✚ A faythful & true pronosticatiō vpō the yeare .M. CCCCC. xlix. and parpetually after to the worldes ende gathered out of the prophecies and scriptures of god, by the experience and practise of his workes, very cō fortable for all Christen hertes deuided into seuen chapters. And in the ende ye shal finde an almanack for euer, translated newly out of hye Almāyne into englysh by Myles Couerdale.
THe fyrst chapter of genesis declareth how that at the begynnynge whan the water was now in his place, God sayde: Let the earthe brynge forth grene grasse and herbe, that beareth seede, and frutefull trees, that may beare frute euery one after his kynde. &c. Genesi, i. And so it came to passe Afterwarde vpon the forth daye made he lyghtes in the firmamente of heauen, one grater lyght for the daye, & a lesse for the nyght, namely the Sonne and the Mone, and made them to be tokyns, and not to haue influence vpō these nethermost bodies. as the Philosophers & oure pronosticatours haue wrytten hyther to. Contrary vnto it ye god sayeth. [Page]here, how that they shuld be vnto tokens, & how that the earth was fruteful or euer the starres & lyghtes were made.
Now where as they shewe any thynge yt is his doynge, and not theyrs, he onely doth great wonders. Psal .c. xxxv. he couereth the skye with cloudes, he prepareth rayne for the earth, & maketh the grasse to growe vpon the mountaynes. Psal .c. xlvi. therfore are not they the cause of tempestes or stormes, nether of good wethers or frutefulnes in these nethermost creatures, whether it be in man, beest, or frute: but are tokēs only, For the which cause God doth oft warne vs in the lawe. Leuiti .xx. Deut .xviii. And in the prophetes Iere .xxvii. Esa .xlvii. yt we shuld regarde no heauen gaser no beholder of starres, nor soythsayer [Page]because they haue no power to chā ge the tyme nor yt courle of heauen
wherfore me thinke it a foolysh thinge, yt we are so afrayed where no feare shulde be, and that we regarde so many vayne pronosticacyons. why do not we rather reioyse, in so much as all thinges are in Gods hande, and gouerned by Iesus Christe. Muste not all thinges be subdued vnto hym .i
Cor .xv. Heb, ii, Can any creature of his, werke otherwise then he wyll haue it Or how so euer they worke, do not al thynges turne to our best No doute Put thou thy trust then in god, and be sure, that as longe as he is thy frēd (which he hath promised to be if yu loue him & his worde) ther cā nothyng harme the. And as for the plages yt shal happē thys yere vnto yt persecuters and enemyes of Gods [Page]worde, (yf thou cleue vnto it) thou nedest not feare thē nor be afraide of thē, but certaynlye mayste thou loke to be pertaker not only of his outwarde blessinges this yeare, but of the ioye for to come, whiche is euerlastynge.
The fyrste chapter concernynge the gouernours of this yeare.
WHan I loke well & consider the hy maister of ye starres in his doctrine & writing,Christi. the [...]ospell the [...]orlde. I fynde ye this year and from hence forth vnto ye ende of the worlde, the Sunne, Mars & Marcurius shall reygne Now wher as other mē seke their speaculaciō out of the starres that do not I regarde so much as experience in the doctryne of Christ. And for the exhortacion and warnynge of all estates, I wyll describe the nature and properties of [Page]these thre gouernoures.
