Catastrophe magnatum, or, The fall of monarchie a caveat to magistrates, deduced from the eclipse of the sunne, March 29, 1652, with a probable conjecture of the determination of the effects / by Nich. Culpeper, Gent. ...

CHAP. VI.

Of other great conjunctions and oppositions, Whose influen∣ces concur to the complement of our Iudgment upon this Eclipse.

IN handling this, you must not conceive that I intend to handle them all, for if you do, you make a false concep∣tion; the Press stayes for me, and you'll say it were time (if you knew as much as I) to make hast; I shall therefore handle the greatest and most prevalent of them, and let each stand in a part by it self.

PART 1.

The first that presents it self is a ☌ of ☉ and ♂ in ♊ 17. and this happens, upon the 27. of May, 15. h. 33 '. p.m. They that please may set the Figure, and they that please not may let it alone, tis all a case to me. They me∣diate the heavens the day before, with the goat a horned

beast, and tis in the Citizens signe, let them beware of a child got in Capricorn; the star is of the first magnitude of the nature of ♂ and ☿.

The ☌ of ☉ and ♂ in Gemini; according to Guido signifies im∣pediment that shall fall upon men, by reason of Thunder and Lightning: but my own opinion is the chiefest danger is in the Lightning, and this danger is most like to fall about the Western parts of the World; the Earth hath got a hot and dry disease, being exceedingly distempered for want of wa∣ter; and that water which doth fall from the skies, it comes in such violent storms that it doth but little good; wars and contentions, theevery (and something worse) which I will not name vexeth the North parts of the World; and disea∣ses coming of heat of blood, imagine the Smal-pox, Pesti∣lence, &c.

If I should leave Guido, and come to Haly, he will tell us but little better newes; for he saith it signifies strife and contention, fighting and killing.

Give me leave a little to add my own: London, beware of fire; beware of quarrelling, thou hast got but little by playing such pranks before, thou art likely to get less by such another action: the Pestilence is likely to begin this year, God in mercy doth it to shew what he will do the following year: beware Flanders, a curse is coming upon thee; what if God knows tis good for thee to suspect the worst, either it will come, or it may come: let Brabant, Corduba in Spain, Nurenburge in Germany, that famous Imperial City, Bruges in Flanders, &c. remember what I tell to London.

Questionless the effects of this ☌ will bring a change of Government in London, I pray God it be for the best, I have some hopes it will: Oh, that thy Citizens would every mor∣ning when first they rise read my monthly observations on May 1652.

PART 2.

The second in course is the ☌ of ☉ and ♄ in ♌ 2. with a nebulous fixed star, which bids Saturnine people beware

their eyes, and among them my self, it happens Iuly 14. 1652. 19. h. 13 '. p.m. the ☽ being at that time in △ to them both from ♈.

Now begin the effects of the Eclipse to work, and hee is a fool in grain that prefers Tradition before Reason, I shall tell you hereafter when Authors say the effects shall begin. Now the Princes of Europe beat their heads to finde out which is the readiest way to undo themselves, Ambassadors are rife; but whether Princes consult together to outwit one another, or to secure one another, or the like, there is some question of them both, and is never a barrel better Herring, If presently after this conjunction, you finde not a Pestilence and also many uproars in Rome; also Bohemia troubled much with war, the Florentines all in an uproar, and here in Eng∣land many people troubled with sore eyes, and other diseases of heat of blood; especially a Cephallick disease, called an ad∣dle Brain, say I am no Artist; Men shall wonderfully be given to lying and deceiving, they know not what they would have, their thoughts are in a Chaos, and hang together like ropes of sand, their thoughts dance up and down from one thing to another without any order: so that if they would look upon them with the eye of Reason, they begin without order and end without issue: we may say of mens dispositions about this time, as Seneca said of mens lives, They are tossed much, but sail nothing; and truly, this is a very shrewd Disease, the only true cure that I at present know for it, is to observe the vanity of your owne dispositions. What a vaine thing is it, That a man whose Birth and breeding hath made him but a a Bramble, never to rule over the Trees, should offer to turne Statesman, or except against the government he cannot mend; Thomaso Masianello the Fisherman did so at Naples, to his own destruction, and the City also: Truly, I had not given you so many cautions, had I not been confident, That about this time your Wits be too subject to runn a wooll-gathering to their own destruction.

