poorely and like a seruant as before but lik a Soueraygne like a King of all Kings in maiestie triumphing in much glory accompanied with Archangels and all the hoast of heauen in the Cloudes he will come that so he may be reuenged vppon his enemies and headlong cast that harlotte and that King of Locustes the sonne of perdition the image of the beast and false Prophet into that burning fornace of vnquencheable fire â–ª but his chiefest comming shal be to drawe thee vnto him and to bring thee into his bed chamber where all sorrow and sighing be layd a part thou shalt enioy the pleasant speech and sweete embracementes or thy louing husband and shâ—lt be bâ—wtified with all celâ—â—tiall beneâ—â—tes which haue been apoynted for thee since the beginning of the world Which being so I thought nothing would be more grateful vnto thee nor better recreate thee in these thy troubles than to learne some certayne tokens and heare infallible tydings of thy husbandes returne The consideration whereof hath caused me for your comfort by wryting to place before your eyes such vndoubted signes of his coÌ„ming although I will not take vpon me to tel the very houre day and yeare which is knowen to God alone that easely you will beleue and perswade your selfe that it will not be long before he come this day will he visit thee before the Sunne be set of which the most part is consumed noone is past it is now one of the clocke and therfore his comming must needes be nigh These and such like things you shall perceyue to be handled in this booke Where I haue erred amend the fault and forgeue the maker for to your iudgement I submit me which is the onely thing I desire after I haue obtayned your ernest prayers to your beloued in my behalfe that I may accompany you in the fayth and spiritual blessings with which in Christ through the meere grace of God the father you are especially adorned and that with you I may haue the same communion of all celestiall benefites and be partaker of the kingdome of Christ and God the father Fare you well and God graunt you now and euermore the quietnes of mind and perpetuall delight with euerlasting comfort in Christ by the holy Ghost Amen From Emden THE PREFACE AMong al sinnes none is more odious before God then is incredulitie doubting both of diuine promises and threatnings notwithstanding that the world and hypocrites placing al religion in external behauiour ceremonies thinke the coÌ„trary Because that froÌ„ that do spring al sinnes â—f doubting both of God in God and al wickednes els whatsoeuer so that we may wel affirme mistrust to be the cause of all euils For who is there so extremely mad that willingly would defile hymselfe with any sinne if he gaue sufficient credite to these woordes of Christ Come ye blessed of my father c. Agayne Depart froÌ„ me yee accursâ—d into that eternall fire which is prepared for the Diuâ—ll and his Angels Or to those wordes of Paule where he sayth We must all appeare before the tribunall seate of Christ that euery one may beare away those things which he hath in his body doone according to that which he hath committed be it good or bad Wherefore of these may certaynly be gathered that none of them beleeue eyther the sweete promises of God or seuere and horrible threates which stubbornly resist his commauâ—dements and do not obey them For it cannot be that either beleeuers should lyue after the flesh or lyuers after the flesh should be beleeuers because not beleeuers but lyuers after the flesh shall dye And of this we haue a manifest example in that rich man crauyng of Abraham that he would send Lazarus to his fiue brethren to warne them least they came into that place of torment By which no doubt he would signifie that they would more esteeme the aucthoritie of Lazarus commyng from the dead then Moses and the Prophetes And therefore what marueyle if he contemned charitie when he cared not for faith That when he flowed with such abundance of all things yet nothing at all fauoured poore Lazarus lying miserably before hym And therfore because he was without fayth and charitie beyng departed from this world was cast headlong into hell And as this vnbeliefe is the very spring of sinne and of all vngratiousnes the gulfe in which all vnregenerated are drowned so contrarywise true and Christian fayth by which we haue a sure trust to Gods mercy and free remission of our sinnes promised to vs through the merites of Christ the sonne of God is the liuely fountaine in Christ by the helpe of the holy ghost of loue both of God and our neighbour and it is at one woorde the cause of all spiritual good which follow her as necessarily as heate doth fire Because it is meete if beleeuers liue after the spirite that the holy ghost stirre in them like motions to hym selfe But yet alas great infirmitie and weakenesse is in the faithfull although regenerate so that not seldome they stande in doubt of Gods promises and therefore haue great neede of proppes to keepe them from falling for we are more delighted with apparant and present things than with future and inuisible For naturally those things which are obiect vnto vs doo more moue our senses than those which are of faith which is the substance of things to be hoped for an argument of things not appearing whose litle sparke sometyme appeareth in vs and is much to be raised by the woord of God that it may the more increase and quicken our dead members with the heate of the holy Ghost Also in our greatest temptations and most cruell persecution the Diuell togeather with our vile fleshe bring great doubts into our myndes of the promises of God especially when we behold the vngodly to liue in this world in al pleasure to their hartes desire ioyfully which thing that kingly Prophet Dauid in his Psalmes dooth at large and plainly teach vs. And therefore the miseries of this lyfe are the more easily borne when we doo as it were behold the ende of them before our eyes Of which it commeth that to the godly truely thinking them selues to wander in this world not to liue in their owne countrey the remembraunce of these euylles is pleasant and is a great comfort in all miseries to thinke by death in that last commyng of Christ at the length that they shall haue a most free entrance into that celestial Hierusalem sweete and eternall Countrey of which in a most assured hope by fayth they knowe them selues citizens Wherfore I haue thought it very expedient by certaine arguments to set against all infidelitie the doctrine of the Prophetes and Apostles concernyng the last commyng of Christ to the vniuersall iudgemeÌ„t before which in the ruine of this wretched world shall in a moment appeare the resurrection of the flesh and a sodaine change of all
before nyne thousande yeares past there was another manner of Athens and farre better citizens Herodotus saith that the Aegyptians haue made mention of tenne thousand yeares and aboue of the worldes continuance and yet they haue obserued that the places of the rising and going downe of the Sunne haue been twise chaunged so that where nowe it falleth there it hath risen twise and hath twise there gone downe where it riseth now But more woonderful and execrable is it that among the people of God should be Saduceis and among Christians should be such men which of set purpose against the manifest woord of God dare boldly say and perswade them selues that the world neither had beginnyng nor shall haue end that there shal be no resurrection of the flesh no lyfe after this lyfe no rewardes for wel dooing no punishment for sinne and that the worlde as it is nowe so hath it been and shall continue for euer which kynd of men are plaine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men which neither beleeue there is any God or diuine prouidence at al. And I feare me the most part of mankind such as are called in the holy Scripture worldly mynded and carnal although they seeme neuer so spiritual catholike and would be counted Gospellers by the like fictions and dayly suggestions of the Diuel although not so wilfully flatter them selues and gladly woulde be brought into that opinion that so in a desperate securitie they maye spende their dayes and augment their impietie Against which apparant dotage and wicked cogitations of naughtie men through want of true knowledge by the instinct of Satan and corruption of the mynde of man it standes vs vppon to arme our selues with the woorde of God and confirme our consciences by the testimonies of Christ of the Prophets and Apostles The holy scripture in many places dooth plainly tell vs that one day the sonne of God Christ shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead all fleshe shall rise and the world shall be consumâ—d wyth fire as the aboue