The learned and judicious Hospinian (f)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) Quasi 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)Prodigia a Praeostendendo, because they show before hand that something Remarkable ⟨image ?⟩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 (Melanchthon'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 Sigh•• 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 and Piacular Sacrifices (in imitation of whom idolatrous Papists have been wont in like cases to go to their Relics, Amulets, Processions, &c.) that 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, and after in the West in the Evening (just as with our present Blazing Star) Quasi Orienti simul & Occidenti magni alicujus mali Praesagi. We have cause to fear that this Comet so appearing doth presage and portend great Calamityes 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)Prodigia a Praeostendendo, because they shew before hand that something Remakable ⟨image ?⟩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 Melancthon hath been thought (by some great (h)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 Sigh•• are seldom or never known to have hapned 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 tranquility. The Gentiles of old (i)when they beheld fearfull 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 Reliques, Amulets, Processions, &c.) that so evils Ominated thereby, might (if possible) be averted. And shall not Professours 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 hearkning to His VVord?
- (f)De Origine templorum. p. 59.
- (g)V. Melchior Jun Orat Par. 1. p. 425.
- (h)Voetius in Disp. de Sign.
- (i)Alexand. ab Alex. l. •. c. 27. Coelius Rodogi. l. 3. c. 27.
