Vindication of His Annotations, Text (1 of 5)

Vindication of His Annotations · Text (1 of 5)

p. 1A VINDICATION of the Annotations on Jerem. Chap. 10. Verſ. 2. againſt the ſcurrilous Aſperſions of that grand Impoſter M^r. William Lillie, &c.

A Great man is reported to have ſometime complained that it was his hard hap to hear laſt of ſome things,Aug. Dio l. 55. tho much talked of abroad, wherein himſelf was moſt concerned: And it had been long (as I was afterward informed) in the mouthes of many, and ſome great ones, who in regard of my ſilence deemed me therefore deceſſed, ere it came to mine eare, that M. Lillie, that grand Impoſtor, had in his Black Book of the Dark Yeer, been nibbling at mine Annotations on Jerem. 10.2. and girding at me, after his wonted ſcurrilous guiſe, as at many other of Gods faithful Miniſters and Meſſengers of far greater worth then my ſelf. Now howſoever I have elswhere profeſſed, how litle I regard the ſqibs and cenſures of ſuch ſcoffing mates and ſcurrilous ſcriblers; his eſpecially, whom I deem no better then an other Lucian; for that as he, under pretence of deriding and traducing the ſuperſtitious worſhips then commonly practiſed, and fond conceits of their fained Deities then generally received, did not obſcurely endevor to root up all religious worſhip of the tru God out of mens lives, and all reverent fear and regard of him out of their hearts: ſo this man under colour of taxing and inveighing p. 2againſt ſuch, either worthleſſe or ſcandalous perſons, as eyther formerly or in later times, have ſome cloſely crept in, and ben admitted into the Miniſterie, ſome violently or cuningly by might or ſlight ben obtruded upon the people, or have intruded themſelvs into miniſterial functions and paſtoral charges, or have demeaned themſelvs otherwiſe then was meet in their places; he takes occaſion to aſpers and traduce the whole profeſſion, and to vent his ſpleen and gall againſt the Miniſterie of Chriſt Jeſus it ſelf, as hereafter ſhall be ſhewed. Albeit therefore, I ſay, I litle regarded, what ſhould drop from the pen of one ſo affected, yet was I deſirous to ſee what the man had ſaid, and what ſatisfactory anſwer he had in this diſcours ſo much talked of, returned to mine Exceptions to his Relations concerning the grounds of his pretended skill and profeſſed practiſe, which in thoſe Annotations were taken thereunto. To which purpoſe not being able my ſelf to ſtir far abroad, I reqeſted a frend to procure me the book: but they were, it ſeems, as the manner is of ſuch Prognoſtications for the yeer enſuing, ſodainly ſnatcht up at their firſt coming forth; this more eſpecially, in regard of the principal ſubject matter of it; peoples minds being generally prepoſſeſt and fil'd with expectation of ſtrange novelties, raiſed by the reports given out beforehand, of the moſt dreadful Eclips, that this Black Yeer ſhould produce, and the direful Effects that ſhould follow thereupon. Yet after ſome ſpace of time attained, when it came to my hands, whereas I expected, that he ſhould have made good, what he had with ſo much confidence formerly delivered, concerning the firſt Original of his pretended Art, from ſome Authentical Records, and have taken away mine Objections oppoſed thereunto; I found nothing les then what I looked for: OnelyOnly here and there ſcattred ſome expreſſions of his ſpleen, and overflowings of his gall; wherein he is pleaſed to aſpers and tax me, as one of thoſe his homebred Antagonists, that have loſt their oyl and reputation, Pag. 18.by endevoring a refutation, of what they underſtood not; having overlookt his labours with uncircumciſed affections and Presbyterial charity; moſt abſurdly abuſing their better time in criticiſmes and fruitleſſe Expoſitions on Texts of Scripture, againſt the whole current of Antiqity, Reaſon, and the very genuine p. 3ſenſe of the words themſelvs; and, according to the Proverb, which in the Margine he applies to me, Senes bis pueri, doating, and become through Old age a Child again. And again afterward, complaining as if he had ben condemned unheard, and telling in what manner he deſired to be tried,Pag. 47. Let me be heard, ſaith he, according to mine own principles, and not judged without hearing, either by Thomas Wiſeaker, or any of the Presbyterie, according to their unſeemly Commentary, or ſtupid Annotations on Jerem. 10.2. and then concludes he this his ſcurrilous paſſage, with a cloſe of the like nature, Qi Bavium non …dit, Let him read that puddle of envy and nonſenſe.

Concerning all which in general,Ariſtor. hiſt. anim. l. 9. c. 43. Plin. hiſt. nat. l. 8. c. 15. I might well ſay in few words, and ſo let it paſſe, that it is all at the moſt and beſt no more, then with the Scythian beaſt Bonaſus, to ſqirt out his filth in the face of his purſuers, hoping thereby to eſcape.

But a litle yet further more particularly, to lay open the rather his vain folly and inſolent arrogancy herein.

And firſt, concerning what he jabbers of his Homebred Antagoniſts, that have loſt their oyl and reputation by endevoring to confute what thy underſtood not; that is, by diſcovering the vanity and impiety of thoſe frivolous fictions, deluſorie devices and helliſh deſigns of himſelf and ſuch as himſelf wherewith they endevor to amaze the minds of the ſimpler ſort of people, thereby to bring themſelvs into repute with them, and to pick the purſes of thoſe that repair to them for advice, the main matter whereby this their Art of Impoſture is ſupported and maintained.

1. I neither know, nor have heard of any one, that have loſt any jot of repute amongſt the wiſe or lerned, by dealing againſt them. But that it fared in this caſe ſo with himſelf and his complices, that they have loſt much of their reputation, as wel with the ſimpler, as the wiſer ſort, by their late predictions, the meaneſt of the people and boyes in the ſtreets ar able to give him notice more then ſufficient.

2. There needs not much skil in his pretended Art, to diſcover the vanity of it; no more then it is reqiſite for one to be over-much ſeen in geomancie, palmiſtrie, ſortiarie, auſpicie, or aruſpicie, to diſcry and diſcover the folly of theſe courſes, p. 4which by the unanimous votes and agreement of all ſound Chriſtians ar now generally not diſclaimed only, but deteſted, as practiſes meerly diabolical; howſoever M. Lilie and ſome of his Complices,See of Chiromancie, M. L. p. 84. in theſe times of licentiouſnes, endevor to cry up ſome of them again. There needs no deep diving into theſe foreign, as the Evangeliſt ſpeaks, ſuch depths of Satan, Rev. 2.14. to diſcry them to be none of thoſe, that the Apoſtle tearms foreign, the depths, or deep things, of God, 1 Cor. 2.10. yea or of nature.

3. His ſtyle is overlaviſh in taxing all his homebred Artagoniſts, all thoſe among us, that have delt in this Argument againſt their fanatical and fantaſtical profeſſion, as men not underſtanding what it was that they delt with. Some of them peradventure have ben able to diſcover his want of exact skill in the juſtifiable part of his profeſſed Art; whereof more anon. But why ſhould it be deemed want of underſtanding in theſe men, that of late among us have attempted to lay open the looſnes and ſandines of the grounds which they build upon, that ſhould moov them to undertake that task, more then in thoſe of former times, either among us, or abroad, of whome he ſhal hear ſomewhat further hereafter? No reaſon, I ſuppoſe, he can give for it, but this, that they ar his Antagoniſts, and by oppoſing ſuch practiſes he miſdoubts they may mar, or in part at leaſt impair, his market.

Secondly, for his double jeer, of uncircumciſed affection, and Presbyterian Charity. 1. The former term will beſt fit himſelf and his Complices: of whoſe Profeſſion the firſt known Patriarks, were not Adam, or Abraham, as they would make men beleiv, but people uncircumciſed as wel in fleſh as in ſpirit, the Egyptians, Chaldeans, Philiſtines, and Syrians, from whome by tradition through the hands of idolatrous Pagans, and ſuperſtitious Mahometans, whoſe diſciples ond folowers theſe men foreign. Chryſ. in Babyl aperto Capite. Plavt. Capt. 3.1.with open face and bare forehead profeſſe themſelvs, it was conveighed unto thoſe of this latter age of the world, and by Satans ſubtilty hath crept into Chriſts feild, wherein partly through diſcontinuance of wonted Church cenſures, and partly through connivence of the Civil Powers, it hath taken to much footing and to deep rooting, and as ill weeds are wont ſoon to grow rife and rank, hath ſpred it ſelf far and neer, to the utter p. 5ſtifeling of piety in the hearts and minds of many, and the great blemiſh and ſcandal of Chriſtian profeſſion.

2. As for the Presbytery and Presbyterian party, that he is ſo oft girding at, endevoring thereby to caſt a further odium upon them, becauſe he conceivs them to be already at preſent under a cloud; that I may in part alſo obiter inſert ſomething in Vindication of thoſe, who under that Title ar by this Impoſter and others of the ſame coat freqently in like manner taxed and traduced: Howſoever this felow in his Preface tel his readers, that Preſbyterie and Independencie ar not twins in union more then Eſau and Jacob. Yet in the main point of Presbyterian Government in general, to wit, the allowance of the overſight of Chriſts flock, not by teaching Presbyters alone, but by other alſo adjoyned to them, unto whome the Miniſterie of the Word and Sacraments is not committed; herein, I ſay, there is no diſagreement, between thoſe, who by the name of Preſbyterians ar commonly diſtingviſhed as a different party from thoſe who ar as commonly termed Independents, having, as by ſome of their own writings appeers, taken that Title up themſelvs, and theſe from whome they ar wont by that term to be diſtingviſhed. Yea it may truly be averred, that this other party may the more juſtly of the twain be termed Presbyteriars, being more rigid in maintaining a neceſſity of this form of Government, then many of thoſe that go under that name; as may appeer from the Votes paſſed by the major part of thoſe lately employed in the Aſſembly at Weſtminſter, and tranſmitted by them to the Houſes, that then ſat: which thoſe of the other party then took notice of, and have ſince made uſe of in ſome of their writings. The main difference between thoſe two Twins, as he terms them, is not concerning the Subject of the Government, or Presbyterie, ſimply conſidered, but concerning the Extent of it, and matter of Appeal; the one ſide including the entire and abſolute power of a Presbyterie ſo compoſed, within the liſts and limits of a particular Congregation, without admittance of Appeal unto any other Juriſdiction, in caſe of pretended grievance or male adminiſtration; in regard whereof alſo themſelvs term it an Independent Government; the other allowing in ſuch and the like caſes Appeals to a Claſſis, or Convent conſiſting of Elders or Presbyters of p. 6either kind abovementioned, ſelected out of the Particular Congregations to that purpoſe combined: and the Title of the Presbyterians doth therefore as fitly, and as fully competere, that is, agree (if it do not rather propendere, that is, weigh down, this latter way) unto the one as to the other. And we may juſtly ſay here, as that Ancient writer ſometime of the name of a Chriſtian; Tertul. apolog. c. 2.Chriſtianus, ſi nullius criminis nomen eſt, ineptum eſt, ſi nominis ſolius crimen eſt; ſo of the name of a Presbyterian; If the name argue no crime, it is a fond thing to object it as a crime unto any: if it import ought criminal, the crime is common to either party, that being ſo, that the title imports, as already hath ben ſhewed.

