of Antichrist Ruine of Rome and Annihilation of the Sodomitical Order of the society of Jesus and in the Extirpation of all Kingdoms and free Estates of Papists adhering to them to make way for the Lion of the North to erect his Fifth our Fourth Monarchy in the Ashes of Germany wherein shall be established the eternal Felicity of the Church by the Conversion of the Jews and Fulness of the Gentiles This he calls in the same Page the Ministerial not Personal Reign of Christ on Earth § 15. Pag. 10. Out of Buxtorfs Letter to Mr. Shirley Fellow of Trinity Colledg dated May 3. 1624. he brings in these words of Baudensis concerning the same Comet and Conjunction according to the Opinion of the Northern Astrologers Behold thou then a Prophecy if not Apostolical far beyond Astrological if I mistake not God hath arisen and drawn out his Sword there shall happen in these our European Regions the Slaughter of People Funerals of Kings Subversions of Common-wealths Mutations of Monarchies Massacres of Princes and Illustrious Commanders violent proud Councils Treasons Rebellions and in Northern parts of Europe War Sickness Pestilence Princes cast out of their Dominions Fathers banished Children after a long time restored This Comet also threatens the terrible Ruine of Rome and Burnings in all the Cities of Europe The Papistical Clergy and especially the Cardinals shall be cast down from their Dignities the Jesuits shall be every where drawn out to Death neither shall the French nor Spaniards have Courage to save their Necks from the Halters Futhermore we discern a Kingdom to arise in the Holy Land of its most ancient Inhabitants which to Christians shall be a Miracle and to the World a Terror And these shall succeed in the Revolution into a new Empire under which shall be administred Universal Gladness Joy and Delight to Mankind the Wicked being every where taken away All these things shall be effected by a certain Northern King who shall miraculously establish Peace Religion and Security throughout the whole World So far Buxtorf in his Letter from Baudensis and the Northern Astrologers § 16. The same Anonymous pag. 12 13. Paul Grebner of Misnia was more than an Inquisitor into the effects of Stars being questionless endued from above with a Prophetick Spirit He plainly affirms that as England was ever a Monarchy within it self since it was discovered by the Romans so shall it in like manner continue and remain even then when all other Kingdoms and States in Europe are swallowed up of the Fourth Monarchy of the Lion of the North. And saith that Grebner never speaks of England in all his famous Manuscripts but as the most Warlike and Potent Kingdom of Europe Pag. 25. He saith i. Baudensis from his Unkle Grebner as it seems that the Eclipses happening two Years before or after 1660 portend the Mutations of all the several States of Austria Silesia Hungary Holland France and Portugal and that the Revolution of Times is come wherein they must give place to the Lion of the North whose Scepter shall bruise their Power to nothing and his Gauntlet lay their Forces prostrate at his Feet § 17. Note well If all other Kingdoms be swallowed up by this Northern Lion save England only neither France nor Holland being excepted then without doubt the English Monarchy will be too much concerned and too nearly to stand still and consequently must be either the Head or some Confederate Limb of this Lion at least and that will yet more clearly appear by the mournful Ditty as he calls it which he puts into Europe's Mouth to sing at that time which by its Character seems to be a Fragment of the ancient Sibyline Oracles for he tells not whence he or his Author had it § 18. Heu mala Progenies Fatis servata nefandis Gens nefandarum Domitrix altrixque ferarum Quid fueras quid sisque vide Tua prima propago Bella gerit Sobolemque petit lues atra secundam At Leo terribilis Borealibus editus oris Flammi feram ex * Orco pelagi plangentibus undis Educens aciem pecudes urbesque virosque Sternet antiquis Solem Lunamque movebit Sedibus ille etiam patrio jure infima summa Reddet occasum sub Legis mittet inermem Thus Englished § 19. Alas ill race to dismal Fates reserved By whom dire Beasts are tamed and preserved See what thou wert and art Thy first issue Inclines to War Plague doth the next subdue Thus Sibyl or what ever other Author Penn'd this Prophecy thus far doth very mystically and yet learnedly and aptly depaint to us the City and Empire of Rome in her Heathen estate taming and nourishing all sorts of wild Beasts to be brought forth in their Theaters for their Sport and above any other Nation addicted to and flourishing in Wars but in her latter declining and degenerated Christian Estate subject unto the Pestilential Chair of the Papacy But a fierce Lion sprung from the Northern Shore Shall bring from deepest * Hell and Waves that roar A blazing Army he shall Men ore-run Cities and Cattel yea the Moon and Sun Remove shall he and Father like the least Make Highest and give Laws to the weak West The word Orcus * translated Hell here is properly to be understood of Great Britain supposed by the Ancients to be the Fortunate Islands in whose most Northern parts Hell was thought to be as in the most Southern the ever-green Elizian Fields And there to those names Thule Scotia Orcades do manifestly alude as the Learned know Thule in the Phaenecian Tongue as Scotos in the Greek signifie Night and Obscurity See our Historians Camden Ailef c. § 20. Thus far our said Anonymus out of Grebner and Baudensis his Nephew I will next transcribe hither Grebner's own words out of 72 and 73 Banners and translate them only omitting for brevity sake in the first Quae animus meminisse horret The Predictions of our late Confusions known to be too truly described by him and published by others Banner 72. Per id tempus Rex quidam Borcalis nomine Carolus c. post hunc eleget nullum Interea unus è stirpe Caroli in littore Regni Pattis sui cum Gallicis Suevicis Danicis Hollandicis Burgundicis Germanicis auxilliis stabit omnes inimicos suos cruentissimo prelio superabit postea Regnum suum felicissime administrabit eritque Carolo Magno Major In English About that time a certain Northern King shall marry Mary c. after him they Elect none But in the mean time one of Charls's Line shall stand and with Auxiliary French Swedish Danish Hollandian Burgundian German Forces shall fight a most cruel Battel at the Shore of his Father's Kingdom vanquish all his Enemies and afterwards most happily Govern his Kingdom and shall be greater than Charles the Great § 21. Banner 73. Europae labes imbecillitas singulorum ejusdem Regnorum sedem mirabiliter struet quintae
29. And whereas thou sawest two under Wings that went off towards the Head which was on the right side this is the inpretation 30. These are they whom the most High hath preserved for their end whose Kingdom is little and full of trouble as thou sawest 31. And the Lion which thou sawest rising up out of the Wood and roaring and speaking to the Eagle and rebuking her for Unrighteousness with all the words which thou hast heard 32. This is the Wind which the most High hath kept for them for their Wickedness unto the end and he shall reprove them and cast before them their Spoils 33. For he shall set them alive in the Judgment and shall rebuke them and correct them 34. For he shall deliver the residue of my People by Affliction which are preserved upon my Borders and he shall make them joyful until the coming of the Day of Judgment whereof I have spoken unto thee from the beginning 35. This is the Dream that thou sawest and these are the interpretations Thus far the Angel Uriel to Esdras CHAP. XIII 1. ANd it came to pass after seven days I dreamed a Dream by Night 2. And lo there arose a Wind from the Sea that it moved all the Waves thereof 3. And I beheld and lo that Man waxed strong with the thousands of Heaven 25. This is the meaning of the Vision Whereas thou sawest a Man coming up from the midst of the Sea 26. The same is he whom God the Highest hath kept a great season which by his own self shall deliver his Creature and he shall order them that are left behind 29. Behold the days come when the most High will begin to deliver them that are upon the Earth 30. And he shall come to the astonishment of them that dwell on the Earth 31. And one shall undertake to fight against another one City against another one Place against another one People against another and one Realm against another 32. And the time shall be when these Things shall come to pass and the Signs shall happen which I shewed thee before and then shall my Son be declared whom thou sawest as a Man ascending 33. And when all the People hear his Voice every Man shall in their own Land leave the Battel they have one against another 34. And an innumerable multitude shall be gathered together as thou sawest them willing to come and to overcome him by fighting 35. But he shall stand upon the top of the Mount of Sion 36. And Sion shall come and shall be shewed to all Men being prepared and builded like as thou sawest the Hill graven