VArious and Strangely different have been, and still are, the conceits of the most Learned Naturalists, concerning the Matter & Generation of Comets, and so fond is each man of his own Darling Opi­nion, and eager in defending it, that we may as Rationally imagine to Unite the Two Poles of Heaven, or Conclude a Peace between the Wind and the Waves, as hope to Recon­cile all their jarring Sentiments.

Aristotle (heretofore esteemed the Phylosophers Pope, whose Ipso Dixit durst Vye credit in the Schools with a De­monstration) Affirms the Matterial Cause of Comets to be, An Exhalation Hot and Dry, yet Participating of a certain Ʋnctious Moisture that renders it fat and clammy, drawn up from Moist and Hot places of the Earth, into the Highest part of the Air, and sometimes into the Starry Region, where by reason of continual supplies from below, as long as there is a working power to attract, it becomes a great Masse or L [...]mp closely compact to­gether: And in Convenient time, by the Excessive Heat, is there set on fire, and continues Blazing a Longer or Shorter time, ac­cording to the Scarcity or Plenty of the Ma [...]ter whereof it is Composed.

Paracelsus (the Glory of Germany, and Wonder of his Age for Mysterious Learning) confidently asserts Comets not to be produced by any Physical Generation, and that therefore we search for them in vain amongst Causes purely Natural, but says; They are, Crescentia Singularia, Ex­traordinanily formed and composed by Spirits or Angels, to Pre­monish Mankind of some Grand Events, Good or Evil, impending and ready to break forth into Act.

For these Courteous Intelligences discovering the Dire Catastrophes that are to come to pass, whilst yet they are but in the bosome of their Causes, out of a kindness they have for Humanity, and Charitable good will towards their Fellow Creatures, of which we cannot suppose these Blessed Essences to be destitute, do thereupon form or or­dain a Comet or Blazing-Star (as we vulgarly call it) and give it such figure or shape as they please, and then hurry and attract more swift or slowly, lower or higher, through the Air; that Mortals beholding it, may the more remark­ably be possessed with its Portents and Significations, and by Repentance and Amendment of Life prevent, or the better prepare themselves to suffer the Judgements threatned.

But what ever the Matterial Cause of Comets may be, this we are more then confident of: That their final Cause, or the end whereunto they are Created or made, is to fore­warn the Inhabitants of the World of some Eminent Cala­mities; as Wars, Plagues, Famines, Death of Rulers, over­throw of long establisht Governments, &c. Upon, or a­mongst some People or Nations, for their Sins and Rebelli­ons against God, who does, we may perceive, make use of these Blazing-Stars, (though possibly in themselves meer Natural Means) to the Terror and Amendment of some Mortals; Even as he uses the Rainbow, to signifie the Co­venant heretofore made betwixt Himself and Mankind.

Of Comets the Learned have reckoned up about One Hundred and Sixty, to have appeared since Noahs Flood, whereof some have been very Terrible and Astonishing: [Page 5] but all the Messengers of some Considerable▪ Mutations or Destruction; not that they are Causes of such Effects, but onely the Antecedents or Forerunners of them, the [...]r Office being, like Beacons, to give warning to the Sin-be­sotted World, of approaching dangers: and are certain signs (but not Causes) of very eminent Catastrophes.

We now Approach to ☉ entrance into ♈ and those Astro­logical Judgements, deducible from thence, it imports the Assemblys of many worthy persons in Europe, wholy indea­vouring to salve up the last years Breaches, the Weather in­clines to hard Frost, misty Foggy deluges, and inundations follow, most uncomfortable weather for the Feast.

Not a few there are yet alive, that can well remember the prodigious Comet in 1618. The Harbinger of the German Desolation, and most unhappy Wars soon after in our own Countrey.

In 1652. Another Comet appeared, whose significations were not Compleated, nor its Errand Dispatcht, before three more Celestial Heralds (we mean the Comets in 1664, and 1665.) are sent to proclaim War, and denounce Vengeance against contumatious sinners.

What Superlative Actions have been since these years on the Mundane Stage, and what Vials of Divine Wrath poured forth on several parts of this Inhabitable Globe, we suppose unknown to few, and may with grief of heart be long remem­bred by many.

The Judicious M. Lilly (to whose Studies our Nation hath been so eminently Oblig'd for the Restoration of Astrology) amongst other his now Verified Predictions on that Comet in 1652. Acquainted the Inhabitants of Europe, that about the year 1672. they might again expect to behold a New Star or Comet appear.

