all their former frustrated successelesse and almost hopelesse malicious designs against the Puritanicall and Religious party in both Kingdoms and the intended accomplishment of the Presbyterian Government and Râ—formation of Religion in them which they so much feared and opposed by open force of Arms and secret policies who will now indeavour to continue and heighten our open divisions first plotted by them till we have weakned and destroyed each other by our civill wars and made our selves fit to be suddainly surprised and destroyed by their party when we have consumed and undone each other Thirdly That in these respects the Successes great Victories and slaughters in this unnaturall and unchristian Warre against our Protestant Brethren in Covenant are no matter of publike joy thanksgiving and triumph to the Conquerours as some vainly conceive but of greatest publike lamentation Humiliation and mourning it being both unnaturall uncharitable and unchristian for Members of the same body of Christ and sworn Christian Brethren ingaged by Covenant and God himself to protect and love each other with a pure heart fervently to murther and destroy each other an argument of Gods heavy wrath against usâ— tending to our desolations as the sacred Texâ—s and Presidents compared together will fully resolve the conscientious perusers of them Iudg. 21.1 to 18. 2 Sam. 1.12.17 18 c. 2 Sam. 2.12 to 29. to 3.30 c. 39. c. 4.8 9 10 11 12. c. 19.1 2 3 4. 2 Chron. 28.5 to 16. Ezek. 19.12.2.33.14 Ezek. 35.1 to the end Obad. 1. to the end Amos 1.9 10 11 12. Gen. 37.26 27. 1 Sam. 14.7.7 1 Kings 13.30 Psal. 35.14 Isay 9.19 20 11. c. 19.2.3 2 Chron. 15.5 6. Ier. 22.17 18. Ezek. 38. 21 22. Mich. 1.2 c. Zech. 7.9 to the end Mal. 2.10 Mat. 10.21 c. 1 Iohn 3.10 21 12. Exod. 2.11 12. Iudg. 9.5 to the end a sad story 1 Kings 12 14.15 2 Chron. 11.4 c. 21.4.12 13 14. c. Neh. 5.1 to 10. Iob 6.14 15. Prov. 6.16.19 Isay 66.5 Acts 7.26 Mat 12.25 Mar. 3.24 25 26. Gal. 5.14 15. Iam. 3.14 15 16 18 18. c. 4.1 9 10 11. Fourthly that the continuance of this unbrotherly Warre with Scotland will be the utter ruine of all the Presbyterian godly Party in that Nationâ— if God shall frown upon them and the utter subvertion of the Presbyterian Government there where the Prelaticall and Malignant party will soon get head and sway all to the strengthning and reviving of their numerous party in England or in case God give them after some overthrows a glorious Victory over the English Independent Forces as he did to the defeated Israelites over the Benjâ—mites Iudg. 20. it will certainly ruine all the Independent party in England who have so cheated and tyrannized over all sorts of men that they will never be able to make head again if once defeated and find all mens hearts and hands against them for their manifold extravagances and tyrannicall proceedings against all ranks and degrees of men subverting the whole frame of our civill and Ecclesiasticall Government And if the Presbyterian party in Scotland be much weakned and impoverished by the Victory and the Presbyteriall Ministers and Gentry of England discountenanced and thrust out of all power and reputation in the interim as they are through their cowardize and folly how far this may indanger and expose them to the Popish and Prelaticall parties power and malice hereafter is very considerable and how far their present Contributions though not voluntary without distresse or forcible coaction against their King and Brethren of Scotland and sitting still like idle neutrall Spectators without contributing the least visible assistance to either of them may be interpreted by their King and them to be a bâ—each of â—heir Nationall League and Covenant and of their Allegiance to their Soveraign in case they should prevail and restore the King to the Crown of England by their own Forces only without the English Presbyterians assistance to the indangering of their persons and Estates and the losse of all that favour and respect from either which their actuall conjunction with them might procure to the ruine of the Presbyterian as well as Independent party in England and setting up of the Popish and Prelaticall Malignant party in Supreme power and favour in this Realme is very considerable Fifthly that if the Scottish Presbyters and the Kings party in Scotland shall be both conquered by the English Independent Forces and unable to defend themselves or their King and to settle him in his Kingdoms then greater dangers are like to insue to our Religion and Kingdoms then otherwise in some wise mens judgments because the Independents as their present violent proceedings manifest wil probably use their Presbyterian Brethren in England no better then those in Scotland and extirpate them if they can and the King then will be necessitated to cast himself wholly upon the assistance of forraign States and Kings and their Forces as his last refuge which he hath hitherto declined as dangerous both to himself and his people If he in this extremity throw himself upon any Forraigners they must be either Papisâ—s only or Protestants alone or both of them joyntly If on Papists