Concerning Comets, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
The History of Comets from the beginning of the World to the first coming of Christ; together with some remarkable Events attending them.
THere are sundry Learned men, who affirm that in the Year after the Creation 1656. which was (according to the computation of those great Chronologers, (alvisius and Helvicus) two thousand two hundred and ninety two years before our Saviours nativity, there was seen a formidable Blazing Star, which all the old World beheld for the space of nine and twenty dayes. It appeared first in the sign of Pi…ces, and in a moneths time passed through all the twelve Signs of the Zodiack, as is affirmed by aIn discriptione cometae 1607Herlicius. bIn Historia cometarumEckstormius, and Rockenbachius. This is the first Comet, that any Writers (so far as in my small reading I have observed) make mention of. Immediately upon its appearing Methuselah died, and according unto the signification of the name, which his Father Enoch (being a Prophet) imposed upon him: The next Year, the Flood came, wherein all the Men, Women and Children throughout the Earth (excepting eight persons) perished. And it is the judgement of some, †Aventinus Sebastianus, Frank, & alii.that more persons were drowned by Noahs flood then are now living upon the face of the whole Earth, or ever have been at one time since that.
Anno Mundi. 1744. There appeared a Comet in the sign of Capricorn, which c Testante Rockenbachio de cometisin the space of sixty five dayes passed through three of the Caelestial Signs. The building of Babel, confusion of Languages, and consequent dispersing of Mankind throughout the World, have been noted as Events attending that Comet. Nimrod, (the first Tyrant in the world) was dSubito non comparuit translatus a diis. Berosus. forte a malis daemoniis ob maximam impietatem. Funcciuscarried away after an unknown manner, some think that God permitted the Devil to carry that most wicked man a live body and soul to Hell.
A. M. 2118. A Comet was observed in the sign of Aries, which continued for the space of 22 dayes. After this followed that Famine mentioned in the Scripture which caused Abraham to remove into Aegypt. Also Camesenuus fBerosusheaded an Army, and fell upon the Assyrians, but Ninias withstood him, in Battle overcame him, and caused his head to be cut off.
A. M. 2128. gIdem ubi supraNot many years after the death of Abraham, another Comet appeared in the sign of Leo for the space of nine dayes. Great mutations and miseries quickly followed in the World, as Serapis and Osiris (Aegyptian Demons) had prognosticated. Also, that Famine in Isaac's dayes of which we read Gen. 26. 1. About this time Phaeton (who is thought to be that Son of Cham who is by Moses called Phut) hFunccius.caused a fearful conflagration in Italy. Whence it was called then Palesana, i. e. the burnt Countrey.
A. M. 2230. A fiery and terrible Comet was seen, appearing in Sagitarius, coyling after a strange manner, representing the form of an imperfect circle iLib. 2. 25.'Tis judged that Pliny speaks of this Prodigy. It was by the King of Egypt then living called by the name of Typhon, i. e. Vortex fuming ans sed sine igne. Which seems to confirm their opinion who think that in old time a Comet was known by that Name kMede Discourse on John 10. 28. P. 37of a Pillar of Smoke. After this Comet, there was a Dearth for lHujus famis meminit Justinus Lib. 36. & Orosius Lib. 1. Cap. 8.seven years together, and that in all Countries; viz. that spoken of in the Scripture in Joseph's time, which followed the seven years plenty in Aegypt, Canaan, Aethiopia, Aegy…t and other Countries felt the direful effects of that Prodigy.
A. M. 2453. mRockenbachius in libro supra citato. vid. Alsted praecogn. Theol L. 2. P. 451.A Comet was observed in Syria, Chaldea, &c. in the sign of Capricorn; in which year the Children of Israel were delivered from their bondage to the Aegyptians, when Pharaoh and his Host received that fatal and memorable overthrow so much celebrated in the Holy Book of God.
A. M. 2770. In the nIdem.MonethMonth of August, a formidable Comet appeared in Gemini. After which followed the death of that wicked Tyrant Amenemos. Also, that long and miserable War which arose about Helena, and the doleful destruction of Troy. Likewise the War of the Amazons, with the Thebans, was near this time.
