THE mathematical DIVINE, showing, The present MISERIES OF GERMANY, ENGLAND and JRELAND.  
Being The Effects portended by the last Comet or blazing-Starre, of a dreadful greatness, and in form of a crooked sword, which was seen with great Admiration in EUROPE, Anno. 1618.  
As also A necessary Consolation to the distressed PROTESTANTS in both those his Majesties kingdoms.  
O God, Thou that giv'st men eyes that they may see  
The Comets, and their powers, to know Thee.  Plato. 
LONDON. Printed for William shears, in the year 1642.   

The mathematical Divine.  

Note before you red further, that the Alphabetical Elements or letters, from (a) to (t) between the lines, direct you to divers Annotations marked with the same Letters in the end of this work.   
AMongst the celestial comminations or threatenings of Gods hand, and imminent scourge, the flaming and fearful Comets challenge not the last place, for these do presage both warres and slaughters, with a certain and almost ever answering event; witness that most reported Comet, rubescens ferali crine, which appeared above seven weeks, provoking all men to gaze upon it.  
Touching this Ostent of the divine power, namely, the unlooked for apparition, the strange progression or course, the sudden vanishing and the production of the toil thereof. What need I speak? Those and the like, lest I be tedious, and exceed the bounds of a little book( which kind of writing, as the only legitimate off-spring of the press, this year seems to aclowledge) I do purposely omit, and refer those that are desirous of such things to Keplerus, Longomontanus, Sarsius, Puteanus, Snellius, Gassendus, Cysatus, Fienus, and Fromondus, who, besides other late Comet-writers, have amply written of this most hurtful Comet; yea more, the most learned man, so I call our Country-man) Master Bainbridge professor of Astronomy in Oxford, published in English, Anno 1619. a notable book of the motions and effects thereof.  
Three things onely in this Comet were most wonderful. 1. The heads circumference or compass. 2. The beards prolixity or length. 3. The sublimity or height of the situation thereof.  
1. The head, or round heap of stars, to the unlearned invisible, was of so vast a compass, that no man hardly in two moneths, traveling forty miles a day, could run round about it.  
2. The (a) beard is extended in it's length to fifty degrees, that is, above half a sign.  
3. The (b) situation was not only superlunary, or above the moon, but also supersolary, or above the Sun. For that Comet( though Aristoteles defenders may struggle against me) was not in the Elementary world, but shined out of the high Firmament to this lowest Orb, and finished it's course plainly olympic, and regular amongst the celestial circuits of the Planets.  
Now touching the effects thereof, o immortal God! how many more opinions of it self then hairs hath it dispersed? Sometimes that it portends slanghter to the people, firing of manours, and Cities, other whiles that it breaths out infection, poison, &c. yet that it forbears not kingdoms and sceptres, but unto these and those denounceth change, and destruction to this and that King, death. To what King, or what kingdom do ye ask? There are more minds then men, whatsoever it may be, if any one shal say, it was of Royal deaths; suppose of the most noble Emperour of Germany, and the most sovereign Lady Anne, the most honourable of all queens, and likewise the fore-runner of the vexations of Germany, which for twenty three, or twenty four yeares past, afflicted with divers fires of wars, hath put on the face of Hell. What said I? hath put on, nay rather as yet it is troubled and dismayed with war. In this year, 1642. impetuous floods of raging and every where thundering Mars do surround almost all Germany, and threaten( unless the divine providence of the highest Moderator shall otherwise think meet) the very speedy ruin thereof. But to what end are these words? For so Christ love me, as all things which hitherto the Casarians and the contramilitant armies have done, are of no worth in respect of the greatness of such a celestial miracle. I will speak in a word; What mortal man knoweth, whether that( I had almost said monster of Heaven) doth point at us also and our malignant times. Surely I am of opinion( though no Prophet) that the significations thereof are not as yet expired, that is,( to deal with evidently) that all the changes which were meant by this insolent and portentons Ostent, are not yet finished. Neither is there a reason wanting; for from the year 1618.( if you except that unhappy and miserable war of Germany) nothing hath happened, which( be it spoken with others favour) may be compared with the greatness and unwontednesse of so great a spectacle. My heart is astonished to unfold what ominations and foretellings this instant innovating age, and the present face of our most sweet Country England in this distracted and suspected estate of things may minister or afford. Is there any man, though blind, that cannot hear, though deaf, that cannot see, though wanting both senses, that notwithstanding cannot feel, what this time of divinations presages and portents may bring and heap upon us? truly I look about, and joining present with future things, behold all extremities hang over us, neither can there be any mischief imagined, which may not infest us.  
