The Resurrection Revealed, Book 1 · Chapter 2 · Section 3

The Resurrection Revealed · Book 1 · Chapter 2 · Section 3

p. 16SECT. III. Of Latine Antiquities.

THe firſt in Seniority, of Latine, Learned, Godly Ancients, that is for our Poſition, in TERTULLIAN, Hee Apologized for the Chriſtians about the yeare after Chriſt, 180. His words in his fifth Booke againſt Marcion, are to this effect:

Thou art a Prieſt for ever. But Ezechias, though he once was, yet he was neither a Prieſt, nor for ever, &c. But unto Chriſt will agree the order of Melchiſedek; becauſe indeed Chriſt, Gods proper and legimate High-prieſt of the Prieſt-hood of the Uncircumciſion (then ſpecially conſtituted in the Nations, of whom hee had more claime to bee received) with vouchſafe at laſt to accept, and bleſſe the circumciſion and poſterity of Abraham, when at length they ſhall know him.

§. 2 Lactantius, very largely and learnedly diſcourſeth the point, in his ſeventh Booke of divine Inſtitutions, who lived in the time of Conſtantine the Great, three hundred and ten yeeres after Chriſt, ſo long ſince; proving it from the Scriptures, and withall alleading the conſent of Philoſophers, Poets, Sybils, &c. all which to tranſlate into Engliſh, would but bee tedious to them that underſtand onelyonly that tongue (beſides the increaſe of charge in Printing.) And for thoſe that underſtand Latine and Greek, they have here at hand the minde of the Authour, and his quotations in thoſe languages, whereby to read him, and them, in their owne idiom and phraſe. But to give the Engliſh Reader a few ſummary heads of what is in this large citation of Lactantius, p. 17and his quotations, it ſhall not bee grievous to me, nor unneceſſary for him. In his ſeventh Book of Divine Inſtitutions, Chap. 1. hee ſaith thus. In the fourth Booke (ſaith hee) wee have ſpoken of the firſt coming of the LORD. Now let us relate his ſecond, which the Jewes alſo acknowledge and expect; becauſe it is of NECESSITY that hee ſhould RETURN to Comfort them, whom before he had come to call together. In this ſecond Chapter of that ſeventh Book, Lactantius ſaith thus; It is ordained by the diſpoſal of the higheſt God, that this unjuſt age, a certaine ſpace of times being runne, ſhall have an end, when all wickedneſſe being extinct, and the ſoules of the godly called backe to a bleſſed life, there ſhall flouriſh a quiet, tranquil, peaceable and golden age, God himſelfe then reigning. In his fourteenth Chapter of the ſame Book, hee ſaith, That Plato, and many others of the Philoſophers, whiles ignorant of the original of things, and of that top of time wherein the World was made, * ſaid that many thouſands of * ages have paſſed, ſince this * moſt beautifull world thus adorned hath exiſted; As per haps the Chaldeans, who (as Cicero hath delivered in his firſt Book of Divination) do dream * that they have contained in * their Monuments foure hundred * and ſeventy thouſand yeers. But we, whom the Divine Scriptures do inſtruct unto the knowledge of the truth, have knowne the beginning, and end of the World, of which end wee ſhall ſpeake in the end p. 18of this Book, as wee did of the beginning in the ſecond. Let therefore Philoſophers know, who number thouſands of Ages ſince the beginning of the World, that the Sixth thouſand yeer is not yet CONCLUDED or ENDED. But that number being fulfilled of neceſſity there muſt bee an end, and the ſtate of humane things muſt been transformed into that which is better.

This Lactantius doth largely and learnedly prove from Gods making the World in ſix dayes, and reſting the ſeventh, Alleadging the Prophet (as it is his expreſſion) that BEFORE thy EYES, O Lord, a thouſand yeers are but as ONE DAY, &c.

Wee have, ſaith Lactantius, often ſaid, That leſſer and ſmall things are the figures, and fore-repreſentations of great things: And that this day of ours, which is bounded with the riſing and ſetting of the ſun, doth bear the image of the GREAT DAY, which a certain circuit of yeers doth determine. After the ſame manner, the forming of the earthly, man, did carry before it the formation in future, of an heavenly people. For, as when all things were finiſhed, God made man laſt, upon the ſixth day, and brought him into this world, as into an houſe well furniſhed; So now in the GREAT SIXTH DAY, the TRUE MAN is formed by the Word of God, that is, the holy people is figured unto righteouſneſſe by the doctrine and precepts of God. And as then he was made of the earth, mortall and imperfect, that p. 19he might live a thouſand yeers in this world. (He alludes to the Fathers before the flood who lived each of them neer a thouſand yeers.) So now the perfect man is framed of this terreſtrial world, that being made alive by God, he may reigne in this ſame world for the ſpace of a thouſand yeers.

And ſaith Lactantius in the fifteenth Chapter of the ſaid ſeventh Booke. As it is in the Scriptures how, and for what neceſsity Iſrael went down into Egypt, there exceedingly multiplyed, but oppreſſed with an intolerable yoke of Bondage, God ſmote Egypt, led his people through the red Sea, but there drowned the Egyptians, endeavouring to purſue the flying Iſraelites; ſo this famous exploit was a figure of a greater thing to bee, which God will bring to paſſe in the laſt conſummation of times; namely, that God will deliver his people from the grievous ſervitude of the world. But though God then ſmote onelyonly Egypt, becauſe his people was but one Nation; yet now becauſe Gods people are over all the world, and every where oppreſſed by the world, God will ſmite all Nations, even all the whole world, and deliver his righteous people that worſhip him.

