Humanum est errare the best Astronomer may say with the Man in Terence Homo sum Humanum à me nil alienum puto Men as Men yea the best of Men may mistake The very Masters and chief Luminaries in the Astronomical orb such as Mercator Maginus Morinus of France Lord of Knudstrobe Andrew Argol of Padua learned Hecker and Kepler himself are all found faulty and in some things committing Errours especially in the places of the slowest paced Planets as are Saturn and Jupiter None agree in all points nor is it one man or one Age that can set these Differences to the Rights as Mr. Gadbury ingenuously acknowledgeth in his Epistle to the Reader both before his 10 y. and his 20. y. Ephemerides 2 observe serve in particular neither do astronomers Agree among themselves in Assigning the Time of this 7th Clymacterical Conjunction in our 16th Century but have differing sentiments about it Alsted that aliquis in omnibus Vniversally learned in all Vniversity Learning says that it happened in the Year 1603. December 24. 'tis 14. in another place at Noon in Sagittary Encuclopaed pag. 1105.1106 and 1215.1216 and 1285.1286 in the first of which places he calls it the 8th Conjunction since the Creation Reckoning the first Inclusive at the Beginning of the World as if it shadow'd out not only the Christian Sabbath which is on the 8th Day or first Day after the 7th on the 8th Day was Circumcision celebrated and the Psalms on Sheminiths or Eights but also that Sab. of Sab baths the Millennium Sab. to be V sher'd in thereby Yet in his second place quoted He calls it but the 7th Conjunction pag. 1216. where the first at the Creation is exclusive and not Reckon'd in the Number to Represent it more purely Sabbatical in the 7th Number In his Third place He adds that this 7th Revolution portends not only great and Universal Commotions in Church and State but also some glorious Reformations which be saith cannot be accomplished without great Concussions in Kingdoms and Countrys But Engl. prophetick Merlin contradicts this not only in its Computation as to time affirming it to be on Decemb. 7th at the 7th hour 45. minutes pag. 22. but also in its Denomination as to name for saith He pag. 57. that Conjunction may properly be called Magna and was no other but it had been Absurd to have call'd it Maxima it was Great but not the greatest or Climacterical because it was not in Aries which is the first of the Zodiack a Cardinal sign c. but in Sagittary This is most certain it must be one of those 3 sorts Greatest Middle or Meanest either that sort of Conjunctions which returns not above once in 800. Years or that of 200. Years or that of every 20. Year and this last is the more probable seeing we find that after the Conjunction in 1603. there was another after that 20. y in 1623 another after that â—0 y. in 1642 3. Another after that 20. y. in 1663. and now another after that 20. in this present year 1682. However The Author aforementioned doth well to call that in 1603. a great Conjunction because it was attended with very great and most memorable matter that James King of Scotland should become the Mighty Monarch of England and of Ireland too and that without either Blood or Blows what was this but a setting up in effect even by a Miracle a New Monarchy especially considering that old Antipathy betwixt Scots and English That prudent Prince brought peace not only to England but also to Europe yet in some sense those other Succeeding Conjunctions in the Interval of 20. y. before named may be called great as well as that in 1603. in Respect of either some great Good or some great Evil attending them For as that in 1603. was attended with the Death of good Queen Elizabeth So was that in 1623 with the Death of King James and that in 1642 3. with civil uncivil Wars and that in 1663. had both the dreadful Plague and Fire following it And God knows what great Matters may also attend this present Conjunction in 1682. whereof more afterward As to that common Notion that climacterical Conjunctions which be but 7 in all as above must be in Aries because it is the first of the Signs of the Zodiack Chief and Cardinal and under it the World some say was created and therefore must be the chief Epoche of the mightiest Matters and Mutations in the World Against this I must enter these Exceptions 1 who told them that the World was created under Aries surely Moses with all his Learning of the Aegypâ—ians did not tell them so nor Abraham nor Job who both are reckoned up as skilful in Astronomy 't is therefore gratis Dictum and a being wise above what is written 2 I find in the best Tables of Calculation I can consult with that the first Conjunction Recorded therein was in the 3d year of the World and that in Sagittary The 2d was 23d y. from the Creation in Leo. The very Sign of our present Conjunction and the 3d in the 43. y. to be in Aries Then the 4th in 63. y. in Sagittary and the 5th in 82. in Leo just as it is now in our 82 reckoning by 20 s or thereabouts betwixt that and this all along from the Beginning of the World to this year 3 In the Tables of Kepler the best in the World improved by Maginus the Sign Leo bids fairer for the place of climacterical Conjunctions than Aries seeing the first in the Tables exclusive was in Leo A. M. 23. and the first Revolution of 800 y. which is the periodical Motion of Saturn and Jupiter after that falls in 817 y. of the World in Leo again as the Tables tell us If we reckon this as well we may for the first climacterical Revolution then we find there again the second to fall in 1611. in Leo too As the first down from the Beginning to Enochs Time so the second reaches to Noahs Days and to that vniversal Deluge The third to Moses in the y. 2406. and Israels Deliverance from Aegypt which was again in Leo. The fourth to the y. 3200. as some say to the Medes Monarchy or as others to Solomon and the Kings of Israel Then also was the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo also The fift to y. 4034. the Time of Christs Resurrection and in the 34. of Christ these 2. Planets met again in Leo as Representing that the Lion of the Tribe of Judah had then conquered Death the Grave and Hell who soon after Ascended into Heaven The sixth to 829. y. after Christ the Time of Charles the Great whose Offspring possess'd the Imperial Throne for an 112. years Pareus Medul Hist Eccles pag. 260. and that Time also had a Conjunction in Leo of the 2 superior Planets The seventh and possibly the last brings us down to the 16th Century wherein we find no Conjunction of
