Number of God our Creator who is one in Three and Three in one the Quaternary or Four is the Number of Man the Creature who is made up of the four Elements as are also all Sublunary things call'd Elementary compound Bodies hence it is that all things have a wonderful Harmony of Cohaerency and Rest in the Septenary Number hereupon Philosophy calls io Numerus primus Virgineus Sacer Quietarius 1 The first Number because it made up the first Week 2 The Virgin Number because great is its force and efficacy as a Virgin is in the Flower and Strength of Age so every Seventh Year is computed Climacterical and Seven Nines or 63. is accounted the great one as 7. Years in Law is the Term of a Mans life and 3 Sevens are aequivalent to 3 Lives 3 'T is call'd a Sacred Number because it flows from the Ternary which is the Number of God and the Quaternary the Number of the World as is abovesaid this Note savors not so much of Superstition as it Respects the Nature of Harmony hence the Poets Phrase Perfection of Prosperity by torque quaterque Beati a 3 sold and a 4 fold Happiness 4 'T is the Resting number because the Seventh Day and the Seventh Year in sacred Writ were Sabbatical Every week is call'd Septimana consisting of 7. Days and every Seventh Year produceth some material Alteration Beside the Seventh Number is call'd the Limit and Measure of all inferior numbers and any great number proposed whose Measure is Seven and may be divided by 7. exactly can by no other Means be more certainly sound out than by Division with 7. But above all the Holy Scriptures number all by Sevens accounting the 7th Hour Day Month and Year to be all Sabbatical and the Seven Seventh Year to be a Jubilee a Restitution of all c. And this Harmony between Hours Days Months and Years seems to be intimated Revel 9. 15. Thus also the Law required 7. washings or sprinklings of blood or water and the 7. Lamps in the Inner Court or Holy Place representing the 7. Planets in the Visible Heavens as the greatest Lamp stood in the middle of the other six having 3. on either side so the Sun is seated in the midst as Prince of the Planets having 3. above Him and 3. below Him all attending him as above All the walks of this glorious Sun are shadows of something within the Vail The Eve or Evening was as Eve was to Adam the Wife of the Morning the Jews and other Nations reckon the Beginning of Time as of the Sabbath at Evening and to them that are about the Aequator and to all ar either Aequinox the first 6 Hours brings the Sun to the Mid-night Nadir or Mid-Heaven of the Antipodes and six more to the Morning Horizon six more to the Zenith or noon of the upper Hemisphere six more to its setting again when the Sun hath taken all these Turns of Sixes 6. times over theh comes the 7th or Sabbath Day whereon the Cakes of the Shew-bread were changed 1. Sam. 21. 6. Every 7th Hour as well as every 7th Day made a Pauze or Rest the Sabbath of the Evening Ps 104. 23. of the Midnight or the Morning and of the Noon or Mid-day All Vsherd in by six Hours as the Sabbath is by six days and that 7th is the first Number wherein Heaven and Earth met together God and Man in the first Sabbath worship Numero Deus Impare Gaudet 7. is an odd Number and the 7th Day was not only a Resting but a Refreshing day to God Exod. 31. 17. would to God it were so to us above all the other 6. Days And I know not why this 7th Grand Revolution of those Planets may not bring in a blessed Sabbatism or some Extraordinary Rest and Refreshment seeing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Time of Refreshing or as the Gr. signifies or Cooling the Heat is promised Act. 3. 19. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Time of the Restitution of all things v. 21. wherein all Ruines by Sin shall be Repaired by our Saviour and Blessed Jesus shall take off the Curse and Corruption under which the Creature groaneth Rom. 8 19 20. 21. 22. This great Scripture Truth Divine Plato Hammerd at in his Great Revolution when after many Thousands of Years He saith all things shall be again in statu quo prius as they were at the Worlds beginning in a state of perfection The World waxeth worse and worse and the last being but Dregs are the worst of Times yea not only the Earth but Heaven also grows faint and feeble through old Age. Insomuch that the Sun as Ptolomy saith Runs much nearer the Earth many Thousand Miles now than at the Creation If so then by the same Rule the Planets must do the same and then neither of them have kept their first perfection from whence some Salvo's to arising Doubts may be deducted if this Hypothesis should be taken for Granted But whatever may be said to Ptolomys Assertion I shall endeavor to illustrate that of Noble Tycho Brahe saying that all the 6. Great Conjunctions which only have happened since the Foundation of the World Exclusive to this 16. Century have been Auspicious to the World and Vsherd in some signal Mercies to Man-kind So this 7th in our Century will certainly exceed them all c. as the 6. Days Creation had each of them their Tob Good but the 7th Days Rest was attended with Tob Meod very good So the 6. former Revolutions all brought Tob good to the Church but this 7th suppos'd to be the last will undoubtedly bring Tob Meod very good things with it The Bridegroom at the Marriage feast reserves his Best Wine for the Last Time John 2. 9. 10. Take a short Land-skip of all the former 6. The first under Enoch 800. Years of the World his Name signifies Catechised as Gen. 14. 14. Chanikau Catechised or Trained up in Religion as well as Warfare He was taught of God to walk with God Gen. 5. 24. Hebr. 11. 5. Ecclesiasticus 44. 16. and 49. 14 A great Type of Christ in his Ascension living 365 Years before his Translation after a God pleasing Life and just so long did Christ live in the Purity of the Primitive Church to Julian the Apostate in the Year 365 after Christ He was as all the Patriarks were the Chief Bishop of his Time by whose Labours the Church of God was preserved in that prophane Age He prophecyed of the Destruction of Sinners before Noah did of the Deluge foretelling the Day of Judgment and the Coming of our Lord. Syr. Maran-Atha hence the Jews make him the Author of the great Excommunication Jude v. 14. 15. As Enoch is call'd the 7th from Adam the Church had some Sabbath or 7th Time of Refreshing by him a Rest and Respit from that Vniversal Destruction which came upon the World afterwards Thus Elijah Enochs Brother candidate of Immortality is
