saieth speakyng of certaine signes whiche shall goe before the commyng of Christ to Iudgement Luke 21.25 There shall bee signes then saieth he in the Sonne and in the Moone and in the starres And againe Math. 24. â—9 immediately after the tribulation of those daies shall the Sunne be darkened and the Moone shall not giue her light and the starres shall fall from heauen and the powers of heauen shal be shakeÌ„ Esay 13.9 The Prophet Esay also saieth thus Behold the daie of the lorde commeth cruell with wrathe and fearce to anger to laie the lande waste and he shall destroie the synners out of it For the starres of heauen and the Planettes thereof shall not giue their light the Sonne shal be darkened in his goyng sorthe the Moone shall not cause her light to shine Of this read more Ezechiell 32.7 Daniel 7.13 1. Cor. 15.2 c. Iol. 2.31 Also the Prophete Ioell saieth that the Sonne shal be tourned into darkenesse and the Moone into bloud before the greate and terrible daie of the lorde come By all whiche sondrie testimonies is signified that all the creatures of God as well in heauen aboue as in the yearth beneth whether it be the Sonne the Moone or the Starres or any parte of the hoste of heauen aboue or the yearth beneth shal be as it were summoÌ„s to summon the whole world vnto Christes tribunall feate of iudgement Whiche kinde of Sommons the vngodlie impenitent synners shall euery daie contemne more and more vntill the verie IudgemeÌ„t daie Before whiche tyme bothe heauen earth notwithstaÌ„ding shal after a sorte resemble the countenaunce of an angrie Iudge the rather to stirre vp all wicked synners to repent their vngodlie liues and to tourne vnto the Lorde Beeyng mooued thereunto by these and suche like signes and tokens of Gods wrathe whiche shall euidently appeare vnto all the whole worlde before the ende and consummation of thesame as hath been before declared And then shal thei see the Sonne of manne come in a Cloude with power and greate glorie Wherefore let vs diligently call to our remembraunce whether any of these forenamed signes bee passed yea or no that is to saie whether there haue been many and verie often Ecclipses of the Sonne and likewise of the Moone or whether the Starres haue seemed to fall from heaueÌ„ Or the powers of heauen haue been at any tyme moued or shaken yea or no It can not bee denied but that there hath been of late yeres more wonderfull and straunge sightes seen bothe in the Sonne and in the Moone and in the starres cleane against the order of nature then euer was seen in any age here tofore Haue we not read of twoo Moones that shined at one tyme in the seuenth yere of kyng Henry the first Did ye neuer heare tel of those fiue Moones that shined at once in the seconde yere of kyng Henry the seuenth Haue yee not founde in the Chronicles how that the Sonne hath appeared as red as bloud and so continued the space of sixe howers the laste daie of October in the fiftene yere of Kyng Edward the seconde But to come more nerer to our time haue ye not heard how in the yere of the Lorde 1543. And the xxxv yere of the raigne of king Henry the eight there chanced fower Eclipses one of the Sonne the 24. of Ianuarie and three of the Moone whiche was a marueilous thyng to behold That I maie omit to speake of the strange Eclipses of the Sonne and Moone these yeres laste paste But because I haue hetherto spoken sufficiently of signes and tokens whiche haue been seen in the Sonne and in the Moone for so muche as our Sauior Christ Math. 24.29 doeth make mention also that the Starres shall fall froÌ„ heauen I thinke it moste meete and conuenient for me to speake somewhat of blasing Starres And so muche the rather because at this present so iuste occasion is offered vnto me by the reason of a blasyng Starre whiche did appeare at the firste in the Iudgement of those whiche are learned Astronomers in the signe called Pisces the tenth daie of October 1580. and was left in Aquarius The motion thereof beeyng retrograde contrarie to the common course of other moueable Starres and yet doeth it continue still to bee seen and vewed of all men albeit it doeth not lighten the aire with her glimmering beames and glistring brightnesse so muche as it did at the firste appearyng thereof beyng set on fire by Gods diuine councell and prouidence that by the sight thereof we might be aduertised of after clappes And so to prepare our selues spedely to turne vnto God by