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O R 
 
 Nuncius Chrifti Sydereus. 
 
 The STAR of the Eaaern- 
 
 SAGES- 
 
 Being 
 Adifcourfe of that Star, its Nature, conduct and 
 
 tendency. 
 With the Glorious KINGDOM of the Son of God, 
 
 (now) under the Crofs, and fhortly at his next 
 
 appearance to fill the whole Earth. 
 
 Alfo forne account of COMET S, and 
 other Signs prefaging it. 
 
 Numb. 24- I7i 19- Dan 2 - 34* 44- 
 
 Voetius de [ignis. 
 
 A /ignis Cxli hujuftoodi, paveant Impii. p. 927. 
 
 Prodigit bwfica, credsntibus ; Mak/ica., & horrifi- 
 es incredulis. C. A. Lap. in Joel 2. 30. 
 
 Quod fenum crit ira Dei Impiis ■■> ftgnm eritperfeft* 
 ndmptionisjjtih Dei Zanch. 
 
 (de cperibns Dei,) 
 
 LONDON, 
 Printed forDorman Newwan, at the Kings* 
 Arms in the Ponltrey. 1 68.1 . 
 
h <# $& dS #* #> ££* «fe ^3 ^ 
 
 •fits** ■S0»8*'» {«<.'+* *W*fcl WiCC"* WWii-M 4«WS> ' ;K-i v >j» «T>iS^ 5^v. v *» 
 
 ^ ^ *£* *£* *2r *£* *£* *£? ^i* *!£* 
 
 i 
 
 CANDID 
 
 R E A D E R 
 
 T// £ great eft things God ever did 
 in the world, have ever had Signs 
 and Portents prece daneom : If hvs 
 doings were Judicial, T*remendi- 
 ous Signs did ft ill prejignifie them, if merci- 
 ful efforts, ftillfome way, ordinary or extra* 
 ordinary, hi* wondrous works Jhew^d that his 
 name was near, to deliver his people, and 
 for the moftpart the fame fign had double fig- 
 natures and different, as the fubjetl was 
 capable, (like the Sun on wax, and clay) foft 
 or hard, Tbu J frae Is freedom from Egypt, 
 and Pharaohs Obduracy, andobcacation,had 
 the fime flgris and pr&viom portents, that 
 vaflly vary 1 a in their Iffues ; they were de- 
 frayed , Ifracl delivered, God tookjhsfe by 
 figns to be his own \ the other judged by fury 
 pour 7 d out. 
 
 Now of thefe figns fome are mirandous 
 
 only ; and feme miraculous : fome the pra- 
 
 A z duels 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 duEls of nature \ fome preter-or fuper natural; 
 fome of a convincing nature, 06 to the wick? 
 cd(as that hand on i^elfhazzars wall:) fome 
 terrifying-) as was that Spetlrum that {in Sa-' 
 muels mantle) appeared to Saul, a little ere 
 he fell : and fome too are very fweet and 
 comfortable ; both as they direct in our way, 
 andfupport in the hopes of a good event; or 
 clfe reporting to us fome doBrine or duty \ the 
 one to be believed, the other done. Or laft- 
 ly (for variety >, ) fome fgnes are terrene and 
 freque?n in this Terr ef rial Globe, as in the 
 waters, &c. fome more zAithereal, and Cce- 
 Icftial, and fo being feen of more, are more 
 amnftng. Of that fort art b lading- ft a? s and 
 Comets. 
 
 For thofe firft created ftars of God, in 
 
 their erratile motions in the lower fpheres 
 
 (to the feventh) or thtfe whofe fixation is in 
 
 the eighth slory (or chamber) where Yictio* 
 
 Br the, and others reaf on that Star in 1572 
 
 was fixr.I have had little (fave collaterally^ to 
 
 fay ; and now have no occafon to difcourfe at 
 
 all: Only 1 wifn that this Art of Aft, one- 
 
 my, fo far as tis capable and p^Jftble, by 
 
 jo me ;ible naturalift, were reduced to the Ho" 
 
 /y Scripture and (as Mr. Fr. B. proved) 
 
 fairly dedjuible from it : itsbcft Phylologia 
 
 Theologixanci'lare. Learning, Libraries, 
 
 ten die afire might be Well fabfervi era that way 
 
 As 
 
To the Reader. 
 As to my defign, in this Epifiolary Pre- 
 face) to the fubfecjuent dtfcourfe : I will onely 
 ft ay the Reader in a few words of New-fiats-' 
 fomewhat of the prefent fubjeol, difcufs^t : 
 and lafily a Word of Jpology fir the Am- 
 thour. 
 
 Now for the fir ft y If any fay no new ftars 
 are made, Cod (inijlt all the hoft of heaven 
 at frft, I fay experience in the Providential 
 ■Regiment oj things, makes the Contrary ma- 
 nifefi to any ob fervor \ we may as truly deny 
 any other new thing : (that in the Hifiory of 
 times have fervid) as portents, in the waters^ 
 in the earthy and all over the lower worlds 
 and why not alfo above, in the Firmamera ? 
 Dare any cavil at Scripture and Experience? 
 this is even affetled blindnefs ; was -not the 
 Portents in Egypt, all new . ? the wonders i?i 
 the Red Sea, and wild.emefsy that raSn of 
 Manna, and watery Rack all new ? the fop of 
 the Sun in Joih. 10. 1 1, (by the great faith 
 of Jofhua) a new workj So that offer of a 
 fan to Ahaz ■* and that oyant of two or three 
 to Hez?k\dh,all miraculous, and new ? That 
 Woman compajfmg a ?nan, and that bicjjed 
 birth of the Viro-in^all new ? and befid.es \m 
 promifed Jer. 3 3 . 3 to be pown,upon his pray- 
 er, great and wonderful things that he ,(;-i\v 
 not', and to Z ion that he would create ]~m- 
 folein a re joy tin?. Now to Create ga&uftd 
 A 3 6X 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 ex nihiio facere, (j. e.) de novo to make 
 produfts in the whole frame of Nature, in 
 Heavenly bodies themf elves, which never was 
 feen or known before, 
 
 I cvnfefs Solomon faid what had been, 
 fiwuld be,no new thing : but thaPs refpettive* 
 ly to be tookj, and with limitation to the na- 
 tural order and concourse of things ', or the 
 habits , or manners of men in his times, 
 {not ours) for ft nee, what mutations have a- 
 gesfeen t La&antius in divers of his works 
 (efpecially 7 li f ) tells us, that the very Stars 
 fhou'd fiwot, alter, fall, and be confounded, 
 &c. incur I aft age. 
 
 Now 'tis a point of Philofophy indeed, to 
 tell the nature of any Star, tho 1 fo long in the 
 view of all wife obfervers, (or of the Moon 
 that is near eft to us ; ) and to me iPs a poynt of 
 more curiofity,abftrufenefs & diffcuhy to tell 
 the Natures, Caufcs andkinds of thefe Comets 
 {tho* the life and ends of them are very obvi- 
 ous : ! as in Divinity, fo in all Arts are He-> 
 rcfies, and fo in the Mathema ticks and A- 
 ftronomy are -nodes and difceptations as yet 
 mdiftolublc : IPs fo in the nature of Comets. 
 A r iftotle the Mafterfeems unfit to be believed 
 of many followers. It may not be then won-. 
 dePd at, if in a matter wherein are tot fen- 
 tentiae quot capita, I alfo may err or ftum- 
 i>le in judgment, who thinks Comets are not 
 
To the Reader; 
 
 fo low as Meteors in the Air, for Natur € 
 or Site, exhal'd from the clamy and unBur 
 ous vapours of the Earth : it loooks as an im- 
 probable things that the effett jlwtld exceed 
 the caufe : Nil dat quod non habet, that 
 the Earth fliould produce above it f elf •> bodies 
 (perhaps two or three in ayear)fo many times 
 (oft hundreds) bigger then it felf : but cre- 
 dat qui vult. 
 
 I know it*s e after to define what Comets are 
 ?iot, what they are pofttively to fay-) is not fo 
 eafie : To propofe then {not impoje) as is 
 fair in Schools of Philojophy : I only offer \ 
 Why may they not be providential matter 
 framed and created of God for the ends pro- 
 pofed-y {as the ftars at firft) to ftgnifie Gods 
 Wrath at hand ; for mans fin ? and all new<- 
 ly made-, as the Rainbow was, 
 
 Butbecaufe I pretend not to any abftrufity 
 of judgment in that enquiry : I fay as Noble 
 Picas Mir and. 
 
 Philofophia veritatcm querit, Theologia 
 Invenit, Religio poflidec. 
 
 ThatlEnglifhthus, 
 Philofophyfor truth does feel^ 
 
 Divinity it finds , 
 But 'tis poffeft only by meek^ 
 And mo ft Relogiou>s minds. 
 
 A 4 I am 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 fm apt to thinks were the World fuller of 
 fuch divine Pious Magicians, as them of the 
 Eaft, fitch enthufiafts as Noah to fear a 
 Floody and prepare an Ark^ and fitch Trif- 
 menftichs as Mofes-, Abraham and Job, 
 ( call them Fanaticks or Seekers, or what yon 
 pleafe) there would be both more and better 
 Philofiphy thenyet is, even with oar Athe- 
 nian Academies. 
 
 2. For the Subject difcuft : I freely own 
 my f elf as many degrees below it, as thefign 
 is above, that portends it : or as that ninth 
 Sphear, {or the Ccelum EmpireumJ is a- 
 hove this little terrene Globe. For tis the 
 Kingdom of the Son of God, Heir of all 
 things \ to whom by deed of Gift the Father 
 has deriv'd power over all fie ft, and parties 
 larly of thefe \fles, and the utmofi parts of the 
 Earth, Pfal. 2. 8, 9. whom all the Angels of 
 Godmuft adore a fablime Subject, above a 
 Ceraphim, and woe is me, that the wit- 
 ness to it arefio few, nay fo many againft it, 
 {afign fpoken againft {Luk. 2. 34.) about 
 his fir ft, and, now at his fecond coming : that 
 ts the caufe^ the Cleray and Herodians were 
 fit tongue iyed, the fir ft out of f elf and fiavifii 
 fear: The fecond, from adulation, idolizing 
 tin Idumean;fW the Romans hadfubftituted 
 over them, Illuminating Truths may better 
 be endured then biting truths t Hence it is 
 
 that 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 that God chofe ofFi[lcrmen to be his Wit" 
 nejfes, that were men of no name : (and 
 fometimes men expo fed of two names) to bear 
 up his name ana Glory before the Great of 
 the Earth. 
 
 This is my Subject, which, (with Zions 
 Glory and Controverted) is fo rarely preachty 
 or toHcht by the men, that (perhaps) do con- 
 'fefs the fame in our times ', and thofe that 
 arc the recent and triumphant Sens of the 
 Church, are inftead of it, fet to Preach, and 
 Trim, and vend the poyfen cf horrid Blaf- 
 phemy againft the Lord and the Decalogue, 
 for the wounding of Jo. Calvin, and other 
 Reformers for his fake ', or rather Chrifts, 
 whom they fervc. 
 
 As contiguous to that 1 do alfo infiftonthe 
 judgments that preceed, and the fubfequent 
 changes that ufe to fubferve that defign : 
 for that now tottering Antichriftian 1 hrone 
 of iniquity, and Chrijls Scepter of equity are 
 fo inconfiftent, fo com ef ant with each other, 
 that neither will the one fall and give place > 
 nor can the other take place, without judici- 
 al cone ujfwns, as Herod here felt, the? it 
 fir ft coft a fad Exile to Jefus and (hu 
 Friends) Jof, and Mary, and the blood of 
 14OCO Infants for his fake : (fo ifsfaid,) 
 not fpanng his own Son too : fo jealous and 
 ti(kl: is the point of SucceJfon 7 and fo cruel 
 
 Fathers 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 Fathers oft Kings are to their Subjects, if 
 Chrift have any birth, or flea with them. 
 Subfervient to both the forefaid points, 
 This new Star tool^ its Being, Rife, and 
 unufual Motion, not from Eaft to Weft, as 
 Comets moftly do, {and Origen calls it fo,) 
 but from Eaft to North, and from Jemfa- 
 lem (the North, ) to Bethlehem in the South\ 
 and hence our poynt gets its Bafts layd, fome- 
 what large and general, to give f cope enough 
 to the defign, {that our late Comet incited me 
 to purfue) in the 4 following Treatifes, and 
 to comprehend both the ufe of Comets (fo rare- 
 ly handled in a Theologickway ; ) and alfo 
 the influences, cortfte Hat ions, and conjuncti- 
 ons of other Stars, firft created, all which 
 jump, and On eodem tertio) agree, (viz.) 
 in one Maxim of invincible truth, that to- 
 wards great mutations to fucceed on Earth, 
 prodigious phenomena* do in Comets, &C pre- 
 ceede in the Heavens. 
 
 Now thirdly, "*tis in this that I make a fart 
 apology : To thofe that think ^twere more 
 profitable to treat of other theames \ to them 
 I fay are not the works of God to be ufefulin 
 our Dollrine, as well as his word ? efpecially 
 when Prodigious, and to be fought out of all 
 that had pleaf ure therein . ? May we not read 
 in them our call to repent, and prepare, when 
 figns of fire are fet up. 
 
To the Reader. 
 If any fay things are but left in obfatri- 
 tyl I grant we Prophefie but in part ; the 
 Text is infome things hard to Fathom, which 
 may plead the Authours excufe, voluifTe fuf- 
 ficiat, more then a doz^en Authors I read, 
 many found cited by others, onely three Do- 
 s~iors ' I read on the Text, and one (i.e.) Cy- 
 prian (j ayes Mr, Ward ) preachtona like 
 Comet {if ever any like to this.) 
 
 Do any thinkjne too near the quick^ I fay 
 thats the life of Preaching ; / am much be- 
 low it, what ere others be : If I {then liv- 
 ing) hadfmgVd out {as once A&. 4. 25. 27. 
 the Apofllesdidnams) Herod, and Pontius 
 Pilate, from Pfai.2; 1. dare any impeach 
 them for too clofe reflections ? boldnefs is 
 brave for God, adulation pernicious to Prin- 
 ces : and ajuftwife reprover, on an obedient 
 car, a moft excellent omature. Prov. 25. 11, 
 72, 13. *Twas one ef aid, Da Ambrofios & 
 habebrmus Theodofios. But if I fay not (as 
 Nathan to David Hhoit Ch. Lewis, or Jam— 
 art the man meant, am I notfafe ? Alas Sirs 9 
 JhallourGod be blafphemed, mockt andfptt 
 at : Chrifl made a fervant of Rulers, nay 
 but a titular King ; blood befpilt as waters, 
 oppreffions profit fed under the f acred 
 Covert of a Dukes Coronet, an Epifcop. ■ 
 Afytre, or a Golden Cap : (that J fay not a 
 
 red 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 red Hatt?') and mufi faith and f acred Oaths 
 be f wallow^ d y as Monkeys do) andallflipt, the 
 bounds and banks of the people be tipt down as 
 Nine pins ; the power of Parliaments vac at : 
 Norid Confpiracies abetted, and father' W> as 
 Londons fire ; Ireland be gap V at. ckc. and 
 it mufi be thought not onely a diminution of cur 
 glory to be reproved ; but an affront to crave 
 relief; {as lfrael of Pharaoh) we in this 
 7nay fit down and fee or fay as lfrael tn Exod. 
 5. 19. orthofe in a like cafe, Judg. 19. u!t. 
 Some called fathers in the world, prove fo 
 indeed to poor Protefia;its, {witnefs the Ram- 
 pant Mounfieur : ) for while he lives {and 
 aolsfo ) his poor Protefiant Subjects will never 
 inherit Chrifis purchafe, and their birth' 
 y%ht. 
 
 \f any fay the Prefs now has too exor- 
 bitant a Liberty, to vend fiories and lies : 
 I anfwer, Pm firry for the lyes t on them 
 be the guilt that fi'ft coyned them ; but yet 
 glad too that the prefs and truth are not op* 
 prefi by any baring and pernicious Currs : 
 that ufed as Doeg [or Cerberus ^ to fit at the 
 gates to obdrucl the free coiirfe of truth. And 
 for the two particulars (jn the 4 part) that 
 of one whofe eyes fe'l cut, and the tother of 
 Mr. Chud, in Paris. 1 had the fir ft by' a 
 worthy man, and jb the fee on d by a Mini- 
 fier, thou-h this is dijferer.tly reported ; far 
 
 the 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 the fab fiance, it was in the cafe of Religion 
 that abiife was offered, but yet his life was 
 prefervd. 
 
 If any object the Authors not owning his 
 workby name, \fay y the thing he^s willing 
 to own \ and being his firft Fruit, he wholy 
 dedicates it to the Lord, and his Auditory ', 
 where it cannot be hid ; craving the Readers 
 excttfe if the meannefs off arts, and privacy of 
 Cir cum fiances, at prcfent, reads him aLeSlure 
 of fnodefty, andfo de firing to belefs known to 
 others, and more to hiinfelf. So prayes this 
 may end to thy pre fit. 
 
 Si bene quid fcripfi gloria Chrifte tua eft. 
 
 Erratr 
 
ERRATA. 
 Candid Reader, A Book without Errata's is not 
 eafy to find, thofe that cloud the fenfe the Author 
 hath revifed and expung'd to the utmoft (as his 
 health and ftrength gave leifure) yet ifefcapes by 
 interlines in the Copy bc,they will not be imputed, 
 I hope. There's a great difference indeed twixt 
 Books publifht by the Authors exaft Notes, and 
 the Auditers hafty characters, the Firft he ufes 
 not : the latter is his excufe *, for the Accents, 
 fome Lattin Words, Marg. or Comaes, and Peri- 
 ods $ I truft the Printer will obtain the civility of 
 pardon, or a Pen to amend them. 
 
 Si mate quid fcripfif j fit miki, culpz/&. V<* I V- 
 
 Phil. Melanfth. 
 Certum eft, multas in Elements > ab aftris 
 Mutationes oriri, & —lumen celefte 
 
 ynagnam vim habere. 
 Nov it dent omnia folus — (trahantur . 
 
 Qua fiat, qua fuerint , qua mox Ventura 
 
 Omnia hac figna, effc Immincntis Ira 
 Dei, quam nee iff e eft 1 [quo quo modo poffumta,) 
 tit & anunciemus, & predicimur 1 . Tert. ad 
 Scap. prodigiafunt-rx to o£ wsuytM-m.Eufe. 
 
 Dr. Jackfon cites Herodotus. Quoties 
 Ingentes funt Eventura calamities —folent 
 fignis prenuntiari. 
 
 Prodigia funt figna divina admonitionis, 
 ut excite mur ad timorem Dei, & c.iveamus 
 per refipifcemiam> futttra incomoda. Br entim. 
 Jpfis fignis & portends, pH fe confoUntur, 
 quia fcium fibi ilia in bonum cooper atur a, 
 Or UtantU'- : quia fciunt effc patris fiti exer- 
 citunu Pctr. Marc. 
 
The Analyfisof the firftPart 
 Chap. 2. ver. i. — 12, 
 
 . , Ci,Cbrilis Bleffed Nativity, yzv totum. 
 a Farts m ^^.Htrods cur fed enmity ,v.a, ,7, 8,ebv, 
 
 Ik tf>* Fir/?, g rkiw£J are Confiderable. 
 fi. The Time : Hfroij *?*/£». v. 1. 
 < 2. The Adjuncts concur ing, v. 2. e^r. Luk. 2. 1. 
 ^3. Tfcf ?/*«, and that proved by Micah 5. 2. 
 
 Xk rk $fco»rf, ( Collating Matthew with Luke, 
 chap. 2. 1 — 40J $ Adjuncts*) (or Circumftan- 
 
 • ces) Vmcnr. 
 
 1 . /*;?£«/* annunciation, and Acclamation. 
 
 1 2 . Jofc» Baptijls Nativity. 
 
 3. The Shepherds Revelation of him. 
 
 4. 7fa wifmtns Vijitapon. In this {yet ) cbfirve 
 further, them 4 things. 
 
 " 1. fllwfr Sr/Vf or T/f/', Magi. 
 
 ) 2. Tfrw* Co//» m, the term,(a quo.} 
 
 ) 3. The Inquiry, the ground and end of it, v. 2. 
 
 > 4. Their Colloquy about it with Herod. 
 
 Tet once more particularly in v. 2. obferve 2 parts, 
 
 1. The Matter. 
 
 2. The Motive. 
 
 7k 1. Notes the quality of Chrifls Nativity, 2. the 
 Objeft, 7,.TheUbi. 
 
 2. The Motive, A Star : the predicate, have fetn. 
 
 3. The EjfecTs. 
 
 4. The Site (in the Eafi.') 
 Now in the Effects noted, 
 
 f t. Reverence* or Fiety. 
 < 2. Sedulity in a long journey. 
 (.3. Chariiy, prefenting, f 1. Gold. 
 
 < 2. Franfyncenfe. 
 (^5. Myrrhe. 
 
 - (Dona fcrunt) 
 
 (Aurum, thus, M>r,'ham ? rcg ; q; hominiq-, dzoq-,) 
 
The Analyfis. 
 This Star is defer ibed^ 
 i. By the Situation or point, Eaft. 
 2. By its Encty or Eflecl, f i. To Gkide them. 
 (_2. To Glad tbm. 
 By its 5 Properties, ( Novi Cometa? lnibr.) 
 i. Seen. 
 2. On the Day time. 
 
 4. Seen again. 
 
 5. In the I owe ft Region, 
 
 Mattb 
 
(h)) 
 
 •y * r~t 
 
 iff: || H % | $tl$ff$ || 
 
 ^Mattk 2.2,9, 10. 
 
 i v To oT ' ' 
 
 IT is an obfervation of Aretim (a) up- 
 on this place, when God hath fome 
 great work, fome glorious King or. 
 Kingdom to exhibit in the World ^ 
 he fhews it by fome prodigious Celeftial 
 Sign or Star, or other. It is faid in the 
 Pfalmes, The IVorkes of the Lord are great, 
 (as well as his Word) fought (b) out, of 
 all them that havtfleafiire therein. Among 
 which works fome of them are ftupendious 
 and great ; fome myfterious and infcruta- 
 ble ; fome are fvveet and comfortable, (and 
 all very ufeful }) But fome of them are ex- 
 ceed ing wonderful and terrible. 
 
 There are Terreilrial Terribles, an$ 
 Celeftial Terribles. There are Terrible 
 figns in the Sun, %ns in the Moon \ (that 
 
 (a) Major urn virorum ortus 9 & occafits, in cafo, 
 prodigiis quandoq-, denmtiantur, (ty Pjd. m. i. 
 cum. 107. v«. 
 
 B tuw4 
 
turned into Darknefc, (c) this into Blood) 
 before the great and notable Day of the 
 Lord. And there are alfo figns as Terrible 
 in the Stars } there are Heart-fhakes,Earth- 
 (hakes, and Heaven-fhakes, as our Savi- 
 our himfelf prqphefkd in Lnk^ 21. 25, 26. 
 
 I have had occafion (you know) to dif- 
 courfe to you, in my way formerly about 
 the Salvation of God - The Voice of 
 which, fometimes, is very loud on Earth 7 
 bfc when it won t be believed there, then 
 God fets rip Preachers in Heaven, and 
 makes it as loud there : but very hard to 
 underftand. 
 
 Now there being a new Kingdom, a 
 Kingdom of Ghriftianity, Chrift being the 
 Head, to be exalted in the World ; God, 
 by a {d) new-made Star, is pleafed to pro- 
 nounce and promulgate the fame in the 
 Text ; which is the fole Text that fpeaks 
 of a new ft) Star in the whole Bible, 
 
 I have therefore chofen it, not with a 
 dc-fign to deliver Aftrological Doctrine, nor 
 to place my Pulpit in the Heavens, and 
 read a Lecture of the Laws of the Hea- 
 
 (c) Jod. 2. 28. Act. 2. 20. (d) Sttlli nova & 
 ffculiirls creita, pel necetfe e(l. Arer. (f ) Tojua 
 cur a digni fiint pify up ttiim fydira iUis & angdi h- 
 jc^Jant. id. Ibid, in locum, 
 
 vens; 
 
f 3) 
 
 yens, or of Aftronomy ; (though it be 
 faid, both Abraham, Mofes, and Job, and 
 other of the Sakits were excellently skilful 
 and learned therein * 7 ) Much lefs will 1 be 
 fo Atheiftical, either (on the one hand,) to 
 Preach up the neceflity of fecond Caufes a- 
 lone, and felf-perfifting ; or Con the other 
 hand) to deny the efficacy and infallible cer- 
 tainty in the Succeflion of them by the go- 
 vernance of the great Caufe of Caufes,God 
 himfelf. 
 
 Now the Scripture that I have fingled 
 out, is a part of the Hiftory of our bleiTed 
 Lord's poor, low (/) Nativity 9 borjh of a 
 Virgin of mean obfcure defcent, but the 
 Glory of it not fully known : the fuppofed 
 Son of Jofeph, by Calling, a Carpenter : 
 under the fervitude of the Roman Empe- 
 rour, Anguftiu Cafar. For as great as (he 
 was, unto her Native Town Bethlehem 
 muft me come to be taxed, fo was deli' 
 ver'd ( there wanting room in the houfe) 
 (Romes great Men, muft have their Taxes 
 paid, whatever Poverty it coft their Sub- 
 jects J She's glad to lodge herfelf in a Sta- 
 ble , and the Child, (for want of a Cradle) 
 is laid in a Manger. When it became 
 
 (e.) Nil hie regale patet 7 omnia 'vill^ & fordida 
 [ant, cajiUpotius qitam aulameritur. 
 
 B 2 Herod 
 
(4) 
 
 Herod rather, as Augustus Gefar (J) to 
 vail his Crown to his Footftool \ as well as 
 the wife Men (Kings' fome take them to 
 be) from the Eaft. 
 
 This Scripture it felf (To far as the 12th. 
 verfe) reports two things. 
 
 1 . Our Lord's blefTed Nativity, though 
 poor. 
 
 2. And Herods cur fed immanity, (j- ) 
 feekiiig to ftifle and murther the firfl: ap- 
 pearance of the blefTed Babe of Glory. All 
 exhibition of Chrift, that in the Cradle at 
 the firfl: coming ; that to the Crown, the 
 next and Tecond coming ; that into the 
 Heart, into the World, (his fpiritual com- 
 ings betwixt thefe two) I fay, all thefe ap- 
 pearances and fmalleft exhibitions of Chrift, 
 are a kind ofterrour, and occafion of en- 
 mity to wicked men. 
 
 This firfl: branch, where my work chief- 
 ly lyes ; the Nativity of our blefTed Lord 
 is celebrated divers wayes ^ One while, by 
 Angels feging blefTed Songs : Glory to God 
 on hirh : on earth Peaces (rood Will towards 
 
 (~f ) So Pol. Virg. out of Orofius, fayes, the day 
 Chrift was born, Auguflus Cafar Proclaimed, that 
 no man ever after \honld call him Lord. AUnifilo pre- 
 Tagfo major k dominate qui turn interns or tut ejfet. lib. 
 •4. cap. 1. (1) More of the An&lyfis fie before the fir ft 
 
 Men. 
 
(5 ) 
 
 Men.fJ.ox, never comes Chrift. into the 
 World* the Heart, the Houfe : but he 
 brings good Will. ) Celebrated by the 
 Shepherds that were feeding their Flocks 
 by Night: thefe alfo Were guided to the 
 knowledge of this blefled . Birth, this Au- 
 thor of Divinity. And laftly, Celebrated 
 by the wife men ; and.faid, to come (fome 
 fay) from Perfia_( h) , and then it 
 may be but about eight or nine hundred 
 and odd Miles. Others fay, from Arabia 
 Felix, and that's (i) fuppofed to be about 
 twelve hundred and forty odd Miles. Sure 
 'twas a long way to come to one Sermon 
 or Sight. Oh how few go fo far as the 
 Eunuch of Candace ! as the Queen of She- 
 ba ! as thefe wife men ! That is the bed 
 andfweeteft Chrift that hath the moft pains 
 taken for him. 
 
 Thefe by their name, or employ, are 
 here ftyjed Magi, which is to fignifie wife 
 men, rifing from a root (k) Haga i"UH j n 
 the Hebrew it (*) fignifies deep thoughtful- 
 nefs and Meditation. 
 
 (h) At least $20 Miles. (\) Bunting fayes it 
 voas about 920 Miles from Sufan, an Accademy^ but 
 that Ztbz(th? livelier place) wa>s ^,1248 Miles totbt 
 South-Eaft. (Y) Murmurare m/fitare alii medita?t> 
 (I) Others fay a Perfian, other's Gree^ term. 
 