was like the Rest that the Ark of the Covenant had in the midst of Jordan and that of the Priests of the Lord who attended it Josh 4 9 10 16. with 3 13. The Feet of the Priests that bare the Ark did Rest in the midst of Jordan there they stood and must not stir out of their station until 600000 people were passed over the 4000. Cubits of dry Land within the banks there they stand they Rest in the midst of Jordan with hideous Mountains of water hanging over their Heads a most Ghastly and frightful sight without all peradventure yet there they stood till God cal'd them off betwixt the People and Danger so do all good Ministers in all Ages the first shock falls on them The Church hath such short Restles Rests or Sabbaths sometimes as Act 9 31. then had the Churches Rest and such a Sabbath she enjoyed in this Emperors time whom Eginardus writing his life calls a most pious and glorious Emperor He waged his Wars principally to Extirpate Heathenism and to propagate Christianity more than for Enlarging his Dominions Pareus Med. Hist Eccles pag. 257 He trode in the path of his Father Pipin and of his Grandfather Charles Martel of France in that great Service of Christendom against the Saracens had an Averseness though he Reconcil'd the Pope and People from allowing the Popish upholding of Images which appear'd in a Councel held at Franckford and his writing against the 2d Councel of Nice He gave for his Motto Christus Regnat Vincit Triumphat Christ Reigns Conquers and Triumphs This was much even then when Antichrist began to be both Regnant and Triumphant in this 8th Century Prideaux Introd pag. 229 230 as this Motto expressed his Christian Humility in the midst of his Grandeur and Greatness to the great shame of the Popes Pride and Ambition in that time so it Demonstrated his prophetick Faith that Christ in due time would Trample Antichrist underfoot and Triumph over Him He is said to give unto the Empire not only a new Body but a new Soul too by promoting Religion in all his Conquer'd Countries Alsted Encuclopaed pag 3019. He made Amicable leagues with sundry Infidel Kings and Princes that they might be more Favorable to their Christian Subjects Pareus Med. Hist Eccles◠pag. 258. Alcuinus our Oxford man and one of Venerand Bedes Pupils was this Emperors Tutor by whom he gave a large Testimony against Popish Errors Illyr Test Vers pag. 704 and 724. and by whom the Holy Scriptures were translated into the Mothers tongue the Pope at that time not contradicting it Alsted 3020. and Prideaux 230. pag. to conclude though this Great Emperor had some Tincture of Superstition with his piety saith Osiandor yet was he a Zealous promoter of Christianity insomuch that Christ had his Churches in this 8th Century even in all Lands Where they had a little Sabbath or Rest and kept their Sabbaths as the Centurist saith in Palaestine Aegypt Greece France Germany yea and in our Britain as at London York Beverley Crowland Canterbury c. All named Osiand Epst Hist Eccles Cent. 8. lib. 1. Cap. 12. pag. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. would to God our King may become another Charles the Great to protect the Protestant Religion in all Lands Helvicus saith Aaron King of the Saracens gave this Charls Mount Calvary in Jerusalem and the Sepulchre of Christ God give to our Charls a share in Christs Kingdom Now come we to the 7th or Sabbatical Revolution which makes the former 8th to be now the 16th Century The beginning of which makes the World five Thousand six Hundred years old As the sixt climacterical Conjunction turn'd the Empire from Rome to Germany in the 8th Century So this 7th may both turn it and burn it with the House of Austria and the Pope of Rome out of the World As the 8th Cent. gave a little Rest or Sabbath to the reformed Religion which hath been miraculously Rested though Arrested by the malice of Rome both before and since Charls the 5th but this 16th or last may be a Sabbath of Sabbaths and proclaim a Jubilee of Triumph To apply this General Discourse particularly to our present purpose as also to obviate Objections some Observations both Astrological and Theological may be here usefully added 1st Astrological 1 observe in the General there is no Arrival at perfection in Astronomy the best Artists have erred even in their best works Humanum est errare the best Astronomer may say with the Man in Terence Homo sum Humanum à me nil alienum puto Men as Men yea the best of Men may mistake The very Masters and chief Luminaries in the Astronomical orb such as Mercator Maginus Morinus of France Lord of Knudstrobe Andrew Argol of Padua learned Hecker and Kepler himself are all found faulty and in some things committing Errours especially in the places of the slowest paced Planets as are Saturn and Jupiter None agree in all points nor is it one man or one Age that can set these Differences to the Rights as Mr. Gadbury ingenuously acknowledgeth in his Epistle to the Reader both before his 10 y. and his 20. y. Ephemerides 2 observe in particular neither do astronomers Agree among themselves in Assigning the Time of this 7th Clymacterical Conjunction in our 16th Century but have differing sentiments about it Alsted that aliquis in omnibus Universally learned in all University Learning says that it happened in the Year 1603. December 24. 'tis 14. in another place at Noon in Sagittary Encuclopoed pag. 1105. 1106. and 1215. 1216. and 1285. 1286. in the first of which places he calls it the 8th Conjunction since the Creation Reckoning the first Inclusive at the Beginning of the World as if it shadow'd out not only the Christian Sabbath which is on the 8th Day or first Day after the 7th on the 8th Day was Circumcision celebrated and the Psalms on Sheminiths or Eights but also that Sab. of Sabbaths the Millennium Sab. to be Vsher'd in thereby Yet in his second place quoted He calls it but the 7th Conjunction pag. 1216. where the first at the Creation is exclusive and not Reckon'd in the Number to Represent it more purely Sabbatical in the 7th Number In his Third place He adds that this 7th Revolution portends not only great and Universal Commotions in Church and State but also some glorious Reformations which be saith cannot be accomplished without great Concussions in Kingdoms and Countrys But Engl. prophetick Merlin contradicts this not only in its Computation as to time affirming it to be on Decemb. 7th at the 7th hour 45. minutes pag. 22. but also in its Denomination as to name for saith He pag. 57. that Conjunction may properly be called Magna and was no other but it had been Absurd to have call'd it Maxima it was Great but not the greatest or Climacterical because it was not in Aries which is the first of the Zodiack
