●RODIGIES & Apparitions or England's Warning Pieces ●eing a Seasonable Description, ●y lively figures & apt illustration ●● many remarkable & prodigious fore-runers & apparent Predictions of God's Wrath against England, if not timely prevented by true Repentance. Written by J. V. Are to be sold by Tho Bates in old B●●● & by, Ralphe Markland near the 〈◊〉 PRODIGIES and APPARITIONS, OR, England's Warning-Pieces. HIstories do report and make mention of Tamberlane, Tamburlaine the Scourge of the Turk. that famous warrior, and great scourge of the Turk, (as he was termed) that in his battles, especially in his intended siege and assault of a City or town, his custom was, first, to hang out a white flag or banner, A white-flag. in the sight of the Besieged; thereby intimating to them his tender of mercy and favourable-quarter to them, if they would instantly yield and submit to his mercy. But if that would not serve, but that they resolved to stand it out against him, and put it to the hazard of war; then he hung out a red flag, in token, A Red-flag. that now there was nothing but death and destruction to be expected upon their refusal of his proffered favour and mercy to them. Even so Almighty God, the great and supreme sovereign of all Nations and kingdoms, and the most terrible heart-tamer and wonder-working-King of all Kings, who with the word of his mouth and breath of his nostrils, is able to subdue the mightiest Kings, Kingdoms and people, and to cast down all strong holds and mightiest mountains before him, as those Heathen Kings, Dan. 3.26. and 6.26.27. Nebuchadnezar and King Darius freely confessed. Yet, I say, though he be so mighty and terrible a God, when he is provoked to wrath by the sins and transgressions of a nation or people, he never punisheth, but he first admonisheth; and herein like this foresaid Tamberlane, before he intends the ruin of a Nation or a kingdom, God's White-flag of mercy. he first holds out the white flag of his proffered grace and mercy, on their true repentance and hearty reformation from their evil courses and conversation, but if this will not work kindly on them, but they will obstinately and stubbornly stand out and refuse his mercy and proffered grace and favour, then at last, God's Red-flag of wrath and confusion. he hangs out his red-flag of wrath and confusion and suddenly consumes his proud and rebellious opposers, all insolent and incorrigible sinners, who have thus made themselves uncapable of mercy and compassion, and are so become as combustible stubble in the presence of a terrible and angry God, Heb. 12.29. who as a consuming fire, devours them, as in a moment. For, as the Prophet says, Esay. 33.14. who is able to stand before, or to dwell with everlasting burnings? Now, this merciful course of our merciful God in thus hanging out first this white-flag of favour and merciful premonitions (which is the thing mainly intended to be described in these following figures and ocular-Emblemes of prodigious portentous, and apparitions) before he inflicteth severe punishments on his sinning Servants: The Lord useth to manifest unto them divers ways, but most especially and most remarkably, these two ways. 2 Sorts of God's White-flagges. Either by his Prophets and faithful Preachers, declaring his word and will to his people; as Jonas in Ninevie, 1. The word preached. and all the Prophets else to the people of Israel, in their constant proclaiming mercy to Penitents, but judgement and wrath to obstinate sinners and refractory transgressors: Or else, by sending prodigious signs and wonders among them, either by fearful apparitions in the air, 2. Signs and wonders and Apparitions. monstrous births, heart-frighting-voyces and exclamations, oft-times unknown from whence or by whom uttered, and such like. And this last course, the Lord hath also frequently taken, with a provoking and impenitent people in all ages and times. And this is the thing which in this little Treatise is mainly intended to be declared and insisted upon. Namely, to show, that even of late also, in these our modern times (as well as in former and ancient ages) we, being by our sins and transgressions, a greatly provoking people, incensing and exasperating the high indignation and wrath of the Lord against us; yet he hath among us also shown himself to be God that changeth not, Psal. 7, 12.13. full of compassion and slow to wrath; bending his bow, whetting his sword, holding up his arm, ready to let it down, yet loath to strike, that so by these preparations to the blow before it falls heavy upon us, we might see and shun and avoid it by our true and cordial repentance. Now in the first place, I shall very briefly give you a taste and sight of what God hath done in this nature and kind in former ages and times, and so pass on succinctly to our own times, which I say is here mainly intended. A Jove omne principium. Heb. 12, 2. And, first, to begin with him who is the beginning and end of all things, even the Lord Jesus Christ, our most precious and dear Saviour, the author and finisher of our faith, that glorious Lord of life, and Prince of peace; who being born into the world in the days of an Emperor of peace, Augustus Caesar, than Emperor of Rome, yet bringing into the world not only peace, Mat. 10, 34.35. but a sword also; peace to penitent and brokenhearted believers, and a sword of variance and revenge to proud and impenitent sinners: Therefore at his birth, The admirable Star in the East, seen at Christ's birth. what a most admirable and unparalleled star was seen in the East? so great and so miraculous a star as hath puzzled and posed the greatest and most learned Astronomers and Mathematicians of the world. A white Flag. Joh. 3, 16. A white Flag of mercy indeed, yea of everlasting redemption from Sin, Death and Hell, if graciously accepted with firm faith, and found universal obedience. A red Flag. Heb. 2, 2, 3. But a red Flag of wrath and confusion; yea of horror and perdition, if obstinately rejected, or lazily neglected by sin, and ignorance, and infidelity. Again, a little before the destruction of that great and most magnificent Metropolis of the whole world, Jerusalem, I mean; Jerusalem what fearful and prodigious forewarnings were sent to that city, to foreshow them the wrath to come? As, first, 1. Blindness of mind. a fearful blindness and stupidity of mind, or hardness of heart (the most fearful forerunner of wrath toward them, of all the rest) not to see or believe those wonderful forewarnings, which God then sent among them. Secondly, a Comet, 2. A Comet like a sword. like a sword, and a bright shining light, in their Temple, round about their Altar, in the midst of the night. Thirdly, 3. A Cow which brought forth a Lamb. a Cow, (which should have, then, been sacrificed) that brought forth a Lamb, in the midst of the Temple. 