Indeed Fair and plausible but as they are not Divine and Scriptural wanting a Warrant from the Spirits Inspiration so there is 1 a plus and a minus a more and a less Attending them and if the two former periods why not the latter 2 Christ hath said that this latter period shall be shortened for the Elects sake Matth. 24 22. which words may have a special Relation to the world in general as well as to Jerusalem in particular 3 There is a German Doctor who tells us we have lost more in the Chronology of Time than Two Hundred years 4 Consider that Tycho Brahe calls the Former Epoches of great Revolutions Vneven ones and why may not this last be so 5 Remember how the Antients make 960 y. betwixt one Climacterical Conjunction and another this will Advance c. 6 so will a Reckoning from Christs Ascension and not from his Birth 7 This Planetary Revolution being the 7th we may expect the sooner a Restitution of all things All Sabbatick Circulations are Reputed as Rings of Gold and the 7th is the Diamond and Sparkling Jewel of Daily Monthly and Annual Revolutions I shall therefore Conclude with this precious double 7th both in the paragraph and in the Subdivision and with that old Hebrew prayer Bimerah Bejamenu let this 7th Millennium or Blessed Jubilee come quickly and in our Day Before we be lodged in the silent Grave even so Come Lord Jesus come quickly So prayeth C. N. FINIS POST-SCRIPT 'T is true when this Sabbatick Jubilee shall begin no mortal man can determin the Hour Day Mouth or Year Tacente Scripturà Taceamus nos where the Scripture hath not a Mouth to speak we should not have a Tongue to ask no man nor Angel knows when the Son of man will come to Restore all things Matth 24 36. Acts 3 21. The Truth is Certain that it shall be but the Time is Vncertain when it will be for the Scripture is silent upon a 2 fold account 1 to suppress our Curiosity eorum quae scire nec datur nec fas est Docta est Ignorantia saith Austin An Itch of knowing secrets is a sort of madness saith Calvin Arcana Dei sunt Arca Dei a prying into Gods Secrets which belong not to us Deut. 29 29. may have the same measure with presumptuous prying into Gods Ark. 1. Sam. 6 19. and Peter gives the same charge against Curiosity as against Theft or Murder 1. Pet. 4 15. Tu fuge ceu pestem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To be too pragmatical and inquisitive after matters unrevealed falls under a severe Reproof Acts 1 6 7 11. Judg. 13 18. God hath set us our Bounds as Exod 19 12. His Revealed will we must be wise to Sobriety not above what 's written The 2d Account is to oblige our Vigilancy Ideò later vnus Dies ut observentur omnes saith Austin Christ would not tell his Disciples the day or time of his Return though he told them all that was expedient John 14 2 16 7. yet pronounces them 3 times Happy that are always upon their watch Luke 12 37 38 43. so Mark 13.37 Nevertheless we may safely say this Day of Redemption Draweth nigh and must now be at the very Door as may further be Demonstrated as it is with the Microcosm or little World Man so 't is with the Microcosm or great World As Mans first Age is Infancy reckon'd from his Birth till he be 7 y. old His 2d Age is Childhood from 7 to 14. His third is Adolescency or his stripling Age from 14 to 21. His fourth is his Youth from 21 to 35. His fift is his middle Age or Fulness of Strength which lasts from 35 to about 50. these 2 last are uneven Numbers lasting longer in the Course of Nature than the former 3 wherein Natural Vigor is shooting up in growth as a plant till it come to its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or full Strength then comes the sixt his old Age wherein he declines daily and droops towards the Earth from whence he came therefore is it call'd the evil Age Eccles 12 1. senium malum are convertible Terms because it is attended with manifold Maladys and Miserys then he saith with Isaac Behold now I am old and I know not the Day of my Death Gen. 27 2. and with Jacob behold I dye and the Time draweth nigh that I must dye Gen. 47 29. and 48 21. and with Paul I protest that I dye daily 1 Cor. 15 31. Even so it is with the great World whose Infancy was to Enoch the first Climacterical Conjunction it 's Childhood to Noah at the second it 's Adolescency to Moses at the third it 's Youth to Solomon c. at the fourth it 's middle Age to Christ at the fift it 's old Age brings in Charls the Great at the sixt This is further illustrated thus Paul the Apostle adjusteth this Metaphor not only comparing God to a great Householder who disposeth of Times to his Family the World as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies in which Dispensation there is a Time of Tutorage Pupillage and Pedagogy which comprehends all those Times before Christ whose coming in the Flesh He calls the Fulness of Time twice over Gal. 4.1 2 3 4. and Eph. 1 10. that is the full grown Age of the World and of the Church in the World to be freed from Wardship c. And the same Apostle calls the Times afterwards the Ends of the World 1. Cor. 10 11. which can signify no other than its old Age. the very Lees and Dregs of Time So the same Apostle calls them the last and therefore the worst Days 2. Tim. 3 3. and the Lord is at Hand Phil. 4 5. the Author to the Hebrews calls them also the last Days Hebr. 1 2. and the End of the World Hebr. 9 26. and the Apostle James saith the Coming of the Lord draws nigh and the Judge is standing at the Door I am 5 7 8 9. and the Apostle Peter saith the End of all things is at Hand 1. Pet. 4.7 and 2. Pet. 3.3 and John the Apostle saith expresly it is the last Time and we know it is the last Time 1 John 2.18 and He further addeth yet a little while and Christ will come quickly Revel 1.7 and 3 11. and 22 7 12 20. So that all the Apostles seem to expect then the End of the World and Paul points to his own Body when he said this Corruptible shall put on Incorruption c. 1 Cor. 15 53. and expected by the coming of Christ to be Changed rather than to Dye 1 Thess 4 17. yet after other things were Revealed to him 2 Thess 2 2 3. c. And so to John likewise in his Seal and Book-prophesy Wherein he discovers 1. The Fata Imperii 2. the Fata Ecclesiae as a Seal represents the State and a Book the Church All to be Accomplished before the End or they might
