presently after he were hanged again but by the neck as Christian malefactors suffered which was accordingly granted to him Mel. Adam in vit Ja. Andr. p. 639. One who had accused the Apostle Saint Iames the brother of Iohn when he saw that he was condemned and led to execution was so pricked in conscience that of his own accord he confessed himselfe to be a Christian and so they were both led forth together to be executed As they were in the way he desired Saint Iames to forgive him that which he had done who after that he had paused a little upon the mater turned to him and said Peace be unto thee brother and kissed him and so both were beheaded together Euseb. Potamiaena a young and beautifull Virgin being condemned to death for that she was a Christian and delivered to a captaine called Basilides who stayed the insolence of the people which followed her to the place of execution she thereupon prayed for his conversion and was heard of God so that he became a Christian and suffered martyrdome also Act and Mon. William Hunter being at the stake ready to be burnt for Christs cause lifting up his hands and eyes to heaven cryed Sonne of God shine upon me and immediately the Sunne out of a dark cloud shone so full in his face that he was constrained to looke another way whereat the standers by much mused because it was so dark a little before Act. and Mon. Robert Smith a godly Martyr being at the stake ready to be burned exhorted the people to thinke well of his cause not doubting but that his body dying in that quarrell should rise againe to life and told them that God would shew them some token thereof and accordingly when he was halfe burnt all black with fire and clustered together on a lump like a black coale all men thinking him dead suddenly rose upright lifting up the stumps of his armes and clapping the same together declaring a rejoycing heart and so bending downe again he slept in the Lord. Act. and Mon. Mr. Robert Glover a godly Martyr a little before his death had lost the sense of Gods favour and the comforts of his Spirit whereby he was in much heavinesse and made great moane but when he came within the sight of the stake whereat he was to suffer suddenly he was so mightily replenished with Gods holy comfort and heavenly joyes that he cryed out clapping his hands He is come he is come and so dyed most cheerfully Act. and Mon. Three godly men being condemned to be burned when they were at the stake the chaine about them one of them slipped out and went apart from the rest whereupon there was great fear lest he would have recanted but the reason was because he felt not the comforts of Christ in his soul which made him pray earnestly and vehemently to the Lord who at last sent him comfort whereupon he arose with great joy saying now I thank God I am strong and passe not what man can do unto me and so returning to his fellowes they all suffered joyfully Act. and Mon. The Cardinall of Loraine a principall pillar of the house of Guise and a crafty and cruell persecutor of Gods people coming from Rome with a purpose to stirre up the Kings of France and Polonia utterly to root out the Christian assemblies the Lord wrought so wonderfully for his peoples safety that by the way he fell mad at Avignion and died in the flower of his youth at the instant of whose death there happened such an horrible tempest in the aire that all stood amazed at it Act. and Mon. Archbishop Cramner by the wilely subtilties and large promises of the Papists being drawn to subscribe to a recantation afterwards by Gods great mercies recovered againe and when he was at the stake to be burned as soone as the fire was kindled he stretched out his hand wherewith he had subscribed and held it so stedfast and unmoveable saving that once he wiped his face with it that all men saw his hand burned before his body was touched He also abid burning with such constancy and stedfastnesse that alwayes standing in one place his body moved no more then the stake to which he was bound Act. and Mon. He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength They that waite upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walke and not faint Esa. 40. 29. 31. CHAP. II. Examples sit for Gods Ministers to imitate GOds faithfull Ministers as they are set up by God in a speciall manner to oppose and beat down the kingdome of sinne and Satan so usually they are singled out by the Devill and his instruments as the principall Buts against which the invenomed Arrowes of their malicious hearts are most directed and therefore not onely Serpentine wisdome and Dove-like innocency is necessary for them above others but also courage and magnanimitie not to feare the faces of men Sanctity and holinesse without which all their naturall and acquired parts are but as a Pearle in the head of a filthy Toade a Pearle in the head and the body all poyson And lastly diligence and indefatigablenesse in that work which God imployes them about who puts no difference between nequam and nequaquam an idle and an evill servant Which things that they may be better stirred up to endeavour after let them diligently observe these following examples Mr. Calvin being much weakened by his incessant paines in the work of the Ministery towards his end was advised by his friends to take care of his health to whom he replyed Would you have the Lord when he omes finde me idle See his life in my first part St. Ambrose used to commend to Ministers the reading and study of the Scriptures above all other books and it was his owne practice not onely in his younger dayes but in his old age daily to expound and write Commentaries upon it which he continued also in his last sicknesse being imployed in commenting at that time upon the 48th Psalme with the which when he had finished all but the two last verses he finished his life Paulinus in vita St. Ambros. Bishop Iewell riding to preach at Lacock in Wiltshire a Gentleman that met him perceiving his feeblenesse advised him for his healths sake to turne home againe to whom he answered Oportet Episcopum concionantem mori A Bishop should die preaching and so indeed he did for presently after the Sermon by reason of his sicknesse he was forced to bed from which he never came off till he was translated to glory See his Life in my first parr Doctor Reynolds when the Doctors of Oxsor came to visit him in his last sicknesse which he had contracted meerly by his exceeding paines in his study whereby he brought his withered body to be a very Sceleton they earnestly perswaded
Dogs Domitian to prove him a lyar commanded him presently to be slaine and his body to be burnt but while it was in burning there fell out a great tempest that quenched the fire and so his body half unburnt was devoured by Dogs Suâ—t Constantine forbad all to ask Counsel at Witches oâ— to use the help of Charmers or Sorcerers upon pain of death Saul when he sought to the Witch at Endor instead of finding comfort was told of his utter ruine and destruction 1 Sam. 28. 19. Natholicus the 31th King of the Scots who had usurped the Crown sent a trusty friend to a famous Witch to know what successe he should have in his Kingdom and how long he should live The Witch answered that he should shortly be murthered not by an enemy but by his friend The Messenger instantly inquired by what friend By thy self said the Witch The Messenger at first abhorred the thought of any such villainy but afterwards considering that it was not safe to reveal the Witches answer and yet that it could not be concealed he resolved rather to kill the King to the content of many then to hazard the losse of his own head Thereupon at his return being in secret with the King to declare to him the Witches answer he suddenly slew him Bucâ—an Cleomedes a great Conjurer in Rome having practised the death of many little children the Parents of them at last sought revenge on him who to shun their fury shut himself up close in a Coffer but when they had broken it open the Divel had carried away the Conjurer Plut. Piso being accused by Tyberius for bewitching Germanicus to death instead of defending himself cut his own throat Taci There was in Denmark one Otto a great Magician and a great Pirat who used to passe the Seas without the help of a ship or any other Vessel and by his divellish Art to raise stormes and drown his enemies but at last being overmatched by one that was more expert in that Art then himself he was by him drowned in the Seas Olaus Mag. There was a Conjurer in Saltzburg who attempted to gather together all the Serpents there abouts into a Ditch and to feed them there but as he was practising of it the old Serpent the Divel drew him into the Ditch amongst them where he perished miserably The Governour of Mascon a great Magician as he was at dinner with some company was snatched away by the Divel hoisted up into the air and carried three times about the Town to the great astonishment of the inhabitants to whom he cried for help but all in vain Hugo de Cluni Anno Christi 1437. in the reign of Charles the 7th King of France Sr. Giles of Britane high-Constable of France was a wicked Magician having murthered above 160. Infants and women great with child with whose blood he wrote Books full of horrible Conjurations which being proved against him he was adjudged to be hanged and burned to death which was accordingly executed Picus Mirandula writes that in his time a great Conjurer promised a certain Prince that he would present to him the Siege of Troy with Hector and Achilles fighting together as when they were alive But as he was about his Conjurations the Divel carried him away that he was never heard of after The Lord of Orue in Lorraine when Noble-men or Gentle-men came to visit him used as they thought to serve them very honourbly with all sorts of daintie dishes and viands but when they departed they found their stomachs empty having eaten nothing On a time a Lords servant going from thence having forgotten some thing behind him went back and suddenly entering the Hall found a Munkie beating the Lord of the house that had feasted them others reported that he hath been seen through the chink of a door lying on his belly along upon a Table and a Munkie scourging him very strongly to whom he would say Let me al ne wilt thou alwayes thus torment me at last he fell into so great misery and beggery that he was fain to get into an Hospital in Paris where he ended his wrethed life Anno Christi 1530. there was in Nuâ—â—mburg a Popish Priest that studied the black Art who coveting riches the Divel shewed him through a Cristal treasures hidden in a part of the City Thither therefore did the Priest go with another companion and having