without Hands 39. And whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable Multitude un-unto him 40. Those are the ten Tribes NB. That in the famous Book by some called the Baby Prophecy sometimes in the custody of the Earl of Marlborough or a Copy of it seen and remembred by several Persons of Honour yet alive and for the most part fulfilled in innumerable Particulars * Generosa Nobilitas non sinet ei fieri malum The Nobles and Gentry shall suffer no Wrong to be done to the King nor his Crown the present King of England survives the last great Battel And as here the end of all those Prophecies is the Conversion of the Eastern Jews for their Habits mistaken for Turks I would not any much should trust or fear Such Prophecies but when Events appear To answer unto that which was foretold Wise Men should make what use of them they could And so direct their Actions that Hell's Charms And Cheating Riddles may not do them harms i. e. By Justice and Mercy towards Men and Piety to God Anonymous future History of Europe SECT 11. § THe two Books of Esdras are thought and that by none of the least Learned St. Augustine St. Ambrose Tostatus Scaliger the Elder Melancthon Arias Montanus Bucer and Bibliander to be Canonical because of the most eminent fulfilling of many Predictions in them contained In the 11th Chapter of the second of those Books there is under the Type of an Eagle a manifest Prophecy both of the Roman Heathenish Empire as likewise of the Papacy with her chief Leaguers to this present Time throughout the whole Chapter This Eagle is the Roman Heathenish Empire her twelve Feathered Wings are the twelve first Emperours from Julius Caesar to Nerva The three Heads are the Kingdoms of France Spain and Germany preordained of God to maintain the power of her Pride when all her Wings her Heathenish and Tyrannical Caesars should fail her Nevertheless under her twelve first Caesars are comprehended in general all the Emperours which Reigned in her from Julius Caesar who first crackt the strings of her Liberty to Augustulus Momyllus her last Roman Caesar for the space of 474 Years Her eight contrary Feathers are the eight terrible Inundations of several Nations from the North God's Scourges which overwhelmed her fairest Provinces sunk her State in Blood and by Fire and Sword humbled her as low as the Dust she trod on viz. 1. Alaricus and his West Goths 2. Attilas and his Huns. 3. Gensericus and his Vandals 4. Odoacer 5. Theodoricus and his East Goths 6. Totilas and his Spaniards 7. Alboinus and his Longobards who deposed her Diminutive Gaesar Augustulus Momyllus 8. And lastly The intestine Home-bred Faction and Conspiracy which proved more Pernitious than the rest as all intestine Diseases are the worst which in the Reigns of Otho the Great Otho the III and Frederick the II so often strove to eradicate the Papal Superiority and re-edifie her S. P. Q. R. buried so many Ages ago out of the Ruines of the City The Head in the midst is the German Empire begun A. C. 801 on Christmas Day by Charles the Great which though v. 32. it long did and yet doth put the Earth in great fear yet v. 33. must vanish in an instant as did the Wings and come to nought The German Empire thus destroyed v. 35. The Head on the right side the Kingdom of Spain must devour the Head on the left side the Kingdom of France Therefore it is manifest that the Kingdom of France though now it flourisheth in what Glory and Magnificence the Earth can afford must ere long be humbled by the Power of Spain with many Discomfitures and brought to doleful Straits and great Perplexities I my self have observed how that Year in which the Figures of the Golden Number were equal to the Figures of the Year of Christ hath ever proved Fatal to that Monarchy It was so with them from 1570 to 1576 In all which seven Years the Guisian Faction made lamentable Havock of the Church of God and the Kingdom So shall it be in that Year in which the final Tragedy of that Kingdom shall be acted six Years after which France shall be no more But when that shall be no sign of Europe shall remain nor remembrance where the Walls of Rome stood §
2. The Lion which ver 37 and Chap. 12. ver 31. came roaring out of the Wood speaking to the Eagle and rebuking her for her Wickedness is the Wind which the most High God hath kept for Rome and her Wickedness till the end even the Lion of the North of which you shall hear a Prophecy anon of the true Merlin which shall reprove the Roman Empire and cast before her her Spoils he shall set her alive in Judgment Rebuke and Correct her and deliver the rest of God's People from Affliction which are preserved on his Borders and make them joyful to the Day of Judgment § 3. In the 13th Chapter Esdras beholds a Vision of a Man rising out of the Sea and devouring the multitude of Fighters that came against him neither with Sword Spear nor any Instrument of War but only with the Fire and Storm that came out of his Mouth which is Christ the Son of Man who through a Sea of Bloody Persecutions and Tribulations propagated the Gospel over the Earth confounding and devouring the multitudinous Pagans and Idolaters fighting against Christians by the invincible force of the Gospel After a long time of the obstinate wilfulness of the Western Jews and fulness of the Gentiles he shall call to himself another peaceable Multitude even the whole Nation of the Jews out of Armenia Tartaria and the Eastern India whom God shall defend and convert to the Gospel when he shall destroy all other Nations upon Earth These are called the Peaceable People because after the Conversion of the Jews shall come that Ministerial Monarchy of the Church over the whole World that peaceable and still time when all the Nations of the Earth shall forget Fighting one against another Wars shall cease in all the World and Swords and Spears shall be beaten into Plow-Shares and Pruning-Hooks § 4. When the seventh Angel blew his Trumpet Luther began his Reformation then it was when the Multitude stood before the Lamb and sung the new Song of Moses and that nevertheless is but the Vail of the Tabernacle opened in Heaven and a great Cloud and Smoke covered that Glory But it must be 180 Years after when the Kingdoms of this World become the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and those be destroyed that destroyed the Earth For then and not till then shall the Temple of God be fully opened in Heaven and the Ark of his Testimony the very same Model which God shewed to Moses in the Mount shall be seen at Jerusalem not in a Tabernacle but in that Temple which the Power of God shall make Then shall lastly the four Beasts the Elders with all the Angels of Heaven and all the Creatures of Heaven Earth and Sea and under the Earth fall down before the Throne and give Glory Honour Blessing and Praise unto him that sitteth on the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and the four Beasts shall say Amen Thus far that Anonymus in his brief Exposition on Esdras § 5. If this find kind Acceptation a fuller and more particular Exposition of this Prophecy will be Published which is now Collected out of several learned Commentators If any think it improbable that the middle Head the Roman Empire can be determined and die in Torment but not by Blood and Conquest but as it were in its Bed as is here foretold Esdras iv Chap. 12. ver 26. On the contrary nothing seems to me more probable than that the German Princes to extricate themselves from the Troubles the House of Austria have brought on them first by Civil Wars and now by the Emulation that is risen betwixt it and France should after this Emperours Death that they might not offend France forbear to choose a King of the Romans and be thence-forth governed by a Vicar or the Diet Parliament or Common Council of the Empire And it is also very agreeable to Daniel's Prophecy from whence we may expect that there will be daily more and more Breaches made of the Western Empire into smaller Divisions but no Coalition into one Head or Empire till it be throughly Reformed Our Author here as some others takes it for granted as the Presumptions of those Times he lived in gave him confidence to believe that Spain was the right Head and would destroy France the left whereas the contrary is in our Times much more probable To us the matter is not worth disputing whether shall first perish since both must CHAP. II. Merlins Prophecy of the Lion of the North. THe Northern Kingdoms shall be wasted by Reapers The Southern Principalities shall end in Dust Cruel Wars shall be scattered by the Winds their growth and continuance by Bastards All these things shall hardly be accomplished when a Prince of Royal Stock shall come forth crowned from the Northern Parts as to his own People unexpected but desired by Foraiguers who because he shall bear a Rampant Lion shall therefore be called a Lion He shall not rest till after he hath called a Synod and after dissolved it by Threats he shall advance his Conquering Arms against his Enemies and by woful Success shall harrass the Territories of Neighbour Princes He shall exceed