faithfull and vnfeigned repentaunce that wee maie bee the more readie to meete hym in the cloudes with ioye at his commyng or els through the hardnesse of our harte whiche can not repent iustly to suffer the bitternesse of his sharpe iudgement and so heape vp as a treasure vnto our selues wrathe against the daie of wrathe and of the declaration of the iuste Iudgement of God Therefore in the title of this treatise I doe tearme this Starre whiche is seene at this present A blasyng starre or a burning Beacon c. set on fire by gods prouidence to warne the whole worlde of dreadfull warres betweene God and those that doe goe on still in wickednesse and will not bee touched and moued to repentaunce And I was partely moued so to name it for this consideration For as in Englande and in moste places of the whole worlde besides Beacons are placed vppon the stipest and highest hills that maie be sene farthest of in tyme of warre and of the inuasion of the enemie into any Nation are night and daie watched and set on fire to signifie and declare vnto the inhabitantes thereof that some greate perill and daunger is nigh Euen so this Comet is as it were set on fire in the height of the aire by the Almightie power and prouidence of our eternall God to the ende that so many as shall behold the same maie be admonished and stirred vp by the consideration therof to auoide suche after clapps by their faithfull repentance as should otherwise fall vppon them in the iuste Iudgement of almightie God Aristotle I am not ignoraunt how Aristotle and diuers other Philosophers dooe define a blasyng Starre to bee but an yearthly vapour somewhat thicke and clammie and fatte in substaunce whiche beeyng drawne vp by little and little from the bowelles of the yearth into the vpper region of the aire nigh to the Sphere of the fierie element is there set on fire and through heate made thinne till it be cleane dissolued c. Whiche opinion of Aristotle albeit it bee thought to bee worthie of credite and subscription in the iudgement of moste Philosophers who with one consent and assent doe agree that blasyng Starres dooe spryng of naturall causes yet notwithstandyng all godlie diuines for the moste part are of
enstructe vs in this poincte then our Sauiour Christe hymself who made aunswere vnto his Disciples when thei vsed this question in his presence saiyng vnto hym Actes 1.6 Lorde wilt thou at this tyme restore the kyngdome to Israell And he saied vnto them It is not for you to knowe the tymes or the seasons whiche the Father hath put in his owne power c. This aunswere whiche thei did receiue of Christe a man would thinke would suffice any Christian seyng Christe his owne Disciples did neither enquire of the houre the daie or the yere but simplie proposed their question of the tyme vnto whō Christ made an excellent aunswere as is afore declared Agreeable vnto whiche place is the testimonie of Christ Iesus hymself saiyng Of that daie and of that howre knoweth no man Math. 24.36 Math. 13.32 no not the Angels that are in heauen neither yet the sonne of man but the Father onely And again Paule saieth 1. Thess 5.1 Of the tymes and seasons brethrē I haue no néede that I doe write vnto you for you your selues knowe perfectly that the daie of the Lorde shall come euen as a Theefe in the night For when thei shall saie peace and saffetie then shall come vpon them sodaine destruction as the trauaile vpon a woman with child and thei shall not escape But ye brethren are not in darknesse that that daie should come vpon you as it were a Theef Ye are all the children of light and the children of the daie wee are not of the night neither of the darkenesse Therefore let vs not sleepe as others doe but let vs watche and be sober c. For it is in vaine for vs to goe aboute to make a computation of those yeres whiche are remainyng in this world or to appoincte the daie or howre yere or tyme when it shal be consumed Seeyng it is not our partes and duties to knowe and searche these thinges as we haue heard out of the mouthe of the truthe hymself Christe Iesus Wherefore albeeit the Deuill our cōmon aduersarie doeth labour by all meanes to fill our heades with infinite and vnprofitable questions settyng a side all suche as are necessarie for our saluatiō yet let vs that are Christians prepare our selues to watchfulnesse and Christian meditation and praiers so often as we dooe heare any mētion of the daie of Iudgement for feare