digged an hollow pit he perceived in the bottom a Coffer with a great black Dog lying by it which whilest he beheld the earth fell upon him and crushed him to death Wierus Cornelius Agrippa was a great Necromancer and was alwayes accompanied with a familiar spirit in the shape of a black Dog But when his end approached he took off the Inchanted choller from the Dogs neck saying Get thee hence thou cursed beast which hast utterly destroyed me After which the Dog was never seen and he died a miserable death P. Jovius Zoroastres King of Bactria a great Astrologer and Magician was burned to death by the Divel Theat Anno Christi 1578. one Simon Pembrook of St. Georges Parish in London was suspected to be a Conjurer and used to erect figures for which he was called in question but whilest he was before the Judge he fell down and died having some Conjuring Books found about him Julian the Apostate sending to Delphos to enquire of the Divel the successe of his Parthian War whilest his Ambassadors were there fire came down from heaven and destroyed Apollos Temple and beat his Image all to pieces like to the lightest and smallest powder or dust Mr. Tindal being present in a roome where a Conjurer was hindred him that he could not play his pranks A Saints presence may hinder Satans elbow-roome from doing his tricks See Tindals Life in my first Part And the Like of Athanasius in his Life in the same Book CHAP. LXXIII Examples of Apparitions and Satanical delusions ANno Christi 1228. in a Synod held by the Popish Clergy at Paris in France there was one appointed to make a Sermon who as he was walking abroad and meditating upon what subject to preach the Devil appeared to him asking him what he needed to be so solicitous about that matter Say saith he in thy Sermon The Princes of hell salute you O ye Princes of the Church and gladly give you thanks for that through your default and negligence it comes to passe that so many soules come down to hell Adding that he was enforced by God to declare the same Yea and he gave this Priest a certain token whereby the Synod might evidently see that he did not lie On a time as Luther was walking in his garden the Devil appeared to him in the likenesse of a black Boar But Luther sleighting and not regarding him he vanished away See his Life in my first Part. Luther telleth us that when he was lodged in the Castle of Wartzhurg in a Chamber far from any company he was many times
of Constantinus Copronymus that he was neither Iew Christian nor Pagan but an arrant Atheist Tullus Hostilius the third King of the Romanes that despised his predecessor Numâ—'s sacrifices saying That Religion did but effeminate mens mindes and make them unfit for noble enterprises yet he feigned to himselfe and worshipped two new gods Pavorem Pallorem Feare and Palenesse which he carried about in his own bosome and could not be rid of Lactautious He was slaine with a thunder-bolt and his wife children and all his family were burnt with lightning It was an Atheistical speech of Statius the Poet Primus in or be deos fecit Timor that fear first made gods in the world and that all opinions of a Deity were frivolous being devised by wise men to keep the people in awe and order Theodorus held that there was no difference between good and evill between justice and injustice but what the law of man made he wrote a book also to prove that there was no Deity whereupon he was sirnamed the Atheist Suidas Epicurus denied that there was either God or providence and held that all things came to passe by fate or chance Volate Pope Leo the tenth was so impudent as to make the promises and threats contained in the Word of God things to be laughed at mocking the simplicity of those that believed them and when Cardinal Bembus quoted upon occasion a place out of the Gospel the Pope answered Quantum nobis profuit fabula haec de Christo O what profit hath this fable of Christ brought unto us This Pope having by his Pardons and indulgences scraped together vast summes of money to maintain his courtizans and whores and to enrich his bastards as he was one day at meat news was brought him of the overthrow of the French in Lumbardy which he much rejoyced at and doubled his good chear but before he rose from the table Gods hand struck him with a grievous sicknesse whereof he died within three dayes Pope Julius the third another Atheist a despiser of God and his Word On a time missing a cold Peacock which he had commanded to be kept for him raged and blasphemed God exceedingly whereupon a Cardinal that was present intreated him not to be so angry for such a triste What saith he If God was so angry for eating of an Apple as to thoust Adam and Eve out of Paradise should not I which am his Vâ—car be angry for a Peacock which is of farre more worth then an Apple Francis Ribelius was so profane that he made a mock at all Religion counting it a thing to be laughed at but the Lord struck him with madnesse so that he died mocking at all those that talked of God or made any mention of Gods mercy to him Periers who was the Author of that detestable book called Symbolum Mundi wherein he mocks at God and all Religion was by God stricken with horrible despaire so that though he was strictly guarded by his friends yet watching his opportunity he killed himselfe Anno Christi 1464. the Bishop of Angiers in France prosecuted a rich Citizen in the palace of Paris for saying publickly that he believed that there was neither God nor devil Heaven nor Hell And it came to passe that whil'st the Bishops Lawyer was opening these things against him the house where they were began to tremble very much so that a stone from the roofe fell down amongst them but without hurt to any yet were they so affrighted that all departed for that time The next day when that cause came to be heard againe the house began againe to shake and tremble insomuch as a Summer came forth of its mortise-hole falling downwards two foot and there staid which did so afright the people that they ran away losing and leaving behind them many of their garments God hereby warning them to take heed of such fearful sinnes as these are Eng. de Monstrelit A certain blasphemous wretch carousing in an Inne began to vent his Atheisme swearing that he did not believe that man had any soul which survived his body and that Heaven and Hell were but meer fables and inventions of Priests to get gaine by that for his own part he would sell his soul to any that would buy it then did one of his companions buy it of him for a cup of wine and presently the devil in mans shape bought it of that man againe on the same price and so in the presence of them all laid hold on this soul-seller and carried him away through the aire so that he was never more heard of Disci de Temp. Pherecides a Tragical Poet and Philosopher boasted amongst his scholars of his riches and glory and yet saith he I sacrifice not to the gods nor passe not for any such vanity as Religion But presently after the Lord struck him with a strange disease out of his body issued a slimy and filthy sweat of which was engendred such a number of lice and wormes that they ate out his bowels whereby he died miserably AElian Lib. 4. There lived in Hanmbourg a wicked wretch that despised the Ministery of the Word and Gods Ministers accounting the Sacred Scriptures a vaine thing not worthy of credit yea so farre did his wickednesse prevaile that he endeavoured to diffuse the poison of his Atheisme into others but not long after the Lord found him out in his wickednesse striking him with such terrours of conscience that he fell into extream despaire crying out that his sinnes were past forgivenesse because he had denied the truth and seduced others whereas before he thought that there was no sinne and whereas before he thought that there was no God now he thought that God was so just that he would not forgive him whereupon watching his opportunity he threw himselfe from the roof of an house into a well and not finding water enough to drown him he thrust his head into the bottome of it till he had stifled himself Theat Hist. Anno Christi 1502. there was one Herman Biswick who affirmed the world to be eternal contrary to what foolish Moses had written and that there were neither Angels nor devils hell nor future life but that the soules of men perished with their bodies and that Christ Jesus was a seducer of the people and that the faith of Christians and the Sacred Scriptures were meer vanity For which himselfe with his books were burnt in Holland Theat Hist. There was in our own Nation one Marlin sometimes a student in the University of Cambridge but afterwards a maker of Stage-playes and a notorious Atheist denying God and his Sonne Christ and not only in word blasphemed the holy Trinity but also wrote books against it affirming our Saviour to be a deceiver and Moses to be a conjurer and a seducer of the people and the Sacred Scriptures to be vaine and idle stories and all Religion but a Politick device But God suffered not such profanenesse to
he had made himselfe sweat by some labour Stobaeus Anrelianus the Emperour never suffered day to passe over his head wherein he did not exercise himselfe in some hard labour or military imployment Alex. ab Alex. The City of Casan in Parthia is much to be commended for its civil Government for an idle person is not suffered to live amongst them The childe that is but six years old is set to labour no ill rule disorder or riot is suffered there They have a Law amongst them whereby every person is compelled to give in his name to the Magistrates withall declaring by what course he liveth and if any tell untruly he is either soundly beaten on the feet or imployed in publick slavery P. Pil. v. 1. In China the whole Countrey is well husbanded and though the people generally are great spenders yet they first get it by their hard labour Idle persons are much abhorred in this Countrey and such as will not labour must not eat amongst them for there are none that will give almes to the poore If any be blinde they are put to grinde in horse mills If lame impotent bedrid c. the next of their kin is forced to maintaine them If they be not able the King hath Hospitals in every City wherein they are sufficiently provided for P. Pil. v. 3. CHAP. LXII Examples of such as have preferred Christ before all earthly enjoyments Under the eight Persecution there was one Marinus a Nobleman and valiant Captaine in Caesaria who stood for an honourable office that of right fell to him but his Competitor to prevent him accused him to the Judge for being a Christian The Judge examining him of his faith and finding it true gave him three houres time to deliberate with