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
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
his enemies Lipsius Portius Cato was of such an honest and blamelesse life that though he was often accused by his adversaries and forced to plead his cause fifty times yet he alwaies came off with credit and that not by favour friends or bribes but against all these And being again accused in his old age he desired that Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus who was his adversary might be made his Judge which being done he so cleared himself before him that Gracchus acquitted him Lipsius Godlinesse with contentment is great gain 1 Tim. 6. 6. CHAP. LXXXVII Prediction Prophecies THe same day that Alexander the Great was born in Macedonia Diana's Temple at Ephesus in Asia was burned down at which time divers Magicians being present they ran up and down tearing their hair and crying out that that day was born the great plague and Pest of Asia Diod. Sic. The same day that Philip King of Macedon had the City of Potidaea surrendred to him three Messengers one after another brought him word first of a great Victory that Parmenio his General had obtained over the Illyrians Secondly of a victory or prize that his horse had gotten at the Olympick Games Thirdly of the birth of his son Alexander whereupon his Southsayers told him that his son which was born at that tiwe wherein he had gotten three such victories should prove unconquerable Justin Domitius AEnobarbus when his son Nero was born his friends coming to congratulate him for the birth of his son said unto them There can be nothing born to me and Agrippina but that which is detestable and that which is born for the publick hurt Pez Mel. Hist. Nero sending to the Oracle at Delphos to know his final fortune received this ambiguous answer Beware of the 73 year which he understood to be meant of his own ages date but it proved Galba's who dethroned him Superstition is worthily fed with illusion and irreligion as worthily punished with credulity Suet. Learned Gerard tells us of a certain woman called Thoda in Suevia in Germany who Anno Christi 848. Prophesied that that year the world should end which as she said was revealed to her by an Angel Anno Christi 1526. there was an Anabaptist that ran up and down the streets in the City of St. Gallus in Helvetia crying with horrid gestures that the day of the Lord was come that it was present And Anno Christi 1530. upon the like Prophecie another so strongly prevailed with some that he perswaded them the last year of the world was come whereupon they grew prodigal of their goods and substance fearing that they should scarcely spend them in so short a time as the world was to continue An unknown woman came to Tarquinius Superbus in Rome and proffered him the nine books of the Sybils Prophecies at a very great rate which he refused to give her She burned three of them and offered him the other six at the same rate but he refused again whereupon she burnt other three and asked him the same rate for the three remaining which he then bought and layed them up in the Capitol where they continued as Oracles till both Temple and books were burnt Dionys. CHAP. LXXXVIII Examples of the power and prevalency of Prayer IS any sick amongst you Let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him and the prayer of Faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much Elias was a man subject to the like passions as we are and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six moneths And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit Jam. 5 14 c. Fervent prayers are effectual Psal. 34. 4 6 15 17. Matth. 7. 8. Mar. 11. 24. Jam. 1. 5 6. 5. 16. Psal. 3. 4. 107. 6 13. God is a Prayer-hearing God Psal. 65. 2. Delighting in it Cant. 2. 14. It 's as incense to him Psal. 141. 2. Promising to give if we ask Luk. 11. 10. Rom. 10. 12. which promise is sealed with the blood of Christ and back'd with an oath Mich. 7. 20. Joh. 15. 7. Commanding to ask in full â—ssurance Heb. 10. 22. Jam. 1. 6. Encouraging by Parables Luk. 11. 8 9 11 c. 18. 2 c. Sighs and groanes are prayers Exod. 2. 23 24. Psal 79. 11. 12. 5. 39. 12. 56. 8. Rom. 8. 26. Isa. 38. 5. Christ perfumes our prayers with his merits Rev. 8. 3 4. It obtains temporal blessings 1 King 18. 42 c. Zach. 10. 