and Italy II. That the Roman Pope is the chief cause of all the confusions in the World as who having by force and fraud seized on the Government of the whole Church hath transformed the Spiritual Kingdom of Christ which is not of this World into an earthly Kingdom and with earthly Arms and Counsels seeking to propagate it fills all things with frauds and violence as the true Antichrist the Great and Babylonish Whore drunk with the Blood of the Saints III. That the Beast that carries the Whore is the Roman Empire and particularly in some latter Ages the House of Austria the spoyer or layer waste of the purer Church IV. That God will no longer endure these confusions and persecutions of the Church and tyranny of Consciences but will again destroy the World of the ungodly with a deluge of Blood And therefore that these things draw nigh V. And to that end That he will shake Heaven and Earth that is stir up all the Nations of the whole World against one another to bring on unheard of confusions of things by most furious Wars through all parts of the Earth VI. The issue of which Wars to be the destruction of the Pope with his Kingdom and the overturning of his principal Supporter the House of Austria VII And that by the Nations provoked by their Tyranny flocking as it were thereto from the four Quarters of the World VIII Yet the principal People to be the Northern and the Eastern IX By name the Swedes with their King the Prince Palatine of the Rhine and the House of Ragotzi were commanded to be called forth X. But if these would not That then the Turks the Tartars and the Moscovites were about to be called by God Also the French with others from the West to execute the Judgements of God in Germany Italy Spain XI And to come with unheard-of swiftness in one Year Month Day Hour to the astonishment of the whole World XII And the Turks and Tartars after execution done to return with the Light of the Gospel for a Reward XIII And Universal Reformation to follow and change of Things for the better through all Nations of the World XIV The Laws and form of which Reformation are here also prescribed Namely Idols totally to perish and the most pure Spiritual Worship of God who is a Spirit every where to reflourish with unity of Faith and Order XV. And then indeed to be the peaceful illuminate Religious State of the World and of the Church under the whole Heavens Universal illumination of the Gentiles the Earth to be filled with the Knowledge and Righteousness of the Lord And the Kingdoms of the World to become the Kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ Universal Liberty without tyranny and slavery of Body and Soul Universal Unanimity without Wars Quarrels Dissentions Divisions Schisms Sects and Factions In one word Universal Righteousness Peace and Love even 'till the time when Satan shall again break loose and trouble things But Christ by the last and final Fire shall destroy the wicked and ungodly with the World it self And the Universal Judgment of Quick and Dead being finished shall begin Eternity it self These are the main Things and Matters which even all the three Kotter Christina and Drabricius especially do prophesie and treat of And withal we are taught here I. That Christ the Saviour of the World is in no wise partial But that in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him II. And for that reason in vain do men cry Here is Christ or there he is For that he is every where and would be sought found acknowledged lov'd and worshipped every where envying none the participation of Salvation III. That our violent Disputes about the Articles of Faith how wise soever they seem to us are but foolishness with God IV. But that hatreds for differences in Faith and seekings to Lord it over one another are a meer abomination V. That to sit in the Chair of Moses or of Christ or of Peter without the verity of the Doctrine and Life of Moses Christ and Peter is a vain thing As also to boast of the Reformed Religion in Doctrine and Ceremonies without a Reformed Life VI. That now Christ will tolerate no more none for Pauls for Apollo's for Cephas's But only his Disciples Friends and Brethren of what Party soever saluting one another mutually as fellow-Disciples fellow-Brethren fellow-Servants VII And that all Nations are about to be called to this Fraternity of Christ and Communion of Saints And that God will have all things reformed after his own Mind and good Pleasure VIII And that till this be nothing but concitations and commotions of all the Nations one against another and breaking one another to pieces c. And so now we come at length to the Prophesies themselves in particular having given you first this general sum and comprehension of them by Comenius that so you may have some kind of view and apprehension of their peculiar Nature Manner and particular Circumstances The chief whereof and their chief Passages we shall onely cull out as abundantly sufficient for the design of this Table And here Kotter's first offer themselves to us Kotter Citizen and Tanner of Sprottavia Born in the Year 1585. Prophesied from the Year 1616 to 1624. Dyed in the Year 1647. Of his Age 62. The sum of whose Prophesies in general was to denounce War Famine and Pestilence which he was commanded to prophesie of in the year 1616. when all things were in profound peace yet throughout Europe Then the Wars in Bohemia beginning and he stirred up by a new apparition of Angels with new commands to depose these things before the Magistrates after three years former silence to prophesie ruine to the Empire and Popedom And the last Universal Plagues to be executed by the Oriental Monarch with a deluge of Nations c. Commotions of Kingdoms one against another c. And lastly happy and glorious times after the fall of Babylon c. till the last Judgment c. But to the Visions themselves But here we were unhappily prevented by the severe Inspection over the Press In so much that waiting almost a Year for an opportunity after all this had been printed we could by no means find any And therefore are forced to break off here abruptly and imperfectly and so to let it come abroad unfinished into the World Which we hope the Courteous Reader will pardon and accept candidly of this as it is till some better opportunity be found to publish the Prophesies by themselves apart And for the mean while you have already here the sum and substance of them in the general which may suffice in part upon such an occasion especially for this General Table without a further taste of them in particular We can but therefore onely add the general Sum of the other Two's Prophesies likewise in particular viz. as follows Christina Poniatovia of
5th of July in the year of Christ 1664. which is of my Age the 76th of my Ministry the 48th of my Exile the 36th of the beginning of Revelations made unto me from the Lord the 26th A PRAYER Written by Command of the Lord and my God in the year 1653. April 18. and in the year 1664. June 30. commanded to be put for a close of my Revelations O Eternal God! Holy Father Incomprehensible in VVisdom Judgment Counsel Grace and Justice Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier Father Son and holy Spirit Thou Holy One of Israel who from the beginning hast founded the Earth and the Heaven of Heavens are the work of thy Hands VVho sittest on the Throne of inestable Glory in the midst of thy innumerable Hosts Cherubims and Seraphims and Men triumphing through Martyrdoms ministring to Thee day and night and singing Holy Holy Holy Jehovah Zebaoth Behold amongst them me also praising thee O God! Acknowledging thee to be the Lord with all the Earth worshipping Thee the Father everlasting For that Thou hast form'd me a frail mass or lump of Clay for a small Vessel of thy grace and hast call'd me forth by my own proper Name out of my Mothers womb and hast written my Name in the Lambs Book of Life And in these last days of the World in a Nation which hath known thy Name and heard the Voice of thy Trumpet going forth from thy Throne hast set me upon the Walls of thy Jerusalem thy beloved Church for a Witness and Watchman and for a Voice of one crying to the Nations That openly in the sight of all Nations I might declare the Day of Vengeance to the Worshippers of Idols and to all false Worships of those to do not rightly acknowledge Thee the Tri-Une God who livest eternally And again The Day of Grace to the Nations of the Earth to acknowledge in the true Light interior and exterior Thee the living God and thy pure and chaste Worship Such as the Angels perform unto thee in Heaven and thou wouldst have perform'd to thee without Idolatrous Errors on Earth out of a pure Heart and good Conscience and Faith unfeigned in Body Soul and Spirit unanimously and humbly in simplicity of Heart Behold me thy pitiful little VVorm and most inconsiderable Dust Refuse or Off-scouring at the Threshold of thy House thy beloved Church and of that small Portion which thou hast gathered to thy self under the Name of the Brethren of Bohemia Behold me in the days of its cruel Persecution and sad Exile in another Land the Hungarian burdened and hanging down my Head with the very Disease of Old Age I did hear thy voice of thee the living God speaking unto me I know not how but speaking