Nor was this Famous Man (though in so dubious a mat­ter, and Predicted almost twenty years beforehand) mista­ken; For behold, towards the beginning of this present year, 1672. A Comet did accordingly manifest it self, and for ma­ny Nights together was visible in our Horizon.

That this is no framed story raised by Malecontents to varnish any Design, nor Ignorant mistake of a Paper-kite, Ignis Fatuus, or false Phoenominon, but a true and real Comet, is evident from the Testimony and Observations of divers Worthy persons, more then ordinary skilful, and curiously acquainted with such matters.

First, Mounsier Hevilius, A person sufficiently known to the Learned World, attests it in a Letter from Dantzick, to that Illustrious Society here in England, deservedly Intituled Royal, from whose curious Researches into the Mysteris of Nature, Philosophy may in short time promise it self more Improvement, and greater certainty then ever it could hope for from the empty Terms, and Barren Ver­bosity of the Schools: To this Learned assembly, thus Writes Hevilius.

There has been seen here a new Comet, from the Second of March (Stilo Novo) 1672. (which answers to our 21. of February) 'Tis visible both Mornings and Evenings, and seems but little, having at present a Train or Tail not a­bove a Degree and a half long, but it would doubtless appear much bigger, if it were not for the Troy-light, and Neighbourhood of the Moon: It is now about the Stars in the right Arm of Adromeda, tending with a direct Diurnal motion of about two Degrees in its Course. March the 6th. 40 Minutes after 7. it was in 7. Deg. of Aries, with 25. Deg. of North Latitude, &c.

The same was affirmed in Letters also from Paris.

And at Fleshche it was seen from the 16th. day, to the 26th. Inclusively, and the reason it was so rarely observed, was be­cause for a good while it was neer the Sun, and afterwards obscured by the Moon.

March the 7th. 1671/2. about 8. a Clock at Night, it was observed by an Ingenious, Gentleman in Hampshire, who Communicated his Observations to Mr. Lilly, it was then about the bigness of a Star of the third Magnitude, Solid but of a Saturnine Complexion, or Leaden colour: Its Tayl very Conspicuous, tending Eastwards. Its first appearance about the middle of Aries, whence by several observations he traced it through Taurus, till on the 21. it drew neer the be­ginning of Gemini, but then seemed very small; Its motion more slow then formerly, and the Moon increasing, it soon after disappear'd.

Mr. Lilly likewise himself, for several Nights together observed this Comet, to whom it seemed greater then a Star of the second Magnitude, and of Complexion Saturnine and Mercurial.

The Type or Figure of this new Comet, and its motion, you may see in Mr. Lillies Almanack for the approaching Year 1673. From which profound and able Artist, we shall presume to Transcribe part of what he there Writes of the Portents, or signification of this late Comet.

Since Mankind (saith he) would not take sufficient warning, either by that Comet-in 1652. or those in 1664. behold Provi­dence manifests another, beginning in the first Sign of the Zodi­ack, and moving direct according to the succession of the Signs, sometimes swifter, sometimes slower, as if now the great God of Nature were angry, and intended suddenly to proceed to Judge­ment against those People and Nations which have so slighted and contemned his former Admonitions: let Europe be assured the Por­tents now signified will be heavy, and of long continuance: The Actions tending thereunto, or the first Causes of them, Sudden, [Page 8] Violent, Ʋnexpected, and Surprizing. It Manifests the beginning of more Wars and their sorrowful Effects; Viz. The flight of ma­ny from their proper Habitations, Poverty, Sudden Alarms, and Astonishments, Piracies, Scarcity of Corn, Slaughters of Man­kind, Devastation, and Burning of Cities, and Depopulations of Countries, and all this when and where least suspected; The Countries seeming most obnoxious to these Dire Effect [...] are Ger­many, Poland, Holland, Constantinople, several Is [...]ands in the East and W [...]st Indies, and some other Countries neerer home, &c.

Thus Mr. Lilly in his Anglicus, 1673. Where you may read much more very soberly delivered on this Subject, and the Nature of Comets in general. 'Tis certain, Nunquam impune spectatum esse Cometen. The Noble and Ingenious French-man Du-Bartas has excellently described their Com­mon significations; With which, as Translated by our Coun­try-man, Silvister, we conclude: