the Ottomans Empire For Christians according to the three Branches of Christianism mentioned viz. the Christians of the East the Christians Roman and the Christians Protestant they take up all the rest The Christians of the East or the Eastern Church advantagiously divide with the Mahometans and the Jews all Greece and all the Neighbouring Isles of the Archipelago And in Mount Athos alone for which cause they have since given it the name of Monte Sancto or the Holy Mountain one may see twenty four Monasteries of Caloyers or certain Monks of the Order of St. Basil of which Order generally the Greek Church are to the number of six thousand And under this Branch comprehending all the several Sects that use different Liturgies the Eastern Church is extended yet further into Russia who are all thereof and out of Europe into Ethiopia and Egypt in Africa into Georgia Armenia Assyria and Persia in Asia and if one would even to India it self and to the Kingdom of Tenduc on the North of Cathay where Mark Polo found some Christians of St. Thomas the Apostle Each of these Sects has their Patriarchs and these Patriarchs like as the Bishops also are all Monks of one of the two Orders of St. Basil or St. Anthony his follower For the other Religions the Roman Religion is absolute Mistress in Spain Portugal and Italy The Religion Protestant in the Islands of Great Britane in Swedeland and Denmark The Roman Religion bears the sway intirely in the Spanish Provinces of the Low Countries the Protestants in the United Provinces The Roman Religion reigns solely in the petty Cantons of Switzerland the Protestant in the great Cantons The Roman Religion has the upper hand intirely in the Countries of the three Electors Ecclesiastick of Mayence Trevers and Colen The Protestant in the Countries of three of the Electors Saecular the Palatinate of the Rhine Saxony and Brandenburgh The Roman Religion has not any mixture apparent in the Haeredetary Countries of the Emperor Austria Bohemia Moravia Tirol Carinthia Stiria and Carniola nor in the Electors the Duke of Bavaria The Protestant has little or none at all in Suavia Silesia both the Prussi's Pomerania Hisse the Archbishoprick of Breme and in the Dukedoms of Holstein Lunenburgh Meckleburgh But in the other Provinces of Germany as in the Dutchies of Cleveland Juliers Alsatia Westphalia and Franconia the two Religions are almost equally divided except that the Protestant hath all the Authority in its hand in the grand Imperial Cities hereof and the Hans Towns which make up the number of an hundred and fifty whereof there are but very few to be excepted The most famous are Nurenburgh Franck-fort Wormes Stratsburg Ausburg Ulms Ratisbone Spire Strelsond Wismar Rostoch Stetin Osnaburg Brunswick Breme Hamburgh Lubeck Dantzick Elbing Conigsberg where the Magistrate is Protestant There is but only France and Poland where the number of the Romans surpass the number of the others and where nevertheless these have the free and publick exercise of their Religion and each live together in peace though the Romanists daily incroach upon the Protestants and increase and the others decrease and lose their Priviledges and Power for want of some Heroick Princes to maintain them To conclude The Roman Religion has been carried to the ends of the World into the East and into the West Indies by the Spaniards and Portuguese The Protestant has been carried to the same places by the English and the Dutch and the French also are setled in the Isle of Madagascar in Canada in Africa and in America and take their course also through Asia insomuch that all are there generally call'd Franks But these are almost universally French Catholicks But to take things apart The Roman Religion is spread in some Maritine places of Asia and has it 's principal Seat at Goa a Puissant City on the Western Coast of the Peninsula on this side Ganges The Protestant upon the shores of the same Asia and has its principal Seat at Batavia a City upon the Southern Coast of Grand Java which the Commerce of the Hollanders has rendred famous The Roman Religion fills some places of the Eastern Coast of Africa as