Alexander the Great in Valour and Cyrus in Success He shall cross the Seas and be saluted Emperour by many Kings a certain ancient City shall he lay even with the Ground In the interim a warlike powerful Prince from the East shall provoke him to Battel against whom the Lion shall march with all his Forces and pitching his Camp on this side Euphrates shall expect him § 7. If the Prince shall come over the River the Lion shall be overcome but he shall pass his Army over the River and give his Enemy a bloody Defeat and be Master of all the East Whilst these things are in Action divers Petty Kings from India shall break into Syria with mighty Armies and provided for Battel shall wait for the Lion about the Valley of Jehosaphat where they shall by him be wholly cut off Not long after shall the Lion himself decease after that with eminent Piety he shall have established the Kingdom of the Fugitives i. e. Perhaps banished Jews § 8. There was living in King Lucius's days Merlin the first a Scot he is the true Merlin if any Prophecies of his could be found great Credit were to be given to them He was a great Friend of King Lucius and his daily Companion Of his there is but one Prophecy extant which is found in that Ancient Prophecy of Ninius of Bangor who yet lives in MS. King Lucius the first Christian King but yet unconverted from Paganism to him Merlin Prophesied That within less than a Sequi-decumane period of Time 1500 Years the Eagle's Head should be cloven in two one part whereof Agar i. the Agarens the Turks shall burn with Fire and Japhet the Northern Nations the Isles of the Gentiles the other after the grand Revolution of Days c. See The Future History of
Monarchiae quae sub tempus exitii Romani Imperii ad terrorem totius Mundi ex ruinis Germaniae refulgebit Haec triennii spacio caetera Europae Regna aut vi perdomitabit aut belli metu ad societatem propellet quo universalem Ligam unionem omnium Protestantium efficiet c. In English The Corruption of Europe and the Weakness of her several Kingdoms shall strangely make way for the Fifth or Fourth Monarchy which about the time of the fall of the Roman Empire shall to the Terrour of the whole World appear and shine out gloriously from the Ruines of Germany This shall within three Years subdue by force the rest of the Kingdoms of Europe or for fear of War shall force them to League with it whereby it shall bring all the Protestants into an universal Union and Confederacy c. By this latter Passage it appears that the great and bloody Victory the Lion of the North shall attain by the assistance of French Swedish Danish Hollandian Burgundian German Forces must be understood to be obtained by the Protestants of those Parts And that if he find any to oppose and fight with him in his own Kingdoms they can be none but Papists § 22. To Grebner and his Nephew Baudensis I will add one or two Astrological Testimonies more which perhaps will be of no less weight and give greater satisfaction to our Reader The first is Magel as I find his Manuscript quoted by my Anonymus Pag. 55. in these words Magel in his Fifth i. or Fourth Monarchy is most plain This Star saith he which this Year 1572 appeared upon Casiopaea's Chair being placed above the whole Elementary Region did signifie the Revolution and Dominion of a new Empire Which effects shall not yet be seen in this our Age yet are they reserved for a certain Nation as yet invisible the Beams of whose Greatness shall be extended through the whole Verge of Heaven and Earth § 23. The Astrologer writes only of that Star which was seen at that time when he wrote this Manuscript but William Johnson a Scholar of the Illustrious Astronomer Ticho Brahe in his lesser Globes dedicated to Maurice Prince of Nassaw tells us of this in Casiopaea and another in the Swans brest Of this new Star in Casiopaea he speaks thus Stella nobilis quae insolito prae aliis fulgore Anno. 1572. per annum trientem Circa Casiopaea sedem fuit conspicua A noble Star Anno. 1572. for a whole Year and four Months was with unusual brightness conspicuous in the Chair of Casiopaea § 24. Upon that in the Swans Brest he hath these words Novam illam Stellam quae Anno. 1600. primum in pectore Cygni apparuit atque etiamum immota manet ex diligenti nostra ad caudae lyrae lucidae observationem Longit. ♒ 16.15 Latitud Boreal 55.30 habere comperimus I observed saith he that new Star which first appeared in the Brest of the Swan in the Year 1600 and abides there unmoved unto this day this Year 1603 and found its Latitude to be ♒ 16.15 Northern Latitude 55.30 CHAP. IV. The Confession of the Rosie Cross c. § 25. WHoever he was that wrote the Fame and Confession of the Society of the Rosie Cross he in the 47th Page of the English Translation professes to have the same notion of these Stars with Magel the Astrologer fore-quoted and mentions a third in Serpentarius over and above the two former His words there are these The Lord sent before certain Messengers which should testifie his Will to wit some new Stars which do appear and are seen in the Firmament in Serpentarius and Cygnus which signifie and give themselves to be known to every one as powerful signacula of great and weighty Matters So here are three Heavenly Messengers or Witnesses § 26. In the same Book Pag. 17. They tell you what those great and and weighty Matters are namely The Lion of the North and his Monarchy that is our Fourth Monarchy in these Words They tell you Europe is with Child and shall bring forth a strong Child the Lion of the North who shall need a great God-Father's Gift and there they also express what that Gift is and promise it him in these words We do promise more Gold than both the Indies bring c. Now if you would know what is the Name of the God-Father and consequently of the God-Son on whom this great Gift will be bestowed you may learn there also in that Book that his Name which is also the Seal of the said Society is C. R. and that all the aforesaid Treasure was laid up by C. R. the Father of the Rosie Crucian Society for his God-Son G. R. the Lion of the North. § 27. To these I will joyn Dr. John Bainbridg Astronomy Professor in the University of Oxon who concurs in his Opinion with these learned Men in his Astronomical Description of the Comet 1618 London 1619. Moral Prognostic Pag. 30 31. he writes thus Novit Deus omnia Solus Quae sunt quaefuerint quae mox ventura trahuntur God only knows and none but He What is what was and what shall be § 28. Yet to descend lower than Universalities That blessed Star which conducted the Magi to Christ's poor but sacred Nursery of whose Incarnation and Happiness to Mankind that Star was an Heavenly Harbinger doth enforce me often to think that these many new Stars and Comets which have been more this last Century of the World than in many Ages before did amongst other things signifie that glorious Light of the Gospel which hath lately illuminated the whole World About the Preaching of Luther were at least five Comets in ten Years so the Doctor proceeds after which follows the happy departure of Germany and England and many other Northern Parts from the Spiritual Babylon This new Comet doth give us hope that the rest of Christendom before long will follow and so at length shall be verified the Prophecy of Sibyl upon occasion of these new Stars 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rome shall become again a Forlorn or Desert Village or Sheepcoat Before I proceed farther with our Doctors Text I will insert what I find to this purpose Translated by my Lord Napier in his Discovery of the Revelation Pag. 374. out of the 8th Book of the Sibyline Oracles Then ends the World then comes the latter Light Then God shall come to Judge his Folk aright But first shall fall on Rome by resistance Of God's fierce Wrath the direful Vengeance A woful Life a Bloody Time shall be Oh People rude Oh Land of Cruelty Thou little lookst nor dost regard aright How poor and bear thou first came in the Light That to the like again thou should return And last before a dreadful Judge shalt Mourn So Napier I return to my learned Doctor § 29. Did not our Fathers find saith he the Comet in 1588. to be a sign of much Happiness to the Persecuted Protestants
