those ages now coÌ„pleetly passed by our reckoning before this 1600. yeare of Christ fiftie hundreth yeares which make 55. ages And we are now in the 56. age and at the 48. yeare thereof which may well be called an age of the decaying and fading worlde not onely because it appeareth to approche neere vnto the worlds end but also by reason greater mutatioÌ„s alteratioÌ„s are likely to fal out therein both in the visible heavens the earth other elements then in other ages before whereof I intend to speake more largely afterward But to intreat of particular accidents that fel out in the former ages it pertayneth to a more large discourse FOVRTH PROPOSITION That in our time the signes and revolutions of the heauen are changed and remooved from the olde accustomed places And therefore the vulgar Prognosticatorâ— are in an error And of the way to reforme the same LIke as I haue travelled heretofore by Sabbaticall reckoning to deduce finde out the perfite count of the yeares of the world how long it hath continued vnto this instant 1600. yeare of Christ And there with to discover the erroneous reckoning of the Papisticall Iubilees and their impieties So now might I enter into an other kinde of reckoning which is called Astronomicall gathered by the course and revolutiones of the Heaven the Sunne the Moone and the Starres For as the Sabbaticall reckoning whereof I haue spoken hath the grounde out of the Scriptures and worde of God So this Astronomicall count hath also the original out of the same And as thereckoning of Sabbathes and Sabbaâ—icall yeares beginneth at the seaventh daye of creation when God rested from all his workes so this Astronomical calculation hath the beginning froÌ„ the 4. day of creation when as God made those heavenly lights and placed them in the lyft of heaven not only for that cause that they should shine giue light vpon the earth separating the day from the nightâ— but also to be for signes and for seasons of times dayes and yeares that is by their motions and revolutions to distinguish times and seasons and therewith to signifie certaine effects following vpon their courses and motions So that thereby we may learne the difference of times and make distinction of the partes thereof as of yeares monethes dayes and of all seasons and appointed diettes Without the knowledge and reckoning whereof there should be nothing but extreame confusion in all the actions of men For neither could the memory of things by past be kept norrespect had of things to come nor the progresse of time be numbred without the same were defined and measured by the motion of these heauenly bodies and namely of the Sunne and Moone For the Sunne by his most equall and simple motion is as a most perfite rule to vs to appoynt and measure the yeares and seasons thereof The Moone also by her shorte motion to measure and distinguish the Monethes of the years So there is no more perfite way to measure the yeares of the World then by the course of the Sunne the Moone and the Starres which everie one haue their juste periodes of time within the which they compleit their courses revolutiones the which albeit they appeare sometime vnequall to vs that dwell on the earth yet they are most equall constant in themselues But because I think I haue prooven sufficiently already both by Sabbaticall and by Historicall reckoning the just count of the yeares of the World to our dayes I thinke it not necessarie in this short Treatise to set downe the Astronomicall reckoning al-be-it it would ratifie and confirme our former count For it should be both long-some tedious to them that are not well grounded in Astronomie and peradventure over difficill to be taken vp Therefore I refer the same to a more ample worke In the meane time by reason of the great errour I see fall forth among the vulgare Prognosticators for wronge taking vp of their groundes in judging the face of the heaven the weather and other accidents and influences thereof I haue thought good to discover their errour that they may amend the same and others be no further deceived by them But first I would informe them to amend their errour also that deny the heavenly influences to be effectual because the predictions of such as commonly set out the vulgare Prognostications oft-times take not effect I say these men declare them selues very ignorant in naturall Philosophie and are convict by experience and ensample of such things as daily fal out by vertue of the heavenly influences Yea by the Scripture it self Namely in Iob where the Lord himsele maketh mention of the pleasant influence of Pleiades which is the pleasant spring-time of the year when the Sunne commeth to those starres For these influences not onely make the earth to fructifie but also worke a great varietie in the seasons of the year so that they are not like one to another nor to themselues every yeare in many thinges And many evident signes are founde in the motiones configurations and interchangeings of the courses of the heavenly light where by men who are expert in divine science of Astrology may gather and conjecture many things to fall out not onely in the aire but also in the naturall inclination of earthly creatures For for that cause the eternall God appoynted them in the beginning not onely to shine and shew light vnto the world but also to be for signes of things to come as it is testified in Genesis So that by the great providence of God three excellent benefites are communicated to men by these heavenly bodies The one is to shine and giue light vnto the Earth The seconde to distinguish times dayes and yeares The third to forewarne men of many things profitable for this life not that wee should thinke that all things can be fore-told thereby or that the starres haue force to mooue the minds and willes of men as it were by constraint to this or that For this science hath certaine limittes and boundes