erunt Nox Interitus Rouina Dampnatio ac ceternai Tenebrai In English Thus A Star shall arise in Europe over the Iberians towards the great House of the North whose Beams shall unexpectedly enlighten the whole World This shall be in a most desired time when Mortals wearied with Wars shall Unanimously desire Peace They shall strive indeed by occasion of a Long-lasting Interregnum with various studies which shall obtain the Reignes of Empire But at last the Off-spring of the Antient Blood shall overcome and proceed victoriously by force of Arms until resisted by contrary Fates For about the same time this Star being set another Coeval Light blazing with more Ardent Flames of War shall spread his Empire even to the Coasts of the Antipodes But first France shall submit her Neck to his Yoak and Brittany suppliant in Ships shall cast her self at his Feet Italy faintly breathing towards Scepters so high shall stretch out to him her Languishing Hand But this bright Beam before his time shall with the vast desire of men abscond himself in the Clouds of the Gods Who being extinct after direful and bloody Comets and flashings of Fire seen in the Heavens there shall remain nothing for the future safe or healthy amongst Men The Firmament of Heaven shall be dissolved and the Planets be opposed in contrary courses the Sphears shall justle one amongst another and the fixed Stars move faster than the Planets The Seas swell as high as the Mountains and nothing remain but Night Destruction Ruine Damnation and Eternal Misery This antient Prophecy is recited by Cornelius Gemma in his Treatise of Supernatural Apparitions and taken notice of by several other good Authors As particularly by the Imcomparably-Learned Tycho Brahe in his discourse on the New Star that appeared Anno 1572. who thus expresses his Judgment of it There were saith he divers Expositions of this Prophecy at the time when it was first found out some interpreting it of Charles the Fifth others drew the meaning of it to Philip King of Spain and some thought the King of France was meant thereby but I think that it doth rather point out those Iberi who inhabit Northward toward Muscovia So that this Oracle of Sybilla Tiburtina did not denote the Spaniards but those Iberians which are near unto the Muscovites especially when she useth these words Supra Iberos ad Magnam Septentrionis Domum Over the Iberi towards the great House of the North. And truely Muscovia Scythia and Tartaria do make a great part of Europe so that it may well be called the great House of the North And therefore since this unusual Star did cast is Perpendicular Beams and Influences on the Country of Muscovia it is not to be doubted but that this Star together with that Tract of Land doth agree with the Sybilline Oracle Thus that Noble Dane a Person so Famous that our King James at his Being in Denmark went to his Castle of Vraniberg to visit him and made these Verses in his Commendation Quod temere est ausus Phaeton vel praestat Apollo qui regit Ignivomus Aethere anhelus equos Plus Tycho cuncta Astra regis tibi cedit Apollo Charus Uraniae es Hospes Alumnus Amor. JACOBVS REX What Phaeton dar'd or what 's by Phaebus done to Rule the Fiery Horses of the Sun More Tycho doth he Rules the Stars above and is Vrania's Favourite and Love This same Tycho in the Treatise before cited hath also some Expressions which we may call Prophetick As having spoken of a Glorious and Happy Age to be in the end portended by that Star and having started an Objection that some might say That the Light of the Gospel and Purity of Religion doth now shine out clearly having already overcome the darkness of Papal Error He shapes an Answer thereunto in these words If it were so whence then are those Controversies and varieties of Opinions defended by Learned Men insomuch that the War of Pens is more dangerous than that of Swords Truly saith he it is rather to be feared lest we take this Dawning and Break of Day to be the clear Noon-light Therefore I suppose that this Star doth signifie that there shall be a new change both in Religion and the Estate of Humane Affairs of which we may say Ventum ad supremum est patiuntur summa Ruinam Qui Deus in Coelis regit reget omnia Terris We are come now to the highest perfection the power of Antichrist and the Pope shall decay and be brought to ruin And God who ruleth in Heaven shall also rule all things on Earth But if any do object That the end of the World is at hand and that therefore there will not be sufficient time to bring about a new change I Answer That St. Paul doth assure us That the Jews shall again be ingrafted into the Church before the final Consummation of the World which by Humane Conjecture must needs require some time before they being scattered over the whole Face of the Earth shall be gathered into one Nation And