Sad and serious Politicall CONSIDERATIONS Touching the invasive War against our Presbyterian Protestant Brethren in Scotland their late great Overthrow and the probable dangerous consequences thereof to both Nations and the Prorestant Religion Which may serve as a SATISFACTORY APOLOGY for such Ministers and People who out of Conscience did not observe the publike Thanksgiving against their Covenant for the great slaughter of those their Brethren in Covenant Printed in the Yeer 1650. Sad and Serious Politicall Considerations THE English Independents new invasive War against their Presbyterian Protestant Brethren of Scotland and late great rout and slaughter of their Army meeting with variety of censures and constructions according to the diveâ—sity of mens inclinations and interests some prudent Christians ingaged to no parties whose interest is onely the preservation propagation and safety of the reformed Protestant Religion against the common Enemies and Underminers thereof have these sad melancholy apprehensions thereof That it is a dolefull Prologue and tragicall Scene not onely to the approaching ruine and desolation of both Kingdoms for their manifold crying sins but likewise to the speedy subversion of the true Protestant Religion and extirpation of all zealous Professors thereof through our three Kingdoms and in forraigne parts upon these ensuing considerations 1. That the Kingdoms of England and Scotland make up the greatest Body of the Protestant Religion in Christendom being best able to defend themselves and succour other Reformed Churches when indangered and designed to ruine by Popish Enemies as the Lords and Commons declared long since in their Protestation to this Kingdom and the whole world 22. Octob. 1642. and in their Order of the seventh of October 1643. And therefore the ruine of the Protestant Party in these Kingdoms is the readiest way to indanger conquer ruine all other Reformed Churches in the world and extirpate the Protestant Religion in all other Countries as they there likewise Declare 2. That the Pope of Rome Jesuites Priests Papists and their Confederates upon this ground have for many years last past by open force and secret practices endeavoâ—red the extirpation of the Protestant Religion and most zealous Professors thereof throughout these Kingdoms and made it their chiefest designe to reduce them to their pristine obedience to the See of Rome which by the Popish Negotiations with Spain the Papisticall Match with France the Agency of the Popes Nuncio's the practices of Priests and Jesuites in England countenanced and protected against the force of Lawes and the confederacy of Popish Prelates Clergie-men and Courtiers with them in these Designes they had almost totally accomplished and brought to full perfection in all our Realms as the whole House of Commons in their Remonstrance of the state of the Kingdom 15. Decemb. 1641. and other subsequent Declarations and they and the Scottish Commissioners in their Impeachments against the Archbishop of Canterbury largely remonstrate 3. That the most zealous Protestants then branded with the name of Puritans and Presbyterians in England and Scotland were the principall and only obstacles to the finishing of this their neare compleated Work Whereupon the Jesuiticall Popish and Prelaticall prevailing Fâ—ction resolved to root them out of this Kingdom by force or drive them out with fear and rid them all out of the way For the better effecting whereof they thought it necessary to reduce Scotland to such Popish Superstitions and Innovations as might make them apt to joyn with England in that great change which was intended Whereupon new Popish Canons and a Liturgy reformed much after the modell of the Papists Misâ—alls were prest upon them and all the Arminian and Popish Doctrines broached maintained and new Popish Ceremonies practised in England were in deavoured to be planted and set up in Scotland 4. That this their dangerous ripened Designe finding no publike but onely private opposition in England by particular persons who were â—ined pillori'd stigmatized deprived of their ears close imprisoned banished and ruined by the Star-Chamber and High-Commission to the publike terror of all others thereupon the Scottish Puritans and Presbyters were the first visible Instruments raised by God to give a publique check to their successefull design beyond their or our expectations 5. That hereupon the Jesuiticall and Prelaticall Popish Party raised two severall Armies successively to suppresse and extirpate the Puritan and Presbyterian Party in Scotland as the only remoâ—a's to their design and were most active and forwards in their leavies and contributions against them indeavouring to ingage the Protestant Party in both Nations in a bloudy civill Warâ—e to their mutuall ruine to which the Puritan and Religious party in England were most averse First privately murmuring and afterwards publiquely protesting against this Warre as dishonourable and dangerous to Religion and both Kingdomes in the Parliament in April 1640. purposely summoned to raise moneys to carry on that War which they refused to grant to so ill a purpose and did all they could to blast their malicious designs and warre against Scotland whereupon the Popish party caused that Parliament to be dissolved and did all they could by violent arbitrary courses and illegall Loanes and Taxes to raise Forces and moneys to maintain a warre against them imprisoning and prosecuting those who resisted or refused to assist them in this warre in the self-same manner as those in present power have done divers of their Christian Brethren for manifesting their dislike and backwardnesse to assist them in this ungodly invasive warre against their Protestant Brethren in Covenant against many publique Ingagâ—ments and not giving publique thanks to God for their late overthrow 6. That the Scottiâ—h Puritans and Presbyterians advance with their Army into England in the year 1640. of purpose to preserve the Religion and protect themselves and their English Brethren from slavery and ruine was the priâ—cicipall and only means under God of preventing their own and our thraldome to no pâ—ry and Tyranny of frustrating all the Jesuites Papists and Prelaâ—es designs of securing Religion Laws Liberties and conveâ—ing the last Parliament which through Gods blessing on their indeavours through the assistance of the Scottish Commissioners and countenance of their Army over-powered the Popish and Prelaticall Faction brake all their former Projects in pieces suppressed all their Popish Innovations Doctrinall and Ceremoniall reconciled the differences between both Nations setled a firm unity and amity between them by an Act of Oblivion and Pacification abolished the High-Commission Star-Chamber Extravagances of the Councell-Table the Bishops Courts and Votes in Parliament Ship-money Impositions and all other illegall Taxes quickned the Laws against Jesuites Priests and Popish Recusants passed a Law for Triennuall Parliaments and another against the untimely adjourning proroguing and dissolving of themselves at the Kings own pleasure and thereby put our Religion Laws Liberties and Propertiâ—s in a farre better condition of security and the Popish and Prelaticall party into a farre
worse and more hopelesse and desperate condition then ever heretofore 7. That to prevent and frustrate these Laws and this security the Jesuiticall and Prelaticall party whilest they were in agitation indeavoured all they could by subtill practices slanders and private solicitations to raise jealousies and divisions between the Scottish Commissioners and Army and the Parliament to ingage the Scottish and English Armies each against other or to make the Scots stand neutrall to the Parliament that so they might bring up the English Army from the North to London to over-awe and suppresse them and hinder the Union between both Kingdomes which through the fidelity of the Scots and of some Officers in the English Army was timely discovered prevented and a firme Union between both Kingdomes setled by Acts of Parliament passed in the Parliaments of both Nations 8. That these Acts of Pacification and Union between both Kingdomes and the Religious party of both Nations the extirpation of Prelacy and the Popish Hierarchy and the establishing of a Presbyterian Government and Uniformity in Doctrine Worship and Discipline in both Kingdoms were apprehended prosecuted and resolved upon by the most religious Protestant party and Parliaments of both Nations as the readiest probablest and most effectuall means under God to preserve