An astrological speculation of the late prodigy. Or A clear discovery of the approaching miseries signified by that comet, or blazing star which hath so long been visible, to several countries and nations in November, December and January; in the year 1680. Being a full account of the manner or nature of its effects, and in what countries they'l be exhibited. Also the true way of judging the effects, of all other comets, and such apparitions, carefully collected from the best experimental judgments of the choicest aphorisms, and according to their fundamental, and methodical rules; now in a seasonable time manifested in a plain and homely stile; fit for the understanding of mean capacities. By Thomas Jones a lover of learning, and student in astrology; & autodidactus.

The demonstrations of this Comet hath been so large, that I think it needless to trouble the ingenious Lover of Arts, with my farther Treatise on the significations of Comets or Eclipses, that may happen in other signs of the Zodiack; or in any other House of the Scheme, or of any other Colour or Complexion.

Now finding our approaching woes to be many, and threatned to many parts of the World; and the greatest testimonies herein denotes, That terrible and Cruel mischiefs will be done about matters of Religion: The consideration of it moves me to pray heartily to God, that I may not live to see those days, which the holy man Bishop Usher foresaw through inspiration, as he said with his eyes lifted up to Heaven and the tears running down his Checks, That his thoughts were taken up about the miseries and persecutions that were coming upon all the Protestant Churches of Christ through all Europe, which would be so sharp and bitter that the contemplation of them, had fetched the tears from his Eyes, and that it would be done by the hands of Papists, and in the way of a sudden Massacre: And that the

then Pope would be the Chiefest instrument of it; Therefore take head (said he) that you be not found sleeping and unprepared; for it is even at the door: Where we Suppose his meaning was that we should be prepared to die; or else he saw it a seasonable time to demon∣strate unto us the Words of a Prophet, Joel 3. 10. Beat your Plough∣shears into Swords, and your pruning hooks into Spears, let the weak say I am Strong. He said also that there would be one great difference be∣tween this approaching persecution and those already past: For in the former the most eminent and Spiritual Ministers, and Christians did generally Suffer most and were most violently fallen upon: But in this approaching persecution, the best of People will be preserved by God as a seed to partake of that glory which shall immediately follow and come upon the Church, assoon as ever that Storm shall be over. For as it shall be the sharpest, so it shall be the shortest Persecution of them all, and shall only take away the Gross Hypocrites and formal Professors, But the true Spiritual believers shall be preserved till the Calamity be over past.

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this Prc∣phecy, and keep those things which are writen herein, for the time is at hand, Rev. 1. 3.

Since that God hath been pleased to foreshew us his approaching judgment, by a token of his fierce anger fixed in the Heavens as a torch or a fiery Sword, visible to many sinners that would not be∣hold the brightness, and beauty of his Laws, and Statutes; Now seeing that the Sword of God, is ready drawn and hastening to destroy and weed the World of the rebellious People, who went on raging in no less disobedience, than if they had proclaimed open Wars against God. It is now high time for them to awake out of Sleep, and consider and lay to heart, how near they are to fall over the brink of their pleasures, and how dreadful a condition they'l be in; when their deserved calamities shall overtake them, as Solomen tells us, Eccl. 9. 12. Man knoweth not his time; as the Fishes that are taken in an evil net; and as the Birds that are caught in a Snare: so are the Sons of Men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them. Let us Praise His Clemency, who, seeing we are sinners, reprov∣eth our Sluggishness, by these Signs. When God goeth about to punish a City or Nation, he is pleased first to foreshew it with Signs and wonders; therefore let us fear the maker of this Comet,

and not the Comet it self; whosoever feareth God let him say with David, Come and see the works of the Lord, how terrible he is in his doings towards the Children of Men, Psal. 66. 5. Now that Gods wonderful works would Surprize us with such fear as may lead us unto God himself is the hearty Prayers of

T. J.