Numbers This may be thus explained Suppose Saturn and Jupiter do start and begin their Course in the Sign Aries the first chief and cardinal Sign of all the 12 in the Zodiack Jupiter must run through all the 12. Signs before Saturn can run through 4. of them therefore through this Inequality and Disproportion of these 2. Planets distinct Motion before Jupiter can overtake Saturn the Space of about 20. Years is required that is the Time whereat these 2. Planets do concur always in some one of the 12 Signs and in some one Degree and Minute thereof This is call'd Conjunctio Minima Their 2d sort of Conjunctions is the Mean or Mâ—ddle for understanding this we must suppose the 12. Signs are divided into 4. Trigons Triplicities or Triangularitiys the Fiery Earthy Aery and watery Trigon Aries Leo and Sagittary make the first Taurus Virgo and Capricorn the second Gemini Libra and Aquarius the third Cancer Scorpio and Pisces make the fourth now Saturn and Jupiter having made 10 Conjunctions as Modern Astronomers reckon them though the Antiens say 12. but of that after in some one of those four Trigons they then go off from that Triplicity to make so many Meetings or Conjunctions be it 10. or 12. in the next Trigon as out of the fiery Triangularity into the Earthy c. These many Meetings in each Trigon before they can go through all the 3. Signs thereof require the Space of 198. Years and 265. or according to Alsted 236. days c. by the Modern computation of making only 10. Meetings but if 12. after the Antients be taken then the measure of time will be not only almost 200. as is the former but altogether 240. Years before the planetary Conjunctions have accomplish'd all their Revolutions in any one single Trigon for which it is call'd the Trigonal or Mean Conjunction Lastly the 3d. Sort is the Great Greatest most signal and clâ—macterical Conjunction which happeneth very rarely in the World for as the first falleth out once and but once in every Twenty Years successively as above and as the second succeeds only in every two Hundred Years which is the round Number within little more than one Year above the Fractions according to the Modern computation So this third cannot fall out till Saturn and Jupiter have run out all their 10 or 12. Conjunctions in the First the fiery Trigon all the same Number in the second the Earthy all likewise in the Aery the third and lastly all in the last which is the watery by an orderly Progress When these two superior Planets have run through all these four Trigons in successive Order and at last comes to have another Conjunction after their last leaving the watery and at the very beginning of their first meeting in the fiery Trigon this is the full period of their whole Cycle which is a Revolution as Kepler computes it in the round Number of 800. Years by the Modern computation But according to the Computation of the Antients who reckon not by 10. but by 12. the 203. the Compass of Time then amounts to 960. Years betwixt one Total chiefest and climacterical Conjunction as this last is called and another Because this latter and antient account may serve us as some Salvo in the Sequel let it be observed that Men of great Name and Note were of this Opinion such as Haly Rodoan Albumazar Guido Bonatus Abraham Avenaris Alcabitius and many others none contemptible in Astronomical Arr perhaps it was as 't is said their mistake for want of those exact Tables in those antient Times which our later Times standing as Pigmees upon those Gyants shoulders so might see further than they have found out by greater Art and Industry And perhaps even these Later Tables are not found faultless for Engl. prophetick Merlin finds fault with Origan Kepler and Alsted in their computing those Great Conjunctions short both of Truth and Experience pag. 53.54 concluding that there is not any certain Rule can be made whereby without a right Calculation the true Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter may be found for there will be Variation in Degrees If no worse Errour happen However this Third is the Great Conjunction which all Astronomers both Antient and Modern have unanimously put the most Stress upon in their Learned observations not only because these 2. Superiour Planets are above all the other most significant and efficacious but also because this their climacterical Conjunction falleth out but once in almost every Thousand Year of the World This new Consideration hath so transported that Phaenix of his Age Kepler and after him that Vniversalist for all solid Learning Alsted as jointly to say that the Great Conjunction of these 2. Planets in the Fiery Trigon did portend the Revolution of some new Empire Alsted Thesaur Chronolog fol. 482 further saying that the Force and Fire thereof would burn up and destroy all the Dregs and dirty Doings of Rome but above all others is the Divine Rapture of the Noble Dane Tycho Brache 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who saith It is worthy of our weightyest Observation that as all the former uneven Revolutions of the Fiery Trigon namely the First Third and Fifth have ever been auspicious to the World as having Vsherd in some signal and singular Favors of the Almighty to Man-kind so the Seventh Revolution is the Fore-runner of a more happy and glorious State than all the former past Ages have ever yet enjoyed c. Tycho Brabe Astronom Progymnasm Tome the First not far from the End where that Atlas of the Mathematick Heaven divinely argues and inlarges