forth that other world And that these labours and travels shall mutually follow swiftly one another Wherefore unless we will be prevented and destroyed by the unlook'd for coming of the Lord N.B. it will not behoove us to defer our repentance and reconciliation unto the last signes but ought to lay to heart those former signes which have been shewed Esdr ch 5. and that by so much the more diligently in that some of those last begin to appear But perhaps some man will say Obj. That Book of Esdras is Apechrypha and therefore deserves no credit Jerom himself rejecting it as fabulous I answer Answ Of the or dit to be given to the 4th Book of Esdras The Reasons which Jerome brings for the confirmation of his opinion are solidly confuted by M. Abraham Bartolus in his Preface to Esdras his Eagle as before that by Theodorus Bibliander a Tigurin Divine producing Demonstrations out of Joseph Scaliger and other Authors sufficiently valid deservedly to gain credit to this Book But suppose that this Book ought to be more suspected go to let us see nevertheless what Signes the Lord Jesus Christ himself and his Apostles lay before us by which concerning the end of this present world and the coming of Christ to set up his Kingdom on earth sure Prognosticks may be had which if they will agree with the Prophesie of Esdras what hinders but that this Prophesie may find belief Let us therefore hear what answer our Saviour gave to his Disciples when coming to him asked the signes of his coming and of the end of the world In those daies Mark 13. or straight after the tribâ—lation of those daies Mat. 24.29 there shall be signes in the Sun and the Moon and the Stars Luke 21.25 Behold there the signes in Heaven Now if thou dost desire to know what signes of the Coming of Christ and the end of the world shall be on earth behold the Lord presently subjoyneth in that cited place of Luke chap 21. v. 25 26 27 18. upon the earth distress of Nations with perplexity the Sea and the waves roaring ment hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth for the Powers of Heaven shall be shaken And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a Cloud with power and great Glory And when these things begin to come to pass then look up and lift up your heads for your Redemption draweth nigh Behold here a Prophesie above all exception and words of so certain and undoubted truth that heaven and earth shall sooner pass away than one title of them But what other thing doth this Prophesie sound forth than what we heard but now of the signes both in heaven and earth out of Esdras viz. In heaven in respect of the Sun Moon and Stars In earth by reason of the terrible things by which the minds of men shall be greatly distressed and made dubious And although the Prophesie of Esdras may seem in some particulars somewhat to differ from Christs predictions yet evidently it appears that on both sides nothing else is intended then the restitution of the Jews and by consequence that visitation of the Gentiles or that fiery Judgment on all peoples who have oppressed the Elect. Not that only the Jews are to be accompted those Elect which from the four winds from the four corners of the world are to be recollected and gathered together No by no means For under that word are comprehended all pious and sincere Christians of what Nation or rank soever viz. who being no less then the Jews as dispersed sheep under the oppression of false Christians and other Nations do lie troden underfoot and are deservedly to be annumerated to the truly converted Jews and genuine Children of Abraham But that we take here the word Elect as more specially belonging to the Jews the reason is this Because when our Lord Jesus Christ uttered these words he had only Jews standing before him to whom he foretold those things which properly appertained to their Redemption by which they might acknowledge that the Kingdom of God which Dan. 7.26 27. was promised to him was now at hand Luke 21.31 Unto them therefore saith the Lord When all these things shall begin to come to pass to wit these signs in heaven and earth then look up and lift up your heads and hearts He doth not say when ye shall see all these things fulfilled for that would be too late then to prepare for Redemption but when ye shall see these things begin then lift up your selves and elevate your selves above all earthly things for your redemption is near Now Candid Reader do thou judge whether by those things which we have before minded concerning all those signeâ— and those we see done in our Age in Heaven and Earth and which we still expect according to the Lords Prophesie it may not justly be concluded That even now the Redemption of the Jews and consequently the coming of Christ to his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.1 and the judgement by fire upon the world of uâ—godly 2 Pet. 3.7 draws nigh Neve theless for the greater confirmation of the thing and that we may manifest that those