through the Pride of his countenance will not seek after God God is not in all his thoughts Ps. 10. 4. CHAP. XVII Examples of Humility COmmanded Col. 3. 12. 1 Pet. 5. 5 6. Jer. 13. 18. Jam. 4. 10. Mich. 6. 8. 2 King 22. 19. Commended 2 Chron. 34. 27 12. 6 7 12. 30. 11. 32. 26 Mich 6. 8. Act. 20. 19. Prov. 16. 19. Ps. 131. 2. Lam. 3. 20. Promises made to it Prov. 15. 33. 22. 4 Luke 1. 4 11. 2 Chron. 7. 14. Mat. 18. 4. 23. 12. Job 22. 29. Psal. 9. 12. 10. 12. 2 9. 34. 2. 69 32. Isa. 57. 15. Jam. 4. 6. Lev. 26. 41. Isa. 2. 11. 5. 15. 10. 33. Prov. 29. 23. Contrary complained of Jer. 44. 10. Dan. 5. 22. 2 Chr. 36. 12. 33. 23. Scriptural examples Abram Gen. 18. 27. 23. 7. Jacob Gen. 32. 10. 33. 3. Josephs brethren Gen. 50. 18. Moses Exod. 3. 11. 4. 10. 18. 7. Numb 12. 3. Gideon Jud. 6. 15. 8. 2 23. Reubenites Jos. 23. 21 22. Ruth ch 2. 11. Hannah 1 Sam. 1. 16. David 1 Sam. â—8 18 23. 24. 8 14. 26. 20. 2 Sam 7. 18. 15. 26 30. Abigail 1 Sam. 25. 41. Mephibosheth 2 Sam. 9. 8. 19. 27 28. Solomon 1 King 3. 7. Ahab 1 King 21. 27. the Captain 2 King 1. 13. Naaman 2 King 5. 9. Hezekiah 2 King 20. 19. 2 Chron. 32. 26. Josia 2 King 22. 19. Jehosaphat 2 Chron. 19. 3. 20. 5. Manasseh 2 Chron. 33. 12. Job ch 1. 20. 9. 15. Isaiah ch 20. 2. Jeremiah ch 1. 6. 11. 19. Esekiel ch 2. 1. Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 2. 46. Daniel ch 9. 7 18. John Baptist Mat. 3. 1 14. Mar. 1. 7. Christ Isa. 53. 7. Mat. 3. 13. 8. 20. 11. 29. 20. 28. Centurion Mat. 8 8. Luke 7. 6. Woman Mat. 15. 25 27. Marke 7. 28. Apostles Mat. 21. 7. Vir. Mary Luke 1. 38. Elizabeth Luke 1. 41 42. Peter Luk. 5. 8. Act. 10. 26. Publican Luk. 18 13. Paul Act. 9. 6. 14. 14. 22. 10. Rom. 15. 30. 1 Cor. 15. 8 9. 2 Cor. 11. 7. 12. 11. Eph. 3. 8. Phil. 4. 12. 1 Thes. 2. 7. 2 Thes. 1. 11. 1 Tim. 1. 15. Other examples The Grecians being ready to joyn battel with Xerxes his navy the Lacedemonians would needs appoint an Admiral for the Grecian navy which of right belonged to the Athenians yet the Athenians preferring the safety of Greece before their own right willingly condescended to it Intelligebant enim interituram esse Graeciam si de dominatâ— intempestive contenderent c. Herod The Grecians being ready to joyne battel with the Persians there arose a contention between the Athenians and Areadians about the precedency of place the Athenians said to them Though we might justly challenge the precedency in regard of our actions both ancient and moderne yet considering the present state of affaires we will not now contend about it but will humbly submit to the judgement of the Lacedemonians let them place us where they please onely this we are resolved of that where ever they place us we will endeavour to honour the place by our valiant actions Pez Mel. Hist. Mardonius the Persian General being beaten by the Grecians and his army routed himself with most of the Persian Nobility fled into the City of Thebes Whereupon one Lampus perswaded Pausanias the King of Lacedemon to â—lay Mardonius with the other Persian Nobles telling him that it would much redound to his hounour But Pausanias being no whit puffed up with the victory answered him humbly that such cruelty was fiâ—ter for the Barbarians then the Grecians and therefore â—aith he I am onely content with the honour of speaking and doing such things as may be pleasing to my Spartanes Pez Mel Hist. See the example of Aristides in Constancy and in Moderation In the Wars which the Grecians made with Darius when the Generaâ—ship of the Athenians was conferred upon Aristides he in humility transferred it to Miltiades saying to the other Captains It is not dishonourable but honest and safe to obey and submit to the command of wise men Plut. Before the battel of Marathon the Tagaeatae strove with the Athenians about the chiefest place in the Army whereupon Aristides said to them Locus neque dat neque adâ—mit virtutem c. The place doth neither give uor take away valour therefore whatever place ye assigne unto us we will endeavour to adorne and defend the same that so we may do nothing unworth our former victories for we came hither not to contend with our friends but to fight with our enemies nor to boast of the actions of our Progenitors but to prove our selves valiant men for this present battel shall shew how much Greece oweth to every City Captaine and private souldiers Pez Mel. Hist. Brasidas the Lacedemonian General having given the Athenians a great overthrow yet shortly after died of a wound that he received in that battel after whose death his mother hearing every one highly extolling his valour said My son truly was a good a valiant man yet he hath left behinde him many of his fellow Citizens that farre excell him in vertue and valour The Ephori hearing of this her speech caused her to be publickly honoured and praised for that she preferred the publick honour of her countrey before the private praise and