upon it This same famous Tycho Brahe doth further say that the first Exclusive Revolution of the fiery Trigon and by consequence the first climacterical Conjunction after the wordls Creation happened under Enoch and under the then flourishing Estate of the Church as he calls it The third he fixeth under Moses and under the Deliverance of Israel from the Aegyptian slavery The fifth he places under Christ and under the Restoration of faln Man into Gods favor by the Redeemers passion c. And his own words follow thus Septima hac Trigonorum in integrum ab orbe condito Restitutio quandam Sabbatismi occultam Rationem obtinet praecaeteris peculiare magnique momenti aliquid denunciat That is the seventh Conjunction Climacterical in the Compleat Return of the fiery Trigon from the Foundation of the World brings along with it in its bosom a certain secret Sabbatism or State of Rest and something in demonstrates which is peculiar above all the Rest of the six Revolutions and what is a matter of mightv moment Thus Tycho Brahe d. 1. and much more to the same effect Neither is this Atlas of sound Astronomy as Learned Authors call him singular in this Opinion but profound Kepler went before him in the same Sentiments and Acute Alsted follow'd after this appears in his Encuclopaed Page 1105. Where he concurs with
Keplers Tables Reputed the best in the World which he relates to run thus Though the period of each Climacterical Conjunction be computed to be compleated in the Compass of Seven Hundred Ninety four Years two Hundred and fourteen Days yet saith he for these Fractions or broken Numbers Kepler reckoneth by a round Number so that the Grand Revolution must be reckoned by the Round Number of Eight Hundred Years And he sets down Keplers Tables thus The first great Conjunction Exclusive from the beginning of time was in the 800. Year of the World which was three Thousand two Hundred Years before Christ The second was in the Year of the World 1600 which must be two Thousand four Hundred before Christ The third did fall out in Antio Mundi 2400. which was one Thousand fix Hundred before Christ The fourth falls in the 3200. year of thé World which must be before Christ Eight Hundred Years The fifth was when Christ came in the Flesh to work the Worlds Redemption which was in the four Thousand Year of the World The sixt falls out in 800. years after Christ which was the four Thousand Eight Hundred year of the World And the seventh still multiplying by 8. from the first to this last must fall out in the sixteenth Century 1600 Years after Christ at what time the World is five Thousand six Hundred Years old Alsted adds further in Page 1215. that the Antients did measure Time by these Revolutions as by infallible Rules as thus from the Creation 1 to Arts Cities and Robberies is 800. Years 2 to the Vniversal Deluge and the first Monarchy 1600. Years 3 to Abraham and his Seed going out of Aegypt 2400. 4 to the Destruction of the Kingdom of Israel and Judah 3200. 5 to Christ and the Rise of the New Testament Church 4000. Years 6 to the pressures of Christs Church 4800. 7 to the Church's Deliverance from those pressures by Antichrist c. 5600. So that all these three most Eminent Authors did Vnanimously expect this seventh great Conjunction or compleat Revolution of the Planets which happeneth in this our sixteenth Century that great and vniversal Changes would be the products thereof seeing the Planets in this 7th Revolution shall have run through their Circles and then return to their first Beginnings again which cannot but portend mighty things This being supposed to be the last sundry Astronomers questions whether there ever will be any other after this sevâ—nth The 6th Remark is the pious Meditation of the Antients that the Septenary or Seventh Number is a plenary perfect and mystical Number which in Scripture hath a peculiar signification 't is compounded of 3. and 4. the Ternary or Three is the Number of God our Creator who is one in Three and Three in one the Quaternary or Four is the Number of Man the Creature who is made up of the four Elements as are also all Sublunary things call'd Elementary compound Bodies hence it is that all things have a wonderful Harmony of Coâ—aerency and Rest in the Septenary Number hereupon Philosophy calls it Numerus primus Virgineus Sacer Quietarius 1 The first Number because it made up the first Week 2 The Virgin Number because great is its force and efficacy as a Virgin is in the Flower and Strength of Age so every Seventh Year is computed Climacterical and Seven Nines or 63. is accounted the great one as 7. Years in Law is the Term of a Mans life and 3 Sevens are aequivalent to 3 Lives 3 'T is call'd a Sacred Number because it flows from the Ternary which is the Number of God and the Quaternary the Number of the World as is abovesaid this Note savors not so much of Superstition as it Respects the Nature of Harmony hence the Pocts Phrase Perfection of Prosperity by terque quaterque Beati a 3 fold and a 4 fold Happiness 4 'T is the Resting number because the seventh Day and the Seventh Year in sacred Writ were Sabbatical Every week is call'd Septimana consisting of 7. Days and every Seventh Year produceth some material Alteration Beside the Seventh Number is call'd the Limit and Measure of all Inforior numbers and any great number proposed whose Measure is Seven and may be divided by 7. exactly can by no other Means be more certainly found out than by Division with 7. But above all the Holy Scriptures number all by Sevens accounting the 7th Hour Day Month and Year to be all Sabbatical and the Seven Seventh Year to be a Jubilee a Restitution of all c. And this Harmony between Hours Days Months and Years seems to be intimated Revel 9.15 Thus also the Law required 7. washings or sprinklings of blood or water and the 7. Lamps in the Inner Court or Holy Place representing the 7. Planets in the Visible Heavens as the greatest Lamp stood in the middle of the other six having 3. on either side so the Sun is seated in the midst as Prince of the Planets having 3. above Him and 3. below Him all attending him as