with the worlds Saviour far be it from even my imaginations much more expressions I know his Majesty as much abominates prophane adoration as he hates parasitical Adulation I shall therefore onely set down some brief but serious observations of resemblance happening touching that Star appearing at the Nativity of our Saviour and this Star or signe Câ—â—lestiall shining at the Nativity of our Soveraign and leave the signification interpretation and amplification thereof to some diviner Pens The first Observation is that as that Star did lead the wisemen to Christ to worship his divine Majesty so the wiser and better sort of men were directed by divine Providence to yield due honour and obedience to our rightfull Soveraigne Lord and King which by wilfully wicked persons was long withdrawn and denyed The second That as Christ Jesus was the worlds coelestiall and eternal Saviour sent into the world to save his people from their sins and Death Hell due for the same and therefore had the sweet name Jesus given him by the Angel from God So hath God sent our Soveraign King to be a Terrestial temporal Savior to our Microcrosm these three Nations ready to sinck in misery slavery and to be swallowed up by divellishly minded Miscreants Rebellious Traitors walking craftily c. Such as Jerewiah the Prophet mentions chap. 6.28 But God hath made our King as t is said v. 27. of that Chapter I have set thee for a Tower and a Fortresse among my people c. And chap. 15.20 I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall though they fight against thee they shall not prevaile for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee saith the Lords Thirdly as the wisemen of the East seeing the Star came to Christ and rejoyced with great joy and fell down and worshipped him and opened their Treasures and presented to him Gold Incense and Myrrhe Mat. 2.10 11. So hath the Lord touched and wonderfully inclined the hearts of the people towards our gracious King that with inexpressible joy and surpassing affection they bow and submit to his Majesty with rich Presents in token of Love Loyalty and Homage As the prophetical King and Kingly Prophet David of our Saviour prophesied The Daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift like as the rich also among the people shall doe hommage before thy face with presents Psal 45.12 Is not this Scripture fulfilled at this time in our sight Again Psal 68.29 Kings shall bring presents unto thee the Kings of Arabia and Saba shall bring gifts c. This is in part fulfilled by the King of Spaines Royall and kinde Prefents c. But will hereafter be more fully accomplished but by whom and in what manner the same shall be done although I have good ground for my Faith herein I shall at present conceale another opportunity happily for discovery hereof may be fitter Many propheticall expressions in holy Writ might be produced properly appliable to our Soveraign King Charls and even parallel to the present times and occasions a short Tract whereof hath been penned a year since but not yet published which I now forbear to specifie intending onely at present to speak and write of the said Stars Apparition at his Majesties Nativity and observations thereupon Yet thus much I crave leave to say I trust without offence to God or good men and propose this quare What man ever more like the Son of man our Saviour in his humanity then this our Sacred King in several respects as he was 1. In his own person born to be a King 2 Pointed at by an extraordinary Star 3. Both in his pious Fathers person persecuted and in his own pursued into exile both in a worse case then Birds Foxes who have nests and holes Calamities upon calamities accumulated upon Innocent heads our late Soveraigne at length causelesly yet barbaroufly murthered at his own gate 4. Slandered as a Friend of Papists and Malignants as our Saviour Christ of publicans and sinners and many other such like sufferings as our Saviours Yet Orietur stella ex Jacob consurget virga de Israel percuties duces Moab vastabitque c. Number 24.17 c. There shall come a Star out of peaceable James the Olive-bearer of this Isle and a Scepter shall rise out of pious Charls a precious Martyr for the Laws of the Land and Liberties of the People Ex Jacob erit qui dominetur Num. 24.19 de forti egressa est dulcedo Out of the strong shall come the sweet a Ruler so pleasing so much longed for desired by the People What King except our coelestial Soveraign and King David ever rod on so many Clouds of Calamities ever bare such a burthen of bitter miseries yet maugre the malice of al the most potent opposers Me thinks I hear the Lord thus comforting his King people I will raise up for them a glorious plant of renown And they shall be no more consumed nor bear the shame of the enemy for Rebellion any more I will raise up a righteous Branch A King shall raign and prosper Jer. 23. I will give the Crown and Diadem to him whose due and undoubted right it is Ezek. 21. T is well worth our observation seven several sorts of Government in this last Years space sought and endeavoured to be set up yet Iniquitatem iniquitatem iniquitatem ponam eam saith the Lord perverted perverted perverted will I make it Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion Psal 2. The Lord made David prosper in all his proceedings what ever David did was pleasing to the people their tender care of him was such that they said thou art more worth then ten thousand of us The King of of Kings owneth eminently and evidently our King as he did King David to be his King on whom are set the hearts of all the people Hath he not united and knit them fast unto his and their King Is not our King by Gods grace to his Majesty become the love and longing of his people even the joy of their hearts They have been with the spouse in the Canticles sick for love for lack of his Majesty their dearly beloved Soveraign and which is a signal Note of Gods love likewise those that were his very enemies are not onely now in peace but in love with his Majesty And as Balaam for Balac though hired to curse yet blesse altogether The Lord God is with him and the shout of a King is among them Surely there is no inchantment against Jacob nor divination against Israel Our Charlemaine according to this time it shall be said what God hath wrought Numb 23.21 23. As the trees c. which the Lord hath planted and as the Cedar Trees besides the waters The King shall be higher than Agag and his Kingdome shall be exalted Blessed is he that blesseth thee and cursed is he that curseth thee Num. 24 6 7 9. This