Passion Resurrect Ascension    Gifts Wisdom Justice Sanctifica Redemption A Judgment O Heavenly S Spirit Visitation Earth Egypt Jerusalem Babel    Rivers Pison Gihon Hidekel Euphrates    Faces Water Moses Christ Jerusalem    Witnesses Spirit and Water Fire and Water Water and Blood Spirit and Fire By this Key it appears that to the Northern Monarchy reserved to the Winter and Old-Age of the World are attributed by the Wise the most excellent powerful Agents Fire and Government-Monarchick therefore called the Kingdom of God and his Christ Law of Love and Peace Ministry interpreting the most hidden Mysteries of Nature by Fire of Gospel by Revelation Choicest Gifts Successes Graces and Glories CHAP. XII § 105. FOr a close we will here add some other Prophecies which predict the Fall of Rome though they specify not the Hand that must destroy it to be from the North. And first let the Nun Hildegard speak Popes Cardinals c. saith she seek to defend what they possess unrighteously First with their Curse and shutting up the Heavens but the same will not serve nor shall Men fear it any whit Thus much of her Prophecy is fulfill'd at this Day After that she proceeds they will get them to their Armour and Weapons but against the Judgment of God they can do nothing for the time is come c. We see this fulfilled also in our Days for God hath both discovered their Policies and broken all the Powers they have hitherto brought against us § 106. Walter Linn in the ticklish Times of Edward the 6th's Reign towards the support of good Mens Hearts first translated out of the German Tongue and published certain Prophetical Emblems declaring the beginning and ruine of the Popish Kingdom these were Reprinted by John Charlewood in the Year 1588 of a good intent doubtless to encourage and animate his Countrymen against the Spanish Invasion they were of at least 300 Years standing at that time and taken at first out of some ancient Libraries as he relates The very first symbolizes with this of Hildigardis and shall therefore here accompany it I. The first Figure in that Book is a Pope with his Tripple Crown and Crosier feeding a devouring Bear with Money without any regard at all to the Holy Dove which sat on his left side This the German Author expounds thus by way of Question and Answer Quest Wherewith doth the Pope defend his Church now Answ With worldly Might and cruel Mercinary People signified by the Bear and not by the Spirit of Christ § 107. III. The third Figure represents a Pope on his Knees admonished by a Hand out of a bushy Tree pulled back by a Fox that lays hold on and tugs him by his Monks Hood that hangs down his Back The Monks and Jesuits are as it were the tail of the Roman Beast or Papacy and are the means by which the Pope and Roman Church are pull'd and held back as it were from hearing the good Counsels sent them from Heaven for their Reformation attending to his Admonitions or regarding the workings of his Hand and Arm bared against them who thereby render all their Devotions fruitless and ineffectual whilst Policy over-rules Piety § 108. V. In the fifth Figure the Pope with his Sword thrusts the Holy Lamb through the Heart For which the Devil gives him Keys i. His Papal Power and Might the Keys of Hell § 109. VI. The sixth represents the Pope in his Robes with his Crosier and Keys and with a Treasure of Duckets a Serpent and a Cock on his right Hand and a Lamb with his Head cut off laid at his feet This the German Author thus interpreteth the Pope partly by the sense awful respect of his Cross and Keys and partly by the power of the Devil and help of France utterly subdues the innocent Lambs of Christ's Flock § 110. XII XIII XIV A Bear with Whelps sucking on her fall on the Pope A Fox runs away with his Banner and Keys And at last he is set naked on the Ground and derided by a Clown X. The Unicorn pushing down the Pope's Triple Crown is above See Chap. II. § III. Let our Countryman take the next turn who thus Muses That Year in which Rome's long-liv'd Empery Shall from the Day in which it was at height Sum up MDCLXV and I In order as those Letters here I write That Year that Day that Hour will put a Date To her Usurped Power reserving neither Top Root or Branch of that accursed State Nor Limb nor Body Hand Horn Claw or Feather For here are all the Numerals of Rome In order as they are in Valuation Without Disorder Want or Iteration Nor shall it longer stand or sooner fall If I mistake not Him who Governs all That Kingdom then the Jew did long ago Mould out according to his erring Brain And whereof many zealous Christians too Unwarrantable Fancies entertain That Kingdom whereof now in Types we hear Shall to the World essentially appear So be § 112. The next shall be the Latine Prophecy transmitted to us from Reuchline Erasmus Lipsius and Jane Dousa the younger which pretends to tell us the precise Year of the fall of Turk and Pâ—pe c. Post mille expletos à partu Virginis annos Et post Sexcentos ruâ—sus ab orbe datos Nonagessimus Octavus mirabilis annus Ingruet is secum gaudia multa feret Corruet hoc Anno Turcarum invisa propago Roma tuum in libris fabula nomen erit Omnia tunc Mundi retro ibunt atque deorsum Imperia ut Populos Sceptra novella premant Utque suum cunctas verbum defundat in oras Christus imperitet nomine ubique suo § 113. Thus Englished by my Author Six thousand Years from Virgins Birth expir'd Six hundred unto that acquir'd The famous Ninety Eighth Year shall come on Full of great Contentation This Year the Turkish hateful race shall rue Rome for a Fable pass not true Then shall be tost all Kingdoms of the World And into a new Kingdom hurld That into all Coasts Christ his Word may spread And be alone his Peoples Head NB. This harmonizes exactly with the Heart Prophecy See there the Years 1693 1699. § 114. I find a Prophecy transcribed by Paraeus into his Exposition of the Revelation with the following Title which accords very well with this and besides pretends to intimate to us who that Christian Prince shall be who shall Conquer both Pope and Turk and Reduce the whole World to the Obedience of Christ Obiter in gratiam lectorum inquit huc lubet excribere Prophetiam ex antiquissimo codice M. S. in aedibus praepositi Saleziani reperto nuper ad me missam Cui tribuat quisque quantum vult certe a presenti oraculo quantum ad Romae excidium non aberrat sic igitur id habet Surget Rex ex Natione illustrissimi Filii forte Lilii habens frontem longam
supercilia alta Oculos longos nasumque aquilinum Is congregabit exercitum magnum omnes Tyrannos Regni sui destruet Et morte percutiet omnes fugientes in montibus cavernis sese abscondentes a facie ejus Nam ut sponsus sponsae ita erit Justitia ei associata Gum illis usque ad 40 Annos deducet bellum subjugando Insulanos Hispanos Italos Romam Florentiam destruet igne comburet poteritque Sal seminari super terram illam Supremos Clericos qui sedem Petri invaserunt morte percutiet eodemque Anno duplicem Coronam obtinebit Postremò Mare transiens cum Exercitu magno intrabit Graeciam Rex Graecorum nominabitur Turcas Barbaros subjugabit faciendo edictum quicunque Crucifixum non adoraverit morte morietur Et non erit qui resistere poterit ei quia Brachium Sanctum a Domino semper cum eo erit Et Dominium Terrae possidebit His factis Sanctorum requies Christianorum vocabitur c. Hactenus Prophetia I will here saith he by the way in favour of my Reader transcribe a Prophecy from a very ancient Manuscript found in the House of the Provest of Salez lately sent unto me To which every Man may give what Credit he pleases certainly it is not much discrepant from this present Oracle as to what concerns the destruction of Rome It runs thus A King shall arise out of the Nation of the most illustrious Son Lilly having a long Fore-head lofty Eye-brows long Eyes an Hawk Nose He shall draw together a great Army and shall destroy all the Tyrants of his Kingdom And shall slay all those that shall fly from his Face and hide themselves in Mountains and Caves For he shall be Married unto Justice as the Bridegroom to the Bride He shall continue War against them for 40 Years subduing the Islanders Spaniards and Italians He shall destroy and burn with Fire Rome and Florence and Salt may be sown upon that Land He shall put to death the highest Prelates of the Clergy who have usurped Peter's Seat the same Year he shall obtain a double Crown Lastly He shall cross the Sea and enter into Greece with a mighty Army and shall be called the King of the Greeks He shall subdue the Turks and Barbarians and put out an Edict that whosoever will not worship him who was Crucified shall die the Death And none shall be able to resist him because an holy Arm from the Lord shall always be with him And he shall possess the Dominion of the whole World After he hath atchieved these things he shall be called the Repose of holy Christians c. So this Prophecy § 115. I suppose the word Filii is mistaken for Lilii both from the Sence and from the Context the Nation of the most Illustrious Son unless you would understand it of the Son of God and so of the Jews I know not how to interpret That the Author meant some King of France or one that is allied to and bears the French Lillies is manifest because the Kingdoms he devotes to destruction are the known Enemies of France and to whose Conquest he seems most propense and adapted And by the Islands I understand those of the Mediterranean with which it is most probable he may begin to facilitate his Conquest of Italy after Spain which he hath in his Power already Here is no mention of the German Empire as if that were already Extinct or the Princes of it at his Devotion The English seem to be of his Confederacy being not named amongst his Conquests and too considerable especially in their Naval Force and proper to assist him to be wholly forgotten unless united with him Thus far the Analogy holds well with our expected Northern Monarchy but his forcing the Christian Religion on the Barbarians by the terrours of present Death is not agreeable to that Kingdom of Christ whose Scepter is Love and which must certainly swallow up all other Powers Nor must I dissemble that this Conquerour's War of 40 Years is not consistent with the ruine of Turk and Pope in the Year 1698 unless the late and former German Wars must be reckoned into our French Conquest and he only be here described who must put the last blow to the Work § 116. The most Critical Trial by which the Spirits of our Modern Prophets and Enthusiasts are best discerned are the limitations of the Times assigned by them for fulfilling their Prophecies in which I find Cotter as the rest staggering and clashing For instance in his Vision of May 10. 