above All the walks of this glorious Sun are shadows of something within the Vail The Eve or Evening was as Eve was to Adam the Wife of the Morning the Jews and other Nations reckon the Beginning of Time as of the Sabbath at Evening and to them that are about the Aequator and to all at either Aequinox the first 6. Hours brings the Sun to the Mid-night Nadir or Mid-Heaven of the Antipodes and six more to the Morning Horizon six more to the Zenith or noon of the upper Hemisphere six more to its setting again when the Sun hath taken all these Turns of Sixes 6. times over then comes the 7th or Sabbath Day whereon the Cakes of the Shew-bread were changed 1. Sam. 21.6 Every 7th Hour as well as every 7th Day made a Pauze or Rest the Sabbath of the Evening Ps 104.23 of the Midnight or the Morning and of the Noon or Mid-day All Vsherd in by six Hours as the Sabbath is by six days and that 7th is the first Number wherein Heaven and Earth met together God and Man in the first Sabbath worship Numero Deus Impare Gaudet 7. is an odd Number and the 7th Day was not only a Resting but a Refreshing day to God Exod. 31.17 would to God it were so to us above all the other 6. Days And I know not why this 7th Grand Revolution of those Planets may not bring in a blessed Sabbatism or some Extraordinary Rest and Refreshment seeing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Time of Refreshing or as the Gr. signifies of Cooling the Heat is promised Act. 3.19 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Time of the Restitution of all things v. 21. wherein all Ruines by Sin shall be Repaired by our Saviour and Blessed Jesus shall take off the Curse and Corruption under which the Creature groaneth Rom. 8.19.20.21.22 This great Scripture Truth Divine Plato Hammerd at in his Great Revolution when after
many Thousands of Years He saith all things shall be again in statu quo prius as they were at the Worlds beginning in a state of perfection The World waxeth worse and worse and the last being but Dregs are the worst of Times yea not only the Earth but Heaven also grows faint and feeble through old Age. Insomuch that the Sun as Ptolomy saith Runs much ne arer the Earth many Thousand Miles now than at the Creation If so then by the same Rule the Planets must do the same and then neither of them have kept their first perfection from whence some Salvo's to arising Doubts may be deducted if this Hypothesis should be taken for Granted But whatever may be said to Ptolomys Assertion I shall endeavor to illustrate that of Noble Tycho Brahe saying that all the 6. Great Conjunctions which only have happened since the Foundation of the World Exclusive to this 16. Century have been Auspicious to the World and Vsherd in some signal Mercies to Man-kind So this 7th in our Century will certainly exceed them all c. as the 6. Days Creation had each of them their Tob Good but the 7th Days Rest was attended with Tob Meod very good So theâ—â— former Revolutions all brought Tob good to the Church but this 7th suppos'd to be the last will undoubtedly bring Tob Meod very good things with it The Bridegroom at the Marriage feast reserves his Best Wine for the Last Time John 2.9.10 Take a short Land-skip of all the former 6. The first under Enoch 800. Years of the World his Name signifies Catechised as Gen. 14.14 Chanikan Catechised or Trained up in Religion as well as Warfare He was taught of God to walk with God Gen. 5.24 Hebr. 11.5 Ecclesiasticus 44.16 and 49.14 A great Type of Christ in his Ascension living 365 Years before his Translation after a God pleasing Life and just so long did Christ live in the Purity of the Primitive Church to Julian the Apostate in the Year 365 after Christ He was as all the Patriarks were the Chief Bishop of his Time by whose Labours the Church of God was preserved in that prophane Age He prophecyed of the Destruction of Sinners before Noah did of the Deluge foretelling the Day of Judgment and the Coming of our Lord. Syr. Maran-Atha hence the Jews make him the Author of the great Excommunication Jude v. 14.15 As Enoch is call'd the 7th from Adam the Church had some Sabbath or 7th Time of Refreshing by him a Rest and Respit from that Vniversal Destruction which came upon the World afterwards Thus Elijah Enochs Brother candidate of Immortality is Stiled the 7th from Adam also not in Respect of Degrees or Gradual Descent as was Enoch the 7th Patriarch not the 7th Person but by way of Computation and in Respect of so many Generations as some Reckon between them Elijah is computed the 7th Prophet from Adam and the first sent to the Gentiles a great Reviver of the Church as his Brother Enoch was and a Restorer of the Law Now here be two 7ths from Adam both Translated into Heaven which may intimate that after the 6000. Year of the World comes the 7th from Adam or 7th Millennium with its strange Translation likewise However this Translation of Enoch is call'd Annus Sabbaticus Calvisius Opus Chronolog Page 3. Enoch predicts as a late Reverend writer saith Judicium matutinum the Morning part of the Judgment Day explain'd Dan. 7.7.8.9 as if then to be seen behold he cometh which was not to be till the 7000. Year begin and the Vespertinum or Evening part is after it explained in Revel 20.7 The Second Climacterical Conjunction by doubling the Number 8 here and all along was in the 1600. Year of the World under Noah in which Century the Universal Deluge destroy'd the wicked World which was then drowned in wickedness before it was drown'd in water Yet the Church had then her Annum Sabbaticum a compleat Year of Rest in Noahs Ark for from November when Noah had laid up all his Stores of the Earthly Fruits and entred the Ark with his Beasts Fowls and Family he remained there till the Beginning of November following As Enoch had been a Cooler to the Church when the wicked world was Hot in wickedness by his contrary Profession prophecying and Practice for which God took him up into Heaven as thinking no place good enough for him upon Earth and whose Translation gave to the Church the first Specimen or Proof that God had prepared another Life after