glory of her son Pez Mel. Hist. After the death of Romulus the Romanes chose Numa Pompilius a Sabine of the City Cures for their King and sent Ambassadours to him to acquaint him with their choice and to desire his present repaire to their City The Ambassadours thought that few words would have prevailed with him to accept of it But he being a prudent and humble man answered them that change and alteration of a mans life was exceeding dangerous but for him that lacked nothing neither had cause to complaine of his present state it was great folly to leave his present known condition and to enter into a new and unknown so that it was long before they could prevail with him to accept of the Kingdom Plut. Certaine fishermen of the Isle of Co casting their net into the sea some strangers that were passing by would needs buy their draught at an adventure and when they drew up their net there came up in it a three-footed stoole of massie gold hereupon the strangers and fishermen fell at strife about it and their Citizens taking part on both sides Warre had like to have ensued betwixt them But the Oracle at Delphos being consulted with commanded them to give the stoole to the wisest man that then was upon this they sent it to Thales at Miletum But Thales sent the stoole to Bias judging him a wiser man then himself He again sent it to another as a wiser man then himself and the third to a fourth so that being thus posted from man
mystery of iniquity and suspecting no hurt did it and so defiled their consciences which afterwards filled them with such extreame grief and horror that they offered to expiate their sin with their blood Theod. I say unto you my friends Be not afraid of them that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do But I will forewarne you whom you shall feare Fear him which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell yea I say unto you Fear him Luke 12. 4 5. CHAP IV. Examples of Gods judgements upon Persecutors THere hath ever been from the beginninâ—â—n inveterate antipathy between Satan and his instruments and the children of God whence it is that wicked men being more for number and stronger in power then Christs flock have watched all opportunities to be pushing and goaring of them yea solacing and pleasing themselves in the others sufferings So that if Christ the great Shepherd of his sheepe should not cut short or break off the hornes of the wicked there would be no living by them yet the Lord may and many times doth lengthen the chaine and enlarge the power of such to do much mischief though not to the ruine and subversion of the Church yet to the cutting off many of the members but still with this promise that when he hath accomplished all his work upon mount Sion and Jerusalem he will then visit the proud heart of those his enemies and like a loving and tender Father when he hath sufficiently corrected his children he will burne the rod in the fire so that all shall say Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth The truth where of will manifestly appear in these examples following Manasses King of Judah being reproved by that aged and reverend Prophet Esay he caused him near to the fountain of Silce to be sawen in sunder with a woodden saw in the eightieth yeere of his age for which cruel fact amongst other of his sins see his punishments 2 Chron. 33. 11. c. Antiochus Epiphanes a grievous blasphemer of God and a cruel persecutor of the Jews proudly protesting that he would make Jerusalem a common burying place and the streets thereof to runne with their blood being smitten by God as he went thitherward began to relent seeming very penitent and vowed that if he recovered he would do many and great things for the people of God and that he would become a Jew and go through all the known world to declare the power of God but the Lord knowing his hypocrisie still continued his disease which was a remedilesse paine of the bowels intolerable torments of the inward parts his body breeding abundance of Wormes which issued out of the same so that he rotted above ground and by reason of the intolerablestinke thereof no man could endure to come neere him yea himself could not abide the same and so he ended his wretched life in much misery Josephus Herod the great who caused the babes of Bethlehem to be slaine hoping thereby to destroy Christ shortly after was plagued by God with an incurable disease having a slow and slack fire continually tormenting his inward parts a vehement and greedy desire to eat and yet nothing sufficed him a grievous flux in the fundament a droptick humour issuing from his feet a rotting of his inward bowels an issue from his bladder his privy members rotted ingendring abundance of wormes which issued from the same a short and stinking breath and great paine in breathing and in all his members so violent a crampe that nature was not able to bear it