Hebrews say is distant from Heaven a 500. Years Journey rise together at their first Creation in one point of time yet though they have been Running their restless Course for neer 6000 Years now neither of them hath fainted or failed in the way so as at any time to outrun each other but still both of those Great Stars observe a precise point of time for their Rising together now as they did at their first setting forth yea and of setting together to those under the Aequinoctial though not so to us through the obliquity of their Circle and Circumference in our Horrizon The same may be said of the other Stars The 4th Remark is that the Great God hath created not only Innumerable and Unnameable Stars that are fixed in the 8th Sphere call'd the Starry Heaven but also seven Planets or wandring Stars as the word Planet signifies so called not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Simply but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Secundum quid or Comparatively If those Planets be Simply and by themselves considered they have made their several Revolutions in their own distinct Orbs at the most fixed and most unchangeable certain Periods from the Beginning of the World to this present day but to speak comparatively in Respect of the fixed Stars all these Planets are placed under them have a differing Motion from them and hold an unequal distance to them yea and one to another in Respect of their seeming Vagabond and Eccentrick Motion they have various Longitudes Latitudes Conjunctions Oppositions extile Square and Trine Aspects Sometimes they move more swiftly sometimes more slowly as they are higher or lower in their Epicycles sometimes Retrograde Direct or Stationary never keeping the same distance among themselves or to any of the fixed Stars nor holding one and the same Situation in the Firmament as the fixed do Notwithstanding all this no Stars wander less than they do but have a most certain constant stated and regular Motion Duely performing the precise points and periods of their compass in their appointed Times As the Sun knows his going down Psal 104. 19. So do all the other six Planets comprehended in one Verse Post Sum Sum Sequitur proxima Luna subest Wherein S is Saturn J Jupiter M Mars The next S is Sol the Sun V Venus and M Mercury with Luna the Moon All these 7 are call'd wandring Stars for the Reasons above named and this Denomination hath a Divine warrant from the Apostle Jude v. 13. where wandring Stars are mentioned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the sense only of the common Judgment of Sense which beholds them carryed about in a differing Course to the whole Circuit of Heaven beside Two of those 7. Planets are these 2. Great Luminaries or Lights of the World the Sun and Moon both which be a whole Bundle of Wonders The Sun is the Prince of Planets yet as his Hebrew Name Shemesh Signifies is a Servant to Gods Servants He cometh out of his Chamber as a Bridegroom with marvellous Splendor Pomp and Bravery when he first sheweth himself above our Horizon and Rejoyceth as a Champion to Run his Race Psal 19. 4. 5. This he Runs with such a wonderful Swiftness as exceedeth the Eagles Flight more than the Eagle exceeds the slow Motion of the Snail Bellarmine saith the Sun runneth seven Thousand Miles in the Eight part of an Hour Bell. de Ascens Mentis in Deum grad 7. and with such Incomparable Sweetness Eccles 11. 7. that Eudoxus the Philosopher profess'd his Willingness to be burnt up presently by the Sun so he might be but admitted to come so near it as to learn the admirable Nature of it and Chrysostom cannot but wonder at the Suns darting down its Rayes towards the Earth whereas all Fire shooteth and hasteth up toward Heaven I might mention many more Marvels in the Sun were it not besides my present Design As likewise in the other Great Light the Moon cal'd Hebr. Jareach of Rauach to Refresh or Refrigerate because she cools the Earth with her Influences and Moses mentioneth that as the Sun by warmth so the Moon by Moysture make the Earth fruitful Deut. 33. 14. as some will needs place Hell in the Hollow of the Sun so others conceit a World in the Moon the Thinner part to be the Sea and the Thicker which is easy to discern not all alike lightsom to be the Earth However no Planet hath such Changeable Aspects yet Astronomers Affirm she hath as much light in her Wane as in her Full only her bright side is turned toward Heaven Hence Dr Hackwel hath an Excellent Note that therefore God seem'd to set Her lowest in the Heavens and neerest to the Earth of all the 7. Planets to put us daily in mind of the Constancy in Heavenly and Inconstancy of Earthly things Herself in some sort partaking of both though in a Different manner of the one in her Substance and of the other in her Visage to say nothing of the Ecclipses which are the wonders of the World and which Metamorphose even the very Haters of Astrology to become stark-staring Star Gazers to say but little of the two Planets next above the Moon yet under the Sun to wit Venus and Mercury both which do attend alway upon the Sun as Courtiers do upon the King never going far from Him Venus never more than 48 degrees and Mercury but 30 which is the Reason why it is so seldom seen and why both have no other Aspect to the Sun but Conjunction whereas the other Planets have oppositions c. The Morning Star commonly call'd Venus for its Beauty and Bravery is the constant Companion of the Sun and next in bigness as to Appearance to the two Great Lights casting a shadow as the Moon 't is seen long upon the Day and is not darken'd by the Moon in the Night Sed ipsius Contactu fit luc dior Aureo colore in Candorem diffuso The neer Approach of the Moon Changes only its golden Complexion into a more splendid brightness These two in a word Venus and Mercury are call'd Homodromi that is Fellow-Runners because They Run almost in the same course together and fulfills their periods not far asunder never much Remote from the Pallace Royal or Presence Chamber of the Sun their King which is also the Reason why these two never have Ortum Occasum Cosmicum they do not Rise and set with the Sun in that part or point of Heaven c. which is opposite Both keep nigh the Sun sometimes going before it and sometimes following After But omitting the Inferior my main concern at present is the Superior Planets under which the Sun is eated as the Center of all the Stars and the Eye of the World God hath placed it in the midst of the Orbs that it might the more commodiously give light It self being the fountain thereof to both the Superiour and Inferiour Stars and that neither by its propinquity If in the Moons