and secure their Religion Lawes Liberties against all future invasions and to frustrate all Popish and Prelaticall Designâ—s against them and were accordingly esteemed and looked upon by the adveâ—se Popish and Prelaticall party who thereupon attempted with all their policy and power to uphold Prelacy and retard and prevent the establishment of â—resbytery as fatall to all their hopes and Designes and thereupon improved all their intâ—rest both at home and with forraigne â—rinces to raise what Forces they could to break this Dâ—signe and the â—arliament too before they should accomplish it 9. That when the Jesuiticall Popish and Prelaticall party in England Ireland Scotland and forraigne parts had taken up Arms and raised great Forces to hinder the settlement of the Presbyterian Governmentâ— suppresse the late Parliament subvert the Protestant Religion introduce Popery and Tyranny extâ—rpate the Puritan and Religious party in England and Ireland and were grown very strong and pâ—evalent in both the Scottish Presbyterians now invaded and defeated out of their brotherly love and Christian affâ—ction in this extremity of danger for the preservation of our Religion Liberties Lawes Parliament and the godly party in England Ireland at both Housâ—s earnest solicitatioâ— did readily and chearfully assist us with their Forces in both Kingdoms and thereby through Gods bâ—essing were a great means of weakâ—ning and subduing our Enemies and preseâ—ving our Religion Lawes Liberties Lives from utter destruction which brotherly assistance with so powerfull an Aâ—my of above twenty thousand Hoâ—se and Foot in our greatest dangers was so welcome to us that the House of Commons on the second of February 1643. Ordered publike thanks should be given in all Churches for the aid and assiâ—tance come in by our Brethren of Scotland And when the malignant party there in their absence for our preservation had pâ—evâ—iled and routed only some few of their Forceâ— nothing considerable in comparison of those lately slain and defeated left behind for their defence both Houses were so sensible thereof that they appointed a speciall Dâ—y of Humiliation for the miseries of Scotland throughout all the Parliaments Qâ—arters by their Order of 2. September 1645. which was accordingly observed so much did they and we then condole thâ— least overthrow and misery of our Scottish Brethren in Covenant â—being members of the selfâ—same Body of Christ as if it had been our own Whereas now on the contrary we invade slay dâ—stroy and ruine these our brotherly Assistants rejoyce triumph at their misery appoint publike Daâ—es of Thanksgiving throughout the whole Nation for their grâ—at slaughter and overthrow and hang up the Ensignes taken from them in Westminster Hall as publike trophies and testimonies to succeeding ages of our gratitude and brotherly kindnesse towards them and of our religious observation of our solemne Nationall League and Covenant with them not long since made and entred into upon their coming in to our assistance 10. That in the extremity of our dangers by the prevailing Popish party the Parliaments Ministers and religious people both of Scotland and England did resolve it most necâ—ssary and essentiall for Gods glory and their sâ—fety to enter into a more sacred and stricter union then formerly for defence of their Religion King Parliament Lawes Liberties the extirpation of Popery of Prelacy and the bringing of all our Kingdoms to uniformity in Doctrine Worship and Discipline by a solemne Nationall League and Covenant as the onely means under God to prevent all future differences and breaches between all the godly people of both Nations to preserve and secure Religion Lawes Liberties and priviledges of Parliament against all present and future attempts whatsoever and dash in pieces all the designes practices hopes of the Jesuiticall and Prelaticall Faction in all our Kingdoms which League and Covenant was accordingly agreed upon by the Parliament and Assemblies of Divines in both Kingdomes and after that most chearfully and solemnly taken and subscribed not only by the Scottish Parliament Army Clergy and Generality of that Nation but by all the Members of both Houses of our Parliament the generaâ—ity of all the godly Ministers and people in England and Ireland and by all or most Officers and Souldiers in the Parliaments Armies who many of them carried it in their hats hands and fixed to their pikes as they marched and amongst others it was taken and subscribed by Oliver Cromwell himself and Ireton and every man by Ordinances of both Houses was disabled to injoy or exercise any Civill or Military Office or place of Trust whatsoever in the State or Army who did not solemnly take and subscribe itâ— whereupon it was almost universallyâ— taken and subscribed in a most sacred and solemn manner throughout the Kingdome and followed with many glorious Victories and Successes till the Popish and Prelaticall Malignant party in England were totally subdued all Counties and Garrisons fully reduced to the Parliaments Command and a happy Peace and settlement of our Reliigion Laws Liberties upon most safe and honourable terms indeavoured expectedâ— and almost accomplished by a personall Treatyâ— with the KING in the Isle of Wight 11. That to prevent this Peace and Settlement the Officers of the Army who love to make a Trade of War thereby to gain and keep all Civill and Ecclesiasticall power in their own hands and to inrich themselves with our three Kingdoms spoils and ruine confederating with some few Members of the Commons House against their Trust duty Oaths Protestations the very Letter of this solemn League and Covenant and all the ends thereof forcibly seized condemned and beheaded the late King secured and secluded the greatest part
of the Commons House addicted to the Presbyterian Government suppressed the whole House of Lords disinherited the Kings Posterity of the Crown subverted the fundamentall Government of the Kingdome usurped all Regall and Parliamentall Authority to themselves and by colour thereof now trample all Laws Liberties and Priviledges of Parliament under feet remove all or most zealous Presbyterians though never so eminent Actors and sufferers for Religion and the publique weal out of all Offices and places of power and Trust throughout thâ— Nation discourage and discountenance all or most Prâ—sbyterian Ministers especially the most pious banish some imprison others recall the Sequestrations and substract the Aâ—gmentations and Tithes of all or most of them to starve and ruine them withdraw themselves from their Ministery suborn or tolerate their monethly Prognosticators and Diurnalists to revile and rail openly against them in print without the least controul and to prognosticate their and their Presbyterian Gouernments downfall to incense the people against them and it invent and prescribe new Oaths Ingagements Publications Observations of Thanksgivings and Humiliations and other snares and engines thereby to insnare either their Consciences or indanger their Estatâ—s Liberties Ministery Persons in their plundring Committees and new Arbitary Judicatories declare against the solemn League and Covenant as expired abolished yea and dangerous and unlawfull to be kept set up and inforce an Anti-Covenant Engagement to frustrate null and abjure it debar all from all publike Offices Prefâ—rments Augmentations degrees of Learning the practise of the Law and the very benefit of the Laws of England for which we have so long contested with the Kings Party who will not out of conscience or Loyalty subscribe it oppose and traduce the Presbyterian Government as Papall Antichristian and Tyrannicall exempt all Sâ—ctaries whatsoever from all Penall Laws in not repairing to any publike Ordinances or Churches Authorize them freely to meet when and where they please in private Conventicles where running Priests and Jesuites may and wil easily seduce them without the least danger or disturbance and because their brethren of Scotland stick close to their Presbyterian Government and Covenant and have closed with their King at last according to their Covenant and Allegiance and will not disinherit him as they have done they thereupon have recalled Cromwell out of Ireland from prosecuting the Irish Papists and Royalists made him their Generall instead of the Lord Fâ—irfax and sent him in to Scotland without any real provocation on their part to invade them with an Army where he entred without the least resistance seized some of their Towns and Garrisons provoked them oft times to fight when they declined fighting