Concerning Comets, Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
THe several sorts of Comets considered. The natural reason of the Blaze, the time of their appearance cannot certainly be praedicted. Notwithstanding their proceeding from natural causes, they may be portentous signs of evil Events.
Having briefly Discoursed of the place where, and the matter out of which Comets have their existence; we now proceed to consider the usual distributions of those admirable and amazing works of the glorious Creator, whose works are great, and sought out by those that have pleasure therein. As for the parts of which a Comet doth consist there is the Star & the Blaze proceeding therefrom, whence we call them Blazing Stars. Or, the Body of the Star, and the stream that follows or goeth before it, which the Greeks call Coma, whence such Phoenomena have the names of Comets given to them. In respect of the Blaze, Comets have been distinguished into several sorts. The Assyrians, Arabians, and others in old times, were wont from the colour of the blaze to denominate the Comet e. g. pMizaldus de Cometis.when it was of a dark and leadish kind of colour, they called it a Saturnine; if of a bright Silver shining colour, a Jovial; if red and fiery, a Martial; if of a Golden aspect a Solar; if a bright yellow a Venereal; if caerulean and various, a Mercurial Comet. But the Latines and Greeks have distinguished Comets from the form of the Blaze, which they appear with. Pliny qNat. Histor- L. 2. C. 25mentions about ten several sorts of Blazing Stars. But all may be reduced to these two general heads: viz. rLongoman tanus de novis coeli phoenom. C. 1. Ricciolus de Cometis C. 2 Hevelius Cometogr. L. 8. P. 439.That a Comet is either 1, Crinite, h. c. when the Beams or Blaze is all round the body of the Star; under which cometh that sort of Comet which is called Disceus, appearing in form like a Dish. Pithites, when the Comet is like a Tub or Hogshead, Hippeus, when it resembles an Horses main. Hircus; when the Blaze is like to Goats hair. Or 2. Barbate, h. c. when the Blaze is on the one side of the Comet only. Under this comes that which is called Acontias, when the blaze is in the form of a Dart. Longitis, when it is in the form of a Lance or Spear. Xiphias, when in the form of a Sword. Ceretias when it bends like a crooked Horn. Lampadias, when it blazeth like a Lamp. As for the true cause of the Blaze, it seems evident that it doth proceed from the Sun beams, passing through the body of the Star. For the Coma or Blaze is not on that side of the Star which is next to the Sun, but which is opposite there from. Some antient Writers began a little to take notice of this. But Appianus was the first that did fully and clearly discern it to be so, being convinced of the truth of this notion, by five several Comets which himself lived to see, viz. Those in Anno. 1531, 32, 33, 38, 39. Likewise Gemma, and Cornelius Frisius, Fracastorius, Tycho, and of later times Gassendus, and many other famous Mathematicians, and diligent observers of things of this nature whom the learned Reader may see quoted by sL. 8. P. 432.Hevelius. Moreover, tƲbi supra C. 6. P, 16.Longomontanus observeth, that if the Comet have a more lateral disposition towards the Sun, then it will be Caudatus, but if the opposition to the Sun be more direct, or the Comet elevated above the Sun, then it will be Crinite, or the Blaze but short. The blaze is long or short according to the opposition towards the Sun, and distance from the Earth. The blaze of some Comets hath extended it self above ninety Degrees. There was one in Aristotle's time that was an 130 Degrees in Longitude. If the Comet be higher then the Sun, the blaze will be short. If the Comet be as low as the Sun, then the nearer it is to the Sun, the longer will the blaze appear to be. By the things that have been thus far discoursed, we may conclude that the time of any Comets appearance cannot certainly be praedicted before hand. Some very learned men, (in special the great and noble uDc. augmentis scientiarum P. 242.Verulam) have supposed that this knowledge is attainable. Indeed, if Comets were sempiternal bodies, by experience and observation their appearance might be exactly praedicted. But since they are generated in the Aether, no man can any more tell when they shall be seen, then he can know when a Paraelion, or Draco volans or the like will be generated in the Air. Yet I will not deny, but that a probable conjecture, as to the year of a Comets appearance, may be made from the conjunction of the superiour Planets. It hath been wFranciscus Junctinus in Annotationibus de Cometis Cornelius Gemma Cosmogr. L. 1 C. 18observed that those rare Conjunctions