〈◇〉.  
OR A Discourse Concerning COMETS; wherein the Nature of BLAZING STARS is inquired into: With an Historical Account of all the COMETS which have appeared from the Beginning of the World unto this present Year, M. DC. LXXXIII.  
Expressing The Place in the Heavens, where they were seen, Their Motion, Forms, Duration; and the Remarkable Events which have followed in the World, so far as they have been by Learned Men Observed.  
As also two SERMONS Occasioned by the late Blazing Stars.  
By INCREASE madder, Teacher of a Church at Boston in New-England.  Psal. 111. 2. The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. Amos 9. 6. He buildeth his stories in the Heaven. 
BOSTON IN NEW-ENGLAND, Printed by S. G. for S. S. And sold by J. Browning At the corner of the Prison Lane next the Town-House 1683.   

To the Reader.  
THe Subject of this following Discourse, now offering itself to thy Perusal is one of the many 〈◇〉 which it hath pleased the Almighty Lord of Heaven and of Earth, to treat of and insist upon, in Drawing up and Publishing to the World the great and glorious volume of his Works: in the margin whereof they have been frequently placed as read Letters, Asterisms, or pointing Hands, to awaken unto a more heedful attention and serious consideration, the dead hearted sleeping and secure World of Mankind. To promote this, the best and most blessed end and use, of such tremendous and threatening Aspects of the highest and most Dreadful Majesty, is the pious design of the Reverend and Learned Author, in compiling & publishing this Treatise, & itis a thousand pities it should not be attended to and attained by a People so circumstanced as we, English transplanted into, or procreated in these American deserts, be. The labour and pains it hath cost the Author to peruse and consult so many Writers, ancient & modern, Astronomers, Chronologers, & Historians, is such as will render it very disingenious, not to give it a grateful and friendly reception and entertainment. He hath therein presented thee with, first, the Theory; secondly, the History of Comets, commonly called Blazing Stars. As to the Theory, there is( to my understanding) as much declared, as it hath pleased the Father of Lights and Fountain of all knowledge & wisdom( hitherto) to discover to poor ignorant Mortals; viz. the result of the judicious thoughts of the ablest and best accomplished Artists, who upon very many accurate, unquestionably true and exact Observations, made by the help of choicest Instruments improved by minds intensely set to search into, and find out the Mystery and Meaning of those abstruse and admirable works of him who is most High; have declared what they conceive most rationally probable. The wisest of Men know that they understand but little part of Gods ways and works; and are not ashamed to confess that in things so much above human Capacity, they are rather Quaerists then Adeptists, content to be ignorant of what he is pleased as yet not to discover; our Authors modest expressing himself, sheweth he wrote under the influence of so humbling a consideration.  
Of the second, or Historical part of the Discourse, the scope is, to evidence and evince that Comets are ordinarily the forerunners of disastrous Calamities, Mischiefs, & Miseries, hastening to follow and fall down on the heads of senseless & secure Sinners. For the clearing up and making out of which, by way of induction, a great multitude of particular Instances and Examples are out of sundry Authors of approved ability and faithfulness alleged; who have left upon Record their accurate observations of time, place, and other circumstances of several Come●s in divers ages, with the dreadful Revolutions, dismal Commotions and Confusions which followed them at the heels. If it be said, that some of those Periwigged heralds have appeared on the ethereal stage upon a more benign account: it may be rationally replied, that the number of such is very small: and that their blasting influences, might be direfully operative in remoter and less known parts of the Earth. When the hand of Heaven is seen writing mean mean TEKEL, &c. it may become the highest of Mortals to tremble. Reader, if thou art one any whit considerably raised above the level of the lowest sort of men, thou wilt not think it lost labour to acquaint thyself with what is here presented: an awakening and humbling is the best use thou canst make of it; to see it improved unto the furthering thy souls best good will be the most acceptable recompense of the Pious Authors unwearied pains: That he may see the desired travail of his soul, shall be the unfeigned wish, of him who is,  
Thine in the Lord, JOHN SHERMAN. Decemb. 20. 1682.   

To the Reader.  
SOme Worthy Persons having desired me to writ the History of Comets; I resolved( with Divine Permission and Assistance) to spend the spare hours of a few Weeks in an endeavour that way. And accordingly I have perused what Books I could meet with, which might be helpful to me in this undertaking. There is a late Author 
a Stanislai, de Lubienietz See the Philosophic. Transactions for An. 1668. vol. 3. p 691., 1071,  who on occasion of the Comets seen Annis 1664, 65 hath published a large Volume, which he calls Theatrum Cometicum, wherein he giveth an account of all the Comets which have been observed since Noah's flood being in number 415, together with the Events, whether Prosperous or Adverse. Also Erasmus Bartholinus hath written upon those Comets, which Books, I have very much wished for a sight of, as supposing I should meet with Passages therein, that would be serviceable to me in my present design: But I could not at this distance from Europe, suddenly obtain them.  
As for what concerns the Time, and other circumstances relating to these Phaenomenas; I have been chiefly beholding to the Collections of Alstedius, Long●mentanus, Kepler, Hevelius and Ricciolus Though Rockenbachius is many times cited, I could not obtain the perusal of his Book( it not being in this American Wilderness) only I take his Observations upon trust from Hevelius, who hath faithfully expressed what the other hath written. Concerning remarkable Events: Besides the Authors mentioned. I have consulted Funcctus, Ca●visius, Cluverius, and several other Historians; and if the Reader please to take the pains to search the Authors quoted in the Margin, or where none is there cited, if he look into Calvisius and Funccius their Chronologies he will find that things have been truly related. As for Events which have happened in these late times, it is needless to quote any Author, for that which our own eyes have seen, or ears heard. I know( as the great Orator could say) I am not born for myself, but for others. I may hope that my labour herein, will not be al●ogether unacceptable to the English Reader, since there never was yet( so far as I understand) an attempt of this kind, by an English hand. My chief design, is to inform and edify the ordinary sort of Readers. Yet considering that God hath made me a debtor to the wise as well as to the weak, I have added some things of the nature, place; motion of Comets, which only such as have some skill in Astronomy can understand; and unto such, hints of that kind will be both pleasant and profitable; such kind of knowledge being that which Tradition saith the Holy Patriarcl●s were some of them delighted in. Upon the mention of Historical passages, 
A. M. 2020. Abraham docuit Mathematicam & Astronomiam Alst. Encyclop. L. 33. Ca 8 p. 2119  which imply a notable accomplishment of some Prophetical Scripture, I have( it being very proper for one under my circumstances so to do) taken special notice thereof, supposing that it may be instructive to some Readers, and not ungrateful unto others. These late years having been attended with several Comets, and there being some who would have the World believe, there is no cause of dread when such Ensigns amid the Heavenly Host, are held up in the sight of all the Earth; I hope the publishing a discourse on the present Subject, will not be judged unseasonable. When the Benjamites saw the flamme, with a Pillar of smoke( in a proper and literal sense) though before they knew not that evil was near unto them, yet then they could not but be sensible of it. Judge. 20. 34, 40. If any be awakened with the sight of these Pillars of Smoke which we have seen flaming in Heaven, to prepare for whatever changes may befall them; And if this Treatise shall promove the attaimment of that end, my design in writing of it will not be wholly frustrated, nor my labour in vain.  
Boston N. E. Dec. 31. 1682. INCREASE madder.   

THE CONTENTS.  

CHAP. I. THat Comets are not in the Air, but in the Starry Heaven: their Origin, & true Matter inquired into.  
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.  
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.  
CHAP. IV. An Historical Account of what Blazing Stars were seen within the first five hundred Years after Christs Incarnation, and the not able Events which still followed.  
CHAP. V. Of Comets which appeared between the Year 500 & 1000. with some remarkable Events,  
CHAP. VI. A continuance of the History of Comets, with the Events attending them, unto the Year 1200.  
CHAP. VII. A further Account of Comets appearing from the Year of our Lord 1200. unto the Year 1500. with the most observable Events attending them.  
CHAP. VIII. The History of Comets which have been observed from the Year 1500. to 1600. with the Events.  
CHAP. IX. The History of Comets in this last Century, with the more remarkable Occurrences of Divine Providence, which have attended them.  
CHAP. X. That Blazing Stars are commonly signs of evil Events, therefore not to be slighted; nor this last Blazing Star, which is attended with such rare Conjunctions of the Planets. Judicial Astrologers condemned. The Conclusion.    

A Discourse Concerning COMETS.  

CHAP. I.  
That Comets are not in the Air, but in the Starry Heaven. Their Origin and true matter inquired into.  
THe Sentiments of learned Men, concerning the place where and the matter out of which Comets are made; have been very various. The peripatetic School has fancied them to be Meteors, generated out of the Bowels of the Earth, exhaled and extolled by the Sun to the supreme Region of the Air, and there set on Fire. It would be needless and endless to tell how many have after Aristotle embraced this fiction, but it may not be unprofitable in a few words to evince the contrary, viz. That Comets are not placed in the first heaven or Air, but far above it, in the second or Starry Heaven, and that therefore they are rather Stars than Meteors.  
1. That most learned Mathematician Hevelius his argument from the motion of Comets is irrefragable 
a In Cometographiae Lib. 2. Pag. 132.  whatever body( saith he) is moved in the great circled, dividing the sphere, and keeping fixed Poles, is certainly aetherial and not Aereal. But this is true of every Comet; itis diurnal or common motion, is absolved as other celestial bodies are, which cannot be said of any sort of Meteors; yea, the motion thereof is exact and regular, though at first its more swift, and afterwards more slow, yet in that inequality, there is an exact proportion and regularity observed, when as it is otherwise with Meteors that are tossed to and fro, and move not through the great circled. The motion of Comets doth very much imitate not that of the fixed Stars, but of the Planets, whence they are by some called Pseudo-Planetae, and by others. Spurious-Planets. And the Holy Scripture seems to give that name of Planets to them, or as our Translation hath it wandring Stars, judas, 13. 〈◇〉  
2. The truth of what we assert, is manifest to those that understand any thing in the Doctrine Parallaxes. It is an indubitable Maxim, that the less the Parallax the remoter the Phaenomenon. But Comets have a less Parallax than the Moon, which shows that they are Supra-Lunary Bodies, sometimes they admit of no sensible Parallax at all, as might by many instances be confirmed, Let us for Arguments sake, imagine the supreme Region of the Air to extend as far as 20 Semidiameters of the Earth, h. e. 17000 German Miles( which it is most certain it doth not, nor the half of one thousand, as anon will be made to appear) if the Comet 
b Hevel Lib. 3. Pag. 160.  is no higher then that, there will be a considerable Parallax. Inasmuch then, as to many Comets there hath been no Parallax, that demonstrates their being elevated above 17000 Mill. Germ. and consequently as far as the etherial Heaven. Therefore,  
3. Learned Men of these later times, wherein light in things natural as well as divine hath been admirably discovered, have by the help of Mathematical Instruments made ocular demonstrations, that Comets are far above this airy Heaven, wherein Animals live and move.  
Kepler observed the Blazing Star which was seen A. D. 1618. to be at its first appearance three times as high as the Moon. Hevelius 
c Lib. 5. P. 317  then whom no man was more industrious and accurate in observing the Comet, A. D. 1652. saith that January the first it was as high as the sphere of Mercury, January the sixth as high as Venus, Jan. 8. as high as Mars, January 9. as high as the Orb of Jupiter. It was distant from the Earth 15494. S. T. and not only the more subtle Doctrine of Parallaxes demonstrates that Blazing Stars are beyond the airy Region, but other considerations also evince it, e. g. that of its continuing so many hours above the Horizon, and being observed by persons in countries remote one from another at the same hour, to be in the same consteliation or place in the Heavens. Let us( saith Hevelius) suppose the supreme Region of the Air to be 20 German miles( or 80 italic miles) off, 
Kepler de Cometis P. 33.  and yet that is no doubt higher then the Air is extended; for the tops of some Mountains are higher then the Clouds, so as that the Air doth not go beyond them: If men ascend the top of Mount Olympus in Asia, they die for want of air, being out of their Elements, just as Fishes die when listed above the water; But supposing it to be 80 miles distant from the Earth, and the Comet to be there, it would not have been above the Horizon, more then two hours; when as it was so 17 hours. And at the very hour when 
d Idem in Lib. 3. P. 151, 155.  Hevelius did at Dantzick observe it to be in the Star near the foot of Persius, Bullialdus in Paris saw it in the very same place, whenas, if it had been no higher then the supreme Region of the air, it would have appeared to Bullialdus( being then in Paris) in Hercules and not in Persius, as it did to those in Dantzick Nor would a Blazing Star be observed by all the World at once( where the Stars under which it moves, are seen) if it were not above the air. The opinion of Panaetius, who thought that a Comet was a mere Emphasis or Parelion, proceeding from the reflection of some other Star, is solidly refuted, from this consideration, that a Parelion is not seen in all Countries at once; The same argument proveth that Comets have their existence above the air.  
4. We may argue from the magnitude of Comets, that they are as high as the starry Heaven. Snellius 
e In Libro de Cometa Anno. 1618.  endeavours by Mathematical demonstration to evince that if the whole airy Heaven should be contracted into one Globe it would not be so big as the head of that. Comet, which appeared, A. D. 1577. how then is it possible for the air to contain so vast a body? Majus non potest contineri a minori. And Gotfridus Wenoelinus observed that the magnitude of the Comet which appeared A. D. 1652. did equal or exceed the Moon. And Hevelius 
f L. 5. P. 323.  writing of the same Comet, faith, that it was greater then the Moon, and that he was astonished, when with exact Mathematical Instruments he examined it; and though other Learned Men were with him at the same time, and helpful in his Observations, he professeth he could not have believed what they said, if his own eyes had not beholded it. Nay, he saith, that that Comet did almost equal the Sun a little before its disappearing, 
g Ibid. P. 338.  yet the Sun is( according to his judgement) 3462 times as big as the Earth. Is it likely that a body of so stupendious a magnitude should be contained in this low & little Heaven, wherein Mortal Creatures have their Breath and Being?  
5. Some Comets( as Galtruchius de Sphaera Mundi, Cap. 6. P. 125. confesfeth) have been absconded, by the interposition of a Planet between the Earth and them, which could not be if they did not move in an higher Sphere then the Planet whereby they were Eclipsed: But notwithstanding these Arguments are so convictive and demonstrative, itis marvelous to see how some Popi●h Authors( jesuits especially) strain their wits to defend their Pagan Master Aristotle his Principles. Bullialdus speaks of a valentine physician, that all the Friends he had could never persuade him once to view the Heavens through a Telescope▪ and he gave that reason for his refusal, because he was afraid that then his Eyes would make him stagger concerning the truth of Aristotles Principles, which he was resolved he would not call into question. It were well, if these Men had as great veneration for the Scripture as they have, for Aristotles( if indeed they be his) absurd Books de coelo said de his satis.  
It is an easier matter to prove that Comets are in the Aether, then to declare how they came there. Some ancient Philosophers judged them to be coaevous with the Planets, and fixed Stars, and that only their appearance and not their existence is new. This Opinion 
h Consulantur Aristot meteor Lib. 1. Chap. 6. Plutarch de placitis Philosophorum, L. 3. Chap. 5. Ricciolus de Cometis L. 8. P. 36, 40.  was embraced by Pythagoras, Diogenes, Seneca, and by the old Chaldeans. Nor is it contradicted by Columbus, Licetus, Cartesius, with some other late Writers. And it must be acknowledged, that notwithstanding their disapp●rance at certain times, for many years together, they may be coaetaneous, and altogether of the same nature with the true Planets. A rectilineal motion may soon cause a Star to vanish out of our sight which yet hath a real existence still. Or some density or obscurity in the Atmosphaere though our Air should be never so clear, may cause it to be unobservable by us. ancient Writers speak of some fixed Stars which are not seen by us. And divers of them do not now appear to be of the same magnitude, as in former ages. And sundry new Stars have of late appeared which the former Generation never saw. It seems not consonant to reason to imagine, either that the old Stars are lost, or that new ones are of late created, those glorious celestial Bodies being of perpetual duration. The Stars are by the Hebrews called Chochabim, probably by Antiphrasts, from Chabah extinxit, because they are Lights which never go out; And for ought that any man is able to prove to the contrary, they shall remain as everlasting Monuments of the power & wisdom of God, throughout the dayes of Eternity. Nevertheless, it is admirable 
i De● hac admiranda stella doctissimus Hevelius peculiarem librum scripsit  to consider, that there is a Star of later times observed in collo Coeti, which disappears every year for several Moneths, and then appears again, in the very same place where it was the last year; Being at first very small and obscure, but afterwards a bright Star of the second magnitude. Also, a new Star appeared in the Swans breast, A. D. 1601 and continued shining there until the year 1660. and then it disappeared; 
k Cometographia P. 382.  and when, or whether ever it will be seen again, no man can say: also a new Star was lately( viz. Anno. 1672.) discerned in the Swans head. But though the Argument 
See the Philosophical transactions for year 1677. P. 854.  from disappearance be invalid, it is from other reasons manifest, that they are not such Planets as those created at the beginning of the World are. Comets are often seen out of the zodiac, which the true Planets are not. They dispatch more way by far then the Planets do. That 
l Ricciolus ubi supra P. 41.  Comet, A. D. 1618 in the space of three Moneths dispatched 180 Degrees. No Planet goeth over so great an arch of the circled in so short a time. Some Comets have moved 20, 30, nay 40 Degrees in one natural day. Whenas the lesser Planets do not absolve two degrees in that time.  
Comets then are Temporary, whenas the true Planets are perpetual. As for the matter out of which they are generated, Suellius, Puteanus, Fromondus, and others conceive them to be compacted out of evaporations, which do proceed from the Sun. Our modern Mathematicians, have observed, that there are Maculae Solares or spots about the Sun, which sometimes may be discerned for many dayes together: & sometimes for several Moneths, nothing of that nature can be perceived. Hevelius 
m Lib. 7. page. 40 l, 405.  concludeth that the Effluvia proceeding from the Sun are such, as will afford matter enough for 68 Comets in one year, in case those ethereal vapours should congregate into a body. The wisest of men must ingeniously confess their own ignorance in these things, and that what they say is but problematical and conjectural. I shall not therefore be positive in any determination, which concerns the matter that Comets are formed out of. Only I am easily induced to believe, that they are generated out of the same matter which Stars were in the beginning of the World, made of, viz. Light, or the Element of Fire, being first condensed into lesser particles, and after that conglomorate● into a vast body. In the Scripture, the Stars are called Luminaries, Ge. 1. 1415[ Mcoroth] quasi[ min Or] ex luke vel igne qui abs Hebraeis[ Ur] dicitur, a lucendo. We see that the Sun doth beat down fire continually, inasmuch as the beams thereof, if condensed with a Glass, will burn. Anaxagoras 
n Aristot. meteor L. 1. C. 6. Plutarch de placit. Philosophorum L, 3. C 2  and Democritus of old thought that Comets were made of many little Stars growing into one. Which Cusatus, Tannerus, and other neoterics confess to be a very probable opinion. Some Comets have appeared broken into many Stars. In that famous Comet which was seen A. D. 1618. one might with a Telescope discern many small clots like Stars or Coals of Fire. At first it seemed to be one solid lump, but on December 8. it was divided into three 
Wendelinus in Teratologia cometica P. 21.  unequal parts, Dec 17. it was broken into many little Stars, Decemb. 24. it was dissolved into more and lesser Stars( o) In the Blazing Star that appeared A. D. 1652. not only Hevelius and Wendelin, but the Astronomers in Mantua viewing of it with a Telescope, perceived in the head of that Comet, a great many of small Stars, & one bigger & longer than the rest, like coals of fire in an Hearth or Oven, when the wood is consumed. Mr. Robert Hook( an ingenious Mathematician now in London) observed a Star in the midst of the head of that Comet which was seen in April, A. D. 1677. The like is to be said concerning several other Comets, as may be seen in the ninth Chapter of this Dissertation. And there are many who to confirm this Notion that a Comet is a company of small Stars growing into one body, affirm that they usually appear about the Galaxia or Milky Way, wherewith the sky glitters. Now the Telescope discovers that part of the sky to be exceeding full of little Stars. Blazing Stars do not always( though often) appear there. Nevertheless, I believe that when we know more of the true and natural reason of the Via Lactea, we shall understand more of the nature of Comets.   

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. 
p Mizaldus 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 read and fiery, a marshal; if of a Golden aspect a Solar; if a bright yellow a Venereal; if caerulean and various, a Mercurial Comet. But the latins and Greeks have distinguished Comets from the form of the Blaze, which they appear with. Pliny 
q Nat. Histor- L. 2. C. 25  mentions about ten several sorts of Blazing Stars. But all may be reduced to these two general heads: viz. 
r Longoman 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 ancient 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 
s L. 8. P. 432.  Hevelius. Moreover, 
t Ubi 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 itself 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 
u Dc. 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 superior Planets. It hath been 
w Franciscus Junctinus in Annotationibus de Cometis Cornelius Gemma Cosmogr. L. 1 C. 18  observed that those rare Conjunctions are commonly attended with the appearance of some new Star, or Comet: So indeed it was as to this Blazing Stars in 1504, 1506, 1525, 1577, 1583, 1664. notable conjunctions of the Planets did praecede them. Upon this ground, 
x Edlin 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 happened to be true; and if an Astrologer( as the blind man hits the mark) chance to predict right once, more notice is taken of that, then of his mistaking an hundred times over. Very notable Conjunctions of the Planets happened 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 month 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 always 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 preceding. 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 human 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 prognostics of great evils hastening upon the world A Learned and Judicious Author 
y Hevelius in Cometogr. Lib. 8. P. 540.  conceiveth that the prodigious darkness which happened in the Sun at the time of our Saviour Christ's Passion, was caused by a Comets interposing itself 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 unparallelled wickedness in Crucifying the Son of God. Luther thinks, that then Joels prophesy was fulfilled, who predicted that the Sun should be turned into 
z Luther 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 happened in the dayes of Nahor, as a sign of Gods anger because men were then become Idolaters. They also say that when Joshua was butted there was an Earth-quake in the place where he was interred, signifying that God was offended at the Children of Israel, because they laid not Joshuah's death to heart so much as they should have done, whence 
a V. Notas Lempereur in R Benjamin Itinerar P. 142.  that Mountain is called Har gahas The trembling Mountain: R. Azarias 
b Vide Hottinger dissertation de Terraemotu, P. 186.  upon occasion of a terrible Earth-quake, which happened 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 prognostics 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 happened 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 ourselves, 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 college was Eclipsed by the death of the Learned president there, worthy M. chancy; and two Colonies( viz. Maessachusets, and plymouth) by the death of two Governours, who died within a twelve month 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 sky, 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 
d Ubi 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 
e In 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 
f Lege 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 ways, 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 felicitate 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 
g Franciscus 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 
h Ricciolus de Cometis P. 34  no 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 always looked upon Blazing Stars as malorum praenuncios, the heralds, and Messengers of evil Tidings to the world. The ancient Doctors in the Christian Church, Tertullian, Damascene, and 
i Quos 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 signify 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 
k Cometa 〈◇〉: a Christo dicitur Frantzius de interpretatione Scripturae Pag. 1023. ( and such are Comets) signify 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.   

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 beholded 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 zodiac, as is affirmed by 
a In discriptione cometae 1607  Herlicius. 
b In Historia cometarum  Eckstormius, 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 cometis  in the space of sixty five dayes passed through three of the celestial 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 
d Subito non comparuit translatus a diis. Berosus. fort a malis daemoniis ob maximam impietatem. Funccius  carried 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 egypt. Also Camesenuus 
f Berosus  headed 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. 
g Idem ubi supra  Not many years after the death of Abraham, another Comet appeared in the sign of lo for the space of nine dayes. Great mutations and miseries quickly followed in the World, as Serapis and Osiris( egyptian Demons) had prognosticated. Also, that Famine in Isaac's dayes of which we red Gen. 26. 1. About this time Phaeton( who is thought to be that Son of Cham who is by Moses called Phut) 
h Funccius.  caused a fearful conflagration in Italy. Whence it was called then Palesana, i.e. the burnt country.  
A. M. 2230. A fiery and terrible Comet was seen, appearing in Sagitarius, coyling after a strange manner, representing the form of an imperfect circled 
i Lib. 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 said sine igne. Which seems to confirm their opinion who think that in old time a Comet was known by that Name 
k meed Discourse on John 10. 28. P. 37  of a Pillar of Smoke. After this Comet, there was a Dearth for 
l Hujus 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 egypt, Canaan, Aethiopia, Aegy●t and other Countries felt the direful effects of that Prodigy.  
A. M. 2453. 
m Rockenbachius 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 egyptians, 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 
n Idem.  month of August, a formidable Comet appeared in geminy. 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 
o Idem.  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, 
p De quo cometa praetorius, Lycosthenes, Rockenbachius, Eckstormi●s, Hevelius, &c. Scripserunt  because of its appearing crooked like to an Horn. Writers vary about the precise year, when this Comet appeared. Only it is indubitable, that it was in the dayes of Anaxagoras and Democritus, who are the most ancient 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 happened 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 
q L. 2. C. 25  Pliny 
r In Lysandro.  Plutarch, 
s Meteorologia  Aristotle, and other ancient Writers, speak of this Comet. Anaxagoras took upon him to predict, that an horrible Tempest would follow. He happened to conjecture right. There was 
t Charimander 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 ston to have come down out of Heaven. But the great commotion attending this Comet, was that civil war among the grecians, called the Peloponesian War, which continued for 27 years, until Greece was almost emptied of Inhabitants. Also, a 
u Ricciolus de Cometis.  pestilential and mortal Catarh so prevailed in Athens, as greatly to depopulate that place. A prodigious Earthquake happened about a year after this, so that a Mountain was broken in pieces, and a City turned into an iceland.  
A. M. 3537.( or as others 3553) a septentrional Comet appeared in January which may 
w Aristotles 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 
x Aristoteles 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. e. 130 degrees. It ascended to Orions girdle, and there disappeared. After that, happened 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 lo, 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 surnamed 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 circled, 
z Aristoteles L. 1. C. 7. Rockenbachius.  in Sagittarius, continuing nineteen dayes. What strange and amazing changes happened 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 
a Rockenbachius  appearing 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. 
b Rockenbachius Lycosthenes. v. Joseph Antiq. Jud. L. 12. C. 3  Two 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 itself over( near upon) a fourth part of the Heavens, 
c Cornelius Gemma in Cosmo. 〈◇〉. 1 C. 8  and its fulgour 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 outrageous Cruelties, defiling the Temple, interdicting the public worship of God Dan. 11. 21, 31. He was a notable Type of Antichrist, nor is it to be wondered 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 woeful Dearth and Plague and a long war between the Carthaginians and the Romans. An Army of the Bastans going over the Ice, it broken 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 
e Nat. 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, 
f Seneca ibid  extending itself over the Via Lactea, so as was wonderful to behold.  

g Lib. 37.  Justin speaketh of a Comet whose fulgour 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) 
g Scribentibus Rockenbach. Ebero, & aliis.  A Comet was seen in the sign of Virgo, continuing 94 dayes. This was that which 
h L. 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 
i Testibus Plinio, Lucano, &c.  Comets were observed as portentous of the War between Pompey and Caesar; And of Pompey his fall. It is also reported 
k Mizald. L 1. C. 9. Rockenb.  that Caesars death was attended with a Comet of that sort which is called Xiphias.  
A. M. 3920. A 
l Licosthenes Rockenbach.  Comet appeared in Libra, flaming for 95 dayes. The famed year Antonius being overcome, killed himself, and Octavius Caesar subdued the Land of egypt. 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.   