and at last gave them battle in their own Countrey routed their whole Army and though he lost not forty men in the fightâ— yet he and his Forces out of their Christian charity cut down near 4000. of them in the pursuit maimed and wounded above 5000. more whereof many are since dead and more like to die took 10000. of them prisoners 5000. whereof are sent Captives into England since which he hath taken Edenborough and Leith prosecutes his Victory with all vigour sends up all the Scots Colours to Westminster where they are publiquely hung up in the Hall for triumph And for this great slaughter and overthrow of our Presbyterian Brethren a solemn publike day of Thanksgiving hath been prescribed to be strictly observed throughout the Nation and celebrated in many places accordingly to involve the whole Nation in a double guilt of their bloud First by their Contributions to pay the Army sent against them next by publike Thanksgiving to God for their destruction and that in those very Churches and places where we not long since lifted up our hands and subscribed our Names when we took the forementioned Leagaâ— and Covenant in the presence of God himself Angells and men sincerely really and constantly to preserve their Religion in Doctrine Worship Discipline Government and with our Estates and lives mutually to preserve the Right and Priviledges of their Kingdome and Parliamâ—nt and to bring all to condigne punishment as Malignants Incendiaries and evill Instruments who should indeavour the dividing of one of the Kingdomes from another and each one of us according to our place and Interest to indeavour that both Kingdomes may remain conjoyned in a firm peace and Union to all posterity and that we shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination perswasion or terrour to be divided or withdrawn from this blessed Union which so much concerns the glory of God and good of the Kingdomes but shall all the daies of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition and promote the same according to our power against all lets and impediments whatsoever c. which how well and really we have performed let that Almighty God the searcher of all heartsâ— in whose presence and Name we made and subscribed this Covenant judge and our own consciences as we shall answer the contrary at that great day if we seriously repent not of it now whilest we have time and space of repentance given us 13. That upon the due consideration of all these Premises we shall not conclude as some rigid Presbyterians do perchance not without good grounds That this invasive Warre with our Brethren of Scotland is an apparent violation of every clause and branch of the solemn Brotherly League and Covenant and a very strange Act of Ingratitude and Injustice in invading their Kingdom because they will have a King according to their Ancient Constitution Government Laws Covenant and in indeavouring to deprive their King of the Kingdome of Scotland because they have injuriously and perâ—idiously dispossessed him of his two Kingdoms of Englâ—nd and Ireland against their National League and Covenant and other oaths for fear his possession of that his Hereditary Kingdom should be a means to regain the other two which is as unconscionable and unreasonable as if a great Statesman or Commander should wrongfully deprive his Neighbour of all his Lands and goods in a third Parish or County because he hath forcibly dispossessed him of all his Lands and Goods in two other Parishes or Counties that so he might never be able to recover them by suit of Law having no means left to maintain his suit against him but rather infer from thence First that this War with Scotland is not only exeâ—eding scandalous dishonourable and disadvantagious to all the Professors of the reformed Protestant Religion in both Kingdoms and throughout the Christian world to behold Protestant Brethren in Covenant thus invading slaughtering and destroying each other upon such slender unchristian carnall grounds but ungodly too Secondly That this invasive war and great slaughter of the most zealous Scottish Presbyters is a matter of greatest joy triumph and advantage to the Jesuiticall Popish and Prelaticall party and tending much to the present promotion and future accomplishment of
been in Arms or any ways acted or contributed assistance of moneys against his Father or him and to make full reparations of all damages to such Papists who have left their estates and fortunes to assist his Father or him Upon these terms he may easily gain the joynt assistance of all Popish Kings Kingdoms and States in Europe through the Popes powerfull mediation And if hereupon through their aid he should so far prevail as to get into actuall possession of his Thrones and Kingdoms by the meer power of the sword without any terms or conditions by way of Treaty of which there will be little probability we can then expect nought else but these dismall consequences First a totall â—radication of our reformed Religion and of all zealous professors thereof especially such who have acted any waies against the King or his Father a full repeal of all penal Laws against Jesuites Priests Papists and a publike profession and practise of the Romish Religion and of that only throughout our Kingdoms Secondly a totall subversion of all our former Laws and Liberties and a full exercise of all arbitrary and tyrannicall power over our lives and estates Thirdly an absolute confiscation of all our Lands and Estates together with our lives to satisfie the Kings debts gratifie his Assistants and repair the losses of his faithfull Catholikes whom we have undone by adhering to his party Fourthly an absolute inslaving of our whole Nation to these forraign Conquerours if not a totall banishment and extirpation of them out of their native soil the case of the Ancient Britains when conquered and driven out of this their Countrey by Saxons and the extraordinary Pestilence and Famine sent amongst them for their sins and then a dieu both to our Religion and Nation But in case the King should not prevail to conquer us by their power the least we can expect is First a continuall long lasting Warre and open hostility by Land and Sea with all Romish Kings and States the very charge whereof now we are almost quite undone and beggered already which will utterly ruine and undo us Secondly losse of Trade and Commerce with all those Kingdoms and States with whom we are in hostility which will utterly break us in one year or two for want of venting our Native commodities our chiefest inablement to maintain the Wars Thirdly intolerable uncessant Taxes of all sorts which will every moneth grow heavier and greater then other which accompanied with want of Trade will cause a generall Insurrection at last both of poor and rich against those in power and put all into confusion to the enemies great advantage Fourthly a necessity of seizing and selling all Colledges Corporations Companies Hospitalls and Gleab-Lands throughout the Realm and of new Projects to make new Delinquents of purpose to raise moneys to defray the extraordinary expences of the Armies and Navies And what garboils this will produce all prudent persons may easily conjecture Fiftly a generall decay of Religion Piety Learning Law and all Arts Sciences Trades Sixthly an extraordinary new effusion of Christian bloud Seventhly an inundation of all kind of sin wickednesse Atheism Heresie Blasphemy Murders Rapes Robberies Oppressions Whoredome Drunkennesse Dissolutenesse Barbarousnesse and disobedience to Laws Magistrates Ministers Parents and other disorders Eighthly Free-quarter insolences of Souldiers spoiling plundring if not pestilence and famine the usuall Concomitants of Warre which will reduce us to a condition worse then nothing in conclusion If he cast himself upon Forraign Protestant Kings Princes and States alone the far better though unlikelier of the two yet this will certainly prove 1. A great dishonour to God and scandall to reformed Religion to see them so unnaturall and unchristian as to imbrue their hands in one anothers bloud 2. An extraordinary ground of joy and triumph to the Pope and his Confederates to behold their enemies thus murthering invading and destroying each other by their mutuall dissentions when they by all their power and policy were unable to accomplish their ruine and do them so great mischief 3. A great indangering of all the Protestant Churches and States in Europe by incouraging their Popish Adversaries to invade and ruine them whilest thus ingaged in an unbrotherly and unchristian Warre between themselves and