and so growing mad with paine he died miserably Euseb. Herod Antipas who beheaded John Baptist not long after falling into disgrace with the Romane Emperour with his incestuous Herodias the suggester of that murther they were banished and fell into such misery and penury that they ended their wretched lives with much shame and misery Euseb. Caiaphas the high Priest who gathered the Councel and suborned false witnesses against the Lord Christ was shortly after put out of his office and one Jonathan substituted in his room Whereupon he killed himself Euseb. Pontius Pilate who condemned our Lord Christ shortly after falling into disgrace with the Romane Emperour was by him banished and fell into such misery that he hanged himself Euseb. Herod Agrippa having slaine James the brother of John with the sword and imprisoned Peter intending to have slaine him also presently after in the middest of all his pompe was smitten by the Angel of God and was devoured of Worms Act. 12. 23. Nero that monster of men who raised the first bloody Persecution to pick a quarrel with the Christians set the City of Rome on fire and then charged it upon them under which pretence he exposed them to the fury of the people who cruelly tormented them as if they had been common burners and destroyer of Cities and the deadly enemies of mankinde Yea Nero himself caused them to be apprehended clad in wilde beasts skins and torne in pieces with Dogges others were crucified Some he made bonefires of to light him in his night-sports In briefe such horrible cruelty he used towards them as caused many of their enemies to pity them But God found out this wretched Persecutor at last For being adjudged by the Senate an enemy to mankinde he was condemned to be whipt to death for the prevention whereof he cut his own throat Niceph. Tacit. Anal. l. 5. Domitian the authour of the second Persecution against the Christians was so puffed up with pride that he would needs be adored as a god But against him rose up his own houshold-servants who by the consent of his wife slew him with daggers in his privy chamber his body was buried without honour His memory cursed to posterity and his Armes and Ensignes were thrown down and defaced Sueto Eutrop. Trajan though in the government of the common-wealth he was a good and prudent Prince yet by the suggestion of Satan raised the third Persecution against the Church For which cause the vengeance of God and his heavy hand fell upon him For first he fell into a Palsie then lost the use of his senses afterwards fell into a dropsie died in great anguish Dion Hadrian who raised the fourth Persecution and caused ten thousand Christians to be crucified in Armenia at one time and afterwards stirred up a hot Persecution against them in all places was striken by God with an issue of blood which so weakened and disquieted him that he would faine have made away himself Then fell he into a consumption of the Lungs which he continually spat out and after with an insatiable dropsie so that finding himselfe in such horrible torment he desired poison to hasten his death or a knife to cut his throat But these being kept back from him he was forced to indure the torment and so died in much misery Spart Marcus Antonius verus who continued the fourth Persecution exercising
the cause of the Gospel but afterwards Apostatizing to Poperie he began to be much troubled in minde and from thence fell into despaire against which he wrestled a great while but at length being wholly overcome by it as he was drawn to walk into the fields with some scholars his familiar friends he feigned wearinesse and so sat down by a springs side and his friends being gone a little before he drew out a dagger and stabbed himself into the breast his friends seeing him shrinking down and the water discoloured with his blood ran to him took him up searched his wound and carried him to the next house but whilest they were busie about him he espied a knife by one of their sides whereupon he plucked it forth and suddenly stobbed himself to the heart whereby he died miserably Act. Mon. Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester cried out on his death-bed that he had denied his Master with Peter but not repented with Peter and so stinking above ground ended his wretched life See my English Martyrolgy Master West Chaplaine to Bishop Ridley and a Preacher and Professour of the truth in King Edward the sixths dayes afterwards in Queen Maries time he turned Papist forsook his Master and said Masse though it were against his conscience For which he fell into such torment of conscience that he pined away and so died Act. Mon. Of Hardings Apostacie See in my second Part in the Life of the Lady Jane Gray As also divers other examples in my Martyrologies Theoderick an Arian King of the Vandals did exceedingly affect and love a certaine Orthodox Deacon but the Deacon thinking