CHAP. IV.  
An Historical Account of what Blazing Stars were seen within the first five hundred Years after Christ's Incarnation, and the Notable Events which still followed them.  
WE proceed to consider what Blazing Stars have appeared since our Saviours Nativity. Some mention that, which directed the Magi to the Town and House where Christ was born. The superstition of former ages hath pictured that Star with a Blaze pointing towards Bethlehem. But Tycho and 
m v. Ricciolum de novis stellis C. 19. P. 179. &c.  others, have by invincible Arguments, proved that that admirable Star was not a Comet properly.  
The first then which we shall take notice of, is, that which was seen, A. D 13. appearing in the sign of Aries 
n Alstedius in Chron. C. 49  for the space of 32 dayes.  
Arseruntque toti passim minitantia mundo Lumina—  
After which three Roman Legions perished; Quintilius Varius, was slain by the Germans. Upon whom the Emperour Tiberius maketh war.  
Cum fera ductorem Germania Varum. Infectique trium legiorum sanguine campos.  
A. D. 14. As Calvisius reckons, but according to other Chronologers A. D. 16. 
o Suetonius. Alsted.  divers Comets( or several appearances of the same Comet) were observed, which have been judged as portentous of the death of Augustus Caesar, who died not long after. Other remarkable Events attending this Comet, were, a great Mutiny in the Roman Army, terrible slaughters amongst the Germans, whose King Arminius was slain by his own Kin●men: an Earthquake whereby a great part of the City of Rome was ruined, and an inundation through the River Taber's overflowing so that many Persons & E●ifices were destroyed.  
A. D. 56. A Star was seen in the sign of Cancer, 
p Lycosthenes. Alsted. encyclop P. 2159.  blazing for the space of four Moneths, directing its course from the North towards the East. The Emperour Claudius died, bloody Nero succeeded, who murdered besides his own Mother, and his Wife, and his Master Seneca, an infinite number of holy Martyrs. The same Comet appeared again the next Year, so that Ner● ' Reign began with a blazing Star, great Commotions happened in Judea. Chronologers observe that it was in this Year, that Hermogenes and Phygellus made woeful apostasy and schism in the asiatic Churches; and so appeared to be no other then wandring Stars, 2 Tim. 3. 15.  
A. D. 62. A Comet was seen flaming in the Heavens, 
q Senca Nat. Q. L. 7. Chap. 21, 09,  for the space of six moneths together, having its motion from the East, partly towards the West, and partly towards the South 
r Alstedius  This appearing after Nero's quinquennium, wherein he seemed a good Emperour, was expired, 'tis( r) thought that it was portentous of his after unparallelled Cruelties, and most Tragical end.  
A. D. 66. Another Comet 
s Tacitus Rockenbachius. Mizaldus. Alsted.  appeared for six Moneths together, in the sign of geminy. After which followed prodigious Tempests, and a fearful Earth quake, whereby Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Coloss( famous Cities in the lesser Asia) were sorely afflicted. This Blazing Star was attended with a terrible Persecution, in the which the Apostles Paul and Peter were put to Death. Rome was set on fire by Nero, that Conflagration continued for six dayes together. Soon after this Meander and his Followers caused great trouble among Christians in the Primitive times. He was an Antichrist, h. e. a false Christ, it is not improbable but that the Apostle John hath respect to him as well as to other pretended Christs, 1 Joh. 2. 18.  
A D. 70.( or as others 71) A blazing Star like a flaming Sword appeared 
t Josephus de bello Judaeorum. L. 7.  for a year together. It was first observed at the time of the Jews Passeover( viz. on the eighth of April) in the sign of Virgo. This was attended with a new Emperour, viz. Vespasian, with the destruction of Jerusalem, and the most miserable ruin of the Jewish nation, by the Sword of the Romans. 
u Zonaras. T. 1.  Many other Prodigies were taken notice of at the same time. Armies fighting in the Air, &c. Xephilinus writeth that there were two prodigious Eclipses of the Moon, viz that the Moon was obscured on the fourth, and on the seventh day; And from him Lycosthenes speaks to the same purpose. But Calvisius did by calculation find, that there were two Eclipses of the Moon this year, which were not supernatural.  
A D. 76.( or 77.) A Comet called 
w Plin. L 2. C 25. Suetonius. Lycostle 〈◇〉, &c.  Acontias, because of its appearing in the form of a Dart, was observed. The Emperour Titus( in the fifth year of his Consulship) d●scribed this Comet in verse. The next year another Comet was seen( or rather the same Comet appeared the second time) there followed an horrible Earth-quake in Cyprus and other places, whereby many Towns perished. 
x Hevelius & Rockenbachius.  The next year a Comet was seen again eighty dayes. Earth-quakes followed, and a terrible Plague in Rome, and a remarkable Drought. When Vespasian the Empero●r saw this Blazing Star, he joked at it, saying, it concerned the Parthians who had long hair, not him who was Bald. But soon after Vespasian himself died. This Comet was attended with the heresy of Cerinthus and the Ebionites.  
I cannot find in Authors, that any Comet appeared after that, for about the space of fifty years, viz. not until the year of our Lord 138, when a Star 
z Rockenbachius  was seen blazing 39 nights together in the signs of Aquarius and Pisces. An Earthquake followed so that the Cities of Nicopolis and caesarea were swallowed up thereby.  
A. D. 145. 
a Idem.  A Star was seen blazing in Aquarius six nights. An Earth-quake and a Prodigious Flood followed Rhodus and other famous places were shaken after an horrendous manner. The Valentinian heretics prevailed about this time.  
A. D. 188. A bearded Comet( from its form called Pogonias) was seen. 
b Herodian L. 1. Lavater.  Great Wars ensued in the Roman Empire. The Temple of peace( so called) was suddenly burnt down. The Capitol was struck with Lightning and set on fire, the neighbouring Edifices( wherein was a famous Library) was consumed. The next year the City of Rome was afflicted with a sore Fam●ne. About this time the Britans losing their King Lucius fell into dissensions amongst themselves, and so became a prey to the Romans.  
A. D. 195. in the dayes of the Emperour Severus 
c V. Hevelii Cometog. C. 12 P. 805.  a Star was seen blazing for many dayes together. Which was then looked upon as an Omen of approaching Miseries. About that time, there were great wars between the Romans and the Parthians; Also lamentable contentions and schisms amongst Christians about the observation of Easter. The Bishop of Rome took upon him to excommunicate those that were not of his mind about that matter whereby a world of sin and trouble was occasioned, and way made for Persecution. Not long after this the Originists and those that would be called Apostolici occasioned great troubles in the Churches.  
A. D. 217. 
d Calvisius Lycosthenes.  A Comet appeared in the sign of Pisces for 18 dayes. This was attended with the Death of Caracalla. The Emperour Antonius visiting the City of Alexandria, desired to see the Youth therein, and giving a sign to his Souldiers caused them to be cruelly slain. The Romans made great slaughter amongst the goths. The of Parthia came with a great Army against the Romans. The Emperour died.  
After this time, no Blazing Star appeared( or however none none is mentioned by any Hystorian, that I have met with) for near upon an hundred years. The next was 
e Scribente Rockenbachi●  A. D 306 soon after which Constantius Chlorus( the Father of great Constantine) died at York in England( then called Britain.) The blazing Star was attended with the most bloody and cruel Persecution that ever was, viz. that under Dioclesian, who hoped he had( according to his design) destroyed all that did bear the Name of Christ throughout the Earth. This Year did Miletius his Schism happen. Within a few years Arius began to disseminate his Pestiserous Doctrine, and donatism put the African Churches into an unhappy Blaze.  
A D. 323. A Comet appeared 
f Peucerus de divinatione. P. 359. Alst. &c.  in the sign of Virgo. After which the Arian heresy prevailed exceedingly, so that the Christian world( as Jerome speaks) sighed to see itself become an Arian. The memorable wars between Constantine and Licinius happened about that time, which issued in wonderful changes, the whole Empire being turned upside down. The marvelous things spoken of in the twelfth Chapter of the Revelation● were now accomplished.  
A. D. 337. A stupendous Comet, and terrible to behold, was seen in the sign of Aries 
g Orosius L. C. 19. Eutropius L 10 Alstedius &c.  continuing for the space of six Moneths. Immediately after which followed the death of Constantine, surnamed the great, whose death made way for great Divisions in the Roman Empire, and infinite miseries upon all christendom. His Son Constantius being an Arian, quickly became a Persecutor.  
A D. 363. A Blazing Star 
h Eckstormius ex Ammiano L. 25. D. Christiani Hevelius &c.  was seen and that not only in the night but in the day time. This was attended with julian the Apostate his war against the Persians, and with the prodigious death of that great Apostate. About two years after that, another Comet was seen in Aries, continuing eleven weeks. A most prodigious Earthquake followed 
i Alst. ubi supra & in Encycloped P. 2165 Calvisius in Chronol.  which was perceived( as Historians affirm) in all parts of the world. The like to this Earthquake was never known. The waves of the Sea were rolled out of their channels, and Ships left hanging on the tops of Houses; & a fearful-Inundation, so that m●ny Cities, and innumerable Souls perished by those Calamities. Many Persons about Constantinople were killed by an Hail-storm. The Macedonian heresy caused great troubles and disturbances in the Church of Christ. The jews attempted to rebuild a Temple at jerusalem, but fire came from Heaven, and utterly consumed their Foundation. The cruel Persecution under Valens began the next year, so that the Church was in great danger of being carried away by that flood, as John ●oretold in the Revel. Ch. 12 15. A. D 383( or as some Historians A. D. 393.) A Comet was seen of that sort which is called 
k Rockenbachius. Alstedius, &c. V. Niceph. L. 12. C. 33. 38.  Xiphias in respect of its appearing like a Sword, bigger and higher then the Morning Star, which was then where this Comet appeared, viz in Libra, continuing for the space of four Months, viz. from the beginning of May to September. Its motion was towards Ursa mayor, in the midst of which Constellation it disappeared. This was looked upon as portentous of Eugenius his Invasion. The Battle fought between Theodosius & Eugenius was a very memorable Providence, inasmuch as upon Theodosius his Prayers, God sent a Storm which beat back the Arrows of the Enemy into their own faces, the Stars in their courses fighting against them. Some mention Valentinians strangulation, and a prodigious overflowing of the River N●lus as direful consequents of this Comet. The Helvidians, Priscillianists, and other heretics who caused great troubles amongst Christians began this Year.  
A. D. 889. A Blazing Star appeared from the North, being in the sign of geminy, continuing for twenty dayes. 
l Peucerus apud Tychon Tom. 1. P. 619 625.  Its Magnitude and brightness equal to Lucifer. In form like unto a Pillar. Proclus observed this Comet to be higher then the Planet Jupiter. One remarkable event which happened after it, was, a most prodigious Hail-storm continuing without intermission for two dayes together. Great Commotions and changes in France by reason of Marcomers invasion happened not long after this. Also wars between Theodoseus and Maximus.  
A. D. 402.( circiter) 
m Lavater ex Sozom. Hist. Eccl. L. 8. C. 4. Claudianus in Poemate de hello Geteco  An exceeding bright Comet in form like a Sword was seen. After this Gainus made an attempt upon Constantinople. Stilicus waging war with the Goths, overcame them. The Emperour Arcadius died. An Army consisting of no less then two hundred thousand Barbarians under Radagiso made a fearful irruption upon the Roman Empire. Now was the first Trumpet( which John speaks of in the Apocalyps) sounded. These terrible shakings in the Roman Empire being fitly set forth by that of a storm of Hail, and Fire, and Blood, Rev. 8 7, as Mr. meed interpretech. A great Persecution was raised against the Christians in Persia. Also the Persecution raised by the Donatists in Africa, was within a year or two of this time.  
A. D. 409. ●here was an amazing Eclipse of the Sun, so that the Stars were seen in the day time. This was attended with a fearful Comet appearing like a Sword in the sign of Virgo, 
n Niceph. 〈◇〉 13. C 36. Alsted.  blazing for the space of four months( viz, june, july, August, September.) The greatest Calamities followed that had been heard of in the World. All Europe, a great part of Asia, and Africa, was overwhelmed with Judgments. A sore Drought, and Famine and Pestilence, and wars amongst the Nations swept away an infinite number of Men. Rome was taken by Alaricus the Goth, who set up whom he pleased as Emperour there. Now did the second Angel sou●d the Trumpet, and the Roman Empire suffer a violent death, and is therefore resembled unto a Sea made bloody by the fall of a great Mountain all in a flamme, as the forementioned great Interpreter doth expound, Rev. 8. 8.  
A. D. 4. 8. A Comet was seen in Libra, in the month of September. 
o Herlicius. Alstedius, & alii.  Great Sedition and Commotions followed throughout Italy, and in Spain. The Africans prepared a formidable Fleet and marched towards Rome. Not long after this, Famous Hierom died. The Pestilent heresy of Pelagius occasioned m●ch trouble in the Churches.  
A. D. 423. An horrible Comet was seen flam●ng: 
p Mercellinus. Eckstormius ●x Schossero. Hevelius.  Immediately upon which the Emperour Honorius died. Castinus with an A●my cometh upon the Vandals and maketh great sloughter in Spain. The Scots and Picts grievously infest the Britains.  
A. D. 423. This Year upon a great Eclipse of the Moon, a Comet appeared, 
q Lycosthenes Lavater Alsted  after which Prodigious showers of Blood were rained down upon Tholous in France for a whole day together. A terrible Persecution was raised against the professors of the truth in Africa, by Gensericus. Theodoricus the King of the Visigoths warring against Attila, was slain.  
A. D. 448. A Comet was seen in the sign of lo, continuing many dayes. 
r Herlicius Eckstormius  There followed a Prodigious Earth quake in the East. Attila oppressed and destroyed a great part of Italy. The Venetians perished by a Flood. The Eutichean heresy began to prevail.  
A. D. 454,( circiter) There were divers appearances of a blazing Star which was attended with Earthquakes. 
Sigebertus Funccius, Alsted. ( c) The Emperour died. Attila after he had destroyed seventy Cities in the East, and conquered the Forthern parts, came with five hundred thousand Souldiers, and making ●●●●ful Devastations in Germany, was himself slain in a bloody Battle with Aetius. Rome was taken and spoiled by Gensericus.  
Historians make mention of two other Comets observed in this Century. The one 
t Lavater, Lvcosthenes, Alstedius.  A. D. 459. which was followed with a sore Pest amongst miserable Mortals. The other A. D. 488. After which great troubles were raised by Arian heretics. Gundamond the King of the Vaudals became the author of a great Persecution.   

CHAP. V.  
Of Comets which appeared between the Year 500 and 1000, with some remarkable Events.  
A D. 519. A Bearded Comet appeared 26 dayes, in the East, pointing westward. 
u Calvisius ex Cedreno, Alsted.  After which there was a wonderful Earth quake, whereby many( not only persons but) whole Cities perished.  
A. D. 533. A formidal●●e Comet appeared in the month of December, in the sign of Sagittarius. 
w Calvisius Praetorius, Alsted.  This was followed with an Earthquake. A popular tumult in Constantinople. A Plague at Antioch and in other places. The Huns cause troubles in Europe.  
A. D. 541. A notable Comet appeared on Easter Day. 
x Lycosthenes, Rockenbachius.  There followed an universal Earth quake in the which Epidamon, Corinth and Anazerbum, did above other places suffer damage. Totilas overcame Demetrius in a Sea-fight, took several Cities and Countries. The memorable changes wherein Belisarius was concerned, happened about this time. Totila the King of the Goths was called Flagellum dei Gods Scourge. He raised a cruel Persecution against the Christians which were at this time in Italy.  
A. D. 555. A Comet in the form of a Lance or Spear was seen in the North, pointing Westward. 
y Funccius. Praetorius. Alstedius babet Annum 550.  After which Rome was taken by Totila. The H●ins wasted Francia and Thuringia.  
A. D. 586. A Comet appeared for a month. 
z Lavater. Rockenbachius. Fascic temporum. Alstedius & alii habent annum. 589  It is observed, that this Comet was attended with the death of many Princes. And the War between Mauritius and the Persians. Also, a fearful inundation, and the Plague in Italy happened not long after.  
A. D. 594. A formidable Blazing Star appeared in January, for a month together, and was seen both in the morning and in the evening. 
a Diac. L. 4. C. 4. Lavater Alstedius.  After this, Italy was afflicted with Armies of Locusts. A sore Drought. Famine, and the Sword were the woeful attendants of this prodigy.  
A. D. 600.( circiter) A Comet Horrendous to behold, appeared six Moneths together. 
b Nicephorus, L. 18. C. 35. Rockenbachius. Alstedius.  Mauritius( the Emperour) was by the Bishop of Romes instigation Murdered by Phocas. Great contentions were kindled between the Bishops of Rome and Constantinople. The former, was now declared to be the universal head of the Church. Ever since this time the Bishops of Rome have been no better then Blazing Stars. Four Years after 
c Lycosthenes.  this, another Comet was seen in the Moneths of April and May, & again in November & December, 
† viz. Anno. 610. ut habet Alsted. in Chronol. Cap. 28.  Not long after which Cosroes the King of Persia grievously infested the Roman Empire, He delivered ninety thousand Christians into the hands of the Jews, to be by them with wicked hands slain and murdered.  
A. D. 620. Another Comet appeared. About this time 
† Calvisius, Hevelius, & alii in annum 615. bunc Cometam transponere videntur.  Mahomet began to diffuse his pest●erous Doctrine. He had an apostate Monk to help him in composing his diab●lical Religion, whereby much of that part of the World, which had been enlightened with the Sun of Righteousness, was overwhelmed again with the darkness of Infidelity. He is therefore fitly set forth in the Apocalypse, by the type of a Star falling to the Earth, & a smoke a rising there from, whereby the Sun & the Air was darkened; And it is not to be wondered at, if so great a Plague to the World as Mahometism, is, was preceded and attended with Blazing Stars, as in the after Relations will appear. Never was the dominion of any Nation spread so far, and in so short a time as that of the saracens. In the space of about fourscore Years there was added to the Diabolical kingdom of Mahomet, Palestina, Syria, both Armenias, almost all the lesser Asia, Persia, India, Egypt, Numidia, all Barbary, Portugal, Spain, a great part of Italy, as also Sicily, Candy, Cyprus, &c. Though many of these places were not subjugated to Mahomet, until the next Century. In a word, the saracens are not without reason thought to be intended by the first wo Trumpet, 
d v. meed in locum.  Prophesied of in the Revelation. Those tormenting Scorpions proved a bitter Plague to the Christian World, more especially for the space of five prophetical Moneths( h. e. 150 Years;) and the times were then so woeful, as that men did in those dayes seek Death, but could not find it, Rev. 9. 6.  
A. D. 633. A Blazing Star in form of a Sword standing towards the South appeared for a month. 
e Funccius, Lavater, Alsted, Sigebert.  This was attended with an Earthquake for thirty dayes together. About this time the saracens subjugated Jerusalem, Damascus, and all Syria.  
A. D. 676.( Circiter) A Comet was seen diverstimes. 
f Sigebert, Hist. Eccles● Cent. 7. C. 13.  Once it appeared for three Moneths together, being seen in the Morning in August, rising in the East. In appearance like unto a flaming Pillar. The Plague and Famine followed, also a great Drought, so that it rained not 
g Bellarmine Chronol. in Anno 678. Alstedius Chron. Cap. 49. & in Encycloped. P. 2171.  in some places for the space of three years together. The saracens came with a great fleet into Sicily, and broke in upon the Roman Empire like a flood. Pope Donas died this year.  
A. D. 684. A Comet was seen in the Moneths of December, January, and February. It was observed in the day time as well as in the night, near the seven Stars, shining with a dim light not unlike to that of the Moon when covered with a thin Cloud. 
h Platina in vita Benedicti. Lavater, Alsted, Ricciolus.  After this, most horrible Thunder storms, Plagues, Famine, and Floods followed, to the amazing ruin of mortals. Also the direful flames of Vesuvius, broke forth to the no small terror and confusion of the country adjacent.  
A. D. 729. Some 
i Lycosthenes, Lavater Palmerius, Alstedius.  writ of two Comets appearing this year at the same time, viz. in the month of January. The one in the Morning before the Sun, the other in the evening after Sun set. But others do more probably conceive that by reason of its great declination, the same Comet appeared both in the morning and in the evening. 
k Ricciolus, Appianus, & alii.  A terrible Plague followed in many places, especially at Constantinople in which City three hundred thousand were swept away by that Besom of Destruction. The saracens invaded Spain. The Longobards fell upon Italy, besieged Rome itself. 
† Hospinian de Origine imaginum F. 59. v. Mordens Geography, P. 33.  woeful Tumults and Schisms were amongst professed Christians about the worshipping of Images. Not long after this the Christians under the conduct of Charles Marell slay above three hundred thousand saracens.  
A D 745. A Comet appeared in the latter end of this year. 
l Funccius, Hevelius, Alsted, Praetorius.  Various Diseases and much Sickness was observed to follow, in special a Plague of three years continuance miserable depopulated Sicily, the mediterranean Islands, and all Greece.  
A. D 763. A Blazing Star appeared for the space of ten dayes in the East. 
m Hist. Eccles. Cent. 8. Cap. 23.  After that in the West twenty one dayes. Another Comet was seen about two years after this. Remarkable Events attending these Prodigies, were, the Turks breaking in upon armoniac; an intolerable could Winter, and after that as fiery a Summer, and a very afflictive Drought.  
A D 814. A most strange kind of Comet was observed in the month of November. 
n Camerarius Append. Chronol. Niceph. P. 54. Alsted.  Both the Light and the Figure of it was amazing to behold. It appeared like two Moons meeting and departing, and sometimes like a Man without an Head. The principal Event attending this Prodigy was the death of Charles the Great. The Emperour himself was astonished at this Comet,( if we may call it a Comet) supposing it to portend his own Death, and great changes to follow in his Dominions.  
A. D. 837. A Comet 
o Calvisius, Hevelius.  appeared in April in the sign of Virgo, and in the space of 25 dayes passed through lo, Cancer, and geminy, until it came into the head of Taurus, and there disappeared under the feet of Auriga. The next year another( or the same again) Comet appeared in Autumn, in Libra, it was seen in the morning before Sun rise, and of an horrendous aspect. The Spring following another( or the same Comet) appeared in Aries, it was seen in the Evening.  
A. D. 842. A Comet was observed in Aquarius. 
p Funccius, Eckstormius. Cardande subtle. L. 4.   
A. D. 844. A Comet was observed by Albumasar to be above Venus. As for the remarkable Events attending these Comets, thus frequently appearing in so short a space, there are many memorable passages noted by Historians as happening about this time. e. g. The death of the Emperour Ludovicus pus, and of pippin King of France. The saracens came upon Italy like a flood, not leaving Rome itself untouched; many of them perished in the waters as they returned into Africa. 
q Imperial History.  An unhappy War broke out between Lotharius and his two Brethren Lewis and Charles. A mighty Army was brought into the Field, Lotharius was worsted. The greatest part of the Nobility and Flower of the French Nation was slain. 
* Alsted Chronol. Cap 25.  Not long after this in Germany, Famine prevailed so as that the Parents did eat their own Children, and sometimes Children their Parents.  
A. D. 868. A Comet appeared 
r Lavater. Alsted & alii.  which was attended with a great Earth-quake. The next year the Emperour Lotharius died. The Danes cruelly wasted England, so did the Slavi do in Batavia at the same time. Michael the Emperour of the East, was deprived of the use of his reason, one of the meanest of his Servants killed him, and became an Emperour, between whom and the saracens there were great conflicts. The Greek and latin Churches were at variance, and the Patriarch of Constantinople was deposed.  
A D. 874. A Blazing Star with long and fiery Beams appeared in the beginning of April, continuing for a month, being seen in the day as well as in the night 
s Hector Boethius L. 10. Fol. 208. Alstedius, Rockenbachius & alii habent Annum 876.  The next year a Comet whose colour was more read then useth to be, the tail very long was seen in the month of June. Tho Plague and Famine followed. The cruel Danes made more fearful slaughters in England, until they got the Land into their possession. Ethus the King of Scotland, and the Emperour Lewis the second died this year. The Germans invade France with an Army. Italy was again sorely afflicted with the saracens.  
A D. 882. A Comet with a long tail was seen in the month of January 
t Calvisius, Lycosthenes, Alstedius.  within a few dayes after which Lewis the King of Germany died, also the King of France died that year. The Normans fell upon Germany, and burned the famous City of Trevirs. There was this year an attempt to poison the Pope( John the 8th.) but the poison not being strong enough, one took an hammer and knocked out his brains.  
A. D. 902, A Comet appeared in the month of May, for forty dayes. 
u Alstedius habe● annum 900, alii vero annum 904. Calvisius.  The Hungarians fell with a great Army upon Italy, destroying famous Cities. And in Lombardy they laid all waste before them. The saracens spoiled Greece, and the Islands of the Mediterranean Sea. Lewis the King of the Longobards being taken Prisoner by Berengerius( the Popes Emperour) had his eyes put out. Soon after this Donaldus the King of Scotland died.  
A. D. 912. A read fiery Comet appeared in the sign of Capricorn. 
w Lycosthenes, Hermannus. Quidam habent annum 908. Mizaldus habet annum 913.  After this the Hungarians caused woeful Desolations in Germany. There was also a great inundation of Waters in Saxony. The Emperour Lewis the second having ill success in his Wars, died with grief, Alexander the Emperour of the East, was taken ill as he was playing at Ball; the next day Blood issuing out of all parts of his Body died. Anastasius the Pope, and Abdal the saracens King died this year also.  
A. D. 942: A Comet appeared in the month of November continuing for about fourteen dayes. 
x Eckstormius, Alstedius, Calvisius.  There followed Civil Wars in Italy. A great Se●ition and Rebellion in France. The Turks invaded Thrace. Constantine the King of Scotland betook himself to a Monastary. There was great Mortality of all sorts of living Creatures, and some parts of the World were afflicted with a sore Famine.  
A. D. 944. A Comet appeared which was of marvelous magnitude near Cassiopaea, with fiery Beams issuing from it. 
y Lycosthenes, Lavater, &c.  The Plague, Floods, and Famine followed.  
A. D. 975. A fiery Blazing Star was seen in the month of August, continuing for eight Moneths together. 
z Calvisius.  The Emperour Otto, grievously wasted Bohemia, which injuries were revenged by the Duke of Bavaria. Zimiscas the Emperour was poisoned. Culinus the King of Scotland, Alhaca the King of Corduba in Spain died.  
A. D. 984. A Blazing Star was seen. 
a Lycosthenes, Alstedius.  An Earth quake, Wars, Plague, Famine followed, The Emperour and the Pope died.   