I know what For intelligibly I did perceive thy Voices and clearly apprehended the sence yea and moreover I my self did speak unto thee the Invisible I did ask Questions and make Answers All things with the unconfused and undisturbed Powers and Forces of my Mind And my eyes saw the whole World in thy hand as a little Globe and I heard thee explaining those Mysteries how thy hand contains all things And those other things which would never have come into my mind nor were suggested by any of Mortals I did receive from thee alone my God! with fear day and night and did imprint them in my Memory or also through theâ— commanding in Tables and Papers But thy face I a man of poluted lips never saw save onely thy hand pierced through with a Nail once extended towards me and put under my left Arm-pit when thou swaredst That thou wouldst neither leave thy Cause nor me thy Servant And thou hast kept faith O faithful One In the sight of mine Enemies Domestick and Forreign And that in sleep I beheld thee my beloved Saviour in thy diffrent Age and Habit with Joy and Tears acknowledging mine indignity and with covered face throwing my self down at thy feet and kissing them and perceiving the Taste of Eternal Life with Sweetnesses unutterable by me For thou madest me to see even the Joys of the Elect in Heaven as also the Torments of the Damned in Hell and what things in the world also in respect both of Church and State should be hereafter till even thy illustrious Return to Judgement Which things I faithfully without any fraud in simplicity of heart with groans to thee whether thou hadst commanded by night or by day did refer and put down into writings Adding nothing of my own and respecting nothing of my own nor any other thing besides thy Glory And bearing many Prejudices Reproaches Cavils Twenty six whole Years and Ten Months and Three Days Till now in this Year 1664. an end being put unto thy work thou my Lord and my God hast commanded to close and shut up all these things with this Prayer Hear therefore O Heavens and perceive with your ears O Earth Behold I conclude dutifully I conclude with weeping Falling down at thy feet Lord Jesus Kissing thy Wounds and Marks and pouring out my Soul before thee I ask humbly I ask confidently First that thou wouldst leave thy Holy Spirit for a Guide Counsellor and Comforter unto me even until Death and through him wouldst pour out a plentiful shower of Benediction upon all thy Speeches which thy mouth hath brought forth in these last days of the World by me thy sorry Servant which I receiving from thy mouth have sealed up by thy Command and by a Man whom thou hast adjoyned to me for an help have made known first indeed to the Hungarian Nation then afterwards to other Nations also Grant O holy God! That all to whom the sound of thy Trumpet shall reach may acknowledge that they have come forth from thee that thou mayest be glorified in all Nations of the Earth All which sanctifie O God! in thy Truth to acknowledge thy word through all Nations and Tongues and thy Self to be the Truth the Way and the Life Cause O God! That Kings Princes Subjects and Doctors or Teachers of the Gospel with their Hearers and Parents with Children may be one in thee and the truth of thy Word and may know thee the One onely God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent by whom all things were made and without whom nothing was made in the Unity of the holy Spirit God undivided in Power Wisdom Goodness Majesty and Glory blessed for ever I ask O God! I ask That all the Islands of the Sea may now wax silent before thee that all the Ends of the Earth may be afraid and fly to thee May assume new strength may be carried with Wings as Eagles and may run and not be weary with us to thee the Fountain of Salvation who speakest Righteousness and art sufficient to save nor art delighted with the death of a Sinner O Shepherd of Men Convey over but even now in the last days all Nations under thy Pastoral Rod that they may be brought into the Bond
corruption of manners which make the whole Creation of Church and State groan for ease and deliverance from such heavy burdens all these things I say seem to forspeak or intimate some dreadful matter drawing neer Methinks one may hear as the sounding of the Hoofs of Horses at hand and that all things will not continue still as to this day for ever The sixth day or thousandth year of the world is drawing on towards Evening and the Sabbath of the world to begin c. The number of the Beast 666. almost reckoned If we expect the number of years from the Birth and Death of Christ Behold 1666 is the number of this Age. 〈◊〉 the number of a man some more curious and witty parhaps then wise and prudent would have spelt it out of the last Popes Name Office or Title thus ALeXanDer EpIsCopVs RoMae which is 1666. or out of all his Names only viz. Christian Name Sirnam and added Name thus FabIVs ChIsIVs ALeXanDer which makes 666. the number of a Mans name Then some have added thereto VII viz. Alexander VII which makes 666. or 1666. and VII over which VII if you add to the VII of Alexanders name make XIV and shews the XIV chapter of the Revelations where first is shewn Babylon is fallen is fallen And they have observed it as ominous also in the present King of France's Name LVDoVICVs XIV Behold 666 and XIV over And because these are past parhaps the same francyful wits may rove still upon the XIV over c. And so there will be no end of such imaginations c. And therefore we pass by all such witty conceits as to unworthy of so great a Mystery more solid is that of a Prophet amongst our selves reckoning 1666 from the death of Christ whereby he got the Victory over all his Enemies rather then from his Birth though the foundation was laid there Further of the year 1670. I know not why Philip Nicholai wrote That if it did not bring the end of the world yet it should bring some wonderful and unexpected alteration of things But we pass over these and such like things c. and come to Revelations truly divine or which to be sure are most strange if not true Judge nothing before the time But first by the way we will entertain our Reader with the proud Sultans defiance of Christendom who first in disdain of the Emperor and all Christian Princes had struck off eight hundered Prisoners Heads before the Emperors Embassador himself Though indeed notwithstanding a fickle Peace has since been patch'd up and his power bent only against the Venetians c. The Great Turkes Letter of Defiance to the Emperor upon his last Incursion into Hungary with an Army of 250000. men besides his Tartarian Hirelings after the year 1660. Mahomet Son of the Emperor Son of God thrice Heavenly and thrice known by the renowned Emperor of the Turks King of Greece Macedonia and Moldavia King in Samaria and Hungaria King of Great and Lesser Egypt King of all the inhabitans of the Earth and the earthly Paradise Gaurdian of the Sepulchre of thy God Lord of the Tree of Life Lord of all the Emperors of the World from the east even to the west King of all Kings grand Persecutor of the Christians and all the wicked the Joy of the flourishing Tree the Chieftain and Gaurdian of thy Crucified God Lord of the Hope of thy Nation WE send greeting to thee Emperor Leopold if thou wilt be our Friend and submit to our Domination then we will that thy Greatness be Ample Since these times thou hast violated and shunned our freindship without having ever been offended either by War or the fighting of God Thou hast taken secret designs with other Kings and other Confederates in envy to shake of our yoak in which thou hast done imprudently This is it for which thou and thy People ought to live in fear to have no other hope but death for which cause thou hast prepared thy self But we tell thee that we will go forth and be thy Conquerour and we will pursue thee from the East even to the West and will make thee know our Majesty even to the utmost confines of the Earth thou shalt know our effects to thy great damage of which we assure thee and will have thee to expect our Greatness Thy hope shall melt away which thou hast in thy Cities and Fortresses We resolve absolutely to beat down and raze all that appeareth any thing considerable to thine Eyes And thou shouldst not expect any other thing or friendship and shouldst not put confidence in thy strong Walls for we have set up a resolution to destroy thee without remedy It pleaseth us to forrage Germany and to leave it behind us to the memory of our Bloudy Sword to the end all these things may be manifest to all It pleaseth us to establish our Religion and root out thy crucifi'd God And we fear no colours neither can there be any succour for thee that thou mayst escape our hands It pleaseth us also to condemn to the Chain thy holy Priests and to deliver to the Dogs and other Savage Beasts the dugs of thy Women Therefore thou shalt do very wisely if thou renounce thy Religion Otherwayes we do order and appoint that all be delivered to the fire This which is said may satisfie thee and thou mayst comprehend by this if thou wilt what our will is and the things concerning which we have discover'd the disposition of our suspition towards thee Then besieging Newhausal his General sends this proud Summons I that through the Grace of God and through the Miracles of our Prophet who is the Son of both Worlds and by whom there is Happiness and Glory I that am the first of the Council and General of the most mighty Emperor of the Turks that is the King of all Kings upon Earth to you Adam Forgats that are the cheif among the Nobility of Hungary do make known that through the command of my gracious Lord I am come with his forces before Newhausel to reduce it to his obedience Wherefore if you shall deliver up the place to us you shall have liberty to march out with what belongs to you from the Highest to the Lowest and to what place you please And he that will rather stay shall keep his goods and Estate But if you will not yeeld we will take it by force every man of ye from the Highest to the Lowest shall be put to the Sword If the Hungarians did but know the good intentions of the mighty Emperor they and their Childern would Bless God for them Peace be to the Obedient But to the business namely Debricius's Revelations But we must indeavour briefly first to prevent all occasion of prejudice and rash and indiscreet judgment and sensures of the impenitent unbeleiving and erring World By telling how they have been approved of as truly from God by most Godly