only which some think most probable First in regard of his Queen Mothers great interest in that party both in France and Italy being of that Religion Secondly in respect of the open differences and Wars already between us and France and Portugall two Popish Kingdoms which are like to continue and grow greater every dâ—y Thirdly in respect of that parties constancy and fidelity to the King and his Father Fourthly because that party is most powerfull and most likely to close with the King for the advantage of the Catholike cause and reducing of England to it's former obedience to the See of Rome so that without Gods infinite mercy it will necessiâ—ate him for a full compliance with them First to match into some great Popish Family upon the same and harder Aâ—ticles then were inforced on his Fathes by Spain or France Secondly to alter his Religion and professe himself a Roman Catholike and obedient son to the Roman Pontife as King Henry the fourth of France did Thirdly to Covenant and ingage with them for an utter extirpation of the Protestant Religion and of all Independents and Presbyterians as not only Heretikes in Religion but Regicides Traytors Rebells Covenant breakers pâ—rjured persons who make no conscience of Oaths Vows Protestations Declarations and professed enemies to Monarchy who have murthered his Father banished his Mother disinherited him of three Crowns and indeavour to imbroil and subvert all Monarchies and Kingdoms in Christendome Fourthly to swear and ingage to set up and tolerate none but the Roman Religion in his Kingdoms when he shall be restored to them by their assistance and Forces Fifthly to promise satisfaction of the greatest part of their expences in this war out of the Puritans and Protestants estates who have
been in Arms or any ways acted or contributed assistance of moneys against his Father or him and to make full reparations of all damages to such Papists who have left their estates and fortunes to assist his Father or him Upon these terms he may easily gain the joynt assistance of all Popish Kings Kingdoms and States in Europe through the Popes powerfull mediation And if hereupon through their aid he should so far prevail as to get into actuall possession of his Thrones and Kingdoms by the meer power of the sword without any terms or conditions by way of Treaty of which there will be little probability we can then expect nought else but these dismall consequences First a totall â—radication of our reformed Religion and of all zealous professors thereof especially such who have acted any waies against the King or his Father a full repeal of all penal Laws against Jesuites Priests Papists and a publike profession and practise of the Romish Religion and of that only throughout our Kingdoms Secondly a totall subversion of all our former Laws and Liberties and a full exercise of all arbitrary and tyrannicall power over our lives and estates Thirdly an absolute confiscation of all our Lands and Estates together with our lives to satisfie the Kings debts gratifie his Assistants and repair the losses of his faithfull Catholikes whom we have undone by adhering to his party Fourthly an absolute inslaving of our whole Nation to these forraign Conquerours if not a totall banishment and extirpation of them out of their native soil the case of the Ancient Britains when conquered and driven out of this their Countrey by Saxons and the extraordinary Pestilence and Famine sent amongst them for their sins and then a dieu both to our Religion and Nation But in case the King should not prevail to conquer us by their power the least we can expect is First a continuall long lasting Warre and open hostility by Land and Sea with all Romish Kings and States the very charge whereof now we are almost quite undone and beggered already which will utterly ruine and undo us Secondly losse of Trade and Commerce with all those Kingdoms and States with whom we are in hostility which will utterly break us in one year or two for want of venting our Native commodities our chiefest inablement to maintain the Wars Thirdly intolerable uncessant Taxes of all sorts which will every moneth grow heavier and greater then other which accompanied with want of Trade will cause a generall Insurrection at last both of poor and rich against those in power and put all into confusion to the enemies great advantage Fourthly a necessity of seizing and selling all Colledges Corporations Companies Hospitalls and Gleab-Lands throughout the Realm and of new Projects to make new Delinquents of purpose to raise moneys to defray the extraordinary expences of the Armies and Navies And what garboils this will produce all prudent persons may easily conjecture Fiftly a generall decay of Religion Piety Learning Law and all Arts Sciences Trades Sixthly an extraordinary new effusion of Christian bloud Seventhly an inundation of all kind of sin wickednesse Atheism Heresie Blasphemy Murders Rapes Robberies Oppressions Whoredome Drunkennesse Dissolutenesse Barbarousnesse and disobedience to Laws Magistrates Ministers Parents and other disorders Eighthly Free-quarter insolences of Souldiers