But whatſoever the difference otherwiſe may be between theſe two Twins, ſure it is, that they do both unanimouſly concur and accord in oppoſition to Mr. L. and his Complices, and in diſcovery and deteſtation of their diabolical practiſes. And it is a moſt ridiculous thing therefore for him to complain of Presbyterian Charity; as if none but Presbyterians forſooth were out of Charity with them, and their diveliſh devices and helliſh deſigns; and to refuſe to be judged by any of the Presbyterie; as if ſuch alone were the perſons that had paſt their verdict upon the courſes profeſſed and practiſed by them: wherein albeit he may ſeem to deal ſomewhat wiſely, not unlike Lucians Impoſter, Lucian. Pſeudomant.who would have no Chriſtian preſent at the ſhewing of his tricks, becauſe he knew they would ſoon diſcry his Impoſtures; yet hath he not delt ſo warily as he, who reqired others alſo, tho to Chriſtians moſt oppoſite as wel as Chriſtians, to be excluded, becauſe he miſdoubted diſcovery as wel by the one as by the other. For ar they Presbyterians alone that have paſt their cenſures upon the trade that Mr. L. foloweth and profeſſeth? Nothing les. To pas by all other, that have from time to time appeered in this qarel;Biblioth. l. 6. annot. 10. Was Sixtus Senenſis a Presbyterian? who in plain terms affirms this their pretended Art of Judiciary Aſtrology, to be no Art, but a meer fallacie, and a deteſtable Impoſture: and being by one Savarallius taxed for this his Cenſure, as my ſelf am now by this Impoſter, doth not only averr conſtantly what before he had delivered, but further at large confirms it againſt his ſelie and groundles eavils. Or was Benedictus p. 7Pererius a Presbyterian? who in a long diſcours of it, at large evidently proves, and at length peremptorily concludes, that this Aſtrological Divination is contrary to the Autoritie of Scripture to the grounds of Philoſophie, to Theological Doctrine, In Geneſ. 1.14. et de Mag. l. 3. Vid. Creſpe…. ſum. Diſcipl. Eccleſ.Gen 1:14and to Eccleſiaſtical Diſcipline. Or were the Fathers of the firſt Councel of Carthage, and the firſt of Toledo all Presbyterians, who both anathematize all thoſe, that give any credit to Aſtrologers. Or is the Pope himſelf, think We, with his whole train at Trent, all on a ſodain turned Presbyterians?Iudic. lib. prohit. reg. 9. that they have by general conſent expresly prohibited all books written of Judiciary Aſtrologie, enjoyning all Biſhops within their ſeveral precincts to ſuppres them.

But not to enter upon a liſt of ſuch, either Ancient Fathers of high eſteem in their times, or others of later ages, and modern Writers of note, as wel Papiſts as Proteſtants, whoſe very names would fil up many whole Pages, and teſtimonies make up manie large Volumes; among us in this Land of late, ſince this cours and practiſe of deluding ſelie people hath grown into reqeſt, not Presbyterians onelyonly, but more then one or two, no favourers ſure of thoſe, whome alone he is pleaſed under the Title of Presbyterians to reject, have in this buſienes freely ſhewed themſelvs, and with much varietie of lerning and ſtrength of Argument laid open its nakednes to the veiw of the World, as himſelf wel knows; whome yet I cannot much blame him, that he takes no notice of, becauſe he cannot but be conſcious to himſelf of his own inabilitie by force of reaſon or Logical diſceptation to anſwer their Arguments, remoov their exceptions, refel their objections and maintain his own broken cauſe. And indeed ſo gros and palpable, to the wiſer ſort at leaſt, do their ſory ſhifts and tranſparent devices appeer, that they do without juſt cauſe, with that underſtanding Romane wonder, Cato Cenſ. Cic. de Divin. l. 2.how they can without ſmiling look one an other in the face, to think with what wind and ſmoke they entertain ſelie people, and cheat men of their moneys, by emptieng their purſes, to fil their own cofers. Concerning which practiſes, I ſhal referre him and his Complices to Mr. John Miltons Figure-caſter publiſhed by Mr. William Rowland in his Judicial Aſtrologie Judicially condemned, and Defence of Dr. Homes his Demonologie: all which yet, I ſuppoſe, p. 8ar none of that Presbyterial partie, whome Mr. L. would by no means have to be of his Judges or Jurie, as ſeeming at leaſt to deem himſelf ſafe enough, when he ſhould be brought to tryal, if ſuch onelyonly were excluded.

Nor, I hope, wil he have the face, tho bold and ſhameles enough, to bring within that verge, thoſe two whome himſelf names in his Preface, Dean Owen, and ſubtile Mr. Nie, as he is pleaſed to ſtyle him, and acknowledgeth to have condemned this his Art as Diabolical: who how far forth they have delt in detection thereof, I know not: he telleth his reader, that the one of them hath but Ipſe dixit; but I am to wel acqainted with his wonted ſlight turning of ſuch diſcourſes as he hath litle liſt or courage to cope with, and as litle regard therefore what in ſuch caſes he ſaith.

Howſoever it be, it hereby appeers, that it ſtands him upon, if ever he come to trial, to enlarge his Exceptions againſt Judges and Jurers, and exclude Independents as wel as Presbyterians, (that which doubtles alſo he would have done, had he thought he might have ben as bold with the one partie as he is with the other) if he look or hope to be acqit. But give the good man leav to pack a Jurie, and pick out Judges of his own choiſe, and then he is ſure to ſpeed wel enough.

Pag. 11.Yea but thoſe of the Presbyterie, ſaith Mr. Lilie, ar ſeditious, ſuch as no premonition wil encline to ſubjection: nor can a treaſon be managed without a Prieſt: and a Presbyterian alſo ſure he muſt be: for, hoc certum & probatum eſt, ſaith he, per Kit Love, and his deer brethren and felow petitioners.

To which I anſwer briefly. 1. If any of the party ſo ſtyled, have gon beyond their limits, and mooved out of their own orb, by any il-adviſed and unwarrantable cours, they ar to bear their own burden, and to anſwer for themſelves; but that their delinqencie is not any juſtification of him▪ or abatement of the pleas and preſcriptions of any of the partie ſo termed againſt him.

2. I demand, Doth this judgment concerning ſuch a Government in the Church, of it ſelf and in it own nature, involv any ſuch crime, or produce any ſuch effect? if it ſhould, the guilt of it would include either partie of his two Twins, as he terms them, both of them beng eqally engaged therein, p. 9or, if any ineqality, the Independent the deeper.

3. For that his large and laviſh aſſertion of No treaſon without a Prieſt; and that it muſt be a Presbyterian to by his ſcope and inſtance may appeer. To pas by his extream malice and rancor, in endevoring to involv al petitioners for favor and mercy to be extended to a delinqent, as partakers with him in that crime wherewith he is charged, or whereof he ſtands convicted: a cenſure arguing a moſt ſavage ſpirit, and a right diveliſh diſpoſition. I never heard before in all my Logick, of an Induction conſiſting of one particular, or ſingular member. He ſhould have done wel, according to the wonted manner of diſputing by Induction, after an enumeration of ſundry particular treaſons and rebellions, to have added, nec in caeteris contrarium eſt videre, nor in any other doth it otherwiſe appeer: which had he done, he might ſoon have ben convinced of a moſt notorious ly. For let him ſhew, what Presbyterian Preiſt there was in managing that late inſurrection in Bedfordſhire and the Counties adjoyning; or in that later riſing in Eſſex and Kent: or what ſedition and treaſon any Presbyterian Preiſt among us had a hand in during the Reign of Qeen Eliſabeth? altho the Miniſters that then ſtood for the Presbyterian Government againſt the Biſhops, through the prevalent power of ſome of them in and with the State, endured much hard meaſure, ſome ſuſpended, ſome deprived, ſome impriſoned, ſome exiled, ſome ſentenced to death, and ſome put to death: or what part did any ſuch bear with us, under King James and King Charles, tho not a few of them were very harſhly and unmercifully handled under either, in the plotting of any treaſon, or raiſing any rebellion againſt either? And here I can not omit the ſpeeches of two Biſhops of London in Qeen Eliſabeths time, concerning the Puritans, as they were then commonlie termed, ſuch as deſired a reformation in ſome Church-affairs, and were for the Presbyterian Government. The one of them B. Elmor, tho none of the beſt, when one preaching at Pauls Cros, had inveighed bitterlie againſt that party as a crew of ſeditious and turbulent perſons, and had affirmed the Puritans to be wors then the Papiſts; No, qoth the Biſhop, he ſaid not therein aright: for the Puritans, if they had me among them, would cut my p. 10rotchet onelyonly, but the Papiſts would cut my throat: the other his ſucceſſor B. Vaughan, a man more moderate then the former, when another in the ſame place was no les eager in the ſame argument, (for the manner in thoſe dayes was with the Chaplins that there appeered to labor to bring that partie into diſgrace and disfavour with the Judges and great men, who in Term time eſpecially uſed to repair thither as people prone to ſedition) the Biſhop to a Gentleman of his inward acqaintance, who dined that day with him, (as himſelf ſometime related it to me) I wiſh, ſaid he, I could have had the preachers toung to day for ſome space of time in my pocket: the way is not to convert or convince that party by invectives and untruths: it is tru they affect not the preſent form of Government; they ar for another: but they ſeek it by petition, not by inſurrection or ſedition ▪ Thus theſe two Biſhops themſelvs of that partie in thoſe times.