divine Designment the most pious prosperous and puissant Prince in Europe Nay is it not most probable that divine providence hath determined to make that person superlatively Excellent whose Entertainment the King of Kings is pleased to Dignifie with the Attendance of such heavenly harbingers and anspioious Ambassadors who are praemised on purpose to premonâ—rate and promulgate to the world the Nativity Apparition and coming of the mightiest Monarch in the terrene Universe Dion writes of a Phaenix that was seen before the last year of Tiberius which Byrd is a perfect Emblem of the Resurrection and signified that at that time Christ rose from the dead and the Gospell was then to be spread abroad which is an asseveration of the dead rising again of the resurrection which the sleepy Sadduces denyed If there be Phoenix t is our King of this Age causing a Resurrection of these Nations from their Graves of Ruine and Slavery to rejoycing and liberty What did the Favour worn by the people before the Kings coming in commonly called the Kings colors de phoeniceo colore of a phaenician crimson or purpureo a purple colour signifies what did that portend but that our Phoenix should return triumphing and be anointed with the oyle of gladnesse and that God through his Majesties Government should recover both Church and State from eminent ruine give us beauty for ashes and the garment of gladnes for the spirit of heavinesse Those inconsiderable seeming signes of wearing the Kings Colours the Phoenix colours however not noted proves to be a plain prediction of the Kings and Countries Restitution and Resurrection when God hath a purpose to bring to passe any thing be it ever so great the meanest means is not to be dispised nor any the least omen to be contemned Ex parvis principiis ad summum saepe pervenitur Smalâ—â—d sad beginnings God oftentimes brings to glad and glorious perfection who hath despised the day of smal things Zach. 4.10 Out of the ashes of that pious patient prudent Phoenix Charls the I. hath God raised for us another Phoenix The Phoenix as Pliny hath it takes her name ex phoeniceo pennaerum colore nomen invenit from the colour of the Phoenix wings or feathers Vel à palmae Genere from a kinde of Palm tree quae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur Morientis renascentis ramâ— figura The emblem of a dying and reviving branch Many derivations are given of the word phoenix which are omitted T is a Bird of Arabia whereof there is never but one living 660. years as Pliny relates which perceiving the end thereof to be near at hand builds her a Nest in the top of a Palm tree with hot spices Cassia Cinnamon Myrrh c. which being set on fire by the sun beams her self therein is therewith burnt out of whose ashes ariseth a worm which afterward groweth to be a phoenix Many remarkable observations might hence be raised suitable to the present matter in hand I shall onely touch upon a threefold parallel Is not our King as another rare phaenix to us May it not be said of our Soveraign as God by his prophet Zach. 3.2 said of Jehoshna who was wonderfully preserved in the Captivity yet Sathan stood at his right hand to resist him and sought to afflict and trouble him Is not this a brand taken out of the fire The parallel holds very perfectly between our King and Jehoshun throughout the whole Chapter Hath not his Majesty been most miraculously preserved from many Domestick and Foraign dangers by sea and land from plots of foes profest and conspiracies of false seeming friends from publique open perils of the sword and secret and private practises of many wicked cunning and cruell adversaries per mare per terras per sara perignes per tot discrimina rerum Through innumerable ineffable difficulties dangers hath the Lord restored our King from his exile to his Crown and dignity and the Nations to Peace and safety as a brand taken out of the fire kept from utter consuming To proceed with the parrallel Jehoshua was clothed with foule or filthy garments as the text hath it which the Lord Commanded to be taken from him and caused him to be cloathed with change of rayment and a faire Diadem to be set upon his head And the Lord said I will bring forth the branch my servant for loe the stone that I have laid before Jehoshua upon one stone shall be seven eyes Behold I will cut out the graving thereof c. And in that day that the Lord shall ye call every man his neighbour under the Vine and under the Fig tree Zach. 3.5 8 9 10. The application is evident the parallel applying it self How plainly and perfectly is this prophecy fullfilled by parallel in our Soveraign are not those foule blots and stains of false reports and reproaches calumnies and scandalous aspersions by cursed slanderous detractors now cleansed and cleared and his Majesties untainted integrity covered with the white rayment of unspotted Innocence clad with the garments of Glory and highest grandeur and most richly arrayed with the royall robes of most ample illustrious renown adorned with the fairest Diadem of Royall Soveraignty and Dignity and for a Crown to all his Majesties Felicities crowned with the fur passing love and faithfull loyalty obedience and duty of his Subjects And verse the 8. I will bring forth the branch my servant what branch more properly then growing from that royall root of most ancient kingly Race Plantaginet according to that of Ezekiel 34.29 by God promised to his people Israel And I will raise up for them a plant of Renown and they shall be no more consumed c. Hath not the Lord dealt as graciously with England as with Israel in this respect Hath he not brought forth for England this blessed branch this Royal Plant of Renown Charlemaine Plantagenet For lo the Stone saith the Lord that I have laid before Jehoshua upon one stone shall be seven eyes c. To whom may this be more properly applied then to our Charlemain whom the Lord hath laid as a firm foundation or chief corner stone whereon or by whom a sure certain and lasting form and building of good and godly government both in Church and State shall be settled established And to proceed with the parallel upon this one stone shall be seven eyes to whom more properly applicable then to that King at whose Nativity seven coelestial eyes vouchsafed a gracious aspect to signifie by that sacred number of eyes God would endue him with transcendent light of knowledge and wisdome that should prepare and fit his Majesty with rare and extraordinary gifts for the management of those great Affairs in point of Government The number seven shewing a fulnesse of light and knowledge in so much that he should not onely in state Affairs have full prudence and exquisite policy in himself but that others also should admire his Wisdome and seek