himselfe whether he would lose his Office and Life or renounce Christ and his profession Marinus being much perplexed what to resolve on a godly Bishop took him by the hand led him into the Church laid before him a sword and a New-Testament bidding him freely take his choice which of them he would have whereupon Marinus ranne to the New Testament and chose that and so being encouraged by the Bishop he went boldly to the Judge by whose sentence he was beheaded Dioclesian that bloody Persecutor first laboured to seduce the Christian souldiers in his Camp commanding them either to sacrifice to his gods or to lay down their places offices and armes To whom they resolutely answered That they were not only ready to lay down their honours and weapons but even their lives if he required it rather then to sinne against God and deny Christ. A Noble Virgin in Portugal called Eulalia under the tenth Persecution seeing the cruelty used against Christians for the cause of Christ went to the Judge and thus bespake him What a shame is it for you thus wickedly to seek to kill mens souls and to break their bodies in pieces seeking thereby to withdraw them from Christ Would you know what I am I am a Christian ana an enemy to your devillish sacrifices I spurne your idols under my feet c. Hereupon the Judge being enraged said unto her O fond and sturdy girle I would faine have thee before thou diest revoke thy wickednesse Remember the Honourable House of which thou art come and thy friends teares Wilt thou cast away thy selfe in the flower of thy youth Wilt thou bereave thy selfe of honourable marriage Doth the glittering pomp of the bride-bed nothing prevaile with thee c. Behold if these things will not move thee I have here variety of engins prepared to put thee to a cruel death c. But our Noble Eulalia having her heart ravished with the love of Christ to whom she desired to be married rejected both his flatteries and threats and chose death rather then to forsake Christ. See my General Martyrology p. 77. In the late Bohemian Persecution a noble Lady of the City of Latium leaving all her riches house and friends crept under the walls through the common sewer the gates being guarded that she might enjoy Christ in his Ordinances elsewhere In the Affrican Persecution under the Arians there was a noble man called Saturus eminent for piety and holinesse whom the Tyrant King laboured to withdraw from Christ and his truth to the Arian Heresie telling him that if he consented not presently he should forfeit his house his Lands his goods his honours that his children and servants should be sold that his wife should be given to one of his basest slaves c. But when threats prevailed not he was cast into prison and when his Lady heard her doom she went to him with her garments rent and her hair disheveled her children at her heeles and a sucking infant in her armes and falling down at her husbands feet she took him about the knees saying Have compassion O my sweetest of me thy poor wife and of these thy children look upon them let them not be made slaves let not me be yoaked in so base a marriage consider that which thou art required to do thou doest it not willingly but art constrained thereto and therefore it will not be laid to thy charge c. But this valiant Souldier of Christ answered her in the words of Job Thou speakest like a foolish woman Thou actest the Devils part If thou truly lovedst thy husband thou wouldest never seek to draw him to sin that may separate him from Christ and expose him to the second death Know assuredly that I am resolved as my Saviour Christ commands me to forsake wife children house lands c. that so I may enjoy him which is best of all One Copin a Merchant in France was apprehended and carried before the Bishop of Ast for his bold asserting of the truth to whom the B. said that he must either recant his opinions or be punished But Copin answered that he would maintain them with his life For saith he I have goods a wife and children and yet have I lost those affections which I formerly bore to them neither are they dear to me so I may gain Christ. See more Examples of this kind before in this Book p. 29 30 31. Anno Christi 1620. in that bloody Persecution in the Valtoline a noble Gentleman having for a while hid himself was at last found out by his Popish adversaries whom he requested to spare him for his childrens sake but they told him that this was no time for pity except he would renounce his Religion and embrace Popery whereupon he said God forbid that to save this temporal life I should deny my Lord Jesus Christ who with his precious blood upon the Crosse redeemed me at so dear a rate c. I say God forbid and so they murthered him See my Gen. Martyrologie p. 327. Anno Christi 1507. one Laurence Guest being in prison for the truth in Salisbury the Bishop because he had good friends laboured by all means to draw him to recant but not
him that he would not perdere substantiam propter accidentia lose his life for learning he with a smile answered out of the Poet. Nec propter vitam vivendi perdere causas Baudisius a Dutch Divine being by his friends advised to favour himselfe I will said he do my duty whilst I can yea though I hasten my death by preaching Dr. Burges of Sutton Cofield immediately after he came forth of the Pulpit fell sick shortly after died Mr. William Perkins borne at Marston nigh Coventry in Warwick-shire was a painfull and powerfull Preacher in Cambridge whose Sermons were not so plaine but the piously learned did admire them nor so learned but the plaine did understand them He would pronounce the word Damne with such an emphasis as left a dolefull echo in his auditors ear esa good while after He had a rare felicity in speedy reading of books and as it were but turning them over would give an exact account of all considerables therein besides his frequent preaching he wrote many bookes and though lame of his right hand yet this Ehud with a left-handed pen did stab the Romish cause and as one saith Dextera quantum vis fuerat tibi manca docendi Pollebas mirà dexteritate tamen Though nature thee of thy right hand bereft Right well thou writest with thy hand that 's left Holy State in vita ejus St. Augustines wish was that Christ when he came might finde him aut precantem aut praedicantem either praying or preaching Melancthon was wont to say that none underwent such paines as Preachers Rulers and women in travell and Luther said that a master of a family hath something to do a Magistrate more and a Minister most of all When Chrysostome was like to be silenced all the people cried our Satius est ut sol non luceat quam ut non doceat Chrysostomus we had better want the shining of the Sunne then the preaching of Chrysostome Holy Melancthon being himselfe newly converted thought it impossible for his hearers to withstand the evidence of the Gospel but after he had been a Preacher a while he complained that old Adam was too hard for young Melancthon Mr. Bolton having much weakned his body by his indefatigable paines in his private devotions and publick preaching was advised by his Physitians for his healths-sake to break off the strong intentions of his studies but he rejected their counsell accounting it greater riches to enjoy Christ by those servent intentions of his minde then to remit them for the safeguard of his health Bishop Ridley offering to preach before the Lady Mary afterwards Queene she refused to heare him and being brought by Sir Thomas Wharton her Steward into the dining roome was desired to drink which when he had done he paused a while looking very sad and being asked the reason he said Surely I have done amisse in drinking in that place where the Word of God being offered was rejected whereas I should have departed presently and shaken off the dust from my shooes for a testimony against this house Bugenhagius a Dutch Divine was so joyfull when he together with Luther and some other learned men had finished the translation of the Bible out of the Originals into Dutch that ever after he invited his friends on that day wherein they ended their work to a feast which he called The feast of the Translation of the Bible See his Life in my first part Doctor Cramner being sent by King Henry the eighth to Rome about his Divorce in his voyage to and fro he learned all the New Testament by heart Baronius the compiler of those voluminous Annals of the Church yet for thirty yeares together preached three or foure times a week to the people Spond in vita Baro pag. 2. part 7. When a certaine Frenchman came to visit Melancthon he found him in his stove dandling his childe in the swadling clouts with the one hand and in the other hand holding his book and reading it A good Minister and a good father may well agree together Pantal de illust Germ in vita Melan A certain man causelesly disaffected to his Minister complained that he in his last Sermon had personally inveigâ—ed against him accusing him thereof to a grave religious Gentleman in the Parish Truly said the Gentleman I had thought in his Sermon he had meant me it so touched my heart which saying abated the edge of the others anger Holy State pa 94. At the disputation of Ratisbone where Melancthon was pressed with a shrewd argument by Ecchius I will answer thee said he to morrow Nay said Ecchius do it now or it s nothing worth yea said Melancthon I seek the truth and not my own credit and therefore it will be as good if I answer thee to morrow by Gods assistance Melch Adain vit Germ Theol p. 339. Latimer presented King Henry the eighth for a new years gift with a New Testament wrapped up in a napkin with this Posie about it Fornicatores adulteros judicabit Dominus Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge which was the sin that the King rers notoriously guilty of Frederick Bishop of Uarich sitting at dinner with the Emperour Ludovicus Pius the Emperour bade him execute his office without respect of persons The Bishop humbly thanked him and having a fish before him asked him whether he should begin with the head or taile The Emperour replied With the head which is the chiefest member It 's well said the Bishop Then break you off your Incestuous match with Judith And accordingly the Emperour did it for a time But the Pope a while after for some thousands of Crowns gave him a dispensation and made up the match again whereupon this Herodias for his free speech caused the Bishop to be slaine in his own Church Rand in Polychron Preach the Word be instant in season out of season reprove rebuk exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine 2 Tim. 4. 2. Blessed is that servant whom when his Lord comes he shall finde so doing Matth. 24. 46. Fructus honos oneris fructus honoris onus CHAP. III. Ezamples of Christian courage and resolution THe Naturalists write of the Eagle that she trieth her young ones by turning their eies upon the Sun when it shineth brightly so God doth his children who if they can outface the Sun of persecution they are sincere indeed not but that he knowes them sufficiently without such a triall but hereby he makes them known both to themselves and others for Grace is hid in nature here as sweet water in Rose-leaves the fire of affliction must be put under to distil it out and as trees fix their roots the faster the more they are shaken so comforts abound as sufferings abound yet lest any should think that he can stand by his own strength the Apostle Paul tells him that all our sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3. 5. who useth to proportion the burthen to the back and the stroke to