First, that honour of the (f) Clergy and sacred order is decayed. The Preachers of the holy gospel( which with great grief a thousand times I have seen) are by every one vilified and made a scorn, while mechanics thundering and lightning from the holy tribunal of Religion( the pulpit) are worshipped of blockish people.  
Secondly, the sacred mysteries( which the very Angels do fear) are trampled under foot, and derided, so as that noble Lord of invincible courage, might rightly, if he were living again, say, O my God, to What times hast thou reserved me.  
Thirdly, the places consecrated by our pious predecessors to divine worship, in which, God himself is most present with a most numerous company, his Courtiers( may I speak like a divine) are less esteemed then barns and Hog-sties. Good God, just God, that seest and govern'st all things, wilt thou suffer these? Shall that dregs or Rascal-rout with the brazenbrow of the wicked, continue their grassations and violent courses? How long shall they abuse thy divine patience? Suffer me to speak with thee as a servant with his master; how happens it that so soon as they have committed so enormous misdeeds, thou dost not forthwith with thy most powerful iron-rod burst them in sunder, deliver them to everlasting torments, and leave them to satan? But Michael himself disputing with Lucifer about the body of Moses, taught us to forbear imprecations or cursings. The which Arch-angel, together with the angel my officious keeper, if Gods munificence hath assigned me any, it is meet for me most willingly and humbly in all things to obey.  
Fourthly, when was Riot, Lust, pride, and all kind of impiety greater? When less punished? That I may hold the Angels themselves necessary to root out so great wickedness, and that which is the head of evils.  
Fiftly, the armies of unbridled heretics, that prosecute our native Protestants with more then Vatinian hate, and our purest religion, under the feigned veil of devotion, with a most hostile heart, are more and more multiplied. London that most renowned and noblest City of this iceland, and the Queen of the west, lately the chief upholder of the truth, and the crown of true Religion, now hears the confluences and sinks of all heresies. In times past it was said, that Paris alone was burdened with fifty thousand Atheists. Surely now London only is fallen to so abominable impiety, that it abounds at this day( or I am much deceived) with so many thousand schismatics, and heretics, perhaps more to morrow, I hear they increase daily into so great a number. Briefly, I dare say, more sects by one and a half be risen there the last year, then in the whole christian world, from the times of the Apostles for 1600. years now past. Iraeneus doth recite about twenty several sects of heretics. Tertullian, 27. Theodoret, 76. Epiphanius. 80. Augustine, 88. Damascen. 100. Philastrius, 128. All which being many hundred yeares now past extinct and butted, seem in this time to be raised up and called out of hell by trivial artificers and (h) men of base condition, not without the great damage of the chief in London, neither as yet is the multiplying of Religions at an end.  