1. God will be sought to Ezek. 36. 37. We shall not seek him in vain Esay 45. 19. It must be tendered in the hand of a Mediatour Matth. 3. 17. Joh 14. 13 14. We must see that we belong to God if we will prevail Psal. 34. 17. 73. 1. Before we ask God heares Isa. 65. 24. Dan. 9. 23. Scriptural Examples of the efficacy of Prayer Abraham praying for Ishmael Gen. 17. 20. For Sodom Ch. 18. 23 c. For Abimelech Ch. 20. 17. Jacob Gen. 32. 24 c. Hose 12. 4. Moses Exod. 14. 15. 15. 25. 17. 11 c. Numb 14. 12 c. Exod. 32. 10. Numb 12. 13. 21. 7. Samuel 1 Sam. 7. 9. Josuah Ch. 10. 12. Elijah 1 King 17. 20. Elisha 2 King 4. 33. Solomon 1 King 3. 11. 9. 3 c. Asa 2 Chron. 14. 11. Hezekiah Isa. 37. 15 c. Jehosaphat 2 Chron. 20. 3 c. Amos Ch. 7. 2 c. the Syrophoenician woman Matth. 15. 22 c. Importunate widow Luk. 18. 2 c. Isaiah Ch. 62. 1 6 7. The persons of Saints are like secret pledges of common quiet and their mediations are a shield to the earth against the wrath of heaven Gregory Nazianzen reports of his sister Gorgonia that her knees seemed to cleave to the earth by reason of her often prayiag And Gregory of his aunt Trucilla that her elbow was as hard as an horn by often leaning upon a desk when she prayed And Eusebius of James Justus that his knees were as hard as a Camels knees bereaved of sense by often praying One reports of Joachim the father of the Virgin Mary that he used to say Cibus Potus mihi est Oratio Prayer is my meat and drink A Gentlewoman being in her Parlour exercised in meditation and prayer cryed out O that I might ever enjoy this sweet Communion with God The Queen-Mother of Scotland in her Warres against the first Reformers confessed openly That she feared more the fasting and Prayers of that man of God John Knox and his Disciples then an Army of twenty thousand men Looking-Glasse of the Holy War Leelin Prince of Wales being perswaded by some about him to make war against our King Henry
death all these and more do necessarily conclude the divine authority of the Scriptures What words of Philosophers could ever make of a Leopard a Lamb of a viper a child of a Leacher a chaste man of a Nabal a Nadib of a covetous carle a liberal person Besides this real there is also a vocal testimony from God to the Divinity of the Scriptures which yet is heard by none but Gods houshold and is confined to the communion of Saints whose consciences he secretly perswadeth of this truth and sweetly seales it up to them Promised Isa. 52. 6. They shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak c. Joh. 7. 17. If any man will do his will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God c. 1 Joh. 5. 10. He that believeth hath the witnesse in himself 1 Cor. 2. 15. The spiritual man discerneth all things for he hath the mind of Christ and an unction within that teacheth him all things 1 Joh. 2. 20 27. So that he no sooner heareth but believes and is sealed with that holy Spirit of promise Ephes. 1. 13. whose inward testimony of the truth and authority of the Scriptures is ever met by a motion of the sanctified soul inspired by the same Spirit more steadfastly resting it self on that testimony then if he should hear from heaven as St. Augustine did Tolle Lege take and read this book of God or than if some Angel should bring him a Bible and say This is the very Word of God For he might suspect these as delusions of the Devil But the testimony of the Spirit we know to be true Job 14. 17. because he is both a Spirit of truth and a searcher of the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. Onely it must be remembred that this inward witnesse must not be brought for confirmation of this Doctrine to others nor for confutation of adversaries But that every one for himself might hereby be certified and satisfied in his conscience that the Sacred Scriptures are the Word of God The Churches testimony without this is but of little value and validity it being meerly informativum et directivum non certificativum et terminativum fidei And whereas St. Augustine saith I should not have believed the Gospel but that the authority of the Church moved me thereto he speaks there of himself as unconverted to the faith and so not acquainted with the Spirits testimony Now no marvel though such be moved by the consent and authority of the Church which is to them an introduction whereby