impossible it is to limit and set forth a certain time for the Consummation of the World which only dependeth upon the good will and pleasure of God and is not revealed to the Angels and therefore cannot be known by any Humane Prescience But if some do suppose that the Tract of Land to which this Star was Vertical is Ominous above the rest as if from thence the occasion and Author of so great Mutations are to be expected we must then chuse out those parts of the Earth which had the New Star in their Meridian at the time of the New Moon next following which fell out accounting the time by our Meridian upon the 15th of November 7 hour 13 minutes post meridiem To which i◠we apply the Latitude or distance from the Equinoctial agreeable to the declination o◠the Star which was in 61¾ the place on the Earth answerable thereunto must needs be Russia or Muscovia especially that part there of which is joyned unto Finland For i◠that Tract of Earth this New Star in th◠New Moon following was in their Zenith just over their Heads where it stood equally distant from the Horrizon and with Right-Angled Aspect beheld this Country Therefore if this Position of the Sta◠do point out the place of the Earth from whence these events shall arise Muscov◠seems especially to be design'd before an◠other Regions which are scituated toward the North to whom this New Star was every day Vertical whether therefore the first occasions of so great disturbances and mutations shall arise from hence which afterward shall be sowed and dispersed into other parts of the World I leave to be peremptorily decided by others But verily that Gogus whereof mention is made in the 38 Chap. of Ezekiel and to whom Isaiah Ca. 17.56 and Chap. 5. doth allude and with whom Magog is named in the Revelations Ca. 20. may be rightly
to the 28th verse And the Babylonian Monarchy both Heathenish and Mystical Babylon was Prophesied of by the name of an Eagle by several of the Prophets as Jer. 48.40 and 49. Hos 8.1 Obad. 4. and Hab. 1. and Esdras did Prophesie of it by that name about 300 years before ever the Eagle was portrayed in the Roman Ensigns and became the Badge or Arms of that Empire Which was first given by Marius because being a Child he found an Eagles Nest and seven young ones therein whereupon in his second Consulship going against the Cinbri the Antient Inhabitants of Denmark and Hostein he caused an Eagle to be pictured in his Standard Which was afterwards peculiarly affirm'd by the Roman Legions to shew that they would with as great Courage fall upon and engage the Enemy as the Eagle on his Prey The Holy Books of Daniel and the Apocalyps or Revelations of St. John the Divine do also afford us several Instances of Monarchies Kingdoms and Calamities represented by several Beasts Vials Seals Trumpets We mention not these Sacred Authors as intending to compare or Rank these Hieroglyphicks here before set down in the several Figures with those Divine Prophecies far be it from us to advance any such bold and irreverent Blasphemies we recite them only to shew that the shadowing out of future Events in such a way and under such mysterious Figures is no novel or upstart Invention but has long been used in the world As to these present Hieroglyphicks we call them Mr. Lillies because by him they were first made publick in the year 1651. But whether by him originally devised we cannot determine for as I remember Mr. Lilly himself about 10 years ago told me he borrowed them and was not the first Inventer but said he knew the right Key or Signification of them and that he doubted not but Posterity when Fate should think fit to disclose its Mystick Book and reduce the matters thereby intended to be prefigured into Act would be well assured of their Verity But that they are or ever were or ought to be accounâ—â—â— the Hieroglyphicks of Nostradamus I said no Authority or proof though it had pleas'd a late Author so to call them Nor shall I undertake to decipâ—â—â— thâ—â— obscure Hieroglyphicks or pretend to acquaint the world with the meaning thereof or when each particular is to be fullfilled The Burning of London seems very plainly to 〈◊〉 been one of those Accidents here interâ—… and indeed there are two figures that may seem to have respect hereunto but I am apt to believe one of them viz. that where the Twins Londons Celestial Ascendent according to Astrologers are tumbling down headlong into the Flames ought to be understood Metaphorically as of Heats and Animosities industriously spread amongst her â—nhabitants by ill men to put them into a Combustion and this I am the rather inclined â—o judge observing two Persons pictured powring in Jars of Oyl to encrease the Flames As touching the Moles which you will find in many of the Figures very busy the common opinion is that they signifie the Jesuites Popish Priests