spoiling plundring if not pestilence and famine the usuall Concomitants of Warre which will reduce us to a condition worse then nothing in conclusion If he cast himself upon Forraign Protestant Kings Princes and States alone the far better though unlikelier of the two yet this will certainly prove 1. A great dishonour to God and scandall to reformed Religion to see them so unnaturall and unchristian as to imbrue their hands in one anothers bloud 2. An extraordinary ground of joy and triumph to the Pope and his Confederates to behold their enemies thus murthering invading and destroying each other by their mutuall dissentions when they by all their power and policy were unable to accomplish their ruine and do them so great mischief 3. A great indangering of all the Protestant Churches and States in Europe by incouraging their Popish Adversaries to invade and ruine them whilest thus ingaged in an unbrotherly and unchristian Warre between themselves and weakening impoverishing and destroying each other 5. An effusion of much precious Protestant bloud which will cry for vengeance to heaven against the originall Authors and Occasioners of such a Warre 6. If the King shall inthrone himself and regain his Kingdomes by their assistance though the profession of the Protestant Religion may still be continued yet we may justly fear 1. That the purity and power of Religion will be much abated 2. That our Lawes and Liberties will be much indangered and Eclipsed 3. Our estates confiscated to make them reparations and satisfie the Kings Ingagements 4. Their removall hence will be disputable when once possessed of our Country as the history of the Danes invasions of this Island heretofore and the Saxons full possession thereof with the Britains expulsion will manifest 5. If the King and they be repulsed by us yet this will prove a seminary of lasting wars and breaches between us and most Protestant Kingdoms and States It will hinder all commerce between them and us to the destruction of Merchandize and Trade destroy the Protestants strength and interest impoverish us through Taxes fill us with dâ—scontents augment our divisions if not conclude in our beggery and ruine If he throw himself upon forraign Papists and Protestants joyntly then First the Wars are like to be more generall dangerous and costly to us and of longer continuance Secondly The divisions and dangers from at home are like to prove the greater since all discontented and oppressed Protestants and Papists will then be apt upon all occasions and advantages to joyn with that forraign party they best affect and from whom they may expect the most favour and the best conditions Thirdly If the King prevail then both Parties must be satisfied and his debts defrayed out of our estates both gratified with a free toleration and exercise of that Religion throughout his Realms as both sides professe and between them both all will be plundered impoverished ruined and perchance inforced to quit the whole Kingdom to one or both of them who will challenge an interest therein by conquest and the longest sword and hardly part with it when once possessed thereof Fourthly If the King and they should be foiled by us yet the wars and differences would survive all commerce and trading lost Armies and Navies must still be maintained and Garrisons in all our Kingdoms to secure us taxes oppressions and all publike grievances continued and mulâ—iplied and thereby new intestine commotions raised which of themselves alone will destroy us without any otheâ— enemy And suppose the King himself should miscarry in these Warres yet the Title and Right of the Crowns of our threâ— Kingdoms sâ—rviving to his Brothers
what is impossible to be regained and seeing a new storm of Devastations hanging over our heads by the young Kings late arrival in Scotland where he is received as absolute Soveraign which filâ— mens hearts with pensive thoughts and doubâ—ings what will be the end of these wofull beginnings For my part I am a zealous adorer of a Parliament nor deserve I to censure the Actions of our Representatives yet will I not promise the Term of an Age to our novel Government but think veâ—ily a change to the old Model is nigh at hand It is casual to the best Kingdoms to have Interregnums but as we stand now we shall neâ—ther be for six years together a Body Politique nor a true Church of God That excellent Astrologer of Misnia Paul Grebner was more then an Inquisitour into the Effects of Starres being questionlesse indued from above with a Prophetick spirit not to be desired much lesse expected of all He plainly affirms That as England ever was a Monarchy within it self since it was discovered by the Romans so shall it so continue and remain even then when all other Kingdoms and States in Europe are swallowed up of the FIFTH MONARCHIE of the Lion of the North. His Prophecie of our Civil Wars of the Fate of our late King and the Restauration of his Son to his Fathers Dominions runneth thus in Ban. 72. Per idem tempus Rex quidam Borcalis nomine Carolus Mariam ex Papisticâ— religione sibi assumptam in matrimonium conjunxerit ex quo evidet