things which we have minded concerning the Restitution of the Jews and the end of this last Monarchy of the world are not meer dictates of the Stars or a simple single Prognostication formed by the present Conjunction but the matters born upon strong and undoubted foundations Come on let us hear also what the Apostles have delivered concerning this thing and whether the signes which they have given are now past or no and what thence may be concluded And first let us see what Peter handling of the last times and that fiery judgement wherewith the world of the ungodly shall be burnt hath left us in writing In the last daies shall come scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying where is the promise of his coming for since the fathers fell asteep all things continue as they were fro mthe beginning of the Creation 2 Pet. 3.3 4. Note here a SIGN That in the last daies i. e. neer the end of these daies when now the coming of Christ shall be at hand shall discover it self To wit that then scoffers shall come ☜ who walking after their own lusts will know nothing of this coming of Christ And enquire I pray diligently and make experience what answer thou shalt bring back when once by walking over the streets of the great City Rev. 11.8 thou shalt talk with men or with the Doctors and Ductors the Leaders of the people as well among Christians as others concerning the approâ—ching of the time wherein Christ will return on earth to destroy the wicked and to set up his Kingdom of righteousness thou shalt heat whether their own mouth will not betray them that they altogether speak the self same thing which is here premonished concerning the scoffers of the
past What Armies in the Heavens What Conflicts in the Air What concertations of Ships men of War dashing themselves one against another destroying each other with Fire and Sword Who is able to recite how many Monsters and Prodigies as well in Heaven as on the Earth and Sea have been seen since the last Conjunction 1603 came forth upon the Stage what terrible Tempests and unheard of Blasts of winds have been whereby not only innumerable Ships have been broken at Sea but Trees have been eracicated out of the Earth and high Towers cast down But I speak what I know happened a year or two since at Rostoch whose Tower though covered or crampt with Brass was cut a two as it were with a Sword and carried away as if with hands without the wals How many and how great Earthquakes to be trembled at since that as well in Italy as France and elsewhere have happened with which many men as in a moment have been swallowed up yea whole Cities yea whole Islands drowned or overwhelmed with Mountains as Pluyrs in Rhetia in the year 1618. How many sudden burnings have been seen here and there since that whose original no man knows Yea how many have been of which it is manifest they were sent from the Heavens as by common fame happened in certain places in Germany in the Territories of Cleve and in other Regions Out of Galata a City situated not far from Constantinople I saw it written that in the flame with which the City was burning were seen evil Spirits driving forward the Flame What rage of Famine occasioned by the dearth and want of Provision hath wasted throughout the whole body of the Roman Empire whereby Mothers were made to devour their own Off-spring and friend to kill his friend that he might eat his flesh yea and the bodies of the dead were taken up out of the graves that the barking stomack might be satiated If I would relate what prodigious things came to pass in earth and Heaven during the bloudy War of Germany Poland England Swedland and Denmark I should be too prolix or tedious and perhaps more ungrateful to tender years Of those things only which happened in England Scotland and Ireland within the space of one year there is a whole Book extant under the name of Mirabilis Annus c. which were seen in Heaven and in Earth within the year 1660. And if there should be set before our eyes what Monsters have come forth from the time of the last Conjunction as well among Bruits as men it would be horrid to hear them and unsafe for women great with child to read them Only this one will I declare of which I have undoubted certainty to wit that in Tannum a City in Norway in the Province of Wensussel about the Kalends of January 1661 there was an Infant born which was heard to cry in his Mothers womb 12 times Woe to Denmarke Woe to the whole world Therefore all these things which we have seen to follow the last Conjunction and now also to precede before the concutrence of the Planets in the same place are a demonstration to me that of necessity some grand and singular things hereby are signified even such things as I have but now noted But some man may perhaps say It is not a thing so past remedy and given for gone as is presumed by us The Conjunction of all the Planets is not a matter so unwonted and rare that it should seem to portend a fiery judgment as