these things Let it suffice I say and serve for a caution I if it shall please the Lord to call me hence will seal it with my Death that I have forwarned that the Church no more offend in this kind And that not one or two or three usurp power to determine of such matters which regard the judgement to the whole Church and so of Posterity it self also Yea and if any one dare commit this Book to the fire such a one as he I cite to the Tribunal of Christ there to give an account of his inordinate passion and affection I wrote these things with mine owne hand so dictating an Heart full of the fear of God J. A. Comenius And yet further before we end this long preface which so mainly concerns the validity of all that follows and is for an Apology Those that do not must know that our Authour Comenius is the only surviving Superintendent or Bishop of the Bohemian Church now in Exile fourty years and over A man of universal knowledge and learning of a large and delusive spirit and of a sincere and single heart as all Christendom can bear witness of A true Virtuoso of all Divine and Humane Science and Experiance A man given to no fancies and whimsies nor self-ends and designs But of vast and universal Aims and desires for the universal good of Mankind the World and the Church and one that hath sore travalled for the promoting of universal Knowledge Literature Art Sience and Virtue both Humane and Divine as appears by the Janua Linguarum and his other labours and more particularly his late Treatise for the spreading of Light Knowledg universally dedicated to the Royal Society of Englands Virtuoso's And lastly one that most severely rebuked Drabricius for still persisting in his wild Fancies and Dreams as he then thought till he was at length convinced of the Finger of God therein as appears by the concertation he had with him as follows Drabricius in his Visions had promised him an Associate called his Adjunct to help carry on this work of God in the World which was this Comenius And indeed who so sit And first he was commanded by the Lord to inform Comenius of his first Visions and to send them to him which accordingly he did about An. 1644. And this was all that ever Comenius had to do concerning them till 1650. when after that the General Peace of Munster seemed to defeat all their hopes and expectations Comenius was by Providence unexpectedly brought into those Parts again about Affairs of the Church There Drabricius was urgent with him to go to the Prince He replyed What do you hear my Brother Are not you awake yet out of your Dreams Condemning as well as others all of Vanity Because they did not reach the prophetick gravity of Stile like Cotterus's and Christina's and the events seemed to answer much less You first offer'd the Crown to the Father and now deluded of that Hope you would go to the Son In the name of God see what you do and desist to delude your self and others The man shed Tears and lifting up his Eyes and Hands I could twice wash my self with my Tears sayes he As much as has already been powred forth of them that God would spare me miserable man But I cannot obtain Have you then Visions yet said Comenius It is a bove a year said he that I have had none yet I know that there is not an end of them How do you know The Lord told me sayes he and commanded that they should be sealed and kept for your coming and delivered to you For that you should come into this Land Behold Here I deliver them and besought him to read them Do not you faigne this I pray said Comenius He calls God to witness Comenius asked when did you hear that concerning my coming hither Three years since said he presently after the Princes death when through impatience of these mockeries I would have burnt those But the Lord forbad you will find it there written Comenius upon Meditation Prayer and Conference with Friends found his mind changed So many causes offering themselves for taking a Journey to the Prince which before he had not observed And calling his Brethren to pray together he did accordingly c. And so afterwards the Visions returned to Drabricius again more solemn then before and ever since to this time In which at diveres times Comenius was commanded from the Lord to write them to translate them into the Latin Tongue to divulge them speedily through all publick places and streets of the World to translate the Bible into the Turkish Language to communicate them to Kings and Princes and all Orders of men and being backward and wavering was still commanded pressed and threatned to go on to write and publish them and to invocate and to cry aloud upon all Nations of the Earth in order to the accomplishment and execution of these things c. All which this Adjunct of the Lords Prophet not daring to tergiversate or be disobedient to Gods call has done as well as he could or is about to do and durst not but do Accordingly therefore this excellent Man begins with the dedication and consecration of the whole to Christ Jesus himself and an appeal to him The Eternal Word Wisdom and Truth c. Hear us King of Glory now crying unto thee for thy Glory sake and thou who art our Sun shew us clearly to all under the Sun as the clear Sun doth all things visible at noon day what there is in these leaves whether it be thy Light and Truth or the frauds of thy black Enemy Amen! Amen! Amen! O Light of the World we appeal in exposing this thy Cause to the publick view of men against the Prince of Darkness we appeal from the Darkness to the Light from the prejudice of fools to the judgement of the wise from the rashness of the prophane to the reverence of the Godly from the ill informed to the better informed finally from every humane Tribunal to thy Tribunal it self Thou King of Kings in whose hands are the hearts of King as Rivers of Water to turn them which way thou wilt give unto all that shall go about to judge of these things a teachable heart like Solomons to judge rightly of things and to discern between good and evil He that reads let him understand The next Dedication is to all Kings and Powers all Crowned Heads and Vice-Gods of the Christian World c. If any thing yet remain to be done seriously about these things this one thing is it By an accurate and solemn Inquisition to examine whether these things be truly so or no or whether humane figments only cover'd with the Cloak of divine Revelations and that then if any fraud be detected the false witnesses to be punished according to the Laws of God and man We fly therefore to your Tribunal O Kings for such a scruting
the divine Power that these Books also be publickly extant and exposed to be sold bought read and throughly considered and examined being certain that it will be for the great use of Gods People your Honour and the Glory of God Yea and read them your selves and delay not to offer them to your Counsellours to be read and judged Here is a thousand times a greater business then a Neighbouring War or Peace It 's worthy of all your Juncto's to consult of Let not O Kings the King of Kings seem to be so slighted by you or his Messengers pretending at least in his Name c. Believe it most Serene Princes nothing like to this Book has the World had since the Apostles times The next is to all the Angels of the Churches Bishops Pastors Doctors all Divines and Theologers and all Eclesiasticks where all prejudices of the Wise and Learned and Religious against these matters are clearly removed c. It hath pleased God in some Ages past to inspire before-hand Men and Women with a prophetick spirit as in the Book called the Burden of the Church and in the Catalogue of the Witnesses of the Truth and in Fabricius's Tryal of Visions are cited and in our age to stir up others and in greater numbers through Germany Amongst whom seeing these three write what they are commanded of that stupendous mutation of things in the World now at hand and the Glorious Kingdom of Christ Now now to begin And that indeed these are not fained as may appear plainly from the adjoyned History What hinders but that all these