 B 3 From 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 From which Term you may conclude, 
 (as Authors alfo agree with me ) that there 
 is a twofold Magick ; there is a Diabolical 
 Arttofeek Wifdom, which is fometimes 
 exerted by the wicked and lawlefs divining 
 by the Stars ^ a Do&rine, which God ne- 
 ver made known. And there is a lawful 
 Magick,which is by the difcovery of Gods 
 Holy Will, either by the Law of the Hea- 
 vens and the works of God ; or by the law 
 of the Word, or fome Revelation from 
 God. Thcfe were the men, this, their 
 Occupation. 
 
 How they fhoild come bv the know- 
 ledge of this Star, it not uneafie to refolve j 
 for the text tells you, vge have feen his Star, 
 in the Eaft, h> ta a,v*iv>$. Or, as fome read, 
 in his Rifing, We have feen his Star iri its 
 ~Rifwg ; which makes fome to think that 
 this was above a year before : for it muft 
 require fome time for their Journey. And 
 therefore the holy Babe, and Parents, were 
 again returned to dwell in Bethlehem, and 
 had no better lodging than the fir ft. But it is 
 not fo eafie to refolve how they mould come 
 by this knowledge ; but fo much as Authors 
 can by their conjectures help us, or I by 
 reading of them* we fhall now eafily de- 
 clare. There are two eminent Doctors 
 have cited one of the antienteft of the Phi- 
 
 lofophers, 
 
(7 } 
 
 lofophers, named Chdcidim, (;«) who a 
 little after the time of ChrJfly wrote -.con- 
 cerning' this Evarigelift : ;M afrbut this Stat." 
 By which you may fee, it was notified to 
 Heathen fhen. And, faith he, (citing the 
 latin out of it) there is a more, holy Hiftory 
 ( meatfffi^&s of the Ev^ngelilty which 1 we? 
 have read* which fignifiesto us of a bleifef 
 mv^riade Star. Therefore the difcovery 
 (being- King of the Jewts) was made known 
 unto the wife men, He -calls them of the 
 Perfiam, others of the Jralnms, and others: 
 of the Chaldeans , (for they might be mix- 
 ed ) Atfdf ; r3oth thofe Do&ors (Dr. Ha?n- 
 mond) upon the place, (a learned Critick 
 in the Eajiern Language ) and another of 
 our City, preaching upon fome part of this* 
 text (Dr.GV/) both cite Chdtidius. 
 
 
 — 4-^L-J^— _ *J-3*> 
 
 • " in ^ 
 
 (m) Dr. Rob.Gell, Dr. Hammond in lotum, >U$} ; 
 thus, Esl ant em ventrabilior &fan£fior Hysloria, fi#* 
 prohibit ortitm stelU infolitx deftenfiim dei venerabiltf 
 ad humane ferv at ionis & return msftalium gratidm: 
 quam a Chaldtis obfervatam fnijfe teltantur qui dminr 
 nHpernattttn-miiMrihiisvmratifmt. There is alfo an 
 holier Hi si ofy thai mentions a certain, and unuf'iai 
 Star that foretold the defcent dj the most venerable God 
 fan, and by the bUgiprefented with gifts, &c. 
 
 B 4 And 
 
C8 ) 
 
 r And ofthisEaiiCountrey the y-fay, there 
 wasYor many, .hundred of. years* a Society 
 of Philofophers, or fuch as ftudied'wifdom : 
 (for^thewordfigmnesfo.) 
 . And having no Scripture, but what they 
 ljad-by Tradition,., they ftudied the Law, 
 or motions of the Heavens. And particu- 
 larly (citmg(«). father, John Cbryfojfam) there 
 was a city called Seth in the Eaft, in which 
 this Society lived .• and there continued ma- 
 ny ages fuccefliv el y (twelve of them) being 
 under. a perpetual Vow devoted. to that 
 Study ^ until Baalams Prophefie mould be 
 hrought to pafs, about that Star of Jacobs 
 vs. Numb. 24, ipj For by the help of that 
 Prophefie, or, by. the Travel of the Jewes? 
 or by the fetching and buying of the Mer- 
 chandize , of Frankincenfe and Myrrh 
 (which was always ufed in their incenfe) 
 or by the holy Ghofts oracle, or by fome 
 other works of Daniel, (0) or the holy Pro- 
 phets ; knowled'g was got, that there was 
 a bleffed Star to. arife in the later end of the 
 four Thoufand years of the World. For 
 though Balawn is exprefly call'd by Jtter- 
 fit a very wicked Conjurer, ' yet he had a 
 very glorious true prophefie of the Meflias. 
 
 fn) See more in Dr. Gell on the place, pag $. n. 3. 
 (o) Kflom by tbe Captivity and dljperfion to Chaldea. 
 
 Then 
 
(9 .) 
 
 There fl)a!l Come a Star out of Jacob* \and g 
 Scepter JIj all rife out of Jfrael? and fiall fmite 
 the corners of Moabj and deflroy (or (qj 
 unwall ) all the Children of Sheth-,_ Numb-. 
 24.. 1 7 Out of this, or by fome fuch like 
 means, or by fome peculiar knowledge:, 
 Inftina, Oracle, or Angel given them , 
 with .iedulity and diligence, in fearch- 
 ingoutthe Laws of the Heavens, know- 
 ledge was attained. Or at leaft (if none 
 of thefe fatisfie) it muft be concluded (for 
 further I may not Conje£rure ) that God 
 made fome Divine Revelation anddifcove- 
 ry (V-) to thefe. poor Studious Creatures, 
 that there mould certainly now arife the 
 StM Qtfaoob. 
 
 But fo it was, and fo is the Text : for the 
 queftion.implyed it } where is he that is born 
 King of the J ewes ? As if they fhould fay> 
 we are' well allured, and no . way doubt 
 (by the Lawes of our Art)of this rifenStar, 
 and by the knowledge we have attained, 
 that there is a certain King newly born in 
 Judea, and brought forth into the World ; 
 that- the God of Heaven hath fet up afign 
 of his firft coming. Which makes one 
 Author to colleft, if there was fuch a Star^ 
 
 Cq) as H. A. reads it. (r) Perhaps by an AngtL, 
 
 fo Dr. Hammond in locum. 6. 
 
 . ' ■ . 
 
 attending 
 
(to) 
 
 atterldiflg the firft coming of Chri$, in his 
 debility and low condition ; how much 
 rftore may many be expetted to attendand 
 precede his fecond^ arid laftcoming.There- 
 fore fay they, having heard this in our land, 
 knowing this is the Metropolis Jintftltm -, 
 having heard of this famous City, and the 
 Kings thereof*, now we are come to make 
 tmtt enquiry after that King of the Jem ; 
 We are fatisfied he is no mean Perfqn, 
 (whatever his prefent condition is) but he 
 is born a King, and he {hall certainly come 
 togreat honour at !aft, 
 
 NbW here's a queftion put, ver.2. and 
 it puz-zels both the wife men and Scribes of 
 Jerufalemy the mod learned of them* and 
 alfo Plagues the heart of Herod with fear; 
 For certainly (thinks he) my Ufurpation 
 (s) will down, if there be a King that's 
 born to't, and his Right will be ug. 3 
 \i 
 
 Now it fo fell out, that whiles thefe wife 
 men ftep afide, ( and fome thinks out of 
 their way : For it was about to Bethlehem, 
 (0 to go by Jernfdtm) they mift their 
 
 .. — i ; — ; 1 
 
 (j) He hung an Idumean. of Efau's Sm\* (t)fite 
 Brhnp Hooper bit Comment ofthdr Erroitr in Mr. Fox 
 cited aptly by Mr. Trapp in tecum. 
 
 enquiry 
 
C H ) 
 
 enquiry there, and therefore go out, and 
 prefently the Star appears again, as you 
 find in the two latter Verfes, 9, 10. the 
 effett of which is reported. When they 
 faw the Star, they rejoyced with exceed- 
 ing great Joy. (v) 
 
 Now when I firft thought of this Scrip- 
 ture, I only defigned to fingle out one par- 
 ticular, relating to this Star, for the driv- 
 ing on of the great defign of the late Sub- 
 ject I was upon : the Signes of Salvation, 
 Which God. fets; fometimes terribly in the* 
 Heavens } fometimes in the Earth, fome- 
 times? in the Luminaries ; both in theleffer 
 Luminaries the Stars, ahd alfo in the grea- 
 ter. 
 
 But becaufe all Chad's fragments are td 
 be gathered, and not loll, 1 will briefly 
 pick up fome few Notes, which are Colla- 
 teral, Profitable, and not far from my 
 purpofe and defign, and fairly difpatch 
 them, or give you but a tafteof them, and 
 then proceed, at leaft, to an entrance of 
 what I intend. 
 
 1 . Now the firfl: thing which is obferva- 
 ble here for Doftrine, is from the name 
 
 that 
 
C 12) 
 
 that is given here : They are called wife 
 men, , ( now fo indeed J Their work they, 
 fet themfelves to,, is to enquire after Chrift. 
 
 ., .Hence you may note, 
 
 That it is the greateft pint of Wifdom^ 
 and fit for all Jons tfyat. vpoulc[;, have 
 that name? to rvalue ddlgent enquiry 
 after Chrift. 
 
 . He that's not acquainted with the Son of 
 God,~ will certainly be defervedly, called 
 the greateft of Fools. This js the true 
 Wifdom, the Wifdom of the ,Crofs, and 
 the Crucified Saviour *, and to know him, 
 and him crucified. ' If there be any of us 
 fbat.defire. to be wiferthan our felves for- 
 merly, or than others, or than our Teach- 
 ers,, and the Scribes ; we muft make this 
 our Sedulity and care , to fearch after 
 Chrift. 
 
 -• 
 The fecond thing that I note from this 
 Text, is this, They came, Tome fay, 
 eight hundred miles the firfFgoing :, and 
 fome fay, a thoufand- and odd, (according 
 to the conjecture of the place, which au- 
 thors give) ; and the greateft is mod like- 
 ly, becaufe in that Country was only Fran- 
 
 kincenfe 
 
( *S ) 
 
 kinccnfe and Myrrh, as'the (x) Heathen 
 Poets themfelves obferve :, But this I will 
 only glance at, and obferve, That 
 
 2. Where thrift is favingly revcaPd, no 
 co ft, or fains is deem d too great, for 
 his fah. 
 
 And for long Journeys ^ fee the third 
 Note, pag. 14. 
 
 Nor could it be void of hazard to tell of 
 a King in Herods Ear, and Reign, As one 
 fays, (y) Que ft 10 plena periculi, & fummi 
 ftuporis -, quid hoc erat, nifi Herodem negare 
 dejicere, 07* novum regem Proclamare ^ quod 
 capitate profetto erat. Yet thefe boldly 
 predicate of a new King born to the Jews. 
 The profeft Jews grown ftupid ; Bern pe- 
 regrinos hos teftes regni Chrifti excitavit, & 
 -non fine prodigio,novam enim ftellam, novi & 
 magni quid portendere ex arte fua, Intelligi- 
 gebant. So far he. 
 
 _ 
 
 (x) Ez.ek. 27. 2 1, 22. Arabici odores. 
 Thuri, prefer Arabiam , nuttis. Thurea 
 vergafabeis-. Virgil. ( y ) Parei in locum. 
 pag. 4.13; Col, 2. 
 
 . 
 
 3. That 
 
(■4) 
 
 3. That it u a great Duty-, and vtry 
 commendable, togofartofee^Chrifi. 
 
 From Sea to Sea was a long way \ Amos 
 8. 12. and yet the length of Jndca did not 
 extend above two hundred and forty or 
 fifty miles, from Dan to Berjheba ; and the 
 breadth not much above fifty, from Gath- 
 hepher Jonas Town, unto Joppa. And yet 
 the text faith in Amos the 8. 1 2. they mould 
 wander from Sea to Sea, and mould not 
 find it ; yet all that was not fo far, as the 
 Magi came. 
 
 Sirs, I tell you, from the Multiplicity of 
 Preachers that God hath fet up in the 
 Church-heaven, (and yet upon Earth ) Chin- 
 ing Stars ; (for Minifters are called Stars, 
 fometimesj are not the leaft of the bleffings 
 of our Age \ and fure 'twould be one of 
 the greateft Judgments that could befall us, 
 to go a great way to feck a Sermon, and 
 not find it. 
 
 So muft the Mercy be a great Mercy, 
 though it be a great way to go for't and a 
 long time to find : no coft is too much, nor 
 no way too arduous, no Journey too long, 
 no difficulties too great, no hunger too hea- 
 vy to bear, no pained feet in the Wilder- 
 nefs (fay forty years together J to find the 
 promifedLand, or Red, that 7 * Chrift. 
 
 The 
 
C 15 ) 
 
 The fourth thing tr#t / glance at here, is 
 plain ia thefecond Verfe : [He WW bmi 4 
 King'} 
 
 Chnft was a Kingaffoonas ever he was 
 born, Hiflory tells us of one that was 
 Crowned on the Mothers Belly, before he 
 was born, that was only an humane, Chriils 
 \yas a Divine Royalty. 
 
 In the eighth of Proverbs, we read of 
 this true wifdom of the Father:, the Son of 
 God : it is fo faid, he was by him from 
 everlafting, there's his Divinity, ver. 23. 
 always with him, rejoycing in the habita- 
 ble parts of the Earth, here's his Humanity, 
 ver. 25, 30, 31. delighting in the Sons of 
 men. 'T was not fo long a Journey the wife 
 men came ; but Chrift from the Father, 
 coming into the World, made a longer : 
 and all out of his love, fo by leaving and 
 condefcent from his glory, he merited in 
 the Humane nature, a greater acceffion of 
 Regal Glory. There is no journey too 
 long, no pains and coft too great for love, 
 Of all the railleries, I have mod wondred 
 at this, how thefe poor Creatures, thac 
 had no more, (that we vifibly find in our 
 Text) but the language of a Star to preach 
 to them, mould thence conje£rure, that 
 Jefus was a King affbon as ever he was born. 
 SbcJi is the occult, and myflericus way of 
 
 the 
 
the Revelation of Chrift. For he was a 
 King before, declared of God : /have 
 fet my King upon my holy Hill of Sion. 
 jPfal. 2. j. I will declare the Decree: the Lord 
 hath [aid, thou art my [on this day have I be- 
 gotten thee. But now alfo thefe came from 
 the uttermoft parts of the Earth, and they 
 owne the Kingdome of Chrift. Shall we 
 that have heard of him, that have read of 
 him, that have pretended to him, that have 
 preached for him, that have believed his 
 Royalty and Glory, be lefs refolvM Pro- 
 teftants than thefe were (O ? They con- 
 fer!: him born, the King of Jie Jews ; and 
 though he had not then any attual Regency 
 over them (for they were now under the 
 Romans) yet afterward, it was by the de- 
 fignment (a) and decree of the Father that 
 he mould be both King of Jew y and Gentile*, 
 and gather all the Children of God into 
 one. But, 
 
 Fifthly, (to haften ) By the little accept- 
 ance of, as well as the little knowledge 
 that they had concerning Chrift here among 
 them. You may thence obferve, 
 
 (z) Parens calls tht Magi Primiti* gentium. 
 (d) Pfal, 2. $, io. lfa.49.6. Job, 11. $2. 
 
 That 
 
That a People may live near andvnderthc 
 Exhibition, and Preaching of Chrifiy 
 daily and yet remain ignorant of him^ 
 for no locall litter al Notions will ferve. 
 
 Thefe poor Creatures had more practi- 
 cal real knowledge fthat had but fo little 
 Syderean light to teach them) then the Jews. 
 The Jews were turned Heathens-, the Hea- 1 
 thens true Jews. Rom.i.ult. The men of 
 the Eaft the true Lovers of Chrift •, and the 
 men of Jemfalem fallen from him. It is very 
 poflible, that one may be near Chrift in re- 
 fpeft of abundance of Revelation, and yet 
 have nothing of Chrift revealed in their 
 Hearts-, much faid, and little known j much 
 taught, and little learned jmuch knowledge, 
 and little prattice; lefs Love. Neither 
 Herod, nor that Se& oi'Heypdians ('for in- 
 deed, all Jemfalem were&feibft of that Se£t) 
 (f)did helievea word of #hat thefe Phana- 
 tick wife men did report ; talk of a Child 
 born a King, when there is onepofTeft? 
 
 Fifthly , Obferve what deep enmitie, 
 (covered over with Hypocrifie) Herod was 
 guilty of, in reference to Chrift. For he en- 
 quired diligently of the wife ^en what time 
 the Star appeared. 
 
 Sometime they muft have for their jour- 
 
 ff) Biing [komims ad fervitatem parAti^s one fays. 
 C ney % 
 
( 1 8 ) 
 
 ney ; by the guidance of this Star they were 
 brought to Jewry : Up to Jerufalem they 
 Came .; Herod no fooner hears on't ; but 
 (whereas the Do&rine of a Savour mould 
 rejoycethe whole World) it only affrights 
 the Court. It is faid, though of another 
 (a 2d J of his name, that he defired much 
 to fee Jefus. And Herod, when he faw him 
 with his Men of War-, kt him at naught, 
 (b) the 23. Luke 11. So does this Herod, 
 But that's not all. 
 
 6. Though the Language was to wor- 
 (hip, the end and defign was to worry and 
 deftroy Chrifl. 
 
 Enquire diligently where the Babe, the 
 young Child isfi and bring me word, that I 
 znay come and^Offhip him 5 as you find 
 in the 7, %. v erf es^ but the t other was the 
 thing he intended. Which makes one Au- 
 ther, it is Aretw hisf c) pafTage : Seirh he, 
 there is one thing in his mouth, but there's 
 another thing in his heart :, he pretends to 
 worfhip, but intends to Murther, MafTacre 
 
 (V) Luk. 25.8, II. But fet him at naught, at the 
 -fight of him. (c) Herodcs arte atiudin on, fed ali- 
 
 ud in peftore daufum\habet. Sanguine fundata eft 
 
 Ecclefia, fanguine Nat a } f 'anguine fuccr&i ; it, anguine, 
 fnis erit. (Parens.) 
 
 and 
 
and deftroy, for it appeared fo at Jaft. And 
 therefore this Star did prefage both -good 
 and evil, f asyou'l fee by and by,) for there 
 were fo many of the poor Children loft 
 their lives ; the firft Martyrs for Chrift. 
 
 6 ! how hard a thing it is to ingratiate a 
 holy Jefus, and a wicked man ! ( I had al- 
 moft faid, more) a wicked King. For out 
 of doubt Herod was fo \ he was fo, take it 
 for granted ; He was of a wicked flock that 
 2oco years almoft had been the plague of 
 Gods people, I don't know how many ages. 
 For he was anldumean of the (lock of Efau : 
 he came to't by infinuation and flattery, he 
 was exalted there by the Roman power, he 
 was kept in and defended by them. 
 
 The Roman Law and Yoak was upon If- 
 rael at this time ; yet he pretended refpeft 
 and love to their worfhip and Temple, and 
 gaue gifts towards it ; but all this while a 
 real Enemy, (but a hidden) to Chrift. Or 
 (as the Phrafe in one Author is) he made it 
 his work to lay crafty Plots and infmuations, 
 in a fubtle and deceitful way, to find out 
 Chrift, and rather then not kill him, he 
 would Murther all the Infants about that 
 Age. But, 
 
 in the next place we may obferve, the 
 
 wife men, when they came to the place, 
 
 had been conduced by the Star all along, 
 
 C 2 and 
 
( 20) 
 and at laft found the place of the^BIefled 
 Babe. -It notes to you. 
 
 7. That though it be difficult tofeek^ yet 
 it is defireable and f leaf ant to fee Jeftu^ 
 very fie af ant. 
 
 On this Note, O how long did you once 
 hear 1 . God, by his Spirit preach it over a- 
 gainto you. Ipafsit. 
 
 8. You may obferve, They came to the 
 place, and they offered Gold, Frankincenfe 
 and Myrrh, and worfhipped him. (d) 
 
 That Jefm is a King that deferves all 
 Homage, and Fealty-) and Worjhip *nd 
 Duty to be given him-, from all his Sab- 
 jetls and Servants. And 
 
 9. Obferve, In what a low Condition the 
 Lord Jefus -at firft exhibited himfelf 
 into the World. 
 
 O the blelTed way and Wifdom of God 
 in this thing ! He was not pleafed to come 
 forth at firft, like fome great Monarch ; 
 He was pleafed to make his Friends but 
 
 (d ) In the Grei^. TTfefKvrnra) did cap, or bow aCs 
 jta as Spaniels, ver 8: 
 
 few, 
 
C =' ) 
 
 few, his Parents mean and poor, his houfe 
 a Stable \ his Company, the Beafts .• his 
 Cradle the Manger, and (if o.iemay be 
 critical,) old Clouts for bis Swadlings,(old 
 foar rags,) all which was continued in this 
 low ftate, (e) during his own life, and fo 
 along, on purpofe to teach the Difciples of 
 the Crucified Jefus, all humility. 
 
 Mr. Burroughs cites Chryfoftom (f) that 
 fays wouldft thou be cloathed in Silks f Re- 
 member the bands of JW.But then, (fay I, ) 
 remember the Swathes of Chrift. See, and 
 look what a poor wretch art thou ! he was 
 a Babe of Glory, what a high ftate thou li- 
 veft in ! all rich Curtains, rich Arras, rich 
 Hangings, and the like. The Glory and 
 Grandeur of this World, and the Glory 
 and Humility of Chrift, are fo vaftly diffe- 
 rent. Ohow fhould the Do&rine of t)\G 
 Crofs, and a Crucified Jefus, better teach 
 Humility to his followers / And yet, 
 
 In the Tenth place you may alfo obferve 
 how wonderfully God guided the Wifdom 
 of thefe Eaftern men, to behold an inward 
 
 (e) H^a? yt,ycd(jJtvav- Luk. 2. 7, 12. In vilihm 
 &veteribt* indumentis. (f) Molls Choice, pag. 8$. 
 VtlUs folds indui\ rwmoxzjlo Pauli carceris, & vin- 
 culorum, vis odoramsnta coopta illiits lacrlmas, et bxc 
 deformitattmputtibis. Chrvf. Homil In Colof. &z. 
 C 3 Celeftial 
 
 4 
 
C to ) 
 
 Ce leftial Glory in this low and miferablc 
 and defpifed condition. Hence learn we 
 
 i o. Wherein lies the trne Wifdom, for a 
 poor Soul, to prize a (g) defpifed Chrifi : 
 When he comes to be exalted, he won't 
 need to be beholding to us for honour. But 
 to prize a Crucified Jefus, and to plead for 
 him as the Thief on the Crofs j this man 
 hath done nothing amifs, nothing, Lnk.23. 
 41. k&v a vi7M> Wfctjg^nonot awry .You ihall 
 alwaies obferve it, thofe are the true Heirs, 
 and Co-heirs of Cnrift in the Kingdom, that 
 are fo Spiritually agreed, and reconciled to 
 all his low defpifed Conditions. Seeft thou 
 Chrift in the pooreft Member, in the mean- 
 eft place, in the mod defpicable Cottage, in 
 the wofulleft Sheep-Coat, O prize him : as 
 it is faid in one place, he went into Bethany, 
 and lodged there. But Bethany was a poor 
 (/;)mans Houfc, for Sheep-Coats or Cauls, 
 more then dwelling. And therefore it is as 
 much as tofay, he cauled there ; that is, he 
 lodged among the Sheep-cribbs.You fee the 
 low eftate of themoft high Son of God. And, 
 
 (g) Stellas note is good, Beatavirgovili ftabulofe- 
 dit, & jacetj fedqitod ho mines negliunt Cives celefies, 
 honor ant^ &• mquitun, (h) As Bethany f.gnifies. 
 So Luke 21.38. «uAi£«7B> i- e. be cauled or fouldid 
 there, as io.io.I. 
 
 U. (That 
 
( 23 ) 
 
 ii. ('That I may go no further; and 
 yet reading Aretim? that pious grave man, 
 goes to the number of leventeen, in excel- 
 lent, fweet, and profitable notes, Ton this 
 text and context) but I go not fo far.) 
 
 The Twelfth and laft is this, That God 
 makes known fometimes much ef his 
 mind? and Sons Glory by new Stars? or 
 prodigious Comets. 
 
 And this lets you fee (in ihort) what the 
 Text points to : what it was that guided the 
 wife men fo many hundred Miles ; what it 
 was that carryed the tydings of a new King 
 to the Magi in the Eaft. And according to 
 this, I (hail endeavour, (not barely by the 
 light ( fo much) of the dark bodies in the 
 Heavens ; as by the help, and candle of the 
 Scripture, and the guidance thereof to make 
 known fomething out of the works of God ; 
 as formerly, we have preached out of his 
 word. Now as touching the Stars, there are 
 two forts. Old created, new created, fo 
 divers grave Authors call it. Of the form- 
 er there are the fixed , and moveable 
 ftars. This is faid of them all in the firft 
 Creation •, they mall be for figns, and for 
 feafons (Gen. 1.14.J for dayes, and years. 
 Signs of coming events that was the Crea- 
 C 4 tors 
 
tors end. Ofthefe new ones, whereof this 
 
 in the Text was one, f and a ftrange one J 
 
 fomething had need to be fpoke which may 
 
 be for the plaineft, and the meaneft vulgar 
 
 underftanding,as well as the mofbwife.If you 
 
 were as learned as the wife men were } God 
 
 (it feems) would teach them by the Stars, 
 
 that had not the word, or had but barely the 
 
 herefay of it. There are various wayes of 
 
 Gods making known his will unto the 
 
 Sons of men, there are fome ordinary, there 
 
 are fome extraordinary, there are fome 
 
 things made known by his word, there are 
 
 others by his works. But whether by the 
 
 one, or the other, there is a fecret imprefs 
 
 or influence of his holy Spirit, concurrent, 
 
 which makes the medium effectual to the 
 
 end. But in this, 1 mall be too general. - 
 
 As for thefe ftars we read in Scripture 
 
 (for there we'l mainly confult) concerning 
 
 them, that they have their fignatures, as 
 
 God in the firft Creation decreed (Gen. i . 
 
 1 5. J their dominion. (+; We read that they 
 
 have their weapons : the ftarrs fought 
 
 in their courfes againft Sifera and Jabin, 
 
 Judges 5. 20. We read of their (*') con r 
 
 ftellations which (\ think) anfwers to that, 
 
 we call our conjunctions \ in which, they 
 
 (t; 70M.33. (U Ifi ». *$■ ic. 2 Yjng. 23. $. 
 c r dsfome the 1 2 Signs ; feem 
 
(25 ) 
 feem to concenter and concurre, in the or- 
 der and courfe they take, (by the law of 
 their maker) to declare, and point out (as 
 fecond caufes) that there isjfomethingto be 
 brought forth in the world. 
 
 We read again, of the impreflions they 
 have upon the heart of man (mark David^ 
 how fpiritual his heart was, to learn 
 humility, out of the ftarrs.) When I con- 
 fider, the Moon and the Stars ( he goes no 
 higher) which thou haft ordained, Lord 
 what is man, faith he ? in Pfal.S.^. As if 
 he had faid, thou haft not pent thy felf in 
 vain in fuch a glorious beautious canopy 
 (with all the ftarrsj befpangled :, andtho, 
 they have no need to defend thee, yet they 
 preach to us humility:, Lord, what is man? 
 We read yet again, in the 19 PfaL ver. 3. 
 There is no language where their line and 
 word is not heard, (their words , (mark 
 ye:) 
 
 Why then they have lines, and words. 
 Lines, by which they point out our Cen- 
 ter, by which God their maker indicates; 
 And words, by which, they fpeak their 
 makers will} A nd there is no language (how 
 remote foever^ where their words are not 
 heard. The Stars, (where other means 
 were not wanting ) were certain Preachers, 
 and Tubliftiers of the mind and will of 
 
 God, 
 
God ;, unto thofe that are dutiful and wife 
 obfervers Now when ali thefe ordinary 
 wayes & Preachers will not attain the right 
 end, why then, God ufualJy makes fome 
 new thing, and is pleafed to place fome new 
 Pulpit, in the heavens, and fet up fome 
 new ftarre , of which, Alftediu* (b) gives 
 us 154, in his Hiftoryof them; and ano- 
 ther writer ("though I have not feen the au- 
 thour) does report all the ftars (new Co- 
 ments I mean) fince the Creation. Thus 
 I have led you unto the general intimation 
 of our defign, in which will lye the folution 
 of three or four qucftions. 
 
 And 1 hope, if you'l call it a digreflion, 
 yet it is no tranfgreffion,to handle this kind 
 of learning for once , in three or four 
 Queftionsfor the fitbftratum of ourfecond 
 Difcourfe •, I only add in Jam. 1661. an 
 Infant twelve times cryM in the womb, 
 Woe to Denmark) and he (/) adds. Thefe 
 Coeleftial rlgns portend fome great thing, 
 or ftrange change, as well in Civil as Ecde- 
 fiaftical Government, and when this now 
 Infant Preacht by this flarr, fhall again vifit 
 
 (JO Alii. Chron.ipag. 493. Comctography, and-jome 
 years had 2,3,or 4: in one year fince Chriji, Exelius. 
 