And as then there were certaine foreſignes by which the the future ruine of the Egyptians was foreſhewn; So at the laſt ſhall bee prodigious wonders, by all the elements of the world, whereby may bee underſtood, that ruine to all Nations is at hand. For ſo then ſhall righteouſneſſe become p. 20rate, and impiety ſo multiply, that if there bee any good men then extant, they ſhall bee as a prey to the wicked, &c. Then ſhall ruine overrun the world. The cauſe of which devaſtation and confuſion ſhall bee, becauſe the Roman authority, by which now the world is over ruled (MY SOULE, ſaith Lactantius, FEARES TO SPEAKE IT, BUT I WILL SPEAKE IT, BECAUSE IT SHALL COME TO PASSE) ſhall bee taken away from the earth, and the EMPIRE ſhall returne into ASIA, and the EAST ſhall have againe the DOMINION, and the WEST ſhall bee made ſervile. Nor may it be a wonder, that ſo huge and maſſie an Empire ſo long continuing, and ſtrongly confirmed, ſhould fall, ſeeing there is no thing made by man, but may bee deſtroyed by man; even as the Emperialty was brought downe from the Aſſyrians to the Perſians, from them to the Grecians, and from them to the Romans. Seneca did not ineptly diſtribute the times of the CITY of Rome into Ages. The firſt he ſaid was her Infancy under Romulus, &c. And her firſt old age was, when torne with civil warres, ſhe turned to be twy-child &c. And if theſe things be ſo, what remaines but death ſhould follow old age? And that this ſhall ſhortly come to paſſe, the Sermons of the Prophets under the covert of other names, that all might not eaſily underſtand, doe denounce. But the Sibyls doe ſpeak it openly that Rome ſhall bee deſtroyed, becauſe ſhee hated the name of God, and oppoſed p. 21righteouſneſſe. And Hydoſpis a moſt ancient King of the Medes, even afore the Trojan race was ſet up, propheſied the ſame.

Saith Lactantius Chap. 16. how that ſhall bee, leſt any one ſhould thinke it incredible, I will declare: firſt the Regality and chiefe power ſhall bee multiplied into many, and cut and minced into crummes. Then perpetual civil diſcords ſhall bee ſowne, and never ſhall bee any quier. TEN KINGS ſhall ſtand up together, who ſhall not ſuffer the world to bee ruled, but to be ruined. Then upon a ſudden, ſhall riſe up againſt them a moſt potent Enemy from the utmoſt bounds of the North, who, by meanes of three of that number (poſſeſſing Aſia) extinguiſhed, ſhall bee taken into the ſociety of the reſt, and by them ſhall bee made chiefe Of them all. This man ſhall domineer, vex, mingle divine and humane things, ſubvert Lawes, eſtabliſh his owne, and ſhall waſte, deſtroy, and kill. The name and ſeat of the Empire being changed, there ſhall follow the confuſion, and vexation of all mankinde. And p. 22that nothing may bee wanting to the miſery of men, a Trumpet ſhall ſound from heaven, according to that the Sibyl hath denounced, giving a manifold lamenting ſound; whereupon all ſhall tremble. Then from the wrath of God againſt unrighteous men ſhall rage ſword, and fire, and famine, &c. Then according to the Sibyls verſes, The world ſhall bee unworlded, &c. ſcarce the tenth part of men ſhall bee left, &c.

But ſaith Lactantius Chap. 17. I will yet plainlier explain how it ſhall come to paſſe; The concluſion of times being at hand, a great Prophet ſhall bee ſent of God, who ſhall convert men unto the knowledge of God, &c. And the wicked ſhall bee deſtroyed, &c. which hee ſhews in many and ſundry particulars.

p. 23Then Lactantius in the eighteenth Chapter of the ſame Booke quotes divers Authors to that purpoſe; As Hydaſpes, and Hermes, and the Sibyls; out of which two latter, hee doth not onelyonly minde the maine point hee hath in hand, but alſo alleadge out of them, that Chriſt is the Sonne of God.

And ſaith Lactantius, Chapter 19. of the aforeſaid ſeventh Booke; The circle of the whole earth being oppreſſed, at which time humane ſtrength ſhall bee unable to deſtroy the tyranny of immenſe power God, moved with the doubtfull power of p. 24his people, and with their miſerable lamentations, ſhall forthwith ſend the Deliverer. Then ſhall the midſt of heaven bee opened in a quiet blacke night, ſo that the light of God deſcending, ſhall appear over all the world, as lightning, which the Sibyls expreſſe thus, When as he ſhall come, darkneſſe in a blacke midnight ſhall bee as fire, &c. Of which there is a double reaſon: In the night he was borne, and in the night hee ſuffered death: And ſo after theſe, in the night hee ſhall receive the * Kingdome of the earth. This * is the Deliverer and Judge, * the Revenger, and King, and * GOD, which wee call Chriſt. And hee ſhall deſcend, his Angels accompanying him, &c.

After this ſaith Lactantius, Chap. 20. The places of the dead ſhall bee opened, and the dead ſhall riſe againe, and the GREAT JUDGEMENT * ſhall bee performed by God * Chriſt concerning them; of which Judgement and Kingdome the Erythrean Silyl thus ſpeakes, When that DAY ſhall receive its fatal, END, and the judgement of the immortal God ſhall come to mortals, then ſhall come upon men the GREAT JUDGEMENT and the BEGINNING, &c. as 'tis in that Sibyl.

But, ſaith Lactantius, ſpeaking to this of the Sibyl, Nevertheleſſe all univerſally, ſhall not bee then judged of God, but thoſe onelyonly which are verſt in the Religion of God.

p. 25The Poets (ſaith Lactantius in the 22. Chap. of the aforeſaid Book) by Poetical licentiouſneſſe corrupted that which they had received; for in that they fang, That men having finiſhed a thouſand yeers among the dead, they ſhould be reſtored to life again, as Virgil ſaith, When all theſe ſoules have turned the wheele at the forgetfull RIVER of death by the ſpace of a thouſand yeers, God cals forth theſe (unmindfull) in a great Troup, that they may ſee againe theſe places that are upon the convex face of the earth, and ſhall againe begin willingly to return to their bodies. Herein their underſtanding deceived them (ſaith Lactantius) That the dead ſhall riſe againe, not after a thouſand yeers of their death, but that being reſtored to life againe, they may REIGNE A THOUSAND YEERS WITH GOD. By God Lactantius meanes Chriſt, as he openly explained himſelfe but a little afore.

