all their former frustrated successelesse and almost hopelesse malicious designs against the Puritanicall and Religious party in both Kingdoms and the intended accomplishment of the Presbyterian Government and Râ—formation of Religion in them which they so much feared and opposed by open force of Arms and secret policies who will now indeavour to continue and heighten our open divisions first plotted by them till we have weakned and destroyed each other by our civill wars and made our selves fit to be suddainly surprised and destroyed by their party when we have consumed and undone each other Thirdly That in these respects the Successes great Victories and slaughters in this unnaturall and unchristian Warre against our Protestant Brethren in Covenant are no matter of publike joy thanksgiving and triumph to the Conquerours as some vainly conceive but of greatest publike lamentation Humiliation and mourning it being both unnaturall uncharitable and unchristian for Members of the same body of Christ and sworn Christian Brethren ingaged by Covenant and God himself to protect and love each other with a pure heart fervently to murther and destroy each other an argument of Gods heavy wrath against usâ— tending to our desolations as the sacred Texâ—s and Presidents compared together will fully resolve the conscientious perusers of them Iudg. 21.1 to 18. 2 Sam. 1.12.17 18 c. 2 Sam. 2.12 to 29. to 3.30 c. 39. c. 4.8 9 10 11 12. c. 19.1 2 3 4. 2 Chron. 28.5 to 16. Ezek. 19.12.2.33.14 Ezek. 35.1 to the end Obad. 1. to the end Amos 1.9 10 11 12. Gen. 37.26 27. 1 Sam. 14.7.7 1 Kings 13.30 Psal. 35.14 Isay 9.19 20 11. c. 19.2.3 2 Chron. 15.5 6. Ier. 22.17 18. Ezek. 38. 21 22. Mich. 1.2 c. Zech. 7.9 to the end Mal. 2.10 Mat. 10.21 c. 1 Iohn 3.10 21 12. Exod. 2.11 12. Iudg. 9.5 to the end a sad story 1 Kings 12 14.15 2 Chron. 11.4 c. 21.4.12 13 14. c. Neh. 5.1 to 10. Iob 6.14 15. Prov. 6.16.19 Isay 66.5 Acts 7.26 Mat 12.25 Mar. 3.24 25 26. Gal. 5.14 15. Iam. 3.14 15 16 18 18. c. 4.1 9 10 11. Fourthly that the continuance of this unbrotherly Warre with Scotland will be the utter ruine of all the Presbyterian godly Party in that Nationâ— if God shall frown upon them and the utter subvertion of the Presbyterian Government there where the Prelaticall and Malignant party will soon get head and sway all to the strengthning and reviving of their numerous party in England or in case God give them after some overthrows a glorious Victory over the English Independent Forces as he did to the defeated Israelites over the Benjâ—mites Iudg. 20. it will certainly ruine all the Independent party in England who have so cheated and tyrannized over all sorts of men that they will never be able to make head again if once defeated and find all mens hearts and hands against them for their manifold extravagances and tyrannicall proceedings against all ranks and degrees of men subverting the whole frame of our civill and Ecclesiasticall Government And if the Presbyterian party in Scotland be much weakned and impoverished by the Victory and the Presbyteriall Ministers and Gentry of England discountenanced and thrust out of all power and reputation in the interim as they are through their cowardize and folly how far this may indanger and expose them to the Popish and Prelaticall parties power and malice hereafter is very considerable and how far their present Contributions though not voluntary without distresse or forcible coaction against their King and Brethren of Scotland and sitting still like idle neutrall Spectators without contributing the least visible assistance to either of them may be interpreted by their King and them to be a bâ—each of â—heir Nationall League and Covenant and of their Allegiance to their Soveraign in case they should prevail and restore the King to the Crown of England by their own Forces only without the English Presbyterians assistance to the indangering of their persons and Estates and the losse of all that favour and respect from either which their actuall conjunction with them might procure to the ruine of the Presbyterian as well as Independent party in England and setting up of the Popish and Prelaticall Malignant party in Supreme power and favour in this Realme is very considerable Fifthly that if the Scottish Presbyters and the Kings party in Scotland shall be both conquered by the English Independent Forces and unable to defend themselves or their King and to settle him in his Kingdoms then greater dangers are like to insue to our Religion and Kingdoms then otherwise in some wise mens judgments because the Independents as their present violent proceedings manifest wil probably use their Presbyterian Brethren in England no better then those in Scotland and extirpate them if they can and the King then will be necessitated to cast himself wholly upon the assistance of forraign States and Kings and their Forces as his last refuge which he hath hitherto declined as dangerous both to himself and his people If he in this extremity throw himself upon any Forraigners they must be either Papisâ—s only or Protestants alone or both of them joyntly If on Papists only which some think most probable First in regard of his Queen Mothers great interest in that party both in France and Italy being of that Religion Secondly in respect of the open differences and Wars already between us and France and Portugall two Popish Kingdoms which are like to continue and grow greater every dâ—y Thirdly in respect of that parties constancy and fidelity to the King and his Father Fourthly because that party is most powerfull and most likely to close with the King for the advantage of the Catholike cause and reducing of England to it's former obedience to the See of Rome so that without Gods infinite mercy it will necessiâ—ate him for a full compliance with them First to match into some great Popish Family upon the same and harder Aâ—ticles then were inforced on his Fathes by Spain or France Secondly to alter his Religion and professe himself a Roman Catholike and obedient son to the Roman Pontife as King Henry the fourth of France did Thirdly to Covenant and ingage with them for an utter extirpation of the Protestant Religion and of all Independents and Presbyterians as not only Heretikes in Religion but Regicides Traytors Rebells Covenant breakers pâ—rjured persons who make no conscience of Oaths Vows Protestations Declarations and professed enemies to Monarchy who have murthered his Father banished his Mother disinherited him of three Crowns and indeavour to imbroil and subvert all Monarchies and Kingdoms in Christendome Fourthly to swear and ingage to set up and tolerate none but the Roman Religion in his Kingdoms when he shall be restored to them by their assistance and Forces Fifthly to promise satisfaction of the greatest part of their expences in this war out of the Puritans and Protestants estates who have