4. But the truth is, this mans malice, tho he do not every where ſo openly manifeſt it, is as much againſt the one partie of his two Twins as againſt the other, howſoever he be more cantelous in dealing with the one, as deeming them more acceptable to, and powrful with the State at preſent then the other▪ els why doth he complain more of Presbyterian, then of Independentian Charity, when as yet himſelf takes notice of thoſe on that ſide, who in expres terms condemn his practice as Diabolical? Yea apparent enough it is, that his rancor is not ſo much againſt the perſons of either partie, (tho he be the rather incenſed and enraged againſt both, becauſe ſome of either ſide have netteled him, by diſcrieng themſelvs and diſcovering to others, the wickednes of his wiles and impietie of his practiſes) but his ſpite is not ſo much at the men, as at their Miniſterie,Pag. 11. the Clergie of England, as he there ſpeakes, whome under the odious terms of Preiſts, and Praters, and Black-coats, and thoſe of the Long Robe, he doth ſo freqently traduce.Ibid. No treaſon can be managed without a Preiſt ▪ and, There is a people yet in being, Pag. 14.pretending unto godlienes and Religion, which men in our plain Engliſh cal Divines, Miniſters, Preachers, Eccleſiaſtical men, or men converſant in holy things; in forain parts they ar called Biſhops, Cardinals, Abbots, Moncks, Friers, &c. men that ſtep up ſometime into Pulpits, and pretend to p. 11inſtruct our ſouls, with the doctrine of Chriſtianity, but indeed obedience to their own Conſtitutions. And in his Preface to Aſtrolog. Predict. of 48. &c. Oh theſe Preiſts! this ſinful people of Levi do hunger and thirſt after the fat fleſhpots of Epiſcopacie; if they were aſſured that Deans and Chapters Lands ſhould not be ſetled on the Church, God knows what Religion they would be of. Wo unto you Preiſts. And to bring our Miniſterie in general, which you ſee with whome he here rancks, into hatred and jealouſie with the State, he gathers forſooth from the former of the late Lunar Eclipſes, Ibid.that there is yet leaft a generation of ſuch men, who ar now privately deſigning ſome future trouble unto our State, and thoſe Common-wealths where otherwiſe they reſide, which will again occaſion drawing of bloud, unto our State and other Nations, and deſtruction unto themſelvs, viz. Miniſterie and Munckerie, (for he would have them, you ſee, deemed both birds of the ſame feather, as witches and wizards ar deſervedly eſteemed with good ground from Gods Word) and to as many of their abuſed diſciples and proſelytes, as ſhal ſuffer themſelvs to be overruled or deceived by their treaſonable counſels, and herein, he ſaith, he erres not. But that you may the better underſtand, whome his intent was to ſtrike at, he cloſeth all up with this ſcoffing jeer, that he hopeth the world wil cleer him, Ibid.that he doth not abuſe, or ſo much as once name or mention the Presbyterians or their Proſelytes: and yet ſo great is his ſpleen againſt thoſe poor Presbyterians and their Proſelytes, that he could not forbear to vent it not long after in expres terms againſt them; withal abuſing moſt wickedly and wretchedly the name of as worthy an Inſtrument and venerable a ſervant of God as any that theſe later ages have produced, whoſe memory is to this day and ſtil ſhal be bleſſed, and his renowm remain, as a pretious odor of fragrant ſmel and ſweet ſavor, in the minds of the godly; whereas the name of himſelf, and of ſuch as he is, ſhal ſtink above ground in the noſtrils of thoſe that ſincerely fear God, while they yet live, and their memory rot, as their carcaſes in the grave under ground, when they be ded. For, This Eclips, ſaith this our Fortune-teller,Pag. 16. finds all Sacerdotes, which becauſe it ever did ſhal pas for Preiſts, in much ſorrow and anguiſh of mind, the influence of it croſſing their deſigns) now fearing the downfal of their tithes, and a general … giverſation p. 12of the people againſt them in many places: the people, who begin to ſee without spectacles generally declining their ſpurious and ſeditious doctrines againſt Parlament and State, whether derived from John Calvin, or the babling of a ſillie Scottiſh Presbyterie:Pag. 17. and again anon after, Much trouble and affliction wil ariſe unto the whole Hierarchie: this wil generally fall upon them every where, whereſoever they reſide. And for my part, I make no doubt indeed, but that he would be right glad, as wel as his grand-Maſter the Divel, to ſee the Miniſterie rooted out, it ſo croſſeth their deſigns, As Haman the whole Jewiſh race for Mordecays neglect of him, in all places, where in any power it yet abides, either with us, or elswhere.

Lucian. ad dic. prom. &c.Mean while you may here obſerv, how the old Proverb is verified in our modern Prognoſticators;

foreign.

Rebus peractis eſt Cleo Prometheus.

they can tel us what wil be, when the thing is done already. This no more now blind buzzard, as I ſometime out of ignorance termed him, but, as herein he hath evinced himſelf to be, a marveilous ſharpſighted Stargazer, and moſt skilful Fortuneteller, can from the poſture of the Stars at one of the late Eclipſes foretel us, what the people wil do hereafter, when he ſeeth what they ar doing, and have in part done already. For when he perceivs apparently by Petitions and Propoſals in print and other the like addreſſes unto the Parlament, divers of them long before this his Black Book came abroad, he can now, after long poring and ſtaring upon the Stars, by the ſituation and aſpects of the celeſtial bodies foretel us, that which no man living, without help of his skil, had ever ben able to make out, that People wil have no mind to pay their tithes to their Miniſters.

Again the underſtanding Reader may hence take notice, how cunningly this man can here comply with the people. For as thoſe of the Levelling party, (for ſuch I ſuppoſe they were, that were the cheif Ringleaders in that Bedfordſhire inſurrection before-mentioned) to draw the multitude after them, promiſed a freedome from tithes and taxes to all that would joyn with them: ſo theſe cunning wizards, to inſinuate themſelvs into the peoples affections, can attemper p. 13their predictions unto their humours, and tel them ſuch tales and ſtories, as they think wil take moſt with them, and beſt pleaſe them, and they perceiv them, by their innate diſpoſition expreſſed and appeering in their practiſe, to be ſtrongly bent unto▪ apparent enough it is, that it is not any spurious or ſeditious doctrine in their Teachers, by this foulmouthed Sycophant, ſo falſly fathered upon Calvin, (the ſplendent luſtre of whoſe repute the ſnarlings of ſuch Helhounds can no more impair, then the yalpings by night of maungie whelps and mungrel curs, barking at the moon or the imaginary man in the Moon, can in any ſort impeach or impair her light) but their own covetous diſpoſition, and earthly-minded affection, (as falſly as frivolouſly aſcribed to the celeſtial aſpects,) that makes people to grutch Gods Miniſters the means of their maintenance to the foul ſhame and ſcandal of their Chriſtian profeſſion.

And this skilful Fortune-teller, had he pleaſed to ſpeak out, and had ben diſpoſed ſo to ſay, might from his own principles have concluded, that people would grumble as wel at the payment of taxes, as at the payment of tithes, which himſelf alſo long ſince greivouſly complained of,Pref. to his Prophecies in 44. as being much oppreſſed with taxes and aſſeſſements, as Bellantius was with fear of the approach of his enemies, when he was writing againſt Picus. For mark I beſeech you, his argument, A Jove praelatura; Pag. 16.Prelature is from Jove: (tho the ſacred Oracles tel us, from the tru, not the fabulous, Jehovah and his Chriſt, Pſal. 75.6, 7. Prov. 8.15, 16. but God belike hath reſigned his right to their Jove, or to the Divel, whome they deal with, and who was adored in him, 1 Cor. 10.20. and laid claim thereunto ſometime as of right now belonging to him, Luk. 4.6.) and ſub Jove principes, Eccleſiastici, Politici, Sacerdotes, Ʋnder Jove, or Jupiter, ar Princes, Eccleſiaſtical, Political, Preiſts, &c. for ſo ſpeaks the Autor whome he cites, and as in Latin he cites him: tho that he may not offend the State, and yet might apply it to the poor Preiſts, whome he hates more then he does the Divel, (ſee what jugling here is) he thus renders it; Ʋnder Jupiter we ſignifie Princes, Cardinals, all Eccleſiaſtical Potentates, Policy ▪ but S^r, your Autor ſays, as Prelacie in general before, ſo here Princes, that is, cheif Governors, and thoſe as p. 14wel Political, or Civil, as Eccleſiaſtical: and it may wel be demanded, how the poor Preiſts come into the ſame rank with Princes, and ſuch as have relation to Jupiter, of whome I have read, that he was ſometime a civil Potentate, but never a Preiſt. And now make we up this wiſe mans ſubtil argument: The Eccleſiastical Potentates and their affairs ar under Jupiter: but in this Eclips we find him out of all ſtrength and dignity: Ergò the people wil be loath to pay Miniſters their Tithes, and would not the Argument folow as forcibly: Al Civil Governors ar under Jupiter: But he was out of all ſtrength and dignity in the late Eclips: Ergò the common people wil be unwilling to pay the Taxes impoſed upon them by their Superiours. And, I ſuppoſe, there can hardly be found any man ſo ſimple, altho he had but, as they uſe to ſay, his guts in his hed, and his brains in his belly, but could eaſily without help of M^r. Lilies skil, or uſe of his ſpectacles, his curious calculations, and far fetcht obſervations, both ſee, and foreſee, that people ar and wil be unwilling to pay as wel taxes as tithes; ſave that they know they may be enforced to the one, which they hope they ſhal not be for the other, and they ar more regardful of their worldly gain and advantage, then they ar of a good conſcience and of their ſpiritual behoof. But the Eclips relateth, I dare ſay, as much to the one as to the other; that is, indeed (ſave in this mans adle brain, or in his idle, but malevolent and impious diſcours at leaſt) unto neither.

And here by the way, I ſhal crave leav to digreſſe a litle, in behalf of that never ſufficiently commended ſervant of Chriſt Mr. Jo. Calvin, and this ſo much ſpurnd▪ at Presbyterie, to lay open a notorious peice of knaverie, intended as againſt the Profeſſion of the Proteſtant Religion in generall, ſo more eſpecially againſt the Presbyterian partie, the Reformed Churches in France and the Netherlands, and particularly M^r. Calvin by name. One of my Congregation being taken at Sea, when Spain and we were in terms of hoſtility, and carried to Dunkirk, during his ſtay there, had ſome Popiſh Books beſtowed on him to make him a good Catholik, which upon his return home he brought unto me. Among the reſt, there was one of a Nameles Autor, entituled Monarchoma…hia, or, Jeruſalem and Babel. Herein the Autor thereof labours to p. 15maintain, that the Proteſtant Religion, and the Presbyterian Diſcipline, were in all parts introduced and upheld by Sedition and Rebellion. To make this good he dealeth in part, as M^r. Lilie here doth; he chargeth Calvin with ſuch ſeditious doctrine, as the Proteſtant Leaders built their rebellion upon ▪ but he dealeth not ſo warily as Mr. L. here hath done. For Mr. L. ſhootes at rovers, and talks in general of Calvins ſeditious Doctrines, but tels us not, what they are, or where they ar to be found. Doloſus verſatur in univerſalibus. Crafty men keep aloof of, ſoar aloaft in generals: ar ſhie of deſcending to particulars, leſt they be taken with a ly in the manner. But this man, that you may not doubt of his ſinceritie, nor make qeſtion of his fidelity, deals obſignatis tabulis, gives you Calvins own words, and thoſe printed in a diſtinct character from his own; and that you may aſſure your ſelf, he qotes him aright, he directs you to the Book, and Chapter, and Paragraph, whence he hath them, that repairing thither, you may be ſure not to miſſe of them. For to proov, that Calvin by his Doctrine diſcharged men of Oaths made to their Soveraigns; Calvin (ſaith he) Libro 4. c. 13. §. 21. ſaith, A man illuminate with the truth, ſimul vinculis omnibus obediendi Legibus & Eccleſiae ſolutus eſt: he that once hath perfect knowledge of the Goſple, is abſolved from Oaths, and all ſuch ſnares. It is tru, by his tranſlation of the latter part of the words, as himſelf gives them, not agreeing ſo wel with the Latin, a wary man might wel begin to ſuſpect ſome fals play: otherwiſe, the place being ſo preciſely pointed unto, a man (one would think) could not in reaſon expect or ſuſpect ought but very fair and ſquare dealing. But turn you to the place, and you ſhall ſoon deſcry palpable knavery. For Calvin in all that whole Chapter hath not one word of ſuch Oaths of Allegiance as Subjects take to their Soveraigns: he entreateth onelyonly of Monaſtical or Monkiſh Vows; Of theſe, not of thoſe, his words onelyonly ar theſe; Nunc poſtquam veritatis notitiâ ſunt illuminati, ſimul Chriſti gratiâ liberos eſſe di…o. Now they (to wit, who formerly had made ſuch unwarrantable Vows, and out of error and ignorance held themſelvs obliged therewith) after they ar illightned with notice of the truth, ar, I ſay, withal free by the grace of God. What a gros falſification, where nothing les would have ben looked for?