Besides Guido saith, That the conjunction of Sol & Saturn in Leo, maketh children disobedient, and act things cleane

contrary to their Parents will: They say that Gemini is the Ascendant of London; and yet this we finde by experience, That Saturn never came into Leo but he punisheth this City; let her Magistrates and Common-councel-men avoid perniti∣ous Counsels and Debates about this time: I am very jea∣lous, if God do not immediately contradict the influence of the Heavens about this time, such a thing, or such a like thing may be; and perhaps something worse, if some be not wiser then some, there be those now living that will have occasion to temember August or September 1652. so long as they have a day to live.

PART. 3.

The next that cometh in order is the ☌ of ♄ and ♂ in ♌ 5. August 9. 1652. the effects of which I tremble to think of, and willingly would have past them by if I durst; the punish∣ment will be great, and I pray God the desart be not as great; and that I may be methodical in the handling of it, I will bring to your memory,

First, what hath formerly succeeded such a ☌, and yet within our age.

Secondly, what Authors say of such a conjunction.

Thirdly, my own judgement on it.

To the first of these I shall quote but onely one Example, which ushered the late King Charles to the Crown: 1622. in Iuly happened a conjunction of ♄ and ♂ in ♋, which though it be a little out of my road, maketh not a little to my purpose: during the effects of this conjunction, London was afflicted with an Epidemical disease in the belly; the ve∣ry same disease, which lately puzled all our pittiful Col∣ledge to finde out what it was, and caused by the very same aspect, namely, a ☌ of ♄ and ♂ in ♋. I cannot conceive it can appear a wonder to any real Physitian, that knoweth up∣on what foundation the ground of his Art is built; but that so great affliction of Saturne in a moist sign, should marre the attentive faculty in man; but though they had not wit enough to finde out the cause of the disease; yet they had

wit enough to invent a hideous name for it. viz. the plague in the guts; I had not mentioned this, had it not been to have done a little good to my Country-men; if ever it be their hard hap to be troubled with such a Colledge puzling disease, tis but onely strengthening the retentive faculty, and the cure is done, that so you need not puzle nature to encounter with a virulent disease and preposterous physick at the same time, but enough of this. To proceed,

Under the effects of this conjunction of ♄ and ♂ Anno 1623. the Sea broak in at Amsterdam, as I have been cre∣dibly informed by those that lived there at that time, and now in the very same place it brake in the last time: I would not say this is a strong confirmation of the truth in Astrolo∣gy, for fear the Priests should rail at it; yet this I say, what is here written is truth, and if that truth which is most de∣monstrative is most excellent; take this into that number; and now wherefore do you think I have quoted all this, tru∣ly to make way for what followes.

If the effects of the ☌ of ♄ and ♂ in ♋. 1622. jumpe so exactly with the effects of the ☌ of ♄ and ♂ in ♋. 1650. as they did as near as the men of Benjamin could sling a stone; Why should not the effects of the ☌ of ♄ and ♂ in ♌ 1652: answer as exactly to the ☌ of ♄ and ♂ in ♌ 1624. The sum∣mer 1624, was exceeding dry, and was it not so 1651. the summer 1625. was exceeding pestilential, and if the Eter∣nal God do not prevent, the influence of the heavens threa∣tens no less in 1653. let such as question the truth of Astro∣logy consider of this, and indeed for their sakes I quoted it, I am confident many moderate souls are possest with a PRIEST RIDDEN HUMOUR, that they suppose whatever a Priest prates in a Pulpit must needs be true, and for truth they entertaine it without any examination, it is a hundred pitties the men of BEREA are dead, and none of their generation living in England, whom the Ho∣ly Ghost commends for searching the Scriptures to see whe∣ther what the Apostle Paul taught were true or not, but our Ministers Ipse dixit serves the turns of most of their

hearers, though their spirits comes as far short of Paul's, as the spirit of a Hare doth from the spirit of a Lion: and thus you have the first thing propounded. viz What hath succeeded such a ☌ in our age, and also the reasons, why I did it.

Proceed we now to the second: What the opinions of Authors is of such a malevolent ☌ as this is, and I care not greatly if I begin with Haly; the ☌ of ♄ and ♂ causeth impediment to Kings, diseases amongst men, and it hap∣ning in a fiery sign, they must needs proceed from heat of blood; men first of all deceive one another, and afterwards fall out and fight (and so let such creatures do, till I part them) men are subject to hot Rhumes in their eyes, accor∣ding to Guido; especially their right eyes; fire and sword, and sudden death, and another inconvenience from their Geniu's, their heads are not set fast enough upon their shoul∣ders: besides, the ☌ happening in ♌, a fixed signe, the mischief is like to be durable, ah, and violent too, both the stars being violent, and the sign no less, the malice must needs be much increased, unless Jupiter help, and the poor soul is so weak he cannot. The hast of the Printer, or something else, hinders me from quoting more Authors.