shall onely mention briefly from his late Majesty Charls le sag and le bon the mirrour of piety patience and prudence some few precepts or prescriptions of advise to prayers for and prophecies touching his now most hopefull and happy Majesty Touching Afflictions Religion and Resolution in all conditions a Crown upon sordid dishonourable irreligious terms is not worth taking up or enjoying Keep you to true principles of piety virtue and bonour you shall never want a kingdome Thus by our late Majesty of blessed memory to our now renowned King was it written concerning trouble and affliction whereby to gain wisdom in youth This advantage of wisdome you have above most princes That you have begun and now spent some years of discretion in the experience of troubles and exercise of patience wherein piety and all vertues both morall and politicall are commonly better planted to a thriving as â—rees set in Winter then in warmth and serenity of times or amidst those delights which usually attend princes Courts in times of peace and plenty which are prone either to root up all plants of true vertue and honour or to be contented onely with some Leaves and withering formalities of them without any reall fruits such as tend to the publike good for which Princesshould alwayes remember they are born and by providence designed The evidence of which different Education holy Writ affords us in the Contemplation of David and Rehoboam The one prepared by many afflictions for a flourishing kingdome The other softned by the unparalleld prosperity of Solomons Court and so corrupted to the great dimunution both for Peace Honour and Kingdome by those flatteries which are as unseparable from prosperous Princes as flies are from fruit in summer whom adversity like cold weather drives away I had rather you should be Charts le bon then le grand good then great I hope God hath designed you to be both having so early put you into that exercise of his gifts and graces bestowed upon you which may best weed out all vitious inclinations and dispose you to those princely endowments and imployments which will most gain the love and intend the welfare of those over whom God shall place you Who seeth not this divine direction digested pious prayer heard and granted and the prophesie of good and great fulfilled What greater what better Prince in Christendome in Europe then our most illustrious renowned Charlemain and unto this goodness and greatnesse attaining not mollifie and effeminated with the wanton pleasures of a prosperous Court but per mare per terras per tot discrimina rearum with David tryed and almost tyred with terrours and troubles yet clearly prepared to be at last terque quaterque beatus by divine providence restored to a triple Crown his just right and due by Nature and legal descent and designed to septem plici sceptro a sevenfold scepter which the Septentrional Lion shall obtain and enjoy before ter septies or septies tres Number of years and the major part of this sevenfold sceptor shall be gained into the power Dominion of this Septentrional Lyon before three and seven years expire the extent of whose time of years or age shall be to seventy three And by the age of 37. that star of Sybilla in the North said to enlighten the world shall shine most gloriously on this Septentrional Lyon whose fame shall ring and the terrour of whom shall be resounded through't the Universe This digression I cannot avoid being drawn thereunto by that divine spirit from whose dictates I am directed to declare what by divine designment is determined touching this transcendent superexcellent person but to return to the consideration of his late Majesties propheticall expressions Hath not Almighty God most graciously directed all those black lines of afflictions which he was pleased to draw on his late Majesty also on his Majesty that now is who hath drank liberally also of that cup of carefull troubles unto a centre of true happinesse even to draw them nearer to himself their sorrows are become Gods Physick having that in healthfulness which was wanting in pleasure The Fathers sufferings shall be doubly recompenced in solaces to the Sons Is not that sly old Serpent which pretended new lights at length by his deeds of darkness detected to be a proselyte to the Father of Lyes by whose perswasion and instigation he an his adherents prosecuted so violently the Innocents And that seeming Saint which assumed the shape of an Angel of Reformation discovered to be the Devill of Rebellion Have we not seen the Serpent devoure the Dove Hath not the faith of some proved meer Faction and their Religion Rebellion Have they not alwayes made their Interest Gods And under the colours of Piety have not there marcht their ambitious policies not onely with greatest security but applause as to the populacy Hath not Jacob voice been heard when Esaus hands have been felt Hath not God made his Majesty an happy Instrument of dissipating these devilish Factions which would have destroyed the Nations Hath not a divine hand divided them to so high a rivalry as sets them more at defiance against each other then against their first Antagonist as his Maâ—esty predicted Have not those rough horns of private mens covetous and ambitious designes made a clear discovery of themselves which were at first wrapt up and hidden under the soft and smoth pretensions of Religion Reformation and liberty And as the woolf is not