Sad and Serious Political Considerations, Part 9
IX.
Certain Epigrams of Petrus Damiani of …he ruine of Tu…k and Pope, &c. never yet before printed.And that these are no novell Opinions, these following Testimonies may give sufficient evidence, Petrus Damiani flourished Anno 1060. a laborious Divine, an acute Philosopher, and a witty Poet. Gesner and other Bibliothecaries say nothing of him is extant. Yet I have seen in the Library of Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge certain Latine Epigrams of his, Of the conversion of the Jews, Of the destruction of the world by fire in the last day, Of the ruine of Rome, and Of the last Judgement, which Latine Epigrams I finde translated into English Stanza's in an old Manuscript of L. B. intituled The Dove.
1. Of the Burning of the world by fire.
Primum foedavit mundum scelcrata libido,
Cujus quàm ad coelum flammea massa venit,
Diluvium immissum est, immensumque obruit orbem,
Vt mala tanta pijs eluerentur aquis:
O dira Ebrietas mundi faex prima secundi,
Te opposita interiment atque elementa prement.
Iustitiam Domini in cunctis sic cernimus actis,
Vnda lavat venerem, pocula flamma bibet.
Thus Englished.
As the first world did first by lust offend,
Whose burning rage to such a height did win,
That God to quench the same a Floud did send,
O Drunkennesse, the second world's first sin!
The course of Vice that Element must end,
Which is opposed to that which did begin.
In every thing Gods justice we may spie,
As Flouds drown Lust, Flames Drunkennesse must dry.
2. Of the ruine of Rome.
Effuge, Grex Christi, peccati à Gurgite diro.
Cui meretrix odio est, atque corona triplex,
Effuge, dum Tempus datur, & fera praelia cessane;
Ne ut tu delitias, sic sua damna feras.
Quum jam funestos Agnus superaverit hostes.
Pingue gregique epulum militibusque dabit.
Se mentem metet haec meretrix, quam sevit, eandem:
Iam Sathanae sedes, quae Domina orbis erat.
Thus Englished.
Fly, Faithfull Christians, from that Sea of sin,
Who hate the Whore, and the two-horned Beast;
Fly, fly, in time before their griefs begin,
Lest as their pleasures, so their plagues you taste.
When once the Lamb the victory doth win,
He of fat things will make his Flock a Feast.
Who as she sowed, so shall she reap those evils,
Once the worlds Mistresse, now a Cage of devils.
3. Of the conversion of the Jews.
Postquam Evangelium toto narretur in orbe,
Fulget & ignotis nostris genitoribus oris,
Quum Gentes Christum agnoscunt generalit…r ….
Qu…s Deus aeter…im aetherea dignabitur aulā.
Tunc amplectetur verum Solynaea propago,
Quod priùs invidid tam aversabatur iniquā:
Vltima Evangelium, Legem quae prima recepit.
Quos d…cuit primos, postremos Christus habebit.
Thus Englished.
The Gospel once being preacht in every place…
To lands of which our Fathers could not tell,
And when the Gentiles all are drawn to Grace,
Which in the new Jerusalem should dwell.
Then shall the stubborn Jews the Truth embrace…
From which with such disdain they did rebell:
Who first the Law, last shall the Gospel have,
Christ whom he first did call, shall last receiv….
4. Of the last judgement.
Indictum Tempus, quod totum territet orbem,
Per praedicta homines signa monere solet.
Praelia, Evangelium mundo vulgatur, adorant
Iudaei Christum, cognita jam meretrix:
Zelus hebet, Stellaeque cadunt, fera crimina regnant,
Aegra fides languet, Daemonis ira furit:
Vltima jam genus omne malorum buccina clangit,
Supremamque diem signa tremenda notant.
Thus Englished.
That threatned time which must the world appall,
Is that all may amend by signs foreshown.
Wars rumor'd are, the Gospel preach'd o're all,
The Jews convert, the Antichrist is known.
