until that day wherein the Beast shall be taken and cast into the Like of Fire and Brimstone Forasmuch therefore as these 5 Vials are already poured out and the obscuring of the Beasts Throne is dayly more and more encreased what I pray comes next to be expected by us but that the sixth Vial which is now pouring out shall make way for those Kings that shall come from the East of whom Baruch makes mention c. 5. v. 5. c. that the Stone out out of the Mountain without hands of which Dan. 2.45 may cast down break in pieces and destroy all the Kingdomes of the earth and in stead of them that stone may fill the whole earth And if this be that thing which comes next to be expected by us what marvel if we refer these signes in Heaven and Earth now concurring to this Matter and that we look upon them as foretellers of the Jews Conversion and the subversion of the last Monarchy of the world 4. We read also in Revel 17. That a time will one day come when the 10 Horns of the Beast on which the Harlet sits which 10 Horns are 10 Kings who have long adored the Beast and have committed fornication with the whore shall in that agree together hat with hatred they persecute the where and make her desolate and â—â—ked chap. 17.16 And we know who is that Harlot and who are those Kings which have so long served her viz. the Kings of France Spain Poland Hungary Behemiah England Scotland Portugal Suedland and Denmark All which together with the Pope lifting up himself as the Head of the Catholick Church nad their rise And because we see that in many of these Kings there hath been long since a mind that if they could would long ago have devoured her flesh but concerning the rest of the Kings which hitherto have adhered to the Harlot 't is evident that they also are gone into parties and dissent from her and begin to prepare war against her who thence may not conclude the death of that Whore Gerariae and by consequence the destruction of that Gerarian seven-headed-Beast to be before the doores And albeit there were no signes of this extant in Heaven yet to quick-sighted men and they who believe the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles those signes of it on earth which we see with our eyes and touch with our hands N.B. may be sufficient Behold now I have demonstrated that that same faithful exhortation of the aforesaid Book Printed at Groning and written upon occasion of the instant Conjunction of all the Planets in the fiery Sign of â™ Sagitary is most worthy to be heedfully observed and to be laid up in the inmost Closets of our hearts seeing the matters there set forth are not vain Phantasmes of mans Brain ☞ of idle figments of superstitious Astrology but a sure certain truth founded in Nature and on the Scriptures agreeing not only with the Tradition and Experience of the Ancients but also with the Predictions of the Lord Jesus Christ himself and of his beloved Apostles Peter Paul and John Therefore I will conclude with the words of our Lord full of Consolation and Love Luke 21.8 c. And when these things begin to come to pass then look up and lift up your heads for your Redemption draweth nigh 29. And he spake to them a Parable behold the Fig-tree and all the Trees 30. When they now shoot forth ye see and know of your own selves that Summer is now nigh at hand V. 31. So likewise ye when ye see these things come to pass know ye that the Kingdom of God is at hand Go to let us lay aside whatsoever might hinder us Be we like to Servants who with their Loynes girt and their Lamps burning expect their Master Let us shake off the dust of the Earth and lift up our heads with our hearts heaven-ward clearing our selves from all Impediments before it be too late that is before those last signes invade which shall unexpectedly slay the world For those things which Christ foretold Luke 21. shall come to pass are more than begun to be fulfilled And unless we make hast those last Signes which shall immediately accompany Christs coming will be now present and come upon us unaware Now the Figuree hath begen to put forth her leaves now her branch begins to wax tender Yet truly those natural Branchek of that same Noble Olive-tree of which Paul speaks Rom. 11. begâ—n to be tender as I before noted for I speak not of a thing unâ—â—pâ—rienced acknowledging themselves to be great sinners giving Glory to God and justifying him in all his Judgments exercised upon them and submitting themselves without any resistance to all afflictions reproaches and punishments and anxiously expecting if at any time God will remember them and have mercy upon them Moreover do not those signes of the end of this world aâ—â— of the Beasts last violence and of Government every where overtuâ—hing it self begin to bud forth Therefore whosoever will not be upâ—â— are destroyed and perish with the world it is of necessity that he hasten For most certainly the Summer is at hand i.e. that glorious Kingdom of God of which all the