recited testimonies beare witnes To proue the resurrection of the fleshe very many proofes may be alledged both out of the olde and newe testament But amongst al the disputation of Paul may suffice vs where by many arguments he confirmes the resurrection of the flesh and copiously and sufficiently dooth also prooue that we must all stand before the tribunall seate of Christ to receiue eternall rewardes for our deedes be they good or bad And Christ saith Maruell not at this for the day wil come in which al which are in the graues shall heare the voyce of the sonne of God and those which haue doone well shall come fortâ— to the resurrection of lyfe but those which haue doone euill to the resurrection of iudgement To this purpose may be recyted other infinite places of holy scripture and also the creede of Thapostles Nicene and Athanasian But I pray you what auailed religion faith hope and that great pacience of Christians in all their troubles and cruell persecutions if this doctrine of the consummation of the world and of the comming of the Lorde with that which belongeth thereunto which of all others maye most absurdly be thought were but a vaine imagination of the Prophetes of Christ and the Apostles and of all the Martyrs in the Churche when as no cause can be supposed which myght driue them to the loosing of their fame theyr goods their life So that truth is so plaine apparant that a godly well disposed mynde makes that a sure argument of the worldes decay For these godly meÌ„ of al others in the world most miserable suffred those greeuous and direfull thinges not for the hope of vayne glory or desire of riches but for the loue of Christ through the secrete motions of the holy Ghost perswading themselues that in Christ was hid the treasure of true riches and eternal glory Wherfore it behoueth vs vndoubtingly to think their doctrine to be true and celestiall and not to proceede from their owne brayne but to be deliuered vnto them by Christ and his holy spirit and the rather bycause Christ of himselfe dooth saye that he is the truth and the life and that he telleth vs from the bosome of his father and the father sayth in the presence of three Apostles from heauen This is my beloued sonne in whom I am pleased heare him which voyce of God was also heard in Iordan when Iohn was baptising him This coeternall sonne of God woord of the euerlasting father creator of all things our redeemer Christ of sette purpose taught his Apostles certayne tokens of the worlds destruction and his comming to iudgement And also in his last Sermons before he yeelded himselfe in our behalfe to the crosse he playnly dooth as it were depainte and sette the same before theyr eyes and counsailes them and among them especially those which were to lyue in all tymes to be watchfull sober prepared and ready least in his terrible visitation whose differring bringes too much securitie to the reprobate and condemned persons vppon the suddaine they be entrapped and as it were taken in the snare All which Mathew Marke and Luke do abundantly set foorth So that the truth teaching the same nothing ought to be more credible and certain to a ChristiaÌ„ man then that the world his ful time beyng expyred the prouidence of God the eternall father so disposing the same shall passe away and that Christ our Lorde shall come in the the cloudes of heauen to the last and vniuersall iudgement The holy Prophets likewise haue by diuine inspiration foretolde many things of the comming of Christ in the flesh of hys doctrine death and resurrection also of the chaunge of Empyres and of the ruine of many townes all which are fullye come to passe so that nowe they may seeme not by euent to haue foretolde but to haue drawne a true and certaine historie of these thyngs Howe lyuely Esaie dooth expresse the natiuitie person doctrine myracles death and resurrection of Christ it is well knowen vnto all though but meanely read in the Scriptures Likewise Daniell in many places seemeth now to haue prophecied but orderly to haue written things already done of the continuall alterations of Empyres and of the comming of Christ that well he may be called the great Historiographer Now what shall we saye Syth in these and all other things their prophesies haue taken effect and sith they by one and the same spirite haue signifyed of the second commyng of Christ in which he shall declare himselfe to be an eternall kyng of all kings and principalities that these ought not to be finished Yes vndoubtedly so that he shall put all kingdomes of this world vnder hys feete and shall hewe them lyke a stone which is cut from the mountaine He appeared vnto King Nabuchodonozor without handes to bruse that great Image which
¶ Of the ende of this world and seconde commyng of Christ a comfortable and necessary Discourse for these miserable and daungerous dayes 1. Pet. 4. The ende of all things is at hand be ye therefore sober and watch vnto prayer Luke 21. Watch continually and pray that ye may be worthy to escape al these things that shal come and that ye may stand before the Sonne of man. ¶ Imprinted at London nigh vnto the three Cranes in the Vintree for Andrew Maunsell dwelling in Pauies Church-yard at the signe of the Paret Anno Domine 1577. To the most reuerend Fathers in Christ Edmond by the permission of almightie God Archbyshop of Canterburie c. and Iohn Byshop of London Thomas Rogers wisheth the true felicitie of this lyfe and eternall happines by the comming of Christ. IT was the saying of Cambyses reuerend and in Christ most honorable fathers that Cities would floorish wel in prosperitie if the inhabiters of them were watchful and still imagined their enemis to be at haÌ„d That which he said for the prosperous estate of a commoÌ„ weale dyd our Sauiour saye for the happye successe of all Christians And both tende to shewe that whether wee respect the safetie of our bodyes here on this earth or the saluation of our soules in the kingdome of Christ wee may not be in our callings either idle carelesse or secure But yet such is our nature wee rather obey the woordes of Cambyses for temporall prosperitie than the warnyng of Christe for eternall happynesse Wâ—ereby it comes to passe that we haue commonly fayre bodyes but deformed soules much goodes but litle goodnes and glorious wee seeme in the sight of men outwardly but odious inwardly in the eyes of god For it is harde to finde a man saith Aristotle which in prosperitie is not proude disdainful and arrogant of which sort are they whom strength whom riches whoÌ„ clientes whoÌ„ authoritie whoÌ„ fauour of meÌ„ hath exalted And so inioying their harts desire they are of this mynd that no aduersitie caÌ„ hurt them And what is that but as Dauid said The vngodly hath saide in his hart tushe I shall neuer be caste downe there shall no harme happen vnto me But the fayrest Oke is soonest cut down the fattest Oxe is readyest for slaughter and the felicitie of fooles is their owne destruction For how sodainely doo they consume vanishe and come to fearefull ende yea euen as a dreame are they when one awaketh As our Sauiour thought the doctrine against securitie most profitable for his Disciples and all mankynde So hath his faythfull seruant the Author of this booke supposed the same moste necessarye to bee spoken of in these miserable dayes And this was the cause and ende wherefore this Treatise was first written namely that by reciting the signes and tokens of dangers imminent and of the worlds destruction he might draw the wicked from securitie and driue them to a care of godlynesse and vertue A godly zealous and learned woorke and gratefull no doubt to all good men Hippocrates forewarned the Grecians of a greeuous plague which was nigh at hande and for his good admonition he was honoured as Hercules and obeyed as a god The Athenians for telling them the perils which they were like to fall into erected to Berosus a goodly Image with a golden tongue The Grecians to Hippocrates and the Athenians to Berosus were neuer so bounde as all Christians to Schelton for this learned booke For herein the tokens of the ruine not of one Citie as of Athens nor of one Countrie as of Greece but of all the worlde are set downe And here may be seene the wayes to preuent the destruction not of body alone as were those of Hippocrates and Berosus but of body and soule from euerlastyng paine in the pyt of hell So that more cause haue Christians to be thankfull to this author than were the Athenians and Grecians to both them Notwithstanding he desireth not though his deserts be vnspeakeable to be honoured with the rites of Hercules suche idolatrie he abhorreth nor to be kept in memorie with a glorious Image such memoriall he misliketh he only craueth that ChristiaÌ„s