 (*)So Job 38.35. (i) Ifa. 13.10. 2King.23. 5. 
 (I) Sertrusf. 2u atTanmmin- Norroway. p 22. 
 
 the 
 
C=7) 
 the Earth, tho, it be a day-Mar to us, twi& 
 burn as a (m) furnace on the wicked world. 
 But I'll conclude now, with that in the 
 Pfalmes,(») They alfothat dwell in the utter- 
 mofi farts of the earthy are afraid at thy to- 
 kens, 
 
 (w) P/J/.4.1, 2. (n) Pfal. 6$. 8. 
 
 T* 
 
 ie 
 
(=8) 
 
 *® ^> tS 1 *35 
 
 CftU«ftt rf/5.>sj <«&'(*» ««j 
 
 «3J^ J^V ^ *5 
 
 The lecond Sermon, or part. 
 *Matth 2.2,9,10. 
 
 IT isfaid of one, being in a clear night 
 (but a high windej at Sea : the Marri- 
 ners being afraid, he comforted them thus, 
 in the ftorm ; It is impoflible we fhould 
 peridi, and have fo many eyes ( meaning 
 itarrs) looking upon us. 
 
 By all vifible Prognofticks, the whole in- 
 tereft of Chrift and his people, feem to be 
 in fuch a ftorm, or boding towards it. But 
 look up to heaven, and fee how many eyes 
 are there upon us ; look into the Firmament; 
 and fee what new eyes (a) have been 
 fet there upon us ^ look into the world,and 
 behold, what envious a r d malicious eyes 
 are thereupon us, which would certainly 
 plot our ruine. But look into the Church, 
 
 {a) In a number of comets, a. Ute years fomttimts 
 thm in one yearns 166$. 
 
 and 
 
and behold how many gracious Prophets 
 and good men^ how many precious Pray- 
 ers have a benign aufficious afpeft toward 
 us *, but look laft to the Lord, mall we not 
 conclude, it is impoffible a people mould 
 perifh, that have fo many eyes, even feven 
 {b) eyes, and that from heaven fixt on 
 us. ? 
 
 It is partly from the expe&ation of evil, 
 and partly from the hope of good aproach- 
 ing, that I was led to this text. There are 
 divers, and confiderable notes have offered 
 themfelves already to your obfervation, 
 the laft time, which I may not now re- 
 pear. 
 
 There is onely one thing (as to my drift 
 and fcope) is mainly to be enquired after 
 from this Text ; what this ftar was, or 
 what it meant, which thus appeared unto 
 the wife men."? 
 
 i . To which, it is anfwered f according 
 to fome Prifcillians that fuppofed it to be 
 the ftarre of Chrift's Nativity or deftinv. 
 Now they that do talk of fuch Do&rine of 
 Nativities, and Deftinies from the ftars, 
 do fpeak fo much in the dark, that as I 
 think the ftarr in my text fpeaks nothing 
 to the purpofe, fol am able to Colled no- 
 
 00 zacb, 3. 9. & 4. 10. & cj, 8. 
 
 thing 
 
(30) 
 
 thing of truth from that anfwer. For fup- 
 pofing that (in Theft) to be true, yet (in 
 Hipothefi) it 'twill not quadrate nor fuit 
 our Text \ for as Chrift was (fure) no 
 ordinary babe, fo nor was this ftarre 
 a common or natural ftarre. There are 
 others that fay, it was a certain divine ver- 
 tue : This is the exprelTion of Chrofoftome; 
 but that is a general term .* and may be co- 
 incident with what follows. And unlefs 
 he means the fourth conjecture fan AngeU 
 I cannot tell what he intends by that divine 
 vertue. 
 
 But,thus much mav be allowed him (*) 
 there was a certain divine vertue invifibie 
 put into this ftar ; fo to conduft, andmanu- 
 duft unto the cradle of Chrift. 
 
 There are (again) sly. that dofuppofe 
 by it is meant a certain created and new- 
 made ftarre, by a divine hand, fo divers 
 good Authors call it, and it may pafs for 
 fuch a new made ftarre, unlefs we defire 
 to cavil, but, 
 
 4thly, There are a fourth fort, that fay 
 it was an Angel. 
 
 5thly, There is another, that con jetties 
 it was the Spirit of God. 
 
 (*) Vimtm qudndm lnvifibilem r Ri 4W**" in 
 facie, (ydtris fguritum, Pareus in loc. 
 * but 
 
C 31 ) 
 
 But becaufe I care not to oppofe; I 
 Would comprehend in my own anfwer, 
 what I fuppofc, may not much quarrel with 
 any of thefe expreflions. 
 
 And therefore I anfwer, that it was a 
 certain new-created ftarre, by the miniftra- 
 tion, or manudu&ion of an Angel (if you 
 willj feU andfenton purpofe for that pre- 
 fent fervice, which God appointed it to, 
 for the c6ndu6-ing of thefe wife men-; con- 
 victing of the Jews, and awakening of o- 
 thers:, (*) fo many as mould hear qn't. 
 And therefore my Queftion was not onely 
 what it was, but whereto, or for what end? 
 And that is plain and eafie, 'twas for di- 
 recting the way of the poor Arabians, ( as 
 fome fay Perfians) that in the end they 
 might finde out that Jefus, which was born 
 a Ring in Bethlehem. 
 
 Andfo, the knowledge of God, and Je~ 
 jkiChri^ andChrift's Kingdom (to which 
 he was born) was made known to thefe 
 Aliens, as foon, ( if not fooner) then it was 
 to fome of them Scribes and Rabbiesthat 
 were in Jemfdem \ that yet could tell the 
 place, and very town,(^; where he was to 
 be be bo n, as V.6. 
 
 (?)Qhfa]ies itwas-fntt t,rex:ite them to preach him 
 at their return; and hence in A'% 2. 11. we read of 
 Vrofelites <f Arabia, (c) mhi.them,Wc.$.2. ' 
 
 Where- 
 
Wherefore Auftine calls ic a witnefs of 
 Chrift *, and indeed, it was fo \ though the 
 wife men, and the Spirit of God in the E- 
 vangelift, doe not tell us what the language 
 was; or how they came to a right know- 
 ledge of this fthat he was a King) yet the 
 thing was a Scripture truth ; and we mud 
 conclude, that all truth hath it's revelation 
 from the God of truth. (*) And this was 
 to convince the Gentiles ; therefore Pare- 
 tts, they were the fir ft fruits of the Gen- 
 tiles } thefe that came* (whether they 
 were Kings, two, or three, or more, wife 
 men cannot well determine J from fore- 
 mote a place, unto Judea : And it was alfo 
 to awaken and convince the heathen-like 
 Jewes, fo far now degenerate, from the 
 knowledge of God. For by confulting 
 two or three Do&ors, Hammwd, Gellj 
 Mayer ; all thefe three on the Text much 
 agree in the citation of Chdcidm, who li- 
 ving about the time of Chrift, does report 
 the facred Hiftory of this Evangelift, and 
 the Report and particular Narrative of 
 this Star, as the old Phiiof. Chdcid. is 
 cited part i p. 
 
 (*) In his Contemplations , Bifiop Hill jayis 
 p. 13. that the light of Nature and of Phylofophy, 
 taught them that that Stave was not Ordinary, fome 
 grange news was portended i o the world by it. 
 
 So 
 
C 33 J) 
 
 So that by all, we may conclude, that it 
 was a thing created above, and feen in the 
 Eaft, and fixed after in it's particular moti- 
 on fin a lower Orb) different from all other 
 liars, and new Comets^ that it might direa 
 thefe unto the blefled Babe, and King of the 
 Jews. 
 
 From whence I did, and do Obferve. 
 
 Doftrine > That when God Creates 
 new Stars, he hath fome new and 
 great workjo do in the world. 
 
 Whether youl count me regular in my 
 ©bfervation, and right in this Do&rine, by 
 the fequel, your felves (hall Judge. But ap- 
 parent it is, both from the Text and con- 
 text j That when God Creates certain new 
 Prodigious Stars in the Heavens,or the Air, 
 it muft necefTarily prefignifie, that God is 
 about fome new, and great work in the 
 world, either of Judgement or mercy, or 
 both. Which point, will further neceffitate 
 us to an enquiry after thefe four things. 
 
 Four Queftions-) 
 
 Firft, That God doth fometimes Create 
 
 Mgnal Stars, or Stars for fignatures or fig* 
 
 nifications of his minde. There we muft 
 
 a little Demonftrate that it is fo- (Tor if 
 
 D that 
 
(34) 
 that fame fubftratum, fhould fall to the 
 ground, all that's built upon it will fignifie 
 nothing.) 
 
 The Second enquiry will be, what it is 
 thefe fignifie \ what new things thefe are 
 that are likely to be concomitants \ ( though 
 I fay not (*r)the effetts as of a caufe, but) 
 the corrfequents, or figns, or the attendants 
 of fuch dreadful (Phenomena's} or appear- 
 ances. And 
 
 Thirdly, How, or by what Rule or nor- 
 ma, this Knowledge muft be taken up, or 
 what fignatures there are, or mediums, by 
 which fuch language may be read, either of 
 good, or evil to come t 
 
 •And there will be a fourth enquiry, which 
 will relate unto the HypotheOs ( granting 
 the Thefis, that there are fuch things) and 
 fo difcovered, and for fuch ends ; it will be 
 neceffary for further Iight(e^ ex abundant*) 
 to clear from experience (and the know- 
 ledge of Hiftory in by-paft times,) the 
 truth of the thing, that Gcd hath in all 
 Ages almoft fodone^ though 7 dare not 
 fay,for every year, but for that defe£r,fome- 
 times thrice in the year,r, has fetup Prodi- 
 
 (\) Fro'T.und. m,n ett c.iufe Pbyjica, ftd fignw 
 ir.di ad fl&vUrh d.ii\ . Comtta. 
 
 gious 
 
I 35 ) 
 g-ous fights, or new ftarrs in the Heavens, 
 for to prefignifie fuch events. 
 
 But firft, to the Bafis, (the quod fit,} that 
 this muft needs be-,to which truth, I argue* 
 
 Firft, from the confideration of the Crc-, 
 ator. And the firft Creation of thefe (fo 
 called) Star res ; Let Them be for fig ns-> and 
 feafons,fordayes andyears^Gen. i. 14. and 
 the 15. verfe, alfo addes,/or to be lights unto 
 the earth-, or to illuminate and illuftrate the 
 Earth ; which is not fo much to be under- 
 flood of the bare and meer fenfitive world, , 
 but of the rationalls too, for the night-light 
 of the ftarres, is but a glimmering light, 
 and inferiour to that of the Moon, except* 
 ing fuch Prodigious fights, as fometimes 
 have been in Comets feen (non minor is file) 
 fuch ftars have given light falmoft like the 
 fun,) both by their Martial fiery colour and 
 their magnitude, or as big in appearance as 
 the moon, fuch have been (as Writers fay,) 
 in fome Ages by-paft. For God made the 
 the greater light (the Sun) forday ; the 
 lefTer, (the Moon J for night. Therefore 
 the Stars barelyin that fence, did not need 
 to fupply the light of the Moon, which is 
 the greater *, (the lefs fupplies not the 
 greater.) But by the brightnefs of the 
 old or firft created, and the fuperaddition 
 of new (Comst-like) Stars - 7 God might 
 D 2 in* 
 
C 36) 
 
 intend (ver. 16, 17 ) to enlighten the world, 
 and Ages in it, concerning good, or evil 
 coming upon it : And I am not alone (d) 
 in that Expofition. For, there is fomething 
 in lines, expreflely to this fence, in Dr. Pe* 
 terSer arias (a Holander) who wrote fome- 
 thing of this about the laft fiery Trygon, 
 on the great conjunction of the Superior 
 Planets in 1665. 
 
 Now if you fay, this relates to the ftars 
 that God made at firft •, what fignifies this 
 to new Stars, which have appeared fince ? 
 whats this to our Comets. 
 
 To this I anfwer, 'Tisfome advantage \ 
 for thus I argue, If God appointed the nrft 
 ftars for figns made at the Creation, much 
 more may we conclude that Comets fo 
 ufually fuperadded, (as if the firft fort too 
 few ) do Preach and fignifie,that God makes 
 a new thing. As it is faid, I'll make a new 
 thing (e) in the Earth. But much more 
 when he makes new things in the Heavens. 
 It is a true rule is given, God (f) (and na- 
 ture J made nothing in vain. God never 
 fet up, either the old, or the new Prodigi' 
 
 (A) As Serarius pleads in a difcoarfe of conjunfli- 
 o«i,pag. $, &c. (e) jer. 31.22. (Q Dtus&na- 
 '*--vi nil fait jhslrx. 
 
 ous 
 
(37 ) 
 ous Stars, that they might be meer futilous 
 obfervations, ufelefs and empty things for 
 folks to gaze upon, and away } no : For 
 faith one Author, when the Star is gone, yet 
 the thing's not gone y Something or other 
 of good or evil follows it. (*) 
 
 The difficulty of tracing this kind of 
 reading and learning, I hope, (for one Ser * 
 moil or two) will be fufficient Apology, 
 for my preaching on this fubje£t ; If God 
 fet a Star in Heaven, and makes the Ccelc- 
 ftial fphere a Pulpit for a new thing ; it is 
 but meet, we mould (for once) obferve the 
 Sermon of his works, as well as his word. 
 For, the works of the Lord, (as well Crea- 
 tion, as renewed Creation, which appears in 
 Providence) are fought out (g) of ally that 
 have pleafure therein. 
 
 Secondly, the truth of this figniture fur^ 
 ther appears, by the verification of old Pro- 
 phefies hereby, which you frull flnde in- 
 ftances of as firft that of (+) Balaam : 
 There (hall come aftarre out of Jacob, and 
 a Scepter fl) all rife out of Jfrael (the Scepter 
 is an Emblem of Dominion) (TheStarre 
 
 (*) Nullus Csmetes qui nullum malum fcrat. 
 Cgj I'fa!. in. 2. (f) For that fome do recite 
 Maldonat. Partus notes Trobabik divinitus oraculo 
 admonitoS) & lnfiinttu divino, licit hoc taccunt, 
 
 D 3 then 
 
 
( ?8 3 
 then, fignified Dominion,as you finde it in 
 the 24 of Numbers, the 17 verfeO and 
 fhall fmite the Corners of Moab, and un- 
 wall (as Ainfwnh reads \a) all the chil- 
 dren of Sa&,which,thongh I will not be pe- 
 remptory to fay, he folely meant this ftar 
 which was attendant to the Nativity of our 
 Lord •, (*) yet becaufe out of the line of 
 Jacob came this blefTedbabe,who was to be 
 theKing of the Jaw, and the redeemer of the 
 world ; it mud imply certainly, thus much, 
 that Balaamhzd an eye in his Prophcfie to 
 this : or God, in delivering this Prophefie 
 to him, and by him to us. Nor do / think 
 that Prediction all ; For if you pleafe to 
 confult a verfe or two in the 72 Pfalm ; 
 which is a Pfalm of Chrift, under the type 
 of Solomon, you fhall finde this very thing 
 and place indigitatc, and the circumitances 
 and concomitants of it , therefore muft 
 needs be imply ed. The 72 Pfalm 1 o, and 
 the J 5 verfe. The Kings of Tarfirifh, and 
 of the J fie sfn all bring Frefcnts: the Kings* of 
 Sheba, and Seba, fhall offer gifts. One of 
 thefe places muft be this Eaft country, 
 whence thefe came , as learned Authors 
 think. Ag a i n it is ufed in the 15. verfe. 
 * < .. — » ■■ i — i .. . — . 
 
 f*) Bi/hop Hall faith, he that pat that true ?ropbe- 
 fie into Baalams mouthy put bis own Illumination in 
 thu'r ktartSyCorx. pag.!4. 
 
 think. 
 
(39 ) 
 
 J$nd he jliall live (not an infant born meerly 
 to dye •, though he dyed, he lives for ever- 
 more^ and to him fnall be given of the gold 
 of Sbei?,:: (for mark; they brought gold, 
 frankincenfe, and myrrhej all belonging to 
 that Eaft Countrey. 
 
 2, Yet there is a Prophefie more, that 
 may be adduced to this, viz,, in the 60 of 
 Jfaiah : fand that's a great Prophefie of 
 the glory of the Church, her King, and 
 Kingdom. (For the Church is ChrirVs 
 Kingdom, and he is her KingJ the glory of 
 this Church is much expreft in this 60 of 
 Ifaiah, faith the 6 verfe, The multitude of 
 Camels fa all cover thee ^ the Dromedaries of 
 Midixn and Ephah-, all they from Sheba jhall 
 come : they jliall bring gold and incenfe, and 
 they jhall jhew forth the praifes of the Lard. 
 Tnefe are plain and palpable Prophefies) 
 and could no otherwife nor better be verifi- 
 ed,. then herein. Now from one of thefe 
 places, Sheba and Seba, It is faid, the Queen 
 of Sheba came from the South. (So called 
 the Queen of the South ) Therefore 
 the other place Seba , mud be from the 
 Eaft. And fo here are the feveral pai ts, 
 round about Jerufalem nam'd ", for that was 
 fuppofed the Navel of the earth. Here Chrift 
 Jefuswas pleafedto difcover himfelfin our 
 fieih/, here he is faluted by the Shepherds 
 D 4 in 
 
C40J 
 in the field ; by the Prophets of the old 
 Teftament ; by she Angels from Heaven j 
 by the wife men Eaftward *, Some will 
 needs call them Kings from the Eaft. But 
 that Jefuitical Tradition, is defervedly ex- 
 ploded that when thefe (h) three they fay 
 wife Kings had returned to their own coun- 
 trey^they were from their Sepulchers tranf- 
 lated and buryed at CulUn (i) by Queen 
 Merome. But this was onely defigned to 
 feed the Coffers of thofe that were fuper- 
 ftitiouflyaffetted. Now I fay, that Pro- 
 phefie, which does refpett the whole, re- 
 fpe&s all the other circumftances and parts 
 of things. 
 
 If then you ask what thefe fpeak ? they 
 are Prophefies of the wife men \ what 
 fhould condutt them ? or who ? either, 
 
 i. Some, Prophet of Ifrael, but that 
 is not faid at all ; 
 
 2. Or elfe they knew from fome Trade, 
 & commerce the Merchants of the Jews,bad 
 among them,for incenfe,myrrhe,&c. which 
 is not expreft at all, tho probable, or, 
 
 (If) But to fay they were three, not more or lefs, or 
 Kings of Cullcn is a fancy as futilous as the legend of 
 Popish fictions, (ij And fome do pre fume to n ami the 
 three Kings, the first Jafper , the fecond Melchior, 
 the third Balthafar, and fome ufe them as a fell to cure 
 the F alien- ftckjiifs^ and conclude as once J faw and 
 read it, Solyjtur a morbo dotnini pietate calico. 
 
 3, Laftly, 
 
(4i y 
 
 5. Laftly, By the dire&ions and oracular 
 di&ates that attended this Star : and the 
 Lord by fome inftind, divinely revealing it 
 to them, for the ufual way of God was, 
 and is, to fecond weak and ontward means 
 with the more inward, and effe&uai revela- 
 tion of the Spirit, (of which by and by.) 
 
 Now I fay, when there are Scripture- 
 predi&ions, that (in General) fpeak of it in 
 the old Teftament, and the new Teftament 
 reports the verification in our Text, then it 
 muft needs be a truth, fand Lnk. 21.25. alfo 
 attefts it) that God makes and frames fuch 
 figns, on purpofa, and ftill Chrift predicts 
 it of onr dayes : for fome great work he 
 hath to do ; thus it is verified by Prophefie, 
 as well as Creation. 
 
 3. And for the third. I argue from the 
 experience of thefe wife men. For fhall 
 we think that they were deluded ? that 
 they were conduced by fuch an heavenly 
 apparition :, to come, they know not whe- 
 ther, nor for what end } no doubtlefs, all 
 the circumftances that did attend, from all 
 this whole revelation, do fpeak the truth 
 by their experience of the thing. And 
 what the Scriprure fpeaks before was their 
 experience, and fo had need to be owned 
 for truth Therefore 'twas certainly a 
 fign Cceieftial manudufting them to Chrift 1 
 
 for 
 
(40 
 
 for they being true to its conduft by that 
 ftar found Chrift.For in the circmnftar.ccs of 
 the Text, its clear their evidence and ex- 
 perience faiPcLrhem not. 
 
 Firltof all, you finde, thatfofcon as he 
 was born: (and fome do fuppofe, \v 
 the mothers moneth, before he wa p 
 ted at Jemfalem) they took their Jo 
 which fome conjecture {I) was onfi ; 
 Others, by thofe fwift beads which I 
 CountreysafTordcd. I fay, IaJTirmriOt: 
 in that \ But fo many dayes they might 
 have, (at the rate of thirty or forty miles a 
 day,) to bring them unto Bethlehem before 
 her moneth was out. But however, this is 
 certainly affirmed, the Star is faid to appear 
 twice, i. ft appeared firft in their own 
 Cbuntrey ; for we have feen his Star in the 
 Eaft. Yet again (a fecond time the Star 
 did appear, when thev had dipt it: or it 
 was lapfed out of fight from them, or rather 
 I think they gone afide from it,and thinking 
 that the Metropolis of a Kingdom was the 
 likelyeft way to difcover where a King was 
 born ; however they loft the condua of 
 the Star, when they' went to Jerufdem; 
 
 ■ 
 
 (1) Others fay 9 ^tyvas drjt a. tvt he nonet}), Mary 
 being return d to a fecihd T$x to that Town; 
 
 which 
 
(43 ) 
 
 which was not the ftraiteft, and neareft way 
 to Bethlehem ('"one thinks^ but aboat,diftant 
 feven or eight miles from Jerusalem. And 
 when they came out from Jerufalem again, 
 the Star appeared the fecond time, and they 
 were exceeding glad f , fo faith the context, at 
 the 9, & io, verfes. Yet more-over Herod 
 himfelf feems to (m) be troubled, or af- 
 frighted, at the rumour , as in a ftormj 
 plannet-ftruck with the tydings of a new 
 king born. For he being an Edomite> (and 
 as one truly fayes *, every thing afFrights the 
 guilty) a very wicked man, a deftroyerof 
 his wives, a murtherer of his children, and 
 of all thofe that thought, or were intended 
 for the Succeflion, an enemy to the Coun- 
 trey, (*) and the Sanedrimor Senators of 
 the Jews, to God and Religion;of the Amar 
 lekitijh, or Edomaijh ftock * 7 This Hypo- 
 crite to Chrift , is mightily amazed and 
 amufed at the report of fuch a thing And 
 Herod, ( faith the third verfe) hearing of it, 
 and all Jerusalem, was greatly concern'd, 
 or amuzed. For it doth greatly concern the 
 Potentates of this world, when they hear 
 
 (V| feTct?A%9»i ot V2Y. 5. as the Sea waves that 
 fwdl, end boy I up their rage, and, foul maid. (*) Je- 
 ff phus fayes, he fought to defiroy them all nigh bis 
 end. 
 
 of 
 
(44) 
 of a Governour born, or right-heir that is 
 like to fucceed them,better then themfel ves. 
 It is the obfervation of one, (ri) Tyranny 
 is ftill fufpitious of a rival) that not onely 
 he but all Jemfalem (the Text faith) were 
 troubled at him. Whether it was becaufe 
 they had a King already : and they had no 
 mind nor care to hear of another; or it was 
 becaufe they were fo much in love with 
 him,(as bad as he was)that they thought the 
 next would be worfe, and therefore they 
 were very defirous to feed him with Hypo- 
 crifie,flattery, or whatever 'twas, it is faid, 
 he,and all Jerufalem were mightily jumbled 
 with the tydings, that they were affrighted 
 to think of a change : which, had they 
 with the Magi, butfeen fuch a Star, or con- 
 fidcr'd the Text in Micah->$.2.ver.6.%. and 
 the Prophefies of him, it would not at all 
 have amufed them. 
 
 And befides the Text faith, it was cal- 
 led his Star ^ we have feen his Star- And 
 when they faw the Star again, v. 2, 9. they 
 
 (n) Bilhnp Halls contempt, on the Mx&i. Sobad th li 
 City been overtoiled with changes, that (now titled i n 
 a condition quietly tvil,) they're fore troubled at ar 
 thznevfsoj better: and foir.uredtofir'ji'iiy. that the 
 noyfe of liberty (that comes umafiiy) u Mmlcowe> 
 
 were 
 
(45) 
 were exceeding glad-, all (how it in the 
 thing it felf, and its end too / extraordina- 
 ry. And that (hews the laft Circumftance ^ 
 Being wife men, they would not rejoyce 
 for nothing. 
 
 All thefe things put together, make the 
 feveral Circumftances clear- enough, for the 
 truth of the thing obferv'd, (viz..) that 
 this Star was a great, a certain, and mod 
 vifible fign, both to lead them to Chrifts 
 Nativity at prefent, and that God for the 
 future had fome extraordinary produft to 
 entertain the eyes of the now expectant 
 World with good or evil. 
 
 To all this, may be added, that in the 
 days of Auguflm, there was a certain fign 
 of a Virgin in the Heavens, appearing o- 
 ,ver Rome , with a Babe in her Lap ; and 
 fomewhere * read- ( If we may believe An- 
 tient ftories, the Emperour being much 
 concerned, about Chrifts Nativity fent to 
 a Sybil (fome call her a Witch :) what (he 
 
 * Another Cites Sybil. Cumana, La3. and others. 
 Syb. Erytbrea sr Caldaj'ca, tbit all do fbfa \, of Ckrijls 
 incarnation. 
 
 was 
 
C 63) 
 was, I know not.) But this me faid unto 
 him, 
 
 This Child's thy greater, him therefore, 
 Thou art commanded to adore. 
 
 This fign was alfo co-incident about this 
 time, and it is further evident, that not on- 
 ly Jcryfalem and all Jndea^ but even the 
 World about, (for they all went under the 
 Romans zt this time) had fpecial cognizance 
 or previous fentiments of fome great thing 
 that was now to be brought forth into the 
 World. That's fortheFirft. 
 
 The fccond thing will be brief, only to 
 anfwcr what thcfe new Signs flgnifie. 
 
 And as to this 1 have almoft prevented 
 my felf already ; tilling you that they are 
 figns, fomctrmes of on^ thing, fomctimes 
 of another quite contrary. But Tie tell y cu 
 in particular a Little: 
 
 Firft, As the Old, fo alfo the New. 
 Comets (and Stars) that appear in the 
 Heavens, they are ilgnsofthe great Wife 
 dom of God. 
 
 For certainly in Wifdom (Pf. 104. 24 J 
 
 he made them all. They have a glorious 
 
 fignature,thoughii: is noteafieto read every 
 
 line;yet we read that their line ck Language 
 
 is gento the end of the World. Pf\ 9 4- 
 
 What 
 
(47; 
 
 What do the Stars preach of? (we can tell 
 what we do, euery day, to litle purpofe.) 
 What do the Stars Preach of? The Hea- 
 vens declare the Glory ofGod 7 and the 
 Firmament fheweth his hand^ work. And 
 how is the handy work made to teftifie of 
 him ? Truly, Had one nothing but the 
 Laws of Aftronomy, it muft needs fignitie 
 by what is feen, the eternal, invifibieGods 
 skill, or to read over the Motions, Con- 
 junctions, Configurations, and feveral af- 
 pe&s and retrogradations, which are to be 
 obferved ! and by the meer Law of the 
 Heavens fomewhat of God is cognofcible, 
 which Abraham knew ; * and Job and 
 Mcfcs alfo : and therefore that lawful Art 
 of Aftronomy muft needs read to the atten- 
 tiveobferver abundance of the Wifdom of 
 God befide his power, veracity, &c. in 
 the lead work he makes, in Heaven, and 
 Earth. Eut they, 
 
 adly.They fignifie the difpleafure of God 
 often fhowM againft Sin ; and fo are fome- 
 times black lines andfigns of Evil, boding 
 upon the finful Sons of men, and call even 
 the utmoft parts of the Earth to fear Gods 
 
 * God ratifies his Covenant to Abraham by fating 
 biM to cunnmpUtt tin Stars, Gen. 1 5. 5. it wis don$ 
 
 in . hi night, 
 
 Token? 
 1 
 
(48) 
 Tokens as P/65. 8. Every Tranfgrefli- 
 on hath its reward decreed, and judg- 
 ments delineated in Heaven. But foine- 
 times God hath patience with the Sons of 
 men, and will tarry a great time, Ctn.d. 
 3. (as 1 2c years warning the World) and 
 fets them up a Preacher to tell them, by 
 ocular Mathematical demonftration ; well, 
 this (hews you, there's a dreadful tail of 
 arrears to piy, a long rod over your heads: 
 thus they are fignsof the Wrath of God. 
 They are, 
 
 Thirdly, Signs of Chrift } though I do 
 not fay, in this, or that way : ( that's yet to 
 enquire) but certainly, this Scripture 
 which I am upon doth fpeak fignifi- 
 cantly this Language, That the Star did 
 preach Chn(t,elfe why is the Query backt 
 with the caufall particular. For ? All the 
 Queftion is, How thefe wife men of the 
 £aft mould come to read fo Divine Lan- 
 .guageof Chrifts coming and being a King, 
 in the Laws of the natural Motions in gene- 
 ral, or fupernatural appearance of this 
 Star in particular i Unto which I only fay 
 in a few words, yet more exprefs. — (for 
 Xhe mediums or rules I referve to the 3. Qi 
 
 Firft, That God had a minde (certainly) 
 that Chrift fhould be revealed (in his Gof- 
 pel and Kingdom,and that at firft :)• as well 
 
 to 
 
<T49) 
 to the Gentiles, as the Jews (in the, way 
 proper and apt to both) and about the fame 
 time, that he was firft born,that fo he might 
 be a Saviour, as- well to Gentiles, as Jewess 
 that fo, thefe poor finners might obtain, fas 
 well as the Jewes did,) the firft of his Do- 
 ftrine, and benefits : 
 
 {pmnes 
 Quum gentes Chriftiim agnofctwt generatiter, 
 ^Ultima Evangelittmjegem qua prima recepit. 
 jQups docuk primos,poflremos Chriftmhabebit, 
 
 (Grace, 
 When once the Gentiles all are drawn to 
 Then will the Jews the Gofpel truth em- 
 brace : 
 Who firft the Law,laft (hall the Gofpelhave:. 
 Chrift whom he firft did call, fhall laft re- 
 ceive* 
 
 Is a faying very fiorfd, of Peter Domi- 
 <wu*, that the Jewes, that were firft taught 
 the Law,fhould be the iaft converted to the 
 Gofpel, and the Gentiles fhould be as the 
 firft fruits after their fail : and then mould 
 all the Jewes come in too ; and fo it fhould 
 be glory and riches to the whole world. 
 
