The learned and judicious Hospinian (f)writes that Anno 729. there was a Comet seen first in the east, in the morning, & after in the west in ⟨image ?⟩the evening (just as with our present blazing Star) Quasi Orienti simul & Occidenti magni •••cujus mali Praesagi. We have cause to fear that this Comet so appear […] presage & portend great Calamities both to the East & 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)Prodigia a Praeostendendo, because they show beforehand 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 Prodigies menaced. The great Melanchthon hath been thought (by some great (h)Authors) to proceed something too far in applications of this nature. Peucerus (Melancton's son in law) expresseth himself more warily, in his Teratoscopia, or Discourse about Divination from fearful Sights. Yet he affirms that whenever 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 miserable changes attending them. Only it is possible for particular Persons and places through faith in Christ, and in a way of humble Repentance, to obtain a lengthening out of their tranquility. The Gentiles of old (i)when they beheld fearful Sights in Heaven, would presently betake themselves to their Prayers, & piacular Sacrifices, (in imitation of whom idolatrous Papists have been wont in like cases to go to their Relics, Amulets, Processions &c.) 5that so evils Ominated thereby, might (if possible) be averted. And shall not Professors of the true Religion, be awakened by such awful works of God, to go unto Jesus Christ (our only Sacrifice) and to pray earnestly that impending wrath may be removed, and the mercy of heaven obtained? Shall we not be humbled, as for other sins, so for that, of not hearkening to his Word?
The learned and judicious Hospinian (f)writes that Anno 729. there was a Comet seen first in the east, in the morning, & after in the west in ⟨image ?⟩the evening (just as with our present blazing Star) Quasi Orienti simul & Occidenti magni •••cujus mali Praesagi. We have cause to fear that this Comet so appear 〈…〉 presage & portend great Calamityes both to the East & 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)Prodigia a Praeostendendo, because they shaw beforehand that something Remarkable is a coming. Further then this I would not goe 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 Prodigies menaced. The great Melancthon hath been thought (by some great (h)Authors) to proceed something too far in applications of this nature. Peucerus (Melancton's son in law) expresseth himself more warily, in his Teratoscopia, or Discourse about Divination from fearful Sights. Yet he affirms that whenever great changes in the world have been near, prodigious Sights have been the forerunners thereof; and that unusual Sights are seldom or never known to have hapned without great and miserable changes attending them. Only it is possible for particular Persons and places through faith in Christ, and in a way of humble Repentance, to obtain a lengthening out of their tranquility. The Gentiles of old (i)when they beheld fearfull Sights in Heaven, would presently betake themselves to their Prayers, & piacular Sacrifices, (in imitation of whom idolatrous Papists have been wont in like cases to goe to their Reliques, Amulets, Processions &c.) 5that so evils Ominated thereby, might (if possible) be averted. And shall not Professors of the true Religion, be awakened by such awful works of God, to goe unto Jesus Christ (our only Sacrifice) and to pray earnestly that impending wrath may be removed, and the mercy of heaven obtained? Shall we not be humbled, as for other sins, so for that, of not hearkning to his Word?
- (f)De Origine temp orum. P. 59.
- (g)v. Melchior Jun Orat Par. 1. p. 425.
- (h)Voetius in in Disp•de Sign.
- (i)Alexand. ab Alexand. L5.c.27.
- 5Coelius Rodogi. l.3.c.27.