farther to ingratiate himself and to get greater preferment Apostatized from the truth and turned Arian which when the Emperour understood he turned his love into hatred and commanded his head to be struck off saying That if he proved false and unfaithful to his God how could he expect any good or faithful service from him Adam Neucerus sometimes a professour of the truth and Pastour of a Church in Heidleberg afterwards plaid the Apostate upon some discontent and turned Turk But not long after he died miserably in Constantinople Mel. Adam in vit Gerl. See the History of Francis Spira A Treasurer of Julians to please his Lord and Master Apostatized from the faith and coming into a Church where he saw the holy vessels scoffingly said Behold with what vessels they minister to the Son of Mary but shortly after he vomited all the blood in his body out at his mouth whereby he died miserablis Theod. L. 3. During the Heptarchy of the Saxons in England there were in Northumberland two Kings Ostrich and Eaufride who before their coming to the Crown had been instructed and trained up in the Christian Religion by Paulinus a worthy and godly Bishop But after they came to their Kingly dignities they renounced Christ and returned to the service of their filthy Idols Whereupon as they forsook Christ he forsook them and within one yeares space both of them were slaine by Cedwalla King of the Britanes Beda Cardinal Poole whilest he was in Italy was informed of the truth and was a savourer of it as you may see in Peter Martyrs Life in my first Part but afterwards he became a cruel Persecutor of it here in England in Queen Maries dayes but it pleased God that about two dayes after the Queens death he died in horrible fear and terrour Peter Castellan Bishop of Maston who sometimes had been a forward professour of the truth but afterwards turning to Popery in a Sermon at Orleance he enveighed bitterly against the profession and professors of the true Religion whereupon it pleased God to strike him with a strange and terrible disease unknown to Physicians for one halfe of his body burned like fire and the other halfe was as cold as ice and in this torment with horrible cries and groans he ended his wretched life A Gray Frier called Picard who sometimes made a Profession of the truth afterwards fell away and preached against it adding infinite blasphemies against the truth But presently after God struck him speechlesse and so being carried to his bed half dead he presently after died without the least signe of Repentance Lambespine a Counsellor in the Parliament of Grenoble had formerly been a professour of the Reformed Religion but falling from the truth he became a Persecutour of the godly in Valence of Daulphine and amongst others of two godly Ministers which suffered Martyrdome But shortly after he fell passionately in love with a young maide whom shamefully he followed up and down whithersoever she went and seeing his love and labour despised he pined away with grief and being regardlesse of himself multitudes of lice bred and fed upon him yea they issued out abundantly from every part of his body So that feeling Gods heavy vengeance upon him he began to despaire of mercy and resolved to pine himself which purpose the lice seemed to further for they clustered so many in his throat as almost choaked him and when some of his friends pittying his condition set open his mouth with a gag to poure in broth the lice went down with it and choaked him so that as he had gagged the godly Ministers at their death himself died with a gag in his mouth King Henry the fourth of France who had all his life-time before been a Protestant shortly after he came to the Crown of France when he had almost subdued all his enemies which opposed him thereâ—n suddenly turned Papist Not long after as he was taking his leave of his Nobles to begin his Progresse one John Castile suborded by the Jesuites intended to have stabbed him into the body with a knife but the King at the same instant stooping to take up one of his Lords who was on his knees before him the blow fell upon his right upper jaw cutting out one of his teeth and somewhat wounding his tongue It is reported that in his progresse a Protestant Minister in private conference said unto him You have denied God with your tongue and have received a wound in the same take heed of denying him with your heart lest you receive a wound in that also which indeed proved a prophecie for riding abroad in his Coach to refresh himself one Ravilliac watched his opportunity and stabbed him first into the left pap and with a second blow struck him between the fifth and sixth rib cutting asunder the veine leading to the heart the knife entering into the vena cava of which wound he died French Hâ—st Read also the history of Francis Spira lately printed and observe Gods severe judgements upon him for his Apostasie In the year 1287 the King of Hungary forsaking the Christian saith became an Apostata and when he had called fraudulently to a Parliament the great Potentates of his land Meramomelius a puissant Saracene came upon them with twenty thousand souldiers carrying away with him the King with all the