over the which it ought not to be drawen For as the chiefe author in this arte Ptolemee himselfe affirmeth that part of Astrologie which is called Iudiciar exceedeth the weaknesse of mens apprehension which is aggreeable to that which God by his owne wordes objected vnto Iob in the place before cited saying Knowest thou the statutes of the heaven canst thou set downe the ruling thereof in the Earth And besides this obscure knowledge of the heavenly influences there are supersticious observations vsed by many in the artificial setting vp of the figure of the heaven applying the same without any sufficient natural cause or reason to every purpose which I for my parte altogether improoue coÌ„demne And yet it followeth not hereof that this divine science should be allutterly rejected or contemned as many that be ignorant of it do For by it many profitable things ar knowen which some for
brimstone and stormie tempests It is more-over added in powring out of the seaventh viole in the aire wherby is signifyed a great perturbation of al the elements that there was such an Earth-quake that the like had never bene These tempestes in the aire may both be vnderstoode literallie and Spiritually For literally our Maister Christ fore-warneth vs of the like where he testifyeth that before his latter comming the powers of the heauen shalbe moved spiritually the moving of the aire the great earthquak signifie such a coÌ„fusioÌ„ of al things in the world that the lik hath not bin seene of before And by the much and vehement great haile is meant the great coldnes of loue that now wee see in the world as also it was fore told by our Saviour Christ And by his Apostle PAVLE speaking of selfe-loue and lack of zeale in Religion which maketh men to dispise God and godlinesse and to blaspheme against the Gospel and Preachers thereof which plague now alâ—s doth everie where increase And it is added futher in the text of IOHN that the great citie was divided into three parts By this citie no doubt is meant the externall face of the visible Church composed of true professors Papistes and Hypocrites so that we see there shall not be a full and perfite vnitie of religion to the end of the World But in the midde-time we haue this soliâ—â—e comforte that at the blast of the seaventh trumpet the mysterie of God shall be fulfilâ—ed toward his Saintes and great joye shal be among the Elect because the Kingdomes of this world are our Lords and his Christs and he shal raigne for evermore And with this shall come the end of this world which albeit it be vncertaine as touching the year day and houre when it shalbe yet certainely it is not farre off seeing al these tokens and others specified in the Scriptures are already fulfilled and the great Angell hath sworne that there shall be time no more The Lord make vs readie for his comming that wee may lift vp our heades from the vanities of this worlde and waite for that day of our Redemption Come Lord Iesus come FINIS A faithfull and godlie Admonition to al true Christians gathered vpon the words of the Apostle PAVLE Ephes. 5. vers 16. Coloss â— vers 5. To redeeme time because the dayes are euill GOD The creator and author of time as hee hath appoynted all things that are done in the World to be measured thereby so hath he ordayned certaine limites and bounds of time some short some longer vnto the life of every man in this earth according as it is written in Ioâ— where he sayeth Are not the dayes of man and the number of his Moneths appoynted with thee O Lord thou hast limited his bounds which he cannot passe ouer And a little before to declare the shortnes of these bounds he compareth the life of everie man that is borne of a woman to a flowre that suddenly shoteth vp and is cut down and vanisheth away as a shaddow and continueth not Likewise DAVID in the Psalme compareth his dayes to an hand breadth and sheweth how every man walketh as in a shaddowe disquieteth him selfe in vaine heapeth vp riches and cannot tell who shall gather them And Pindarus the Poet to expres to the vttermost the brevitie and vncertaintie of mans life compareth it not onelie to a shaddow but to the dreame of a shaddowe And yet so is the corrupt nature of the moste part of men that they imagine and dreame vnto themselues a certaine false opinion of immortalitie in this present most frayle and transitorie life And as the same Poet sayeth a certaine presumpteous hope so hath knit vp our mortall members that wee imagine manie great matters in our mindes and our fore sight hath farre endes To refrayne this vaine curiositie the Prophet Moyses in the ninetie Psalme after that hee hath distributed the frayle estate of mans life declaring how they passe awaie as a sleepe and as the Grasse that groweth in the Morning and at the euening is withered awaie And howe that commonlie the longest tearme of mennes yeares is about three score and ten yeares And if some of greater strength attaine to the age of foure-score yeares yet are they the more subject to laboure and sorrowe hee maketh his supplication vnto GOD that hee will teache vs to number our dayes that wee maie applie our heartes vnto wisedome Whereby hee sheweth that none but they whome GOD of his especiall grace doth illuminate by his Spirite canne rightlie applie their heartes to this true Wisedome to considder the brevitie of the shorte number of the dayes we haue here in this present life Therefore deare brethren and Christians wee haue great neede most earnestlieto call and crie vnto GOD that wee forget not this counte Forthere bee manie that can make great reckonings of long times and manie yeares that are paste before them And yet cannot rightlie reckon the shorte time and continuance of their owne liues yea men wil reckon and counte by Arithmeticke all things and even as the very distance betweene the Heaven and the Earth and the moste highest Starres And yet