least when Christe our Maister commeth he finde vs sleepyng c. Let vs therefore staie and rest our selues here not seekyng curiously into the secretes of almightie God againste his Diuine will and pleasure And yet notwithstandyng to the ende we maie bee perswaded of the certaintie therof and of Christes godlie care and brotherlie loue and affectiō shewed towardes vs He hath lefte behynde hym some thyng in the woorde of GOD concernyng this matter whiche is necessarie for our comforte and enstruction Math. 24.22 First that those daies shal be shortened for the electes sake Whereby he doeth giue vs to vnderstande that the nomber of those yeres shall not bee accomplished and fulfilled whiche otherwise were appoincted vntill the consummation of the worlde Secondly thesame Christe hath added thus muche for our learnyng that seyng it is not expedient for vs to knowe the tyme of the consummation of the worlde yet notwithstanding there should appeare certain signes and tokens of thesame by the course whereof we maie easily coniecture of the euentes followyng Whereby our Sauiour Christe hath declared not onely his singuler loue whiche he beareth towards vs but also sheweth how muche he dooeth tender our saluation in that he doeth sende signes and tokens in heauen and in Earth as the forerunners of his seconde commyng vnto Iudgemente Whereof some are partly knowne of vs because thei are familier vnto our sences and some of them also are vnwonted and strange so that we maie truely saie that it pleaseth almightie God by suche monsters of Nature to admonishe vs of our dueties and obedience whiche wee owe vnto his diuine Maiestie For as whē we see the body of man whiche is the prison of the soule to be subiecte to many infirmities As namely when we sée the haire of a mannes head to beginne to shed and fall awaie or els to waxe white the eyes to wax bleared and dimme of sight The stomack to bee weake and vnapte to digestion the eares to be deffe the tongue to falter The knées to be ready to bowe vnder a manne and all the members and partes of manne to bee féeble and brought into subiection as it were through Biles and Vlcers and other diseases whatsoeuer that are incidēt to the Nature of man and at the present sight thereof wee can saie that those signes dooe presage that death is imminent and not farre of from that man And in like maner as whē we se the tiles of any edifice or buiding to bée broken the walles to beginne to totter the roffe to bée ready to fall doune the postes and principall timber to beginne to shrinke out of their iointes the foundation to be rotten c. Forthwith we can saie that thesame house is ready to decaie and come to vtter ruine for lacke of a good tenaunt or Landlorde that should kéepe the same in due reparation Euen so can not we chuse but confesse that all these late horrible and monsterous monsters of Nature I speake as well of men as of bruite beastes whiche are daiely seen in this our age Besides the manifolde straunge tokens and vnwonted signes whiche are oftentymes euidently seene in the Sonne and in the Moone and in the Starres and in all the hoste of Heauen Are as you would saie the Vlcers and Biles naie I maie saie plainlie the blaines of the whole worlde and doe verie notablie prognosticate and foreshewe vnto vs the vniuersall dissolution and destruction of the same No lesse then the Starre that stoode ouer Hierusalem like vnto a Sworde and also the straunge Comet whiche endured for the space of a whole yere the Deuill in the figure and shape of a man An armie of souldiours seene in the cloudes marchyng about the citie with a nomber of horsemen and chariotts with this voice that was heard in the Temple saiyng Lett vs goe hence Besides other euidēt and vgly shapes c. did foreshewe and Prognosticate vnto the Iewes the destruction that should come vpon the Citie of Hierusalem and the Inhabitauntes thereof Who contemned not onely these demōstrations of their destructiō that was imminent but also like blind and sencelesse beastes would not giue credite vnto those wordes whiche Christ hym self while he was conuersant in the earth did vtter against Hierusalem Who when he was come nere vnto it Luke 19.41 he behelde it and wept for it saiyng O if thou haddest euen knowne at the leaste in this thy daie those thinges which belong vnto thy peace But now are thei hid frō thine eyes for the daies shall come vpon thee that thyne enemies shall