The Soone a myghtye Lord ouer heauen and earth, is Isesus Christe our only redemer and sauiour, in al thiges lyke vnto his heauenly father Psal, ii. Io .xiiii. the bryghtnes of his glory. Sap .vii. Heb .i. the ymage of the inuisible god: by whom al thynges that are in heauen and earth, were created, thynges visible and thynges inuisible, whether they be maiesties or lordeshyps, ether rules or powers, Col .i. This Iesus Christ the euerlastynge worde of his heauenly father, which toke oure nature vpon hym. Heb, ii Phil .ii. & shewed vs his fathers wyll, commynge into this worlde, broughte wyth hym Mars that is the gospell,The go [...] is called Mars. euen one of the bosome of his father. But wonder not thou that I call the gospell Mars. Christe [Page]our sauioure sayth in Mathewe, Thinke not yt Iam come to sende peace vpon earthe, I came not to sende peace, but a swerde, For I am come to set a man at variaūce against his father, and ye doughter aginste her mother. &c. and a mās foes shalbe they of his own housholde. Mat .x. Luce .xii. Michee .vii. Is not this a batayle They shall put you to trouble sayeth he and kyll you, and of al people shal ye be hated for my names sake. [...]ersecuti [...] folo [...]eth the [...]ospell. Mat .xxiiii. Therfore maye the gospell well be called Mars, for where it is preached there is ye swerde, there is troble and persecucyon, there wyll the enemyes somtyme draw theyr daggers at the preachers therof.
As for Mercurius, the Poetes sayne hym to be the messenger & oratoure of ye Neithen goddes, for [Page]the whiche cause he maye well be lykened vnto the world, which wc eloquence, painted wordes & outward appearaūce perfourmeth ye message of the deuel, & entiseth mē so longe, tyll it brynge them into destruccion. But (as sainte Ihon saieth in his epistle) the world passeth away & the lust therof i. to .ii. And as S. Paule sayeth. The fasshion of this world passeth away i. Cor .vii. Therefore muste we so hold vs within the feare of god ye we suffer not oure selues to be disceaued or seduced by Mercurius frō the sonne & Mars, Lest we be corrupt wt thys dsceytful world & so be defrauded of ye ioi of ye euer lastīg world to com, nether shuld yt paynted wisedom of this world moue vs, in somuch as god maketh it very foolyshnes .i. Cor .i. & his word (which semeth to be but [Page]folyshnes in the sight of the world that sheweth he to be onelye wisedome and the very power of god, to the saluacion of as manye as beleue theron. Roma .i.
who so euer now hath the grace to perceyue and consyder this, let hym not go after Mercurius, let hym not folow the world and the beautifull lusters therof, let hym not entre in at the wide gate and brode waye that leadeth vnto destrucciō. Mathe .vii. but let hym go in at the straite gate, and at the narowe waye, whiche is euen Iesus Christ. Ioh .xiiii. the only mercyseate. Rom .iii. & meane to come by the fauoure of GOD. By him who soeuer entrethe, he maye be sure to be saued. Ioh .x. to receaue mercy, to fynde grace, & to be helped in the time of nede. Hebre .v. whiche god the father graunte vs [Page]for his sake. Amen.
❧ The seconde Chapter, concernyng the increace or growinge of frutes, and the dearth of the same.
THe sōne sheweth playnly: that all soch as feare god, shall haue a verye frutefull yeare. Psal. c▪ xxvii. & plēteousnes in the dayes of derth. Psal .xxxvi. In so moch yt though Christe sende them without wallet, without scripe & wyth out shues, yet wyll he so prouide for them that they shall lacke no thinge. Luce .xxii. For he sayethe him selfe: The labourer is worthy of his meate. Math .x. Luc .x. who so nowe wyll laboure, shall eate. But who so euer wyll not worke,Sturdy [...] felows she not eace. ought out to eate, ii Tessal, iii.
Now yf we labour, I say, we shall eate also. Yee but where shall we [Page]get it? Christ our sauyoure sayth: Be not ye carefull for youre lyfe, what ye shall eate or what ye shal drink, nor yet for your body what ye shal put on. Is not ye lyfe more worth then meate, and the bodye more of value then rayment? Beholde ye soules of the ayre, for they sow not, nether reape, nor yet cary into the barnes, and yet youre heuenly father fedeth them▪ math vi. He geueth meate to the yonge caues. Psa. c .xlvi. he openeth his hande and fyllethe his creatures with plenteousnes. Psal. c .iii.