that Conjunction in the time of Noah portended the deluge The reason is because as Seth Calvisius in his Chronological work doth testifie there was observed also a Conjunction of all the Planets in the year of Christ 1186 Sept. 16 the third day of the week the first hour of the Day upon which notwithstanding no such or the like thing followed I Answer That reason is not sufficient to break the force of our Argument 1. Because that Conjunction of 1186 although it fell within the bounds of a Conjunction yet was it not in one Sign as is ours but in diverse Signes the great Luminaries being in Virgo and the rest of the Planets in Libra 2. Because that Conjunction in 1186 being in an earthy and ayry Sign must necessarily be meeker than this in a fiery Sign or than that in a watery sign in Noahs time 3. Lest notwithstanding any man should repute that Conjunction in 1186 to be of no moment let him consult the Histories of 1186 and he shall see that by and by in the year following it Jerusalem was taken by Saladine the King of the Saracens and that New Jerusalemitish Kingdom was taken away from the Christians Nor were there wanting other horrid things The Sea in Sicilia contrary to its Nature went backward to the drowning of 5 millions of men In Italy it rained Hailstones of the bigness of Goose Eggs. Carina a City of Sicilia was swallowed of an Earthquake and in that 20 thousand men perished Also a fiery Beam was seen in the Heavens and other portentous things of that nature So that that Conjunction also departed not without some notable operation or effect as well in the air as in the earth 4. Let men know that we do not put the whole stress of our Prognostication in the naked Conjunction For unless Antecedents Concomitants and Subsequents founded as well in S. Scripture as in experience did add weight to the thing we should not write these things with such confidence Let us now therefore come to CONCOMITANTS from whence may be concluded at least probably concerning the end of this world and the imminent approach of the future Verily I do not think it lightly to be esteemed that care is so taken by the providence of the all-fore-seeing and fore-disposing God that on the day preceding this Conjunction viz. December 10. should fall the Lords day of the 2 Advent wherein are those words of Christ Luc. 21.25 And then shall be signs in the Sun and Moon and Stars and upon the earth distress of Nations with perplexity the Sea and the waves roaring mens hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on earth for the powers of Heaven shall be shaken And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory As if that our blessed God to whom all his waies are known from eternity had besides this concurrence of the Planets and agitations of the celestial powers expresly commanded that also this Prophesie and exhortation of the Lord Jesus should be read of all and inculcated precisely on that very day which immediatly goes afore that Conjunction if perhaps yet in this last moment of time some would consider and use means to be saved See now we have given it forth demonstrated both out of the S. Scriptures as also from the nature of the thing and divers both antecedent and concomitant circumstances That these
into these words But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth out of our own mouth to burn Incense to the QUEEN of Heaven and to pour out drink offerings unto HER as we have done we and our Fathers our Kings and our Princes in the Cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem for then had we plenty of victuals and were well and saw no evil So that by MELECHET or the Queen of Heaven they understood no other thing but the Host of the Stars And therefore that the thing which the Lord blames in Israel is not that they gave heed to the Host of Heaven but that they drew them into abuse and Idolatry doth manifestly appear by those things we read in Jer. 8.1 2. Behold that which in the former Chapter he had expressed by the Name of the Queen of Heaven that very same here he calleth the Host of Heaven and that which he threatens severely to punish in them is not that they did heedfully consider the Signes of Heaven but that they worshipped them and bowed themselves unto them as unto their Gods There is furthermore another thing wherein the Israelites here greatly sinned That to wit in imitation of the Heathen they were too much afraid of those Signes of Heaven as if there was not in being a superior power on which both they and all the Host of Heaven did depend and as if those things which were there prefigured ought alwaies necessarily to attain their affect ☞ In which resâ—ect the Lord in that manner speakes to them by his Prophet Jer. 10.2 Learn not the way of the Heathen and be not dismayed at the Signes of Heaven for the Heathen are dismayed at them As if he should say I have set before the Heathen which hâ—ve not known me signes in He ven as meanes leading unto me because they