Queene Maries daies And since that tyme in Fraunce and Spaine and other places there hath been thereof to muche experience if the will of GOD had been otherwise Verse 10. More ouer he saieth And then shall many bee offended and shall betraie one an other and shall hate one an other And hath there not been many offences bothe giuen and taken Yea oftentymes more offence taken then occasion hath been giuen Was there euer the like treasons and treacherous conspiracies committed in any age As hath been in these our daies And was there euer more bitter hatred showed betwixt one and other then is at this present I am perswaded the like enemitie betweene partie and partie was neuer seen as is in this our age otherwise there would not be so many brabbling matters sette abroche almoste in euery Courte in Englande as there be c. Moreouer Christe sheweth that many false Prophetes shall arise and shal deceiue many for proofe whereof what saie you to the swarmes of Anabaptistes whiche doe sowe their Deuelishe doctrine almoste in euery place in the worlde And is not this verified also thinke you Of the secrete reuelation of H. N. and of the deuelishe darnell and cursed doctrine of Dauid George and Christopher Vitell and diuers others the cheefest Pillers of the familie of Loue Whose bookes of damnable heresies directly againste diuerse of the moste principall Articles of the christian faithe are scattered abroad in many places of this realme to the greate disturbaunce and breache of that vnitie of faithe which ought to be kept in the bonde of peace But thākes be giuen vnto God the Queenes Maiestie by her graue and learned Counsaile hath taken suche order that not onely all suche bookes shal be called in againe throughout the whole Realme but also that the Sectaries them selues shall bee attached and committed to close prison there to remain till either thei shal be purged and cleared of their heresies by recantation or els by the Lawes of the Realme to suffer the iuste sentence of condemnation for their demerites and to bee condemned as heretiques The heresies whiche thei maintain as thei are infinite in nomber so are thei also full of blasphemie 1 As namelie thei affirme that thei dooe liue so perfectly that thei synne not 2 Also that who soeuer is one of their cōgregation is either as perfecte as Christe or els a very Deuill 3 Thirdlie thei denie with Arrius that Christe is equall with the Father in the power and substance of the Godhead groundyng that opinion out of this place of the Scripture where Christe saieth Ihon. 14.27 My Father is greater then I. Not consideryng that Christe saieth in an other place I and my Father are one c. Ihon. 10.30 4 Thei doe affirme that the Resurrection is paste alreadie with Hymeneus and Philetus Whiche concernyng the truthe haue erred 2. Tim. 2.18 and dooe destroye the faithe of certaine 5 Thei do refuse to suffer persecution for their Religion because thei saie that their bodies are the temples of the holie Ghoste wherein thei doe deny the wordes of Christ who saieth Math. 5.10 Blessed are thei whiche suffer persecutiō for righteousnesse sake for theirs is the kyngdome of heauen c. These with an infinite nomber of other grosse errours doe this deuelishe family of Loue maintain in their blasphemous bookes whiche I doe omit for breuities sake Onely haue I giuen the worlde a taste of a fewe of their opinions that by the consideration thereof all men maie maie take heede of the reste of their Pharisaicall Leuine and damnable doctrine whiche is set a broche in their seditious Bookes firste made in the Dutche tongue in the name of H. N. and lately translated into Englishe haue been secretly brought ouer from beyonde the Seas into the Realme The titles whereof are called Euangeliū Regni or a Ioyfull Message of the Kingdome Documentall sentences The Prophecie of Loue. A publishyng of the peace vpon earth and diuers others which for auoiding of tediousnesse I will not recite at this present Math. 24. verse 12. And furthermore Christ saieth ver 12. that because iniquitie shal bee encreased the loue of many shal be colde but he that endureth to the ende shal be saued Was there euer I praie you more iniquitie Did synne and transgression so aboundantly raigne euery where as it doth at this present Was Christian loue and brotherly fellowshippe more cold at any time then now No truely Suche wickednesse at this daie is raignyng generally vpon the face of the earth