[...]e ought [...] laboure [...]th our [...]andes and [...] cast our are vpon the Lorde.Therefore though our handes shulde alway be occupied in some good labaure. Eph .iiii. yet ought not oure hertes to take thoughte what we shall eate or drynke, but first to care howe to seke the king dome of god. math .vi. & so shulde all thinges necessary be ministred [Page]vnto vs. And why? Man, lyueth not, by bred only, but by euery worde that procedeth out of the mouth of god. Deute .viii. math iiii. which thynge Christ our saue oure hath manifestly declared, in that he fed so many people wyth so few loaues & fyshes, lyke as he had done afore vnto the chyldren of Israell by ye space of forty yeres in the wildernes, where they wanted nothyng, for he hym selfe fed them, & blessed them in all ye workes of theyr hande. wherfore in so moch as god our mercyfull father taketh soch care for vs (.i. Pe v.) we shulde by right cast all our care vpō him, & fathfully to cleue vnto his worde in our hertes; so ye we nether mystrust his godli prouision, nor lead an idle lyfe. And yf we meane well in oure hertes, and deale truly with our handes, doutlesse he shall sende vs necessarye [Page]meate by some bodye, as he dyd to Elias the prophete by the wedowe in Sarepta .iii. Re .xvii. and lyke as he prouyded a breake fa [...]t vnto Daniel amonge the Lions by the ministration of Abacuc. Da [...] .xiiii, Thus, I saye, they that feare god▪ shall haue plentye and aboundaunce of all thynges this yeare,
But so farre as I can se or perceiue By this theologicall Astronomye, Mars threateneth a verye euyll and vnfrutefull yeare to dyuerse spiritual prelates, as popish byshops, & popish preistes, & other mo, except ye sonne thorow his gracious influence be good vnto thē, although Mercurius reigne ī thē wyth neuer so many horces, great pompe, auctoritie, ryches, oppression, wyth excedynge many seruauntes and dogges, whych neuertheles [Page]yf they wyll forsake theyr a [...] sions, and dyete them selues after the qualities of the Sonne, they shall be kept fro many dyuerse fur fettes, and haue a very frutefull yeare in all thynges. And so wold I councel them to do. For Mars goeth aboute now this yeare, to withdrawe from the spiritualtye the excesse of theyr frutes, ryches, and worldly auctorite (lyke as he hath threatened them thys great whyle) & intendeth playnly to refourme them, And where as theyr whordome & olde custome withstande the furtheraūce of ye trueth Mars purposeth to take ye Sōne to helpe, and with the playster of mariage to heale the infirmitie of their vnclēnes, yee and wyth his owne swerde of the spirite, to subdue theyr olde euell customes,
As for the multitude of the vngodly [Page]in generall, there shal come a gret derth vpō thē, acording to ye wordes of a certayn true a [...]conomer, Beholde, the tyme cōmeth (sayeth the lorde god) that I shal send an honger into the earth, not the honger of bred, nor the thyrst of water, but an honger to heare ye worde of the lorde, so yt they shall go frō the one see to the other, yee frō the north vnto yt east, rēnynge about to seke the worde of ye lorde and shall not finde it. Amos .viii. but because they wyll not beleue the trueth and haue pleasure in vnryghteousnes, therfore shall God sende them stronge delusion that they may beleue lies .ii. Tess .ii. so that the time shall come whā they shall desyre to se one day of the sonne of man, and shall not se it. Luce .xvii. I passe ouer many other plages that Mars threateneth [Page]vnto them, because they wyll not knowe the tyme of their visitacion. Luce .xix.
¶ The thyrde Chapiter concernynge the sicknesses and disceases of this yeare.
THe Egipcyans hadde a maner and vse in theyr bāckettes, to cary about an ymage of deathe▪ and to saye vnto euerye man that was at the bancket, Looke vpon this, eate, drynke and be mery, such one shalt thou be whan thou dyest.