would weigh what is said and looke to them selues he seeketh the saluation of all not his owne glory But howe soeuer he be esteemed of others I trust your Lordships wyll like of this woorke and so like it that ye wyll allowe it and so allowe it that yee wyll both against the euyll woordes of the enuious and the captious tongues of malicious persons willingly protect it It pleased the Author to chuse for Patrons at the first two noble Earles but mee thinkes none so meete for defence thereof being a Spirituall Discourse as Spirituall men and because it tendes to the cutting away of securitie who better Patrons than they whose office is to be vigilant whereof they haue their names And among Bishoppes who fitter than they whose authoritie is such as none may better and zeale so great as none wyll sooner seeke and promote the glorye of God Wherfore I trust both because it is diuine your Lordships wyll vouchsafe and because it was wel accepted by two worthy men but yet Temporal your honours wyll much more willyngly allowe the same being Spirituall And that you may doo so God for whose glory it was first made and is nowe translated put into your myndes Your Graces and Lordships most humble at commaundement Thomas Rogers ¶ To the vniuersall Church throughout the world the most holy and chast daughter of Sion and entirely beloued Spouse of Iesus Christ the Sonne of God King of all Kings Health and comfort in the holy spirit and the speedâ—e comming of her Bridegroome c. I Am not ignoraÌ„t sweete Sion daughter of the celestiall Ierusalem and entierly beloued spouse of Christ in howe great miseries thou hast been plunged now a long time for the lacke of thy kinde and louing husbaÌ„d Which notwithstanding thou art black browne by reason of the extremâ— heat of the Sunne light of God the father to which as yet thou canst not approche yet onely wythal his hart embraceth the as his friend for fairnes peereles and as his wife for beautie surpassing For thy blacknes by his holy spirit he hath turned into beautifulnes thy vnseemely spots of sinne by his precious blood are no whit seen by his holy spirit he hath woÌ„derfully adorned thee wythin and endued thee wyth the holy Ghost the seale of beleefe so that now thou canst not doubt but that he is both faithfull and fauours thee with all his hart And yet it greatly greeues thee that thy glory which thou wishest for thy comfort which thou hopest for and thy King and bridegrome for whom thou so lokest and longest for is so long from thee And no maruel for it is the property of a faythfull louer not quietly to beare the absence but ardently to desire
that by consideration of our disobedience we may turne to the Lord by repentance and lyue First we haue a notable example here in Noes preaching by which the Lord God dyd first accuse the world of disobedience before he drowned the same for lacke of repentance So lykewise he dyd not bring the tenne Tribes of Israell into captiuitie before he had sent Esay Osee and other Prophets to call them from iniquitie The lyke a hundred and foure and thyrty yeeres after happened to the Iewes when by the preaching of Ieremie Ezechiel and other Prophets of God they would not beware of disobeying Gods maiestie At the length many yeâ—res being spent our mercifull father God almyghty sent fyrst Iohn Baptist after him Christ his onely begotten sonne then the Apostles to call them to repentance and to open the way to saluation in Christ promised before by the Prophets then performed and willing to be receyued if they would imbrace him But they were so farre from beleeuing them that theyr preaching they lothed Iohn they beheaded Christ was crucified and the Apostles eyther by shamefull death cruellye murdered or at least by ill intreating miserably tormented And therefore not vndeseruedly was that famous Citie of so infamous a people by the Romanes vtterly subuerted and the Iewes made a praye to their enemyes and odious to all the world whiâ—h shame of theirs and subuersion of their citie as Daniell before and our Sauiour aâ—terward did prophesiâ— dooth and shall continue till the world hauâ— an ende After this Paule preached to the Collâ—ssiâ—â—s Laodicians and Hierapolians but they contemned and cared not for his wordes and therefore as Orosius witnesseth the earth opened and swallowed them vp And hytherto also dooth that doctrine of Paule tende teaching that the wicked sonne of perdition should be discouered and by the spirit of the month of God defaced and afterward by the glorious comming of the sonne of God vtterly destroyed Nowe who is that same desperate sonne sitting in the teÌ„ple as God himself it is easie to be knowen and how he by the preaching of the Gospell hath been discouered experience doth shew and we hereafter at large will prooue that he is and hath of long tyme continued the Byshop of Rome Now sith we behold his doctrine and authoritie by the force of Gods word to be so ouerthrowen as they are iudged almost mad meÌ„ which seeme any way to fauour him what other thing can follow but that God is ready to come vpon vs and standes at our doores And that not only his hauty courage shal be abated and his execrable crueltie altogether abolished but also that the whole and vniuersall world for all sinnes committed since the beginning be accused so condemned to eternal tormentes because wickedly they haue coÌ„temned the grace of God offred vnto them continually and wilfully refused to tast the sweetnesse of the Gospel and forsake their sinnes and wickednesse by repentance Besides Christe hath geuen many other signes and tokens of his commyng as rumors of warres famin pestilence earthquakes and that countrey shal rise against countrey and that cruel persecution shal be exercised also that in those dayes shal be signes in the Sunne Moone and Starres c. Al which cannot be tokens vnlesse the preaching of the Gospel go before For Signes except they be knowen cannot be signes because in all tymes those aforesayd euylles haue appeared eyther more or lesse and therefore of themselues can not be signes But when al those euyls immediately after the preaching of the Gospel haue come on heapes abundantly vppon vs and more than euer they dyd in any age long before vs no doubt they do prognosticate and foretel vs of the consummation of this most wicked worlde Besides that these tokens which Christ dyd recite do foreshewe the worldes destruction and not the subuersion of the Temple it is apparant because he saith that people against people and kingdome against kingdome shall arise Whiche thyng was not done before the destruction of Hierusalem that euer I could reade For then what kingdome against kingdome what people against people what and howe great warres were then All which we do not onely see to haue been done but also to our paine feele them besides more greeuous things not yet heard of but more to be feared and circumstances bring vs to that mynd to thinke that more intolerable things are prepared to vexe vs both of Turke and Papist And that also in the same place as appeareth the Lord vnderstoode the last preaching not the beginnyng of his Gospel thereof it is euident because by and by he adioyneth That the Gospell beginnyng to shine euery where a visitation shal come and end of all thyngs Otherwise if this place were to be vnderstoode of the first openyng of the Gospel by the Apostles no doubt this ende had been come many hundred yeares agoe Besides the Euangelist returneth to the former question of the Temples and Hierusalems destruction from whence he digressed Peraduenture also the Euangelistes haue confounded these two that not by the same wordes they might finish nowe that now this particularly because peraduenture they were of this opinion that they thought that after the subuersion of Hierusalem should immediately follow the destruction of the world whose ende as Christ said should be so sodaine as nothing coulde be more But Christ our Lorde coulde of his owne accorde disioyne those things to make them darke for a tyme which he would not haue to be knowen and could make them manifest when it were for his glory and our profite at a tyme conuenient But to make of these tokens foretold of Christ any long discourse it were a great labour and peraduenture tedious to the Reader because the thing it selfe and experience do sufficiently proue these signes after the manifesting of the Gospel to haue been fulfylled except onely those in the Sunne and Moone and other Starres as yet haue not appeared whiche Christe doth tel should eyther shew them selues a litle before or in his very comming The Mathematicians and Astronomers iudgement notwithstanding is that in many hundred yeeres past were neuer seene so manye Eclipses in the Sunne and Moone nor yet so strange copulations of Planets as wyll appeare within fewe yeeres which no doubt are to threaten vnto vs daungers and miserable dayes as hereafter shal be shewed Here I will not speake of the prodigious Comets and Meteores which many tymes haue been marked in this our age Neyther wyl I call to mynde the iudgement of Astronomers and chiefest Diuines vpon that Starre whiche within these three yeares shewed her selfe certayne monethes togeather as the very messenger and warner of Gods comming to iudgement and the rather bicause it seemed to be of the same nature and qualytie wyth that which foretolde the birth of Christ the king of the Iewes vnto the wysemen Also I will in silence passe ouer the straunge
