Certaine Prophesies presented before the Kings Maiesty, by the Scholers of Trinity Colledge, in the University of Cambridge.
1. Touching England in generall.
THe Church is something Ceremonius, which shall be tryed, but first harkned for, and nothing heard a long time, but when the vertex of the Organ doth perpendicularly point out our Zenith, then shall it be heard.
2. Of the Court.
Wonders! Wonders! we see as in a Land-skip, an honourable throng of Noble persons, as cleare as [Page 2]if we were under the same roofe; concerning whom it seemes by their gracious browes, and courteous looks; something they sow, which if it be indifferent they will favourably accept, if otherwise, they will pardon: and these be noble Courtiers.
3. Concerning the Church.
Though Romes Iliad draw the Moone so neare, that indeed you would sweare that the bush of Thornes that is in it pricks your eyes; yet shall there come a Christall of a large Arch-multiplied Millions, which by refractious Opticks, and strength searcheth like the eye of Truth, all Closets that have windowes.
4. Concerning the Seas.
I see a Stranger sayling towards Dover Pier, &c.
5. Concerning the Vniversity.
See, an Hall thrust full of bare heads; some bald, some busht, some bravely brancht, well larded with Townes-men; grave, wise, and modest.
6. Concerning the Gentry.
Wee heare an humming noyse of laughter, the Court and University are merry with an old Gentleman in a Comedy.
7. Concerning the City.
The City shall have a Glasse, which with the helpe of an other refractive prospect, shall serve to see fifty [Page 3]miles, and that the dimme sight of threescore, may looking find the same sight with them of thirty.
8. Concerning Ports, Castles, and Forts.
Wee see Cariatus Persius landing at Dover, attended by two Porters, that seeme to groane under the burden of two load of paper; and hee hath brought with him from beyond sea a strange observation.
9. Concerning the Land.
Oh Caelestiall Musick; but it seemes farre off at the first, then strange, and after a silence againe most Angelicall and heavenly; one verse of which I set down, viz.
10. Concerning Rome.
In the last place have at Rome; I see the Pope his Cardinalls, and his Mules, the English Colledge and the Iesuits, there writing, and doing shall be discovered, though they have long stood, and are growne [...] old.
The Prophesies and Predictions of Master Wilson and others.
ROme, and Romish both City, and Country (as it standeth now under the Pope, and his Mitted Bishops, and Clergie) shall not onely be subject unto [Page 4]ruine, and destruction, but that most certainely, it is to be pulled downe, loosing by little, and little their riches, glory, strength, credit of Religion, and holinesse, which made them honoured, followed and feared of Kings, and Nations, this fall draweth on apace, and hasteneth.
The great swarms of popish Priests, Friars, Monks and Cardinalls, and the whole Popish Hierarchy, and pontificall Clergy, which like filthy locusts springing out of smoake fly together in so great heapes, in the west shall be blown away with an east winde.
It is worth the taking notice, 1. That the bare profession of being a member of the Latin Church, 2. of the Romish Church, 3. The crisme in the Sacrament of confirmation, of which many do so boast, shall plainly appear to be a publike signe, and token to be the mark of the beast.
The great degenerate stars of the Church; who through pride and ambition fall into heresie and impiety, shall fall themselves.
Twelve hundred and threescore years is the space of time, wherein (from the first rising of Anti-christ, all his encrease; his waxing, wounding, reviving, and taking heart againe, to execute his cruelty in that City, which was the Queene of the world, where he and his Favourite should bath themselves in pleasures) after the said 1260. yeares are accomplished, then shall these things be.
All things in the world doe take their time, the bird to build her nest, the husbandman to sow his seed the marriner to go to sea, the gardiner to set his trees, the sick Parient to take physicke, the cooke to season [Page 7]meats, and the dresser of his Vineyard to gather his fruit. It will be too late for birds to build in Summer, to sow in harvest, to goe to sea when after the ship is launched, to transplant trees when they are old, to take physicke when we are dying, to season meates when they are unsavory, and when winter is come to gather fruit. The five foolish virgins came too late, Dives in hell repented too late, the time present is only ours, is the figtree fruitlesse, never shal fruit grow on it more.
But oh alas, are wee not like the Ephesians, wee have lost our first love, or are we not like the Laodiceans, we are neither hot nor cold, or the twilight, neither day nor night, or the Autumn, neither fair nor foule, or one sick of an ague, one day well, another ill? or a man in a lithurgie, neither alive nor dead: or an Hemaphrodite, neither male nor female, or to those creatures called in Greek Amphibia, which live in water or on land: or the marigold which shutteth and openeth with the sun? I would to God that we were either hot or cold: that as the hollowest regions bring forth sweetest spices, so zealous professors might be greatest practisers of good workes: that as the sun in the heaven is switest at her setting, so the sonnes of God might be best at their ending But is it so? no: the more we are taught, the more ignorant many are, & the older we are, the colder in religion.
We have indeed many of us, as it was said of Aristogriou, Mert [...]m, or rather religioneman linguâ, relion in tongue: but when tryall is made of us, every Phocion can espy our halting: And then with Archilocus we think it better, Clypeum abjicere quam interire, [Page 6]even to cast off all Religion, then to undergo the least disgrace or losse for religion.
The Moon desiring to be aparrelled as the rest of the planets, answer was made her, that her divers changes could admit no kind of habit, and whilst we desire to be attired with the robes of Christians, it is to be feared, that if we tread not the moon under our feete, wee shall never be cloathed as the Church was with the sun.
But notwithstanding the change of times, and instability of most people, there is neverthelesse some who keep close unto God, for whose sake, God of his infinite mercy, and God hath appointed times, & seasons, sorow, and joy, and every thing in due and proper time, and running their race towards heaven, are with joy brought thither in Gods own time, of whom Prudentius saith,