And this they dyd (no doute) to put men in remembraunce of temperauncy and of deathe, leste they vndiscretly thorowe excesse of eatynge and drinking, shoulde happen to dye afore their age, for so doth god vse to punyshe soche syn? wherefore yf we dyete and temper oure selues thorowe the influence [Page]of the sone, we shall haue few diseases, except Mars brynge some other thinge to passe, that we mysknowe not our selues.
As for such as folowe Mercurius, lyuynge nyght and daye in ryote and vnclēnes, these (I saye) shal thorowe ye Sonne haue great diseases in all the membres of the bodye, in the lunges, leuer, handes and sete, yea and parel also of the soule, I passe ouer ye pouertie that dronkardes and riotous persons shall haue? wo shall be vnto them? sorowe, stryfe, brawlynge, & woundes shall be amonge them.
Pro .xxiii. yea and soch as wyll nedes be ouerladen with excesse of eatynge and wyth dronkennes. &c shall sodeynly be preuented wyth the day of the Lorde. Luce .xxi
There is douteles a maruelous sore punyshmēt to come vpon the hole world of the wycked, swerde [Page]warres, honger, not onely spirituall (as I sayd before) but temporall, which plages haue ben afore our tyme, but are not yet all paste. I nede not reherce the pestilence and other greate plages that god wyll sende to the reformacion of as manye as shall be warned. As for the comō sorte of the vngodly, ther shal such a fearfulnes of deth come vpon thē yt they shall not tel wher to turn thē nor how to escape death. O how byter and greueous shall the remembraunce of deathe be this yeare, to soch as seke reste and consolacion in trans [...]tory substaunce of this worlde, to soche as knowe of no aduersite but haue good dayes, and liue in▪ voluptuousnes. Eccle .xli. But O deathe howe acceptable & welcome shalte thou be vnto soch as are in aduer site, ī theyr last age, or in dispayre▪
Who so euer thou be therfore ye woldeste escape the sickenesses of this yeare, bewarre that thy bodye be not ouerladen with ouer muche eatynge or with dronkennes,man is out [...]. Luc xxi. For excesse of meates bryngeth sycknesse. and glotonye commeth at the last to an vnmeasurable heate, Eccle, xxxvii, Thorowe glotonye shall manye one perisshe this yere, but he that dyeteth hym sel e temperatlye, shall prolonge his lyfe As for vnsaciable eaters, they shall not onely slepe vnquietly this yeare, but shall haue ache & payne of the body. Eccle .xxxi.
Concernyng the spirituall disease and sycknes that shall reigne this yeare, as it hathe done afore tyme▪ Pault one of ye truest Astronomers saieth plainely, that we be all synners. Ro .iii. yf we saye that we haue no sinne, we disceaue our [Page]selues, and the trueth is not in vs i. Io .i. This is nowe the spirituall disease that shall comonly reigne this yeare,sin is [...] in them wyll no a know of it but specyally in them that feale least of it, and wyll not knowlege it. Io .ix. For ye Sonne hath soch vertue, that who so euer can. se this disease, and wyll complayne of it .i. Ioh .i, it shall clense them, and make them whole. yee ye astronoemer sayth playnly, that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue synners .i. Timo .i. And an other that warneth vs in his pronosticaciō to bewarre of this sicknesse, gyueth vs yet good conforte and sayth: If any man synne, we haue an aduocate wyth the father euen Iesus Christ which is ryghteous. and he it is that optayneth grace for our synnes, not for oure synnes only. but also for ye synnes of the whole worlde .i. Ioh .ii.
Who soeuer therefore hath this disease as there is no man wythout it let hym do wysely▪ let hym proue and examen him selfe by tymes .i. Cor .xi. ii. Cor .xiii.man is [...]rt synne And go to phisicke afore he be to se or sycke. Eccle .xviii. And aboue all thinges let hym bewarre of soche false surgeons and fayned phisicyans, as heale the hurt of the people with sweete wordes. Iere .vi. and as a true Astronomer reporceth) thorow sweate preachinges and flatteringe wordes disceaue the hartes of inocentes, and all for their belyes sake. Rom .xvi.