Come we now to the third thing proposed, and that is my own judgement; and herein I might well say as the Priest did in the Pulpit, I know not where to begin, nor where to end, but I must begin somewhere, or else I shall shame my self, and confound my Auditors; if this do not argue simplicity in me to recite in a book, I am sure it did in the Priest to recite it in a Pulpit; well then, I will let it stand for a jest: and thus I'll begin.

First, Never yet happened a ☌ in Saturne and Mars in ♌, but it punished London with a Pestilence the next year fol∣lowing, and now they make two ☌ in ♌, one in 1652. ano∣ther in 1654. what harm is it, if I bid London beware of a Pestilence, in 1653. and 1655. though it should never come to pass, is the City ever the worse? Or the Citizens

e'er the poorer; I am confident it hath held true, as may ap∣pear by Chronicle, these five hundred years: The merciful God whose tender mercy is over all his works, grant in mercy to his poor and almost undone Nation, that it may take away our Op∣pressors only, and spare such as mind and intend really the good of the Commonalty: And if I might make an Allegory of one place of Scripture, which though it were really in the letter once verified, it followes not in the least, but it may in a mistical sense be performed once again, it follows not, be∣cause God said, Genesis 3.15. I will put enmity between thee and the serpent, and between thy seed and her seed, &c. That all the Enmity between them, should be onely be∣tween men and serpents, greater enmity then which is not between two creatures, for men though they keep beasts for their profit, and birds for their pleasure, and dormice for their ease, as to make themselves sleep, or the like: yet a man when he meets with an Adder, gives him no quarter, but is sure to die for it; and where tis said in the foregoing Scripture: I will put enmity between thee and the woman: and it is quoted in Plinies Natural History; and I am much mistaken if the same thing be not in Gesners History of Beasts, that if a serpent be put into a room where there is forty men, and but one woman, the serpent will single out that woman amongst all them men, to do her a mis∣chief: I say doth it follow because this Scripture holds so true in a litteral sense, may it not hold as true in a mistical sense, and produce a real war.

First, in the Microcosm, or body of man, between the spirit of man and his own corruptions, look into your selves you shall finde it as I tell you.

Secondly, in the habitable world between the saints and the men whose portions is in this world; which Cain and Abel first began: but the contest shall never be ended till the dissolution.

Thirdly, in the intelligible world between good and bad Angels; for Michael and his Angels shall fight against

the Dragon, and the Dragon shall fight and his Angels: but here is our comfort, and the comfort of all saints, our Christ is a Conquering Christ, and is preparing to ride out Conquering and to Conquer, and if this be so, as is appa∣rently true, why may not another Scripture? 1 Kings 19. 15, 16, 17. And the Lord said unto him go, and return on thy way to the Wilderness of Damascus, and when thou co∣mest there, anoint Hazael to be King over Syria, and Jehu the son of Nimshy, shalt thou anoint to be King over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou a∣noint to be Prophet in thy room; and it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael, shall Jehu slay, and him that escapeth the swood of Jehu shall Elisha slay, and I care not greatly if I ad the next verse; yet have I left me seven thousand in Israel, that have not bowed the knee to Baal; I will not stand much in the interpretation of this Scripture, but leave every one to be his own interpreter: yet this I say, that Tyranical brain who hath escaped the sword in this Nation, may dye by the pestilence; and he who escapeth the pestilence, may dye by the hand of that Angel who is noted to come, Revelations 14. 6, 7. And I saw an Angel fly in the midst of Heaven having the EVERLASTING GOSPEL to preach to them that dwel on the Earth, and to every Nation, and tongue, and people; saying with a loud voice, fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come, and worship him that made the Heaven and Earth, and the Sea; which Angel I assure you is coming, and will be heard, not in your ears, but in your hearts; I mean the hearts of such as have not bowed THEIR KNEE TO BAAL: And this gives me some hope the Lord will preserve you in this terrible pestilential time 1653. in the mean season make use of Paul's advice which he preach∣ed at Lystra: Turn from vanity, and worship the living God which made the Earth and the Sea and all that there∣in is.

