The late eclipse unclasped: or the mistaken star-gazers unmasked.: VVherein is manifested seven severall reasons whereby these astrolegers have deceived the people. / By a learned divine neere London.

TEXT, Mark 13. 24:

But in those dayes, after that tribulation, the Sun shall be darkned, and the Moone shall not give her light.

THe Fore-going Verses shew the destruction of Jerusalem, from whence Christ makes a Transsition of the destruction of the World.

The Connexion of the Suns eclips, with the words, in those daies after the Tribulation, doe make all time to present with God, because time is not fluent to God, but alwaies fixed; and because God

would have us to wait for the Last Day, every day.

Concerning the Suns darknesse, some Expo∣sitors expound it Mistically, and some Alle∣gorically, as Ezek. 32. Chap. Is an elegant ex∣pression of Pharoahs destruction; So by an E∣clipse, they would understand the miserable e∣vents in the World, either by great perplexity on mens minds, or a darkning of the Truth by Errour and Heresie.

But it is a Rule in Divinitie, where there is no necessity of a figurative construction, there the Litterall sence may stand, and therefore the words as the Text are to be understood lit∣telally; yet a Mysticall sence is not quite exclu∣ded, but from an accurate consideration of the visible Signes which shall be in the Sun and the Moon, it cannot be figuratively applyed to a ge∣nerall Apostacie from the true Faith; or a per∣plexity on mens mindes, because Christ doth distinguish between Tribulation of time, and the times of perplexity on mens minds, Luke 21. 24.

The best Interpreters though they understand these words litterally, yet denie not, but by Gods Ordination they may have a Metaphysi∣call Interpretation, as the Rainbow, though it proceed from a Naturall Cause, yet God design∣ed it to a Spirituall use, viz. to signifie the Co∣venant

between God and all flesh, Gen. 9. So that the concurrence of Divine Providence is not seen nor considered in the World, because Astronomers may foresee Eclipses from Natu∣rall Causes, both by Rules of Art, and also be∣cause they have been from the Creation.

The Eclipse at Christs death was Praeturna∣turall in two respects. First, because the Moon was then at the full, then the Passeover was kept on the fourteenth day of the Moneth, and therefore the Moone was at the farthest dist∣ance from the Sun. And secondly, because that Eclipse continued for three houres with∣out increase or decrease of darknesse, which is contrary to other Eclipses.

Lucian a Martyr made the said Eclipse an argument to convince the Heathen of their In∣fidelity, and to bring them to repentance.

At the death of Charles the Great, in the year 814. was a most horrid Eclipse, by reason of a fuliginous matter arising out of the Earth. And in Anno 1575. there appeared a new Starre which Astronomers never knew before; there∣fore towards the end of the World God can shew prodigious Sgnes as fore-runners of his comming to judgement: and the terrifying of mens mindes at this time, which is not usuall in other Eclipses, confirmes this Eclipse to be prodigious.

When the eyes of the body grow dim, it is a signe of death approaching, as in Ecclesi. 12. so when the Eye of of the World, the Sun grows darke, it is a signe the world is neere confusion.

Let us not think that ordinary things in na∣ture have no extraordinary signification in the mind of God; for God speakes some-what to the world from naturall bodies, as Micah 6.9. The Lords voyce cryeth to tae City, &c. heare ye the Rod, &c.

I conceive that ordinary Eclipses are by Christ ordained, to fore-tell his comming to Judge∣ment, for the signes praedicting the destruction of Jerusalem were naturall, and why may not Christ deale so with the World now?

Christ doth not call them prodigious, but only signes, which have a rise out of nature, and are not hyperphysicall: And Christ sayes not that any one of these signes, singly considered, are signes of his comming, but all these joyntly to∣gether; so that Eclipses, and roaring of the Sea, conjunctively considered, doe fore-tell Christs comming.

Observation, Is there any aptnesse in the eclipse of the Sun to fore-tell Christs comming to judge∣ment?

I answer, Gods clouding of light, seemes contrary to his owne institution, so that an eclipse may seeme proeternaturall; therefore in Eclipses the

Heathens used to heat Basins, and Kettles, and to make a great noise to aw••ken the Sun when it was eclipsed: and in respect of the alteration whi•••• may fall out among men, this Eclipse is very fear••¦full, for in Anno. 1645. followed the sweating sicknesse here in England, whereof many thousands dyed; and prrsently after that, the disease called the Scurvy; so that which hath an aptnesse to cause great changes, may Prognosticate Doomes-day.

Secondly, An Eclipse may singnifie the fu∣ture condition of wicked men, to be cast into utter darknesse, and separated forever from the true light God.