CHAP. VI.  
A Continuance of the History of Comets, with the Events attending them unto the Year 1200.  
A D. 1000. An horrendous Comet was seen appearing in the month of December, about 9th P. M. 
b Wolfius 〈◇〉 Chronol. Sax. Alstedius, Calvisius, Usher de statu Eccles. C. 3. P. 59.  There followed a most terrible Earth quake. And great Wars between the Emperour of Constantinople and the Bulgarians. Otto the Emperour killed Crescentius who was then the principal man in civil power at Rome, whose Widow gave the Emperour a pair of Gloves infected with poison, which proved his Death. Ekfard the Duke of Saxony put in for the Imperial Crown, but he was resisted by the States of the Empire, banished, and the next year killed. England was grievously infested by the cruel Danes. In Scotland the fish died in the waters, so as that they were in great multitudes cast upon the shore, putrefying and stinking, that the air was corrupted, and sickness followed. Also a grievous Famine attended this Comet, and a prodigious Drought, so as that both Men and Cattle died of thirst, most of the great Rivers in Europe might be waded over.  
A. D. 1005. A Blazing Star horrible to behold was seen flaming in the Heaven in the 
c Praetorius.  Spring time, for the space of thirteen dayes. And 
d Lycosthenes, Sigebertus. Calvisius.  again in October. There followed a most fearful Plague continuing for three years. In some places whilst the living were burying the dead, they grew their last breath, and were thrown into the Grave with those whom they intended to leave there. Many whole Cities were utterly laid wast thereby. And the Villages were emptied of their inhabitants, so as that the Cattle belonging to them had none to own them or look after them. Above half the Inhabitants of Germany were swept away with that Besom of Destruction. A War also between the Emperour of Germany and the Polanders followed this Comet. The Duke of Lorain( who was the last of Carolus Magnus his Posterity) died. Baldwin the Earl of Flanders took up arms against his Uncle Goafrid Duke of Arden whom the Emperour had constituted successor to the Duke of Lorain. About this time there were great tumults and blood  shed in Germany, occasioned by the Emperours imposing Meingardus as Arch-bishop of Triers, whenas Adelber was before chosen, and the Duke of Bavaria engaged in his quarrel against the Emperour.  
A. D. 1009. A Southern Comet terrible to behold was seen in the latter end of May. 
e Ricciolus ex Cardano. Hist. Eccles. Cent. 11. Cap. 13.  An unhappy Civil War in Germany followed. In the month of August, a great fleet of Danes landed in England, and cruelly destroyed the Inhabitants of the Sea cost. This year also Pope John 18. descended to his own place, whose Successors name was 
* Petrus Bucca Porci.  Peter Hogs Snout, being ashamed of his Swinish Name( though not of his Swinish nature) he called himself Sergius; ever since which, it hath been the fashion for those that arrive at the popedom to have a new name given to them. The next year the Duke of Saxony died. The saracens destroyed that most sumptuous Church which the Christians had built in Jerusalem, and burned down many Monasteries and Religious Houses. The Normans made woeful havoc in the Netherlands, burning the Cities of Thile, Utreck, &c. The 
† Alsted Chron. ubi demirabilibus dei & in encyclop, P. 2178.  Plague swept away multitudes in many parts of the World. Also a great Inundation happened, by reason whereof in Planaers some thousands were drowned.  
A D. 1017. A Comet in form like a Beam, appeared in the sign of lo, continuing for the space of four Moneths. 
f Herlicius, Mizaldus & alii.  This was attended with Wars between the Danes and the Swedes. Also the Pope set the Normans and the Greeks together by the ears. The Bishop of Utreck took up arms against the Earl of Holland. The Jews in Italy were exposed to great miseries, because( as Historians relate) they were seen Mocking, Scourging and Crucifying our Lord Christ in essigie. In some parts of the World the Plague raged, This year also, the Duke of Austria died, and the Duke of Bulgaria was slain. In France it rained Blood.  
A. D. 1031. Another 
g Glaber, Calvisius.  Comet appeared. France was embroiled in civil Wars. Great mutations followed in Burgundy, by reason of the death of their King, which put an end to that kingdom after it had continued for the space of 144 Years. Odo( the King of Burgundy his Sisters Son) put in for the Crown, but Courad( them Emperour) waged War upon the Burgundians, and deposed Odo. The Vandals fell upon the Empire, laying wast above an hundred Villages, and carrying away many thousands of Captives. The saracens burnt down many Towns and Cities in Syria. Also, with no less then a thousand Gallies they fell upon the maritime Islands. 
h Alstedius.  It is moreover observable, that a Flood, and Plague, and Famine did attend this Blazing Star.  
A. D. 1038, A Comet was seen. 
k Calvisius.  This year Conrad the Emperour being in Parma, The People proved tumultuous & seditious, the event of which was, many of the Citizens were destroyed, and the City was burnt. A great Battle was Fought between the Emperour of the East, and the saracens, who having civil discords among themselves were overcome. The King of castle subdued the Mores, whose King was killed. The King of Hungaria died this year. Pandulph was by the Emperour ejected out of his Principality, 
l Berosus.  Thessalonica and other places were grievously afflicted with a Famine. The next Year several Princes expired; and the Emperour died suddenly.  
A. D. 1042. A Comet was seen the sixth of October, continuing all that month with long flaming Locks, having its Progress from the East towards the West. 
n Cedrenus Lycosthenes. Calvisius.  Maniatas falling out with the Emperour, sought to get the Imperial 
i D Christian. Alstedius.  Crown upon his own head, for which end he betook himself to the Bulgarians, and obtained a Victory over the Imperial Army. Nevertheless he was himself mortally wounded, and soon after died. Also, the Servians rebelled against the Eastern Emperour, who lost forty thousand of his Souldiers in endeavouring to subdue them. It was in this year, that Hardecanute, 
o polydore, Virgil.  who then Reigned in England, after he had barbarously caused his Brother Harold to be dug out of his Grave; as he was Feasting, died suddenly of an Apoplexy. Alfred succeeding in the kingdom, died within a few Moneths. Michael the Emperour of the East, after he had Reigned four Moneths removed his Queen Zoes putting her into a Monastery, whereupon the multitude made a tumult, pursuing the Emperour with stones, forcing him to set the Queen at liberty, and then took him and put out his eyes, and sent him away into a Monastery, and another person married Zoes and became Emperour. 
* Alsted Chron. Cap. 25.  This year a Famine began, which lasted seven years.  
A. D. 1058. A Comet was seen. 
p Funccius, Alsted.  The King of Poland died. A Famine in that country followed. Isaacius 
q Calvisius.  the Emperour as he was going by water to Constantinople, was smitten with a flash of Lightning, which did so astonish him, as that he laid down his Robes, and resigning his Crown unto one that was no way related to him, betook himself to a religious House, where of an Emperour he became a Porter.  
A. D. 1066. An amazing Comet was seen by the whole World. 
r Spondanus, Calvisius.  It appeared first in the beginning of May, and continued for the space of forty dayes. The body of it was as big as the Moon when at the full, but as it began to have a stream; that increasing, the body of the Star decreased. Authors moreover affirm, that another Blazing Star( or the same again) did appear in the two following years. 
s Alstedius.  As for remarkable Events attending this Prodigy, they were such as these. Great Wars in many places of the World. e. g. In Asia, between the Christians and the saracens. In Europe, between the Emperour and the Vandals. The King of Norway, with a thousand Ships invaded England; He cruelly wasted the Land, murdering above a thousand of the Clergy, but was in Battle overcome by the King of England, and slain. In the latter end of the year William the Duke of Normandy( commonly though improperly called the conqueror) came into England, there was a bloody Battle fought between him & Harold, then King of England, wherein Harold was slain, after which the Land became Subject to the Normans. Also, great Drought, Plague, and Famine attended these Blazing, Stars.  
A. D. 1071. An Oriental Comet appeared in the Morning for twenty five dayes. 
t Praetorius, Alstedius.  The stream long and flaming. Great Seditions and Commotions in Holland followed. Spain flamed with War, the three Sons of Ferdinand striving for Dominion, until Sanctius overcame his two Brethren but was himself the next year treacherously slain, and his Brother Alfonsus was brought out of a Monastary to wear a Crown. The Saxons rebelled. Great Contentions arose between the Emperour and the Pope, until at last the Pope caused the imperial Majesty to ly down under his feet. Diogenes( the Emperour of the East) had wars with the Turks. His Army was betrayed by his Son in Law Andronicus, so was he taken by the Turks who after they had treated him with great civility, gave him his liberty again, but Andronicus made a Prisoner of him, and caused his eyes to be put out, not using any Medicines for his healing, so that worms bread in his eye holes, whereby he died miserable.  
The latter end of this, and the beginning of the next Century, was famous for the appearance of Comets with an unwonted frequency. For good 
u Ques videcitatos apud Hevelium in Cometographia. L. 12.  Historians relate concerning A. D. 1095 96, 97, 98, 99, 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1106, 1109, 1110, 1113. that a Blazing Star was seen in every one of these years. It would fill a volume to speak particularly and fully concerning the miseries of these doleful times. In Syria a flood happened, whereby innumerable thousands were drowned. Famine, and the Plague raged throughout almost the whole Earth. In 
w Alsted ubi supra.  Germany the Pope stirred up the Saxons against their lawful Emperour Henry V. There were no less then five bloody engagements, wherein the lives of many famous Princes were lost, and Rivers of Blood were spilled upon the ground. But the most remarkable and great concern attending these iterated blazing Stars, was the Holy War( as it useth to be called) which lasted for many years, and proved most unhappy to the whole Christian World.  
A. D. 1132. A Comet of horrendous magnitude appeared in the month of October. 
x Hist. Eccles. Cent. L. 2. C. 13. Bunlingus.  The Swedes and Danes revolt from their Emperour which caused great troubles and commotions in those Countries. The Earl of Holland falling upon Frisia made woeful desolations there. Ratisbone was burnt down to the ground. There were also great Commotions in Sicily this year.  
A. D. 1145. A Comet appeared continuing for a month, being of a bright and fiery colour 
y Eckstormius. Paris Hist. Angl. P. 77. Calvisius.  Which was attended with great troubles between the Armenians and the Turks. In Hassia the Nobles rebelled. Saxony flamed with war. In Poland the King and his Brethren fell out, which troubles issued in that unhappy Princes being forced to fly out of his own country, and die in exile. It was in this year, that a tumult happened in Rome, some body( not known who) threw a ston, which h●t the Pope( Lucius II.) by which blow that Blazing Star died. The next year, the new Pope was driven from his Seat by the tumultuous Romans. On the twenty second of May there was an extreme Frost, so that both Vines and Trees were killed by it.  
A D. 1165. There appeared two Blazing Stars at the same time. 
z Hector Boethius, Hist. Scot. Lib. 13. Fol. 210. 〈◇〉 genius.  The one in the South, and the other in the North. Remarkable events this year were the death of Malcom the King of Scotland. Troubles and great Commotions both in the upper and in the lower Germany. The Sulden of Egypt was murdered, which caused great Commotions in those parts of the World. 
a Calvisius.  In Sicily there was an unexpected inundation of waters for three dayes together, so as that twelve thousand Souls perished in that flood. The next year was attended with great troubles in Spain, and in Hungaria. Also Bavaria, and Suevin were miserable wasted. Presently after the appearance of these Blazing Stars( the very next year as some Hystorians 
b Vide meed de numeris Danielis. P. 44.  relate) the Papists fell upon the poor Waldenses with bloody fury so as that, ere this Persecution ended, in France alone they barbarously slay no less then ten hundred thousand Souls. It was was now manifest that the Pope( successively taken) is the Antichrist; so that Daniel's numbers( mentioned, Chap. 12. Ver. 11, 12, seem then to be expired.   

CHAP. VII.  
A further Account of Comets, appearing from the Year of our Lord 1200. unto the Year 1500. with the most observable Events attending them.  
A D. 1200. A Comet appeared in 15 of scorpion. Its motion was contrary to the order of the signs in the zodiac. 
c Cardanus ex holy Ben Rodoan. Calvisius.  It was of a rotund figure, and in magnitude three times bigger then the morning Star, giving as much light as a fourth part of the Moon useth to do. This year was attended with Commotions in Alsatia, and almost all the upper Germany. There were also great mutations amongst the Vascons, whose kingdom was swallowed up and divided by the Kings of castle and Arragon. Philip the King of France was excommunicated by the Pope. He at first made light of the Popes Bull, ejected the Bishops who adhered to the Popes interest. But the next year, being afraid lest the Pope should cause tumults and miseries in his kingdom, he complied with him. The Bohemians and Thuringians had bloody Contests the next Year.  
A. D. 1211. A Comet was seen in the month of May, near to the arctic Pole, continuing for the space of 47 dayes, in the evening the tail pointed eastward, and in the morning westward. 
d Michov, Hist. Polon. Funccius.  Soon after which the Tartars( who were before an unknown Nation) made a doleful irruption upon Poland. The Russians coming in to their succour, were cut off by a lamentable slaughter. There were Wars between the Turks and the Moors. The saracens betaking themselves to their ships were vast multitudes of them drowned. Two hundred thousand of them were slain. The Popes Thunderbolt set the Empire on fire, and so it did England, where also there was great trouble by reason of a welsh rebellion. Moreover, about this time the Albigensos were again cruelly persecuted and slaughtered by the bloody Papists.  
A. D. 1214.( or as others 1215.) 
c Histor Eccles. Cent. 13. Cap. 13. Boethius, Calvisius.  In the month of March a terrible Blazing Star was seen, both preceding and following the Sun every day, which caused many in those dayes to think that there were two Comets at the same time. This was attended with a Persecution in Germany; in Starsborough eighty persons were for their Religion burnt to death by the Papists. A general Council sat at Rome wherein were 412 Bishops and more then a thousand of inferior Clergymen. Whatever the Blazing Star in the sky had, so many Blazing stars being in Conjunction at Rome, must needs have a malignant influence upon the World. The times in England were now most doleful by reason of King John his ill management of affairs. His tyranny caused the Lords to take up Arms; to be avenged on whom, King John, Acheronta movebat, moved the Pope to appear on his side, who immediately sets his Bull a roaring; The English Lords affrighted with the bellowing of the Pope's Excommunication, request the King of France to come in to their Assistance, so that the Land became a stage of Rapine, bleeding under the devouring miseries which must needs follow, when two merciless Armies were in its bowels. 
† See Sr. Richard Bakers Chronicle.  Several things accounted disastrous happened. 1. Hugh de Bones coming to aid King John with threescore thousand men out of Britain, and Flanders, were all drowned in the Sea. 2. Coming to Walpool in Norfolk, he was careful to obtain a guide to himself, with some few, that he might go over the Fords where it was passable, but took no care of the multitude which followed him, so that they all perished in the water, which disaster filled King John with much anguish of mind, that he fell sick and died. Yet some writ that he was poisoned by a Monk, they year after the Blazing Star last mentioned was seen. The King of Scotland died. The Spaniards slay two hundred thousand Moors.  
A. D. 1217. A Southern Comet appeared in the latter end of this year, a little after Sun set, 
f Hist. Eccl. uhi supra. Calvisius.  It gradually declined Westward. In form being like to a Broom, reaching almost to the midst of the sky. Remarkable Events which followed were such as these. Wars between England and France, the French being notably worsted. The Emperour Otho died. The King of castle as he was playing at Ball, a Tile happened to fall upon his head, whereby he was killed. The saracens destroyed all the Christians in Jerusalem. The next year, there was a dreadful inundation, so as that all Frisia was overwhelmed therewith, and no less then an hundred thousand souls perished in the waters.  
A. D. 1223. A terrible Comet appeared. 
g Paris Hist. Angl. P. 305. Nauclerus.  Presently after which the French King died. The King of Denmark was treacherously surprised by Suerinus. A great Commotion happened in Poland by reason of Henricus Barbatus his rebellion. The Emperour Frederick being provoked by the Pope, marched with an Army into Italy, and had probably driven the Pope out of Rome, had not John the King of Jerusalem interposed and reconciled the difference. Trythemius saith, that this year there was a general Murrain amongst Cattle, so that a third part of them died.  
A. D. 1240. A Comet 
h Albertus Magnus Meteoreol, L. 1. Tract. 3. C. 5. Paris ubi supra P. 506.  was observed near the Pole, pointing South-east. It was seen in February, and continued six Moneths. 
i polydore, Virgil, Lycosthenes, & alii.  Writers speak of another Blazing Star: appearing the next year for thirty dayes together in January, of a diresul Aspect. Remarkable Events were, the King of Denmark died. The Tartars miserable wasted Russia. They came over the Ice into Poland, and got the victory over an Army that was raised to oppose them. From whence they went to Cracovia; and burned down all before them. Also in Silesia and Bohemia they caused great desolations. The Empire was put into a strange hurly burly. For the Emperour had no less then seven Armies to defend himself. The Pope and He were at daggers drawing; the Pope resolving to call a Council of such as liked him best, whether the Emperour would or no; He( i.e. e.) the Emperour) surprised the Bishops Navy as they were transporting themselves to the Council, sunk three of their Ships, took twenty of them, and the Bishops in them became his Prisoners. The Pope immediately died with grief and vexation. Another remarkable thing was, that a great Mountain in Burgundy was by an Earth quake removed, whereby five thousands of Country People, living in the Villages were overwhelmed, and killed in a moment.  
A. D. 1254. A Comet 
k Rockenbachius, Alstedius, & alii.  of immense magnitude appeared for several Moneths together. There followed terrible and prodigious Tempests. Wars between the Genevenses and the Venetians. The cross-bearing-Army took such a course to convert the Russians to the Faith, as was never taught them by Christ or his Apostles, for with fire and sword they fell upon them, and made them promise that they would be Christians. The Emperour and the Pope being at variance, the Emperour died suddenly, not without suspicion of poison by the Popes procurement. The Pope himself died within a year. The new Pope made a great disturbance in Italy, but his Army was shamefully overcome. A Rebellion broke forth in Frisia. There were great troubles and commotions in Saxony.  
A. D. 1264. A mighty Comet was seen this year, in the sign of Taurus, continuing for three Moneths, viz. from July to October 7. Its motion was retrograde. For at first it appeared before the Morning Star, but at last after it. 
l Palaeologus, Palmerius, & alii. Wolfius habet anuum 1263. Appendix ad Hist. Matth. Paris P. 967. habet annum 1265. Hoc anno( ait) apparuit Cometa notabilis, ut nullus tunc vivens, viderit talem. Zuinger Vol. 5. Lib. 4. page. 1423. Calvisius.  The stream was long and broad, appearing before the body of the Star was seen. When that came above the Horizon, it extended itself Westward over the one half of the Heavens. It was observed by the Writers living in that age, that that Blazing Star disappeared the very night in which the Pope died. Other Remarkables attending this Comet were these; The Earl of Angiers did at the Popes instigation remove out of France, and fell upon Sicily, causing the King there to be treacherously killed. armoniac was all in a flamme, by means of Banducar( the King of Babylon) his coming upon them. Hetruria was in an uproar. Spain was set upon by the saracens, who slow and were slain in great multitudes. England blazed with Civil Wars. It would make this Discourse too voluminous, if we should expatiate particularly upon the strange and amazing revolutions which happened there, as well as in other parts of the World about this time.  
A. D. 1268. An horrendous Blazing Star 
m Cardanus, Ricciolus.  was seen, which was attended with these Remarkables. The Suldan of egypt fell upon Antioch, slay no less then seventeen thousand Christians there, and made an hundred thousand of them Captives. Mondavus the King of Portugal renounced his Christianity, and became a professed Infidel, and raised a cruel Persecution against the Christians. In Scotland there were fearful destructions made by horrible winds, which Cardan thinks were the special evils portended by this Comet.  
Historians 
n Quos citat Hevelius in libro supra a laudato. Alstedius.  have noted that in the latter end of this and the beginning of the next Century, Blazing Stars( some of them of an horrendous magnitude and direful aspect) appeared every year, for seven or eight years together, viz. A. D. 1298, 99. 1300, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. in the last of which years the destroying Angel was let loose upon the World, the Plague raging and killing in all Countries and Nations. But the great and stupendous providence attending these heralds of Heaven, whereby the World was thus loudly and frequently Alarmed, was the rising of the Turkish Power united in and under the Ottomanical Family: So that in those dayes the second Apocalyptical Wo( and it was a Wo indeed to the Christian World) began to be poured forth. The huge and horrid Armies of the Turks, whereby christendom( as it is called) hath been miserable wasted, and the Eastern Churches made most desolate, are set forth 
o meed in locum.  in the Revelation, by that of an Army of Horsemen, consisting of two hundred thousand thousand, which are prepared to kill the third part of men, Rev. 9. 15, 16. Now was the time when this Army being furnished with Instruments of death, out of whose mouths issueth fire and smoke and Brimstone, began to do their woeful Execution.  
A. D. 1313, A great Northern 
p Lycosthenes, Funccius & Buntingus habent annum 1312.  Comet appeared fourteen dayes, having its motion towards the South. The next year a 
q Wolfius, Camerarius, & alii.  Comet was seen blazing in Virgo for six Moneths together. And in the 
r Lavater, Herlicus.  year after that, another Blazing Star appeared in December. Thad. Hagecius 
s In dialexi de nova stella, P. 56.  writes that the year 1315. was attended with two Comets, the one of which was in the arctic circled, the other near unto Mars, and in the same sphere with that Planet. Remarkable Events which attended these Blazing Stars, were, the Emperour being poisoned by a wicked Monk, a Civil War broken out in Germany about a successor to the Crown, which continued for eight years together, to the unspeakable misery of the Countries subject to the Emperour. It rained all the Summer 
t Funccius, Calvisius, ut lateat nullum tempus famis ecce CVCVLLVM.  long a terrible Famine and Plague followed, so that a third part of all creatures living perished. In Portugal and the Countries thereabouts, the Famine lasted for three years. In some places men were killed that others might eat them. In the City of Erford eight thousand persons died with hunger. The Scots went with a Fleet into Ireland, wasting the country with fire and sword. A dismal blow was given to England; For King Edward IId. raised an Army consisting of an hundred thousand to fight the Scots, who not having half that number in their Army, by a Stratagem routed the English Army, killing an Earl, several Lords, seven hundred Knights and Esquires, and about fifty thousand common Souldiers.  
A. D. 1337. Two Comets were seen this year at the same time 
u Lavater, Funccius, Calvisius Lycosthenes.  one of which appeared in the sign Taurus, for the space of four Moneths, and before that was gone, another was seen, which continued blazing with the former, for three Moneths. 
w Niceph. Greg. Hist. Rom. L. 11.  It was not a Crinite but a Barbate Star. It was first seen in the feet of Pegasus, the Coma( or Beard) extending itself very broad and pointing towards the East. Observable consequents whereof, were, the death of the King of Sicily. In the East there were great stirs about a successor to the Imperial Crown. Wars between the Turks and Thracians, who were miserable slain, and thirty thousand carried into captivity at once. In some places a prodigious could Winter so as that the across bearing Army had their Noses and Fingers frozen. A formidable Army of Locusts devoured Bohemia, Austria, and other Countries: The breadth of which Army was twenty eight miles, the length of it could not be found: when they flew they darkened the Air, as if the Heavens had been covered with a cloud.  
A. D. 1340. A Comet in form like a Sword, appeared in the month of March, near unto Spica Virginis, 
x Lavater, Palmerius, Praetorius, Eckstormius.  moving forward every day one Degree, until it came to the sign Lee, and there it vanished. This year Andronicus the Emperour died. A terrible Plague raged in Italy; War between England and France, wherein the French were egregiously worsted, their Navy burnt and broken by the English. The next year the Turks caused Poland, Moravia, Hungaria, to become miserable stages of Rapine, Blood, and Fire. An Earth-quake in Burgundy, removed two Mountains which fell upon the People thereabout. A prodigious Tempest and destructive Flood happened in other parts.  
A. D. 1347. In the month of August, a Comet appeared in Taurus, continuing sixty dayes. 
y Lavater; Ricciolus. Calvisius.  Many things worthy of remark happened this year. For the Scots invading England with an Army, fifteen thousand of them were slain by the English, and their King taken Prisoner. There was a general rising of the People in arragon. The Emperour as he was hunting a Bear fell off his Horse and quickly died. The King of Sicily was strangled by his Queen in his sleep. A sweeping Plague lasting for the space of six years, went through the World. It came out of Asia into Europe this year, There died in the City of Lubeck ninety thousand, in Avinion an innumerable multitude; In England nine parts of ten died throughout the Land. Above fifty seven thousand in the City of Norwich. So fearful was this bosom of Destruction, as that a third part of Mankind was not left a live upon the face of the Earth. Alstedius 
* Chronol. Chap. 25. P. 174. ( a grave and learned Author) Writes, that this Plague swept away no less then a Million, two hundred and forty four thousand four hundred & forty four Monks which( though strange) yet considering that the World did then swarm with Monks is not impossible to be true.  
A. D. 1351. A 
z Lavater, Lycosthenes.  Northern Comet appeared in December. Some 
a Schosserus, Eckstormius.  Authors speak of Blazing Stars seen in the two following years also. These Prodigies were attended with fearful Tempests, Drought, Famine, and Plague, especially in Italy. Wars in Germany, and a devouring Army of Locusts in Asia, and in Africa. Fearful burnings and desolations in many places, occasioned by lightning.  
A. D. 1362. A fearful Comet appeared 
b Eckstormius, Hevelius, ex Hist. Pol. Praetorius, & Alstedius habent annum, 1363.  in the Evening on the eleventh of March, in the sign Aquarius, being ninety Degrees in length, pointing Eastward, and continuing for the space of three Moneths. Things which followed, were, the Pope and the King of France both died within a year. Wars and great troubles in many places e, g. between the King of castle, and of Arragon, the Earl of Holland, and the Gildrians, the King of Cyprus and the saracens. In Poland a Famine prevailed, and a violent Plague throughout all Britain.  
A. D. 1375. A Comet appeared 
c Lycosthenes, Rockenbachius.  Soon after which the Emperour Charles the IV. died. Great tumults in Cracovia; a War in Thuringia lasting two years. Wickliffs Doctrine was condemned in England. Seventeen Towns in Flanders were drowned. The French took the Isle of Wight, burn Hasting, &c. Prince Edward died.  
A. D. 1380.( which year was famous for the first invention of Guns) A Comet 
d Rockenbachius, Alstedius.  appeared in Aquarius, continuing three Moneths. And 
e Idem, Bonfin ius, Eckstormius.  another( or the same) appeared again within two years, Remarkable Events, were, a terrible Plague. The death of the King of France, and of the King of Hungaria. Locusts in Germany. A prodigious Rebellion happened in England. The Kings Collector behaving himself rudely, was knocked in head by one whom he had affronted and enraged, whereupon no less then an hundred thousand of the rabble rout gathered together, and seized upon the Tower of London, in which was the King and Queen, and caused the Lord chancellor, Lord Treasurer, Lord Chief Justice, and others to be barbarously slain.  
A. D. 1304. A blazing Star in form 
f Lavater, Lycosthenes.  like a spit( which Astronomors are wont to look upon as most unhappily ominous) with the head downward, and the Coma or Blaze pointing upwards, was seen in the West, moving Northward. This year the Pope died, and the next year the Duke of Austria. The King of Arragon as he was hunting, beholded a Wolf( or rather a Devil in the same likeness) of a prodigious magnitude, at the sight whereof he was frighted to death. About that time, all the Jews in Germany were either killed or banished. Wickliffs Doctrine began to enlighten Germany. Troubles arose between the Germans and the Italians. The 
g Cluverus.  Turks being informed that the Christians were at great variance amongst themselves, came with an Army of two hundred thousand, under Bajazet, and obtained a fatal and remarkable Victory over the Europeans. About this time the Duke of Lancaster made such an interest in England, as to cause King Richard to be deposed from his Throne, and after he had resigned the Crown, to be privately murdered by bloody Villains.  
A. D. 1400. In the 
h Herlicius, Praetorius, &c.  Spring time a Comet was seen. But the next 
i Historia Bizantina.  year in February, the whole World was amazed with the sight of a fiery and flaming Comet in form like a Lamp, whose Blaze was four Cubits in length. The light of it was so great, as that it obscured the Stars, and overcame the darkness of the night as long as it was above the Horizon. It continued until the Sun entred into Libra. The consequents of this Blazing Star, were no less prodigious, then the Comet that appeared. 
k Alsted.  In divers places the Plague raged, and other grievous Diseases before that time unheard of. Great Rivers were dried up. It would make this Discourse too voluminous, particularly to enumerate all the fatal and memorable accidents which happened by reason of Wars in many Countries Our English 
l v. Sr. R. Bakers Chron.  Chronologers, say, that this Blazing Star was portentous of that effusion of Blood in Wales and Northumberland, which followed quickly after. A very prodigious thing happened the same year in Danbury in Essex; the Devil in the shape of a Grey Fripr, entering the Church put the People into a lamentable fright, and in the same hour with a Tempest of Whirlwind and Thunder, the top of the steeple was broken down and half the Chancel scattered abroad. In Bohemia, John Huss standing up in defence of Wickliffs Doctrine, no small Commotions were occasioned thereby. But that which most amazed the World, was, Tammerlain came out of Asia, with an huge Host. He overcame the Turkish Emperour, and used him like a slave. He called himself the Anger of God, and waster of the Earth; and indeed he made the Earth to swim in blood.  
A. D. 1432. A total 
m Chr. Polon.  Solar Eclipse was attended with a small Comet. The next year another great Comet of a read and fiery aspect, was was seen. 
n Funccius Alstedius.  It continued blazing all night long; nor was it extinct for a quarter of a year together. Remarkable Events, were, a Dearth of six years continuance. 
o Calvisius,  An Inundation throughout all Germany, in Thuringia 40 Villages perished in that Flood, also several Towns in Bohemia. In the Spring time there was a great Snow continuing for 40 dayes together, so that Beasts & Birds perished in great m●ltitudes. Hunger brought the wild Bea●s upon the Towns, either to kill or to be killed. A flamme of War was kindled between the Duke of Saxony and the Prince of Brand●nburg. France was sorely distressed. The King of Portugal and the King of Poland died. The Duke of Venice, was beheaded. The Pope had like to have been ●●oned to death, being forced to disguise himself, and so to flee out of Rome.  
A. D. 1419. 
p Funccius, Camerarius, &c.  A Comet appeared. This year Albert the Emperour died. Great commotions were in the Empire by reason of the Turks; And Wars between the English and the French. The M●rshal of France was burnt for Sorcery. The King of Bohemia died. A bloody Rebellion broken forth in Spain. The Council at Basil deposed the Pope, and choose a new one, which caused a notable schism amongst the worshippers of the Beast, some adhering to the old Pope, and others to the new one. The next year was famous for the first Invention of the Art of PRINTING, by John Guttenberg a Goldsmith in Strasburg.  
A. D. 1444. About midsummer 
q Praetorius, Rockenbachius.  a Blazing Star was seen in lo. The King of Hungaria, with a great multitude of Christians was slain in Battle with the Turks. The King of France and the Helvetians fall out. Tumults happened in England. Amurathes the Turkish Emperour being distressed by the King of Hungaria,( who had at the persuasion of the Cardinal Julianus, violated his Covenant with Amurathas) prayed to God for help, vowing that if God would give him the victory, he would betake himself to a Monastery; Which after the Victory he accordingly performed, and resinged his Crown to another, whereby great commotions in the Turkish Empire, and the burning of Adrionople was occasioned. The next year, a terrible inundation of waters happened in the Netherlands, so as that above an hundred thousand persons lost their lives in that flood, besides an infinite multitude of Cattle.  
A D. 1450. A Comet was seen this Summer, appearing a little after Sun-set, in form like a Sword moving from the West towards the East. 
r Ricciolus ex Franz. Hist. L. 5. C. 21.  The Moon being at the full, this Comet is reported to cause it to suffer an Eclipse,( I do not remember that I have red the like of any Comet) whence the Turks were not a little astonished, at the beholding of it. Remarkable events, were, The Turkish Emperour died. The Eastern parts flamed with War. Constantinople was taken by the Infidels. The Empire was embroiled with civil Discords. Also Jack Cade his mad Rebellion in England happened in this year, when divers Nobles of the Land were murdered. The French taking advantage from the troubles in England seize upon all the English Territories there, leaving nothing to the English but Calice. This year Naples was shaken with an Earth quake, and thirty thousand persons were destroyed by that Earth quake, in places adjacent.  
A D. 1456. A Comet appeared in Cancer, and another in lo, extending itself over two of the 
s Funccius, Calvisius, &c. said alii habent annum, 1457.  celestial Signs( h. e. 60 degrees.) This Blazing Star was attended with a direful Earthquake in Italy, by means whereof thirty thousand persons lost their lives, also a great Plague. Bloody Wars between the Turks and the Hungarians. That brave Prince of Transilvania, Hunniades, after he had destroyed two hundred of the Turks ships, and in one Battle slain forty thousand of them, died. The young King of Hungaria, on the day appointed for his Marriage, died suddenly. One of Hunniades his Sons being then a Prisoner, and expecting Sentence of death, was set a liberty, and chosen King, so that there was a sudden and stupendous alteration of affairs. Scanderbegs Wars and the great Commotions caused thereby, were about this time.  
A D. 1460. A notable Comet was seen. 
t Praetorius, Rockenbachius, Funccius.  The King of France, and the King of Scotland died. Cracovia was laid waste with Fire and Sword. In England the Duke of York aspiring to the Throne, headed an Army, designing to depose the King, but was himself slain. His Son the Earl of March, put in for the Crown, between whom and King Henry VI. there was this year the bloodiest battle fought that ever was known in England. No less then thirty seven thousand English-men were slain in one day. The Earl gets the Crown, and the King was kept Prisoner in the Tower, A Civil War began in France.  
A. D. 1470. A marvelous Comet appeared this year. That great Mathematician Regiomontanus( whom 
u In Schol. Ma●●am.  Peter Ramus calls the glory of Germany) was accurate in observing that Prodigy, in all its motions, from whom Mizaldus hath given an exact description of it. The body of the Star, did at first seem small, but on a sudden it grew to a wondrous magnitude, and then again decreased. Sometimes of a white, otherwhile of a flamme like aspect. The Blaze 
w In Cometogr. Lib. 1. Cap. ult.  was at the first appearance, and a little before it disappeared short, but after it had been seen forty dayes, the length of it was above fifty degrees. Its duration was the space of eighty dayes. At first it could be seen only in the morning, at last only in the evening, in the middle of its duration it might be seen all the night long. Its motion( which was always retrograde) at its beginning and ending was slow, but in the midst of its circuit was swift, even so as to dispatch 40 degrees in one natural day. It passed from Virgo through Bootes, the Dragon, Ursa minor, the feet of Cepheus, breast of Cassiopea, Andromeda, Pisces, Serpentarius, until it came to the Whale, where by reason of Occasus Heliacus, it disappeared. The Blaze did continually point at the geminy. In the same night presently after Sun set it would point to the East, near midnight to the South, after midnight to the West, a little before Sun rise to the North. As for Events, There followed a very great Drought of three years continuance; so that in Hungaria, the great River Danaw( which is the greatest River in Europe) might be waded over; such horrible winds in Germany as blew down many Houses. A terrible Plague, in which many were deserted of their Relations, that so they might escape with their own lives. The cruel Wars of the Duke of Burgundy, which continued until his death, Also Wars between the Hungarians and the Polanders, and in the East between the Persians and the Turks. This year, the King of England, Henry VI. was Murdered by the bloody hands of the Duke of gloucester.  
A. D. 1477. A Caerulean dark coloured Comet was seen. 
x Eberus, Buntingus, Eckstormius, &c. Alstedius  The Emperour Charles V. used to say that that Blazing Star was portentous of his Grandfathers Death, who fell amongst others that were slain in that Battle fought before Nance this year. It was a fatal year to many other Princes. A direful Plague followed, and such heat and drought, as that great Rivers were dried up; and not only Fruit Trees were destroyed, but whole Forrests were set on fire by the scorching heat of the Sun. A terrible Plague followed.  
A. D. 1491. A Comet appeared in the evening 
y Mizaldus, Praetorius ex Walteri Observationibus, Funccius.  a little after Sun-set. The Star small, but the Stream long, extending itself Eastward in direct opposition to the body of the Sun. Immediately after which the Turks overcame Dalmatia, and Slavonia. There was also a great Mortality both amongst Men and Cattle. The Pope and the King of Poland died this year. The King of Portugal was killed by a fall from his Horse. The next year the new World( as it useth to be called) viz. that part of the World which now bears the Name of America was discovered by Christopher Columbus.   