things also be known of you O Presidents of the Churches It is no burden to you to read humane commetaries upon the Scripture Why do you neglect to know these that as truly as God lives are not Humane Lay aside or at least suspend for a time the cushion of carnal security Rather read again attentively both the divine Book of the Prophets and Apostles and also these new repetitions of the same things and then if all things appear not a thousand fold clearer to you then through your false spectacles then let it be free for you to take them up again Unhappy interpreters of the Scripture who expresly deny what God expresly affirms in the Scripture that the Lord does nothing but he reveals his secrets to his Servants the Prophets From whom therefore doth the contrary assertion that God does all things without our privity come Expunge that out of your Bibles or say God is not that Antient mankind-loving God who takes pleasure to communicate his secrets to men I beseech you O Theologers be not more infidels to the world and works of God then Machiavil suspected of some of Atheisme as before quoted Take heed in the name of God Theologers to blind and hearden men while you would seem to make them see The Apostles have not said to the people of the new Law Admit no more Prophesie but he hath said Quench not the Spirâ—t dispise not Prophesie try all things c. O ye that are appointed Watchmen upon the Walls of Jerusalem examin the state of your Churches Whether they be truly called out of the world or rather relapsed into the world and become the verymost world indeed If the whole matter were seriously looked into perhaps you would see what heretofore so many holy men have seen viz. Among Modern Christians almost nothing of Christ besides the name is found for as much as 1st The humility of Christ is turned into haughtiness from the highest head of the Church to the lowest 2dly The Heavenly Kingdom of Christ into all things that are Earthly 3dly The Gentleness of Christ degenerated into fury and mad perversness of butchering one another that we are not now a tame flock of Tigers Lyons Wolves Serpents But a flock of Sheep turned into Wolves Bears Dragons Vipers greedy of nothing but to hurt one another in all the holy Mountains of God 4thly Lastly if it be true what a holy man said Christ reigns in internals Antichrist in externals we are all now become Antichrists Because none almost worship God in Spirit and Truth All living in the flesh seek to deceive God with a little paint and external daub of piety Again and again see what you do O Theologers lest if you will not admit these Preachers God send you more terrible Preachers Prodigies in Heaven and Earth and Blood and Fire and streams of Smoak and Fears and Pits and Snares and that like People like Priest c. If indeed they are Humane or Satanical you need not fear but contemn them but if truly from God wo unto you Guides of the people who in obedience of your ordinary vocation most scornfully contemn these extraordinary things that you account them neither worthy to be seen or heard orexamined O Consecrated Heads to God! Be not like the Preists and Prophets of Jerusalem drunken with Error not knowing the Seer and ignorant of the Judgement Behold here Seers Behold an obscure question Whether at this day there be Seers or no. Examin both it and them But Judge not according to outward appearance but Judge Righteous Judgement sayes Christ And what need you be troubled at them they are but the things foretold in the Scripture Of Tribulations to the wicked world and Rest and Peace to the Church c. Which if you cannot bear with in these Books expunge them out of the volumns of your Bibles But if you can and ought to bear them there bear them also here That old and new may accord together If you scruple because they were unlearned and Ideots Gamaliel's counsel in full Council of the Pharisees is moderate Abstain from these men and let them alone for if this counsel or word be of men it shall be brought to nought but if it be of God you cannot withstand it lest perhaps ye be found fightâ—â—s against God O Modern Councils Synods Consistories Universities suffer the same words Desist to prohibit this Book For no Human wit can refute nor no human force or power oppose this work of innovating the world nor no humane goodness able to wish better things to mankind If any dislikes this Counsel and will try his strength in overthrowing this work let him also attempt to stop the dayly Rise and Set of the Sun or the Flux and Reflux of the Sea or the Winds from blowing hither and thither But thou to thine own self O man art nor able to stop breathing in and out And how wilt thou go about to restrain the Eternal Spirits breathings and inspirations Cease ye Sparks to contend with the Flame ye Rivers with the Ocean ye shall not prevail Cease to befool men by attributing to Man or to Satan what cannot be attributed neither to Man nor to Satan viz. to speak with the voice of God and to seal his words with omnipotent virtue to effect them by shaking to wit the Earth and the Sea and the
admonished of his error by Collegues Why not also Peters successors Peter did not bear disdainfully his admonition yea sharp rebuke nor let Peters Successor Therefore Alexander highest Priest suffer something to be said I will deal plainly with you in the name of co-Brothers all the Bishops of the world and in the name of the whole Christian People whether these three Prophets of ours were truly sent of God and commanded to speak what they spake It is not enough to deny but come to examine Whilst therefore sad things are here denounced against you O Roman Pope in these Books do not I beseech you suspect any company of men have here conspired against you Whether in jest and sport as your Pasquin and Morphory at Rome or in earnest Examine before you contemn Thou O Roman Pope yet be entreated If you are resolved to imitate Ahab the slayer of the Prophets yet at least imitate his prudence and policy i. e. Be not more cruel towards these three Prophets speaking to you and the word by the command of God then Ahab towards his three Elias Anonymus and Micheas 1 Kings ch 18. and 20 22. Elias required all I srael to be gathered together to see whether God was God or Baal Ahab consented was himself a spectator You have sought us O Roman Prelates whom you thought disturbers of your affairs through all Nations and Kingdoms by your Persecutions and Inquisitions But they behold ready of their own accord by command of God set themselves before you to try whether God be God or Baal And that all the Christian People be congregated into Council to this spectacle Stand to this therefore Admit a just request Gather a Convention together Behold the event All your Counsellors with your false prophets promise happy Omens to you as they did to Ahab But behold here some Michea's who have heard another thing Are they not to be heard also Josaphat perswades Nor let him who is not more obdurate then Ahab refuse The event will shew whence these things come And it is just that all People be called as Witnesses It ought to appear plainly by the publick testimony of the world if there be any true God and true Prophet of the true God or no. We send these words as Micheas's to all people that they may be heard of all O Alexander Pope humble thy self in Sackcloath and Ashes and command all in your great Nineveh so to do If yet perchance at last God may return and pardon lest ye perish Pope Alexander from the beginning of the World the Light of the divine Word hath never so clearly shone nor so many Prodigies broak forth in Heaven and Earth nor so many extraordinary Revelations and Prophesies Nor so many and so universal Commotions of the Nations and Destructions and Calamities following them and to follow Wo unto you if you lead the World to despise all these things Be moved at the sight of this Book O Pope be but in deed what you are in name The Head of the Church Successor of the Apostles Vicar of Christ and all will be well and safe Lay down the Arms of the World Put on the Arms of the Church of the Apostles of Christ You shall as certainly overcome as they overcame Pope Alexander 7th wise Pope command St. Hildegards Vision to be shown you And you will see nothing is said against you here but what hath been said by your own Saints and Prophets before And for that reason never harden your self against so great obtestations of God both old and new Although you burn these Books or reject them amongst the prohibited Books or take no notice of them yet they will have their effect for which they are sent Whosoever of you O Cardinals Bishops Prelats Fathers of the society have access to the Pope perswade him not to be too hasty to condemn this Book that perswades only such things as an Heretick or Phanatick Book Let him rather read or those that are sincere amongst you give it him to read c. We read your Books of all kinds even your Revelations from God Why not you also these things which ours the same God for we have no other hath vouchsafed to reveal to us And perswade him that he may say to himself and you Let us search our wayes and turn unto the Lord. To whom for a final determination Whether this be his Word or anothers we must necessarily appeal on both sides as