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
last daies viz. All things so continue as they were from the Creation That which now happens the same likewise hath formerly happened and therefore to conclude hence any certainty are toys and phantasms of mans own imagination Which being so that we are now fallen into those times when among all peoples especially Christians who in times past were very hasty in their hope of setting up the Kingdom of Christ in all Churches Cloysters and Houses all places are full of Scoffers why do we any longer doubt but that now those daies are near in which the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise the Elements shall melt with fervent heat to destroy the ungodly with all their works that there may succeed in the room thereof a new Heaven and a new Earth in which may dwell righteousness 2 Pet. 3.13 Wherefore it ought not to seem a wonder to any man that we so diligently attend to these Signes of his coming and do so interpret them But perhaps some body will say Obj. Peter doth not here speak of those things which are aforementioned viz. concerning the Conversion of the Jews and the total destruction of the 4th Monarchy and the setting up of the Kingdom of Christ on earth but of the time wherein the Heavens shall pass away and the Elements shall be dissolved i.e. of the end of the world Answ We answer what Peter affirmes touching the Heavens Earth and Elements are not properly to be understood according to the Letter as the collation of Scriptures doth shew For Christ will not by his coming destroy the works of his Father Heaven and Earth but the works of the ungodly and whatsoever curse for mans sake came upon Heaven and Earth all this he will burn up with fire and utterly purge out as a prudent Goldsmith that labours to burn not the Gold and Silver but the Dross and Dregs which adhere to the Gold and Silver But as for the substance it self of heaven earth all that God hath created all those things shall not be burnt by the coming of Christ but shall only be renewed and purged that where before unrighteousness took place now righteousness there dwelleth And where before the violent possessed the Kingdoms of the world there now the meek shall inherit Those heavens which the ungodly feign to themselves as their hope and expectation shall perish and those Elements or Rudiments of divine worship even as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * that is Rudiments is taken in this sense wherein some foolishly stick all their life time shall be dissolved and burnt yea the works of all men shall be consumed that a new heaven and a new earth may come forth wherein may be beheld by all men all things in the glory of their perfection as a pure workmanship of God the honour whereof may redound to him himself as the Kingdom and City of God the house and habitation of God and men and a certain manifestation of the Righteousness Majesty and Love of God c. And if indeed all these things ought to be so and if it be true that with Peter according to the promise maâ—e Isa 65. we expect a now Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwels righteousness 2 Pet. 3.13 it ought not to seem strange to us if before that be done a fiery Judgment preceds on earth to which these Signes in Heaven and earth have relation A judgment I say to deliver both Jews and Christians hitherto oppressed and to destroy all the destroyers and to restore all things on earth and to destroy them that have destroyed the earth Rev. 11.18 Behold now we see what signes the Ap. Peter hath set touching the coming of the Lord and how they have been fulfilled long since in an high degree so that in regard thereof nothing now remaines to be expected but the thing it self signified by those signes Now let us see moreover what the Ap. Paul that chosen vessel discourseth concerning the last times and how he limbs out in lively colours the men that shall live in that time They shall be saith he 2 Tim. 3.2 Lovers of their own selves covetous boastâ—rs proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unthank ful unholy without naâ—ural affection truce breakers false accusers incontiâ—ent fierce desp sers of them that are good traitors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God Having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof What seemeth to thee Reader Are our times described or is it longer yet to be expected till this kind of men come upon the Stage If thou wilt acknowledge that we are indeed devolved upon or into those times wherein every where men are found to be Lovers of their own selves Covetous Boasters Proud c. And that they also who carry a form of Godliness and would be reputed for godly do possess more of its external form than of the internal truth of it denying the very power of Godliness which consisteth in spirit and truth what wonder if we accompt the aforesaid signes in Heaven for fore Messengers and fore-runners of the consummation of those daies wherein the madness of all those men shall be made manifest to all men 2 Tim. 3.9 that some when ' at length true right cousness love of God and the sincere power of Godliness may come in their room But that it may more clearly appear that those things which we have mentioned concerning the restitution of the Jews