worse and more hopelesse and desperate condition then ever heretofore 7. That to prevent and frustrate these Laws and this security the Jesuiticall and Prelaticall party whilest they were in agitation indeavoured all they could by subtill practices slanders and private solicitations to raise jealousies and divisions between the Scottish Commissioners and Army and the Parliament to ingage the Scottish and English Armies each against other or to make the Scots stand neutrall to the Parliament that so they might bring up the English Army from the North to London to over-awe and suppresse them and hinder the Union between both Kingdomes which through the fidelity of the Scots and of some Officers in the English Army was timely discovered prevented and a firme Union between both Kingdomes setled by Acts of Parliament passed in the Parliaments of both Nations 8. That these Acts of Pacification and Union between both Kingdomes and the Religious party of both Nations the extirpation of Prelacy and the Popish Hierarchy and the establishing of a Presbyterian Government and Uniformity in Doctrine Worship and Discipline in both Kingdoms were apprehended prosecuted and resolved upon by the most religious Protestant party and Parliaments of both Nations as the readiest probablest and most effectuall means under God to preserve and secure their Religion Lawes Liberties against all future invasions and to frustrate all Popish and Prelaticall Designâ—s against them and were accordingly esteemed and looked upon by the adveâ—se Popish and Prelaticall party who thereupon attempted with all their policy and power to uphold Prelacy and retard and prevent the establishment of â—resbytery as fatall to all their hopes and Designes and thereupon improved all their intâ—rest both at home and with forraigne â—rinces to raise what Forces they could to break this Dâ—signe and the â—arliament too before they should accomplish it 9. That when the Jesuiticall Popish and Prelaticall party in England Ireland Scotland and forraigne parts had taken up Arms and raised great Forces to hinder the settlement of the Presbyterian Governmentâ— suppresse the late Parliament subvert the Protestant Religion introduce Popery and Tyranny extâ—rpate the Puritan and Religious party in England and Ireland and were grown very strong and pâ—evalent in both the Scottish Presbyterians now invaded and defeated out of their brotherly love and Christian affâ—ction in this extremity of danger for the preservation of our Religion Liberties Lawes Parliament and the godly party in England Ireland at both Housâ—s earnest solicitatioâ— did readily and chearfully assist us with their Forces in both Kingdoms and thereby through Gods bâ—essing were a great means of weakâ—ning and subduing our Enemies and preseâ—ving our Religion Lawes Liberties Lives from utter destruction which brotherly assistance with so powerfull an Aâ—my of above twenty thousand Hoâ—se and Foot in our greatest dangers was so welcome to us that the House of Commons on the second of February 1643. Ordered publike thanks should be given in all Churches for the aid and assiâ—tance come in by our Brethren of Scotland And when the malignant party there in their absence for our preservation had pâ—evâ—iled and routed only some few of their Forceâ— nothing considerable in comparison of those lately slain and defeated left behind for their defence both Houses were so sensible thereof that they appointed a speciall Dâ—y of Humiliation for the miseries of Scotland throughout all the Parliaments Qâ—arters by their Order of 2. September 1645. which was accordingly observed so much did they and we then condole thâ— least overthrow and misery of our Scottish Brethren in Covenant â—being members of the selfâ—same Body of Christ as if it had been our own Whereas now on the contrary we invade slay dâ—stroy and ruine these our brotherly Assistants rejoyce triumph at their misery appoint publike Daâ—es of Thanksgiving throughout the whole Nation for their grâ—at slaughter and overthrow and hang up the Ensignes taken from them in Westminster Hall as publike trophies and testimonies to succeeding ages of our gratitude and brotherly kindnesse towards them and of our religious observation of our solemne Nationall League and Covenant with them not long since made and entred into upon their coming in to our assistance 10. That in the extremity of our dangers by the prevailing Popish party the Parliaments Ministers and religious people both of Scotland and England did resolve it most necâ—ssary and essentiall for Gods glory and their sâ—fety to enter into a more sacred and stricter union then formerly for defence of their Religion King Parliament Lawes Liberties the extirpation of Popery of Prelacy and the bringing of all our Kingdoms to uniformity in Doctrine Worship and Discipline by a solemne Nationall League and Covenant as the onely means under God to prevent all future differences and breaches between all the godly people of both Nations to preserve and secure Religion Lawes Liberties and priviledges of Parliament against all present and future attempts whatsoever and dash in pieces all the designes practices hopes of the Jesuiticall and Prelaticall Faction in all our Kingdoms which League and Covenant was accordingly agreed upon by the Parliament and Assemblies of Divines in both Kingdomes and after that most chearfully and solemnly taken and subscribed not only by the Scottish Parliament Army Clergy and Generality of that Nation but by all the Members of both Houses of our Parliament the generaâ—ity of all the godly Ministers and people in England and Ireland and by all or most Officers and Souldiers in the Parliaments Armies who many of them carried it in their hats hands and fixed to their pikes as they marched and amongst others it was taken and subscribed by Oliver Cromwell himself and Ireton and every man by Ordinances of both Houses was disabled to injoy or exercise any Civill or Military Office or place of Trust whatsoever in the State or Army who did not solemnly take and subscribe itâ— whereupon it was almost universallyâ— taken and subscribed in a most sacred and solemn manner throughout the Kingdome and followed with many glorious Victories and Successes till the Popish and Prelaticall Malignant party in England were totally subdued all Counties and Garrisons fully reduced to the Parliaments Command and a happy Peace and settlement of our Reliigion Laws Liberties upon most safe and honourable terms indeavoured expectedâ— and almost accomplished by a personall Treatyâ— with the KING in the Isle of Wight 11. That to prevent this Peace and Settlement the Officers of the Army who love to make a Trade of War thereby to gain and keep all Civill and Ecclesiasticall power in their own hands and to inrich themselves with our three Kingdoms spoils and ruine confederating with some few Members of the Commons House against their Trust duty Oaths Protestations the very Letter of this solemn League and Covenant and all the ends thereof forcibly seized condemned and beheaded the late King secured and secluded the greatest part