Elias and Micheas did But Ahab and the People stood still If you persist and refuse to follow the Examples of Christ and his Apostles what will follow Nothing else will remain then either to oppose new Counsel more crafty than former or new and greater force But either or both alike in vain As Caiphas the High-Priest of the Jews did use both in vain In whose footsteps if it please you still to insist Do what he did Convocate Cardinals Patriarchs Archbishops Bishops Abbats Doctors and propound to them How no means hitherto used avail any thing And that now moreover a new danger is arisen from new Revelations published if they be admitted for Divine which deliver the power of Judging and Reforming the Church unto Kings Reformation that unseen Reformation heretofore attempted by Paedants only or certain Monks Waldus Wickliff Hus Luther c. or a few Princes and Kings and not united among themselves yet made you grievous work for some Ages But what shall we now do if Kings themselves unite with their Counsels and Forces and set upon the work We must therefore look about us quickly and take new Counsels yea we must whet the Arms of both Swords and call Fire and Water and Halters and Gibbets and Daggers and Potions c. to help c. and ends with that which is the sum of all these Revelations if he hath not leisure to read them at large either to repent or to perish It is necessary either a Total Reformation or a Total Destruction one of the two In the third place To all most Serene Kings High Princes and Famous Common-wealths The God of Gods the Lord hath spoken Behold O Kings of Europe God calls you by the loud cryes of this Book and will put it into your hearts to do his will Come and behold what manner of and how great things are here offered to you in the name of the God of Gods At the very first sight whereof will you not fear some fraud and cheat of Man or the Devil It ought verily to be feared and not you be deceived in so great concerns Take heed therefore of being deceived O Majesties These things come not from any of Mortals but from the very Immortal President of the World Himself And lastly To the King of France who is here designed to be Emperor of Christendom Most Christian King Lewis XIV Emperor of the French The Heavenly Majesty hath vouchsafed a peculiar speech unto you by name in a Revelation to his
Servant Drabricius some ten years since therfore will your Majesty also vouchsafe a peculiar Audience to his Messengers sent not with naked words but with testimonies gaining credit and with most ample instructions unto you Read O King or deliver these things to be read by your wise men You Great Lewis King of France does the great Lord by name invite yea call hither to his Glorious work of renewing the World Take counsel with your Collegues the Christian Kings of Europe to Convocate a Council of the Christian World to settle Truth and Peace and Righteousness therein That Angels may again sing Glory to God on High on Earth Peace Good will towards men If you will follow most Christian King with other Christian Kings the conduct of the Counsel of this Book undoubtedly all the World will shortly become Christian and the Times Peaceful Religious Inlightened and Happier than Solomons according as God did of old promise and does now remind us of that they are approaching Prepare for Christ a quiet Kingdom in the Earth removing his proud Rival Rejoyce that the like things are commanded and promised to you as once to Cyrus To be the Shepherd of the Lord that is a keeper of his Flock the Church the whole Church not any part only thereof as the Greek or the Latin or the French or the English or German-Churches c. For whoever calls on the Name of Christ are the People of Christ and the Sheep of his Flock fulfilling all his will saying to Jerusalem Thou shalt be built c. Isa 44. 28. and 45. 1 2 3 4. Cyrus the King when after the Conquest of Babylon he read the Prophecy of Isaiah presented to him by the Jews as Josephus witnesses and saw his name expressed believed God and presently freed the People of God from captivity O second Cyrus revived will not you imitate c. It is the work of the Devil and of Antichrist to destroy and take away the Liberty of Humane Nature which is the top of the Image of God in Man Whoever therefore shall be the Instrument of this Glorious Restitution of things shall be more than Cyrus more than Alexander more than Augustus more than Constantine or Charles the Great Arise therefore against all Antichrists i. e. Oppressors of Liberties thou King of France King of Liberties for so the word signifies And succour the Christian Nations where-ever groaning under any Corporal or Spiritual yoke Make to cease unchristian Wars and destroyings of one another by Rapines Fires Slaughters c. But especially free the Christian People from the Slaughterhouse of Consciences which they call the Inquisition and execute by Swords Halters Burnings alive Prisons Banishments and other kind of Tortures Let this most abominable Abomination be cast out of the Christian World as the manifest work of Satan by his Antichrists which he began by the impious Kill-Brother Cain and continued by Pharao's Saul's Ahab's Jezebel's Antiochus's Caiphas's Nero's Julians c. but has brought to the height only among us these one or two Ages last past Christ practised or commanded no force but only to teach the Nations and shake off the dust of their feet c. There 's no necessity for Force and Violence because Religion cannot be forced nor compelled They are plainly unteachable who do not observe that those former Persecutors gain'd nothing so but at length to ruine themselves Christ lives conquers reigns with his but Tyrants perish one after another with theirs Therefore take away that foolishness as Lactantius calls it from the Christian People most Christian King Take away that violent Tyranny of Consciences and Bodies from the Catholick People King of Liberties Most Serene of Kings God and the Christian People expect nothing but to answer your Name and what the Names and Titles given you by the Providence of God sound forth Lewis Deodat XIV most Christian King of France Lewis Refuge of the People Deodat Given of God XIV Most Christian King Christ's Vicegerent not Antichrists Of France i. e. Of Liberty The Devil and malicious and evil-minded men O King will stand in your way which two things you and all that love you for God's sake ought to fear For the Devil loth to have his Babylonish Kingdoms disturb'd will undoubtedly withstand you And malignant men seek your ruine as they did of your Heroick Ancestors c. But wise men fear more lest you your own self raise Impediments to your self and to your Victories O King by harkning to evil Counsellours and Instruments rather than to God But and if you refuse God will find out another to plead his Cause We do not stir you up against the Church greatest King but for it Nor against the Roman Church but for it also to restore it to its primitive Apostolick state from which it is deeply fallen God threatens here to send the barbarous Nations to reform us if none else will lend an helping hand Be intreated therefore by your own Salvation and of your most ample Kingdom and the whole Worlds not to let pass into the empty Air these Voices both Humane and Divine The Holy Spirit write in your Heart if not in Golden yet in flaming Letters that twice-made Protestation to negligent Eli High-Priest and disobedient Saul Those that honour me I will honour But those that contemn me shall be contemned of me In the Information to the Readers But are these things certain or are they not fables contriv'd and composed by the Art of some ingenious and witty to deceive T is answered It might be doubted at the first and was every-where doubted as the History of these things will shew But now there is no time for doubting seeing these things are confirmed both by abundant witnesses and confirm'd by divine signs and miracles as the same History will shew and now publickly appears And lastly where the truth of the Predictions are in apparent view and the very event does seal their divine authority Machiavillian Politicians Atheists imagining the World to be ruled by Humane Counsels have laughed at these as Phanatick things But behold God shews himself to be the Rector of the World These things being powerfully fulfilled which he hath commanded to be fore-denounced in his Name If any shall say therefore This Book is the Trumpet to Wars It must be answered 'T is so indeed but the Book of the Wars of the Lord as the Revelation of St. John and the Book of all the Prophets yea and the Book of the Gospel it self perhaps according to that of Christ Do you think that I came to send Peace on Earth c. For this Book describes 1. The Wars of God Jehovah against Idols As Ezek. 30. 13. 2. The Wars of the Lamb against the Beast already heretofore sounded Rev. 1714. 3. The Wars of the holy Spirit of God against all erroneous and unclean spirits in the Earth Zach. 13. 2. I say That here is the Revelation of the Revelation of
