Signs of the Times, Title page – Preface
SIGNES OF THE TIMES: OR PROGNOSTICKS OF Future Judgements, WITH The way how to prevent them.
BY Edward Bagſhaw, Student of Ch. Church.
LONDON: Printed for Simon Miller at the Star in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1662.
The Preface.
AMong the names whereby the publick Ministers of the word are expreſſed in Scripture, there is none either more uſefull unto others, or if neglected, more dreadfull to themſelves, than the ſtile of Watchmen, which is ſo often given them, whoſe buſineſſe it is to foreſee the firſt Approach of Danger, and to give timely Notice, that ſo all who through ſleep and eaſe would not rouſe up themſelves, and take the Alarum, might be inexcuſably guilty of their own Deſtruction. But, ſaith God to Ezekiel, Ezek. 33.6.whom he had deputed for the diſcharge of that forlorne employment, if the Watchman ſee the Sword come, (which may be understood proportionably of any other impending Calamity) and blow not the Trumpet, and the people be not warned, if the ſword come and take any perſon from among them, he is take away in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thy hand. It was, I believe, for fear of this terrible account (which the common ſort of meerly ſelf-called, and humanely appointed Prophets conſider not) that Habakkuk, who was by God himſelf commiſsioned for this Taske, to declare his diligence, cries out, I will ſtand upon my watch, Hab 2.1.and ſet me upon the tower, and will watch to ſee what he will ſay to me; And to ſhew, that what he received in this kind, was not to be concealed or reſerved only for his own uſe, Verſe 2.God preſently bids him, Write the viſion and make it plain upon Tables, that he who runs may read it, i. e. Whatever you find upon your moſt strict and ſevere enquiry, let it not be impriſoned in ſecret, but unfolded to all in the moſt perſpicuous and apparent manner; ſince ſuch viſions like light, are loſt as to the uſe of them, if they be not communicated.
If this was the duty of Prophets heretofore, it must needs follow, that it doth equally belong to Preacher now; whoſe burden is not at all leſſend, but as their Miniſtry is more glorious, ſo there is a double weight of care incumbent upon them; For they, Heb. 13.17.ſaith the Apostle ſpeaking of Goſpel-Ministers, do watch for mens ſouls, as thoſe who muſt give an account. And when the Apoſtle Paul would testifie how carefully he had diſcharged his Miniſtry, he tells the Epheſian Elders, Acts 20.26.that he was clear from their blood: Thereby implying, that had he not with ſo much ſollicitous induſtry and watchfullneſſe performed his office, in denouncing their danger as well as in declaring their duty, he ſhould have been accountable for their miſcarriage.
This Conſideration alone, without any circumstantiall inducements, will ſufficiently juſtifie me in venturing to Publiſh, what I have now, not without great anxiety, for a long time obſerved; That ſo, if theſe indeed are Signes of the Times, or, Fore-runners of Future Judgments, which I have impartially Collected for ſuch out of the Scriptures of Truth; then others, together with my ſelf, might take notice of, and be warned by them. For though I ſhall alwayes pray, that I may prove herein a falſe Prophet; yet ſo long as our National ſinnes are ſo great and crying, I ſhould not have been faithfull in my Miniſtry, (which I doe not take to be confined within the circuit of any one Pariſh) ſhould I not have thus Blown the Trumpet, and endeavoured to awaken all, into whoſe hands this Treatiſe may come, that, while the Cloud is gathering, they might looke up, and labour to avoid their danger.
Edward Bagſhaw. Drury-lane, Jan. 28. 1661.