Who can number( not to speak of the Nicholaits, the Canthari, the Arrians, the Adamites, whom it is a sin even to name, and other frantic people of that kind, worthy to be put in Bethelem-hospitall near the suburbs of London) the numberless kindes of most pestilent Anabaptists, Brownists, and Baroists,( for hardly two or three in so great a multitude speak the same of the same things) and other sects of Innovatours and Nugatours, to all whom and that by very good right, I may say with Tertullian( mad-man hearken, what are you? when came you? from whence are you now crep't out? where have you lurk't so long? we never heard of you till now, lib. Praeser: haeret. and with Hilary. You are come late, you are risen too tarde, wee have long since learned, what wee ought to believe of Christ, of the Church, of the Sacraments. O my God, call back our brethren and country-men miserable seduced, and for that exceeding great goodness, where with thou art prevalent, fetch them out of the most thick darkness of satan, that they from henceforth may praise thee, and reim-pend or bestow again due honors on thee, and thy holy services, and may sing together that of the Psalmist, Our soul is escaped even as a Sparrow, &c. Psal. 124.7. In the mean time, I( the least amongst the sons of the catholic Church) do entreat, call upon and in the name of God, beseech all and every of you, to whom the Lord hath committed very large talents, that you would direct your thoughts, tongus, pens and pains even against these domestic enemies. If you have any care of salvation, and the blessed eternity, drive away with all speed such ravening wolvs from the sheep-fold of Christ. If you have any spark of truth or fear of God, with writings, words and prayers, assault the favourers of those portentous opinions, not so, as that you may defend your own famed, but as that you may vindicate the Majesty of the great God, the sinerity of Religion, and the honour of the Church of England, from those monsters of men, every where roving and committing spoil; especially, seeing men( I know not how many) in this most corrupt age, boastingly triumph without yoke, and without God, and insult with proud hand over all, not onely ecclesiastical( whereof some do serve God day and night) but also those, on whose shoulders the government of the people is born, which if through fearfulness or sloth you refuse, God the most just avenger of idleness, and pusillanimity, will instict on you most grievous punishments.  
Now seeing these things are thus, needs must he be pour-blind, that sees not the cruelscourges and chiliads of miseries hanging over this kingdom, and ourselves placed as between the hammer and the anvil, unless due reverence and honour, first of all to God, next to his Sacraments, and the Temples of his heavenly Majesty, and houses of his guard,( if I may so speak) be sincerely and maturely rendered. But let me handle these things more sparing in these ulcerous times. Let our religious King and peers, and other degrees of the most provident Senate.( that is, the overseers of our Church, and politic government,) have a care of these things. And doubtless, one and the same hand will destroy the corrupters of the Church, which hath so done to the tormentors of the Common-wealth. In verity and sincerity he said, that said, Nec dum poenae finis, scelerum quia nec dum finis: tolle scelus, caeter a nulla nocent.  
Thus Englished, 
Punishment lasts, because sin doth not end;  
Take away sin, and nothing doth offend.   
But here I cannot but lament the lamentable case of our neighbouring Country Germany, which of all in the whole habitable world is the most discomfited, and which for the noise of arms, and the profuse shedding of blood, hath as it were the eyes, not onely of the French and Spanish fighting with them, but of all Europe turned upon it. The Netherlands now a long time, and much have had the eyes of all turned upon it. France many times as often, sometimes Denmark, Swethland and Spain, and a long time Germany drunk with the blood of her brood, and now Ireland every where estuating with warlike flames. O Ircland, lately most flourishing, who may worthily bewail thy falling liberty? Who, thy afflicted Religion? Who thy intestine massacres and civill ruins? though with the sorrowful Prophet Jeremy 9.1. he turned his forehead into a fountain, and his eyes into Rivers. Not a great, but almost an infinite number of men have of late perished by confounding armies on both sides, neither can we as yet fore-see, what further evil the late evening may bring, unless Gods mercy, the Queen of heaven( in the blessed Augustines style) do prevent it. I tremble to rehearse the horrid slaughters, and crueller then cruelty itself, which those (m) Irish tigers, either to extort money, or to prove their strength, or for their pleasure and delight have in divers places exercised. Infants they have cruelly cut a sunder, men and women alive( o horrible wickedness) they have fley'd, and enforced Church-men( saving your presence) to devour their own privities, thereof deprived, and to conclude, they have rip't up womens wombs, to see whether human stomacks could concoct such food. In a word, red al the annals of all Tyrants that ever hath been and all the affairs of the Barbarians most inhumanly acted, yea, the tragical fables and fictions of the Poets which they have devised to terrify men. And survey the dens of tigers, bears, and lions, surely you shal never find any such examples of cruelty, neither amongst men, nor amongst the beasts themselves. Fie upon you, you most mischievous sons in law of Cain, so inhuman to your neighbouring Countrymen, and so rebellious to your most indulgent Prince, doubly more worthy of hell, then the bloody Spaniards themselves in the slaughter of a thousand millions of Indians. But let us leave them to their offended God.  
