Wonderfull prophecies from the beginning of the monarchy of this land hidden vnder the parables of: Three young noble-men in a fiary fornace. A chast wife, and two old fornicators. The idol Belus and his dragon. Daniel in a den amid lyons. Their agreement with canonical prophecies: also in temperate defence of the apocryphals annexed to the canon of the Scriptures. Together with an essay touching the late prodigious comete; how farre forth the præsages thereof doe accord with such prophecies, as are found to pertaine to these our times. By all which, the discrete and wise in heart may gather touching things to come, what is forewarned vnto men; as for the general and publique, so also for their priuate and particular. By Robert Salter.

The Accomplishment.

VVHo so will enter into an accurate and discrete search of the proceedings of these Babilonians, and compare their practises of these daies with thoe of for∣mer times; shal easily finde, how tenderly they take the late Entryes made vpon the freehold of their Conclaue, as well in word as in writing, by sundry worthy Agents in the cause of the Church. Specially a New man, which hath ex professo, debated and proued out of their owne mouths euen by the Rules and Lawes of that their Conclaue, that there is not now, nor for long time past since, hath beene any Regularly made neither Pope nor Cardinal; wherefore from thence forth they haue not dealt (as they were wont before) by a shew of Legal proceedings, as by Excomunications, Interdicts, Jndulgences, Dispensati∣ons, and such like formalities. But now they plainly declare themselues by Assasinats, Leagues, Proscripti∣ons, Inuasions, Breaches of promise and faith, Treasons v∣niuersal and particular, as is discouered by their owne letters and Remonstrances one to another, which they hoped should neuer haue come to light in Testimony a∣gainst them.

And hereby they shew what reckoning they make and euer did, of their Dunguy Belas. Namely, no more then according to the matter whereof hee is made, [Ne∣hustan, a piece of brasse, or a lumpe of clay]. But the Dra∣gon in the Cage is that, which so long as they could beare the world in hand, of the life and strength of it, they held themselues safe enough. And now at length, they proclayme fire and sword against Daniel and all the Kings and Princes that call him to counsel against their Heath∣enish Idolatry and Dragonly Policy, and they are to them, Iewes, and worse, that presume to moue or to bee seene in it.

Wherefore they haue stirred vp an Heptarchy of Nati∣ons, that is to say, a full and competent power of sundry Kingdomes (which as Lyons kept in dennes, are at their command) to set vpon Daniel and his followers, the sincere Professors of Gods trewth, who seeme to bee thereby vtterly forsaken by all their friends, and assailed on all sides by Aduersaries, in such ineuitable distresse (as farre as man may discerne by the eye of flesh and bloud) as if they were in a dungeon, among deuou∣ring Beasts. But they that behold them with spiritual eyes, doe contrarily see them as safe as they were before in the fornace.

Those that out of much curiosity wil not be contented with the vnderstanding of this Number of Seuen, after the for me of Prophetical speech (wherein a Definite Number is vsu∣ally put for an Indefinite, as it is found in many places of the Canon of Holy writs, both Old and New) seeme to presse a Nominal designation of them. And so reckon France, Spaine, the Empire, Italy, Bohemia, and Poland, for sixe of them. In some of which may bee perhaps some doubt. But for the seuenth, I cannot, neither doe I thinke any other will make doubt of. And that is, A home party in the bosome of the Church, and of all them of the trew Rel∣ligion, which must needes bee the most dangerous, by how much the greatnesse thereof is not possibly to bee discouered.

By this wee may perceiue, what is to be exspected by the trew Professors, from all those that are at the Babilo∣nians becke (specially the last of the seuen named Lyons). Let them otherwise make what shew they will of society and common Countrey, their bridle is the onely power of God, without any disposition to peace in any of them. And it is a very dangerous Security in men, to set so light as they doe of that Tenent of theirs [How that it is a prin∣cipal case of conscience in them, not to keepe faith with Here∣tiques.] For so consequently it is to them a meritorious worke to purchase credit with the faithful, that so they may bee deceiued, and by their credulity vtterly cut off

by these Infidels. Yea, and a sinne inexpiable, for them to enter into any such faith of league and society with the trew Professors, which they doe not before hand purpose and practise to breake when soeuer they shall see their best time to doe most mischiefe thereby: so that it is lesse perilous to trust a Viper in the bosome, then these men vpon any termes. For that is felt at his first wound∣ing, and so may the venime bee encountred and expel∣led. But these are not felt to sting, till the wound bee past recouery.