Secondly, Kings and Magistrates cannot agree with one another, but only in one thing, and that is oppressing the peo∣ple,

and that they are old dogs at, and the poor groan under it, Arise O God and help them!

Thirdly, the Soldiery canot agree with one another, let them score their valor on the heads of their enemies in Gods name, and not fall out with one another for that is pity.

Fourthly, many Clergymen and Lawyers are displaced and imprisoned, and some made shorter by the head.

Fifthly, a new sect of Hereticks arise, and yet I should admire how wors can be invented then are already, did I not know the Devils invention is very quick in what is nought.

Sixthly, a wofull mortality is threatned both to man and beast, pestilence amongst men, diseases of the heart and stomack, murrain among cattell, violent hot and blasting East winds.

Seventhly, I could almost be afraid of some treacherous ac∣tion, either hatching or acting by those that are in authority in Scotland: I hope our State will have a vigilant eye over them, they have warning of it long enough before hand.

Eightly, Cholar perplexes the bodies of men, to which if I adde a little discontent, as I may doe very well, both di∣stilled through the Limbick of an idle Brain, may bring forth such an untoward chymicall preparation, as may produce contempt of Authority, to the great prejudice both of supe∣riours in the Nation, and also in the Nation it self.

Ninthly, private Murthers and poisonings are like to bee very rife, I desire all men in authority to have a care of them∣selves, lest some of them be sent to take a supper apud inferos, before they are aware of it; it is a scurvy fashion, I doe not like it, and yet to tell you the truth I fear it.

Tenthly, the Land is not like to beare all the evill influ∣ence of this conjunction, the Sea must have his share also; there is like to be old knocking there, our Frigots I hope are like to get good prizes, let the Hollander beware how hee meddles with us, untill such time as he longs to be beaten, I am of opinion that most of the Merchants of Europe will com off losers in the effects of this conjunction.

11. Religion is much controverted and that by such as know neither what it is, nor what they would have: God grant they make not a Deformation instead of a Reformation, and the common People love the Law and the Hang-man much alike; neither can they forbear quarelling even with Magna Charta it self.

12. France is as full of tumults as an egg is full of meat, od conceited tumults without either sense or reason: Cardinall Mazarine his brains are like to bee knockt out in an uproar or else poysoned: and if the King himself scape, 'tis more then I look for: Many parts in Italy are like to speed no better: you may know what the evill effects of such disordered Tu∣mults are, by the late sufferings of Naples.

13. English brains are very discontented; neither are they all troubled with one discontent: happy is that man, that findes another man of his own judgement. The Souldier stands stoutly to his principles; 'tis pitty there is not a School to teach men Patience, such a pannick fear possesses the hearts of the Vulgar, and such multitudes of Ghostly thoughts they con∣jure up, that at last they runne away pursued by nothing but by their own fears: The Winter following, men and women will bee mighty subject to quartane Agues. And thus much for this Conjunction, and also for this part.

Part 4.

COme wee now to another Eclipse of the ☽ which happens Sept. 7^th. 6^h. 2'2. p.m. you may finde the Scheame set ready to your hand in my Ephemeris for 1652. neer scheat a star of the nature of ♄ and ☿ the ☽ Eclipsed in ♓ threatens de∣struction to Vegetables; as also to Fishes, and other Creatures that live in the water: Corruption of Fountains and Rivers: death of the common people; continuall War and Sedition, and Sedition especially in such places as are neer the Sea: Look to thy self Holland; if thou wilt not, I cannot help it; much detriment by water is threatned to thee: the Sea will goe

neer to encroach upon such people as have formerly encroach∣ed upon it.

Proclus saith, That the ☽ Eclipsed in the last degrees of ♓ threatens murthers and rapines, fighting and quarrelling, both by Sea and Land.

Also Giussus saith, That when the ascendant of an Eclips is ♈ Kings will prove Tyrants, and when I pray were they other∣wise? the Commonalty will bee up in Armes against their Prin∣ces: many murthers and battails and combustions will bee in the world; death, or deposition of Princes, and 'tis well if they scape so too: men will bee troubled with sore eyes, &c.

Also if the ascendant bee in the first face of ♈ as it is here, there will ensue much thunder and lightning, and lofty windes.