regum infelicissimus Unde populus ejus ipso abdicato Comitem quendam perantiquae Familiae regno praeponet qui tres annos aut circitèr durabit hoc quoque remoto Equitem quendam bellicosum in ejus locum assumet qui paulò ampliùs regnabit Post hunc eliget nullum Interea unus è stirpe Caroli in littore regni patres sui cum Gallicis Suevicis Danicis Hollandicis Burgurdicis Germanicis auxiliis stabit omnes inimicos suos cruentissimo praelio superabit posteà regnum suum felicissimè administrabit eritque Carolo magno major And in Ban. 74. he saith Circà Anno 1663 Brittaniarum Rex antiquum cum Belgarum Ordinibus foedus amicitiam rumpet ob ereptas sibi ab ipsorum piratis naviculas quasdam qui pertrepidi ad novum Danorum Regem nomine Christiernum confugient qui utrosque primò compositissimis orationibus deinde muneribus in concordiam alliciet About the same time a certain Northern King named Charles who shall marry Mary of the Popish Religion to his great unhappinesse so that his people rejecting him shall set up an Earl of a very ancient Family who shall continue three years or thereabouts he dying they shall elect in his stead a warlike Knight who shall rule a little longer after him they elect none But in the mean one of Charles his Stock shall land on the Sea-coasts of his Fathers Kingdom and with French Swedish Danish Hollandian Burgonian and German Forces in a most cruel battell shall vanquish all his Enemies and afterward most happily govern his Kingdom and be greater then Charls the Great And about the year 1663 the King of the most ancient Brittains for the losse of some Ships at Sea shall break his League and Amity with the States of Holland who fearing shall to the new King of Danes named Christiernuâ— for succour and he by fair Intreaties and large Gifts shall win either side to Agreement Nor ever doth he speak of England in all that famous manuscript but as of the most warlike and potent Kingdome in Europe Therefore all good Christians ought to wish the new Warre were concluded rather by an happy Agreement and Composition then by Sword and Musket and the King placed on his Throne rather with the hands of his loving and and rejoycefull Subjects than with the swords of Forreigners For if the beginning of his Restauration be in bloud and tumbling of garments in bloud the Accomplishment of it will be with burning and fuel of fire That this future History of Europe may be more fully and clearly understood I intend to set it down by way of Chronology upon the principall passages in Ezekiel and the Revelations as I lately collected it out of the two MSS. of Grebner and Ioannes Baudensis and afterward subscribed certain Notes and Animadversions upon the same THe woman travelleth viz. The Jewish Synagogue bringeth forth Christ whereupon ensueth the battel between Anno Christi 1 Michael and the Dragon Christ and the Devil Anno Mundi 3947 Christ being persecuted of the Devil by Herod in his Infancy flieth into Aegypt in his appointed time of 34 years suffereth and ascendeth into Heaven The Devil enraged Anno Christi 34 that he could no more persecute Christ raiseth persecutions Anno Mundi 3981 Anno Christi 65 against the Primitive Church by Nero and others Revel 12. per tot Anno Mundi 4012 Anno Christi 70 The first Seal openedâ— The white Horse and his Rider with Anno Mundi 4017 the crowned Bow signifieth the purity of the Gospel in the Primitive Church Revel 6.2 Anno Christi 71 Satan is bound for a 1000 â—ears from raging against the Church Anno Mundi 4018 Revel 20.2.8 Anno Christi 65 The second Seal opened The red Horse is the massacre of Anno Mundi 4020 Christians in the ten general Persecutions about Aâ—no 65 to An. 330. Revel 6.3 4. Anno Christi 104 The third Seal opened Simon Magus Ebion and Corinthus Anno Mundi 4051 trouble the Church with damnable and infectious Heresies Revel 6.9 6. Anno Christi 173 The fourth Seal opened Horrid Famine devouring Pestilences Anno Mundi 4120 and outragious Wars waste and depopulate the Roman Empire for cruelty to Christians Revel 6.7 8. Anno Christi 194 The fifth Seal opened Mutual Massacres of the wretched Caesars Anno Mundi 4141 beginning at Pertinax and ending at Licinius slain by Constantine the Great Revel 6.9 10 11. Anno Christi 288 The sixth Seal opened Dioclesian and Maximilian give over Anno Mundi 4235 their Caesarships because they could not eradicate Christianity Constantine strengthened with their Armies and Provinces warreth upon Licinius slayeth him destroyeth the Pretorian-Camp abolisheth Heathenism and setteth up the true Worship of God Revel 6.12 to the end The seventh Seal opened And silence in Heaven for half an hour viz. The Church enjoyeth rest thirty years all the time that Constantine Anno Mundi 4255 the Great reigned Revel 8.1 Yet clouds of persecution Anno Christi 308 Anno Mundi 4286 arise in the interim in the sky of the Church and the seven Angels Anno Christi 339 prepare themselves to blow the seven Trumpets for the space of 23 years even all the reign of Constantines three sons Revel 8.2 3. Anno Mundi 4310 Iulian that wretched Apostata bending his utmost endeavours to Anno Christi 363 ruine the Gospel licenceth 17000 Jews to return to Ierusalem to