they are better prepared to believe the Scriptures yea inclined at first to think them to be the Word of God and so made willing to read and hear them See this and more in that elaborate piece of my worthy friend called Trapp's Treasury Theopompus the Historian whilest he attempted to insert part of the holy Scriptures into his profane writings by Gods Judgment upon him ran mad Diod. l. 14. Theodates a Tragoedian having intermingled some Scripture-matters with his Tragoedies suddenly lost his sight which was afterwards restored to him upon his prayers when he once came to a sight of his sin Aristaeus One John Ap-howel in Queen Maries daies standing by William Maudon as he was reading on a Primer at Greenwich mocked him after every word with contrary gaudes and flouting speeches unreverently whereupon Maudon said to him John take heed what thou doest thou mockest not me but God in his Word though I be simple that read it Yet went he on in his mocking till Maudon reading Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us the other with a start said suddenly Lord have mercy upon me with that Maudon turning to him said What aileth thee John to which he answered Nothing but that he was afraid Whereof said Maudon Nothing now said the other yet presently after he confessed that at the reading of those words Lord have mercy upon me the hair of his head stood upright with a great fear that came upon him On the next day he ran mad and was bound in his bed and lay continually day and night crying out of the Devil of hell c. See my Eng. Mariyrologâ—e Steven Laâ—cton Archbishop of Canterbury was the first that divided the Scripture into Chapters as now we have them Anno Christi 1220. CHAP. XCVI Servants Slaves THe Scythians having made an eruption into Asia Lorded it there for divers years In the mean time their wives thinking that they had been all slain married their servants that were left to keep their cattel But at last these Scythians being beaten out of Asia by the Medes returned home but then their servants rose in armes against them and after divers fights the victory remained doubtfull at last one told them That fighting against slaves they should not use swords but whips as more proper instruments to subdue their servile nature which advice being well liked against the next encounter they provided them whips with the claping of which their servants were so terrified that they ran away and their Masters remained Conquerours Pez Mel. Hist. The Tyrians having maintained long warres against the Persians were much weakned thereby which occasion their slaves being many in number laying hold of the opportunity to rise up against their Masters and put them all to the sword together with all their children and then seized upon their houses and married their wives onely one of them being more merciful then the rest spared his old Master Straton and his son and hid them Then these Slaves having thus gotten possession of all consulted to choose a King and agreed That he that could first see the Sun rising should be King whereupon this forementioned Slave consulted with his old Master about the businesse who bade him when others looked into the East that he should look into the VVest and accordingly when they were all assembled into the fields and every mans eyes were fixed upon the East he onely looked VVestwards for which his companions scoffed at him but presently he espied the Sun-beams shining upon the high Towers and Chimneys in the City and so challenged the Kingdome His companions would needs know who taught him this wit and at last he told them whereupon fetching out old Straton they not onely gave him his life but made him their King Justin. CHAP. XCVII Sin the fore-runner of Judgments IT brought the flood upon the old world Gen. 6. 5 c. Hell from Heaven upon Sodom Gen. 19. Gods plagues upon Pharaoh Exod. 7. 17 c. Judgments upon Israel Exod. 32. 35. Josu 7. 11. So often in the book of Judges and 1 King 8. 33 c. 2 Chron. 6. 24. Lam. 1. 8. 5. 7. It brought destruction upon Hierusalem See Jewes Before the first destruction of Rome by Brennus and his Gaules the very heathen Writers observe that the people were carelesse of the service of the gods and grown loose and dissolute in matters