are commonly attended with the appearance of some new Star, or Comet: So indeed it was as to ths Blazing Stars in 1504, 1506, 1525, 1577, 1583, 1664. notable conjunctions of the Planets did praecede them. Upon this ground, xEdlin in his praenuncius sydereus Pag. 36 37, 89.a late Astrologer, publishing a Treatise of the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter Anno. 1663. conjectured that a Comet would appear the next year: which hapned to be true; and if an Astrologer (as the blind man hits the mark) chance to praedict right once, more notice is taken of that, then of his mistaking an hundred times over. Very notable Conjunctions of the Planets hapned this present, and will do so again the next year, (as shall be more particularly mentioned) If any man should now positively affirm, that within this twelve monethmonth another Blazing Star will appear, it would be presumptuous, although it is both possible and probable that it may so come to pass. But the observation doth not alwayes hold good; For there have been both greater and lesser Conjunctions of the Planets, when no Comet hath appeared, and many Comets without any such Conjunctions immediately praeceding. In few words, sometimes, many Blazing Stars have been seen within the compass of a few years; there have been at least ten within these eighty years last past. But in some ages, not one Comet hath appeared for an hundred years together. Since several may appear (in two, nay) in one year, and it may be not one in fifty nor in an hundred years, the appearance of such Phaenomena's, cannot be infallibly foreseen by any humane understanding upon Earth.
There are who think, that inasmuch as Comets may be supposed to proceed from natural causes, there is no speaking voice of Heaven in them, beyond what is to be said of all other works of God. But certain it is, that many things which may happen according to the course of nature, are portentous signs of divine anger, and prognosticks of great evils hastening upon the world A Learned and Judicious Author yHevelius in Cometogr. Lib. 8. P. 540.conceiveth that the prodigious darkness which hapned in the Sun at the time of our Saviour Christ's Passion, was caused by a Comets interposing it self between the Sun and the Earth; yet that darkness was a sign of Gods anger, and that darkness of misery should come upon the Jewish Nation, for their unparalleld wickedness in Crucifying the Son of God. Luther thinks, that then Joels Prophesie was fulfilled, who predicted that the Sun should be turned into zLuther in Joel 2. sic & glossa ordinaria Gasper sanctius & alii in locum.darkness before the terrible day of the Lord came. Thunder, Lightning, Hail, and Rain, are from natural causes, yet are they sometimes signs of Gods holy displeasure, Exod. 9. 24. 34. 1 Sam, 7. 1. & 12. 17. Earthquakes are from Psal. 18. 13, 14. & 77. 17, 18.natural causes, yet there is many times a very speaking voice of God in them. The Jews have a Tradition, that the first Earth-quake hapned in the dayes of Nahor, as a sign of Gods anger because men were then become Idolaters. They also say that when Joshua was buried there was an Earth-quake in the place where he was interred, signifying that God was offended at the Children of Israel, because they layed not Joshuah's death to heart so much as they should have done, whence aV. Notas Lempereur in R Benjamin Itinerar P. 142.that Mountain is called Har gahas The trembling Mountain: R. Azarias bVide Hottinger dissertation de Terraemotu, P. 186.upon occasion of a terrible Earth-quake, which hapned in Ferraria, A. D. 1571. wrote a Discourse on that Subject, and the Title of his Book is Kol Elohim h. c. The voice of God. And the Holy Scriptures mention Earth-quakes as being sometimes Prognosticks of Mutations and Miseries, & Signs of divine anger. Amos 1. 1. Zech. 14. 5. Luk. 21. 11. 1 Sam. 14, 15. The great Revolutions and Conjunctions of the Planets come to pass according to the ordinary course of nature; yet are they wont to be attended with remarkable Commotions in this lower World, as is commonly observed & believed by Learned Men, & may further be declared in the close of this Discourse. The like is to be said of notable Eclipses of the Luminaries in Heaven. I confess I have not so great an Opinion of the omniousness of Eclipses, as I perceive some Learned and Good Men have, since every Year, there is an Eclipse taken notice of in one part of the Earth or other. Nevertheless, whoso reads Calvisius and other Chronologers, will perhaps think that such a notion is not wholly to be slighted. Chronologers observe that in the very Year when the ten Tribes were carried into Captivity, there hapned a great Eclipse of the Sun, which came not to pass without a special hand of divine providence; unto this the Prophet seemeth to allude, Amos 8. 