A M. 2795. A Comet oIdem.was seen in Aries, flaming for the space of 43 dayes. This was in the dayes of Samson, at (and by) whose death all the Lords of the Philistines, and about 3000 Men and Women were slain by the fall of their Idol's Temple, as they were Sacrificing to Dagon their god. Historians also speak of a Comet which was taken notice of about the Year of the World 3458, and was termed Ceratius, pDe quo cometa praetorius, Lycosthenes, Rockenbachius, Eckstormi…s, Hevelius, &c. Scripseruntbecause of its appearing crooked like to an Horn. Writers vary about the praecise year, when this Comet appeared. Only it is indubitable, that it was in the dayes of Anaxagoras and Democritus, who are the most antient Writers that give us any hystorical account about Comets. There was a notable Eclipse of the Sun, preceding that Comet; which Calvisius judgeth to be extraordinary and supernatural. Remarkable Providences which hapned about that time †vid. Funcil Chronol.were; Haman's bloody Plot to Massacre all the Jews in one day, together with the strange discovery and disappointment of that hellish contrivance. Also, Xerxes his motions, who put the whole World into an uproar, mustering together an Army of seventeen hundred thousand Foot and fourscore thousand Horse, and a Fleet consisting of above two thousand Gallies. Yea, Herodotus reprorteth that his Army did at least consist of above five Millions; designing to subdue Greece. But his Navy was vanquished by Themistocles his great Army routed. No less then three hundred thousand Soldiers under the Command of Mardonius were all s…ain; Athens was burnt.
A. M. 3518. (Or as others compute the age of the World, An. 3537.) There was seen a fearful Comet for 75. dayes together qL. 2. C. 25Pliny rIn Lysandro.Plutarch, sMeteorologiaAristotle, and other antient Writers, speak of this Comet. Anaxagoras took upon him to predict, that an horrible Tempest would follow. He hapned to conjecture right. There was tCharimander in libro de Cometis.a strange Whirlwind, that took a little Rock off from a great Rock, and lifted it up on high, and carried it away through the air, until it fell down at Aegos, a River in Thrace, to the amazement of the people there, who supposed that mighty Stone to have come down out of Heaven. But the great commotion attending this Comet, was that civil war among the Graecians, called the Peloponesian War, which continued for 27 years, until Greece was almost emptied of Inhabitants. Also, a uRicciolus de Cometis.pestilential and mortal Catarh so prevailed in Athens, as greatly to depopulate that place. A prodigious Earthquake hapned about a year after this, so that a Mountain was broken in pieces, and a City turned into an Island.
A. M. 3537. (or as others 3553) a septentrional Comet appeared in January which may wAristotles in Meteor L. 1. C 6 Mizaldus L. 1. Cap. 11. Eberus, Peucerus Ekstormius & alii.Writers have taken notice of. That fearful slaughter of the Athenians, which Historians make mention of, did accompany this Prodigy. About nine years after that xAristoteles ubi supra. Seneca. Nat. Qu. L. 7. C. 16.another Comet was observed, appearing in the winter time, immediately after Sun set. At first only the stream and not the Star was seen (because of its nearness to the Sun) which was extended over a third part of the heavens, i. e. 130 degrees. It ascended to Orions girdle, and there disappeared. After that, hapned that Earth quake Deluge in Achaia, wherein multitudes perished. Helice and Buris (two famous Cities) were lost in the Sea. It was about this time that Nehemiah built up the walls of Jerusalem, and then the times were troublous, Dan. 9. 25.
A. M. 3594. There was seen in Leo, a bearded Comet, which afterwards changed its form and appeared like a Spear. The remarkable Events then observed, were the burning of Diana's Temple at Ephesus, and Alexander sirnamed the Great, his Birth in the same day. Ptolomaeus Alorites, killed the King, and Reigned in Macedonia. A miserable Destruction came upon Sidon.
Fifteen years after, there was another Comet, near the Equinoctial circle, zAristoteles L. 1. C. 7. Rockenbachius.in Sagittarius, continuing nineteen dayes. What strange and amazing changes hapned in the World after that by means of Alexander the Great, is known to all men. Of him the Prophet Daniel speaks, Chap. 8. 5. when he saith, He saw an He goat come from the West, on the face of the whole Earth, and he touched not the ground. For Alexander made speedy work in conquering the Nations. In the space of six years, the face of things all the Earth over was changed. The Persiau empire brought to its period, and the third of Daniels Monarchies then began.
A. M. 3729. There was a Comet aRockenbachiusappearing in Aries, for the space of 22 dayes. After which great Wars in France followed. Seleuchus, the King of Asia and Syria treacherously Murdered. Amilcor marching with an Army into Spain enlargeth the Dominions of the Carthaginians.