 And I fay yet further, That they are alfo 
 
 fometimes Nuncio's of wrath, and other- 
 
 E while 
 
(50) 
 
 while the more rarely figns of (* ) good: 
 
 You know fin is more frequent (and finds 
 
 more friends ) in the world, then Piety and 
 
 goodnefs, that obtain but with a few) and 
 
 therefore wrath and Judgement, mufl not 
 
 be wondred at , if found louder in its 
 
 alarums •, then the Graces and Vertues of a 
 
 few poor, tho precious ones in the world, 
 
 and Appearances of wrath fuited to thofe 
 
 vices that are, in the latter times, are far 
 
 more frequent then appearances of Grace; 
 
 though there are better dayes Prophefied 
 
 of, faith (/>) Virgil, citing one of the Sy biles 
 
 "Ultima Cumdi venit jam carminis dtat, 
 Magnus ab Integro fee lor urn nafcitur ordo^ 
 Jam redit & virgo ; Redeunt Saturnia regna> 
 
 Now (faith he J (hall the Virgin come, and 
 now fhall return thofe glorious golden 
 dayes : for fo they fuppofed the Satmnian 
 times to be. 
 
 So that my anfwer (in fhort, to the fe- 
 cond queftion) may amount to this, what 
 one Author fomewhere did obferve from 
 one of the Sybiles ; it is faid , that 
 
 C*) David fray is in Pfil.SS. 17. For a tot>en of 
 good •, that notes, ftcb there are, as -well as of nil. 
 (pj 4 Ecchg, cited bj a late Autbour. 
 
 upon 
 
(SO 
 
 upon the appearance of this Star, there 
 was a hew Do&rine, a new King, and 
 Kingdom of Chriftianity to rife in the 
 World : And it was very true, and very 
 wellgueft ; for from the days of Chrift, 
 during air the preaching of his own mira- 
 cles *, all the Doftrines of his Apoftles for 
 threefcore years following his Death : 
 and fo (all alongj during the time of Mar- 
 tyrdom ^ What indefatigable endeavours 
 have been to root up both the Dodtrine 
 and Authority too of Chriftianity - 7 but it 
 could never be done, no, nor I nope, ne- 
 ver, never will. 
 
 Therefore when fuch things arife, they 
 are Phenomena's or certain appearances^ 
 and prodigious difcoveries: Indicia's, or 
 %nifi cations oft-times of evil, and aifoof 
 great good that will follow afterwards in 
 the world. 
 
 To come to my third Enquiry (for par* 
 ticular Inftances : I am not yet come to, 
 or to the praftick part.) 
 
 It is Thirdly to be confidered by what 
 mediums, or what normals be they, (if 
 they be Prognofticks,) by which thefe fig- 
 natures in the Stars, or in this Star, infpe- 
 E 2 cial 
 
( 52) 
 
 cial muft be read, or underftood ? 
 
 If a thing may be known, then the me- 
 diums, by which it becomes intelligible, 
 mud needs be alfo Indigitated and difco- 
 verable. Nowhere in the General, the 
 Anfwers arc many ; and thofe that have a 
 Mind to pick out the beft, muftchoofe 
 where they like beft. 
 
 Conjectures may be honeft , but Conclu- 
 sions arc of more ufe if certain and clear. 
 
 How may the Signatures of Gods mind, 
 in Creation of the ftars and Comets be 
 known ? 
 
 There's fome anfwers doubtful or fin- 
 ful, fome lawful, but net pertinent.* and 
 fome are probable Conjectures ; Tie la- 
 bour (in that I fay) to remove the weak- 
 er, and conclude and clear the likelier O- 
 pinions that carry ftrength of Reafon, 
 and Scripture in them. 
 
 i . There are, that fay, It is by a certain 
 innate Law, which God the fir ft caufe gives 
 the Planets and Comets over mens Nativi- 
 ties or genitures,andby the lines ofChrifts 
 
 Nativity 
 
c 53 ) 
 
 Nativity) the Magi calculated their Inquiry. 
 But where that Law is written, and what 
 the Law and Language of it is, they are 
 not able to report, and befides the Star did 
 not govern Chriit (tho' it terrified of him :) 
 but he it. 
 
 2. There are others ( again J that con- 
 clude hence the necefiity and utility of Judi- 
 cial Ailroiogy, and the lawfulnefs of it, 
 and that the wife men by this art, in a 
 Scheam (or EphemerisJ of the Planets, 
 knew Chi ill to be King. But becaufe I rind 
 in the Scripture fo much of Gods repre- 
 henfion and reproach put upon thefe things 
 and the pra&ifers thereof; and fometimes 
 Sentences of Death due unto thefe by the 
 Laws and Statutes of men ; i dare, in no 
 wife plead the lawfulnefs of chat art. For 
 fee the 4 7 of Ifaiah 12, 13. Let now the 
 Aftrolo^ers, the Star-gazers, the Monthly 
 Trognoftkators ft and up and fave thee from 
 thofe things that fljall come upon thee, (r) 
 God made the Heavens black and dark o- 
 ver them, or made their lines illegible, or 
 made his hand undifcoverable ; his Judg- 
 ment upon Babylon, was not to be invefti- 
 
 00 For being fit in Conjunction "with Inthantmentr, 
 and both under Gods reproof it follows the Star-ga^rs 
 Ttvereitvicfyd, and their Sin was Capital, yea, and 
 the judgment 4(iroiogical,futnlons andfalfe, 
 
 E 3 gated 
 
( 54 3 
 
 gated by that art, there was no footflcps 
 Left in the ccelcftial Planetary courfe that 
 juftly could Prognosticate her ruin. 
 
 Calvin (J) does obferveupon that Text 
 thus much, ( which is to my purpofe) that 
 the Lords mind and purpofe was to leave 
 the Judgment of Babylon without any fore- 
 token, or prefignature, any way* either in 
 the Stars, or otherwise ; that it might be 
 known to be the fole hand and peculiar 
 (hidden) ringer of God, and his own kiv 
 tence upon ^Babylon ; (Tie fhould know by 
 no Star, nor no means, or pcrmonitionhow 
 (he fhould fall. (>) And though it is true, 
 that Darnells called the Matter of the Ma- 
 gicians ; yet we are to diftinguifh, (as part 
 the fir ft before,) forthercisa great diffe- 
 rence between that Diabolical Magick, 
 which they now ftudv and plead for, in an 
 Aftrological way ; and that holy, and hea- 
 venly Wifdom that Darnel ftudyed and 
 perhaps fome (from him or his Scholers,) 
 learned by the knowledge of the Law and 
 will of God. And though he was by the 
 
 C±) Eiitium quod Cald. Immintbat previdere non 
 potiWMnt, ut fnte qnnd (x natural i aflrorum curfu non 
 emanant, fed ex arcano Del concilia, (c) And if not 
 the fall of Babylon, is calculate by A Urology, bntv 
 c>vdd the Magi cellgft tht rife, nr the reality of Chri(l 
 ey it, without a fpicial KtVtktim 
 
 Queen 
 
( 55 ) 
 
 Queen call'd Matter of the Magicians Dm' 
 4. 9. ch. 5. 11. not his own Title bvx theirs ' 
 and fo might be an inftrument to fave fome 
 of their lives-, ( not a Dr. of their Diabo- 
 lick art) that they might believe in his God 
 and learn at his prophetick oracle, not their 
 own, and repent of their wicked art ^ (For, 
 Sinners are not immediately to be cut off.) 
 All this ftyle given Daniel, doth not fpeak 
 the iawfulnefs of that Diabolical Magick art 
 at vW.Verkins fand other holy Writers alfo) 
 refute the arguments adduced, for judici- 
 al Aftrology./^rww p.6i4(hews how fute- 
 Ious, and untrue their arguments are that 
 feek from their judicial Aftrology, and ar- 
 guments from the Stars, to difcover 
 Chrift. (y) 
 
 3. There are ( again,) Thirdly, Thofe 
 that do conjecture more tolleraoly ; that 
 the difcovery of the Divine will, by a Star 
 or new Comet, is to be took out from the 
 feveral Conjunctions, which ufually do 
 precede fuch Comets appearances j Now 
 of the eight Conjunctions, which they fav, 
 the Stars have had in the CceleiTial World : 
 
 (y ) Let SirC. H.Dr . G. Will. Lilly, Booker, and 
 Scurrilous W. and now J. G.ui pledd in fa- 
 vour of it •tfpleafiffe, 'tis out oj my way to flay in that 
 puddle. 
 
 E 4 (taking 
 
C 56 J 
 
 ( taking in the firft ^ which was juft at the 
 Creation a little before the fall :) there have 
 alwayes, or for the mod part, within a 
 year or two, been very great and wonderful 
 prodigious appearances in the Heavens, the 
 Air, Earth (v) and Waters too j on which 
 changes have been feen in Empires *, and 
 fo by the Language of thofe fw) con- 
 jun&ions and configurations of the Stars j 
 fuch dictates muft be difcovered. But this 
 I leave to thofe that are fludious in that 
 Aftronomical Art ; it is not fo proper for a 
 Religious and Theological difcourfe, and 
 for plain vulgar Capacities. I confefs, that 
 Reverend Dr. Gell, once preaching to the 
 Society of this kind of Studients of Grefi'arn- 
 Coiledge, here in this City, not many years 
 ago, dothfeemto fpeak fomething favou- 
 rable Gf Aftrology in his Stella nova : 
 Anno 49. pag. 2. o,and 9. But becaufe he 
 is dead and gone, I will let his judgment 
 alone, and not impeach his deferved grar 
 vity, parts, and piety with a word. 
 
 4. There are others from the ligna- 
 
 (vj Astht Poets fay iputrique cruore mutdti. ("wj 
 Ihe Opinion of Dr. P. Serarius (a. very pious and 
 Learned Hollander, in a difcourfe on the la\l Conjuncti- 
 on in Sagh&ry, in Decemb. Anno 6 2. followed with 
 three Comets in Decemb. 64. in which be predicls the 
 \hgdom of 7 fit Cfrrift at hand. 
 
 tures, 
 
( 57.) 
 tures of the Comets themfelves, their fite, 
 courfe, colours or kinds ; For when a Co- 
 met appears that is fiery and brisk, (*) 
 then, fay they, it imports War ; when a 
 Comet appears that is dark and leaden, 
 and of a Saturnian colour, and with a long 
 Tail, that portends difeafes, difTentions, 
 deaths, Plagues, and oft Seditions : and 
 cite Haly, Kep er, Tycho Brabe, and them 
 I wave. I remember Hen. Alftede treats 
 in his peculiar Cometographical Hiftory 
 of two Hundred and fixty Comets, and e- 
 numerates about 3 1 other Authors. He 
 tells youoffome that had appeared, Cau- 
 da ablonga, with a very long Tail, much 
 like % this, whofe Tail has yet it's remains : 
 Very long in the Heavens, but of a mighty 
 envious colour, and Ominous portent.* 
 and this is the longer! ( faveone) that I read 
 off; which in its efPe&s portends as (I faid) 
 the product of mortality, as in the fequel 
 wili be after particularized. At prefent (in 
 general) I often find, after one Comet a 
 dreadful fweating ficknefs in England, that 
 fwept Millions of the Englifr fand them 
 only) away, travelling any where. After 
 another Comet a dreadful Peftilence 
 
 * Tins way go mo^ojouY ihilofophns and Nat ur a- 
 UJls of late. 
 
 raged 
 
(58) 
 
 raged almoft through the whole World, 
 fefiis per totummurjdHmgraffrttur. pag. 492. 
 jtrmis 1500, and 1 527. (faith my Author,) 
 Now thefc firft Stars, or new Comets are 
 not mute dumb Prophets when they come 
 to fpeak fuch kind of Language, as colla- 
 ting the former, with our late Comet they 
 plainly do. 
 
 There's one Rule more, and that's this, 
 judge wifely by the help of former Ages, 
 Sins, figns, and meafure of events. 
 
 5. By Experience. There is no man that 
 obferves well what he reads, and what he 
 fees ; what he reads in his own Books, 
 what he obferves in Gods book, Nature,or 
 Scripture, in the Heavens, and in the works 
 and com fes of men upon earth; but by 
 colating and comparing the fins of men, 
 with Gods fury,bur will conjecture, (x .nay 
 may certainly conclude by expericnce,that 
 fome great thing, (of good perhaps to few) 
 likely of evil to many \ is boding upon the 
 world, and impending over it. 
 
 Here now, it wereeafie, to compare the 
 former Stars, which have been propofedto 
 the worlds view (*) fmce the memory of 
 757:, and that Pari fan Maflacre. The 
 Star in the Chayre (fo call'd) of Cajfiopeia ; 
 
 (xj Alfted. * Jf'.hfe hi :o hi counted (o'nn$. 
 
 aJfo 
 
( 59 ) 
 
 alfo that following it, in 1618, a mod brisk 
 and clear martial one. One Collonel Fen- 
 w/dUiaving been in Germany, fees it there} 
 coming over the water in the Thames, fees 
 it there; The colour, and it's motion, 
 ftrange, and dreadful , its fireams-fiery : 
 and as doleful things following it. Now 
 reckon but by that/ft?. 1665. Three in that 
 one year did appear, (we felt the events) 
 It hath beenrare,faith my Author,for a Co- 
 met to have been feen in an age«,There have 
 been five in an hundred years : fometimes 
 ten in one Age, and three now in one year. 
 And by comparing with it the confequences 
 thereof, recoileft after the year 1664, and 
 that dusky gloomy Comet in December , 
 what a dreadful Peftilence enfuM in 1665, 
 to omit the other figns of wrath fucceeding, 
 and all other Prodigies that were fmce. 
 
 Why then,one may calculate and gather, 
 there's nothing (by the rule of experience) 
 that hath been, fas Solomon faid, Ecclef. I. 
 9, 10. ) but may be again. 
 
 One Authour fpeaks of twelve forts of 
 Comets, of them fonie like Lances, fome 
 like Swords , a third fort like Spits, or 
 darts : fome as beards , brumes or long 
 rods. There is one moft Terrible, that 
 hath a long bruft, thefe fpeak the mofl: fa- 
 tal things in their own Characters, and Co- 
 lours 
 
(6o) 
 
 lours ) I will not gather ccndufions to 
 terrific you altogether : but thus much I 
 may conjecture fafely, That by fuch Me- 
 diums,and (ignatures,the Characters of Pro- 
 digious figns may be decypherM, and fome- 
 \yhat of God and Chrift read by them. I 
 may fuperadde becaufe a learned Author, 
 (Dr. Burthogg)\s pleafed to fay thus much, 
 (which may ferve for a Sixth anfwerj 
 
 6 Rule. God fometimes fixthly makes 
 out to poor dark Heathens his minde 
 by over-ruling Diabolicall Enthuilafmsand 
 conjurers, (as Balaam,) to fpeak his mind 
 to fome, in things future, truly, For, which 
 of you will doubt (to fpeak from Scripture 
 now,) (*) in Numb. 24. 17.) you may fee 
 the Hiftory of Balaam , no body denyes 
 Mr. Atterfofs opinion, that he was a very 
 hcllifh Conjurer, a very wicked man .♦ (the 
 onely Jejfisit plotting, with Balaac, Ifraels 
 ruinc) And yet, who fhall d6ubt of the 
 truth of that Prophefie, (of the Median) in 
 the figure of the glorious Star of Jacob-, 
 to whom the Scepter belongs. 
 
 (*) So Lsbun fiyes unto facob in Gen. an. 27. 1 
 UdrrCdby efyerieva{ih t'r: tiebrim Vhi r at:on) who it 
 fszms owns tm Integrity of fateb. 
 
 Here's 
 
(<5i) 
 
 Here's a man a Devilifh Seer, and yet 
 had a mod Divine Vifion, and guided by a 
 Diabolical Art,and Spirit,but over-rul'd by 
 temporary Impellings of God's Spirit. 
 
 The Age is fometimes fo wicked, that 
 not onely God himfelf doth preach it, but 
 hee'l make the Devil himfelf to preach, So 
 Satan (under Samuels mantle) prov'd Sauls 
 Chaplin , and preach't fuch dreadful Lan- 
 guage,that better he had never confulted his 
 fortune at that fhe Oracle. 
 
 Well, to give one other inftance befides 
 this, fee too in the Margin (f) Saul goes 
 to hell to confult: And wherefore haft thou 
 raifed me #/>, faith the Devil i (fpeaking 
 in the perfon of Samuel f) Why (faith he} 
 God is departed from me,and I am fore di- 
 flrefTed,v.i5.troubPd v.21. Mark -it, what a 
 dreadful Do&rine did the Devils -fpettrum 
 preach to him f All moft terrible news, 
 (for it indeed ftund him J And it is the 
 the hardeft thing (almoft) to ftrike terror 
 into Kings that fo terrifie others. 
 
 Sauly a man of fuch valour and rcfoiuti- 
 on, 1 Sam. 28. all the end of that Chapter 
 
 (t) Tout witch was Sauls Gyp^e. or 
 pbas was guided by tkir Ught\ Jo.ii.$i, Godfo over- 
 ruling him. 
 
f*0 
 
 for this fee more writ of the Oracles and 
 the Sybils, in that Learned Dr. Bnrthogg y 
 de caufa deiy ad fin: p. 350, 360, 370. 
 
 And yet (faith the TexO he fainted a- 
 way, when told to morrow, thou and thy 
 Sons (hall be with me. And it is ufual, and 
 juft with the Lord, when wicked men 
 leave the will of God, and go to the way 
 of the Devil ; that the Devil fhould preach 
 dreadful Doclrine to them ; and fo he did 
 to Saul. 
 
 l'le only fuper-add one thing more, and 
 fo let this difquifition fall. 
 
 So Seventhly and Laftly, The Magi firre- 
 ly had by and with that Star, the internal 
 Oracle, and Revelation of the Spirit \ fo 
 that whatfoever other wayes, to other' 
 Perfons might beufed, this was laftandis 
 beft Guide unto Jefus. Nor could any of 
 the fix firft be effe&ual, had the Lord de- 
 nyed this. Thus you fee they that follow 
 Divine leading (tho' their light be Ids) 
 fhail furely be conducted to the Lord Jefus 
 at Iaft ; whilft their falfe and furious ad- 
 verfaries are difappointed, and fhail be fin 
 due time) feverely plagued of God j and 
 
 dif- 
 
difpatcht as this Tyrant {Herod) was, by 
 Death : and fo the IfTue of the Star was 
 Jefus fafe Exile, a blefTed return to ?o- 
 feph and Mary> and alfo the exordium of 
 that Kingdom of Chrift took place under the 
 Crofs, that fhall hive no end. 
 
 The 
 
(65) 
 
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 The Third Sermon, or part, 
 SMatth. 2. 2, 9, io* 
 
 TNthe 14.$ Pfalm. 6. 7. Compared with 
 X the 10, 11, 12. verfes j you will 
 (among other things ) Obferve thefe two 
 Notes : as introductory to the fequel in- 
 tended. 
 
 Firft, That memorable and wonderful 
 works, and the Kingdom of God, ufiiaJIy 
 concur. When God is about to exalt his 
 .Son Chrift to propagate, and revive the 
 Glory of his Kingdom, he doth it by pre- 
 cedaneous prodigies and wonderful work* 
 Thefe works of God go before : the King- 
 dom and King himfelf do follow after : fas 
 at Solemn Coronations.) xAnd 
 
 Secondly* That it is the duty of all efpe-* 
 dally Saints J greatly to obferve, and to 
 utter one to another •, yea, and to convey 
 down to following Generations, the me-* 
 mory of Gods works, and the Glory of 
 his Kingdom, one Generation mail utter to 
 another ("abundantly) the Glory thereof, 
 F What 
 
(66 ) 
 
 What Matthew the Evangelift(and he on- 
 ly) obferved in his time, is here conveyed 
 down to us. What efforts of God's King- 
 dom are obfervable in our time, fhould 
 be by Hiftory Chronicled and Conveyed 
 down, unto the following generation. The 
 little figniftcancy fGod knows) that the 
 Word of God (for fo long time J hath had 
 among us \ hath m?.de me to fet my Pulpit 
 (as it were) a little higher, and look into 
 the Ccelcftial works of God ^ of which, 
 that late Star, (now expired) was, and is 
 fo memorable, and fo fignirlcant, to fee if 
 that kind of Preaching may alfo ferve to to 
 ftifie and awaken. 
 
 The Hiftory of Chrift you fee, in the 
 infancy of his Kingdom, is here, by the E- 
 rvangelift notified, by certain wonderful and 
 fffange things concomitant *, and none of 
 them more, then this particular Star (in 
 our Text,) the only new Comet, (if I may 
 fo call it) or ftrange Star, that we read of, 
 in al the two Teftaments, Old, and New. 
 And the Point (among many others that I 
 only gline'd at,J which I have chefen out 
 for ' this prefentfubj €t was, 
 
C 67 ) 
 
 , That God fometimes flgnifieth much of his 
 mind concerning good or evil to come*, 
 by the f gnat ure of his works ^ andfar- 
 cularly of new Stars in the Heavens, 
 
 I confefs, the word is his ordinary me- 
 dium or method of dealing with his People, 
 .(and was among the Jews ; ) (a) others 
 muft, byfigns ordinary, or extraordinary 
 be taughp ;. but the works of God fome- 
 times doi open a wide mouth to fpeak for 
 him to both ; fo did this ftar. 
 
 I have laboured to refolve three queftions 
 already. And now pafs to the fourth 
 Queftion. 
 
 As for our third Queftion, How this 
 Language is uttered, or how it may be 
 learned f I onlv fay, there are unlawful 
 ftudies, and irregular Rules *, which nei- 
 ther have the word for Scripture Philofo- 
 phy; (and all other is vain Phylofophy, )(b) 
 nor yet any right reafon in nature to ground 
 it : And therefore by thefe , nothing .cer- 
 tain can be known. It muft therefore ei- 
 ther be by the form and Characters *, or 
 tliatcourfe and Method of thofe Stars, or 
 Comets. As to inftence in this new, it was 
 
 (a) Pf. 147, J ? 3 2c. (b) Col. 2, 8- iC, YAVKa.mTVi. 
 
 F 2 a 
 
C63) 
 
 a peculiar new created thing, in its motion, 
 not in the upper Sphere - 7 but in the lower 
 Region of the air, in its parage, not fo 
 fwift as other Planets above be. 
 
 But according as thefe wife men could 
 move in that long Journey, to find Chrift. 
 Laftly its fite , or fcituation : was in the 
 lower part of the air, for the pointing out, 
 and indigitating of the houfe," which it 
 could not have done, if it had not been ve- 
 ry low. 
 
 Alfo this figniflcation is given more in- 
 wardly by Oracle as well as occularly ; 
 .And this, either by the ftudying of the Art 
 A ftronomical, and Laws of the Planets, 
 which is a lawful thing, or elfe by a Di- 
 vine ('(hall I call it, a Scripture .1 Magick or 
 VVifdorh, for there is fuch a thing lawful, 
 (like that of Mefes, and Daniel that is a 
 Wifdom Divine,) not what is now account- 
 ed Diabolical ; or by fome wonderful An- 
 gels fent down on purpofe to preach this for 
 the fign of Chrifts Kingdom. This is the 
 wdrk you (hall do, to Jewry is the Jour- 
 ney you muft take ; and there at Bethlehem 
 certainly you (hall find the Redeemer. 
 Therefore fome Authors fay, it was an 
 Angel. I would rather fay it was an An- 
 gel, conducing both it and them. Ando- 
 ,'thers as truly conclude; it was by the pecu- 
 liar 
 
C*9) 
 liar motion of the Spirit of God :,+ which 
 (together with the outward teaching of the 
 Heavens) gave them an in w ard teaching and 
 inftruflion from above. This is the fign, 
 this is the thing flgnified , go fofar, and 
 there you fhali fee the glorious King of the 
 Jews, in the Embrioof his Kingdom. And 
 by confulting one pafTage, a little after, in 
 the fame Chapter :, it is faid, in a verfe 
 or two below, that when they would have 
 gone to Herod) there were warnedof God : 
 + %?h^77<&Vtk. (faith the Greek) being O- 
 racularly, or by a voice from I leaven war- 
 ned. Now I fay, if God by a miracu- 
 lous efcape, would give them an Oracular 
 voice to prefer ve them from Hercds craft 
 and fury, to fave natural life : much more 
 may we think for their Souls eternal good, 
 bv the Oracular voice of the Spirit of God, 
 were thefe poor Creatures cond lifted ele- 
 ven hundred and odd miles, from Arabia 
 Felix, unto this place where Chrift was. (c) 
 Fourthly and Laflly; 1 ftood engaged, 
 ( and am your Debtor) in yet one more En- 
 
 f The fame that the Shepherds there had, fo the Ma- 
 gi and Shepherds are wifer then the Scribes and Priefis. 
 Siirguntindocli, &rapiunt caelum* f v. 12. Divini- 
 tm diclumusd. Aft. II. 26. aifo Hebr. n. 7. fo the 
 Christian name tooths Origine and Noah* fafety from 
 th> Vloud. (c) Reciting the 3 buds U a fahir tranfi* 
 1 ion to the 4? h, 
 
 F 3 fjuiry 
 
( 70) 
 quiry: And that is relating to the Hypo- 
 thecs, granting the thing ( in thefi,) that 
 there is fuch warnings given, fuch fignifica- 
 tions by fuch miraculous Stars, and an hea- 
 venly voice in them ; by which, fomc- 
 fhing of good, or evil may be known - 7 
 which if the Authority of this Scripture 
 had not fhew'd me •, I had never fpoke 
 fo long upon this Subje& : It will be meet 
 then, I mould infift further upon the In- 
 duction or Examples of the thing *, that the 
 Truth may appear by fome one, or more 
 instances. 
 
 That as it was with thefe wife men, that 
 were truly guided to the Babe or King of 
 Glory at's rirft coming, fo moft certainly, 
 God hath wonderfully in all ages brought 
 forth fome great and evident Tokens of his 
 Kingdom and fccond coining : partly in his 
 j .dicial proceedings, mfMing of evil fin 
 our latter times efpecially ;) and partly in 
 thofe melior a fperanda fas one faith ^)thofe 
 hoped for good things, that were, and yet 
 are to follow. 
 
 Now that which I do affirm in the Hy- 
 pothecs, is this, 
 
 That 
 
C70 
 
 That when God is about fame great Workfa 
 
 • that he hath to bring forth in the World \ 
 
 fcr a Preface to J t^ he hath in all ages 
 
 (bypafi^yet d:th and will) fit fime me- 
 
 movable figns or portents in the Heavens. 
 