CHAP. VIII.  
The History of Comets which have been Observed from the Year 1500. to 1600. with the Events.  
A D. 1500. In the month of April, a Comet 
a Rockenbachius, Funccius, Mizaldus  was observed in the sign of Capricorn, of a fearful magnitude, appearing for above a quarter of a year, and was seen in the day time as well as in the night. And another 
b Lavater, Hevelius, Alstedius.  the same year in January, seen also in the Day, for above a week together. Four years after, there happened a Conjunction of the superior Planets, which was attended with a notable Blazing Star almost as light as the Moon, so that people could see to travail by the light of it. The next year another Comet was seen in April continuing two dayes. And again in August, under Coma Berenices, and near Charles Wain. Remarkable Events attending these Comets were, the death of the Arch Duke of Austria, and of the King of Spain, and of the King of Bohemia, and of the Queen in England. Plague, Famine, and sore Drought lasting from January to November, in some Countries. Prodigious Tempests and Inundations in other places. The Tartars wasted Poland, the Muscovites Lithuania. The Bavaric War also War between the Germans, the Venetians, and French. The Spaniards began their most bloody Butcheries amongst the Indians. The Islands of Hispaniola, Cuba, jamaica, were exceeding populous, but the cruel Spaniards made them desolate. A Writer of their own confesseth that in a few years time, they killed more then ten hundred thousand Natives, fourteen times  told.  
A. D. 1513. A Comet appeared in Cancer, 
c Ricciolus ex Petro Surdo, Zanch de operibus Dei. L. 3. C. 2. P. 335.  continuing from December to the latter end of january. The colour various, the stream long, seen all night. This year that great Blazing Star which had put the whole Christian World into a flamme, died, viz. Pope Iulius II. The King of Scotland with an Army of sixty thousand invaded England, but he was slain in battle, and( besides three Bishops, twelve Earls, seventeen Lords) many thousands with him. The King of Denmark died. Insurrections in many places in Germany followed. The next year the Popes Legate made a Proclamation in Hungaria, that whatsoever would go out against the Turks should have Indulgences granted them, whereupon a great rabble gathered together, but instead of warring against the Turks, they fell upon their own countrymen flew seventy thousand of them, amongst which were four hundred of the Nobles. The Turks and Christians ●ad a bloody engagement; an hundred thousand of the Turk, best Souldiers were cut off in one day. About this time armoniac was conquered by Selimus, and annexed to the Ottoman Dominions, v. Ricaut of the present state of the Anmenian Church, P. 389.  
A. D. 1516. A Comet 
d Mizaldus, P. Jovius.  of a Lunar nature, was seen for some dayes. The King of Spain died. The next year Luther began to declare against Indulgences. Soon after which great Commotions and mutations followed throughout all Antichristendome. 
† v. Purchase Pilgrim, Part, 4. L 8. P. 1577.  Now did the merciless Spaniards fall upon the Indians inhabiting the Terra firma, where they murdered above four Millions of Souls. The Sulden of egypt was miserable Murdered, and the Mamalucks power( that had kept egypt under three hundred years) swallowed up by the Turks.  
A. D. 1523. And in the next year also, a Comet appeared. 
e Praetorius, Rockenbachius, Junctinus, Eckstormius.  A fearful Inundation followed, & Earth-quakes. The Sedition of the rustics in Germany, in which sixty thousand lives were lost. The King of France was taken Prisoner by Charles V. The Duke of Saxony died. In England, after a great Rain, there followed such an extreme Frost, as that many lost their nails, and some died with could.  
A. D. 1527. On the eleventh day of August, a most terrifying 
f Wolfius, Cent. 16. P. 293. Lavater, Herlicius, Gemma.  Comet was seen, of an immense longitude, and bloody colour. The form of it, was like a mans arm holding an huge Sword in his hand with which he was ready to strike. Such terror and horror surprised the Spectators of this Prodigy, as that some died away with dread & amazement. 
g Ricciolus.  The next year another Comet was seen in Pisces, Jan. 18. There followed a great Dearth in England by reason of extremity of Rain in Seed time; also a Famine in Venice, and in several other places, whereby many perished. And that woeful Disease known by the name of the English Sweat, infected all places of the Realm, whereby whole miriads were sent to the Grave. The Duke of Barbon took Rome, and sacked it. The Turks wasted Hungaria. In some places, Armies of Locusts devoured the fruits of the Earth.  
A. D. 1530. A 
h Mizaldus, Eckstormius, &c.  Comet was observed. And again the next year in August and September, having its motion from the beginning of lo unto Libra, appearing first in the Morning before Sunrise, afterwards in the evening. Again, 
i Appianus. Confessio Augustana.  the year following from September 26. to October 20. its motion being from Virgo to scorpion, and at first a southern, but at last a northern Latitude. The body of the Star was three times as big as the Planet Jupiter; the stream exceeding long, pointing to the southwest. The next year in June, in geminy; the Star somewhat greater then Jupiter, the figure like a long sword. As for the more remarkable Events, attending those Blazing Stars, thus annually appearing, they were such as these. An Earth-quake in Portugal; above a thousand houses were thrown down thereby. A sore Famine in some Countries. A great Flood or Inundation of Waters in the Netherlands, viz. in Holland, Friezland, and zealand( no Iess then four hundred and four Parishes were drowned;) yea and in Poland: Also at Rome the River tiber overflowed its Banks. Now did the famous Confession of Ausburg come forth, and the name of Protestant was first known. That Confession was put into the form of a Covenant, subscribed by several of the Electoral Princes, who protested they would abide by the Truth, so did the opposers of Popery come to bear the name of Protestants. The World blazed and flamed out with Wars every where. In the East the Persians and Turks were at variance. Also the Turks made an irruption upon christendom. Hungaria was full of Troubles. In Helnetia there was an unhappy War, wherein Zuinglius( that Star of the first magnitude) lost his life. In Westphalia, the Munsterian Anabaptists brought all to confusion. In Denmark, the Popish party designing to suppress the Protestants, involved that kingdom in War and Blood. In Africa, the kingdom of Tunis was put into a flamme by Barbarossa. Great mutations happened in England which filled the World with discourse and wonderment, for King Henry VIII. cast off the Popes Supremacy, and turned the Monks and Friers out of doors, disposing of the Church-lands to whom he pleased. By all which things it appears, that the Blazing Stars mentioned were not seen for nothing.  
A. D. 1538. A Comet appeared in January, 
k Jacobus Fincelius.  continuing three weeks. It was seen in the evening( in the sign Pisces) the Blaze 30 degrees in Longitude. The 
l Appianus. Hallerus.  next year a great Comet appeared in lo, from May 6, to 17. Many things worthy of Remark happened in this year. Amongst the Napolitans, the Sea was ●ried up eight miles; and out of that place there was a most horrendous irruption of fiery flames, and ashes, which falling upon the People living thereabouts, they were miserable destroyed. A terrible Conflagration happened in Constantinople continuing several dayes. A fiery Summer and a scorching Drought in many places. The King of France came with an Army into Italy. The King of Spains Navy was overcome by Barbarossa. The Duke of Saxony died with grief, and his death occasioned great mutations and miseries in that part of Germany. The Antinomians headed by an obscure and illiterate person( one John Isleb) did now first begin to Blaze in Germany. A principal City in the country of Mexico was almost overwhelmed by a Deluge of boiling water which descended from a Vulcano near unto it.  
A. D. 1542, A 
l Rockenbachius, Eckstormius, Ricciolus ex Fromordo & Senerto habet An. 1543.  Blazing Star terrible to behold, was seen forty dayes. Three years after that another appeared of a bloody colour. Remarkable Events, were, a great Drought, in England, the lesser Rivers were clean dried up, much Cattle died there for lack of Water. In Silisia and other Countries the Locusts did much harm. The designed Expedition of the Christians against the Turks proved unhappy, a great part of the Christian Army dying by an Epidemical Disease. The latter of these Comets was attended with the first Session of the Council of Trent; Also at the Popes Instigation the Waldenses were destroyed for their Religion, and Popish, Barbarous, unparalleled Cruelties exercised towards them, The next year( viz. A. D. 1546.) Luther died, immediately upon whose death a Cloud of Blood which had been long impending, fell upon Germany, for a fatal War broken out between the Emperour and the Protestant Princes.  
A. D, 1556. A Comet in Libra was seen from the beginning of March to April 23. The Colour varied. 
m Hommelius, Camerarius, Bizaras, Histor. Genuens. Kepler, Cardanus, & alii.  The body of it shining like an half Moon, the stream near its head more compact, but in the end more rare. Its motion from Virgo through Bootes to the North Pole of the ecliptic; from thence through Andromeda to Piscis septentrionalis, where it vanished. In the midst of its appearance the motion was most swift, for it dispatched 15 Degrees every day. At the first it was retrograde, but afterwards direct. In the space of four dayes it was removed about 70 Degrees Westward, and 30 Degrees Northward. It moved towards the Planet Saturn, the nearer it came to him, the slower was its motion. 
n Gemma.  Its magnitude at its disappearing in a manner equal to what it was at first. This Comet was attended with the death of many Learned and Worthy Men; and with the fiery part of Queen Mary's Persecution. This year also, the Emperour Charles V. did to the amazement of the World, resign his Crown, and betook himself to a Monastery. Such an Inundation happened at Rome by the River Tybers overflowing, as that a great part of the City was thereby destroyed.  
A. D. 1558. A Comet was seen in the Evening under Coma Berenices, of a pale colour, continuing about 30 dayes. 
o Thuanus, Lib. 21. page. 577. Tycho Epist P. 144.  Also in May the next year; and in December the year after that. These three years did not pass without such things as were very observable. In England there was such a prodigious Tempest as the like( in respect of circumstances) is seldom mentioned in any History. That year also Queen Mary died, and famous Queen Elizabeth seconded, whereby affairs both in Church and State were strangely altered. The Emperour Charles V. said that Comet was sent to give him notice of his approaching Death. And at the sight of it, made this Pentameter, His ergò indicijs me mea fata vocant. So it happened, for he died that year, 
p Ricciolus.  The next year the Pope died, and no less then fifteen Cardinals, also the King of France, the King of Portugal, the King of Denmark, and many other Princes.  
A. D. 1577. This year a notable blazing Star amazed the World for three Moneths together. Those famous Mathematicians Michael Mastlin, Cornelius Gemma, and Tycho Brahe, have written largely and learnedly concerning that Comet. It was seen first on the ninth of November, in the beginning of Capricorn, passing through that sign and Aquarius, to the midst of Pisces. The Star was equal to Venus in magnitude, being a compact solid body, and like a little Moon, shining as the purest Silver. The stream differed in colour from the Star, for it was read and fiery, in breadth five Degrees, and in length thirty. Towards the body of the Star, the rays were more condensed, but the longer they were distended they appeared to be more scattered and diffused abroad, which argued that the Stream was procreated by some external light penetrating through the body of the Star; and it was observed to be opposite to the Sun, yet so as that the form of it was bending like a Bow, whose convexity was towards the Zenith, and concavity towards the Horizon. Both Gemma and Tycho found that this Comet was higher then the Moon. According to Tycho's observation, the true Diameter of the Star was 368. Mill. Germ. so that its proportion to the Earth was as 3 to 14. The Longitude of the Comets tail he found to be 96 Semidiameters of the Earth. He concluded it was not in the Airy but in the aetherial World, because it did admit of no sensible Parallax. On November 10. the Parallax was 19 12 which was diminished every day until it came to two minutes, and that was a demonstration that the Comet a scended higher and higher. At the first it was distant from the Earth 173 Semidiamiters, but at last 1733. h. e. it ascended as high as the Sun itself. As for Events, the King of Persia died by poison. The great Turk was slain in battle, and seventy thousand with him. The King of Portugal would needs venture into Mauritania that so he might restore Mahomed to the kingdom which his Uncle Aldelmeleck had detruded him from; in that memorable battle the King of Portugal was slain, and the greatest part of the Nobility with him. Abdelmeleck though he obtained a victory died that day of an Apoplexy, Mahomed was drowned in the Marshes, so that three Kings lost their lives in one day. This year also Novograde in Muscovia( whose Inhabitants were wont to say that nothing was able to oppose God, unless it were great Novograde) was taken, the conqueror carrying away with him( as itis said) 
* Mordens Geography rectified, P. 122.  an 100 Wagons of Gold and Silver.  
A. D. 1580. A wonderful Comet appeared this year. It was observed first October 2 having no Coma for several dayes, sc. not till October 9. When on a sudden it appeared with a formidable blaze. The reason of which Maestl●n judgeth to be this. The Sun and the Comet were in opposite signs in the zodiac, so that at first the Coma ascending directly upwards could not be perceived by men here below, but as the Star receded from the Suns Diameter, the rays issuing from thence were seen, which were adverse to the Sun, though not in exact Diametrical opposition thereto. Its appearance continued above three Moneths. At first in the Evening at 7h. but November 14. it was seen both in the Morning and in the Evening, until December 6. when it appeared in the Morning only. It was bigger then a Star of the first magnitude, only of a darker colour, and not moving as the fixed Stars, but as the Planets do. At first retrograde and slow in its progress, afterwards swiftly passing through Aries, Pisces, Capricorn, Sagittarius, but towards the end of its appearance, the motion was more remiss, until it became almost stationary, it was as high as the Planet Mercury, or Venus, viz. 157. S. T. There followed an epidemical Disease, which strangely run through all Europe. Also great Wars between the Emperour of Muscovia, and the Suevians and Polanders. The States of Holland united in renouncing obedience and subjection to the King of Spain, and from thence they bear the name of the United Provinces. The Christians in Cyprus this year rebelling against ●he Turks, were miserable destroyed: 
t See Ricaut of the present state of the Greek Churches, P. 91.  So that of fourteen thousand Villages of Christians which then were in that populous iceland, there now remain but seven hundred.  
A. D. 1585. A strange Star appeared 
q Tyco Braheus, Christoph Rothmanuns.  from the 8th of October, to the 5th of November, in the Sign of Pisces, having its motion direct through Aries, Taurus, &c. The magnitude equal to Jupiter but affording an obscure cloudy kind of light without any Coma. It was observed to be as high as Saturn.  
The next year 
r Ricciolus.  the Plague raged in the lesser Asia, Austria and Hungaria. Italy and the low Countries were afflicted with a Famine. In the country near Constantinople, Armies of Locusts devoured the fruits of the Earth. The Queen of Scotland being in England was tried for her life, condemned and beheaded.  
A. D. 1590, A Comet appeared from February 23. to March 6. near Piscis Borealis. The blaze very thin and small, and about ten degrees in length. It was by Tycho observed to be as high as the Sun.  
As for Events, the Pope Sixtus V. died, and his successor Urbanus VII. lived but ten dayes after he came to the popedom, Gregory XIV. succeeded him, but lived not a whole year, the next Pope, viz. Innocentius IX. lived but two Moneths; so that four Popes successively died in little more then a years time. There was a terrible Earthquake this year in Moravia and Austria, whereby many Houses( especially in Vienna) were destroyed. The next Summer there was a sore Drought. A Shepherd in a place in Holland carelessly throwing some fire upon the ground, by reason of the dry season, the ground took fire, and burnt so that the Heavens seemed to flamme, nor could the fire be extinguished, until the Sea water was let in upon it. In Paris thirteen thousand persons were famished to death this year.  
A. D. 1596. July 9. A Comet of Saturnine aspect appeared in Ursa mayor, from whence it hastened to Coma Berenices. 
r Bucholzer, Maestlinus & alii.  It passed through Cancer, lo, and Virgo, and there turning aside, became Stationary. Remarkable Events were; a drought and earth quake in divers places. The English burnt the Spanish Fleet. The Turks in Battle overcame the Austrians. This year many great Personages 
s Sr. Richard Bakers Chron. p. 387.  died in England, Also 
t Cluverius Hist. P. 753.  many famous for Learning in other Countries. Ireland blazed with Tyr Owens Rebellion, nor could that flamme be extinguished without the effusion of much English blood. An exundation of the River tiber, drowned 1500 persons in Rome, and the City received inestimable detriment thereby.   