1621. Frederick he means the Protestants of Germany whose Head Frederick Count Palatine sometime was shall recover by Aid from the North a great Army From the East he means Turks Transilvanians c. 6001111 shall come The first second or third 49 or Jubilee that is either in the Year 1670 1719 or 1768 if we must accompt from the date of his Vision § 117. Fredericus recuperabit per auxilium a Septentrione Magnum exercitum Ab Oriente venient 6001111. 1º 49. 2º 49. vel 3º 49. The first of these terms is expired neither of the two latter accord with the Prediction fixed on 1688 nor the Heart Prophecy Times and Seasons are certainly limited only by the Divine Power to particular Persons and their smallest as well as to Kingdoms and their greatest Actions It 's little better than Atheism to pretend to open that Cabinet by any Picklock of Geomancy Astrology or the like curious and vain Art I know who said once that one of seven Nativities were not true and a more learned Artist than he much more positively affirmed that one of a hundred horary Questions were not of any certain signification unless some unseen Power brought and wrought the Agents and Patients well chosen and fitted which they call Radical Questions Perhaps some will offer me to try before I censure which is to me the same kindness as to direct me try at the Delphick Oracle whether God will suffer the Devil first to curse me and then to execute his Curse upon me by Persons as Godless as they who believe not his Providence nor just Judgment who gives them strong Infatuations who believe not the Truth to trust in Lies CHAP. XIII § 119. NOtwithstanding all that can be said I expect not to persuade our Adversaries to desist from their Treasonable Designs against our King Kingdom Religion and Laws involving our Liberties And as they hope for a Day so I must not deny but that our most favourable Writers do allow them an Hour and therein a power of Darkning or Eclipsing our Sun by the interposition of their Lunary opacous Body To this therefore I shall speak a few words before I dismiss my Reader § 120. The nameless Author of the Future History of Europe Pag. 30. Answers to an Objection made against his History in these words Though the World must degenerate more and more in Civility and Humanity
in England and Germany Yea did not that new star in Casiopaea 1572 and that remarkable Comet 1577 plainly from Heaven remonstrate That howsoever the Evangelical Churches of France by the Massacres there and the Low-Countries by Fire Sword and Halter must be for a time grievously afflicted yet maugre Satan and all his Hellish Furies they should at length Flourish and Triumph over all their cruel Adversaries Besides these Regions of Europe a blessed Light hath in this Age shined to another World which did long sit in most fearful Darkness I mean the East and west Indies I am verily persuaded that the new Star which appeared so long from September 1604 till January 1606 about two Years and four Months in the foot of Serpentarius having coincidence with the great Conjunction of the three superiour Planets and that other so many Years in Cygnus doth promise being with this present Comet 1618 conformed a more clear illustration of those remote Regions with the resplendent Light of Salvation And a little farther he saith These Stars give us hope that his other gracious Promise of the Calling of the Jews he means as appears in his Margent shall be shortly accomplished And Jerusalem be trodden down by the Gentiles till the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled Which certainly saith the Doctor shall precede the second Coming of our Blessed Saviour fore-runner whereof he Christ saith shall be signs in the Sun Moon and Stars To draw nearer Home continues our Doctor not by the Rules of Vulgar Astrology whose Precepts I esteem no better than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phantastick Dreams but directed by these Caelestial Hierogliphicks in which I may say as the Poet long ago Sapientibus per ambages fata Eloqui Fatuis Magistrum prorsus esse inultilem The Fates by winding Riddles Wise Men teach In vain to Fools though ne're so plain you Preach Thus far Dr. Bambridg who wrote this Treatise at London and dated it December ult 16.8 § 30. Before I had read these Passages in Dr. Bainbridg in whose phrase you see what the temper of these Times of King James's Reign were I thought fit to make some Observations on Magel's words concerning the Star seen in Cusiopaea's Chair only which since I thought better to set down here together with what I think remarkable on the other two and his Comment on them and the Châ—â—ets 〈◊〉 Observ 1. First then when he contrary to all Prognosticators and 〈…〉 the Event which followed upon the Comet of the Year 1618 predict 〈…〉 but good to be expected from Comets and new Stars and particularly good success unto the Gospel and relief unto the true Professors thereof It must here be diligently noted That the Affairs of the World and its Kingdoms stand on quite different Foundations and are acted and governed by quite different Rules and Principles from those of the Kingdom of Christ and the Gospel It must not therefore seem Contradictory if from the same Stars great Confusions Distractions and Destruction be signified to the Kingdoms of the World or some of them and yet quite contrary Settlement Order and encrease of Power to the Gospel the Kingdom of Christ in the same Confusions from the same Stars for the things of this World being founded on the fickle Purposes Designs and Counsels of inconstant and mortal Men all Shakings and Confusions do disorder and confound them but the things of God and true Religion depending on more solid Principles the general Good of Mankind and the Glory and Counsel of God they found Settlement and Establishment by God's Providence and Blessing in the most unsettled Times like those Trees that gather faster Rooting by stormy Winds § 32. Observ 2. Whatever may be condluded of Astrological Rules this seems by our Experience in the effects of the aforesaid Comet to be most certain that the time and place of the appearance and motion of Comets shew the place and time of their expected effects these new Stars therefore as they are Northern must have signification of some Northern Monarchy § 33. Observ 3. It seems at least to Heathens and Unbelievers who by Astrology have made a Language of the Stars to themselves according to which they guess at or believe they understand Affairs to come God in Mercy or Judgment wonderfully condescends to give such Men warnings according to their Capacities who heed not his Word nor the Prophecies of holy Men which would therefore be sent in vain unto them These Warnings therefore he sends them sometimes by extraordinary Stars as at Christ's Birth to the Wise Men of the East sometimes by extraordinary Inspirations as by Balaam sometimes by Visions as to Balaam sometimes by Astrologers as in this case of these new Stars But here as I observed above if Astrologers would conclude by those they call Malevolent Aspects c. that the Affairs of Good Holy and Heroick Princes would be Unsuccessful they should mightily mistake For in their Concerns in whom God his Glory and Kingdom is concern'd that is Infallible Astra regunt Homines sed regit Astra Deus The Stars some Men command But Stars are in God's Hand § 34. Observ 4. From these Considerations I hope I may be partly authorized to conclude that the Stars in Cassiopaea's Chair and others fore-mentioned so observed by the great Tycho Brahe and other Astronomers his Scholars and Contemporaries and Followers and by those our Northern Wise Men so interpreted as above may without any great Absurdity be said to hold some Analogy to that Star which appeared to the Wise Men of the East at the time of our Saviour's Birth That the significator of his Life on Earth was moveable these the Precursors of his Reign fixt because they were to signifie that Kingdom to be Born Risen again or Revived in the World and particularly according to their Situation in Heaven in these Northern parts of the World about the Year 1572 or 1600 which must prevail over the whole World and abide till the end of it § 35. Observ 5. I farther commend to Observation from our learned Doctor and Astronomer's Discourse That if Comets and new Stars do so certainly and precisely operate according to their Place Appearance Time and Motion and the latter co-operate as more particular causes with the Northern fixed Stars as more general causes than the late frequent Comets and the Commotions they signifie to those that understand give credit to them and are under their Dominion and not exempt by some special Providence do also strongly co-operate to the raising or preparing Matter for the Fourth Monarchy which we expect and not the petty designs of the private Ambition of any Prince King or French or other how formidable soever they may seem at present whatsoever their Confederacy be or whoever combine with them Nor need any Christian's Heart fail because of them their Leagues or Unions or whatever Confusions we see feel or fear to be brought by them for all these little
