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
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
second having raised a great Army against the French as he was going out of Rome with it he took his keys and threw them into the River Tibur saying That for as much as the keys of Saint Peter would not serve him to his purpose he would be take himselfe to the sword of Saint Paul Of which Pope it is observed that partly by warre partly by cursings he was the cause of the death of two hundred thousand Christians in the space of seven yeares Act. Mon. Pope Nicolas the first prohibited marriage to the Clergy saying That it was more honest to have to do with many women privately then openly to take one wife Insomuch that a Priest of Placâ—ntia being accused to have a wife and children was deprived of his benefice but proving the same woman to be wife to another man and but his Concubine he was restored againe Iohn the twenty fourth was accused before the Councel of Constance for heresie Simony murther poisonings cousenings Adulteries and Sodomy which being proved against him he was deposed and imprisoned whereupon through vexation and griefe he ended his wretched life A certain Cardinal in Rome much blamed a Painter for colouring the visages of Peter Paul too red to whom he tartly replied That he painted them so as blushing at the lives of those who stiled themselves their successors Pope Honorius the second sent one Iohn Cremensis his Legate into England to disswade the Clergy from marriage who having called a Convocation the Legate made a very accurate speech in the praise of a single life and how fit it was that Ministers should live sequestred from the cares of the world but the night following he himselfe was taken in the very act of adultery Mat. Paris Pope Iulius called for his Pork flesh which was forbidden him by his Physicians and said that he would have it Al despito de Dio in dispite of God And having appointed a cold Peacock to be reserved for him when he missed it the next meale he grew into a great rage and being requested not to be so angry for such a trifle he answered That if God was so angry for an Apple why might not he be as angry for his Peacock Act. Mon. Doctor Cranmer with the Earle of Wiltshire and some others being sent by King Henry the eighth to the Pope about his divorce from Queen Katherin when the day of hearing was come and the Pope sitting in his Pontificalibus put forth his foot to be kissed of the Ambassadors an unmannerly Spaniell of the Earles ran and caught his great Toe in his teeth so that the Ambassadors disdaining to kisse where the Dog had taken an assay let the Pope draw back his foot and so they lost the espicial favour offered unto them Speed Chron. 10. 12. Pope Paul the third when his sonne Farnesis had committed an unspeakable violence on the body of Cosmus Chaerius Bishop of Fanum and then poisoned him held himselfe sufficiently excused that he could say Haec vitia me non commonstratore didicit He never learned this of me Pope Pius Quintus spake thus of himselfe Cùm essem Religiosus sperabam bene de salute animae meae Cardinalis factus extimui Pontifex creatus penè despero When I was first in orders without any other Ecclesiastical dignity I had some good hope of my salvation when I became a Cardinal I had lesse since I was made a Pope least of all Corn. è Lapi Before the Pope is set in his chair and puts on his tripple Crown a piece of Towe or Wadd of straw is set on fire before him and one is appointed to say Sic transit gloria munda The glory of the world is but a blaze Also one day in the yeare the Popes Almoner rides before him casting abroad to the poor some pieces of brasse and lead profanely abusing that Scripture saying Silver and Gold have I none but such as I have I give unto you Pope Adrian the sixth having built a faire Colledge at Lovain caused this inscription to be written upon the gates thereof in letters of Gold Trajectum plantavit Lovanium rigavit Caesar dedit incrementum Utrecht planted me there he was born Lovaine watered me there he was bred up in learning and Caefar gave the encrease for the Emperour had preferred him One to meet with his folly and forgetfulnesse wrote underneath Hic Deus nihil fecit Here God did nothing The Popes have a book called Taxa Camerae Apostolicae wherein men may know the rate of any sinne upon what termes a man may keep a whore be a Sodomite murther his father c. When the Emperour Henry the seventh having pacified Germany went into Italy to reforme the many and great abuses there A certain Monk to gratifie the Pope mixed poison with the bread of the Eucharist and gave it him whereof he died Simps Ec. Hist. King John of England having broken with the Pope was afterwards no good friend to him and his clergy especially to their loose and licentious lives whereupon as the King in his progresse rested himself for two dayes at Swinstead-Abby not far from Lincolne a Monk of that house went to his Abbat and told him that he had a purpose