4. The Brass gate of the temple opened of itself. 5. Armed men and chariots in the air. 6. A voice in the Temple. Fourthly, the great and massy brazen gate of the Temple, which opened of itself. Fiftly, fearful and hideous sights and apparitions in the air, of mighty companies of Chariots and armed men in an hostile manner. Sixtly and lastly, a voice was heard in the Temple crying out, Let us go hence. With other such like, mentioned by Josephus in his famous history of the Jews, page 738. But, to come nearer to our own times. Are not the fearful apparitions and signs in the heavens, and prodigies on the earth, Germany. often seen in Germany, by the inhabitants thereof in many places, notable forerunners and predictions of Germany's succeeding misery, still fresh in the memory of many yet living; who have been both eye and ear witnesses of the manifold and most lamentable distresses and destructions which have befallen; and, even to this day, lie still very heavy on that (once) most famous and flourishing Eden of the whole Christian world, Germany the Eden of Europe now, made a desolate defart, and bare and barren wilderness. But, all this while, that we have only heard that our neighbour's houses have been so fearfully on fire; what use have we of England made thereof? How have we endeavoured to keep the flame off from our own houses and habitations? Certainly, we have not made that holy and humbling use thereof as we might and aught to have done, considering our means of grace and reconciliation, wherewith we have been, even lifted up (like Capernaum) to heaven; Mat. 11.23 England like Capernaum. far beyond our neighbours round about us. We have not been wise by other men's harms, as mere human and worldly wisdom might have taught us to be: But have, contrariwise, drunk wine in bowls, as the Prophet complains, and stretched ourselves on our beds of Ivory, Amos, 6.6. none of us hardly being grieved for the afflictions of Joseph, in the aforesaid Germany, and now also of late and lamentably bleeding Ireland. Wherefore the Lord hath (and that most justly) come nearer home to our own doors, and begun to make us (who were only supine spectators of others miseries) now, unhappy spectacles to others of inbred and homebred devouring destructions. Nor yet, I say, in all these our selfe-procured sorrows, can we justly tax the Lord in the least measure, with any more harsh or hasty proceedings herein, with us, then with any of his other servants in by-past times, but have been, every-way wholly left without excuse. For, England left without Excuse. hath not the Lord for these many years together both called upon us by by his faithful and painful Preachers of the word forewarned us to fly from the wrath to come? 1. Ministers to admonish us. Have they not frequently and servently cried out and told us, Luk. 1.33. that except we repent we also should perish? Yea, when this one great and main means of reclaiming us his people from our sins, would not serve, hath not the Lord used that other more terrible and heart-frighting course (Here, 2. Prodigies to fear & fright us. mainly intended in this treatise) of Prodigies, signs and Apparitions in the air, and other most degenerating, unnatural and wonder-striking contingents amongst us here at home? As now I intend more exactly and particularly to set forth and show to the Reader whereby we shall easily discern and discover to our own hearts (if we will not be too wilfully blind, which as I showed before, was the first and worst sign of smart and sorrow in Jerusalem, and more than marble-hearted) most apparent prints and even visible footsteps and impressions of God's highly conceived indignation and provoked patience, turned into enforced fury by our constant and unconscionable sinning against him, and now resolved to execute the utmost severity of his wrath upon us, if now at last we hasten not most heartily to prevent and divert it, by true and timely repentance and reformation. And now, I say, that we may no longer look abroad into foreign parts, nor many years past, for examples of this sort, I shall desire the Reader to remember what yet may be fresh in memory among us: An Introduction to the first emblem or Apparition. That in the reign of King James, that so peaceful a Prince, who so much delighted in the name and work of Peace, both at home and abroad, that he had this Motto given to him, Beati Pacifici, Blessed are the peacemakers. And so successfully had he prosecuted his affections therein, that (as here you may see in this emblem, or following Figure) Every man fate under his own Vine, and under his own fig tree, even from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of the said King James, our so peaceful King; as it Every man Sitting under his vine & under his own fig gtree, enjoying all good things, in the days of King James. But, on the 18th of November 1618. A great blazing-tailor, with 7 long streams appeared, much damping men's hearts. HEre, every one sits under his own Vine, All, under theirown Figtrees sup and dine, In Pleasures, Treasures, and all joys increase, In pleasant plenty, amiable Peace. But, whiles this