CHAP. IX.  
The History of Comets appearing in this last Century, with the more remarkable occurrences of Divine Providence which have attended them.  
A D. 1607. September 25. A Comet appeared 
u Kepler, Longomontanus, Gotir. Wendelin, Cluverius.  continuing about forty dayes, making its progress from the foot of Ursa mayor, through Bootes, until it came to the hand of Ophiuchus, where it began to alter its course. The Star was not exactly round, but seemed to have a swollen face. It appeared bigg●r then any fixed Star. The rays proceeding from it, were more condense and compacted then useth to be. Because of its Septentrional Latitude, it might be seen both in the evening and in the morning,( and in Germany all the night long) whence the vulgar ignorantly concluded that there were two distinct Comets. As for remarkable occurrents, the Prince of Transilvania was poisoned by his chancellor. The Hayduques with the Turks made woeful havoc in Hungaria; The Emperour was in great distress, by reason that his Brother the Arch Duke headed an Army, aspiring after the Imperial Crown, and prevailed so far that he was declared the King of Hungaria, after which he persecuted the Protestants in Austria. The Duke of lorraine died. There were great Wars between the Sweeds and Danes.  
A. D. 1618. This year is famous for Blazing Stars, inasmuch as therein no less then four Comets were observed. The first appeared from August 25. to September 25. about three hours after midnight, casting its blaze from the East towards the West. September 1. Kepler observed it to be a little below the left foot of Ursa mayor, and declining towards the head of lo, its motion was retrograde. Sept. 6. with the naked eye no blaze could be perceived, but with the Telescope one might perceive it like a thin Cloud: Sept. 23. it was come to 29. of Cancer. Lat. Boreal. 23. about 10dayes, deflecting from the ecliptic Southward, almost 15. Degrees, having a retrograde motion. The Star was hardly perceivable in Europe by reason of its vicinity to the Sun, but in Persia, and in the East-Indies( though not in Europe) continuing from November 22. to Decimber 13. The fourth and last Comet appearing this year, was that which all the Earth looked upon with astonishment. It was first taken notice of November 24. and continued to January 24. h. ●. for the space of 60 dayes. There are some now living who remember this blazing Star. But I find a far other kind of Description given of it in the Books of those learned Mathematicians, who were accurate and diligent observers of this Prodigy, then that which is related by those still alive, that in their youth might see it. There had not the like Comet to this appeared for the space of 150 years.  
It was seen first in Libra, moving towards the North with some inclination Westward, viz. through the midst of Libra and Bootes, when it came there it might be seen all the night long, The body of the Comet was to appearance bigger then a Star of the first magnitude, and would sometimes seem to twinkle. Wendeline, Cusatus and others that viewed it with a Telescope, did to their admiration observe a little Nut or Star in the body of this Comet; after that it was broken into three Stars like Coals of fire in a flaming Oven; after that into a multitude of little Stars which could not be numbered because they would sometimes sparkle out, and otherwhile abscond from the eye. The blaze was narrow near the Star, but broad at a distance from it. At its first appearance it bended like a Bow, but afterwards it appeared strait. The Colour of the Blaze near the Star was read and fiery, but towards the end of it white and pale, very much refembling the Via Lactea. December 21. the visible Longitude of the blaze was 22 Degrees, December 8. it was 58 Degrees, Decemb. 9. it was 75. Degrees in length. Longomontanus saith that once the Blaze was extended one hundred & four degrees in length; and that as for its distance from the Earth it was four times as high as the Moon viz. 240 S. T. Before it was extinct it had a less Parallax then the Sun, and therefore was above it. The true length of the blaze was beyond that of its distance from the Earth no less then 445 S. T. so that a man going forty miles every day would not in an hundred years go so far as that blaze extended. He might sooner go round the whole Earth seventy times over, then once go over the extent of that formidable blaze. Remarkable Events, attending these Comets, were, the death of the Emperour and Empress. A drought all that Winter; An Earth quake( which happened on the day when the first of these Comets appeared) in Italy removed a Mountain which fell upon the Town of Plours, whereby an 1500 persons were crushed to death in a moment. But the great and fatal consequent of this Prodigy, was, the Bohemic and Germanic War, in which Rivers of Blood were poured forth. No less then six( some say eight) hundred thousand lives being cut off by the devouring mouth of the Swora. And the Prince Palatine, King of Bohemia dispossessed of his hereditary Estate, forced to fly for his life, and his country made a desolation. Quickly after these Blazing Stars, God sent the Plague amongst the Indians here in New-England which sweptthem away in such numbers, as that the living were not enough to bury the dead. This year also in Grand Cairt in egypt there died six hundred thousand by the Pestisence.  
A. D. 1652. A Comet was seen December 10. continaing 21 dayes. Its motion was retrograde from the South towards the North, through the Hare, the foot of Orion, Taurus, unto Perseus. Its diurnal motion at first was 11 Degrees and 16 Minutes, but at last hardly 30 Minutes. When it was nearest to the earth, its distance was 110 S. T. the Parallax being 31. m. 15. sec. But a little before its disappearance it was removed 22509. S. T. the Parallax being but sec. so that at last it was as high as the Orb of Jupiter. When observed with a Telescope, the head appeared to be round, 
w Hevelius, Wendelinus.  and not less then the Moon when at the full; and four or five clots might be discerned in the Cometical body, whereof two were something bigger then the rest, and many minute little bodies relembling Stars, but their light not so vivid as that of the true Stars is. These clots in the Cometical body, did very much alter and dissipate every day. The blaze was seven degrces as to its visible Longitude, in form like a pyramid or Pillar of a duskish, smoky kind of aspect. The true diameter of the Comet was 825. Mill. Germ., so that if a Man should travail to ●o German( or 40 of out) miles every day, he could not go round the bo y of this Comet in less then 259 dayes, of so vast a circumserence was its magnitude. Many undertook to predict strange things from the appearance of this Blazing Star; Especially a blind but insolent 
x Viz. Will. lily.  Buzzard of our own Nation( as learned Mr. Gataker in the English Annotations on Jer. 10. 2. not undeservedly calls him) foretold matters which never came to pass, yet several things very remarkable we all knowattended this Comet, e. g. Wars between England and Holland, Denmark, Sweden. Bloody Sea fights, the Sea and the Waves thereof roaring. Strange alterations in England, for the next year cromwell dissolved that which is known by the name of the Rump-Parliament, and set up for himself. Also quakerism now began to infest the World. The Pope and the King of Bohemia died within a year or two of this Comet.  
A. D. 1661. A Comet appeared in the morning from Febr. 3. to March 28. S. T. N. It was below the Dolphin, between the heads of Aquila and Equuleus in the 10. Grad. 〈◇〉 Its distance from the Earth was at first 2000, and at last 9000. S. T. so that it was higher then the Sun. Its motion direct from the East to the West. The Telescope discovered a Star to be in the body of the Comet, about which a more thin and dilute matter might be discerned. Feb. 5. that Star was divided into several parts. Febr. 6. it was dissipated into many little Stars, one of which was more dense and shining then the rest. The blaze was obscure, and about seven degrees in Longitude, according to Hevelius 
y Cometogr. L. 12. P. 892, &c.  but Franciscus Milleit 
z Astron. L. 8. P. 582.  writeth that it was sometimes extended unto 20 Degrees in Longitude, of a conical form. As for Events, the Turks fell upon Germany( where especially this 
a Edlins Discourse of the Conjunction, An. 1663.  Comet was observed) making woeful havoc there. That black Bartholomews day, which the Nonconformists in England, so much complain of, happened but half a year after this Comet. The Fanaticks say, that the like is not to be paralleled in any History, that five and twenty hundred Ministers should be silenced in one day. It is also said, that these Stars which were thus cast down, were some of them of the first magnitude. And therefore a Comet might well precede an event so remarkable. But this must pass for a fanatic notion. Not long after this Comet, the cruel Tartars made incursions into Hungaria, Moravia, Silesia, sacking and burning many Towers, and making no less then an hundred and threescore thousand Souls Captives,( r) whom they sold to their barbarous Brethren the Turks.  
A. D. 1664. A famous Comet was conspicuous to the whole World this year. Many have published their Sentiments concerning it. A Reverend and worthy Person 
b Mr. Danforth Pastor of the Church in Roxbury.  amongst ourselves 
a. v. Mordens Geography, P. 140.  ( who is now ascended above the Stars) hath lest us his observations about the motions of this Comet as by himself taken notice of. But no man hath done it with greater accuracy then Hevelius, who being singularly advantaged with the best Mathematical Instruments which the World can afford to make discoveries of this nature. 
c In libro suprac●tato.  Reports that it was observed by him in Dantzick, Decemb. 14. S. T. N. About 5 h. A. M. in the 8. Degree of Libro, the head of a somewhat yellowish colour, affording a dull and dim light, never so vivid and splendid as the true Stars or Planets appear with, in the very mid●le of which one might perceive a more clear shining body, whose diameter was about sour Minutes, environed with a thinner Body of 12. Minutes whose light was more dim. But when observed with a long Telescope, one might see that the Star in the midst of the head of the Comet, did not consist of one clot only, but of many particles, some of which were more compact and Iucid, others more thin and obscure. As the subtle matter observed about the small particles like Nuts in the body of the Comet, was condensed, the head grew bigger, so as that December 29. it was observed to comprehend 24 Minutes, and in the midst of it a most lucid and thick clot, of a fiery colour, which was compassed about with matter, some of which was more rare, some more dense, intermixed with lesser Nuts or Stars. In the beginning of January, that thick and lucid Clot began to attenuate, and break away, whence the head of the Comet was diminished, that January 6. it seemed to contain but 8 Minutes, January 22. The form of the Comet was not exactly round, but seemed to be rough and broken, and in some places pointing out more then in other places. As for the true magnitude of the Comet, it was at first about six times as big as the Earth, after it was diminished in January, it was again augmented in February. It did not always keep the same distance from the Earth. The Parallax was 59. sec. In the midst of its appearance, when the motion was most swift about 4. m. and at last but 16. sec▪ So that at first it was distant from the Earth 3500. S. T. in the midst 1000. And February 4. 1200. S. T. Towards the end of December when nearest to the Earth, it was twenty times as far off as the Moon, in the middle of January it was as high as the Sun, in the beginning of February as remote from the Earth, as Mars is. The Blaze was 14. Degrees in Longitude, being towards the extremity spread abroad, resembling a Peacocks tail. It appeared sometimes longer, and sometimes shorter. December 21. it was observed to be 22 Degrees in length, and towards the point of it, to bend a little, the concavity towards the Horizon, but the next day it was strait again December 28. a sudden and great alteration was observed in the Blaze; for it pointed not towards the West, as before it had done, but upwards and towards the North. From December 29. it began to incline more Eastward. January 5. the Blaze pointed directly towards the East. It was observable that it seemed still to point towards the geminy; so that the Blaze was ever in opposition to the Sun; and we may therefore conclude that it did proceed from the beams thereof, piercing through the body of the Comet. The Star lost its Blaze in the latter end of January, and yet recovered it again in part in the beginning of February. Its motion was retrograde, from Corvus, through Hydra, the Ship, Canis mayor, the Hare, Eridanus, the head of the Whale unto Aries, so that it passed through six signs in the zodiac, viz. Libra, Virgo, lo Cancer, geminy, Taurus. Thus far is Hevelius his account of this notable Comet. Not long after this another, no less admirable did appear. It was by the but now mentioned learned person first observed, April 6. St. N. about 1 h. A. M, in the breast of Pegasus, viz. in 14. 21. of Pisces, and Lat. Boreal. 26. 30. of a clear and radiant aspect. In the midst of the Comets head one might with a Telescope discern one Nucleus or Star very lucid and shining like Gold, which was encompassed with a more dilute matter. The Blaze proceeding therefrom was almost as thick as the matter in which the Nucleus was contained. April 8. it appeared very lucid, so that one might perceive the Comet after the other Stars disappeared, the Nucleus not much altered from what it was at first April 16. the Comet seemed brighter then any of the fixed Stars, yea to outshine Saturn; then by the help of the Telescope one might discern the Nucleus to be more bright and bigger then before. The Diameter of the Nucleus was less then Jupiter's, but equal to Saturu's, whence one might conclude that the Comet was as yet increasing. The Nucleus seemed to cast a notable shadow on that side which was averse to the Sun. For the blaze seemed to be divided, the reason of which might be because the Nucleus was so compact and solid, that the beams of the Sun could not pass through it, only through the thin matter which was on both sides of it. The matter on the sore part of the Nucleus as the Comet came nearer to the Sun, appeared to be more acuminated and diminished. The Parallax of this Comet was at first 69 sec. at last 41. sec. The magnitude of the Nucleus was 12. sec. and of the whole head of the Comet 6. min. so that when nearest to the Earth, it was sixty times as high as the Moon, and at last as high as the Sun. The blaze was 17. sometimes 25. Degrecs as to its visible Longitude. The motion of this Comet was direct according to the order of the signs, at first appearing in Pisces, and at last in Taurus. It continued for the space of fourteen dayes.  
As for remarkable Events attending these Blazing Stars, we cannot but remember what doleful things quickly followed. An unhappy War between two professing Nations, viz. the English and the Dutch, whereby much christian and Protestant blood was  shed. A terrible Plague in England the like never known there before this time, so that in London( besides what was in some other parts of the Nation) there died sometimes above seventeen thousand in one week; and more then an hundred thousand were swept away in a years time in that one City by the bosom of Destruction which the Lord sent amongst them. The next year the Papists set London on fire; which dreadful Conflagration continued for several dayes, until eighty seven Parishes were consumed by those fatal flames. The smoke of that burning caused the Sun to look as if it were turned into darkness, and the Moon into blood. It hath been computed that there were burnt within the Walls of the City twelve thousand houses, and without a thousand. 
* See Mr. Morders Geography, P. 18.  The whole damage amounting ●o at least nine Millions, and nine hundred thousand pounds sterling. Also, the miseries which the English inhabiting the Caribb●e Islands, were not long after these Comets, exposed unto, not only by the Sword of their Enemies, but by the prodigious Tempests which God sent amongst them, are still fresh in memory.  
A. D. 1667. Feb. 15. A Comet was seen only the Coma and not the Star could be by us discerned by reason of its being in the sign Pisces, where the Sun then was. Its Longitude above thirty Degrees. 
† See the Philosophical Transactions for An. 1668. Vol. 3. P. 683, 684.  March 1. Its extreme point reached to that Star in Eridanus which is called the fourt●enth by Bayerus. March 2. it passed through the 15 Star in Eridanu●, and lest to the Southward the 14th. tending to the Scuthern Star which precedes the Ear of Lepus, so that it was more Northerly and more Easterly then at first. Both in Italy and in Portugal it was observed at the same time, as with us in New-England. Also at Lions and several other places in France; and yet( which is very strange) it was not observed at Paris, nor at London or in any part of England. The London Gazette saith, that March 17. at Venice they observed a Comet to the northeast, the tail of it much longer then that which appeared three years since, but of less brightness, and that it was seen late in the night.  
As for Events; many places were this year sorely afflicted with Earth quakes. In Asia, there was an horrendous Earth quake which continued for 80 dayes together. The Cities of Begbara, Ang●ra, and several other T●wns suffered much thereby. The City of Tocall was wholly leveled to the ground. Polio( a considerable City) was destroyed, a thousand and eight hundred persons being killed by their Houses falling upon them. Torqueto( another considerable City) was overthrown in a moment, and above six thousand persons lost their lives, being butted in the ruins, of the City. Also several places in Europe were affrighted with Earth-quakes this year: particularly Constantinople, and Adrianople, but especially Raguse which was in a great part destroyed. Also the Plague broken out, in the chief City of the European Tartary; and in great Poland, and in Paccardy, it raged in Do●ay, Ghent and other places. A fire in Moscow destroyed thirty thousand Houses, and five hundred Churches and chapels; a great part of the Cities of Gottenbourg, and Stetin, were this year also consumed by fire. In the country about Cadiz there was a great Drought, so as that the Death of many of their Cattle was occasioned thereby. The Turks made very furious Assaults upon Candia, which was the next year surrendered to them. The King of Poland resigned his Crown into the hands of the States, by which means that kingdom was involved in troubles and confusions. A prodigious Tempest happened there, Hail▪ stones of an incredible bigness fell upon the Trees. breaking them so as was strange to behold. The people there concluded that this Hail-storm was a presage of their future sufferings. Don Juan caused great Troubles and Commotions in the kingdom of Spain. There happened a Popular Tumult in Sardinia wherein the multitude enraged at the Taxes imposed on them, killed the Vice-Roy. In Africa▪ Taffilet to made great stirs subduing the kingdoms of Fez and Morocco to his obedience, so that by his Conquests, he at last styled himself not only the King but the Emperour of Barbary.  
A. D. 1677. A Comet appeared in the sign Taurus, between the Base of the Triangle, and the unformed Stars in the Cloud of Aries. The head of it was in a right line with the heart of Cassiopeja and the Alamak. 
d See Mr. Robert Hooks Remarks upon this Comet.  It seemed to be about the bigness of a Star of the first magnitude, but of a much fainter and duller Light. It had a bright Star in the middle of it, about the brightness of Saturn, when near the Horizon, and was about 25 Seconds in Diameter, the matter in which it was involved having an hazy shining, but not so clear, and bright, and de●se as the Nucleus in it was. The length of it was about eight Degrees, sometimes longer, and sometimes shorter. C●ssini observed it at Paris, Apri● 18. 
* Philosophical Transactions for the year 1677. P. 868.  Hevelius at Dantzick, April 17. and it continued until April 28, h. e. 12 dayes. Its motion being direct, it soon came to be in conjunction with the Sun; and then could not be by us discerned.  
As for Events following this Comet; within a year a Town in Piedmont called Bosia suddenly sunk down into the Earth, so as that nothing of it appeared, only two persons in the whole Town that escaped with their lives. But I find that some late Writers in England, think that this Comet was an Omen of the late Horrid Popish Plot, wherein it was resolved that the Protestant Name should no more be had in remembrance, which hellish design was ripe for Execution, had not He which sits in the Heavens prevented. It was before observed, that Hamans bloody Conspiracy to cut off the Lords People, was attended with a Blazing Star. And why might not this Combination of the Antichristian party( which was worse then that of Hamans) be so too? Now as the Discovery of Haman( who was a Type of Anti-Christ) his wicked contrivance, ended in the utter destruction of himself, and of his Children; So the Lord grant that the revealing of this Popish Plot may issue in the ruin of Antichrist, and of those that do uphold him; and let every Man that fears God, or that bears any love to his Name and Truth, say, Amen!  
A. D. 1680. The motion of the Comet which appeared this year, was diligently followed by the Ingenious Mr. John Foster, the late Printer in Boston in New-England. And though he be gone( not without a public loss by his death and the sorrow of many) it being mentioned amongst evil Omens, that the cunning Artificer shall be taken away) he hath left be●ind him, some of his Observations concerning this Comet. It was first here taken notice of Nov. 14. at 5. h. A. M. near 18 Degrees of Libra. 1 Gr. and 30. min. Lat. Aust●al. Nov. 19. It was within a Degree of Spica Virginis, directing its course Northward about 40. min. Several Mornings after that were cloudy here in Boston, and not long after it was in conjunction with the Sun, so that it was seen no more in the Morning. It was then conjectured that within a few dayes it would appear in the Evening, and so it did Dec. 10. when only the Blaze and not the Star was to us visible. December 12. Its Blaze appeared very read and fiery, extending as far as the breast of the Swan. Dec. 14. its head was first discerned, the Blaze passing to the North-ward of Cor Aquilae. Dec. 16. its appearance was very terrible▪ the Blaze ascended above 60 Degrees almost to its Zenith, growing continually broader from the head, and was brightest on both ends, especially on the South side, the middle considerably darker then either of the sides. Jan. 8. Gave the fairest opportunity to find its true place and parallax, by its approach to a fixed Star of the third Magnitude, in the right shoulder of Andromeda. At 6. h. 5. m. it was 28. m. distant from that Star. At 50. m. past ●. itis distance was 25. m. At 10. h. 5. m: The Comet passing by the said Star, left it 12. m. Southward. Its visible hourly motion was 6. m. direct, which if compared with its daily motion, we shall find it little( if at all) retarded by reason of its Parallax, which is an evidence of its vast distance from the Earth. For if it had not been much higher then the Moon, itis true motion would have far exceeded its visible. About the middle of February, it vanished out of our sight.  
As for Remarkable Events, attending this Blazing Star, We that live in America know but little of the great Motions in Europe, much less in Africa and Asia, until a long time afterwards. Only we are informed of some considerable Commotions the last year, between the Tartars and the Chineses. Likewise in Hungaria, some things worthy of Remark have happened. Above four hundred Villages in that country have lately been laid desolate by Sword and Fire. The Turks have an Army on foot there, and it is strange to consider( only God maketh the Earth to help the Woman) that those Barbarous Infidels, should declare unto the Emperour of Germany, that they will not be at peace with him, except he do's restore unto the oppressed Protestants their liberties and estates which have been unjustly taken from them. The Pope has disposed of the Ecclesiastical 10th. in the State Millan to be employed in a war against the Hungarian Protestants. This last Summer the Protestants( commonly called Rebels) in those parts have had Wonderful successses against the Popish Generation. It is possible this may be a beginning of Revenges upon the Enemy. The great expectation, is, that the next year the Grand signor will come in person against the Emperour, with the most formidable Army which hath been known in the World for these many ages. It may be another( the last and most fatal) blast of the second wo Trumpet, is now about to sound. In the Summer after this Blazing Star, there was an afflictive Drought, not only in America, but in Europe. The next( i. e. the last) winter, there was a great Inundation in the Netherlands; many thousands perished in the fatal night when those great Waters came nigh unto them. It is said that those Provinces suffered more by that Inundation, then by all the French Wars which of late have been so heavy upon them. The poor Protestants in France, are blazing in a flamme of Persecution. The French KING in his Declaration newly come forth, boasts that he hath caused several Millions of Protestants to forsake their holy Profession, and to turn Roman catholics; He also and the Pope are quarreling who shall be Pope in France. Yea his hand seems to be against every one, and every mans against him, the issue whereof must needs in probability be some great overturnings and alteration of the present State of Aff●irs in Europe. And besides these particulars( which are considerable) other things have come to pass in Europe since the Comet last mentioned, which deserve to have a Remark set upon them. For the last year there was a terrible conflagration in Moscow( it begun in a Stable) whereby four thousand Houses were consumed, and turned into ruinous heaps. And this last Summer the great City of Pl●sco, is made desolate by fire, not above seventy Houses r●m●ining. Also the Czar( or Emperour) of Muscovia is lately dead; and his Death hath occasioned a very great Commotion about a successor to the Crown. At first his Brother was Proclaimed; but the City of Mosc● rose up in Arms about it, and the Souldiers there have lately made a dismal slaughter amongst the Nobility and chief Citizens, deposing the late Czar's Brother, and setting up his Uncle as Emperour in his stead. For three dayes together( viz. 15, 16, & 17 of May last) things in that great and imperial City, were in the strangest Confusion imaginable; on the seventh day of June last, a terrible Earth-quake happened in that part of the World, continuing for the space of half an hour, whereby many stately fabrics were thrown down to the ground, and an hundred lives destroyed by their fall. Moreover this last Summer, God hath opened the Windows of Heaven in a very aweful manner, so as that the Floods occasioned by the great reins, have destroyed many Towns in Sicily. We hear that Mount Aetna( which has been wont to vomit▪ Fire) has of late cast out such an abundance of Water, as that the Neighbouring country is drowned thereby. We hear also▪ that on the sixth day of June last, a most prodigious Tempest happened in Sicily, whereby the Town of Randazzo, Francaville, and T●rtorica became subject to a sudden and unexpected ruin. About half an hour before Sunset, there happened so great a darkness, as that no object could be distinguished at the distance of four paces; after which there arose an amazing Storm of Rain, Thunder and Lightning▪ which lasted for thirty six hours. About one of the clock in the Morning, great Torrents fell upon the Neighbouring Mountains, with such irresistible fury, as that Trees of extraordinary bigness were carried away before them, which coming against Tortorica threw down the Walls and Houses thereof, 600. of the Inhabitants were drowned. The archdeacon, and many others ran into the Church of St▪ Nichola● for safety, but the violent Waters overthrew the Church, and destroyed all the People which hoped to find Sanctuary therein On the 25 of june last the Popes Palace of St. Peters in Rome, was strike with a Thunder-bolt, the Fire-ball passing from one Room to another, until it entred that where the Pope useth to give Audience. Fanaticks think that this may be an Omen that Heaven will pour down a Vial full of Wrath upon the Throne of the Beast ere long.  
A. D. 1682. It is reported that in Germany a Blazing Star was seen June 17. in the southwest, which continued visible for the space of an hour, and was then obscured by the rising of the Sun. If that Relation be true, there have been two Comets( or one hath twice appeared) this present year. For it is certain that there was one visible in August last. Some had a sight of it August 15. for my own part, I saw it not until August 18. 3. h. A. M when it was in the foreclaw of Ursa mayor. The stream about 10. Degrees in Longitude; the Star bigger then that which appeared about 2 years ago. It was then perceived by us in N. E. only in the morning, whenas I am informed by Letters from London, that they saw it in the Evening the same night when we beholded it in the morning only. By reason of its septentrional Latitude, tis past doubt that in the more Northern Climates it was seen both in the morning and in the evening of the same day, yea all the night long, as hath been noted concerning the Comets appearing Annis 1432, 1470, 1513, 1607. August 23. it was by us in New-England seen in the Evening only, having removed from the place we first saw it in, about 39 Degrees, and was come near Coma Berenices; not considerably changing its Latitude, but moving in a line almost parallel with the ecliptic. Thus it passed through Coma Berenices, and through the leg of Bootes▪ August 31. Its Latitude was diminished from 24. to 16. Gr. It was come between the feet of Bootes, about 75. Degrees from the place we first saw it in. I had not an opportunity to view it with a Telescope above once( and that was Sept. 12.) through which it appeared to be a very dim and hazy kind of body. It was then about the foot of Virgo, where it disappeared in the month of September.  
There is an Anonymous Astrologer in London( some of whose Notions are taken out of Gadburies Book of Comets, Printed Ann● 1665.) that has published his Sentiments upon this Comet; presumptuously determining not only what the Events are which shall attend this, with the former Blazing Stars, but the places, yea and persons concerned therein. No man of wisdom and judgement can relish the boldness of such a Prophetaster; Especially considering that he does predict things that are contrary to the Scriptures of Truth. He prophesies of the Turks Conversion, and consequently Salvation; when as the sure Word of prophesy unto which we shall do well to give heed, informs us that the Turk shall come to his end, and there shall be none to help him, Numb. 24. 24. Dan. 11. 45. Rev. 9. 15. The vain Astrologer likewise affirms, that Rome shall be destroyed by the Turkish power, when as the holy Scriptures assure us, that it shall be done by some of those horns which have given their power to( the Pope) Antichrist, which the Turks never did, Rev. 17, 16. If men did with understanding red the Scriptures more, they would mind Judicial Astrologers less. This notwithstanding I find that judicious Writers are of Opinion, that such a Saturnine Comet as this was, hath a natural influence into, a●d therefore does portend a could and tedious Winter, much Snow, and consequently great Floods; Malignant and Epidemical Diseases; in special the Plague: concerning which Deus avertat Omen! Some things worthy of Remark, have already happened in Europe, being contemporary with this Blazing Star. I understand by Letters, that Vines and Corn are very much dam●ified, in several Countries by the great reins which have fallen the latter end of this last Summer. We are also ascertained, that about the middle of September last( the Comet being hardly out of sight) there was a very prodigious Tempest in Italy. Not far from Florence there happened most terrible Thunder and Hail mingled with Fire; the Hail-stones were many of them three, some of them five pound in weight; the like was never known in those parts; The wild Beasts and Birds were killed thereby. For the space of eight Miles in length, and two in breadth. It sw●pt away all the Branches from the greatest Trees, as oaks, chestnuts, &c. It destroyed all the Autumn Harvest that was on the Ground, and left not a Vine standing. It carried away the roofs of Houses; inasmuch as persons were killed in their beds. A Church was beat down to the ground, and the Bells carried a quarter of a mile. Since this Discourse was written and sent to the press, we have the sad Tidings of another dismal Fire, which happened in London this Winter, viz on the 19th. day of November last: It is reported that a thousand Houses were consumed in those unhappy Flames. What further Events shall attend this Blazing Star which our eyes have so lately beholded, is known unto him, Who ruleth in the Army of Heav●n, and doth what he will amongst▪ the Children of Men.   