that if it were not for the electes sake that these wretched daies should bee shortened it were not possible that any fleshe should bee saued But to conclude our Sauiour Christ addeth verse 14. Math. 24.14 That this Gospell of the kyngdome shal be preached through the whole worlde for a witnesse vnto all Nations and then shall the ende come Now I hope that there is no man so impudent that will deny these Prophecies of Christe to bee alreadie fulfilled For so muche as the Gospell hath been so vniuersally and plentifully preached throughout the worlde that there is none who cā excuse hymself in the daie of the lorde and saie that he hath not heard the sounde of his Gospell preached and published vnto hym by those which are appointed to be the stewardes of suche holie misteries but rather thei must needes confesse that greate hath been the multitude of the Preachers c. What reason can there bee alledged to the contrarie then but that the consummation of the worlde is imminent Seyng that Christe who is the truthe the waie and the life hath spoken it Of whō it is written Math. 17.5 that a voice came out of a Cloude saiyng This is that my beloued Soonne in whom I am well pleased heare hym Hereunto I doe adde that which is writtē by the Apostle Paule 2. Thes 2.1 Now wee beseche you brethren by the commyng of our Lorde Iesus Christ and by our assemblyng vnto hym That you be not sodainly mooued from your minde nor troubled neither by spirite nor by woorde nor by letter as it were from vs as though the daie of Christe were at hande Lette no man deceiue you by any meanes For the daie shall not come except there come a departyng first that is to saie Apostasie or a deniall of the Christian faithe and that the man of synne be disclosed euen the sonne of perditiō whiche is an aduersarie and exalteth hymself against all that is called God or that is worshipped c. Well all these signes ye see haue been already paste and wee can not deny but that wee haue seene and yet doe daiely see an infinite nomber of Antichristes whiche deny the manifest and vndoubted truthe and fall to Poperie and all abhominable Idolatrie so that the daie of the Lorde can not bee farre of but must needes be at hande Moreouer I beseche you harken what Christe
And therefore this maketh moste men to doubt whether the laste straunge sightes whiche were sene in Rome 1580. Ianuarie 18. and in other places the reportes whereof are extante in print to bee sene bee true or no Also in the yere of our Lorde 1551. the 28. daie of Ianuarie there appeared a bloudie rodde and sondrie fearful fires séen in the ayre ouer Lisborne the cheef Citie of Portugall and there it rained bloud also after the whiche followed suche a fearfull yearthquake that about twoo hundred houses were greeuously shaken and throwne doune through the fall whereof aboue a thousande persones were slaine And here also I can not forget to speake of that greate blasing starre whiche was to see to in forme of a Broome or a bundell of roddes whiche appeared in the yere of our Lorde 1531. the ninth of September ouer Mentz a Citie in Germanie whiche did betoken a heauie burthen of Gods vengeaunce not onely to the state temporall but also to Ecclesiasticall persones But to proceade Anno 1551. the 21. of Marche at Madeburge in Germanie about seuen of the clocke in the mornyng seuen Rainebowes and three Sonnes were sene and in the euenyng the same daie thrée Moones Also Anno 1553. was heard a wofull crie saiyng Woe Woe twise together besides the sounde of Belles and the noyse of Trompettes And at the same tyme it happened that at Duryngia the Trees and Hearbes did not onely sweate bloud But fearfull noises were heard also euery night After the whiche Mauricius the Duke of Saxon fought in battell with Alberte of Brandenburge and at the same tyme beyng smitten with a Bullet died the thirde daie after the battell Moreouer Anno 1554. the firste daie of Februarie in the Citie of Catalane in Fraunce there appeared a marueilous sight aboute the Moone like vnto a greate fire arisyng from the Easte part and declinyng towardes the Weste and the Moone it self appeared like to a firebrand in sight And moreouer this fire in th aire did burne with a greate noyse and often tymes did caste forthe flames and sparkes of fire In the like sorte as a hotte burnyng Iron is wont to dooe beeyng beaten vpon a Smithes handuile And the 26. daie of Maie followyng it rained bloud also