or greater Commotions Shakings or Concussions of ill founded Powers and Governments make way only for the grand Revolution by which those Things which are well founded and settled by Divine Decree and Providence to work together for his Glory in the common good of Mankind and Advancement of Christ's Kingdom to that End shall be brought about perfected settled and unmoveably Established And this even in their Astrological way those who give credit thereto must be forced to allow or admit me to conclude because the superiour new Stars fixt and of longer continuance more mighty and universal operation or signification for Good must needs prevail over over-rule and wear out and so survive and make use of the Operations of the lesser mischievous weaker more restrained and less durable Effects and Significations Now such are the Effects or Significations according as our learned Astrologers tell us of the lesser Modern and less durable Appearances Comets c. compared with the said new Stars in Cassiopaea Cygnus and Serpentarius Attendants on this new Monarchy or as Postellus fains to call it Christ's second Birth or new Birth of the World or Renovation and new Edition of the Gospel And it is very probable that he gave the Reformation that name of Christ's second Birth and return into the World in contemplation of that new Star which was by our Northern Magi so received and interpreted as discovering the Fourth Monarch and the place of his Birth to those that understand Heaven's Language § 36. Observ 6. Seeing then we may conclude that whatever Commotions and Revolutions happen in the Christian World make for the interest of the Fourth Monarchy how contrary soever they may for the present appear to it and its designs So as that our Doctor tells us upon his Observation that Comets themselves as in Luther's time and since are Monitors of Ecclesiastical Changes and those for the better to the greater Liberty and Freedom of Protestant Churches and others tell us they make way for the Fourth Monarchy I will therefore here adventure farther to discover what I have observed whereby it may better appear what Church and what Monarchy was signified and indicated by these new Stars to whose Interests all these Commotions must finally cooperate And first as to the Church and Reformation pointed out by that Star in Cassiopaea's Chair it is manifest that it can be no other than that of the Reformed Protestant of the Church of England and those that are protected under it and subscribe to its Confession and the Monarchy as manifestly appears to be the British of England Scotland and Ireland united in the Person of King James in one Monarch to which France and the other Reformed Churches there as of right they ought so will in due time be united the Transition being much more Natural and Facile from the French to the English Religion and Liberty than from the British to the French Dominion For upon view of our Church History I find that the Articles of the Church of England being the common Confession of the Reformed Protestants to which with very few grains of Allowance as well Calvinists as Lutherans may without scruple indifferently subscribe were formed in the Convocation at London 1563 in which the Reverend Pious and Learned Alexander Nowel Dean of Pauls was Prolocutor and the same were in the Year 1571 by Soveraign Authority enacted and established to be the publick Confession of the English Church in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth § 37. And about the same time a Catechism agreeable to the same Articles was Published and by Authority enjoyned to be taught in Schools with this Title Catechismus brevis Christianae disciplinae summam continens omnibus Ludimagistris Authoritate Râ—â—ia commendatus Of the Articles a late Church Historian hath these words The English and Latine Articles of the Church of England set forth in Print in the Year of Christ 1571 when they were first Ratified by Act of Parliament whose being as obligatory bears not date nine Years before from their composition in Convocation but hence from their Confirmation in Parliament So that there was hardly a Years difference betwixt the publication of the Articles of the Reformation of the English Church to the World and the appearance of that Star in the Chair of Cassiopaea giving the whole World warning and the Wise Men aim to look our for some second glorious discovery of the Gospel § 38. And as for the Monarchy of Great Britain that was yet more Illustrated by the appearing of two new Stars the one two or three Years before and the other a Year or two after the Union of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland in the Person of King James That which was the Precursor and Harbinger as it were of this Northern Monarchy was the forementioned Star in the Breast of the Swan 1600 and that which followed and attended on it was the Star in the foot of Ophinchus in the Year 1604. Nor can I see why any should condemn him of Presumption who should from the Analogy of the Star in the East directing the Wise Men of those parts to the King of the Jews our Saviour born about that time argue that the use of these may probably be partly to shew to the Wise of our Times and Parts when and where the true Reformation and Reforming Monarchy must rise For as the Star in the Chair of Cassiopaea one of the most glorious in the Heavens generally speaking and amongst the most Glorious those of the North more especially and the most conspicuous part of that Constellation her Chair it self most resplendent was most proper to signifie the second Edition as I may say or new Birth of the Gospel or second Birth of Christ as Postellus would have it brought into the World by a Virgin Queen about the time of that Stars appearance and then spread newly all over Europe as it had been conceived by her Authority some nine Years before So in like manner the Star in the Breast of the Swan and that other in the foot of Serpentarius attending at like distance on the Birth of our British Monarchy are as apposite to demonstrate it to our Northern Wise Men that of the Swans Breast its time and place and that in Serpentarius foot its principal design and work namely the ruine of that Serpentine Brood which are the present support and foot of the Roman Court their Home and Harbour and Hope Keeper Holder up and Maintainer of the Serpent and his Kingdom which he pretends unto in Heaven the Temple and Church of God I say again That as the Star in Cassiopaea's Chair An. 1572 shewed where when and by whom the second Edition of the Gospel or second Birth of Christ's Kingdom was wrought namely here in this Island by a Virgin Queen who in the Year 1571 Enacted the true Reformed Christian Faith So the Star in the Swans Breast 1600 and Serpentarius foot 1604 shews what Kingdom
and Family must extinguish by the lustre of that Reformation the Superstitions and Idolatries of Rome and give that blow with a Stone cut out without Hands from the Mountain on the feet of the last Supporter of Satan's Kingdom the Roman Monarchy being also the basest and worst constituted of incoherent Iron and Clay and grind it to Dust and disperse the Remnants of it to all the Winds as Daniel prophesies § 39. There being the same reason for us to look out for some new Kingdom in these Northern parts to which these Stars were perpendicular as there was for those Wise Men in the East to look for a King born in Judea by the Star they saw in the East Nor doth the moveableness of that and fixedness of these make as to our purpose any considerable difference for it was necessary that those Eastern Magi who sought one particular Person should be guided by a Star so moveable that its perpendicular Rays might point out Bethlehem and our Blessed Saviour's Person to them that they might bring to him their Gold and other Treasures But to discover to our Wise Men in the North the Kingdom to which the Honour is reserved in this last and worst Age to reform the Religion and Manners of the whole World according to Christ's Rule both for Spirituals and Civils it sufficed that such new Stars did appear unto them fixed in the Starry Orb as by their motion therewith might describe a Circle wherein at the time of their appearance that Reformation and Kingdom did first rise and appear Now if we enquire what Reformation did