or if they miscarry to his Sister matched to the Prince of Aurenge or if they all should fail descending to the Queen of Bohemia and Prince Elector Palattine their severall new Titles and Interests will find means to infest us with new Warres till they have either obtained their rights or ruiâ—ed both themselves and us So that unlesse God put so much wiâ—dome and spirit to the English Nation as to restore the King to his just Rights upon safe and honourable terms according to their Oaths Covenant Protestations Declarations to all the world and Principles of their Religion we can in humane probaâ—ility expect nought else but the utter ruine both of our Religion Nation Kingdoms and totall extirpation by Forraign enemies And certainly if we seriously consider 1. The infinite divisions discontents oppressions that are every where amongst us 2. The Heresies Blasphemies Sects and Schisms that are lately broached and publikely countenanced by us 3. The Generall contempt and neglect of the publike Ordinances of God and free toleration granted to all to withdraw themselves from them without the least censure or punishment 4. The generall contempt hatred discountenancing reviling and persecuting of godly and faithfuâ—l Mâ—nisters throughout the Nation and the snares that are daily laid to intrap and ruine them 5. The extraordinary Apostacy of many Professors from the truth purity and power of Religion almost to professed Atheism contempt of the Word Prayer Preaching Sacraments and all other Oâ—dinances to meer licentiousnesse lukewarmnesse and Prophanenesse 6. The generall inclination of the people to errours Eâ—thusiasmes and seducing spirits 7. The little cordiall reall love and affection between Professors of Religion and the great animosities hatreds and divisions amongst them both in Opinionâ— Practise and affection 8. The little conscience of Oaths Protestations Covenants Promises and great hypocrisie covetousnesse oppression self-seeking envy hatred and malice that is in the Nation and amongst those especially who professe themselves Saints of the highest form 9. The universall inundation of all kind of sin and wickednesse and open profession thereof in all places 10. The extraordinary Injustice Tyranny Cruelty and Mercilesnesse that all parts of the Land complain of and groan under 11. The great effusion of Christian bloud and of the bloud of our Christian Brethren in Covenant that our whole Land is polluted with and our rejoycing in this bloud-guiltinesse instead of repenting and mourning for it 12. Our present decay of Trade and Merchandize 13. Our intolerable Taxes and Impositions oâ— all sorts 14. The extreme poverty of our Kingdom and increase of poor people in all parts which have little work or none and will not staâ—ve 15. The divisions of our Forces into Ireland and Scotland where standing Armies and Garrisons must be constantly maintained for fear of revolt 16. Our great breaches with France and Portugall and no good quarter with any Forraign States or Kingdomes which as yet will neither own nor hold full and open correspondency with our new Governours or Government 17. The revolt of most of our Forraign plantations from us and the late Declaration against them as Traytors and Rebells who count us such 18. The Negotiations with the Pope and Popish Kingdomes and most Protestant Princes and States to incense them all against us as enemies to all Magistracy and publike Government and to mankind it self as Salmatius hath published us in print 19. The spreading the pestlence in many places and the feared famine throughout the Realm 20. The manifold injuries and afronts offered to all the Nobility and most of the Gentry of the Naâ—ion and the whole Nation it self in the change of the Government without and against their consent in continâ—ing and increasing their burthens Taxes and out-lawing many of them because they will not subscribe the Ingagement in erecting new High Courts to take away their lives without any legall Triall by their Peers for offences punishable by no common Law 21. The Exâ—cution of so many Protestants and not of one Papist whatsoever by these or other Courts of Justice though the chief contrivers of our late unhappy Wars and discontinuance of all Capitall proceedings against Priests and Jesuites since the abolishing of the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance made principally against them and the Popes Usurpations and practises 22. The injustice of our present cause and Warre meerly against Monarchy Presbytery and old English Peers and Parliaments purposely to support the present Government set up by the meer power of the sword yea founded on the bloud of a Protestant King and ruine of the very best of Parliamenâ—s to prevent a settlement of peace and Religion by an unbloudy Treaty And then compare them with the Premises and Cardinall Richelieu his Instructions and advice to the late French King a little before his death published by an Italian of good note and printed in Italy Anno. 1645. to foment the late differences between the late King