onelie the faithfull and they that put their confidence in God knowe the distance that is betweene this shorte and transitorie life and that blessed and immortall life which hath no ende vnto the which wee are created and to the which ende this presente life ought to bee directed For deare brethren let vs bat considder the vanitie of the moste parte of menne in this poynte how littele they esteeme of the shorte time they are to remayne in this presente and momentaneous life Not-with-standing moste of all their vayne pretences and imaginationes is to compasse the whole Worlde if it were possible and to doe greate wounders and actes therein For time being so precious and so highlie to be regarded in respecte of the shortnesse of this life that GOD hath lente vs in this wretched Worlde and as the Prophet DAVID sheweth vs moste plainely and evidently in the some score and tenth Psalme wee knowe not how soone the Lord shall saye vnto vs Returne yee sonnes of ADAM vnto corruption And more-over time once being lost cannot be againe recovered for no Gold not price yet is there not any thing where-of men are more prodigall in so much that there is nothing whereof they regarde lesse the losse yea that which is worse the greater parte of menne counte so little of time that for a shorte and transitorie passing of time in this life they lose the ioye and felicitie of that everlasting life and perpetuall time whereof commeth this speecâ—e coÌ„monly vsed of this world pas time but by corruptioÌ„ of maners of men who esteemlightly how time passeth awaie so they may haue some vaine pleasure in the drist thereof as a thing where with they be fasshed and wearied So wee see how the little time that men haue
from an Ringe And for the like cause the auncient Aegyptians made the figure thereof in the similitude of a Serpent by ting his owne tayle The Moone likewise by her revolution in the lyft determineth vnto vs the Moneths and the Sunne by his dayly motion sheweth vs the dayes and the houres thereof The rest of the Planets also haue each of them their peculiar and determinate recourses of time wherein they compleit their revolution as Saturne in the space of thirty yeares or thereby Iupiter in twelue yeares March in two yeares Venus and Mercurie aggreeing with the course of the Sun The fixed starres also haue their peculiar motions and revolutions wherof it is not now necessary more largely to speake It is verifyed also by experience that inferiour thinges vnder the heavens haue their appoynted recourses and returnings Wherevnto SOLOMON hath respect where in his booke called the Preacher he maketh mention of the Elements the Sunne the aire and the water The Sunne sayeth he ryseth and goeth to and returneth againe to the place from whence it did ryse The wind which maketh the moving of the aire goeth compassing from the South to the North turning round about 〈◊〉 by his curcuits All the rivers go into the Sea yet the sea is not filled â—ver The rivers returne to the places from whence they come to flow Hee giveth these examples to shew the revolutions of worldly things and applyeth it to declare the revolution of the estate of mens ages and liues So a generation sayeth he passeth and another commeth and there is nothing new vnder the Sun but that which is newe hath bene in the ages before and the like shall be hereafter Signifying that after certaine Periods and courses of time all worldly and earthly thinges shall returne to their former or to their like estate according to the determination and appoynted will of God as the first cause and as hee directeth and governeth the second and inferiour causes And this falleth forth not onely in the ages and liues of men but generally in all things worldly that haue a generation must needs also haue a corruption So that also in the common-wealths and policies established by men for holding vp mutuall societies amongst themselues there be certain periodes of time which make them to change and alter which may be found out by experience and ensamples of Histories of all ages aswell Ecclesiasticall as profane The cause thereof cannot be ascribed to Chance and Fortune as vnskilfull men doe for then all these changes should be most vncertaine neither is it altogether to be ascribed to the corrupt manners of men that cannot long remaine in one estate but evermore seeke novationes and changes Albeit it bee from the better to the worse although that maie be as a concurrente cause but it must needes proceede from an high grounde Some therefore there bee that make all these Revolutiones and chaunges to depende and hange vppon the Revolutiones of the Heaven which is by the courses and influences of the Planets and Starres being therein moderate and governe all inferioure thinges in the Worlde Therefore some of them parte the Circkle of the Zodiake in Foure Threes or Quarters called Triplicities And like-wise the whole Heauen and fixed Starres being therein and according thereto Prognosticate of the estate and changeing of Realmes and Empyres of the Earth attrybuting also vnto everie Region and Kingdome certaine fixed Starres to beare particular rule and dominion there Others haue ane especiall respecte to the moste notable conjunctiones of the Plannets And namelie of the superioure Plannettes and to the Eclipses of the Sunne and the Moone Others also more probablie respecting the manifolde mysteries of the number of seauen divide in seavens the whole periodes of time according to the number of the seaven Planets making everie particular Periode to followe the nature of the Plannets that then raigneth beginninge at Saturne and descending through the reste So that the influence of thinges that fall out in everie Periode may bee founde agreeable therev-nto It is not to bee denyed indeede but there is greate force and efficacie in the influence of the Heavens and Heavenlie Lights to alter and