It is many years since this Prognostication was written (1661, except the thirteen last lines); but it was cast by, lest it should offend the guilty. But the author now thinketh, that the monitory usefulness may overweigh the inconveniences of men's displeasure; at least, to posterity, if not for the present age; of which he is taking his farewell. His suppositions are such as cannot be denied: viz.
1. Eccles. i. 9, "The thing that hath been, is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun."
2. The same causes, with the same circumstances, will have the same effects on recipients, equally disposed.
3. _Operari sequitur esse_: as natures are, so they act; except where overpowered.
4. The appetite, sensitive and rational, is the principle of motion; and what any love they will desire and seek.
5. Therefore, interest will turn the affairs of the world; and he that can best understand all interests, will be the best moral prognosticator; so far men are causes of the events.
6. The pleasing of God, and the happiness of their own and others' souls, being the interest of true believers; and temporal life, pleasure, and prosperity, being the seeming and esteemed interest of unbelievers' cross interests, will carry them contrary ways.
7. Contraries, when near and militant, will be troublesome to each other, and seek each other's destruction or debilitation.
8. The senses and experience of all men, in all ages, are to be believed about their proper objects.
9. Men of activity, power, and great numbers, will have advantage for observance and success, above those that are modest, obscure, and few.
10. Yet men will still be men; and the rational nature will yield some friendly aspect towards the truth.
11. Those that are ignorant, and misled by passion, and carried down the stream, by men of malignity or faction, may come to themselves, when affliction, experience, and considerateness have had time to work; and may repent, and undo somewhat that they have done.
12. As sense will be sense, when faith hath done its best; so faith will be faith, when flesh or sense hath done its worst.
13. Men that fix on a heavenly, everlasting interest, will not be temporizers, and changed by the worldly men's wills or cruelties.
14. When all men have tired themselves with their contrivances and stirs, moderation and peace must be the quiet state.
15. When all worldly wisdom hath done its utmost, and men's endeavours are winged with the greatest expectations, God will be God, and blast what he nilleth; and will overrule all things, to the accomplishment of his most blessed will. Amen.
On these suppositions it is, that the following Prognostications are founded; which I must admonish the reader, not to mistake for historical narratives: but I exhort him to know _what hath been_, and _what is_, if he would know _what will be_; and to make sure of everlasting rest with Christ, when he must leave a sinful, restless world.