al Christian Princes would carefully commit these wordes of Christ to continuall remembrance saying You shall knowe them by their fruite Doo men gather of Thornes grapes or figs of Thistels And againe A naughtie tree cannot bring foorth good fruite For those wordes of Christ are to be vnderstoode not onely of false Prophets but also of all men and especially of such as beare aucthoritie And therefore ought a good Prince thus to reason with himself what goodnesse may be looked for at their handes whose delight hath alwayes been from their youth in wickednesse How can it be Sith vnto a vile nature not regenerate with Gods holy spirit a wicked custome and delight as it were another nature is adioyned Is this mixture commendable Nay truely if to this diuilish behauiour dignitie and honour which seldome make vs better be linked what can be looked for els but euen prodigious monsters hurtfull to all men and execrable before God according to that Asperius miserâ— nil est dum surgit in altum For their great preferment is the greatest punishmeÌ„t that may be And whether that Nulla fides pietasque viris qui castra sequuntur Venalesque manus ibi fas vbi maxima merces No fayth nor feare of God haue they Which doo the warres pursue Their handes are giuen to sell and spoyle Their gayne they cal their due of Lucan speaking of Warriours brought vppe in spoyles and wickednesse be altogeather false which vndoubtedly we beleeue hauing learned the same by reading and experience to bee true and yet in this place we confesse the same to be spoken somewhat hyperbolically Besides how can they be profitable to their Princes to their countrey faythfull and carefull of keeping iustice and the lawes which in all theyr lyfe haue been faythlesse to the king of kings and so farre from a care of keeping of iustice that they neuer had any sure knowledge of the same What agreement or good mixture can fyre haue with water Hotnes with coldnes Equitie with vnrightâ—ousnes How can it be that meÌ„ should haue a care of that countries prosperitie in which they are strangers and is not their natiue soyle Agayne can men drowned in voluptuousnes whose studie is querere vt absumant et absumpta requirere certaÌ„t to seeke that they may spend and striue to fynde that naughtely is spent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ambitious and louers of themselues with honestie preferre the Princes prosperitie before their priuate profite And the common weales good before their owne gayne So that to place these men in authoritie is it not to yeelde the simple sheepe to the crueltie of rauening wolues These men O vertuous Princes if stories of al times were noted should appeare of all troubles the authors in euery common weale the ouerthrowers of euery kingdome alwayes betraiers of their Princes as might be proued by many examples and those not farre fecht were it my mynde to fraught my booke with histories Wherefore O ye Princes and rulers of the earth which desyre as indeede you ought to be the parentes of your people vse greater heede and more iudgement in choosing them which eyther shal be of your counsayle or beare authoritie in your names for the common felicitie dooth most redounde to your glory And also bee you alwayes ready and prepared then to giue an accompt of your stewardshippe when the king of kings whose vessel is euery Monarch shall come of whose sodayne comming out of the woorde of God here I geue true and certayne tokens For if then he shall espie his beloued sheepe of which if but one be found which was lost the whole troupe of Angels do reioice by your negligence and fault to be committed as a pray to wolues and wicked beastes euill shall it be with you and then without all doubt in his rage hee will cast you headlong into hell and extreame darkenes The almyghtye God by his holy spirit and grace graunt vnto all good Princes and their counsailers wisedome and prudence from aboue that in deede they may be the good lights both in establishing that which is profitable for their people and executing of iustice and preserue defend and keepe them and all his elect from vtter destruction to the glory of hys name and felicitie of his Church Amen Finally also out of the seuenth Chapter of Daniell a notable coniecture of the suddayne comming of the sonne of God may be taken For in that Chapter be described foure Monarchies of the world and where in what Nation they shal be from tyme to time vntill the resurrection of the dead By which the endes of the ages of this world may after a sort be noted But these Monarchies being destroyed there shall spring sayth Daniell a mightie kingdome myghtier than those immediatly before him shall change the religion of Christ and shall haue wonderfull successe and shall wage battayle with holy men Now what kingdome he vnderstandeth it is apparant by the euent which is the Turkish Empire But as the Prophet sayth Putabit quod possit mutare tempora c. He shall thinke that he is of power to alter tymes and lawes but iudgement shall come and he shal be taken away his power shal be weakened come to nought These words doo playnlye yenough declare that an alteration sodaynly shal be in those dayes when the Turkish Empire dooth come to the highest and promiseth himselfe an euerlasting dominion ouer all the world And strayght way shall that most comfortable daye shewe it selfe in which the sonne of God shall rayse the dead and render to his Church life and eternal glory but the wicked he shall cast headlong into euerlasting tormentes With this prophecie let vs compare the times of our predecessors and our owne together and we shall euidently perceiue the Turke to haue preuailed mightily against the Christians and to possesse not onely all Asia but also a great peece of Europe And that I may vse the woordes of Lactantius Verè vorauit omnâ—m terram leges nouas statuit Rempublicam suam fecit nomen Imperij sedemque mutauit that is the earth he hath deuoured newe lawes he hath established the common weale is to himselfe impropriated the name and seate of the Empire he hath chaunged Also what successe within these few yeeres he hath had it is well knowen A great part of Hungarie he enioyeth from the Venetians â–ª he hath taken Cyprus now from the King of â—payne Tunetum and as I heare whatsoeuer he hath enioyed hytherto in Africa is taken from others and as yet he is in armour with all worldlike prouision with shippe and souldiour prepared against the Spanish king and threatneth vtter destruction to al the world And therefore we doo playnly perceyue the state of these tymes marueilously to aunsweare vnto the Prophecie of Daniell And it appeareth if by probable reasons any thing may of lykelyhoode be gathered that the Turke thorough the ciuill