to poison the King saying It 's better that one man should die then that all the people should perish The Abbat wept for joy and absolved the Monk from all his sinnes Then did this varlot mixe the poison of a filthy toade with a cup of excellent wine and brought it to the King saying My Liege here is such a cup of wine as you never drank a better in all your life I trust this wassail shall make all England glad and therewithal began a good draught to him and the King pledging him shortly after died Anno Christi 1605. when the powder-plot was in agitation Catesby one of the Plotters repaired to Garnet a Popish Priest with this case of conscience Whether it was lawful in some cases to destroy the innocent with the wicked This good father so soon as he perceived the conspirators to be in good earnest peremptorily resolved that without all doubt it was when the good coming by it might make compensation for the losse of their lives Pope John the twenty third calling a Councel at Rome against the godly Christians in Bohemia when the Councel was set the Masse of the holy Ghost sung and the Pope placed in his chair there came flying in amongst them an ugly Owle with an ill-fauoured hooting and set her self upon a crosse beam just over against the Pope casting her staring eyes upon him whereupon the whole company began to marvel and whispering each to other said Behold the Spirit is come in the likenesse of an Owle The Pope himself blushed at the matter and began to sweat fret and fume and so being in great distraction dissolved the Councel for the present yet afterwards calling another Sessions when they were met in
Christians there assembled but as they were journeying the weather that was clear and faire became cloudy and suddenly a tempest of haile killed many of the Infidels whereby the Christians escaped to their own homes and the Apostate King alone was carried away by the Saracenes Camb. Brit. Irel. p. 1â—8 A Smith in King Edward the sixths dayes called Richard Denson was a forward professor of Religion and by his Christian instructions the happy instrument of the conversion of a young man to the faith Afterwards in the reigne of Queen Mary this young man was cast into prison for his religion who remembring his old friend the Smith to whom he alwayes carried a reverend respect for the good that he had received by him sent to know whether he was not imprisoned also and finding that he was not desired to speak with him and when he came asked his advice whether he thought it comfortable for him to remaine in prison and whether he would encourage him to burne at a stake for his religion To whom the Smith answered that his cause was good and he might with comfort suffer for it But for my 〈◊〉 saith he I cannot burne But he that could 〈◊〉 burne for religion by Gods just judgement was burned for his Apostasie For shortly after his shop and house being set on fire whilest over-eâ—gerly be sought to save his goods himself was burned Under the fourth Persecution there were some Christians who for fear of torments and death denied their faith and sacrificed to Idols yet did not thâ—â— bloody persecutors spare them and it was observed that being full of guilt they went to their death 〈◊〉 dejected and ill-favoured countenanâ—es so â—hâ—â— the very Gentiles took notice of it and reproached them as degenerous persons and worthy to suffer 〈…〉 doers See my Gen. Martyr p. 43. In the late Persecution in Bohemia a godly maâ—…ing tired out with imprisonment promised to 〈◊〉 Catholick and thereupon was released But preâ—…ly after God chastized him for this fault holding 〈◊〉 conscience in captivity so that he could have 〈◊〉 hope of mercy for a whole year together c. 〈◊〉 p. 190. One Philbert Hamlin in France having converted â— Priest to the profession of the truth was together with the Priest apprehended and cast into prison at Burdeaux But after a while the Priest being terrified with the prison and fear of death renounced Christ and was set at liberty whereupon Philbert said to him O unhappy and more then miserable man Is it possible that to save your life for a few dayes you should so deny the truth Know therefore that though you have avoided the corporal sire yet your life shall not be prolonged for you shall die before me and you shall not have the honour to die for the cause of God but you shall be an Example to all Apostates And accordingly as he went out of the prison two Gentlemen that had a former quarrel to him met him and slew him Eodem p. 292. If any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him Heb. 10. 38. CHAP. XXI Examples of Gods judgements upon Atheists Complained of Ps. 14. 1. Rom. 3. 18. That there are such See Job 18. 21. Eph. 2. 12. Ps 50. 21. and 10. 11 13. Such are they that are spoken of Job 21. 14 15. Ps. 73. 11. and 10. 4 11 13. and 59. 7. and 64. 5. and 78. 19 20. and â—4 7. Job 22. 13 14 17. and 34. 9. and 35. 3. Ezek. 8. 12. Tit. 1. 16. Scriptural examples Pharaoh Exod. 5. 2. The fool Psal. 14. 1. The rich glutton Luk. 12. 