chaunge inferioure thinges but I can not bee perswaded thaâ— menne haue yet so farre attayned to the knowledge thereof as to finde out perfitelie thereby the generall chaunges and alterationes of Kingdomes and common-wealthes Al-be-it it may bee and is probable that they haue found out many particulars concerning particular persons Therefore that which is gathered thereby is involved in great obscurity and imperfite Albeit I confes I haue lately seene a Table not yet set out in prente the authors name I will suppresse till he himselfe publish it wherein in the space of the side of an through of Paper the lesse periodes of time whereof we are to speake aggree so concerning things falling out thereto even from the beginning of the world vnto our dayes with the nature of the seaven Planets in their revolutions and order that it is merveilous and appeareth not to lacke a great mystery where of I cease to speake further at this time For I wil not ascribe vnto me the prayse of other mens labours But to our purpose it is to be graunted also that there be many other concurrent causes of the changes of Kingdomes and earthly governements which make them to fall from their foundations or at least to be translated from one estate to an other which may be spoken generally of the revolution of all worldly things And namely Plato in the eight Booke of his Republicque maketh mention of three courses of the estates of coÌ„mon wealthes to witte the rising flourishing and the decaying estate and of foure tearmes of their Periods The precise time of the which Periodes he involveth in an Aenigmaticall speech of two harmonies of numbers But vnles we take a better and more sure ground then such Philosophical conjectures we shall never attaine to anie sure knowledge of periodes of time that bring great chances and alterations either in Ecclesiasticall or in civill affaires Therefore we must come to the booke of God and first lay that generall grounde whereof Daniel maketh mention that it is he who altereth and translateth kingdomes and giueth them to whom he pleaseth And as concerning the periodes of times of such translationes and mutationes it is leisome to inquire and finde out the same also by the Scriptures For albeit the Apostles proponing the like question to Christ after his resurrection if that was the time wherein he should restore the kingdome to Israel received this aunswere That it was not for them to knowe the times or the seasons which the father had put in his own power Yet that is not so to be vnderstood as though it were not lawful to search out and know those times and seasons which the father hath revealed to be knowen by his Scripturs or that may be
what famine was in the Cittie of Ierusalem with pestilence and strange deathes ye may reade in Iosephus de bello Iudaico So in these latter daies what warres haue bene and yet continue Nation rysing against Nation and kingdome against kingdome even amongst vs Christians the fearefull effects can declare whereby we appeare to be made a pray to the Tyranny of the Turke vnlesse God of his mercy bridle his furie As to the Pestilence Famine and earthquaks such thinges were in the first comming of Christ as namely the famine whereof Agabus the Prophet fore warned as that terrible Earth-quake that was in the time that Christ suffered with other the like plagues So we haue seene daylie see many such feareful accidents more grieuously vexing the World nor ever they did manie yeares of before The third signe is persecution of the servants of God and especially of those that foreshewe faithfully the Gospell of Christ as it was in his first comming So is it notour what innocent blood hath bene shed for renewing the true Preaching of the Gospell in our dayes because these things are in recente memory vppon the particulars I need not to insist The fourth signe fore-tolde by our Maister Christ is the abundance of iniquitie that shuld accompany both his commings which with the reste of the signes of his first comming is properly to be applyed to the Nation of the Iewes whose iniquities 〈◊〉 to such exceeding measure that to overcome all the rest they regarded not to Crucifie the Sonne of God And nowe in these latter dayes vniversally amongst vs Christians what abundance of all impietie and wickednes what vnkindly dealing what vntruth Yea amongst the better sort who is not either cold or carelesse I neede not seeke examples they are so ryfe The first signe is the Preaching of the Gospell vniversally the which maketh all the other signes to worke effectually For these signs otherwise being natural or after a maner common being joyned with the Word are made Sacraments as was the Rayne-bow in the dayes of Noah signifying that there should not be an other like floud to destroy the whole world so in these latter times such signes preceeding Christ his latter comming and their significations declared by his Gospell prognosticate vndoubtedly his latter comming to judge the world by fyre For as it was in the dayes of Noah when a merveilous security was in the world notwithstanding the Preaching of Noah and preparation of his arke And as the Preaching of Christ and his Apostles was securely contemned by the Iewes So now a dayes the cleare light of the Gospell shining againe to the Worlde and making all men without excuse worketh no more in the minds of the most parte then 〈◊〉 were raw flesh which cannot digest vpō a lothsome stomack And as to the sixt token of signes in the Sun the Moone the stars concerning the shaking mooving of the powers of the heaven such thinges appeared in the first cōming of Christ when that most famous star appeared which declared to the Wise-men Christ his birth when that extraordinary darknes fel vpon the land of Iudaea in time of his suffring which albeit I take it not to haue bin an Eclipse of the Sun by interposition of the Moone between it the earth which