If the luminary Eclisped bee neer the Equator, as this is, Look to your selves Priests; Ile promise your honesty will be called in question.

Passe wee now to the Lords of the Eclips, which are ♃ and ♂, ♃ is placed in the mid-heaven in ♑, where hee threatens a change of Government, a change of the Laws and customes of Cities: the Winter will bee cold, and much snow: Thus Ptolomy.

Albumazar saith, It signifies the death of noble men. The next Lord of the Eclips is ♂ posited in the sixth house: What the generall signification of ♂ Lord of an Eclips is, you have in my judgement upon the Eclips of the Sun; only wee shall have something to say to him here, as considered in the sixth house, and in the Lion. ♂ Lord of the Eclips in ♌ signifies death of four-footed Beasts; causeth great diseases of heat amongst Men; stirs up heat of ayre, and makes men as quarrelsome as himself is; hee overthrows houses and whole Towns by Fire and Sword: there is but little Water: some fountains are dryed up, and the water of others are putrified.

Also Albumazar saith it signifies Dearth of flesh and bread, especially in the east parts a sickly and mortall yeer: men dye by the Sword, and children by extream pain in their bellies.

A change in Religion is a comming, if many Planets in a

house increase the signification of a house, as is as true as what is truest, then may much sicknesse bee expected during the effects of this Eclips, so many Planets being in the sixth house: And so much for this part.

Part 5.

Of the oppositions of ♄ and ♃.

You may remember we told you before, that ♄ and ♃ made three oppositions during the effects of this Eclipse, and all three of them from ♌ and ♒; the first happens in the yeer 1652/3. Febr. 27. 0^h. 3'0. p.m. in 6^d. of ♌ and ♒.

The second happens the 10^th. of Iuly 1653. 3^h. 3'0. p.m. in 3^d. 1'4. of ♌ and ♒.

And the last happens in Ianuary 1653/4. the 17^th. day about 8. in the morning, in 24^d. of ♌ and ♒, ♄ being with cor, ♌ and ♃ with fomahand, I shall here speak of them all together, and in so doing, first Ile shew you what Authours have left to po∣sterity upon the like oppositions. Secondly, the judgement of Authours upon the effects of them. Thirdly, my own judgement upon them.

To begin with the first of these, namely, What Authors have left upon Record, to have succeeded such oppositions, Anno 1433. in Sept. there was an ☍ of ♄ and ♃ from ♌ and ♒ 13. ♂ joynes with ♄ in November, and opposeth ♃. Anno 1434 ♄ and ♃ make another ☍ in the latter end of ♌ and ♒, about which time appeared a terryfying Comet; and so there may doe now too for ought I know, or else other sights in the aire as bad.

Also Anno 1633. there happened a terrible Eclyps of the ☉ in the crab, which shewed his influence to some pur∣pose the yeere following; and now judge whether it bee not to some purpose to quote this example, there being such an admirable congruity betweene those and these oppositions; only the Eclyps of the ☉ was in the crab then, and in the ram now, and that an ☍ of ♄ and ♃, ♄ being in ♌, might never

bee said to come without having one touch at Rome, and to tell you the truth, It was never yet knowne by man, nor menti∣oned by Chronicle, that ever the tumbling & tossing of the bo∣dy of ♄ through the Lyon hapned, but it was a sufficient scourg to London. The Veneitans and Florentines, together with o∣ther Italian Princ•• made Warre against his holynes the Pope, Anno 1434. who seeing himselfe not able to resist, his Gutts and he ran away, and he was glad at heart he could escape so: A generall. Councell was held at Bazile, at which his holines the Bishop of Rome permitted the Bohemians to receive the Sa∣crament, in both kindes, whereas both before and since, the Priests drinke up all the Wine themselves, and leave the poore people ready to choake themselves with the breaden-god.

When those Princes wee told you of before, had routed the Pope out of his holy-Chayre, like a company of Asses, they goe together by the eares with one another; the Empe∣rour dyeth, and Albert, Arch-Duke of Austria is made Emperour, but hee held it but a small time, Death sum∣moning him to make his appearance in another world.