Now, ye most afflicted exiles, who being reduced to extreme penury, do wander every where, like the Sainits, Heb. 11.37, 38. destituted, oppressed, and ill-habited; abide a while with patient mind, as the kingly Psalmist admonisheth, Psal. 27.14. and 37.7.34. and assume Catonian, I would have said Christian countenances. Let this one saying of David and Horace abundantly suffice you.  
( n) Non si male nunc & olim, sic erit.  
Though now and heretofore it was not well, it shall be otherwise.  
He that gives laws to the raging seas, and the impetuous winds, and governs them, will when it shal seem good to him, grievously rebuk both the authors and fomentors of those troubles. Let them a thousand times digest and re-disgest their wicked counsels, they shall ever vanish into vapours. It is a firm Tenet, that a conspiracy, though mask't with a most specious vizard of religion, had hardly ever any good success, unless that which so great tyranny hath preceded, which may move heaven, and with prayers and tears provoke God himself to just vengeance. That most impious conspiracy against our most pious and gentle King, cannot therefore be prosperous, and consequently your present call unity is only a small shadow that will soon pass away. This most mournful time, I confidently declare, serenity and tranquillity shal succeed. Nube solet pulsa candidus ire dies, Post unbile Phoebus, that is, 
darkness removed the day goes clear,  
After dark clouds Sol doth appear.   
There are some of little faith and short hope, that use to bee hot with wrath, to rage and curse their enemies with all execrations, to dart grievous words against Gods providence ban the Devils engines &c. fie on those vain barren invectives, altogether unworthy of a Christian, Gods providence do you accuse neither heavily nor secretly, and bear your miscries howsoever most grievous, gently, and with thanksgiving. Let me advice every one of you, that so often as he shall hear, the war there is uncertain, or the enemies advance the Crest for their prosperous event, to lift up his hands and heart unto heaven, saying, ( o) O Lord God I give thee thanks, that it pleaseth thy most holy will to exercise me with long trouble: I know that this shall be (p) very profitable to me, seeing nothing in this world is done without thy providence. Nothing in this world comes to pass without Gods providence; without which, not a leaf in Antumne falleth: And yet do you think that your houses are burnt, and your goods taken away by the most cruel enemy, wasting all things with sword and fire, while his providence is still asleep? Every thing I say, whatsoever is done in the world, is done by the beck and commandement of God: no adversity happens any where unto any man without his beck and will. A most plentiful witness hereof is Job, a man of a most upright life, who being bereft of all his children and substance, by the tongues of his kinsfolks, and also of his wife miserable tormented, swarming all over with marvelous sore biles, nevertheless amongst so many storms of affliction stood upright, and as a Champion triumphing on the dunghill, cried out with a most noble spirit, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken. away, (a) even as it hath pleased the Lord, so it is come to pass, blessed be the name of the Lord. This do you say a thousand times, ponder a thousand times, repeat a thousand times, even again, again and again, for you can neither say nor consider any thing greater or better then this; The Lord gave, and the Lord &c. God is wholly the same that he was in the time of Job, as mighty and as merciful; who will not forsake you, nor let your enemies pass unpunished.  