lesse cruel so will he be more justly hated when he shall appear no better than a woolf in sheeps cloathing The mountains of congealed factions by the sunshine of Gods mercy and the splendor of our Soveraigns vertues are thawed and dissipated and the abused vulgar hath learned that none are greater oppressors of their Estates Liberties and Consciences then those men that entitle themselves the Patrons and Vindicators of them onely to Usurp power over them Doe not these deceiptions daily vanish and the vazards fall off a pace The mask of Religion in the face of Rebellion will no longer serve to hide some mens detestable deformities in their damnable designes The precepts prayers and prophesies of his late Majesty to for touching our now king his kingdoms are very remarkable and well worthy observation some whereof I have before mentioned and some few hereafter I shall specifie As first advice and precept touching Religion I doe require and entreat you as your Father and your King that you would never suffer your heart to entertain or receive the least check against or disaffection from the true Religion established in the Church of England I tell you I have tryed it and after much search and many disputes have concluded it to be the best in the world c. many incitements to the imbracing and continuing thereof which holy directions his now Majesty hath as dutifully and faithfully observed what then is or ought to become of those cursed calumniators under whose lips is the poison of Aspes which charged the late and this religious Kings with popery which however contemptible here yet teaching no such principles as have been held and practised by some of those who would be accounted the modern principall pillars of piety and Religion in these Nations Another direction touching revenge savouring of a soul truly divine notatu dignum Let no passion betray you to any study of revenge upon those whose own sin and folly will sufficiently punish them in time As your quality sets you beyond any Duel with any subject so the noblenesse of your minde must raise you above the meditating any revenge or executing your anger upon the many you will finde more inward complacency in pardoning one than in punishing a thousand Many other Observations and those material touching his Majesties Name Natural and Christian his royall Brethren the two Renowned Dukes of York Glocester and other remarkable matter relating to the noble General Monke not unworthy consideration are penned and were intended at this time to be published but are reserved for a particular Treatise-hereafter And this Tract at present concluded with that prophetical prayer or praying prophecy of the late most pious King Priest Prophet of most blessed memory for touching his now Maâ—esty then Prince in a good part granted and in a faire forwardness like to be fulfilled That Almighty God will make his Majesty an Ankor or Harbor rather to these tossed weatherbeaten Kingdomes as is already accomplished his Majesty being become an happy haven of rest and safety after so great danger of the Kingdomes naufragie And by his wisdome justice piety and fortitude a repairer of what the folly wickednesse ambition and Avarice of some men have so ruined as to leave nothing in Church or state to the Crown the Nobility the Clergy or the Commons either as to laws liberties or estates order honor conscience or lives This is in a hopefull way by his Maj. through his Parl. preparing and by a prosperous progresse therein like to attain speedy and happy perfection Happy times I hope will attend his Maj. wherein as all good subjects will be satisfied with the blessings of his presence and virtues so will they by preceding sad experiences have learned That religion to their God and loyalty to their King cannot be parted without both their sin and their infelicity as God promised Ps 132.17 18. The Kingly prophets prayer shall put a period to this present discourse wherein he desired God to purge his Church from Hypocrites and Rebels Do well 〈◊〉 Lord to those that be good and true in their hearts but those that turn aside by their crooked wayes them shall the Lord lead with the workers of iniquity but peace shall be upon Israel Ps 125 4 5. Finis
my spirit to declare what I conceive and believe God hath determined for Exaltation of his Majesty that unparrallel'd Prince our Charlemain the Second The said Star 1572. may be said to give the first signification to the said Sybilla's Prophecy But this celestiall Signe or Starre which appeared at the Birth of our now King of Great Britain 1630. is an evident Manifestation and clear Confirmation of the fulfilling of that Prophecy pointing out plainly our Charls the Second to be another Charlemain Charls the Great the very person in that Prophecy intended and by Divine Providence preordained to performe and accomplish all those admirable atchievments and to attain that Superlative Greatnesse and Exaltation therein predicted even to be not only Carolus Maguus but also Carolus Maximus the Greatest that hath been or shall be of that Name Carolus à Carolo Grebnerus being in England with Queen Eliz. 1582. declared this as an undubitable Prophecy which should after be fulfilled descendens c administrabit imperium perfelicissime longe lateque dominabitur major erit Carolo Magno Our Charls le grand descending from Charls le bon is undoubtedly that person of which Grebner so prophecyeth The Fathers goodnesse is a firm Foundation for the Son's Greatnesse The Fathers Piety a sure Ground-work for the Son's Prosperity 'T is said of the late King that he was Crowned in White Robes to signifie his unpolluted Integrity Psal 112 6. â—â—ro 10.7 The Righteons shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance the Memoriall of the Just shall be blessed If the Memory surely the Polterity of the Just shall be blessed If the Righteous shall be like a Tree planted by the River side c. whose leaf shall not wither à fortiori his fruit shall flourish and prosper This pious Father prays for this Son's Goodnesse rather then Greatnesse that he may be rather Charls le bon the Good then Charls le grand the Great God is pleased to hear his Prayer as he did Solomon's praying for Wisdom only and gives him Wealth Honour and