prooued by the Decrees and Decretals of the Popes if any man thinke we say not the truth Heare what his most impudent fauourers on his behalfe haue reported The Pope say they is called as it were wonderful from Pape the Interiection of woondring because he is Christes Vicar and Gods whose the fulnesse of the earth is And Iohn Andr. vpoÌ„ this woord Pope in the Proeme of Clement speaketh thus Papa dictus est quasi pater Patrum c. The Pope is called as it were the father of all fathers hauyng onely the fulnesse of power Also Thomas of Aquine saith that in spirituall matters and temporall he hath the chiefest degree equally to Peter the Apostle At a woord they make hym a Mungrell as partly God and partly man They call hym The Spouse of the Church The mother of the faythfull which cannot erre whose voyce is heauenly euen as Peters was and therfore that he is the chiefest Iudge whose wickednes as the murders of Sampson the spoyles of the Hebrues the adulterie of Iacob are to be iudged of none for there is one and the same seate say they both of God and the Pope The Popes wyl is said to be a heauenly wyll and therfore is of power to chaunge the nature of things to apply that vnto one which belongeth to another and of nothyng to make somewhat Are not these and such like Rules of the Canonistes formally recited marueilous things which with blasphemous and wicked lyppes vnder the Popes pâ—rson accordyng to Daniels Prophesie speake agaynst the God of Gods. And as the Occidentall Empyre of the great Pope in the tyme of Charles the Great was diuided from the Orientall so likewise the Empire at Constantinople which sometyme was called also the Orientall Empire of Rome afterwards was greatly diminished by the great Turke Sarasins whose power afterward increased more and more and that mightily Afterward a litle before the raigne of Carolus Caluus Cousin to Charles the Great the Tartarian Turkes by occasion they were requested to assist the Persians against the Sarasins obteyned all Asia and these embracing the Mathematicall sect at the length came to be of greatest power So that these two wicked and Antichristian kingdomes tooke their beginnyng when the Romane Empire in Phocas tyme and Heraclius was impayred and in the raigne of Charles the Great the Empyre almost subuerted they dayly more and more mightily increased in this weake and diuided kingdome whose feete were become partly of yron and partly of earth Afterward by lyes backslidings and slaughter which are the properties of the Antichristians their rulyng and Religion was confirmed and the Saintes of God by myngling earthly with heauenly things were vexed as Historiographers and the Chronicles of Iohn Auentine euery where do witnesse And therfore both of them by the glorious commyng of the Lord shall be abolished and shal receyue one and the same destruction If therfore to the consolation of all the godly and confirmation of our faith the holy Ghost hath had a great care to dâ—liuer vnto vs by the Prophets certayne foresignes by which might be coniectured when the commyng of Christ in the fleshe was nigh at hand whose commyng should yet before the world be base and very simple and yet of sufficient power to saue our soules froÌ„ the heauy curse and displeasure of God And if the holy Ghost hath been so carefull in giuyng to the Church and the chosen of God certaine signes and tokens of the commyng of Antichrist no doubt he dyd the same that the better they might shun and forsake all his vntrue teachings and blasphemies by the helpe of Gods woord And therfore hath the holy spirit of God been the more diligent to shew to the Church many and manifest signes of the Lords commyng to iudgement that so he might driue vs from all securitie of this lyfe and wake vs out of the deepe slepe of our deadly sinnes least by the speedy commyng of the Lord to iudgement we sodainly perish and that in all afflictions with which the Church is continually vexed we might haue a sure trust and confidence in the mercy of god And therfore the sonne of God him selfe in the last preaching before his death through a great goodwyll gaue vs many signes and earnestly charged vs taking his parable from the Fyg tree that beholding those tokens immineÌ„t we should carefully and readily attend the commyng of our Brydgrome For that commyng to all the godly and chosen of the Lord shal be ioyfull and comfortable In which the Sonne of God shall appeare in power mighty in glory woonderfull and shew hym selfe to his foes terrible to vs comfortable to them seuere gentle to vs to them a Iudge and condemner to vs an Aduocate and Redeemer to them an enemy and destroyer to vs an assured friend and defender so that he shall recompence them with fire continuall among the Diuels but vs he shal reward with his fauour perpetual in the societie of Angels and celestial habitation And therfore doth Ioel cal that day of the Lord a great day and terrible to the wicked when all from the worlds creation shall be made to stand before the tribunall seate of God. Aboue I haue shewed that the chiefest signe of the comming of the sonne of man was the preaching of rhe Gospell which Paule termeth the spirit of the Lords mouth also I haue declared how that signe is euident in these dayes and that Antichrist by the breth of the mouth of the Lord is ouerthrowen and strangled with lynnin as Sebyl Erithraa speaketh that is with interpretations of holy Scripture imprinted in Paper made of linen it is manifest to all godly and men instructed in true religion Now what what other thing remayneth But the consummatâ—on of the world and that glorious comming of the Lord by which that wicked and damned sonne shal be abolished according to Christes woordes Hytherto that coniunction of all Planets which was a litle before the birth of Christ and in the time of Charles the great in the beginning both of the Turkes tyrannicall dominion and rhe Popes Antichristian religion which shal ensue very shortly dooth belong As if the Lorde would say Behold the chiefest signe of my comming according to my promise the preaching of the Gospell is come already you see the power of Antichrist my sworne enemie is greatly weakned now shall you see the very signes in heauen which foretold my former comming in the flesh and the comming of my aduersary by which you may gather my commyng wherby I wil vtterly abolish his vsurped gouernment and abandon him from the godly to that bottomlesse pyt of hell And therefore take you heede and be circumspect for the tyme of your deliuerance is at hand Neither can we doubt sith the Starres are of the Lord God created for signes vnto vs but that marueilous coniunction of the Planets doth foreshew a wonderfull and incredible alteration of all things
And what other change may we looke for I pray you But euen the vtter destruction of the world and the triumphant appearing of the lord For the sixe thousand yeere which is the last daye draweth to the euening course of tymes and their foretold agreement declare the end to be at hand the preaching of the Gospell shineth the Pope of Rome by the breath of the Lord perisheth and we are in Religion colde carelesse and contemne his preachers which the Lord God cannot suffer long to go vnpunished Also this fearfull inclination of the Starres the dayly talke of warres the direful ciuill contentions the cruell dissention in Religion the great plagues the miserable hunger the straunge tempestes the woonderfull risings of the Sea and other signes which many tymes haue come after the preaching of the Gospell and dayly do more increase are out of doubt the euident signes of the worldes speedy ouerthrow and hasty commyng of our Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of God to iudge the quicke and the dead ¶ Of the fifteene hundred yeares after the Apostles tyme vntyl the last iudgement THere are besides these many other sweete and verye probable coniectures of the suddaine comming of the Lord to iudgement Which containe many and profitable instructions and will be wonderful and strauÌ„ge perchaunce to many for the small consideratioÌ„ they haue of them which if they were well wayed myght bring vs into a great admiration of Gods prouidence It is well knowen to all the learned and not doubted but that all gouernments according to the Princes of Philosophie Platoes and Aristotles doctrine haue their certaine conclusions and it may be for truth that euery fiue hundred yeares there happen wonderfull alterations both in Religion and common Weales as there appeared three in Moses Kingdome For from the comming out of Egypt vnto Salomon there was about fiue hundred yeares from thence vnto the captiuitie at Babylon other fiue hundred and from the returning vnto the last subuersion fiue hundred moe which last periode doth greatly agree with those seueÌ„ weekes of Daniell because they are in number foure hundred foure score and tenne And therfore by a briefe marking of the tymes and things brought to passe we will make it euident that the last fiue hundred yeares from the Apostles tyme fully shal be expired in this Monarchie of the Pope which now threateneth a great ruine and perchance an vtter downefall about the eightie eyght and ninetie three yeere the former inclinations of the starres and other ensuing foreshewing dyrefull thinges euen vntill the sixe thousand and a hundred yeere Which Monarchie is called of Iohn in his Reuelation the image of the beast by reason of a certaine likenes it hath wyth the olde Monarchie which by a like tyrannie against the Christians and manner of gouernment by their ecclesiasticall Senate and by the secular power as they saye to the satisfying of their myndes in oppressing the Christian veritie through all the world they doo exercise So that by a great and infallible supposition it may be gathered that the noble comming of the Sonne of God is nygh at hande sith the preaching of the Gospell now goeth before by which this Monarchie hauing his aucthoritie from the Dragon at the length ruinous beginneth to