Peace and plenty brings forth Pride, Luxury, looseness, and all sins besides; God's wrath is kindled, heaven therewith offended, Lets England see his judgements sore, intended. By a strange blazing-star, which every day, Betimes ith'morning did bright beams display; Which, as a Warning piece, the Lord thus sent To rouze-up England, timely, to repent, And to prevent his judgements, thus, foreshown, Lest (still) secure England be overthrown. See, here, th'indulgence of a gracious God, Who, ere he strikes, first, shows and shakes his Rod. was said of King Solomon also, 1 Kings 4.23. that Prince of Peace. But this peace, being but a mere external and sensual peace, and so the mother of Luxury, libertinism and profaneness (whereof the whole kingdom did then, and so all along, to this very day) too rifely and rankly abound, together with all kind of sinfulness; Piety being then turned into Court-Policy, and sincerity into outside and diabolical hypocrisy. The Lord therefore, even about the year 1618. November 18, sent a visible demonstration of his just wrath and displeasure; namely, A Comet or blazing Star. a great Comet or Blazing Star (as there also you have it in the emblem) with seven streams, which continued to the 16. of Decemb. following, rising every morning about three or four of the clock, and so continued shining most clearly and bright, till day light appeared, the streams of it blazing upwards. Now what this Comet or Blazing Star might portend and prognosticate, hath been evidently seen and known amongst us, by real and sensible experience, ever since; not only over all Christendom in general, The effects of the said Comet, or blazing Star. as in Germany, Rochel in France, and still fresh bleeding and lamentably dilacerated and forlorn Ireland; but even within our own bosoms in England also, as in the death of Queen Anne, and of King James also himself, Death of great ones. not long after; yea and many most eminent peers and Nobles of this Land, suddenly taken away, but by what stroke is not yet fully discovered, though greatly suspected; as, the marquess of Hamilton, the Duke of Richmond, and the Lord Belfast, &c. all eminent commonwealths men, fierce and furious wars also and rumours of wars, Nation against Nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And (as I touched before) we now see our too secure Kingdom must also share in these common calamities, now fallen upon the earth, England having sinned, and done very foolishly, England must also come under the lash of God's justice and greatly incensed indignation against it, as well as Germany, Rochel and Ireland. Before I can leave the blazoning of this Blazing-star, I must give the Reader one more remarkable note and observation on it. Namely, that at the first appearing of this Star, we were all in peace, and (seeming) serene tranquillity, but indeed (as was forementioned) such a peace as justly rendered us settled on the lees of carnal security. Even as if this Star had been sent among us in special to forewarn us of our present too loose security, and therefore future ensuing infelicity, if not speedily prevented by true and unfeigned repentance. A remarkable note on the rising of the blazing star. For, it first appeared, as I said, the 18 of November, the day after the annual memorial of Queen Elizabeth's (of ever most famous memory) most happy inauguration to the crown of England, the day when we began to enjoy the liberty of the Gospel, and deliverance from that former most formidable yoke of Romish Egyptian bondage and slavery, under bloody Babylonish and terrible conscience-curbing taskmasters, and which so blessed liberty, we have now in a good and great measure enjoyed, at least, these threescore years. And this, I say, seemed most particularly to be delineated out unto us, by this notable Comets appearing just on the next day to the 17 of November, as if the Lord would, thus, have expostulated with us. O England, ungrateful and unfruitful England, thou hast, now, these sixty years by my free favour and bounty, enjoyed my Gospel of pure peace, together with the sweet and amiable peace of this my Gospel, but hast been, all the while but little the better (if not far the worser) by it. Well, though I confess I know not what I could have done more for England, my choice vine, my pleasant plant, Esay 5.1, 2, 3, &c. than I have done, having so hedged, digged and dressed it; yea, and watered it with the dews and drops of heaven: and now that I expected it should have brought me forth sweet grapes of faith and pure obedience, it hath contrariwise brought forth the wild grapes of sin and rebellion; though, I say, it deserves (like the fruitless figtree) to be cut down, Luke 13.7. and not suffered to encumber the ground any longer: yet, out of my mere mercy and indulgence to England, I will let it alone one year of patience more, and only shake my rod over it, with this prodigious apparition, and celestial sign of my just displeasure, as a premonition thereof to move it to repentance, which if it cordially fall upon, well and good; if not, whereas, all this while, I have been severely whipping and scourging other neighbour-nations, especially her sister Ireland, to make England (if it might be) wise by others woes, my leaden-heeles of long-sufferance, patience, and compassion, shall be found to have Iron-hands of wrath without remedy; and then I will do my work, Esay 28.21. my strange work, and bring to pass my act, my strange act; and when I begin, 1 Sam. 3.12. ● I will also make an end. The Lord, timely, open the eyes of England's understanding, that she may see (yet) in this her day, the things that concern her eternal peace; left, hereafter they be everlastingly hid from her. A second warning-piece (worthy our serious notice) of God's gracious longanimity and patient forbearance, toward us, notwithstanding our pertinacious provocations, and refractory rebellions towards him, may be this. A prodigious-birth, and monstrous man-child, borne in Old-bride-well, about October 3. 