Prophets have prophesied of which also Christ so often monished his Disciples and they us supporting us continually with that Consolation is now at the door O blessed Summer and with all Prayer to be desired in which all those excellent fruits shall be presented to the eyes of all in Production whereof God and Christ have laboured so many thousand years whereby at 〈◊〉 the most bountiful God may be truly acknowledged praysed and sanctified among all peoples and inhabitants of the whole world for the works of his hands and for the unspeakable riches of his Grace Truth and Love and Faithfulness towards Mankind O blessed Kingdom where God alone shall be Kingiâ—â—â— vvhich to him only vvho hath redeemed us vvith his precious bloud from among all peoples all povver and vvisdom and honour and strength and riches shall be given vvith one consent of all Creatures vvhether Angels or men The God and Father of our Lord JESUS CHRIST who by the Gospel of his Son hath called us unto that Kingdom open in us our understanding to lay these things to heart that conforming our selves wholly to these things we may be meet to have our part in the delicacies of this Summer and the ineffable Glory of the Kingdom of our Lord JESU CHRIST Blessed for ever Amen Adde to the Book the Prophesie of Tobit chap. 14. v. 3 4 5 6 7. The Pourtraiture how the Planets stood above one another every one according to his Altitude yet all of them under the same Sign Sagittarius Decemb. 1 12. In pag. 40. lin 9 10. at the words the destruction of that Gerarian seven-headed Beast read if ye please thus the destruction of that Carrieress Porteress or drudge-bearer of the seven-headed Beast FINIS
into these words But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth out of our own mouth to burn Incense to the QUEEN of Heaven and to pour out drink offerings unto HER as we have done we and our Fathers our Kings and our Princes in the Cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem for then had we plenty of victuals and were well and saw no evil So that by MELECHET or the Queen of Heaven they understood no other thing but the Host of the Stars And therefore that the thing which the Lord blames in Israel is not that they gave heed to the Host of Heaven but that they drew them into abuse and Idolatry doth manifestly appear by those things we read in Jer. 8.1 2. Behold that which in the former Chapter he had expressed by the Name of the Queen of Heaven that very same here he calleth the Host of Heaven and that which he threatens severely to punish in them is not that they did heedfully consider the Signes of Heaven but that they worshipped them and bowed themselves unto them as unto their Gods There is furthermore another thing wherein the Israelites here greatly sinned That to wit in imitation of the Heathen they were too much afraid of those Signes of Heaven as if there was not in being a superior power on which both they and all the Host of Heaven did depend and as if those things which were there prefigured ought alwaies necessarily to attain their affect ☞ In which resâ—ect the Lord in that manner speakes to them by his Prophet Jer. 10.2 Learn not the way of the Heathen and be not dismayed at the Signes of Heaven for the Heathen are dismayed at them As if he should say I have set before the Heathen which hâ—ve not known me signes in He ven as meanes leading unto me because they have not known any other way and have not received any other Law But THOU my people ISRAEL who hast learned to know me more nearly and from me hast received the Law out of the midst of the fire which excels all other Laws return not thou unto the way of the Heathen but learn thou well the way shewn unto thee in my Law and there shall be no cause that thou shouldest be afraid of the signes of Heaven Isa 44.24 25. For as it is written I am he which have created the heavens and have bound my self to thee in an everlasting and indissolvable Covenant I am JEHOVAH making all things extending the heavens alone spreading abroad the earth by my power that frustrateth the tokens of the Lyars and maketh the Diviners mad that turneth the wise men backward and maketh their knowledge foolish Be ye only obedient unto me walk faithfully in my Wayes and nothing of those things is to be feared by you of which the Heathen are afraid But that we may come nearer to the MATTER If this were true that nothing of truth and certainty could be gathered from the celestial Signes and therefore it were prohibited to attend unto them tell me I pray thee For whom or what ends are those Signes in the Sun Moon and Stars made To what purpose To what use Why are not only the Jewes in the Old Testament * Joel 2.30 3.15 but Christians also in the New * Mat. 24.29 Mar. 13.24 Luk. 21.25 precisely sent to them as we shall hear more largely afterwards Therefore from the S. Scriptures I conclude that those signes conspicuous in the Heavens especially in these last timeâ— do necessarily