Anno 1493. was another opposition of Saturne and Jupi∣ter in ♌ and ♒ an Eclyps of the ☉ in ♉ then operating. The Romane Empyre is together by the Eares, whole Heards of Cattle dye of the Murraine; The King of Portingall falls off of his Horse and breaks his neck; now the Emperour dyes, and that veneriall disease (though called the French-Pox) began first in Naples; the King of France is full of trouble, his Ar∣my quits the Field; the King of Poland is beaten by the Turk; presently after this, as there doth now, hapned an Eclypse of the ☉ in ♌, which though it were but small, yet were the ef∣fects great, by reason the luminary was infested with the squares both of ♄ and ♂: Good Lord have mercy upon us! what will the effects of this next Eclips in ♌ be, when the Eclips it selfe is great, and the luminaries besieged by the bodies of ♄ and ♂? The Death of the King of France, and also of many Germane∣Princes succeeded in the effects of this. Anno 1552. there hap∣pened another ☍ of ♄ and ♃ in ♌ and ♒, an Eclyps of the ☉ in ♑ then stoutly operating, Caesare is at wars, the Bishops of

Germany are together by the Eares, so was the Duke of Saxo∣ny and the King of France; I had not mentioned this ☍ had not Edward, the last of that name, King of England, a most hopefull young man changed this life for a better; hee had the Virgin in the Horoscope of his Genesis, and the ☉ Eclipsed neer the degree ascending, and in the place of ♄: Warrs followed his death; and Religion mended just as sowre Ale doth in Summer. The Marquesse of Brandenburg must needs goe fight with the Duke of Brunswick: one battell hee gave him, and was handsomely beaten for his pains: As soon as ever he could get another Army hee must have the other bout with him, and was served the same sauce: the yeer after this great ☍ England was as full of troubles as the Sea is full of water.

Wyat Rebelled about the comming in of Phillip King of Spain, and many more were clapt up in the Goal, right or wrong, it matters not: Guilford Dudly and his wife Ioane, the Duke of Suffolk and his Daughter lost their heads: The Lady Elizabeth was clapt up in Prison; and Mary Rules the Na∣tion more like a Beast then a woman: I must transgres no lon∣ger in quoting what is past, but come to what Authors say of the ☍, which is the second thing promised.

Haly faith, The ☍ of ♄ and ♃ signifies many brawlings and contentions, both between man and man, and between Na∣tion and Nation; sets the Commonalty together by the ears against their Magistrates and Kings. Besides, according to Guido, It signifies that Kings and Magistrates shall bee depo∣sed, especially such whose Kingdomes are under ♌ and ♒; Ci∣ties thereunder shall bee consumed by Fire and Sword. Also, besides all this, Albumazar saith, That rich men shall be made equall with the poor.

De Malé quaesitis vix gaudet tertius Haeres.

Goods ill got soon scatter'd bee, The third Heir ne'er doth them see.

I come now to the third, which is my own judgement upon

the Oppositions, in which I shall bee very brief.

First, They signifie consumption of estate; let no thriving time (I mean, no time to grow exceeding rich) bee expected by English men yet these four or five yeers; God hath pro∣vided other Fish for them to fry, his determination upon the world is otherwise: Ier. 45. 4, 5. Iehovah saith thus: Behold, that which I have built will I break down; and that which I have planted I will pluck up; even this whole land: And seekest thou great things for thy self? seek them not: for behold, I will bring evill upon all flesh, saith the Lord; but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest. I hope such as fear God, and aime at the liberty of the Subject, shall have Baruchs promise made good to them; and let them thank God if they scape so too: and if they please to heare me, well and good; if not, I have my reward: God is a bringing to passe a great work in the world, which when you see it come to passe, it will make your hearts ake; and I am per∣swaded I can give you some reasons why hee doth so, for the God of reason doth nothing without reason, and if wee can∣not see a reason of Gods actions, 'tis to bee imputed to our blindnesse; let the Priests prate what they will The Saints are united to the God-head, by the person of our Lord Iesus Christ: Some of the Reasons may probably be these, or if you will not take them for reasons, take them for probable conjectures, 'tis no matter under what notion you take them, so you make good use of them.

First, one Reason may be to prepare the Saints for such Mise∣ries as hee will shortly reveale to them; Whilest the Bridegroom staied the wise Virgins, as well as the foolish, slumbred and slept; and in all probabilities these dreadfull times are but to awake them out of that sleepe; consider how unfit the best of Saints are to receive those wonderfull things which God will short∣ly reveale to them; if they please I'll draw them up a looking-glasse to behold a copy of their Countenances in, as they stand in statu quo, as their Disposition is at pre∣sent.