appear in the World about the time of the appearance of the Star in Cassiopaea's Chair near the Circle its direct Rays did describe upon the Globe on the Earth we shall find that of Queen Elizabeth and no other And again if we seek what Kingdom did arise about that time the Star first appeared in the Swans Neck within the Northern Circle described by its perpendicular Beams we shall find no other than the Monarchy of Great Britain then founded by King James and transmitted from him to our present Soveraign Charles the II the first of English Birth who sway'd the Scepter Allowing what those ancient Prophecies here subscribed § 40. Bruti Posteritas Albanis associata Anglica Regna premet peste labore nece Consurgent Britones Albanae Gentis amici Antiquum nomen Insula tota feret Ut profert Aquila veteri de Turre loquuta Gum Scotis Britones Regna Paterna gerent Long time the British and the Scotish Race The English Realm with War Plague Toyle deface Till a Friend rise to Scots of British Stem Then British Scots their Father's Diadem Resume and all the Isles its ancient Name Thus did the Eagle from th' old Tower proclaim § 41. And to cherish our hopes the Motto's of this Monarchy and its Impressures fixed on its Coin and elsewhere do happily conspire Namely That Motto of the first Christian Emperour Constantine the Great our Countryman In hoc Signo vinces referred by the Cross to Christ's Death And that other of like import Duce Auspice Christo That Kingdom prosper and subdue all must Whose Standard Christ's Cross is Christ guide and trust § 42. A King of British Blood in Cradle Crown'd With Lion markt shall joyn all British Ground So Sir William Maurice of North-Wales repeated in English Merlin's Prophecy of 600 Years standing CHAP. V. Thomas Pugh British Prophecies out of Maxwel 's Prophecies Sect. 16. Fol. 84. c. § 43. ACcording to the Confession of the Italian Jesuit Hieronimus Platus in the 2d Book of the Religious Life and 30th Chapter England hath been more fertile of Converters of Countries and Nations to the Christian Faith than any other Land whatsoever else So is it not unlikely but that God will have the same Country to be more fertile of many Reformers and other corrupt Churches especially that of Rome than any other Land whatsoever and to reclaim Rome and her Daughters from their Abuses and Corruption and to restore unto them their Primitive Purity and Integrity such as it was in the days of Constantine the Great Born in Great Britain § 44. So Nostradamus predicts That Rome shall be ruled by the Britanish Head In his first Century he saith that the new King that joyns the lower and Northern Countries of Europe shall be the Instrument of loss to the Church of Rome And that the Bishop of Rome together with his Clergy except they shew themselves willing to be reformed shall be made to spit Blood when the Rose shall flourish He promiseth in his 5th Century that of the Trojan Blood shall spring a Prince of a doughty Dutch Heart who shall attain to so high a Degree that he shall chase far away the Arabick or Mahometan multitudes and likewise return to the Church her ancient Eminency and Sincerity § 45. Out of the Library of St. Victor cited by the Abbot of Cluny it 's said Abbot Joakim said That the Red Rose should send forth the sweet Water that shall purifie and cleanse the Church from her Corruption Paracelsus Amongst the Roses shall spring up one who shall change the Sandy Foundation into a Rock § 46. Mr. George Maxwel from Sir George Norroy King at Arms Jessae Rosa sanguis Bruti Portat crucem Jesu Christi Christ's Cross displayed in England's Standard shows From British Blood must spring the Jessean Rose § 47. It seems that from the Rose of England shall proceed or spring the Reformation or Purgation of the Church of Rome Likewise the same City and Empire received from the same Country the first Authorized Profession of the Christian Faith by the blessed means of Constantine the Great a Britain born at York Grebner The Lion having the Rose and Lillies in his Arms shall utterly destroy the Pope so that there shall be none at that time § 48. Brithwald Bishop of Winchester in the Confessor's time saw in a Vision * NB. That the Kingdom of the English is the Kingdom of God and that it is as well by the gentle sweetness of its Yoake and Government like that of Christ as in other respects And by this we may understand how vainly the Antichristian Enemies pretend a right to it by this Prophecy and seek by force to Conquer it from Christ's Kingdom and to subdue it to their own Tyrany Regnum Anglorum est Regnum Dei Thus far my Author § 49. I shall only as to these Prophecies on what ground soever they proceed add this Observation for the Readers consideration That God whose Providence as is manifest by his Word is very uniform in his Justice upon the cruel Enemies of his People seems to have given warning to Rome and her Antichristian Confederates that as the Northern People raised up by his Spirit revenged the Blood of his Primitive Saints spilt by the Roman persecuting Heathen Empire on that Red Dragon so the League of Northern
sahmens-kraft Hie solche grosse hulff ihr ganzlich war benommen Vnd dennoch hat sie mich gemacht nach Bildungspracht Was da volkommen ist das wirt nichts umb sich leiden Es will es soll es mus allein und eintzig seyn Das einewirt gechwint sich von dem andren sheiden Sie Kommen nimmermehr volkommen uber ein Hie kommen uber ein volkommene Gesichter Gesichter Welches viel die uberal bekant In welchen freund und feind dick shacten werckund Lichter Zu sammen seint verknuft mit einem schonen band Was meinstu Das da sey die uhrsach diser sachen Das sie mit solchem fleiss gezieret diesen stein Sie wolte das der stein den oft die weisen machen Nicht solte uber sie wie bisher meister seyn These German Verses made by Johannes Segerus a Weidenfeld may be thus rendred into English The Wonderful Stone speaks § 100. TEll me am I not Wonderful A Stone That know the whole World yet am known to none And this thou here thy self mayst clearly see If as need is thy Eye observant be I a small Stone oblige and entertain Th' Pope Emp'rours Kings who round the whole World Reign This they know and acknowledg whilst that I Shew them to th' Life in strange Brachygraphy In my kind I am not much worth yet may If well considered Gold and Pearls out-weigh Nature in me her Master-piece did play And set her rest now she can nothing make To excel me in Art or Wonder take All her Works them piece by piece attend You nought shall find that you may more commend What Nature perfect Paints by help of Seed Is no great wonder where she most did need That forming Pow'r she to Seed nothing owes Without its help the rules of Paint out-does In Minuture What hath perfection No mixture brooks it must be one alone That quickly separates which force hath mixt With perfect things nor can with them be fixt Because not perfectly united But Here perfect Faces are with perfect put And known to all do perfectly agree In the same place we Friends and Foes do see Darkness and Light here are together found And not confus'd in one nice swathing bound Tell me what think'st may Natures reason be With so much diligence to beautifie A Stone 'T is that the wise Philosopher In 's Stone may boast no Mast'ry over her CHAP. X. The Heart Prophecy § 101. THe Heart Prophecy quoted in the Title Page written in Hebrew on Parchment and wrapped up in Lead in the form of a Heart was found under the Foundation of St. Denis Church in France by the Sexton of the place as he digged for the erecting of a Monument for the Lord Teligni Anno. Chr. 1616. He gave it to the Pope's Nuncio who rewarded him with 200 Dollars It was translated into Latine by John Barmarino Secretary to the Cardinal of Bruges who had it from the Nuncio and presented it to the young King Lewis the 13th Obruit Italiam saevo Mars impiuus ense Unica sunt Christi Pascua campus oves Totum operit Mundum terror ira Dei. Pauci JEHOVAM veruntur Inclytus exurgit factis * 1661. 1665. 1666. 1667. 1678. 1686. 1693. 1699. 1700. 1710. Heros Europa tremit Asiam urget metus Generalis Terra motus erit Agnoscant omnes Gentes Deum Flumina siccentur ubique Pastor Ecclesia unica In English thus Translated The heat of War doth Italy surround Christs Pasture is but one his Sheep and Ground God's wrath and terror doth the World confound They are few who God Reverence * 1661. 1665. 1666. 1667. 1678. 1686. 1693. 1699. 1700. 