1633 having two heads, two A man-child, born in old-Bridewell precinct, having two distinct heads, two Hearts, two arms & the Stump of another growing-out from the back. Shown to King Charles & y Queen, Anno Dom: 1633 Buried October the 3d. BEhold, good Reader, here, a monstrous birth, To damp thy sin's delight, and mar such mirth, A man-child born in most prodigious sort, Which for undoubted truth thou mayst report. Two distinct heads it had, and eke two hearts, Two arms, whence grew a stump. In other parts Like other children. What may this p●●tend? Sure monstrous plagues do monstrous sins attend. The sins of Heads, in government abused, The sins of hearts, opinions false infused, And broached abroad to raise up foes and factions, And arms and Armies to confound with fractions, Disjointed States (like stump-like Ireland) Whiles brothers thus 'gainst brothers lift their hand. This (surely) God seems hereby to foretell, That having Plagues must hideous sins expel. hearts, two arms, and a stump, beside. A monstrous birth, a manchild born with two heads, 2 hearts, two arms and 2 stump. This child was borne of poor parents, inhabitants in that precinct. Which foresaid Birth, being so marvellous and prodigious a Monster in nature, was carried and showed to King Charles our sovereign, and his royal consort, the Queen, who greatly astonished at the sight thereof, shown to King Charles and the Queen. most graciously and charitably sent the poor woman, the mother of it, five pieces, to refresh her in her present poverty and weakness. Now, whereas, peradventure, An Object. some may here object and say; Why do you count this such a wonder which is (as the Naturalists and Philosophers affirm and write) but a deficiency and weakness of nature? Whereunto I answer, Answer. This is an objection indeed, but of a mere naturalist and carnal man, who is willing only to look upon external and secondary causes, not considering the wonders and operations of God's hands. David could say, Psal. 139.24. that a man in his ordinary, natural, and well-composed generation, is fearfully and wonderfully made; how much more terribly and wonderfully, when the Lord is pleased to frame such a fearful and wonder-striking birth in the womb of his creature, so contrary to nature? And did not the Lord Jesus Christ himself, the fountain of wisdom and understanding, (yea far more wise than all the Naturalists and Philosophers that ever were or will be) tell his Disciples, who curiously questioned the cause, Joh. 19.3. why that man (mentioned in the Gospel) that was borne blind from his mother's womb; was so made by God, that the Lords mighty power might be manifested in him? And although it cannot be denied but that sometimes such monstrous births are produced by defect of nature: yet it's as true that frequently the Lord is pleased to cause such monstrous productions from his creatures, as predictions and forerunners of some fearful judgement to come for sin. For otherwise, God could have given power (as in an ordinary way he does) to have brought forth to perfection. But 'tis confessed clearly, by that wise and famous Historian Josephus, fo●ementioned at the beginning of this Treatise, who there, brings in that strange and unnatural birth of the Cow which brought forth (in the Temple of Jerusalem) a Lamb instead of a calf, and which he there introduceth as one of the fearful forerunners and signs of Jerusalem's ensuing misery and desolation; to which prodigious birth, this also, me thinks, may fitly be a parallel, and justly be taken for a fearful prediction of wrath to come, if not prevented by timely repentance. And why may we not yet farther consider, even with particular application, this monstrous birth, to this effect? That God, by these two heads, two hearts, two arms, and a stump of another in this child, might let us now see his hastening judgements and wrath on our Kingdoms of England and Ireland, A particular application of this strange birth to our strange times. wherein hath been too manifestly seen to our sorrow, such divisions; by two heads, the King and this renowned Parliament, some siding with the one, and some with the other: by two hearts, Papists and Protestants, or Malignant and well affected Christians, some standing for Truth, and some for error; some for Christ, and some for Antichrist; some for Gospel and a holy Reformation, and some for beggarly Ceremonies and Romish trash and trumpery; two arms or armies for just defence in England and Scotland, and a miserable and monstrous stump of an arm in lamentably torn and mangled Ireland. And this use, I remember our brethren in New England, not long since made of another most prodigious and misshapen and monstrous birth, A most prodigious and monstrous birth also in New-England. brought forth by a Gentlewoman of that New Plantation, who had been a main fautrix, if not original broacher of very many most wicked, dangerous, & damnable opinions in their Church: God having declared his high displeasure thereat, by her so fearful monstrous and misshapen birth, which, as a godly Minister there related, had as many external and corporal deformities in its body, as she maintained diversities of most dangerous opinions. Which was all of it, I say, testified for most true, by some of the most learned and godly pastors and people amongst them. Again, have we not had many most remarkable warnings and fearful forerunners of God's displeasure against us for our sins and transgressions, by most hideous and horror-striking-thunder-claps, Thunder and lightning. and spirit affrighting-Lightnings, doing much and most fearful hurt, burning, defacing and spoiling our very material Churches and houses in this kingdom, most manifestly giving us to understand that something, surely, is much amiss even in our Churches and worship and service of the Lord our God (as I shall afterward more particularly and truly show) in our most sumptuous and superfluously huge built