Of which Reſurrection (ſaith Lactant. Chap. 23.) the Philoſophers alſo endeavoured to ſay ſomething, as corruptly as the Poets. For Pythagoras diſputed that the ſoules of the deceaſed did paſſe into new bodies (but fooliſhly) as hee ſaid himſelfe was made up of Euphorbus his ſoule; Chryſippus ſpake better (who as Cicero ſaith, eſtabliſhed the Porch of the Stoicks) he in his books which hee wrote concerning PROVIDENCE, ſpeaking of the renovation of the World, brings in this, Seeing * things are ſo, it appears it is not p. 26impoſsible that we alſo when we have finiſhed this preſent life, after certain wheelings about of times, ſhould bee reſtored again into this very eſtate in which we now are. And the Sibyl ſaith thus, It is hard indeed to beleeve, but when the judgement of the world, and of Mortals ſhall come, hee ſhall ſend the wicked into darkneſſe, &c. but thoſe that imbrace godlineſſe, SHALL AGAINE LIVE UPON EARTH, GOD GIVING THEM BOTH SPIRIT HONOUR and LIFE.

Chap. 24. Lactantius faith, I will adde the reſt. Therefore (ſaith he) the SONNE of the Higheſt and Greateſt God ſhall come, that hee may judge both quicke and dead, according to that of the Sibyl,

Then ſhall there bee confuſion of all mortals of the whole earth; and the OMNIPOTENT himſelfe ſhall come upon his Tribunal, to judge the ſoules of quicke and dead, and all the world. But when hee ſhall doe that, ſaith Lactantius, and ſhall reſtore the juſt that have beene from the beginning, unto life, hee ſhall * converſe among men a thouſand * yeeres, and ſhall rule them with * a moſt righteous Government. Which ſomewhere the Sibyl proclaimes, Hear me, O yee men, the eternal King doth reigne, &c.

Then (ſaith Lactantius) They that ſhall bee alive in their bodies ſhall not dye, but by the ſpace of thoſe THOUSAND yeeres, ſhall generate an infinite multitude, and their off-ſpring ſhall bee holy, &c. And they * that ſhall bee raiſed from the * dead, ſhall bee OVER THE DEAD AS JUDGES. But the Gentile Nations ſhall not bee p. 27utterly extinguiſhed, but ſome ſhall bee left for the victory of God, that they may bee triumphed over by the juſt, and brought under the yoake of perpetual ſervitude. A little afore that, the Prince of Devils, the forger of all evil, ſhall bee * bound with chaines, and ſhall * bee in hold all the THOUSAND *yeer es of THECELESTIAL EMPIRE, under which, righteouſneſſe ſhall reign over the world. After whoſe coming, the juſt ſhall bee gathered together from all parts of the earth, &c. and the holy C…IE ſhall bee placed in the * midſt of the earth, in which the BUILDER thereof, GOD, together with his juſt ones ruling,ſhall ABIDE. Which City the * Sibyl thus points out, And the City which God made, the ſame hee made brighter then the Sunne, Moone, or Starres. Then all darkneſſe ſhall bee taken away, &c. The Moone ſhall bee as bright as the Sunne, and the Sunne ſevenfold brighter then it is, &c. The earth ſhall abound with fruitfulneſſe, &c. The whole nature of all things ſhall joy in freedome from dominion of evill. All beaſts and birds, not preying on one another, ſhall bee at peace one with another, &c. quoting the Poets, touching the golden Age, ſhewing their error in this, that miſtaking the Prophets (who for the certainty of things, ſpake of them as paſt, though minded them as to come) they thought they were all paſt. Alleadging alſo the Sibyls, that in divers places affirme, that men ſhall live a moſt quiet and plentiful life, and ſhall reigne together with God, p. 28and the Kings of the Nations ſhall come from the bounds of the earth, with their gifts, and ſhall adore and honour the great King, &c.

Theſe things, (ſaith Lactantius Chap. 25.) are thoſe, which are ſpoken by the Prophets that they ſhall come to paſſe, whoſe☞ teſtimonies and words I deemed not needfullto ſet downe, becauſe it would bee an infinite worke. If any aske when thoſe things ſhall come to paſſe? I but now ſaid above, that that * change muſt needs bee, when * SIX THOUSAND YEERS * ſhall bee compleated, and that chiefe day of the laſt con☞ cluſion of them doth now draw neer. Touching the ſignes, you may know them by the Prophets, &c. when this ſumme of ſix thouſand yeeres ſhall bee compleat, they teach, who have wrote of the quantity of the number of yeers ſince the Creation, according as they have gathered it out of the holy Scriptures, and divers Hiſtories; which Writers although they vary, and the ſumme of their number differs, yet every mans expectation ſeems to bee not beyond two hundred yeers hence. Yea, the thing it ſelfe ſhews that the fall and ruine of things will bee in a ſhort time; * onelyonly the CITY of ROME being now in ſafety, there ſeems no cauſe of feare in any ſuch thing. But when that head of * the World ſhall fall, and bee * a RUINE inſtead of ROME, * as the Sibylls foretell, who * doubts, but the end to humane affaires, and the whole World is now come?