not farre from the toune of Dunckelspuell in Germanie Also there were seene three faire Rainebowes and so many Sonnes and Moones and two bloudie Crosses And the 11. daie of Iune followyng aboute fiue miles distaunce from Norinberge in Germanie there was sene in the Sonne a bloudie rodde and many companies of horsemen iustlyng together in the aire whiche so did continue for the space of twoo howers in so muche that it caused men greatly to feare that Doomes daie was at hand After the whiche strange sight Frederick the duke of Saxonie died the same yere And after that a notable toune in Germanie was wasted with fire Also in the yere of the lorde 1555. were sene in the Citie of Duringia three Sonnes the tenth daie of Februarie And moreouer at Lunēberge was seene in the aire a greate companie of Souldiers at the right hande of whom there stoode an Aungell holdyng a fierie sworde in his hande and a child was there seen sodainly emongst the people which did earnestly exhort the people generally vnto hartie repentaunce Affirmyng Goddes Iudgementes to bee at hande And when he had thus exhorted the people he vanished sodainly out of their sight and no manne could afterwardes tell where he was become And in the same yere within the boundes of Polonia were heard and seene a greate companie of Dogges barkyng and fightyng together and many of them were torne in peeces After the whiche fighte there followed greate warres and manslaughter betweene the inhabitauntes of Polonia and the Moscouites Also in Duringia the Sonne shinyng cleare there appeared in the aire a bright sworde like vnto a Turkie blade directing the poinct toward the South and the edge towardes the East Moreouer Anno 1557. on the nineth daie of Marche there were sene thre Sonnes and a verie faire Rainebowe and the 17. daie of the same monethe followyng there fell fire from heauen Also in an other place a fierie Globe was sene and it rained bloud in so muche that lumpes of bloud like to the bignesse of a mannes hande did droppe from heauen in the sight of many and in eche droppe were sene certaine figures like to mennes faces And vppon Sainct Laurence daie afterwardes the Sonne appeared all bloudie after the whiche the Frenche Kyng fought a greate battaill with Philip Kyng of Spaine And after that saincte Quintaines was taken c. Also Anno 1558. there appeared a verie fearfull Comet whiche continued burnyng many weekes After the appearance of whiche Comete was seene a straunge sight and no lesse fearfull to behold For the 21. of August the daie beeyng cleare and the weather calme twoo howers before Noone the Sonne beyng then verie clear also was enclosed about with a greate circle whiche was of many colours like vnto a Rainbowe and continued so in sight for fower howers and a halfe to the greate feare and amasement of all suche as beheld thesame And suche a fearfull sight as Plutarche reporteth was sene before the death of Caesar Moreouer Anno 1562. Heauen was sene to burne in many places of Germanie and a celestiall firebrande shined by night in the aire and stretched from the Northe vnto the Southe Also a greate bande of souldiers were seen in the aire whiche seemed to shed muche bloud doune And in the moneth of Aprill following the Sonne appeared maruelous bloudie as well at the risyng as at the settyng and continued so for three daies together Also Anno 1564. and in the sixth yere of the raigne of our gracious Queene Elizabeth the 7. of October at night all the Northe partes of the Element seemed to be couered with flames of fire proceadyng from the Northe Easte and North West towardes the middest of the firmamente where it staied afterwardes for the space of an hower and so descended West Also Anno 1572. and the 15. yere of the raigne of the Queenes moste excellent Maiestie the 18. daie of Nouember in the mornyng a Starre was sene Northward verie bright and cleare in the constellation of Cassiopeia and it semed so straunge as from the beginnyng of the worlde the like was neuer sene for in the iudgement of the moste experte Astronomers and suche as are moste skilfull in the Mathematiques in this our tyme and age that starre which did then appeare vnto our sighte was no Comete but mere supernaturall directly opposite to the Starre whiche appeared at the Natiuitie of our Sauiour Christe and placed in the verie intersection of Aequinoctium Terrestre and therefore maie worthely be tearmed or named a signe vnto the whole yearth As more at large appeareth in a Booke whiche was written by that worshipfull gentleman maister Thomas Digges called Alae seu Scalae Mathematicae where the miracle is by demōstrations
Mathematicall plainly and most manifestly proued Vnto whiche booke I doe referre all those that are desirous to be resolued of that Starre sufficiently Moreouer in the 17. yere of the raigne of the Queenes Maiestie the 14. daie of Nouember about midnight diuers strāge impressions of fire and smoke were sene in the aire to procede forth of a blacke cloude in the North declinyng towardes the South whiche continued after that maner vntill the nexte mornyng And the nexte daie followyng the heauens from all partes did seeme to burne and the flames did meete together ouer the heades of all those which behelde thesame and this light burnyng flame did seeme to arise as it were round about from the Horizon Also in the yere of our Lorde 1577. the tenth daie of Nouember at night there appeared a blasyng Starre in the firmament with a long streame or taile proceadyng from thesame and stretchyng the beames thereof directly towardes the Easte verie wonderfull to beholde And the same Comete endured for the space of 99. daies shinyng euery night vntill eight of the clocke that the same discended and when the matter thereof was quite dissolued and her splendant brightnesse vtterly extinguished in the Iudgement of those that bee experte in the rules of Astronomie it rested it self nere vnto the seate of Cassiopeia The effectes of whiche Starre are better knowen vnto them then vnto me But yet in the meane season I would not haue you vnmindfull of those boysterous blastes of windes and terrible tempestes and monsterous Snowes Also the greeuous shipwrackes whiche haue happened since in moste places of the worlde beside the high floudes and wonderfull inundations of waters Morraine of beastes and barronnesse of grounde whiche happened not onely in this Realme of Englande but in diuers other countries since the appearyng of the same Starre That in the meane season I speake nothyng of the greate and greeuous sedicions and treatourous conspiracies that haue been put in practise in the Regions rounde aboute vs. And all to bryng in Idolatrie and Poperie into Enlande again if it were possible which the al mightie God by the ministerie of our most gracious Prince and her honorable graue and wise counsaile hath miraculously staied hetherto And I hope shall doe if wee haue grace to be thankfull vnto God for the same Hetherto ye haue heard deare Christians how that by common experience the flowyng of waters beyonde their boundes the barronnesse of the yearth the scarcitie of victualles the Plague and Pestilence with greate windes and tempestes the alteration of Common wealthes and warres betweene Nation and Nation As also the late dreadfull yearthquake with the newe and moste gētle and louyng remembraunce whiche the Lorde sent afterwardes throughout diuers places of Christendome but especially in Englande and Spaine c. And many other calamities which happened since besides maie truely bee named the effectes of the former blasyng Starre whiche was seene the tenth of Nouember 1577. c. And now hath the Lorde God kindeled an other Starre this laste tenth of October 1580. the firste appearyng whereof with his continuaunce whiche hath been in Aquarius hetherto hath been before declared vnto you by the reason of the conference that I haue had with those who are expert in the studie of the Mathematiques the proceadyng whereof with his couler motion and effectes I leaue onely to their handlyng whom I knowe to be hable and I hope also are willyng to resolue the worlde fullie thereof when opportunitie shal serue In the meane while that I may vse no longer delaye this maie bee concluded of a certaintie that it is the good pleasure and purpose of almightie God of his inspeakeable loue and mercie shewed alwaies towarde vs that this straunge Comete or blasyng Starre should now appeare euen whilest that wee are rocked in the Cradle of synne and securitie and are whollie giuen vnto all maner of abhomination to premonishe and forewarne vs of afterclappes that is to saie to threaten and prognosticate condigne punishemente to light vpon all persones generally who daiely and howerly doe of let purpose and malice wilfully offende Gods diuine Maiestie and doe continually wallow and perseuer in their wicked and abhominable synne and transgression For whiche cause Almightie God would haue as well Prince as people to looke into their former abhominable and sinfull liues And when thei haue cōsidered the horror and lothsomnesse therof forthwith to frame their hartes and to prepare their mindes to be earnestly penitēt and sorowfull for the same And wheras before we can not deny but that euery one of vs hath erred and gone astraie and frō the highest vnto the lowest yea frō the Prieste to the Prophete haue been so secure and carelesse of our dueties that we haue wilfully contemned the Iudgementes of GOD threatned against vs by his faithfull Preachers and Ministers knowe you therefore deare Christians that it is now the good purpose and diuine pleasure of almightie God aswell by this burnyng Comete whiche now appeareth as also by the late dreadfull yearthquake but moste cheefly by that supernaturall Starre of all others that was seene in Cassiopeia with other suche strange and wonderfull sightes and monsters in Nature to moue and stirr vp all the sorte of vs beeyng moste wretched and miserable sinners to be mindfull of the Iudgement daie And beforehande to examine and rippe vp euery manne his owne harte and conscience and diligently to seeke and search the causes of the wrath of almightie GOD in our owne selues by the reason of our manifold and greuous sinnes and hauyng founde the cause of his heauie displeasure against vs to bee in our owne rebellious Nature wee ought euery one of vs to iudge our selues that wee bee not Iudged of the Lorde And albeeit some doe offende his diuine Maiestie more greeuously then other some yet would not our good and gracious God haue any of vs all to esteeme hymself to bee free from blame either voide of sinne But rather as before I haue declared he would haue vs euery one with all expedition to renounce our former wickednesse And by bowyng our selues doune before his Tribunall seate and stoupyng vnder the mightie scepter of his kyngdome he would haue vs confesse that wee haue all sinned And by our faithfull repentaunce and vnfeigned conuersion vnto his diuine Maiestie in wepyng fasting and mournyng to preuente the sharpe sworde and the smart roddes and whippes whiche he hath in his iuste iudgement prepared in a readinesse for to whippe and punishe vs withall if wee goe onwardes in our former rebelliō as we haue doen heretofore Therfore let euery man or woman of what conditiō so euer thei be apply that whiche hetherto hath been spoken vnto thē selues and knowe this for an vndoubted truthe that albeeit we haue deserued to bee vtterly cutte of and destroied by the sharpe sworde of Gods diuine indignation and albeit these vnwōted and strange signes and tokens whiche he sendeth daiely emongest vs bothe in the Sonne and in the Moone and the Starres and in all liuyng creatures bee presages of his heauy displeasure that he hath taken against vs and also notable forewarnynges of a moste greeuous calamitie and destruction that he shall in equitie and righteousnesse bryng vpō vs by the reason of our filthie sinnes yet notwithstādyng if that we will but euen in this the daie of his louyng and mercifull visitation tourne vnto hym with all our soule If so bee that to daie we will heare his voice and not harden our hartes c If so be as Ioel saieth that we will rent our hartes and not our garmētes and turne now vnfeignedly vnto the Lorde we shall finde hym so mercifull louyng a God that he will receiue vs againe into his fauour Yea he will be so glad of our conuersion and amendement of life that he will haue compassion vpon vs if he see vs truely penitent naie he will fall vpon our neckes and kisse vs and bring forthe the beste coate and put it on vs and putte a ryng on our hande and Shooes on our feete and kill the fatte Calfe for vs and make vs merie after that he hath receiued vs home vnto hymself saffe and sound that is to saie whereas heretofore we were euē deade by the reason of sinne and wickednesse he will make vs aliue againe and quicken vs by the Resurrection of Christe Iesus And whereas wee haue hetherto wandred verie farre and gone astraie like loste Sheepe he of his fatherly kindenesse and mercie will bryng vs home againe vppon his backe vnto the Sheepefolde of his sonne Iesus Christ who is the cheef Bisshoppe and Shepherd of our soules vnto whom with the Father and the holie ghost three persones and one God bee all praise and dominion for euer AMEN Finis