Churches and cathedral ministers, indeed far more like Heathen Temples then Christian Churches. And as an undoubted testimony of God's displeasure herein, Churches mightily defa●ed and destroy●d by thunder and lightning. take first that most memorable and terrible, yea never to be forgotten example of God's wrath & deep indignation manifested by thunder and lightning, against superstitious superfluous and idolatrous impieties in our Churches of England, Withcomb in Devonshire a mighty fair Church. which God was pleased to manifest upon the Parish Church of Withcombe in Devonshire, (besides divers other Churches in other places, much about the same time also, which is the more remarkable) being a very fair Church, and but then newly trimmed, having a very fair tower with great and small pinnacles, and reported to be one of the fairest and most famous Church steeples in all the Western parts of England; which I have here described and set forth in this Figure and emblem for the Readers better content and satisfaction. Which said fair Church and steeple was most fearfully and furiously assaulted with most hideous thunder and lightning on the 21. day of October 1638. (which also was so much the more admirable, October 21. 1638. being the Lord's day. In the winter season. being in the Winter season) which was the Lord's Day, and in the time of their Church Service or Evening Prayer (still the more observable) in the midst of the performance of which duties, I say, on a sudden there was heard most fearful & heart-damping claps of thunder, much like the roaring noise or rattling reports of great A most prodigious & fearful storm of wind lightning & thunder, mightily defacing Withcomb-church in Devon. burning and slaying diverse men and women all this in service-time, on the Lord's day octob. 21. 1638 HEre, Reader, open thine eyes and ears and heart, Consider what this figure doth impart. Behold, and tremble to behold and see, How Christ, God's lamb, a Lion fierce can be: When Sin doth patience into passion turn, And make sweet favour, like fierce fury burn. When Bethel is a Baudy-babel made, God will his fair Jerusalem's invade. When, for pure worship of his sacred name, We, Idol-Altars, Popish-Rites will frame: O, how the jealousy of God doth burn! All Idol-worship, quite, to overturn. Shall England (thus) pretend a reformation, And, yet, uphold Romish abomination? Surely (as here) God will let England know, If these continue, God will angry grow. Canons, and musket shot discharged; upon which, presently followed a most fearful Fog, The storm begun. and almost palpable darkness all over the Church, and a most strong and almost stifling Stygian stink and loathsome smell of brimstone, together with a most boisterous and blustering blast of wind and clap of thunder, The fearful effects of it. which struck in at the Northside of the steeple or tower, and tearing through a strong wall came into the Church through the highest window, The steeple torn. and bare before it shear away, a great part thereof, and with a mighty power it also struck away the Northside wall of the Church, The north side wall broken. and violently battered and shook it very much, passing on toward the Pulpit, and in the way took with it the lime and sand from off the wall, grating the wall much and mightily defacing it, it having been but lately new whited and trimmed, as aforesaid. The pulpit strangely defaced. It tore away also most fiercely the side desk from the Pulpit, colouring the pulpit itself of a black hew, and leaving it as moist as if it had been newly washed over with ink. In which time there was also a most terrible and heart-astonishing lightning, A fearful flash of lightning. which did both mightily affright the people, and even scald their skin with the extreme heat thereof; insomuch as the greatest part of them fell prostrate, some on their faces, and some on their knees, and some one upon another, shrieking and crying out in a most pitiful and pathetical manner. The Ministers wife, there present, The Ministers wife's case. had her ruff and linen next her body, burnt off, and her body itself grievously scorched. One Mistress Ditford, A Gentlewoman also sitting with her. sitting in the seat with her, had her gown, two waistcoats, and her linen next her body also grievously scorched. Another woman frighted with this fearful spectacle, A woman running out of the Church. running out of the Church, had her clothes set on fire, her body scorched, her flesh torn on her back in a most grievous manner. One Master Hill, A Gentleman slain. Sir Richard Reynolds his Warriners most fearful death. a Gentleman had his head smitten against the wall, and died the very next day of it. Sir Richard Reynolds his Wa●●iner had his head cloven, his skull rent in three pieces, whereof two fell in the next seat, the other fell down in the seat where he sat: his brains fell entirely whole into the next seat behind him, his blood dashed against the wall; some of the skin of his head, flesh and hair, to the quantity of an handful, was carried into the chancel, his body left in the seat, as though he had been alive, sitting asleep, and leaning on his elbow resting on the desk of his Pew, with the forepart of his head and face whole. O most terrible and fearful power of the Lord! Another man by him. A man that sat before him, in the same seat, was scalded and burnt all over on that side next the said warrener. A third man most grievously slain. In the second seat behind the warrener, a man was in a most grievous manner burnt and scalded all over his body, so as he was all over like raw flesh, and lived in great misery about a week after, A dog killed. and then died. A dog neere-the chancel door, was fiercely whirled up three times, and the last time fell down dead. Some seats in the body of the Church, were torn up, and overwhelmed up-side-down; A strange preservation. yet they that were in them had no harm, notwithstanding that they were thereby thrown out of