Wee ſaid (ſaith Lactantius p. 29Chap. 26.) a little afore, that in the beginning of the holy Kingdome, it ſhall bee that the Prince of Devils ſhall be bound by God. But that ſame Prince, when the one thouſand yeers, that * is, when the 7000 yeers ſhall * begin to determine, hee ſhall bee looſed againe, &c. and ſhall ſtir up all Nations under the dominion of the juſt, to warre againſt the holy City, whereupon innumerable people ſhall bee gathered together, who ſhall beſiege it. Then ſhall the laſt wrath of God come upon the Nations, and overthrow them unto one man, with many terrible ſhakings, &c. of the earth, and other wonderfull ſignes, &c. and infinite ſlaughters of the wicked; the juſt the meane while being hidden. The laſt judgement upon the wicked Nations being ended, the juſt ſhall come forth of their hiding places, and ſhall finde all covered with dead carcaſſes, &c. All the race of wicked men utterly deſtroyed. Nor ſhall there bee in this world any more any Nation, but the Nation of God. Then for ſeven yeers, there ſhall bee no hewing down of woods, &c. And now there ſhall bee no more war, but peace and reſt eternal. * And when the THOUSAND yeers ſhal bee compleatly ended, * the World ſhall bee made new by God; and the heavens ſhall bee folded together, and the earth ſhall bee changed, and God ſhall transforme men into the ſimilitude of Angels, and they ſhall be as white as ſnow, and ſhall converſe alwayes in ſight of the Omnipotent, &c. At that time ſhall bee that SECOND and pullike Reſurrection of all, in which the unjuſt ſhall be caſt into eternal torments. This is the Doctrine of the holy Prophets which wee Chriſtians follow. So farre Lactantius neer 1400 yeers ſince. I thought it too much to write out all the Latine and Greeke for the Learned, ſeeing they may have recourſe to the Author himſelfe. And I thought it too much to render all the Latine here into Engliſh, leſt I ſhould burden the Engliſh Reader.

Tu es Sacerdos in aevum. Nec Sacerdos autem Ezechias, ne in aevum, etſi fuiſſet. At in CHRISTUM conveniet ordo Melchiſedec, quoniam quidem CHRISTUS proprius, & legitimus Dei antiſtes, Praeputiati ſacerdotii pontifex (tum in Nationibus Conſtitutus, a quibus magis ſuſcipi habebat) Cognituram ſe quandoque circumciſionem, & Abrahae Gentem, quum ultimò, acceptione, & benedictione dignabitur. Tertul. l. 5. contra Marcion in Proſ. cap. 9.

LACTANTIUS (Tertulliano ſecundus praeceptor (teſtanti Bucholcero) criſpi Caeſaris filii Conſtantini, vir diſertiſsimus floruit, Anno poſt Chriſtum 314. qui in 7 INSTITUTIONUM DIVINARUM libro, ad Conſtantium (ut aſſeritur) ſcripto, ſplendenti tunc temporis tantâ religionis gloriâ, haec habet verba. Ut (inquit Cap. 1. iſtius libri) in quarto libro de primo Domini adventu diximus, ſic in hoc, ſecundum referamus adventum, QUEM JUDAEI QUOQUE ET CONFITENTUR ET SPERANT, &c. quoniam neceſſe eſt ad eos CONSOLANDOS REVERTATUR, ad quos CONVOCANDOS prius venerat. Diſpoſitione (inquit Cap. 2.) ſummi Dei ſic ordinatum, ut injuſtum hoc ſeculum, decurſo temporum ſpatio, terminum ſumat, extinctâque protinus omni malitiâ, & piorum p. 17animis ad beatam revocatis quietum, tranquillum, pacificum, a…eum denique ſeculum, Deo ipſo regnante floreſcat. Plato (inquit Lactantius Cap. 14.) & multi alii Philoſophorum, cum ignorarent originem rerum, ſupremumque illud tempus quo mundus eſſet effectus; multa millia ſeculorum fluxiſſe dixerunt, ex quo hic pulcherrimus mundi extiterit ornarus; ſicuti fortaſſe Chaldaei, qui (un Cic. tradidit in lib. de divinatione primo) quadringenta, ſeptuaginta millia annorum Monumontis Comprehenſa ſe habere delirant, &c. Nos autem, quos divinae literae ad ſcientiam veritatis erudiunt, principium mundi, finemque cognovimus, de quo nunc in fine operis diſſeremus, quoniam de principio in ſecundo libro explicavimus. Sciant igitur Philoſophi, qui ab exordio mundi enumerant ſeculorum millia, nondum ſextum milleſsimum annum eſſe Concluſum, quo numero expleto, Conſummationem fieri neceſſe eſt, ET HUMANARUM RERUM STATUM IN MELIUS REFORMARI. Cujus rei argumentum prius eſt enarrandum, quo ratio eluceſcat. Mundum Deus, & hoc rerum & naturae admirabile opus (ſicut arcanis facrae Scripturae continetur) ſex dierum ſpatio conſummavit, diemque ſeptimum, quo ab operibus ſuis requieverat, ſanxit. Hic autem eſt dies Sabbathi, qui linguâ Hebraeorum a numero nomen accepit, unde ſeptenarius numerus legitimus, ac plenus eſt. Nam & dies ſeptem ſunt, quibus per vicem revolutis, orbes conficiuntur annorum, & ſeptem ſteilae quae non occidunt; & ſeptem ſydera, que vocantur errantia; quorum diſpares curſus, & inaequales motus rerum, ac temporum varietates efficere creduntur. Ergo quoniam ſex diebus cuncta Dei opera perfecta ſunt; per ſecuta ſex, p. 18id eſt annorum ſex millia manere in hoc ſtatu mundum neceſſe eſt. Dies enim magnus Dei Mille annorum circulo terminatur, ſicut indicat Propheta, qui dicit: ANTE OCULOS TUOS, DOMINE, MILLE ANNI, tanquam DIES UNUS. Et ut Deus ſex illos dies in tantis rebus fabricandis Laboravit; it a & religio ejus & veritas, in his ſex millibus annorum laborare neceſſe eſt, MALITIAPRAE. VALENTE, AC DOMINANTE. Et rurſus, quoniam perfectis operibus requievit die ſeptimo, eumque benedixit; neceſſe eſt, ut in fine ſexti milleſimi anni, MALITIA OMNIS ABOLEATUR E TERRA, & REGNET PER ANNOS MILLE JUSTITIA; SITQUE TRANQUILLITAS, & REQVIES A LABORIBUS, QUOS MUNDUS TAMDIU PERPESSUS EST. Verùm quatenus id eveniat, ordine ſuo explicabo. Saepe diximus minora & exigua, magnorum figuras, & praemonſtrationes eſſe; & hunc diem noſtrum, qui ortu ſolis, occaſuque finitur, diei magni ſpeciem gerere, quem circuitus annorum determinat. Eodem medo etiam figuratio terreni hominis, Caeleſtis populi praeferebat in poſterum fictionem. Nam ſicut perfectis omnibus, quae in uſum hominis molitus eſt Deus, ipſum hominem ſexto die ultimum fecit, eumque induxit in hunc mundum, tanqam in domum diligenter inſtructam; ita nunc ſexto die magno verus homo verbo Deifingitur, id eſt ſanctus populus doctrinâ & praeceptis Dei ad juſtitiam figuratur. Et ſicut tunc mortalis aque imperfectus e lerrâ fictus eſt, ut mille annis in hoc mundo viveret; ITA NUNC EX HOC TERRESTRI SECULO PERFECTUS HOMO FINGITUR p. 19UT VIVIFICATUS A DEO, IN HOC EODEM MUNDO PERANNOS MILLE DOMINETUR.