p. 16To this the ſame Autor addeth an other as gros and palpable as the former, Theſe ſeditious and popular Conſiſtories (ſaith he; the Presbyteries he means) ar condemned by their half-brethern the Zwinglians. Hear the voice of Gualterus a Miniſter of Zurik, how bitter a ſentence he pronounceth againſt them, in Comment. in 1 Cor. cap. 5. ſaith he, Galli habent ſua Seniorum Conſiſtoria, penes qos eſt omnis poteſtas & juriſdictio Eccleſiastica; & in qibus omnium bellorum contra Regem, & conſilia acta, & ſubſidia collecta ſunt. The French Miniſters have their Conſiſtories of Elders, in whome reſteth the ſupremacie of juriſdiction in all cauſes Eccleſiaſtical; and by theſe all counſels and reſolutions ar taken, and all impoſitions appointed to maintain the wars againſt the King. Thus this nameles Varlet. But let any man ſedulouſly peruſe (as my ſelf have done) the whole Commentary of Gualter upon that Chapter, conſiſting of and concluded in four Sermons; and he ſhall find not one tittle there, either of the French King, or of the French Conſiſtorie, or of ought conſulted, enacted, or acted in the one againſt the other. He ſpeaks indeed in his ſecond Sermon on that Chapter of the Popes Excommunications, wherewith (ſaith he) they cruelly vexed Kings and Emperors, and were Autors of Civil Wars and ſeditions; deemeth the Presbyterian Government not ſo needful under a Chriſtian Magiſtracie; but leaveth every Church free to that cours of Diſcipline, that they ſhal find to be for themſelvs moſt commodious, without cenſuring of others who therein differ from them; and that is all he hath there of this Argument. But this obſcure fellow, for the further confirmation of theſe his fictions and falſhoods, ſends us to Muſculus in locis commun. cap. 10. tit. de Officiis Miniſtrorum. Where in likeliehood (for I have him not, and he gives us none of his words) we may meet with as much as in Gualter we found: which ſince lighting on the book, I find to be moſt tru. For Muſculus in his Common Places, not Cap. 12. which entreateth of an other ſubject, but loc. 22. titul. 2. de Officiis Miniſtrorum, hath much indeed of the pride, formalities, either no preaching at all, or unprofitable diſcourſings of the Popiſh Prelates and Preists; of the Presbyterie not a word good or bad. At length this lieng Varlet in theſe words concludes; Thus you ſee, (ſuch ar led by him blindfold) neither of them bow their knees to p. 17this Baal, nor magnifie Calvins Idol. This by the way I rather inſert, to ſhew whome theſe men concur with in traducing the Presbyterian Government, and by what manner of ſlights, to wit, notorious lies and ſlanders, their guiſe is to oppugn it. And for my part, it is ſo far from bringing me out of love with it; that it makes me rather the more inclinable to that opinion of the Jus Divinum & neceſſarium, which thoſe of the Independent partie preſſed hard to have in the late Aſſemblie paſſed of it; wherein both the Dutch and French Reformed Churches ſeem to concur with them; for that theſe Merlins and Mercuries, (for herein they accord) ſhaking hands with ſuch Romiſh railing and lieng Pamphleters, (whome yet they would ſeem to defie and deteſt) ar ſo embittered againſt it. As he ſaid ſometime of the Chriſtian Profeſſion;Tertul. apolog. c. 5. Non poteſt eſſe niſi grande aliqod bonum a Nerone damnatum. It muſt needs be ſome grand good, that ſuch a one as Nero was, ſhould condemn. So of the Presbyterian Diſcipline ſay I, It can not be other then ſome very needful and uſeful thing, that ſuch creatures as theſe do ſo eagerly oppoſe.Mr. R. Hook. And howſoever a man ſometime of great note among us, in his Preface to his elaborate Treatiſe of Eccleſiaſtical Politie, having firſt tranſcendently extolled Mr. John Calvin, do afterward decipher him as a meer Polititian deviſing a new Church Government of his own, and by cunning ſlights both introducing, eſtabliſhing and continuating the ſame; and an other of les note in a late Satyrical Libel (for no other it is) entituled Fur praedeſtinatus, F.G. apud Trinovant Miniſtr.do therein both groſſely abuſe Calvin, and jeer the Presbyterian, or Genevian Diſcipline, as ſuch that any debauched perſon by an Hypocritical diſguiſe of contrition and dejection for his looſe and lewd courſes might eaſily both delude and elude. Yet the Government of that City hath received good approbation and atteſtation even from ſome Popiſh Writers themſelvs. Theſe ar the words of John Bodine a Papiſt indeed, but an ingenuous and judicious Writer, of great and good note, as wel among Proteſtants as Papiſts, in his Methodus Hiſtorica, cap. 6. pag. 245. faithfully rendred, That of the Genevians is laudable, if ought in any Nation, and that which makes a Common-Weal to flouriſh, if not in riches and Majeſtical Empire, Yet certainly in piety and virtu; to wit, the Pontificial cenſure; (ſo terms he in no ill p. 18meaning ſenſe their Eccleſiaſtical or Presbyterial Diſcipline) then which nothing could be conceived greater or more divine, to reſtrain mens luſts and thoſe vices, which by humane Laws and Judicatories can in no wiſe be amended. Yet is this coertion directed according to Chriſts rule; firſt privately and amicably; then ſomewhat more ſharply: then unles one yeild, an heavy and efficacious interdiction of ſacred things foloweth: after this interdiction the Magiſtrates animadverſion. So comes it to pas, that thoſe things which ar no where vindicated by Laws, ar there without force or tumult reſtrained by thoſe Cenſors, who have gained themſelvs an high opinion of virtu, in that city therefore no harlotry, no drunkennes, no dancings, no beggers, no idle perſons ar found. A Teſtimonie and Verdict of one, againſt whome no exception can be taken as partial in this point. And ſure it is that this Presbyterian Government backed by the Civil Magiſtrate among ours in New England, hath rid that Plantation of many Monſters that would have ben neſting and rouſting among them, and kept them free from ſuch prevailing diſturbances as our Churches and Miniſterie ar over-much peſtered with.

But to leav theſe by-matters, and bootles complaints, and return to Mr. Lilie, whome we ar cheifly to deal with. Wil ye know what the reaſon is of his ſpite againſt Jo. Calvin (for of the Romaniſts none need doubt it, its wel enough known to all, how couragiouſly and ſucceſſefully he hath advanced againſt them) but Mr. L. and his Complices have a ſpecial grudge to him, becauſe he hath in his Commentary on Jer. 10.2. as large a diſcours againſt the cours of Judiciary Aſtrologie which theſe men profeſſe, as the Annotator hath in his Notes: wherein he terms our Aſtrologers, who maintain a judgment to be made of mans life by the Horoſcope, as if either fortune good or bad did depend upon the Stars, and by the poſtures of them take upon them to determine what ſhal befal perſons or people, in plain terms, improbos nebulones, qi praetexunt ſuis impoſturis nomen Aſtrologiae Judiciaria, & qibus ſtudium eſt qaeſtum facere ex meris fallaciis, that is in our plain Engliſh, arrant knaves, cloaking their Impoſtures under the Title of Judiciarie Aſtrologie, their main ſtudy being to make a gain, or gainful trade, of meer fallacies, or cheating practiſes. Beſides that, he hath apart written An Admonition to beware of them, printed among his Opuſcula; p. 19wherein he ſhews, that their predictions ar founded on no ground of reaſon or ſound skil: and withal relates the ſevere, but juſt, Edicts of the ancient Chriſtian Emperors for the utter ſuppreſſing of them. And do ye marvail then if Mr. L. cannot indure Mr. Calvin that cuts the throat of his gainful trade.

But leaving his ſpite in particular at John Calvin, lets rake a little further into the dirt and mire of his malignant ravings, in his rambling excurſions, and ramping incurſions upon the poor Presbyters, whome he ranked even now among the great Potentates of this world, which Joves office is to protect. The Scottiſh Nation, ſaith he; (that is, the ſillie Scottiſh Presbyterie, or, the Presbyterians and their Proſelytes, Pag. 16.as ye heard him before ſpeak, for they were not ſurely the Roialiſts, or the Prelatical party) but this Scottiſh Nation raiſed an Army, and made for their pretence of War onelyonly an obtruſion upon their Nation of a Semipopiſh Book of Common-Prayer. But the ſad conſeqences which after that hapned, ended not ſo ſoon as it began, but in a moſt woful diſtemper of both England and Scotland in much bloodſhed and moſt fierce Wars: both Nations having ſenſibly now ben made to underſtand, of how dangerous a conſeqence it is, to embroil our ſelvs into a war, upon the prating and pretended Gloſſes of thoſe we cal Miniſters, who never care for the welfare of any ſort of people, but of their own Hierarchie, that ſo they might Lord it and domineer like petie Tyrants over the Commonalty and Gentry.

In which Paſſage the Mans malice againſt, not the Presbyterie alone, as he terms it, but the Miniſterie in general, doth notoriouſly diſcover it ſelf. for he cares not (as hereby appeers) whome with his foul pen he aſperſeth, ſo he may bedaub them.

The Scottiſh Nation, he ſaith, began firſt the late War, and that onelyonly upon pretence of a Semipopiſh Common-Prayer Book impoſed upon them. Concerning which buſienes, being neither Stateſman, nor deſirous to deal in State-affairs, I ſhall ſay nothing, but referre my Reader, if he deſire to be acqainted therewith, unto the writings of thoſe, who ſeem to have faithfully and accurately related the original, progres and iſſu of the affairs concerning that war with Scotland▪ which who ſo iſt to read, may find at large recorded in the Hiſtory of the p. 20late affaires in Scotland, ſet forth under the name of Irenaeus Philalethes.