and Parliament all he could and if possible by the solicitation of his instruments to draw the Commons to change our Monarchy into a meer Republike thereby to imbroil all our Kingdomes in civill Warres against each other as the only and best policy of all to weaken and destroy both our power and Religion and advance the interest of France and Catholike Religion which we see now accomplished according to his advice and then we have just cause to fear an inevitable approaching ruine both of our Religion and Nation notwithstanding our late Victories and Successes which do but weaken impoverish destroy our selves and promote the designs of our common enemies unlesse God give us a timely sight and Reformation of this our impolitick oversight and incline our hearts to a generall peace and unity thâ—oughout our Kingdome by restoring every man to his just right and inheritance from the highest to the lowâ—st and abolishing all future seeds and occasions of our intestine Warres The serious consideration of all which Premises are a sufficient satisfactory Apology for all Ministers or others now questioned for the Non-observance of the late Thanksgiving day â—or the great rout and slaughter of our Protestant Presbyterian Brethren of Scotland against all their persecutors We shall therefore close up all with Abners Speech to Ioab in case of the civill Wars between the House of David and Saul wherein the Isâ—aelites of the same Religion and Nation unnaturally fought and slew each other Ioabs souldiers pursuing and slaughtering Abners whom they had discomfited in battell addressing to those in present power 2 Sam. 2.26 27 28. Then Abner called to Ioab and said shall the sword devoure for ever knowest thou not that it will be bitternesse in the latter end how long shall it be then ere thou bid the people return from following their Brethren And Ioab said as God liveth unlesse thou hadst spoken surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following their Brethren So Ioab blew a trumpet and all
digged for the erecting of a Monument for the Lord Teligni He gave it unto the Popes Nuncio who rewarded him with 200 dollars for his pains from him it was sent to the Cardinall of Bruges who presented it unto the young K. Lewis XIII It was written in parchment and wrapped in lead in the form of an Heart Hebrew numericall letters were set at the side of every Line signifying in what Year of our Lord every accident should come to passe and be manifested to the world Out of Hebrew it was translated into Latine by Iohannes Parmarino Secretary to the said Cardinall The Prophesie runs thus Anno Christi 1661 Obruit Italiam saevo Mars impius aestu Anno Christi 1665 Vnica sint Christo pascua campus oves Anno Christi 1666 Totum operit mundum terror ira Dei. Anno Christi 1667 Pauci Iehovam venerantur Anno Christi 1678 Inclytus exurgit factis Heros Anno Christi 1686 Europa tremit AsaÌ„ urget metus Anno Christi 1693 Generalis Terrae motus ruit Anno Christi 1699 Agnoscunt omnes Gentes Deum Anno Christi 1700 Flumina siccentur ubique Anno Christi 1710 Pastor Ecclesia unica 3 Alephs The heat of war doth Italy surround Let Christ's pasture be one his sheep and ground Gods wrath and terrour doth the world confound But few that God do reverence A Prince shall rise of eminence Asia doth tremble Europe shake Now is a generall Earthquake All Nations Gods knowledge partake Rivers are dried every where Pastor and Church only one are By this Prophecy great troubles must arise in Italy within this small time cruell wars afflicting every State thereof which must be preparations to the eternall destruction and ruine of Rome the head City thereof Rome can never be destroyed except Protestants lay aside their unnecessary civill contentions which may God so disposing come to them about Anno 1665. After which great commotions are like to arisâ— in Europe till a noble Hero arise which shall quench those evils by imploying Christians in mutuall Leagues against the Turk Suddenly after which comes troublesome daies in Asia and Africk Then follows universall peace and quietnesse of Nations prophesied of by Ezechiel and S. Iohn in the Revelations which must bring forth the purity and perfection of the Gospel over the whole Earth X. Of how large an extent the Turkiâ—h Empire should be how far it should prevail against Christendome when it should be at the height and wheâ— Christians should begin to cry quits with them by victories and conquests is long since exâ—ant in ancient Prophesies One whereof M. Fox in his first Volume of Acts and Monuments pag. 746. antiq edit relates he found in the Persian language in a Manuscript of Bartholomary Georgienitz the substance whereof in Latine is this Imperator noster veniet Ethnici Principes Regnum capiet rubrum quoque pomum capiet inque suam potestatem rediget Quod si in septimum usque annum Christianorum gladius noâ— insurrexerit uâ—que ad duodecimum annum eis dominabitur Domos aedificabit vineas plantabit hortos sepibus muniet liberos procreabit post duodecimum aâ—num Christianorum gladiuâ— apparebit Turcam quaque versum in fugam aget Our Emperour shall come