what is impossible to be regained and seeing a new storm of Devastations hanging over our heads by the young Kings late arrival in Scotland where he is received as absolute Soveraign which filâ— mens hearts with pensive thoughts and doubâ—ings what will be the end of these wofull beginnings For my part I am a zealous adorer of a Parliament nor deserve I to censure the Actions of our Representatives yet will I not promise the Term of an Age to our novel Government but think veâ—ily a change to the old Model is nigh at hand It is casual to the best Kingdoms to have Interregnums but as we stand now we shall neâ—ther be for six years together a Body Politique nor a true Church of God That excellent Astrologer of Misnia Paul Grebner was more then an Inquisitour into the Effects of Starres being questionlesse indued from above with a Prophetick spirit not to be desired much lesse expected of all He plainly affirms That as England ever was a Monarchy within it self since it was discovered by the Romans so shall it so continue and remain even then when all other Kingdoms and States in Europe are swallowed up of the FIFTH MONARCHIE of the Lion of the North. His Prophecie of our Civil Wars of the Fate of our late King and the Restauration of his Son to his Fathers Dominions runneth thus in Ban. 72. Per idem tempus Rex quidam Borcalis nomine Carolus Mariam ex Papisticâ— religione sibi assumptam in matrimonium conjunxerit ex quo evidet regum infelicissimus Unde populus ejus ipso abdicato Comitem quendam perantiquae Familiae regno praeponet qui tres annos aut circitèr durabit hoc quoque remoto Equitem quendam bellicosum in ejus locum assumet qui paulò ampliùs regnabit Post hunc eliget nullum Interea unus è stirpe Caroli in littore regni patres sui cum Gallicis Suevicis Danicis Hollandicis Burgurdicis Germanicis auxiliis stabit omnes inimicos suos cruentissimo praelio superabit posteà regnum suum felicissimè administrabit eritque Carolo magno major And in Ban. 74. he saith Circà Anno 1663 Brittaniarum Rex antiquum cum Belgarum Ordinibus foedus amicitiam rumpet ob ereptas sibi ab ipsorum piratis naviculas quasdam qui pertrepidi ad novum Danorum Regem nomine Christiernum confugient qui utrosque primò compositissimis orationibus deinde muneribus in concordiam alliciet About the same time a certain Northern King named Charles who shall marry Mary of the Popish Religion to his great unhappinesse so that his people rejecting him shall set up an Earl of a very ancient Family who shall continue three years or thereabouts he dying they shall elect in his stead a warlike Knight who shall rule a little longer after him they elect none But in the mean one of Charles his Stock shall land on the Sea-coasts of his Fathers Kingdom and with French Swedish Danish Hollandian Burgonian and German Forces in a most cruel battell shall vanquish all his Enemies and afterward most happily govern his Kingdom and be greater then Charls the Great And about the year 1663 the King of the most ancient Brittains for the losse of some Ships at Sea shall break his League and Amity with the States of Holland who fearing shall to the new King of Danes named Christiernuâ— for succour and he by fair Intreaties and large Gifts shall win either side to Agreement Nor ever doth he speak of England in all that famous manuscript but as of the most warlike and potent Kingdome in Europe Therefore all good Christians ought to wish the new Warre were concluded rather by an happy Agreement and Composition then by Sword and Musket and the King placed on his Throne rather with the hands of his loving and and rejoycefull Subjects than with the swords of Forreigners For if the beginning of his Restauration be in bloud and tumbling of garments in bloud the Accomplishment of it will be with burning and fuel of fire That this future History of Europe may be more fully and clearly understood I intend to set it down by way of Chronology upon the principall passages in Ezekiel and the Revelations as I lately collected it out of the two MSS. of Grebner and Ioannes Baudensis and afterward subscribed certain Notes and Animadversions upon the same THe woman travelleth viz. The Jewish Synagogue bringeth forth Christ whereupon ensueth the battel between Anno Christi 1 Michael and the Dragon Christ and the Devil Anno Mundi 3947 Christ being persecuted of the Devil by Herod in his Infancy flieth into Aegypt in his appointed time of 34 years suffereth and ascendeth into Heaven The Devil enraged Anno Christi 34 that he could no more persecute Christ raiseth persecutions Anno Mundi 3981 Anno Christi 65 against the Primitive Church by Nero and others Revel 12. per tot Anno Mundi 4012 Anno Christi 70 The first Seal openedâ— The white Horse and his Rider with Anno Mundi 4017 the crowned Bow signifieth the purity of the Gospel in the Primitive Church Revel 6.2 Anno Christi 71 Satan is bound for a 1000 â—ears from raging against the Church Anno Mundi 4018 Revel 20.2.8 Anno Christi 65 The second Seal opened The red Horse is the massacre of Anno Mundi 4020 Christians in the ten general Persecutions about Aâ—no 65 to An. 330. Revel 6.3 4. Anno Christi 104 The third Seal opened Simon Magus Ebion and Corinthus Anno Mundi 4051 trouble the Church with damnable and infectious Heresies Revel 6.9 6. Anno Christi 173 The fourth Seal opened Horrid Famine devouring Pestilences Anno Mundi 4120 and outragious Wars waste and depopulate the Roman Empire for cruelty to Christians Revel 6.7 8. Anno Christi 194 The fifth Seal opened Mutual Massacres of the wretched Caesars Anno Mundi 4141 beginning at Pertinax and ending at Licinius slain by Constantine the Great Revel 6.9 10 11. Anno Christi 288 The sixth Seal opened Dioclesian and Maximilian give over Anno Mundi 4235 their Caesarships because they could not eradicate Christianity Constantine strengthened with their Armies and Provinces warreth upon Licinius slayeth him destroyeth the Pretorian-Camp abolisheth Heathenism and setteth up the true Worship of God Revel 6.12 to the end The seventh Seal opened And silence in Heaven for half an hour viz. The Church enjoyeth rest thirty years all the time that Constantine Anno Mundi 4255 the Great reigned Revel 8.1 Yet clouds of persecution Anno Christi 308 Anno Mundi 4286 arise in the interim in the sky of the Church and the seven Angels Anno Christi 339 prepare themselves to blow the seven Trumpets for the space of 23 years even all the reign of Constantines three sons Revel 8.2 3. Anno Mundi 4310 Iulian that wretched Apostata bending his utmost endeavours to Anno Christi 363 ruine the Gospel licenceth 17000 Jews to return to Ierusalem to
