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The fourth and last Age of the world, Vist∣neyes rapture to Heauen, the Banians opinion touching the finall conclusion of the World, and in what manner they suppose it shall be.
AFter this, the Almighty againe com∣manded, that the world should bee peopled by those that were reserued, amongst whom there was one Kystney, a fa∣mous
Ruler and pious King, of whose ver∣tues they haue ample record, as being one most notable in the last Age, which they thinke now by the course of time to be de∣uolued vpon vs; he did wonderfully promote Religion, vpon which there was a reformed beginning of goodnesse.
By this, Vistneyes time (as they say) being expired, in this place and vale of mortality; the Lord tooke him vp to heauen, there being no further neede of his preseruation, for when this Age is concluded, there shall be a finall end of all things.
But the Bramanes though they suppose time to be running on the fourth Age of the world, yet they suppose this Age shall bee longer than any of the rest, in the end where∣of they say Ruddery shall be rapt vp into hea∣uen. These Ages they call by foure names: the first, Curtain; the second, Duauper; the third, Tetraioo; the fourth Kolee.
Concerning the manner of this finall iudge∣ment, they hold it shall bee more dreadfull than any of the rest, and that it shall bee by fire; that Ruddery then shall summon vp all the power of destruction; that the Moone shall looke red; that the Sunne shall shed his purling light like flaming brimstone; that the lightening shall flash with terrours, the skies shall change into all colours; but especially fiery rednesse shall ouerspread the face of
heauen; that the foure Elements of which the world at first was constituted, shall be at opposition and variance, till by this Agony she be turned to her first confusion.
And that the finall consummation of the world shall be by fire, they gather hence; Of such as was the beginning of the world, of such shall be her dissolution; but the Princi∣ples of the worlds constitution, were these foure; Earth, Ayre, Water, and Fire; there∣fore by them shall she be destroyed, which al∣so they gather by the destruction of the seue∣rall Ages: For the people of the first Age were destroyed by water; the people of the second Age were destroyed by winde, which they accoumpt the Ayre; the people of the third Age were destroyed by Earth; and the people of the last Age, shall be destroyed by fire.
Then (say they) shall Ruddery carry vp the soules of all people to heauen with him, to rest in Gods bosome, but the bodies shall all perish; So that they beleeue not the Resur∣rection, for they say, heauen being a place that is pure, they hold it cannot be capable of such grosse substances.