weakening impoverishing and destroying each other 5. An effusion of much precious Protestant bloud which will cry for vengeance to heaven against the originall Authors and Occasioners of such a Warre 6. If the King shall inthrone himself and regain his Kingdomes by their assistance though the profession of the Protestant Religion may still be continued yet we may justly fear 1. That the purity and power of Religion will be much abated 2. That our Lawes and Liberties will be much indangered and Eclipsed 3. Our estates confiscated to make them reparations and satisfie the Kings Ingagements 4. Their removall hence will be disputable when once possessed of our Country as the history of the Danes invasions of this Island heretofore and the Saxons full possession thereof with the Britains expulsion will manifest 5. If the King and they be repulsed by us yet this will prove a seminary of lasting wars and breaches between us and most Protestant Kingdoms and States It will hinder all commerce between them and us to the destruction of Merchandize and Trade destroy the Protestants strength and interest impoverish us through Taxes fill us with dâ—scontents augment our divisions if not conclude in our beggery and ruine If he throw himself upon forraign Papists and Protestants joyntly then First the Wars are like to be more generall dangerous and costly to us and of longer continuance Secondly The divisions and dangers from at home are like to prove the greater since all discontented and oppressed Protestants and Papists will then be apt upon all occasions and advantages to joyn with that forraign party they best affect and from whom they may expect the most favour and the best conditions Thirdly If the King prevail then both Parties must be satisfied and his debts defrayed out of our estates both gratified with a free toleration and exercise of that Religion throughout his Realms as both sides professe and between them both all will be plundered impoverished ruined and perchance inforced to quit the whole Kingdom to one or both of them who will challenge an interest therein by conquest and the longest sword and hardly part with it when once possessed thereof Fourthly If the King and they should be foiled by us yet the wars and differences would survive all commerce and trading lost Armies and Navies must still be maintained and Garrisons in all our Kingdoms to secure us taxes oppressions and all publike grievances continued and mulâ—iplied and thereby new intestine commotions raised which of themselves alone will destroy us without any otheâ— enemy And suppose the King himself should miscarry in these Warres yet the Title and Right of the Crowns of our threâ— Kingdoms sâ—rviving to his Brothers
all their former frustrated successelesse and almost hopelesse malicious designs against the Puritanicall and Religious party in both Kingdoms and the intended accomplishment of the Presbyterian Government and Râ—formation of Religion in them which they so much feared and opposed by open force of Arms and secret policies who will now indeavour to continue and heighten our open divisions first plotted by them till we have weakned and destroyed each other by our civill wars and made our selves fit to be suddainly surprised and destroyed by their party when we have consumed and undone each other Thirdly That in these respects the Successes great Victories and slaughters in this unnaturall and unchristian Warre against our Protestant Brethren in Covenant are no matter of publike joy thanksgiving and triumph to the Conquerours as some vainly conceive but of greatest publike lamentation Humiliation and mourning it being both unnaturall uncharitable and unchristian for Members of the same body of Christ and sworn Christian Brethren ingaged by Covenant and God himself to protect and love each other with a pure heart fervently to murther and destroy each other an argument of Gods heavy wrath against usâ— tending to our desolations as the sacred Texâ—s and Presidents compared together will fully resolve the conscientious perusers of them Iudg. 21.1 to 18. 2 Sam. 1.12.17 18 c. 2 Sam. 2.12 to 29. to 3.30 c. 39. c. 4.8 9 10 11 12. c. 19.1 2 3 4. 2 Chron. 28.5 to 16. Ezek. 19.12.2.33.14 Ezek. 35.1 to the end Obad. 1. to the end Amos 1.9 10 11 12. Gen. 37.26 27. 1 Sam. 14.7.7 1 Kings 13.30 Psal. 35.14 Isay 9.19 20 11. c. 19.2.3 2 Chron. 15.5 6. Ier. 22.17 18. Ezek. 38. 21 22. Mich. 1.2 c. Zech. 7.9 to the end Mal. 2.10 Mat. 10.21 c. 1 Iohn 3.10 21 12. Exod. 2.11 12. Iudg. 9.5 to the end a sad story 1 Kings 12 14.15 2 Chron. 11.4 c. 21.4.12 13 14. c. Neh. 5.1 to 10. Iob 6.14 15. Prov. 6.16.19 Isay 66.5 Acts 7.26 Mat 12.25 Mar. 3.24 25 26. Gal. 5.14 15. Iam. 3.14 15 16 18 18. c. 4.1 9 10 11. Fourthly that the continuance of this unbrotherly Warre with Scotland will be the utter ruine of all the Presbyterian godly Party in that Nationâ— if God shall frown upon them and the utter subvertion of the Presbyterian Government there where the Prelaticall and Malignant party will soon get head and sway all to the strengthning and reviving of their numerous party in England or in case God give them after some overthrows a glorious Victory over the English Independent Forces as he did to the defeated Israelites over the Benjâ—mites Iudg. 20. it will certainly ruine all the Independent party in England who have so cheated and tyrannized over all sorts of men that they will never be able to make head again if once defeated and find all mens hearts and hands against them for their manifold extravagances and tyrannicall proceedings against all ranks and degrees of men subverting the whole frame of our civill and Ecclesiasticall Government And if the Presbyterian party in Scotland be much weakned and impoverished by the Victory and the Presbyteriall Ministers and Gentry of England discountenanced and thrust out of all power and reputation in the interim as they are through their cowardize and folly how far this may indanger and expose them to the Popish and Prelaticall parties power and malice hereafter is very considerable and how far their present Contributions though not voluntary without distresse or forcible coaction against their King and Brethren of Scotland and sitting still like idle neutrall Spectators without contributing the least visible assistance to either of them may be interpreted by their King and them to be a bâ—each of â—heir Nationall League and Covenant and of their Allegiance to their Soveraign in case they should prevail and restore the King to the Crown of England by their own Forces only without the English Presbyterians assistance to the indangering of their persons and Estates and the losse of all that favour and respect from either which their actuall conjunction with them might procure to the ruine of the Presbyterian as well as Independent party in England and setting up of the Popish and Prelaticall Malignant party in Supreme power and favour in this Realme is very considerable Fifthly that if the Scottish Presbyters and the Kings party in Scotland shall be both conquered by the English Independent Forces and unable to defend themselves or their King and to settle him in his Kingdoms then greater dangers are like to insue to our Religion and Kingdoms then otherwise in some wise mens judgments because the Independents as their present violent proceedings manifest wil probably use their Presbyterian Brethren in England no better then those in Scotland and extirpate them if they can and the King then will be necessitated to cast himself wholly upon the assistance of forraign States and Kings and their Forces as his last refuge which he hath hitherto declined as dangerous both to himself and his people If he in this extremity throw himself upon any Forraigners they must be either Papisâ—s only or Protestants alone or both of them joyntly If on Papists only which some think most probable First in regard of his Queen Mothers great interest in that party both in France and Italy being of that Religion Secondly in respect of the open differences and Wars already between us and France and Portugall two Popish Kingdoms which are like to continue and grow greater every dâ—y Thirdly in respect of that parties constancy and fidelity to the King and his Father Fourthly because that party is most powerfull and most likely to close with the King for the advantage of the Catholike cause and reducing of England to it's former obedience to the See of Rome so that without Gods infinite mercy it will necessiâ—ate him for a full compliance with them First to match into some great Popish Family upon the same and harder Aâ—ticles then were inforced on his Fathes by Spain or France Secondly to alter his Religion and professe himself a Roman Catholike and obedient son to the Roman Pontife as King Henry the fourth of France did Thirdly to Covenant and ingage with them for an utter extirpation of the Protestant Religion and of all Independents and Presbyterians as not only Heretikes in Religion but Regicides Traytors Rebells Covenant breakers pâ—rjured persons who make no conscience of Oaths Vows Protestations Declarations and professed enemies to Monarchy who have murthered his Father banished his Mother disinherited him of three Crowns and indeavour to imbroil and subvert all Monarchies and Kingdoms in Christendome Fourthly to swear and ingage to set up and tolerate none but the Roman Religion in his Kingdoms when he shall be restored to them by their assistance and Forces Fifthly to promise satisfaction of the greatest part of their expences in this war out of the Puritans and Protestants estates who have