stoupe but cannot vtterly be abolished according to Paules doctrine vntyll the Lord come for altogether For by histories we know Iohn the Euangelist to haue lyued longer time than any of the Apostles to haue written his Gospel at Ephesus and afterward when as none of the Apostles were no not many dayes before liuing it is well knowen that he was sent of Domitian into the Iland Pathmos where he committed his Reuelation to writing and that was about the dayes of Traian the Emperour which the hundred yeare from Christs natiuitie beyng adopted by Nerua came to the Imperiall throne from whom for causes ensuing I will begin to recite three notable chaunges and alterations both in Religion and in the Empire which differ one from another according to the true accompt of yeares but fiue hundred yeares a peece Now these hundred yeares from the birth of Christ vnto the tyme of Traian beyng expired so straunge things and myraculous both in the Church and common Weales happened as from the beginning of the worlde such and so great neyther haue neither shall come to passe except onely in the last comming of the Lorde at what tyme he shall call the dead before hys tribunall seate that so the whole vngracious worlde may be brought vnto perpetuall shame and the vertuous to euerlasting glory for first oâ—r Lord and Sauiour Christ was borne of a virgin perfect man the Messias promised to the Patriarches the sonne of one substance with his eternall father by whom God hath made of nothing al things both in heauen aboue and in earth belowe and redeemed mankynd which was fallen from sinne and wickednes for in the behalfe of vs all he hath suffred a most reprochfull death of the Crosse to that ende that death and the Diuell beyng vanquished he myght rid all beleeuers from eternall death and the intolerable yoke of Satan He hath also rysen lyke a conquerour in glory from the dead and ascended into heauen that he myght prepare a waye for vs to his almightie father whose anger by his righteousnes he had appeased and reconciled him vnto vs. Finally also at the feast of Penticost God miraculously and without meane according as it was long before promised by the Prophetes did powre out his holy spirit full of all grace and goodnes vppon his Apostles that in all Nations they myght be able to glorify God and by euery speache declare their message of glad tydings as also Mangre the diuel and his Adherentes the same notwithstaÌ„ding the outragious cruelty of Nero and Diomitian was preached published throughout all the world Lastly what wonderfull things haue happened from the byrth of Christ vnto the hundred yeere after the same at which tyme Traiane fyrst receyued the Emperiall Diâ—deme I mynde not to prosecute euery thing particulerly least by that meanes contrary to my purpose I proceede Amongst other things those woordes forespoken of Christ and the Prophets teaching the ouerthrowe and vtter destruction of the Iewes and Hierusalem take effect and also vnder Traiane the Emperour there happened a great alteration in religion For although the Empyre was of Rome yet was not the Emperour a Romane borne but a Spaniard and adopted to that dignitie of Nerua which was a Romane And therfore by these it plainely doth appeare that the Apostles beyng dead there was now a new face of the Church and that nothing so beautifull as the former and also new state of Empire presignifyed of Iohn in his Reuelation Because that Traian was the eyght from the seuenth who was Nerua which was the seuenth from Nerc the last of the stocke of Caesars from whom Iohn beginneth to number the seuen Kings which
the Pope became the chiefe Monarch of all the worlde ruled all kyngs and obteyned all authoritie of chusing Bishoppes Also howe that third Periode of fiue hundred yeares about the yeare of our Lord one thousand and sixe hundred should be fully perfect that so without all doubt we may looke for a new Metamorphosis of these things if things to come may well be gathered of things past already And what other I beseech you can we looke for but euen that which was seene and heard of Iohn in his Reuelation from hym which sate on the Throne among the foure and twenty Elders saying Behold I make al things new a newe heauen a newe earth behold the Tabernacle of God with men and he shall dwell with them and they shal be his people and he shall be a God with them euen their God. But when those vngodly Decrees and blasphemies which the Romanes froÌ„ the fifty seuen vnto the thousand one hundred yeare in all the tyme that Henrie the fourth raigned by litle and litle brought in are considered and withall compared with our dayes we shall find all those things continually to haue had as it it were peculiarly their fiue hundred yeares a peece Wherefore in my iudgement by the tymes past and state of things present I am the more confirmed to thinke the full and perfect end of all vngodlynesse to be very nigh at hand after which shall ensue that perpetuall and euerlasting world in which the Lord God shall raigne and rule in iustice truth and mercy for euer In the tyme of Henry as out of histories we gather these Decrees of the Bishoppes were published first that the Emperours shoulde haue no aucthoritie to chuse Bishoppes nor Pope for which cause the Senate of Cardinals to whom was geuen that power was instituted and preferred to great honour then also they tooke vppon them to chuse and refuse Emperours at their pleasure as plainly appeared by Hildebrandes electing of Rodolph and displacing of Henry Moreouer vnder this Emperour that horrible Idolatrie of the woorshippyng and carrying about of the bread came into the Church Lastly in the yeare one thousand nyntie and three al the lawes of Popes were gathered set forth by one Iuon B. of Carnot And therfore no doubt but the Lord God also at his certayne tyme wyll briâ—g to nought cut of and by his commyng to iudgemeâ—t to the perpetuall shame of all papistes vtterly abolish all that impietie and wickednes which the Diuell by his ministers to the reproch of God hath caused increased and confirmed For we haue examples both in the people of the Iewes and Gentiles For when as their superstition and obstinate vngodlynes was come to the top then sprang vp the true doctrine and preaching of the Gospell by which their false doctrine was reproued yet in the meane while through the iust and horrible displeasure of God against them most greeuously were they plagued euen as also happened to the Iewes by Ierusalems destruction and also to other nations and lastly to Rome in the miserable spoyling of the Gothes and vandolles But if the tyme since the preaching of the Gospell were well marked we shâ—ll see most euident beginnings of the ruine and ouerthrow of the Pope and Papacie which perchance eyther shall go before the last end of tyme or els in that third space of fyue hundred yeeres or somwhat after by the Lords comming shall come to naught So doo I perswade my selfe thinke you what you will at your pleasure and yet take heede ye rhinke not falsly But if in other places I erre the matter is not great For it is certayn out of the word of God that this errour shall not long continue For Christ is the very truth and cannot erre But let vs note what hath happened and dayly dooth happen among Christians in this our age and playnly and euidently we shall see all things forespoken to haue and daily to come to passe about this very tyme of fiue hundred yeeres For we haue a notable example hereof in the Electors and states of the Empire which in the yeere one thousand fiue hundred fiftye and eight which was about the fiue hundred yeere after the Popes began their tyranny ouer Kings and Princes did chuse Ferdinandus the Emperor maugre the Pope and for euer disanulled that decree of the Cardinals for the confirmation of his election How I beesech you hath Lotharinge a Guisian Caâ—dinall in Fraunce and Granuellus another Cardinal in Belgia for al their Cardinalshippes preuayled in their laboring to confirme the Popes authoritie and to bring in the Spanishe Inquisition haue not the Frenchmen and Belgians by that meane rather rebelled agaynst them cast froÌ„ their shoulders that intollerable yoke of the Popes bondage By which no doubt it is euident that that space of fiue hundred yeeres in which the Cardinals bare the swaye is now passing and will shortly be expired euen as the other peeuish and idolatrous doctrine of the Papistes is well and to their perpetuall prayse banished out of the Dominions of manye good Kings and Princes And now ye Princes deale wisely and with iudgement consider how that Antichrist of Rome hath most shamefully abused your authoritie to the suppressing of the truth and persecuting of innocentes Beare in minde how long you