Eſt (inquit Lactantius Cap. 15.) in arcanis ſacrarum literarum, tranſcendiſſe in Aegyptum cogente inoptâ rei frumentariae principem Hebraeorum cum omnidomo & cognatione. Cujus poſteri, cùm diutiùs in, Aegypto commorantes, in magnam gentem creviſſent, in gravi atque intoler ando ſervitutis jugo premerentur; percuſsit Aegyptum Deus inſanabili plagâ, & populum ſuum liberavit, traductum medio mari, cùm diſciſsis fluctibus & in utramique partem dimotis, per ſiccum populus graderetur. Conatuſque rex Aegyptiorum profugos inſequi, Coeunte in ſtatum ſuum pelago, cum omnibus copiis interceptus eſt. Quod facinus tam clarum, tamque mirabile, quamvis ad praeſens virtutem Dei hominibus oſtenderet; tamen prefiguratio, & figura majoris rei fuit, quam Deus idem in extremâ temporum conſummatione facturus eſt. LIBERABIT ENIM PLEBEM SUAM DE GRAVI SERVITUTE MUNDI. Sed quoniam tunc una plebs Dei, & apud unam gentem fuit; Aegyptus tunc ſola percuſſus eſt. NUNC AUTEM QUIA DEI POPULUS EX OMNIBUS LINGUIS CONGREGATUS, APUD OMNES GENTES COMMORATUR, ET AB HIS DOMINANTIBUS PREMITUR, NECESSE EST UNIVERSAS NATIONES, id eſt, ORBEM TOTUM CAELESTIBUS PLAGIS VERBERARI, Ut JUSTUS ET CULTOR DEI POPULUS LIBERETUR. Et tunc ſicut ſigna facta ſunt, quibus futura olades Aegypti oſtenderetur, ita in ultimo p. 20fient prodigia miranda per omnia elementa mundi, quibus imminens exitus univerſis gentibus intelligatur. Propinquante igitur hujus ſeculi termino, humanarum rerum ſtatum commutari neceſſe eſt; & in deterius nequitia invaleſcente, prolabi, &c. Ita enim juſtitia rareſcet, ita impietas, &c. crebreſcet, ut ſi qui tum forte fuerint boni, pradae ſint ſceleratis, &c. ſoli autem mali ſunt opulenti, &c. Non fides in hominibus, non pax, non humanitas, non pudor, non veritas erit; atque ita non ſecuritas, ne que regimen, &c. Omnis terra tumultuabitur; frement ubique bella, &c. Tunc peragrabit clades orbem. Cujus vaſtitatis & confuſionis haec erit cauſa, QUOD ROMANUM NOMEN, QUO NUNC REGITUR ORBIS (HORRET ANIMUS DICERE, SED DICAM, QUIA FUTURVM EST) TOLLETUR DE TERRA, ET IMPERIUM IN ASIAM REVERTETVR; ET RVRSVS ORIENS DOMINABITVR ATQVE OCCIDENS SERVIET. Nec mirum cuiquam debet videri, ſi regnum tantâ mole fundatum, act andiu per tot, & tales vires auctum, tantis denique opibus confirmatum, aliquando tamen corruet. Nihil eſt enim humanis viribus laboratum, quod non humanis aequè viribus deſtrui poſsit, quoniam mortalia ſunt mortalium opera. Sic & alia priùs regna, cùm diutius ftoruiſſent, nihilominus tamen occiderunt. Nam & Aegyptios, & Perſas, & Graecos, & Aſſyrios, proditum eſt, regimen, habuiſſe terrarum, quibus omnibus deſtructis, ad Romanos quoque rerum ſumma pervenit. Qui quanto caeteris omnibus regnis magnitudine anteſtant, tanto majore decident lapſu, quia plus habent ponderis ad ruinam, quae ſunt caeteris altiora. p. 21Non inſcuè Seneca Romanae urbis tempora diſtribuit in aetates. Primam enim dixit infantiam ſub Romulo, &c. Haec fuit prima ejus ſenectus, cum bellis lacerata civilibus, &c. quaſi ad alteram infantiam revoluta, &c. Quod ſi haec ita ſunt quid reſtat niſi ut ſequeretur interitus ſenectutem? Et id futurum brevi conciones prophetarum denunciant; ſub ambage aliorum nominum, ne facuè quis intelligat. Sibyllae tamen apertè interituram eſſe Romam lequanur, & quidem judicio Det quod nomen ejus habuerit inviſum, & inimica juſtitiae, ALVMNVM VERITATIS POPVLVM trucidârit. Hydaſpes quoque, qui fuit Medorum Rex antiquiſsimus, à quo amnis quoque nomen acce pit qui nunc Hydaſpes dictiur, admirabilis omnium (aliàs admirabile ſomnium) ſub interpretatione Vaticinantis peuri, ad memoriam poſteris tradidit, SVBLATVM IRI EX ORBE IMPERIVM NOMENQVE ROMANVM, muliò ante praefatus quàm TROJANA GENS conderetur.

Quomodo (inquit Lactantius) Cap. 16. id futurum ſit, ne quis incredibile arbitretur, oſtendam. Inprimis multiplicabitur regnum, et ſumma rerum poteſtas per plu…imos diſsipata, & conciſa, minuetur. Tunc diſcordiae civiles in perpetuum ſerentur, nec ulla requies &c. donec REGES DECEM pariter exiſtant, qui orbem terrae, non ad regendum, ſed ad conſumendum, patiantur, &c. Tum repente adverſus eos, hoſtis potentiſsimus, ab extremis finibus plagae ſeptentrionalis orietur; qui, tribus ex eo numero deletis qui tunc Aſiam obtinebunt, aſſumetur in ſocietatem à caeteris, ac princeps conſtituetur omnium. Hic, inſuſtentabili dominatione vexabit orbem; divina & humana miſcebit; infanda dictu, & excrabilia molietur, &c. leges commutabit, ſuas ſanciet; contaminabit, diriplet, ſpoliabit, occidet. Denique immutato nomine, atque imperii ſede tranſlatâ, confuſio, ac perturbatio humani generis conſequetur, &c. Ac nequid malis hominum terraeque deſit, andietur è Caelo tuba, quod hoc modo Sibylla denunciet, foreign p. 22Itaque trepidabunt omnes & ad luctuoſum illum ſonitum contremiſcent. Tum verò per iram Dei adverſum homines, qui juſtitiam Dei non agnoverunt, ſaeviet ferrum, ignis, fames, morbus; & ſuper omnia metus impendent. Tunc orabunt Deum, & non exaudiet, optabitur mors, & non veniet, &c. His & aliis pluribus malis ſolitudo fiet in terrâ; & erit deformatus orbis, atque deſertus, quod in Carminibus Sibyllinis ita dicitur; foreign. Ita enim conſicietur humanum genus ut vix decima pars hominum relinquatur, &c. De cultoribus etiam Dei, duae partes interibunt, & tertia quae fuerit probata remanebit.

Sed (inquit Lactantius Cap. 17.) planiùs quomodo id eveniat exponam. Imminente jam temporum concluſione, Propheta magnus mittetur a Deo, qui convertat homines, ad Dei agnitionem, & accipiat poteſtatem mirabilia faciendi. Ubicunque non audierint eum homines, cludet Caelum; & detinebit imbres, &c. & quicunque conabitur eum laedere, procedet ignis de ore ejus, atque comburet illum. His prodigiis &c. convertet multos, &c. peractis operibus ipſius, alter Rex orietur ex Syriâ malo ſpiritu genitus, everſor, ac perditor generis humani, qui reliquias illius prioris mali cum ipſo ſimul deleat. Hic pugnabit adverſus Propheta Dei, & vincet, & interficiet eum & inſepultum jacere patietur. Seà poſt diem tertium reviviſcer; at que inſpectantibus, & mirantibus cunctis rapietur in Caelum. Rex verò ille teterrimus erit quidem et ipſe, ſed mendaciorum Propheta; et ſeipſum conſtituet, ac vocabit, et ſe coli jubebit, ut Dei filium; et dabitur illi poteſt as, ut faciat ſigna, et prodigia; quilus viſis irretiat homines, ut adorent cum. Jubebit ignem deſcendere de Caelo, et ſolem ſuis curſilus ſtare, et imaginem loqui, et fient haec ſuch verbo ejus. Quibus miraculis etiam ſapientium plurimi allicientur ab eo. Tunc erueve Templum Dei conabitur, et juſtum populum perſequetur, &c. Qui crediderint, atque acceſſerint ei, ſignabuntur ab eo tanquam pecudes. Qui autem recuſaverint notam ejus, aut in montes ſugient, aut comprehenſi exquiſitis cruciatibus necabuntur, &c. et dabitur illi deſolare orbem terrae menſibus quadraginta duobus. Id erit tempus quo juſtitia projicietur, et innocentia odio erit; quo mali bonos praedabuntur; non lex, aut ordo, &c. ſervabitur, &c. Itaque quaſi uno Communique la trocinio terra univerſa vaſtabitur. Cùm haec facta erunt, tum juſti, et ſectatores veritatis ſegregabunt ſe à malis, et fugient in ſolitudines. Quo p. 23audito, impius Rex, inflammatus trâ cum exercita magno, & admotis omnibus copiis, circumdabit montem, in quo juſti morabuntur, ut eos comprehendat. Illi verò, ubi ſe clauſos undique, atque obſeſſos viderint, exclamabunt ad Deum voce magnâ, & adxilium caeleſte implorabunt. Et exaudiet eos Deus; & emittetregem magnum de Caelo gui eos eripiat, ac liberet, omneſque impios ferro, igneque diſperdat.

Haec (inquit Lactantius Cap. 18.) Ita futurum eſſe, cùm Prophetae omnes, Ex Dei ſpiritu, tum etiam vatex ex inſtinctu daemonum cecinerunt. Hydaſpes enim quem ſuperius nominavi, deſcriptâ iniquitate ſaeculi hujus extremi; pios, ac fideles à nocentibus ſegregatos, ait, cum fletu, & gemitu extenſuros eſſe ad Caelummanus, & imploraturos fidem Jovis. Jovem reſpecturum ad terram, & auditurum voces hominum, atque impios extincturum. Quaeomnia vera ſunt, praeter unum, quòd Jovem dixit illa facturum, quae Deus faciet. Sed & illud non ſine daemonum fraude ſubtractum eſt; miſſum iri a patre Filium Dei, qui deletis omnibus malis, pios liberet. Quod Hermes tamen non diſsimulavit. In eo enim libro qui foreign inſcribitur, poſt enumer ationem malorum, de quibus diximus ſubjecit, haec: foreign, &c. i. e. Cùm haec facta fuerint O Aſclepi, tunc Do…nus, & pater, & Deus, & primi, & unius Dei Creator aſpiciens quae acta ſunt, & ſuâ voluntate, cum bonum objeciſſet temeritati, & errore revocato, malitiâque purgatâ, partim aquâ nimiâ diluens, partim igne rapido cremans, interdum bellis, & peſtilentiis extergens, ad ſtatum priſtinum perduxit, & reſtituit ſuum mundum. Sibyllae quoque non aliter fore oſtendunt, quà ut Dei filius à ſummo patre mittatur, qui & juſtos liberet de manthus impiorum, & injuſtos cum tyrannis ſaevientibus deleat è quibus una ſic tradidit.