or if they miscarry to his Sister matched to the Prince of Aurenge or if they all should fail descending to the Queen of Bohemia and Prince Elector Palattine their severall new Titles and Interests will find means to infest us with new Warres till they have either obtained their rights or ruiâ—ed both themselves and us So that unlesse God put so much wiâ—dome and spirit to the English Nation as to restore the King to his just Rights upon safe and honourable terms according to their Oaths Covenant Protestations Declarations to all the world and Principles of their Religion we can in humane probaâ—ility expect nought else but the utter ruine both of our Religion Nation Kingdoms and totall extirpation by Forraign enemies And certainly if we seriously consider 1. The infinite divisions discontents oppressions that are every where amongst us 2. The Heresies Blasphemies Sects and Schisms that are lately broached and publikely countenanced by us 3. The Generall contempt and neglect of the publike Ordinances of God and free toleration granted to all to withdraw themselves from them without the least censure or punishment 4. The generall contempt hatred discountenancing reviling and persecuting of godly and faithfuâ—l Mâ—nisters throughout the Nation and the snares that are daily laid to intrap and ruine them 5. The extraordinary Apostacy of many Professors from the truth purity and power of Religion almost to professed Atheism contempt of the Word Prayer Preaching Sacraments and all other Oâ—dinances to meer licentiousnesse lukewarmnesse and Prophanenesse 6. The generall inclination of the people to errours Eâ—thusiasmes and seducing spirits 7. The little cordiall reall love and affection between Professors of Religion and the great animosities hatreds and divisions amongst them both in Opinionâ— Practise and affection 8. The little conscience of Oaths Protestations Covenants Promises and great hypocrisie covetousnesse oppression self-seeking envy hatred and malice that is in the Nation and amongst those especially who professe themselves Saints of the highest form 9. The universall inundation of all kind of sin and wickednesse and open profession thereof in all places 10. The extraordinary Injustice Tyranny Cruelty and Mercilesnesse that all parts of the Land complain of and groan under 11. The great effusion of Christian bloud and of the bloud of our Christian Brethren in Covenant that our whole Land is polluted with and our rejoycing in this bloud-guiltinesse instead of repenting and mourning for it 12. Our present decay of Trade and Merchandize 13. Our intolerable Taxes and Impositions oâ— all sorts 14. The extreme poverty of our Kingdom and increase of poor people in all parts which have little work or none and will not staâ—ve 15. The divisions of our Forces into Ireland and Scotland where standing Armies and Garrisons must be constantly maintained for fear of revolt 16. Our great breaches with France and Portugall and no good quarter with any Forraign States or Kingdomes which as yet will neither own nor hold full and open correspondency with our new Governours or Government 17. The revolt of most of our Forraign plantations from us and the late Declaration against them as Traytors and Rebells who count us such 18. The Negotiations with the Pope and Popish Kingdomes and most Protestant Princes and States to incense them all against us as enemies to all Magistracy and publike Government and to mankind it self as Salmatius hath published us in print 19. The spreading the pestlence in many places and the feared famine throughout the Realm 20. The manifold injuries and afronts offered to all the Nobility and most of the Gentry of the Naâ—ion and the whole Nation it self in the change of the Government without and against their consent in continâ—ing and increasing their burthens Taxes and out-lawing many of them because they will not subscribe the Ingagement in erecting new High Courts to take away their lives without any legall Triall by their Peers for offences punishable by no common Law 21. The Exâ—cution of so many Protestants and not of one Papist whatsoever by these or other Courts of Justice though the chief contrivers of our late unhappy Wars and discontinuance of all Capitall proceedings against Priests and Jesuites since the abolishing of the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance made principally against them and the Popes Usurpations and practises 22. The injustice of our present cause and Warre meerly against Monarchy Presbytery and old English Peers and Parliaments purposely to support the present Government set up by the meer power of the sword yea founded on the bloud of a Protestant King and ruine of the very best of Parliamenâ—s to prevent a settlement of peace and Religion by an unbloudy Treaty And then compare them with the Premises and Cardinall Richelieu his Instructions and advice to the late French King a little before his death published by an Italian of good note and printed in Italy Anno. 1645. to foment the late differences between the late King and Parliament all he could and if possible by the solicitation of his instruments to draw the Commons to change our Monarchy into a meer Republike thereby to imbroil all our Kingdomes in civill Warres against each other as the only and best policy of all to weaken and destroy both our power and Religion and advance the interest of France and Catholike Religion which we see now accomplished according to his advice and then we have just cause to fear an inevitable approaching ruine both of our Religion and Nation notwithstanding our late Victories and Successes which do but weaken impoverish destroy our selves and promote the designs of our common enemies unlesse God give us a timely sight and Reformation of this our impolitick oversight and incline our hearts to a generall peace and unity thâ—oughout our Kingdome by restoring every man to his just right and inheritance from the highest to the lowâ—st and abolishing all future seeds and occasions of our intestine Warres The serious consideration of all which Premises are a sufficient satisfactory Apology for all Ministers or others now questioned for the Non-observance of the late Thanksgiving day â—or the great rout and slaughter of our Protestant Presbyterian Brethren of Scotland against all their persecutors We shall therefore close up all with Abners Speech to Ioab in case of the civill Wars between the House of David and Saul wherein the Isâ—aelites of the same Religion and Nation unnaturally fought and slew each other Ioabs souldiers pursuing and slaughtering Abners whom they had discomfited in battell addressing to those in present power 2 Sam. 2.26 27 28. Then Abner called to Ioab and said shall the sword devoure for ever knowest thou not that it will be bitternesse in the latter end how long shall it be then ere thou bid the people return from following their Brethren And Ioab said as God liveth unlesse thou hadst spoken surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following their Brethren So Ioab blew a trumpet and all