them a great reward and presently brake all the vessels in pieces and being asked the reason of it he answered Because knowing that I am soon angry I may prevent being angry with those that might hereafter break them Eras. Lib. 5. Adag Alexander Magnus being of a cholerick disposition obscured three of his greatest victories with the death of three of his friends causing Lysimachus to be cast to a Lion Clitus to be slaine with a speare and Calisthenes to be put to death Theat vitae hum King Perses being overcome by Paulus AEmilius grew into such a passion that he slew two of his Nobles which came to comfort him which so provoked the rest that they all forsooke him Theat vitae hum L. Sylla who in his anger had spilt the blood of many at last in his fury raging and crying out against one that had broken promise with him thereby brake a veine within him vomiting out his blood soul and anger together Val. Max. lib. 9. Amilcar the Carthaginian did so extreamly hate the Romanes that having four sons he used to say that he bred up those foure Lions whelps for the destruction of the Romane Empire Probus in vita Semiramis as she was dressing her head newes being brought that Babylon rebelled against her she was so incensed that in that habit her haire halfe tied up and half hanging loose she hastened to reduce it and never dressed up her head till she had subdued that great City Polyb. Tomyris Queen of Scythia having overcome and taken Cyrus King of Persia caused his head to be cut off and thrown into a bowle of blood bidding him to drink his fill for that he had so much thirsted after blood and had slaine her sonne in the Warres Val. Max. Lysander the Lacedemonian was noted to be of such an implacable disposition tbat nothing could appease his malice but the death of the person with whom he was angry whereupon it grew to a proverb That Greece could not bear two Lysanders Pez Mel. Hist. Alexander M in a drunken feast that he made after his conquest of Persia began to boast of his great victories and atchievments to the distaste of his own Captaines insomuch as one of them called Clitus speaking to another said He boasts of those victories which were purchased with other mens blood Alexander suspecting that he spake against him asked what he said and when all were silent Clitus spake of the great victories which Philip his father had gotten in Greece preferring them before these which so incensed Alexander that he bade him be gone out of his presence and when Clitus hastened not but multiplied words the King rose up in a great fury and snatching a lance out of his Squires hand therewith he thrust Clitus thorow and killed him This Clitus had formerly saved the Kings life in the battel against Darius He was an old souldier of King Philips and had performed many excellent exploits Besides his mother had nursed Alexander and he was brought up with him as his foster-brother So that Alexander when the heat of his anger was over was so enraged against himselfe for this murther that he was about with the same lance to have murthered himself if he had not been violently restrained by his servants Q. Cur. Caius Caligula was of a most malicious disposition for which end he kept two books which he called his sword and dagger wherein he wrote the names of all such as he had appointed to death He had such a chest of all sorts of the most exquisite poisons that when afterwards it was thrown into the sea by his successor Claudius it poisoned a great multitude of fishes Sueto Amilcar the Carthaginian at what time he did sacrifice being ready to take his journey into Spaine called his young son Hannibal being then but nine years old and caused him to lay his hand upon the Altar and to sweare that being come to mans estate he should pursue the Romanes with immortal hatred and work them all the mischief that possibly he could Sir W. Raw. King Edward the first of England going against Bruce King of Scotland caused his eldest sonne and all his Nobles to swear that if he died in his journey they should carry his corps about Scotland with them and not suffer it to be interred till they had vanquished the Scots and subdued the whole Kingdom Sed ira mortalium debet esse mortalis saith Lactantius Darius being offended with the Athenians for assisting his enemies he called for a bowe wherewith he shot up an arrow towards heaven saying O Jupiter grant that I may be revenged upon the Athenians He appointed also one of his servants every night when he was at supper to say to him Here memento Atheniensium Master remember the Athenians Pez Mel. Hist. Camillus a Noble Romane after many great services done for the Common-wealth was at the instigation of a wicked detractor condemned by the common people to pay a greater summe of money then he was able But he scorning such an open shame resolved to go into voluntary exile and so taking leave of his wife children and friends he went out of the City-gate but then turning again and lifting up his hands towards the Capitol he said O ye gods if it be of spite and malice that the common people thus drive me away then let them have quickly cause to repent and stand in need of me Put. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart Leviticus 19. 17. Cursed be their anger for it was fierce and their wrath for it was cruel Gen. 49. 7. CHAP. XIX Examples of Patience Moderation and Meeknesse SOme of the Heathens have attained to a great eminencie in this vertue of Patience but Christians are to adde it to the number of their graces 2 Pet. 1. 6. And indeed it is that that gives a great lustre to all the rest Humility is the root whence it springs and the fruit of it is both amiable and profitable It puts and keeps a man in possession of his soul Luk. 21. 19. It makes all burthens light and is much improved by exercise Rom. 5. 3. Moses his meeknesse and Jobs patience are exemplary and so held forth in the Scripture And these which follow also may be useful to quicken us to an earnest pursuit after this so excellent a vertue Commanded Luke 21. 19. Col. 1. 11. Rom 12. 12. 1 Thes. 5. 14. Jam. 5. 7 8. c. 1 Tim. 6. 11. Heb. 10. 36. 12. 1. 2 Pet. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 20. Mat. 11. 29. Commanded Eccles. 7. 8. 2 Cor. 6. 4. 12. 12. 1 Tim. 3. 3. 2 Tim. 2. 24. 2 Thes. 1 4. Tit. 2. 2. Heb. 6. 12. Jam. 1 3 4. Rev. 2. 2 3 19 13. 10. 14. 12. Psal. 22. 26. 25. 9. 37. 11. 76. 9. 147. 6. 149 4. Isa. 29. 19. Mat. 5. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 4. Scriptural examples Paul 2 Cor. 6. 4. Moses Num. 12. 3.
a while excluding his servants he kept himselfe in his chamber with his children only Then he conceited that all civil society with others defiled him and thereupon locking his chamber-door continually he caused his servants to reach in at the window food for himselfe and children He cut out all the contents of the Chapters through the whole Bible expected Enthusiasmes and revelations often in the day lying along on the floore and causing his children to do the like with their heads in a ring and when his ancient friends Ministers and others hearing of it came to speake with him amongst whom my selfe was one knocking at his chamber-door importuning intreating and threatening to break open the doore yet could they by no meanes prevaile either to have a word from him or the door opened at length one of his children sickened and died yet he concealing it privately carried it into the next roome and locked it up till the corpse putrefying almost choaked him whereupon he caused his servant to bring him some Mosse still concealing the occasion wherewith he stopped the cranies in his wall to keep out the stench But his course of life being much talked of abroad a neighbour Justice of Peace pittying his condition sent some with command to break open his chamber-doore which being done they found him and his children like Nebuchadnezzar much deformed with their haire and nailes grown very long their clothes almost rotten upon their backes for the want of shift and all their healths very much impaired with that course of life yet neither would he nor any of his children being so tutored by him speak to any one though never so much pressed thereunto But it pleased God at length that his children being taken from him and sent to some friends recovered both their tongues and health Himself upon the breaking open of this door presently took his bed refusing to speak to or converse with any and though by godly Ministers and others which came to him he was laboured with to take notice of the dangerous temptation under which he lay intreated counselled threatened and prayed with and for him yet still turning his face to the wall he would neither heare nor answer them one word In which obstinate condition he remained till his death which was not long after David George alins Haàs Van Burcht borne in Delft in the Low-countreys a man altogether unlearned being a painter of glasses yet subtile of understanding and eloquent withal after he began to disperse his erroneous tenets was sought after by the Magistrates of that place whereupon he fled with his family to Basil in Suitzerland where in private he taught and advanced his damnable Heresies confirming his absent disciples by letters and books which he caused to be printed in the Castle of Beningen He died in the said town of Basil Anno 1556. for griefe that one of his followers was revolted Before his death whereas his disciples thought him to be god seeing him draw towards death he resolutely said unto them Be not amased I go to begin to shew my power Christ my predecessour to shew his power rose again the third day but I to shew my greater glory will rise again at the end of three years Afterwards the Magistrate being throughly informed of his life and doctrine caused his processe to be drawn and by a sentence his body was taken out of the ground and justice done as if he had been alive his goods confiscated and his books burnt Belg. Com. Wealth p. 65. 