Greatnesse also in an Extraordinary manner So will God give to our King even give to his Majesty not only goodnesse but greatnesse also destroy his Enemies out of his sight make him a great Name like unto the name of the great Men of the Earth famous through the world as he promised to David and to his seed after him 2 Sam. 7. Our Soveraign Charls hath had a threefold ground for his Greatnesse 1. Divine Gods determination 2. Paternall a good Father 3. Propheticall The Sybills Prophecy after that the Star in 1572. was a prodomus going before the Pleiades which being a Sign Celestiall was as a John Baptist or Precursor appearing at his Majesties Nativity to shew and certifie his Majesty to be the very person by the said Prophecy and Star predicted in whom the effect of both was to be fullfilled All these successively presaging Gods preordinate purpose of making his Majesty Carolus Maximus that most Magnificent Monarch of the North which by the said Prophecy and Star was prefigured the great Lyon and new Star of the North. Let us consider the parts of the said Prophecy and we shall find it most properly principally and solely applicable to our Soveraign Charls the Second rather then to any other Prince or Potentate in the world There shall arise a Star in Europe over the Iberi or Iberians over or towards the great house of the North whose Beams shall Enlighten the whole world In this Verse are these 3. Points or Parts most considerable 1. The place of the apparition of the Star 2. House or Family 3. Future Glory or increase of Greatnesse In the year 1630 in the 110. year after the discovery of this Prophecy and fifty Eight years after the new Stars manifestation which appeared 1572. on the 29. day of May was our illustrious Charles borne in that very part of the World which both the old Prophecy and new Star designed upon whose Nativity at Noon the Sun then brightly shining appeared the Pleiades a celestial sign full of sweet influences called also his Charls Wain as before is shewed to signifie clearly to manifest to the world That the Prince then born was that great Star Sybilla intended And the Star in 1572. to be but the Prodromus or precuisor to this And that by this God was pleased to demonstrate the person intended by Sybills Prophecy and to remove all Doubts and Scruples which might arise touching the certainty thereof Out of the words of the Prophecy it self 't is evident that our King Charles is the onely Person meant thereby For whose is the Government or who is over the Iberi or Iberians the Irish or Ireland or for some hundreds of years have been but his Royall Majesty and Predecessours Again what great House of the North is there in any part of Europe which is greater or in reall truth so great as our Soveraign either in respect of antiquity being for 500 years and more descended and continued and derived from the most Royall bloud and Line of most renowned Kings as any in Christendom or the terrene world Whether we consider the Paternall or Maternall part of his Majesties Kingly Extraction or in respect of the Dominions and Territories de jure belonging to his Majesty being an Empire of no mean power and Extent not inferiour to the greatest in Europe and in regard of the most illustrious prowesse valour and glorious atchievments of his Majesties most heroicall famous Ancestors and Predecessors And as to the last part of this Verse of the Prophecy That the beams of that Star shall enlighten the whole world that relateth to future Effects But 't is most evident that among all the highest humane Heroes that History mentioneth none was ever honoured with the apparition of a celestiall Sign and Star at his Nativity Except our Saviour Christ and our Soveraign Charls which doth clearly presage great and wonderfull Acts to be performed by that person whose honour Heaven is determined to advance and make his Name and Fame glorious through the Universe neither do we find any Celestiall sign Star or Planet whose influeace hath been honoured with so rare and excellent an Epitheton as God himself is pleas'd to attribute in holy Writ to the Pleiades seven Stars or Charls's Wain stiling the influences thereof sweet and most mellifluous shewing also the impossibility for any humane power to restrain the same Job 38.31 The day of his Majesties glorious renown now begins to dawn And before the number of years which equalls the number of Stars in the said Celestiall sign Pleiades appearing at his Majesties Nativity be expired shall shine most brightly throughout Europe and other parts more remote yea before a Trigon of that time be past some fair foundation may be laid for effecting of some Famous future Enterprizes which with much celerity will happily be accomplished Septem Stellae possunt dici triones quod ita
Objections which may be raised against Observations upon Numbers wherein if some of the most Learned not onely Philosophers but divines may be believed are many occult vertues and distinct mysteries both divine and naturall But it must be remembred that what hath been said touching numbers or shall be said touching the powers thereof is not meant of vocal or Merchants numbers but of rational formal and natural But some divine and philosophical Authors affirm that he which knows how to join together the vocal numbers and natural with divine and order them into some harmony may happily be able to know and work wonderfull things by numbers Tâ—â— â—ythagorians professe they can prognosticate many things by the numbers of Names In which truly if there did not lie a great Mystery why hath St. John in the Revelation said Cap. 13.17.18 Hîc sapientia est qui habet intellectum computet numerum bestiae numerus enim hominis est He which hath understanding let him compute the number of the name of the Beast which is the number of a man And this was the most famous manner of computing amongst the Hebrews and Cabalists and happily may be at this day in these times a more certain way and course for conjecturall calculations then many yea most of our late Astrologers have found out at lest exposed to publick test whose miserable mistakes and grosse Errors have somewhat impeached the reputation of their science and left some blemish upon some of the reputed principal