Authority committed to them of God out of the hands of the Antichristian usurper c. To call a General Council in order to a Universal Peace and Unanimity in Christendom and to agree for God and Religion for the publick good both of Church and State For that God will put it into their hearts to fulfil his Will and agree or make one Mind and Will and no longer give their Kingdoms to the Beast But that the Words of God shall be fulfilled To destroy Babylon and all her Abominations and Idols c. and to rule the World peacefully under the Banner of Christ and universally reform it out of all its horrible confusions and disorders according to the Will that is the Word of God c. And all Ecclesiasticks Angels of the Churches Pastors Bishops and Priests to perform the Ministry of their high Calling and the Service of God and the Church to restore the Primitive Reformation and do their first Works and repent and no longer neglect the Catholick Church of God through the whole World for worldly Dominion Honours Riches and Interests Nor to hinder Universal Reformation by wrangling and contesting for Opinions Ceremonies Revenues Prerogatives and Priviledges and such like vanities but rather to promote Catholick Charity and Indulgence and practise Christian Humility Self-Denyal and all the excellent virtues of the best Religion in the World which they are Chieftains of and to Sacrifice all their dearest concerns for the Salvation of Men And not mind their own things but the things of Jesus Christ c. And all Christians to endeavour and begin Reformation generally in their several places For that now is the time of Gods reforming the World more then ever That towards the end thereof it may be as from the beginning viz. one God and one Worship of God in Spirit and in Truth without Idols and false Godds and false Worships That all may inhabit peaceably the Earth without Wars Fightings Hatreds Contentions Envyings Strifes and without Sects and Parties lest his Wrath break forth upon them to the utmost and there be no Remedy for the Present Generation All which things to be sure are no other then was the drist of all the Prophets and extraordinary Messengers of God to Men of old when that all ordinary Persons Kings Princes Priests or People were become so corrupt and exorbitant that there were none that did his duty rightly but all desperately transgressed the Law of their God and provoked his Wrath without measure For what else was their Burthens but sad Lamentations for the Peoples sins and wickedness Exhortations to Repentance and amendment And denunciations of Grace upon Repentance and of Wrath upon Impenitence c. And what else are these likewise as to their main Scope and Intent The Sum and Substance of them in General now follows The Sum of all these Prophesies in the General is the same with all the Antient Prophets and indeed an Explication of them concerning the State of the Church in the last dayes And that our present Age is the last time of the World wherein shall be fully and finally accomplished all Scripture Prophesies I. Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth typified by the old to fall and its Builders to be dispersed Gen. 11. Jerem. 50. and 55. Revel 18. II. The Stone cut out of the Mountain without Hands to destroy the great Image of Iron and Clay and increase into a great Mountain filling the whole Earth Dan. 2. III. The very Relicks of all Nimrodian Tyranies and Oppressions to be abolished quite and the Kingdoms given to the Saints of the most high Dan. 7. IV. Both the Beasts in the Revelations The greater with seven Heads blaspheming God and making War against the Saints and the lesser with two Horns counterfeiting a Lamb yet speaking like a Dragon now to be slain Rev. 13. V. The great Harvest and Vintage of the whole Earth at hand Rev. 14. VI. All the Vials of Gods Wrath a pouring forth upon the Earth Rev. 16. VII Till the great Beast that carries the Whore with seven Heads and ten Horns be destroyed and the Whore her self forsaken by her ten Horns viz. Kings her once defenders and lovers be burnt with fire Rev. 17. VIII The Lamb to be Victor over all Enemies Satan bound in the bottomless Pit for a thousand years The Church to be quiet Rev. 20. IX And then the Marriage of the Lamb to be solemnized under the whole Heavens Rev. 19. X. And the Church to appear in its Splendour and Glory such as the Prophets have heretofore described of old Isa 60. Rev. 21. And indeed these Books of the three Prophets are a very Revelation of the Revelation of St. John to end and decide all further contentious Comments thereabouts They being a new Comment upon that old Revelation not Humane but Divine explaining what is that Babylonish Beast making War with the Saints and the great Whore the Mother of Harlots c. riding upon the Beast and who are those Kings commanded from God to execute the Judgement upon Both. And that those destroyers of Babylon are now Born now Chosen and Called And that this whole affair is now in doing And now shortly to be Sealed and concluded by a full and compleat effect in the sight of Heaven and Earth And that we are now under the sixth Seal sixth Trumpet sixth Vial. That is That upon our times happens the great Earthquake shaking the whole frame of Heaven both of Church and State c. and the day of his great Wrath come And the day of the sixth Trumpet when the Angels bound at the great River Euphrates shall be loosed and come and kill the third part of men with Fire and Smoak and Brimstome although the rest that escape repent not And the sixth Vial poured forth upon the great River Euphrates to prepare a way for the Kings of the East to root out Babylon the unclean Spirits of Frogs mustering up heaps of Armies against them in vain to the Battel of the great Day of the Lord God Omnipotent Which Day shall come as a Thief on a sudden and unlook'd for That so the seventh Seal being opened Silence may be in the Heaven of the Church And that the seventh Trumpet sounding the Mystery of God foretold by his Servants the Prophets may be finished Namely That all the Kingdoms of the World may become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christs c. And that the seventh Vial being poured forth there may be Voices and Thunders and Lightnings and Earthquakes such as have not been since men have been upon the Earth whereby the Cities of the Nations may fall and great Babylon it self c. More expresly and particularly I. That the World is become as corrupt now as it was in the dayes of Noah before the Flood and in Egypt Babylon and Jerusalem when she rebelled against God especially the Christian Nations By name Germany
holy Name yet that I and these my Words and Speeches shall not be condemned of my God nor of his Angels present with me always as my Witnesses nor of my own Conscience than which after God and his holy sacred Word and Faith given to me towards it I have nothing dearer in this Life Bending my Knees before God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ That he would not desert the Work begun in us but would keep mee and thee whoever art implanted into the Root Christ blameless and make me and thee through Death not to come into Judgement but to pass into Life where the Sun shall not fall upon us nor any heat but where the Lord shall wipe away all Tears from our Eyes c. So to me and thee who readest these things be propitious the Dominator of Heaven Earth and Sea God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost Blessed unto Ages of Ages for ever Amen! Nic. Drabricius Str. M. P. P. Of the last Protestation of Drabricius which he call'd a Confession with a Prayer adjoyned wherein he resigns all his concerns to God and bids farewell to all the World VEterinus not contented with what had passed in his Examination although equally present with others and astonished he seem'd to give glory to God and by giving his hand promised silence and with others subscribed his Testimony to the whole Business as it was acted Yet relapsing into other thoughts not onely wrote to Drabricius's Adjunct that he could not yet acquiesce but went on to molest Drabricius falling upon him more sharply than ever pretending the causes of his unquietness 1. That they had not satisfied him concerning so many things yet to be fulfilled which that he should believe to have proceeded from the mouth of the Omuiscient he could by no means be perswaded to 2. That he saw what causes Drabricius had of forswearing himself namely Self-love and Covetousness that he might not deprive himself of the Opinion which he now saw rais'd of him and of the Benefits begun to be now offer'd to him for his Prophecies and adding also blasphemy against the Dictator of Oracles calling him That vain and lying Fellow and other foul things By which also he rendred the new Pastor Laurinus wavering anew and suspecting ill and to invoke also the Judgement of God upon Drabricius as his Epistle testifies Both of them was admonish'd of modesty Veterinus especially not of me onely the Adjunct but also of others that were nearer unto them Divines and Statesmen That he would not disturb the affairs so compos'd but rather would perform promised silence and would by our example expect the Judgement of God and pray that God would not defer it But all in vain For he senta violent Writing to Drabricius importunately urging that he would answer him And when Drabricius out of the fervour of zeal trampled it under foot others being present adding Thus saith Jehovah So will I tread upon the Enemies that blaspheme my Name and cast it into the fire Veterinus not only sent back the same Writing to Drabricius but also sent it abroad unto divers stirring up all against the false Prophet Drabricius therefore at length answered by Writing which calling his Confession he sent by Command of the Oracle in a Revelation that it should be affixed to the new Edition of his Revelations in stead of a Close which therefore his Adjunct accordingly did A Confession Made unto the Glory of God and to fore-arm from Error all who shall read the Revelations made unto me from God of whatsoever State and Order Dignity or Vocation they shall be upon the face of the Earth in the Year 1664 June 30. I Nicholas Drabricius a Strasnian Exile of Christ by this my Writing confess That certain Observations of Paul Veterine Inhabitant of Puchow directly tending to the abuse of the Divine Name and the Voice through me made to the Nations of the Earth Eastern and Western and Northern and Southern have come to my hands By which I stirr'd up unto zeal purposed to snatch up the Sacred Book and on whatsoever place I should light to take that for a foundation of my Answer I open'd therefore and beyond hope presently are offer'd to my Eyes those last words of David 2 Sam. 23. 