this for his Saints wherein they should live with him in Glory for ever So Noah as his Name signifies was a Comforter to the Church saving her from the Deluge which Reduced the World to its first Chaos or Confusion Gen. 1.2 when the Waters above the Firmament and the Waters under met again together and brings the Earth once more into her first posture to be covered with Water 'T was a peculiar priviledge that Noah brought the Church night God in this great Floud of Waters Psal 32.6 Enoch was a Prophet foretelling Christs coming and Noah was a Preacher of Christs Righteousness had greater Blessings than Adam having the Promise I will no more destroy c. Gen. 8.21.22 the Bow in the Cloud and a new String to his Bow the Everlasting Covenant the pattern of all Covenants with Israel oft mention'd by the Prophets and the Floud made such a Baptism to the Earth also as help'd to wash away its Curse which Cursed Earth shall become so Renewed so Blessed of the Lord yea so much Christs Darling that He Resolves to make it the Centre of his Glory as some suppose at the 7th Millennium or last Revolution of the Superior Planets Revel 5.9.10 where the Saints or Angels Rejoice that they shall come out of Heaven to Reign upon Earth thus God tells Moses in the Mount that the Land shall enjoy her Sabbath of Rest not only a Temporal Levit. 26.34.46 and 2. Chron. 36.21 and Levit. 25.2.6 But an Eternal one Hebr. 4.9 which the Lord of the Sabbath Math. 12.8 Mark 2.27.28 Rom. 9.29 Jam. 5.4 hath made for man The whole Earth shall be filled with his Glory Numb 14.21 He will Cover or Atone it Deut. 32.43 God not Adam named the Earth Erets which signifies of Ratsah to Delight as If He meant to take his pleasure upon it when the Heavens that Canopy and Curtain now hiding his Glory shall pass away as a Scroll of parchment before the Fire God will come to keep his Sabbath of Rest on Earth and here accept his People then the Land of Canaan more accursed than all Lands while possessed by the accurs d Nations shall be most blessed the Glory of all Lands The place of Gods Residence and Delightful Rest Ezek. 26 6.40 and 34.26.30 Hos 2 20 23. c. The Third great Revolution still adding another 800 falls out in the 2400. y. of the World under Moses when
the Church had again another Sabbath of Rest from her long and groaning slavery in the brick bondage of Egypt this is so plain in Scripture History I need not inlarge upon it as upon the 2 former a word only the blessed Messiah which the 7th Revolution may bring in is greater than Moses as much as a Son than a Servant c. Hebr. 3 3 4 5 6. He will plague the Pharaoh of mystical Aegypt with sorer and severer plagues his Vials of wrath Revel 16 till He make him yeeld and let go his People as Exod. 12.31 He will not only bring his Church into the Wilderness which was all Moses could do leaving the conquest of Canaan to Joshua but bring her also into the Heavenly Country The fourth falls in the 3200. y. of the world adding another 8 to the 24. under Solomon and the Kings of Israel according to incomparable Tycho Brahe this is likewise evident enough in Scripture that the Church had her Sabbath of Rest under Solomon that peaceable King as his Name signifies yea and the Ark of God that had from Moses time hitherto no better harbor than in a Moving and Tottering Tabernacle found a Sabbath of Rest in a standing and stately Temple the wonder of the World not only for his time but for his Godly Successors also Still our Saviour whom the first Revolution ushers into the World in y. 4000. is greater than great Solomon Math. 12 42. He is the Prince of Peace the maker and matter of our peace our Sanctuary and Salvation in whom alone our Souls find a Sabbath of Rest Math 11 29. This needs still less Illustration Go forward then 800. y. more to the Sixth Epocha or Revolution in 4800 y. of the world which brings in Charles the great under whom as the Roman Empire was in its Zenith or most flourishing estate at Christs Birth so now it was translated from Rome into Germany This must be insisted upon a little because 't is beyond Scripture History 't is true the Church could have but a slender Sabbath of Rest in his Time for then Antichrist was Regnant and Leo was Rampant Leo the 3d was then Pope who prostituted his Keys to the Emperors feet for which the Popish People whipt him like a Rogue If not plucked out his Eyes and cut out his Tongue c. Frideaux Introduction pag. 96 yea in this 8th Century Pope Joane made a good proof that the Church of Rome was a Base Whore so that the Rest of the Church in this Age was like-the Rest that the Ark of the Covenant had in the midst of Jordan and that of the Priests of the Lord who attended it Josh 4 9 10 16. with 3 13. The Feet of the Priests that bare the Ark did Rest in the midst of Jordan there they stood and must not stir out of their station until 600000 people were passed over the 4000. Cubits of dry Land within the banks there they stand they Rest in the midst of Jordan with hideous Mountains of water hanging over their Heads a most Ghastly and frightful sight without all peradventure yet there they stood till God cal'd them off betwixt the People and Danger so do all good Ministers in all Ages the first shock falls on them The Church hath such short Restles Rests or Sabbaths sometimes as Act 9 31. then had the Churches Rest and such a Sabbath she enjoyed in this Emperors time whom Eginardus writing his life calls a most pious and glorious Emperor He waged his Wars principally to Extirpate Heathenism and to propagate Christianity more than for Enlarging his Dominions Pareus Med. Hist Eccless pag. 257 He trode in the path of his Father Pipin and of his Grandfather Charles Martel of France in that great Service of Christendom against the Saracens had an Aversensess though he Reconcil'd the Pope and People from allowing the Popish upholding of Images which appear'd in a Councel held at Franckford and his writing against the 2d Councel of Nice He gave for his Motto Christus Regnat Vincit Triumphat Christ Reigns Conquers and Triumphs This was much even then when Antichrist began to be both