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Answer to the fourth Objection, of Calumny, which brandeth our Au∣thor with the title of Chief of the Seductors and Impostors.
THe Weapons of this Medusa are sharper in this point then in others, there∣fore our Buckler accordingly must be of the best mettle and temper.
We cannot deny but Nostradamus hath affected obscurity, himself ac∣knowledgeth it in his two Epistles, in that to Caesar his Son, he saith, he hath done
it, not only because of the times wherein he lived, but also by reason of those that were to follow, in the times wherein he lived the Case was as it is now, Veritas odium parit, and this hatred in powerful men is prejudicial to those that speak the Truth, he was also cautious in that, by reason of the times following; for if he had plainly declared what he meant, the Wits would have laughed at it, and would not have believed those strange revolutions that came to pass, and which our Author had foretold. In his Epistle to Henry the 11 he telleth him, that he doth purposely make use of obscure terms to express his mind, for the reasons before alledged.
Now Calumny faith, that this affectation of obscurity is a sign that God was not the Author of his Knowledge, seeing that by this obscurity they have proved un∣profitable to the Church.
I answer first, that the consequence is false; for the Holy Prophets have spoken so obscurely, that a great part of what they had Prophecied was not known till after it had come to pass.
I answer secondly, that although Prophecies were not understood till after the fulfilling thereof, it doth not follow that they were unprofitable; because by their fulfilling in due time, we gather, that he who revealed them was the true God, Lord of times and Eternity, and therefore being the God of Israel, and of the Christians, he ought to be worshiped. By this principle Cyrus and Alexander knew the true God, Cyrus by having seen the Prophecies of Isaiah, and Alexander those of Daniel.
Therefore as the Prophecies of the Saints have not been fruitless, though not understood till they were fulfilled, even so we must not infer that Nostradamus's Pro∣phecies have been useless, though they have remained in obscurity so long a while.
Besides, there is no doubt but Nostradamus having Prophecied so many several things that are come to pass, but that hereafter when the Heathen shall see it they shall glorifie God, and shall acknowledge a true Religion, as did Cyrus, who many Authors believe to have obtained Salvation.
I answer in the third place, that God permitteth ordinarily that Prophecies lie long in the dark, and then raiseth the Spirit of some men to expound them, as he did that of Daniel to interpret the 70 Weeks of the Babylonian Captivity, Prophecied by Jeremiah, to incourage the faithful three ways.
First, in shewing them, that if the first Prophecies have been punctually fulfilled, the rest will likewise come to pass, seeing the same God hath dictated them.
Secondly, in unfolding to them the future wonders, of which they shall be par∣takers.
Thirdly, in giving warning how they may attain to them, and shew those acci∣dents that might be an hindrance. Thus God did permit, that for the space of 100. years Nostradamus Prophecies should lie in darkness, and be contemned, but after that time God will raise some body to interpret them, whence the faithful see∣ing so many things foretold come to pass so exactly, will incourage one another, by seing so many wonderful prodigies, of whom they shall be Eye Witnesses.
As for my part I have undertaken this Work, only to authorise the wonders that shall be seen in our days, and to invite the Christian Princes to the same design.
The conclusion of this discourse is, that our Medusa Calumny, must needs retreat in her dens, and that we ought to forgive those Authors that have spoken so ill of our Author, seing they wanted the Intelligence of his Prophecies, and that the Church did suspend the authorising of them.