Orb it should scorch the Earth nor by its too much Distance in the 7th or Saturns Sphere Sublunary things should be starved through want of warmth from it The Sun is seated in the midst of Heaven 3 Planets above 3 below him as a King in the midst of his Kingdom that He may Diffuse his Influence on every hand and Keep all sides down in an equal poize and posture as Plutarch saith by his middle presence The Planet commonly call'd for Distinction-sake Saturn is the Highest above the Sun and next below the Starry Heaven or Sphere of the fixed Stars appearing of a dusky colour as a Star of the Second magnitude cold dry and Melancholiek and having the Highest and Widest Circumference cannot compleat his Circuit under the space of Thirty years Therefore 't is said to be of a slow Motion in his peculiar Cycle to say nothing of his Epicycle or Eccentrick Motion That call'd Jupiter is the next to Saturn exceeding splendid so that 't is oft mistaken by the Unskilful for the Morning Star or for the great Dog Star appearing as a Star of the first Magnitude that may Ecclipse Saturn when their latitude which seldom Happens be Equal at their Conjunction This Planet Accomplisheth his Zodaical period in the space of twelve years Having a narrower Sphere than Saturn yet a five times bigger body so that no Planet but the Sun is greater than it being 95. times Cardanus saith a 100 times bigger than the whole Earth The third Planet is call'd Mars less than Jupiter Higher Colour'd than Saturn of a Red Fiery Cholerick Complexion who still in a narrower Circle Finisheth his Revolution in two years Time The Wisdom of our and Their Creator may be much wonder'd at here in two Respects to mention no more now of the many Besides that i Saturn which cooleth much and Mars which Heateth much should have Jupiter placed betwixt them that it might temper and qualify those two Extreams with its more moderate Temperate and Benign Beams 2 that there should be such a Concreated Harmony betwixt the Sun and those 3. Superior Planets as is aforesaid That Supreme law which their maker laid and left upon those 3. was that they should observe a constant Congruity in all their Eccentrick Motions with the Sun whom they seem saith Alsted to Reverence as their King This Divine Command They have kept to the shame of us who frequently transgress that Law laid on us in Disowning Dishonoring and Disobeying Christ our King for almost 6000 years for as oft as they are in Conjunction so oft do they betake themselves to the top of their Epicycles as to their Chappel or closet in Reverence as it were of so Royal a Guests presence they Depart into the utmost borders of their own Dominions they give place to their Approaching King stands off at a due Distance and there Receives as it were commands and Influences from him And then when After the Conjunction the Sun whose Motion is swifter withdraws from thence these Planets do Descend from the Top or Tower of their Epicycle and like officious Courtiers Attend upon their Prince going his Progress and so they follow the Sun their Lord so far as till he is gone off through the third part of the Zodiack till by his quicker speed He hath out-run them the space of four of the Twelve signs Then at length as if they had fully Discharged their Duty and Homage they make a stand call'd at that time Stationary for some Days casting as it were their long looks after him and at that distance they throw him a Farewel when this is done They begin their Retrograde Motion Running back into the bottom of their Epicycle and letting themselves down into the lowest part thereof as oft as the Sun is gone from them into the opposite part of the Heavens to them and therefore as Alsted excellently observeth they seem to bewail the absence of their King and as it were Humbly Request his Return After this when they Discern the Sun drawing off from his opposition to them and Returning towards them again then they Ascending from the bottom the place of their bewailing still contrary to the order of the Signs Hasten out to meet their King and as with some Salutations they Entertain the Sun while He is yet distant from them the space of a Trigon 3 or 4 Signs by becoming Stationary or making another stand again this done and the Sun Approaching still nearer and nearer They then Run before him as his joyful Heralds and Harbingers in a right and Direct course according to the order of the Signs and as with great Gladness glide up to the Top of their Tower again that they might as it were resign up the nearest and most Commodious and Honorable place to the Sun their King This in short is the constant Harmonious Motion of these 3 Superior Planets and the Sun The Epiphonema cannot be less than an Heart Refreshing Admiration a Soul-Ravishing Adoration of the most mighty and only Wise Jehovah who Created and hath ordered these Astonishing Stars c. The works of the Lord are great sought out by all those that have pleasure therein Ps III. 2. If all the works of God be great those on the Earth and in the Sea then much more those in the Heavens no less than great works can fall from the hand of so Great a God they are all Magnalia so should all be magnifyed not neglected or slighted It should be a pleasure to us as it hath been no little to me to search and find out such wonderfull works Though they be Great yet are they to be seriously sought into and found out by those that Delight therein and the deeper they dive into them not for vain Curiosity but from solid Sanctity the sweeter they find them God hath shewn singular Skill in all Esp in these his works and He will have Men to admire him their Maker They all a centro ad Coelum are Tip'd and Guilt with a Glory upon them this the Brutish Man understands not Ps 92. 5. 6. Neither his ordinary nor extraordinary Handy-work whereas a woe is Denounc'd upon those that Regard them not Isa 5. 12. 15 Ps 28 4. 5. They shall have like for like c. God will Reward them according to the work of their hands because they Regard not the work of Gods Hands The 5th Remark to omit the Conjunctions of the Inferior Planets because the frequency thereof darkens the Significancy beside their Inferiority the Superior only are here to be handled and the other but Obiter as occasion offereth and Mars also though it carrys a correspondency with Saturn and Jupiter in the Quality of their Motions both as to Longitude and as to Laittude these three differ only in the Quantity thereof Mars fulfills his Cycle far sooner than the other so its Motion hath not so many Remarks upon it Saturn and Jupiter have many Aspects both towards