9. That Eclipse was omninous of a Dark Day coming upon Samaria. Many notable Instances might be produced to this purpose. And something hath been observed among our selves, which seems to confirm their Opinion, who believe that total and central Eclipses, are ominous of mutations where they happen. There was such an Eclipse of the Sun in New England (Aug. 12. A. D. 1672.) the day before the Commencement, and that Year the Colledge was Eclipsed by the death of the Learned Praesident there, worthy M. Chauncy; and two Colonies (viz. Maessachusets, and Plimouth) by the death of two Governours, who died within a twelve monethmonth after. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the World. He that rideth upon the Heavens, and in his Excellency on the skie, when he decreed that such events should come to pass; did also determine that such things should go before. Shall then such mighty works of God as Comets are, be insignificant things? There are (as in the last Chapter we shall more amply express) who think that Comets have a natural influence upon the Earth. Hevelius dƲbi supra Page 319.acknowledgeth that the Blaze proceeding from some Comets, doth strike the earth, although Men perceive it not, because then the Comet must be in Conjunction with the Sun. The accurate and ingenious Kepler eIn Cometarum Physiologiae P. 104.supposeth that the Blaze of some Comets, is perforated by the Earth. If so, they may well cause Droughts, and many other miseries. But others take them to be indicant rather then natural (they may be, and for my part I believe they are both) signs of evils to come; like as strange apparitions in the air, Armies fighting, Ships sailing there, and the like, have no natural influence to cause wars and commotions where they are seen, only they are indications of such troubles a… hand. It may furthermore be added, that though evils should not follow, God may in his merciful providence, cause such sights to be observed, that so he might awaken Mortals to Repentance. He sometimes threateneth because he would not strike. Augustine fLege eum de civitate dei L. 2 C. 21. L. 3. C. 1 L. 22. C. 8.speaketh of a fiery Cloud that hung over the City of Constantinople, whereat the People were amared, and fell to praying and crying to God for mercy, and promised reformation of their evil wayes, and Judgement did not follow. Volens quidem Deus terrere civitatem, & terrendo emendare. I know there are that esteem Prognostications of this nature, as weak and groundless. So doth Erastus, and many Popish Authors, and some few others. Vincentius Guinisius made an Oration de faelicitate Cometarum, declaring that the Blazing Star which appeared An. 1618. was an happy Blazing Star, but I believe there is not one good man in the World of his mind as to that particular Comet. A gFranciscus Milleit Asro. L. 8. P. 582.Jesuit (who I suppose is still living) hath these words, plerosque cometas absque ulla calamitate fuisse assero. A false and a bold assertion. Another Jesuit hRicciolus de Cometis P. 34no less learned then the former, attempting to give a Catalogue of happy Comets, could not reckon up above twelve such since the World began, and some of those were attended with the most direful effects that can be mentioned; only because Tamerlain prospered, it must be called a Faustous Comet. I have else where mentioned, that the Wise Men among the Gentiles alwayes looked upon Blazing Stars as malorum praenuncios, the Heraulds, and Messengers of evil Tidings to the world. The antient Doctors in the Christian Church, Tertullian, Damascene, and iQuos vide citatos apud Tannerum in dissertatione de coelo Quest. 7. Par 4.many others, were of the same Opinion. And so are the generality of our modern and judicious Divines. And surely this Opinion tends more to piety, and the fear of God, then theirs doth, who think that Blazing Stars signifie no more then a Cloud in the air. It is moreover, of weighty consideration with me, (and I hope will be so with many others) that the Scripture doth declare, not only that the Stars are for signs, but that Fearful sights in the Heavens kCometa foreign: a Christo dicitur Frantzius de interpretatione Scripturae Pag. 1023.(and such are Comets) signifie calamitous times, and that signs in the Stars, betoken a storm amongst the Nations upon Earth, and that Phillars of somke portend a notable day of the Lord to be at hand; also the experience both of the former, and of this present age declareth, that when Blazing Stars have been seen, great mutations and miseries have come upon Mortals, as will by the subsequent Relation be made to appear.