and the end of the last Monarchy and have by this Conjunction of the Princely or chief Stars inferred that they are at the door are not meer Astrological Prognosticks but matters founded in the Word of God Let us go also to the Apostle John that beloved Apostle who was wont to lie in Christs bosom and see what he saith of this matter in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ which Christ himself by his Angel dictated to him and commanded him to write it to the Churches 1. It is there read that the time shall come wherein the Saints of God shall be made Kings and Priests to God that as Kings they may reign on earth ch 1. v. 6. ch 5. v. 10. which thing because it cannot be done without the Jews nor before the Kingdom of the Beast and of the false Prophet be overthrown it necessarily followes that if ever that time ought to come to pass wherein the Saints shall reign on earth those former things ought first to precede or go before and if they now precede and we are come to these last times the consequence is necessary that thing to be at the door 2. In Chap. 11. of this Book of Revel which is as a kind of Compendium of the whole History of the Church or Temple of God beginning from the treading of it underfoot on earth and ending in the opening of it in heaven we read that the treading of the holy City underfoot the prophesying of the two Witnesses
coelestial signes do necessarily portend some great and singular thing some mighty change as well in the Civil as the Ecclesiastical Government And for as much as according to the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles and the constitution of the Time wherein we live no singular thing yet remains to be fulfilled but that the Jewes may be converted unto Christ and incidently that Babylon comes into remembrance before God and all the wicked by the fire of the judgement be blotted out of the earth whereby all the Kingdoms of the world may be made obedient unto God and Christ we justly conclude hence that all these very same things are prefigured and portended to us by all the aforesaid celestial signes afore recited And therefore we ought seriously to watch and diligently to weigh with our selves how the matter stands in us with God and our neighbour Whether our loynes are girt our lamps burning N.B. That in such posture we expect the coming of our Lord to the marriage and that so soon as ever he shall come and knock we presently open to him the door Luk. 12.35 36. I say Whether our lamps be trimmed that at whatsoever hour that cry shall ring out Behold the Bridegroom cometh we forthwith be prepared to meet him If not but in the absence of our Lord we are found to have dealt perfidiously have acted strifes and contentions eaten and drunk with the drunken have fallen into a Lethargy of sloath and negligence and so have profoundly and deeply slept What remedy then How then shall we hide our selves from the wrath of the Lamb and from the face of so faithful a Master and Bridegroom who so dearly bought us and did so straitly charge us to wait for his return to the Marriage What shall we answer unto him who hath so faithfully and continually forewarned us by so many and so great monitions of his most Sacred word and by so many and so great signs in the Heavens But I seem to hear the voice of some most famous men and exercised or experienced in Astronomicals objecting 'T is true that the Planets do by their Influences act upon these inferior bodies as certain general causes but seeing the actions of men and their Effects and Consequences are not determined by those general causes but by these particular to wit by mans will and the free consults of men it were fond and beside sound reason to intend to conclude any thing certain concerning the Actions of men and their effects and consequences by those general Influences of the Planets To these things I Answer 1. We determine nothing concerning the Actions of men and their Effects and Consequences by the Stars as by their CAUSES but only as by the SIGNES of them Whereby God doth foreshew us and set before our eyes as in a Table the freest Actions of men and their Effects and Consequences For as God foresaw all things which should ever come â—o pass from the first beginning of the world as it appears plainly out of the Prophesies of Daniel chap. 2. 20. and of other Prophets so hath he set the Signes of all these things in the Heavens that they who have eyes to see might there see as in a Looking-Glass what God hath foreseen shall come to pass on earth in his time 2. In that we seem here to determine somthing as certain we have not that from the Stars but from the S. Scriptures probable Reason and by a certain sensitive experience All which seeing they do so fairly agree with the Stars and concur to the same sense they deservedly ought to be of some moment with us But grant that thou canst not know certainly any thing by those Celestial Signes as being above thee and exceed thy capacity If nevertheless thou hast thine eyes open to see what things are done on earth and thine ears to hear what the Sacred Scripture doth expresly and roundly teach there will not be wanting to thee Reasons whereby thou maist sufficiently discern the end of this world and the beginning of the next at hand For which there is no need of