could not then be without the whole motions of the heauen had bin changed yet was it an evidente darknes both in the Sun in the aire throughout all the Land of Iudaea The like whereof was in Aegypt vniuersally except where the Children of Israel remayned being the ninth plague wherewith the Lord smot that land Now likewise haue we seen in our dayes divers apparitions in the heaven namely that most notable star or comete which appeared in the yeare of our Lord 1572. most cleare without any spowting haires or beames from it the which the most learned did take for a signe of the approching of the Lord to judgemente against the bloudy tyrants of the earth namely that Herode of France We haue also seene now lately that great Eclipse of the Sunne the 1598. yeare whereof the effect yet continueth And as to the commotion or shaking of the powers of the heaven I shew of before how the signes are changed from their former places so that Aries is come to Taurus and Taurus to Gemini for the most parte and so foorth the reste To speake of the Triganes and great conjunctiones I will not now enter For I suppose the force thereof to be now greatlie debilitate by reason of the alteration of the signes and so leaue the discourse to others The seaventh and last signe is of the comming of the Sunne of man Christ himselfe who as hee appeared in his humanitie taking vpon him our nature wherein he suffered for our sinnes So is he to appeare in the cloudes in his seconde comming fearefull to the wicked and comfortable to the Electe The which seaventh signe resteth onelie to come For other sixe i◠a manner are come alreadie albeit it may be they appeare more evident hereafter Alwaies wee see howe the signes of the first and second comming of Christ do agree so farre as wee haue yet seene And as for this present yeare and yeares shortlie to come hereafter there appeares no lesse but rather greater mutationes yet to follow which may bee the thirde evidencie and argument of the approching of the latter daie For as to the signes of the heaven so manie and so greate Eclipses namelie of the Sunne haue not bene seene these manie yeares by-gane as shall be within sixe yeares to come What other heavenlie tokens wilbe annexed thereto the Lord knoweth But this I see that after or before the effecte of one Eclipse be ended immediatlie falleth out an other as this presente 1600. yeares at the ende of the effecte working of that Eclipse which was in the 1598. yeare signifying and bringing greate Windes and drought In the ende of Iune falleth out an other Eclipse of the Sunne and so foorth in the rest As to other particulars that are to fall foorth this yeare I will speake sparingly thereof for I pretend not the Spirite of prophecy neither do I depend much vpon the conjectures of Astrologues notwithstanding I shall recite that which I finde in others concerning the estate of this yeare and certaine yeares following thereafter shortely declare mine owne opinion following the grounds which I haue already laid I reade in the Treatise called The seconde comming of Christe whereof Scheltco a Geueren is the author his conjecture that about this 1600. yeare shall be the end of the periode of the Papisticall kingdome But he taketh vp his periods by full 500. years where as by our reckoning the greater period conteineth only 490. yeares And againe he counteth from the creation of the world to this 1600 yeare of Christ 5562. yeares more then our former count 14. yeares So that there will be a difference
A NEWE TREATISE OF THE RIGHT RECKONING OF YEARES AND AGES of the World and mens liues and of the estate of the last decaying age thereof this 1600. yeare of Christ Erroniouslie called a yeare of Iubilee which is from the Creation the 5548. yeare Conteining sundrie singularities worthie of observation concerning courses of times and revolutions of the Heauen and reformations of Kalendars and Prognostications with a discourse of Prophecies and signes preceeding the latter daye which by manie arguments appeareth now to approch With a godlie admonition in the end vpon the words of the Apostle to redeeme the time because the dayes are evill By M. ROBERT PONT and aged Pastour in the Kirk of Scotland The heades are set downe in certaine Propositions in the Page following LVKE 17. As it was in the dayes of Noe so shall it be in the dayes of the Sonne of man EDINBVRGH PRINTED BY ROBERT WALDE-GRAVE PRINter to the Kings Maiestie Anno 1599. Cum Priuilegio Regio The propositiones and heads to be handled in this Treatise 1. THat the most sure reckoning of the ages of the worlde is by Sabbathes or weekes of yeares and that they who count without respect thereof are in an errour and that by iust account this 1600. yeare of Christ is from the beginning of the world the 5548. yeare 2 That this yeare of Christ 1600. by right reckoning is neither a Sabbaticall yeare nor yet a yeare of Iubilee and that the true Iubilee of Christianes is alreadie accomplished with detection of the abuse of the counterfaited Iubilees holden at Rome 3 That the Iubilee of the Papisticall Romanistes neither doth rightly counterfaite the Iewes neither the Seculare yeares of the auncient Romanes And of diverse manners of reckoning the ages of the Worlde and of mens liues 4 That in our time the signes and revolutiones of the heaven are changed and remooved from the olde accustomed places And therefore the vulgare Prognosticators reckoning by the olde rules are in an errour 5 That the Iulian or Romane Kalendare might receiue an easier reformation and that the late attempted reformation thereof is not well taken vp but giveth occasion of errour in reckoning 6 That there is a merveilous sympathie of periodes of times in reckoning by seuens by Sabbatical yeares and of the manifold mysteries of the number of seauen 7 That there is an appearant dangerous alteration to fall out this yeare within few