Regnant and Triumphant in this 8th Century Prideaux Introd pag. 229 230 as this Motto expressed his Christian Humility in the midst of his Grandeur and Greatness to the great shame of the Popes Pride and Ambition in that time so it Demonstrated his prophetick Faith that Christ in due time would Trample Antichrist underfoot and Triumph over Him He is said to give unto the Empire not only a new Body but a new Soul too by promoting Religion in all his Conquer'd Countries Alsted Encuclopaed pag 3019. He made Amicable leagues with sundry Infidel Kings and Princes that they might be more Favorable to their Christian Subjects Pareus Med. Hist Eccles pag. 258. Alcuinus our Oxford man and one of Venerand Bedes Pupils was this Emperors Tutor by whom he gave a large Testimony against Popish Errors Illyr Test Vers pag. 704 and 724. and by whom the Holy Scriptures were translated into the Mothers tongue the Pope at that time not contradicting it Alsted 3020. and Pridea ux 230. pag. to conclude though this Great Emperor had some Tincture of Superstition with his piety saith Osiandor yet was he a Zealous promoter of Christianity insomuch that Christ had his Churches in this 8th Century even in all Lands Where they had a little Sabbath or Rest and kept their Sabbaths as the Centurist saith in Falaestine Aegypt Greece France Germany yea and in our Britain as at London York Beverley Crowland Canterbury c. All named Osiand Epit. Hist Eccles Cent. 8. lib. 1. Cap. 12. pag. 5.6.7.8.9 would to God our King may become a nother Charles the Great to protect the Protestant Religion in all Lands Helvicus saith Aaron King of the Saracens gave this Charls Mount Calvary in Jerusalem and the Sepulchre of Christ God give to our Charls a share in Christs Kingdom Now come we to the 7th or Sabbatical Revolution which makes the former 8th to be now the 16th Century The beginning of which makes the World five Thousand six Hundred years old As the sixt climacterical Conjunction turn'd the Empire from Rome to Germany in the 8th Century So this 7th may both turn it and burn it with the House of Austria and the Pope of Rome out of the World As the 8th Cent. gave a little Rest or Sabbath to the reformed Religion which hath been miraculously Rested though Arrested by the malice of Rome both before and since Charls the 5th but this 16th or last may be a Sabbath of Sabbaths and proclaim a Jubilee of Triumph To apply this General Discourse particularly to our present purpose as also to obviate Objections some Observations both Astrological and Theological may be here usefully added 1st Astrological 1 observe in the General there is no Arrival at perfection in Astronomy the best Artists have erred even in their best works
have Respect to the 3 Ages of the World according to Elias's Distribution 1. before 2. under the law 3 under the Gospel no New Rule or Revelation was to be expected after this last Which they therefore call'd the end of the World However they had desired to know some Signs of Christs coming and of the End of the World Matth 24 3. Thinking verily that the World could not stand longer than the Temple nor possibly out last it as if it had been the Atlas and principal Pillar to support it for Solomon had said at its erecting and Dedication I have surely built God an house to dwell in for ever 1 Kin 8 13. and 2 Chron 6 2. that is so long as the World stands it shall stand which was but conditional Hence the Disciples jumble these 3 questions together 1. what be the Signs of the Temples Ruine 2. of Christs second coming and 3. of the End of the World The Lord Answers all the Three in declaring distinct Signs of Jerusalems Destruction and promiscuously mixing them with the other but in v. 30. He singles out a Sign of his own last and most glorious coming which some suppose may be some Extraordinary Comet or Blazing Star as his first Coming was by a Bright Star that led the Wisemen to Bethlehem and if so many prodigys attended Christs passion surely many more may attend his Return in Glory and the end of the World many strange Commotions in Heaven Earth and Sea Luke 21 25. and Matth. 24 6 7 29. Houses usually give a great Crack when they are Ready to fall and so will the Great House of the World yet may there be some space betwixt the Sign and the thing signifyed The end may be neer but not yet Matth. 24 68 33. Luke 21 9. Therefore 't is said That day and hour knoweth no man Matth. 24.36 nor Angels neither the Son but the Father only Mark 13.32 Ordine videlicet sciendiâ—a se non ab-alto The Son knows it not in his humble State but from the Father as he subsisteth and worketh from him John 5 19. c. 20. Christ as man knew not all things at once but did grow in knowledge gradually Luke 2 52. till after his Ascension t is said God gave the Revilation of all things to Him Revel 1 1. Yet some Men yea good Men have made bold to pry into this forbidden Ark of this vnknown Arcanum both among Antient and Modern Writers as appeareth in Bucholcers Chrinology and in Alsteds also page 494. gathering the Coming of Christ from the Numerical Letters of Jesus Nazareâ—us Rex Judaeorum the first Letters of which 4. Words to wit J. N. R. I. the Romanists still write upon the Top of their Crucifixes and from the Numberals of videbunt in quem transfixerunt They shall look on him whom they have pierced Zech. 12.10 The former pointing to y. of Grace 1532. and the latter to the y. 1533. I may add Joachimus Abbas pitch'd the End of the World upon the y. 1258. Arnoldus de Villanova upon the y. 1345. Mâ—chael Stiphelius upon St. Lukes Day in the y. 1533. Cyprianus Leonitius upon the y. 1583. Johannes Regiomantanus upon the y. 1588. which was the year wherein the proud Spaniards would have brought a Doomsday on England in Q. Elizabeths Reign by whom God wrought a great Deliverance from it Adelbertus Thermopedius upon the y. 1599. April the 3. c. All which Childish Conjectures even of Learned men Time it self the best Comment upon Hidden vncertain-Mysteries hath already given a severe Censure and Certain Confutation no plausible Salvo's can be Administred to solve them from Lyes Come