 Jeremy the ?2. and the 20. verfe doth take 
 notice of it, as to the hit : which haft fet 
 figns and wonders in the Land of Egypt, 
 even unto this day, and in Jfirael, and a- 
 mongft {d) other men , (or in Adam, 
 faith he *, fo the Hebr. (d) So that Heathens) 
 as well as Jews, might be obfervers. Chrift 
 himCejf will alfo confirm the Prophet ; For 
 faith he, (fpeaking of the lad times,) in 
 the 2 1 Lttk* 25 verfe. And there ft all be 
 figns in the Sun and in the Moon and in the 
 Stars. How in the Stars ? Either it may 
 be interpreted of the Stars that are already 
 made. Or in, is as much, as among the 
 Stars, that God himfclf wojld appear 
 Glorioufly, in making and working new 
 things, and in creating new Star-like Co- 
 mets *, that fo it might appear both by the 
 old and the new Stars 5 that there is fome 
 great thing (by the figns) fignified. For fo, 
 
 (d) anXV (^)^Hcbr.LZj\npQYi.e..) 
 pvtenta jof<i(li in Iliracl ub.%ad.im (i.J in rel/qu's bo- 
 minibm, & in man. (i.e.) ihefingular for plural ', fo 
 vatabl. in tk whole $oc\ or race oj Adam, to the end of 
 Ages. F 4 clfcwhere' 
 
C 7' ) 
 
 eliewhere, (in, is among) L/^;. 17.21. The 
 Kingdom of Ood i* within you,(\\!Q read it ; ) 
 but the Greek elfewhere bears it as well, * 
 (Rom. l. 19. & 16. y.) is among yon, fo 
 ior figns, in the Stars, that is, among the 
 Stars of the Heavens, that is in Comets as 
 well as reall Stars. 
 
 Now, becaufe I rather ftudy your profit, 
 theivcuriofity,(for that was never my intent, 
 to folemnize an act of worfhip, topleafecu- 
 nofity :, ) There are two things that will 
 make out this laft branch of enquiry in both 
 parts. 
 
 I. That new fights, or figns in the Hea- 
 vens, do precede and prefage fome dread- 
 full evil; And 
 
 2. Of great good, they are nunios, 
 I find, That there are inftances in Ages 
 by-paft of both forts : If you fay, can they 
 befignalof good, and bad.? two contra's. 
 I anfwer, yea, refpe&ing different objefts, 
 perfons, and places : as the Proteftants and 
 Papifts^ the Grdly and ungodly : Now 
 that that prefages all good to the Godly 
 notes evil to the world, (& vice verfiu) 
 fo portents on Egypt-, had figns of good to 
 Ifrae!. So I fa. 3. 10. &21, 12. a morn- 
 ing and a night, may atone and the fame 
 rime, come to differing In r terefts, and per- 
 fons, 
 
(73 J) 
 
 fons, and fome within our own memory* 
 of the truth of this And both thefe being 
 a little touched upon, (and no more than is 
 needful!;) 'twill fufficiently open a way for 
 more practical do&rine,by way of ufe. And 
 
 Firft, I fay, That the great figns in the 
 heavens are portents of evil j and that ufu- 
 ally, when fome more then ordinary evil of 
 fin is perpetrated in the world \ there are 
 fome more then ordinary llgnificators 
 placed above, to thofe that are (Jike thefe 
 wife men) dilligent obfcrvers, and fit to 
 read them. ■ 
 
 As for that indeed , which is a more 
 large fubjefr, the fad and difmal efife&s or 
 (if you will) efforts , or confequences of 
 great fins. There is fcarce a Judgement 
 you can name, that ever hath been in the 
 world, to punifh offences ; but God hath 
 made fome fign in the Heaven thereof, and 
 fome particular Comet, or new Star, the 
 preacher on't *, Cor, as one calls irj the 
 Nuncio , and witnefs to it. See fome 
 Infbnces. n A little then, to inHance, firft 
 are moft dreadful and terrible overturn- 
 ing winds, and Whirl-winds ; fad inftances 
 of evil inflitted upon the World. (*) 
 overturning 600 houfes, burning whole 
 
 (*) High winds Hericano's In the time ofW. Rufus 
 towards the end of bis raign\ as Speed, p. 448. 
 
 woods 
 
(74 ) 
 
 woods, Forms like Hericanoes. I have 
 obfervcd in my reading of times pad. oft 
 fi.ch things •, and in our own Chronicles, 
 fuch things may be read. 
 
 About that time a great Comet, two 
 bruihes (f /appeared ibme fay 1 1 or 1200 
 years ago, there was a dreadful Hericano- 
 wind fell upon this Gity. And faith Speedy 
 fwho is grave and fober, and fpeaks as Re- 
 Iigioufly, as mod of our Chroniclers) did 
 fo overturn this place here in London, called 
 Bow-Churchy (now a new thing; that the 
 beams on the top, was taken up into the 
 •Air, then thrown into the ftreet (then un- 
 paved) and funk 2 3 foot into the ground j 
 fpch were the confequents of that Comet \ 
 about 1 100 years. 
 
 2. Do we think Inundations of waters 
 to be a dreadful and fore judgement ? In- 
 deed it is fo.(To fay nothing of other Poli- 
 tical changes and mutations; in the courfe of 
 theTyde,f -pin th: SeaAVe read in the Hi- 
 frory of S.ixony, Anno 912. ibme hundred 
 
 x 
 
 Q3 Ihe Stirs lh»>\{ to ?orM dirts at fine ano her: 
 ani ov i dirt Rufes aUcr ivm jl'ah by VV. Tirrtll. 
 y-arl Goodwins unnd, tifrtrd to Goodwins Sands. 
 (f) A conjunction in the lime of Noah, precedes that 
 ddugi. t 
 
 years 
 
(75) 
 years ago ; That there was a great Inun- 
 dation, which deftroyed, both many pla- 
 ces and Villages, and fome thoufands cf 
 people, 40000 Anno 1 569 •, a*fo by an ml 
 nudation of water, (g) which followed in 
 Holland upon another Star, that a little be- 
 fore appeared, and Cardinal Woolfey dyes, 
 the Turks take Buda in Hungary. 
 
 3 . Do we think fcarcity of fruits, dry- 
 ing up of the Earth, want of food (anncn<t 
 caritas) to be a dreadful and fore Judge- 
 ment ? (*) a Judgement , that we have 
 yet not much experience of in England, 
 But God knows what by the dark language 
 of this Star we may do.lt is eafie to produce 
 at leafl: a dozen inftances of great Comets 
 which have appeared ; as Anno 1 500, f eft is 
 & fames grajfantur*) and have immediately, 
 (within a year) been attended with fuch fad 
 Peftilence and Famines ; that fometimes 
 the people did not know where (for 
 drought) to find water, nor where (for ne-. 
 ceflity and hunger) to find bread. 
 
 4. Do we think Invafionof Forreigners 
 
 (g) In 1 550 after a Civet is an innudation o/Ty- 
 ber aver Rome-, and Holland and Zealand, had the 
 lif^e by tine Sea, overflowing 404 Parifois. 
 
 '(*") Anno 1567. A Comet at San- fit in Grwany, 
 6 ConnU'P over-run with V amine, 
 
 (which 
 
which Is another inftance) to be a fore and 
 dreadful evil ? Believe it, fo it is. And if 
 God mould make this wanton Ifland, that 
 love French cuts and fafhions, to feel the 
 effects of fuch a judgement, (h) Oh who 
 can tell, but then we mail conclude, this 
 was the language of that Star \ fuch prog* 
 nofticks preceded the like events in Hunga- 
 ry ■> and why not in Brittany f 
 
 4. (*) To be more particular ; for it is 
 impoffiblethat my memory mould retain a- 
 bove an hundred inftances ; and 1 think, one 
 Author doth produce (near J two hundred 
 of this kind of reading. And therefore I 
 can but fmatter at it \ and there are fame 
 examples fitter to be writ ) In that year 
 1066 (i) the Normans invaded England*. 
 Tofto alfo (profciibed before) peftred and 
 infeftcd the Coafts, both of Kent and Lin- 
 colnfirre-, fell upon many pUices>deflroyed 
 many perfons, kept in a full body. King 
 Haro'd did fight them (the laft that was of 
 the preceding Danes,) he is conquered that 
 
 (h) And fain byV~evh cut-throats, fn lih tn' in- 
 vade h at lean in tret and. {*) H. Alrtedc in Com- 
 etograpby (j) ]oh. Speed throni 1 ; nn AftH 
 
 24. A Coma ftldtm 1 ilgn to Kjngs of Jorfunate'fiif- 
 cefs. 
 
 wrs 
 
( 77 ) 
 was the pofleffour: (for conqneft was often 
 the ftrongeft plea J the invader proves Con- 
 queror, but great was the diftrefs that 
 hereupon followed This now is apparent 
 in thofe Chronicles and Hiftories (if any 
 have a mind to read) of thofe times i and 
 in other Hiftories, there arefuch plentiful 
 inftances of this kind-relating to fuch dread- 
 ful Judgments, by invafions and Comets 
 preceeding, that it were needlefs to inftance 
 farther. But what you may have even from 
 Rome to give inwitnefs plenarily to this: 
 jn the year 410 (k) (after Chrift) was a 
 fword-like Comet. O the fad events it por- 
 tended. The Goths and Vandals Ml upon 
 Rome-, facked the City., laid that wafte, 
 deftroyed moft of the places and Villages 
 round about \ (no age ever knew the like 
 to't, ) kept it and pofTeft it for a confidera- 
 ble time. And fo the wantonnefs of Chri- 
 ftianity, and the heigh th and Pride of the 
 Roman Papacy, that was then creeping, 
 and almoft crept up ; was under the Plague 
 and Punifbmcnt of Gods vengeance, and 
 the Goths and Vandals Sword. 
 
 I note it for this ; to let vcu fee, that if 
 
 (k) Anno, 410. fiilfit Cvmrta wfifortfiis & tanta. 
 
 trat hominum cades, hoc tettpm: quantum at as nul~ 
 U, a condito mundo novlt. All Afia, Africa, and, 
 Europe, to Eait and Wdt jilt it. ' 
 
 God 
 
C 78) 
 
 God have a mind to plague "and punifh a 
 people,he can fetch a Nation, (I J North or 
 South, Eaftor Weft, from any fide, flank 
 or border of us, (Gods Troopers ca:i 
 muftcr any where,) and make great and 
 deftruttive work of us : at leaft to prove a 
 long fcourge. 
 
 5 . Shall we fay that Peftilence is a dread- 
 ful Judgment, God knows, (Remember 
 ■»-65)fo 'twas; fo itisalwayes where it 
 comes, fit brings terrour round about ) 
 There arc inftaiices in my poor reading 
 of Ten or a Dozen Comets that have ap- 
 peared in the world (before it, in various 
 Lands and Cities.) And then in a year or 
 two, as the Patience of God and the Pray- 
 ers of the Godly did obtain.) God fent the 
 Famine and dreadfulle.t Peftilence, that 
 (triennum duravit ,)was rampant three years 
 together in Eurcfe^ to the depopulation of 
 many Cities and Towns. So that it 
 were to little purpofe to inftance particu- 
 lars : This is reported by Hiftorians fo 
 
 (\ ) CaMea wis ahnt 4 Months mirchfrom J »dea, 
 b.it yet invzded it with Gods Trows : us Hal"). 3. i:>. 
 * Lam. :: alt (V).r txih fepet/Mtin^yZivi a 'hue fbi- 
 ritum trabentes, cum msrtuisfipelimtur -,t t expiring 
 reere buried wich the dead, Anno ioo5.$ Anno Hen. 
 II. lmpeutoris. H. Alfled; 
 
 large 
 
. ( 79 .) 
 largely ', -that -in one place my Author faith, 
 that the Living were weary of burying the 
 Dead} the Dead were fo naucious and 
 barthenfome to them, that both were in- 
 terr'd together. 
 
 6. Shall we fay in the laft place, (for Tie 
 go no further in th is firft branch ) That 
 the death of Princes is a great plague ? 
 Sometimes truly, fo 'tis, efpecially if thofe 
 have been in any kind real favourers of Re- 
 ligion and the Chriftian Do&rine, or the 
 Kingdom of Chrift. Stories tell us, about 
 3 S* 7 -) 'twas in Conftant'mcs latter end, a great 
 Comet appeared a little before his death :, 
 and fhortly after, he expired, andyeilded 
 the conqueft of the Grave, (») for that's a 
 Matter that will fetch down a Princes Scep- 
 ter, (tho' never fo good) as foon as any 
 thing in the World: Well, but how mi- 
 ni me and innumerable evils did bode to 
 Chriftians and Chriftianity, after this great 
 mans death, is eafie to read. So great; 
 a Favourer,that Emperour was, and Prote- 
 tfor of Religion ? The dangers and Perils 
 that attended Chrifrians alio at Theodofi- 
 uSs death, (o) are not eafily to be cxpreft : 
 
 00 Ihwof his Sons ihove W Succtilimi and Chri- 
 inanilmmanibus prhuiis txfivgth (o) AnnoDom. 
 454. Uieodofius dvi butoj Julians and Nero's end, 
 *nffhers 9 j need fy Uf s , thu.r eoMs fmMn&hl 
 Worlds better hap in an exit oft bib Tyranny. 
 
 All 
 
(90) 
 All prefag'd by Comets j the latter Corned 
 laded i o weeks. 
 
 In this laft effort of Judgment^ (pre- 
 dicted or witneffed by precedaneous Co- 
 mets ; N , I read my felf almoft weary *, and 
 begun then to think of numbring, and in 
 one Author told to the number 7 , and 
 faw, that grew upon me, (0 I thought it 
 in vain to go on. 
 
 In another Author I went to number and 
 there it came to the number of Eighty Prin- 
 ces, or Eighty odd, that at home, and a j 
 broad went off with Comets. 
 
 li then you dare give me credit, 'twere 
 eafie to produce vaft Examples of the migh- 
 ty hand of God, f who is higher * then the 
 higheftj upon fome great ones, efpecially 
 viceous Princes. As touching Fefyatian, 
 (and he was none of the word ^ ) as touch- 
 ing Nero , both his beginning and his 
 Exit was reported to the World, by Co- 
 mets in the Heavens, fo both the pious and 
 flagitious have omens; As if God would 
 fay, now you fhalhhave a great Perfecjtor 
 to rife 5 (Totting afide only the five firft- 
 (p) years of Nero, in which he put on 
 humanity ; but paid it off with Barbarifm 
 and (q) Bruitifm ('his Reign mernm latroci- 
 
 * Eccl. <,. 8. (p) Neroms quinqutn. utn (q)Styli 
 thtfrjt DiAicttor ovCbrijiian blood, by l<Urtyrdom. 
 
 fiiHm) 
 
(9i) 
 
 cinium fbruitifm at MJ And a little be- 
 fore his death, then God alfo prefignifies 
 his deftru&ion (as I faid) by another wit- 
 nefs in the Heavens. So that Tyrant dy- 
 ed, more major urn. 
 
 This may be faid of Comodw> another 
 Emperour. The like of other inftances. 
 Here we might come into France, there 
 into 'Spain ? Here into our own Countrev. 
 
 There are fometimes five or fix particu- 
 lar inftances of Princes and Princeffes fall 
 after a Comet} and fome of them particu- 
 larly foretold by divers other Portents, As 
 for inftance,Queen Marys fhc great f Abet- 
 tor and Promotor of Popery here in Eng-> 
 land, and her death and 24 more was 
 foretold a little before by a Comet. I 
 name this for one thing : You mould not 
 think much for once,, it I mention a palTage 
 out of a ftrange Author ; (but yet, it may 
 be, you have heard of it .• ) there was cue 
 John Gadburym6^ that wrote a Book 
 concerning Comets 5 whether the fame that 
 is fo notorious now in the Plot, I cannot 
 fay, but this is the pafTage for which I 
 Cite it ) (vou'l excufe it when, you Read kO 
 God ffaith he) and nature intended, that 
 
 t 4 Conut Anno 15-8. U tit for 22 of a Spit Qbl 
 mrsf.) in 4uguft J tf apiU envious niw, me 
 Vnn::r, fifteen Cxriinds c-.'.l d;\ f \ n a j $ 
 
 G 
 
( 9* ) 
 the Death of the Princes fhould not have 
 the Knells of Church Bells on Earth, 
 they be not facred enough for fuch illuftri- 
 ous performances, but it fhall be fignified 
 by a Knell from Heaven,( or Comets,as in 
 the 44 page, of that bcok:) Whether from 
 reverence to his Prince, or to his Roman 
 Faith, or of Love to Mrs. S. or to his Do- 
 ftrine of calculation of Nativities, Sir R. 
 P. may tell better then I. 
 
 To all might be added great mutations 
 inStates, MafTacres, Seditions, decolla- 
 tions, &c. great changes in Religion, 
 for the worfe, fometimes for the better. 
 But one Author comfortably ends it with 
 this word, with which l'le end this firfl 
 branch. 
 
 Nothmthftanding all this, (faith he) there 
 are (V) better things to be hoped to come after- 
 Wards. 
 
 Now, as for the fecond Branch, that 
 thefe arefigns, (more frequently of Evil 
 1 grant , witneffe thofe Judgments fore- 
 mentioned ; fo) Secondly, Butt hey arc alfo 
 Tokens and Signatures of Good. 
 
 It is not fo much to be colle&ed from the 
 form, nature, conrfe (or current ) of 
 the Comets which God makes new in the 
 
 (r) Qui'oHS meliorx'fxcceden jpeunda. 
 
 Heavens 
 
( 93 ) 
 
 Heavens } for fometimes thofe have di- 
 vers Forms, and Shapes, and Colours j yet 
 do never jump in one and the fame IfTue 
 and effort, in any of the laid Judgments I 
 have mentioned. But this is a Subjeft of 
 a confolatory nature ^ and I am loath to 
 fpeak more now upon this Subjed :, but 
 willing to poftpone my fecond defign, and 
 the inftances of good coming, to the life 
 of Confolation fin the Conciufion of the 
 fourth part J 
 
 The fecond thing I was to fignifle, was 
 by Induttion,to prove that as feveral Judg- 
 ments of God are confequents untofuch 
 figns ; fo there are feveral years in ages 
 paft, which have produced both the fign, 
 and the thing fignified. 
 
 But this now would put me upon a more 
 particular elabourate Hi (lory from ibme 
 years before Chrift, and fince to the pre- 
 sent time : (further my Authors lead me 
 not ) There is one, (I hear) hath writ the 
 Hiftoryof all the Comets, fince the Crea- 
 tion. But in one Dr. H. Alftede, I find 
 fome * years before Chrift, fix Comets re- 
 corded, and the reft after Chrift do make 
 
 * A.M %%\<). Toe Peloponefick Ways enfittet t A. 
 
 M. 3798. poff mortem Demetrii. A. M. 3947. dt 
 quo Sybil. Aug. hie puer major te eft, 
 
 G 2 IIU 
 
r 94 > 
 
 up till now neer two hundred Comets. (*) 
 (of one, that Sybil to Auguftus?) 
 
 You would not therefore expefc that I 
 fhould run over all thefe particular inftan- 
 ces again ; for what I have given of the fe- 
 vere Judgments, which God hath infli&ed 
 upon the finful world and the holy City, 
 (Eufeb. p. 53.) after fuch figns y fuffices 
 only to prove what I defign *, (viz.. ) 
 the dreadful omens to the wicked.- and 
 comforts to the pious, that do iflfue upon 
 fuch wonderful and prodigious figns. On- 
 ly in fhort view. 
 
 1. Anno 69. A Comet as a flaming Sword 
 isfeenover Jerufalem, portends its ruine. 
 
 2 . Anno Chrifti 78. At Cyprus feen a Co- 
 met : Many Cities overturned by Earth- 
 quakes. 
 
 3. Comet 195. Severn* dyed. 
 
 4. Anno 323-, That Herefie of >^r*V# 
 fprings up. 
 
 -5".* Anno 1529. A fweating ficknefs on 
 theEwliJh. 4 Comets in that year. 
 
 '5. AnnoChrifti, 1539. The heat dryes 
 up Fountains, and burns the woods. 
 
 6. Two MafTacres in France-, follow 
 thefceond Comet, one Anno Dom. 15-2. 
 
 (*) JIU per dixit Chrifiianam Relijipnen: 
 ^nijicare. - '-.Anno 
 
C 95 ) 
 
 7. Anno 16 52. John Cotton of AT. £. dyes, 
 our changes by O.C.Prote£tor,the long Par- 
 liament diflblved, Scot. and invaded and 
 fubdued. 
 
 Therefore, fince the former of thefe 
 branches fupplys the latter ; I will now 
 pafs from the Do&rinal part, and proceed 
 to fomething more practical ; and fo, I 
 think,(to a vulgar auditory) I may be more 
 acceptable. And there are three ufes. 
 
 If God gives flgns of fometimes fad, 
 fometimes glad events to come in the 
 world; Then it may be, 
 
 Firft, For Terrour. 
 Secondly, For advice. 
 Laftly, For comfort. 
 
 Firft, I fay for Terrour. It is a pafTage I 
 find in one Author,cited out of Foetid, (the 
 Book I have not) * concerning prodigies 
 or wonders paveant Inipii. Let the wicked 
 fear and tremble; If fmners will not fear, 
 God hath an art fand a powerful onej to 
 make them both fear and feel. 
 
 Keep this Rod (faith God unto Mofcs) 
 for a Token againft the Rebells, mark 
 that parage? Numb. 17. 10. For Aarons 
 
 * Yoctius diOJrntis, 
 
 rci 
 
Rod Blonomed and Budded, well (faith 
 God) I am refolved to convince thefe Re- 
 bells, one way or other 5 and that they 
 may know there is a diftin&ion betwixt 
 them, and my Servant Aaron ; keep this 
 Rod ( faith he, to Mofes) in the Taberna- 
 cle of Witnefs in the Ark : Heb. 9.4. as a 
 Token againft the Rebells. * God fends. 
 Tokens then fometimes againft rebellious 
 and wicked ones, fuch was that Dan. 5 . 
 to Beltfiaz.ar ins caroufing, when the 
 Lord would reprove Eli for the wicked- 
 nefs of his Two Sons ; this fhall be a Sign 
 (faith hej Mark •, ( He doth it by a Sign.) 
 A word of * an Angel, a Prophet, a 
 Samuel would not do't \ well, I'll pay him 
 off (though I break Heart and Neck at 
 once) (faith God,) and his whole houfe to 
 boot. And therefore this fhall be a Sign 
 ( faith God by Young Samuel ) thy Two 
 Sons i Hofhni and Phinchas fhall die both 
 of them in one day. God hathwayesto 
 fhew Signs of difpleafurej and it is a mer- 
 cy he'll tell us by a word^ but if we will 
 not hear, being (as£//) his own: Then 
 we mud feel, For God will not loofe his 
 own. 
 
 * Wondtrs are oft for unbtltivers, 1 Cor. 14. 
 23. * 1 Sinty 2. 27, c. 3. 18. 20. f 1 Sam. 2. 2,4« 
 
 / tell 
 
(97) 
 
 I tell you, Sirs, it is the raoft dreadful 
 thing in the world, (if God is fo fevere 
 with Saints) to be an Impenitent Atheift, 
 whenGodispf-eaching by fuch Signs, for 
 as there is fomething of wrath, (/) (O 
 yee Herodidn*) againft that which muft fall; 
 fo their is fomething of Grace and Favour 
 hinted to us, in that which fhall rife and 
 never fall, That's the Kingdom of Chrift, 
 vea and Chrift will carry it at laft. There 
 fore Tinners ought to fear and tremble at 
 the Signs that God fets above, you cannot 
 (by a huffand a feoff) he&or down one of 
 thefe Signs, out of the Orb, where God 
 hath fet it. 
 
 Thofe that write the Hiftory of Comet?, 
 tells us, thatinmoftof the Spheres.* for 
 in the beft Philofophy-language of the 
 Scripture call'd the Stories in the Heavens, 
 Amos 9. 6. which fome expound, of the 
 Spheres 5 Hebr. Afccms. though others 
 difpute it) they fay, in moil of thefe Sto- 
 ries, Comets have been feen, excepting 
 the ninth Sphere of Heavens, and that of 
 1572 pertain'dto the Eighth Orb where 
 
 (s)Siprafepevagientis Herodm itatmuit, quid 
 p-ibunall judicantis. If one in the Mtnger did fa ter* 
 fifji titbit Pill the Tribunal! of Christ do ? 
 
 G 4 onely 
 
( 93 ) 
 onelythe fixed Stars are:, they faythefe 
 the number of Two Twoufand and 23 and 
 fome 300 have been fince difcovered by 
 Navigation. And yet that Star which we' 
 read of in 1572, (To much difputed about, 
 if a Comet or no?) was feen (J?iSydere 
 Cajfiopti) not a wandring Star , but a fixed 
 Stanas 3 more by fome are alfo called new 
 Stars (viz..} In 1604, 1607, and 1618. but 
 dreadful were the effects , and I flues that 
 followed upon them all : and perhaps the 
 world is not yet delivered of their Events. 
 
 If the world will not know; nor believe, 
 nor fear \ I, ( faith God,) I have a way to 
 open their deaf ears : let them be as Snrdi, 
 and abfurd as they pleafe, they may keep 
 this Deafnefs, till the laft Trumpet found, 
 if they can : but they'l before that often 
 tingle. For, certainly God will make the 
 Hearts of the mod Atheiftical Ones, to 
 gripe and quake : 'Ere all the Scene is fi- 
 nifht. 
 
 What (hall God preach by his Word, 
 and by his Works ; and all for his Son, 
 his Kingdom, his Name, Gofpel, and 
 People . p And mall both word and works 
 be hectored out of the World ( and the 
 Heaven's too ) by a company of fwafh 
 Bucklers, and Atheiftical Villains, that 
 fcar-ce know or own any thing of the Lan- 
 guage 
 
(99 ) 
 guage and Works either of God or his 
 Signs, aright ? O / why mould the world 
 be fo mad, as to play with edged Tools? 
 can Tinners find nothing to jeft with, and 
 be joakers f or fcoffers about, but the 
 Language of fuch Glorious, and new 
 Created WitnefTes or Minifters that God 
 fets up beyond the reach of any Humane 
 Arm i No, no, certainly, this Spirit, if 
 it be not cured ; Cand that's very hard) 
 'twill be plagued and curfed, wherefoe- 
 ver God finds it : fo was Herod 
 that fet Chrift at nought * and mocked 
 him. I'll tell you a palTage or two of a 
 Huffer j of fuch Peter prophefies there 
 mail be in the laft times, iMockers, Scof- 
 fers faying, where is the Promife of his 
 coming ? you tell us of Signs, and por- 
 tents : why there was one Comet Anno 79 
 In Vefpapans latter end, (for there was 
 Signs then \) and there were others that 
 wrote their prefages, * and where is that 
 you talk of ? all comes to nothing, vanifh- 
 es away. Hold ; there appeared a Star 
 
 f \[jL7m.iK'mt llluforeS) in 2 Pet. 3. 3. and Jit di 
 18. i [M>x>fii$i£zTat G*l' 6-1- L$%. 23. 1 1. * Ills 
 per focum dixit pertinere bocprodigium parthorum rtgi, 
 qui comamniitriret* * Soon.ijtnks dyed. 
 
 ill 
 
C loo ) 
 in fcffafiam time ; one of his Wizards > 
 or Courtiers told him, that it imported a 
 change in the Empire, or the death of the 
 Emperour •, No, no, (faith he) I don't 
 fear that : ^perhaps it v/as Stella Crinita, a 
 long haired Comet) it rather fignifies the 
 death of the King of the Parthians, be- 
 caufe he wore long hair ( Vefpatian was 
 bald, ) but fo it pleafed God, Vefpatian 
 died panto pop, foon after, for all hisfcof- 
 ing merry humour. 
 
 If men will fcofFand jeft with Heaven it 
 feif \ he will not alwayes bear it. 
 
 Did I fay, I would tell you of another ? 
 Lihanius * a witty Sophifter, asked a 
 Poor ChriiHan (In the latter part of Eafc- 
 bh'Js Hi (lory in a jear again (I Chrift. ) 
 what the Sou of the Carpenter was now a 
 doing : (this was about Julian the Apof- 
 tates death : he was a dreadful Apoftate 
 from Religion, and the vileft fcofFer the 
 Earth bore) where now (faith he) is the 
 Son of the Carpenter ? (he meant Jefus) 
 what does he do ? In anfwer to this, this 
 holy man faid, he is making a * Coffin, 
 to bury fuch fcornful ones, as thou art ; 
 and prefently afer he died ; that fas Saba 
 
 * EuftbUTrlp. hisl. 44 t. and ofTbiodor. p. 769, 
 * Sxndapilm cminustxt iUtUhet Euftb. ut (tyrc- 
 
 faidj 
 
(tot ) 
 
 faid ) had fo wafted Chrifts Vineyard; 
 
 Oh ! who knows, but God is telling 
 us of a Coffin, by the dark vifion of this 
 ftrange, and wonderful Star now expired ? 
 For when they are out, ("faith an Author) 
 their efFefts are not out, -f but that I think, 
 my auditory hath not fo vain an Atheift as 
 this was, that needs, or fuits fuch a dif- 
 courfe as this ; I could be content to fill up 
 my time in this juft reprimand. For the 
 World is grown to that height of Atheifm 
 in all places -, it appears in all hearts, it is 
 frequent in all Mouths. 
 
 i will only pafs off, this branch of the 
 fir ft ufe, with fome (not Aftrological Cal- 
 culations ; * but rather Theological, or 
 Pra&icall ) Obfervations of the Nature, 
 and Courfeofthat Star, fo lately appearing 
 to every eye. 
 