portend something and therefore of right they are ceseâ—veâ—ly and diligently to be observed But some may object Suppose that Signes are given in Heaven Obj. of those things which shall come to pass on earth or ought to come to pass what doth this heâ—p me if I want a requisite wisdom to understand them as having no true and undoubted rules by which I may be able to judge of those Signes Doth not the Almighâ—y and most exceâ—ent God accuse Job of his Ignorance even in this very business of the predominion of the stars on us inhabitants of the earth asking him by way of opprobry Hast thou known the order of Heaven wilt thou set the dominion thereof on the earth As if he had said Thou knowest that thou hast no knowleâ—ge of this thing and that thou canst do nothing in this matter Job 38.33 And doth not Solomon Prov. 25.3 speâ—k concerning the heavens above us and the earth beneath us and the hearts of Kings that those three are unsearchable How then shall any man dare to attempt wiâ—hout the Note of the greatest presumption so to search out those things which are in the Heavens as thence to pick out what shall come to pas in the world And do we not see many yea of the excellentest Mâ—sters of Astrology greatly to be deceived as for example That most famous Albumazar of whom we read in his Writings he foresaw by the stars that Christian Religion should not continue beyond 1400 â—ears from after its first beâ—innings whereas to now since Christs Birth we accompt 1662 years Which term exceeds Albumazars Calculation more than 200 years *** And there have been afore 142 years since certain Astrologers which from that great Conjunction of ♄ Saturn ♃ Jupiter and ♂ Mars in Aquarius which happened in the year of Christ 1524 struck a great terrour into men concerning some imminent great Deluge though not universal so that many provided themselves of ships by which after the manner in Noahs Floud they might save themselves from the Waters whereas no such thing at all followed thereupon Many more of the like Errours might be produced Orig. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Answ but let these suffice We answer If this be granted that those things which are seen in the Heavens are truly Signes and Preludes of those things which shall come to pass on earth and for the understanding of them there is need of certain and undoubted Rules and Precepts to discern all things aright Yet that remaineth firm and irtefragable that we are bound to attend to those signes and to apply our minds as much as in us is to those premonitions set forth in the Heavens instantly to pray for and expect in faith greater wisdom and understanding as they have done who ever at tained to any certainty in this Science And moreover to set before our eyes those general Rules which have been delivered to us by the more skilful in this Art For albeit those precepts partly by the multiplicity and subtilty of them and partly by the prevalency of a certain superiour cause which can invert and make void all these things are not alwaies found firm and undoubted yet if we seek of God our certainty he can equally in these as in other businesses and Sciences of the world which considered in themselves are also full of uncertainty establish our hearts and lead us into all certainty of truth and give to
us that we may see and discern what others cannot see and discern As for that place of Job this only is intimated If any man will rightly and fundamentally know the order of heaven and the dominion thereof on the earth he ought to learn it of God who alone setled all these things and therefore it is not meet for Job or any other man to glory before God And for that saying of the wisest King neither doth thaâ— intend any other thing than to teach us That these three in themselves are unsearchable to wit Heaven as being too high and sublime the Earth as being too deep and the heart of a King as being too much hidden unstable and mutable So that from hence it cannot be concluded that a man that feares God and cleaves to him may not be endued or gifted by God with such wisdom and understanding that he cannot understand the things which are in Heaven above him and in the earth beneath him and in the hearts of Kings without him No by no means For Solomon himself in the Book of Wisdom Chap. 7. V. 17. testifieth the contrary where he compileth a Catalogue of those things which he was taught of God by Wisdom God hath given to me certain or true knowledge of the things that are in Nature that I might understand the constitution of the world the force of the Elements the beginning middle and ending of times the vicissitudes of Solstices the variety of Seasons the Circuits of years and situation of stars the natures of Animals the furies of Beasts the strength of the winds and the cogitations of men the differences of Plants and the qualities of Roots All these he saith he learned of God as well those things that are made in