Moreover( not to speak of the detestable cursed losses, and other great mischiefs that those Cateline-whelps have very lately committed) do you think that God sleeps to so horrid homicides? nothing less, murders shall not abide unrevenged, the blood of so many thousands unjustly massacred, most fervently requireth vengeance at Gods hands. confided ye therefore in God( that I may speak much in few words) for the God of the Protestants is neither deaf nor dead as Fhas mocked the Banlites, but he will maturely find a mean whereby in time taken, he will show himself, not only to be the defender and vindicator of his Church, and our Charles,( whom in his royal Fathers-throne, may he that hath placed him there, very long preserve, though Irish conspirators (r) fret, fume, and rage.) But I hear some say, The Rebels have a great army,( which is thought to be many thousands) and are well provided of all warlike furniture and ammunition, France and Flanders bring them aid, &c. What then? To God and the celestial Militia it is but a pastime to overcome the greatest Armies, whether like those of Xerxes with Herodotus, reckoning the scullions and slaves accounted to five millions, and two thousand fighting men, yea, all the bands of devils.  
Let that saying of a writer of most worthy note conclude mine; The most provident God is wont to change even the worst evils of them that love him, to most joyful successses. wherefore as Mariners do prepare all things for sailing, but abides Gods pleasure for a wind: so do not you neglect your duty, and God who beholds your calamaties, hears your sighs and groans, and is a witness of your tears and prayers, will take care of the rest.  
Grant o Lord of Hosts, that this evil may creep no further, and let that infernal Bellona far from thence, or thence for ever depart, never to return; or if these my prayers, for just causes to us unknown, thou deny, yet grant I beseech thee, that in our dayes England may have peace, to the end it may a long time afford a tranquile and peaceable entertainment to the Church of Christ; and that also the Theologick war that now burneth in England, and wide spreads itself( touching these things which are called indifferent) thou do most happily compose.  
Now in the world's last age  
britain through Christ doth reign,  
Command, from enemies rage,  
That She may safe remain:  
And of the barbarous Church, the rule unjust,  
confounded and scatter, as the wind the dust.  
These things my piety to my Country hath commanded me, as also the impiety of warlovers, who subtly endeavour utterly to destroy the golden peace of our most sweet Country, and over-cloud her serenity, if any credit might be given to report.  
Let us, if we would have the Lord propitious and favourable unto us his servants, be propitious and favourable unto our fellow-servants; And surely, unless wee degenerate into beasts or stones, it cannot be but with our beneficence or charity, we may relieve the Irish fled and cast out of their Country, Omnia sua( perverso sensu) secum portantes, carrying with them( in a hard sense) all they had; the books of God are very full of incitements hereunto. I will proffer only one, in the great day of the last judgement, no scholar shall be questioned of Aristoteles texts, nor the Aphorisms of Hippocrates, nor the Titles and Paragraphs of justinian, nor any Lay-men, how many fervent prayers he hath poured forth, how many sacred Sermons, with drinking ears, he hath heard in Churches( much more to speak mildly in obscure houses) how often he hath satin at divine banquets, and how much oil, sweat, and blood he hath spent to promote the worship of God? But all the questions shall be of charity only, what moneys he hath given to the poor, what meat for the hungry, and what clothing for the naked, &c. In that most abounding multitude of those that rise again, before all Angels, Christ doth not say( as Saint Augustine truly and firmly) that Abel was the first Martyr, that Abraham excelled in obedience, that Moses made laws, that Peter first ascended Christs-crosse. These things I say the Judge will forbear to speak, and will proclaim only, Who gave him food when he was poor? who offered him clothing when he was naked, who took him home and cherished him? these things with a little variation, the gem and star of our ancient Fathers, Saint Augustine hath in his epistles. O hear and seriously consider you that put away Christ naked in the poor, and adorn your horses with gold and silver trappings. Many arguments I could here heap to kindle the rich unto charity towards the most miserable Irish, as these, that almes-givers are very largely commended through the whole Bible, that they shall gain to themselves an immortal name with that most happy sinner, and finally receive of God, a most ample reward. For in the day of retribution, they shall receive for hundreds, for halfe-pence, and for the crumbs of their tables, a garment of glory, the treasures of heaven, and delights not to be determined.   

The Annotations whereunto you are directed in the beginning of this Work.  
(a) By the opinion of Cysatus, it might have 70. times compassed the whole Globe of earth,  
(b) Cysatus placed it between Mars and Sol, Keplerus 30. times higher then the moon.  
