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The PREFACE.

merof Religion, but one chat would have detefted them as the worft of Infidels chat had ufed the Lords Prayer, as fome have done in our dayes, as appears by what he faith of icin more then one place) there lived one Michael Stsfeuina, who applying to himfelf fome place of the Apocalypfe, took upon him to Prophecy. He had foretold that in che year of the Lord 1533. before, the 29 of September the end of the world, and Chrifts coming to Judgment wouldbe. He did fhew fo much confidence, that fome write, Luther himielf was fomewhat ftartled at the firft. Bucchat day paft, he came atecond timeto Luther with new Calculations, and had digefted the whole bulinels into 22. Articles, theeffect of which was to demonftrate chat the end of the world would be in October following. But now Lucher thoughe he had had tryal enoug i, and gave fo little credit to him, that he (though he loved the man) filenced himefor a time; which our Apocalyptical Prophet took very ill at his hands, and wondred much at his increduJitye. Well, that moneth and fome after that over, our Prophet (who had made, no little ftir inthe Country by his Prophecying) was caft into prifon for his obftinacy. After awhile Luther vifited him, thinking by that time xo find him of another mind. But fo far was he from acknowledging his error, that hedown right railed at Luther for giving him good counfel. And fome write that to his dying day (having lived to the age of 8o. years) he never recanted. And was not this the cate of learned Pollellus, who fallen into fome grievous wild fancies in his latter dayes, though found enough ftill in other things, could never be reclaimed though means were uled from time to time the beft and gentleft (in refpectto his worth and perfon) that could be thought of? But what talk we of particular men? Confider, the Anabaprifts in general. Abovean hundred years ago they tropbled Germany very much: it coft many thoufands their lives. They roved up and down. No foonerdeftroyed in one place but they fprung (whileft that feafon lafted) in another. Their pretences every where were the fame; Revelations and the Spirit: the wickednefs ot Princes and Magiftrates, and Chrift Jefus to be fet up in tis Throne. Well, at laltthey were deftroyed in moft places. Stories of them have been written in all Languages, read every where, andtheit lamentableend. Can all this hinder but that upon every opportunity of aconfufed and confounded Government, they ftare up againin the {ame {ape and formasbefore; the fame pretences, the fame Sctiptures, for all the world miferably detorted and abuled, to raifecumults and feditions in all places. Such is the wretchednels of manthat is once out of the right way of Reafon and Sobriety. But withall we muft fay in this particular cale of Dr. Dee’s, though his obftinacy was great and marvellous, yet it muft be acknowledged, that great was the diligence and fubtility of his Spirits to keep their hold: and fome things fometimes happened (as his danger and prefervation about Gravefend, when he firft, here related, went out of the Realm) very ftrangely, and fuch was the unhappinefs of his mifapplyed zeal, that he made a Providence of whatfoever hapned unto him: as he defired.

So much for Dr. Dee-himfelf. But of his Spirits a greater queltion perchance may be moved: If evil, wicked, lying Spirits (as we have reafonto