and other Emissaries of the See of Rome aptly Emblem'd by the Mole as being carryed on with a blind Zeal and mannaging their mischeivous Intrigues under-Ground in Masquerade and without owning publickly their hellish Designs I have heard that Mr. Lilly the more to obscure the Signification Transpos'd several of the Figures and did not set them in that Order of place as they were to fall out in respect of Time However we thought fit punctually to observe his Copy And so thou hast them just as he first publisht them without Addition Diminution or Alteration In the next place we shall subjoin several antient Predictions which so long have obtain'd the name of PROPHECIES that they may now seem to plead Prescription for that Title Which be pleass'd to take as follows The Prophecy of Rabbi Elias touching the End of the World THe words in the Original as they are deliver'd in the Talmudical Books and and particularly in the Treatise or Section intituled Havoda Zara Cap. 1. are these in Hebrew Tana abe Elihau seseth Alaphim sana have Haolam Sene Alaphim Tohu Vsne Alaphim Thora Vsne Alaphim Iemoth hamas sihi uba Havenothema Serabu Iashu meon Mascias In English thus verbatim Thus said the Sons or Disciples of Elias The World consisteth of Six Thousand Years Two Thousand years Void Two Thousand the Law Two Thousand the Messias But for our sins which are many those years of that number are over-passed which are over-passed Whether by this Elias they would have us understand the Divine Tishbite of that Name who after so many Miracles recorded in Sacred Scripture done on Earth was taken up visibly into Heaven or whether they intend by it some Latter Rabbin may be question'd but I the rather think the last Though 't is certain this Prophecy or if you please Declaration or Division of the Continuance and several Ages of the World has been all along of great esteem not only amongst the Jews but also with the most Learned and Famous Doctors of the Christian Church For both Lactantius Hierom Hillary Ambrose and St. Augustine of the Antient Fathers and also Melancthon Peucer Postellus Reslyn and many other Modern Learned Men mention it with respect The meaning of the first part of the words seem very plain That the Duration of the World shall be the Term of Six Thousand years which should be divided into three Grand Intervals Spaces Periods viz. Two Thousand years from the Creation to the giving of the Law which space of time is here called Tohu void because the World was then without the written Law and without the External Ceremonies which were afterwards Enjoin'd Two Thousand years more under the Law and the other Two Thousand under the Messias Not that this is to be understood exactly to a year in each but 2000 a round Number is used for the Number punctual and Certain and indeed agrees very well with the Truth of Chronology For from the Creation to the time of the Institution of Circumcision from whence we may properly enough Date the time of the Law though not fully delivered till diverse years after there were 2047 years as may be made appear from Scripture-Calculation And from thence to our Saviours Incarnation above 19 hundred years or very near 2000. But since this Prophecy is Jewish and in so high an Esteem with that Nation and does so clearly point out the coming of the Messiah to be about the year of the World 4000 and that 't is notorious the same is so many ages since past it may be wondred why even from hence they should not be Convinced both that the Messias is long since come and that our Lord Christ must needs be He. But such is the obstinate Blindness of that People that they resolve to persist in their Error and Infidelity and will rather invent any Evasions than acknowledge
Catastrophe Mundi OR MERLIN REVIV'D In a DISCOURSE of PROPHECIES PREDICTIONS And their Remarkable Accomplishment With Mr. LILLY's Hieroglyphicks EXACTLY CUT And Notes and Observations thereon AS ALSO A COLLECTION Of all the Antient Reputed PROPHECIES That are Extant Touching the Grand Revolutions like to happen in these Latter Ages By a Learned Pen. LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by John How at the Seven Stars at the South west Corner of the Royal Exchange in Cornhill and Thomas Malthus at the Sun in the Poultrey 1683. The PREFACE IT has been Scandalously reflected hy Forreigners That Englishmen alwayes carry an old Prophecy in their Pockets see Fullers Church-History Lib. 16. yet to do our Nation Right we may modestly aâ—…ow That we are no more Addicted to those Cuâ—…osities than our Neighbours T is well known â—…w fond the French are of their Nostradamus â—he Prediction touching a Red-hair'd Assassiâ—…te hath not wanted its Impressions on one of the â—reatest Spirits in Europe Nor is there scarce Cardinal at Rome but is in Fee with an Aâ—…rologer to