First, they minde riches much, and send their Hearts to

meete them before they come; they draw Maps of their own desires, and cut out such a kinde of life in their thoughts as pleases them, and by their owne thoughts put themselves into another condition then God hath ordained for them; as children, to exercise their houswifery, make clay-pies; and to expresse their desires make Babies of clouts; neither is there any better way for a man to know his owne heart then this, for though a mans condition bee not as hee would have it, and let the impossibilities or improbabilities bee never so great of being what they desire, yet their fancies will discover to them what their inclinations are, they will create a fooles Paradice in their own Brains; First what they would be. And second∣ly, what they would doe if they were so; and when they have created such a Paradise, then they walke up and downe in it with delight; First, how much money they would have. Se∣condly, what they would doe with it; what preferment they would have, and then how they would carry themselves in it, and though they want the things themselves they desire, yet will they please themselves with the Pictures of them drawne in their thoughts.

Secondly, I make no question but the Saints are guilty of sinns as well as other men, and delight to busie their time in thinking of those things that nothing at all concerns them; they long after curiosities, like Women with childe, that many times long for such things as cannot bee had: our thoughts are the buds of an immortall nature whithin us, and ought to bee spent about such things as are discovered in the works and word of God, and not to be spent about the idle Idea's of our own brains: What a madnesse were it for a Lady, instead of Pearls and Diamonds, to dresse her self up with Peacocks fea∣thers; and yet our thoughts, as familiarly as the Sun rises and sets, instead of feeding upon wholesome food, contained in the Book of the Scriptures and the Book of the Creatures, like Ca∣melions, they feed on the aire.

Thirdly, Their thoughts are spent in meditating of what is upon Earth, and not of what is in Heaven; and taking a survey of worldly hapinesse, which they enjoy, as Haman was taking

an inventory of his glory the night before hee was hanged, and Nebuchadnezer when hee was walking alone and talking to himself like a fool, Is not this great Babel that I have built? even at the very time when hee was taken with a Lycanthropia; for as men which desire alwaies to bee telling their money, 'tis a signe they are covetous; and women that alwaies delight to bee looking their faces in a looking Glasse, 'tis a signe they are proud: so men that are alwaies minding their earthly happinesse, and forget to bee thankfull to God, shews infinite pride and self flattery in them; therefore they shall have trou∣ble in the flesh that God may call them off from it.

Fourthly, Take a man that is ambitious, and so 'tis to bee feared are some of the best of men, though they cannot yet obtain what they desire, yet will they, feigning themselves to bee some great persons, and having erected a throne in their own brains, sit down very quietly in it.

Fifthly, A man that loves his guts well, and wants money to purchase such food as hee desires, will please himself with the delights of what hee would have, hee will set down within his own brain a bill of fare and what ingredients hee will have in it, and please himself with the conceit of it, although hee have none of it.

Sixthly, A man that is revengefull, and wants a sting, hee will please himself with his own revengfull thoughts, and take delight to conceit hee is plagueing his enemie, though hee bee twenty miles from him.

I am confident, if you look into your own conditions, you shall finde I have hit the nayle on the head in some of these; and then you cannot but see a reason of the troublesomenesse of the times, before the comming of the Lord Iesus Christ in power. This is my first reason.

Secondly, The Devill begins to grow a little troublesome, because hee hath but a short time to continue, as the Bishops in England were in the height of their pride before they fell, as Monarchy was most tyrannicall a little before its Catastro∣phe: So will the Devill also, if you beleeve the Scripture, Rev. 12. 12. Woe bee to the Inhabitants of the earth, and of the

sea, for the Divel is come down to you, having great wrath, be∣cause he knows he hath but a short time.

3. God may do it to leave the wicked without excuse: They have read, all these things shall come before the great and notable day of the Lord appear, before he pour out his spirit upon all flesh; and if they will neither beleeve what they read, hear, see, nor feel, I do not know what to say to them; As sure as a club, their consciences cannot plead one inch of excuse.

4. God may do it, to make the Saints attend more to pray∣er: When men are most in danger, then they pray hearti∣lyest, and walk closest with God; when they have a little rest, God is quickly out of their minds. And now I think of it, I care not if I incite here a couple of Verses which I heard from a Commander now at present in the Army;

Our God and Souldiers we alike adore, Even in the brink of danger, not before. After deliv'rance they are alike requited, Our God's forgotten, and our Souldiers slighted.

