It is as yet fresh in every ones Memory how miserably the case stood with Men in the foregoing War, which lasted thirty years. If any Farmer had his Cellars full of Wines, and the Soldiers break in to the Countrey, did horribly abuse the gifts of God, that which they could not consume by their detestable Gluttony, they wickedly spilled upon the ground; the Soldiers I say, and such Men as profest themselves Christians, and durst boast of the Christian Religion. From hence may it easily be conjectured what it would be, if such a multitude of Turks should over-run our Countrey, which imminent evil, God of his mercy turn away from us.
In the days of Noah, the Men then lived in all security, and not at all regarded the Preachings and Admonitions of that godly Man, by which he exhorted them unto Repentance for 120 years together, they did Eat, they Drank, Married and gave in Marriage, till the Floud swept them all away, and there was no more room for Repentance left, as sacred Writ testifies.
We reade of Sodom and Gomorra, that the Inhabitants of those Cities being even drown’d in Leachery, did so despise the reproofs and warnings of the godly Man Lot, untill a Fire was sent upon them from the wrath of God and consumed them.
Who is there that in this Season feareth God, and lives piously? He that is the strongest oppresseth the weaker, nor does at all think on this, that there is one far more powerfull than he himself is, who comes when he pleaseth, and punisheth such powerfull Oppressours. But these things, and such warnings of this nature are plainly mockt at.
Did not God sufficiently enough warn us the last year 1660, and shewed unto us his wrath, by those dreadfull Tempests and Storms, and Earthquakes, wherewith almost all Europe trembled. Doth he not also this very present year (1662) shew us his self-same displeasure? What portends that Comet that was seen in the Heaven, any one may easily guess what it means. Verily it threatens nothing else but evil, especially because it extended its Tail contrary to the usual wont of other Comets, towards the upper part of the Heaven, just as if it should say, I will show unto the Men, that ’tis not this or that Countrey, this or that Enemy that shall chastise you, but ’tis the King himself of all Kings, who is in Heaven, that hath purposed to punish you for your Wickedness; whose Rod ye may [yet] divert from you that is stretcht out to punish you, if you apply your selves to him by serious Prayers, true Repentance, and unfeigned amendment of your Lives, now whilest you have time allotted ye to repent in, if such admonitions as these can but find entertainment with you. And what I pray will this warm Winter bring upon us, the which being destitute of all cold Ice and Snow hath permitted the Trees to flour in the very month of February, and the Medows to be clad in Flowers, and ripe Cherries to be seen? Without doubt, nothing else but all kinds of poysonous Diseases and which will speedily kill Men, and with which mankind will be afflicted; and if so be that an intense cold should yet follow, which may easily be, there would doubtlesly follow a great Dearth of Grain and Provision by spoiling the Wine and Corn, whose buddings are already come so far forth, as that the cold may easily destroy them. And now are we not sufficiently enough admonished by these fore-runners and signs of the wrath of God coming on us, and hanging over our Heads?
Besides all this, let us consider that great Conjunction of all the Planets in Sagitary, such as hath never been since that time in which all the Planets were in Conjunction in Aquarius. And this Conjunction [in Aquary] preceded the deluge, which destroyed all mankind by the breakings in of the Waters, Noah and his onely excepted. But as concerning what that great Conjunction in Sagitary the next year 1663 will show us, and bring upon us God knows. Sagitary is a martial sign, and deadly, and portends nothing but Dissentions, Seditions, and uproars of War; and therefore prophesieth unto us nothing but bloudy Wars, insomuch that it is much to be feared that this ungratefull World will be consumed, and blotted out as ’twere by Fire, and the Sword, and the anger of God: which evil, God of his mercy turn away from us. Certainly these Conjunctions are not wont to fore-signifie or bring along with them any good. But I heartily wish I may prove a Liar in this case, though I fear me, that there is more evil coming upon us than will be welcome unto us.
For when God sheweth us any thing with his Finger, it should be of more concernment unto us than all humane Writings, for they may err. But God never does any thing in vain and without cause. Never did there at any time a Comet shew it self in the Air but many Calamities succeeded it. That old Proverb may very likely prove true, which the Ancients have pronounced, viz. that it will come to pass in the year 1660, that Alchymy will begin to flourish, but will bring along with it such changes for [some] years following, and such dreadfull changes too, that the third part of Men will perish with Famine and Pestilence, the third part will perish with Fire and Sword, and there will be but a third part onely left.
But yet I would not that you should take or look upon this my prognostication on such wise as if all these things should infallibly come to pass as I have predicted. No, I was willing onely to open to you my Meditations upon the years to come. For all things are seated in Gods power alone, in whose hands onely and alone we know our firm helps and assistance to be ready for us, and therefore do not in the least confide in our own strength and power, which are more vain than are all fading things.
But forasmuch as there are natural means granted us, of driving away our Enemies, we may well use them as far as in us lies, for that it belongs unto every Christian Man, to do his utmost to repell with all his power the common Capital Enemy of all Christendom.
And now therefore that I my self may not be found to be the least in defending my Countrey, I have determined to exhibit in this Book the help and assistance that I can afford, and this is not Money and Wealth which I have not, but by offering such artificial inventions, and disclosing them, whereby the Enemies may be valiantly resisted. For in all things we see, that many times far greater things may be done with Wisedom and Prudence, than with Strength and Fortitude, and this is clearly evident in the most efficacious Operations of Gun-powder, which produce far greater effects than Mens hands, though never so strong, could ever bring forth.