he shall take the Kingdom of a heathen Prince he shall also take the red apple and subdue it to himself But if the Christians sword shall not arise by the seventh year he shall reign over them to the twelfth year he shall build houses plant vineyards hedgâ— in Orchards and beget children and after the twelfth year shall the Christians sword appear and put the Turk to flight on every side M. Fox expounds these 12 years to be 12 Turkish Emperours prevailing against Christians beginning at the first Emperour Ottoman An. 1300. and so Solyman the magnificent to be the twelfth Emperour and the last that should prevail against Christians who began his reign An. 1519. and died An. 1567. But I think rather it must begin at Mahomet the II. winning of Constantinople called here rubrum pomum An. 1452. and must end at the late Emperour Mahomet the IV. his death the last August 1649. My reason is this Other Emperours have prevailed against Christians since Solyman the magnificent For Selimus the II. his son wan Cyprus from the Venetians Armurath III. took the Fort Guiermo from the Hungarians and his son Mahomet III. took Agria in Hungary and had he pursued his victory had won that whole Kingdom in lesse then a year So the late Mahomet is the 12 Emperour from Mahomet the II. and now â—fter his death shall the Turks prevail no more against Christians For fourty years agoe that Kingdom was at a stand and is declining to an eternall destruction The sword of the Christians shall now arise and prevail againâ—t the Turks â—ill An. 1696. when the converted Jews shall gather head to overcome them in a bloudy pitcht field and root out their name from off the Earth By this young Emperours decease without issue the Ottoman Line is extinct and none left One Sultan Hali a Persian by birth is now Steward of the Ottoman house and the Crim-Tartar by old composition and agreement layeth claim to the Turkish Empire which at present is in combustion because of this And though above 200000 Turks are in the Field with an intent as is thought to invade Germany yet if Christians could but leave oâ—â— their unnecessary divisions they might soon ruinate the Turkish Empire For since Armurath IV. his death An. 1642. who began to reign An. 1623. all the time of this late Mahomet's reign since there hath been continuall contentions and massacres amongst the Turks the Jannizaries eluding and despising the young and weak Emperour which terrified the Mufti and the Bassa's sore because they had a prophecy that as a Mahomet wan Constantinople so a Mahomet should lose it again to the Christians However the matter goes for the present the year 1698 shall be fatall both to them and to the Pope in both their ruines and the beginning of the comparative felicity of the Church of God as may be further manifested by an excellent Prophecy which the learned Erasmus received from Reuchliuus and was found in the study of Iustus Lypsius by Ianus Douza the younger running thus Post mille explâ—tos à partu Virginis annos Et post sexcentos rursus ab orbe datos Nonagefimus octavus mirabilis annus Ingruet is secum gaudia laeta faeret Corruet hoc anno Turcarum iâ—visa propago Roma tuum in libris fabula nomen â—rit Omnia tunc mundi sursum ibunt atque retrorsum Imperiae ut populus sceptra novella premant Vtque suum cunct as Verbum diffundat in oras Christus imperitet nomine ubique suo Thus Englished Six thousand years from Virgins birth expir'd Six hundred after that acquir'd The famous ninety eighth year shall come on Full of great Contentation
his Brethren pitied him not in the anguish of his soul yet he forgiveth and preserveth them in Aegypt and at their deliverance thence marcheth triumphantly before them to Canaan in his Coffin But yet neverthelesse Iacob was to stay in Canaan and Ioseph was to be unknown to his Brethren till Aegypt be destroied by Famine and yeeld if self to Ioseph And the bonâ—s of Ioseph too must stay in Aegypt till 600000 men besides women and children be delivered them by the hands of Moses and Aaron No departure from Aegypt no passage through the Red-Sea without the bones of Ioseph Edom in the dayes of Moses and Babylon in Daniels time suffered the severest punishments God could inflict upon a people and all for afflicting Eber. And here is a mystery not so observed as observable in Scripture As Aegypt was broken before the first Tabernacle was set up by Moses as Edom was harrowed by David before the first Temple was erected by Solomon and thirdly as Babel was Brought to nothing by Cyrus before the second Temple was built by Zorubbabel and Iâ—hoshuah so shall both Edom and Babel Turk Pope and all Monarchies in the Earth be brought to dust before the third Temple be built by the converted Jews in their native Land of Iudea and Ierusalem Ierusalem now inhabited by Turks and hereticall Christians shall at that time be purged from filth and be the only Receptacle of the children of God But when that time shall be I have abundantly shewn in the Sections before And in that season shall Benjamin be sent down from his good father in the power of his right arm and Ioseph even Ben-Ioseph shall make