professors thereof which I spare to specifie choosing silence rather then taunting aspersions knowing that although t is said and so the verse begins with astra regunt homines yet it concludes thus sed regit astra Deus and what mortal is there that keeps the key of the Almighties Cabinet or hath known his mind and considering as a man that Humanum est Errare But to return to the consideration of the number Seven the number of his Majesties Nativity Star a number of such various and manyfold vertue and power That to expresse the same would require a large single volume by it self Somewhat hath been said before hereof which I shall not repeat but proceed with all brevity to set down some short observations on that and the number three and some other numbers opportunely offered to consideration on this present occasion Seven is a number of purification Elisha the Prophet bid leprous Naaman wash seven times in Jordan which done he was cleansed and the Leprous person under the law that was to be cleansed was sprinkled seven times with the blood of a Sparrow The Leprosie of Rebellion in these Nations needs 7 fold cleansings for purification It is a number of repentance and remission protending the peoples penitential submission and our Kings gracious Remission T is a number of liberty according to the Hebrews the Israelites law where each Hebrew servant the seventh year claimed Liberty may mind the King of a Jubile 't is sutable to divine praises the sanctifying of the Lords day and people by praises prayers as saith the Prophet seven times a day do I praise thee shewing his gratitude for Gods goodness c. A good pattern for a pious K. t is a number of revenge as in Scripture often appears Cain shall be revenged 7ld the Psalmist saith render Neighbors seven-fold into their bosom their reproach c. Signifying his Majesty shall be enabled to take a seven-fold revenge of his Enemies God will give power so to do T is a number consecrated to the Holy Ghost which the Prophet Isaiah describes to be seven-fold according to his gifts viz. the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of council and strength the spirit of knowledge and holinesse and the spirit of the fear of the Lord which we read in Zacharia to be the 7 Eyes of God why may we not conceive that Hereby is noted the manifold rare Gifts where with his Majesty is and shall be endowed from Heaven and the favourable Countenance of the Lord looking towards him shining graciously upon him In the book of the Revelation we may read of seven Angels spirits standing in the presence of God and seven Lamps burning before the throne of God and seven Golden Candlesticks and in the middle thereof was one like the Son of man and he had in his right hand seven Stars What is it not plain and proper that by the Son of man is our Saviour by the seven Stars our Soveraign intended our King in the hand of our God what other or better interpretation in relation to his Maje by way of parallel from the Pleiades can be made but that Gods Divine Majesty will graciously give unto our King a 7 ld attendance and guard of Holy Angels his ministring spirits to protect his princely person from all eminent dangers the burning Lamps and Golden Candlesticks and one like the Son of man with seven Stars in his right hand what application can be made hereof but that the Son of righteousnesse with healing under his wings will guide his Majesty through the wildernesse of this wretched world lead him through the dark deserts of dangers as he did the Israelites day and night by a cloud and pillar of fire illuminate his understanding to see the wondrous things of Divine Laws and give him a large portion of wisdome for humane Government and that Almighty God will so guide the King with his right hand that he shall not dash his foot against a stone the seven Stars being the Celestiall sign at the Kings Nativity may signifie the King to be the person the Sidus of seven Stars said to be in the right hand of the Sonne of Man where is protection and safety infallible under the shadow of the sacred wings of the omnipotent Now by what hath been said it is apparent that the number seven among all the other numbers may deservedly be said to be most full of all efficacy more over this number seven hath great conformity with the number twelve for as three and four make seven so thrice four makes twelve which are the numbers of the Celestial Planets and Signes resulting from the same Root and by the number three partaking of the Divinity and by the number four of the nature of Elements and other inferiour things There is in sacred Writ a very great Observance of this number seven before all others and many and very great are the mysteries thereof many have been already reckoned up and many more might be repeated out of holy Writ by which it may easily appear that the number 7 doth signifie a certain fullnesse of sacred Mysteries what an admirable and unparrallel'd person may we then hope and expect that to be whose arrival on earth such a glorious mysterious number not of terrestrial but celestial bodies are sent to celebrate and congratulate surely God was pleased to send these heavenly Heralds to proclame this Prince to be in time convenient to
knowledge learn and take example from those excellent Rules which he as a second Solomon should prescribe which doubt lesse in all probability is most likely to be fallfilled in our Soveraign whose excellency of matter and substance together with the exquisite Elegancy of Expression in all Letters Declarations Proclamations and other Writings render his Majesty the stile and Character and that most deservedly of a most pious wise and prudent Prince most like to be the most potent Monarch that ever swayed the Scepters of these Nations And as the Lord promised to the said Stone with seven eyes to cut out the graving thereof to take away the iniquity of the land in one day And that in that day ye shall call every man his neighbour under the Vine and under the Fig-tree verse 9 10. And how that should be done is shewed in the next Chap. Zach. 4.6 Neither by an Army nor strength but by my spirit saith the Lord of Hosts This day is this prophecy most perfectly fulfilled in our eyes Blessed be our good God who hath been