Benjamin wept upon his neck Gen. 45. 14. Brethren unnatural Breaches amongst brethren are great Pro. 18. 19. Not to be trusted Jer. 9. 4. Mat. 10. 21. It 's a cursed thing to divide brethren Pro. 6. 19. Scriptural examples Cain Gen. 48. 1 Joh. 3. 12. Esau Gen. 27. 44. Josephs brethren Gen. 37. 18 c. Abimelech Judg. 9. 5. Absalom 2 Sam. 13. 28. Onan Gen. 38. 9. Simeon and Levi brethren in evil Gen. 49. 5. Bassianus and Geta the two sons of Severus were left by him to succeed in the Romane Empire who being at deadly feud betwixt themselves Bassianns watching his opportunity when all were at dinner came with some other cut-throats into his brother Gâ—ta's chamber and before he could provide for his own defence slew him in his mothers armes Imp. â—â—ist In the reign of Queen Mary Richard Woodmans brother joyning with his father betrayed him into the hands of his bloody persecutors whereby he suffered Martyrdome See my English Martyrology 1 4. Cambyses King of Persia seeing his brother Smerdis draw a stronger bowe then any of the reâ—â— of his Souldiers could do was in enslamed with envy against him that he caused him to be slâ—â—ne Not long after Cambyses caused a young Lion and a young Maâ—â—iffe to fight together before him but the Lion being too hard for the Dog another Whelp of the same litter brake his chaine and came in upon the Lion and so being two they were too hard for the Lion whereupon Cambyses laughed but his wife who was also his sister fell a weeping and Cambyses asking her the cause she answered Because seeing the Whelp to help his brother I thinke of Smerdis whom thou hast slain and yet he hath none to revenge his death This â—o provoked Cambyses that he slew her also Pez Mel. Hist. It hath been the constant practice of the great Turk ever since the beginning of that Empire till of late that so soon as he came to the Crown he sent and strangled all his brethren Turk Hist. My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook and as the stream of brookes they passe away Job 6. 15. CHAP. XXXIV Examples of Fortitude Valour and Magnanimity WHil'st a people walk in obedience to God he hath promised that they shall chase their enemies who shall fall before them on the sword and that five of them shal chase an hundred and an hundred of them shal put ten thousand to flight Lev. 26. 7 8. Whence it appeares that the spirit of courage and valour is from the Lord who by small and weak meanes doth many times effect great and wonderfull things that the glory of all may be his We have had much experience hereof in these unhappy bloody civil warres wherein our great victories and successes have been obtained and carried on most happily when the enemy hath been most elated and our selves most weak and almost in despaire neither is this any new thing but according to Gods dealings in former times as these following Scriptures Examples will more clearly evince Exhorted to Joshua 1. 6 7. 23. 6. Phil. 1. 28. 1 Peter 3. 6. Scripturall examples Abraham Gen. 14. 14. Jacob Gen. 48. 22. Jephthah Judg. 11. 1. Gideon Judg. 6. 12. David 1 Sam. 16. 18 50. 2 Sam. 17. 8. Davids Worthies 2 Sam. 23. 8 c. and 20. 24 39. Jehoiadah 2 Sam. 23. 20. Cherethites and Pelethites 1 King 1. 8 44. the Sons of Ulam 1 Chron 8. 40. Barak Sampson c. Heb. 11. 32. Saul 1 Sam. 9. 1 2. Joab 2 Sam. 11. 6. Abishai 2 Sam. 23. 18. Jeroboam 1 King 11. 28. Jonathan 1 King 1. 42. Abner 1 Sam. 17. 55. 26. 15. the sons of Perez Neh. 11. 6. Jehu 2 Kings 9 24. Others 1 Sam. 2. 15. 1 Chron. 12. 2 Chron. 17. 16 17. 26. 13 14. In and for Religion Azariah and the Priests 2 Chron. 26. 17. Shadrach c. Dan. 3. 12 16 17. Daniel Chap. 6. 10. Joseph Matth. 27. 57. Peter and John Acts 4. 19. Steven Acts 6. 8 10. and 7. 52. Paul Acts 13. 10. and 17. 17. and 19. 30. and 21. 13. Elijah 1 King 18. 15 18 40. Micaiah 1 Kings 22. 14 19. Jehoiadah 2 King 11. 4. Elisha 2 Kings 3. 