Soch false phisiciās laye wronge plasters to mēs sores, and speake the meanyng of theyr own eherte, but not out of the mouth of the lord Iere .xxiii. yea they make soche as despise the worde of god, to contynue scill in their dregges. Soph. [Page]i, and to do as theyr fathers haue done before them to theyr vtter de struccion. Ierm .xliiii. For soche false Phisians, as longe as they haue anye thynge to byte vppon, preache vnto men that all shall be well, Michee: iii. and mayntaint them in their wyckednes, makyng them beleue to do as their el [...]ers haue done before them, though it be contrary to goos worde, is the righte waye. Tusihe, saye they, ye shall prosper ryght well. Ier .xxiii And vnto all them that walke after the luste of thyer owne herte, they saye: Tusshe, there shall no mysfortune happen vnto you. ye shal se no swerd, there shall no hō ger come vpō you. Iere .xiiii. But if a man put not somthing in their mouthes, they preache of warre agaynst hī. mic .iii. wherfore if thou wylt be hole of thy disease, bewa [...] [Page]of soch fayned Phiciās, at whome yf thou seke helth they shall make the pay dubble for it, [...]w aere of use phisici us yt shall neuer do the good, but go thou boldely vnto hym, which only healeth the contrite in harte, and byndeth vp theyr wondes. Psal. c .xlvi. He shall not cast ye away. Ioh .vi. But yf thou come vnto hym, he shall refreshe the, he shall ease the. Math▪ xi. yf thou be sycke, go vnto hym for he is the ryght Phisician for soch as are diseased. Math .ix. yf thou be thyrsty, and commest vnto hym, he hath the water of lyfe for the. Ioh .iiii. yf thou be an hō gred after ryghteousnesse, thou shalt be satisfied. Mat .v. Summa he hym selfe wyl fede the, & brynge the to rest. Eze .xxxiiii. Thoughe thou be lost, he wylseke ye though thou haste gon astray, he wyll brynge the agayne. thoughe thou [Page]be woūded, he wyll bynde the vpthough thou be sycke and weake, he wyl make the hole and stronge Seke hym therfore this yere and as longe as thou lyuest, for wyth hym there is mercy, and plēteous redempcyon. Psal .xxix. He hath saluacion ynough for the, thou nedest not to seke helpe at any other, nether is ther saluacyon in any other. Act .iiii. Therfore biddeth he the euer come to hym selfe.
Math .xi. Ioh .vi. He neuer bad ye seke other phisicions to heale the of this disease, for there is no helpe in the chyldren of men. Psal. c .xlv As for corporaldiseaces, god hath ordeyned outward medecynes for them in his creatures by the ministracyon of true phisiciās. whiche gyfte of god no wyseman wyll abhorre. Eccle: xxxviii. But agaynst the sycknesse of synne there [Page]is no helpe nor succour: but onely in him selfe. And as there is no saluacion withoute hym, so is there euer grace. mercy, pardon, & clene remission frely in him, Esa .lv. for all soch as wyll receaue it, and be thankefull for the same.
¶ The fourthe Chapter concernynge the stryfe & trouble of thys yeare, and the cause therof?