advertise him of his Fate and when â—…e luckly Hitt of the Infallible Chair will fall his share It must not he denyed That many â—ve rendred themselves Ridiculous in Publishâ—…g and more been Befool'd in Crediting the â—anciful or Knavish Prognosticks of some Enâ—…usiastical or Designing Heads whence the â—isdom of our Ancestors has thought fit to reâ—…ain and chastize with Penalties such as preâ—…me to publish false and Phantastical Propheâ—…s to the Intent thereby to make any Rebelâ—…on Insurrection Dissention loss of life or other Disturbance in the Realm Stat. 5. Eliz Cap. 15. This small Treatise is Chaste from any such lewd Design rather aiming at the direct contrary For understanding that certain Pictures formerly Emitted by Mr. William Lilly have much been talkt of and admired perhaps for their being scarce and unknown Omne enim Ignotum habetur pro Magnifico and that the same have lately been Republisht by one That not only pretends so shrewdly to understand them That he haâ— adventur'd to place them in a new Order buâ— also has added others of his own Invention and fathers the former though we think without any grounds on Nostradamus adding likewise several further odd Prognostications wherein ' tiâ— probable present Confidence is all the Hope of future Verity we conceived it could be no offence to gratify the Curious truly with thosâ— Emblems just as they were set forth by Mr. Lilly now six and twenty years ago Which as Aristotle said of some of his works are so publisht â—… not to be publick Because I think scarce Intelligible to any till Time the best Expositer 〈◊〉 Oracles shall unlock the Mystery At least thoâ—… that expect the fulfilling of them All in this oâ—… Age nay or in that of our Grand-Children mâ—… find themselves as grosly mistaken as those wâ—… were so confident of the final Destruction of Româ— and the Papacy in 66 since Mr. Lilly himseâ—… tells us That therein is Represented the fu +ture Condition of this Nation For many hundred of years yet to come As for the rest of the Prophecies for we use â—he vulgar stile hereunto annexed all the Learned World knows they are none of our Devising but have long since been vouch'd by many Learnâ—d Authors And as we undertake not to Justify â—heir Authority so neither do we presume to give â—heir Interpretation All we had to do was to â—ecite them Faithfully and give the Reader â—he most certain Account we could of their Original withal rectifying diverse gross mistakes â—ith which through the Negligence of Transcriâ—ers Ignorance of Translators or Errors of the â—ress most Copies of them formerly did abound and so they are left to the Censure of the Reader â—nd Posterity which more justly by the Event â—ill know what Value to put upon them What ever success they shall have or whether â—orthy of Regnard or Contempt we shall here â—nclude with an Infallible Prophecy that for â—er concerns all the Nations of the World in â—eneral and each person in particular and which we are certain shall come to pass for the Youth of Eternal Truth hath spoken it If thou shalt hearken diligently unto the â—ice of the Lord thy God to observe and to all his Commandments That then the â—â—rd will set thee on high above all Nations of the Earth Blessed shalt thou be in the City and Blessed shalt thou be in the Field The Lord shall cause thine Enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face and all that thou settest thine hand unto shall prosper But if thou wilt not hearken to the Lord thy God to observe and do his Commanments and his Statutes Curses shall come upon thee and overtake thee The Lord shall send upon thee Vexation and Rebuke until thou be destroyed And shall smite the with Madness and Blindness and Astonishment of Heart and thou shalt grope at Noon days as the Blinâ— gropeth in darkness and thou shalt not prosper but be oppressed and spoiled and no maâ— shall save thee Deut. 28. Dicamus bona verba Deus regit Astra feruntâ— Illius Arbitrio Sydera Terra fretum Sed Heu quam nostra malis deliret moribus Aetaâ— Ipsa etiam videas Sydera moest a queri God moves the Heavens and his Mighty Haâ— Both Planets Earth and Ocean doth Commanâ— But we alas are now so wicked grown That Threatning Stars our vileness does bemoaâ— And with our weighty sins both Heav'n anâ— Earth do groan Of Prophecies Predictions and Divinations in General And many Remarkable Instances of Things foretold that came to pass AS 't is not our purpose to speak of Sacred Prophecies or those Divine Revelations Contained in the Holy Scriptures which alone are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of infallible Credit and Authority so neither shall we run through all those Follies and wicked Extravagancies whereby the Heathen pretended to discover things to come As their Auguries Aruspicies Sortileges c. But only to raise some