have not known any other way and have not received any other Law But THOU my people ISRAEL who hast learned to know me more nearly and from me hast received the Law out of the midst of the fire which excels all other Laws return not thou unto the way of the Heathen but learn thou well the way shewn unto thee in my Law and there shall be no cause that thou shouldest be afraid of the signes of Heaven Isa 44.24 25. For as it is written I am he which have created the heavens and have bound my self to thee in an everlasting and indissolvable Covenant I am JEHOVAH making all things extending the heavens alone spreading abroad the earth by my power that frustrateth the tokens of the Lyars and maketh the Diviners mad that turneth the wise men backward and maketh their knowledge foolish Be ye only obedient unto me walk faithfully in my Wayes and nothing of those things is to be feared by you of which the Heathen are afraid But that we may come nearer to the MATTER If this were true that nothing of truth and certainty could be gathered from the celestial Signes and therefore it were prohibited to attend unto them tell me I pray thee For whom or what ends are those Signes in the Sun Moon and Stars made To what purpose To what use Why are not only the Jewes in the Old Testament * Joel 2.30 3.15 but Christians also in the New * Mat. 24.29 Mar. 13.24 Luk. 21.25 precisely sent to them as we shall hear more largely afterwards Therefore from the S. Scriptures I conclude that those signes conspicuous in the Heavens especially in these last timeâ— do necessarily portend something and therefore of right they are ceseâ—veâ—ly and diligently to be observed But some may object Suppose that Signes are given in Heaven Obj. of those things which shall come to pass on earth or ought to come to pass what doth this heâ—p me if I want a requisite wisdom to understand them as having no true and undoubted rules by which I may be able to judge of those Signes Doth not the Almighâ—y and most exceâ—ent God accuse Job of his Ignorance even in this very business of the predominion of the stars on us inhabitants of the earth asking him by way of opprobry Hast thou known the order of Heaven wilt thou set the dominion thereof on the earth As if he had said Thou knowest that thou hast no knowleâ—ge of this thing and that thou canst do nothing in this matter Job 38.33 And doth not Solomon Prov. 25.3 speâ—k concerning the heavens above us and the earth beneath us and the hearts of Kings that those three are unsearchable How then shall any man dare to attempt wiâ—hout the Note of the greatest presumption so to search out those things which are in the Heavens as thence to pick out what shall come to pas in the world And do we not see many yea of the excellentest Mâ—sters of Astrology greatly to be deceived as for example That most famous Albumazar of whom we read in his Writings he foresaw by the stars that Christian Religion should not continue beyond 1400 â—ears from after its first beâ—innings whereas to now since Christs Birth we accompt 1662 years Which term exceeds Albumazars Calculation more than 200 years *** And there have been afore 142 years since certain Astrologers which from that great Conjunction of ♄ Saturn ♃ Jupiter and ♂ Mars in Aquarius which happened in the year of Christ 1524 struck a great terrour into men concerning some imminent great Deluge though not universal so that many provided themselves of ships by which after the manner in Noahs Floud they might save themselves from the Waters whereas no such thing at all followed thereupon Many more of the like Errours might be produced Orig. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Answ but let these suffice We answer If this be granted that those things which are seen in the Heavens are truly Signes and Preludes of those things which shall come to pass on earth and for the understanding of them there is need of certain and undoubted Rules and Precepts to discern all things aright Yet that remaineth firm and irtefragable that we are bound to attend to those signes and to apply our minds as much as in us is to those premonitions set forth in the Heavens instantly to pray for and expect in faith greater wisdom and understanding as they have done who ever at tained to any certainty in this Science And moreover to set before our eyes those general Rules which have been delivered to us by the more skilful in this Art For albeit those precepts partly by the multiplicity and subtilty of them and partly by the prevalency of a certain superiour cause which can invert and make void all these things are not alwaies found firm and undoubted yet if we seek of God our certainty he can equally in these as in other businesses and Sciences of the world which considered in themselves are also full of uncertainty establish our hearts and lead us into all certainty of truth and give to