THe swerde that I spake of partly in ye fyrst Chapter, is lyke to be drawen this yeare, for why, The Sonne, Mars, and Mercurtus can not agre together. How accordeth the worlde wyth Christ & the gospel. They shall neuer be at one Sore eyes may not abyde y• clere lyght of the sone, the lyghte wyll not consent to the workes of darknesse, nether wyll y• beleuers haue parte with infidels .ii. Cor .vi,
Thus can there be no agremente, for they be of contrarye natures. Agayne, a scornefull bodye) as Salomon sayeth) loueth not one that rebuketh hym. Pro .xv. The chyldren of this worlde are scornefull and therfore are they not contente to be refourmed by the gospel,The gosp [...] shall haue victory. whiche neuertheles thoughe it haue many enemyes (as it hathe euer had) yet because it is the truthe, it shall beare awaye the victorye .iii. Esd .iii. And that shortly. For god hath put into the hertes of dyuers princes to fulfyll his wyll, and to hate ye whore of Babylon, to make her desolate & naked, to put down her abusions. Apo .xvii. & vtterlye to set her out of her stole. So yt it appeareth euydently, that sathan shall no more haue so great dominion, as he hath hadde in tymes paste. And nowe that he seythe [Page]that his kyngdome wyll haue a fall, he worketh (and shall do) al ye he can by the chyldrē of vnbeleife (specially by the shauē Madianites) to styrre vp warres, sediciōs. secrete treason, and vtter defiaūce both amonge Princes and cominalties. For soch aduersaries of the trueth had rather set all nacyons by the eares, and wyckedly to resyste the ordinaūce of god in the auctorite of theyr Prince, then to submite them selues to the gospel.
And wher as God hath raysed vp good men to preach his worde, the deuell is so wood at it, that he hath sent them a letter of defiaūce by some of his mēbres, euen wyth soch an answere as was geuen to Ieremy the prophet. For they say playnly. As for the gospel, we wyl not hear it, but what so euer goeth out of oure owne mouth, that wyll [Page]we do, we wyll set vp [...]andels and offre to stockes and stones, we wyl do as oure fathers haue done before vs. For whan we so dyd then had we plenteousnes of vytayls, then were we in prosperite, and no mysfortune came vpon vs. Iere .xliiii. But sence we lefte of soche Gods seruice, we haue had scarcenes of all thinges, and the worlde was neuer well sence &c.
Soch strife (I saye) & debate shall happen this yeare because of the worde of god, for the enemyes therof had rather draw theyr daggers at it, then to be refourmed. But the louers of it shall spare no labour to conuerte them, and to mayntayne peace, and therfore I truste verely that thorow the gracyous influence of the sonne thys stryfe and deuysyon shall turne to no bloud sheddynge, for god shall [Page]sende princes to defende his people from the malyce of the wycked yet shall the enemies of Goddes worde not cease from persecutyng but do all the myscheife they can, that by one waye or other the gospell of the glorye of God maye be stopped. Therefore thou louer of God and his worde, wha any soch heat of trouble happeneth vnto ye (for by trouble muste thoube tryed) Maruell not at it as thoughe it were a straunge thinge but reioyse, in asmuche as thou arte partaker of Christes affliccions: that whan his glorye apperethe, thou mayst be mery and glad. And be euen as contente to be reuyled as he was .i. Peter .ii. For there is no disciple aboue his malster, nether seruante better then his lorde. mat x. yf they haue called the good mā of the house Belzebub, howe much [Page]more shall they cal thē of his housholde so? These and manye other swete wordes sayth he hym selfe vnto the, that in hym thou mayest haue peace & a quiet cōscience. In ye worlde thou shalt haue trouble: but be of good conforte, he hathe ouercōme the worlde. Ioh .xvi.
¶ The fyfth chapter concernyng the estate of kynges, and prynces, and superioure powers?
THe influence of the Sonne and Mars declareth euidently by all coniectures (yee certaynly without any dout) that kynges and princes shall haue a prosperous yere: & me thynke I dare be bolde to saye the same, in as much as I se that they begin nowe some of them to seeke the true honoure of God, and to delyuer theyr people from oppression. [Page]make me doute ye lesse herin. Salomon (whiche was a kynge hym selfe, and that of greate experiece) sayeth these wordes: Pro .xxv.