go long unpunished for this man upon a quarrel intending to have stabbed another the other party perceiving it to avoid the stroke caught hold on his wrist and forced him to stab his own dagger into his own head which wound could not be cured by Surgery so that he lay cursing swearing and blaspheming and together with an oath breathed forth his accursed soul Gods Justice notably appearing in that his own hand that had written those blasphemies was an instrument to wound his head that had devised them Beards Theat A Gentleman in Bark-shire was an open contemner of God and all Religion a profest Atheist and a scorner of Gods holy Word and Sacraments and being intreated to be a witnesse at the Baptizing of a childe he would needs have him named Beelzebub He was a notorious whoremaster and so addicted to swearing that he could scarce speak without an oath but at last Gods hand found him out For being a hunting he was stricken by God suddenly so that falling backwards on his horse he was taken down stark dead with his tongue hanging out of his mouth after a fearful manner Beards Theat And I perswade my selfe that in these wicked times wherein Atheisme doth so much abound many like examples of Gods judgements might be observed if they were but taken notice of and recorded for Gods glory and caution to others The fool hath aid in his heart There is no God They are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good Psal. 14. 1. CHAP. XXII Examples of Blasphemy Blasphemers and Gods judgements on them IT 's a great sinne Mat. 15. 19. Lev. 18. 2. Psal. 44. 16. Tit. 2. 5. Rev. 13. 1 3 16. 16. 11 21. Lev. 24. 16. Rom. 2. 24. Act. 26. 11. 1 Tim. 6. 1. 2 Pet. 2. 2 12. Act. 13. 45. 18. 6. Mat. 12 31. Luk. 12. 10. 1 John 5. 16. 2 Tim. 2. 3. Rev. 2. 9. Luk 22. 65. To Blaspheme men forbidden Tit. 3. 2. 1 Pet. 4. 4. Jam. 2. 7. 1 Cor. 4. 13. Who they be that Blaspheme See Bernards Thesaurus It ought to be carefully avoided Col. 3. 8. 2 Sam. 12. 14. Psal. 74. 10 18. 1 Tim. 1. 20. Scriptural examples Satan Gen. 3. 4 5. the Egyptians Lev. 24. 11. Sennacherib and Rabshakeh 2 King 19. 6. Esa. 37. 6. Edomites Ezek. 35. 12. Israelites Ezek. 20. 27. Esa. 52. 5. 65. 7. Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 3. 15. Anti. Epiphanes Dan 7. 25. some Jews Mal. 2. 17. 3. 18 19. Act. 13. 45. Scribes and Pharisees Mat. 27. 39 69. 12. 31. John 8. 48. 7. 20. 8. 48. Luke 22. 65. Paul 1 Tim. 1. 13. Hymeneus and Alexander 1 Tim. 1. 20. the whore of Rome Rev. 17. 3. the Beast Rev. 13. 1 5. Unrepentant under plagues Rev. 16. 9. 11. 21. Falsly charged on Naboth 1 King 21. 10 13. and on Christ Mat. 9. 3. 26. 65. Mark 14. 64. John 10. 33. Mark 2. 7. Luke 5. 21. and on Stephen Acts 6. 11 13. Other examples Justinian made a Law that blasphemers should be severely punished by Judges and Magistrates Cod. l. 3. tit 43. King Lewis of France caused a Noble man to have his lips slit with an hot iron for blaspheming the Name of God Fr. Chron. Sennacherib for his Blasphemies had an Angel sent that in one night slew one hundred eighty five thousand of his men and himself was shortly after slain by his own sons 2 King 19. In Julian the Apostates time one Julian Governour of the East to please the Emperour overthrew the Christian Churches and pissed against the communion table and struck Euzojus on the eare for reproving him for it But shortly after the Lord sent upon him a grievous disease his intrails rotting within him so that he voided his excrements at his mouth dying in much misery Another of his officers called Felix seeing the holy vessels which belonged to the Church said in scorne See what precious vessels Maries Sonne is here served withal but shortly after he was taken with a vomitting of blood night and day out of his blasphemous mouth till he died Theod. Libanius the Sophist about the same time at Antioch demanded of a godly and learned Schoolmaster what the Carpenters son did and how he imploied himself He is quoth the other making a Coffin for such a blasphemer as thou art to carry thee to the grave Libanius jested at this answer but within a few dayes he died suddenly and was so buried Theat Hist. Michael a blasphemous Rabbin as he was banquetting with his companions fell to blaspheming Christ and his mother Mary boasting that he had gotten the victory over the Christians God but as he went down the stairs out of the roome he fell down and brake his neck Fincelius