spiritual eyes and sublime understanding â—ut only of attentive observation of things visible and sensible and humane Faith only whereby we so believe the Signes incurring into our eyes that we be convinced For who doth not see how the whole Christian world is divided in it self and miserably torn into many contrary parties Even as the Secular Government or last Monarchy of the world And which is more how not only the whole is divided into two integral and great parts as of old but into many little small parts and again every Part every Sect every Region and Nation disagree among themselves so that the people know not which way to turn nor whom they may believe One Roman Catholick riseth against another Roman Catholick Lutheran against Lutheran Reformed against Reformed Anabaptist against Anabaptist yea one Member of the Roman Empire against another The Guest is not safe with his Host nor the Father in Law with the Son in Law the amity of Brethren also is rare as the Poet * Non â—ospes ab hospite tutus Nec socer a genere c. describeth to the life the character of the former world which the Deluge of waters of old washt away But if that the Lord Christ affirmeth Mat. 12. That a Kingdom divided against it self cannot stand be of undoubted truth how I pray shall the Kingdom of Christians in respect as well of the Religious Government as of the secular so many waies divided be able to stand long If moreover the dispersing of the holy people shall have an end as the Angel in Daniel speaketh chap. 12. And if the God of Israel and Judah shall again have mercy on them and restore unto them their Kingdom as the writings of the Prophets are full of promises concerning that matter in what time I pray most likely dost thou think that will come to pass Will it not be when they shall least dare promise that thing to themselves Will they especially then expect it when they are broken with the sense of their unworthiness whether haply the Lord the God of their Fathers will vouchsafe of his meet Grace and Mercy to remember them Let whose will war against them they will take Arms against no man If any man smite them they bear it If any drive them from place to place they give place and fly away as the chased Fawns of the Hind upon the mountaines If any laies hands on them and drags them to execution to kill them as swine they deliver up themselves to the slaughter If any will kill them with the sword or burn them in the fire as in Lusitania is often done or attempt to bury them alive in pits as not many years since was done in Polonia they have nothing wherewith they oppose or defend themselves but prayers to God justifying him in his Judgments and pleasing themselves
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
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
arise and might manifest himself Which thing is intimated by Moses when he saith V. 15. That they may be in the Expansion of Heaven to enlighten the earth i. e. To give a discerning of things to be done on earth For as for what concernes the external Light of the day that the Sun solely supplies to us and for what concernes the Light of the night the Moon alone would be sufficient if nothing else were to be desired But there ought to be more light present with us than that whereby one man by sight discernes another one Animal another and body from body may be distinguished To the end it may be well with man on earth and the whole Orb of the world below may subsist it behoves that there be a certain other sort of Light which descendeth also from on high and is nourished from above to wit a Rational Light of discerning and clearness of understanding from whence divers Arts Sciences Negotiations and Governments as well Ecclesiastical as secular are invented and polished to perfection And that Light is called in the School of Wise men Sideral or Astrary because it depends upon those Stars of which Moses affirms that they were therefore constituted in the Expansion of Heaven that they may enlighten the world And forasâ—uch as this light exists first in the Heâ—vens viz. in the stars and Pranets before it shines on earth and is there manifested what wonder if any man discernes the tokens and preludes of those things which are imminent to come to pass on earth by the constitution of the Heavens so as he be endued with sufficient understanding even as we see in a prudent and skilful Physiognomist how be is able oft-times to deâ—ermine and foresee what a man carries in his breast or will befâ—ll him by his Eyes Counâ—enance and Lineaments But some man may say Obj. If the stars are constituted so to illuminate the world how is it that Moses so vehemently dehorteâ—h the people from them when he saith * Deut. 4.19 20. Take heed lest thou lift up thine eyes to Heaven and when thou seest the Sun and the Moon and the Stars even all the Host of Heaven shouldest be driven to worship them and serve them Which the Lord thy God hath IMPARTED unto ALL NATIONS under the whole Heaven But the Lord hath taken you and brought you forth out of the Iron Furnace even out of Egypt to be unto him a people of Inheritance Answ c. We answer that by this very Text it is clearly evinced that this observation of the Stars is good in it self and the gift of God For unless it were in it self good and laudable