And to tell you the truth, Experience will tell us, that in that persecution under the late Bishops, the Saints walked more closely with God then now they do; they now walk as carelesly, as if the Divel were dead. I shall bring all home to the purpose I quoted it for, and conclude this reason with one place of Scripture; which, when you have read and se∣riously considered, tell me if prayer may not be a notable help to you in these times of trouble which are so manifestly threatned, and so near at hand, and so nearly concern you; it is Acts 2. 19, 20, 21. And I will shew wonders in heaven a∣bove, and signes in the earth beneath: bloud, and fire, and va∣pour of smoake: The Sun shall be turned into darknesse, and the Moon into blood, before that great and not able day of the Lord come. And it shall come to passe, that whosoever shall CALL upon the NAME of the LORD shall be saved.

5. It may be to call off the hearts of the Saints from the world, that so they may look up to God whether they will or no: when nothing but trouble is to be seen under the

Moon, such may the love of God to the Saints be, that he may move them to come to him by arguments of necessity. This is my first Axiome.

2 Magistrates walk in the clouds, neither will what the common people intend, quickly be known. Religion in one place, and execution of justice in another, will be made a couple of dainty cloaks to hide mens knaveries; (i.e. cover ambitious thoughts from the vulgar view;) frigidus latet anguis in herba: have a care you be not deceived that way; nay, have a double care, such as pretend your freedom and liberty, bring you not into a worse bondage. A seasonable warning is given you of it, not onely by the book of the Creatures, but also by the book of the Scriptures, Micah 7. 5, 6, 7. Trust yee not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosome: for the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against the mother in law; a mans enemies are the men of his own house: There∣fore I will look unto the Lord, I will wait for the God of my sal∣vation: My God will hear me. Here is your disease, here is your cure; the Scripture hath spoke enough, I need speak no more.

3. We told you before, That a murrein amongst beasts was threatned: and as amongst men in a pestilentiall time, all that are infected die not, neither is it probable will all the beasts; therefore men eating such corrupted food, taking their nourishment from it, must needs be defiled by its im∣purity. And if you will give me leave to digress a little, I will not transgress.

First, Hereby ye see, what a great part of the curse of God for sin was: Happy, yea thrice happy is hee to whom God reveals a redresse.

Secondly, By this you may see, if you be not stark blind, which takes a more laudable course to cure a disease, Gailen, who gives the medicine with its impurity; or Paracelsus, who substracts onely the medicinal part, and leaves the im∣purity, as terra damnata.

4. Violent storms, and unusuall, if not unheard of hail will be a great prejudice unto the earth, especially toward the later end of the Summer 1652, 1653, and its well if 1654 scape.

5. When the air is thus troubled, the spirits of the air must needs be troubled also; men conceive strange, ridicu∣lous thoughts of the Divel, namely, that he is an ugly, un∣quoth creature, with horns on his head, and cloven feet, with great eys like sacers: others that have a little more wit, know wel enough that he is a spirit; but they think he is tied up fast enough, either in hell, or in some other hole, neither I nor they know where; when the truth is, his residence is in the air; and therefore the Scripture calleth him, The Prince of the power of the air. Therefore I say, the air being disturb∣ed, the spirits of the air must needs be disturbed also; and such unusual sights may appear, as may terrifie both your eys and hearts, if not at the time of the Eclipse, yet within a short time after: Neither shall you see the midst of August 1652 over-past, but the world shall see what I have written is truth.

6. The Iew begins to take a spleen at Rome, and all the Nations in Europe begin to snarl at her; her finall Catastro∣phe approacheth, but not yet. However, till that time come, continuall sicknesses, fires, and tumults; either one of these, or all of these, or something else as bad, will molest her: And if her learned Jesuits cannot tell her the meaning of God from it, what are they good for?

7. One word or two I will speak concerning the 2^d oppo∣sition of ♄ and ♃, which happeneth in Iuly 1653; for then, and not quite till then, will the effects of the ☌ of ♄ and ♃, which we wrote of before, appear in their colours, that all the world may see what they are: For as Herostratus set the Temple of Diana at Ephesus on fire, that so he might get him∣self a name, that he might be talked of after he was dead, so the Iesuits, when no other good can be done, will set all the Princes in Europe that are priest-ridden, together by the ears, that so they may get themselves a name, though of infamy.

I had thought to have written concerning an Eclipse of the Moon 1653. on March 3. but for some reasons best known to my selfe, I shall passe it by here, and speak of it in my Ephemeris for that year.