few Remarks on some of the Celebrated Methods whereby things are thought to be predicted or foreknown and frequently come to pass accordingly Of this sort are I. That of Wise Prudent and Learned men who from their Observations out of History Their knowledge of the Nature of men and the Constitutions of Governments and comparing times pass'd with the present and concluding from like Causes like Effects when they see the same things come again upon the stage of the World as have formerly been and then considering all Circumstances of Agreement and difference are able to give a very probable Conjecture which seldom fails of what is like to come to pass Which sort of Predictions are not only lawful but worthy of much Commendation being oftimes conducible to the good of Kingdomes by Premonishing and Preventing Inconveniences like to come upon them II. Astrological Predictions when the Artist undertakes from the Positions of the Heavens the Configurations of
the Planets Eclipses Conjunctions Comets c. to foretell future Accidents or as one very significantly defines it Astrologia est Doctrina quae ostendit vires Stellarum cognitas Perpetua Experientia et Qualitates Temperamenta et Inclinationes in Elementis et Corporibus Hominum ortas a Luce Motu et Influentiis Stellarum Quibus Qualitatibus Temperamentis et Inclinationibus Respondent suae quaedam Actiones nisi aut Divinitus aut aliis Causis Fortioribus Impediantur Astrology is a sort of Learning which shews the Force and Vertues of the Stars known by perpetual Experience and the Qualities Temperaments and Inclinations arising from the Light Motion and Influencies of the Stars in the Elements and Bodies of men Answerable to which Qualities Temperaments and Inclinations are their Actions unless hindred by Divine power or some other stronger Causes This Art I cannot say is unlawful but I take it to be but Conjectural and by Ignonorant Pretenders much abused strange things have been and frequently are thereby foretold and prove true when a skillful Artist hath the handling of the matter but many times fall out otherwise sometimes from the Ignorance of him that undertakes the Judgment otherwhile from the Influence of some of the fixed Stars which being seldom taken notice of may cross or hinder what may otherwise be signifyed Or 3dly from the want of a sufficient Treasure of Observations by which Judgment ought to be given The same posture of the Heavens having never twice hapen'd alike in every circumstance since the Creation and by that means leaving the World destitute of stable means whereon to build their Judgment since what can be rationally said in that kind must proceed from the Comparing of Events which have happened under such and such Configurations with what are like to be when the same fall out again Or lastly by reason of the care of the party himself who may by his own Industry prevent what from the Influence of the Stars would have been his Destiny for they at most do not Necessitate but Incline and by the Providence and over-ruling Power of God and the Wisdom of Man are sometimes diverted III. A Third sort is a Geomantical or Terrestrial Divination in which from certain voluntary Pricks or Points made by the hand at Adventure certain Figures are raised From the first four of which called Fathers are produced other four called Daughters These Eight bring forth four Grand Children from them come out Two Witnesses from those a Judge and the Judgment upon this sort of Divination is not much unlike that of Astrology But the Foundation of all this seems to be laid upon a false Supposition That the Soul of man knoweth things to come but is hindred by the dulness of the Organs of the Body And therefore in the practice of it a great sedateness of mind is required a freedom from all noise that may disturb it and such like Circumstances Which he that hath a mind to fool a way time may find in Cattan Flood and H. de Pisis But this kind of Divination I take to be idle vain and superstitious as not built upon any stable Foundation of Reason or supported by any thing but Fancy IV. A Fourth sort is by framing certain Figures of Stone or Metal underneath such Constellations and placing them either in some Conspicuous Place or Town or sometimes Under-Ground by which some have pretended to do strange Feats These are called Talismans of which as also the Language of the Stars with an Alphabetical Table and how from That words are framed which shall declare the Event of things to come according to the Nature of the Question Gaffarel a Learned French-man hath largly written in his Book of Vnheard-of Curiosities and such no doubt they will prove to him that spends much time in the study of them V. A Fifth sort if indeed there be any such thing may be by Communication with Angels and Spirits For many have pretended to