1710. A Prince shall rise of Eminence Asia doth tremble Europe shake Now is a general Earthquake All Nations Gods knowledg partake Rivers are dried every where Pastor Church only one are § 102. Anonymus Pag. 35. NB. I need not specifie what Heroe it is that rouses himself and sends out his Forces to Action this Year nor how Signally upon his first Appearance Sicily is returned to her Obedience c. whilst I am writing this April 1678. POST-SCRIPT § 103. IF we expound that Line of this Heart Prophecy which predicts the Rising up of some Illustrious Prince in the Year 1678 in these words Inclytus exurget factis Princeps Which we have rendred thus in English This Year doth a brave Prince up-rouse For great Atchievements Glorious And understand it after the usual manner of interpreting such Prophecies By Princes and their Names sometime their Families sometime the Kingdoms and Dominions they govern then in this latter sence also this Prophecy hath been remarkably verified amongst us For in no Year nor Age hath such a Spirit been raised in the Representative Body of any Kingdom or any Reformed Nation as hath been moved in the Parliament and People of England on so just weighty and unremoveable grounds against Rome and all its Agents Instruments and Favourers nor can it ever be possibly laid but must necessarily exert its vigour in great Actions under some Prince as God shall be pleased to move or direct them against his and their Enemies January 1679. The news of our Defensive League concluded with Holland which is now come after I had written this Post-script is a farther Verification of this Prophecy and an Introduction to that League which brings on what is Predicted in the following Lines and Years of this Heart Prophecy I conclude with the German Copies of a sudden happy Year Pag. 220. Judicium de L. in T. consequens diuturni belli beata tempora VII Sperandum est intra istos 14 Annos ab Anno 1666. i. ad Annum Christi 1680. aedificatum iri novam Hierosolimam reductis in Ecclesiae gremium Gentibus populis Blessed Times will follow after a tedious War VII It is to be hoped that within this 14 Years computed from the Year 1666. i. About the Year 1680 the New Jerusalem will be built and the Gentiles will be Reduced into the Bosom of the Church This the Heart Prophecy resers to 1699. CHAP. XI William Postellus his Mystical Key § 104. NAture endured 1656 Years until the Flood Scripture comprising 800 Years of Law intercalate 1503. Grace 1546. Therefore Judgment is at hand for Babel's Ruine drying up Euphrates building New Jerusalem by Spirit and Fire R Nature H Natural M God Mundus World Oriens East Merides South Occidens West Aquilo North    Year Spring Summer Autum Winter    Man Child Youth Manhood Old-Age    Elements Earth Water Air Fire O Law O Rational E Father Patriarch Adam Moses Messias Elihuh    Law Obedience Charity Faith Concord    Book Genesis Ol. Test N. Test Revelation    Sense Literal Moral Alegorical Anagogical T Gospel M Spiritual N Son Evangelist Matthew Mark Luke John    Cherub Man Ox Lion Eagle    Mystery Incarnation
as it hath done manifestly ever since he wrote and Christianity be eclipsed in an higher measure and the true Worshippers of God decrease above whatever yet hath been done Though Protestantism in many Coasts and Countries shall be totally swallowed up of Popery and Mahomitanism More lamentable Wars and fearful Massacres rage through England Germany France Spain Italy and all European Monarchies than we have yet beheld and though some of these Kingdoms wholly revolt to Popery others be Lukewarm and at a stand until 1686 yet all these shall but make way for the final Eradication of the Enemies of the Church and the glorious and wonderful Birth and Erection of the Fifth Fourth Monarchy Universal which shall be brought forth by these Pangs and Sorrows of Christendom Now Judgment must begin not at the Temple of Antichrist but House of God And what Blood soever is shed upon the Soil of the Christian Church shall be no other than fruitful Showres and warm Seasons to make the Field of the Church more pregnant in the production of that glorious Harvest of Saints which shall cover the World so he and our English Seers consent He that comes with the Chicken of the Eagle saith one i. that Landed with him the dreadful Dead Man his right Character in several respects Invades and wastes England with Fire and Sword two Years he that intro duces Popery c. Arise Evans saith he cannot be Crowned for all that He saw five young Faces in the Royal Line succeed one another in an uninterrupted Series and there are just so many now alive C. M. A. J. W. and he of them who overcomes his Popish Enemies England hath no other in a Bloody Battel Erit Carolo magno major § 121. So hitherto there is little encouragement for the Pope's Nuncio to come amongst us with his Consecrated Banner he may spill and let out much of our corrupted Blood but shall never reach our Heart See the Arch-Bishop of Armath's Printed Prophecy To be sure no old dotard Pope shall ever be Crowned in England however Gadbury and his Stars flatter him if Arise Evans were a Prophet The German Enthusiasticks sing the same Tune with ours Cotterus 1621. May 10. Tentatiuncula superveniet ad explorandos Hypocritas Id. Mart. 20. Hoc habe pro signo Septentrionales constanter soli Justitiae adhaesuros meridionalem à fucatum solem inducturum soli Justitiae nubeculam tentationis sed cito transituram prodibit enim Paulo post Sol Justitiae pleno fulgore Drab 1652. Jul. 2. Opus meum promovebo concitatione omnium gentium adversus invicem ut quidquid mali est Idolatrici mibique voluntati meae contrarii corruat prius evertatur funditus When I have set before the Reader the judgment of a learned and pious Bishop concerning these Predictions I will conclude Periculosum est saith he Prophetica tractare negocia Quia materia haec humanum excedit captum super hoc lubricum facile est labi And again Omnium Prophetiarum haec est proprictas ut prius impleantur quam intelligantur And from Acts v. 38. Nihil mali invenimus in Homine isto quod si Spiritus ei locutus est aut Angelus ne repugnamus Deo Lastly Desino autem argumentis Divina haec esse non humana pugnare Propriae id cujusque hominis conscientiae ac circumspectioni divinaeque illuminationi committens Thus the Publisher of these in his last Edition pretends he dare not contend much less dare I to try is all Mens duty Irenaeus l. 2. c. 57. p. 218. Alil à praescientiam habent futurorum Visiones dictiones Propheticas consule ejus commentatorem § 122. To fill up this vacant Page it will not be amiss nor tedious if I parle a little with my Reader about our Modern Prophecies at parting Prophecy in what concerns the Fundamentals in our Religion and saving Faith is certainly at an end The Spirit of Prophecy foretelling Mercies and Judgments for Reward and Encouragement of well and for Punishment of or Repressing evil doers is not as is manifest and undeniable being plain matter of Fact in and by many Revelations fulfilled fore-known or fore-seen and testified by many living Witnesses and Records Some are here inserted many more might be produced Those of the Reverend Arch-Bishop of Armath of the Fire of London and other particulars long since fulfilled and those yet to come then most unlikely when foretold now seem hardly to be avoided and need not be here repeated because notoriously published and known to this whole Kingdom I hope it will be no offence if I add hither one conspiring wholly with his which hath been thus related to me § 123. A Manuscript Book was brought a little before the Fire of London 1666 to a Bookseller by an unknown Person who desired to have it Printed and Published which declared before-hand what came to pass as Predicted in that Fire The Bookseller refused to Print it because it was not Licensed so the Author took away his Book with him In the time of the Fire this Bookseller being very busie saw this Author passing by and told him That because he had so plainly predicted it he had cause to suspect that his hand was in it Nay replied the strange Author if I had been accessary to so wicked a purpose I would not have offered my Book to Publication which I wrote for the discovery and prevention thereof And added There will follow a more dreadful execution by Sword than this by Fire and after that a Famine if God deal with us as we deserve § 123. Ambiguous Predictions like those of the Sybils and some Delphic Oracles without reference to particular Times Places Persons Groundless Figments Gipsy-like Prognosticators Welch Impostors Telesen Panther Shipton's Prophecy and many such like which walk about disgrace not sober Predictions and Premonitions grounded on sound Reason and agreeable to Divine Truth I will conclude with Walter Linn's Admonition to the Reader of certain German Emblem Prophecies Published by him first in Edward the 6th's ticklish Reign and Reprinted seasonably in 1588 for our Protestant Countrymens encouragement when the invincible Crusado and Navy invaded us Whether these saith he or such like Prophecies be of God or no let the Godly judge But surely it is commonly seen when God will shew his Displeasure and Indignation and intends to bring to pass some great Act that all Creatures do prophesie before and give Warning although it help but little Prophets prophesied the Subversion of Jerusalem Christ threatned the Apostles warned all availed not They heard Voices in the Temple they saw Signs in the Element they heard Battels in the Clouds Mad-men and such as were out of their Wits did prophesie it unto them but all these Signs prevailed not They were destroyed because they despised God's Word Even so it shall happen to the Papists Daniel Zachary Christ Paul 2 Tim. 2. 1 Tim. 4. Peter 2.