CHAP. X.  
That Blazing Stars are commonly signs of evil Events, therefore not to be slighted; nor this last Blazing Star which is attended with such rare Conjunctions of the Planets. Judicial Astrologers condemned. The Conclusion.  
FRom the things which have been expressed, We may rationally conclude, that all the wise Men who lived in all former Ages were not altogether mistaken wh●n they believed that Comets are forerunners of some great and commonly miserable Events hastening upon the World. Judicious Zanchy( as well as meed) conceives that by the Pillars of Smoke spoken of in the Prophet Joel, as portentous of the amazing and terrible things which were coming upon the Jewish Nation Blaz●ng Stars are meant, he saith that when he lived at Strasburge, there was a Comet seen; after which the death of some great Personages, and civil Wars in France ensued: and addeth 
a De operibus Dei, L. 3. C. 2.  that if we red and observe Histories, we shall find that thus it hath been ever since the World begun, that Comets have never appeared, but soon after, miserable Wars, mortal Diseases, &c. have followed. So that they are preachers of divine wrath, and the consequences of them prove fatal unto some or other, in which respect all ought to walk with an holy fear of the infinite Majesty, who doth whatsoever he pleaseth in Heaven and Earth, in the Sea and in all deep places, and accordingly caufeth such tokens to appear in the Heavens when it seemeth good unto him. And whereas, Droughts, Caterpillars, Tempests, Inundations, Sicknesses, are frequently known to follow upon the appearance of such Phaenom●na's, I see no sufficient reason why we should not suppose them to be not only signal but causal thereof; and perhaps of Earth-quakes 
b Non defuerunt qui excoeli observatione terrae-motum praedicerent. Philo.  also. It is undubitable that the true Planets and fixed Stars have a natural influence into such things, though the manner of their operation is by us silly Mortals undeclarable. Gen. 1. 14. Deut. 33. 13, 14. judge. 5. 20. Job 38. 31, 32, 33. And therefore it is not impossible but that Comets may have the like natural influence, especially when they are near to the Sun, a●d that therefore the Blaze proceeding from them reacheth the Earth, though by us undiscernible. The light which the Moon receiveth from the Sun hath a physical and wonderful influence upon the Earth, so may the Beams which blaze through a Cometical body have likewise. As to their natural operation, they may have different effects, causing Droughts in one place, inundations in another, Earth quakes in another, &c. according to the occult qualities which are in the subjects of their influence. And whereas, Wars, Commotions, Persecutions Heresies, the Death of Princes, Changes, and overturnings in the World do usually happen after the appearance of such Stars, they seem to be only signal and not causal of such events. The reasons alleged by some to prove that Comets have a physical influence into such effects are not solid. I should therefore rather conclude, that they are signs of such things to follow only in respect of their Universal and supernatural cause, God having ordained them for that end, that so the Inhabitants of the World, when they behold such fearful sights might thereby be awakened unto repentance. I know some Learned Men do not assent unto this conclusion. Scaliger laughs at their conceit who 
c De subtilitate exercit. 79.  suppose that Comets threaten Kings and kingdoms. Budritius 
d referent Keckermanno in Syst. phies. L 6. P. 742.  hath published a Tractate, whose design is to prove the contrary. And the truth is, that the Arguments insisted on by the Admirers of Aristotle are srivolous; And when they speak of Comets falling upon the Earth, and so infecting the Air, and tell us that sometimes Stones of a Sulphurous nature have fallen down out of them, their fancies are ridiculous. But it doth not follow that a principle is not true, because it hath been weakly maintained by some that have undertaken its Patronage. The weightiest objection against the inference which we adhere unto, is, That there have been some happy Comets, and that the evils pretended to follow after them, have sometimes happened when no Comet hath appeared. Tacitus calls that an happy Blazing Star which was seen before Nero's Death, because it signified the do wnfal of one that had a malignant influence upon the whole Earth; Others mention the Comets that were observed before Wickliff, Huss, and Luther began to publish the Gospel, as happy Omens that the light of truth should be dispersed in the World. But truly, the number of instances on this hand, is so small and inconsiderable, that it cannot invalidate their Assertion, who affirm that Blazing Stars are most commonly portentous of evil Events. And if we should say as some do that the appearance of a Comet is like the coming of a New Ruler to the people, 
e V. Keckerman in eodem libro P. 732.  Either a great good or a great evil, there is room left to fear the worst. Moreover, as there are contrary Interests in the World, so that may be happy for one, that will be woeful for the other. And although such evil Events as those in the preceding Chapters related, have sometimes happened without any blazing star immediately forerunning, that doth not prove, that when such signs do appear in heaven, they are not signal of miseries not far off. Wars & commotions have happened though Armies have not been seen fighting in the Air. Will any man therefore say, that such apparitions are not to be accounted ominous or significative that evils of that nature are like to ensue? However, it is certainly much better for men to fear and prepare for the worst, then that Judgement should overwhelm them in their sin and security. A Jesuit confesseth, 
f Ricciolus p. 34.  that when Johannes de Capistrano upon the appearance of a Comet. A. D. 1460. declared in his public Sermons, that except the world did reform their lives and ways, they might justly expect that great Calamities were at hand, it was both piously and prudently done of him. It is dangerous for men to jest with such aweful works of God. They that do so are guilty of worse then barbarous profaneness: and such persons( be they high or low) seldom long escape the vengeance of Heaven. Some have observed that 
g Alsted. Theologiae Naturalis par● 2. p. 300.  when Pericles slighted a great Eclipse of the Moon. it proved a fatal Eclipse to him, and to those that he was concerned in. And Vespasian's Example should teach men to be careful how they despise such Works of God. Lege Historiam ne fias Historia. The merciful and righteous God useth to discharge his Warning pieces before his Murdering pieces go off. Thrice happy they who take the Warning. I know not but that the possessed man might speak Truth, who affirmed the best Verse in Virgil to be that, Discite justitiam moniti & non temnere Numen.  
And as for this last Blazing Star, which is generlly disregarded amongst Men in the World, it seemeth to be the more Ominous, in that some ●are Conjunctions of the superior Planets happen this year also. October 20. There was a Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in lo, there having been in the preceding month of September, first a Conjunction of jupiter and Mars, and then of Saturn and Mars in the same sign. And( which is notable because unus●al) these two superior Planets make two Conjunctions more in the same sign, the one in the next month, viz. on the thirtieth of january, in the 18. Degree of lo; the other the sixth of May next in the sixteenth Degree of the same sign. As for those great Conjunctions of all the Planets which happen but once in 794. years, there have been but seven of them since the World begun. The second of which was attended with Noah's Flood. The third with the overthrow of Pharaoh, when the Children of Israel were brought out of the Land of egypt. The fourth with the Captivity of the Ten Tribes. The fifth with the beginning of the Christian, and the Destruction of the jewish World. The sixth with the division of the Empire in the dayes of Car●●us Magnus. The Last was 79. years ago. A Learned and Judicious Author 
h Als●edius in Chronol. Cap. 48.  saith of it that as the foundation of Rome was laid at the same time when the Children of Israel were carried into Captivity by the Assyrians under the fourth of these Conjunctions, so the seventh ere the consequents or concomitants of it be over, will be attended with the conversion of the jews, and the utter ruin of Rom●, which he thinks will come to pass in the year 1694. About which time some others conjecture that great things will be accomplished in the World. Mr. Brightman on Rev. 9. 15. concludeth that the present Turkish Power shall not be continued beyond the year 1696. Dr. M●or supposeth that the time allotted for the Reign of Antichrist will expire about the year 1692. Dis Moulin's judgement was that the Pope shall not be able to make War with the Saints, so as to overc●me them any more, after the year, 1689. Outinam! Others conceive that Annus 1688. will be a year of wonders, which brings to mind the Verses published by Regiomontanus above two hundred years ago,  

Octuagesimus Oct avus mirabilis annus  
Ingruet, & secum Tristia ●ata tra●et.   
Whether any of these have gueffed right, he that lives thirteen years hence, will be better able to say: I am apt to believe that ere this Century be expired, there will be very great Revolutions in the World. But besides these general ones, there are particular Conjunctions of the two superior Planets, which meet together once in( about) 20 years, and use to continue in their conjunction, until Mars come and join with them; and then it is admirable to behold three great Stars shining in the same sign in the Heavens, without any scintillation, 
* v Kepler Epit. Astron. L. 6 P. 854.  and these some call great Conjunctions 
1 Conjunctio Saturni & Jovis vocatur conjunctio magna quia res magnas portendit. Keckerman. Astron. L. I. C. 12.  as portending great Events in the World. And such a conjunction there has & will be within this twelve moneths, besides several others, in the same year and in the same Sign in the Heavens( as but now was noted) which is admirable to consider; some say the like hath not been these two thousand years. And it being in one of the signs in the fiery Trigon, there are who conclude that great Desolations by burning are at hand. I find that some weighty Writers conceive that such rare Conjunctions are portentous not only of great Revolutions and Changes, but also of new and unheard of Diseases amongst Mortals. The judiciously learned Hospinian 
k De origine Festorum Christianorum, P. 28.  seems to incline unto this Opinion. It cannot be denied, but that the Planets have a great influence upon the Earth as to things which according to the course of nature are produced: The five lesser Planets are in the Scripture by way of eminency termed 
l Bythner in Psalm 8. ver. 4.  Stars of light, and are conjunctly mentioned with the Sun and Moon, as affording light, and being influential to the Earth beyond what may be affirmed of other Stars, Psal. 148. 3. therefore to observe the Motion of the celestial bodies, and what effects they do produce according to the ordinary course of nature, which the divine providence hath stated, is lawful and good, Turnheuserus reports( how he knew it to be so, I cannot tell) 
m referent Keckermanno in System. Physic. P. 762.  that the Holy patriarch Abraham, by occasion of the Comet which appeared A. M. 2018. was induced to study Astronomy, that so he might be the better able to judge of the nature and meaning of such works of God. All this notwithstanding the curiosity and presumption of judicial Astrologers, is not to be justified, who undertake peremptorily to Prognosticate, what the particular things are,( yea, and the places and persons concerned in them) that shall come to pass after such Configur●tions and Planetary Aspects. I have red of a Mahomedan Astrologer who did predict a great inundation to be in Syria, A. D. 1095. because of a Conjunction of all the Planets( except Saturn) in the watery sign of Pisces,( like as it was before Noah's Flood) which fell out to be true. But such Astrologers have at other times come off with shane by their bold and rash predictions, as Calvisius, and Wendelinus have more then once noted e. g. A. D. 1186. because of rare Conjunctions of all the Planets then happening; the Astrologers of those dayes declared that there would follow horrendous Tempests of Wind, and after that I know not▪ what miracles, nothing of which came to pass. Again, A. D. 1322. By reason of a notable Conjunction of the Planets in Libra, one John David( a great Astrologer at Toledo in Spain) and many others with him, sent forth his Proclamations abroad into the World, declaring that that Conjunction of the Planets would be attended with Famine, Earth-quakes▪ and such a Storm of Wind▪ as that there would be no living above Ground, affirming that all the Philosophers and Astrologers in Spain, Arabia, and in Greece were of the same Opinion. But when these things should be accomplished, not a word of them proved true. another on the like ground, declared that the World would end, Anno. 1464. Another from the like Planetary Conjunctions, prophesied that Anno. 1524. a General Deluge would overwhelm the Earth; which many injudicious people giving credit unto, got either into Ships or unto high Towers, lest haply the Astrologers flood should drown them. 
† v. Wendelin. Cont. phies. Sect. 2. P. 349.  But the event proved these predictions to be false and foolish.  
Thus God delights to baffle Judicial Astrologers, when they will presume to know the times and the seasons, which he hath kept in his own power. It was the saying of a wise King in Poland, that to be able certainly to predict future Events is Gods Prerogative: 
* Opinio praeteritorum homini certa esse potest; futurorum pernaturam non admodum potest, quamvis Deo tempora omnia presentia sunt, P. Rami Dialect, Lib. 2. Cap. 3.  And a wiser then he, yea, the wisest amongst the sinful Sons of Men hath said, A Man cannot tell what shall be, and what shall be after him, who can tell? Eccl. 10. 14. Notable changes have happened in our dayes, which the monthly Prognosticators could tell us nothing of▪ before that God who rules in the kingdoms of Men brought them to pass. The Star-gazers in old Babylon, who by looking upon the Heavens, and observing the Courses and Conjunctions of the Stars there, would undertake to tell the fates and fortunes of kingdoms, all the judicial Astrologers and Wizards there, could not by all their skill in the Stars red their own and the Nations ruin, until the day that it came upon them, Isai. 47. 13, 14. Therefore it is not good positively to determine what the particular miseries or mutations are, nor the persons or places that shall undoubtedly perceive the effects thereof, when rare Conjunctions of the Planetary Bodies happen, or when Blazing Stars appear. Only that at least some of those Evils which have been wont to attend the like appearances, are at the door, we may rationally conjecture and conclude.  
I shall therefore finish this Discourse, with the apposite and celebrated Expressions of that Famous Poet 
n Pontanus qui nulli sui seculi poetae cess●t, dicente Bo 〈…〉 in Bibliotheca.  who Speaking of Comets, saith,  

Illi etiam belly motus, feraque arma minantur  
Magnorum & Clades populorum, & funer a Regum:  
Ut cum, seu Coeli occasum, seu solis ad ortum  
Extulerint caput infaelix, & crine minaci  
Horrendum latè implerint terroribus urbes, &c:   
To the same purpose another in English speaketh thus, 
o Silvester in his Translation of Dubartas. P. 14.   

There, with long Bloody Hair, a Blazing Star  
Threatens the World with famine, Plague & War:  
To Princes death; to kingdoms many crosses:  
To all Estates, inevitable losses:  
To Herdsmen▪ Rot; to ploughmen hapless Seasons▪  
To sailors, Storms: to Cities civil Treasons.    
Soli Deo Gloria.   

ERRATA.  
P. 4. L. ult. r. Element. p. 19. l. 16. Har Gagnaesh. p. 43. l. 11. for the r. this. p. 56. l. 5. r. martel. P. 69. l. 19. for their, r. the. P. 94. l. 23. for whatsoever r. whosoever. P. 101. l. 13. for seconded, r. succeeded. p. 102. l. 28. r. 19. m 12. sec.. P. 108. l. 17. should be red thus, 23. Gr▪ 41 min. The second Comet this year appeared November the tenth, continuing, &c.   

HEAVEN'S ALARM TO THE WORLD. OR A SERMON, wherein is shewed, That Fearful Sights And Signs in Heaven, are the press AGES of great CALAMITIES at hand. Preached at the Lecture of Boston in New-England; January, 20. 1680.  
By Mr. INCREASE madder.  
The Second IMPRESSION.  Rev. 8. 10. And the third Angel sounded, and there fell a great Star from heaven, burning as it were a Lamp, &c. Rev. 11. 14.— behold, the third Wo cometh quickly. 
BOSTON IN NEW-ENGLAND, Printed for Samuel Sewall. And are to be sold by John Brown●ng at the Corner of the Prison-Lane Next the Town-House. 1682.   

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( especial 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 red 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 far greater number, but others question whether there have been so many, inasmuch as divers 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 miseries coming upon the world. So did the wise men amongst the Gentiles of old 
a Ab ultima antiquitatis memoria notatum est Cometas semper calamitatum praenuncios fuisse. Cicer. de nat. dear. 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 calamities. 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 wars and fatal changes which in those dayes happened in divers 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 calamities, that's enough to awaken men out of their Lethargyes, though now and then, once in an hundred times it should happen to be otherways, 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 conceit: 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 public 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 beholded the like. That in the year, 1618. was looked upon as very prodigious 
b History of great britain, 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 red of divers no less fearful. Seneca 
c Nat. 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 itself over the Via lactea; and of another very formidable, after which Helice and Buris, cities in Achaia perished by a fearful Inundation. That which appeared Anno Christi, 1452. 
d Teste 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 controversy some great thing is portended thereby. I see little reason to conclude, that it is an Omen of happy dayes to the world until 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 
e Keckerm. phies. ubi de Cometis. p. mihi 1697. Magius de exustione Mundi. l. 3. 10.  conjectured, that in the Ages more immediately 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 
f De 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 calamities 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 
g V. Melchi●r Jun Orat Par. 1. p. 425.  Prodigia a Praostendendo, because they show before hand that something remarkable 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 prodigy menaced. The great Melancthon hath been thought( by some great 
h Voetius 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 happened 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 tranquillity. The Gentiles of old 
i Alexand. ab Alex. l. ●. c. 27. Coelius Rodogi. l. 3. c. 27.  when they beholded fearful 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 relics, annulets, Processions, &c.) that so evils Ominated thereby, might( if possible) be averted. And shall not professors of the true Religion, be awakened by such aweful 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 hearkening to His Word? The contempt whereof provoketh him to speak by fearful Sights and Signs from Heaven, which seems to be the 
k Strigelim & Tossauus ad Locum.  meaning of that Scripture, Act. 2. 19. The Lord is many ways 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 madder.   