Sad and serious Politicall CONSIDERATIONS Touching the invasive War against our Presbyterian Protestant Brethren in Scotland their late great Overthrow and the probable dangerous consequences thereof to both Nations and the Prorestant Religion Which may serve as a SATISFACTORY APOLOGY for such Ministers and People who out of Conscience did not observe the publike Thanksgiving against their Covenant for the great slaughter of those their Brethren in Covenant Printed in the Yeer 1650. Sad and Serious Politicall Considerations THE English Independents new invasive War against their Presbyterian Protestant Brethren of Scotland and late great rout and slaughter of their Army meeting with variety of censures and constructions according to the diveâ—sity of mens inclinations and interests some prudent Christians ingaged to no parties whose interest is onely the preservation propagation and safety of the reformed Protestant Religion against the common Enemies and Underminers thereof have these sad melancholy apprehensions thereof That it is a dolefull Prologue and tragicall Scene not onely to the approaching ruine and desolation of both Kingdoms for their manifold crying sins but likewise to the speedy subversion of the true Protestant Religion and extirpation of all zealous Professors thereof through our three Kingdoms and in forraigne parts upon these ensuing considerations 1. That the Kingdoms of England and Scotland make up the greatest Body of the Protestant Religion in Christendom being best able to defend themselves and succour other Reformed Churches when indangered and designed to ruine by Popish Enemies as the Lords and Commons declared long since in their Protestation to this Kingdom and the whole world 22. Octob. 1642. and in their Order of the seventh of October 1643. And therefore the ruine of the Protestant Party in these Kingdoms is the readiest way to indanger conquer ruine all other Reformed Churches in the world and extirpate the Protestant Religion in all other Countries as they there likewise Declare 2. That the Pope of Rome Jesuites Priests Papists and their Confederates upon this ground have for many years last past by open force and secret practices endeavoâ—red the extirpation of the Protestant Religion and most zealous Professors thereof throughout these Kingdoms and made it their chiefest designe to reduce them to their pristine obedience to the See of Rome which by the Popish Negotiations with Spain the Papisticall Match with France the Agency of the Popes Nuncio's the practices of Priests and Jesuites in England countenanced and protected against the force of Lawes and the confederacy of Popish Prelates Clergie-men and Courtiers with them in these Designes they had almost totally accomplished and brought to full perfection in all our Realms as the whole House of Commons in their Remonstrance of the state of the Kingdom 15. Decemb. 1641. and other subsequent Declarations and they and the Scottish Commissioners in their Impeachments against the Archbishop of Canterbury largely remonstrate 3. That the most zealous Protestants then branded with the name of Puritans and Presbyterians in England and Scotland were the principall and only obstacles to the finishing of this their neare compleated Work Whereupon the Jesuiticall Popish and Prelaticall prevailing Fâ—ction resolved to root them out of this Kingdom by force or drive them out with fear and rid them all out of the way For the better effecting whereof they thought it necessary to reduce Scotland to such Popish Superstitions and Innovations as might make them apt to joyn with England in that great change which was intended Whereupon new Popish Canons and a Liturgy reformed much after the modell of the Papists Misâ—alls were prest upon them and all the Arminian and Popish Doctrines broached maintained and new Popish Ceremonies practised in England were in deavoured to be planted and set up in Scotland 4. That this their dangerous ripened Designe finding no publike but onely private opposition in England by particular persons who were â—ined pillori'd stigmatized deprived of their ears close imprisoned banished and ruined by the Star-Chamber and High-Commission to the publike terror of all others thereupon the Scottish Puritans and Presbyters were the first visible Instruments raised by God to give a publique check to their successefull design beyond their or our expectations 5. That hereupon the Jesuiticall and Prelaticall Popish Party raised two severall Armies successively to suppresse and extirpate the Puritan and Presbyterian Party in Scotland as the only remoâ—a's to their design and were most active and forwards in their leavies and contributions against them indeavouring to ingage the Protestant Party in both Nations in a bloudy civill Warâ—e to their mutuall ruine to which the Puritan and Religious party in England were most averse First privately murmuring and afterwards publiquely protesting against this Warre as dishonourable and dangerous to Religion and both Kingdomes in the Parliament in April 1640. purposely summoned to raise moneys to carry on that War which they refused to grant to so ill a purpose and did all they could to blast their malicious designs and warre against Scotland whereupon the Popish party caused that Parliament to be dissolved and did all they could by violent arbitrary courses and illegall Loanes and Taxes to raise Forces and moneys to maintain a warre against them imprisoning and prosecuting those who resisted or refused to assist them in this warre in the self-same manner as those in present power have done divers of their Christian Brethren for manifesting their dislike and backwardnesse to assist them in this ungodly invasive warre against their Protestant Brethren in Covenant against many publique Ingagâ—ments and not giving publique thanks to God for their late overthrow 6. That the Scottiâ—h Puritans and Presbyterians advance with their Army into England in the year 1640. of purpose to preserve the Religion and protect themselves and their English Brethren from slavery and ruine was the priâ—cicipall and only means under God of preventing their own and our thraldome to no pâ—ry and Tyranny of frustrating all the Jesuites Papists and Prelaâ—es designs of securing Religion Laws Liberties and conveâ—ing the last Parliament which through Gods blessing on their indeavours through the assistance of the Scottish Commissioners and countenance of their Army over-powered the Popish and Prelaticall Faction brake all their former Projects in pieces suppressed all their Popish Innovations Doctrinall and Ceremoniall reconciled the differences between both Nations setled a firm unity and amity between them by an Act of Oblivion and Pacification abolished the High-Commission Star-Chamber Extravagances of the Councell-Table the Bishops Courts and Votes in Parliament Ship-money Impositions and all other illegall Taxes quickned the Laws against Jesuites Priests and Popish Recusants passed a Law for Triennuall Parliaments and another against the untimely adjourning proroguing and dissolving of themselves at the Kings own pleasure and thereby put our Religion Laws Liberties and Propertiâ—s in a farre better condition of security and the Popish and Prelaticall party into a farre