with the State in order to the good of the Church necessarily And therefore the Church must now comprehend the State And as it was above it so now must rule it for it's own good as the less worthy for the more worthy And therefore the chief Churchman must be both Supreme Bishop and Emperor or high Priest and King That is the Vicar of Christ must be like his Master and of the same Authority in the World to whom all power was given both in Heaven and in Earth thus the Mystery of Iniquity wrought with all deceitfulness c. Accordingly the next year or two after Alexander the 2 d is elected by the Cardinals only without the Emperor who complains of this as against his right Hildebrand stoutly maintains it That the Emperor had no right in the Election of Popes Alexander inclining to yeeld to the Emperor is soundly box'd by Hildebrand then imprisoned and at length poysoned to make way for this mighty man of mettal this Universal Monarch Pope Hildebrand by name who the first usurps the Power and Right of Supreme and Universal Monarch as Boniface had before of Supreme and Universal Bishop at least layes the foundation thereof and endeavours it Thus Hildebrand and Boniface notoriously founded the Popedom or Kingdom of the Beast For first An. 1073. he sets up himself without any election either of Emperor or Clergy but the thing being disputed and the Emperor striving to vindicate his right He refers himself to the Emperor and Princes The Emperor Henry 4 th thereupon confirms him but the Imperial Majesty was thereby debased and impair'd For 2. afterwards he sets himself might and main against him And 3. excommunicates and so deposes him and sets up Competirors among the Princes and Electors sending a Crown to Rodolph or Ralph with a verse upon it to this sense The Crown which Petra gave to Peter Peter on Ralph bestows in Meeter Petra from whence Petrus or Peter signifying The Rock that is Christ and makes him rebel against his Master And likewise sets up a second after him when he was foyl'd and involves Germany and Italy in horrible confusions and fractions and Pope-like pronounces Absolution thus We do absolve from their Oath of Allegiance all that are sworn to excommunicate Princes So arrogating the power of deposing and making Emperors to himself and confirming his usurpations by a pack'd Council held at Rome At last 4 ly the Emperor through these means and practises deserted by all is fain to submit and to get off his excommunication and be absolv'd forced to come suppliant together with his Emperess and young son the Prince before Hildebrand barefooted and bare legged in the cold of Winter all ragged and torn and with a pitious Countenance and in a lamentable posture to knock at his Palace Gate and with tears beg admission there to wait three days fasting till his Highness now as well as his Holiness with his Minion Madam Mathilda or as they called her St. Peters Daughter that left her own Husband to live with this Holy Father and other Grandees and Roman Courtiers despisingly looking out of his window i' th' mean while could be at leasure But at last on the 4 th day having it seems done penance enough being admitted by her mediation he imposes on him most intolerable conditions and unworthy of the vilest Slave and by Oaths Curses and horrible imprecations obliges him never to receed from obedience to the Pope These things so transacted not only the like are practised by his Successors to the Emperors following as the story will shew But not long after also they likewise decreed it by their Canons and Ecclesiastick Pontificial Laws viz. The Roman high-Priest to be over all not only in Spirituals but also in Temporals All Kingdoms and Empires to depend on him and to order and administer all as judged convenient for the Church c. That is to be Supreme Head both of Church and Sate And in one word Supreme Universal Monarch of the World So that now the Pope begins to take upon him as High Emperor or King that is above all Kings and Emperors as well as High-Priest and to play Rex indeed At least laid the foundation or groundwork and first beginnings of all that tremendous and terrible Pontificial Power and Omnipotency namely in Church and State too afterwards over all the World The Pope then is now become both Universal High-Priest and King For so their Canons Canonists would now about this time have him to be viz. Supreme nay Only Monarch of the World and Universal over all For so Baronius a cheif Author contends at this time That none on Earth ought to be called Monarch but the Pope We shall have him God too by and by And the same Baronius sticks not at that but proclaims him not only greater then Emperors and all Kings but also calls him Lord God And the Canon saith no less both for his Kingship and Godship too But we must for brevity pass by these things c. After these usurpations of Hildebrands the succeeding Popes follow his practises towards the succeeding Emperors and never leave excommunicating and deposing them till either by force or fraud they brought them in a manner under their Girdle and that at last they durst no more come into Italy nor medle with the affairs thereof but by their stirring up or backing of parties and factions were finally outed of all their Provinces and Estates there and not only so but in the end lost almost all their power and authority in Germany too as after we shall see The Princes and Nations also after grievous Wars Quarrels and Troubles caused partly by his and his Clergy's and Zealous Religionists means being by degrees brought under and subdued one after another did by