them into other seats four or five pews higher. Eight boys at the rails of the Altar thrown on heaps on each other. About the number of eight boys sitting about the rails of the Communion Table (Here we may observe what a superstitious Church it was, like, almost all the rest of our Churches in these miserable days) were all of them taken up by the violence of this so terrible a storm, and thrown on heaps within the rails, but had no hurt at all. A beam fell down but hurt none. A beam was broken in the midst, and fell down between the Minister and his clerk, but neither of them hurt thereby. The Church was also very much defaced and torn in many parts of it, and a great stone near the very foundation, A foundation stone torn up. was torn up and removed thence. Other stones were violently thrown out of the tower, Stones but of the Tower thrown down thick. as thick as if there had been an hundred men throwing them, some stones of them of such a weight and bigness, as no one man was able to lift. One of the pinnacles of the Tower was tumbled down into the Church. A pinnacle tumbled down. A man sitting on the church-beer, at the lower end of the Church, had the said beer torn in pieces under him, and himself thrown into a seat by the wall, but h●d no other hurt. A great stone thrown an hundred yards off. A Bowling alley and a Tavern near the Church defaced. A great stone was thrown about an hundred yards from the Church, and sunk into the ground so deep and so fast, that it could hardly be seen afterward. A Bowling-alley also near the churchyard, was strangely turned into deep pits; and a wine-tavern near the Church, had the side thereof next the Church torn up, and the top or covering broken and carried off, and one of the rafters broken into the said house. And was not here a most terrible brief notes on the premises. and almost an incredible print and impression of God's threatened wrath and indignation against both the internal and external vanity and impiety of such profuse and superfluous Church-buildings, vain and needless, I say, now under the Gospel, though in the time of the levitical Law, The Jews Temple under the Law most sumptuous and why? most requisite and lawful in most gorgeous manner to be set out, as typifying Christ Jesus in all his excellencies and graces; and therefore these fearful examples may serve as a remarkable caution and forewarning of God's displeasure herein. But because 'tis likely, our superstitious Cathedralists will be apt to object in their carnal incredulity, Ob. One Swallow makes no● a summer. that one Swallow makes not a Summer, and so one single testimony is not sufficient to confirm so weighty a conclusion and inference as I would fain gather from these fearful premises. Answ. I shall therefore in the next place give the Reader other remark●ble examples of God's semblable undoubted displeasure with the vanity and impiety of our Churches and Church government, and services too long exercised among us to the high indignation of the Lord especially now of late, prelatical Church-government. since our prelates began so grossly to tyrannize over the consciences of God's people) and then say, whether thou canst not easily be induced to believe with me, this truth, which I have hence collected, and which the Lord by these fearful examples, seems most plainly to have indigitated and demonstrated to us. And therefore to cry out with the Prophet in holy admiration and trembling, Who would not fear thee, ●er. 10.7. O King of Nations, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners? In January also then next ensuing, there was very great hurt done, in and upon divers other Churches, in other parts of this kingdom, by thunder and lightning, and mighty stormy weather, to the great and terrible astonishment of the inhabitants and beholders. As namely upon the 14. Janu. 14. 1639. day of the aforesaid month, about five of the clock at night, 3. Churches in Kent defaced with thunder and lightning. three Churches were wasted and defaced with fearful thunder and lightning, and most violent winds; the one was Micham in Kent, also Greenhith and Stone-Church, both in the said County of Kent. And upon Whitsunday 1640. in the Parish Church of S. Anthony in Cornwall, And Saint Anthony's in Cornwall, 1640 great hurt was done by terrible thunder and lightning, the people being then in the Church at their Sabbath days exercises. As here thou seest it summarily and briefly delineated in those following Figures or emblems. 3 or 4 Churches more, as namely Micham and Greenhith in Kent also Stone-church, all fearfully defaced with lightning and thunder, the January following And St. Anthony's Church in Cornwall, Anno Dom: 1640 ANd, here, again, that All may clearly see, False-worship, and Idolatry to be The sin of England: God, in other places, More Houses of such worship, much defaces, With fearful storms, lightnings, fierce claps of thunder, Churches and Steeples rents and cleaves asunder. Though many other sins do England stain, Tet, this, of all the rest, is died in grain. Idolatry and Superstition base, The Lord will not endure in any case. And therefore shows, by so many examples, With how great wrath under his feet he tramples Such Romish-trash, and all will-worship vain, And, only, will unmixed Truth maintain. Be warned, then, betimes, England take heed, Lest wrath, without redress, does make thee bleed. More full observations on all these Church-ruines. Now all these considered together, with the time of the year, the Winter season, and the day whereon they fell, the Lord's day, and (that, which is so much the more remarkable) in the time of their Sabbath days duties; tell me, can any man be so Atheistically minded and blindly or obstinately opinionated as to think that these so fearful and formidable affrightments immediately from heaven, Whether they were naturally occasional or otherwise. can be merely casual or contingent by natural concurrences only, and not rather immediate demonstrations