there be no decay no leading into Captivity nor complaining in their streets II. The disparity of these two contradictory conditions and the fearfull effects which they in all ages have wrought in the Consciences of men have made me at length after a long time of silence put Pen to Paper and through the intricate Labyrinth of those portions of Scripture which never Commentator yet ever medled with I mean the twelve last Chapters of Ezâ—kiel the three last of the Revelation the last of Daniel with some passages in Hosea and Zechâ—ry to descry when We People of England with all Protestants in Europe shall see an end of these our Warres and Tumults what shall be the Estate of our Churches States and Kingdomes from this present year 1650 to the beginning of the Fifth and last universall MONARCHY of the Gospel of Christ upon Earth which shall begin in the year of our Lord 1710 and in what year we may expect the downfals of the Beast of Rome the Red Dragon of Constantinople the totall Conversion and restauration both of the Eastern and Western Jews within their holy Land of Iury all which must moâ—t certainly be fulfilled before the end of the World Of these high Points and Mysteries I finde nothing in any Commentator upon the last of Daniel and the Revelations save only Brightman who being acquainted in Leiden with Ioseph Scaliger got some but those very imperfect notes of Grebner concerning those Numbers in Ezekiel and Daniel But that excellent Manuscript which Iohannes Baudenâ—is writ of the Life and Writings of Grebner declareth all these things most plainly and punctually how that greater Troubles feâ—rfulleâ— Combustions direfuller Devastations shall come upon the Western Kingdomes of Europe then yet ever did before they can expect the downfall either of Turk or Pope or the universall Monarchy of the Gospel of Christ upon Earth In which incomparable Work the Learned Astrologer bringeth Divine and Heavenly Reasons why Europe for the space of thirty seven years after that fearfull blazing Comet in 1618. should with amazed eyes behold the infinite and sudden mutations and downfals of flourishing States and potent Kingdomes the deformity of Empires and mournfull faces of Commonwealths as is lately happened in England Portugall Swethland Bohemia and Denmark the Devastations of whole Kingdoms at a clap and burning six or seven Nations at once in their ashes and cinders as of late in Germany not to make them ask whether there be a God Heaven and Providence or not or whether Empires and States depend wholly upon the will and power of man or upon secret and hidden causes beyond the thoughts and expectations of the World but to praise God for his paternall corrections seeing by this they know he remembreth them and that through this Fire and Water of Affliction he will bring his Church to a finall Conquest oveâ— her Enemies and both the Congregations of Jews and Gentiles to an universall Monarchy over the face of the whole Earth Severall passages of which Manuscript I will insert here and there in this ensuing Discourse as Method and Matter shall require III. Since the spirituall sword was sheathed in England which lopt off the serpentine Heads of Heresie and Schisme while they were yet growing it is a wonder to see how all Sects and Schismaticall Opinions in the world have like devouring Weed overgrown and choked the seed of the Word Above the rest the Millenaries have exalted themselves whose abominable Pamphlets have flown abroad like Atomes wherein they dream of a Personall Reign of Christ upon Earth how he shall descend from Heaven An. 1666 destroy all the works of darknesse in every corner of the Earth make an easie passage to men from Earth to Heaven so that they may ascend into Heaven and leap down to Earth again as oft as they list how he shall keep a Quarter Sessions or Goal-delivery in his own Person upon Mount Olivet call all Nations before him rebuke them of sin face to face and shall cut out of them their stony hearts and shall sew in their bellies hearts of flesh in stead thereof that An. Dom. 1700 shall be the day of Judgement and that the Judgement shall last other 1700 years because otherwise the glorious Attributes of Christ's Mercy and Justice cannot be sufficiently explained to the World and the Consciences of men All which Fopperies with many mo too horrid to relate are contained in M. Archers Personall Reign of Christ upon Earth Rich. Stirreys Kingdome of King Jesus and in A.R. his Caelestis Hierusalem Printed A. 1642 1644 and 1645. Now having unmasked the vanity of this Error ut contraria juxtà se posita magis elucescant I will epitomize in this Section the truth of the future estate of the World from this time to the end which afterward I intend God willing further to dilate and prosecute in this Treatise This year 1650 all Europe are in civil Warres These civill warres shall not cease till they have mustered out a great Army of the true worshippers of God to ruine Rome which shall be about Anno 1666. Rome thus destroyed the Western Jews shall begin to learn the waies of God and believe his Gospel which they cannot do so long as Rome standeth and shall Anno 1683. enter upon the conversion of their Eastern brethren the 10. Tribes now invisibly hid in Tartaria and India and they two none else shall ruine the Mahumetan Empire about An. 1698. and so shall be restored to the holy Land to reinhabit Jerusalem Then must begin a comparative felicity of the Church of God upon earth because after these times both Turk and Pope shall be destroyed Neverthelesse this felicity must be mingled with internall troubles and persecutions within the bowels of the Church because the Church shall never be wholly at rest while the world standeth Lo here the difference betwixt Truth and Heresie betwixt the opinions of the Millenaries and right sense of Scriptures The Millenaries say Christ must descend personally from heaven The Scriptures on the contrary say he shall not come from Heaven personally till the last day when he shall descend with his holy Angels in flaming fire to judge the quick and the dead He shall send power and strength from heaven to his true Worshipppers as he hath done hitherto to destroy Tuâ—k and Pope from Heaven he shall give power to his ancient people the Jews to regain their ancient Land of Judea and not by his corporeall presence upon Earth from Heaven about An. 1700. he shall transferre his Gospel from Europe as he hath done from Asia and raise up and inspire godly Ministers after his own will who shall implant his holy word in all and every of the Kingdomes and Provinces of America and in all countries of the Southern and Eastern India China Tartaria and in all the regions of the North unto the worlds end and make it shine in as great purity and glory as