the other Planets and one towards another as Sextil Trine Square Opposit on and Conjunction waving all the other four I shall insist upon the Last named Their Conjunction must needs of all their other Aspects be most Remarkable seeing then and therein only those two mightyest Planets as it were twist together their most powerful Beams this they do when they come near each as do the Sun and the great Dog-star from the 20th of July to the 27th of August all which are call'd Dog days from the Hot season produced by the twisted Rays both of Sol and Sirius Indeed in true Propriety of Speech a Close Conjunction cannot be call'd an Aspect for when they have no distance wherein to look one upon another but are in the same Degree and Minute of a Sign together Thus may it sometime come to pass that Jupiter may totally Ecclips Saturn as being both in a lower Orb coming 'twixt us and it and of a larger Body seeing Saturn is but as a Star of the 2d Magnitude whereas Jupiter as one of the first Mr. Wing in his Astron Britannica pag. 1280. writeth that in the Year 1661. May the 3d. at 11. in the Night he saw Saturn totally Ecclips'd by the Moon which is a far lesser Body than it though it seem greater through its nearness to us and the others great Distance from us That these two Superior Planets as also Mars should be sometimes Direct going strait forward sometimes Retrograd stepping backward in their Motions and sometimes Stationary standing as we say-stock-still while all the other Stars call'd fixed never do so must needs be very marvellous yet their strange Conjunctions one with another is far more a greater marvel their Conjunction is Threefold 1. Minima 2. Media 3. Maxima or as Artists phrase them 1. Specialis 2. Trigonalis 3. Climacterica These 3. several sorts of Conjunctions in the two Superior Planets are caused thus 1. Saturn is of slowest Motion as he is the highest Planet and hath the largest Circle to run seldom above 3. or 4. Minutes in a day his mean Motion is as some say 2. Minutes and 11. Seconds his swiftest Motion is but 6. Minutes And if his Diurnal Motion be so slow his Annual must be accordingly which according to Keplers Tables improved by Maginus is computed not above 12. Degrees in 12. Months The slowness of Saturns Motion is further illustrated by his several Postures Retrograde Direct and Stationary He stands still neither moving backward nor forward for 3 or 4. some say five Days before he move backward or contrary to the Order and Succession of the 12. Signs and as many days before he go direct forward that is from one Degree of the sign to two and so on to the rest in which direct Posture the Sun and Moon are always found marching Endways and never are Stationary as the other Five Planets be or Retrograde but by a Miracle as they both stood still in Joshuahs time and the Sun went back 10 Degrees in that of Ahaz Beside Saturns Retrogradation conâ—â—â—â—eth customarily as some compute it an 140. Dayes all which considered must constitute his Motion Annually to be very slow 2. Jupiter hath a smarter Motion finishing his Revolution in about 12. Years whereas Saturn doth require about 30. Years wherein to finish his Cycle Yet Jupiters Motion compar'd with that of all the other Planets is very slow also whose swiftest Diurnal Motion is but about 14. Minutes as Saturns at the most is but 7. and Mars but 31. beside his being as well as Saturn Stationary five Days before he be Retrograde four Days before he go Direct and his Retrogradation lasteth 120. Days So that he likewise is of a slow Motion Hence it comes to pass that these 2. Planets do seldom make Application each to other in their distinct Spherical Motions they seldom meet together in Conjunction and they may meet together sometimes with their Beams when they do not exactly with their Bodies The first sort of those three Conjunctions the 2. Superior Planets make is call'd the Least Meanest or Special which falls out only once in about 20. Years reckoning in the round Number all along and not troubling either my self or the Reader with the Fractions or broken Numbers This may be thus explained Suppose Saturn and Jupiter do start and begin their Course in the Sign Aries the first chief and cardinal Sign of all the 12 in the Zodiack Jupiter must run through all the 12. Signs before Saturn can run through 4. of them therefore through this Inequality and Disproportion of these 2. Planets distinct Motion before Jupiter can overtake Saturn the Space of about 20. Years is required that is the Time whereat these 2. Planets do concur always in some one of the 12 Signs and in some one Degree and Minute thereof This is call'd Conjunctio Minima Their 2d sort of Conjunctions is the Mean or Middle for understanding this we must suppose the 12. Signs are divided into 4. Trigons Triplicities or Triangularitiys the Fiery Earthy Aery and watery Trigon Aries Leo and Sagittary make the first Taurus Virgo and Capricorn the second Gemini Libra and Aquarius the third Cancer Scorpio and Pisces make the fourth now Saturn and Jupiter having made 10 Conjunctions as Modern Astronomers reckon them though the Antient say 12. but of that after in some one of those four Trigons they then go off from that Triplicity to make so many Meetings or Conjunctions be it 10. or 12. in the next Trigon as out of the fiery Triangularity into the Earthy c. These many Meetings in each Trigon before they can go through all the 3. Signs thereof require the Space of 198. Years and 265. or according to Alsted 236. days c. by the Modern computation of making only 10. Meetings but if 12. after the Antients 〈◊〉 â—aken then the measure of time will be not only almost 200. aâ—â—… the former but altogether 240. Years before the planetary Conjunctions have accomplish'd all their Revolutions in any one single Trigon for which it is call'd the Trigonal or Mean Conjunction Lastly the 3d. Sort is the Great Greatest most signal and climacterical Conjunction which happeneth very rarely in the World for as the first falleth out once and but once in every Twenty Years successively as above and as the second succeeds only in every two Hundred Years which is the round Number within little more than one Year above the Fractions according to the Modern computation So this third cannot fall out till Saturn and Jupiter have run out all their 10 or 12. Conjunctions in the First the fiery Trigon all the same Number in the second the Earthy all likewise in the Aery the third and lastly all in the last which is the watery by an orderly Progress When these two superior Planets have run through all these four Trigons in successive Order and at last comes to have another Conjunction after