yeares hereafter and of the Prophecies and signes declaring to vs the world to be neare an end 8 An admonition to all men to prepare themselues and to redeeme the time because the dayes are evill TO THE RIGHT REVERENDâ— NOBLE LORD ALEXANDER SEYTON L. Vrquhard and Fyvie President in the Senate of Iustice and Provest of Edinburgh c. All health and felicitie in Christ. YOur Lordshippes gentle humanitie toward all honeste and well-hearted men and namely towards me since my first acquaintance hath mooved mee to dedicate to your honour this parte of the fruite of my studies knowing that amongst the rare Mecenases of this Land your name is with the highest ranke vnder his Maiestie to be mentioned The first cause I confesse that mooved mee to publish this Treatise in our English tongue was to disswade the too curious conceites of certaine men desirous to be at Rome this approching 1600. yeare commonly called a year of Iubilee wherof they shuld receiue no profit but rather domage with losse of time expenses For your L. knows wel ynough the maners of Rome as I am perswaded allowes not of that pompose superstition yet if your L. wil take paines not being fashed with more weighty matters to reade this whole discourse I trust you shall finde other heads whereof you shal like verie well that haue troubled the heades of learned men and not bene so exactly found out Wishing your L. to accept of this smal token of my good fauor towards your honor and to accept of me amongst the clientele of your friendship wherfore God-willing ye shall not finde me vnworthie To whose almightie protection I commit your L. This last of October 1599. Your L. ever ready to power in God ROBERT PONT TO THE READERS HAVing in hand a more large workâ— concerning controllment and examination of times by occasion of this incident 1600. yeare of Christ which is reckoned by the Papistes and others applauding to their superstition to be a yeare of Iubilee I thought good to prevent that errour by this little Treatise discevering thereby the vanitie of divers men of this Ile of others far cuntries who with great los of time and hazard not onely of their substance and liues but also of their soules and consciences minde to visite that Idole the Pope and to be present in Rome onely to see his yeare of Iubilee falsely being counterfaited to the imitation of the Iubilees of the Iewes but indeede derogatory to the true Iubilee and spirituall libertie purchased vnto vs by our Saviour Christ. And for-as-much as this instante yeare is the ende of a great Period of time to witte sixteene hundreth yeares from Christ his nativitie wherein there appeares diverse great mutationes to fall out aswel in the estate of Religion as in civill affaires and common wealthes I haue herewith not onely discovered diverse erroures in reckoning of times and ages of the Worlde and laboured to finde out the right reckoning but also touched the revolution of the heauen and reformation of Kalendars and Prognostications and declared my iudgement concerning the Prophecies and signes of the latter day appearing nowe shortly to approche If any be not satisfied with the brevitie of this Treatise I reâ—â—itte them to my more ample discourse to be set out in Latine if GOD graunt me abilitie and time wherein the proofe of these propositiones with other matters of the like arguments will be conteined at large Read learne-well and try Then judge advisedly OF THE DECAYING ESTATE OF THE worlde this instante 1600. yeare of Christ. FIRST PROPOSITION That the most sure reckoning of the age of the worlde is by Sabbath's of yeares and they that count not considdering the same are in an errour and that by iust account this 1600. yeare from Christ his birth is from the beginning of the worlde the 5548. yeare IN The beginning as the Spirite of God recordeth by MOYSES after that the Lord in sixe dayes had created the Heaven Earth with all the furniture thereof Hee rested vpon the seventh day Therefore hee blessed it and hallowed it This is also repeated in the fourth Commandemente for the perpetuall observation of that daye and because the number of seauen by that reason is a sacred nomber and most meete for al kinde of reckoning It was ordained also in the lawe that amongst the people of God everie seventh yeare should be holden holy wherin the land should rest froÌ„ labor so that therin there shuld neither be sowing of cornes nor cutting
vncleane spirite goeth out of a man hee goeth about seeking rest and when he findeth none hee passeth and taketh vnto him seaven other Spirites worse then himselfe and returneth to his former habitation Not that in all places of Scripture the number of seaven is taken for a certain precise number For we know when it is said in the Psalme That the iust man falleth seaven times a day And when Christ saide to PETER That he should forgiue his brother not onelye seaven times but seaventy times seaven times the meaning is of many times yet the seaven folde number oft-times also is taken for a certaine number as in many places before cited and namely almost through the whole Revelation the divine Spirite in IOHN setteth out the estate of the Church by the manifold numbers of seaven As first he is commanded to write to seaven Churches in Asia vnder the figure of seaven Golden candlesticks to the seaven Angels are the ministers thereof figured by seauen stars in the right hand of Christ Next we haue the book closed with seaven seals which signifyeth the hid misteries of God opened by Christ where the opening of everie seale conteineth the precise space of seaven yeares As likewise The seaven Angels with their seaven Trumpets and seauen Viols everie one of them as was declared before conteine the space of fiue times seaven weekes of years As also may be vnderstood of the seaven thunders By every of them are at least of the first three seaven-time seaven yeares that is the