66. At Boston in New England the seventeenth of Octob. 1637. the wife of Master William Dier which woman held many monstrous and Heretical opinions was brought to bed of a Monster which had no head the face stood low upon the breast the eares like an Apes grew upon the shoulders the eyes stood far out and so did the mouth the nose was hooking upward the breast and back full of short prickles like a Thornback the Navel belly and distinction of the sexe were where the hips should have been and those back-parts were on the same side with the face the armes hands thighes and leggs were as other childrens but instead of toes it had on each foot three clawes with Tallons like a Fowle upon the back above the belly it had two great holes like mouths and in each of them stood out two peeces of flesh it had no forehead but in the place above the eyes it had four hornes two of above an inch long hard and sharpe and the othee two somewhat lesse It was of the female Sexe both the father and mother of it were great Familists The midwife one Hawkins wife of St. Ives was notorious for familiarity with the devil and a prime Familist Most of the women who were present at this womans travel were suddenly taken with such a violent vomiting and purging without eating or drinking any thing that they were forced to go home others had their children so taken with Convulsions which they neither had before nor after that they were sent for home so that none were left at the time of the birth of it but the Midwife and two other one of which was fallen asleep and at such time as the child died which was about two houres before the birth of it the bed wherein the mother lay shook so violently as that all that were in the roome perceived it the afterbirth had prickles on the inside like those on the childes breast See Mr. Wells short story c p. 44. Also about the same time and in the same place one Mistris Hutchinson who held about thirty monstrous and Heretical opinions whereof you have a Catalogue set down by the same Author Pag. 59. c. growing big with childe and towards the time of her labour at last brought forth thirty monstrous births or thereabouts at once some of them bigger and some lesser some of one shape and some of another few of any perfect shape none of all of them of humane shape This Mistris Hutchinson was first banished by the Magistrates of New-England into Read-Island for her Heresies but not staying long there she removed with all her family her daughter and her children into the Dutch Plantation to a place called Helgate where the Indians set upon them and slew her with all her family her daughter and her daughters husband with all their children save onely one that escaped which is the more remarkable because it was never heard that the Indians either before or since did commit the like outrage upon any others A Popish Priest Parson of Crondal neere Canterbury at the coming in of Cardinal Poole was absolved by him got a Copy of the Popes Bull of pardon brought into England by the said Poole which the Sabbath following he read to his people and withal told them that having been with the Cardinal on the Thursday before he had made him as clean from his sinnes as he was at the Font-stone or
just first by thee and then by all others Q. Cur. The Athenians did so basely flatter King Demetrius the sonne of Antigonus that they made this decree publickly that whatsoever King Demetrius commanded it should be accounted holy amongst the gods and just amongst men Plut. Severus the Emperour caused one Tyrinus a notable flatterer to be tied to a stake in the Market-place and there to be killed with smoake An Herauld in the meane time standing by and crying Smoak he sold and with smoak he is punished The Courtiers of Meroe a Kingdome in India to flatter and ingratiate themselves with their King limped and halted as their King did Canutus King of England and Denmark being told by a flatterer that all things in his Realme were at his command and will appointed his Chaire to be set upon the sands when the sea began to flowe and in the presence of his Courtiers he said unto it Thou art part of my dominion and the ground on which I sit is mine neither was there ever any that durst disobey my command that went away with impunity wherefore I charge thee that thou come not upon my land neither that thou wet the clothes or body of me thy Lord. Yet the sea according to its usual course flowing more and more wet his feet whereupon the King rising up said Let all the inhabitants of the world know that vaine and frivolous is the power of Kings and that none is worthy the name of King but he to whose command the heaven earth and sea by the bond of an everlasting Law are subject and obedient And never after that time would he suffer his crown to come upon his head Hen. of Hunt See the example of Damocles in Tyrants The Athenians fined Demagoras ten Talents for that he had by way of flattery called Alexander a god Ravisius Nicesias a flatterer about Alexander when he saw him wounded cried out in the words of Homer O what precious blood flowes from the bodies of the gods When Iulius Caesar was going against the Senate and Pompey one of his souldiers said flatteringly Jussa sequi tam velle mihi quà m posse necesse est Nec civis meus est in quem tua classica Caesar Audiero Lucan Publius Afranius a notable flatterer at Rome hearing that Caligula the Emperour was sick went to him and professed that he would willingly die so that the Emperour might recover the Emperour told him that he did not beleeve him whereupon he confirmed it with an oath and the Emperour shortly after recovering caused him to be slaine that he might not be forsworne Xiphilinus Teridates King of Armenia when he was overcome by Corbulo and brought prisoner to Rome to Neroâ— falling down on his knees he said I am nephew to the great Lord Arsacus brother to the two great Kings Vologeses and Pacorus and yet thy servant and I come to worship thee no otherwise then I worship my god the Sun Truly I will be such an one as thou shalt please to make me for thou art my Fate and Fortune which flattery so pleased Nero that he restored him to his Kingdome and gave him besides an hundred thousand peeces of gold Xâ—pil Ant. Caracalla the Romane Emperour gave all those vaste summes of money that he raised by taxes and exactions upon his subjects amongst his Parasites and flatterers Idem Timagoras the Athenians being sent upon an Embassie to Darius King of Persia in a flattering manner worshipped him after the Persian manner For which he lost his head at his returne home Ravis Clitosophus King Philip of Macedons Parasite feigned himself lame because Philip had broke his leg and used to writhe his eyes and his mouth after the same manner as his Master used to do Idem A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it and a flattering tongue worketh ruine Prov. 26. 28. CHAP. LVI Strange Examples of Deafe and Dumb Persons WE have saith Camerarius in Noremberg a young man and a young maid both born of one father and mother and of a good house who though they be deafe and dumb yet have they a singular quick conceit they can both of them reade very well write cipher and cast an account they are quick and cunning at Cards Dice and all games The maid is excellent at Sempstry Tapestry Embrodery c. And by the motion of a mans lips they know his meaning Platerus mentions one deafe and dumb born yet could expresse his minde in a table-table-book and could understand what others wrote therein He hearing Oâ—colampadius preaching by the motions of his lips and gesture understood many things One Gennet Lowes a Scottish woman dwelling in Edenburg being deafe and dumb by nature could understand any one in her house meerly by the moving of their lips so that by their motions alone without a voice she could exactly know their meaning Master Crisp brother to Sir Nicholas Crisp his dexterity in knowing the meaning of men by the motions of their lips is very well known to Merchants upon the Exchange and is yet fresh in every ones memory At the time when Sir Alexander Carey was beheaded at Tower-hill this Master Crisp having been deafe long before pressed to stand neer to the Scaffold whereupon Master Hurst an officer in the train-bands that kept the guard spake to him to forbear who not hearing him continued to labour to get a convenient place till Master Hurst being told by some who he was suffered him to place himself right against the front of the Scaffold and when Sir Alexander turned himself to speak to the people Master Crisp fixed his eyes upon his lips during all the time of his speech which he so perfectly understood and carried away that relating it to his friends they much wondred at the way of his perception There was a Nobleman in Spaine the younger brother of the Constable of Castile born so deafe that he could not hear a gun shot off by his eare and consequently dumb yet the lovlinesse of his face and exceeding vivacity of his eyes the comlinesse of his person and the whole composure of his body were pregnant signes of a well tempered minde Physicians and Chyrurgions had long imployed their skill to help him but all in vaine At last a certain Priest undertook to teach him to understand others when they spake and to speak himselfe that others might understand him This attempt was at first laughed at but after some yeares with great paines he taught this young Lord to speak as distinctly as any man and to understand so perfectly what others said that he could understandingly converse all day with them Prince Charles when he was wooing the Infanta of Spaine saw him and oft made trial of him not only with English words but making some Welchmen in his traine to speak words of their language all which he perfectly repeated only for want of his hearing his tone was rather vehement and shrill then pleasing This many