himself known to his Brethren who did hate him shoot at him cast him into the pir and delivered him to the Gentiles Which excellent Parallels of Ioseph and Christ are fully explained in the Massorch Zoar and in Rabbi-Asse besides Ezechiel and S. Iohn in the Revelations Notwithstanding in citing these Jewish Traditions I would not be mistaken as if I maintained a second descention of our Saviour Christ from Heaven as the Millenaries do or that the Jews must have him come personally dowm from heaven to destroy the whole world and restore them to their Land of Iudea I mean no such thing God hath other means to bring his purposes to passe then by sending his Sonne Christ to sojourn the second time upon earth A second Moses yet a King must work all this for them yet not a Moses of their own bloud but a Captain from the North who shall work the works of God in righteousnesse and make peace like a mighty stream overflow the whole earth XIV The consideration of these future great blessings of God towards this Nation of the Jews and in them to all the world in the advancement of the Gospel as likewise the laying to heart the grievous calamities which have so long tossed the Kingdomes and free-Free-states of Europe should move all men with repentance to prepare themselves to meet those great and fearfull mutations which God is bringing upon all the European Coasts of the world Historians have made their four Monarchies according to the rise or fall of severall particular Nations 1. Assyrians 2. Persians 3. Grecians and 4. Romans but this is a lame Division and comes far short of that transcendent Metamorphosis of humane affairs which by comparing of Histories observation of new Starres and Comets of late with the consideration of the manners and conditions of the sonnes of men we may easily perceive must within these few years be brought upon the world The learned Mathematicians and Philosophers who have more throughly searched into the secrets of Astrology rightlier place their four Monarchies according to the four coasts of Heaven 1. The Eastern Monarchy of the Assyrians 2. The two Southern Monarchies of the Persians and Grecians bounded within the circumference of 3600 miles or 11 degrees of latitude 3. The Western Monarchy of the Romans 4. and lastly the Northern Monarchy but in right accompt the fifth must be of the Northern LION which to the amazement of Christendome shall arise from the Northern Sea and pitch his Tents in the ashes of the Eastern and Western Monarchies But now having made mention so oft of this V. Monarchy in this Pamphlet I think it meet to produce two or three Reasons of the truth and certainty of it deduced out of the holy Scriptures and humane Authority First The Jews have a Tenet among them That their Messias must not come in the Flesh till the destruction of the fourth Monarchy in Daniel which is the Roman and so will not beleeve Christians professing him to be come already but say this coming is deferred till the Roman Empire be totally abolished which because it is not nor must be yet they will not beleeve he hath appeared But the Jews are deceived in this for Dan. 2.44 and 7.9 22. the Incarnation of our Saviour Christ was promised to be in the very nick of the constitution and establishment of the Roman Empire and not after the ruine of it which was performed accordingly else should there have been six Monarchies before the end of the world For the dispersion and rejection of the Jews the revelation of Antichrist with the Fulnesse of the Gentiles was prophesied to be accomplished in the fourth Monarchy all which we see are punctually fulfilled None of which should yet have come to passe if our Saviour Christ was not to be incarnate before the end of the Roman Empire Therefore as the rejection of the Jews with these other signs and things was to be in the fourth Monarchy so their conversion and remission into the Church and the glorious estate of the Gospel upon earth must be in another fifth Monarchy which is yet to come Secondly So many Empires as are comprized in Nebuchadnezzars Image Dan. 2. must come to passe before the end of the World But five Monarchies are comprehended in that Image Ergâ— The major is manifest The minor is thus proved Nebuchadnezzar himself was the Golden Head of this Image as he was in another respect the Feet of the old decrepit Assyrian Monarchy which by his Chaldean Empire and the ruine thereof which was approaching should totally be annihilated The Armes and Brests of Silver are the Empire of the Medes and Persians The Belly of brasse is the Empire of the Grecians by Alexander the Great Lastly the Iron Leggs and the Clay Toes depictured the Roman Empire with the present declining House of Austria and the breathlesse Papacy Therefore the Stone cut without Hands which brake this Image in pieces and became a Mountain and filled the Earth must be understood as I touched before of a Fifth Monarchy yet to come in which by the Conversion of the Jews and fulnesse of the Gentiles the Gospel shall shine in majesty over all Kingdoms upon Earth Thirdly If the rejection and dispersion of the Jews were to be in