13. Other examples Darius sent a very great Army of Horse and foot in 600 Gallies against the Athenians charging his Commanders to destroy the City and bring all the people captives to him accordingly they â—ailed into Attica where landing they made grievous spoile of all before them thinking that Athens would have submitted so soon as they came near them but the Athenians choosing Miltiades for their Generall sent him forth with ten thousand Citizens and one thousand Auxiliaries who marching to Marathon about two leagues from Athens encountered with the great Army of the Persians charging them so furiously that they prevented the throwing of their darts and enforced them to run away like sheep to their Navy and after a great carnage they burnt and took many of their ships also At this time Themistocles being a very young man shewed much valour and dexterity in the battel Justin. Also in this battel Cynaegirus an Athenian shewed such incomparable valour that pursuing the Persians to then ships when some of them were putting off from the shore he caught hold of one of the ships with his right hand holding it till his hand was cut off then did he lay hold on it with his left hand till that also was cut off and then he caught hold of it with his teeth Iustin. Xerxes sending his Ambassadours to Lacedaemon and Athens requiring them to send him earth and water in token of their homage they out of greatnesse of spirit scorning the message took his Ambassadours and threw some of them into a Jakes others into a pit of water bidding them to take earth and water from thence if they pleased to carry to their Lord. Pezel Mel. Hist. The Lacedemonians in their publick feasts had alwayes three dances The first of old men who sang We have been young and strong and valiant heretofore Till crooked age did hold us back and bid us do no more The second of young men who sang We yet are young bold strong and ready to maintaine That quarrel still against all men that do on earth remain The third of children who sang And we do hope as well to passe you all at last And that the world shall witnesse be ere many yeares be past In their warres they assaulted their enemies very fiercely and never gave over till the flight of their enemies had assured them of the victory and then they quickly and quietly retreated into their camp judging it unworthy their manhood and an ignoble action to kill and hew in pieces men once scattered and out of order this much surthered their victories their enemies being upon their flight secured from further danger Plut. When Alexander M. had put Calisthenes to death he suspected Lysimachus another of his
fear their crying children withall He fought five times upon one day with them and five times foiled and put them to slight He killed that valiant Viceroy of Asia Mefites Bassa with his sonne and twenty thousand Turks moe At that famous battel of Vascape with fifteen thousand souldiers he overthrew Abedin Bassa with fourescore thousand fighting men Car. Lib. 5. In the Reigne of King John of England a controversie arising betwixt him and the King of France about a Seigniory and certain Castles the King of France offered a Champion to fight for his right whereupon King John chose John Cursy Earle of Ulster but when the French Champion heard of his exceeding great feeding and mighty strength he refused the combate Then the King of France desired to see a stroak given by the hand of Iohn Cursy and he set a strong and doughty good morion or head-piece full of maile upon a great block and taking his skeine or sword he smote the morion through from the crest downward and his sword stuck so fast in the wood that no other man but himselfe could pull it out yet he himselfe did it with much facility Camb. Brit. Ire p. 154. Ulâ—zales and Caracoza great Captaines amongst the Turks landing their men in the Island of Curzola Anthonius Contarenus the Governour of the chiefe Towne â—led out in the night with the Townsmen also into the rocks for safety so that there was not left in the Towne above twenty men and eighty women who with weapons in their hands came to the walls desiring rather to die then to fall into the hands of the Turks and as the Turks approached to the walls the women with stones fire and such weapons beat them off with greater courage then could have been expected in their weake sexe which whil'st they were doing it pleased God that a great storme arose suddenly which so outragiously tossed the Gallies that the Turks were glad to give over the assault and to hie away to a place of more safety Turk Hist. p. 869. Scanderbeg was such a mirrour of manhood and so terrible to the Turks that nine years after his death as they passed through Lyssa where his body lay buried they digged up his bones with great devotion reckoning it some part of their happinesse if they might but see or touch the same and such as could get any part thereof were it never so little caused the same to be set some in silver some in gold to hang about their necks thinking that it would animate their spirits with extraordinary vigour Paulus Jovius Illust. virorum A brave and valiant Captaine who had long with incredible courage withstood Dionysius the elder in defence of a City at length falling into his hands the Tyrant told him that the day before he had caused his sonne and all his kinsfolke to be drowned To whom the brave Captaine stoutly outstaring him answered nothing but that they were more happy then himselfe by the space of one day afterwards he caused him to be stripped and by his executioner to be dragged through the City most ignominiously cruelly