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strange and fearful vision is a presage of some
lat troubles and alterations; for either the opening
he book in the woman's hand, doth foretell our
ng off from the first intent of our laws, whereas
armed men do part, as confounded with the
t of their own conciences; or else it signifies.
e other book wherein we have not yet read, and
einst which no power shall prevail. So that I fear
religion will be proved corrupt, and our prophet
romet an impostor; and then this Christ whom
- talk of, shall shine like the sun, and set up his
he everlastingly."
What is related in ancient histories concern- the seven sleepers ?
. They were born in the city of Ephesus, in Hitime when Decius, the heathen Roman Emper- persecuted the Christians. These good men be- of that profession, whose names were Maximil- Maichus, Martianus, Dorinus, John, Serapion, Constantius, to avoid torture, and the worslip Idols, fled into a cave in mount Celion, where, long praying, watching, and fasting, being re- ned with some food they had secretly went for at the city, they for heaviness fell asleep. Short- ter, the emperor suspecting they were in that caused the mouth thereof to be stopped up stones, that so they might die with lunger. er which, Theodosius and Puflinus, two Chris authors, wrote an account of their martyrdom, bosing them to be dead, and inclosed it secretly sing the stones. Decius and that generation be. i dead, Theodosius, a Christian Emperor, eus- Hled after many years; at which time a Citizen Ephesus designing to make a lodge for his shep- L in that cave, and the workmen beginning to in the mouth of it, these seven Christians, that