so gracious both to his King and people and let the glory be ascribed onely to his Divine Majesty His Majesty having been before proved to be as it were another Phaenix sprung from that Phaenix Prince his Father for Piety Prudence and Patience unparaleld touching those colours worn by the people and called the Kings Colours which being Crimson Purple or a Phaenix colour which bird builds her nest in the top of a Palme-tree some significations in brief observations may be collected The purple being an embleme of wisdome and councell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 etimol ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quid significal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 concilium cogito quòd senatores Consiliarij purpura sunt induti scat ducit a bolla pro veste senatoria ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à consilio which importeth dignity and wisdome all things even the most inconsiderable by providence conducing to the Elevation of the Kings honour even those colours being arguments of wisdome counsell and dignity belonging to the king The Palme-tree also is an emblem of patience and victory to a person qui patientia vincit who overcomes by patience Quòd plana palma victoriam denotat si supra palmae arboris lignum magna onera imponas non deorsum palma cedit sed adversus pondus resurgit quasi vi renitens promenti Palma significat togant quid simulitudineâ—â— palmae habet intextam palmata toga The signe of Reward Felieity or Victory His Maj. by his pious and prudent waiting patience hath overcome all difficulties dangers recoverd his just rights subdued his feircest adversaries by a bloudlesse conquest brought to passe by divine providence and therefore most justly deserves the palme in siâ—ne of or reward for his happy Victory See Revel 7.9 Long White robes signe of purity palmes in their hands token of victory and felicity Much hath been said touching the number seven but not the moity of whatmay be said thereof The seven Starrs in the right hand of the sonne of man Revel 1.16.20 Is there stiled there the mystery of the seven Stars which is there declared to be the Pastors of the seven Churches which is set forth by the seven Golden Candlesticks and by the right hand is signified divine protection By the seven Starrs appearing at his Majesties birth what else can be signified but a seven Scepter and that his Majesty shall be the pastor King Emperor of seven Kingdomes at least a plentifull benefactor to Pastor and Church which happily might be nominated but at this time shall passe in silence and that by divine affistance these Dominions shall be attained before his Majesties arrive at the age of seven times seven years the major part 7 years sooner and contained to his Majesties posterity for seven generations or successions ensuing yea even untill those things which St. John Revel 6. from the 12. to the end Vpon opening the fixth seale of the book sea led with seven seals mentioneth to come to passe shall be fullsilled Mention was made before out of the prophesy of Zechariah cap. 3.9 of the stone which the Lord laid before Jehoshua and upon one stone there should be seven eyes The graving whereof the Lord there promiseth himself to cut out that it might be perfect in all points as a thing wrought by his own hand as the marginall note hath it and to take away the iniquity of the Land in one day so that the people might live in peace and quietness under their vines and fig trees as it followeth in the tenth vers of this chap. by way of parallel application is made to our Jehoshua our Soveraign Charlemaine and doubt lesse most properly if we observe the scope of this and the forth chapter next following our King may be said truly to be one stone with seven eye a stone which God prepares with the seven gifts of his spirit mentioned Isaiah 11. from the first to the sixt verse which is worth the reading and noting Again in Zachariah 4. what is meant by the Candlestick all of Gold which the Prophet saw with a boul on the top of it and seven lampes and seven pipes to the lamps and two olive trees over it one on the right side and another on the left side of the boul But the a royal Dukes or the Graces of Gods good Spirit which he giveth increaseth continueth in those persons whom he raiseth to greatnesse for his owne glory and the good of his Church and people And this is performed non in Execitu nec in robore sed in spiritu meo dixit Deus exercituum Though he be Dominus exercituum Lord of hostes yet non exercitu c. Neither by an Army nor by strength but by his spirit shall Zerubabel build up his Church and people Quis tu magne mons coram Zerubabel Who art thou O Great Mountain before Zetubabel Thou shalt be a plain and he shall bring forth the head stone thereof with shouting and crying grace grace unto it The hands of Zerub babel have laid the Foundation of his house his hands shall also finish it scietis quia dominus exercituum mâ—sit me ad vos Quis enint despexit dies parvos Who hath despised the day of small things but they shall rejoice and shall see Lapidem stanneum the stone of tinn in the hand of Zerubabel Septem isti oculi sunt Domini quid discurrant in universam terram those seven are the eyes of the Lord which run through the whole world Zerubbabel is often mentioned in scripture for many worthy acts he reedified the Temple in despite of all his Enemies â—zâ—a 3.2 Zech 4 6.7.9 10. He is called Sheshbazzar which signified joy in tribulation Ezra 1.8.15.14 and Berechrah Nehemiah 6.18 blessing or speaking well of the Lord. The name Zerubbabel signifieth repugnant to confusion Aâ—â—enus à Confusione strang from Confusion or a