us that we may see and discern what others cannot see and discern As for that place of Job this only is intimated If any man will rightly and fundamentally know the order of heaven and the dominion thereof on the earth he ought to learn it of God who alone setled all these things and therefore it is not meet for Job or any other man to glory before God And for that saying of the wisest King neither doth thaâ— intend any other thing than to teach us That these three in themselves are unsearchable to wit Heaven as being too high and sublime the Earth as being too deep and the heart of a King as being too much hidden unstable and mutable So that from hence it cannot be concluded that a man that feares God and cleaves to him may not be endued or gifted by God with such wisdom and understanding that he cannot understand the things which are in Heaven above him and in the earth beneath him and in the hearts of Kings without him No by no means For Solomon himself in the Book of Wisdom Chap. 7. V. 17. testifieth the contrary where he compileth a Catalogue of those things which he was taught of God by Wisdom God hath given to me certain or true knowledge of the things that are in Nature that I might understand the constitution of the world the force of the Elements the beginning middle and ending of times the vicissitudes of Solstices the variety of Seasons the Circuits of years and situation of stars the natures of Animals the furies of Beasts the strength of the winds and the cogitations of men the differences of Plants and the qualities of Roots All these he saith he learned of God as well those things that are made in Heaven above him as those in the bowels of the earth beneath him and also those things that seem to lie hidden in the recesses of mans heart For as he addeth v. 21. All such things as are secret or manifest them have I known For Wisdom which is the Artificer of all things taught me Seest thou therefore how all things may be obtained by Wisdom as well the knowledge of those things which are in Heaven as those on Earth and in the very Closets of the heart Therefore he who hath not this wisdom but doth desire it let him ask it of God and seek it where it may be found Neither let him say What advantageth it me that God hath put certain Signes in Heaven seeing I understand them not and so many who have assumed to themselves skill in them have so enormously stumbled and exposed themselves to scorn For we see the same things to happen in all Sciences Orig Prophetiae Arts Negotiations yea even in Prophesie and the Gospel which is called the Word of Truth Where if one or another be certain in his Art and Science thou shalt find ten remaining uncertain For where thou maiest find one true Prophet with whom there is the sincere Word of God there an hundred will present themselves who challenge to themselves the same word and carry before them in external gesture and habit the shew or shape of a Prophet when as they are not And where thou shalt find one who purely delivers the word of Truth thou maiest muster up an hundred who wrest it to the private sence of humane corruption Are therefore all Arts and Sciences to be despised and to be accompted and reputed in the same rank as we see at this day the Celestial Signes reputed Certainly if this were so there were an end of all Science Art Prophesie and all Doctrine of Truth And all things as uncertain and dead must be buried in the profound darkness of Ignorance and Confusion and there eternally lie buried Thou seest therefore that for the dotages or mistakes of some in the knowledge of Astrology and falsly challenging to themselves the knowledge of the understanding of the Celestial Signes all Observation of the stars and Prognostications are not by and by to be vilified But let us proceed to the second Member of this our Dissertation that by the nature it self of the Conjunction we may demonstrate That necessarily some grand and singular thing is here portended That therefore thou maiest better perceive the nature of this Conjunction or concurrence of all the Planets in one and the same Sign of the Zodiack take this similitude Whensoever we see all the Rulers in any City An apt Siâ—aile or Commanders in an Army of Souldiers convent in one place and there take counsel together presently we thence conclude some grand thing is in agitation The same thing therefore may be here concluded when we see the Planets so convent and lay their heads together For look what the Rulers in a City and Commanders in an Host are the same are the Planets in the Host of Heaven Other stars in the Firmament continue in their fixed distances one from the other and have no peculiar motion as every one of the Planets hath his own proper motion each wheeled about in his own sphere after his own manner Therefore ancient wise men considering the Analogy or proportion between the Macrocosme the great world and the Microcosme the little world said by the fixed stars of the Firmament were represented the firm Limbs of out body and by the Planets our inward bowels which by their motion and influences move sustain and act the whole body What wonder then if we beholding of December next * 1. 