ever it hath done in England or Germany This is the felicity of the Church the fifth Monarchy in Nebuchadnezzars Image the ministeriall not personall Reign and Kingdom of Christ upon â—arth which must not endure for ever as Archer would have it nor for a 1000 years as Alsted dreams but for a very short time that all Nations none excepted may professe Gods worship and none plead ignorance before his Tribunall presently after which the dissolution of the world shall come after which time shall be no more IV. This Digression made I return to my purposed method That fearfull and ominous Night-torch which prognosticated all that misery to Germany and great Brittain which they have now suffered was the forerunner of all our evils This Comet Longomontanus and D. Bambridge say appeared but 28. dayes indeed it was neither observed in Denmark nor at London before Novemb. 18. or 21. but Erycius Puteanus observed it Novemb. 11. the first time as he testifies in the first book of his learned Paradoxologie pag. 33.38 so it appeared for the space of 37. or 38. dayes foreshewing that first Germany Livonia Swethland with other North-parts of Europe then Scotland England and Ireland should feel the terrible effects thereof in warre and famine for the space of 37. or 38. years even from An. 1618. till An. 1656. This Comet was strengthned by a fearfull conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter An. 1616. July 18. The effects of both which were not to be confined in those terrible concomitants of war perpetrated in Germany which L.B. and D. Vincent so pathetically delineate but were to end in the judgements of God upon Europe for neglecting the downfall of Antichrist ruine of Rome annihilation of the Sodomiticall Order of the Society of Jesuites and in the extirpation of all Kingdoms and free States of Papists to make way for the Lion of the North to erect his FIFTH MONARCHIE in the ashes of Germany wherein shall be established the eternall felicity of the Church by the conversion of the Jews and fulnesse of the Gentiles M. Shirley Fellow of Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge once shewed me a Letter from his learned friend Buxtorf dated An. 1624. May 3. wherein was contained a Prognostique Prophecy of the before-mentioned Comet and Conjunction sent him from that incomparable Astrologer Iohannes Baudensis Nephew to Paul Grebner which for the strangenesse and rarity of it I will here insert Caeterùm quòd de patriae nostrae afflictissimae statu consilesco indignaris nihil profectò scribendum nunc habâ—o nisi omnia ut Poetae verbis utor in pejus ruere retrò sublapsa referri Tam Danus quà m Caesar â—nixè laborant ut miseram Germaniam quamprimùm pâ—ssum iri spectem Nec milites utriusqùe quiequam aliud meditanâ—nr nisi strages vastitatem Accepi nudiustertiùs à Johanne Baudensi amico mihi multimodis charissimo sententias nostratium Astrologorum de horribili illo Cometâ— qui Anno 1618. apparuit nuperrimâ Saturni Iovis Conjunctione En tibi vaticinium si noâ— Apostolicum at longè ni fallor plusquà m Astrologicum Surrexit Deus gladium eduxit Clades magnorum Imperatorum strages populorum regum funcra rerum-publicarum eversiones monarchiarum mutationes assassinationes principum ducum illustriorum violenta superba consilia proditiones rebelliones inter Subditos in hoc coelo nostro Europico exorientur Exporientur religiosi à potentioribus Legum institutorum Ecclesiastiâ—orum mutationem à plebeijs novarum rerum inexplebilem cupiditatem Boreales Europae partes ferro morbo peste laborabunt depauperabuntur divites Principes Dominijs exuti erunt exulabunt patres filij post longum turbâ—rum intercapedinem in integrum restituentur Hic quoque Cometa terribilem Romae ruinam singulisque Europae civitatibus incendia minitaturâ— Clerici Papicolae praecipuè Cardinales de gradibus suis dejicientur Loiolistae ubique ad mortem rapientur nec Gallis aut Hispanis animus erit carnificum lâ—queos evitare Quinimò cernimus etiam in terrâ sanctâ— Ã veteribus incolisâ— oriturum Regnum quod â—rit Christianis miraculum Orbi terriculamentum Novique Imperij Revolutio istis succedet sub quo generale gaudium laetitia voluptas humano generi subministrabitur improbis ubique de medio sublatis Haec omnia per Regem quendam Borealem peragentur qui pacem Religionem Securitatem per totum Orbem miraculosè stabilibit Whereas you are angry that I keep silence concerning the estaâ—e of our most distressed Countrey Truly I have nothing now to write but that all things that I may use the words of the Poet grow worse and woese As well the King of Denmark as the Emperour earnestly endeavour to see miserable Germany destroyed as soon as may be neither do the souldiers of either of them think of any other thing then slaughter and desolation I received the other day from my dear Friend Iohn Baudensis the opinions of our Astrologers concerning that terrible Comet which appeared Anno 1618 and about the later Conjunction of Saturn and Iupiter Behold thou then a Prophecie if not Apostolical yet if I mistake not far beyond Astrological GOD hath arisen and drawn his sword There shall happen in these our European Regions the destruction of great Emperours the slaughter of people Funerals of Kings subversions of Common-wealths mutations of Monarchies massacres of Princes and illustrious Commanders violent and proud Counsels Treasons and Rebellions amongst Subjects Clergie-men shall finde a change of Laws and Ecclesiastical Constitutions by those of greater power and an insatiable desire of new things amongst common people The Northern parts of Europe shall be greatly oppressed with Warre Sicknesse and Pestilence Rich men shall be impoverished Princes cast out of their Dominions The fathers shall be banished and after a long space of trouble their children shall be restored to their former condition This Comet also threatneth the terrible ruine of Rome and burnings in all the Cities of Europe The Papistical Clergy especially the Cardinals shall be cast down from their Dignities the Jesuites every where shall be drawn to death neither shall the French-men or Spaniards have courage to save their necks from the halters Furthermore We discern a Kingdom to arise of the most ancient Inhabitants in the holy Land which to Christians shall be a Miracle and to the World a terrour and these shall obtain the Revolution of a new Empire under which shall be administred universal Gladnesseâ— Joy and Delight to mankinde 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 Thus far the words of this Letter And how punctually all these things are come to passe let the world judge We in England have felt the misery of the one and are ready stript to suffer the calamities of the other having for the present lost
what is impossible to be regained and seeing a new storm of Devastations hanging over our heads by the young Kings late arrival in Scotland where he is received as absolute Soveraign which filâ— mens hearts with pensive thoughts and doubâ—ings what will be the end of these wofull beginnings For my part I am a zealous adorer of a Parliament nor deserve I to censure the Actions of our Representatives yet will I not promise the Term of an Age to our novel Government but think veâ—ily a change to the old Model is nigh at hand It is casual to the best Kingdoms to have Interregnums but as we stand now we shall neâ—ther be for six years together a Body Politique nor a true Church of God That excellent Astrologer of Misnia Paul Grebner was more then an Inquisitour into the Effects of Starres being questionlesse indued from above with a Prophetick spirit not to be desired much lesse expected of all He plainly affirms That as England ever was a Monarchy within it self since it was discovered by the Romans so shall it so continue and remain even then when all other Kingdoms and States in Europe are swallowed up of the FIFTH MONARCHIE of the Lion of the North. His Prophecie of our Civil Wars of the Fate of our late King and the Restauration of his Son to his Fathers Dominions runneth thus in Ban. 72. Per idem tempus Rex quidam Borcalis nomine Carolus Mariam ex Papisticâ— religione sibi assumptam in matrimonium conjunxerit ex quo evidet regum infelicissimus Unde populus ejus ipso abdicato Comitem quendam perantiquae Familiae regno praeponet qui tres annos aut circitèr durabit hoc quoque remoto Equitem quendam bellicosum in ejus locum assumet qui paulò ampliùs regnabit Post hunc eliget nullum Interea unus è stirpe Caroli in littore regni patres sui cum Gallicis Suevicis Danicis Hollandicis Burgurdicis Germanicis auxiliis stabit omnes inimicos suos cruentissimo praelio superabit posteà regnum suum felicissimè administrabit eritque Carolo magno major And in Ban. 74. he saith Circà Anno 1663 Brittaniarum Rex antiquum cum Belgarum Ordinibus foedus amicitiam rumpet ob ereptas sibi ab ipsorum piratis naviculas quasdam qui pertrepidi ad novum Danorum Regem nomine Christiernum confugient qui utrosque primò compositissimis orationibus deinde muneribus in concordiam alliciet About the same time a certain Northern King named Charles who shall marry Mary of the Popish Religion to his great