HEAVEN'S ALARM TO THE WORLD.  Luk. 21. 11. ——— Fearful Sights, and great Signs shall there be from Heaven. 
THE Lord Jesus Christ, having  told his Disciples that great calamities were hastening upon Jerusalem, and upon the Jewish Nation; they inquire when those things should come to pass, and what Signs should precede and presage the Judgements predicted. This we see in the 7th. Verse of this Chapter, They asked Him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be: and what Sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? In Answer unto which Enquiry, the Lord Christ doth in this Context mention several things, some of which were to be more remote, and others more immediate Signs of that miserable Destruction, which the sacred and unerring lips of Christ had foretold. 1. False Christs would arise, V. 8. Many shall come in my Name, saying, I am Christ, &c. The Jews had rejected the true Messiah, therefore God would punish them with false Christs, as an intimation that the dayes of vengeance were coming upon the Nation for that Sin of theirs. The Apostle John( Christ's beloved Disciple) doth imitate his Master in mentioning the same thing as a Sign that the Jewish World was near unto its end, 1 Joh. 2. 18. There are many Antichrists b h. c. false Christs, such as came in Christ's 
Mede's Works, P. 818, 872.  Name, i.e. e. that pretended unto his Office, Dignity, and Authority; and thereby,( saith the Apostle,) we know that it is the last time; sc. the Jewish State, both Civil and Ecclesiastical, was come unto the last hour: The Period of the Jewish World was at hand. And the histories of those times speak of one Theudas, and others, that pretended to be Christs, and that the River Jordan should give way to them as once it did to Joshuah; so that a multitude of silly Jews were seduced, & persuaded to follow them, unto their own destruction. 2. Another Sign mentioned, is that of Warres, and Commotions, V. 9. When you shall hear of Wars and Commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by & by. This may be understood of those Intestine Warres and Commotions, which happened in the Land of Judea. The Calileans took up Arms against the Samaritans. At 
c Joseph. Antiq. L. 20. C. 4, 5. De Bello Jud. L. 2. Cap. 11.  one time, in a Mutiny there were twenty Thousand slain. These were Commotions, which caused great noise and consternation amongst men( especially amongst those of the Jewish Nation) in those dayes. Hence that which is by Luke expressed by Wars and Commotions, is by Mark called Troubles; and by Matthew, Wars and Rumors of Wars. And these things happened about twenty years before the final destruction of Jerusalem, and fatal overthrow of the Jewish Nation; therefore was it said, The end is not by and by. 3. Another Sign is that mentioned in the Ioth. V. Nation shall rise up against Nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom. 
* Joseph. de Bello Judaico. Lib. 2. C. 19. 20, 21.  So indeed it came to pass, when the Jewish Nation rose up against the roman Nation; and their Neighbouring Nations, Syrians, Samaritans, &c. rose against them. In those dayes the Land of Judea was divided into several Provinces, which did bear the names of Kingdoms, and the chief Governours of them are according to the Hebrew Style, called Kings, being the Vice-Roys which the roman Emperours did substitute to be over those places .. See 1 King. 22. 47. Hence we red of King Herod, King Agrippa, &c. 
d Grotius, & Lucas Brugensis in Matth. 24. 7.  Now the people of these Provinces were set one against another; therefore it is said, Kingdom shal rise up against Kingdom. All these troubles were forerunners and Intimations of the fatal Calamity a coming, and did help to make way thereunto. 4. There were to be great Earth-Quakes in divers Places. In the beginning of this Verse. Such things are usually signs of Divine Anger, and so portentous of great Changes and calamities: the Intimations of State-Quakes, yea of Nation-Quakes. Historians speak of very tremendose Earthquakes which happened in divers places 
f Sex circiter annos, ante Urbis excidium, trees Asiae clarissimas urbes, Terrae-motu eversas esse, testatur Orosius. L. 7. Tacitus scribit, sub Tiberio Nerone, duodecim civitates in Asia Terrae-motu collatsas es●e: Ac denuo in quinte ejus regni auno, tredecim urbes Terrae-motu cecidisse. Vide Bertram. in Matth. 24. 7.  several famous Cities perished, not long before Jerusalem was destroyed. 5. Famines. Probably that Prediction doth respect the same Famine which Agabus prophesied of, Act. 11. 28. Under which the Land of Judea suffered deeply. Whence it was that the Apostle Paul was very solicitous to obtain some relief for the Christian Jews then at Jerusalem. 6. Pestilences. These two Judgements,( Limoi kai Loimoi, as in the Greek it is elegantly expressed) of Famine, and Pestilence, do often go together, the latter following at the heels of the former, and being occasioned thereby. 7. Fearful Sights and great Signs in Heaven: which are the words now before us to consider of. Fearful Sights] Gr. Phobetra[ Terriculamenta:] Such Sights as strike a terror into the hearts of men that are the Spectators of them. Signs from Heaven] viz. Prodigious Signs. These things are mentioned as the more immediate Presages of those miseries that were coming upon Jerusalem, with the whole Jewish Nation.  Doct. That Prodigious aweful Sights and Signs in Heaven, are oftentimes, th● Presages of great Calamity coming upon the World. 
For the further clearing of this Doctrine, three things may be inquired into. 1. What Sights and Signs are the Presages of Calamity? 2. How it doth appear that they are so? 3. What calamities such Signs do commonly presage?  
Q. 1. What Sights and Signs in Heaven are Presages of Calamity?  
Ans. 1. There are Signs in the starry Heaven. The great God, when he made the World, placed the Stars in Heaven, to be for Signs as to Events that in the ordinary Course of Nature should come to pass. Gen. 1. 14. God said, Let there be lights in the Firmament of heaven, and let them before Signs. They are for Signs of Heat and could, wet and dry Seasons, and the like. Hence the Lord spake to Job, as in Ch. 38. 31. Canst thou bind the sweet Influences of Pleiades, or loos● the bands of Orion? The Pleiades are the same with those which men call the Seven stars. When the Sun is in that Constellation with the Pleiades, it hath great power and Influence upon the Earth. It is spring-time then. As for Orion 
f See Mr. Caryl on Job, 38. 31.  it is a Winter-Constellation, causing could, whereby the pores of the earth are bound. It binds the Earth from bearing Fruit, and as it were binds the hands of Men from labour in their particular Callings. When that Constellation appears in the Evening( as it doth in the ninth month) 'tis a sign that the Earth shall be bound, as hath been expressed. Yea, and it is a sign that Storms and tempestuous seasons are to be expected. Therefore was it by the Poet called Nimbosus Orion. And hence the Stars are called by the name of the Signs of heaven, Jer. 10. 2. Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the Signs of heaven. Which words may well be understood concerning the Stars and Constellations in the heavens. 
g Ita locum interpretantur Rab. Solomon Jarchi, & exillo Lyranus. Voetius Disp. select. Par. 2. P. 923.  For the Heathen, the Chaldeans especially( among whom the Jews were then going to dwell) superstitiously imagined that the Stars were Rulers of the World, and did therefore stand in fear of them, and worship them; which heathenish Idolatry the Lord doth caution and charge his People against. The Stars of Heaven are for natural Signs. Their Motions and Appearances are significations that such and such things, will according to that Course of Nature which God hath settled, come to pass in the World. There are also extraordinary Stars, sometimes appearing in the Heavens. God in his Providence doth so order, as that sometimes, Blazing Stars are seen in heaven▪ Such Stars are called Comets, from the stream like long Hair, which useth to attend them. Such a Star is Prodigious, and a Fearful Sight. And of this may the words of the Text be understood. The Jewish 
g Warres of Jews, l 7. c. 12  Historian reports, that not long before the destruction of Jerusalem, there was a Blazing star in form of a Sword, which seemed to impend over the City, for a Year together: This now was a fearful Sight, and a great Sign from Heaven.  
2 There are fearful Sights and Signs appearing in the Air, sometimes in the lower heaven, which we move & breath in. Prodigious Meteors are sometimes seen there. And strange Appearances, which are either seen, or heard speaking. Of these fearful sights and signs, is the Text likewise to be interpnted. Josephus relates, that before the roman Army destroyed Jerusalem, there were seen in the Air, Iron Chariots, and Souldiers in battle array; and in the night time, a great Light appeared in the Temple, for half an hour together, with as much brightness as if it had been noon day; and a Voice was heard saying, Let us be gone from hence.  
Qu. 2. How doth it appear that such Fearful Sights are Presages of calamities coming upon the World?  
Ans. 1. The Scripture is clear for this. The Text before us doth expressly declare no less. And the Prophet Joel foretelling the same calamities which this Text hath reference unto, saith also, that prodigious Signs in heaven should presage and portend them. Joel, 2. 30, 31. I will show Wonders in the heaven. Truly, Blazing Stars are Wonders in the heaven. And in the Earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke before the great and the terrible Day of the Lord come. When Jerusalem was destroyed, and the Jewish state dissolved, that was a great and notable Day of the Lord, a Type of the great Day of Judgement. Wonders, even prodigious and amazing Signs should precede it. A very learned l and judicious Interpreter conceiveth that the Hebrews of old did use to call 
( (i)) meed Discourse. 6. P. 37  Comets, or Blazing Stars by that name of A Pillar of Smoke, because sometimes they appear like Pillars of smoke, and that therefore when it is said, there shall be Pillars of smoke before the terrible Day of the Lord, the true meaning and intendment of those Expressions is, that Comets should precede and presage the miseries coming upon the Jewish Nation. Yea, the Scripture informs us, that Fearful Sights and Signs in heaven, shall precede the Great and General Day of Judgement, as Presages thereof. Luk. 21. 25. There shall be Signs in the stars: meaning that such things should be observed among the Stars in heaven, as would be a Sign that Christ's coming to Judge the World, did approach. Wherefore in Verse 28. it is said, When these things come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your Redemption draweth nigh. The Day of Judgement, is a Day of Redemption, and is so called in other Scriptures, Ephes. 4. 30. Then shall the Bod●es of the Saints be redeemed from the power of the Grave; and both Bodies and Souls, redeemed from all Evils of sin and of suffering. Rom. 8. 23. 1 Cor. 1. 30. At the Resurrection, in the last Day, will the great Redemption be to the Saints of God, and the greatest miseries to the Wicked that ever were thought of. And Signs in heaven shall precede them. And hence it is, that Fearful Sights are called Signs in the Scripture; it is partly on this account, in that they are Sig●● that the Lord is coming forth out of his holy habitation, to punish the World for their iniquities.  
2. The Experience of many Ages doth bear witness to the truth of this Doctrine. If the Scripture were silent about this matter, the Experience both of former and later Ages doth sufficiently and sadly confirm the Truth in hand. Hence an 
k Cum Deus puniturus sit gentem vel urbem, Prodigijs id prius solet significare, Herod. l. 6. Lege Melchioris Junij Orat. Par. 1. p. 425.  heathen Writer could say, If God be about to punish a City or a Nation, He is wont first to give warning of it by Prodigyes, by Signs from heaven. And commonly it is so, that when stupendous Signs go before, stupendous Judgements follow after. Some 
l Conradus Lycosthenes Librum edidit in quo omnia collegit Prodigia, quoe ab exordio mundi ostensa sunt. Zanch. de natura Dei, p. 414.  have written large Volumes concerning the Fearful Sights, which have at several times and places been observed in the World; and the Judgements and miseries which have followed.  
3. Many times such fearful Sights are tokens of God's Anger; which is another Reason why they are called Signs, as being Signs of the Anger of God: Signs that flaming Vengeance is kindled, and burning in Heaven against a sinful World. Now when God is angry, then public Judgements come, as testimonies of Divine Displeasure. Personal Afflictions are not always Evidences of God's Anger, as we see in Job: but public Judgements are ever wont to be so. 'Tis thought that the ninetieth Psalm was penned by Moses on occasion of a public Judgement, the Plague which broken in upon the Children of Israel, and swept away many Thousands of them: And saith he, We are consumed by thy Anger, & by thy Wrath are we troubled, V. 7. So that if public Judgements come, God is angry, and his Wrath kindled: He doth by them testify, and power down his righteous Displeasure from Heaven. Inasmuch then as fearful Sights are Tokens of God's Anger, they are Presages of great and public Calamities. As the Rainbow( though a natural Sign) is a token of Divine Favour; so are prodigious Sights Tokens of Divine Anger.  
4. These fearful Sights are many times Presages of those things which make way for great Changes and calamities to come upon the World. They are oftentimes( Blazing Stars 
m Damascen. l. 2. c. 6. Isidor. l. 3. Etymol.—— crinemque timendi Syderis, & terris mutantem regna Cometam. Lucan. Anno 1471. ardet Cometa: Hoc anno multi Principes moriuntur. Anno 1477. multi Principes obierunt. Alsted.  in a more special manner are so) the Presages of the death of great; yea, and of worthy Men. Is not the fatal downfall of Augustulus( the last Roman Emperour) in the Scripture emblematically set forth, by that of a Blazing-Star 
n meed in Apoc. 8. 10.  falling to the ground? Rev. 8. 10. There fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp. It is conceived, that the ruin of Augustulus, dethroned by Odoacer the Herulian, was signified by those words, and that he is resembled to that sort of Comets, which is called Lampadias. And when there is a Star burning and blazing in heaven, commonly it proves fatal to some Augustulus; whence great Changes & miseries ensue. Yea, the Death of worthy( as well as great) Personages, is sometimes portended by such Signs. A little before great Constantine's death, a blazing Star appeared, and infinite miseries followed. In the Year 
o Alsted. Chronol. C. 49 ubi de Cometis. See Spotwood's Hist. Scotl. p. 94.  1556. a Comet( then vulgarly called a fiery besom) was seen; and soon after, many learned, useful, worthy M●n dyed; whose death was an unspeakable loss and misery to the places where they had lived.  
Quest. 3. What calamities do such fearful Sights and Signs in heaven presage?  
Ans. We must not be particular and positive in Interpretations of things of this nature. When a fearful Sight appears in heaven, which the whole World cannot but take notice of, now to make a particular and absolute determination 
p V. Voet. in Disp. de Signis. P. 919, 930.  that such a Place, or such a Person, such a Judgement, is certainly intended thereby, is too much boldness. In general, we may safely say, that there is just cause to expect that great calamities are at hand: but what Persons or Places shall more eminently fall under those Judgements, is not for us to determine; but we must leave that with God, who best knows what himself intends to do.  
This being premised, we proceed in Answering the Enquiry before us.  
1. Sometimes such Signs are Presages of great Persecutions coming upon the Church of God. The Lord in mercy to his People, giveth them such Warnings, that so they may prepare for what's a coming, or make hast to enter into the Chambers of safety, as it were for a little moment, till the Indignation be overpast. Ner●'s bloody Persecution had a Blazing Star to precede it. The same is true concerning the Arian Heresy and persecution; that flood spoken of in the Revelation, which the Dragon cast out of his mouth, and whereby the Woman, the Church, fled into the Wilderness, was in eminent danger of being swallowed up and devoured. Rev. 12. 15.  
2. Sometimes such Signs in heaven are Presages of miserable Dearths and Scarcity. That Blazing Star impending over Jerusalem, which the Text hath reference unto, was attended with a terrible Famine, whereby multitudes perished 
q In the Years after Christ, 876. 948. 964. there were Blazing Stars seen, presaging Famines & other Judgements. In Annis 674, 675, 676. Comets appeared, and sore Droughts followed: In some countries it rained not for 3 Years together. The like miseries followed the Comet Anno 1477. In Annis 594. 1527. 1542. Comets were seen, and Armies of Locusts followed, devouring the Fruits of the Earth.  And therefore such Signs are frequently portentous of those Judgements, which cause Want and scarcity, e. gr. of sore Droughts and Blastings, and the multiplication of noxious Creatures that destroy the Fruits of the Earth. All which particulars I could confirm unto you by approved History, which declareth how they have all been presaged by Blazing Stars in heaven.  
3. Lamentable Deaths and Destructions amongst Men, have been oftentimes presaged by such Sights in heaven. Sudden and amazing ruins, by 
r In the Years 66, 78. 79, and 668. Comets appeared, after which terrible Earthquakes happened in many Places. Annis 377, 912, 1530. there were blazing stars appearing; and Inundations followed in divers places. Quickly after the Comet Anno 882. the famous City of Triers was burnt to the ground. Alsted. ubi supra. Memorabile fuit Portentum Terrae-motus Anno 1618. quando ruina montis, qua totum Oppidum plurium, & Vicus Schilanus cum 900 Hominibus oppressa.  Earthquakes, by Inundations, by Fire, and the like aweful Visitations, have been thereby portended. Especially destructions by mortal and contagious Diseases. That strange Disease, known by the name of Sud●r Anglicanus, which in a peculiar manner pursued those of the English Nation, even when in strange Lands; whence they were dreaded in all places where they came, there was a Blazing Star that did precede it. Especially that which is, of all Diseases miserable Mortals are subject unto, the most terrible, I mean the Plague of Pestilence, 
s Anno 1457. Cometa quem nigrum appellahant, appa●●it, sec●ta est Pestis diuturnior. Anno 1472. dvo Cometae: Pestis adeo saevist, ut Cognati proximi desererent suos. Idem eodem Libro. Anno 1006. Cometa, quem Pestis excepit, ut vivi cum mortuis sepelirentur: multa Oppida plane exhausit.  it is frequently thus presaged. Such Sights are Heaven's Alarm to a sinful World, to give notice that God hath bent his Bow, and made his Arrows ready, and that if Sinners turn not, the Arrows of Pestilence and Death shall fall down upon them speedily. This might be confirmed by a multitude of Instances; but it needs not. Our own Experience is enough. We cannot but rememember the Blazing Star that was seen but 16 Years ago, and a terrible Plague followed; so that in our own Nation, near upon an hundred thousand were swept away in one City, and in one Year. And it is reported, that immediately after that great Blazing star, which appeared above threescore years ago, God sent the Plague 
t See Mr. Gorge's Descripti●● of New-Engl● Pag. 27.  amongst the Natives in this Land, which swept them away in such multitudes, as that the living were not enough to bury the dead. So did the Lord cast our the Heathen before this his People, that the way might thereby be prepared unto our more peaceable settlement here, The Lord in mercy grant, that we may never, by becoming like unto the Heathen in Profaneness and Irreligion, provoke Him to do unto us, as He hath done unto them.  
4. Such fearful Sights and Signs in heaven, are usual Presages of War among the Nations, and so of those Devastations and Desolations which the Sword leaveth behind it. Prodigyes on the Earth do sometimes betoken War and Bloodshed, 2 King. 3. 22. And Signs in Heaven do no less. Thus in my Text, the roman Sword, which made the Jewish Nation desolate( according to Daniel's prophecy Ch. 9. 27.) was portended by a fearful Blazing Star in heaven. 
u— belly mala signa Cometae. Tibul. Stella ●elucebit Gladij mortalibus index. Sibyl. Or. l. 3.   
And when Alaricus the Goth made such a terrible Irruption upon the roman Empire, like a storm of Hail, and Fire, and Blood, Rev. 8. 7. Blazing Stars in heaven preceded those calamities. When Attila, who they say▪ called himself Blagellum Dei, God's Whip, to scourge the World for their Wickedness, when he was armed to be the Executioner of divine Veng●ance upon the earth, destroying cities, and laying Nations waste before him, Blazing Stars were seen preceding and portending those miserable Times▪ In like manner, when the Saracens.( the first Wo-Trumpet) and the Turks,( the second Wo-Trumpet, prophesied of in the Revelation) were let loose upon the Apostate Christian World, Blazing stars, and Fearful Sights in heaven did precede those woeful Dayes. And are there not some alive, and here before the Lord this day, that can remember the blazing Star which appeared in the 9th. and in the 10th Moneths, in the Year 1618. and the next Year began that unhappy War in Germany, which proved so fatal to the Protestant Interest there.  
Thus have we seen what Judgements and calamities, Fearful Sights in heaven are commonly the Presages of. As for that SIGN in heaven, now appearing,( which hath occasioned me to speak this Word at this time) what calamities may be portended thereby, which of the Judgements mentioned, or whether all of them be not thereby presaged, I shall not say; but leave it unto God and Time to discover. Only in general, we have cause to fear, that sweeping Judgements are thereby signified; that the Lord is coming down from Heaven with a long besom of Destruction, which shall sweep away a world of Sinners before it.  
I conclude with a word of Application: Nor would I speak any thing, but the words of Truth and soberness, as becometh a Messenger of Christ to do, when speaking in His Name.  
USE. Let us hence be Exhorted to approve ourselves as those that are under the solemn, aweful Warnings of God, ought to do. I need not say( for every one knows it) that there is a Fearful Sight and Sign appearing in the heavens: Such a formidable Blazing star, as that the like hath seldom been observed. It concerns us then, to harken to the voice of the Lord therein; who by such tremendous Sights is speaking awfully to the children of Men. Hear then Heaven's Alarm this day. You will say, But what should we now do? What doth the Lord expect from us, when there are such dreadful Presages of Evils coming upon the World?  
Answ. 1. It now concerns us to be awakened out of all Security. That's one of God's ends( his declared end) in causing such Fearful Sights to be taken notice of, that so he might awaken a secure sleeping World. And indeed the Lord manifests his Goodness and Compassion towards sinful Creatures therein. It was a pious Speech of that 
w Ejus Clementiam laudare tenemur, qui nostram inert●am, talibus monere dig natur indicijs. Carolus Magnus; vel ut alijvolunt, Ludovicus I. Caroli Magni filigus.  Emperour, who being somewhat terrified at the sight of a Blazing-starre, said to those about him, Let us admire the Clemency of that God, who before He smites us, causeth such Signs in heaven, that so He might awaken us out of our Security. O let us beware of crying Peace, Peace, when the Day of Destruction is at hand. O take heed of sleeping, and dreaming of nothing but worldly Prosperity at such a Time as this. When the Lord Jesus Christ had  told his Disciples, that calamitous Tim●s were a coming, and mentioned the Signs and Presages thereof, He bids them Watch therefore, Luk. 21. 36. Let us not then please our felves, with imagining that such Fearful Sights are Signs of Mercy only, and not of Judgement. The contrary unto which Opinion, hath been confirmed by more than two hundred Instances 
x Consulatur Heidfeld. sphinx Philosoph. p. 1087. Universali Experientia, & hominum consensu, praejudicatum est, Cometas mag●as mutationes portendere. Voet. Disp. de signis p. 929.  Men are exceeding apt to interpret such things in a way of favour to themselves, when nothing less is intended thereby. So when these Fearful Sights and Signs in heaven, which my Text speaketh of, were seen at Jerusalem, the Jews did interpret them as good Omens to themselves; and as ominous of Destruction to their Enemies. The Prodigies in Germany 
* Vid. Clark's Martyrology p. 311. &c.  were looked upon by the Protestants as Signs of Deliverance unto them, and of Destruction to their Enemies. But alas! the Event was quiter otherwise. And let us not make ourselves secure, by saying or thinking, that the Lord by such fearful Sights speaks to others onely, and not unto us. As Vespasian the Emperour, when 
z Testante Suetonio  there was a long hairy Comet seen, he did but deride at it, and make a Joke of it, saying, That it concerned the Parthians that wore long hair, and not him, who was bald: but within a Year, Vespasian himself( and not the Parthian) dyed. Such fearful Sights are usually Signs, that those Judgements, which are( as Tertullian speaks) Tonsurae humani generis, God's sharp Razors on Mankind, whereby He doth poll, his Sythe, whereby He doth shear down multitudes of sinful Creatures, do draw near: In which respect, there is no doubt to be made of it, but that God by this Blazing-star, is speaking to other Places, and not to New England onely. And it may be, He is declaring to that generation of hairy Scalps, who go on still in their Trespasses, that the day of their Calamity is at hand, and that the things which shal come upon them make hast. A strange Sight doth betoken strange Punishment coming upon those that have been prodi gious workers of Iniquity. Yet let not us promise to ourselves nothing but Prosperity in the doleful & the bitter Day, when there shall be Lamentation generally. I am persuaded, that the floods of great water are coming. I am persuaded that God is about to open the windows of heaven, and to pour down the Cataracts of his Wrath, ere this Generation( wherein Atheism and Profaneness are come to such a prodigious height) I say, ere this Generation is passed away. But what reason have we to think that no drops of the fatal Storm shall come near to us? If we so conclude, we may provoke the Lord to say, The Sinners of my People shall die by the Sword, who say, The Evil shall not overtake us nor prevent us. To be awakened out of Security, and tremblingly to wait for the good Pleasure of God, whatever it may be, is the most likely way to find Rest in the day of Trouble. So did the Prophet find it, Hab. 3. 16. When I heard, my belly trembled, my lips quivered, I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the Day of Trouble. When the thundering voice of Judgement was heard, his heart Tr●mbled at it, so did he find Rest in the Day of Trouble.  
2. This should put us upon preparing for another Day of Trouble. And this should we do the rather, since the Changes portended by this Comet, are like to come speedily as well as certainly. Joseph said to Pharaoh, For that the Dream is doubled, it is because the thing is established by God, & God will shortly bring it to pass. Gen. 41. 32 Doth not the doubled Appearance of this Fearful Sight in the heavens speak as much? Let us then prepare for Trouble. We should not onely expect it; but so expect it, as to prepare for it. Certainly we have reason so to do. If there had been no Blazing-star, yet upon other accounts, we have cause to expect and prepare for another Day of Trouble, which seems to be hastening upon thee O NEW-ENGLAND, and upon thee, O BOSTON! The Sins which are amongst us, are surer and blacker Signs of Judgement, than any Signs in heaven, that we may think of. I say the Sins, the Pride, the Profaneness, the Worldliness, the general Security and Iniquity that prevaileth amongst us. Especially considering how little good all former Judgements and Dispensations have done upon us. What Fiery Desolations hath the Lord made amongst us? The Lord hath been roaring out of Sion▪ Such roaring Judgements have been amongst us, as that the Report of them hath been heard afar off. Sword, Death, and Fire. But( alas! O Lord God) may it not be said concerning the generality of men, They return not to Him that hath been smiting of them? They are the same since the War, since the Small-Pox, since the Fires, that they were before. Ah! what will come next? We have cause to expect, and it will be our wisdom to prepare for another Day of Trouble seven times greater than the former. It grieveth me to speak thus, but I cannot forbear. I feel that the Word of the Lord is like a fire in a mans bones, and it will break out. The Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophecy? And now know for certain, that if destroying Judgements and Death overtake any in their Sins, and sweep them away to Hell, their blood shall be upon their own heads. For the Lord hath fired his Beacon in the heavens, among the Stars of God there; the Fearful Sight is not yet out of sight. The Warning-piece in heaven is going off, now then if the Lord discharge his Murdering-pieces from on high, and men be found in their Sins, unfit for Death, their blood shall be upon them. They had Warning given them that the Sword was a coming: Lo, the Lord himself gave them the warning; but they would not take frightening, their blood shall be upon them. Moreover, if Troubles should not come, yet it will be wisdom to prepare for them. If the Lord, after he hath sent his Angel to stand with a drawn Sword over Jerusalem, should be entreated to spare us, yet it will never do us hurt to prepare for the most deadly Arrows of Affliction that may light upon us, whilst in this Vale of Tears.  
3. We should do what in us lies to divert those Judgements, which seem to be impending, and blazing over our heads. This word of Comfort, I may safely speak, The Lord's Threatenings are not absolute; but conditional. So far as we in these ends of the Earth, these goings down of the Sun, are spoken unto, by this Sign in the heavens, it is possible we may escape the Evils threatened thereby, if we duly harken to the Voice of God therein. Jer. 18. 7, 8. At what time I speak concerning a Nation & concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it: if that Nation against whom I have pronounced, turn from their Evil, I will repent of the Evil that I thought to do unto them. So that when desolating Judgements are threatened, either by the Word, or by the aweful Works of God, those denunciations of Wrath are not absolute, but conditional. If Repentance intervene, the Evils which otherwise must be looked for, may be diverted. See therefore Jer. 36 3, 7. It may be the house of Judah will hear all the Evil which I purpose to do unto them, that they may return ev●ry man from his evil way. Ay, a general Repentance is that which will do, if every man turn from his evil way, that I may forgive their Iniquity and their sin. It may be they will present their Supplication before the Lord, &c. This is that which the Lord would have; therefore He saith, I'll stir up the spirit of my Ministers and Ambassadors, that they shall declare and denounce my Judgements against a sinful Generation. It may be they will hear. And I'll speak by aweful Signs from heaven, that may be as heralds to proclaim Wrath and Wo to the World, It may be they will hear, and then shall their sins be forgiven. You will say, But what shall we do, that so the Judgements which are blazing over us, may be diverted from us? Answ. Pray, and cry mightily to Heaven. For this let every one that is godly pray unto the Lord in a time wherein He may be found, and before the Floods of great waters come nigh unto us. Our Lord Jesus Christ, having warned his Disciples of approaching calamities, He concludeth with an Exhortation unto Prayer, Luk, 21 36. Pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass. Prayer may do much toward the averting of wrathful Judgements and Desolations. When the Lord threatened to bring famine and Destruction upon his People, Amos fell to praying; and God said, This shall not be, this Judgement and threatened desolation shall not be. Amos 7. 3, 6. O then, let us deprecate impending Judgements. Do we see the Sword blazing over us? Let it put us upon crying to God, that that Judgement may be diverted, and not return upon us again so speedily. Do we see the Arrows of Pestilence and Death blazing over us? Oh! Pray that the destroying Angel may not be sent to skulk in darkness, and to waste at noon day. Doth God threaten our very Heavens? O pray unto Him, that He would not take away Stars and sand Comets to succeed them. Pray that the Lord Jesus, who holds the Stars in His right Hand, may continue those in the Firmament of his Churches( the Heaven which his own Hand hath planted) who are indeed Stars, willing to impart the Light which they have received from Christ, unto his People: and that wandring Stars, blazing Stars, seducing Spirits may never come in their room. I am not without fear, that this will at last be the Judgement of God upon New England and upon these Churches. Pray that it may never be. And our Supplications should be attended with deep Humiliation, Zeph. 2. 2, 3. Gather yourselves together, h. e. Come before the Lord in a way of public, solemn Humiliation, before the decree, i.e. the Judgement written and threatened, ering forth, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you: seek the Lord— It may be you shall be hide in the day of the Lord's anger. Thus then should we do in this day, when there are such dark & angry Clouds hanging over our heads; and we know not how soon they may break upon us. And truly, if our Lectures, were, some of them, turned into dayes of Prayer, at such a time as this, it is no more than what there is cause for. And there is one thing more, that should in special be remembered by us; a thing that hath been much talked of; but little hath been done in it, that is, Reformation! Reformation! When the Prophet Jonah was sent of God to preach and say, Yet forty dayes, and Nineveh shall be destroyed: that was a more aweful Sign of Desolation, than if they had seen a Blazingstar hanging over the City, menacing the ruin thereof: Yet when they repented, and reformed( though it w as but an external Reformation) the Lord spared them forty years longer. Ah! New-England, wilt thou not do more than Nineveh? shall there not be so much as an external Reformation of those things that provoke the glorious Eyes of Heaven? Will not the haughty Daughters of Sion, reform their Pride in Apparel? Will they have the Attire of an Harlot? Will they lay out their Hair, and wear their false Locks, their Borders, and Towers like Comets, about their heads? Will they do so, until God sand his Arrows from Heaven, to smite them down into the Grave, where the dayes of Darkness shall be many? And shall there be still such a multitude of licenced Drinking▪ Houses( and Towndwellers frequenting them) to the shane of Boston, and to the Infamy of New-England; notwithstanding the Testimony which God, and his Servants have given against it? How then shall we think to escape in the Day of the Lord's Anger; if a Reformation, so much as in these Externals, which it is so easy to reform, will not be obtained? O Return, Return unto the Lord. And in that way let us betake ourselves unto the shading Wings of the Lord Jesus! Do we not hear Him speaking to us, as sometimes unto Jerusalem,? Mat. 23. 37. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thee, as an Hen her Chickens under her wings. Saith the Lord, The Roman Eagles, those birds of prey, are hastening upon you: But if you would have come under My Wings, you should have been safe enough. Even so, doth not the Lord say, O New England! New England! dost thou not know that the birds of prey are designing to devour thee? But my Wings are broad enough to secure and shelter thee, when the black and stormy tempest shall break upon the World. If we be found a praying, an humble, a reforming People, we need not doubt but that Under the shadow of His Wings, we shall make our Refuge, until the Calamity be ●ve 〈…〉 st.   

THE LATTER SIGN Discoursed of, IN A SERMON Preached at the Lecture of Boston in New-England August, 31. 1682.  
Wherein is shewed, that the Voice of God in Signal Providences, especially when repeated and Iterated, ought to be Hearkned unto.  
By INCREASE madder.  Job, 36. 24, 25. Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. Every man may see it, man may behold it afar off. Psal. 28. 5. Because they regard not the Works of ●he LORD, nor the Operation of his hands, He shall destroy them, and not build them up.  