19. Other examples Some are atheists out of sensuality as Epicurus Lucretius c. Or out of stomack as Diagoras who having written a Poem and prepared it for the publick one stole it from him whereupon he brought him before the Senate of Athens where the man forswore it and was dismissed and afterwards published the Poem in his own name Diagoras seeing this turned Atheist because this fellow was not smitten with some visible vengeance from heaven that had so forsworn himself Porphyrie was at first a Christian but having received some injury from the Christians he became an Atheist and wrote a book against the Scriptures Aristotle reading the history of the creation in Genesis said Egregiè dicis Domine Moses sed quomodo probas You speak of strange matters Sir Moses but how do you prove them Lucian impudently derided not only all the Heathen gods but with the same blasphemous mouth railed upon Christ as a crucified cousener and upon Christians as mad men because they were so forward to suffer Martyrdom and scoffingly said That Jupiter at certain times looked down through some certain cranies in Heaven at which times if men were praying they might be heard otherwise not he was at last torn in pieces by dogs Suidas Caligula the Romane Emperour fancied himselfe a god and would needs finde out a way to imitate Ioves thunder He commanded himselfe to be worshipped and set up his Images every where He dedicated the Temple at Hierusalem to his own worship But when the true God gave forth his voice of Majesty from heaven he that before was so high was now as low and of a poor spirit covering his eyes with his cap running under a bed or creeping into a bench-hole for safety Yet did Gods judgement finde out this Atheist for he reigned but three yeares and three moneths and was slaine by a Tribune Suet. in Calig Herod Agrippa when he suffered himselfe to be honoured as a god was smitten by an Angel because he gave not God the glory and was eaten up of wormes Acts 12. 22 23. Daphida the Sophister going to Apollo's Oracle at Delphos enquired whether he should finde his horse or no whereas he had no horse but did it out of an Atheistical humour to deride the Oracle He was answered that he should finde his horse but being thrown from him he should breake his neck with this answer he made himselfe very merry and so went homewards but by the way he met with King Attalus whom he had sormerly much abused who caused his servants to carry Daphida upon a great rock which was called The horse and from thence to throw him down whereby he was broken in pieces Val. Max. L. 1. Commodus the Emperour was a very Atheist and a great contemner of the Romane gods for which he became hatefull both to God and man and was slaine by his servants as he lay upon his bed his body was cast out into the streets where he was made the object of every ones scorne and at last was thrown into the river Tyber Fulgen. l. 1. c. 2. Heliog abalus forced a Vest all Virgin to marry him made warre against all the gods and contemned all religious serving of them for which he was slaine by his own horsemen his body being dragged up and down the streets and at last thrown into Tyber Ibid. It is said
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
the flesh Gal. 5 20. Scriptural examples Ahab and Zedekiah Jer. 29. 21. Shemaiah Jer. 29. 24 31 32. Hananiah Jer. 28. 13 27. Zedekiah 1 Kings 22. 11 24 25. Shemaiah Nehem 6. 10. Scribes and Pharisees Mat. 15. 3. 16. 6 12 Sadduces Mat. 22. 23. 16. 12. Herod Mark 8. 15. Hymeneus and Alexander 1 Tim. 1. 20. Philetus 2 Tim. 2. 17. Phygellus and Hermogenes 2 Tim. 1. 15. Balaam Revel 2. 14. Barjesus Acts 13. 6 8. Herodians Mark 3. 6. 12. 13. Noadiah Nehem. 6. 14. Jezabel Rev. 2. 20. The Arian Heresie having overspread the City of Antiochia whereupon arose a great Schisme and contention amongst the inhabitants the Lord sent a terrible Earth-quake which overthrew a great part of the City and with the Earth-quake fire also brake forth of the ground which consumed all the residue by both which multitudes of persons perished Evag. Arrius himselfe the father of that Heresie as he was easing nature in a secret place his bowels gushed our and so he died miserably Theod. Saint Augustine being to dispute with Pascentius the Ariâ—â— Pascenâ—ius requested that what passed betwixt them might not be set down in writing and afterwards made his bâ—â—gs that he had wâ—â—sted Augustine in the diâ—pâ—â—e which report was believed of all that desâ—â—ed â—t Aug. 