molested by noises made by the Devil in his Chamber and on his staires but I saith he encountred him with that sentence Omnia subjecisti pedibus ejus Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet and so I laid me down and slept in safety Collo Mens Another of the German Divines in Luther's time as he was sitting at his book in his study the Devil appeared looking over his shoulder which the Minister perceiving took a piece of paper and wrote in it The Son of God came to dissolve the works of the Devil and so holding up that paper to the Devil he vanished Senerclaus tells of a plain Countrey man at Friburg in Germany to whom as he lay on his death-bed the Devil appeared in the shape of a tall and grimme man claiming his soul saying Thou hast been a notorious sinner and I am now come to set down all thy sins and thereupon drew out paper and ink and sitting down at a Table that stood by began to write The sick man said My soul is Christs and all my sins were nailed to his Crosse But if thou desirest to set down my sins write thus All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags The Devil set that down and bade him say on He did But thou Lord hast promised for thine own Names sake to blot out all our iniquities And to make our scarlet sins white as snow The Devill would not write these words but was earnest with the man to go on in his former confession Then said the sick man with great cheerfulnesse The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the Devil whereupon the Devil vanished and shortly after the sick man dyed Mr. White of Dorchester being a member of the Assembly of Divines was appointed Minister of Lambeth but for the present could get no convenient house to dwell in but one that was possessed by the Devil This he took and not long after his maid sitting up late the Devil appeared to her whereupon in a great fright she ran up to tell her Master He bid her get to bed saying She was well served for sitting up so late Presently after the Devil appeared to Mr. White himself standing at his beds feet To whom Mr. White said If thou hast nothing else to do thou mayest stand there still And I will betake my self to my rest and accordingly composing himself to sleep the Devill vanished Not long since at Stetin a University in Pomerania there was a young Student that upon some discontent gave himself to the Devil and made a bond upon the Contract which that it might not come to the knowledge of any he laid up in one of his books But it pleased God some time after that another Student wanting that book upon some occasion knew not where to get it at last he remembred that such an one had it whereupon he went to him and borrowed it of him the young man having forgotten that he had put this bond into it The other when he came home began to turn over the book and there met with the bond and reading of it was much affrighted and not knowing what to do he went to Dr. Cramerus a Professor of Divinity in that University to ask his advice who wished him to keep the bond the other replied that he durst not Then said the Dr. bring it to me and I will keep it Some few nights after as the Dr. was in his study the Devill came rapping at his study door saying Cramer Cramer give me by bond for it belongs to me and thou hast nothing to do with it To whom the Dr. answered Satan Satan thou shalt not have the bond thou hast nothing to do with it I have put it where thou canst not fetch it For it is in my Bible at the third Chapter of Genesis where these words are The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head upon this the Devil taking his Chamber-window with him went his way Crescentius the Popes Legate at the Councill of Trent as he was upon a time writing Letters till mid-night to the Pope being about to rise to refresh himself there came in a great black dog with flaming eyes and eares hanging almost to the ground which came to the Table where he sate and then vanished the Cardinal affrighted called in his servants caused them to look about the Chamber for the Dog and when they could not find him he immediately fell sick and in his sicknesse was alwaies calling upon those about him to drive away the dog that clumbe upon his bed and so continued till he dyed Sleid. Comment Anno Christi 1653. about the moneth of October came some Quakers out of the North into Wales about Vâ—rexham endeavouring to winne some professours to their party Their principal design was to disgrace the Ministry and all publick Ordinances They held universal Redemption Free-will and falling from Grace they published that all men have the pure seed of God in them boasting that themselves were perfect and without sin that they knew at the first sight sincere Christians from hypocrites At their meetings after long silence sometimes one sometimes more fell into a great and dreadfull shaking and trembling in their whole bodies and all their joynts with such risings and swellings in their bellies and bowels sending forth such shreekings yellings howlings and roarings as not onely affrighted the spectators but caused the Dogs to bark the swine to cry and the Cattell to run about to the astonishment of all that heard them By these artifices one VVilliam Spencer was drawn by them to leave the Church and to follow them whereupon at several times he fell into the same quaking fits And lying with one of them three severall nights the last night being much troubled and not able to sleep upon a sudden he heard something buzzing and humming about the Quakers head like an humble Bee which did sore affright him whereupon he sought to rise but the Quaker perswaded him to lie still and immediately there arose a great wind and storm which shook the house wherein they lay which adding much to his former fear he again attempted to arise but the Quaker still pressed him to lie still perswading him to expect the Power to come which they often promise to their Proselytes and thereupon he again heard the former humming noise which more and more terrified him so that he strove vehemently to rise but the Quaker laid his head upon Spencer's shoulder and did blow hard like the hissing of a Goose several times towards his face or mouth which made him leap out of his bed in a great astonishment crying for a light and guide to conduct him to a neighbours house and upon this occasion left them altogether testifying the truth hereof to the Quaker's face before many witnesses the Quaker not denying it Attested under several hands See the like in the Chapter of Heresies CHAP. LXXIV Examples of Dissimulation IT 's
could draw a stronger bowe then himself or any of his followers Horod Phidias that curious workman that made Minerva's shield with so much Art was out of envy falsly accused by Meno another workman and being condemned was forced to drink poison Plut. Cato Major was so envied for his wisdom and virtue that fourty six times he was publickly accused and forced to plead his cause before the people yet alwaies came off cleer Sab. Mutius a Citizen of Rome was noted to be of such an envious and malevolent a disposition that Publius one day observing him to be very sad said Either some great evill is happened to Mutius or some great good to another Suet. Caligula out of envy caused Esius Proculus to be slain because he was a beautiful young man Ravis Adrian the Emperour did so envy the glory of Trajan his predecessour that he gave away Armenia Assyria and Mesopotamia to the Parthians which Trajan had conquered and brake down a bridge over the River Danubius which Trajan had built with great cost and labour Volat. Invidia virtutis comes A sound heart is the life of the flesh but envy the rottennesse of the bones Prov. 14. 30. CHAP. LXXVI Examples of Fame Name Renown IT 's desireable Prov. 15. 30. Phil. 4. 8. Zeph. 3. 19 20. Prov. 22. 1. Deut. 26. 19. 2 Sam. 7. 9. 1 King 1. 47. Gen. 12. 2. 1 Chron. 17. 8. It 's gotten by faith and obedience Rom. 1. 8. 16. 19. Heb. 11. 2. By sufferings for Christ Phil. 1. 13. Heb. 11. 39. Scriptural Examples Some before the flood Gen. 6. 4. Solomon 1 King 4. 31. 10. 1 6. David 1 Chron. 14. 17. Mordecai Esth. 9. 4. Some 1 Chr. 5. 24. Uzziah 2 Chron. 26. 15. Other Examples Alexander Magnus when he came to Achilles's Tomb fell a weeping to consider that he had Homer to sing his praises and to perpetuate them whereas he had no such Poet to set forth his commendations Fulgos. Lysander the Lacedemonian seeking after fame had alwaies about him Chaerilus the Poet that he might celebrate in verse all his victories and virtues Idem L. Sylla when a certain Poet had made some verses in his commendation thinking that his fame would be rather obscured then continued by so mean a Poet gave him a great reward that he should write no more of him Idem Pompey the Great when Theophanes of Mitylene had written his great Victories and praises by way of recompence bestowed a City upon him Val. Max. Augustus Caesar when he made his will affixed to it four books wherein all his great actions were recorded requiring that they should be engraven in brazen Pillars at his Sepulchre Dion AElius Adrianus wrote the History of his own actions with great diligence and lest coming out in his own name the truth should be questioned he published them in the name of one of his Freed-men Fulgos. Alphonsus of Aragon King of Sicily seeking glory and fame did not onely build many stately edifices but kept about him Panormitan an excellent Poet and Bartholomew Faccius a skilful Historian to record his actions Idem The Cities built by Alexander Seleucus the Caesars c. and called after their own names shew how ambitious they were of renown The same Alexander commanded that no man should draw his picture but Apelles the most exquisite Painter in the world and that his statue should not be made in brasse by any one but Lysippus the most excellent workman in that kind And he bargained with Chaerilus the Poet that for every good verse which he made in his praise he should have a piece of gold and for every bad one a box on the ear Eras. When Alexander M. had overthrown the walls of Thebes Phryne an harlot proffered at her own charges to build them up again upon condition that there might be ingraven upon them Alexander overthrew them but Phryne restored them Idem Thucydides accused Pericles to the people of Athens for bestowing such great summes of money upon excellent workmen for making pictures and Statues whereupon Pericles asked the people what they thought that those things had cost They answered Very much Well saith Pericles I then will be at the whole charge of them provided that my name may be set upon them all Upon this the people changed their minds and commanded that they should be paid for out of the common treasury Idem Belisaâ—ius after he had often overcome the Goths in Italy and had taken prisoner their King Vitiges as also Gilimer King of the Vandals in Africk and had setled Africk and Sicily in peace and often triumphed over the Persians He caused a golden Crosse of an hundred pounds weight beset with precious stones to be made and therein to be engraven all his victories which he dedicated to St. Peters Church in Rome presuming that out of respect to the holinesse of the place it would continue there as a lasting Monument of his praises Fulgos Cornelius Gallus being sent by Octavius Caesar to govern Egypt began to grow very proud of his great honour Commanding his Statues to be erected in all the chiefest places of Egypt and his actions to be engraven upon the Pyramids Dion A good name is better then precious oyntment Eccles. 