Stiled the 7th from Adam also not in Respect of Degrees or Gradual Descent as was Enoch the 7th Patriarch not the 7th Person but by way of Computation and in Respect of so many Generations as some Reckon between them Elijah is computed the 7th Prophet from Adam and the first sent to the Gentiles a great Reviver of the Church as his Brother Enoch was and a Restorer of the Law Now here be two 7ths from Adam both Translated into Heaven which may intimate that after the 6000. Year of the World comes the 7th from Adam or 7th Millennium with its strange Translation likewise However this Translation of Enach is call'd Annus Sabbaticus Calvisius Opus Chronolog Page 3. Enoch predicts as a late Reverend writer saith Judicium matutinum the Morning part of the Judgment Day explain'd Dan. 7. 7. 8. 9. as if then to be seen behold he cometh which was not to be till the 7000. Year begin and the Vespertinum or Evening part is after it explained in Revel 20. 7. The Second Climacterical Conjunction by doubling the Number 8 here and all along was in the 1600. Year of the World under Noah in which Century the Universal Deluge destroy'd the wicked World which was then drowned in wickedness before it was drown'd in water Yet the Church had then her Annum Sabbaticum a compleat Year of Rest in Noahs Ark for from November when Noah had laid up all his Stores of the Earthly Fruits and entred the Ark with his Beasts Fowls and Family he remained there till the Beginning of November following As Enoch had been a Cooler to the Church when the wicked world was Hot in wickedness by his contrary Profession prophecying and Practice for which God took him up into Heaven as thinking no place good enough for him upon Earth and whose Translation gave to the Church the first Specimen or Proof that God had prepared another Life after this for his Saints wherein they should live with him in Glory for ever So Noah as his Name signifies was a Comforter to the Church saving her from the Deluge which Reduced the World to its first Chaos or Confusion Gen. 1. 2. when the Waters above the Firmament and the Waters under met again together and brings the Earth once more into her first posture to be covered with Water 'T was a peculiar priviledge that Noah brought the Church nigh God in this great Floud of Waters Psal 32. 6 Enoch was a Prophet foretelling Christs coming and Noah was a Preacher of Christs Righteousness had greater Blessings than Adam having the Promise I will no more destroy c. Gen. 8. 21. 22. the Bow in the Cloud and a new String to his Bow the Everlasting Covenant the pattern of all Covenants with Israel oft mention'd by the Prophets and the Floud made such a Baptism to the Earth also as help'd to wash away its Curse which Cursed Earth shall become so Renewed so Blessed of the Lord yea so much Christs Darling that He Resolves to make it the Centre of his Glory as some suppose at the 7th Millennium or last Revolution of the Superior Planets Revel 5. 9. 10. where the Saints or Angels Rejoice that they shall come out of Heaven to Reign upon Earth thus God tells Moses in the Mount that the Land shall enjoy her Sabbath of Rest not only a Temporal Levit. 26. 34. 46. and 2. Chron. 36. 21. and Levit. 25. 2. 6. But an Eternal one Hebr. 4. 9. which the Lord of the Sabbath Math. 12. 8. Mark 2. 27. 28. Rom. 9. 29. Jam. 5. 4. hath made for man The whole Earth shall be filled with his Glory Numb 14. 21. He will Cover or Atone it Deut. 32. 43. God not Adam named the Earth Erets which signifies of Ratsah to Delight as If He meant to take his pleasure upon it when the Heavens that Canopy and Curtain now hiding his Glory shall pass away as a Scroll of parchment before the Fire God will come to keep his Sabbath of Rest on Earth and here accept his People then the Land of Canaan more accursed than all Lands while possessed by the accursed Nations shall be most blessed the Glory of all Lands The place of Gods Residence and Delightful Rest Ezek. 26. 6. 40. and 34. 26. 30. Hos 2 20 23. c. The Third great Revolution still adding another 800 falls out in the 2400. y. of the World under Moses when the Church had again another Sabbath of Rest from her long and groaning slavery in the brick bondage of Egypt this is so plain in Scripture History I need not inlarge upon it as upon the 2 former a word only the blessed Messiah which the 7th Revolution may bring in is greater than Moses as much as a Son than a Servant c. Hebr. 3 3 4 5 6. He will plague the Pharaoh of mystical Aegypt with sorer and severer plagues his Vials of wrath Revel 16 till He make him yeeld and let go his People as Exod. 12. 31. He will not only bring his Church into the Wilderness which was all Moses could do leaving the conquest of Canaan to Joshua but bring her also into the Heavenly Country The fourth falls in the 3200. y. of the world adding another 8 to the 24. under Solomon and the Kings of Israel according to incomparable Tycho Brahe this is likewise evident enough in Scripture that the Church had her Sabbath of Rest under Solomon that peaceable King as his Name signifies yea and the Ark of God that had from Moses time hitherto no better harbor than in a Moving and Tottering Tabernacle found a Sabbath of Rest in a standing and stately Temple the wonder of the World not only for his time but for his Godly Successors also Still our Saviour whom the first Revolution ushers into the World in y. 4000. is greater than great Solomon Math. 12 42. He is the Prince of Peace the maker and matter of our peace our Sanctuary and Salvation in whom alone our Souls find a Sabbath of Rest Math 11 29. This needs still less Illustration Go forward then 800. y. more to the Sixth Epocha or Revolution in 4800 y. of the world which brings in Charles the great under whom as the Roman Empire was in its Zenith or most flourishing estate at Christs Birth so now it was translated from Rome into Germany This must be insisted upon a little because 't is beyond Scripture History 't is true the Church could have but a slender Sabbath of Rest in his Time for then Antichrist was Regnant and Leo was Rampant Leo the 3d was then Pope who prostituted his Keys to the Emperors feet for which the Popish People whipt him like a Rogue If not plucked out his Eyes and cut out his Tongue c. Prideaux Introduction pag. 96 yea in this 8th Century Pope Joane made a good proof that the Church of Rome was a Base Whore so that the â—â—st of the Church in this Age