ever it hath done in England or Germany This is the felicity of the Church the fifth Monarchy in Nebuchadnezzars Image the ministeriall not personall Reign and Kingdom of Christ upon â—arth which must not endure for ever as Archer would have it nor for a 1000 years as Alsted dreams but for a very short time that all Nations none excepted may professe Gods worship and none plead ignorance before his Tribunall presently after which the dissolution of the world shall come after which time shall be no more IV. This Digression made I return to my purposed method That fearfull and ominous Night-torch which prognosticated all that misery to Germany and great Brittain which they have now suffered was the forerunner of all our evils This Comet Longomontanus and D. Bambridge say appeared but 28. dayes indeed it was neither observed in Denmark nor at London before Novemb. 18. or 21. but Erycius Puteanus observed it Novemb. 11. the first time as he testifies in the first book of his learned Paradoxologie pag. 33.38 so it appeared for the space of 37. or 38. dayes foreshewing that first Germany Livonia Swethland with other North-parts of Europe then Scotland England and Ireland should feel the terrible effects thereof in warre and famine for the space of 37. or 38. years even from An. 1618. till An. 1656. This Comet was strengthned by a fearfull conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter An. 1616. July 18. The effects of both which were not to be confined in those terrible concomitants of war perpetrated in Germany which L.B. and D. Vincent so pathetically delineate but were to end in the judgements of God upon Europe for neglecting the downfall of Antichrist ruine of Rome annihilation of the Sodomiticall Order of the Society of Jesuites and in the extirpation of all Kingdoms and free States of Papists to make way for the Lion of the North to erect his FIFTH MONARCHIE in the ashes of Germany wherein shall be established the eternall felicity of the Church by the conversion of the Jews and fulnesse of the Gentiles M. Shirley Fellow of Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge once shewed me a Letter from his learned friend Buxtorf dated An. 1624. May 3. wherein was contained a Prognostique Prophecy of the before-mentioned Comet and Conjunction sent him from that incomparable Astrologer Iohannes Baudensis Nephew to Paul Grebner which for the strangenesse and rarity of it I will here insert Caeterùm quòd de patriae nostrae afflictissimae statu consilesco indignaris nihil profectò scribendum nunc habâ—o nisi omnia ut Poetae verbis utor in pejus ruere retrò sublapsa referri Tam Danus quà m Caesar â—nixè laborant ut miseram Germaniam quamprimùm pâ—ssum iri spectem Nec milites utriusqùe quiequam aliud meditanâ—nr nisi strages vastitatem Accepi nudiustertiùs à Johanne Baudensi amico mihi multimodis charissimo sententias nostratium Astrologorum de horribili illo Cometâ— qui Anno 1618. apparuit nuperrimâ Saturni Iovis Conjunctione En tibi vaticinium si noâ— Apostolicum at longè ni fallor plusquà m Astrologicum Surrexit Deus gladium eduxit Clades magnorum Imperatorum strages populorum regum funcra rerum-publicarum eversiones monarchiarum mutationes assassinationes principum ducum illustriorum violenta superba consilia proditiones rebelliones inter Subditos in hoc coelo nostro Europico exorientur Exporientur religiosi à potentioribus Legum institutorum Ecclesiastiâ—orum mutationem à plebeijs novarum rerum inexplebilem cupiditatem Boreales Europae partes ferro morbo peste laborabunt depauperabuntur divites Principes Dominijs exuti erunt exulabunt patres filij post longum turbâ—rum intercapedinem in integrum restituentur Hic quoque Cometa terribilem Romae ruinam singulisque Europae civitatibus incendia minitaturâ— Clerici Papicolae praecipuè Cardinales de gradibus suis dejicientur Loiolistae ubique ad mortem rapientur nec Gallis aut Hispanis animus erit carnificum lâ—queos evitare Quinimò cernimus etiam in terrâ sanctâ— Ã veteribus incolisâ— oriturum Regnum quod â—rit Christianis miraculum Orbi terriculamentum Novique Imperij Revolutio istis succedet sub quo generale gaudium laetitia voluptas humano generi subministrabitur improbis ubique de medio sublatis Haec omnia per Regem quendam Borealem peragentur qui pacem Religionem Securitatem per totum Orbem miraculosè stabilibit Whereas you are angry that I keep silence concerning the estaâ—e of our most distressed Countrey Truly I have nothing now to write but that all things that I may use the words of the Poet grow worse and woese As well the King of Denmark as the Emperour earnestly endeavour to see miserable Germany destroyed as soon as may be neither do the souldiers of either of them think of any other thing then slaughter and desolation I received the other day from my dear Friend Iohn Baudensis the opinions of our Astrologers concerning that terrible Comet which appeared Anno 1618 and about the later Conjunction of Saturn and Iupiter Behold thou then a Prophecie if not Apostolical yet if I mistake not far beyond Astrological GOD hath arisen and drawn his sword There shall happen in these our European Regions the destruction of great Emperours the slaughter of people Funerals of Kings subversions of Common-wealths mutations of Monarchies massacres of Princes and illustrious Commanders violent and proud Counsels Treasons and Rebellions amongst Subjects Clergie-men shall finde a change of Laws and Ecclesiastical Constitutions by those of greater power and an insatiable desire of new things amongst common people The Northern parts of Europe shall be greatly oppressed with Warre Sicknesse and Pestilence Rich men shall be impoverished Princes cast out of their Dominions The fathers shall be banished and after a long space of trouble their children shall be restored to their former condition This Comet also threatneth the terrible ruine of Rome and burnings in all the Cities of Europe The Papistical Clergy especially the Cardinals shall be cast down from their Dignities the Jesuites every where shall be drawn to death neither shall the French-men or Spaniards have courage to save their necks from the halters Furthermore We discern a Kingdom to arise of the most ancient Inhabitants in the holy Land which to Christians shall be a Miracle and to the World a terrour and these shall obtain the Revolution of a new Empire under which shall be administred universal Gladnesseâ— Joy and Delight to mankinde the wicked being every where taken away All these things shall be effected by a certain Northern King who shall miraculously establish Peace Religion and Security throughout the whole world Thus far the words of this Letter And how punctually all these things are come to passe let the world judge We in England have felt the misery of the one and are ready stript to suffer the calamities of the other having for the present lost