their consent also at length approve those their Decrees and Canons and own him as Head at least of the Church to excommunicate c. consequently to depose from Government of the Christian-Flock as Infidels and Enemies of the Church And so subjected their Kingdoms both People and Clergy very much in temporals also which they did either for fear of the Clergy and superstitious people who had a carnal and furious zeal for the Pope as Christs Vicar the Church as out of which no Salvation and that Religion as most suited to the natural man and the peoples humours and lusts and very apprehensions of God Religion and the way of Salvation c. or else through their own blind Devotion and Religious Superstition or at best pious Veneration of the Christian Religion Church and chief Pastor and Priest thereof at their first turning Christians which was for the most part but to an outward christianity neither c. and in those times of gross darkness and ignorance of the inward Mystery thereof c. All which things by the sequel of the story will more plainly appear And now being thus raised to an earthly
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
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
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
scattered by him and so those things come to pass which have been foretold thee I answered thereunto Lord thou knowest that thy Eternal Delights are sweeter to me then all those things which thou revealest unto me But he rebuked my impatience dehorting me from weariness so he went away from me Now all the following year 1628 He made no mention of my life or death except in the last Vision Moreover that I was to undergoe also one disease Then in 1629. January the 9 th It was declared unto me by an Angel that I should be visited from the Lord in a Dream with a Disease by name the Apoplexy which also came the same day in the evening I therefore because the year was now gone the Visions had now ceased believed that the very time was now approaching which the Lord had spoke concerning And that I should not now escape this Disease I therefore prepared my self in mind and conscience and my desire was to be dissolved and to be with Christ Which hope certain antecedent signs also did strengthen As were certain knocking 's or beatings under my Bed and under the next Table four several evenings many that visited me being present and hearing so iterated that each day the number was less by one stroak At length on the 26 th of January it sounded one and afterwards five which having heard I believed as also the rest That one only day of my life was now remaining and an end to be to morrow evening at five a clock Therefore watching all that night and praying and meditating on eternal life and this blessed departure I decreed to pass hence But hearing by night a certain voice as it were of a man three times Come come come Unusual Joy being shed abroad through my Soul I slept a little But Saturday morning at break of day when more vehement pains oppressed me I could not but interpret that Voice to have been a Divine Call I bad farewel therefore to my beloved Friends visiting me all that day And I was alwayes worse and worse till evening approaching my Sight Hearing Memory Speech and at length my Spirit failed me And I felt my self to go forth with my Spirit and to be carried into Heaven where surrounded with a great shining I saw an huge company cloathed in White And the Lord stepping forth took me in his imbrace saying The Lord hath done whatsoever he would in Heaven and in Earth For the Majesty of his Power is exalted and there is no counsel of his Will nor does it admit any For who hath known the mind of the Lord and who hath been his Counsellor Return therefore unto the place from whence thou art come forth and the breath of the most High shall vivify thee Arise walk farewel to thy Disease and behold the goodness of Jehovah in the Land of the Living exulting in his virtue For the dead shall not praise Jehovah nor admire his Works when they go down into the place of Silence but the living the living shall bless thee from this time and for ever God Jehovah dwells on high and hath exalted his Right Hand over all Nations And does wonderful things as it pleases him at all times He is the God of the living who also draws forth out of death and who gives life even for ever Therefore sadded with these things I begged that he would signifie unto me How many the dayes of my life should be But he said Thy times are in the hand of the Lord. He has measured thy years and hid thy term from thee Live therefore and injoy the goodness of God upon the Earth amongst his Saints But sanctifie thy years to God thy Creator and live righteously But thy reward and thy portion shall not wither away nor perish but thou shalt find it and shalt rejoyce concerning it and in it unto eternity