(c) A Comet preceded the death( if we may credit Dion) of Claudius, Vitellius, Vespasian, Didius, julian, Severus, Marcrinus, &c. To whom add the late German Caesars, Charles the fifth and mathias.  
(d) The Comet in 1618. was fatal to the Emperour mathias, and Anne queen of britain, she departed to the Seats of the blessed souls, March 2. 1619. March. 10. Stylo Anglia.  
(e) It seems to me incredible, that this Comet shown almost to the whole world, should draw Germany particularly and only into martiall tumults, as if nothing else in the world were arrested to be tumultuously done, but in Germany.  
(f) The Clergy of England at this day may justly use the prayer and plaint of the Kingly Prophet, Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we are utterly despised, &c.  
(g) God hath committed the charge of keeping us unto the Angels, his messengers between heaven and earth, but whether he hath appointed a tutelary Angel or not, I will not rashly declare.  
(h) Saint Basil, to the Emperours Cook babbling for Arian, said, It is thy part to boil pottage, and not to expound the Gospel: and the Duke of Saxony willed Peucerus, meddling with Divinity, to meddle with his physic, to look into urinals, letting divine causes alone. Let our busy-bodies note this, who being mad with wicked zeal, break out of the bounds of their vocation whereunto God hath called them, and endeavour new governments, building new Ierusalems.  
(i) I call to witness the Pasquils worthy of eternal fire, hither and thither dispersed by the craft of base conditioned varlets, and by the subtle art of man-haters, that set up a mark whereat impious authors may level, and by whose perverse reading heedless people and idle wits do sup up deadly poison.  
(k) In times past they kissed the doors of Temples, in reverence of those sacred places, which I neither approve, nor reprove. Alas, how unlike that is the face of this time? Many men do extremely hate even the very honouable Cathedrall of Saint Paul as the Tower of Babylon, or the Store-house( to use the gentlest phrase) of Popish superstitions.  
(l) Scarce from the appearance of the new star in the Serpent, 1604. did they rest in Russia, Sweden, Livonia, Poland, Denmark, and so afterwards in the whole Roman Empire from wars and cruel conflicts, chiefly under colour of Religion.  
(m) The Irish bloodsuckers have slaughtered myriad or ten thousands of Protestants in a short time, and that with so monstrous cruelty, that all the cruelties of all times were games and sports in respect of their inhumanity.  
( n) Psal. 30.5. Hor. lib. 2. Ode 10. So Virgil, Dabit Deus his quoque finem, God to these also will vouchsafe an end. So Ovid, Flebila principium melior fortuna sequetur, woeful beginnings better fortunes follow. Likewise that other, Grata superveniet, quae non sperabitur hora, A gentle time unhoped for shall succeed.  
(o) In miseries and griefs one thankes to God is more prevalent, then six thousand in prosperity.  
(p) The calamity of war is often prolonged, that the crown of victory may increase.  
(q) Trust in God never shines more clear, then in midst of damages, or when all things are most unquiet.  
(r) When the Hungarians would expel their King, one refusing said, Whomsoever I shall see invested with the sacred Diadem, though he be an ox, I will adore for one that might not be hurt or violated on pain of death. Twin to this was a Nobleman of England, that sacrificed his fortunes in defence of the Kings cause, Camd. Rem. pag. 241. Fie, how much do the Irish Conspirators digress from their mind, while they so mischievously rise up against their lawful, peaceable, I may add, just and merciful King?  
(s) The Lord says, Nothing of all other good deeds done by the just, and thought alms, only worthy of remembrance, Aug. tom. 10. hom. 28.  
(t) How many Kings have made themselves robes? founded statues and cities? how many learned men have distilled on paper all their brains through a quill, like Chimists, that they might be accounted amongst memorable men, who notwithstanding lie involved in the night of silence? But the famed of Mary Magdalen to this day endureth, and shall endure for ever, Matth. 26.13.  
FINIS.