Howbeit for all this God hath not forsaken his people; but so soone as they turne and call to him, he will heare them, and that right early; as hee doth our Prophet in the den, by the reliefe of Habaqquq, that is to say, such as shall louingly embrace them in the acknowlagement of the trewth they professe. Specially those old Confes∣sors the Jewes, who with new prayses in their mouthes, that is to say, by their conuersion vnto Christ their Messi∣ah, shall either come themselues with that irresistible speed, and vnperceiued secrecy, as if they were borne in the Aire, by Angels, aboue the reach of mans sight; Or else (as the name of Angel doth import) by message of comfort from them, no lesse speedy then secret, of their mature assistance and confederacy.

But when shall this bee (say some)? vnto whom it is answered, that it shall be so soone as we begin to hunger and thirst after righteousnesse, as Daniel is to be vnderstood to doe for natural foode, according to the long time of his stay in the Den.

Yea, and that by the special worke of God, who other∣wise could as wel haue preserued him, without feeling hunger, as hee did Moses in the Mount, and Elijah in his journey. But this was disposed by God after this manner, to the end, it might bee to the Prophet a cor∣poral and natural signe incurring into the senses for the strengthening of his faith, as the message of the conuer∣sion of the Iewes shall be to the true Professors of Christ, in the middest of their Terrors.

And herevpon is it, that no sooner doth hee pray, but euen before the prayer is past his lippes, hee (as Heze∣kiah and Cornelius) receiueth answer of grace, and graunt of his demand, by an Angelical message in the hand of a louing and louely Prophet; namely, Hebrewe conuerts confessing Christ.

Which tidings brought shall amaze the Babilonians, as the tidings of the approach of the Aethiopians did Senna∣cherib and shall turne the hearts of these Nations against the Babilonians (as the flames were turned against the fewellers in the first Period, and as the Beasts, vnto whom the Christians were cast forth to be deuoured in the second Period, were turned against those that prouoked them) and shall destroy them; the Saints of God looking on and reioycing.

Thus in this Period is contained the warres of Gog and Magog, and the vision of the New Ierusalem, and of the Philadelphian and Laodiecian Churches. That is to say, the distresses of the Church by an Anarchical Apostacy, and the causes thereof, with the time of the endurance and meanes of deliuery; the calling and conuersion of the Iewes, and their vnion vnto the trew Professors of Christ, whereby shall be purchased Triumphant daies. Namely, the double sacrifice due to the Sabbath, which is the sacri∣fice of both Iew and Gentile, with one heart and mouth praysing God. And this Sabbath neuer did the Church yet enjoy, but at length must, for a preparation to the end. Which time hasten ô Lord, thou which art the trew and Aeternal High Priest, in whom thy Church doth cele∣brate a perpetual Sabbath, offering themselues vp a Holy, Liuely, and Gracious Sacrifice, by their (not Brutish but) Reasonable and Intelligent seruice of God. Euen so Lord IESV, come quickly. Amen.

Notes

• King Iames in his Praemonito∣ry Epistle, &c. Novus homo.
• Vid. Cancel. His∣pan.
• Deut. 29.17. O King bee not deceiued for this is but clay with∣in, and brasse without, and did neuer eate ought
• The King is be∣come a ••••w, for he hath destroy∣ed Bel, &c.
• Classicum Belli sacri.
• Period. 1.
• The home par∣ty.
• Fides non habē∣da cū Haereticis.
• Ps. 46. Habaqquq. Affectionately embraceing.
• Iehudah: Confessing or ••raysing.
• ••gelus. messenger or ••ssage.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 34. & 34. ••••g. 19.
• Isa. 38. Act. 10.
• 2. Reg. 19. Ap. 17.
• Euseb. Isa. 66.
• Ap. 20. Ap. 21. Ap. 3.
• Num. 28. Vpon the seuenth day the King went to bewayle Daniel.
• Rom. 12.