we next to those that have given their Guesses upon this 16th Century wherein this Climacterical Conjunction must fall by the Rules aforesaid and so forward to future Time I find sundry good and Learned men who fix the end of the World upon 1656 or 1657 y. and for proof they make use of that Chronogram MVnDi Conf Lagrat Io. whose Numeral Letters MDCVII amounts to that year further Alledging that the Universal Destruction of the old World by the General Deluge happened about 1657. from the old Creation when also there was a Climacterical Conjunction so may it be likewise about 1657 y. from Christs Resurrection which was a New Creation as the Eloud was so long from the old And this opinion is farther confirmed with the words of Christ as the Days of Noah were so shall the Coming of the Son of-Man be Math. 24 37. which seem to intimate that as there were so many years betwixt the Creation of the old World and its 1st Destruction by Water so there should be as many years betwixt the Reparation of Mankind by Christs Resurrection and the last Destruction of this New World by Fire which will be the Dissolution of all old Things and a Restitution of New Heavens and a New Earth c. 2. Pet. 3.11 12 13. Acts 3.21 See Selneccer Paedag. Christ part 2. pag. 374 375. and sundry Neotericks all concurring with this Conjecture reckoning from not Christs Birth as our common Computation is but from His Resurrection as before Which advances the Account to the 17th Century Thus Nich. Cusanus pitch'd upon the y. 1700. yet Cardan upon 1800. and Picus Mirandula upon 1905. c. others say the World shall continue till all the Stars return to the same point from whence they took their Progress at the first and where that was who knowes The Dutch Divine Sheltco whose Book is call'd a comfortable Discourse of Christs 2d coming translated by Mr. Thomas Rogers the Publisher of our 39 Articles concurs with Elias's Notion of the Worlds lasting but 6000 y. and saith Orpheâ— Verse imports it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is in the sixt Age or Thousand God will destroy the World which not only Plato but Caspar Peuâ—erus applauds He makes Enoch a Figure of the last Time the 7th Millennium for as Death had Dominion over the six first Patriarks Adam Seth Enos Kenan Mahalâ—leel and Jared who all dyed but upon the 7th from Adam Enoch Death had no power So Death shall have Dominion over Mankind for 600 y. but at the 7th Death shall loose its Sting This great Truth Jude hints at in v. 14 15. saying Enoch the 7th from Adam foretold Christs last coming Thus also Elias call'd the 7th from Adam by Computation as Enoch is by Generation seems a Type hereof for six Prophets to wit Adam Mâ—thusalah Sâ—m Jacob Amram and Ahiah went before him then was Elias the 7th who was translated likewise to shew that the 7th Millennium will bring the like Glory Yet He thinks Chap. 2 and 3 that Christ will come before the 6000 y. be expired For 1st the Sabbath began at the Evening of the sixt Day before it was quite expired 2ly Elias in Talmud saith some years shall be wanting for Christ will hasten his coming because of wickedness 3ly to omit his 4. Esdras 5 45 c. which admits of Exception this agrees with Christs words Matth. 24 22. 4thly never so many Ecclipses Comets Conjunctions c. for many Hundred y. past which are Signs of Christ hasting to come to which I add 5thly Christ hath 6 Comings all expreessd in Scripture betwixt his first and last as 1 after his Resurrection 2 at Pentecost 3 at Jerusalems Ruine 4 to the 7 Churches of Asia 5 in the 6 Seals 6 to destroy Antichrist And 6ly this Trebble great Conjunction may vsher in his last being hard to paralel it Saturn began his Direct motion March 23 82 meets Jupiter October 9th after begins Retrograde 9â—ber 20 as Jupiter doth on 26 so they meet again on Jan. 30 83 and Jupiter begins his Direct Motion on March 26. 83. so they meet again on May the 2d 83. Luther on Gen. 1 saith oporiet ingeniis lusus suos concedere modo absit superstitio Mr. Greenhil takes this Liberty in his Fast Sermon 43 April as a great Conjunction vsher'd in Ruining of the old Jerusalem so may this at Rearing of the New All these Comets and Conjunctions canot be Dumb Signs but warn us of Good or Evil according as we are I saw Mars in Conjunction with the Moon on this 16 of 8ber while the Superior Planets were in theirs not much varying their Distance Upon this 19 of 8ber I observed that now got under him a little oblique to the Right-hand so hath made more than a Semi-circular Motion about him though at a little farther Distance There may be a Mystery in this Motion especially if Benign Jupiter gain the Upper hand of Sullen Saturn again Suppose the worst that the last Bite of the Beast be not yet over but he shall once more Tread vnder foet the outer Court as Bp. Vsher saith so more easily come at the Witntsses in the Temple to slay them yet shall they have a speedy Resurrection and Aseension c. Let therefore this 7th and last great Conjunction be reckon'd if not a Spectator at least a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the 7th Trumpet and 7th Vial which will as certainly destroy Antichristianism yea and Mahometamsm too as sure as the 7th Seal hath destroyed the Heathenism of the Roman Empâ—re and so Vsher in the New Jerusalem The course of these Planets are call'd the Clocks of Gods Eternal Counsels Telling the Times of greatest Remark as 1 of Enoch's Translation 2 Noahs Flood 1 Moses Deliverance 4 Solomons Glory 5 Christs Redemption 6 Charls the Greats Greatness and 7 the Lambs Marriage with the Bride oh that our Redeemer may be as a Roe skipping over Mountains to ruine the Reprobate and reward the Righteous Let not Men Jeer where they should Fear 2. Pet. 3.3 c. FIâ—IS ERRATA Page 21. line 12. Read 20 for 26. l. 34. R. fift for first p. 2â— l. 16. for Tables R. Fables p. 29. l. 40. R. many for may l. last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 32. l. 11. R. there for their c. ADVERTISEMENT The Author of this Discourse is not the Author of the 2d packet as the Author of the first will assure such as Enquire