〈◊〉 2 Ep. 17â— Simâ—n Magus after that he was so sharply reproved by â—eter wâ—nt tâ— Rome and taught many abominable heresies affirming himself to be the true God That the wâ—rlâ— was created by Angels that Christ was neither come noâ— did sufferâ— he denied the resurrection of the body brought in the promiscuous use of women used the company of one Hâ—lâ—na an harlot whom he affirmed to be the Holy Ghost and that he begat Angels of her he attempted to shew his power to the people by flying in the aire but falling down he brake his thigh and died miserably Jacks Châ—oâ— p. 186. Manas or Manicheus the Heretick denied the Old Testament called himselfe the holy Spirit and professed that he had power to work miracles whereupon he was sent for by the King of Persia to cure his sonne who lay sick of a dangerous disease but his impostures saiâ—ing and the childe dying under his hand the King caused him to be slaine and his skin taken off and to be stuffed full of chaffe and set up before the gâ—tâ— of the City Simps Nestorius the â—eretick who spake against the union of the Divine and humane nature of Christ making as it were two Christs had his blasphemous tongue â—orted in his mouth and consumed with wormes and at length the earth opened her mouth and swallowed him up Evag. Niceph. The Emperour Valence who was an Arian Heretick was overtaken by the Goths in a Village which they set on fire where in he was burnt to death leaving no successor and his name became a curse and execration to all ages Sozom. Under the reign of Adrian the Emperour there was one called Benchochab who professed himselfe to be the Messias that descended from Heaven in the likenesse of a starre to redeem the Jews whereby he drew a multitude of disciples after him but shortly after himselfe and all his followers were slaine which occasioned the Jews to call him Bencozba the sonne of a lie Eus. Gerinthus the heretick being in a Bath at Ephesus the Apostle John seeing him said to those that were with him Let us depart lest the house wherein the Lords enemy is should fall upon our heads and accordingly when he was gone it fell upon Cerinthus and his associats and killed them Eus. Montanus who denied the Divinity of Christ and called himselfe the Comforter or holy Spirit that was to come into the world And his two wives Priscilla and Maxilla he named his Prophetesses but shortly after God gave him over to despaire that he hanged himselfe Magdebur Niceph. Heraclius the Emperour infected with the Heresie of the Monothelites having raised a great Army against his enemies fifty two thousand of them died in one night whereupon he presently fell sick and died Simps Constance the Emperour a Monothelite was slaine by one of his own servants as he was washing of himselfe in a Bath Simps Constantius the Emperour a great favourer and supporter of the Arian Heresie died suddenly of an Apoplexie Socr. Cyril hath of his own knowledge recorded a wonderful judgement of God upon an Heretick in his time There was saith he presently after the death of Saint Hierom a bold and blasphemous Heretick called Sabinianus who denied the distinction of persons in the Trinity affirming the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost to be but one indistinct person and to gaine credit to his heresie he wrote a book to confirme his opinions which he published in the name of Saint Hierome whereupon Silvanus Bishop of Nazareth sharply reproved him for depraving so worthy a man now dead and to detect his falsehood agreed with Sabinianus that if Hierome did not the next day by some miracle declare his falsehood he would willingly die but if he did the other should die this being agreed upon the day following they went to the Temple at Hierusalem multitudes of people following them to see the issue and the day was now past and no miracle appeared so that Silvanus was required to yield his neck to the headsman which he willingly and confidently did but when he was ready to receive the blow something appeared like Saint Hierome and staid the blow and then vanishing presently the head of Sabinianus fell off and his carcase tumbled upon the ground Grimoald King of Lombardy an Arian Heretick being let blood for some distempers eleven dayes after as he was drawing a bowe the veine opening a new he bled to death Nestorius the Heretick being made Bishop of Constance by Theodosius bespake him thus in a Sermon O Caesar purge me the Land of Hereticks meaning the Orthodox Christians and I shall give thee Heaven Help thou me to root out them and I shall help thee to overcome thine enemies For which cause he was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or fling-fire in French Boutefeux Hist. Trip. About â—he yeere 1629. there lived at Cubbington in Warwick-shire a Gentleman called Master Griswould of a competent estate and a zealous prosessor of Religion familiarly acquainted with most of the godly Ministers and Christians thereabouts and well esteemed of by them till one Canne lately of Amsterdam falling into his acquaintance began to seduce him from his former opinions and practice causing him to scruple first joyning with our Congregations in Prayers and the Sacrament Secondly to question whether he might lawfully hear a conformable Minister though able and godly from thence he fell to separation and after a while he first questioned and after concluded that there was no true Church in the world to which he might adjoyne himselfe and therefore kept himselfe to duties with his own family and rejected all others yet staid he not long here but after
