SIGNS AND WONDERS. 507 



with their swordes drawne did strike, skirmish and incoun- LlB - vir - 

 ter one against the other : and they say that the inhabitants i Mac. i. 

 of Jerusalem seeing this, they prayed to our Lord to appease 

 his wrath, and that these prodegies might turne to good. 

 It is likewise written in the booke of Wisedome, That when s a p. vii. 

 God would drawe his people out of Egypt, and punish the 

 Egyptians, some terrible and fearefull visions appeared vnto 

 them, as fires scene out of time in horrible formes. Joseph 

 in his booke of the Jewish warres sheweth many and great 

 wonders going before the destruction of Jerusalem, and the 

 last captivitie of his wicked people, whonie God iustly ab 

 horred : and Eusebius of Cesarea. with others, alleadj^e the Eupeb.,iib. 



i, do ecclca. 



same texts, authorizing prognostications. The Histories hist - 

 are full of like observations in great changes of states and 

 commonweales, as J^aulus Orosius witnesseth of many : and 

 without doubt this observation is not vaine nor vnprofit- 

 able ; for although it be vanitie, yea, superstition, forbidden , 

 by the lawe of our God, lightly to bcleeve these signes and 

 tokens, yet in matters of great moment, as in the changes 

 of nations, kingdoms, and notable laws, it is no vaiue 

 thing, but rather certaiue and assured, to beleeve that the 

 wisdome of the most JJigh dooth dispose and suffer these 

 things, foretelling what shoulde happen, to serve (as I have 

 saide) for an advertisement to some and a chasticement to 

 others, and as a witncs to all, that the king of heaven hath 

 a care of man : who as he hath appointed great and fearefull 

 tokens of that great change of the world, which shall bee the 

 day of Judgement, so doth it please him to send wonderful 

 signes to demonstrate lesser changes in divers partes of the 

 world, the which are remarkable, whereof he disposeth 

 according to his eteruall wisdome. Wee must also vnder- , 

 stand that although the divell be the father of lies, yet the 

 King of Glorie makes him often to confesse the trueth 

 against his will, \vhich lice hath often declared for very Mat. i. 

 fcare, as lice did in the desart by the mouth of the pos- Luko iv - 