space of ane Iubilee There is amysterie also in the seaven heades and seaven Crownes of the beaste set out in the twelft Chapter which with the reste I referre to the learned exposition of IOHN NAPER vpon the Revelation before mentioned By all which similitudes reckonings many moo we may perceiue not onlie of the number of seaven to contein great misteries but also to be a number of such perfection that years times and other accidents bee specially courted thereby As also if I would insist the like may be founde in manie naturall thinges both in heaven and earth As in the heavens the seaven Planets haue their seauen severall courses which worke great operations in the inferiour Elements Likewise amongst the fixed starres there be 7. called Pleiades and other 7. Hyades and the two Polare Images called Visa maior Vrsa minor conteine either of them 7. stars And in the earth there be 7. principal habitable climates The stature of mans body is of 7. foote with many other such-like But it shal suffice here to make an end SEVENTH PROPOSITION Of the estate of this present 1600. yeare of Christ in particular And that there is an appearant dangerous alteration to fall out therein and within few yeares thereafter THe estate of this present 1600 yeare of Christ in particular which mooved me to write this Treatise is now to be considered which as was declared is from the creation of the world the 5548. year coÌ„teining 792. weekes of years for od years it conteineth also 113. Iubilees 11 single yeares For before the 71. yeare of Christ were passed 82. Iubilees and from thence to our time to wit to 1589. year of Christ 31. Iubilees Signifyed by the Evangelist Iohn in his Revelation by the space of the blowing of the 7. trumpets every trumpet conteining 245. years So that this 1600. yeare is the 60 yeare of the blast of the seaventh last trumpet for to the compleiting of this 7. last blast yeares thereof there wil be from the creation of the world 117. Iubilees that is 819. weeks of years 5733. single yeares which wil extend to the year of Christ 1785. years if the world shal continue so long But the time by great probabilitie good arguments is to be abbreviat for the Elect sake This 1600 yeare then may justly be called a yeare of the decaying and fading age of the world for many reasons First because all things that approch neere an end are saide to decaie and fayle as it commeth to passe in this yeare by the preceeding reckoning For if the reckoning fall not the prophetie in the Revelation cannot fayle where it is written That the Angell that stood vppon the sea and earth hauing the booke in his hande sware by him that liueth for euer more which created the heaven earth and sea and all things conteined therein that time shalbe no more But in the dayes of the voyce of the seaventh Angell when he is to blow even the mystery of God shall be finished as hee hath declared to his servants the Prophets Now the seaventh Angel hath begunne alreadie to blow his trumpet by our reckoning in the 1541. yeare of Christ by-gan and now the voyce of that trumpet stil soundeth in our eares willing vs to prepare vs for that great day of the Lordes judgement Secondly because the signes tokens fore-told aswel by our Saviour himselfe as by the Prophets and namely by the Spirite of God in the Revelation that were to proceed that great judgemente are for the most parte already come to passe and accomplished Concerning the which when as the Apostles asked of our Maister Christ hee fore-warneth them of seaven For they demaunded him of three questions to witt when shall be the destruction of the Temple and cittie of Ierusalem What should be the signe of his comming and of the ende of the Worlde He maketh his aunswere in two resolving all these three questiones by the two-times of his comming in the Worlde Whereof the former was of his first comming in the flesh the other in his latter comming to judgement For the signes both of the one and the other he declareth to be a like Therefore sayeth he Verely I say vnto you this generation shall not passe til all these things be fulfilled And againe there be some here standing that shall not taist of death til all be done For albeit the signes that preceed the latter judgement by extraordinary yet they were not to bee vnlike to them that were at his first comming in the flesh as hee deduceth them by the particulars First sayeth hee there shal come false Christs and false prophets So was there in his first comming Benchobab alias Barchoshaâ— who feined himselfe to be Messias And Iudas Galilaeus and Theâ—das with other false Prophets And in this laste comming likewise The Romane Antichrist vsurping Christ his authority And the sect of the Iesuites falsely taking their name from Iesus but more worthie to take it from Iudas Ischariot with the Anabaptistes Libertines and many other false Prophets Secondly where hee sayeth There shall be battelles and rumours of battelles with pestilence famine and earth-quakes in divers places So was it found especially at his first comming among the Iewes rebelling against the Romanes by whome they and their common-wealth were finally vtterly over-throwen And