and contempt of the Word of God For which cause the Lord sent amongst them such a contagious plague that the living were scarce able to bury the dead and when by this judgement they were not reclaimed the Lord brought upon them the fierce and cruel Nations of the Saxons and Angli out of Germany who though at first they came to help them yet after a while they turned against them and after much blood-shed drave them out of their Countrey into the mountaines of Wales where they remaine unto this day See this more fully in my English Martyrologie Gildes a godly and learned man was at another time raised up by God to exhort the Britanes to repentance and amendment of life but they laughed him to scorn and took him for a false Prophet for which cause the Lord plagued them delivering them into the hands of their enemies on every side In the Reigne of King Edward the third God raised up John Wickliffs to preach repentance to the English to exhort them to turn from their Idolatry and supersticion But his Ministery was contemned and his body and books were burned after his death For which a heavy judgement befell them They slew their lawfull King and set up three Usurpers on a row by which most of the Nobles of the Land were slaine and one halfe of the Commons so that Cities and Townes were decayed and much of the Land turned to a wildernesse Nicholas Hemingius relates a story of a lewd fellow in Denmark Anno Christi 1550. which usually made a mock at Religion and the professors of it and on a time coming into a Church where a godly Minister was preaching by his countenance and gestures shewed a great contempt against the Word but as he passed out of the Church a tile fell upon his head and slew him in the place Anno Christi 1547. one Christopher Turk a Councellour of estate in Germany mocked a godly Noble-man that was taken prisoner saying See what hecomes of these gallants that use to sing when any one wrongs us God is our succour and defence but assoon as the words were out of his mouth God struck him with a grievous disease and being carried to his bed he died in despaire Beards Theat A profane Priest in Misnia that used to mock at the Sacrament of Baptisme and when a woman-childe came to be baptized would wish them that brought it to throw it into the river as he was looking over the bridge of Elbe at the boats that passed by by Gods just judgement he fell over the bridge and was drowned Beard Two schismatical Donatists at Thipasa in Mauritania commanded the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be thrown to the dogs but immediatly the dogs growing mad fell upon them and rent them to pieces Optat. Melevit l. â— Theopompus a Philosopher being about to insert some of Moses writing into his profane works was immediately stricken with madnesse Joseph Theodectes a Poet that mingled his Tragedies with some of the holy Scriptures was stricken blinde Joseph A husbandman at â—tzsith in Germany being a great despiser of the Word of God on a time railing most bitterly against a godly Minister presently going into the fields to look to his sheep was found dead his body being burnt as black as a coal Luther in Col. Phil. Melancthon relates a story of a Tragedie that was to be acted of the death and passion of Christ But he that acted Christs part on the Crosse was wounded to death by one that should have thrust his sword into a bladder of blood and he with his fall killed one that acted a womans part lamenting under the Crosse His brother that was first slaine seeing this slew the murtherer for which himselfe by the order of justice was hanged February 3. Anno Christs 1652. a Play was acting at Witny in Oxfordshire at the White-Heart-Inne in a great long chamber supported by two strong and substantial beames the place having been formerly a maulting roome the matter of the play was scurrilous and blasphemous containing some bitter taunts against all godly persons under the name of Puritans and at religion it selfe under the name of observing fasting dayes But as they were acting of it it pleased God that the roome wherein the people was fell whereby five were slaine outright and above sixty were hurt and sorely bruised One woman had her leg broken which being cut off she died within three or four dayes besides there were about twelve broken armes and legs and others put out of joynt This is written at large by Mr. John Row a godly Minister and preacher in that place Apian scoffing at Religion and especially at circumcision had an ulcer rose at the same time in the same place Joseph A man in Queen Elizabeths Reigne for compiling a book wherein he had fastened some treasonable dishonours upon the Queen was condemned to die and before his death acknowledged that though he had not done any thing against the Queen which deserved death yet he deserved to die for that he had seduced many of her subjects from hearing the Word of life and though he saw the evil of it and reformed himselfe yet he could never prevaile to reclaime others whom he had seduced and therefore said he The blood of their soules is justly required at my hands He that despiseth despiseth not man but God who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit 1 Thes. 4. 