As for the Original of the War here with us, by whome was it on the defenſive part begun? was it by the Miniſterie, or the Magiſtracie? by the Eccleſiaſtical Hierarchie, or by the Civil Autoritie? was it not by the joynt Vote and concurrence of both Houſes of Parlament? or was it by them undertaken (as this vain pratler ſpeaks) upon the prating and pretended Gloſſes of thoſe we cal Miniſters? See what aſperſions this fellow ſticks not to caſt upon the whole body of the State, ſo that ſome of his gall and venome may withal light upon the Miniſterie; as if in this late War, wherein ſo large an expence of bloud hath ben ſpilt, they had taken up arms, upon the meer motion onelyonly of the Miniſterie by ſome prating and pretending Gloſſes inciting them thereunto. It is tru indeed, that an Aſſembly of Divines was called to meet: but to what end? to debate of military matters? nothing les. but to conſider of Eccleſiaſtical affairs, and the ſettling of matters concerning Doctrine and Diſcipline according to the rule of Gods Word. Its tru likewiſe, that while the Aſſembly ſat, the War being now not begun onelyonly, but purſued with much heat, and grown on either ſide to a great height, ſome of the Miniſtery were with ſome other Commiſſioners ſent into Scotland, to treat with the Scots, about conjoyning with our State, and entring into a joynt League for mutual defence with us: nor were they of the Presbyterian partie alone (as they are commonly termed) that were employed in that buſienes. But that the Parlament took up arms, and embroiled themſelvs in ſuch a bloudy war, upon the motion of the Miniſterie, by their prating and pretending gloſſes encited thereunto, as this hath prooved, it is a notorious calumnie in regard of the Miniſterie, and a foul imputation laid upon the State, as having raiſed a War of that importance on ſo weak and unwarrantable a ground, and a charging of the guilt of ſo much blood, as hath in that inteſtine and unnatural War ben ſhed, upon both.

Yea but what was it, that mooved thoſe prating Miniſters to ſtir up the State to embroil it ſelf in ſuch a War? forſooth, ſaith this babling makebate, that they might Lord it and domineer like pettie Tyrants over the Commonalty and Gentry ▪ and p. 21why did he not adde over the Nobility too? Its indeed not untru, that under the Epiſcopacie, ſome of their favourits ſupported and backed by ſome great ones among them ſo did as is here ſaid. Yea they had begun by vertu of the High Commiſſion Court and the power thereunto annexed, to be tampering with ſome of the Nobility, that complied not in all things with them. But what hope or likelihood was there, or could there be, for the Miniſterie ſo to domineer as this man tels you, that they intended to do, when that power and autoritie was taken away, by means whereof much abuſed ſome had formerly ſo done?

As for his moſt uncharitable and Satanical cenſure of Gods Miniſters in general, that they care not for the good of any people but themſelvs, it may well claim a place among the hideous croakings of thoſe filthy frogs, that iſſued out of the mouth of the Dragon and the Beaſt, Rev. 16.13. the Divel himſelf could hardly have vented or invented a fouler or falſer ſlander againſt them.

I am not ignorant that divers both with us and abroad, have not ſpared to tax the Presbyterian Government, as tranſcending its du bounds, and encroaching upon the Civil Power; as appeers by the writings of the Eraſtian partie, whome the Arminians alſo in part ſeem to ſide with againſt the Contra Remonſtrants, or Netherland Presbyterians. But that they ar juſtly ſo charged, will not eaſily be made good, ſo long as they keep within compas of Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures, which with good warrant from Gods Word, were in thoſe times alſo exerciſed, wherein no Civil Power embraced the Chriſtian Profeſſion. Whereunto may be added, that when ſome not long ſince among us, thinking thereby to ingratiate themſelvs with the State, had broached ſome things bending and tending to the Eraſtian way, its wel known, that they were as eagerly oppoſed by the Independent partie, as by any of thoſe that go under the title of Presbyterians. But this mans main end, his malice being eqally againſt either, is, as plainly appeers, to diſgrace the whole body of the Miniſterie, and to bring them, as much as in him lies, into hatred with the people, as regarding nothing at all of their ſpiritual good, but ayming onelyonly at their own pride and profit, to make a gain of them, and p. 22to tyrannize over them at their pleaſure. But let him take heed, leſt by withſtanding Gods faithful Miniſters, as Jannes and Jambres did Moſes, 2 Tim. 3.8. and by oppoſing himſelf againſt them in this baſe ſcoffing manner, as Elymas the Sorcerer did to Pauls preaching, Act. 13.8. he procure to himſelf from God that heavy doom that Paul paſſed then upon Elymas, and that diſmal judgment, or the like, if not a wors and more dreadful, that was thereupon preſently inflicted on him, Verſ. 10, 11.

But let us hear yet a litle more, tho it reqire ſome patience, of his raving and ranting rhetorik, that either he muſt be ever and anon venting, or els he ſhal burſt with it, his heart and ſtomak is ſo ful and over-fraught with gall and rancor againſt this ſo extreamly hated Miniſterie. Having done with the Moon, he comes to the great Eclips of the Sun, and here again he goes on to foretel, what without need of ſpectacles or proſpective he ſaw ful before his face already.Pag. 28. How far forth, ſaith he, this Eclips ſhal exaſperate mens ſpirits againſt the Clergie of our own and other Nations, or how far it ſhal torment the poor Husbandman, to depart with the tenth part of his labor unto his unſufficient or factious Miniſter, or prating Preiſt, I am not able cleerly to determine. great affliction one way or other it doth generally manifest to happen unto all thoſe of the long Robe. viz. Lawyers, Civilians, Clergie men, and unto thoſe we falſly for the moſt part call Divines, when God knows many of them have as litle knowledge of Divinitie, as my ſelf of Presbyter John, and as litle affection for the Parlament▪ as my ſelf zeal for Antichriſt. I might here peradventure not without ſome juſt cauſe reqeſt Mr. Lilie to ſhew us, how we may reconcile him to himſelf, and make his ſentences concerning this great Eclipſe and the Effects of it agree the one with the other. For in this place he tells us,Ibid. that this Eclips being in the ſign of Aries, hath dominion and operation on the ſtate and condition of Laws, Preiſthoods, Papacie, Prelacie; and, (to ſhew where his ſpite was moſt) he ſaith, he may very wel adde, Presbyterie, &c. Independencie, it may be, was within the verge of that, et caetera, and ſtuck between his teeth, but he was loath to ſpit it out. Now hence, as you have heard,Pag. 37. he infers and concludes, that great affliction wil happen generally, unto all thoſe of the long Robe, Lawyers, p. 23Civilians, Clergie men and Divines. And yet afterward, where he is pleaſed further to expatiate his mind (for I give you his own terms: and where, think we, did ever any man read ſuch either Engliſh or Latine before?) concerning the greatnes of the Effects of this great Eclips, he ſaith, it is in the laſt degree of the Decanate of Aries, which ſecond Decanate, is Nobilitatis, Altitudinis, Regni, & magni Dominii imago, the image of Nobility, Greatneſſe, Dominion, extraordinary Rule; (for Kingdome, or Reign, he had no mind to expres) the ſhape and form whereof the Ancients (ſome old Wizards he means) repreſented under the enſuing Image ▪ Pag. 38.which Image is the portraiture of a man in a long Robe; and preſents (as he ſaith) the Engliſh Common-Wealth, as it wil be for three years or thereabout (that is, for ſo long as the Effect of this Eclips laſts, as we ſhal afterward hear) in great Majeſtie and Glory. Now how he can reconcile theſe two ſo cros Judgements drawn from one and the ſame aspect, and raiſed from one and the ſame ground as you ſee, tho other Ignoramuſſes and dul pates ar too ſhalow to conceiv; yet I doubt not but he is as wel able to bring together, as to make the two members of a Contradiction to accord: for theſe wizards in cunning and jugling do far ſurpas your common Gypſies, and ar able at once to make one and the ſelf ſame thing faſt and looſe, good and bad in the very ſame inſtant. Mean while you ſee, how he can make the Aſpects repreſent what he pleaſes, and Images ſpeak what he liſts; when the long Robe repreſents the Common Wealth of England, to ſpeak much Peace and Honour to it; when it denotes the Clergie and the Divines of England, to ſpeak great Affliction and Trouble. Whereof further hereafter, when we arrive at his Pictures.

But one thing further is here worthy our Obſervation. Mr. Lilie in al theſe dreadful Eclipſes and malignant Aspects, finds much matter of bad, diſmal and diſaſtrous concernment, to Princes, Potentates, Preiſts, Lawyers, Husbandmen, Graſiers, &c. but none at all ever to Wizards, Witches, Conjurers, Fortune-tellers, Sorcerers, Stargazers, Aſtrologers, &c. No malignity of any Aſpect belike is able to reach them: or as the knaviſh felow in the Comedie,Plavt. Moſtel. that to fright his Maſter returning home after long abſence, from entring into his own p. 24houſe, told him, that his houſe in his abſence was become haunted with Sprites; and when he was askt, how he durſt go in then himſelf, made anſwer, Pax mihi cum mortuis, that the Sprites and he were at one· So, it ſeems theſe men and their coined Aſpects ar agreed; ſo that tho they portend never ſo much miſchief and miſery to theſe prating Preiſts, or any other ſort of men, high or low, great or ſmal, whome theſe men diſaffect, yet they wil not ſo much as once touch them, nor do ever portend any evil at all to them.

Pag. 17.Yea but, may ſome ſay, he profeſſeth to write this of the Miniſterie with ſorow of heart rather then any joy or delight, to ſee the downfal of ſo many men, who had they improoved their talents in lerning and divinity conſcientiouſly for the education of thoſe flocks God had committed unto them, might have expected another manner of reward from heaven, and a more benign acceptance of their labors from men. The great God of Heaven (ſaith he) protect the pious and godlie Divines of our Nation; for ſome we have; and let them never want encouragement, or a moſt bountiful allowance from this Common Wealth: but for the meer Prater, or State enemy, let it be with him as he doth merit: the ruine or impoveriſhing of many of them is at hand.

Where in the firſt place I might demand of him, whether the Effect of this Eclips, according to his fancies and his Autors Principles, do not indifferently reach, and promiſcuouſly include, as wel thoſe other few and pious ones, as thoſe Praters and State enemies, as he terms them.