2. The Spirit of the Lord hath spoken by me and his Word by my Tongue Which admiring I opened again and fell upon those words of Samuel 1 Sam. 7. 2 c. If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts then put away the strange Gods Baalim and Astaroth from among you but in the Papacy Idols and Images of He and She Saints and prepare your hearts unto the Lord to serve him only c. And I will pray for you unto the Lord and he pray'd and the Lord heard him and the Lord thundred with agreat Thunder upon the Philistines and discomfited them and they were smitten before the Children of Israel And Samuel builtan Altar unto the Lord c. When furthermore I turned over three leaves there came in sight the 14 vers of Chap. 12. of the same Book If ye will fear the Lord and serve him and hear his voice and not disdain the mouth of the Lord ye shall continue and v. 20 21. Fear not but serve the Lord with all your heart follow not after vain things Idols which will not profit you because they are vain At length I opened anew and found Chap. 1. of the Book of Wisdom where it is said That Wisdom enters not into a malitious Soul And although the Spirit of Wisdom be a kind and loving Spirit yet it acquits not a Blasphemer of his Lips because God is Witness of his Reins and a true Searcher of his Heart and Hearer of his Tongue Therefore he that speaketh unrighteous things cannot be hid nor escape Judgement for the correction of his Iniquities and the Mouth that belieth slayeth the Soul It slayeth indeed I which in my time also mine Eyes have seen how many by the blasphemous speech of their mouth and by the Writings of their hands have procured destruction to themselves being made a Spectacle to Angels and Pious Men in whom is no guile Such as by the goodness of God there are many every where Men great and illuminated Divines and Statesmen through Hungary Holland and England found Who how sincerely and reverently they receive the Words of God by me pronounced have testified it by their Writings after that God had given it into their hearts to see and know and understand the hand of God to have done this and the Holy One of Israel to have spoken by me Isa 41. 20. now in the last days of the World A'so concerning Gog and Magog Ezek. 39. Rev. 20. That they are about to be rooted out with all Errors of depraved Doctrine Wherefore I Nicholas Drabricius forewarn all who have read the forementioned VVritings of Paul Veterine and beseech them by
many years and to this very day seeking to please not men but God For I can with Paul a chosen Vessel to bear the Name of Christ before the Gentiles and Kings and the Children of Israel Act. 9. 15 confidently say that I have the same Spirit of Faith So that I dare say I believed and therefore have I spoken what I have spoken and written what I have written 2 Cor. 4. 13. And first indeed to my beloved Adjunct John Comenius then residing in Hungary afterwards departing by command of the Lord into Holland that he would make all these things known to Christian Peoples in the Tongue known to the Europaeans the Latin But for the Turkish Nation that he would take care to have the Sacred Books of both Testaments adorn'd in their Tongue at the Cost and Charges which the Princess the Mother of the Ragotzi 's ought to furnish him with But She esteeming more the Dirt of the Earth Gold than the Words of God although often admonished did none of those things and which is more was the cause why her Sons also did nothing about those things And therefore God took away Mother with Father and Sons and the Vncle Ladislaus one onely Granchild Francis being left To what end He himself onely knows But that they object That the Crown of Hungary was promis'd to them It is true But the Condition often iterated That they would purge this Land from Idolatry deliberating and consulting upon this matter with the Eastern and Northern But what did it profit to be admonish'd When neither They nor the King of Swede would do any of those things they drew themselves by their disobedience headlong into destruction as the World now sees Therefore I Drabricius publickly profess That I believe with my whole heart that Divine Promise made by Haggai I am with you faith the Lord Chap. 1. 13. and iterated by our Lord Christ himself Behold I am with you always even unto the end of the World Mat. 28 27. And again pronounced by Haggai Chap. 2. v. 22 23. I will shake the Heavens and the Earth and I will overthrow the Thrones of Kingdoms and I will break in pieces the strength of the Nations c. And to Christ declaring the distress and pressure of Nations Luk. 21. 25. And that I expect yea now see with mine Eyes how the Lord overthrows the Chariots and the Riders that every one may fall by the Sword of his Brother Hag. 2. 23. And that by it the glory of God may be revealed That all Flesh in like manner may see that the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken Isa 40. 5. by us Two also to you O Nations That the will of God is That the Beast counterfeiting a Lamb but speaking like a Dragon together with the false Prophet that wrought Miracles before him seducing those who had received the Mark of the Beast be both apprehended and cast alive into the Lake of Fire burning with Brimstone Rev. 19. 20. But the Beast being destroyed and the Whore drunk with the bloud of the Saints and the bloud of the Martyrs of Jesus burnt with fire Chap. 17. 16. That the Kings of the Earth who have committed Fornication and lived deliciously with her bewail her and lament for her standing afar off for fear of her Torments and saying Alas alas That great City Babylon that mighty City For in one hour is thy Judgment come Rev. 18. 9 10. But at the length Babylon being overturn'd that all Nations of the Earth run together into the Unity of the Faith and Acknowledgement of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4. 13. I Drabricius dare I dare with the Apostle Paul say That I in my Writings have not sought my own things as appears others do Phil. 2. 21. but the things which are Jesus Christs doing nothing through strife or vain glory but in humility v. 3. For I have learnt out of the VVord of my God That God resists the Proud but gives grace to the Humble 1 Pet. 5. 5. and puts down the Mighty from their Seats and scatters the Proud in the Imagination of their Hearts and exalts the Humble Luk 1. 51. And because with the Apostle I believe with my Heart and confess with my Mouth That Prophecy never comes by the will of Man but holy men of God to be inspir'd by the holy Spirit and to speak 2 Pet. 1. 21. Therefore I hope also that it will be given unto me from the Lord and my God to overcome the malicious Enemies of God and mine 1 Joh. 2. 3. Because the VVorld passes away and the Lusts thereof but he who doth the will of God abideth for ever v. 17. Therefore into whose-soever Hands or Eyes of those known or unknown to me in any Nation mine and my beloved Adjuncts Labour shall come I beg and pray and in the Name of God with Adjuration intreat Grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby you are seal'd up unto the day of Redemption Eph. 4. 30. Being solicitous to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace v. 3. That we all may be one Body and one Spirit as we are call'd into one hope of our Calling v. 4. For there is one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in us all v. 5 6. who believe that we are Called and Chosen Rom. 8. 33. And that our names are written in the Lambs Book of Life who was slain from the beginning of the World Rev. 13. 8. If any have Ears to hear let him hear v. 9. Let him hear I say and weigh well who is that Lord of the holy Prophets who is wont to send his Angel to shew unto has Servants the things which must shortly be done Chap. 22. 6. He himself namely who is the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End who Is and who Was and who is To Come Chap. 1. 8. That Omnipotent Prince of the Kings of the Earth who hath lov'd us and washed us from our sins in his own Bloud and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to whom be Glory and Empire for ever and ever Amen! v. 5 6. Take heed also All I beseech you of that Pharisaical haughtiness to disdain others and say I thank God I am not as other men or as this Publican Luk. 18. 11. For God resists the Proud but gives grace unto the Humble Jam. 4 6. Detract not from one another Brethren For he that detracts from his Brother detracts from the Law v. 11. As that light Soul Veterine does to me his Brother and which is more the Servant of Christ and Minister of the Gospel and Pastor of Souls whom the Apostle reckons worthy of Double Honour 1 Tim. 5. by by word of Mouth and Pen lyingly spreading concerning me whatsoever he can unto my contempt even also