8. CHAP. XLVI Gods judgements upon Dicers and Card-players BY the Elibertine and Constantinopolitan Councils under Justinian Dice-players were punished with Excommunication And the same Emperour made a Law That no man should use Dice-play either in private or publick no nor approve the same by his presence under paine of punishment Cod. l. 3. Tit. 43. Lewis the eighth King of France made a Law that no Cardes or Dice should be made or sold by any thereby to take away all occasion of gaming And surely in these dayes of light under the Gospel all Merchants and Tradesmen should forbear the sale of them lest ministring fuel to the fire of other mens lusts they make themselves guilty of their sinnes In a town of Campania a Jew playing at Dice with a Christian lost a great summe of money to him upon which occasion he belched out most bitter curses against Jesus Christ and his mother the blessed Virgin whereupon the Lord struck him dead immediately in the place and his fellow-gamester the Christian was also stricken with madnesse whereof he died shortly after Blas l. 1. c. 31. Anno Christi 1533. neere to Belissiâ—a in Helvetia three men were playing at Dice on the Lords day and one of them called Ulrick Schraeterus having lost much money at last expecting a good cast brake out into this cursed speech If fortune deceive me now I will thrust my dagger into the very body of God as far as I can and the cast miscarrying he drew his dagger and threw it against heaven
hastily to him she found a knife sticking in him which soon ended his life Then did she return to her other child thinking yet to solace her self with her now onely son but he also in her absence was fallen into the River and drowned whereby she was deprived of them both in one hour Charles the second King of Spain having wasted his spirits with voluptuousnesse and Luxury in his old age fell into a Lethargy And therefore to comfort his benummed joynts he was by the advice of his Physicians sowed up in a sheet steeped in aqua vitae The Chirurgion having made an end of sowing the sheet wanted a knife to cut off the thread whereupon he took up a wax Taper that stood by to burn it off But the flame running by the thread caught hold of the sheet in an instant which according to the nature of Aqua vitae burned so violently that the old King ended his daies in the flame Eschilus the Athenian who fought stoutly in the battel of Marathon was afterwards warned by the Oracle to take off a blow from above upon such a day whereupon he removed out of the City when that day came and went without his hat into the fields thinking to make all sure But an Eagle taking his bald head for a stone let a Tortoise fall upon it which dashed out his brains Plin. The wife of Nausimenes the Athenian finding her son and daughter committing incest together was so affected with the sight of that hainous crime that she could find no words for the present to utter her indignation and ever after remained dumb One Palevizine an Italian Gentleman and kinsman to the learned Scaliger had in one night all his hair changed from black to gray Scal. de sub p. 18. The like befell a Gentleman not many yeares since who was by our former Parliament condemned to death and should the next day have been executed Vergerius the Popes Nuncio intending to write a book against the Lutheran Apostates for so he stiled them whilest he was searching into their tenents with a purpose to confute them was himself converted so that leaving his Bishoprick he lived and dyed a powerful Preacher in Germany See his Life in my first Part. It is a rare happinesse of the family of St. Laurence Barons of Hoath in Ireland that the heires thereof for 400 years together alwaies have been of age before the death of their Fathers Holy War At the siege of Perugia in Italy when the City was as good as wonne onely a Chain which was laid atâ—wart the gate wanted cutting in sunder for a fuller entrance of the Army upon a meer mistake of a Souldier crying Give back meaning to get a fuller blow at the Chain all behind taking it for a word of command ran quite away At the Battel of Munda in Spain between Caesar and Pompey where the whole world lay at the stakâ— when Caesar's Souldiers began to shrink apace and nothing but meer shame kept them from running away by a meer mistake of King Boguds sudden wheeling about to have surprised Caesars Camp Pompey's Souldiers utterly lost the day CHAP. LXX Examples of strange Providences VVHilest Brennus with his Gaules besieged the Roman Capitol some of them in the night-time had with much difficulty climbed up a steep rock upon which it stood and now were ready to scale the walls and to set upon the sleeping watch for neither man nor dog heard them but it fell