 Did you obferve the motion of it, from 
 the r Eaft to the Weft, (inclining North- 
 ward f ) that is the motion of the Sim. 
 Then I apply it only thus, (by way of Si- 
 militude) Docs that falfe and abominable 
 long taiPd Religion (I mean the RomifhJ 
 Run all the day the fame courfe that the Son 
 
 f In Gods tim<:, though as Cardan tiid fyrfffft 
 C&lislia non aguntininftanti. * Same n»,es covjecfH- 
 rall of this Coma in porficultu, f *» ''-'•> twft all ibz 
 diy. . 
 
 of 
 
( f§* ) 
 
 of God did ( Jefas Ghrift himfelf, olir'Sun 
 of Righteoufnefs) pretending to derive 
 from ; yet perfecutmg of him in his Gof- 
 peland inter eft from Eaft to Weft : and 
 fo to overfpread all Britain by a bloody 
 confpiracy, that finds fome room north- 
 ward, never fuch a tailM comet \ fo ne- 
 ver fo envious a Horrid Plot and fo fatal e- 
 ven to our Englifh Parliaments ; fo threate- 
 ning to command the whole World f 
 
 That Religion, before many years (I 
 am (lire, before many ages ) will take fas 
 this Star hath donej it's final Exit, and 
 extinction, in darknefs. It is a pafTage out 
 of LfEtantiutf There is a word I mud fay 
 (Thirteen Hundred years agoe, hepro- 
 phefieditj 1 fear to fay it, (faith he) yet 
 /mu ft fay it, what's that ? 
 
 Romanian rumen , tdlctnr dc terra. 
 
 The Name of Rome (hall be taken out of 
 the Earth, (ball that faction afpire now 
 under thecourfe and government of a Pro- 
 teftant,andcrofs the lines and orders, thai: 
 the Son of God ( ChriiVs true, Religion) 
 bath In the Gofycl drawn, that certainly 
 wijl be extinct fhortly, foe, it intimates 
 
 * taa; u. 7 . 
 
 good 
 
( m ) 
 
 good, then (ifl well meafure its lines.) 
 Bur I gather it more from the obfervation of 
 Scripture and Divinity, (the beft difcovc- 
 ry ofthe works of God.) ' 
 
 If you'I obfervenext,this Star had a long 
 Tail, the longed (I grant,) fave one, 1 
 hear or read off ) And I read of four or 
 five of that kind,in other Authors we( mould 
 love to (lady the works of God y) and it is 
 but for this once (on fuch a Subjetl ) that I 
 think to treat. 
 
 Thofe that have fuch long Tails *, they 
 "feemtoprefignifie long, fad, and doleful 
 effe^s. Why the Lord himfelf in the form 
 of it doth witnefs, that he threatens the 
 whole world, with a Brum, or a Rod, as 
 long as ; 6 degrees in the Heavens. But 
 I am not exatt in that obfervation, fas to 
 the degrees. J But this I mean (byway of 
 refemblance tropologicalFy,) that God hath 
 certainly for fome a long Rod , and its 
 lifted up : Whereas nioft of the Comets 
 that have yet been in the World, have ra- 
 ther had their Tayles afloap ; or like a 
 Goat: (StelU barhatd) with the beard 
 downward :, and thev fey'} • they that htve 
 the bruin ercft upwards, are molt dread- 
 ful and ominous \ then it fignifiqs that God 
 hath a wonderful Bruih, and long Rod fet 
 r.p in the Heavens, to lafh fome that c 
 ■ 
 
( iC4 
 common hands reach not. for certainly they 
 that are fo long, may reach every back, 
 and every where, and who are they that 
 fo long an Arm and Rod will not reach ? 
 Shall 1 fay, 
 
 Thirdly, (For I think Cod fhould make 
 nothing in the Heavens, but we fhould aim 
 and conje&urc at the fignature of it ; (as the 
 Magi did at Chrifts ftar here,J though 
 the time will beft prove the ltfue. 
 
 Did you obferve that the colour was 
 exceeding envious? (if I may fo call it.) 
 for they fay, that thofe that are of a Satur- 
 nian colour, they fignifie like himfelf, en- 
 vious effects. Why then it fignifies, O 
 the envy, blood and mifchief of the Con- 
 federators, and machinations, if not MalTa- 
 cres and AfTaffinations that may attend our 
 times before the root, and top of this Plot 
 be fully lop'tand punifhed. 
 
 How hard a thing is it to root out Plot 
 and Plotters ! Still the dark envious eye of 
 the Roman Religion is upon the poor Pro- 
 tectant. Therefore it fhould fet us a watch- 
 ing, leaft they ferve us as Calient , Sir Edm. 
 Godfrey \ juftice Arnold, Mr. Pye, and o- 
 thers ; and who knows what blood may 
 follow, Jam. the 2d. 
 
 Qulf* 
 
(iosJ) 
 
 Qmfanis ab exilio regnabit [anguine ?md- 
 to. Speed. 
 
 He that from Exile comes again, 
 He'lefurely have a bloody Raign. 
 
 And if I may be bold fo far, (though I 
 think that they obferve right, that pofi 
 pone the effects and events, one or two 
 years, or more; Yet) I find at the fame 
 time, or a little while after, fome Iflues, 
 or confequences, have fpoken the Lan- 
 guage in part of thefe appearances. What 
 hath been produced now upon this Star. 
 (to impofe I will not be fo bold and pe- 
 remptory ; yet) give me leave, (fince I 
 amupon't) to go on a little. 
 
 If /have not been much abufed, (and / 
 would not eafily take things upon common 
 report) that there was one in the Weft- 
 Countrey fpake flightingly of this Comet, 
 as if there was nothing in it \ They asked 
 him wherefore he faid fo ? fayes he, if / 
 * do not Relieve as /fay, let my eyes fall 
 out j and it is faid, one, if not both of hi s 
 
 * I heard of the Utter and all particulars, (and 
 could not oblain h^as yet :) by afokr perfon, 
 
 eyes 
 
C io5 ) 
 eyes fell out before the next morning with 
 great pain *, fome both fober and pious, 
 faw the names of both the perfon and place. 
 (And if common fame doth abufe us, it may 
 abufe you as well as me.) But / make it 
 my care to obferve the works ofc?od (and 
 judgments) as well as /can, by the trueft 
 information. For thefe two Months or more 
 that this Comet hath appeared in the Hea- 
 vens', /cannot accurately fay how long, be-. 
 caufe the fir ft fight at its beginning, is fo 
 hard to find, in its dark language^ fo dark: 
 yea,b!how many of ourPreachers have been 
 filenced that little time? (/mean by death.) 
 I have obferved 3 or 4 of late ; thirteen, 
 or fourteen, within a few months at leaft ; 
 but that which makes me fpeak of it, is 
 this ; that by a worthy and pious Minifter, 
 I was told ("if Fame and the Letters, abufe 
 us not from Paris.) That a Mini Iter of 
 Charington (f ) nigh Paris in France-, (where 
 the perfecution is fo raging, meets the Hoft, 
 (To fome .* ) others-fay, by the rabble ex- 
 cited on a Religious account) but they came 
 upon him, and kneckt him oth' head, and 
 trod him it was faid to death j but he after 
 recover d , But if we mould come to 
 our own courfe of Affairs here is. a Parlia- 
 ment firft Prorogued, and then DiiToIved-, 
 (f) Mr. Chadc. 
 
 and 
 
C 107 ) 
 
 and whae that Diflblut ion will be attended 
 with ; God knows. Truly* fometimes I 
 fear, that one DifTolution after another ; 
 one fick Convulfion after another, muft 
 needs fpeak fad. For, as it is with the 
 Body Natural, when it is Sick \ it lyes one 
 while, this way: then turns to that fide, 
 and then a tother fide} fo we lye of this 
 fide, and turn a tother fide but ftillthe di- 
 feafeis within. And now the cry is 41, 
 and for Oxford , and (fay fome) you'l bring 
 it to* 41. the Nobles obferve that place 
 has oft been Fatal!, who brings it to 41 ? 
 flwifh Popifh Councels be *— 'not — at 
 the Heia*,) But I bring it . for this that you 
 may fee how neer things jump and Conn- 
 eels concurr., with fuch portents God has 
 fet in the Heavens. 
 
 Thefe things are fomething clofe and 
 practical: and /hope pertinent. ; and God 
 muft make them Profitable and powerful. 
 There are two things yet behind. 
 
 Firkin Denotation. 
 Secondly, Exhorrarion; 
 
 - Rift, Doeth God fit old and new fears, 
 
 Z^om 40 D 3i/ is tttcwpve nearti 41. 
 
 H or 
 
(io8) 
 
 (or Comets) in the Heavens, to lifp out, 
 or hint his own mind ? O then / take heed 
 of flighting even the lead MefTenger from 
 God, that brings us to our knees ! (i) or 
 to enquire at his oracle, Lord, what fhall 
 be the end of thefe things ? (as (v) Daniel 
 faith, Lord (faith Baalam, tho' a Conju- 
 rer) who fhall live, when God doeth this ? 
 Mark how awakened and fenfible thefe men 
 were fthe good and bad, and Daniel, e- 
 fpecially) and fay Lord what is it ? or when 
 friall be the end of thefe wonders ? Take 
 heed of that the Phitiftims Priefls feared, 
 i Sam- 6. 2, 6,9. flighting any fignature 
 of Gods wrath. It's faid Job. 36. 3^33- 
 of the Heavens, (the Lords Tabernacle) 
 its noife fhews of it, and vcrfe 3 1 . by them 
 hcjudgeth, that is, fby loud figns,) what 
 fin deferves, fee alfo ch. 37.1;. 4, 5, and 
 and n, 13. If you have a letter from a 
 Friend, and you know the Seal, why 
 you cannot but expert, here's fome figni- 
 fication, word or Token from my Friend, 
 and therefore you are very careful of the 
 Letter, Sign and Seal, fo God teaches Job 
 natural Philofophy, 1/. 4, 5, and 12, 13. 
 out of the cs£tberial Bodies and the influen- 
 ces of them, (fee alfo vcr. 14.- 16. and 
 
 (rj 1 Pet. 1. 11. (ujDan. 12. 6. 8. Numb 24.2?. 
 
 cb. 
 
C 109 ) 
 
 cb. 38. v. 7, 14; It's turned as Clay to the 
 Seal. (i. f.) by their motions, the morn- 
 ing fets a Seal and turn on the Earth. 
 
 Here's a Seal ( faith God) in the Hea- 
 vens, but it is a dark one ? but what will 
 you fay ? why you mould greatly reve- 
 rence that hand, by which it is fealed. 
 Speak not {lightly of God and his wonder- 
 ful works ; Gods Tokens were dreadful to 
 the Heathens, Pf.6 5 .8 . For then you fpeak 
 fjightly of his word ; and there his works 
 are beftdecypher'd. Fear and tremble ra- 
 ther * if thefe things won't do, he hath 
 Snow and ten times more treafures of Hail 
 referv'd for the wicked, as j^. 38. 23, 
 24. that fhall make the Atheiftical Worlds 
 ears tingle. l'le work a work fhall make 
 his ears tingle that hesrs it. As 1 Sam, 3. 
 1 1 . of Elies doom, fo 2 King, 2 r. 1 2. on 
 MtwajfeltSi Jer.19, 3. on Jerusalem. 
 
 2. The fecond is, As we mould not 
 flight and contemn them ; fo, we mould not 
 fear them. Friend, Art thou afraid of the 
 flgns of * Heavens ? That's like a Hea- 
 then. No, fear thy * QpJ, and avoid what 
 provokes his difpleafure. A good man ftepc 
 out when there was a wonderful Thunder 
 
 * As Cali^'ld, that at Tbund.r crtpt into holes 
 
 t ijfVJcr. 10. 2. 
 
 H 2 and 
 
and Lightning \ faith he, this is my God, 
 Paternal Intereft takes of Terrour. 
 
 There are dreadful things foretold; 
 what? can you fay ? by fure intereft ; and 
 by found Faith, truly, this is my God ? 
 And what/ afraid of the Stars fjer 10. 2. 
 doth exprefly forbid it. Be not difmayed 
 at the figns of Heaven, for the Heathen are 
 difmayed at them. What though thcfe are 
 doleful fignaturcs ? What though there are 
 dreadful things coming (at hand) upon the 
 Earth I Yet fear God. As he faid + if thou 
 wilt offer an offering, offer it to the Lord ; 
 foe, if thou wilt fear, fear and worfhip 
 Cod : as v. 8. the Magi did Chrift. 
 
 The Third and laftis, Take heed of 
 over-reverencing, Take heed of worfhip-' 
 ping any of thefe Creatures, or effects of 
 Gods power. They (hew their Makers 
 Wifdom, but mew nothing of Worfhip 
 due in that cafe ; That is dangerous; fee 
 Dent. 4. 19- And left thou lift up thine 
 eyes to Heaven, and when thou feed the 
 Sun and the Moon, and the Stars, even 
 all the Hoft of Heaven, moulded be dri- 
 ven to worfhip them, zChron. 3 3-2, 5. 
 &c. fo the Heathen worfhippedall thehoft 
 of Heaven : which yet do all worfhip God, 
 
 * Tudg. it, \6. f Jer.8. 2, and io. 13. Alfo 
 Pj'iL itf.ycalUd to praiQ him. as 
 
(in ) 
 
 as Neh\ 9. 6. Now, whether they be old 
 Stars or new ; whether they be Angels J or 
 whatfoever Creatures they are, they are 
 Creatures not fit to be worfhipped } that's 
 Popery : Do as the "wife men here did ; 
 th:y had a mind to woriliip him 5 {Herod 
 pretended fo } but never intended it v his 
 deflgn was to worry to deftroy him :) 
 But thefe poor wife men, they afcribe di- 
 vine Worm ip to a poor Babe, v.%. They 
 don't worfhip the^Star. It is true, they 
 were glad when they faw it; but tht j y 
 came, and opened their Treafure, and 
 worm ippedhim \ for when (tho' the Star 
 brought them thither, they did not woriliip 
 the . Star all the way -, ) they worfhip- 
 ped Chrifl the Babe of Glory, and faw 
 him to be a deferving one to be wor- 
 fhipped. (y) Worfhip not any thing 
 that your eyes fee. Take heed then 
 of the Do&rine of a breaden God, which 
 is of the Prie (Is- making. Away with that 
 odious Idle of the hca r t, or breaden God, 
 made by a few Lattin words of a Priefls, 
 that's Popery .• and withal, our bowing, 
 kneeling, cringing at a Rail-table Sym- 
 bolical Popery. Though the Bread be a 
 
 (y) AuriiffJi Thus, Myrbxm *, K?giqu^ bominiq\ 
 H 3 f.gn 
 
C #a ) 
 
 Sacramental fign of Chrifts real prefence ; 
 yet to be bow'd too, no more then the Star 
 that lead to Chrift. 
 
 Oh then, how like to interpretative Ido- 
 latry, (or as theirs (of and J at the Calf .-) is 
 ours, fhat kneel to the fign, yet deny the 
 real prefence (by't) fignify'd, how fav 
 Papift ofus ? 
 
 (adore^ 
 Which xvhtlft the Bread and Tables they 
 Deny the real pre 'fence :, there , before. 
 
 The like caution lyes in the cafe of rites, 
 geftures, and Romijlo geniculations, Altars, 
 Veftures, and places that derive from Po- 
 pery : and all to be nulPd, (as chips of 
 that old block:) As to places lend with 
 that of old Hyiarion, Male ecclefiam del 
 in tdeficiisy tec~lisq\ veneramini. 
 
 So Ends the Third Part. 
 
 The 
 
r "3 ) 
 
 9gl Jgt- &£> 4^G> *£& *gt 4g* ^£$r ^ #£fc 
 
 The Fourth and laft part. 
 
 ^Miltth. 2. 2, 9, ic. 
 
 IT was a new work, and a new Cove- 
 nant, and a new King, that God was 
 now exhibiting in the World ; the Signa- 
 ture whereof, he was pleafed fas divers 
 Authors I could cite,do call it) to make out 
 by a new Star, (*) He that had in the firft 
 work of Creation, made fo many Stars ; 
 (and did fix them in their feveral Orbes) 
 is pleafed now, to make one Singular and 
 Special Star, placed in a lower Region j 
 but for a higher and more noble end (vid :) 
 to conduft thefe Wife Men (the firft fruits 
 of the Gentiles) unto the Knowledge and 
 Sight of Chrift. From whence we have con- 
 cluded. 
 
 (*) Dr. Mayer, and Ward in locum, 
 
 H 4 When 
 
C >H) 
 
 When G 'od is about fome Great Wcrk^ or 
 to Exhibit a new Kin? and Kingdom in 
 the World ', he makes fome ftrange new 
 and Glorious appearance of it) (as a 
 Slgti) in the Heavens. 
 
 I grant he's not limited to Stars or Co- 
 rnets in Heaven for there be many forts of 
 Prodigies and they feldom or never come 
 alone. 
 
 In profecution of which, / have gone 
 thus far, to mew you in the former three 
 Difcourfes, what Methods God hath ta- 
 ken, to difcover his Mind, by thefe new 
 and prodigious appearances, in what lines 
 or fignatures, and by what in dances, or 
 examples the thing appears by the experi- 
 ence of all ages by pad to be a truth. 
 
 Now there ftill- remains fometWng of 
 the mofl: practical! and ufefiil part of the dif- 
 courfe :, which was firfl in intention : 
 though lad: in expreiTion. To wit , in 
 two fpcckil ufes ; Partly Admonition, 
 Partly Confolation. There was one thing 
 difpatched the lad part ^ and that was for 
 Terrour. What remains of that f that 
 ihpt our Memory then) will be fubfervi- 
 ant to what follows in this lad part; and 
 therefore / will not rchcarfe , nor recapi- 
 tulate 
 
(II?) 
 
 tulate at all. fo then, my work is two fold 
 at this time. 
 
 Firft , to lay down what admonitions 
 may be fignihed by fuch Signs. And, 
 
 Secondly, what Coniblation (if any) 
 can come out of fnch terrible Signs, and 
 truly! there fcarce ever was is, or will be 
 that thing in the world , that had not fome 
 comfort in the end. 
 
 Jt is partly Caution, or Dehortation 5 
 take heed of flighting thefe Prodigies : 
 There are none or Gods words, fnor his 
 works neither J that it becomes his Crea- 
 tures to flight, and to fpeak of them as ri- 
 diculous, to vilcpend : the workmanfhip 
 and Opperation of Gods hands, is to re- 
 flect on the Maker, li thou didft but fee 
 a Devil (with all the Chains of Darknefs 
 about him) appearing in fome dark and 
 terrible place; would it not awe, and af- 
 fright ? And yet the Devils were Angels, 
 and are Cods Creatures: (though now his 
 Prifon:rs, for they have fallen from their 
 firft good ftate) why then mould any of 
 the things (anv part of the Workmanfhip 
 of tfod) be flighted or infignificant (that 
 have the like Terrour.) /added, 
 
 2. Take heed of fearing them, (in a fla- 
 vifn manner) That's the errour on the one 
 
 hand 
 
C ti<5 ) 
 
 hand ^ this, on the tother, (b) fear none 
 of thofe things that you fee ; for, behold 
 their Language is (could they fay it out,) 
 as the Angel faid to Manoa \ if thou wilt 
 offer an Offering ; offer it to the Lord, or, 
 as the Angel to John-> Worfhip God, 
 Fear God. (c^.Rcv. 19. 10,22,8. Ne- 
 ver any fuch dreadful fights were ; but 
 f what ever good might follow afterwards, 
 yet) evil did immediately bode firft, and 
 good fucceeded. As therefore we ought 
 not to flight : fo we ought not to be terri- 
 fied with any fuch thing; though it be a 
 Sermon , and a Preacher of Judgement. 
 Gods Minifters are called Stars ; they are 
 bound to preach both Judgment, and after 
 Mercie ; Gods Signs in the Heavens do fo 
 fomctimes ( moft ufually ) They Preach 
 Wrath, and Judgement *, yet be not a- 
 fraid : if thou wilt fear^ fear the Maker 
 of them. 
 
 There was a difpute (upon the appear- 
 ance of a Star, or Comet) betwixt Charles 
 the great (d) 1 fo called) the Emperour ; 
 and Egcnard a Fhilofophcr ; * and becaufe 
 
 (fyPfal, 119. 4 v $2, 120, 157. There's hope, 
 and corrfnrt, an<* help ton for ent thit trembles, at 
 both Rod and fiord, (c) Jud. 13. 16. ut fupra (X) 
 A.T)nm. 8f4« * He ftdr*d', mutatknm regni mor- 
 temquie prirityh [onenderet. 
 
 he 
 
C ii7 .) 
 
 he found the Empenm fufpicious, that that 
 Comet appearing a little before, foretold 
 a change in his Death, the Philofopher put 
 on the place f of a Divine, (faith my Au- 
 thor) and laboured to comfort the Empe* 
 your, and did exhort him by this Text that 
 I named before in Jer. 10. 2. Be not afraid 
 of the Signs of Heaven-^ of which the Hea- 
 then are afraid. But the Emperour (pi- 
 oufly affe&ed ) gives him this anfwer ; 
 though we ought not to fear thefe Crea- 
 tures *, (e) yet we ought to fear the Crea- 
 tor of them and us ; for he is plcafed (when 
 he will exprefs his Anger and Difpleafure 
 for Sin,) to reprove our (loath, by fuch 
 dreadful Signs in the Heavens, fo faith 
 this Pious Emperour* And therefore we 
 ought to take it as a gre at Mercie ; we 
 ought not to fear them, neither (laftly) 
 mould we worfhip them. 
 
 This was the Errour of the Heathen ; 
 it flowed from the Devil, to worfhip the 
 Creature , that appears in Gods fervice, 
 and (lead; this was ever Satan's defign, 
 
 f Locum -Prophet* add uctns aiit A /ignis Call 
 nolitetimere. (e)Kon aliud tifhere dibimus nip il- 
 ium qtdnoflri nillim (Jder/s, e(l Creator* qui noflrum 
 in erliam talibus indiciis admonfn dignatur nam om- 
 nes co writer tangnnt. &c. Alfted, Pag* 488. 
 
 that 
 
. ( M ) 
 
 that he might place htmfcif behind the Cur- 
 tain, and fo (leal away that worfhip that's 
 ondv due to Cod, who intrudes in Gods 
 place , that lie may pais for God: in the 
 Oracle: and lb becomes the God of this 
 World. Dr. Burt bog Tag. 346. 
 
 If you fay, that Chnftians (Gods Peo- 
 ple) are in no danger of this; then, I an- 
 fwer , why did Satan tempt. Chrift to 
 Worfhip him? Math. 4.8,9. If no dan- 
 ger to us ? and what meant Mjcs ? Dent. 
 4.1S. faith he, left thou lift up thine eyes 
 unto Heaven, and when thou feed the Sun, 
 and the Moon, and the Stars, even all the 
 Hoftof Heaven thou fliouldft be driven to 
 worfhip them, and ferve them, which 
 t\\c Lord thy God hath divided unto all Na- 
 tions under the whole Heaven. The Sun 
 .Moon, and stars are divided for thefer- 
 vrce and ufe of all Nations of the Earth, 
 and therefore nor thou, nor any of them, 
 are bound to worfhip them, for to wor- 
 fhip them is to ferve our fcrvants. 
 
 I the rather propofe thefe Negatives:, 
 becaufe they are inlets unto the affirma- 
 tive part of the Admonition. And this is 
 two fold. 
 
 Be fpofiiively) perfwaded, Firft, to 
 confider; Secondly^ toprepai 
 
 £ Vfe 
 
("9) 
 
 2. Vfe of Exhortation, i. confider hum- 
 bly. 
 
 Firft, I fay, to confider the Signs of the 
 Heavens, thofe that are fixed -, or thole 
 that are (denovo) brought to fight. There 
 is one Author that gathers up all the Co- 
 mets, orfemblear Stars from Chriil, ano- 
 ther from the Creation (for they are like 
 Stars \ carry the fame Light , the fame 
 life : the fame," or greater Magnitude, 
 then many of them j onely they arc not 
 the fame in duration .• ) now I fay , there 
 is nothing that you can fee .• in Heaven, 
 or Earth, but you ought to confider it. 
 h is a dreadful thing to negleft this duty. 
 Becaufe they confider not the Opperation 
 of his hands ; therefore he will dcftroy 
 them , and not build them up. Such a 
 threatening in the P/k. 28. 5. And another 
 like to it in the If a. 5. 12. See two Wit- 
 nefTes, and both refpect the Operation of 
 Gods hands. t?od would do foandfoto 
 the Princes, * the anrient, the honoura„ 
 
 * Hen. Allied F.xeUus. * ThoV Trigg Pag. 27* 
 dtp one Luc. (rawricus ihk'fjfiititi tx infifirtain ( . 
 1672. 77.} 1 magifi\ 'si tttantis, cal&rr.t' 
 
 tttib'is conquaffatji at 'V' VJ r J '■ '■ P r : t 'r'*" 
 
 deani m ab kosii ■■ - 
 
( I2 ° ) 
 
 ble ^ and why ? Becaufe they cohfidered 
 not the operation of his hands. Sometimes 
 f faith God) Pie go to work by a Prophet, 
 where that will do , I'll fave blowes. 
 When it wont't ; then faith God, I le go 
 to work. 
 
 And fometimes he works or makes ap- 
 pearances in heaven,fometimes in the earth, 
 fometimes in the Clouds, fometimes in the 
 Waters ': Sometimes in one Element, fome- 
 times another \ all's the operation of Gods 
 hands.There are(I am told)of Opinion,that 
 Comets (it is not affirmed poffitively) may 
 be the operation of the Devils hands. I 
 would be loth to make the Devil a Crea- 
 tor, efpecially, to have fuch a Regency 
 and Power of Operation in the Bodies 
 of the Heavens, Gods creation and Cham- 
 bers. He is the Prince (indeed — of the 
 Power {£) of the Air, but it is above the Air 
 that fuch Appearances are fet fall, fave 
 this in Mat. 2.) and by that Argument, 
 he would inferr, that this Star was the O- 
 peration of the Devil : So that Satan did " 
 conduct the wife men, and fo the Devils 
 Star, that was a Condu&er to Chnft ; a 
 bad Argument in Logick, and a worfe in 
 Divinity. But grant it, for the prefent, 
 
 (gj Eph. 2. 2. 
 
 the* 
 
C "i ) 
 
 there is no body that fees the Effe&s of Sa- 
 than's Power in the Air over dorms, But 
 if it ought to give caution and great ad- 
 monition to us - how much more the O- 
 peration of the Lord ? though he hath a 
 great power, I dare not fay, in thefe Co- 
 mets : for I find no Scripture, nor no Au- 
 thor affirms it But in all thefe things, 
 ( where Gcd fhews the operation cf his 
 hands O you and I are bound to confider 
 it. I would never have undertook to in- 
 fift fo long upon this Text, (three or four 
 difcourfes ;) but for admonition of a fleepy 
 OfTitantage, that makes fhams and ridi- 
 cules of any thing. Now here would be 
 a large Field, not only to confider one Co- 
 met (that in our Textj or that of late,) 
 (which are Semblar Stars,) in the expanfi- 
 on of the upper Regions. But to tye my 
 felf only to a few Meditations ; (for you 
 have work enough for Meditation and Con- 
 fideration, in any fair, clear night. 
 
 Confider thefe Creatures, (and all the 
 reft in their Orbs ; ) think with thy felf, 
 who made thefe things <* 
 
 Confider them firft in their maker. Did 
 the Heavens create themfelves ? Did the 
 Stars produce themfelves ?Do the Comets 
 (that in every age appear) exhale them- 
 felves ? For my own part, though! do 
 
grant, that there is at power under God 
 in nature, but God governs them all that 
 firft made them, that made nothing in vain v 
 * (God, in, or by nature, I mean; J this 
 we RKift conclude, that there is no ap- 
 pearance in the Heavens, but it (has a di- 
 rect and long finger, to point us up to 
 our Creator, * as that Star pointed the 
 Magi (the wife men ) to Chrift 5 and never 
 left them, till it brought them there. 
 Which makes fome fay, 'twas an Angel 
 of God ; or fome Divine Power from 
 Heaven ; others affirm it was the Spi- 
 rit of God, fas I raid before.) You 
 may put them altogether if you will \ for 
 the thing could not cf its own conduct do 
 what it did, without fome peculiar Voice 
 dictating, or fpirit from above. 
 