year of Christ 1694 which is now about 12 y. hence for the first Year of that Triumphant State or Happy Jubilee And I cannot but wonder to find Trithemius Spineus Cardan and Tycho Brahe all speaking of a new erected Kingdom about the Year 1700. which is about 5 or 6 years beyond Alsteds Account In quo omnia Nutu Unius Regentur c. And betwixt this great Conjunction renew'd again Jan. 30 and May 2d of the next year and in that 17 Century I find not any other of these 2 Superior Planets nor will be till their 20 y. Return from this Meeting only as great an Ecclipse of the Sun I find March 29 in the y. 1693 about Alsteds year aforementioned as was that in the y. 1652. which than gave the Denomination of Black Munday accompanyed with most Black Effects 4 As to those that have put so much stress upon the y. 1666 a year fatal to London not to Rome that mystical Babylon Time it self the best Interpreter of dark Mysteries hath confuted That was before this Great Conjunction though not before a Great Comet in the y. 64 vnless we reckon from Christs not Birth but Ascension for then was made Christs Visible Conquest which will be a fit Salvo for the aforesaid as adding 34 y. more to 1666 betwixt Christs Ascension and Descension to Restore all things which is not yet elaps'd but falls upon the 17. Century 5 there be others who judge the Time uncertain and certainly their Judgment in my Judgment is most certain However this is a sovereign Cordial against all our interveing Cordoliums that our Redemption draweth nigh Luke 21 28. therefore are we bid to look up and to lift up our Eyes on high upon those Heavenly Wonders the Conjunctions and the Comets Isa 40 26. And lift up your Heads c. as before or exhilarate corda cheer up your Hearts as that Luke 21 28. is interpreted or stretch forth your Necks as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8. 19. signifies which is either a Metaphor from Birds that thrust forth a long Neck out of a Cage or else from Men that earnestly look and long for some special Friend a coming as Siseras Mother did looking out at a Window and crying why is his Charet so long in coming Judg. 5 28. when ye see those things come to pass saith Christ that is when ye behold these Signs Prodigies Ecclipses c. Then know your full and final Deliverance is not far off see Rom. 8 19 to 22. 6 Whereas this Intimation cutts the Worlds continuance in statu quo short of 6000 years 't is true it seemeth to do so The Hebrew Cabbalists do indeed observe that in the first Verse of the Holy Bible there are six Alephs who from thence conclude that the World shall last six Thousand Years reckoning each Aleph as it stands in Gen. 1. 1. for a Thousand Suitable to this in point of Time is that other Rabbinical Notion that as Solomons Temple was finished in the 3000 y. of the World so the spiritual Temple shall be consummated in three Thousand more According to this Tenure likewise doth the known Prophecy of Elias not the Tisbite but a later Learned Rabbi run in his Reckoning that as there weree 2000 y. plus minus before the Law and 2000 y. more or less under the Law So there are to be 2000 y. also vnder the Gospel Agreable also to these 3 former Computations is the Notion of comparing the six Thousand years of the Worlds Redemption whereof the first four Thousand belong'd to the prophetical Office of Christ and the last two Thousand to his Sacerdotal or Priestly unto the six first Days of the Worlds Creation Because both the Old and New Testament do testify that a Thousand Years with God are as one Day Psal 90 4. and 2. Pet. 3 8. As likewise because God promiseth to shew Mercy to a 1000 Generations that is as some interpret it for 7000. y. For as after the 6 Days came the Sabbath so after the six Thousand comes the 7th or Sabbatical Millennium And after the prophetical and priestly Offices be accomplished in the four and two Thousand as aforesaid then begins his Regal Office wherein he takes to himself his great power and Reigns Revel 11 15 17. for which He hath been in long Expectation Hebr. 10 13. with 1 13. and Ps 110 1. and 1. Cor. 15 24. 25. this is his Kingly Office 7 These aforesaid Divisions of Times are Indeed Fair and plausible but as they are not Divine and Scriptural wanting a Warrant from the Spirits Inspiration so there is 1 a plus and a minus a more and a less Attending them and if the two former periods why not the latter 2 Christ hath said that this latter period shall be shortened for the Elects sake Matth. 24 22. which words may have a special Relation to the world in general as well as to Jerusalem in particular 3 There is a German Doctor who tells us we have lost more in the Chronology of Time than Two Hundred years 4 Consider that Tycho Brahe calls the Former Epoches of great Revolutions Uneven ones and why may not this last be so 5 Remember how the Antients make 960. y. betwixt one Climacterical Conjunction and another this will Advance c. 6 so will a Reckoning from Christs Ascension and not from his Birth 7 This Planetary Revolution being the 7th we may expect the sooner a Restitution of all things All Sabbatick Circulations are Reputed as Rings of Gold and the 7th is the Diamond and Sparkling Jewel of Daily Monthly and Annual Revolutions I shall therefore Conclude with this precious double 7th both in the paragraph and in the Subdivision and with that old Hebrew prayer Bimerah Bejamenu let this 7th Millennium or Blessed Jubilee come quickly and in our Day Before we be lodged in the silent Grave even so Come Lord Jesus come quickly So prayeth C. N. Christopher Nesse FINIS POST-SCRIPT 'T is true when this Sabbatick Jubilee shall begin no mortal man can determin the Hour Day Mouth or Year Tacente Scriptura Taceamus nos where the Scripture hath not a Mouth to speak we should not have a Tongue to ask no man nor Angel knows when the Son of man will come to Restore all things Matth 24 36. Acts 3 21. The Truth is Certain that it shall be but the Time is Vncertain when it will be for the Scripture is silent upon a 2 fold account 1 to suppress our Curiosity eorum quae scire nec datur nec fas est Docta est Ignorantia saith Austin An Itch of knowing secrets is a sort of madness saith Calvin Arcana Dei sunt Arca Dei a prying into Gods Secrets which belong not to us Deut. 29 29. may have the same measure with presumptuous prying into Gods Ark. 1. Sam. 6 19. and Peter gives the same charge against Curiosity as against Theft or Murder 1. Pet. 4 15.