And in the next place, in whether rank he is pleaſed to range thoſe, that have written againſt him, or condemned his practiſes as deteſtable and diabolical. for I doubt much, whether his Charity be boyled up to ſuch an height, as to wiſh ſo wel to them, or to afford them any part in his prayers, more then he hath in their Creed; which I ſuppoſe yet they do not greatly affect, nor have much cauſe to deſire, conſidering whome they deem him addicted unto. But whome he and ſuch as he is eſteem pious and godly Divines, is not much to be regarded. And howſoever thoſe Miniſters of God, that deal faithfully in diſcharge of their duty, might juſtly expect better and more loving acceptance from their people▪ then moſt ſuch uſually meet with, yet experience of all ages ſhews, that p. 25the faithful diſpenſers of Gods truth, have uſually found …es favor with the moſt, then ſuch as have ſoothed them up in their ſins.. The beſt is, they ar as Taylers that make apparel for children, who whether the ſuites they make them do either for ſtuf or faſhion pleaſe the Children or no, expect their pay from the parents, having done their work faithfully according to their direction, and given them content therein. Nor is it in the power of any Impoſter, or of any malevolent Aſpect, (if thoſe celeſtial creatures had any ſuch, which is impious to aver) to debar or defraud them of that reward, which from heaven they are ſure to receiv, for that their work, which being performed by them in Gods name, and for God, ſhal never pas unregarded or unrewarded with God: howſoever he do oft ſuffer them, as his Prophets oft and Apoſtles of old,Matth. 5.12. & 23.34— 37. 1 Cor. 4.9— 13. 2 Cor. 6.4, 5.Matt 5:12Matt 23:341 Cor 4:92 Cor 6:42 Cor 6:5 for their trial and exerciſe of their patience, as alſo for the juſt puniſhment of peoples unthankfulnes, to meet with hard meaſure at the hands of thoſe, from whome they have deſerved far better, and who (worſt enemies therein to themſelvs) do thereby attract much more evil to themſelvs, then they either do or can do unto thoſe, whome ſo unworthily they reqite.

As for all his fained profeſſion of ſorrow of heart and prayer for protection in behalf of the pious ſome, I eſteem them no other then as Crocodiles tears commonly ſpoken of,Eraſm. Adag. 24.60. if their guiſe be at leaſt as the ſayeng is, to weep over thoſe, whome they deſire to devour: Or not unlike thoſe that that bloudy-minded, but deep-diſſembling traitor Iſmael ſhed over thoſe poor pilgrims whome he intended to deſtroy. Jer. 41.6, 7.

For his litle knowledge of Presbyter John, Vid. Scal. emend. Temp. l. 7. & Codign. hiſt. Abaſſ. l. 1. c. 5. See Miltons Figure-Caſter.if there be a King ſo called in the world, or the King at leaſt that is abuſively ſo termed; he wants belike his felow Figure-flingers glas in Finsbury feilds, wherein he profeſſed he could ſee what was done all the world over. But if he know nothing of Presbyter John and his Countrey, as he would ſeem here to intimate, how comes he to know what is done in the Eaſt Indies, in places far more remote then thoſe parts of Africa, where his regiment and reſidence is ſaid to be? Or if he be as ignorant of the one as of the other, doth he not apparently cheat people by taking their money to tel them in what condition their frends p. 26or husbands ar in ſome parts of the Eaſt Indies, and at what time they ſhal from thence return. No body belike repaires to him for inqirie concerning ought or any in Preſter Jean, or Preſtegians Countrey; and therefore he regards not to take notice of ought there: otherwiſe, I doubt not, but that the tender of a little yelow, ſome ſmal pitance of that yolk of the egg,See Tullie de Divinat. l. 1. that the Diviner demanded of his Client; or not much of the White, would ſo cleer his ey-ſight, or his glas, or both▪ that he could ſoon come to know as wel what were done in the inner parts of Ethiopia, as how matters went with men in the gulph of Bengala; alike, without the Divels help, I beleiv, in either.

And for his zeal to Antichriſt; apparent enough it is, that he hath no ſmal meaſure of that foreign, that bitter zeal, the Apoſtle James ſpeaks of, Chap. 3.14. againſt thoſe, that have ben Gods principal Inſtruments both among us and elswhere, in helping to demoliſh the power and Kingdome of Antichriſt. And if the Divel be the grand Antichriſt, as there is no doubt but he is, and the other on earth but his Deputie, ſure he and his Complices ar no les zealous for the ſupport of Antichriſts Kingdome, when they ſo eagerly band and bend themſelvs againſt thoſe ſervants of God, that diſcover and lay open their diabolical practiſes, then was Demetrius and his felow craftsmen for the worſhip of Diana, in ſtirring up, and ſtriving to enrage the people againſt Paul Chriſts Apoſtle, and that for the ſame cauſe, for which they ſet the multitude then in an uproar, becauſe thereby comes in their gain, Act. 19.24, 27, 28.

Yea but the man reqires to be heard. Let me be heard, ſaith he,Pag. 47. and not judged unheard ▪ and what more eqal? but hath he not ben heard? or ar not his own allegations for himſelf and in defence of his Art, related by the Annotater out of his own works, and delivered in his own words? and ſuch Exceptions taken thereunto, and given in againſt him, as he hath no liſt to take notice of?

But how would the man be heard and tried? forſooth, according to his own principles. Let me be heard, ſaith he, according to mine own principles. a very fair cours indeed, and a very reaſonable reqeſt; can ye blame him, if he deſire ſo to be heard p. 27and tried? For what cheater, or impoſter? what malefactor, felon, traitor, or murtherer, would not right willingly be heard, tried and ſentenced according to his own principles? And what, think we, would their principles be? ſuch, no doubt, as were thoſe of Brennus and his Galles, and their plea againſt the Romanes, whoſe dominions they had invaded; as Plutarch relateth it, that they did nothing evil or unjuſt, Plut. in Camil.but kept to the ancienteſt, and moſt generally received and allowed Law in the VVorld, that gives the ſtronger right to what the weaker held: or, as Livie more ſuccinctly, that their right conſiſted in their arms, Liv. lib. 6.and to hardy perſons all things appertained. and ſuch, I beleiv, would their principles be, that all was of right theirs, that either by fraud or force, ſlight or might, they could wreſt from any other, that were either way, or in either kind weaker then themſelvs. By which their Tenets and Maximes might they but obtain to be tried and ſentenced, they would be ſure, they knew, to do wel enough. And the like cours of Judicature doth this man plead for. Let me be heard, ſaith he, according to mine own principles. grant him but his own grounds (a moſt reaſonable reqeſt) and he wil ſoon be able ſufficiently to cleer himſelf, neither ſhal he need to except againſt any uncharitable either Presbyterian or Independent, from being of his Judges, or of his Jurie.

But, Sir, your principles muſt firſt be prooved, which by other then thoſe of the Presbyterie have ben ſo razed, that it ſeems you deſpair of ever raiſing them again, and therefore refuſe to meddle with their ruines. And this is that which the Annotater reqires of you, and puts you upon, to make good your Aſſertions concerning the ground of your Principles: that which you ar as unwilling to come to, being conſcious to your ſelf of your utter inability of ſound confirming what ſo confidently, but groundleſly you have thereof affirmed, as is any bear to be brought to the ſtake. els why take you no notice of it, when it is preſſed upon you, but let it ſleep, or ſlip away in ſilence, as a thing that nothing concerned you?

Yea but thoſe ſtupid Annotations, Pag. 8. & 47.are but an unſeemly Commentary, conſiſting of criticiſms and fruitleſſe expoſitions on Texts of Scripture, againſt the whole current of antiqity, reaſon, and the very genuine ſenſe of the words themſelvs; the fruits of a brain p. 28doating with age, and of one become a child again; in a word no better then a puddle of envy and non-ſenſe.

Good Sir, be pleaſed, I beſeech you, to tel us, who told you all this▪ for, I beleiv, you never read any great part of the whole Commentarie; it may be ſcarce had the patience to run over the whole Annotation to an end: for you complain elswhere of the length of it; and ſay as litle to that concerns you in it, as if you had never read word of it. Beſides, be it that you had turned over the whole Commentarie from the firſt Note to the laſt; yet I ſuppoſe, you wil hardly make many, if any at all, beleiv, that you ar ſo wel acqainted with all Antiqitie, or ſo wel verſed and skilled in the Original Language and genuine ſenſe of the Text, as to pas out of your own knowledge ſuch a cenſure as this upon any mans work. and he were indeed a very ſelie man, and wel worthy of much pity, that would deem your cenſures of much worth or weight in a buſines of this nature. As for the Annotater and his work ſuch as it is: albeit he doubts not, but that many wants and weakneſſes, defects and defaults may by a qick and peircing ey be deſcried in it,Sophocles. Vid. Cic. de Sen. Plut. de ſen. Polit. Ariſtoph. Schol. Ran. Fabr. gymn l. 2. c. 12. yet he dares be ſo bold, as (with that aged Tragedian ſometime upon occaſion of the like-accuſation) to appeal and refer himſelf to the ſentence of any ingenuous and judicious lerned, whether his labors therein may deſervedly be deemed the birth of one doating and ſo crackt-brained with age, that he is become a child again; or his expoſitions therein delivered ſuch as this mans verdict (if I may at leaſt ſo term it) here paſſed upon them affirms them to be. And this yet I ſhal make bold to adjoin, that they have ſo far forth attained approbation both at home and abroad, that the Annotater hath ben importuned, both by divers of his reverend brethren here, and ſome alſo from forain parts, to undertake the like pains on ſome other parts of Scripture: unto whome his anſwer hath ben, that neither his age or ability wil bear it, nor is it ſo needful for him to undertake ought further therein, ſince that ſome of the other parts have ben more exqiſitely, tho with les prolixity, delt in by others (it being not every ones facultie, not his he is ſure, to write ſuccinctlie, and compriſe much matter in few words) by whom ſuch an employment, having fewer yeers and larger abilities p. 29may much better be performed. But, Sir, whatſoever the Annotater may have done els-where, ſure he is, that what he hath on Jerem. 10.2. concerning the vanitie and impietie of your trade, is neither contrary to the current of Antiqitie, nor to reaſon, nor to the genuine ſenſe of the words of the Text; but conſonant to the doctrine of the Ancient Fathers, the ſounder and greater number of lerned writers, both of former times and later dayes, as wel Papiſts, as Proteſtants, the ſetled diſcipline in the Chriſtian Churches, the Decrees and Sanctions of Chriſtian Emperors, and the Canons and Conſtitutions of whole Councels not a few, even to that of Trent it ſelf, as hath formerly ben ſhewed. And for this puddle of non-ſenſe, as you ar pleaſed to ſtyle it, (from whence you ſhould have done wel to have related ſome few at leaſt particular paſſages or ſentences of non-ſenſe, picked out of the whole puddle) it hath▪ it ſeems, ſo puzzeld you and diſturbed all your ſenſes, that you have not ſo much as one wiſe word to return in way of defence unto any peice of the Exceptions therein taken to your own Aſſertions related out of your own writings; onelyonly the very ſight of it ſeems ſo to have troubled your ſtomack, that it hath made you bring up much gall, and ſpit out a great deal of venome, which being unaccuſtomed to ſuch ſcurrilous language, I ſhal pas by, and leav to you, to reſume, if you pleaſe, as dogs ſometime do their vomit, and to reſerv it by you, until you have further uſe of it. Mean while, that the Autor of that Annotation, which you ar pleaſed ſo to beſpatter, is not aſhamed of his work, but is willing to have it pas the more general trial, whether it be ſuch a puddle of non-ſenſe or no; in regard that the whole work, whereof his labors ar but a parcel, conſiſts of two great volumes, and the price conſeqently correſpondent, not every mans money, and in fewer hands therefore; in conſideration hereof he hath cauſed that Annotation, excerpted from the reſt to be printed apart▪ together with this, that the more eyes of all ſorts may readily ſee what it is, whether it, be ſuch as you ſay, and how nothing (a few ſcurrilous terms onelyonly excepted) you have in your own defence returned thereunto.

One thing I had overpaſt, which I deem not amiſſe to give p. 30ſome touch of before I conclude. Beſides the aſperſions of non-ſenſe, incapacity and ignorance, wherewith Mr. L. chargeth our Engliſh Preists, Vid. Aug. Epiſt. 48. de Diſcipl. Chriſt. c. 2. cont. Julian. l. 6. c. 1.and the Annotater among the reſt; there is another Imputation and charge of a more hainous nature, to wit, Envie, the Divels moſt peculiar ſin▪ for of the Annotation on Jer. 10.2. he ſaith, it is a puddle of Envy and Non-ſenſe. Of which former branch, I had ſaid nothing, becauſe I underſtood not the Myſterie, wanting ſome Delian Diver to unfold it to me, that I might know what the Mans meaning ſhould be; which now Mr. L. himſelf hath done for me. For in an Epiſtle prefixed to his Worlds Cataſtrophe, which came lately to my hands, he tels his Reader that the Fraternity of the Clergie ar an Envious generation, and this diſeaſe of envie is with them hereditarie. And what is the ground, think we, of this grievous charge, which he enters upon with ſuch a paſſionate Exclamation? Oh men of Envie! forſooth, they have for ſo many ages envied mankind the knowledge of lerning, that have cloiſtered up books, and ſuffered them to periſh in their cloſets unopened, becauſe all ſhould be ignorant but themſelvs. and had not ſome Gentlemen of divine Souls, and many worthy and gallant Phyſitians preſerved Arts and publiſhed their admirable conceptions, he is confident to this very day, the Fraternity of Clergie-men would have kept us at a diſtance, and without the knowledge of many lernings we now know; for which at ſometimes theſe malevolent churliſh and envious Clergiemen ſnarl at the Autors. But what ar the Books, that theſe men made of envie, have thus mured up, of ſet purpoſe to keep men in ignorance? Is it Gods Word, think we, and the Divine Oracles, or the Law and the Gospel, or the writings of the Prophets and Apoſtles? theſe indeed under the Papacie were locked up and ſealed up: and men inhibited from looking into them. But theſe ar not the Books Mr. L. ſpeaks of: theſe rather he could be content ſhould be concealed: they ſpeak no good of him and his trade; tho the Planets and Aspects of them (as we have elswhere obſerved) portend no ill at all to Wizards, whatſoever to others they do: yet theſe denounce much evil both to them, and to thoſe that ar deluded by them. But what ar they then? ſuch as treat of Mr. Ls. trade; ſuch as the profeſſors and practiſers of ſuch p. 31arts, when they turned tru Chriſtians, burnt at Epheſus, Act. 19.19. Ah what an envious man was Paul, that would ſuffer them ſo to do? But more particularly, that by ſome inſtances we may know what books he means, There ar books (ſaith he from the Lord of Marchiſtone writing on the Revelation) among the Jews, containing doctrines, as they alledge, proceeding from the mouthes of the Patriarks, affirming every great Angel of ſeven to rule the world 490 yeers. and in particular, a Book of the Government of the VVorld by Angels; which M. L. himſelf hath Engliſhed: whereof he purpoſes to write a special Treatiſe; wherein from the beginning of the World to theſe times, and ſome hundreds of yeers ſucceeding; he ſhal endevor to manifeſt ſuch Myſteries involved in this lerning, as yet have not appeered; wherein he ſhal go neer to give every Common VVealth of Europe a ſmart conjecture of the continuance or deſtruction of their State and Government. having gotten, forſooth, the tru Key, or Ca…ala, as elswhere he terms it, to unlock theſe Myſteries, which others for want thereof underſtand not. he ſhould have done wel to have added Mother Shiptons Propheſies, which he ſayes were never qeſtioned for antiqitie and veritie: And the reſt of the rabble of old wives tales as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 1 Tim. 4.7. whereof he tels us, there ar many more in the North. And what is all this, but to do as Satan did with God to our firſt Parents, who charged him with envieng man divine knowledge, becauſe he inhibited him the forbidden fruit? For therefore, ſaith. Mr. L. theſe Clergie men keep theſe Books out of mens ſight; becauſe out of envie they would keep people in ignorance, and withhold them from attaining ſuch deep and profound knowledge as himſelf by reading of them hath attained unto. As for the Lord Napeir, and his Countryman Robert Ponts, their Calculations by Jubilees from the Worlds beginning to the Worlds end, the time whereof both of them, contrary to our Saviors avouchment take upon them to determine, the one Propoſ. 15. the other Cap. 19. they ar ſo groundles, that few or none that I have ſeen do accord with either. and for Tritemius his Treatiſe of the ſeven Planetary Angels that ſhould in cours govern the whole World by thoſe ſeven Planets, which Mr. L. to make our people wiſe unto ſuch fancies and fooleries, hath done into Engliſh, Mr. L. p. 32himſelf grants that neither upon the order of their Courſes, Pag. 56.nor of the the term of their Regencies are our Wizards agreed among themſelvs; which is ſufficient to ſhew that they had it not by Revelation from any good Angels, as Mr. L. pretends, no more then the Teutonik Wizard, what was done ſo many ages before this World was▪ and thoſe ſuppoſed books of the Patriarks may wel go among the rank of thoſe Jewiſh Fables, that the Apoſtle forbids Chriſtians to give heed unto, Tit. 1.14. Nor ar either the Apoſtle Paul or our Preiſts, as M^r. L. ſtyles them, more guilty of Envy in diſſwading people from hearkning to ſuch groundles and impious fopperies, then ſhould any holy Angel of God have ben, in diſſwading our firſt Parents from medling with the forbidden fruit. Nor can any ſound Wiſedome be gained from any ſcience falſly ſo termed, 1 Tim. 6.20. that neither from religion nor reaſon it ſelf by neceſſary conſeqence hath any good ground.

Preface.But for the Expoſition of the place, Mr. L. tels Mr. G. that he ſhal ere long have the judgments of abler Divines then himſelf and to better purpoſe on that of Jerem. 10.2. and mean while telleth his Readers, they ſhal have the Expoſition of a Reverend Miniſter on the place, eqal in yeers to Mr. G. and in tru Divinity and Knowledge of the Oriental toungs far ſurmounting him.

What thoſe Judgments ar of abler Divines, when we ſee, we ſhal know what to ſay to them. And for that others Expoſition, whoſe words he relates, but names not the Autor, nor the Title of his work, leaving the Annotater as wel as his Readers, to ſeek after a needle in a bottle of hay, it was long ere any of my frends could find out any of them, nor could I by their help hitherto attain the revew of more then one that hath lately publiſhed ought on that Scripture; which one indeed concurs with the party, whoſe words he relates for the Expoſition of the place, tho he have not the very ſame terms, and reſolved I was not to meddle with M^r. Lilie, until I could ſee what ſome of theſe his Advocates had to ſay in his behalf; which we ſhal (God aſſiſting) conſider of, ere we finiſh this diſcours. Mean while, not to make compariſons, which is generally deemed odious, and with one utterly unknown, would be, not over-preſumptuous onelyonly, but even ridiculous: much p. 33skil in the Oriental toungs I never did, nor do profeſſe; a litle ſmattering onelyonly in the Hebrew of the Bible I acknowledge. neither needs there any great depth of skil in thoſe Oriental languages, for the expounding of that Text of Jeremie, that ſtrikes at Mr. Lilies trade.

And if that his other Advocate, whome he qotes and ſo highly extols, do for yeers eqal the Annotater, why may not he ſo aged fall under his Clients cenſure of Senes bis pueri, as wel as his Antagoniſt? for how Mr. L. ſhould come to be inſpired with ſuch a faculty as whereby to judge of tru Divinity, is a point, I confes, beyond my skil to conceiv. But what ever the man be for skil in languages, or knowledge in Divinitie, (for I know not who or what he is) I would fain know of M. Lilie, ſuppoſing that this his Advocate had ſeen farther into the Text, being far more skilful in the Language, then the Annotater hath done; what is all that to the juſtifieng of Mr. Lilies Aſſertions in the Annotation related, and the Exceptions therein taken thereunto? which it concerned him to have anſwerd, and not put it off to another, who in all that he relates out of him, ſpeaks not a word at all for him, but leaves him in regard of defence therein, as naked and bare, as if he had never ſo much as once opened his mouth, or put pen to paper in his behalf.

But leaving his Advocates til we come to deal with them, we ſhal preſume a litle to cope with this grand Maſter in the matter of Eclipſes, becauſe they ar the main ſubject of this his Black Book. And here I might a litle qeſtion the skil of Mr. L. himſelf, and ſome of his felow Prognoſticks, in that part of the Sideral Science, which on all ſides is acknowledged to be as warrantable and lawful as beneficial and uſeful. That which a man better verſed in theſe things then my ſelf, might the rather adventure to do; for that Kepler a great Mathematician ſticks not to affirm,De novâ Stell. Serpent. c. 11. that Aſtrologi Aſtronomiam ſinceriorem ut plurimum ignorant, our great Astrologers ar for the moſt part not ſo wel skild in the ſincerer part of Aſtronomie.

Now here, in the firſt place▪ we have ben told by ſome of them, the more to amaze the ſelie multitude, that this late Eclips of the Sun would be greater and more terrible then any that had ben many ages before, Yea Mr. L. himſelf tels us, p. 34that it is the greateſt this age hath beheld; Pag. 24.from whence therefore we may expect accidents or events to folow ſutable to the greatneſſe of it. And yet Leovitius a great Autor with him enforms us, as M^r.Pag. 11. L. himſelf relates, that in the yeer 1567. April. 9. (and ther ar, I hope, yet living that might ſee that) there was ſuch a terrible and horrid Eclips of the Sun, as had not ben ſince 1544. nec etiam multis futuris ſeculis, nor for many enſuing ages ſhould be. And yet there hath not one entire ſeculum, or age, as himſelf renders it, who yet thus ſaith, much les many, as ſome other, paſt over our heds between this and that: unles they wil make ſhorter ſecula, or ages, as did the Emperour Claudius for his Ludi ſeculares, or Secular Interludes, but was laughed at for his labor,Suet. lib. 5. c. 21. by many of thoſe that had ſeen them, ſome that had acted in them, yet ſurviving, when the Common Crier proclaimd ſuch Diſports to be exhibited, qos nec qiſqam spectaſſet, nec ſpectaturus eſſet, as no man then alive had ſeen, or ſhould ſurvive to ſee again: or as the Popes do their Jubilees, which they have drawn down from 50. yeers to 25. to draw the more money from poor people, whome they laugh at the whileſt for their lightnes of belief. But whether M^r. Lilie or Leovitius were here in the Error, let others decide, and let him for me lay it on whether of their two ſhoulders he liſts.