before the 5 and the 6. The Devil and Antichristianity must be chained up in the dungeon of Hell for the space of a 1000 years after the Incarnation of Christ. An. 1000 must the Devil and Romish Idolatry by the Popedome of Sylvester the second be let loose to range upon Earth and tyrannize over the Church for the most part of another 1000 ever till An. 1698 numerus completus being put here pro incompleto before an happy and comfortable Estate of the Gospel can be brought forth to the World herefore all Christendome from this year 1650 must expect very sad and wofull daies much persecution bloodshed and savadge tyâ—anny in every Kingdom of Europe especially in France Spain Italy Swethland Germany and England untill An. 1698. Some of those Kingdoms which have abandoned the superstition of the beast shall by subtle allurements be perswaded to readmit and reestablish the same Wofull and unsupportable Afflictions shall befall both the European Jews which are the two Tribes of Benjamin and Iudah now resident in Christendom and Turkie as likewise the ten Tribes the Kingdom of Israel who shall insensibly and miraculously arise out of the bowels of Tartaria and India about An. 1669. who neverthelesse shall be so extraordinarily supported by God that they shall stand in little or no need at all of the Christians Because from this time of the Conversion of the Israelites for the spacâ— of 30 years these 12 Tribes shall suffer much trouble Heathens Papists and Mahometans shall strive to eradicate their name from under heaven and yet all in vain for an illustrious and heroick Prince è Tribu Nephtali oriundus shall be their valiant and fortunate Commander called Michael not proprio nomine but because he Dan. 12.1 shall stand up and shew himself the Assertor and Protector of their Religion and Liberty In which time shall be such troubles as never were no nor ever shall be to the end of the world For like as the Christians had rest 30. years from the Ascension of Christ and now have endured the fiery triall almost these 1600. years since that time from the Heathen Emperors and the Beast so the Israeliâ—es which shall 1600. years till Anno 1668. live without Prince Law Temple Sacrifice and true Religion as Hosea prophesied ch 3. v. 4 5. beginning now to be converted to Christ shall have savage times of affliction and Butcheries for other 30. years to welcome their conversion withall till Annoâ— 1698. when God shall grant rest from their enemies and begin a peaceable estate of the Church VII Entring at length upon my Notes on the afore-said Chronology I think it meet first to strengthen the former Epoch's of the ruine of Rome downfall of the Turk and Tartar and the Conversion of the Jews by the Conduct of certain memorable Numbers in holy Scriptures Grave and judicious Authours have with wonder and admiration observed the heavenly and inimitable Method of holy Scrjptures how all the Mysteries and memorable Occurrences in the same are comprized in Numbers how within the compasse of such a Quantity of years God alwayes divulged his Counsels and manifested what he purposed should be wrought among the children of men So that in considering the admirable consent and agreement of Times by things past we may probably conjecture of things to come From the Creation to the Floud was 1656 years the Floud was a sign of the Consummation of all those things which are to be fulfilled before the conclusion of time Anno Christi 1656 let the Church of God expect with joy and comfort the acting of the first Scene of the Tragedies of all those European Kingdoms which have been implacable Persecutours of the Gospel of Christ. The whole Government of Moses who was a second Noah to the Church is a shadow of the Kingdom of Christ. The Law continued in force 1529 years to the Passion of Christ But 1598 years to the Destruction of the Temple by Titus The Destruction of the Temple by Titus was according to the accompt of Dionysius Exiguus A. C. 69. From thence reckon the Number of 1598 years and you come to A. 1667 which is the year which shall smoke with the ascending up of the Flames which consume the Kingdom of the Beast From the Nativity of Christ to his Re-nativity in the preaching of his Gospel by Luther and other eminent Ministers are 1517 years And from the beginning of the Reign of the Maccabees untill the Birth of Christ are 169 years Put these two sums together and you come to Anno 1686 in which God having 18 years before enlightned the eyes of those who for almost 2000 years have sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death and having laid the Kingdom of the Beast and the false Prophet in the lowest dust shall bring that people into the bosome of the true Church which within 13 years after shall deliver his children from all adversity From the universal Deluge of man-kinde by the Floud to the beginning of the universal Captivity of the Church under Nebuchadnezzar beleaguering Ierusalem are numbered 1698 years So likewise from the Birth of the King of Kings unto the final Consummation of the Miseries and restauration of the Felicity of the Church by the Destruction of Gog and Magog shall be reckoned the very same Number of 1698 years From the Confusion of the Tower of Babel to the return of the Jews from Babel are 1666 years and from prophane Pompey's spoiling of the Temple at Ierusalem when the Kingdom was taken from the house of David and Superstition and Gentilism began to spring up amongst the Jews to the Birth of of Antichrist and Apostasie in the Church of God are 666 years from thence â—eckon a 1000 years wherein the Saints must suffer Persecution and Martyrdom for the Testimony of Jesus Christ and the truth of a good Conscience Revel 20.4 and you come to A. 1666 in which shall be fulfilled all those things which are mentioned Revel 18 and the 19 Chapter So likewise from the Departure out of Aegypt untill the Death of Christ are numbered 1542 years to these adde â—hose 169 years which are from â—he beginning of the Reign of the Assomonaei or Macchabees to the Birth of Christ and you come to Anno 1711 which year shall be wonderfull and terrible to all the world because that in the year next going before viz. Anno 1710. the abominable Names and mention of Papists Turks and Tartars being eradicated from the memories of men the glorious Estate of the Gospel and the terrestial Felicity of the Church of God shall begin over the face of the whole Earth From the Birth of Moses untill the Destruction of Ierusalem by Titus which typifies the end of the world are 1646 years so many from the Incarnation of our Saviour denoted that year whose influence hath begun and shall prove fatal to most of the Kingdoms of Europâ— adde to these 20 years to come