and forerunners of God's high indignation for the great sins and provocations of our Clergy and prelatical Church-government. Certainly it were mere madness, or at least gross carnal security, if not diabolical delusion, to say, or think otherwise. For, if we look on our late most intolerable superstitious and idolatrous times, not silently-creeping, but audaciously running, and (with the Romish-whores unblushing face) breaking out upon us, and impudently and too frequently practised among us by crossing and Jesu-cringing, altar-worship, railing in of our Communion-tables turned into altars, Popish, sumptuous and superstitious adornation and bedawbing of Churches with crucifixes & other Popish pictures, apish gestures, vestures, and such like beggarly-rudiments and ceremonies, as the Apostle calls them; making more, Gal. 4.9. Col. 2.20. by far, of the mere walls, and dead stones of their Churches, than of the living stones of God's House and Temple. What other thing could be discovered by all these, but a most disloyal apostasy, and almost a general backsliding and defection from our first love the Lord Jesus Christ, and from his found faith, to Antichrist, Arminianism, and atheistical profaneness, both in Priest and people. And may we not then justly conceive and believe that the Lord, by these so fearful, and I dare say unparalleled examples of wrath on (even) these material Churches, might truly indigitate and point-out unto us his holy purpose to ruinate this Romish-rubbish, to purge his holy Temple and worship, from these outside formalities and fopperies, and to set up and establish a more pure and powerful, a more precious and glorious internal, spiritual, simple, and plain unmixed-worship to himself, and such faithful and fruitful worshippers, Joh. 4.23. as should worship him in spirit and in truth, in plain simplicity and singleness of heart; for, such worshippers, now under the Gospel, hath he chosen to himself, as our Saviour Christ Jesus himself assures us, whose infallible heavenly authority I choose rather to believe, than the best and most reverend (pretended) antiquity of primitive Fathers, and human authorities, so urgently and instantly pressed upon us by our late Romish-hearted Prelates, and Pontifician Doctors whomsoever. What a most notable warning-piece also did the Lord make visible unto us by Sea, about the month of September, 1640. namely, that Spanish Fleet which came (without control) most audaciously upon our English coasts, with many and mighty Vessels full fraught and furnished with arms, ammunition, and many thousand soldiers (almost such another formidable and affrighting Armado, as that was in 1588.) thinking then also to have swallowed us up, and to have found us and our brethren of Scotland together by the ●ares, that so they might with the more ease have unresistibly set firm footing, and securely have landed on our English shore, and so have stepped in between both parties, and have made up their mouths with a fat and full prey of three rich and royal diadems at once; which, indeed, hath been the long expected prize of the Spaniards most greedy appetite and hungry hope to have made up his long dreamed of universal Monarchy; as here you see it set forth and described in this next Figure or emblem. A second Spanish-Armado, much like that in, 1588. hovering about our English- Sea's near deal & Dover, hoping to have made England their prey & to have found us fighting with our brethren of Scotland; but beaten back and destroyed by Van Trump and his Dutch Fleet an. dom. 1642. ANd, here, another Warning-piece we had, A ●righting storm, by Sea, t'have made us sad, Had not heaven's wisdom, power and providence Prevented it, and been our strong defence. A Spanish Fleet, floating upon our Seas, Hopeful to land upon our Land with ease; To find us fearless, or engaged in fight, With Scotland, through intestine d●epe despite. But, whiles they hovered about deal and Dover, Watching occasion us to triumph over, Whiles we-our-selves dreadless of danger were, So near our ruin, yet, so void of f●are, The Lord a Fleet of Dutchmen to them sent, To pay their pride, their mischief to prevent. This Warning-piece we, therefore may add ●ire, Preserved thus strangely from destruction dire. But it pleased the Lord to direct the Dutch Fleet, at that time abroad at Sea, under the command of Van Trump their admiral, to meet with them, and (before deal and Dover) to fight with them for us, when we little thought of fighting for ourselves, though ready to be made a prey to this devouring Spanish-Leviathan. Here, I say also, did the Lord, by them, ring us such a peal of thundering Canon, as it were knocking at our doors to awaken us out of our marvellous Lethargy of ease and carnal security, or of blockish stupidity, as might have been thought sufficient to have made us recollect our thoughts, open our eyes and look about us, and see the hand of God lifted up against us, yet loath to let the stroke fall so heavily upon us, to our irrecoverable ruin and destruction, as our sins most justly deserved, had he in his justice so dealt with us. On Thursday also, August 4. 