Tu fuge ceu pestem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To be too pragmatical and Inquisitive after matters unrevealed falls under a severe Reproof Acts 1 6 7 11. Judg. 13 18. God hath set us our Bounds as Exod 19 12. His Revealed will we must be wise to Sobriety not above what 's written The 2d Account is to oblige our Vigilancy Ideò latet vnus Dies ut observentur omnes saith Austin Christ would not tell his Disciples the day or time of his Return though he told them all that was expedient John 14 2 16 7. yet pronounces them 3 times Happy that are always upon their watch Luke 12 37 38 43. so Mark 13. 37. Nevertheless we may safely say this Day of Redemption Draweth nigh and must now be at the very Door as may further be Demonstrated as it is with the Microcosm or little World Man so 't is with the Microcosm or great World As Mans first Age is Infancy reckon'd from his Birth till he be 7y old His 2d Age is Childhood from 7 to 14. His third is Adolescency or his stripling Age from 14 to 21. His fourth is his Youth from 21 to 35. His fift is his middle Age or Fulness of Strength which lasts from 35 to about 50. these 2 last are uneven Numbers lasting longer in the Course of Nature than the former 3 wherein Natural Vigor is shooting up in growth as a plant till it come to its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or full Strength then comes the sixt his old Age wherein he declines daily and droops towards the Earth from whence he came therefore is it call'd the evil Age Eccles 12 1. senium malum are convertible Terms because it is attended with manifold Maladys and Miserys then he faith with Isaac Behold now I am old and I know not the Day of my Death Gen. 27 2. and with Jacob behold I dye and the Time draweth nigh that I must dye Gen. 47 29. and 48 21. and with Paul I protest that I dye daily 1 Cor. 15 31. Even so it is with the great World whose Infancy was to Enoch the first Climacterical Conjunction it 's Childhood to Noah at the second it 's Adolescency to Moses at the third it 's Youth to Solomon c. at the fourth it 's middle Age to Christ at the fift it 's old Age brings in Charls the Great at the sixt This is further illustrated thus Paul the Apostle adjusteth this Metaphor not only comparing God to a great Householder who disposeth of Times to his Family the World as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies in which Dispensation there is a Time of Tutorage Pupillage and Pedagogy which comprehends all those Times before Christ whose coming in the Flesh He calls the Fulness of Time twice over Gal. 4. 1 2 3 4. and Eph. 1 10. that is the full grown Age of the World and of the Church in the World to be freed from Wardship c. And the same Apostle calls the Times afterwards the Ends of the World 1. Cor. 10 11. which can signify no other than its old Age the very Lees and Dregs of Time So the same Apostle calls them the last and therefore the worst Days 2. Tim. 3 3. and the Lord is at Hand Phil. 4 5. the Author to the Hebrews calls them also the last Days Hebr. 1 2. and the End of the World Hebr. 9 26. and the Apostle James saith the Coming of the Lord draws nigh and the Judge is standing at the Door I am 5 7 8 9. and the Apostle Peter saith the End of all things is at Hand 1. Pet. 4. 7. and 2. Pet. 3. 3. and John the Apostle saith expresly it is the last Time and we know it is the last Time 1 John 2. 18. and He further addeth yet a little while and Christ will come quickly Revel 1. 7 and 3 11. and 22 7 12 20. So that all the Apostles seem to expect then the End of the World and Paul points to his own Body when he said this Corruptible shall put on Incorruption c. 1 Cor. 15 53. and expected by the coming of Christ to be Changed rather than to Dye 1 Thess 4 17 yet after other things were Revealed to him 2 Thess 2 2 3. c. And so to John likewise in his Seal and Book prophesy Wherein he discovers 1. The Fata Imperii 2. the Fata Ecclesiae as a Seal represents the State and a Book the Church All to be Accomplished before the End or they might have Respect to the 3 Ages of the World according to Elias's Distribution 1. before 2. under the law 3 under to Gospel no New Rule or Revelation was to be expected after the last Which they therefore callâ—d the end of the World However they had desired to know some Signs of Christs coming and of the End of the World Matth. 24 3. Thinking verily that the World could not stand longer than the Temple nor possibly out last it as if it had been the Atlas and principal Pillar to support it for Solomon had said at its erecting and Dedication I have surely built God an house to dwell in for ever 1 Kin 8 13. and 2 Chron. 6 2 that is so long as the World stands it shall stand which was but conditional Hence the Disciples jamble these 3 questions together 1. what be the Signs of the Temples Ruine 2 of Christs second coming and 3. of the End of the World The Lord Answers all the Three in declaring distinct Signs of Jerusalems Destruction and promiscuously mixing them with the other but in v. 30. He singles out a Sign of his own last and most glorious coming which some suppose may be some Extraordinary Comet or Blazing Star as his first Coming was by a Bright Star that led the Wisemen to Bethlehem and if so many prodigys attended Christs passion surely many more may attend his Return in Glory and the end of the World many strange Commotions in Heaven Earth and Sea Luke 21 25. and Matth. 24 6 7 29. Houses usually give a great Crack when they are Ready to fall and so will the Great House of the World yet may there be some space betwixt the Sign and the thing signisyed The end may be neer but not yet Matth. 24 68 33. Luke 21 9. Therefore 't is said That day and hour knoweth no man Matth. 24 36. nor Angels neither the Son but the Father only Mark 13. 32. Ordine videlicet sciendia a se non ab alio The Son knows it not in his humble State but from the Father as he subsisteth and worketh from him John 5 19. c. 20. Christ as man knew not all things at once but did grow in knowledge gradually Luke 2 52. till after his Ascension 't is said God gave the Revelation of all things to Him Revel 1 1. Yet some Men vea good Men have made bold to pry into this forbidden Ark of this unknown Arcanum