Take awaye vngodlynes frō the kynge, and his seate shalbe stablished with righteousnes. Seinge nowe that god begineth so graciouslye to worke in Princes, who hath not occasiō to hope for great increace of prosperite in thē. For lyke as whan a prince delyteth in lyes (as sayeth the wyse man. Pro .xxix.) all his seruantes are vngodly, euen so whā ye kynge or prynce is a fauoure and mayntener of the teneth, his people shall ye more be geuē to the fear of God. And I dout not, but god this same yeare (by the faithfull ministracion of his auctorite in kinges & princes) shall brynge noble actes to passe, to the great deliueraūce of poore [Page]people, and reformacyon of the ignoraunt.
Thynkest thou not that God intendeth great good vnto vs, in that he so gracyously endeweth yt hertes of dyuerse prices, dout not therin. Let them remembre therfore that the power whiche theye haue, is geuē them of the Lorde, and the strength from the hyest.
Sap .vi. lest they beynge officers of Gods empyre, be necligent in kepyng the lawe of ryghteousnes But yf they delyte in moche people, let them loue the lyght of wysdome which is gods worde. for by it they shal set the people in ordre, and the nacyōs of theyr enemyes shalbe subdued vnto them. Sap .viii. who so euer he be then that loueth not to resyst the ordynaunce of god, let hym submytte him selfe to the auctorite of his prynce, and [Page]let hym not byte his lyppe at it, though good Ezechias, breake ye brasen serpente, that the chyldren of Israell haue worshypped so lōge .iiii. Re .xviii, let it not greue hym (I saye) that the vertuous kynge Iosias expelleth soyth sayers, charmers, expounders of tokens, Idols, and other abhominacyons out of his londe, to set vp ye wordes of the lawe of God .iiii. Reg .xxxiii. Let euery man rather geue thankes vnto God, and bee glad, that Bell is delyuered into Daniels power, that the falshede of Bels prestes is come to lighte, and that the dragon is deuoured, whome the people was wonte to worshippe. Dam .xiiii. Let no mā therfore resyst this power of God that doth soch actes by ye ministracion of prynces, but let euery wyse man be cōtent to be refourmed of [Page]his erroure, to do wel, and remembre that the kyng beareth not that swerd for naught. Ro .xiii. and the (as the wysemā sayeth.) The kynges displeasure is a messaūger of death. Pro .xvi: Be thou therfore thankfull vnto god and obedient vnto thy prynce, & doutte not but thou shallte haue a ryght prosperous yeare, and I can not se how it is possible to be otherwyse, for as longe as the kynge maketh so manye Daniels of his councell it must nedes be to the great wealth and prospirite of the people.
¶ The syxte Chapter concernynge the darknesse of this yeare?
WHan I consydre the corrupte nature of Mercurius, & how he hath ben, is, & euer shalbe cōtrarie [Page]vnto Mars & the Sonne, I fynde by all experience, that he shall cast agreate myste betwene vs and the Sonne, so that it shall be darke: for though ye lyght shyne in darkenesse, and be come into the worlde Iohn .i. yet shall they (whose workes are euell and after the condycions of Mercurius) loue yt darknesse more then the lyghte. And thus shal this darkenesse be in thē yt lyue naughtelye & folowe theyr owne abhominacions, for because they do euell, therfore shall they hate the lyght, and not come to it, lest theyr dedes be reproued. Ioh .iii And (as Paul sayth) yf the gospell shalbe yet hyd, it shalbe hydde in them that are loste, among whō the God of this worlde shal blynd the myndes of them that beleue not, lest the lyght of the gospell of the glory of Christ (whiche is the [Page]ymage of god) shulde shyne vnto them .ii. Corint .iii. But where the chyldren of God are, there shall be lyghte. Exod .x. and the workes of lyfe. Seynge therefore that the lyghte is yet a lytle whyle with the walke whyle thou haste it, that the darkenesse fall not vpon the. Ioh .xii. for he that walketh in darknes woteth not whether he goethe,
But beleue thou stedfastlye on the lyght, while thou hast it, that thou mayest be the chylde of lyght, and escape the horrible darknes of the wicked. sapi .xvii.