1662. For Serarius wrote this afore the said day of December last the Members of the greater world as the Rulers of the Aethereal and Elementary Orbs convening in one and the same house laying their heads together we conclude that doubtless some grand thing is to be agitated in the Heavens which is in a readiness that unexpectedly it may break forth And that by so much more certainly by how much we have been taught by long experience that as often as divers Planets come together they alwaies bring forth some notable change on earth First of all when the two supreme Regents of the world ♄ Saturn and ♃ Jupiter concur or come together which indeed manifestly appeares to be done three waies Their Congressure or coming together the first way is every twentieth year or in precise speech within the space of 19 years daies 315 houres 19. And is called by Astrologers the special or least Conjunction of ♄ Saturn and ♃ Jupiter because Saturn and Jupiter concur in the signes of the same triplicity Their congressure or meeting together the second way is every 200 years or in precise speech once within 198 years and 336 daies And is called the Trigonal or middle Conjunction whereby the same Planets ♄ and ♃ i. e. Saturn and Jupiter concur or meet in another Triplicity or Trigon * Orig. Trigonum Their Concurrence the third way returnes not under 800 yeares or in precise accompt after the term of 795 years
the sweet and all friends shall destroy one another then shall wit hide it self and understanding withdraw it self into his secret Chamber 10. And shall be sought of many and yet not be found then shall unrighteousness and incontinency be multiplied on earth 11. One Land also shall ask another and say Is Righteousness that maketh a man righteous gone through thee And it shall say No. 12. At the same time men shall hope but nothing obtain they shall labour but their waies shall not prosper And these are partly general signes and partly particular which God foretels shall come to pass afore he shall again gather together Israel and render to the Inhabitants of the earth according to their waies All which signes without doubt have been abundantly enough fulfilled The Inhabitants of the earth have heaped up to themselves much Revenue great Treasures of Silver and Gold mean while no Faith no Truth can be found among men That Countrey in which Esdras then lived when this Vision happened unto him to wit the Land of Babylon from that time it became desolate in divers places now upon a sudden the light hath shone forth by night as if it had been day and by day such clowâ—ings of the Light of the Sun hath suddenly risen that the Moon hath thrice in the day presented it self conspicuous and with its brightness hath supplied the defect of the Sun In divers places now a few Weekes since in Poland Bloud was seen to drop from wood and to rain from Heaven Yea also a Stone seemed to utter a voyce as often as certain voices divinely articulated to strike a terrour into men were heard as proceeding out of the stones of a Wall the credit of which thing is asserted among Historians As for the Commotions and Insurrections of peoples whereby new Lord-Rulers have come unexpected upon the Inhabitants of the Earth how frequently hath that happened and to this day happeneth Who shall declare how often the Fowles of Heaven have transported themselves to other haunts because of warlike commotions That which is said of the Sodomitish Sea without doubt hath long since been fulfilled Especially this our most fruitful Age is most frequently famed for horrid Earthquakes sudden Conflagrations as afore mentioned the flight of wild Beasts from place to place abortive Births both corporal and spiritual and horrid Monsters As for Waters and Friends how often canst thou find sweet waters in Salt Friends contending against Friends post-poning the League of amity behind the present Interest Which being so the Prophet justly subjoyneth that then Wit shall hide it self and understanding withdraw it self into its secret Chamber and shâ—â—â— be sought of many and yet not be found then shall unrighteousness and incontinency be multiplied on earth And that he that will seek righteousness though he run from Land to Land from the River to the Sea from one quarter of Heaven to the other yet shall he find none For where now can be found the true knowledge of God and the genuine understanding of the Sâ—cred Scriptures How many have sought it with all their strength and yet have not found it When ever was iniquity more abounding so that it possesseth and fils all Courts Temples and Cloysters So that as concerning the Righteousness which justifies i. e. truly renders men just before God there is no more of it perceived at this day than as if it had never been in the world Finally when ever was seen on earth more vain hope in men and frustraneous labour Behold then seeing all these signes are fulfilled what else may be inferred but that the receiving and restauration of the Jews and the visitation of the Inhabitants of the earth conjoyned to it whereby God will render to them according to their works are at hand If thou defirest yet nearer signes whereby thou maiest be instructed more fully concerning that precious time wherein the Omnipotent God will begin to draw near to visit the Inhabitants of the earth and put an end to the dispersion of the Jews and the humiliation of Sion see in the same Book chap. 6. Where thou wilt find the God of Esdras thus speaking v. 20. And when the world that shall begin to vanish away shall be finished or sealed then will I shew these takens The books shall be opened before the Firmament and they shall see altogether 21. And the children of an year old shall speak with their voyces and the women with child shall bring forth unâ—imely children of thret or four moneths old and they shall live and be raised up 22. And suddenly shall the sown places appear unsown the full storehouses shall suddenly be found empty 23. And the TRUMPET shall give a sound which when every man heareth they shall be suddenly afraid 24. At that time friends shall fight one against another like enemies and the earth shall stand in fear with those that dwell therein the springs of the Fountaines shall stand still and in three houres they shall not run 25. Whosoever remaineth from all these I have told thee shall escape and see my salvation and the end of the world Behold concerning these signes I cannot â—ay they are all aâ—ready fulfilled Albeit of some of them I am confident their beginnings â—e now conspicuous as 1. That of the Books opened before the face of all peoples under the Firmament viz. in the Bookes of mans Conscience which hither to have been as it were locked up and sealed by Superstitions and Traditions of men and Worships imposed with violent force although by them notwithstanding all men at length are to be judged These Books I say are begun to be opened before the face of the Firmament so that all men universally shall look into them and read them and upon their insight and reading of them they shall be astonished and humbled Even as that good King Josias when the Book of the Law sometime lost was found again and read before him 2 King 22. For the time cometh wherein the work of the Law as written by the hand of God in the hearts of men shall be clearly laid open and that by that saving Grace which now begins to shine forth to all men As to the Second concerning children of a year old speaking if that be understood of simple speaking we have often seen it in our Age Even as thirdly That also that sown places are suddenly unsowâ— and full sterehouses are suddenly found empty But as to that that the women with child shall bring forth abortives of 3 or 4 moneths old which shall remain alive and be educated and that â— TRUMPET shall sound to be heard over the universal world to the terrifying of all the Inhanitants of the earth and that last earthquake whereby the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 shall for 3 hour as be stoâ—â—â—ed hath come to pass this I cannot affirm But these signes I judge shall be as the last labour and travel of this present world to produce and bring
until that day wherein the Beast shall be taken and cast into the Like of Fire and Brimstone Forasmuch therefore as these 5 Vials are already poured out and the obscuring of the Beasts Throne is dayly more and more encreased what I pray comes next to be expected by us but that the sixth Vial which is now pouring out shall make way for those Kings that shall come from the East of whom Baruch makes mention c. 5. v. 5. c. that the Stone out out of the Mountain without hands of which Dan. 2.45 may cast down break in pieces and destroy all the Kingdomes of the earth and in stead of them that stone may fill the whole earth And if this be that thing which comes next to be expected by us what marvel if we refer these signes in Heaven and Earth now concurring to this Matter and that we look upon them as foretellers of the Jews Conversion and the subversion of the last Monarchy of the world 4. We read also in Revel 17. That a time will one day come when the 10 Horns of the Beast on which the Harlet sits which 10 Horns are 10 Kings who have long adored the Beast and have committed fornication with the whore shall in that agree together hat with hatred they persecute the where and make her desolate and â—â—ked chap. 17.16 And we know who is that Harlot and who are those Kings which have so long served her viz. the Kings of France Spain Poland Hungary Behemiah England Scotland Portugal Suedland and Denmark All which together with the Pope lifting up himself as the Head of the Catholick Church nad their rise And because we see that in many of these Kings there hath been long since a mind that if they could would long ago have devoured her flesh but concerning the rest of the Kings which hitherto have adhered to the Harlot 't is evident that they also are gone into parties and dissent from her and begin to prepare war against her who thence may not conclude the death of that Whore Gerariae and by consequence the destruction of that Gerarian seven-headed-Beast to be before the doores And albeit there were no signes of this extant in Heaven yet to quick-sighted men and they who believe the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles those signes of it on earth which we see with our eyes and touch with our hands N.B. may be sufficient Behold now I have demonstrated that that same faithful exhortation of the aforesaid Book Printed at Groning and written upon occasion of the instant Conjunction of all the Planets in the fiery Sign of â™ Sagitary is most worthy to be heedfully observed and to be laid up in the inmost Closets of our hearts seeing the matters there set forth are not vain Phantasmes of mans Brain ☞ of idle figments of superstitious Astrology but a sure certain truth founded in Nature and on the Scriptures agreeing not only with the Tradition and Experience of the Ancients but also with the Predictions of the Lord Jesus Christ himself and of his beloved Apostles Peter Paul and John Therefore I will conclude with the words of our Lord full of Consolation and Love Luke 21.8 c. And when these things begin to come to pass then look up and lift up your heads for your Redemption draweth nigh 29. And he spake to them a Parable behold the Fig-tree and all the Trees 30. When they now shoot forth ye see and know of your own selves that Summer is now nigh at hand V. 31. So likewise ye when ye see these things come to pass know ye that the Kingdom of God is at hand Go to let us lay aside whatsoever might hinder us Be we like to Servants who with their Loynes girt and their Lamps burning expect their Master Let us shake off the dust of the Earth and lift up our heads with our hearts heaven-ward clearing our selves from all Impediments before it be too late that is before those last signes invade which shall unexpectedly slay the world For those things which Christ foretold Luke 21. shall come to pass are more than begun to be fulfilled And unless we make hast those last Signes which shall immediately accompany Christs coming will be now present and come upon us unaware Now the Figuree hath begen to put forth her leaves now her branch begins to wax tender Yet truly those natural Branchek of that same Noble Olive-tree of which Paul speaks Rom. 11. begâ—n to be tender as I before noted for I speak not of a thing unâ—â—pâ—rienced acknowledging themselves to be great sinners giving Glory to God and justifying him in all his Judgments exercised upon them and submitting themselves without any resistance to all afflictions reproaches and punishments and anxiously expecting if at any time God will remember them and have mercy upon them Moreover do not those signes of the end of this world aâ—â— of the Beasts last violence and of Government every where overtuâ—hing it self begin to bud forth Therefore whosoever will not be upâ—â— are destroyed and perish with the world it is of necessity that he hasten For most certainly the Summer is at hand i.e. that glorious Kingdom of God of which all the Prophets have prophesied of which also Christ so often monished his Disciples and they us supporting us continually with that Consolation is now at the door O blessed Summer and with all Prayer to be desired in which all those excellent fruits shall be presented to the eyes of all in Production whereof God and Christ have laboured so many thousand years whereby at 〈◊〉 the most bountiful God may be truly acknowledged praysed and sanctified among all peoples and inhabitants of the whole world for the works of his hands and for the unspeakable riches of his Grace Truth and Love and Faithfulness towards Mankind O blessed Kingdom where God alone shall be Kingiâ—â—â— vvhich to him only vvho hath redeemed us vvith his precious bloud from among all peoples all povver and vvisdom and honour and strength and riches shall be given vvith one consent of all Creatures vvhether Angels or men The God and Father of our Lord JESUS CHRIST who by the Gospel of his Son hath called us unto that Kingdom open in us our understanding to lay these things to heart that conforming our selves wholly to these things we may be meet to have our part in the delicacies of this Summer and the ineffable Glory of the Kingdom of our Lord JESU CHRIST Blessed for ever Amen Adde to the Book the Prophesie of Tobit chap. 14. v. 3 4 5 6 7. The Pourtraiture how the Planets stood above one another every one according to his Altitude yet all of them under the same Sign Sagittarius Decemb. 1 12. In pag. 40. lin 9 10. at the words the destruction of that Gerarian seven-headed Beast read if ye please thus the destruction of that Carrieress Porteress or drudge-bearer of the seven-headed Beast FINIS