in all ages periodes of time the beginning of the Preaching of the Gospell yet continue in ouâ— daies For the end is not yet come And the estate of the Church is like to the selfe almost in all ages But by the blowing of the seaven trumpets alluding to the Iubilâ—es of the lewes we vnderstand the particular estate of every periode of time since the first Preaching of the Gospel as partly was declared before Of the which periodes wee are now into the seventh and last to wit in the beginning thereof which hath affinitie and similitude with the ende of the former sixt periode and blast of Trumpet Therefore ceasing now to make discourse in particular of the first foure blasts of the Trumpet wherin the first plague of haile fyre mingled with bloud doth signifie a certaine vnmeete temperature of colde and heate of men in receiving the Gospell with mingled bloudy persecution of the tyrantes of the earth And the seconde of the burning mountaine cast into the sea may signifie the greate persecutor Diocletian being last of these emperors with his fierie rage against the wavering multitude of christians of whoÌ„ the third part were either destroyed or yeelded to his tyrannie The third truÌ„pet likewise making mention of a greate star falling from heaven doth properly signifie Arius who with his bitter heresie against the divinity of the Son of God infected the pure fountains of the word of God And wher it is said that at the blaste of the fourth trumpet the third parte of the Sunne the Moone and Starres were smitten Wee vnderstand the light of the pure Gospel with the Ministers therof to haue bin in a great part obscured in that foure periode of time Of these things I say I wil not nowe intreate in particular but come to the last three blastes of trumpet conteining three woes that is three more fearefull plagues then the former So commeth the fift blast and first woe about the 1051. yeare of Christ wherein a greate starre falleth from heaven to whom was given the â—eye of the bottomlesse-pit out of the which arose a great and dark smoke and out of the smoke Locustes which are described at length in the text This starre I take vndoubtedly to signifie the Pope with his feyned keyes whereby he pretendeth to haue power to hinde louse not only in the earth but also to deliver mens soules out of Purgatorie with the smoke of false doctraine and the â—ocustes to signifie his corrupted Clergie and swarmes of Cloysters who are set foorth with their liuely colours properties that no man can deny to agree wel vnto them This star may also signifie Mahomet that false prophet with his corrupted Alcoran and 〈◊〉 of his secte Alwaies the remanent of this first 〈◊〉 â—et troubleth the world albeit this Antichristiâ—â— and Papisticall kingdome in a parte hath gotten a great fal Therefore we come to the sixt trumpet which begouth to be blowen about the year of Christ 1296. wherein the foure Angels were loused from the floud Euphrates which is most conveniently interprete of the four great Mahometane nations comming from the East to witte the Arabianes Saracenes Turkes and Tartarianes with the infinite number of their Horsemen ay ready for battel with a furious and fyrie rage namly that bloudy Nation of the Turkes who now hath the dominion over the rest and over a great parte of the Earth This is the second woe whereof this day still we haue experience IOHN therefore sayeth hee saw these horses long before in a vision with them that sate vpon them having fyerie habbergeons and of Iacynth brimstome that of the fyery smoke brimstone the third part of men were killed which may wel signifie their goodnes artillery by the which devillish inventioÌ„ a great part of men of the world are daily murthered shutt out at their mouthes fyered at their tayles This plague then being one of the last plagues signifyed also in powring out of the sixt Viole vpoÌ„ the great river Euphrates to dry it vp that is to take away all impediments to giue place in the wrath of God to the kings of the East to invade Europe ceaseth not this day to continue is appearant to continue with great rage this instant 1600. yeare certain years hereafter concurring with the threatning signes of the heavens whereof I haue already spoken And the cause thereof is evideÌ„t Because as it followeth in the text The rest of men which are not already killed by these plagues repented not of their workes of their hands that they should not worship divels Idoles of God and of silver of brasse and stone and of wood which neither can see neither heare nor goe expressely damning the Papistes which yet remaine in their Idolatrie As also these repenteth not of their murthering of the Saints of God nor of their sorceries neither their fornications nor of their thieft In the which they and other feyned Christians amongs vs still are involved For the which causes followeth the third last woe with the blast of the 7. trumpet which begouth to blow about the 1541 year of Christ. But before this last woe fal out the Lord by the Angel of his covenant Iesus Christ of his great goodnes offreth to the world the book of his new Testament willeth the same to be preached by his Ministers with that to our great coÌ„fort the true church is measured the elect ar marked so that Satan the tyrants of the world caÌ„not hinder their salvation TheÌ„ finally commeth the last plague woe vpon infidels impenitent sinners suddenly vnlooked for when they with then head the divell shall passe with manie woes vnto everlasting torment but this shal not be till the second woe be vtterly consumed past with the dependances therof which aâ— signifyed in the seaventh blast by a wounderfull great Earth-quake with lighenings and voyces and thundrings with much haile The like whereof is repeated in powring of the seavent viole of Gods wrath where it is said also that the hail was great like talents that fell out of heauen vpon men so that thâ—y blasphemed God because of the plague of the haile it was so great By which figures the Spirite of God will vtter vnto vs the great destruction of his enemies with such as hold stil the beasts mark haue no grace to repente in these last daies For of before the thundring of Gods word called all men to repentance and to obedience of the Gospell with an amiable and loving voyce But now finally such as will not come out of Babylon nor repent their wicked lines by Gods just judgement are threatned with an other kinde of thundring to witte with horible punishmeÌ„t alluding by these similituds to the over throw of Sodome to the words of the Psalmist where he saieth vpon the wicked God shal raine snares fyre