 2. Lkierfity, Confider not onlv the 
 Maker as Pfal. 33. 6. but the diversity of 
 them by Gcdsword. See what a Glori- 
 ous Heaven, (in a clear nightj ycu may 
 behold ; how many eyes are there fixed 
 upon you. Who can number that Hod , 
 fas God faid to Abraham-) Look up, 
 
 * 
 
 ftHnq amfftUibus excandnit ignibus tctbtr. ("i. t.) 
 Manilius to Auguilus. 
 Vv\, may no mock c id gaze, 
 Wiien skyes vi h Comets Wage. 
 * AtdtmiattCmn ..' nsdirifflynf. 
 
 faith 
 
( m ) 
 
 faith he, and + confider if thou canft num* 
 bcr the Stars of Heaven ^ (cited before) 
 Then (hall thy feed be numbred. As if 
 God would exhibit the tydings of the new 
 Covenant, (to his numerous feed,) by pu - 
 ting him on the Meditation of the Stars of 
 Heaven, 
 
 3. Their 'bigwfs. Confider them in their 
 magnitude, (befides their diverfitie.) How 
 many of them (if we would go to na- 
 tural Philofophy ) might be produced, 
 by plain Mathematical Demonft rati- 
 on* (g) to be Scores, and Hundreds 
 of times bigger, only the Moon excepted - 7 
 that's ^9 times lefs then this Globe of the 
 Earth? And then think with your klvesi 
 Lord, what a mighty workman was he, 
 that made fuch glorious and beautiful things 
 to ftand and mine in the upper Region, and 
 in each of the Spheres ? of which, they 
 reckon nine, fave only the ninth and laft. 
 To all may be added the Order and Har- 
 
 f M. Fr. Bjnfield notes fome that have mmhrtd 
 tooo y and joodd, pjg. 1.23 and disapproves that 
 art oj vain Airology, pag. 116.' and fo do h 
 
 (gj As the Sams 166 times bigger then this Earth} 
 feme nigh a hundred times t\n fixed Stars in the eighth 
 Sphear, thofe of the firft Magnitude 1-07 times bigger^ 
 for they b#w 6 Magnitudes, that alt to us ftim but as 
 c miles. 
 
 I mony 
 
C "4 ) 
 
 mony, (andalfo theSwiftnefsof them) to 
 move fo many hundred of Mdes in one 
 hour, that it's thought the Mufick of them 
 muft needs be fweet. Our natural Ph.lo- 
 fiphv might be correded and bettered, 
 (I think,) as a pious man,Mr. Vr*msB*t- 
 field obferves,l long to fee a natural Scheme 
 of a right Scriptural Philofophy. He 
 bmUethhhflmrt in the Helens, (faith 
 he) \*A>,m 9 .6. or his Spheres (as part 
 the fecond.) And in another place he hath 
 this pafiaee; By his Spirit hegarnilheth 
 ScHeavei: aid all their Hofts(andb y 
 he formed the crooked Serpent. J* <z6. is • 
 Hebr. WJ&V Shifhrah wtiavtt ^?w deco- 
 
 " Now when * any would embroider cu- 
 rious work; ^h^erethey fet afpangle, 
 and there another. Here (faith God) 1 
 have enamel'd a glorious manfion : and 
 above this rich Pavement (hall be the feat 
 oftheblefled.' Oh then what.s man, to 
 have that Canopy 5 his Foot-ftool at laft . 
 And will not you confider fuch a glorious 
 houfe, to which you are a going t 
 
 Now there is this reafon, why lucn 
 Stars as thefe, or tranfitory appearances 
 
 ~rn Viam illamUBeam bar a UUm creavi- 
 omLfignac^U. * Of Shajbarvewfl^ 
 C- grams frit. 
 
of Comets, mould be considered, fome- 
 thing more particularly beyond the reft: 
 Forthofe are fixed and abiding; Thefe 
 only fhine for fome little (h) time, and 
 difappear, therefore ought to be confi- 
 dered(whilft in being, and-. not forgot.) 
 Thofehave their natural courfe; Thefe 
 have fome fupernatural ufe, and import 
 (intent, or portent : call it what you willj 
 When God makes a work to laft, that's 
 ftill in view 5 but when he makes a pecu- 
 liar work a tranfient Creature, (which is 
 then to preach its laft, and go off, as all 
 Comets do, ) why, it's greatly by all 
 Creatures to be confidered. And that you 
 may fee what the advantage of fuch Confe- 
 deration, (rightly tobkiri) maybe:, You 
 may (firft of allj fee what David reapt by 
 it. Lord, (faith he,) what is man ?When I 
 confider the Heavens \ What part of the 
 Heavens ? He does not propofe the moft 
 glorious light •, ( the Sun ) but he propo 
 ics the leifer to Meditation : When I 
 confider the Moon, and the Siarrs \ Lord, 
 what is man? faith he. Why then, by 
 confiderationof fuchWbrkmantfiip as God 
 hath made for nq&urnal view, fuch iow- 
 
 (h) :. 'is faii'p hints.? a yur^ (as thai 
 
 but an hour $ quarters. 
 i 2 er 
 
C l *6 ) 
 
 er Creatures are for fome fpecial ufe 
 appointed ; by confideration (I fay,,) you 
 may come tolearn humility, felf-abafe- 
 ment, and felf-abnegation : It feems to be 
 inferred thus ; Lord, that thou fhouldeft 
 make fuch a glorious and beautiful work- 
 manfhip , in the upper World , for 
 mans fervice , or contemplation and in- 
 ftruttion ! And therefore it teaches me hu- 
 miliation, fubje&ion to, and an holy ad- 
 miring of God. When I confider, Lord, 
 what is man ? Ifaac went out for that end, 
 at Eventide, 6>#. 24*63: 
 
 2. But then there is this for advantage ; 
 ( for it ferves for warning, as well as hu- 
 miliation. ) When God creates new things, 
 he may be faid then to do, as a People 
 that have an invafion, or infurreftion ? 
 Why, you know they have certain Hills, 
 on which Poles and Beacons are fet : and 
 by combuftible matter, they fire the Bea- 
 cons, to give warning to*all places adja- 
 cent ; of fuch nature and ufe, are our Co- 
 mets. Why fo, (faith God) will I do -, 
 Pie invade the world, with my Troop 
 ( \) to punifh them for their fins : They 
 have invaded my Heavens — -and Tie 
 invade their peace. When God fires his 
 
 (k) As ttib.i. \6. 
 
 Beacons, 
 
("7) 
 Beacons, it greatly concerns his Creatures 
 to (land and wonder, to confider, to take 
 warning, and caft what to do, or to repent, 
 that's the meaning. 
 
 All the warnings of God have fome fig- 
 natures of advice, that way. Saints, Re- 
 pent of your Sloth, formality, fleepinefs j 
 there will come a difpenfation that will a- 
 waken all the feciire (/) Virgins with Ter- 
 rour, when that voyce comes, it comes 
 at Midnight ; Behold, the Bridegroom 
 cometh, ah! if you and I, be found keep- 
 ing •, what a dreadful alarum will it be if 
 our Cloaths be off, and ungirt or defiled, 
 and we not trimmed up as the Bride, that 
 made her felf ready. {Rev. 19.6,7.^ we 
 fhall be unfit to meet him, or follow him. j 
 (much more) to Feaftat's Supper,and what 
 a dreadful lofs will it be, not to be prepa- 
 red, when the Bridegroom comes ! Saints 
 then are called to Repentance : as well as 
 others: to rub their eyes and fee, if they 
 can find that Sign of his Second coming, it 
 was ftrange that the Staf > was fpyed by 
 none of all the Jews*) fave only the Mafi, 
 but I deem it was in wrath to them not to 
 fee, what poor aliens dayly faw, and fol- 
 low'd. 
 
 CO Math. 25. 5, 6. 
 
 I 3 I heard 
 
C 128 ) 
 
 . I heard a man, when I was but a Scho- 
 lar, (it was one Mr. Simon of Manch.) 
 go up, and pray a great while, on a day 
 of Humiliation (before the Wars in 41 .) 
 when he had prayed a great while, very 
 feriouily ; he took only this advife for his 
 Text, and fhort Sermon \ O England ! 
 Repent^ and repeated it again, and fo re- 
 turn ? dto Prayer, whatever the inclination, 
 or impulfe of that man was \ I am not to 
 fay. 
 
 But this is our Sermon : thefe Signs and 
 Beacons of Heaven , they fpeak, or at 
 lead by dumb, (yet broad) Signs, flgnifie 
 and feal fomething to us what can it be (if 
 it be not a warning ?) O England repent ! 
 Mr. Stewart of Dmaghor in Ireland at's 
 death, faid thus .' The broken Covenant 
 of Scotland (hall be renew'd, the formality 
 of Ireland clenfed, and the prodigality of 
 England removed, and the Sons of Saul 
 hung up before the Sun, what he faid (a- 
 bout 38.) perhaps God mayverife afore 
 88. O Germany \ repent j and France re- 
 pent ! all y ee Princes (abroad or at home;) 
 or hear your Knells. 
 
 And they fay, this Star at Rome , was 
 more prodigious to view there then in Eng- 
 land^ now it is gone ; well, let all Per- 
 fon?, all Places, take themfelves concern- 
 ed 
 
C 129 ) 
 
 ed to deprecate its tremendous confequents 
 or look to bear them, take it as a warning 
 from God, to exite and ftirr you up to 
 repent, Let the Princes Read Jer. 4. 3,4, 
 8, 9. c. 6. i, 2. Crying Crimes, will 
 bring Perilous times. 
 
 When the Lord lifts np his Standard, 
 as lfa. 18. 3. fhall we not fee it? At what 
 time I fpeak to a Nation (faith he Jer. 18. 
 7, 9. ) or to a People, to pluck up (i.e.) 
 by War and Judgment \ if thefe People 
 repent *, Til repent of the evil. Oh what 
 a tender God a penitent People would 
 make f They are Signs .* but they are not 
 certain ; there's only one refer ve in Gods 
 heart : as once for Nineveh, Grace, * God- 
 ly wifdom, a true penitencie, it will com- 
 mand the Heavens ; it will command the 
 God of Heaven, (fo to fpeak as, +) let tlje 
 Signs be never fo bad, the Ifllie will be 
 good. A penitent people may efcape, 
 when the prophane and fcornfuU, will be 
 involved in Judgment. Dan. 5. Belfhazr. 
 z,ar had warning fair, in his Fathers cafe ; 
 but a Sign might perhaps and would 
 (though dumb) awaken to Confideration : 
 No : A mene Teke!-> he had on's wall, yet 
 in vain. 
 
 * Saphns dominabitiir aflris. | lfa. 45. 1 1. 
 
 I 4 There 
 
( "» ) 
 
 Thert is no place, where their line and 
 language is not heard. Pfal. 19.9. (urgM 
 before) the line points at the center; take 
 the right meafure or compafs of Gods lines. 
 The word fignifies the Speakers mind and 
 will j and fomething of his hand approach- 
 ing. Liften to the word, that you may 
 efcape the blow. * He that will not hear 
 muft feel ; and he that will not mind a« 
 Sign, fhall be made a Sign. Mind it, and 
 you'l find it for a Truth, and call it a pro- 
 phefie, if you will, and / fay't again he 
 that will not mind a Sign ( to obey \t) fhall 
 be made a Sign, to others, for's con- 
 tempt. 
 
 And in the whole, let this be the IfTue 
 and good conclufion ; (for one may preach 
 Chrifr. and Repentance out of any thing.) 
 Happy, yea thrice bleffed are they, that 
 fo fhall efcape. Get your feives well wrapt 
 in the Arms of Chri{t} and then, neither 
 the figns of the Heavens, nor the fignifi- 
 cations following them, will at all hurt 
 you. It is a paflage you'l find in that grave 
 and worthy Mr. Caryfs book *, writing, I 
 think in his Twelfth Volume, concerning 
 *. * *■■•. ,-■■■-■'■■— 
 
 * Mind it y? curled Hairy Satyrs fayes John Bain- 
 brigg on that Comet in 1618. ?ag. the 30, cut off 
 the vicious locl^s, and prefer the baldnefs offenitent in- 
 Wincy, before th? lo:\s of your Iniquity. 
 
 thefc 
 
thefe Creatures, (the StarsJ he mentions 
 one that was told, that he was in his Na- 
 tivity under very bad fignatures, and con- 
 ftellations. O faith he, but I don't mind 
 that now, Why ? why (Tays he ) I have 
 had a fecond birth fince. 
 
 If the ftars fpeak fad concerning the 
 firft birth, if Grace bring thee to a fecond 
 Birth, now the fign is alterM, fo Mr. Jof. 
 Caryl, on Job. 31. 33. fee the place, 
 p. 2 5 6 .faith one, Japens & fydera regit, and 
 faith another, (j4ftra regunt homines, fed 
 Bern afira regit.) The Stars have fome 
 Dominion on Earth, but it is an inferiour 
 Dominion ; for they are governed in fubor- 
 dination to the -Superior, (fo Caryl ob- 
 ferves, * ) and mans good : And a wife man 
 he governs the Stars (under God) not the 
 Stars him. 
 
 So then,true Grace with Godly wifdom, 
 ■will change, invert and altar all the figna- 
 tures of Stars with their influences; n which 
 is both a motive wherefore we mould not 
 fear them ^ and alfo, wherefore we mould 
 
 * In c. 3,3. 33. hy a. word (tgnifying to execute thi 
 judged, (n.) So the firm Author in Pag. 220. Third 
 Vol. c. 9. 9. cites Philo jude opicio mundi. God 
 (fiyes he) made Earth fruitful on th?. Third Diy, Gen. 
 1.11,13. 'itt he made the Star? to influenc-it^ to (how 
 that it depends on the Makers Power not on the Stat- 
 in 
 
C !32 ) 
 
 in time of danger come to God in Chrift, 
 by faving repentance ; (for that's the new 
 birth ; by applying our felves to hirrO we 
 fo efcape all the dangers themfelves, or at 
 leaft, the evil of them. And then the 
 next or fecond part of the life, (in fhort) 
 follows, (viz..) 
 
 When you have confidered, and think, 
 now my Maker fpeaks fomething to me in 
 pirticular j fomething to England in gene- 
 rail } fomething to the World : (for the. 
 Beacon is feen farr and near.) 
 
 2. Prepare to meet God* Why then, 
 prepare for by thefe ( and many other 
 Signs) there's fomething flgniiied; God 
 never makes any old thing in vain * 7 (to be 
 fure, ) he never fets new Comets, or 
 warnings in vain or to gaze on : O Lord, 
 (faith Jeremie) thou haft fet thy Signs in 
 Heaven, and among thy people, and o- 
 ther people (that threatned the King 
 himfelf J the 3 2 of Jer. 20. Signs werea- 
 mong thy People ; what elfe ? other peo- 
 ple, fo that we and other people are con- 
 cerned in them. (It was urg'd before,) 
 This was towards the Captivity, in the 
 frig e of Jerufalcm. (0) 
 
 ;V t/tfji i 3 z. $ 4. but 6 Mor.ths ere ill were cor 
 quired* 
 
 Why 
 
( 133 J> 
 
 Why then, ought we not duly to confi- 
 dcr, and to prepare f Per adventure, there 
 will be no efcaping for fome Perfons (cf) (of 
 grandeur as Zedekiab was) the dreadful 
 ngnatures and fignifications of thefe ap- 
 pearances of God, and of his juft wrath: 
 Peradventure, (if thefe bej the efcape will 
 be very difficult, and very narrow. Per- 
 adventure, Gods Judgments, that now 
 found as Sinai's Trumpet, louder, and 
 louder, that have been, are, and are like 
 to be for fome courfe of time upon the 
 Earth ; (r) till he hath removed the finners 
 out on't.If fo,then ought we not to prepare? 
 my Friends and Countrey-men, be ye in 
 readinefs. One Perfon may die by the 
 Fire, as Zimri burnt himfelf, iKing 16. 
 18. another by the Sword } and the Pro- 
 phet Zedekiab roafted, 1 King 22. 24. 
 another by the Peftilence : (a) One by this 
 Judgment, another by that} one by an E- 
 nemy Domeftick, another by a For- 
 eigner falls .* Ez.ek, 14, 2 1. by one dread- 
 ful hand or other, fometimes all four fore- 
 ly concurr. And why ? faith God, be- 
 caufe I will do thus, prepare to meet thy 
 God, OJfrael, ^/m 4. 12. Becaufe A 
 
 * •• — — I — ! ~-' — 
 
 (q) That profane perfidious fab/time, by covenant- 
 Ezek. 17,18.^ 21.26, 27.(^JP/.io4 $$.Job 38. 
 12,2$. (jJ Jer.29.17 .22, will 
 
Cm) 
 
 will do thus, I have faid It, you are re- 
 folved in your courfe of fin ; I am refolv- 
 ed in this courfe. Therefore thus will I 
 do unto thee ', and becaufe I will do thus 
 unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O 
 fmner. But a word, (and briefly hinted) 
 will be fufficient to the Godly-wife, and 
 ten thoufand fignifie nothing to the Fool- 
 hardy. God has ftrong bonds for all mock- 
 ers ; as Ifaiah 28. 2 1, 22. I fay then, that 
 good advife is all our concern. Ye Kings 
 funvr fairly a diminution of your Glory; 
 leaft the Lords long Brufh fweep it into 
 theduft. 
 
 Ye Nobles reform your Lives, Oaths, 
 and Families : Remember the pious end 
 of that once witty Atheift, Earl of Roche- 
 fier\ do as he did ^ or you'l doworfe: 
 Ye judges and Lawyers reform your de- 
 latory vexatious and co ftly courfe in tear- 
 ing of the Widows Wooll that flyesto the 
 Law for Juftice : or remember the 42 Judg- 
 es. Ye Prelates put off the 2 Horns of 
 your Myters, perfecute no more, the 
 poor DifTenters, or look to dy as Arun- 
 del. Ye Parliaments, take of the edge 
 of all perfecuting Laws, and let all turn 
 as {Nmeveh) from violence : that defire to 
 cfcape. 
 
 It is the concern of the great, and of the 
 
 little, 
 
little, from the Shepherd, to the meaneft 
 Sheep in the Flock, to be in a prepared 
 pofture. The Wolves are abroad ; the 
 flgns give indication*, the alarm grows 
 louder y the found of Gods feventh arid 
 laft Trumpet will be the loudeft that ever 
 was founded in the World ; which I take 
 does commence at the witnefTes refurre&i- 
 on, and is to be the next difpenfation ; 
 but neither of them we have yet, (I doubt, 
 fome writers muft in that take new mea- 
 fures, Rev. u. i5.)But 1 tell you, there's 
 a Trumpet to blow, that will certainly 
 fhake the heart, and tingle (or ftun) the 
 ears, and tear open the eyes of the mod 
 obdnrate Villains , and Atheifts in the" 
 world; and this ferves for the fecond 
 life. 
 
 i . The Third and laft (of the who!e)I will 
 now difpatch : Terrible things do IfTue out 
 comfort in Gods way of preaching. And 
 O that I could immitate him ! And there 
 is comfort to thefe two forts out of this 
 Doctrine \ Nay , out of this Text and 
 Context •, And the one is to Jem-, and the 
 other is to Gentiles. 
 
 There's comfort for Jews. They arc 
 not indeed fit to have or hear it yet y but 
 yet it is very fit we mould hear it (that arc 
 to pray for them) for God hath yet a peo- 
 ple 
 
r 136 j 
 
 pie among them who fhall believe, and be 
 faved; Out of all difpute^z// Jfrael flail be 
 faved-) Rom. 1 1. 26. God hath faid it, (we 
 may believe it .). :And mark what the text 
 iaith to this ' 7 Where is he that is bom ? 
 what ? King ; of whom ? King of the 
 Jews. When Chrift came firft into the 
 world *, his defign was to fetch home the 
 Jewes. Go to my houfe firft, to my loft 
 iheep Jfrael firft, (Mztth. 10. 6. with 15. 
 26 r and7flk 1/11J faith the father:, fo 
 Chrift faid. He came to hisown? and his 
 own received him not. 
 
 ■ Well now, they have fufTered a long re- 
 jection, (that now is polling to a period 
 of Daniels numbers,) butyetthey are not 
 totally caft off; they are beloved for the 
 fathers fake, Rom.: fill 28. I remember 
 Abraham my friend, faith God \ And fhall 
 1 forget the feed of Abraha?n my friend t 
 kindnefs (as in Jonathans fon) reaches the 
 feed too, 2 Sam.g. 1,7.) I'll have them in, 
 be they where they will, God will cer- 
 tainly have a voice (or hifs^ to call then:, 
 Zach.10.8. that fhall call them home, ancj 
 call them together, as by a great trumpet, 
 Jfa 27. 13, and then, great (hall that day- 
 be (See more of this in the fecond part ) 
 
 Then 
 
c i-37 y 
 
 Then [hall the children of Judah, arid 
 the children oflfrael be gathered together *> 
 and appoint themfe Ives one head-, (Who is 
 that? why Chrift) and they Jhall come up 
 cm of the land *, for great ft} all be the day 
 cf fezreel-y Hot i . 1 1 . And Chap. 3 • 5 . 
 
 2. To Gentiles. As it's comfort to the 
 Jewes> fo 'tis alfo to the Gentiles. Here 
 the text fpeaks of both. Who told of the 
 Star ? VVere they not the wife men of 
 Terfia, or of Arabia ? and where doe 
 they come ? (*) they come to Jerufalem^ 
 they come to ask the queftion, where is he 
 that is born ik??g of the Tews ? I, but alas ! 
 by going to Jernfalem, they loft the fight of 
 their guide. Now FII infer r (it is not 
 much a digreflion) what that famous (f^ 
 Bimop Hooper the Martyr, in the Hiftory 
 of his Life, and Letters, (in Foxes Book 
 of -Martyrs} hath to this purpofev (he 
 fpeaks it by way of upbraiding of the 
 Roman Bifhops, that then were rampant, 
 in the Marian dayes. Thefe wife men 
 (faith he, to this fenfe, or better lines,) all 
 
 (*) God wilt find reaps pmr^turjil, V v odi?Jom 
 and mnder jul, to call hem $4 own by, ij ■ 
 ry otfesjatf, ' (f) Acls and Mori, $«g. l$l1 i< G4t td 
 Again by fcy. Trapp in locum, 
 
 the 
 
(i 3 8) 
 
 the rime that they minded the conduft of 
 of theftarr } they were led a ftraight way 
 towards Chrift, when they would go afide 
 to the Scribes, Prieftsand wicked lyers, 
 the Clergy of Jerufalem : there they went 
 out of their way, and left their guide *, 
 for that place which fhould have been 
 moft holy, was now mod vicious j the 
 Church of God turned the Synagogue of 
 Sathan; Herod himfclf their head, a Per- 
 fccutor, where they thought to enquire ; 
 there they loft the fight of the ftarre (fo he.- 
 fee more in Fox.) The falfe Church will 
 never guide thee (by the bare notion) to 
 the trueChrift. 
 
 His inference comes to this, at laft, (faith 
 he) they found the Star, when they left Je- 
 rufalem, and left the falfe Church, and left 
 the falfe Priefts, and Scribes \ and they no 
 fooner turned their backs of Jerufalem, 
 but immediately the Star appears to them 
 again. All in a comfortable Letter to Mrs. 
 Anne Warcnf ; If thou wouldeft be guided 
 to the true Chrift, thetrue Tefus, he is not 
 found among the rampant Clergy, or He- 
 rcdians, but among his poor defpifed flocks 
 the painful Shepherds that feed nigh the 
 houfeof Bread (/') Bethlehem. 
 
 0) 2 lost fight may ag sin bt recover* d, and iht 
 
 8t+\ feci once aglh. B - 
 
C *39 ) 
 
 But I only mention it for their fakea 
 (poor Souls) that have loft the fight of their 
 Jefus ; Don't yen often do fo ? Lord, (fay 
 fomej I come to an Ordinance, and I have 
 loft fight and I come to the Table, or to 
 Prayer, and I have loft fight ; what (hall 
 I do ? there's no outward Star,Miniftry or 
 Church can be a fufficient conduft ; It is 
 Jefus that muft difcover Jefus. Why then, 
 you poor finners, your way to attain true 
 coaafort, will be to attain a fight of Chrift, 
 by minding and following his own light, 
 by which he leads and conduces - 7 which 
 is his Word, and his Spirit. Now there 
 are two things more particularly, from 
 whence confolation may be miniftred. 
 
 Firft, Suppofing that by thefe fignatures 
 God is about to produce fotne dreadful 
 Judgment or other into the World, or in- 
 to the Land ? It was never known, (that I 
 have yet read, in my fmall obfervation,^ 
 that fuch appearances or figns had not fome- 
 thing lignined by them , and fometimes, 
 dreadful too. There is only one excep- 
 tion hinted before ; the exception is that 
 in 1 186, there was a great conjurs&ion of 
 all the Planets in the Heavens, * in Sep- 
 tember id. and nothing followed it. There- 
 
 S. CabiCus fUi?'. ) 
 
 K \ fore 
 
 N x 
 
( x 4o ) 
 fore there is not dreadful things alwayes 
 following fuch appearances, no more then 
 Conjunctions .• Dr. Peter Sera-sins, in a 
 Book on Conjunctions, pag. 21,22. writes 
 the anfwer, confifting offour heads 5 one 
 of which he notes at large ; There were 
 effe&s ,(he denies the inference^there were 
 cei tainly various omens following that con- 
 grefs, tho** not in the fame fign : in that 
 year, ( faith he) 1; A dreadful fiery beam 
 wasfeeninthe Heavens. 2. In Italy hail 
 as big as Goofe Eggs, 3. The Cicilian Sea 
 went back, drown'd 5 millions of men. 
 4. Carina buried by an Earthquake. And %. 
 Saladin took Jerusalem fromChriftians.(He 
 names four or five of them) very dreadful, 
 (befides ficknefs, and the death of Prin- 
 ces, as before.) Then (faith he,) nothing 
 at all is pleaded to have attended; but 
 what Scripture fback't with good experi- 
 ence) allows of. Then certainly it con- 
 cerns us to look about us : The fign, and 
 the thing fignified concur :, admit the one, 
 the other follows. Hence it concerns us, 
 .1 fay, to conlider what we fhall have to 
 fupport us,iffuch Judgments comefas now 
 arefignified.)^,) but more likely to follow 
 
 (V) And Cods wath for them, if no fgns at all ap- 
 }tArd, 
 
 our 
 
(Hi) 
 
 our fins, that procure them, fo that the 
 firit branch of my ufe of confolation docth 
 refpeft evil to come, of which our fin is 
 the caufe, we neither believe God, nor his 
 figns. 
 
 (Sapedoml culpa eft, nefcimus credere c<elo.) 
 
 And here /will (by Indudion^ fay, if 
 God mould make fiery dreadful conflagra- 
 tions to fucceed this, which was the figna- 
 ture of fome former Comets - the IfTue of 
 fucceeding councels, prefent defigns, and 
 future changes in the world ; will foon 
 fhow : you know what terrible conflagra- 
 tions we have had in this City ; what a- 
 broad •, what hath been France , Hol- 
 land^ Flanders > and Germany, tell *, In one 
 Hiftory I read ; that there was a City 
 * burnt, and there were certain Spirits 
 feen ftrangely to move and run about in the 
 Flames in the midftofthe City. I do but 
 alude to't and fay whatfoever conflagra- 
 tions were, — or are boding, look about 
 you, there are certain Devilifh Spirits go- 
 ing about in the world, that are defigning 
 to fet the World, the Church on a flame-, 
 Heaven and Earth together. How mail 
 
 * P. Sera, fayes Cooftatttinopie as 1 tafyit, 
 
 K 2 • we 
 
( H* ) 
 
 we endeavour to comfort our felves in fuch 
 
 fire f Why then Pie tell you, Do as David 
 
 did : Ziklag was burnt, his Wives took 
 
 Captive, and his Sons and Daughters; 
 
 his Armies were difcouraged, fired out of 
 
 their quarters ; and this, by the AmaU- 
 
 kites too, the ftock of Edom. (For, who 
 
 are they, think you, but the Romijl) Edo- 
 
 mitcs, that are for Fire-works ? ) Mark 
 
 ye, what fhall David do in this cafe ? But 
 
 David encouraged himfelf in the Lord his 
 
 God. When all was burnt, he had a God 
 
 that lived above, and governed the flames. 
 
 i Sam. 30. 6. There's encouragement in 
 
 God, fand cooling) for a drooping Spirit 
 
 in the greatefl burning flames in the World. 
 
 Yea, when the greatefl: of all Fires, (that 
 
 Spirituous Fire, that of the laft day, the 
 
 conflagration of Heaven and Earth fhall 
 
 be -, ) O how happy are they that have an 
 
 intereft in Chrift, that can encourage them- 
 
 felves in the Lord, their God / That's one 
 
 thing. 
 
