Concerning Comets, To the reader
TO THE READER.
COncerning those admirable; and amazing works of God, which are by us called Comets, as under a Physical and Mathematical Consideration, there are many that have published their Sentiments, and some to good purpose and edification. The scope of the ensuing discourse, is only (that being most proper for one under my circumstances) to make a Theological Improvement thereof. There are that do propound this inquiry, How many Comets hath the world taken notice of since the first Creation? Which is indeed a Question that no mortal living is able to give a full and certain answer unto. It is true that sundry learned and worthy Writers (especiall Lavater and Alsted) have attempted to give us the History of Comets, no… hath their labour been wholly in vain or unprofitable▪ In the Authors but now mentioned (though others give us a larger account) We do not read of above eleven Blazing Stars, in those Ages (for about four thousand years) that were before the Incarnation of the Son of God: Doubtless there were more; but the Records of those times are very imperfect, so that we cannot say, when they appeared, or by whom observed▪ The number of Comets seen these last 1680. years, is judged to be about 158. Some speak of a farr greater number, but others question whether there have been so many, inasmuch as diverse appearances of the sam… Comet have been set down by Historians as if they had been so many distinct Comets. Such Stars (for so rather than Meteors have the Observations of later times evinced them to be) have ever been accounted Ominous Presages of great mutations and miseryes coming upon the world. So did the wise men amongst the Gentiles of old aAb ultima antiquitatis memoria notatum est Cometas semper calamitatum praenuncios fuisse. Cicer. de nat. Deor. Lib. 2.their Orators, Poets, Philosophers
—diri toties arsere Cometae. Virg.
Et terris nunquam spectaclum impune Cometae. Claudian.
—Quando nocte Cometae.
Sangiunei lugubre rubent.—
ever esteem of them. And the observation hath been sadly verified, by the experience of latter Ages; consonant to the holy Scriptures of Truth, where (both in the Old Testament and in the New) Prodigious Sights and Signs in the heavens are mentioned as the presages of great Calamityes. Some object that after the blazing Star, Anno, 1097. A very fertile prosperous year followed, but they forget that the next year a direful Plague raged in the World. Others object that Wickliffs and Luthers Reformations, had Comets to procede them. But (to say nothing of the Warrs and fatal changes which in those dayes hapned in diverse parts of the World) two or three exceptions do not invalidate the truth of a general Assertion. If such signs are commonly Presages of sore Calamityes, that's enough to awaken men out of their Lethargyes, though now and then, once in an hundred times it should happen to be otherwayes, which yer remains to be demonstrated. As for their notion who think that Comets are signs that the light of the Gospel shall be further dispersed in the world, or that they portend mercy to the Church, and Judgement to others only; it is to be wished that there were a solid foundation for such a conceipt: But alas! Divisions amongst the Lord's professing People themselves, and great Persecutions have oftentimes been the fatal consequents of such portentous signs. And if publick calamities come upon the world, it is not to be expected but that the Lord's People, whilst they are mixed amongst others (and too much partaking with them in their sins) living in an evil world, will have their share therein. It hath ever been so, and is ever like to be so, until the sign of the Son of Man appear.
As for the Blazing Star, which hath occasioned this present Discourse, it was a terrible sight indeed, especially about the middle of December last, the stream of such a stupendous magnitude, as that few men now living ever beheld the like. That in the year, 1618. was looked upon as very prodigious bHistory of great Brittain, Pag. 128. Clark's Example, Vol. 2. p. 256.yet the radiant Locks of it were not at first though at last extended above 45. degrees in length, whenas this was about 60. degrees. Yet I cannot say there never was any so dismal since the world began, for I have read of diverse no less fearfull. Seneca cNat. Quest. Lib. 7. C. 15, 16.speaketh of a Comet whose magnitude was equal with that of the Sun: And of another that prodigiously diffused it self over the Via lactea; and of another very formidable, after which Helice and Buris, Cityes in Achaia perished by a fearful Inundation. That which appeared Anno Christi, 1452. dTeste Nau-length. Writers speak of some clero.was above 50. degrees in Blazing Star that hath been attended with a much longer stream; Yea, of one that was 90. and another that was 130. degrees. Nevertheless, one so fearful to behold as this, hath …arely been known: And without controversie some great thing is portended thereby. I see little reason to conclude, that it is an Omen of happy dayes to the world untill God hath made way for mercy by great Judgements. Especially considering, that we are fallen into the dregs of time, wherein the dayes must and shall be perilous. It was long since eKeckerm. Phys. ubi de Cometis. p. mihi 1697. Magius de exustione Mundi. l. 3. 10.conjectured, that in the Ages more immediatly preceding the day of Judgement, Comets and other fearful Sights should be more frequent than formerly, as intimations of the great and amazing Revolutions in those Ages to be accomplished. It will not be long before the second Wo Trumpet hath done its work, and then the third Wo will come quickly. The Lord grant that we may be accounted worthy to stand before the Son of Man at His coming.
The learned and judicious Hospinian fDe Origine templorum. p. 59.writes that Anno, 729. There was a Comet seen first in the East, in the Morning, and after in the West in the Evening (just as with our present Blazing Star) Quosi Orienti simul & Occidenti magni alicujus mali Praesagi. We have cause to fear that this Comet so appearing doth presage and portend great Calamityes both to the East and the West, h. e. to the World in General. That some notable day of the Lord is at hand, when such Signs appear, we may believe: Hence are they called gV. Melchi…r Jun Orat Par. 1. p. 425.Prodigia a Praostendendo, because they shew before hand that something Remakable is a coming. Further then this I would not go about to determine; only we may modestly conjecture as to particular events like to happen. I have ever thought it unwarrantable, for men, not acted by an extraordinary Spirit, to make particular and positive determinations concerning the Judgements (or the Persons eminently concerned therein) by such Prodigie menaced. The great Melancthon hath been thought (by some great hVoetius in Disp. de Sign.Authors) to proceed something too far in applications of this nature. Peucerus (Melancthon's Son in Law) expresseth himself more warily, in his Teratoscopia, or Discourse about Divination from fearful Sights. Yet he affirms that when ever great changes in the world have been near, prodigious Sights have been the forerunners thereof; and that unusual Sights are seldom or never known to have hapned without great and miseserable changes attending them. Only it is possible for particular Persons and places through faith in Christ, and in a way of humble Repentance, to obtain a lengthening out of their tranquility. The Gentiles of old iAlexand. ab Alex. l. …. c. 27. Coelius Rodogi. l. 3. c. 27.when they beheld fearfull Sights in Heaven, would presently betake themselves to their Prayers and Piacular Sacrifices (in imitation of whom idolatrous Papists have been wont in like cases to go to their Reliques, Amulets, Processions, &c.) that so evils Ominated thereby, might (if possible) be averted. And shall not Professours of the true Religion, be awakened by such awful works of God, to go unto Jesus Christ (our only Sacrifice) and to pray earnestly that impending wrath may be removed, and the mercy of Heaven obtained? Shall we not be humbled, as for other Sins, so for that, of not hearkning to His VVord? The contempt whereof provoketh him to speak by fearful Sights and Signs from Heaven, which seems to be the kStrigelim & Tossauus ad Locum.meaning of that Scripture, Act. 2. 19. The Lord is many wayes calling upon men, to repent, and pray, and get into the Ark before the Flood come. Indeed we should not be dismayed at the Signs of Heaven, nevertheless (as that Emperor said) We ought to fear that God who hath made this blazing star. Surely, we have cause to speak, as sometimes the Psalmist did, My flesh trembles for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy Judgements.
Boston, N-E. Febr. 16. 1680. (1. INCREASE MATHER.