unhappinesse so that his people rejecting him shall set up an Earl of a very ancient Family who shall continue three years or thereabouts he dying they shall elect in his stead a warlike Knight who shall rule a little longer after him they elect none But in the mean one of Charles his Stock shall land on the Sea-coasts of his Fathers Kingdom and with French Swedish Danish Hollandian Burgonian and German Forces in a most cruel battell shall vanquish all his Enemies and afterward most happily govern his Kingdom and be greater then Charls the Great And about the year 1663 the King of the most ancient Brittains for the losse of some Ships at Sea shall break his League and Amity with the States of Holland who fearing shall to the new King of Danes named Christiernuâ— for succour and he by fair Intreaties and large Gifts shall win either side to Agreement Nor ever doth he speak of England in all that famous manuscript but as of the most warlike and potent Kingdome in Europe Therefore all good Christians ought to wish the new Warre were concluded rather by an happy Agreement and Composition then by Sword and Musket and the King placed on his Throne rather with the hands of his loving and and rejoycefull Subjects than with the swords of Forreigners For if the beginning of his Restauration be in bloud and tumbling of garments in bloud the Accomplishment of it will be with burning and fuel of fire That this future History of Europe may be more fully and clearly understood I intend to set it down by way of Chronology upon the principall passages in Ezekiel and the Revelations as I lately collected it out of the two MSS. of Grebner and Ioannes Baudensis and afterward subscribed certain Notes and Animadversions upon the same THe woman travelleth viz. The Jewish Synagogue bringeth forth Christ whereupon ensueth the battel between Anno Christi 1 Michael and the Dragon Christ and the Devil Anno Mundi 3947 Christ being persecuted of the Devil by Herod in his Infancy flieth into Aegypt in his appointed time of 34 years suffereth and ascendeth into Heaven The Devil enraged Anno Christi 34 that he could no more persecute Christ raiseth persecutions Anno Mundi 3981 Anno Christi 65 against the Primitive Church by Nero and others Revel 12. per tot Anno Mundi 4012 Anno Christi 70 The first Seal openedâ— The white Horse and his Rider with Anno Mundi 4017 the crowned Bow signifieth the purity of the Gospel in the Primitive Church Revel 6.2 Anno Christi 71 Satan is bound for a 1000 â—ears from raging against the Church Anno Mundi 4018 Revel 20.2.8 Anno Christi 65 The second Seal opened The red Horse is the massacre of Anno Mundi 4020 Christians in the ten general Persecutions about Aâ—no 65 to An. 330. Revel 6.3 4. Anno Christi 104 The third Seal opened Simon Magus Ebion and Corinthus Anno Mundi 4051 trouble the Church with damnable and infectious Heresies Revel 6.9 6. Anno Christi 173 The fourth Seal opened Horrid Famine devouring Pestilences Anno Mundi 4120 and outragious Wars waste and depopulate the Roman Empire for cruelty to Christians Revel 6.7 8. Anno Christi 194 The fifth Seal opened Mutual Massacres of the wretched Caesars Anno Mundi 4141 beginning at Pertinax and ending at Licinius slain by Constantine the Great Revel 6.9 10 11. Anno Christi 288 The sixth Seal opened Dioclesian and Maximilian give over Anno Mundi 4235 their Caesarships because they could not eradicate Christianity Constantine strengthened with their Armies and Provinces warreth upon Licinius slayeth him destroyeth the Pretorian-Camp abolisheth Heathenism and setteth up the true Worship of God Revel 6.12 to the end The seventh Seal opened And silence in Heaven for half an hour viz. The Church enjoyeth rest thirty years all the time that Constantine Anno Mundi 4255 the Great reigned Revel 8.1 Yet clouds of persecution Anno Christi 308 Anno Mundi 4286 arise in the interim in the sky of the Church and the seven Angels Anno Christi 339 prepare themselves to blow the seven Trumpets for the space of 23 years even all the reign of Constantines three sons Revel 8.2 3. Anno Mundi 4310 Iulian that wretched Apostata bending his utmost endeavours to Anno Christi 363 ruine the Gospel licenceth 17000 Jews to return to Ierusalem to
a slave to that famous Northern Lion who shall wear the Crown of that transcendent Monarchy As for France Denmark England and the free Cantons of Germany they make account for the present they dâ— valiantly if they can well husband what is got already And for England in particular if it chance that she make war upon any neighbour Enemy and enlarge their Dominions by Conquest it is more to secure her self and prevent the Invasion of the great Eagle and her chief feathers then any greâ—dinesse of extending her Bounders by the Conquest and ruine of others If she keep her ancient soil and possessions in those times it is as much as heaven hath ordained her and more she shall not have Who then must be Lord of this Monarchy Or what people shall be parts and members thereof Even a Nation which at this day is hid invisibly within the bowels of Europe which seeing are not seen and living are not known Which shall by a miraculous Resurrection like the Jews from India and Tartaria be raised to destroy all Idolatry and abomination out of every corner of the North with the weapons of an holy warfare tending to the glory of God and the Honour of their King His Sword shall be Religion and his Ensigns Righteousnesse and Piety All the godly in every Kingdom and State in Europe the converted Jews conjoyned and united with them in spirit and habitation shall as I said before root out all names of Iniquity and be this Monarchy which shall only consist of and subsist by Holinesse and an unquenchable desire of propagating the Glory and Gospel of God according to that of Daniel Chap. 7. ver 27. And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatnesse of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions shall serve and obey him The first preparation to the Birth of which was that ominous and fatal Starre which appeared in the head of Cassiopea An. 1572 the effects of which shall begin to operate upon Europe and the Eastern Coasts of America An. 1699 in bringing a Mystery to light which all the sons of Adam are not able to effect Of this fatâ—l and ominous Starre or Comet chuse you whether I finde several Tractates written One Nuntius Propheticus in Print Magell de quintà Monarchiâ Openheims Ephemeris Caelica both Manuscripts both excellently discoursing of the Effects thereof How that Quo tempore accidet septima ultima-maxima superiorum Planetarum Conjunctio princeps erit Monarchia prima quae caput ex ruinis quarti Imperii erexerit Currus Lunae Zodiacum perturbabit Cauda Draconis coget Plâ—iades in fletum prorumpere dorsum Delphini ascendet flores Virgineos obfuscabit continuae turbae seditiones bella civilia strages panolethriae luctuosissimae omnia illa regna illustres Familias persequentur ex quibus ista Monarchia orta est aut ei ullo modo obviabunt Burgundiae domus fiâ—em accipiet Sileâ—iae libertas Gallico Neroni prostituetur Belgarum Ordines potentiae Aristocratiae suae finem videbunt c. Openheim fol. 86. But Magel is most plain above all three fol. 67. col 8. Fateor majorum Luminarium deliquia sine insigni hominum pernicie pecorumque strage nunquam extitisse Regnorum mutationes etiam populorum clades regum funâ—ra bella incendia in ipsorum Deliquiorum Articulis aut paulò post evidentèr apparuisse Fateor etiam superiorum erronum coitum malorum ut plurimùm Iliade comitari atque hanc stellam quae hoc An. 1572 in vertice Cassiopeae illuxit suprà omnem elementarem regionem collocatam novi Imperij Revolutionem Dominiumque significasse Quae tamen effecta haec aetas nostra minimè perspiciet reservanda nihilominùs in gentem quandam etiamnum inviâ—ibilem cujus magnitudinis radij in universum caeli terraeque ambitum extendeâ—tur At what time the 7 th the last and greatest Conjunction of the chief Planets shall happen the first Monarchy shall reign which shall lift up her head out of the ruines of the IV Empire The Chariot of the Moon shall disturb the Zodiack The Tail of the Dragon shall force the Pleiades to break out into weeping shall ascend the back of the Dolphin and shall darken the lustre of the Virgin Daily troubles seditions civil wars slaughters and most lamentable universal Destructions shall vex all those Kingdoms and eminent Families from whence that Monarchy sprang or which shall any way crosse it The house of Burgundie shall be at an End the Liberty of Silesia shall be prostituted to a French Nero. The Estates of