Catholick Doctrine the Supream Lord the most Holy Father I HELENA considering my self an humble Daughter that is of low estate and degree of this China Empire I am ashamed to abide in the Palace of the Emperour Heretofore I onely knew the observance of the Privy-Chambers I was ignorant of the Law of Forreign Lands It happened that a Man of the Society of Jesus Father Andrew Xavier did stay in our Court or Pallace promulging the holy Doctrine By relation of others I began to know him And behold I believed and with a Reverent Heart received from him the Holy Baptism I caused that Mary the Queen Mother of the Emperour Anne the Queen his lawful Wife and Constantine Son of the Emperour Prince and Heir being withal instructed did also receive the Holy Water it is now the third year since Now although I ought with blood dropping that is with drops of Blood to dissolve the Marrow of my Soul yet I attain not to answer and satisfie no not in the least It continually comes into my mind with Reverence to go unto the Throne of the Most Holy Father that in presence I may receive the Holy Documents onely I fear the difficult passages to so most remote a Kingdom Therefore I am frustrate of my Desire In the mean while with profound bowing even to the Ground We beseech You the Most Holy Father That You would be led before the Presence of the Divine Majesty and out of Pious Affection toward Us who are obnoxious to Sins and at the hour of Our departure out of this World You would vouchsafe to Indulge to Us intire remission of the punishment of Sins Withall we beseech You the Most Holy Father that with the Holy and Universal Church You would deprecate the Supreme Lord for Us That He would confirm Our Empire help and establish it being once restored with Peace and withall would grant that this Eighteenth Emperour of our Imperia House who is the Twelfth Grandchild from the first Founder of the Empire and Family namely That Himself as Lord and all his subjects together also may acknowledge and own the true Lord Jesus Finally We ask You the Most Holy Father That You would send very many Men of the Society of JESUS who far and near may divulge the Holy Faith These Things indulg'd to Us will be Monuments of Your Pious Affections toward Us. But other Things which are in our Desires We are not sufficient to explain in Words Onely a man of the Society of Jesus Father Michael Boym knows the Businesses of our Empire We command him to return Legate into the Great West to propound Our Speech before the Most Holy Father He can particularly relate Our humble Will We trust in the time of Peace to send Chineses Themselves Legates who may present Our Duty at the Altar of the Saints PETER and PAUL and offer Reverence With Heads bowed down to Your Feet We hope the Most Holy Father will kindly look upon these Senses of a rude Mind This onely the Speech In the year Yum Lie the fourth of the tenth Moon the eleventh day which was of the year from Christ 1650. the fourth day of November The place of the Seal wherein after the China Custom for they do not use to prescribe their Names otherwise are these words engraved The Seal of the most Intire most Wise most Clement Venerable Empress Here follow the Letters Responsory from Alexander VII Priest Best and Greatest Dated both to the Queen and to the Supreme Director of the Kingdom To our most Dear Daughter in Christ Helena Taminga Queen of China ALEXANDER VII POPE To Our most Dear Daughter in Christ Health and Apostolick Benediction VVE have known from Your Majesties Letter how great was the Goodness and Clemency whereby the God of gods brought You wrapt up in blind Errors and lying Superstition out of the Power of Darkness to the knowledge of Light and Truth He does not forget to shew Pity nor retains His Mercy in Wrath. For when You was a Daughter of This yet the Omnipotent Lord looked down upon You who would rather be called The Father of Mercy than The God of Vengeances and Revenges Now who can search out His Powerfulnesses Or find out the Way of His Counsels Immense and vast Lands whereof We have scarce heard any thing with Our Ears the Old Enemy hath possessed with his Frauds and Fallacies It was but like a Fable this mighty Kingdom no less for the Desarts and almost infinite distances of Places betwixt than because the false Religion and Worship hath took up all things possessed all over-spread all What access for Truth through so many Seas wandrings of Journeys almost another Heaven and Stars when they were prohibited from all the Shoars who desired a commutation of this precious Pearl before Gold and rich Merchandize And lastly when they were defended by the impiety of the Mountains continuedly adjoyning to the Ocean and by Laws and most strict Guards The study of promoting the true Faith broke through and overcame all these things By which so many Dangers and Difficulties Your Salvation hath been sought Whereby so much the more attentively Daughter in Christ You are to recall into Your Mind the Memory of so Great a Benefit and make known these things to Your Children that they may put their Hope and Confidence in GOD and not forget the Works of GOD and may enquire into his Commandments Although also to the sum of Joy which was brought Us neither was this wanting That Others also insisted on Your Example And the Royal Child Constantine does no more grow into the hopes of the Kingdom than of overturning Superstition Him truly as together also All We Fatherly embrace and most lovingly bestow upon Your Majesty the Benediction which You ask and ardently pray God to make Your most Dis-joyned Kingdom One with Us both in Affection and Faith Given at Rome at or with Saint Peter under the Ring of the Fisher the 18th day of December 1655. the First Year of Our Popedom NATALIS RONDININUS To Our Beloved Son Pan Achilleus Eunuch of the King of China Captain General by Sea and Land Beloved Son Health and Apostolick Benediction YOur Letter brought Us great Joy For from the Rising and Setting of the Sun from the North and from the Sea God hath dealt Mercy to Us And He who heretofore on a sudden illustrated with the Water and Grace of Baptism the Royal Eunuch mighty in much Treasure and Riches now hath called you Beloved Son intangled with the Cares of this Kingdom and the World among which never scarce is found place for the Doctrine of Christ which is counted foolishness by the Men of this World into the Light of his Son that is into an Immortal and neverto-perish Inheritance of another and true Kingdom The Greatness of which Benefit as it hath affected Our Heart with great Joy so you will plainly understand what is due from you therefore if you look unto Him continually who was made unto Us for an Example of his own Discipline But endeavour and co-work diligently that this Work may be consummated which is begun in this most ample Kingdom That there may be your Praise also in the Gospel For there ought to be no Vastness nor Longitude of Lands so great as to withstand that Faith which removes Mountains or Charity which never fails endures and works all things By this we admit you into Our Bosom whose Flame towards you and these Nations shall not be extinguish'd no not by the multitude of Waters which pass between Us nor ever wax cold by any Difficulties But the Benediction which you ask for your Self We most lovingly bestow upon you Given at Rome at or with St. Peter under the Ring c. NATALIS RONDININUS Since these Transactions the Emperour hath thought fit within these few years to send the Jesuites out of his Countreys and Dominions whether for their Good Deeds or Bad Deeds God knows For indeed the Jesuites are like some sorts of Persons The more you know them the worse you like them And it were well if the Western Kings and Princes would do so too If Kings would think upon 't there might be no Pope since if Popes could well help it there should be no Kings Doctor Sherman in his late Account of Faith against the Papists For if there be any honest Jesuites in the World we have little reason to think them at this End thereof For here whatever they are elsewhere they are grown so mischievous that every good Christian especially Englishman cannot chuse but be ready to help them to that which their Arms a Bow and Arrow have so long lack'd notwithstanding they Themselves too have so well deserv'd it A String FINIS * For the Law of Nature is Retaliation and the Law of Arms and Nations is Give and take Quarter * Interpreter * Since from divers other places * The Rock * tricks