Quest. But what shall wee think of this pre∣sent Eclipse?

Answer, Wee are not to neglect the influences of it, because it is a great work of God, and very vi∣sible to our eyes; now God speakes of his own great Works, Psalm. 111. 19, He hath made a Taber∣nacle for the Sunne. And God acconts that man a Foole that will not heed bis Works, Psalm. 92. 2. and in Isa. 5. 12. God speakes against such as drink away their feare, and make merry, but regard not the works of his hands.

Now God sets this Signe over our heads, and makes the Sun to be a more propper Sig∣nificator to England, than any other part of Europe; therefore we ought to take speciall no∣tice of Gods Acts in this matter, since our Fa∣thers

never knew the like; For whereas the Sun is divided into twelve parts, to morrow there will be but halfe a part of the twelve vi∣sible to our sight.

Againe, in respect of the Conjuncture of time: it is now a time of Change, Danger, and Trouble, at home, and abroad: and also a time of most grievous sinnes, as Blasphemy, Perjurie, Libertisme, Oppression, Pride, Sen∣suality, Errour, and Herisies, these may make us to shake at the shaking of a Leafe, much more, when God shakes his Rod over a Na∣tion.

In Philosophie, those things may be profitable in the Generall, which are not in the particu∣lar, as Frostie weather is good for the Earth, but it is pinching to Man; but I never read of any good effect that followed an Eclipse.

But as the Jewes were enjoyned to make Battlements in building their Houses to pre∣servemen from falling: so must Minnisters give warning to their Auditors, what thoughts to entertaine concerning the events of Eclipses, that they be not distracted with Curiosity, or Stupidity: but to conceive with Christian con∣sideration of some great change to ensue; but whether this change will be from Health to Sicknesse, from Liberty to Slavery, from Truth to Heresie, or from Peace to Warre and De∣struction;

I will not take upon me to Divine or fore-tell; for foolish people give more credit to judiciary Astrologers, then to Gods Word; but Gods Ministers may averre, that it is not in the power of any Astrologer to foretell what the Events or Influence of this Eclipse will be in particular.

Objection.
But doe we not finde by experience, and Hi∣stories doe confirme it, that Astrologers have often-times spoken truth and fore-told events, as one fore-told that Nero should be Emperour, and should murther his owne Mother, and ano∣ther fore-told that Augustus should be Lord o∣ver the whole World, and another praedicted that Picus Mirandula a very learned man should die in the thirty three yeare of his age, and so he did.

Answer.
Grant they doe tell truth sometimes, but how false are they ten times for once telling truth? and al∣beit they may speake truth, yet it is not out of rules of Art, but out of seven false waies they may ••roe∣dict future events.

• As First▪ Out of a secret communion with the Divell in their Spirits, though the Party himselfe knowes not the power of the Divell working

• in him and so Ambrose, Austin, and Origien d••e affirme, that by a secret impulse of the Divell, they may disclose Events.
• II. Out of a Naturall Magick; as Thales the Philosopher, from the consideration of Wa∣ters then abounding, did fore-tell a great plen∣ty of Oyle in the World; and the Aegyptians, from the observation of the Ebbing and Flow∣ing of Nilus, could fore-tell Plenty or Scarcity.
• III. They doe oftentimes fore-tell things, where∣in they themselves are Actors, as in case of Marriage: when they are well rewarded for telling of a good Fortune to befall a Per∣son by such a Match, they will labour to bring it to passe, and so it falls out.
• IV. When a thing is doubtfull how it will fall out, they may guesse at that Contingence which is most probable: and so Old Men and Women may foretell by hap-hazard.
• V. Because they speake in an Ambiguous sense, and so deceive the People: and so the Divells Oracles at Delphos threatned many thousands in Old-time.
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• VI. From a naturall Segacity and observation of a Persons temper, and disposition, they may guesse what will befall him.
• VII. From an over Credulity in the Consultors with these Astrologers: as if one were to fight a Duell, the Astrologer tels him he shall have the victory: and here-upon the Consulter hath his courage heightned and so prevailes.

By these seven false Wayes, and not by Rules of Art, Events are fore-told many times.

Let us now make Holy use of this Eclipse, by considering it as a fore-runner of Doomes∣day; and let us know, that He that Eclipses the Sun now, will ere long, take the Sun quite from us, or us from the Sun.

And let the goodnesse of God in admonish∣ing us by Signes and Tokens of the generall Judgement, make deepe impression on our Spirits.

Christ gives warning to the World by his Sword, as well as by his Word.

Now Christ is said to weare his Sword three wayes.