Devils rage, Vice reigns, Zeal cools, Faith fails, Stars fall,
All sorts of plagues hath the last Trumpet blown.
And by prodigious signs 'tmay plain appear,
That of the Son of man the time draws near.
Prophesies of Hieronymus Savanatola.Thus by this great Divine living in the mistiest times of Popery, it may plain appear, that it was a received opinion that the total destruction of Rome, the conversion of the Jews, and the fifth Monarchy should precede the end of the world. And this is also confirmed by Hieronymus Savanarola (who died a Martyr at Florence, A. 1498.) whose Prophesies are extant in the works of Franciscus Mirandula. That in the last times Jews, Turks and Moors should be converted to Christ, a man like Cyrus with a numerous Army of true professors should come over the Alpes and destroy Rome, and ruinate all the Kingdoms and States of Italy. That grievous Wars, Bloud-sheddings and Massacres should arise in the world by a Northern King for a happy Reformation, who should carry the Gospel out of Europe into a vast and unknown world in the end of time. That an Eastern King should blow the Trumpet of God from Tartaria, which should reform all the Islands of the Indian Infidels. He likewise prophesied in particular of Iulio the second, of the troubles of the Duke of Mirandula, Of Luthers Reformation, Of the Persecutions of Merindol, Chabriers, Angrogne, the Valtolin…, and other places of France, all which most evidently came to passe.
A Prophecy lately found in France, of the future … st…te of the world till An. 1710.Thirdly, A Prophecie of the estate and condition of the times unto the end of the world, was found written in Hebrew under the Foundation of the Church of S. Denis in France, A. 1616. by the Sexton of the place, as he digged for the erecting of a Monument for the Lord Teligni. He gave it unto the Popes Nuncio (who rewarded him with 200 dollars for his pains) from him it was sent to the Cardinall of Bruges, who presented it unto the young K. Lewis XIII. It was written in parchment, and wrapped in lead in the form of an Heart: Hebrew numericall letters were set at the side of every Line, signifying in what Year of our Lord every accident should come to passe, and be manifested to the world. Out of Hebrew it was translated into Latine by Iohannes Parmarino Secretary to the said Cardinall.
The Prophesie runs thus.
Anno Christi. 1661 Obruit Italiam saevo Mars impius aestu.
Anno Christi. 1665 Vnica sint Christo pascua, campus, oves.
Anno Christi. 1666 Totum operit mundum terror & ira Dei.
Anno Christi. 1667 Pauci Iehovam venerantur.
Anno Christi. 1678 Inclytus exurgit factis Heros.
Anno Christi. 1686 Europa tremit: Asā urget metus.
Anno Christi. 1693 Generalis Terrae motus ruit.
Anno Christi. 1699 Agnoscunt omnes Gentes Deum.
Anno Christi. 1700 Flumina siccentur ubique.
Anno Christi. 1710 Pastor & Ecclesia unica.
3 Alephs.
The heat of war doth Italy surround,
Let Christ's pasture be one, his sheep and ground.
Gods wrath and terrour doth the world confound.
But few that God do reverence.
A Prince shall rise of eminence.
Asia doth tremble, Europe shake.
Now is a generall Earthquake.
All Nations Gods knowledge partake.
Rivers are dried every where.
Pastor and Church only one are.
By this Prophecy great troubles must arise in Italy within this small time, cruell wars afflicting every State thereof, which must be preparations to the eternall destruction and ruine of Rome the head City thereof: Rome can never be destroyed except Protestants lay aside their unnecessary civill contentions, which may (God so disposing) come to them about Anno 1665. After which great commotions are like to aris… in Europe, till a noble Hero arise, which shall quench those evils by imploying Christians in mutuall Leagues against the Turk. Suddenly after which comes troublesome daies in Asia and Africk. Then follows universall peace and quietnesse of Nations, prophesied of by Ezechiel and S. Iohn in the Revelations, which must bring forth the purity and perfection of the Gospel over the whole Earth.