out that there were some holy geese kept in Juno's Temple which hearing the Gaules began to run upon and down and to cry for fear by which noise the watch was awakened and by this providence the foolish geese betrayed the Gaules and preserved the Capitol Plut. Agathocles had for his Father a Potter himself was brought up in the mire and clay in his youth he learned nothing but impudence whoredoms and uncleannesse but then turning Souldier he was afterwards made a Captain and marrying his predecessors Wife whom he had first defiled he gat great riches by her so that at last he began to attempt the Kingdom of Syracuse but was repelled then he joyned with the Sicilians and brings an Army to besiege Syracuse but prevails nothing then he called the Cathaginians to his assistance yet could not prevail at last he gat the Kingdom by craft and subtilty turned Tyrant murthered the Princes and people then passing with his Army into Africk he makes war with the Carthaginians that had holpen him to the Kingdom and strangely prevails in many Battels yet at last was beaten forsaken by his Army Children and Friends so that almost alone he returned into Sicilie keeps his Kingdom Yet at last his Nephew usurpes the Crown drives away his Wife and Children from him and slew Agathocles Lipsius Leontius the Athenian Philosopher had a daughter called Athenais who was very beautiful and witty and therefore the old man on his death-bed divided his estate amongst his Sons leaving her onely a small Legacy Hereupon she went to Law with her Brothers hoping to recover more of them but being overthrown in the suit she went to Constantinople there she insinuated her self into the acquaintance of Pulcheria the Emperours Sister who enquiring whether she was a Virgin brought her into the Court caused her to be instructed in the Principles of Christianity and Baptized giving her the name of Eudocia and took such a liking to her that she prevailed with her brother Theodosius to take her to wife long she continued in that happy condition but at length fell into suspicion upon this occasion One presented the Emperour Theodosius with an apple of an extraordinary greatnesse which for the rarity of it he sent to his wife Eudocia she presently gave it to Paulinus a facetious and learned man he knowing nothing whence it came again presented it to the Emperour the Emperour marking it well knew that it was the same which he had sent to his wife hereupon he goes to her and asks her for the apple he sent her she rashly affirms that she had eaten it he asks again more earnestly and she affirms the same with an oath Then the Emperour being very angry produceth the apple and suspecting that Paulinus was too familiar with his wife he causeth him to be slain and divorceth his wife she hereupon went to Hierusalem where she led the remainder of her life holily and chastly Lipsius Polycrates King of Samia had never any adversity befell him in all his life but all things happened to him according to his desire Heaven Earth and Sea seemed to favour him wherefore having a Ring that he much prized he threw it into the Sea but shortly after a fish being brought to his Table he found his ring in the belly of it But his end was not such for fighting with Oroetes a Lieutenant of Darius he was overthrown taken prisoner and hanged upon an high Crosse whereby he dyed a miserable and shamefull death Lipsius Valerianus the
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
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
to wars neither King nor people could undertake them Plut. CHAP. LXXXV Persecution Persecute Persecutor COmplained of Job 19. 22. Psal. 10. 2. 69. 26. 71. 11. 119. 86 157 161. 143. 3. Lam. 4. 19. Christ is persecuted in his members Act. 9. 4 5. 22. 7 8. Phil. 3. 6. Rev. 12. 13. Prayed against Psal. 7. 1. 31. 15. 35. 3 6. 142. 6. Flight in persecution Matth. 10. 23. 23. 34. Act. 11. 19. It 's to be patiently born Matth. 5. 10 c. Joh. 15. 20. Rom. 12. 14. 5. 2. 1 Cor. 4. 12. Rom. 8. 35. 2 Cor. 12. 10. Persecutors cursed and threatned Psal. 119. 84. Deut. 30. 7. Jer. 17. 18. Neh. 9. 11. Psal. 7. 13. Jer. 15. 15. 20. 11. Their acts and nature They are said to grieve and shoot at Gen. 49. 23. to hunt the soul 1 Sam. 24. 11. to pursue 1 Sam. 25. 29. to beset round Psal. 22. 12. to waste and devour Psal. 80. 13. to consult against Psal 83. 3. Mad and sworn against Psal. 102. 2. to plow on the back Psal. 129. 3. to hate and cast out Isa. 66 5. to tread down Jer. 12. 10. to rebuke with reproach Jer. 15. 15. 20. 8. to destroy Jer. 50. 1. to chase Lam 3. 52. to cut off life Lam. 3. 35. to hunt mens steps Lam. 4. 18. Pricking briers Ezek. 28. 24. to tear Amos 1. 11. Foxes Wolves Luk. 13. 32. Joh. 10. 12. Act. 20. 19. to breathe threatenings Act. 9. 1. Beasts 1 Cor. 15. 32. exceeding mad Act. 26. 11. to waste Gal. 1. 13. abuse shamefully 1 Thess. 2. 2 to trouble the Church 2 Thess. 1. 6. Antichrists 1 Joh. 2. 18. to war with Rev. 12 17. drunk with blood Rev. 17. 