Heaven above him as those in the bowels of the earth beneath him and also those things that seem to lie hidden in the recesses of mans heart For as he addeth v. 21. All such things as are secret or manifest them have I known For Wisdom which is the Artificer of all things taught me Seest thou therefore how all things may be obtained by Wisdom as well the knowledge of those things which are in Heaven as those on Earth and in the very Closets of the heart Therefore he who hath not this wisdom but doth desire it let him ask it of God and seek it where it may be found Neither let him say What advantageth it me that God hath put certain Signes in Heaven seeing I understand them not and so many who have assumed to themselves skill in them have so enormously stumbled and exposed themselves to scorn For we see the same things to happen in all Sciences Orig Prophetiae Arts Negotiations yea even in Prophesie and the Gospel which is called the Word of Truth Where if one or another be certain in his Art and Science thou shalt find ten remaining uncertain For where thou maiest find one true Prophet with whom there is the sincere Word of God there an hundred will present themselves who challenge to themselves the same word and carry before them in external gesture and habit the shew or shape of a Prophet when as they are not And where thou shalt find one who purely delivers the word of Truth thou maiest muster up an hundred who wrest it to the private sence of humane corruption Are therefore all Arts and Sciences to be despised and to be accompted and reputed in the same rank as we see at this day the Celestial Signes reputed Certainly if this were so there were an end of all Science Art Prophesie and all Doctrine of Truth And all things as uncertain and dead must be buried in the profound darkness of Ignorance and Confusion and there eternally lie buried Thou seest therefore that for the dotages or mistakes of some in the knowledge of Astrology and falsly challenging to themselves the knowledge of the understanding of the Celestial Signes all Observation of the stars and Prognostications are not by and by to be vilified But let us proceed to the second Member of this our Dissertation that by the nature it self of the Conjunction we may demonstrate That necessarily some grand and singular thing is here portended That therefore thou maiest better perceive the nature of this Conjunction or concurrence of all the Planets in one and the same Sign of the Zodiack take this similitude Whensoever we see all the Rulers in any City An apt Siâ—aile or Commanders in an Army of Souldiers convent in one place and there take counsel together presently we thence conclude some grand thing is in agitation The same thing therefore may be here concluded when we see the Planets so convent and lay their heads together For look what the Rulers in a City and Commanders in an Host are the same are the Planets in the Host of Heaven Other stars in the Firmament continue in their fixed distances one from the other and have no peculiar motion as every one of the Planets hath his own proper motion each wheeled about in his own sphere after his own manner Therefore ancient wise men considering the Analogy or proportion between the Macrocosme the great world and the Microcosme the little world said by the fixed stars of the Firmament were represented the firm Limbs of out body and by the Planets our inward bowels which by their motion and influences move sustain and act the whole body What wonder then if we beholding of December next * 1. 1662. For Serarius wrote this afore the said day of December last the Members of the greater world as the Rulers of the Aethereal and Elementary Orbs convening in one and the same house laying their heads together we conclude that doubtless some grand thing is to be agitated in the Heavens which is in a readiness that unexpectedly it may break forth And that by so much more certainly by how much we have been taught by long experience that as often as divers Planets come together they alwaies bring forth some notable change on earth First of all when the two supreme Regents of the world ♄ Saturn and ♃ Jupiter concur or come together which indeed manifestly appeares to be done three waies Their Congressure or coming together the first way is every twentieth year or in precise speech within the space of 19 years daies 315 houres 19. And is called by Astrologers the special or least Conjunction of ♄ Saturn and ♃ Jupiter because Saturn and Jupiter concur in the signes of the same triplicity Their congressure or meeting together the second way is every 200 years or in precise speech once within 198 years and 336 daies And is called the Trigonal or middle Conjunction whereby the same Planets ♄ and ♃ i. e. Saturn and Jupiter concur or meet in another Triplicity or Trigon * Orig. Trigonum Their Concurrence the third way returnes not under 800 yeares or in precise accompt after the term of 795 years