One Dennis Benefield a girle of twelve years of age going to school amongst other girles they fell to reasoning of God what he was One said he was a good old Father but this Dennis said blasphemously that he was an old doting fool the next day as she went between London and Hackney she was suddenly stricken dead one side of her being all black and was buried at Hackney Act. Mon. Olympius an Arian Bishop being at a Bath in Carthage reproached and blasphemed the sacred Trinity whereupon he was suddenly smitten with three flashes of lightning which burned him to death Pau. Diaconus Agoland a King of the Moores having long promised to be baptized came at length very gallantly attended to the Court of Charemaine King of France to performe his promise where seeing many Lazers and poor people expecting the Kings almes he asked What they were answer being made that they were the messengers and servants of God he speedily posted away protesting desperately that he would not serve that God who could keep his servants no better Simon Churnay a Master of Paris Anno Christi 1201. having most subtilly and acutely disputed about the Trinity some of his familiar friends perswaded him to put it in writing that so the memorial of such excellent things might not be lost whereupon he proudly brake forth into this blasphemous speech O Jesule Jesule O little Jesus little Jesus how much have I confirmed advanced thy law in this question but if I list to deal crosly I know how with stronger reasons and arguments to weaken and disprove the same Which was no sooner spoken but he was stricken dumb not only so but he became an Ideot and ridiculously foolish and was made a common hissing and mocking stock to all that saw him Mat. Paris Frederick the second Emperour of Germany used to say that there were three notable impostors which seduced the world more then any other viz. Moses Christ and Mahomet Lipsius Alphonsus the tenth King of Spaine used to say that if he had been with God at the first making of the world it had been framed farre better and more regularly Lipsius About the year 1511. there were some godly Christians
here in England convented before the Bishop where they were charged for that in the night-time they used to read in a great book of Heresie meaning the Bible certain chapters of the Evangelists in English cantaining in them divers erroneous and damnable opinions and conclusions of Heresie See my English Martyrology p. 60. Mr Hauks being convented before Bishop Bonner for refusing to have his childe baptized the Bishop asked him the reason of it He answered because he durst not admit of their use of oile spittle cream salt c. whereupon one Darbishire the Bishops kinsman said to him in a blasphemous manner You are too curious you will have nothing but your little pretty Gods Book Eodem p. 141. Master Denley Martyr as he was burning at Uxbridge in the middest of the flames sung a Psalme whereupon Doctor Story commanded one to hurle a faggot at him which hitting him on the face made it to bleed so that Master Denley gave over singing then said Story Truly thou hast marred a good old song Eodem p. 148. Julian at Constantinople offered sacrifice to the goddesse Fortune whereupon Maris Bishop of Chalcedon rebuked him sharply calling him an impious person an Apostate an Atheist c. The Emperour on the contrary called the Bishop Blinde fool blasphemously adding Thy God of Galilee will not restore thy sight to thee again Maris replied I thank my God for making me blinde that I might not behold so ungracious a face as thine is See my General Martyrology p. 84. In the late Persecution in Bohemia a Popish Captain going into one of the Churches took a cup from the Communion table being full of wine and drank to his horse who having pledged him he blasphemously said Now my horse is one of the communicants in both kindes Eodem p. 152. At the same time when divers godly Nobles and Citizens were carrying to prison in Prague the Papists insultingly cried after them Why do you not now sing The Lord reigneth Eodem p. 169. When any of the protestants desired to be convinced by Scripture they answered with scoffs and jeers saying That the Scripture was impersect obscure ambiguous and the fountaine of Heresie the sanctuary of Hereticks which lay-men had nothing to do with They called the Bible