 2. Is it Famine that God will plague our 
 ryor, and e<cefs by t * Then Tie fay, in 
 Famine he'l deliver thee from Death, Job. 
 5. 10. in War, from the Power of the 
 
 * Jriany pgns end Comets havt of tin preceedtd it in 
 sH igtf. 
 
 S\vo:d 
 
C H3 ) 
 Sword. And another promife faith, in the 
 dayes of Famine, thou fhalt be fatisfied, 
 Pfal. 37. 19. and in. 5. with Covenant 
 thread, J fa. 33- 16. Look how God fed 
 the Widow, fed his poor Prophets, fed 
 his poor deftitute Saints ; fo now, look 
 how God fed that famous Chaplain of the 
 Admiral of France, (in the Parifian MafTa- 
 cre) Mr. Merlin by name, that made his 
 efcape upon a Hay-mow, a fortnight long : 
 and how was he fed ? A Hen came every 
 day, and laid him an Egg •, and this was 
 the prefervation of that good Chaplain : So 
 in extraordinary cafes, preternatural food 
 comes asMannah. 
 
 Sirs, if there be no ordinary, God will 
 provide fome extraordinary Paftures, that 
 the very Ravens, (which are voracious) 
 fnall ferve you, and feed yon : Prodi- 
 gious examples may teftirle to Gods fide- 
 lity, and feal to our experience. Is it the 
 Sword ? What fhall I mention ? Is it the 
 the Sword of aForreigner ? Is it the Sword 
 of an inteftine ? Is it the Sword of perfec- 
 tion ? Let whatfoever Sword will ; be 
 drawn 5 for Wars have frequently follow- 
 ed fjch dreadful figns in Heaven. There is 
 comfort in this, that the God of peace is 
 on your fide *, and if you perifh in War 
 outwardly ^ yet you may die in peace, (as 
 Jofiah did inwardly.) K 3 Thefe 
 
C '44 ) 
 
 Thefe are but thrce,of feveral inftances, 
 that / could eafily have enlarged were it 
 now needful. And if there be fuch mat- 
 ter of comfort, from the fuppofition of 
 evils to come, what comfort may be ex- 
 pected, out of the good that comes after, 
 that furvivers may enjoy ; in the conclufi- 
 on light will follow ; in the evening Zacb. 
 14. 7. After which, more hopeful things 
 may be expected to follow. 
 id Branch, 
 
 And what are thofe good iflues that will 
 end the Scene f I have obferved in my 
 little reading, there are nine ftars re- 
 corded , ( called Comets,) in the Hiftory 
 of paft times, and there have been won- 
 derful glorious I flues, (or events of good) 
 have followed them. 
 
 I'll begin with my text, (i'il but inftance 
 two or three, and referve the reft for ano- 
 ther place,) Chrift Jefusnow was an infant, 
 (*) faith my Text, but he was born a 
 King, I'll deftroy him thinks Herodjleark, 
 but his languague was, I'll worftiip him. 
 Well, the mother and babe, at the Purifi- 
 cation cfcape that mjerufalem: God con- 
 trives fo, that Jofeph ( warn'd of God ) car- 
 ries the young child and his mother into 
 Egypt : and fo he efcapes for fomc time 
 
 1. Efcapes may be obtained. there 
 
C 145 ) 
 
 there too : and fhortly after, returns upon 
 the mefHige from God ; They are dead t hut 
 fought the young childs life , it feems then 
 there were more then Herod that fought 
 the deftru&ion of Chrift, ( 2 more of that 
 name) and one may judge the Herodian 
 (f ) party very ftrong by this, there were 
 a great many Executioners of thofe poor 
 babes, that mould have died with him, 
 (rather than mifs) but the plot would not 
 take. Befides its thought he pleaded that 
 old Prophefie, Gen. 49. 10. that he was 
 that Shilo, or Mejfias that mud come, the 
 Scepter being gone from Juda. Why then, 
 here's a good iflue:it was a comfortable ftar 
 yet it was dreadful to Herod and Jerufalem^ 
 a comfort to the babe, and wife men, and 
 his (fuppofed) father Jofeph and Mary 7 
 for they efcaped, till Herod the Tyrant, 
 (foon | after) was dead v. 1 9. A nd he dyed, 
 faith Jofephm^m the mod horrible condition 
 of Jbody, as I have already touched. 
 
 Therejare fome men, who feek to do c 11 
 the mifchief in the world they can, a r ore 
 they dye, they dye under all the marks of 
 God's vengeance upon them.So,that here's 
 one effort of the ftar, though it appeared 
 very low, yet it had high erTe&s. 
 
 * Godw.L1.13.cb. p.67 Hebr.AtitiqHi's.f Some fajf 
 WAr$ifitr* K 4 2. fop* 
 
2. Captives A fecohd is in my Text \ 
 mil . return Captives may return home, 
 for you fee, though they 
 were banifhed their own Countrey , as 
 they in a fort were, yet they mull return 
 again, you may feeit there, v. 29-23. So 
 Mr. Fox at Frank /• faid in a Sermon to the 
 Exil'doncs you mall return now.She being 
 dead that perfecuted them, f Q. Mary. 
 
 3ly. The glorious Sun- 
 
 3. The Gofpel light of the Gofpel will 
 
 will •'jkhfc out. fhine through all its clouds 
 
 and dark parts j Chrift 
 
 and truth bear no long Eclipfe. 
 
 The mining of the Sun fit is faid in na- 
 ture makes the rayes and beams of Comets 
 (following it) fo long and fo large. What- 
 ever it be in nature, this is certain, that the 
 Sun (hall run its courfe, and Chrifts train 
 be very extenfive. + When God is about 
 to bring forth fome great thing in the 
 World, together with the evil prcceeding, 
 there fhall good follow. A Glorious Sun of 
 Righteoufnefs fhall arife at laft, and Sions 
 dark night fhall end. There's comfort, as 
 J fat. 60.2. ult. Prodigious Comets, are 
 moftly night-fights. O when day-fpring 
 
 t Nee maris ac cotli fpatium, nee terminus az-i ft- 
 mstfmpriuw. Buchanon in P[d.<\<>, 
 
 vifas 
 
C 147 5 
 lifts us, Zio?is terror's over. 
 
 Fourthly , Reformation begun., will 
 go on. 1 mean this, Reformation in the 
 Worlds Laws, Renovation in the Church, 
 jitlsz. 19. 21: Cod, (after fuch appear- 
 ances) hath formerly in other Ages, ufed 
 to raife up Inftruments of Reformation, and 
 to renew the Face of the World, and the 
 Church:, (all fowofully degenerated, and 
 defac't 1 fay) wofully. And mind it, (tars 
 are previous to all thefe ; in experience. 
 After one Star, (y) Luther appeared \ af- 
 ter another (before that) (wO JchnWick- 
 liff apeared-, a Reformer *, after other Stars 
 other eminent inftruments, (#) of glori- 
 ous good in the world *, Zifca happily 
 fights the Emperour Sigifmund, and the 
 huffits three times prevail. And fo it 
 was like a Refurreftion of the Teftimony 
 of the Gofpel, to the Hnfjites and Bohe- 
 mians, after fo great darknefs of Pope*- 
 ry and Tyranny. Why then, fay I, by 
 thefe fmall inftances, (and, three or four 
 more particulars noted in the end) you 
 may conclude, that though things may 
 look fad at firft \ Yet there are better things 
 hoped for. Nay, the God of Heaven 
 
 (V) Anno 1516. fw) Anno 1363. (x) Anno 
 
 140031401; 140?. 1405. in allcomts dofkint 
 
 .v:!l 
 
( 148) 
 
 will fct up a Kingdom, which fhall not be 
 fhaken, nor delivered to other People. 
 And thefe are the efforts and /flues of inch 
 glorious appearances. The King of the 
 Jews, though he entrcd in the way of his 
 erois, and is now gone to Heaven ; when 
 he returns again ; hVl be exalted far above 
 all Principalities and Powers. 
 
 And fo the Dodtrine of thofe falfe Aftro- 
 logers came to nought. We find by one 
 Author, that Albumafar y a great Aftrolo- 
 ger and Magician did aflert, that the King- 
 dom of Chrift fhould come to nought a- 
 bout 900 years ago. It is now fifteen, 
 fixteen hundred, andrifing more and more, 
 You fee what a falfe Prophet he was. 
 But the Gofpel, and Doctrine, and Pub- 
 lifhers of Gods holy will, fhall rife and 
 profper, and fo fhall all they that love Sion. 
 
 Now for an Epilogue 3 or 4 hopeful 
 th'ngs lighten the eyes of Proteftants. 
 
 1. Babylon (hall fall. 
 
 2. Great Oppreffors muft fall . 
 
 3. Glorious victories to the Saints. 
 
 4. The Kingdoms of this world fhall fall 
 to him, that was decreed and born to it. 
 
 1. Babilon mud come down from her 
 Lncifercan pride, what that is in thektter, 
 
( H9 .) 
 
 If a. i 3. and 14. chap, tell, (f) that Roman 
 falfe, bewitching 6k pjyfonful abyfle as ex- 
 pounded by John, A foe. 1 3 .and to John cap. 
 17. that that whorifh, (now withered) 
 flrumpet of Rome y the ten horn'd bead 
 that (he yet rides upon, and the unclean 
 fpirits, Prelates, Priefts, Jefuits, foabufing 
 the Kings of the earth fas the froggs) with 
 their croaking ; to trapan them into the 
 battel of Armageddon { as once Ahab and 
 Jofias) to their mine, perfwading them to 
 father, abet, or faufter all her malice, Mur- 
 thers and MafTacres. This Babilon fball 
 fall, not only here at home but at Rome alfo, 
 07- mundi defmet ejfe caput , and look with 
 what terror that Roman head looks on that 
 late Comet (fo Letters fay J as boding that 
 Hyerachical ftate no good \ fo let them 
 look the Lord God of recompeaces will 
 in that lfland, and of tHofe ten kmgdomes, 
 whom fhe once ufurped and a late plot- 
 ed to ruine,raifc Inftruments of her own to 
 lay her naked, cat and burn her up. 
 
 Dr. Tho Taylors ( *) Propheiie is then 
 to take f, Themfelves fhall drink the blood 
 intended againft the woman, and root them 
 
 f Of it a Sv'v-1 finV, Rona fba£bffvpm that is 
 
 apoor Cottage, tfan all her vile Majfacres ani Sdra- 
 ri>i and burnings \hallba laid open \ towage ths Na~ 
 lions abhor her, * OflApo. 12. pag* Bi6. 
 
 out 
 
C 150 ) 
 
 out, to make way for the Gofpel in thofe 
 defolate Popifh Countreys ; the time and 
 thcij^-pride haftens it. So Mr. Bur. {o) to 
 Dr. Feam faid, Cod will leave them to 
 fuch Plots, that the Spirits of inferior Ru- 
 lers fhall execute due vengeance on them : 
 then the multitude of her offences confumes 
 the magnitude of her Forces .* and it fhall 
 be eafier for her to weigh the Mountains, 
 meafure the Fire, gather the Winds, or re- 
 vive the verdour of withered grafs, then to 
 efcape the judgment determined in its 
 time. So T- L. faid to^.E. pag. 65. 
 
 2. OpprefTors fhall fall, they that did 
 fell the Trees of the FqrreO:, fpoyPd the 
 fhade of the poor that fhelterM in diilrefs 
 under them, fuffer'd no councels of Ju- 
 ftice, peace, and relief to (land unfell'd by 
 them, fhall bethemfelves Subjects to the 
 blow of Death, who equals Prince and 
 Subjects. Now Mounfiers comes the di* 
 minution of your Glory. 
 
 Two things fet Princes at odds below 
 others, (to be admired) they might plcafe 
 to help it. (*) 1. Not Rating the rights 
 of Succeflion. And next, 2. ('The reafon of 
 
 (o) Pag. the Is a, fee a' r o jo. f quire, pag. 626, 
 and dpi K. L. to Q Eliz. (p. 65. on Ap. 13.) 
 * Tbt ltifr nit) oj £>. Eiiz iteth. 
 
 the 
 
( m ) 
 
 the former J net admitting one Thought or 
 Umbrage of Death to eciipfe their myrth, 
 (•rOandfo it comes furreptitioufly on tfeern 
 of all men. Now their falls included^, 
 that of Ifai. 13. 10, 11. and v. 19. 22. 
 and for the lofty fee ch. 14. 4, 5, foto 9. 
 and * i, 12. — 19— what that is to us? fee 
 v. 26. and it was in a year of Prodigies too, 
 when Ahaz, dyed-, v. 28. the real'on is,?/. 
 -2. for 6od has founded Zion. Read 
 that of Ezek. (*) what caufe of fighs, not 
 mirth? (and efpecially to Zedekjab's)) now 
 in him and his Brothers, the line was ex- 
 tin&rfor treachery and oppreflions,alfo that 
 ftar in 1 572 at fir ft was fatal to the Prote- 
 ftants in France-, Quo-plus fanguinis quam 
 vinifufum erat* But Ch. the gtb. ended that 
 bloody Scene in his own blood at laft •, (fj 
 For he dyed bleeding at all the Avenues of 
 his body. So tragically did Herod in Dif- 
 eafes, end his rage 5 for the bloud of In- 
 fants, his fin and woe fuch (one feems, 
 Tragadia potius quam hyftoria texi.*) Lento 
 igne corpus •> urebatur^ &c. His Body as 
 by gentle burning wafted his inwards, and 
 fo rabid, or voracious, no fatisfying him 
 
 Ct) h JM James. ( *) Ezek. 2 \ . 6, 1 o , 1 2, 1 $. 
 (f) Dif Serres, Eufcb. p. 16. Jcley-h, Li. . •. 
 
 ■ 
 
C *P ) 
 
 with meats Interlines ulcerated : a lurid,and 
 moid humor in his feet (*) fwel'd all up 
 from the lower parts : worms iflued from 
 his fecrets, Spirits inflamM \ difficulty in 
 ' breathing; worn with Tortures in all parts \ 
 allfaidoihimit was no other then divine 
 alt ion is ptpplicinm : Gods heavy revenge, 
 yet ftiil(in hope to live,)fought Medicines, 
 drunk waters, ufed fuppleing oyls, and in 
 that cafe his eyes being loft, he wofully dy- 
 ed. In Math. 2. 20. 'Tis faid they are 
 dead, ('not he only) it notes that the exit 
 of cruel Tyrants, is often quick, fcldom a- 
 lone ; they carry the Minifters of their 
 cruelty offwith them and fo are tampwa, 
 qtum culpa participes. This enfued on that 
 Star the like has often fince. 
 
 % Glorious victories, (one efpecially) 
 on the fide of the Lamb, and his followers, 
 will end all, and fucceed the Stars (and 
 more brisk Comets perhaps, (s) come) as 
 they preceed the Wars : We have had 
 helium Ethviciim, an Heathen- War in the 
 Emperours, and papal in the Popes : alfo 
 (h-re in Brit.) Belhim Epifccpale? in late 
 times; & Presbyteriale> &c. and all had 
 
 (*) Humor l>.ridus. Qf) H.ts penas divinitas ob 
 gefl4 i'pis imyte dtpofii. (s) Till tbit last Star of 
 
 Jacob tbi fin 2nd thing [igniffd com. 
 
 their 
 
C m ) 
 
 their fucceflive vi ftorics. One war I look 
 for yet in the valley of Jcbofiphat, (as Sir 
 H. V. faid,) that brings the deciding judg- 
 ment of God } fas Joel 3 13.) and that 
 ends Zion controverfie fully, till that Bel- 
 him G ogo- Mogovicum comes Apoc. 20. 
 Now this is at the Refurreftion of the 
 witne/Tes , and fix Vial ; that Belhim 
 agriwtim, Apoc. 17. 14. reported, Chap. 
 19.11. And to this belongs one more, 
 vitloria Haleluiiatica * (for us Brittains) 
 then all weapons are to ceafe , and turn 
 tools for culture, as //k.2.4. Mic 4. i.Ez.eh^ 
 39.9, i2.or at lail be burnt .- (that will be 
 a work of foxm time, feven years, but 
 the burials are over in feven moneths, ver. 
 12J let the Saints hold what battel they 
 will, Conquerers they fhall be, nay more 
 then Conquerors they be,r.ay more then fo, 
 Rom 8.37. in their Captain, and fome way 
 in themfelves, they're vigors, Col. 2. 15. 
 (at laft as Chrifl: was,} by, and in their 
 deathes *, Nay in all external confli&s too, 
 at long run, fas of Gad, Gen 49.19.) a 
 Troop may overcome, ycc he overcame 
 at laft. Except that onely of the witnefies, 
 JRev. 1 1 . 7. and that onely for three years 
 and an half ; and yet the Rcfurrettion gives 
 it them after. 
 
 > ftbitrudtQinSpeul^nd'PAUntlcU^ii. K 
 
C m ) 
 
 If feditions, murders, and aflafli nations 
 {'more private) or Tumults, Maflacres,Tr«! 
 vafions and Infurrections do befall Brtttan 
 or Ireland ; now again by that rampant 
 (I mean) French Tyrant four y^JJyrian-^as 
 once Turks in Hnngary after a Comet, and 
 we in England, (after another) F dicker 
 fugnatum erit (as one faid ) the viftory will 
 .be ours : tho' J deny not but God may 
 plague us with French and Papal Factions, 
 for our Fr. and Antiparliamentary fafhions; 
 if any wim it al-a-mode, they may in Jam. 
 the id. have their wall : and yet a party is 
 extant , that may try the truth, and plead 
 the juftice cf our Caufe, Religion and 
 Laws as warmly (and to the fame purpofe) 
 as in Smithfield by zFagot. (o) Time was,. 
 the French Mounfier was often fairly beat 
 by the Enghfh on his own Ground. If 
 now in defenee of a Papal head, (forrein 
 or domeftick,) he (hall put Proteftants in 
 our own land, to ajuftlelf-defence, tho' 
 he may fifli a while 'in our puddl'd waters, 
 and take advantage of our divifions to di- 
 vide the fpoyl of the fir ft Battel \ yet let 
 him look for a frefh rancounter by a (*) 
 
 Co) i Speed Cbron. in H. $./>.:3i. * Speed Jr 
 no 1348 Edw. 3 p .^4. 
 
 refer verf 
 
C 155; 
 
 referved and refolv'd Party, that will bark 
 at an Alien, (and bite too) as hard as any 
 of old Nols Curs ever did ; that had both 
 him, and his Councels once in awe. 
 
 4-ly, The Kingdoms of this world fall 
 to Chrifts porTeffion .• fright he had long 
 fmce \) Pfal.z. 9, 10. not only of that ulti- 
 mate glory in heaven, but to raign on the 
 earth. Apoc. 5. 10. this Virgil calls Satw- 
 nium regnum : (*) and fo do the Sybils : 
 (i.e.) the golden age, when wifdom and 
 knowledge will be the (lability of our 
 times, andftrength of Salvation, Ifa. 33-6. 
 I grant, 't has had its eruptions in all ages 
 by paft, even when A/nalec\l&id hands on 
 the throne, Exod. 17. 16., yea under the* 
 Crofs, fo that they had a! mo ft forc't the 
 crown on him by furprize(ere he fuffer'd,) 
 Joh. 6.15. and.Chrift owns the Kingdom 
 point, to be a truth,Chap. 1 8. 37-tho (thenj 
 not of this world, yet to be (now) in it. 
 Nor were the Magi gull'd by this ftar : 
 If born a King, fure Chrifl has a real King- 
 dom, not barely titular : for Comets fpeak 
 of no mains. By't I mean three things. 
 
 1. That Chrift^;V<?,istheKing of Na- 
 
 * On thit gol&inzgz thttjhall rnolvt in the lajl 
 of the lafl times. 
 
 L tions, 
 
tions, as well as Saints, Jer. 10. 7. 10. and 
 ought de fatto fo to be proclaimed over 
 the world, ( as well as in the Church ) that 
 in all he may have preheminence, Col. 1 . 
 18. 
 
 2. That his Laws declar'd in the word, 
 (and not repealM ) ought to be the muni- 
 cipal Laws to the world, (as to the 
 Church)and all contrary to plain Scripture 
 ought to be refcinded, and vacate,in all our 
 Courts. 
 
 I . That his people (i.e.) (that are able, 
 fear God, hate covetoufnefs \) ought to 
 Minifter thofe Laws, and for him, execute 
 Suftice to all opprefs't, and on oppreflbrs, 
 for this medicine Nations are fick , and 
 mud: never behealM without it:on (udi fub- 
 ftrata's ought our Constitutions to build, 
 that would not incurr the weight of Chrifts 
 Jron rod, fo would that Prophefie obtain 
 in all lands ; the Kingdoms of this world 
 be the Lords : that T. L. (0) fayes were 
 fo long ufarped by Monarchs and Anti- 
 chrift, that of right by Lordfhip and Inhe- 
 ritance , did ever belong to God, and the 
 Prince of the Covenant, fhall be reftored 
 to their right owner : Of which Kingdom 
 fhall ben finis. 
 
 (0) Rev.il.i 5. Set T.L. p. 1 $ on thit Pmphefie. 
 
 When 
 
C i57) 
 
 When 
 
 Righteoufnefs aft ends the highefi Throne 
 And faith with Reason, jhall agree in one, 
 And all the virtues to their Councel call, 
 Cabals and vicious Councilors fiatl fall. 
 
 Exque polo veniet rex, tempus in omne fu- 
 wrttm,&c. * In a 1 , the fcope is, to fliow 
 the tremendous (ig^j that precede the fe- 
 cond coming of Chrift. One Scheltcon of 
 Emhden writ on that fubjett in 1577, 
 two year after that new ftar (in Cajfiopea) 
 as the MefTenger or warner of Chrifts 
 judgment, -f- Serarim a late, and before 
 Cyprian Leovit. \ 583, wrote of a famous 
 Conjunttion of thefuperior Planets, in the 
 end of Pifcis, as (fays he) fix years be- 
 fore the firft coming of Chrift, a ftar, and 
 that fame Conjunction appeared; fo at's 
 fecond, &c. then Cites the verfes of fo. 
 Stoffler in Melanclhon. Of that Star in Caffi- 
 opea^s Chair, writ Tycho Brahe. 
 
 One John Bainbrigg fin K. JamPs 
 time) writ Learnedly of that ftar in 161 8. 
 he (pag.3 1.) calls it an heavenly harbinger 
 that dtd preiignifie the glorious light of the 
 
 * Svhil Erithr. accroslic^s. f Pag. 11, 12, #r. 
 Se alfo did Theod. Beza ins verfes. 
 
 L 2 Gofpel 
 
(. 5 3) 
 
 Gofpel to fhine to the whole world, and 
 that in 1558 was a fign of good to poor 
 Protectants in Brittany, Germany, and that * 
 France, &c. fhould yet again flourifh. 
 
 7htn peict and knowledge of the truth , (hall flourt[Jj y 
 Tbt earth her p'entious fruits {ball alfo cberifc 
 H 'hati not be divided as before, 
 Xor to the flow befubjettdny more. 
 
 To conclude if fuch judgments may be 
 attended with mercies, fuch fjgns of ufual 
 evil, may precede^ prefignifie) much good, 
 If bad figns at prefent, may be glad ngnifi- 
 cations-, for the future : In a word, if the 
 firft Epiphany of Chrift to the Sages, (and 
 under the Crofs) did by a ftar fo irradiate 
 the very Eaft, as to call them out fo far to 
 vifit his manger, and ftable : Oh with what 
 daxling Lufter will his fecond part of the 
 Kingdoms Epiphany be attended ? to the 
 joy of the upright, the terrour of all cruel 
 Herodians, fhame of Apoftate Jews, and 
 ffinallyj to the gathering of all to behold 
 his rifing Sun-light. Amen, Lord come 
 quickly. 
 
 t Stt more in pag. 32, &c, of Bainbr. 
 
 To 
 
C 159 ) 
 
 To put my felf and the reader in tune 
 again, if weary with reading (as I am in 
 writing) let him warble over the two or 
 three Hymnes for a conclufion of this (tar- 
 ry Treatife. 
 
 Our Lord after the cup fung one; 
 what a one, 'tis not faid. The late fweet 
 ufage of Hymnes (as was among the old 
 Church) obferv'd in Eitfebius ; now feems 
 to revive in our AfTemblies (and to be wifht 
 in our Fameliestoo) Mr. Hen Jeffy left a 
 fweet one in print yet not forgot. It begun 
 thus, 
 
 Lord haft to bring Mount Zions King-, 
 
 ZJnto his promis*t Throne. 
 By Royal right ; birth, purchafe, fight -y 
 
 All Kingdoms are his own } &e. 
 
 One Col. Jo. Fenmchjn his Zions joy in 
 her King, pag. 92, 93-) &c. on Pfal. 102. 
 has another too, that may be feen at large 
 in that book, An. 1643 . May I then pro- 
 pofe (not ImpofeJ my Hymnes (two or 
 three of them, for a taft) firft to the read- 
 ing then to ferve the Religious joy of any, 
 that defire to obey them Scriptures in Eph. 
 and Colof. and I may ( if thefe be accepted 
 well; give the reader a larger Volume in 
 time. 
 
 When 
 
C.tSo) 
 
 When God frail Chrift his Son anoint } 
 
 On Zions holy hill ; 
 Salvation thence he will appoint y 
 
 For walls and Bulwarks ft ill. 
 The great frail then no terrour bey 
 
 The good to over-awe. 
 And force them into corners flee y 
 
 For keeping of Gods Law, 
 
 The vile no more account fuall bear* 
 
 Tyrants no more opprefs ; 
 No piercing br amble, juft ones tear ', 
 
 None y rife by wickednefs. 
 But right y and truth aft ends the Throne \ 
 
 To 'ffront Iniquity ', 
 And reafon,juftice, faithy in one 
 
 Vnited ; frail agree. 
 
 Then worfrip pure, frail not endure, 
 
 Foggs Superftitious ; 
 Nor Scarlet whore, frail more allure 
 
 To Babel , for Gods houfe. 
 Scripture our Royal guide, and Law 
 
 The word, the focord frail blunt. 
 Vengeance (Jiall Homes ml Myters fiw. 
 
 The Nimrods, ceafe to hunt. 
 
 Tim He.iPn, an I Earthy to joy frail brexk* 
 
 ( A joy that ends diftrefy ) 
 He for the meek^ will judgment feeh^ 
 And haften rightejufnefs. 
 
 Amen, 
 
0*0 
 
 2. To God let^s allfing praife 
 
 That by his word all made. 
 Thus Heaven above ; and all that move 
 
 On Earth, their being had. 
 
 For Sun that lights the day, 
 
 For Moon and glittering fiars, 
 That in the night forejhew its light, 
 
 (Asfigns) of peace or wars. 
 
 Forth'* earth and all its hofts> 
 The fea and what's therein, 
 Allfitb')ctlftand, by Gods command 
 To man : t hats fallen by fin. 
 For haiU and rain, and dew, 
 For fiormy winds alfo , 
 for thefe fulfil Gods righteous will, 
 When men againfi it, go. 
 
 For day, and alfo night, 
 Summer, and winter s frofl : 
 (Contraries do, Gods wifdom fiww, 
 And oft profit us mofi.) 
 But Lord ivhats fall'n man ? 
 Dominion fitch to have, 
 Ore all things here ', and tryumph there 
 With Cirnfi, ore death and grave. 
 
 Confmne Lord from thy earth 
 Defirullive wicked men ; 
 Oh come again, refitme thy rai?n \ 
 Come cuiickjy! Lord A nen. 
 
 Haleljujah. 
 
(i60 
 
 Thy glory Lord the Heavens on high 
 
 • And Firmament declares. 
 Tea all the.r hoaftsthee magnifies 
 
 Confining with thefiars. 
 The bright nefs-) number) Influence? 
 
 Of ftaryy- skyes proclaim, 
 Their makers skill and excellence-, 
 
 That gives them all their name. 
 
 Sometimes {for God) they battles fight y 
 
 And (in their courfie) declare. 
 The deaths, and woes, of men of might 
 
 That great oppreffors are. 
 At firfty creation y then behold ! 
 
 Thefefins of God all fingy 
 A new far Chrijt, to th' wife men told 
 
 Born to the Jews, a King. 
 
 Such new and dreadful fights portend, 
 
 What fi all this world affright : 
 When Jefus fiall again de fiend 
 
 To judge andfave the upright. 
 Thou Star of Jacob ; rife-, appear. 
 
 Come bright and morning Star \ 
 Irradiate, our dark^ hemiphere, 
 
 O bee^ntfi long, fo far. 
 
 Thy rifing brings Brittans day-fipring, 
 And fright Herodians proud 7 
 
 Then Sons of God again fliallfing, 
 
 Lord hafiifnne through the chud. 
 
 - FINIS. Amen.