First, his Sword is girt to his Thigh, import∣ing that he is ready to avenge himselfe upon the ungodly, Psalm. 45.3.

Secondly, He is said to have a Sword in his Mouth, Revel. 1. 16▪ and this is his threat∣ning Sword.

Thirdly, He is said to have his Sword in his Hand, Psalm. 7. 12. to kill and slay. Now his Sword in his Mouth, he threatens, and to mor∣row he will shake it over our heads.

This Eclipse affords matter of Meditation.

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  I, Concerning the Nature of Sinne; For if darknesse (which is no physicall Entity, but a privation of Light) be so uncomfortable to Sense: how Odious and Disconsolate a thing is Sinne which is a privation of the Light of Gods Countenance, even the very life of the Soule.

  Secondly, consider that as the Sun is not the cause of the darknesse which will be to mor∣row (which is Black-monday, as our Astrologers is pleased to call it so▪) in our Horizon, but the Moone, by reason of the interposition between the Body of the Sun and our sight; So God is not the cause of Sinne, which is the dark∣nesse of the Soule: neither can there be any ef∣ficient, but a deficient cause of Sinne, but Sinne being as it were interposed between God and the Soule, hinders the light of his Grace;

• ...

  Againe, it is said Isa. ••9. 2••. 〈…〉〈…〉 have made a 〈…〉〈…〉 between God and your Soules.

• II. A second Meditation may be much of the misery of the Creature, when God hides his Face from it; for all our Strength and Joy is from the Light of Gods Countenance: God therefore tels Moses▪ Deut. 31. 17. That He would hide his Face from the Israelites; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that the hiding of Gods Face from the Soule, is the Suburbs of Hell: and perplexity without the Light of Gods Countenance, is but a Curse, And if it be so sad a thing to want the light of the Sun for a few houres, what a wofull thing is it to endure everlasting darknesse in Hell.
• III. A third Meditation may arise from Christs Death; then was the Sun of Righteousnesse Eclipsed, when Christs suffering flesh was in∣terposed between the Deity and the Eye of flesh; but as the Sun in the Firmament suffers nothing at all by an Eclipse, nor is robbed of the least part of his brightnesse: no more did Christs Deity suffer the least Diminution of Glory: for all the Passion fell on the Humane Nature. And as the Sun to morrow (as the Astrologers calls Black-monday.) after the Eclipse

• will be brighter then before, so Christs Body after his Resurrection, was more vige∣rous than before.
• IV. This Eclipse may be to our Meditation, as an Emblem of these Apostaticall times, where∣in Gods Truth may be darkned with Heresies, and Persecution; And this should be matter of griefe to us, that it should come to passe in our dayes.
• V. We should study thankfulnesse for the Suns light, and the benefit we enjoy by it; For if we be troubled at the absence of it, how great a blessing is the enjoying of it?

• Vse. This should teach us to avoid all Supersti∣ous feare in respect of Astrologers Praedicti∣ons: for God forbids us to be afraid of the Signes of Heaven, Jer. 10. 2. But yet it is good alwayes to have a feare of Evitation, but not a feare of Desperation.
• II. It is a dangerous thing to be regardlesse of of the opperation of Gods hands; therefore let the feare of God be alwayes that Spirituall Antidote against the feare of all changes and events of the world.
• ...

• III. And as we ought not slavishly to be afraid of their Praedictions, so we ought not to put any confidence in their cunning; For the Lord upbraideth the Israelites with their confidence in their Astrologers, Isa. 47. 13. Let now, (saith God) the Astrologers, Star-gazers, and monethly Prognosticators stand up and save thee; and verse 13. God tels them they should not deliver them∣selves; for Balaam that great Sorcerer, who was slaine with the Sword, could not fore-see his owne 〈…〉〈…〉 to believe Astrologers.
• IV. And set not your affections on things be∣neath Eclipses; For sicknesse, or casualties may deprive us of all outward things in a mo∣ment; but to a pious Soule, as Crosses abound, so Comforts abound, 1 Cor. 1. 7. 〈…〉〈…〉 your 〈◊〉〈◊〉 blotted out in the sense of your Conscience, and then no Trouble or Calamity will make you dismaid; For as that which is written with the juice of Lemmons is not legible, unlesse you hold it to the fire; so if your sins doe remaine unblotted out of the Book of Conscience at the time of Death, Hell-fire will make all the Sinnes that ever a Man hath committed in his life

• legible and plaine to him, and what a gastly sight will that be.

Let us feare Solem Justitice, the Sonne of righ∣teousnesse, and then wee shall not feare the Suns influence.

FINIS.