A Moral Prognostication, Title page – To the reader
A Moral Prognoſtication, I. What ſhall befall the Churches on Earth, till their Concord, by the Reſtitution of their Primitive Purity, Simplicity, and Charity.
II. How that Reſtitution is like to be made, (if ever) and what ſhall befall them thence-forth unto the End, in that Golden-Age of LOVE.
Written by Richard Baxter.
When by the KING's Commiſſion, we (in vain) treated for Concord, 1661.
And now Publiſhed, not to Inſtruct the Proud, that ſcorn to Learn; nor to make them Wiſe, who will not be made Wiſe: But to Inſtruct the Sons of Love and Peace, in their Duties and Expectations. And to tell Poſterity, That the Things which befall them, were Fore-told: And that the Evil might have been prevented, and Bleſſed Peace on Earth attained, if Men had been but willing; and had not ſhut their Eyes, and hardened their Hearts, againſt the Beams of Light and Love.
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Simmons, at the Princes-Arms in Ludgate-Street, 1680.
TO THE READER.
Reader,
IT is many Years, ſince this Prognoſtication was written, (1661, except the Sixteen laſt Lines) but it was caſt by, leſt it ſhould offend the Guilty. But the Author now thinketh, that the Monitory Uſefulneſs, may over-weigh the Inconveniencies of Mens Diſpleaſure; at leaſt, to Poſterity, if not for the Preſent Age; of which, he is taking his Fare-wel. His Suppoſitions are ſuch as cannot be denyed. Viz.
1. Eccleſ. 1. 9. The Thing that hath been, is that which ſhall be; and that which is done, is that which ſhall be done: and there is no New Thing under the Sun.
2. The ſame Cauſes, with the ſame Circumſtances, will have the ſame Effects on Recipients, equally diſpoſed.
3. Operari ſequitur eſſe: As Natures are, ſo they act; except where over-power'd.
4. The Appetite (Senſitive and Rational) is the Principle of Motion; and what any Love, they will Deſire and Seek.
5. Therefore, Intereſt will turn the Affairs of the World; and he that can best underſtand all Intereſts, will be the beſt Moral Prognoſticator; ſo far as Men are Cauſes of the Events.
6. The Pleaſing of God, and the Happyneſs of their own and others Souls, being the Intereſt of True Believers; and Temporal Life, Pleaſure, and Proſperity, being the ſeeming and eſteemed Intereſt of Unbelievers croſs Intereſts, will carry them contrary wayes.
7. Contraries, when near and Militant, will be troubleſome to each other, and ſeek each others Deſtruction or Debilitation.
8. The Senſes and Experience of all Men, in all Ages, are to be believed about their proper Objects.
9. Men of Activity, Power, and Great Numbers, will have advantage for Obſervance and Succeſs, above thoſe that are Modeſt, Obſcure, and Few.
10. Yet Men will ſtill be Men; and the Rational Nature will yield ſome Friendly Aſpect towards the Truth.
11. Thoſe that are Ignorant, and miſled by Paſſion, and carryed down the Stream, by Men of Malignity or Faction, may come to themſelves, when Affliction, Experience, and Conſiderateneſs have had time to work; and may Repent, and undo ſome-what that they have done.
12. As Senſe will be Senſe, when Faith hath done its best; ſo Faith will be Faith, when Fleſh or Senſe hath done its worſt.
13. Men that fix on a Heavenly, Everlasting Intereſt, will not be Temporizers, and changed by the Worldly Mens Wills or Cruelties.
14. When all Men have tired themſelves with their Contrivances and Stirs, Moderation and Peace must be the quiet State.
15. When all Worldly Wiſdome hath done its utmoſt, an… Mens Endeavours are w…inged with the greatest Expectations; God will be God, and Blaſt what he Nilleth; and will Over-rule all Things, to the Accompliſhment of his moſt Bleſſed will. Amen.
On theſe Suppoſitions it is, that the following Prognoſtications are founded; which I muſt admoniſh the Reader, not to miſtake for Hiſtorical Narratives: But, I exhort him to know what Hath been, and what Is, if he would know what Will be; and to make ſure of Everlaſting Reſt with Chriſt, when he muſt leave a ſinful, restleſs world.