foreign,

foreign, &c.

i. e. Quidam à Deo miſſus Rex ad ſuos, omnes perdet reges magnos & viros optimos, &c. Oppreſſo igitur orbe terrae (Inquit Lactant. C. 19.) cùm ad deſtruendam immenſarum virium tyrannidem, humanae opes deſecerint, &c. Commotus Deus, & periculo ancipiti, & miſerandâ comploratione juſtorum mittet protinus lileratorem. Tunc aperietur caelum medium intempeſta, & tenebroſâ nocte, ut in orbe toto p. 24lumen deſcendentis Dei, tanquam fulgur, appareat, quod Sibylla in his verſibus locuta eſt.

—foreign

foreign

Haec eſt nox, quae nobis propter adventum regis, ac Dei noſtri pervigilio celebratur. Cujus noctis du plex ratio eſt, quòd in ea, & vitam tum recepit, cum paſſ us eſt; & poſtea orbis terrae regnum recepturus eſt. Hic eſt enim liberator, & judex, & ultor, & Rex, & Deus, quem nos Chriſtum vocamus; qui priùs quam deſcendat, hoc ſignum dabit. Cadet repente gladius e coelo, ut ſciant juſtiducem ſanctoe militiae deſcenſurum, & deſiendet comitantibus Angelis, &c. Et virius Angeloram tradet in manus juſtorum multitudinem illam, quae montem circumſederit; & concidetur ab horâ tertiâ uſque adveſperum, & fluet ſanguis more torrentis; deletiſque copi is, impius ſolus, flugiet, & peribit ab eo virtus ſua. Hic eſt autem qui appellatur Antichriſtus; ſed ſe ipſe Chriſtum mentietur & contra verum dimicabit, & victus efſugiet; & bellum ſaepe renovabit, & ſaepe vincetur; donec quarto praelio, confect is omnibus impris, debellatus, & captus, tandem ſcelerum ſucrum luet paenas. Sed & caeteri principes, ac tyranni qui contriverunt crlem, ſimul cum eo vincti adducentur ad regem; & increpabit eos, &c. Et damnabit eos, ac meritis cruciatibus tradet. Sic extinctâ malitiâ requieſcet orbis &c.

Poſt haec (inquit Lactantius Cap. 20.) aperientur inferi, et reſurgent mortui, de quibus judicium magnum idem ipſe rex ac Deus faciet, cui ſummus pater, et judicandi, et regnandi, dabit maximam poteſtatem. De quo judicio et regno a pud Erythraeam Sibyllam ſic invenitur foreign &c.i.e. Cum dies iſte finem fatalem acceperit, & ad mortales judicium immortalis Dei p. 25venerit, venict ſuper homines, magnum judicium & initium &c. Nec tamen unìverſi tunc à Deo judicabuntur, ſed ii tantum, qui ſunt in Dei religione verſati, &c.

Corruperunt (inquit Lactantius Cap. 22. dicti libri ſeptimi) Poetae, poeticâ licentia quod acceperant, &c. Nam quod peractis apud inferos mille annis, rurſus ad vitam reſtitui, cecinerunt, Marone ita dicente.

Has omnes, ubi mille rotam volêure per annos,

Lethaeum ad fluvium, Deus evocat agmine magno.

Scilicet immemores, ſupera ut convexa reviſant,

Rurſus & incipiant in Corpora velle reverti.

Haec eos ratio fefellit, quod reſurgent defuncti, non poſt mille annos mortis ſuae, ſed ut reſtituti rurſus in vitam, mille annis cum Deo regnent.

Quâ de anaſtaſi (inquit Lactantius Cap. 23.) Philoſophi quoque aliquid dicere conati ſunt, tam corruptè quàm Poetae. Nam Pythagoras tranſire animas in nova corpora diſputavit, ſed inepte; & ſeipſum ex Euphorbo eſſe reparatum. Melius Chryſippus; quem Cicero ait fulcire porticum Stoicorum; qui in libris quos de providenti â ſcripſit, cum de innovatione mundi loqueretur, haec intulit. foreign, &c. i.e. Quod cum ita ſit, apparet non eſſe impoſſible, & nos cum vitam finierimus, rurſus vertiginibus certis temporis revolutis, in hunc ſtatum in quo nunc ſumus, reſtitutum iri. Sibyllae etiam dicit haec, foreign. &c. id eſt, Et enim durum ad credendum, &c. ſed cum jam mundi & mortalium venerit judicium, &c. Impios quidem in tenebras in igne mittet; qui autem p. 26pietatem colunt, iterum vivent in terra, ſpiritum Deo dante, honorem ſimul, & vitam ipſis.

Nunc (inquit Lactantius Cap. 24.) reliqua ſubnectam, veniet igitur ſummi, & maximi Dei filius, ut vivos ac mortuos judicet, teſtante atque dicente Sibylla, foreign, &c. i.e. Totius enim terrae mortalium confuſio tunc erit, cum ipſe Omnipotens venerit in Tribunali, judicare vivorum & mortuorum animas, et mundum univerſum. Verùm ille cum deleverit injuſtitiam, judiciumque maximum feceri t, ac juſtos qui à principio fuerint, ad vitam reſtauraverit, mille annis inter homines verſabitur; eoſque juſtiſsimo imperio reget. Quod alibi Sibylla vaticinans furenſque proclamat; foreign &c. i.e. Audite me homines, Rex ſempiternus dominatur. Tum qui erunt in corporibus vivi non morientur; ſed per eoſdem mille annos infinitam multitudinem generabunt; & erit ſoboles eorum ſancta, & Deo chara. Qui antem inferis ſuſcitabuntur, ii praeerunt viventibus, velut judices. Gentes verò non extinguentur omnino, ſed quaedam relinquentur in victoriam Dei, ut triumphentur à juſtis, ac ſubjugentur perpetuae ſervituti. Sub idem tempus etiam princeps Daemonum, qui eſt machinator omnium malorum, Cathenis vincietur. Et erit in cuſtodiâ mille annis Coeleſtis imperti, quo juſtitia in orbe regnabit, &c. Poſt cujus adventum congregabuntur juſtiex omni terra, peratoque judicio, civitas ſancta conſtituetur in medio terrae, in qua ipſe conditor Deus cum juſtis dominantibus Commoretur, quam civitatem Sibylla deſignat.