7. 1. CHAP. LXXVII Examples of Incontinence Impudence and Rapes COndemned 2 Tim. 3. 3. The punishment of it Deut. 22. 23 c. Hos. 4. 10 13 14. Ephes. 5. 5. 1 Tim. 1. 10. Heb. 13. 4. Rev. 21. 8. 22 15. 1 Cor. 6. 9. Lev. 21. 9. Heb. 13. 4. The evil of it Prov. 6. 26 c. Hos. 4. 11. 2 King 9. 22. 1 Cor. 6. 13 c. Gal. 5. 19. Prov. 29. 3. Luk. 15. 30. Whores described Prov. 7. 10. Forbidden Lev. 19 29. Act. 15. 20 29. 1 Cor. 6. 18. Ephes. 5. 3. Col. 3. 5. 1 Thess. 4. 3. 1 Cor. 5. 9 11. Heb. 12. 16. Complained of Hos. 4. 14. Jude 7. Rom. 1. 29. Jer. 5. 7. Prov. 7. 13. Ezek. 2. 4. 3. 7. Jer. 3. 3. 6. 15. Remedies of it 1 Cor. 7. 2. Matth. 5. 19. Job 31. 1. Scriptural Examples Rahab Josu 2. 1. Sampson Judg. 11. 1. 16. 1. two women 1 King 3. 16. Ammon 2 Sam. 13. 14. Benjamites Judg. 19. 25. Elie's sonnes 1 Sam. 2. 22. An Israelite Num. 25. 6. Sechem Gen. 34. 2. Judah Gen. 38. 16. Jesabel 2 King 9. 3. the strumpet Prov 7. 13. the women Jer. 44. 15 16. Potiphar's wife Gen. 39. 12. Absalon 2 Sam. 16. 22. Ammon 2 Sam. 13. 11. Examples of Impudence Other Examples Ninias the son of Ninus and Semiramis kept himself alwaies shut up in his Palace and wholly spent his time amongst whores and Catamites Diod. Sic. The like course did Sardanapalus take thinking that all his felicity consisted in luxury and uncleannesse At last Arbaces and Belochus two of his Princes conspired against him and besieged him in Ninive and when he saw that he could hold out no longer he caused
for presently after the Gaules brake into Macedonia overthrew Ptolemie cut off his head and carried it upon a Lance about with them Lipsius CHAP. XCII Love of God to his Children and their love to him THe Spouses to Christ Cant. 2. 5 7. 5. 8. 8. 6 7. Jer. 2. 2. Cant. 1 3 4. 3. 1 c. Christ's to his Spouse Cant. 2. 4. God's to his people is eternal Jer. 31. 3. Rom. 8. 35 39. It 's great Hos. 3. 1. 11. 4. Ephes. 2. 4. 3. 19. 1 Joh. 3. 1. 4. 16. So should our love to him be as 2 Cor. 5. 14. Deut. 6. 5. 10. 12. 11. 1 13 22. 30. 6 16 20. Jos. 22. 5. 23. 11. Psal. 31. 23. Matth. 22. 37. Mar. 12. 30. Luk. 10 27. Every thing shall turn to the good of such Rom. 8. 28. Great things are prepared for them 1 Cor. 2. 9. and promised Jam. 1. 12. 2. 5. They shall be joyful Psal. 5. 11. Blessed Psal. 69. 36. 119. 132. Have peace Psal. 119. 165. Be preserved Psal. 145. 20. Scriptural Examples David Psal. 18. 1. Solomon 1 King 3. 3. Solomon was beloved of God 2 Sam. 12. 24. and Israel 1 King 10. 9. 2 Chron. 9. 1. Psal. 4â— 4. Hos. 11. 1. and the world of the Elect Joh. 3. 16. and Paul Gal. 2. 20. the Church Rev. 1. 5. Jacob Rom. 9. 13. Other Examples Artabazus in Xenophon when Cyrus had given him a cup of gold and to Chrysantas a kisse in token of his special favour complained that the cup which Alexander had given him was not so good gold as the Kisse which he gave to Chrysantas So the secret kisses which God gives to his children are better then all the riches and honours which he gives to the wicked Vespasian the Emperour commanded that a liberal reward should be given to a woman that came and professed that she was in Love with him whereupon his Steward asked him under what Item he should put that gift in his book of accounts Vespasiano adamato saith the Emperour Item to her that loved Vespasian So when God gives much or forgives much to any you may write this Item Because he loved much Galeacius Caracciolus being tempted by a Jesuite with a great summe of gold to return from Geneva into Iealy made this answer Let their gold perish with them who prefer all the gold in the world before the love of God or one daies society with Jesus Christ and his holy Spirit See his Life in my second Part. CHAP. XCIII Reproof Reprehension THe wise love it Prov. 29. 25. 25. 12. 13. 18. 15. 5 31. 17. 10. 29. 15. and 6. 23. It 's the Ministers duty 2 Tim. 4. 2. Gods Word is profitable for it 2 Tim. 3. 16. Scorners will not endure it Prov. 9. 8. 15. 12. Isa. 29. 21. Such are neer to destruction Prov. 29. 1. 10. 17. Are brutish Prov. 12. 1. 15. 10 32. David desired it Psal. 141. 5. Herod could not endure it Luk. 3. 19. Nor the wicked Prov. 1. 25 30. 5. 12. Reproof not endured Cambyses King of Persia being reproved by Prexaspes one of his Nobles that was familiar with him for his drunkennesse was so impatient of reproof that he caused the son of Prexaspes to be set before him saying If I can shoot just into thy sons heart neither thou nor the Persians have any cause to charge me with drunkennesse and so shooting he slew him and then caused his body to be opened where the arrow was found in the middest of his heart whereupon he much rejoyced saying to Prexaspes Whether doest thou now believe that I am sober or drunk c Pez Mel. Hist. The same Cambyses having caused twelve of his Nobles to be put to death Croesus who was left as a Counsellor to him by his father Cyrus reproved him for it admonishing him not so to give way to his passion lest he provoked his Subjects to rise up against him Cambyses instead of making a good use of it took a bowe and would have slain Croesus for it but he escaping from him Cambyses commanded his servants to slay him yet they thinking that he would afterwards repent it hid Croesus and slew him not and when Cambyses not long after wanted Croesus for his faithful counsel and bemoaned his rash putting of him to death his servants expecting a great reward brought him forth Cambyses was glad that Croesus was alive but yet he put his servants to death for sparing him contrary to his command Pez Mel. Hist. Philip King of Macedon having great contentions in his Family was thus reproved by Demarathus the Corinthian for it Philip asking him what concord there was amongst the Grecians Sir said he it is not fit for you to enquire after the affaires of Greece who cannot settle and maintain peace in your own Family Diod. Sic. Alexander M. writing to Philotas one of his brave Captains sent him word how that the Oracle of Jupiter Hamon had acknowledged him to be his son Philotas wrote back That he was glad that he was received into the number of the gods but withal that he could not but be sensible how miserable they were that should live under one that thought himself more then a man which reproof Alexander never forgat till he had taken away his life Q. Cur. CHAP. XCIV Repentance and Reformation the way to pacifie Gods wrath REpentance exhorted to Ezek. 14. 6. 18. 30. Matth. 3. 2. 4. 17. Mar. 1. 15. Act. 2 38. 3. 19. 8. 22. Rev. 2. 5 16. 3. 3 19. Repentance attributed to God Gen. 6. 6. Exod. 32. 14. Judg. 2. 18. 1 Sam. 15. 35. 2 Sam. 24. 16. Psal. 106 45. Jer. 26. 19. Amos 7. 3 6. Jon. 3. 10. 4. 2. Joel 2 13. Hos. 11. 8. Repentance turns away God's wrath 1 King 18. 30 c. Jer. 26. 3 13. Ezek. 18. 30. Joel 2. 14. Jona 3. 9. Rev 2. 5 16 22. Exod. 32. 14. 2 Sam. 24. 15 16. Jer. 31. 19 20. Jona 3. 9 10. 2 Chron. 7. 14 c. We have Gods promise for it Lev. 26. 41 c. 2 Chron. 12. 7. 24. 37. in the example of Josiah And Hezekiah 2 Chron. 32. 26. And Manasses 2 Chr. 33. 12 13. The Romans punished a young man that was seen looking out at a window with a Crown of Roses upon his head in the time of a publick calamity At a time in Athens strange Prodigies were seen and the Prognosticators told the people that they perceived by their sacrifices that the City was defiled with some abominable and filthy thing Hereupon they sent to Crete for Epimenides an holy and devout man and one who was esteemed a Prophet He being come taught them to make their Sacrifices with lesse cost whereby they were more frequent He taught them to pray daily to the gods to mourn moderately for the dead c. and so
brought them by degrces to much holinesse and devotion to much justice and unity amongst themselves by which means for a time they enjoyed great tranquillity Plut. Alexanders Macedonians being sensible of his displeasure laid by theit Armes put on mourning apparel came running in Troops to his Tent where for almost three daies together they remained with loud cryes and abundance of teares testifying their remorse for offending him and beseeching his pardon which at last they obtained How much more should we repent of and mourn for offending God and implore his pardon c CHAP. XCV Scriptures the Word of God Not to be profaned ALL Scripture is divinely inspired 2 Tim. 3. 16. And holy men spake as they were acted and carried thereunto by the holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 21. God spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets Luke 1. 70. we speak saith Paul not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the holy Ghost teacheth 1 Cor. 2. 13. and that both for matter as v. 12. and words These are the very sentences yea notions that were writien of old in the mind of God and are now clothed with his own very terms and expressions though by some of his servants he hath uttered himself more loftily by some in a lower Language according to the several abilities of the speakers and capacity of the hearers Arguments à posteriori to prove the Divinity of the Scriptures are The venerable antiquity matchlesse majesty lively efficacy beautiful harmony incorrigible purity invincible perennity and continuance of them mauger the injury and iniquity of times and Tyrants who have sought to suppressc them Besides the confirmation by Miracles confession of Martyrs destruction of oppugners fulfilling of Prophecies consent of Churches yea assent of adversaries As first of Hereticks who in oppugning of Scriptures do yet alledge Scripture to their own utter destruction 2 Pet. 3. 16. Secondly of Jewes Gods Library-keepers as St Augustine cals them who studiously read and curiously kept the Books of the Old Testament by a singular Providence of God for our benefit and behoof 3. Many Heathens have sealed to the truth of the Scripture by their testimonies and confirmed them to be Divine Porphyry testifieth that Moses hath written the History of the Law truly Numenius the Pythagorist recites Moses's History almost word for word testifying that he was a great Divine But we have better testimonies both outward and inward That without us is First The Scripture testifying of it self and we know its testimony is true because it 's the Word of that God that can as soon die as lie Hence Moses so often saith I am the Lord And the Prophets Thus saith the Lord The Evangelists Jesus said The Apostles I have received of the Lord that which I delivered unto you The truth is the best proof of the Scripture is to be fetched out of it self whence also it 's called Light Psal. 119. 