Witlia which in the Bohemian language signifies Vomit c. Eodem p. 189. A godly man called Nicolas being apprehended in the Lowcountreys for Religion as he was going to dinner craved a blessing whereupon a Popish Captaine that was present swearing grievously said Let us see thou lewd Heretick if thy God can deliver thee out of my hand Eodem p. 257. At Angiers in France the Papists burnt many Bibles and meeting with one faire gilt one they hung it on an halbard carried it in procession saying Behold truth is hanged the truth of the Huguenotes the truth of all the devils Behold the mighty God behold the everlasting God will speak and when they came to the Bridge they threw it into the River crying louder Behold the truth of all the devills is drowned Eodem p. 302. About the same time at Volougnes the mercilesse Papists took a godly Minister slew him stripped his body naked dragged it up and down and at last brought it to the chamber where he used to preach to his people saying Now pray to thy God and preach if thou canst Eodem p. 304. At the same time one Monsieur Monluc having defeated a party of the Protestants took many prisoners most of which he hanged especially the Ministers And amongst the prisoners finding a Captaine called La-moth he gave him divers stabbes with his dagger and then thrust him thorow with his rapier saying Villaine thou shalt die in despite of God Yet he proved a liar for the man afterwards was miraculously cured of his wounds Eodem p. 305. At Orleance as they murthered the Protestants they cried out Where is now your God what is become of all your Prayers and Psalmes now Let your God that you called upon save you if he can Others sang in scorne Judge and revenge my cause O Lord Others Have mercy on us Lord c. Eodem p. 316. See many more in my General Martyr In my English Martyr and in my books of Lives Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander whom I have delivered unto Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme 1 Tim 1. 20. CHAP. XXIII Examples of profane Scoffers THe Apostle Peter 2 Pet. 3. 3. foretold that in the last dayes should come Scoffers walking after their own lusts and therefore it is no marvel if we who live in the end and dregs of these last dayes finde this prophecie fulfilled Ishmael was a scoffer in Abrahams family and the Church hath alwayes been pestered with some of his brood and therefore we may lesse wonder if we meet with such amongst those which live out of the pale of Gods Church Some Instances whereof these following examples will exhibite unto us Foretold 2 Pet. 3. 3. Jude 18. They are wicked persons Prov. 9. 7 8. 13. 1. 14. 6. 15. 12. 21. 24. 24. 9. Isa. 29. 10. Psal. 79. 4. Prov. 1. 22. 3. 34. 19. 29. Psal. 123. 4. 1. 1. Prov. 29. 8. Act. 2. 13. Heb. 11. 36. Scriptural examples The Caldeans Hab. 1. 10. Men of Judah 2 Chron. 30. 10. Sanballat c. Neh. 2. 19. Jobs friends Iob 16. 20. Davids enemies Psal. 22. 7. Christs enemies Mat. 9. 24. Mark 5. 40. Luk. 8. 53. Little children 2 King 2. 23. Men of Judah 2 Chron. 36. 16. Souldiers Mat 27. 29 31. Luk. 22. 63. 23. 11 36. Athenians Act. 17. 32. Some others Job 17. 2. Psalm 35. 16. Ier. 15. 17. 20. 7. Ishmael Gen. 21. 9. King Lewis the eleventh of France alwayes wore a Leaden god in his hat and when he had caused any one whom he either feared or hated to be killed he would take it off from his head and kisse it beseeching it that it would pardon him this one evil act more and it should be the last that he would commit Mockeries fit to be used towards a Leaden but not towards the ever-living God Hist. of holy War Martiques Governour of Britany in France in the warre against the Protestants perswaded them to yield to the King for that their strong God had now forsaken them and scoffingly said that it was time for them to sing Help us now O Lord for it is time But shortly after he found that their strong God was living able to help the weak to confound the proud himself being presentiy after slaine in the siege Act. Mon. A Gentleman in France lying upon his death-bed the Priest bringing him the Sacrament of the Altar and telling him that it was the body of Christ he refused to eat it because it was Friday Another also in the like case seeing the Hoast brought to him by a Lubberly Priest scoffingly said that Christ came to him as once riding upon an