That also which the most High does with thee accept gratefully and go not contrary to thy Creator by thy impatience Go thy wayes now and return for it is Jehovah who doth good to thee and hath a care of thee Therefore offer unto him the sacrifice of praise and render thy Vows to the most High giving thanks also unto him that he works the Work of Salvation in thee and will still work even until he shall blessedly finish it unto the praise of his Grace but unto thy Honour I wish use thee no more unto my works neither will I come unto thee Now therefore glorifie God in thy Body and Spirit which he hath given thee Acquiesce now in Heart and Conscience and give honour to God who doth all these things to the praise of his glorious Grace My Peace be with thee After he had said these things I falling down worshipped him And together also returned into life Sad indeed yet restored that very moment to full vigor and health and strength To this great God be Honour Praise and Empire unto Ages of Ages for ever Amen Come we next to Drabricius's Dedication of all to Christ which he was commanded to prefix before his Prophesies together with his last Protestation and Prayer c. To the most Serene most Invincible King of Kings and Lord of Lords JESUS CHRIST the Eternal and only begotten Son of God and the Virgin Mary who is the Alpha and Omega the first Born from the Dead whose Name is Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father who hath loved us and given us good hope through Grace To whom only is due all Kingdom Power and Empire unto all everlasting Ages Amen! Hallelujah ALL Nations of the Earth hear All Inhabitants of the World attend Small and Great Rich and Poor I Nicholas Drabricius by Countrey a Strasnian by Nation a Moravian by the destinate Counsel of God chosen and called to the Ministry of the Church of God and to Preach the Gospel of Christ and lawfully ordained in the year 1616. But then afterwards in the year 1628 with many other Godly Persons keeping Faith to God to Conscience and to the Church driven into Exile by Ferdinand the 2 d Roman Emperor for the Verity of the same Gospel and for the Testimony of Jesus Christ So that leaving my Countrey and the Inheritance of my Parents and plundred moreover by the Spanish Souldery onely my Wife and Children escaping and wandring in exile unto the Land of Hungary in the territories of the most Illustrious Lord the Lord George Ragotzi Prince of Transylvania the first of this Name I took up my Seat under the Castle of the Town Ledvitz And there with many other Families of pious fellow-exiles amidst extream miseries and sorrows of poverty yet humbly and patiently I served my Christ for fifteen years But here in the year I say 1643. Jan. 23. it pleased God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ by virtue of the Holy Spirit of God according to the chosen good-pleasure of his Counsel to admit me his little Worm so far and to
of the Covenant Espouse unto thee O God! the People in faith that all may acknowledge thee Jehovah to whom thou mayst say My People and they to thee My God Let Men thy Image now cease to respect Stones Wooden Golden and Silver gods and to exhibit honour unto those which are no Gods but Vanity Let the Society or Tribe of Priests cease to commit Preys and Robberies in thy Name and with their wickedness to rejoyce Kings and Princes with their lyes adulterating all things Appointing to themselves Kings but not by thee and setting up Princes whom thou doest not acknowledge but with their Gold and their Silver making themselves Idols to their destruction Root out therefore O God! but even now at length Idols with the Worshippers of Idols and Errors with the Sowers of Errors As thou didst in the time of Elias Ezekias Josias Let it become manifest to the World how great difference there is between Light and Darkness that Victory may give place to the Truth and all men may learn to walk in the Light and being made the Sons of the Light may be brought back again to thee the Fountain of Light Gather together the sheep going astray stragling up and down O Prince of Shepherds by men chosen to this work from the East and the West from the North and the South giving faith in to their hearts unto thy words and by a strong and inflexible obedience and dutifulness to execute the purpose of thy Eternal Counsel to bring Vengeance upon Spiritual Babylon and upon the Whore sitting upon the Beast that she may no longer by committing Fornication with her Abominations seduce the Nations on the face of the whole Earth Grant O God! that successfully and happily once may go on forward that wish'd-for Recollection or gathering up together again of thy Rational Creatures out of the Streets and Villages and from among the Lanes and out of the High-ways that they may be introduced into thy House Here indeed into the House of the Church thy