how could it be said as it is expresly here said by Moses That the Lord thy God hath IMPARTED these to ALL THE NATIONS under the whole Heaven Can it be said indeed that God imparts any evil And that to all Peoples under the whole Heaven But I will declare as the very thing is whoever he be that is obliged to a better and higher matter he presently slips and prevaricates as oft as he lets down himself to that which is lower Forasmuch therefore as the most bountiful God hath revealed himself more clearly and nearly to this people than to any other speaking to them out of the midst of the fire and singularly given them holy Laws and Institutions as he had not done to any other people it became them likewise to order their lives not according to the manner of other peoples who had not received these Lawes but according to the mode which God of his special grace had taken care should be declared to them whereby an Access for them unto God himself was in all cases prepared so as they might be perfectly instructed by him Otherwise they would have held it necessary to consult the Sun Moon or Stars for events counsels and direction Besides the thing from which Moses so vehemently dehorteth the Israelitish people is not that they attended to the course of the Sun Moon and Stars and contemplated the work of Divine Providence in the Heaven But only they should not suffer themselves to be driven by them in bowing before them to worship them for Gods as was wont to be done among the Gentiles who attributing to the Stars and Planets names of Gods they erected to them Statues and Temples and gave them the worship of Gods And this they did with so great fervency of zeal that when after a time by the light of the Gospel the fraud of Satan begâ—n to be detected these peoples by the Faith of Chrut being accused of Idolatry were soon set on fire into a huge madness From whence also those cruel persecutions derived their occasion But if the Gentiles had not abused these cesestial Creatures unto evil If they had suffered themselves to be led as by the hand unto God by these works of God as we may see it in Job and his Friends and as is still on record to memory in the Jews Historicals the like thing of the sons of Seth in the former world and of Noah Abraham and Melchisedech in the â—â—â—er and present world before the Law was given And of Moses Daniel Shadrach Meshech and Abednego under the Law of whom it is written * Act. 7.22 〈◊〉 1.4 that Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians c. As also of the Magi living out of the Law and without the Law * 〈◊〉 legem sine lâ—â—â— de gentious If I say they had not bowed themselves before the Host of Heaven but by this thing they had learned to bow the knee before God the Creator of all things worshipping not the Signes of future things which he hath set before us but the hand it self that put them viz. the Counsel and wisdom of the Oâ—nipotent God verily they had not sinned and it would have been far from them to persecute any man who should attempt to bring them nearer unto God I conclude therefore that from this dehortation of Moses Deut. 4.19 20. it cannot be concluded that these celestial Signes ought not to be observed and attended unto but only that we ought not too much to adhere to them either to bow down to them or to worship them or because of them to neglect that which is better and nearer as it happened oft in Israel through the seducements of the world and of the Prince of the world Consult Jer. 7.18 and thou shalt see how the Lord shewed to his Prophet what was prepared in the Cities of Judah and streets of Jerusalem viz. The Children gather wood and the Fathers kindle the fire and the women knead the dough to make Cakes to the QUEEN of Heaven Melechet that is to the Host of Heaven and to poure out Drink-Offerings unto other Gods Yea see in Jer. 44.17 18. How as well the men as the women of Judah did backslide to that degree of Idolatry that they brake forth
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
of his Court. Now the Waies or Streets are cleansed now the common people upon the rumour of the Army run to and fro now the Boyes complain of the delay of his coming whilst the fardels and houshold-stuffe are brought in By and by his retinue following while the first enter the gates and the noise of them and sound of Drums pierceth all the high waies all persons being allarm'd they fill the Windowes crowd the Streets and the little Boyes and young Girles are startled with joy the high Heroes and faithful Ministers ride on her seback the common people gaze with open mouth and wishly look on every one as greedy to behold the King At last after the long Train appeares the Troop of Drummers and Trumpeters after which followes the awful rank of Armed men on each side whereof there is a file of Curriers in the midst is the KING curvetting or prancing on a generous Horse Glorious in Purple or Scarlet and Gold There needs not the pointing of Fingers or asking of Questions every one having seen the Guard saith in his own private breast Behold now at last him whom thou hast desired What meant this quick-sighted Author in so prolix and elegant a description of this Star but that he might set before our eyes the Majesty of him that is signified thereby to wit that Glorious