the frequent performing of spirituall Sacrifices and Oblations how potent and spatious their Church shall be how great and infinite the Priviledges and never decreasing Graces of God shall be to it signified by the depth and latitude of the spiritual waters of Life Thirdly Daniel in the end of his 11 Chap. doth above all other most plainly and specifiquely picture the two grand preparations to this spirituall Monarchy of Christs Church in the end of the World viz. 1 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the enemies of God and 2 the Conversion of the Jews For in the 40 41 42 and 43 verses of the said 11 Chapter declaring first what Victories the Saracens should get over the Roman Empire by saying that the King of the South should push at him viz. the Saracens should invade the Emperour and secondly what lamentable havock the Turk should make of the Roman Monarchy by conquering and subduing from them all the Eastern Empire of Constantinople in these words And the King of the North shall come against him like a whirlwinde with charets and horsemen and many ships and shall enter into the Countries and shall overflow and passe thorow which was verified in the Turks conqueâ—ing all Greece Scythia Moldavia Servia Asia Syria Mesopotamia and the Isles of the Aegean sea And he shall enter into the pleasant Land and many Countries shall be overthrown but these shall escape out of his hands Edom and Moab and the chief of the Children of Ammon which also came to passe when Selimus I. invaded Egypt slew Tomumbey the Sultan thereof eradicated the very name of the Mamalucks and so got all the wealth and treasures of Memphis and Grand-Cairo and added also Iudea as a member of Egypt to the Turkish Empire An. 1517. His son Solymon the Magnificent awed India and Ethiopia and his Grandchilde Selimus II. conquered Tunis and Algiers in Afrique yet neither of them medled with the Arabians Edomites or Moabites as thinking them a people not worth conquering In the 44 verse Daniel saith But tydings out of the East and West shall trouble him the conversion of the Eastern and Western Iews shall so inrage the Turke that he shall levy innumerable Forces and march forth in great fury to destroy and root them out And he shall pitch the Tabernacle of his Palace between the seas in the glorious and holy Mountain shall fight a most terrible and bloudy pitcht Field with them in their own Land of Iury and yet shall he come to his end his power by God's Providence shall be overthrown and totally eradicated by them from off the Earth and none shall help him Lastly S. Iohn in Revel 9.15 setteth down in plain and evident numbers the very beginning increase and downfall of this hellish generation For in saying the Turkish Armies shall be prepared at an hour a day a moneth and a year he analogically declareth the very time of their birth and the year when they shall come to a finall annihilation Here a Day is to be taken prophetically for a year a Moneth for 31 daies which likewise make so many years and a year for the daies of a bissextile Iulian year which are 366 making in the same manner as many propheticall years as in the former Epoch's of Daniel and Ezekielâ— So the sum's of 366 31 and 1 make a compleat Product of 398 years which added to An. 1300 the year in which the Ottoman Empire first saw light in the world plainly demonstrates that as the Turkish Empire began An. Christi 1300 so in An. 1698 shall be the fatall end and finall downfall of the same Thus it is evident that as the downfall and captivity of the Jewish Nation fell in the building and birth of that City which was afterward the fourth Monarchy so in the buriall and ruine of the same City and Monarchy shall be their conversion to the Gospel of truth and the institution of the Fifth Monarchy in which all power and earthly magnificence must submit to the Kingdom of the Saints of God and all Scepters bow to the Authority of the Church of Christ. VIII Against these former Assertions it is thus objected That these are but the Dreams of idle-headedmen considering the sad Method of the World in the continuall increase of sin and wickednesse and degeneration of all sublunary things daily more and more to worse and because our Saviour said at his second coming he should scarce finde faith upon Earth But to this I answer No time is God's time for the propogation of the Gospel and enlargement of his Church but in the Deluge of sin and inundation of impiety then is his Power most manifest when man is weakest his Decrees most effectible when we think him the furthest off and his Providence nearest execution then when the world is most irregular and incapable of a Reformation When the Abominations and Paganismes of the old World had destroyed all true worship of God and an 120 years of repentance did no good then was God's time to separate the Wheat from the Chaffe and by saving of Noahs family to preserve a seed for the implantation of a new So in the nâ—w World when Idolatry had overspread all the Judgement and Mercy of God most appeared in Abrahams Vocation by selecting his Church from the rest of mankinde and continuing it above 2000 years in the House of Heber the true Heir to Grace and Salvation Thus was it in the destruction of Sodome and Gomorrha in the Babylonish Captivity in the Reformation by Luther when all the world were become Apostates God's Providence shone out brightest and was most conspicuous in propagating Religion maugre all the opposition the devil and the world could invent or deâ—ise So shall it be in this prefixed time though the world must degenerate more and more in civility and humanity Christianity be eclipsed in a higher measure and the true Worshippers of God decrease above what ever yet hath been done though Protestantisme in many Coasts and Kingdomâ— shall be totally swallowed up of Popery and Mahumetanisme more lamentable Warres and fearfull Massacres rage through England Germany France Spain Italy and all European Monarchies then we have yet beheld and though some of these Kingdoms wholly revolt to Popery others be luke-warm and at a stand until An. 1686 yet all these shall but make way for the finall Eradication of the enemies of the Church and the glorious and wonderfull Birth and erection of the FIFTH MONARCHIE UNIVERSALL which by these pangs and sorrows of Christendome shall be brought forth about the time of the totall conversion of the Jews For the season is now come when Judgement must begin not at the Temple of Antichrist but at the House of God and what bloud soever is shed upon the soyl of the Church shall be no other then fruitfull showers and warm seasons to make the Field of Christ more pregnant in production of that glorious Harvest of Saints