haue been Ministers and slaues to that blooddie beast in crucifying Christ agayne in his members Be learned ye Iudges of the earth be sorye for these things Serue the Lord in feare and reioyce with trembling For the horrible day of the Lord hangs vppon your shoulders Therefore kisse the Sonne least he be angry and so ye perish when his fury shalbè but a little kindled Blessed are all they which trust in the Lord. Now if in that spoken already and other particular lawes the number of fiue hundred yeeres be so rightly filled what shall we iudge of the whole body of all the Popes decrees which afterwarde by Iuon Byshoppe of Carnot after whom Gratian followed in the yeere of the Lord one thousand nintie and three at the commaundement of the Pope was truly collected into one booke as it were by imitating Iustinian the Emperour which by the ayde of Tribonianus and other noble men gathered the Ciuill lawe into an order and made thereof a newe booke But how with absurdities in number infinite blasphemies not to be vttered those decrees of the Pope doo filthily deface the woord of God none of a ryght iudgement is ignorant And yet alas these haue had more aucthoritie now many yeares than the very immutable worde and will of god Which things although they doo agree very well together yet for the sakes of the ignorant we will proue the same both by a Canon of holy Scripture and the Popes decrees manifestly contrarie between themselues Paule sayth to Timothie Spiritus disertè dicit fore c. That is The Spirit saith plainly that in the latter tymes
Sonne of God hym selfe receyued a name from the Angell and was called Iesus that is a Lord and Sauiour redeeming the worlde from sinne which afterward receyued a name according to his office â–ª and was called Christ that is Annoynted annoynting vs with his holy spirit that so we might acknowledge him to be our christ Wherfore let it not seeme straunge vnto vs if those letters by the diuine prouidence of God doo containe many and great mysteries within them For the Lorde God by a certaine incomprehensible prouidence not according to mans wisedome or foreknowledge of things to come doth gogouerne the thoughtes and tongues of men that many men and Cities in which the Lord God wyll shewe eyther his singular fauour and marueilous woorkes of mercie or his anger and heauie displeasure should receyue fatall names accordingly And therefore by this reason it came to passe no doubt that king Dauid which signifyeth well beloued should receyue a proper name as also the Prophet Daniell his signifying the iudgement of the Lorde Because in him the Lord God dyd shewe foorth his singular kindnes manye wayes and in this his secrete iudgement concerning the Empyres of the world and their endes and of the two commings of Christ the first vyle in the fleshe the second victorious to iudgement So likewyse Babylon receyued a fit name but in a diuers respect not onely because that in her there was made a confusion of tongues but especially because of the confounding of manners and wickednes of Religion and Idolatry together Wherefore at the length it vtterly came to naught and there is become a meere confusioÌ„ in deed of all beastes and serpents By a contrary ende IerusaleÌ„ tooke her name because she should see the peace of God in Christ which afterward she dyd furiously dispise I haue heard moreouer of Melanthon which also in a certaine booke he dyd publish that that name Emda a towne of the Orientall Frisia and my natiue countrey hath her dâ—riuation from truth and firmenes according to the force of the Hebrew woord Est enim illa vrbs amans veritatis For sayth he that citie is a louer of the truth And howe this name agreeth to that Citie in these our dayes the Lord God hath abundantly declared in this that he hath myraculously kept vs among these so daungerous tempests constant in the true doctrine of hys Gospel against the manifolde subtilâ—ies of the Diuell God graunt we may perseuer to the end in all truth and simplicitie of hart and that this naturall falling may firmely be vpholden and stayed least otherwise it pretend an euill fortune and so we be called no longer Emdani that is constant in the truth but Valdarini â–ª that is Babilonians which thing God of his mercy turne away from vs Sibâ—l also Erithina plainely telleth of Rome that her name doth comprehend many wofull destinies and that in these verses translated out of Greeke into Latin by Castilion Porro quater decies complebis terque trecentos Annos atque octo cum te pertingere metam Tristia fata â–ª tuo completo nomine cogent Thy ende thy name fulfyld and fates shall cause then for to come Of yeares nine hundred fortie eyght When seene shal be the summe Nowe after what sort that Prophesie is fulfylled Castalion shewes in his annotations vppon the same place to which I send the Reader And that Rome els where hath a name according to her nature it is apparant by a certaine answere of Pasquil Roma quid est quod te docuit praeposterus ordo Quid docuit iungas versa elementa scies Roma amor est amor est qualis praeposterus vnde hoc Roma mares Noli dicere plura scio Hereof also in respect of her outward whoordome which is linked oftentymes with the spiritual fornication she is worthely called in holy Scripture an Harlot and Babylon Sodome and Gomorrhe secret malice and a people rebellyng against God. ¶ Of the round and square figure of the Climacterian yeares and of the Golden number IF nowe these and that which folowes be rightly considered and compared together they wyll sufficiently shewe themselues to be neither coÌ„trary to the Scriptures nor impertinent to my purpose but rather such as if they be compared with that before mentioned may well bring vs into the remembraunce of the latter dayes especially sith they doo as it were in colours liuely place before our eyes the perfect end of this world and commyng of the Lord to iudgement As also the fiuefold figure doth not only represent the Greeke letter χ. or being somewhat turned the crosse but also both the squate figure and the round For the crosse by equall distance in the plaine dooth fyll the circle and representes the round forme but the Greeke letter χ. rather betokeneth the quadrangle figure But this I speake by the way if vnto the fiuefolde figure noted by fiue vnities on either side contrary to the myddle number of fiue the foure figures comprehended in the fifth euen to the perfect number were set vnder then these nyne vnites may so by Art be disposed that euery way we may see fifteene as by the figure here vnderneath may appeare  15 15 15 15 15 2 9 4  15 7 5 3  15 6 1 8      15 So that this number of fyue in the threefold according to Arithmetike may seeeme the most perfect and by many figures as it were to represent those three alterations of tyme of which before we made mention whose end in a iust quantitie of numbers perfectly set of God hym selfe ought certainly to be looked for Neither can any doubt but that this figure contaynyng a marueilous equalitie and agreement of numbers in a very great inequalitie as it may seeme doth signifie some great mysteries as well Diuine as Philosophical the which least in these which may perchaÌ„ce seeme more darke then many of Platoes numbers I be ouer tedious to the Reader I leaue to the consideration of the studious But that we may somewhat returne to that we haue in hand although the circular and round figure be of all others in sight most fayre yet as is the whole world is it very vnstable subiect to alteration and full of troubles But the square forme is firme constant and stable and howe soeuer it be placed is alwayes one and the same And therefore dooth Aristotle compare the same to a good and honest man whom he calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the which howsoeuer with Aristotle we imagine hym we shall not finde Christ onely the Rocke and true corner stone refused of the buylders and workmen of this world onely excepted but in the lyfe to come wee shall be such with Christ hym selfe And therefore dooth Iohn describe the holy Hierusalem descending from heauen to be foure square in which her perfection constancie and continuance is noted Because by no yll fortune it shal be