Secondly, as concerning the ſite of the light continued during the conjunction of thoſe two Luminaries in the late Eclips; M. L. with divers other of his felow Prognoſtiks, were manifeſtly miſtaken. for in his delineation thereof, as divers other alſo of them, he places the light part, ſuch glimmerings at leaſt of it, as he is pleaſed to afford us, below; whereas it was apparent to any ey ſedulouſly obſerving the apparition, that the light part was above: which I hope, he himſelf wil not have the face to deny.

Thirdly, for the ſumming up of the parts (as to us) obſcured;Pag. 7. calling in Captain George Wharton an excellent Calculator, he determines from him, who (he ſaith) had accurately and lernedly delivered it, that the body of the Sun would be eleven digits and fifty five minutes eclipſed. Where I wonder why Mr. Lilie ſo great an Artiſt, as he profeſſeth himſelf to be, ſhould be ſo diffident of his own skil, that he ſhould not dare to venture or hazard it upon any Calculation of his own, but p. 35refer himſelf to Capt. G. W. his calculation herein, whom howſoever he pronounces in his calculation exact; and doth not les, I hope, conſpire with in his Prognoſtiks for the effects or events of it, yet as miſdoubting the ſucceſſe and iſſu of the buſienes, he ſeems ſo cautelouſly to have thus delivered it, that if any error came to be diſcovered in it, it might rather reflect upon his frend the Calculator, from whome he had taken it upon truſt, then be charged upon himſelf. But that the Calculations, whether the ones, or the others, or agreed upon by both, is not ſo exact, is by others not a few, deemed in theſe points very skilful, agreed, and by M. L. himſelf in part alſo, but covertly, confeſt. For ſome here at London, as I am enformed, do affirm, that the obſcuration in ſome digits fel ſhort of that their account; and that by the obſervation of thoſe at Oxford, and of a prime man among the reſt in M. L. his own account, it miſſed much at leaſt in the minutes; for by their Calculation it was but eleven digits, and one fourth, which I conceiv to be fifteen minutes, the fourth part of a digit, conſiſting of ſixty minutes; which why M. L.Ephemer. ann. 53. is pleaſed to cal fifteen ſeconds, I wot not. but by that calculation, which M. L. himſelf in his late new Ephemeris would ſeem to accord with, it came as far ſhort for minutes in the former account, as fifteen and fifty five ar aſunder. But I wil not take upon me to decide the difference between them; I content my ſelf with M. L. his own grant here.

OnelyOnly by the way, I ſhould, if I might be ſo bold, demand of Mr. L. whether this excellent Calculator, Capt. G. Wharton, be not anagrammatiſed the ſame with Naworth of Oxford. I ſhrewdly gues them to be one and the ſame. and ſome frends aſſure me, that he himſelf in ſome of his writings hath acknowledged as much. Which if it ſo be; I ſhould then further demand, (for I am in theſe matters but a Qeſtioniſt) how it is come about, that Naworth that ABC felow of Oxford, (for ſo M. L. ſtyles him in the very entrie to his Ephemeris for the yeer 47.) is now ſo ſodainlie become Capt. G. Wharton that excellent Calculator? Surely there muſt needs be ſome grand myſterie in it. Is the tranſpoſition of a few letters, think we, ſo efficacious in this their new Magik, that the change of the name ſhould ſodainly produce ſuch a ſtrange change in the p. 36man? Or may we not deem rather that his reconcilement to Mr. Lilie hath effected the alteration, and made the Abce Scholler ſuch an accurate calculator? and then the Annotater may not be wholie out of hope, but that if he would recant and claw Mr. Lilie a litle, M. L. as the Proverb is, would claw him again, and ſo he might of Thomas Wiſeaker, that old doating Duns, become ſodainly Mr. T. G. an excellent Divine, or, as Marcilius Ficinus, becauſe he writes for thoſe of his coat (for no other lerning is M. L. privie to in him) an excellent lerned Preiſt. Yea what might not thoſe poor Snakes the ſilie ſneaking Presbyterians, whether Engliſh or Scottiſh hope to prove, if they could be ſo happy, as to make their peace with M. L. and be admitted to kiſſe the hand of this Great Mogul? But neither is the Annotater, nor ar the Presbyerians, he hopes, ſo baſe minded, to ſtoop ſo low, as to bear a taper before the Divel, to gain a degree in his Academie, and to attain a new Title in M. L. his books. Again, I ſhould be glad to know how it came to pas, when time was, that Mr. N…. if not calculations, yet obſervations and judgments at Oxford, and M. Lilies here at London, were ſo divers one from another, or ſo advers rather either to other; or whence it is, that they do now ſo exactly agree. Did ſo ſmall a diſtance of place, think we, alter the face of the sky? or hath the variation of the Scene on the earth here below, produced a variation of the Scheme above in the heavens? But I make litle doubt, had they then ben both together, when they wrot ſuch different Prognoſtiks, eitheir M. L. with M. N. at Oxford, or M. N. with M. L. at London, but that their obſervations and predictions, whether they had laid their heds together, or had ſtudied upon the matter apart in their ſeveral cels, as the tale goes of the ſecluded Septuagints, Hi…on. Prolog. in Pentat.they would have agreed wel enough, wel knowing either others mind to an hair, and what it behooved them to write. nor is it unlikely, but that, when they came to ſhake hands here, they laughed, as we uſe to ſay, in the ſleev at leaſt; bethinking themſelvs, how handſomely they had acted their parts on either ſcene, deluding not ſelie people alone, but whole States in a manner, by predictions and promiſes of good ſucceſſes, the one to the King and the Roial partie there, the other to the Parlament and their adherents p. 37here. But at theſe mens diſcrepances I mervail not at all, when I call to mind that, which I have heard reported of that reverend man of God, whome this miſcreant above traduced▪ the Reader, I hope, wil excuſe me, if I be telling of ſtories now and then, when I ſhal have minded him of the old ſayeng,Longin. de ſublim. foreign, that it is the property, not of children onelyonly, but of old men too, eſpecially when they grow children again, that they love to be telling of ſtories and tales. Mr. Calvin preaching in his Church at Geneva, when in the midſt of his matter through the Sextons knavery he heard the Clock ſtrike, and ſaw the people look back to the hand on the dial, as wondring that the hour ſhould be ſo ſoon at an end, Ye need not look back or wonder at all, ſaid he, at the ſhortnes of the hower: for God makes the dayes; but Martin (the Clock-keeper) makes the howers, as he pleaſes, and the Day goeth not by his Clock. It is juſt ſo here. God hath aſſigned the Stars their ſite and their cours, which no power of man or Angel is able to alter: but mans fancie hath built us imaginary Houſes in the Heavens, and aſſigned them ſuch qalifications, affections and effections as the framers of them pleaſed to give them. and why ſhould they not then diſpoſe of their fanatical fabricks according to their own fancie that produced them at firſt?

[Since I wrote this, lighting upon another of M.L. his worthy works, I am now thereby fully confirmed in my former conjectures concerning Capt. G. Wharton, by Mr. L. here ſo much extolled: firſt that Naworth and Wharton ar one and the ſame man; and ſecondly, that it is not the change of his name, but his reconcilement to M. L. that hath procured him ſuch a change in M. L. his repute. For I find him after the change of his name, before M. L. and he came to accord, to be ſtyled by M. L. the ſillieſt of all Aſtrologers, Preface to his Worlds Cataſtrophe.a vagabond Aſinego, having the curs of Cain hanging upon him, a viperous Renegado, one that having two names, incurs the cenſure of Ignoramus, Duplex nomen, duplex Nebulo, a double Name, a double knave. and withal publiſhes a Diſcours (whether his own or no, I know not) but under the perſon of a third party, entituled, A Whip for Wharton. What the man is, I know not, nor did I ever ſee ought of his. But thus M. L. was pleaſed to decipher him: and that, it ſeems principally for his writing p. 38againſt M. Lilie and M. Booker, and diſcovering ſome errors and miſtakes in their calculations; which becauſe M.L. and his Advocate, (who ever he be) it ſeems, cannot deny, they both return in way of Anſwer ſuch language, and M. L. ſeems to turn his error over to Regiomantanus, as here its likely he wil the miſcalculation to M. G. W. who is now, ye ſee, ſince the agreement made, a great man in his books.]

But in the laſt place, be the number of digits and minutes in the Suns late defection (as they term it) obſcured more or les then theſe two great Calculators, in their Calculations and predictions now agreeing as good frends, whatſoever differences might have ben between them in times paſt, ar now joyntly and unanimouſly agreed upon: M. Lilie, howſoever he control thoſe that poſſeſſed peoples minds with fear concerning the darknes that this Eclips ſhould portend ▪ (you have his own wiſe terms) as if it threatned danger unto thoſe, that ſhould be about their labors, or other like affairs abroad: and there wanted not indeed of his felow wizards, that adviſed people by any means to keep their families, young children eſpecially within dores, and preſcribed cordials to be given them, as preſervatives againſt the harm and diſaſters, that from this dreadful occurrent might accrew to them. but M. L. aſſures us the contrary on his word; I ſay, ſaith he, it threatens no man or cattel with danger in that conſideration, to wit, of their being abroad; nor wil the darknes be of ſo great or long a continuance as many imagine. and yet what matter is it how long it laſt, if there be no danger at all in it? or what is the meaning of the darknes, that this Eclips (what is that but the darkning it ſelf of the light?) ſhould portend? or if it threaten nothing to any that ar under it abroad, why ſhould it threaten ought at all unto any? But leaving theſe qeries to his further conſideration; and him and his felow wizards to jar or agree among themſelvs, as they pleaſe, Mr. L. yet tels us upon his own account, and out of his own beleif, that although the greateſt obſcurity wil not laſt long, yet ſuch and ſo great for the time it ſhal be, that if the ayer be ſerene and cleer, which in ſome meaſure he miſdoubted by the ariſing of Saturn at that time, and the Moon her application unto his qadratures, (which with us here at London prooved but a falſe fear) we ſhould behold the fixed Stars, as alſo Mars and Venus.