whipping him and contumeliously scoffing at him but he as no whit dismayed ever shewed a constant and resolute heart And with a chearfull and bold countenance went on still boldly recounting the honourable and glorious cause of his death which was that he would never consent to yield his country into the hands of a cruel Tyrant Bolton Pompey in the time of a great dearth at Rome was transporting corne thither but finding the sea rough and dangerous some would have disswaded him from adventuring himselfe in such weather to whom he gallantly answered It 's necessary that corne should be carried to Rome but not that I should live Antigonus hearing some of his souldiers reckoning how many their enemies were to prevent their feares steps in suddenly amongst them saying And how many do you reckon me for Valour of Women Zenobia the wife of Odenate King of the Palmyrenians accustomed her selfe to all those many imployments which her husband used both in peace and warre She loved her husband exceedingly but having once conceived by him she would lie with him no more till after her delivery she was very expert in the Orientall Histories which she wrote and left them for the use of posterity She was very beautiful and black sparkling eyes and her teeth to white that they seemed rather to be pearles then teeth her husband being treacherously murthered she took upon her the government and having been formerly accustomed to the Warres she fought often with the Romanes Subdued Egypt and drave out thence Probus the Romane president At last she rather by compact yielded to then by conquest was overcome by Aurelian the Emperour whose sonne married her daughter and many of her stock flourished in Rome long after Lipsius Valour of Women Semiranus was of so manlike a disposition that she waged warre with great felicity she had in her Army three millions of foot and fifty thousand horse and about a thousand Chariots As she was dressing her self hearing of the defection of Babylon in the same posture with one part of her haire bound up and the other loose she presently went against it and never dressed up her head till she had brought it into subjection Pez Mel. Hist. Tomyris Queen of the Masigetes was a woman of an heroical disposition When Cyrus King of Persia came with an huge Army against her the pretending fear retired into certaine mountaines into the stacts whereof when Cyrus followed her she set upon him and after a bloody â—ight slew two hundred thousand of his men and himselfe also after which she caused his head to be cut off and threw it into a bowle of blood saying Satia te sanguine quâ—m sitivisti cujusque semper insatiabilis fuisti Glut they selfe with blood which thou hast alwayes thirsted after and with which thou could'st never be satisfied Justin. Cowardize Timerousnesse Fearfulnesse In a great battel that was fought between Philip King of Macedon and the Athenians at Cheronaea wherein the liberty of Greece lay at the stake Demosthenes the Athenian Orator before there was any just cause for it most cowardly ranne away forgetting the inscription upon his shield in golden letters which was Quod foelix faustúmque sit whereupon one meeting him in scorne said to him He that runnes away may fight afterwards Diod. Sic. And it was told the house of David saying Syria is confederate with Ephraim and his heart was moved and the heart of his people as the trees of the wood are moved with the winde Isa. 7. 2. Thy servant slew both the Lion and the Beare and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them 1 Sam. 17. 36. Five of you shall chase an hundred and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword Levit. 26. â— CHAP. XXXV Examples of Gods judgements upon
corps was heard of and the blinde man also came to light who being sent for amongst many others knew the voice of this murtherer who at last confessed the fact and was executed for the same Pasquier Anno Christi 1551. at Paris a young woman as she was going to midnight-Masse was brained with an hammer and her rings and jewels taken from her the hammer was stolne from a Smith hard by which being known the Smith was suspected and so strictly examined by torture that he was lamed and died in misery but about twenty yeares after the murtherer arreigned and condemned for another offence confessed this murther to the clearing of the Smiths innocency and Gods righteous judgement upon him Pasquier Neare Lutterworth in Leicestershire a Miller murthered one in his Mill and buried the corps in the ground and not long after went into another countrey and there dwelt about twenty yeares at the end whereof he returned to his former habitation to visit some friends about which time it pleased God that a Miller who succeeded him digging in that place found the bones of a man whereupon it was suspected that he had been murthered and the inhabitants remembred that about