such a Converse I do not mean by the Black-Art Conjuring Negromancy or having to do with Devils but with good Angels who out of Charity Love and Compassion to their Fellow Creatures are said often to be willing to forewarn them of impending dangers and discover to good men what may be of advantage Thus the Learned Brown in his Religio Medici sticks not to declare his opinion to be That Mankind owes the Invention of many of our excellent and profitable Arts to the Courteous Revelation of Spirits VI. Lastly There is Enthusiasm or Illumination an Enlightning of the whole Soul either from a certain unusual Crasis or an over-poize of Complexion or strength of purer Spirits or else by some unknown supernatural means as the Possession or Inspiration of some Spirit either good or bad Aristotle tells of one Maracus of Siracuse a Poet who never made so good Verses as when he was mad and immediately before that Story hath these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Many because that Heat is near the seat of the mind are taken with sundry Frantick and Enthusiastick Fits from whence they become Sybills Bachides or inspired not from any Disease but a Natural Temperament So that it seems in the sense of Aristotle much of this kind of Illumination proceeds from an Exaltation of the mind by some Ecstatick operation of the Soul and great Examples in all Ages might be produced out of the Observations of Physitians to this purpose some whereof have been meer Cheats to gain Credit to such as should Cure or Exorcise them Others true and natural where some Melancholy Heat or strong Imagination or lastly through Custom and use the persons affected have brought upon themselves such an Habit that fancy prevailing over their Judgment and Understanding they have pretended to Prophesy and sometimes what they have spoken hath proved true Of these several sorts of foretelling as touching the Astrological Predictions or such as are gtounded on that Art we have briefly shewn whence they may pretend to Credit having in themselves a natural ground as Effects are foreseen in their Causes But as touching the Common Abstruse Indications of great Accidents Wars death of particular men Casualties to Cities c. usually stiled Prophecies from what spring to derive them or to what Cause they ought to be attributed is difficult to be determined To deny that any things have been so foretold or that because some pretending thereunto were either Cheats or Hypochondraique That therefore all were so is to give the Lie to the experiences of all Ages and in many of them the very great time between the Predictions and the fulfilling of them doth sufficiently Evince that they came from an higher Cause than a Melancholy Heat For where that is predominant I have ever observed that between the Prophesie and the time alotted for the Accomplishment there is rarely or never more than a score of years sometimes not so many Moneths I. Concerning the Sybils not
the Evident Truth as appears in this very Case and will help us to fish out the meaning of those last words of this Prophecy But for our Sins which are many the years of that Number are over-pass'd which are over-pass'd Which words seem to be added to the Prophecy it self by some latter Rabbins for you must note That the Hierusalem-Talmud being composed above 200 years after Christ and the Babylonian-Talmud 400 years after Christ in both which this Prophecy is mentioned The Authors thereof finding the Term limited already expired added this Clause to solve the business and perswade their People that the reason why the Messias was not yet come according to this Prediction was the Multitude of their Sins which retarded his appearance and this they give out to be the Cause thereof to this day Note that Talmud signifies as much as Doctrinale The Book of Doctrine and the Books so called do contain Traditions and Observations which they pretend to have been delivered by God to Moses besides the Law written and from him to have been brought down from hand to hand amongst the Rabbins just as the Papists set up their Traditions as of equal Authority with the Scriptures Agreeable to this Cabbalistical Prophecy or Tradition some Learned men supposing that by the six days of Creation mentioned in the first of Genesis The whole Age of the World containing 6000 years was Mystically and Allegorically shadowed out To be Interpreted or Deciphered in such sort that the first days work should import or prefigure a certain Resemblance or Type of such future matters and Events as were performed in the first Thousand years of the World The second days work of such as should consequently happen in the Second Thousand years and so forth of the residue even to the Accomplishment of 6000 years At which period the Eternal Requies or Sabbath of the Lord should finally ensue and gloriously appear even as after six days Work God stayed or rested at the first and as now our weekly Sabbath which is a reverend figure of that great Everlasting Sabbath doth after every 6 days successively approach Pursuant I say hereunto they have distributed the several Millenaries as in this Table Days Millenaries Years Governours of each Millenary Monday 1. 