¶ The seuenth Chapter, concernynge the estate of the spiritualte
IF our spiritualtye sate not oute of Moyses seate, Mathewe, xxiii. and taughte not theyr owne lawes and constitutions. yf they taughte vs the truethe, althoughe they were but [Page]sayers and not doers them selues Mat, xxiii. yf they transgressed not the commaundemēt of god because of theyr owne tradicyons, math .xv. yf they layed not to heuy burthēs vpon mens shulders, mat .xxiii. yf they loued not the hyest seates, and shute not vp the kyngdome of heauen before men, yf they deuoured not wedowes houses vnder the coloure of longe prayers, and were not full of robberye and vnclennesse, ypocrisie & wyckednes within, yf these corrupcyons I saye) where not in them. yee yf all the abhominacyons of the world besyde were not in a maner as a shadowe in comparysō to theirs it wer not to be mistrusted, but that they shulde haue a ryght prosperous yeare, but seynge they speake euell of the waye of trueth, & thorow couetousnes with fained [Page]wordes make marchaūdyse of vs ii. Pet .ii. Seynge they folowe the waye of Balaam, and walke styll in theyr erroures. Seynge they speke false thorow ypocrisi, forbiddynge al prestes to marye, and comaundynge to abstayne from the meates which god created to be receaued with thankes geuynge .i. Tim .iiii. seynge they haue not fed the flock of Christ, but thē selues, & are churles to the people. Ezech xxxiiii. seinge the most parte of thē entre not in at ye dore into ye shepefolde, but come in some other way to stele, to kyll, and destroye, Io .x. Seing they tel but lyes to maintayne their preachynges withall, and blaspheme the name of God vnto the people for an handfull of barlye or a pece of bread, Ezechi .xiii. Seyng (I say) that theyr wall is buylded but with vntempered [Page]morter, it muste nedes fall, for the Lorde hym selfe wyll vpon them & requyre his shepe out of theyr handes. [...] broken I [...] wyll one. Eze .xxxiiii. yee the shepe them selues shall folowe them no more. but flye from, them seyng they are but straungers, and hyred seruaū tes. For in so moch as Christ goeth now before his shepe, they wyll folow him, and harken no more to the voyce of straungers. Iohn .x. This is now the yeare of aduersite that ye spiritualtie is lyke to haue for in so moche as they haue not Goddes worde on theyr syde, they shall be fayne to stoppe theyr mouthes. Mich .iii. And all plantes ye the father in heauen hath not planted, shalbe pluct vp by the rotes. Math .xv.
For all this when I consydre ye gracyous influence of the sonne-I fynde by the instruccyon of [Page]Mars, that though all the constellacions be against the spiritualtye yf they wyll obeye the ordinaunce of God, and submytte them selues to his worde, there shall none peryshe but the chyldren of perdicion. Ioh .xvii. As for all soche as stryue agaynst the streame, & wyll nedes of malyce resiste the power and persecute the people of God, let them bewarre that they be not drowned with theyr Pharao. For God hath herde the complainte of his poore oppressed, & sente them a Moses to be theyr gyde, to brynge them out of Egypte, and not onely to defende them, but all other also as manye as wyll conuerte vnto his word, and be refourmed by his auctorite and power in his anoynted kynges. Seyng then that god hath called so manye of the spirytualtye all readye, and doth dayly [Page]cal me to ye knowlege of his word, I can not dispayre but y• he wyll also be gracyous to many mo of them, for thoughe the r bellyons are lyke to haue an euell yeare, I doute not but ther be mani among them, which shortly whā the hyer powers shall requyre them, wyll be refourmed to the great worshipe of the worde of God. To whom for the cō uersacion of some all ready be thankes, honour and glorye nowe and euer more. AMEN ❧
¶ Here endeth this true & faythfull Pronosticacō vpon the yere .M.CCCCC.xlix. gathered out of the scriptures of God