regione profana Ter tantum soluent quantum fecere malorum Igni confecti multo tum dentibus omnes Stridentes acri tabescent vique sitique Optandum mori dicent fugientque vocantes Non iam mortis enim requiem non noctis habebunt Multa quidem frustra supremi numina Patris Orabunt sed eos tunc auertetur apertè O that blyndnes of mans mynde and that madde doubting of these diuine promises of eternall lyfe O that hardned and flintie hart of ours which is not mooued no not wyth these horrible threates of Gods heauie displeasure but continuing securely in all impietie neuer asketh pardon for such wilfull offending and amendeth euen as though the scripture were but lyes and these diuine Oracles prophane fables For by those things which haue come to passe and by true demonstrations of Gods holy spirit it is apparant that nothing is more certaine than that the end of all things haÌ„geth oÌ„ our shoulders Truly great is the force of sinne and marueilous is the rage of Satan in these latter dayes he endeuoureth by all meanes that possibly he can to bring the whole world into a desperate securitie of life that so he may haue many partakers of his tormentes in hell from which there is no redemption But how much better had it been we had eyther neuer been borne or at the least been voyde of reason with beastes and serpentes or els been dispactht as soone as we were borne if either we enioy not that place for which we were created or come not to the celestyall Paradyse and to the marryage of our Spouse our Lord and sauiour Iesu Christ where shal be the ful abundance of all delightes and perfection of all pleasure Wherefore let vs cast from vs both our carelesse securitie and mistrust of the promises of God let vs renounce the diuell and all the woorkes of the flesh which are not sufferable by the word of God let vs listeÌ„ to the friendly admonitioÌ„ of our Sauiour Christ warning vs in these wordes Take heed least at any tyme your mindes be ouerladen with surfetting and dronkennes and cares of this life and so the suddayne day of the Lord take you vnawares for euen as a snare it shall come vppon all which sit vppon the face of the earth Be ye watchfull therefore at all tymes and as Matthew addeth because ye knowe not the houre in which your Lorde wyll come praying that ye may escape all these things which are to come and may stand before the Sonne of man. For if the comming of theeues and stealers of our earthly goods be to be feared with how great care with how great diligence and watchfulnes should we seeke to escape those enemies which would spoyle vs of our eternall riches and kingdome of heauen Here we vse great heede and wisedome to preserue our mortall bodyes from hurt and daunger but to saue our soules which are immortal from eternal paynes in hel we are altogeather carelesse nothing circumspect And yet more would it beseeme the children of lyght to be more carefull in seeking and keeping those things which are celestiall than are wordlings paynfull in enriching themselues with such things as they are neither sure to enioy while they are aliue nor can assure them of any ioy when they are dead Yea let vs thinke and perswade our selues that in the sight of God it is not shamefull but abhominable that the elect or chosen people of God which should be wise and circumspect shall in this care be surpassed of wicked worldlings and the more hyghly we displease our god by how much the things which we so litle esteem are more excellent than that which they so hunt after betweene which so surpassing is the treasure prepared for the godly that there is no comparison This exhortation though it pertayne to all men at all tymes yet now especially in these daungerous dayes in which euery where we see so many by suddayne and strange endes to be taken out of this world and because euery man shall dy though the certayne houre and daye none dooth knowe and shall either woofully be sent among the diuels in hell or ioyfully be receyued into the felowship of the faythfull in heauen Wherefore sith the spirit in the faythfull is willing but the flesh very weake and blinde in heauenly things we are to beseech our heauenly father in continuall prayers that by his holy spirit he would dayly more and more encrease and strengthen our weake and feeble fayth And therefore we hartely desire thee O eternall father that thou wilt not vtterly breake vs though we bowe not as we should neither deale with iustice though we doo not our duties according to thy wyll but keepe vs good God in thy welbeloued sonne illuminate our myndes with thy holy spirit by which we may be prepared to all good workes in true holines newnes of life that so with Paule we may desire to leaue this world to be with Christ and so in the coÌ„ming of the Lord being found ready with oyle in our Lamps and adorned with our wedding garmentes we may find entrance to the Lordes mariage which thou for thy son his beloued spouse the holy church hast prepared and appointed from the beginning of the world To thee therfore O heauenly father to thy only begotten sonne and to the holy Ghost our comforter be all prayse honour and glory for euer and euer Amen FINIS Matth. 14.25 Mark. 13. Luk. 21. Aristot lib. 2. Rhetor. ad Theodecten cap. 10. Psalm 10. Prouerb 1. Psalm 73. Cardanus de rerum varietaâ—e Canti Cant. Psalm 51. Roâ— 8. Apoc. 17 Lact. lib. 7. cap. 25. Matth. 24. Lactan. 9. Matth. 25. 2. Cor. 5. Rom. 8. Luc. 16. Hebr. 11. Psal. 73 â–ª The argument of the booke Gene. 1.2 Rom. 8. Esay 66. 2. Pet. â— Aristotle â–ª Plato in Timâ— â–ª Plinius nat hist â–ª lib. 2. cap. 1. Epicures â–ª Plato in Atâ—â—â—â—tico Aegiptians Saduces Esay 56. Sâ—piâ—n 2. Diuers profes â—ut of the worde of God. 1. Cor. 1â— â–ª Iohn 5. The testimonie of tâ—e â—rophets â—f Chrâ—st Apostâ—eâ— â—oâ—firmâ—d by thâ— blooâ— of Martyrs Proofe from the testimony of the holy ghost Christian aucthoritie Matth. 17. Luc. 9. Math. 3. Maâ—â— 24.25 Marke 13. Luke 21. Proofe froâ— Prophesies â—â—ay 9.11.35.40.53 Daniel câ—p â— 7.8.9.11 Daniel 2. Daniel 7. Proofe from the iustice of God. Psal. 73. Esay 66. Iob. â— 9. Esai 25. Proofâ— from the diuine tâ—uth August in hiâ— 12. booke agaynst Mat. Elias prophesie 4. Esdras 4. The iudgement of Bibliander concerning the fourth booke of Esdras The answeare of Vriell to Esdras Psal. 90. 2. Pet. â— Conâ—ectâ—re fâ—om the syx daies of creation Coâ—iecture of Hench by generation thâ— seuenth from Adam Elias 1. Peter 1. Heb. 9. Math. 24. Coniecture from the constitution of the Sabboth The preaching of the Gospell the chiefest signe of Christs comming to iudgement Math. 24. God doth first accuse before he condemne Gen. 6.7 4. Reg 17. 4. Reg. 24.25 Iâ—sephus Egesippus Iosephus Egyptus Dan. 6. Orosius lib. 7. Chap 5. Of other things following the preaching of the Gospâ—ll Maâ—h 24. Luk. 21. An answere vnto certayne obiections Luk. 21. â—om 13. From Pharoeâ— Example Exod. 14. Contempt of knowledge All gifts at the â—â—ppe of perfection Contempt of learning Contempt of the ministerie Math. 24. Securitie of lyfe Horace lib. Serm. 2. Horace lib. 1. Episto Boëtius lib. 2. ante prosam 3. Math. 7. An admonition to Princeâ— Lucan lib. Ouid. lib. 1. fast Luc. 16. Of the successâ— of the Turke Daniel 7. Epito diuinar instit Chap. 11. Rom. 5. 1. Cor. 15. Mat. 24. Melancthonin vita Vaspatiani Ciprian Lâ—ouitius of the strange coâ—iunction of Planes Prayse of Astronomie Gen. 1. Of the comming of Christ into the flesh Gen 49 Dan. 9. Of the comming of Antichrist 2. Thessa. 2. Platina Krants 2. Cap. 18. Ganguinus lib. 4. Lib. 7. Annâ—l Ioan. Auen in exemplari Enstaâ—â—i impresso an 1554. fol. 684. 685. The blasphemous aâ—rogancie of the wicked Pope 2. Distin. 44. Of the comming of Christ to iudgement Ioel. 2. Lib. 8. Plato 8. Polytic Aâ—istotelâ—s 5. pol. Apo. 13. â—usebius Apo. 17. The first Peâ—â—ode The secondâ— Period Apo. 13. Lanf de Sacra Virgi de inâ—entione libr. 4. capi 10. Krantz lib. 5. ca. 8. Blondus Krantz li. 5. ca 7. The last Peryod Apo. 13. Apo. 21. Decretâ— Pontificum Plaâ—ina Sabellicus Krantz lib. 5. ca. 6. Caus. 16. q. 7. Si quis de inceps An admonition to Pâ—inces An admonition to kings Psalm 2. Functi Chron â–ª 1. Tim. 4. 1. Tim. 3.1 paâ—s dist 32. Iâ— Epinemidâ— Philosopho De re pub lib. 2. The definitioÌ„ of Arithmetycall proportion Melant. in Epit mo Phi. Geometrical proportion whar In Gorgia Gâ—lâ— 6. A true Christian Cicerâ— lib 3. Orliâ—i Syrach 27. Quintil. lib. 2. Cap. 3. Plato de Ropub lib. 5. Matth. 8. Quintil. lib. 8. cap. 3. Of the greeke letter χ Of the woord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Emeâ— veritâ—â— Eman stabilis Libro 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 948. Lo. Vulteii  2  1 5 3  4  1  2  5  4  3 Arist. li. â— Ethâ—hâ—t 3. Psal. 17. Mat. 21. Apo. 21. Apo. 21. Of the Clemitarian yeâ—es Libr. 2. ca. 10â— Of the golden number Daniel â— Luâ—ae 1. Math. 25. 1. Thes. 4. 1. Cor. 15. Apo. 20. Cice. lib. 2. de diuinatione Eâ—sebius in vita Constantini August lib. 18. ca. 25. de ciuit Dei. 1. Cor. 2. Esay 64. Apo. 21. Math. 25. Lucae 13. Mâ—tth 13. Apo. 20.21 22. An exhortation to watchfulnes Lucae 21. Math. 24. ¶ Imprinted at London nigh vnto the three Cranes in the Vintree by Thomas Gardyner and Thomas Dawson for Andrew Mumsell dwelling in Paules Churchyard