1642. about 5. of the clock in the afternoon, at a town called Alborough in the County of Suffolk, there was heard in the air, and evidently seen, a mighty sound of drums beating very loud, after which was also heard at the same time, a long and fierce peal of small shot, as of Muskets and such like, and then as it were a discharging of great Ordnance in a pitched field; all this continuing about an hour and a half, and then there was a mighty and terrible report or noise of them all together: At the ceasing whereof a black stone was as it were shot out of the sky, being about eight inches long, and five or six inches broad, and about two inches thick, which was taken up by two men which stood by and heard the foresaid noise, and the whistling of the stone over their head as it passed by them (but they could not see it) they found it by means of a little dog, who followed it by the scent, and ran barking to and fro, till they following the dog, were brought to the place where it lay, covered with earth and grass. The men that found it brought it to London, and presented it to a burgess of Parliament, upon whose ground it was found, and by him was shown to divers others. One captain Johnson, and one Master Thompson, men well known in those parts of Suffolk, being at a town called Woodbridge, hearing of this marvellous noise toward Alborough, verily supposing that some enemy was landed, and had made some sudden onset or invasion upon the Town, took horse and rode hastily homeward, the rather bec●use they heard of the battle louder and louder, and being on their way near Alborough, they met with the greatest part of the townsmen, who were generally run out of their houses, round about, much amazed with such an uncouth noise of war. But after all this, there was, for certain, suddenly heard a most joyful noise of sweet music, Admirable sweet music heard plainly, after all that terrible noise and of sundry rare musical instruments sounding in a most melodious manner, for a good space together, and at last it all concluded with a most harmonious noise, as it were of delicate ringing of well-tuned bells. A most terrible representation of a great fight in the air at Alborough in Suffolk, drums beating; Canons and muskets-shooting, a black stone shooting out from the clouds found by a tug, on the ground, but all, at last, ending with most melodious music, and ringing of bells as an triumph of some victories aug. 4. 1642. OF all the Warning-Pieces to us sent, See here a masterpiece of wonderment. A mighty battle fought (as 'twere) in th'air, Which Alb'rough Townsmen mightily did scare: For first, they heard drums beating loud alarms, Great Canons shooting, as in fields of arms, Thick and quick volleys of small shot; likewise A stone most black breaking forth from the skies, Which whistling through the air, did pierce the ground, And (by a dog) where it fell down, was found. But suddenly this frighting fear was past, And, by melodious music turned at last Into much joy and great alacrity, Bells (as 'twere) ringing most harmoniously, As if the Lord would hereby let us see His gracious love at last to set us free From all our fore-felt fears, and terrors great, To crown us with a conquest most complete, Shown in this figure tragicomical: Heaven say Amen to this. So pray we all. Now this tragicomical Warning-piece (for so methinks I may fitly call it) which we have here described and set forth, as well as a figure and expression of that nature might be; beginning so terribly, and concluding so sweetly, did far transcend, in prognosticating comfort, in the issue, all the forementioned marvellous prodigies and predictions, either in Jerusalem, Germany, or elsewhere among us; and may therefore (surely) serve as a sovereign antidote against our too much fainting and affrighting fears. The Lord our good God seeming hereby to foreshow us (as blessed Mr. Brightman also, that famous Divine, and faithful servant of the Lord, in his most bright and learned revelation of the Revelations of Saint John, hath even prophetically written) that England's terrible storm of woes and wars now begun in it, by Papists, Atheists, and profane Malignants, whom God hath stirred up to disturb its abused peace and plenty, and as a just punishment of England's great sins and enormities, though for a while it may seem sharp, yet shall be short, and prove sweet in the issue, fanning away the chaff, and burning up the dross thereof, and making way for a glorious peace and perfect reformation, and for the setting up of Christ's Throne, and advancing of his sceptre, in the power and purity of holy ordinances, in the issue and conclusion. It is our part therefore, in faith, patience, and prayer, to possess our souls, and to wait on the Lord for the happy performance of the same in his due time, and by that way which is best pleasing to his most wise providence. And the Lord in mercy perfect our expectation thereof in his appointed season. Amen and Amen. I have made no mention all the while, of the many strange, fearful, and unaccustomed Eclipses of the sun and moon, which have been seen from year to year both in other parts, and also in our own English Horizon; which also by the judgement of the best Astrologers and Mathematicians, have and do prognosticate and declare unto us, many notable changes and overtures of States and Kingdoms; as also that late and memorable conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter among us in February last, 1643. which hath been written of long before it fell out; and which (with all the rest) doth prognosticate and demonstrate unto us (as so many Warning-pieces) the great alteration and vicissitude of Kingdoms, countries, times and things in Church and State; especially, I say, this late and great conjunction of those two celestial Planets as Mr. Booker in his Prognostication for this instant year 1643. doth most notably declare and manifest unto us. But of these, and some other such like strange apparitions in the air, I shall desire (with wise King Solomon) all my Christian brethren and friends) to take holy and wholesome counsel which the Spirit of God prompts the children of wisdom to embrace and follow, viz. A prudent man foresees the evil (or approaching storm) and hideth himself from it. And what better, nay what so safe a hiding-place as the cliffs and holes of the Rocks, even the wounds of the Lord Jesus Christ, that immovable and everlasting Rock of our Salvation, and under the holy and heavenly wings of the sun of righteousness; where only (as the Prophet says) is true and infallible soul-healing comfort indeed, to all truly penitent, and conscience-wounded sinners, who with godly sorrow, and unfeigned repentance and reformation, by faith in prayer, seek and sue unto him; which, the Lord give us all wisdom and grace so to do. Amen. FINIS.