Belgia shall see an end of their Power and Aristocracy I confesse Eclipses of the great Luminaries never hapned without the notable Destruction of men and slaughter of Cattel the Changes also of Kingdoms the Deaths of People Funerals of Kings Wars and fires have broke forth either in the very time of their Eclipses or within a little after I confesse also the Conjunction of the higher wandring Starres is for the most part attended with an Iliad of mischiefs and that this Star which this year 1572 appeared on the top of Caâ—â—iopaea being placed above the whole Elementary Region did signifie the Revolution and Dominion of a new Empire Which effects shall not yet be seen by 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 In that same year shall the kingdomâ— of salvation be preached by the Ministry of the Saints the most High to those immense and unknown American Coasts to whom as yet the Name of Christ was never yet revealed And that peopleâ— who from the Creation till that time were the Empire of Satan shall be called the specious and spacious Church of God The gates of which shall be open continually neither day nor night shall they be shut that men may bring unto them the riches of the Gentiles and the treasures of the Kings of the Earth All Nations and Kingdoms that will not serve her shall perish and be destroyed for ever Within whose land shall be heard no violence nor destruction nor desolation within her Borders but Salvation shall be her wals and praise her gates Her Government shall be peace and her Exaactors Righteousnesse Hâ—r Sun shall never go down nor her Moon ever be hid for the Lord shall be her everlasting light and the dayes of her sorrow shall be ended The people within her shall be all righteous for ever shall they possesse their proper inheritances for God shall make them an everlasting Glory and a Ioy from Generation to Generation Therefore ought no man to be sorrowfull for the Calamities of Europe or the afflictions of the times nor grieved with the mutations and Downfals of Kingdoms and Empires neither should
he be afraid because Wars and miseries rage in all Coasts of the world For this is the eternal Law of Creatures which the Creator imposed upon them at first that the Birth of one thing should be the Death of another and that the order of Nature should be preserved by the vicissitudinary course of alternate Mutability And why should we be offended at warres amongst men when there are daily and continual Conflicts between the Elements themselves Cities Republiques Empires and Families are mortal as men have their states of Birth Infamy Growth and Old-age as well as they Glory Majesty Arts and Soveraignty began in Asia by the Assyrians from them departed to the Medes and Persians and from them before they had well tasted the sweetnesse of them translated to the Grecians and next to the Romans The Glory of the Roman Empire was eclipsed and humbled by the barbarous Inundations of Goths Huns Vandals and other savage Nations who being themselves once civilized and mollified by the Effeminacies of Italy and the West were in 560 years space overthrown by the Potency of Charlemain and the Germans Germany hath now fully possessed the Imperial dignity 790 years and before fifty years moe be past shall be made a scorned Servitor of the King of the North whose Power and Religion shall transcend the utmost Confines of East and West In the beginning of which Empire Venice shall not brag of being inaccessible by the circumfluent Ocean and London Paris Antwerp and Prague the IV Ladies of Europe shall be humbled to sit in the dust of eternal Destruction The consideration of this must teach men humility in prosperity carefulnesse to know God and keep his Commandments seeing every Plant which he hath not planted shall be plucked up and nothing can be permanent but by his favour and protection XV. Thou therefore the eternall and incomprehensible Father of lights the indivisible God of peace and unity look down at length upon the afflicted estate of thy Gospel and mournfull face of thy Church clouded with sects and schisms rent by civill combustions dying by the wounds which her sons have given and wallowing in that gore which was shed by the hands of her own children Though our sins have deserved that we should for ever be cast out of the sight of thy countenance yet respect thou the bloud of thy Sonne crying better things then that of Abel and be once at one again with thy inheritanceâ— Abraham knows us not Israel is ignorant of us but thou art our Father and in thee shall be all our aâ—fiance with whom even the worst of men have found mercy Extend the light of thy loving-kindenes to the Tribes of Iacob and return to the many thousands of Israel for the time to build up Zion is come and the daies of restoring Jerusalem cannot be prolonged For why Thy servants think upon her stones and favour the very dust thereof But remember Edom O Lord as thou remembredst Babel which have cryed so oft Down with it down with it to the very earth Pour thy-vengeance down upon the Beast of Rome and the red Dragon of Constantinople who never knew thy name that so the sorrowfull sighings of the Prisoners may come before theeâ— and thy servants be preserved that are appointed to die Let thy work be upon the MAN of thy right hand and upon the Son of man whom thou hast made so strong for thy self that Pharaoh Elam Mesheck with the sonnes of Tubal may fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword and may descend into the midst of hell with all that help them even the whole multitude of the Uncircumcised whose Lot is to goe into the nether parts of the Earth There shall they have their beds with the Uncircumcised near those Valiants which are gone down to the grave with their weapons of war and have laid their swords under their heads because they were the fear of the mighty in the Land of the Living But what shall be said to the Captain of the Nations or to the Angell destroying Edom and Babylon Even this That the Lord hath founded Zion and the poor of his people shall trust in it He will leave an afflicted people and they shall trust in the name of the Lord He shall give them a pure Law that they may pray to him with one consent He shall open the doors of darknesse the gates of obscurity shall he break down that the world may be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea O thou sower of discord and Captain of iniquity how long wilt thou delight to murther spoil and pursue the distressed Knowest thou not that it will be bitternesse in the end Command the people to return every man from pursuing his brother for lo a Nation is risen against you a mighty Nation and terrible from the East whose horses ace fire and his Chariots flames of fire to devour his men are as swift as the Eagle who will have no compassion on the fruit of the womb nor shall their eye pity They shall encompasse â—hy Tents with an intent to lay all waste before them but neverthelesse be conâ—ident and bold in the Lord of Hosts for fire shall come down from Heaven and return their wickednesse upon their heads and their doings upon their own pates O thou worship of Israel how wonderfull art thou in thy doings toward the children of menâ— Bringing light out of darknesse strength out of weaknesse and making Justice the mean to the manifestation of thy goodnesse and glory As for me I will expect him who is as well the King of Salem Peace as Melchisedâ—ck the King of Justice all my daies and will heartily pray for his coming who shall bring every work into judgement and every thing to a legall triall whether it be good or evill He is the Lamb upon the white Throne before whose face Heaven and Earth shall fly away and the Sea be no more found Death and Hell shall give up the dead that are in them and every Name that is not written in the Book of Life shall be cast into the Lake of fire For which time all the Creation groaneth crying out to be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption and restored to the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly that sin may be destroyed for ever and righteousnesse eternally established in stead thereof Amen FINIS Forâ—itan hunc aliquis verbosum dicere librum Non dubitet forsan multò praestantior alter Pauca reperta puâ—et quùm plura invenerit ipse Desâ—s impatiens nimis haec obscura probabit Pro captâ—â— Lectoris habent sua fata Libelli Sed me juditij non pâ—enitet haec benè vobis Commisâ— quibus est amor sapientia juxtà Et Labor in studijs ijsdem celebratus inhaeret Vos sequar in vestro satis est examine cautum * Exact Collection p. 663.666