1000. ADAM who died in the Year 930. Tuesday 2. 2000. NOAH who died in the Year 2005. Wensday 3. 3000. DAVID who died in the Year 2929. Thursday 4. 4000. CHRIST who was Born Anno Mundi 3962. Friday 5. 5000. The POPE who in this period grew to his height if we may extend it unto Hildebrand who came to the Chair about 1074. Saturday 6. 6000. The MARTYRS Millions having suffeted by Antic Sunday 7. 7000. ETERNITY If therefore this Rabbinical Reckoning be to be regarded let us see about what Year of the World we are in at this present and how much may be wanting of this Sum Total 6000. The Birth of our Lord Christ is placed By Chryteaeus In the Year of the World 3962. By Mich. Butherus In the Year of the World 3962. By Reniholdus In the Year of the World 3962. By Schubertus In the Year of the World 3962. By Cunmannus In the Year of the World 3962. By Funccius In the Year of the World 3963 By Luther In the Year of the World 3960 By Beroaldus In the Year of the World 3928 By Mereator In the Year of the World 3966 By Bucholzer In the Year of the World 3970 By Bibliander In the Year of the World 3979 By Card. Bellarmine In the Year of the World 3984 So that there is not above 22 years difference amongst them all except Beroaldus Let us therefore suppose it to be with Beucholzer Anno Mundi 3970 adding thereunto 1683 makes 5653 years from the Creation so that according to this Compute there should remain but 347 years to the final Conflagration viz. in the year of our Lord 2030. But That day and hour knoweth no man And For the Elects sake those days shall be shortned To this we think it not improper to add That Prophecy or remarkable Description of the End of the World some Thousands of years since delivered in Greek Acrostick Verses the Initial Letters making up these words JESUS CHRIST SON OF GOD THE SAVIOUR delivered by Sibylla Erythrea and recited by St. Augustine in the 4th Book and 23d Chapter of his Treatise de Civitate Dei which I shall give you in the words of Him who many years since Translated that excellent Book into English as followeth Jn Sign of Doomsday the whole Earth shall sweat Ever to Reign a King in Heavenly Seat Shall come to judge all Flesh The Faithful and Unfaithful too before this God shall stand Corporal shall he sit and thence extend His Doom in Souls The Earth shall quite lye wast Ruin'd oregrown with Thorns and men shall cast Idols away and Treasure Searching Fire Shall burn the ground and rage with fatal Ire Through Seas and Skyes and break Hells blackest Gate So shall free Light Salute the Blessed State Of Saints The Guilty lasting Flames shall burn No Act so hid but thence to Light shall turn Nor breast so close but God shall open wide Each where shall Cries be heard and noise betide Of gnashing Teeth The Sun shall from the Sky Fly forth and Stars no more move orderly Great Heav'n shall be dissolv'd The Moon depriv'd Of all her Light places at Height arriv'd Depress'd and Vallies mounted to their Seat There shall be Nought to Mortals High or great Hills shall be Level'd with the Plains The Sea Endure no Burthen and the Earth as They Shall perish cleft with Lightning every spring And River burn The fatal Trump shall bring Vnto the world from Heav'n a dismal Blast Including plagues to come for ill deeds past Old Chaos through the Scatter'd Mass appears Unto this Barr all Kings come Prisoners Rivers of flaming Brimstone drown their Tears The Learned ALSTEDIUS his SPECULUM MUNDI and CHRONOLIGY of the Prophetick Numbers 1. God alone hath reserv'd to himself the exact knowledge of future Things as the incommunicable Prerogative of his Divine Majesty Therefore 't is impossible any man though never so clear-sighted should compile an accurate Chronology for Time to come or define the punctual Moments of Futurity yet is not therefore the Explanation of Prophetick Numbers to be omitted for since God hath expressed certain Numbers in the Histories and Prophecies of his Word it would be too great both Sloth and Ingratitude not to weigh and with reverence and the fear of the Lor denquire into them 2. In observing the great Conjunctions or Revolutions of the Planets as Superstition and over-scrupulous Diligence is not to be approved so neither is Negligence or Contempt thereof to be allow'd 3. The Twelfth Chapter of Daniel ought to be our Pole-Star in explaining Prophetick Numbers for there we are led as by the hand from the building of the second Temple to its Destruction And from