Advent of the King of Kings whom all and every where the Creatures especially the Inhabitants of his Metropolis the men of Jerusalem have as with out-stretched neck so long expected To which purpose it advantageth that the said Keplerus affirmeth that this Star almost in all circumstances is like to that which the wise men saw in the East as the Sign of the Lord Jesus King of the Jewes excepting this Stars Immobility and Altitude See Kepler in the said Book p. 134 135. To wit this in Serpeutario stood unmoveable in the Firmament That of the wise men moved in the inferiour sky The other was in the superiour this in the inferiour part of Heaven Whereby it seemeth not obscurely to be intimated that this Star as it looked at none other than that same King of the Jews so it was the Harbenger of an higher and more unmoveable Kingdom than ever yet Christ had or hitherto hath been known to the world Seeing these things are so that namely the place in which this year * He means last year viz. 1662. is the meeting of all the Planets appears to be one and the same with that place wherein 59 years since was beheld not only that great Conjunction but also that new Royal Star in Serpentarie and of some called the Sign of the Son of man what other thing I pray can be collected if any credit may be give to the works of God then this that this congressure * of 1602. or coming together hath respect unto the same thing of which we monished but now concerning that great Conjunction and new Star To the CIRCUMSTANCES of this Synod of Stars will belong the consideration of the TIME in which it begins continues and ends It begins with the entrance of Jupiter to the rest already congregated which is done in the night preceding that 1 12 day of December and is ended by the Moons going out again in the night immediately following so that the Duration of this Conjunction is not beyond one day which also is indeed ominous For as if thou shalt see the States of a City or Commanders of an Army solemnly congregated suddenly and tremulously again depart one from another there is none but would thence gather that there is some great matter in that thing even so it is altogether in this matter whilst those Captaines of the Celestial bodies that have fcarcely once met for so many Ages should so speedily again hasten away from each other may they not justly strike a terrour For they are assembled together in that common Palace of the Celestial Sagitarius out of our sight in a place subterraneous to us in Europe in the night time we being deeply asleep and so are carried up as in one Chariot above our Horizon and born away beyond our vertical South point and by the West transported out of our sight and so begin again to be separated But how are they separated Which of them all first goes forth The Moon which by any means by her swift motion among the Stars acting the part of a Currier or Post is first dismissed that it may carry about swift tidings to the whole world Yea because she is the Receptacle and Chariot of all the Celestial Influences and the slinger out of them upon the world it causeth a beginning of unusual operations i. e. It poureth forth the efficacy of those beams which had been collected in the common Conjunction After which after 5 daies followes enflamed Mars the instrument of heat or wrath and fury yet fuming Next after the Sun follows Venus after other 10 daies to wit the 30th of Decemb And again after nine daies Mercury January 8. Only malignant Saturn being left alone in the House of Juplter to contend with benign Jupiter for a whole year when or at which time Jupiter being weary of striving is driven out of his own house betakes himself to Capricorn Anno 1664 Jan. 3. Saturn abiding behind in his place aforesaid above 11 moneths to the 16 of Decemb. But there will come to pass yet two notable Conjunctions in the same fiery Sign of Sagittarius N.B. The fast is of Jupiter with Saturn Oct. 21. 1663. The second of Mars with Saturn Novemb. 22. 1664 all which if any credit to Heaven being the worst of ominous Tokens seem to be the foretellers of terrible Confusions Perturbations Wars and Slaughters on earth because so many fatal periods of things every where in the world fall in together The ANTECEDENTS which went before this Session of these Rulers of the world and are such a sign of some grand and singular thing to be noted thereby are these besides what we but now premised concerning that great Conjunction and new Star 1. That terrible Comet which about the end of Autumn in the year 1618 exposed it self to be beheld formidable for its Tayle or flaming wand The chastisements of which Rod even to this day leave the whole body of the Church sickly and as in an Agony full of wounds and malignant Ulcers whose Corruption is not yet wrought out nor the pain mitigated 2. Another Comet appeared in the year 1652. And again a third in the year 1659 near the Celestial Aquila or Eagle not drawing a flaming Tayl after it like the rest but on its forehead was a fiery Dart brandishing as it were its forked head like a sting making at the Eagle 2. Besides Comets which are to us as publick Heralds of things signified to us by the solemn meetings of those Celestial Regents how many wonderful Phaenomena Appearances in the Air have been seen for some years last