A. M. 3752. A Comet was seen some few dayes in Capricorn, and two Moneths after again in Cancer, for the space of 19 dayes. bRockenbachius Lycosthenes. v. Joseph Antiq. Jud. L. 12. C. 3Two years after this, another Comet of a stupendous magnitude appeared for eighty dayes together, this I take to be the same which some Authors place about ten years after; viz. a Comet appearing in the sign of Pisces, extending it self over (near upon) a fourth part of the Heavens, cCornelius Gemma in Cosmo. …. 1 C. 8and its fulgor was such as did overcome the brightness of the Sun, so as that it was seen not only in the night, but also in the light day.
Mithridates his wars, and those between Antiochus and Achaeus, and the bloody Battle fought between the Romans and the Carthaginians, wherein Hannibal was overcome by Marcellus. and Asdrubal by the Scipio's; the death of the King of Sicily (whose Son succeeding and carrying himself insolently, was slain) are mentioned as great Events attending that Prodigy. In this second Punic war fifteen hundred thousand lost their lives. In Spain no less then 300 Towns were destroyed.
A. M. 3789. A Comet was seen in Aries appearing thirty two dayes. King Seleuchus was poisoned, and there succeeded Antiochus, whom his flatterers called Epiphanes, but the Scripture terms him a vile Person. He raised a terrible Persecution against the Church of God, committing horrid and outragious Cruelties, defiling the Temple, interdicting the publick worship of God Dan. 11. 21, 31. He was a notable Type of Antichrist, nor is it to be wondred at, if a Star, Blaze in Heaven, when such miseries were coming on the Earth.
Rockenbachius writeth of a Comet appearing A M. 3795 for the space of a Year and three weeks together. But there must needs be some mistake in that Relation, and therefore I praetermit it, and proceed unto,
A. M. 3798. (or as others 3782) when there appeared a Comet in September presently upon an Eclipse o… the Moon. After which Perseus the last King of Macedonia was overcome by Aemilius. Within 10 years another Comet appeared, which was attended with a woful Dearth and Plague and a long war between the Carthaginians and the Romans. An Army of the Bastans going over the Ice, it broke under them, that very few escaped with their lives.
A. M. 3819. There appeared a Comet in the sign of Capricorn, in magnitude equalling the Sun, and with its light overcoming the darkness of the night. Of this Seneca eNat. Quest. L. 7. C. 15.and after him many others have written. This Prodigy was attended with the Achaick War. The City of Carthage was taken and destroyed by Scipio. The City of Corinth was burnt by Mummius.
About ten years after that, another Comet appeared for the space of eighty three dayes, of which Seneca writes. At the first appearance it was very small but within a few dayes it grew to a stupendious magnitude, fSeneca ibidextending it self over the Via Lactea, so as was wonderful to behold.
gLib. 37.Justin speaketh of a Comet whose fulgor was like that of the Sun, the tail of it being 90 Degrees in length, shining so as that all the heaven seemed to be of a light fire, which is supposed to be the same with that mentioned by Seneca. As for Events, bloody Battles were fought between the Romans and the Gauls, wherein ainfinite number of men were slain: Also wars between the King of Syria and the King of Egypt. The King of Syria was deserted by his Souldiers, taken and slain.
A. M. 3863. (Or according to the computation of others Anno 3879) gScribentibus Rockenbach. Ebero, & aliis.A Comet was seen in the sign of Virgo, continuing 94 dayes. This was that which hL. 2. C. 25.Pliny calleth Terrificum sidus, the terrible Star. Mithridates invaded Asia; after which followed that bloody Civil War between Marius and Octavius.
A. M. (Circiter) 3900. Several iTestibus Plinio, Lucano, &c.Comets were observed as portentous of the War between Pompey and Caesar; And of Pompey his fall. It is also reported kMizald. L 1. C. 9. Rockenb.that Caesars death was attended with a Comet of that sort which is called Xiphias.
A. M. 3920. A lLicosthenes Rockenbach.Comet appeared in Libra, flaming for 95 dayes. The fame year Antonius being overcome, killed himself, and Octavius Caesar subdued the Land of Aegypt. It is almost incredible to relate how many Millions lost their lives in those distracted times, by the Roman sword at home and abroad.
And thus much for Comets appearing from the beginning of the World until the Incarnation of the Son of God, so far as Authors have taken notice of them.