foreign,

foreign.

p. 27Tunc auferentur à mundo tenebrae illae, quibus offundetur atque obcae cabitur coelum; & luna claritatem ſolis accipiet, &c. Sol autem ſepties tanto quam nunc eſt, clarior fiet. Terra verò aperiet faecunditatem ſuam, & uberrimas fruges ſuâ ſponte generabit, &c. Mundus gaudebit, & omnis rerum natura laetabitur, erepta & liberata dominio mali, &c. Non beſtiae per hoc tempus ſanguine alentur, non aves predâ, ſed quieta & placida erunt omnia. Leones et vituli ad praeſepe ſimul ſtabunt, &c. Denique tunc fient illa, quae poetae aureis temporibus facta eſſe jam Saturno regnante, dixerunt; (Quorum error hinc ortus eſt, quod prophetae futurum pleraque ſic proferunt, ut enunciant quaſi jam peracta, &c.)

Cedet & ipſe mati vector, nec nautica pinus

Mutabit merces; omnis feret omnia tellus.

Non raſtros patietur humus, non vinea falcem,

Robuſtus quoque jam tauris juga ſolvet arator, &c.

Sic etiam Sibyllae variis in locis. Vivent itaque homines tranquilliſsimam vitam, et copioſiſsimam, et regnabunt cum Deo pariter. Et reges gentium venient a finibus terrae cum donis &c. ut adorent et honorificent regem magnum, cujus nomen erit praeclarum &c. univerſis nationibus, &c.

Haec (inquit Lactantius Cap. 25.) ſunt quae a prophetis futura dicuntur, quorum teſtimonia et verba ponere opus eſſe non duxi, quoniam eſſet infinitum, &c. Fortaſſe quiſpiam nunc requiret, quando iſta, quae diximus ſint futura? Jam ſuperius oſtendi completis annorum ſex millibus mutationem iſtam fieri p. 28oportere, & jam propinquare ſummum illum concluſionis extremae diem, &c. De ſignis, &c. a Prophetis licet noſcere, &c. Quando compleatur haec ſumma, docent ii qui de temporibus ſcripſerunt, colligentes ea ex literis ſanctis, & ex variis hiſtoriis, quantus ſit numerus annorum ab exordio mundi. Qui, licet varient, & aliquantum numeri eorum ſumma diſſentiat; omnis * tamen expectatio, non amplius quam ducentorum videtur annorum. Etiam res ipſa declarat, lapſum, ruinamque rerum brevi fore: Niſi quod incolumi urbe Româ, nihil iſtiuſmodi videtur eſſe metuendum. * At verò cum caput illud orbis occiderit, & foreign eſſe caeperit, quod Sibyllae fore aiunt; quis dubitet veniſſe jam finem rebus humanis, orbique terrarum? Illa eſt enim civitas quae adhuc ſuſtentat omnia.

Diximus (inquit Lactantius Cap. 26.) Paulo ante, in principio regni ſancti fore, ut a Deo princeps daemonum vinciatur. Sed idem, cum mille anni regni, boc eſt ſeptem millia Caeperint terminari, ſolvetur denuo, & cuſtodiâ emiſſus exibit, atque omnes gentes, quae tunc erunt ſub ditione juſtorum, concitabit, ut inferant bellum ſanctae civitati; & colligetur ex omniorbe terrae innumerabilis populus nationum, & obſidebit, & circumdabit Civitatem. Tunc vêniet noviſsima ira Dei ſuper gentes & debellabit eas uſque adunum, ac primum concutiet terram quàm validiſsimè, & a motu ejus ſcindentur montes Syriae; & ſubſident colles in abruptum; & muriomnium civitatum corruent; & Statuet Deus ſolem triduò ne occidat, & inflammabit eum, & deſcendet aeſtus nimius, & aduſtio magna ſupra perduelles, & impios populos; & imbres ſulphuris, & grandines lapidum, & guitae ignis, & p. 29liqueſcent ſpiritus eorum in calore, & corpora conterentur in grandine, & ipſiſe invicem gladio ferient; & replebuntur montes cadaveribus, & campi operientur oſsibus, populus autem Dei tribus illis diebus ſub concavis terrae occultabitur; donec ira Dei adverſus gentes extremum judicium terminet.. Tunc exibunt juſti de latebris ſuis, et invenient omnia cadaveribus at que oſsibus tecta. Sed et genus omne impiorum radicitùs interibit; nec erit in hoc mundo ulla jam natio amplius, praeter ſolam gentem Dei. Tum per annos ſeptem perpetes intactae erunt ſilvae; nec excidetur de montibus lignum, Sed arma gentium comburentur; et jam non erit bellum, ſed pax, et requies ſempiterna. Cum vero Completi fuerint mille anni, renovabitur mundus à Deo; et Caelum complicabitur, et terra mutabitur; et transformabit Deus homines in ſimilitudinem Angelorum, et erunt candidi ſicut nix; et verſabuntur ſemper in conſpect… omnipotentis, &c. Eodem tempore fiet ſecunda illa et publica omnium reſurrectio, in qua excitabuntur injuſti ad cruciatus ſempiternos &c. Haec eſt doctrina ſanctorum prophet arum, quam Chriſtiani ſequimur. Haec Lactantius.