Sheepfold but there into the House of Eternity thy Glory where are many Habitations and Joys never to be ended Sitting down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob at thy Table O Jesus Christ my only Saviour and of all that believe in thee Whither also my selâ— now hastening apace I bid my last farewel to thee O World to thee my earthly Country to thee my Body the Habitation of this Soul Farewel all beloved Friends in God! known and unknown to me Ye who have not known me in this mortality shall see me in that day wherein our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the living God by his illustrious coming shall gather us call'd forth out of the Dust of the Earth and from all parts every where to himself To whom be Honour and Glory and Empire and Benediction for ever and ever Amen! After these things had been thus acted Paul Laurine a new Pastor of the Exiles and a new Adversary of Drabricius a young man and of a firm strong complexion and always otherwise lusty was seized with an unexpected Disease as hath been before noted the Physicians call'd it an Hectick but in vain was all their Physick and departed this Life about the end of September Veterine hitherto preserv'd perhaps to behold the works of God to which he stiffly and pertinaciously denies Faith and Credit and to acknowledge his Error God have Mercy on him even as also on us all whosoever do erre with whatsoever Errors Amen! So Comenius We 'll conclude onely with a wise and sober Remarque out of the Mystery of Jesuitism concerning the Prophecies of St. Hildegard which very well agrees and may very well be applied to these Thus far says he the Prophecy it self Of which and the like what to think and what credit is to be given thereto others have given their opinion viz. That 't is not impossible Prophecies and Predictions of this kind may amount to no more than the Dreams of melancholy superstitious and distempered Persons Such as of which it may be said Augurium vanum vani docuere Parentes Cui credens dignus decipiatur erit Our vain Fore-fathers taught's vain Auguries Let them be cheated that believe such Lies But to deny all credit to Prophecies is to be guilty of an incredulity greater than that of the incredulous Thomas Nor are we to think what God saith by the Prophet Joel to be spoken in vain That in the last days the old men should dream Dreams and see Visions and the Sons and Daughters prophesie Many Examples might be alledged of Prophecies of this kind which the Events have confirm'd to be true and therefore they may challenge Belief when they are in their Effects fulfilled Mystery of Jesuitism concerning St. Hildegard 's Prophecies approved of in the Councel of Trier and also by Pope Eugenius the Third Remarkable also is that of the Angel to Kotter concerning the time of accomplishment What things are said unto thee concerning things future are not said after an human manner But after a manner which thou shalt never attain by human Reason and Wit Jehovah hath these times in his power Kotter Chap. 17. Great and Marvellous are Thy Works O Lord God Omnipotent Just and True are Thy Ways Thou King of Saints Who shall not Fear Thee O Lord and Magnifie Thy Name Because Thou alone art Holy Because all Nations shall come and worship before Thee For Thy Judgements are made manifest FINIS An APPENDIX of the planting of the Christian Religion in China c. THE marvellous and unheard of Alterations and Troubles The terrible and bloody Wars and most wonderful Revolutions even of all Asia and Africa in this present Age likewise but especially of the mighty antient and most flourishing Empire of China have been no less astonishing and stupendous then the Europaean and those shameful and cursed ones of Unchristian if not Pagan Christendom But would require another and larger Table to represent also a general view thereof And therefore we shall only add an Appendix according to promise of some things remarkable touching the Introduction of the Christian Relion into China by the Fathers of the Society and the Queens the young Princes her Son the Mandarins and Colaos and chief Ministers of State c. Conversion from Idolatry to Faith in Jesus and Worship and Confession of the Son of God so nois'd of in the World of late years And probably they would have prov'd better Christians and Disciples under better Masters and Teachers then such Apostles as have now the glory thereof About the Year 1580 as soon as the Jesuites had by fair shews of Religion and Learning found general success and acceptance in Europe and well rooted themselves here With great Zeal they compass Sea and Land as far as even the East Indies and China it self to gain Proselytes After the example of the more devout Religious and Zealous Monks and Fryar before them Riccius at first mentioned and Rogerius
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