THE VOICE OF GOD IN SIGNAL PROVIDENCES Ought to be hearkned unto.  EXOD. 4. 8. And it shal come to pass, that if they will not believe thee, neither harken to the Voice of the first Sign, then they will believe the Voice of the Latter Sign. 
IN the preceding Chapter, we have an Account of Moses his being sent to the children of Israel, in order to their Deliverance out of Egypt: As also of his sense of the Difficulty of that Undertaking; Whence he did entreat the Lord, that some other Person might rather be employed therein. A man may possibly be called of God unto special Service amongst his People, and yet find a present averseness and unwillingness in his own spirit, thereunto. Moses was at first very unwilling to engage in that difficult work, which the Lord put him upon; and therefore he made divers Objections, which, until God himself answered them, he could not be persuaded to comply therewith. His first Objection was from the consideration of his own personal Unfitness for such a Service. That Excuse is obviated and removed in the former Chapter. Moses his second Objection was, that the children of Israel would not believe that God had sent him to them upon such an Errand. In the first Verse of this Chapter. They will not believe me, nor harken to my Voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee. The Lord was graciously pleased to condescend to answer this Objection also; and that in a miraculous way. And therein we have 1. The Miracles that were done. whilst Moses was yet in the Desert, where God appeared to him, there were two Miracles wrought before his Eyes, to confirm & encourage him in his Calling. At this Time Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro his Father in Law: And as Shepherds were cannon-shot to carry a Rod or Pastoral Staff in their hands, whereby they did direct and govern their Sheep( in allusion unto which custom, David in one of the Psalms, having said, The Lord is my Shepherd, adds, Let his Rod and his Staff comfort me) thus Moses had his Shepherd's Rod in his hand, which at the Word of the Lord, he cast on the ground; and it became a Serpent: and when the Lord said unto him, Put forth thy hand, and take it by the tail, he did so and it became a Rod again. V. 2, 3, 4▪ In those Miracles, which the Scripture speaks of, there was many times an Analogy to be observed, between the Miracle, and the thing adumbrated thereby. And so there was in this Miracle. If we look upon the past, present, and future state of the children of Israel, it was not unfitly represented by this Sign. For the children of Israel 
b Lyranus in locum. Quamvis plerique Hebraeorum, Serpentem, de Pharaone & Aegyptijs ' interpretantur.  in the dayes of Joseph, were like unto a Rod, in respect of Liberty and Power: But after his Death, they were cast to the ground, and became as vile and odious as Serpents, to the egyptians. Thus the Rod was turned into a Serpent. Moreover, the children of Israel, were by the hand of Moses brought out of a vile and abject Condition, into a state of Liberty and Power. Thus was the Serpent turned into a Rod again. And this was the first Sign. The Second was that of Moses's Hand becoming leprous; and all on a sudden restored again. Verse. 6, 7. This was every way miraculous. For the Disease of the Leprosy is not cured so suddenly, without a Miracle. Thus Moses, c who like a leprous person, was c Rivet in locum. a long time excluded from the Society of the Lord's People, being banished into a Wilderness, continued like a man half dead and butted in a desert Land, all on a sudden is revived and turned into another man, being sent an Ambassador from the God of Heaven unto his People in Egypt. 2. Wee have here expressed, that which was the proper Design and Intendment of these Miracles; viz. that so the People, in whose sight they should afterwards be done, might be induced to believe the Word of God spoken by Moses. V. 5. For which cause there must be one strange Sign after another. The Verse before us to consider of, speaks of two: and the next Verse mentions a third. And although the Lord does hear express himself conditionally, saying[ If] they will not harken to the voice of the first Sign, then they will believe the voice of the latter Sign, &c. The meaning is not, as though the Omniscient God did not know whether one Sign would not effect that which was the proper end thereof, or no: But the Lord is pleased to speak after the manner of Men; who if one Attempt fail, they'l try another, and then another, and a third after that, until at last they have what they aim at. So( saith God to Moses) I'll give thee power to work Miracle upon Miracle, until at last the end of all be accomplished. The words imply, that it was a Duty to harken to God's Voice in One Sign, much more in divers. And that the children of Israel should hear the Lord's Voice therein; and that the Egyptians not harkening thereunto, would be left the more inexcusable.  
The Doctrine which the words afford unto us, is,  
That men ought to Hear the Voice of God in Signal Providences, especially when repeated and Iterated.  
There are three things which may be inquired into, for the clearing of this Doctrine. 1. What signal Providences are they the Voice whereof ought to be hearkned unto? 2. When men may be said to Hear the Lord's Voice therein? 3. The Reasons why they should do thus.  
Q. 1. What Signal Providences are they, the Voice whereof should be Hearkned unto? What Works of God are we to look upon as Signal? Ans. In general, 
d Res Insolitae, aut inter alias, quacunque ratione, Eminentes, dicuntur Signa; aut quia praesens quid signant, & tanquam erecta sunt Vexilla Potentiae; Sapientiae, & Bonitatis Divinae: aut etjam quia futura Dei Opera, & rerum Eventus praesignant. Voetius in Disp. select. Vol 2. Ubi de Signis. P. 909.  the more Eminent Works of God are called Signs in the Scripture. Such Providences as do Signare, h. e. declare & signify something extraordinary, either as Present, or Future. Such Divine Works, as are in a special manner Ensigns of the Power, Wisdom, Justice, Goodness, Glory of the Creator. Or that do signify the Accomplishment of some eminent Work of God to be near at hand.  
More particularly.  
1. There are Miraculous Signs. The words before us have special reference unto such Signs. A Miracle is an Extraordinary Providence. 
e Ames. Theol. L. 1. Cap. 9. Thes. 11, 12.  It is a Work of God above the constituted Order of Nature. And therefore the Great God, and He onely, is the Author of a true Miracle. He alone doth Wonders. Psal. 136. 4. Such Works of God are called Signs in the Scripture. Thus some 
f Sic Vatablns, Aynsworth, & alij.  judicious Expositors interpret those Words, Psal. 74. 9. We see not our Signs, as notifying the Extraordinary, as well as the Ordinary stated Signs of God's Presence. As if the Lord's People should there speak after the same manner as Gideon once did( judge. 6. 13.) Where are all the Miracles, which our Fathers  told us of? We see not our Signs, we see not those Miracles, which in the dayes of our Fathers were seen. The Lord doth not appear in that miraculous way for our Deliverance, as He did for them. However, it is certain, that in many other Scriptures Miracles are called Signs. Mar. 16. 17. Act. 4. 30. For they are certain Signs of God's powerful presence with them, by whose hands they are wrought, & that therefore they are sent of God. The Miracles done by Moses, were Signs that God sent him, and was with him. When John Baptist sent his Disciples( not that he doubted thereof, onely that their Faith might be confirmed) to Christ, to inquire whether he was indeed the true Messiah, or no; the Lord Christ to convince them of it,  told them what Miracles were wrought by Him. Those Miracles were Signs, Arguments, Demonstrations from Heaven, that Christ was as He professed himself to be, the Son of God, and Saviour of the World. And the Miracles which the Lord wrought by the Apostles, were Signs of the powerful Presence of God with them, and that the Doctrine which they taught, was from Heaven.  
2. There are Portentous Signs. Such as we call Prodigies, which are Intimations and Signs either of the Mercy, or of the Wrath of Heaven toward the children of Men. The Plagues of Egypt were of a prodigious nature. When Water was turned into Blood, it was a prodigious Sign that the Egyptians, for their bloody Cruelty in murdering the Male Israelitish Infants, should themselves die and perish in the Waters. There were prodigious Thunders, and storms of Fire and hail, and prodigious Darkness throughout the Land; and a sudden prodigious multiplication of noxious Creatures, destroying the Fruits of the Earth: All which strange Providences were Signs portending the destruction of Egypt, and the salvation of Israel. There are indeed some prodigious Signs, which are also Miracles; many of those in Egypt, were so. There are other portentous Signs, which are not Miracles properly; but strange works of Providence. Such as Blazingstars, and strange Apparitions on the Earth, or in the heavens. There were Fearful Sights and great Signs from heaven, portending the Destruction of Jerusalem, and ruin to the Jewish Nation, as I have formerly had occasion to show from Luk. 21. 11. Signs of this nature, are sometimes called Tokens in the Scripture, because they use to betoken some eminent Work of God, and gr●at Changes as near at hand. Psal. 135. 9. Sometimes they are called Wonders, for that they use to cause great Wonderment and Admiration to be amongst Mortals on the Earth, &c. Act. 2. 19, 20. I will show Wonders in heaven above, and Signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapour of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come. Prodigies 
g Legantur Peucerus de Divinatione, & Lycosthenes de Prodigijs.  are oftentimes Signs portending some great and notable Day of the Lord to be at hand.  
3. There are signal mercies of God. Eminent mercies and Deliverances are signal Providences. Providences that are by way of eminency called marvelous loving kindness. Psal. 17. 7. Sometimes God is extraordinarily gracious to the children of men; and He is then said to do great things for them. He bestoweth such mercies on them, as that themselves who are the subjects thereof, cannot but wonder at. He maketh them to marvel at his Goodness. Zech. 8. 6. If it be marvelous in your eyes. Yea, and others that see or hear thereof, to wonder also. When the great ones of the Earth beholded what God had done for his Servants of old, they saw it and marveled. Psal. 48. 5. Such mercies are signal. For they argue the great and admirable Goodness of God; and are sometimes Signs of Divine Favour towards them that are the subjects of them, Hence David speaks as Psal. 86. 17. show me a Token( or a Sign: the Hebrew word there is the same with that in my Text) 
h Ravanelli Biblioth▪ sacr. in verbo Signum.  for good, that they that hate me may see. He prayeth that the Lord would save him out of his Afflictions in such an eminent way, as that his enemies might by such a bright Sign of God's Favour to David, be convinced thereof, and be ashamed of their Enmity against him, whom the God of Heaven did manifest peculiar Love unto. The Lord's own People are many times the subjects of signal mercies and Salvations. When they are brought into such straits and Difficulties, as that they cannot help themselves, and there is none else to deliver them, now God steps in, and by his Wonder-working Providence saveth them. When the children of Israel were made Slaves in the Land of Egypt, there was little hope that they should ever be delivered: but God by unsuccessful Providences brought it to pass. And their deliverance out of Babylon, was a greater Work than that. Jer. 16. 14, 15. For the Emperour of Babylon was a more potent Oppressor than Pharaoh. The Overthrow of the Babylonian Empire was more unlikely than the ruin of the Kingdom of Egypt; yet God by signal Providences brought it about, in Mercy to his People. Such Providences are Signs of God's special Care of his Church in the World.  
4. There are signal Judgements: wonderful Plagues, as the Scripture expression is. Deut. 28. 58. Such Judgements as one may plainly see the Finger of God in them. The great Persecutors and Oppressors of his People, are oftentimes smitten in such a way, as that it is manifest that God hath done it. They are so high, as that men cannot come at them, but therefore the Lord removeth them by invisible stroke of his Hand, or of some Angel, whom He sends from Heaven for that purpose; as it was with Herod, and with Senacherib's Host. Sometimes men are visited with rare and Unusual Judgements. There are Prodigies of Judgement falling down from Heaven upon the sinful children of men. These are expressed in the Scripture, by that of an Overflowing Scourge. Isai. 28. 18. A Judgement that doth not keep within ordinary Banks and bounds, is an Overflowing Scourge. As when sudden destruction cometh and that upon many at once. When Pharaoh and his Host, were all drowned in the read Sea, it was a signal Judgement. The Lord shewed the Greatness of his Excellency, in overthrowing them that rose up against Him. It was such a judgement as did astonish the World. The Dukes of Edom were amazed at it, Trembling took hold on the mighty Men of Moab, and all the Inhabitants of Canaan did even melt away at the Report of what was done. When the Flood came upon the Old World, and thousands of Millions of sinful Creatures perished together, it was a signal Judgement. And when Fire( which useth to fly upward) contrary to its nature, fell down in streams and showers upon the Sodomites, to punish them for their Unnatural Abominations, when( as one of the Ancients speaks) Hell was rained down out of Heaven upon those worse than hellish Sinners, it was a signal Judgement. And indeed, all public and general Calamities, may be called signal; because they are Signs of the mighty Power, and of the great Wrath of the Holy God.  
We come now to the second Enquiry, viz. When men may be said to Hear the Voice of God in signal Providences? Answ. 1. When they are thereby brought to believe his Word. The Lord's usual method is, first to speak to men by his Word, and if that taketh place, well and good: but if his Word be not regarded, then He speaks by signal Providences, one after another. The special Design of such solemn works of God, is to confirm his Word. When the Lord wrought such Signs in the Land of Egypt, it was( as hath been intimated) that People, both Israelites and Egyptians, might be induced to believe the word: which Moses spake in the Name of the Lord. The Scripture speaketh of the Sign of the prophet Jonah, because 
i Ravanellus ubi snpra.  Jonah's miraculous Deliverance out of the Whale's belly, was to be a Sign to the Ninevites, that God had sent him. As in the Antitype, when Christ was raised out of the Grave, that was a Sign that He was no Impostor, as the wicked Jews blasphemously called Him; but the true Messiah sent of God. The Gift of working Miracles in the Primitive Times, was that so men might believe the Gospel. Signal mercies are bestowed upon men, that so they might believe the Truth of his Promises; and signal Judgements, that so they might believe his Threatenings. Yea, and when there is a portentous Sign appearing in the heavens, it is; that so men might believe the Word of God. Therefore when they do thus, they may be said to Hear the Voice of God in such signal Providences.  
2. When men are by such signal Providences awakened to Fear that God, who speaketh to them therein, and thereby, they may be said to hear his Voice therein. Signal mercies call upon men to fear the Lord & his Goodness: Signal Judgemens call upon them to fear the Lord and his Greatness. Yea, supposing those Judgements to be upon others onely, not for the present amongst ourselves, we should be awakened greatly, to fear that God, whose Name is dreadful in all the Earth. When the Lord cut off the Nations round about, and made their Towers desolate, He said of Jerusalem, Surely they will Fear me. Zeph. 3. 7. They that pour out the Vials full of Plagues upon the Antichristian world, say, Great and marvelous are thy Works, Lord God Almighty, Who would not Fear thee? &c. Rev. 15. 3, 4. God brings marvelous Judgements on his enemies; and bestows marvelous Salvations on his People; all that hear thereof, should learn to Fear Him. And the like is to be affirmed with respect to portentous Signs in the Heaven. For such a Sign doth, as tis said in the Revelation concerning the Angel which flew through the midst of heaven, Ch. 14. V. 7. He said with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of his Judgement is come. So doth such a Sign in heaven( especially if it be not a first; but a Latter Sign) cry with a loud voice, that all the World may hear, Fear God, and give glory to Him, for the hour of his Judgement is near at hand. And therefore they that are thereby awakened to fear Him, may truly be said to Hear his Voice in such signal Dispensations of his Providence towards men here below. As that great Emperour 
k Ludovicus I. Caroli Magni filius.  who when there was a Blazingstar appearing, and some  told him he should not be afraid, because the Scripture saith, Be not dismayed at the Signs of Heaven; replied, but It becomes us to fear that God, who hath made this Sign in the heavens, and to admire his Goodness, in that he giveth us warning before He smiteth us.  
3. When men practise according to what the Lord calls for, they may be said to Hear his Voice, in his Signal and Solemn Dispensations. To Hear, in Scripture-language, is to Obey. Isa. 55. 3. Hear( i.e. e. obey) and your Souls shall live. And when God doth so often promise Mercy unto those that harken to his Commandments; such as yield Obedience thereunto, are intended. The children of Israel did hear the voice of those Signs the Text speaks of, when they obeied the Lord's Call, in departing out of Egypt, as he commanded them. God requires men to forsake the ways of Sin; and to walk in contrary ways of Holiness, and new Obedience before Him. Now if they shall by any signal Providences be prevailed upon so to do, then do they hear the Lord's voice therein.  
Qu. 3 But why should men thus Hear the Voice of Signal Providences? Ans. I shall mention only one Reason, and that shall be from the Consideration of the Authority and Greatness of Him that speaketh in, and by such Providences. It is the LORD, the MIGHTY GOD, that is then calling upon the Spectators, or Subjects of such Works of his. As for his Power of Might, it is Infinite. He is able as easily to destroy men, as to speak to them. He that by a word's speaking, made the World, is able by the breath of his Mouth to annihilate any Creature. Therefore they are highly concerned to Hear when and what He speaketh to them. And as for his Power of Authority, it is Universal, and Absolute. Divine Testimony ought to be received on that sole account of the Authority of the Speaker. Hence often in the Scripture, it is said, Hear the Word of the LORD, and Thus saith the LORD: intimating, that because of the Authority of the Speaker, men have infinite Reason to Hear and Fear, and to Believe and Obey.  
Use. 1. By w●y of Instruction. 1. Hence great is their Sin, who despise, or disregard the Signal works of God. When the Lord speaketh to men by signal Eminent mercies, but they will not harken to his Voice therein, their Evil is great. When they are not thereby lead unto Repentance, and to love and serve the God of their mercies, and Deliverances▪ Such have no reason to expect other, but that God will change the tenor of his Dispensations towards them; yea, that He will do them hurt, after he hath done them good. Josh. 24. 20. and that they shall become as eminent Examples for Judgement, as ever they were for Mercy. You onely have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Amos, 3. 2. Or when God speaks to a People by signal Judgements, one after another: by strange Punishments; by Unusual Rebukes of his Providence: For them not to hear, nor regard the Voice of the Lord therein, is great Iniquity. It argueth desperate hardness of heart. Were not mens hearts exceeding hard; should God but speak to them by his Word, they would immediately fall down before it, as tender-hearted Josiah did: But then, if he speaks by signal and dismal Afflictions, and that in an iterated way, a First, and a Latter Sign of his Displeasure; in case men will not now hear and obey, their hearts are like Leviathan's, as hard as a ston, and firmer than a piece of the nether millstone, Nay, it is many times a black Sign of that Hardness of heart, which is a fearful Consequent of eternal Reprobation. For was it not thus with the Reprobate heart of Pharaoh? One aweful Sign of God's Displeasure came upon him, and he regarded it not; and then another, neither did he set his heart unto this also.  
And when God speaketh to men by portentous Signs in the heaven; by a first and a Latter Sign, then for them to disregard it, or to make light of it, is a great Sin. Mind, I pray you, what the Scripture saith, Job. 36. 24, 25. Remember that thou magnify his Work, which men behold. Every man may see it, men may behold it afar off. So it is when there is a Sign blazing amongst the Stars of heaven, every man seeth it, they behold it afar off; now they ought not to despise; but to magnify such Works of God. And as for those that do profanely contemn such signal Works of the most High, there is an aweful Scripture, the Consideration whereof may strike could to their hearts; I mean that in the 28th Psalm, the 5th V. where it is said; Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the Operation of his hands, He shall destroy them, and not build them up.  
Instr. 2. Hence then, the Works of God have a Voice in them, as well as his Word. Austin calls the Sacraments, Verba visibilia: Even so the Works of God are( as we may so speak) a visible Word. The Works of Creation have a Voice in them. The heavens declare the glory of God, day unto day uttereth speech, there is no language where their Voice is not heard. Psal. 19. 1, 2, 3. Stars, and Trees, and every Creature in the higher and in the lower world, preach and proclaim that there is a God, and that He is an infinitely glorious Being. And the Works of Providence have a Voice in them: Yea, common Providences have so; much more, special and signal Dispensations of Providence. mercies have a Voice in them; and therefore are said to be Witnesses. God hath not left himself without Witness, inasmuch as He giveth Rain from heaven and fruitful Seasons. Judgements have a Voice in them. Mic. 6. 9. Hear ye the Rod. Brutish men may feel the Rod; but wise men hear the Rod, and understand the Lord's meaning therein. Yea, Judgements from heaven, have a loud, thundering, roaring Voice. The Lord shall roar out of Sion, and utter his Voice from Jerusalem. The terrible Judgements, which He doth execute upon the World, are the Lord's Roarings out of Sion. There was the Voice of Speech; yea, the Voice of the Almighty, in those ludgements, which came upon Jerusalem. Ezek. 1. 24. Portentous Signs in heaven have a speaking Voice in them. Sometimes they speak the Mercy of heaven, and good will towards the children of men. As that extraordinary Light which shined about the Shepherds at the Birth of Christ, was a Token of Divine Favour. A very judicious and learned 
l Constat certe, & Lumen iliud, & hanc Stellam eodem tempore & eodem fine apparuisse: Quid ni unum idem queen Lume● esset? Lightfoot.  Interpreter, thinks that the Star which appeared to the Wise men, was the same with that miraculous Light that shone about the Shepherds. It was no ordinary Star, nor yet 
m Cometam proprie non fuisse patet, 1. Ex differentia Situs: quia haec stalla inferior fuit. 2. Motus. 3. Appartionis. 4. Durationis. Spanhemius: sic & Hospinian de Origine Fest. Christian. P. 28.  a Comet properly: for it guided to a particular Town & House; and was therefore such another miraculous work of God, as the Pillar of Fire, which directed the children of Israel in their way towards Canaan, being a Sign of the gracious Presence, and Favour of God. But most commonly, portentous Signs in heaven are Significations of Divine Displeasure. The Lord sends them as heralds to proclaim Wrath and Wo to a sinful and unbelieving World. They are like the firing a Beacon upon an high hill, which giveth notice far and near, that Troubles are at hand, and that now men are concerned to prepare themselves for the battle.  
Use. 2. of Exhortation to harken to the Voice of God in all his Solemn and Signal Dispensations.  
The Lord hath of late Time, been speaking by very Signal Providences, in other parts of the World, which we that are afar off, should learn Instruction by. We hear the rattling of the flames of Persecution afar off, whereby the Houses of God in other parts of the World, are burning and consuming. There's a Voice in those flames speaking to us. Have 
n See the Relation of the present state of the Churches in Hungaria, lately printed.  we not heard how it hath been with the poor Protestants in Hungaria, of later years? Five and twenty hundred Churches there reduced to a small number. And in the Kingdom of France, what bloody Cruelties are exercised towards the Protestants there. Forty of late starved to death in one Prison, besides many other miseries, doleful to relate. And what a fearful Inundation was that which happened in the Netherlands, no longer since than this last Winter, when thousands lost their Lives; and the Lord knoweth how many scores of thousands had all their Estates taken from them in one fatal night. Surely the floods of great waters have come nigh unto them. And something of that nature, we hear hath since that, happened in the Land of our Fathers sepulchers. God hath been opening the windows from on high there, and hath poured down a Flood of Calamity upon the Land. Historians report, that there was a prodigious Rain, and sudden Flood caused thereby in the Land of Egypt, a little before the Persians swallowed them up. An Overflowing of the River tigris did forethreaten the desolation of Nineveh; which may probably be hinted at in that Scripture. Nah 1. 8. It may be what we now hear of, is a Sign, that God will ere long pour down the Cataracts of his Wrath upon a sinful Nation, which hath of late been found guilty before the Lord, of Signal Apostasy, Debauchery, and( above all) of nefandous Contempt of the Pure and Powerful Dispensation of the Gospel, witness the black day 
p V. Mr. Baxter's Church History. p. 21.  when above two thousand Ministers of God were Silenced at once, as to their public Testimony. Shall not my Soul be avenged on such a Nation as this, saith the Lord. And hath not the Lord been speaking by very signal Providences, wherein we ourselves have been, and are peculiarly concerned? Hath not the Sword been raging in the midst of thee, O New-England? Hath not the Lord been marching through the Land in Indignation? Hath not a mortal Contagion been amongst us, and swept away five or six hundred before it, in this one Town? Hath not God rendered his Rebukes in flames of Fire upon thee Boston; and that not only by a first, but a Second Sign of his Holy and Righteous Displeasure? And have we not been visited by the Lord of Hosts, with Signal and prodigious Tempests? Was it not so two years ago, in a Place 
q Viz. in Cambridge. July, 8. 1680.  not far off, when one that stood in the way of that whirlwind of the Lord, was dashed to death in a moment? Had the strength and fury of that Gust fallen upon such a Town as this, where there are a multitude of Houses, many Lives had perished. And I am informed, that there was this Summer, in a neighbour Colony 
r In enliven Colony, near Stratford. A more full account of these things, the Reader may expect in the Collection of remarkable Providences, intended to be published.  a Tempest no less prodigious; which in the Woods, for eight miles together, carried all clear before it. Certainly, these are Signal, and speaking Providences.  
And now behold! the Lord is speaking to us, and to all the World, by a Blazing Sign, which His own Hand hath hung up in the Heavens. It is not for nothing, that there is this Latter Sign appearing so soon( within less than two Years) after a former. Divines lay it down as a Principle of Truth 
s Quicquid in Coelo, Terra, & in Mari fit non solito, neque usitato more, Divinitus pro Signo ponitur certorum Eventuum. Non igitur contemnamus hos Dei Praenuncios. Alsted. Theol. Natural. part. 2. p. 346. , That Things, which proceed from Natural causes, if Unusual, are Signal. So may it be affirmed as to the Sign now hanging over our heads▪ Oh! let us consider the Lord's Voice therein. But, What doth the Lord speak unto us by this Latter Sign in Heaven?  
Ans. 1. Surely the Lord saith by it, The World is full of Unbelief. When the Jews continued in their Unbelief, notwithstanding John Baptist's powerful Ministry, it was said, Except you see Signs and Wonders, you will not believe. Joh. 4. 48. Truly, except men see Signs and Wonders in heaven, they will not believe. Nay, except they behold a latter as well as a former Sign, they will not believe. How justly may the Lord from Heaven upbraid the World for their Unbelief.  
2. God seems to intimate that there are great Changes hastening upon the World. When God creates a New thing in the Heavens, 'tis a Sign He hath some Strange work to do in the Earth. What those Changes are, Time will discover. Onely( as I have elsewhere noted) the constant Experience of former Ages declares that such Signs 
t Cometas nova Imperia portendere, apud omnes fear gentes receptum est. Vulcanius auruspex, teste Servio, ad Eclog. 9. dicebat, Cometa significari Exitum veteris, & Ingressum novi Seculi. Grotius in Matth. 2. 2.  have been portentous of great Mutations in the World. And the Scripture foretelling the great Changes, and dreadful Revolutions of Providence, which shall come to pass in the last Ages of the World, saith, that as Forerunners and Intimations thereof, there shall be Signs in( or amongst) the Stars. God will raise an horrible Tempest amongst the Nations, which will make the waves thereof to roar. Portentous and Fearful Sights, are a Sign that the days are at hand, wherein there shall be Distress of Nations, mens hearts failing them for Fear, and for looking after those Things which are coming on the Earth. Yea, and that the Powers of Heaven shall be shaken. Luk. 21. 25, 26.  
3. The Voice of the Lord crieth to us, saying, Be you prepared for whatever Changes may come. Labour to be such as that nothing shall be able to do you any hurt. Be moved with Fear, and get into the Ark. Make sure of an Interest in Christ; and then no waters can drown you. If Troubles come; let them find you in Christ; and let them find us serving God, and glorifying Him in the several places He hath set us in. Yea, let them find us watching, and praying that we may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.  
TIBI DOMINE.