6. Prudentius saith That their names that are written in red letters of blood in the Churches Kalender are written in golden letters in Christs Register in the book of Life Constantine the Great used often to kisse the hollow of old Paphnutius his eye which he had lost for the cause of Christ in the precedent times of Persecution Valentinian a godly Emperor was so highly offended with his brother Valence for persecuting the Orthodox Christians that he denyed to afford him help against the Goths when they invaded his Dominions saying That it was an impious thing to strengthen the hands of a man who had spent his daies in warring against God and his Church Theod. When there was a consultation held at Rome whether Carthage should be demolished yea or no Scipio perswaded the Senators to let it stand lest the people of Rome should want an occasion or object whereon to exercise their valour So God could soon destroy all the persecuting enemies of his Church but he rather suffers them to live that they may be for the exercise of his peoples wisdom faith zeal constancy courage patience and the whole Panoplie of Grace in them See more in my two Martyrologies CHAP. LXXXVI Honesty Piety Holinesse Godlinesse EXhorted to 1 Tim. 6. 11. 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7. 3. 11. Numa Pompilius made a Law amongst the Romans That men should not serve the gods as they passed by or were in haste or did any other businesse but that they should worship and pray to them when they had time and leysure and all other businesses set apart He himself did so firmly put his confidence in them that on a time being told that his enemies were in Armes coming against him he answered At ego rem divinam facio But I am sacrificing to the gods Plut. The Romans having taken the rich City of Veia decreed out of the spoiles to make and send a Cup of massie gold to Apollo at Delphos but when little gold was found in Rome the Souldiers having embezelled it the Roman wives voluntarily out of their devotion brought in all their Jewels with which they made a cup that weighed eight Talents in recompence whereof the Senate ordained that women should be openly praised in funeral Orations which was never used before Plut. When Brennus with his Gaules had overthrown the Romane Army and drew neer to the City most of the people fled out of it and amongst the rest the Vestal Nunnes with their holy fire and as they were going on foot Lucius Albinus one of the common people flying also together with his wife children and best of his goods whom he carried in a cart who seeing the Vestals wearied with carrying their sacred reliques caused his wife and children to alight and threw his goods out of the cart which he gave to the Vestals choosing rather to hazard the losse of all that was dear to him then that those holy things should miscarry Plut. Agesilaus King of Sparta a brave Captain and Commander was wonderful religious and addicted to the services of the gods and so carefull of his oathes that his very enemies having once his oath for any thing thought themselves more secure thereby then if they had been tyed together by any bonds of friendship He reverenced the Temples of the gods even amongst his enemies and would never suffer them to be punished that fled to them for refuge Plut. Pub. Scipio Africanus was of so devout a disposition that he would never undertake any businesse but first he would go to the Capitol and there sit before Jupiter with great devotion as it were to know his mind about it Aur. Victor Agesilaus King of Sparta in all his warres would never suffer the Temples of the gods though amongst his enemies to be injured but alwaies restrained his Souldiers from plundering or profaning of them saying Quòd existimaret divina auxilia non minûs in hostili quà m amico solo imploranda esse That he esteemed that divine help was as necessary and as much to be sought abroad amongst his enemies as at home amongst his friends Xenophon Antiochus King of Syria besieging Hierusalem there fell out the Jewes feast of Tabernacles whereupon they sent out Ambassadours to him intreating him to grant them a truce of seven daies whilest they attended upon the service of God The King did not onely grant their request but sent them also bullocks with gilded hornes and a great quantity of incense and sweet perfumes which he caused at the City gates to be delivered to the Priests with which act of piety the Jewes were so overcome that they made peace with him and yielded up their City to him Lipsius Pausanias King of Sparta and at that time Captain General of all the Grecians in that notable fight against the Persians at Platea when the Persian Army pressed upon him and provoked him to fight he would not suffer a blow to be given till he had consulted with the gods His enemies interpreting his delay to proceed from cowardise pressed more upon him and slew some of his men yet neither then would he suffer them to stirre till he had an auspicious answer after which he obtained a glorious victory over