105. because it discovers it self and the Testimony of the Lord because it beares witnesse to it self and this it doth not authoritativè onely by an inartificial argument but ratiocinativè by sound reasons whether we look to the Pen-men of the Scripture the subject matter of the Scripture or the admirable effects thereof The Pen-men besides their divine vocation mission and inspiration were plain men poor men shepherds neat-herds fishers Publicans c. neither eloquent Orators nor cunning headed Politicians to art out an Imposture nor witty enough to deceive Act. 4. 13. Adde hereunto their impartial faithfulnesse in relating the naked truth though to the discredit as it might seem of themselves and their best friends Moses repeats the sin and doom of his grandfather Levi of his brother Aâ—ron and sister Miriam nay of himself how he sinned and was sentenced at the waters of strife David shames himself in his preface to the 51. Psalm Isaiah tells the world of the wickednesse of Ahaz and weaknesse of Hezekiah his natural Princes Ezekiel makes honorable mention of Daniel his coetaneous and Peter of Paul though he took him up publickly for halting at Antioch I was a blasphemer an oppressour a persecutor saith that blessed Apostle whereby we see that it 's free from partiality and flattery Secondly For the matter of the Scripture it 's proved to be the Word of God By the Majesty of it which besides the stately plainnesse of the stile far surpasseth the creatures capacity the fathom of flesh and reach of reason There is no jot or tittle of it that savours of earthlinesse Every word of Gods mouth is pure precious and profitable not a syllable superfluous The very majesty of the sentence is such as cannot be conceived and yet it 's alwaies more powerful in matter then in words It sets forth such an admirable concurrence of Gods mercy and Justice in mans Redemption by the man Christ Jesus as no creature could possibly contrive or if they could yet certainly would not Not good men or Angels for they would never have put upon the world such a notorious imposture Not evil men or Devils for it crosseth and controlleth their contrary courses and condemnes them to the pit of hell It utterly overturns the Devils Kingdome who therefore sharply eggeth and edgeth all his instruments against it yea and tempteth better men sometimes to doubt of it whereas if it were forged and false he would like a liar as he is foment and fight for it promote and propagate it as he doth Turcisme and Paganisme and other falshoods abroad in the world though never so absurd and impious Lastly look upon its admirable effects and irresistible power to effect the thing whereunto it 's appointed as to break the stubborn to binde up the broken-hearted c. Not onely to inform as other writings but to reform yea transform the soul from glory to glory till it be wholly conformed to that heavenly pattern Adde hereunto that it 's effectual for the conversion of a sinner from the errour of his way Not from errour of his mind onely but of his manners also For the mind may be thorowly convinced and yet the man not truly converted yea and when the spirit feeles it self dead and decayed as by a relapse into some foul sin this good Word revives it as the breath of God did those dry bones in Ezekiel Humane writings may shew some faults to be avoided but give no power to amend them But Now are ye clean by the Word that I have spoken saith Christ Sanctifié them by thy truth thy Word is truth Philosophie may civilize not sanctifie hide some sins not heal them cover not cure them So then the efficacy and virtue of the Scripture to produce the love of God and our enemies to purifie the heart to pacifie the conscience to rectifie the whole both constitution and conversation of a man to take him off from the delights of the world and the flesh to make him glory in afflictions sing in the flames triumph over
seemeth to hang whereof it 's commonly called Stone-henge Camb. Brit. In Westmer land hard by Shape there be huge stones in form of Pyramids some of them nine foot high and fourteen foot thick ranged directly as it were in a row for a mile in length with equal distance almost between them Camb. Brit. p. 762. CHAP. CVIII The Temple of Diana described THe Temple of Diana at Ephesus was one of the Worlds Wonders Two hundred and twenty years were spent in the building of it It was built upon a Marish to prevent hurt by earthquakes which were very common in those parts the first foundation was laid upon Coles the second upon Wooll It was four hundred and twenty five foot long two hundred broad There were in it one hundred and twenty seven Pillars sixty foot in height and thirty six of them curiously wrought the works of so many Kings The doores of the Temple were of Cypresse which after four hundred years were as fresh as if they had been new made The roof was of Cedar The Image which superstition supposed to have come down from Jupiter was made by one Canesia some say of Ebonie others of the vine which had many holes made and filled with Spikenard the moisture whereof closed up the rifts It was enriched and adorned with gifts beyond value Herod The Hill Amara in AEthiopia described In Ethiopia under Prete Janny commonly called Prester or Presbyter John is an hill called Amara situated in the navill of the Ethiopian body under the Equinoctial line adorned with all variety of fruits wholsome air pleasant aspect and prospect yea Heaven and Earth Nature and Industry have all been corrivals to present their riches to it It stands in a great plain having no other hill near it by thirty leagues the form of it is round the rock is cut so smooth without any unequal swelling that to him that stands beneath it 's like an high wall the top is overhanged with rocks jutting forth for the space of a mile It 's above twenty leagues in the circuit compassed with a wall on the top well wrought that so neither man nor beast in chase may fall down The top is a level onely towards the South is a rising hill beautifying this plain whence issueth a pleasant Spring which passeth thorow all that plain and paying its tribute to every Garden that will exact it and making a Lake at length whence issueth a River that from thence runneth into Nilus The way up to it is cut out of the rock not with staires but by an easie ascent so that one may ride up with ease at the foot whereof is a fair Gate with a Corps du Guard Half way up is a fair and spacious Hall cut out of the rock with three large windowes to it and at the top is another gate with the like Guard The air above is wholsome and delectable so that they live long there without sicknesse There are upon it thirty four Palaces standing by themselves spacious sumptuous and beautifull where the Princes of the Royall blood have their abode with their Families There are two Temples also the most beautifull in all Ethiopia There are many flourishing and fruitfull Gardens curiously made and plentifully furnished with European fruits as Pears Pippins c. and of their own as Oranges Citrons Lemons c. It 's also adorned with Cedars Palm-trees c. as also with variety of herbs and flowers to delight the sight taste and sent There are also Cubaio Trees pleasant in taste beyond all comparison and great store of Balm-trees There is plenty of all sorts of Grain and Corn and such charms of Birds as delight the ear with their melodious warbling notes and pleasing the eye with their variety of colours and other creatures that adorn this Paradise The aforenamed Churches have their Pillars and Roofes of stone richly and cunningly wrought the matter and workmanship contending for magnificence That of Jasper Alabaster Marble Porphyrie This of printing gilding and much curiosity To these are adjoyning two stately Monasteries in one whereof are two rare pieces whereon wonder may justly fasten both her eyes The Treasury and the Library of the Emperour neither of which is thought to be matchable in the world neither that of Constantinople wherein were one hundred and twenty thousand Books nor that of Alexandria wherein were seven hundred thousand Books For the number in this Library is numberlesse their price inestimable There are three great Halls each above two hundred paces large with Books of all Sciences written in fine Parchment with much curiosity of golden Letters and other works and cost in writing binding and covers There are all the Greek Fathers The Writers of Syria Egypt Africa and the Latine Fathers with others innumerable in Greek Hebrew Arabick Abyssine Egyptian Syrian and Chaldee There are Poets Philosophers Physicians Rabbins Talmudists Cabalists Hieroglyphicks c. The Treasury leaves them of all other Princes behind it It 's a Sea that every year receiveth new Rivers which never run out every Emperour yearly laying up part of his revenue there The Jewels here kept are incomparable Topazes Amethists Saphires Diamonds c. He hath one Jewel that was found in the River Niger that brings forth more Gemmes then any other in the world which is one piece diversified with a thousand variety of stones It 's about two spanâ— and an half square there are in it one hundred and sixty Diamonds one as large as the Palm of ones hand It hath in it above three hundred Emeralds Rubies the greatest in the world Above fifty Saphires Turqueses Balazes Amethists Spinâ—ls Topazes Jacinths Chrysolites c. Nature here playing the Jeweller and representing a Mapp of the worlds Gemmes in this one Jewel without and infinitely beyond all Art of Man Bernardo de Vecheti a Jeweller being sent thither by Francis de Medicis Duke of Florence to see it accounted it beyond all estimation and value The Emperour also hath made him Tables with thousands of stones set in them In this hill are kept the Princes of the Blood Royal as in a prison and never return thence except they be chosen Emperours Anno Christi 1608. there were six of them These meet altogether when they please to recreate themselves by hauking hunting c. and they have grave persons to instruct them in learning and virtue Purchas Pilgrimage p. 677 c. The admirable High-waies in Peru described In Peru in the West-Indies are two admirable High-waies made by the Ingas or Emperours The one is by the Andes or Forrests from Pasto unto Chile being nine hundred Leagues long the Cawsey five and twenty foot broad and every four leagues hath a stately house where was provision of victuals and apparel and every half League men that stood ready to carry messages and orders from hand to hand The other Way was thorow the Plaines along the coast of twenty five foot broad and on each side