Republica appointed that Princes both alive dead should be celebrated with divine Honours which Institutiton hath been received amongst the most and best Nations even from the first age to deify their Princes with divine honours a Gods vicegerent on earth and to consecrate them with Eternall memory Hence they did impose their never dying names on little Provinces Mountaines Rivers Lakes Islands and Seas and dedicated to them with great Pomp Pyramides Colosses triumphal arches Trophes Statues Temples playes feasts c And also caled the Heavens Stars Dayes and Months by their Name Hence January from Janus July from Julius August from Augustus So Diet Mercurij from mercury Trismegest Dies Jovis from Jupiter which custome we read was observed not onely by the Aegyptians Greeks and Romanes but also by the then not so Civilized as now a people the Gothes Danes and Teutours Hence Saxo Grammaticus being witnesse what day was formerly called Dies Mercury these call Othines day and what day was formerly named from Jupiter these do now call Thursday from Othin and Thor in times past Kings of Scotland and Denmarke neither are they for any other reason called Gothes then that they call in their Language their Chiefeit God Got. Hence also the Dutch are thus called because they named the God Mars whom they worshiped Tentan By which name the Gaules also called Mercury Why may not the Moneth now called May which some derive a made faction from the moisture then caused by the rising of the Pleiades be changed into Carolâ—â— in regard of the Nativity of our Tresmegistus Carolus in that month 1630. and the pleindes whose rising is in that moneth called also Charls Waine appeared at the time of his Birth on the 29th day thereof on which day also his Majesty returnd Triumphantly to London to his Pâ—rliament in the year 1660. to the ineffectable surpassing Joy of his people Surely heaven disdaining noâ—â—o have a Coelestiall signe the Name of Charleâ—â— Why should we not account it an Honour to the Nation to have this Moneth the best and chiefest in the year dignifyed with the Name of that Person who is the onely Joy Comâ—hrt and Honour of ouâ— horizon His Birth Graced with a Coelestiall Châ—ribus 〈◊〉 His restitution the longing thirsting desire of three Kingdoms The staâ—â— and stay of 〈◊〉 Hotions and restoring the collepsed Honour of our Countrey a â—â—mber lesse number with eyes toâ—â—â—ard their Joy tongues and lips 〈…〉 loud a celaâ—ations expressing 〈…〉 of their hearts 〈…〉 handâ—dife up to hâ—aven â—â—ith prayers and praises Though â—â—â—use are not Minarula yet they are 〈◊〉 mirauda very admirable 〈…〉 such a people 〈◊〉 view of their King and such a King in view of his People handing their eyes to and fro the one from the other like the flowing and falling of waters a reciprocall and interchangeable motion of love between them I know not what others think but to me it seemeth worthy to adde a Rubrick more to your Almanack and make a new holy day amongst you and give it a new name call it Charles day The Pope maketh Jubilees at his pleasure why not this a Jubilee a yeare of extraordinary joy to these Nations The like hath not happened for many generations No not since Britain bate the name of a Nation nor like to come to passe whilest the world lasteth And being a time and occasion of so much Joy and happinesse to King and people let their hearts unite in this one acceptable service to heaven to comfort them that Mourne in Sion To speak and act comfortably to and for many thousands distressed and oppressed debtors destructive members of Christ who have for many years laine defolately and disconsolately languishing buried alive in Prisons ready to perish that they may say to the prisoners go forth and to them that are in darknesse shew your selves our Saviour disdayned not to declare that the Lord had sent him to preach good ridings to the poor to binde up the broken hearted to give liberty to the Captives and to them that are bound the opening of the prison to shew the acceptable yeare of the Lord to comfort all that mourne To Give unto them beauty for ashes that oile of joy for mourning the garments of gladnesse for the spirit of happinesse that ye might be called trees of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord. c. neither can Kings appear like gods in any thing more then in works of mercy But to return to speak of the honour and powervouchsafed by God himself to Princes Kings if just and mercifull are accounted Companions of the Gods and indowed in some respects with the like power Hence they cure diseases by their touch and word and sometimes command the times and heavens as Virgil sung of Augustus Nocte pluit tota redeunt spectacula mane Divisum imperium cum Jove Caesar habet It raines all night in 'th ' morn the raies return Caesar with Jove divided hath the Throne And the Scripture testifyeth of Joshuah who fighting in Gibeon commanded the Sun and Moon saying Sun stand still in Gâ—beon and thou Moon in the valley of Ajalon and the Sun and Moon stood still at his command neither did the Sun set in the space of one day untill he had revenged himself of his enemies and the Lord obeyed the voice of man Also Moses divided the red Sea and Joshua Jourden and led the people over dry-shod The like did Alexander the Macedonian leading forth his Army Sometimes princes are indowed with aprophetical spirit as in many respects the sweet singer of Israel the Kingly Prophet David appears to be most alike to whom not only in afflictions but both in piety and prophecy Was also our late prophetical King and kingly Prophet Carolu bonus primus Charles le bon the good the first not onely regno aut reguan do primus sed bonitate pretate prudentâ—a omnium predecessorum primus whose propheticall expressions in that incomparable divine piece 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are many and many already evidently fulfilled A particular Collection whereof in a peculiar small volumne by it self may hapily hereafter be published I shall herein mention onely three or four at present In his late Majesties Meditation upon the Armies wilfull and wicked surprisal of his Royal and Sacred person at Holmby divers dangerous divisions and distractions are by his Majestie predicted to ensue in the Houses the Army and City which accordingly came to passe 〈◊〉 the Struglings of those two twins as his Majesty then called the Presbyterians and Independents which lately one woâ—â—â— inclosed And the breach still not to grow wider is as impossible as lines drawn from the center t is impossible not to divice from each other to much the wider by how much they go further from the point of union That those Babel Builders should from division fall to confusion and although they pretended the building of Jerusalem the deviding of their tongues and hands was