twenty yeares before a neighbour was missed whom they supposed to have died in a strange countrey and so bethinking themselves who was Miller at that time behold God had brought him amongst them who being apprehended and examined confessed the fact and was justly executed for the same In Denmark a traveller was murthered by the way near the City of Itzehow but the murtherer could not be found out whereupon the Magistrates of the City caused one of the hands to be cut off and hanged up in the town-Gaol And about ten yeares after the murtherer accidentally comes into that roome whereupon the drie hand drops blood upon the table which the Gaoler taking notice of carries the man before the Magistrates who being examined confessed the fact and was justly executed Ranzorius in a letter to D. Chytraeus A murtherer at Tubing betrayed himselfe by his deep sighes which was not for griefe of his fact but for his small booty and being but asked the question he confessed the crime and was hanged for it Lonicer In Spaine a murther was committed in a tumult and when all denied the fact the Judge caused all their bosomes to be opened and he whose heart trembled most upon examination confessed the fact and was executed At Isenac a young man to get money slew his host and threw his body into a cellar but by Gods just judgement was so besotted that he could not stirre a foot till he was apprehended so that he was condemned to death Luther and Melancthon being in the town at that time spake with him and brought him to repentance before his death CHAP. XXXVII Examples about Marriage and Conjugal Love MAn and wife are as the two branches in the Prophet Ezekiels hand inclosed in one barke and so closing together that they make but one piece and therefore marriage is rather a fellowship of the dearest amity then disordered love and though before marriage we may endeavour to fit our choice to our minde yet after we must fit our minde to our choice yea though all other contentions betwixt man and wife are unlawful yet may they contend each who should love other most and the more to quicken us hereunto observe these Scriptures and examples following Women married Gen. 20. 12. 24. 67. 25. 1. Deut. 22. 22. Called a meet help Gen. 2. 18. given into mans bosome Gen. 16. 5. Mich. 7. 5. appointed of God for man Gen. 24. 14 44. the desire of his eyes Ezek. 24. 26. his companion Mal. 2. 14. the glory of man 1 Cor. 11. 8. the weaker vessel 1 Pet. 3. 7. They must honour their Husbands Est. 1. 20. Obey them Eph. 5. 22 24. Col. 3. 18. 1 Pet. 3. 1. Tit. 2. 5. Live chastly 1 Pet. 3. 2. Be of meek and quiet spirits ver 4. Do their Husbands good and not evil Prov. 31. 12. Be industrious vers 17 c. See the evil of contention Prov. 19. 13. A good wife is Gods gift Prov. 19. 14. 18. 22. A crowne to her husband Prov. 12. 4. A help Pro. 14. 1. Scriptural examples Sarah 1 Pet. 3. 6 Rebecca The good wife Prov. 31. Cont. Exod. 4. 25. Husbands must love their wives and how Eph. 5. 25 c. Col. 3. 19. Instruct them 1 Cor. 14. 35. Dwell with them according to knowledge 1 Pet. 3. 7. Commend them when they do well Prov. 31. 28. yield them due benevolence 1 Cor 7. 3. Scriptural examples Elkanah 1 Sam. 1. 8. Abraham Gen. 16. 6. Joseph Mat. 1. 19. Other examples Some Trojans that escaped in the sacking of Troy took such Ships as they found in the Haven and putting to sea were driven by the windes to a part of Tuscany near that place where Rome now stands and the men being gone on hunting the women having been very sea-sick the noblest of them called Roma perswaded the other women to set their Ships on fire that so they might go to sea no more the men at their returne finding their Ships burnt were exceeding angry with their wives whereupon to pacifie them they went and kissed them on their mouthes whence that custome was taken up which continues till this day of saluting by a kisse Plut. The Romanes at the first building of their City wanting wives made a great feast and when as the Sabine virgins came to see their pastimes they seized upon them every man catching one for his wife this was the cause of great and long Warres between the Sabines and the Romanes but at last when the two armies were ready to joyn battel these women ran betwixt them some of one side others of the other with lamentations and cries stepping between their weapons and seeking out their fathers and husbands with their babes in their armes and their haire dishevelled they called sometimes upon the Romanes other sometimes upon the Sabines with the movingest expressions they could devise which so melted the enraged hearts of both Armies that they gave back a little Then Hersilia that was married to Romulus and some other of the chiefest women said to the Sabines What offence have we done to you that we should deserve such an heap of evils we were indeed violently and against Law ravished by those who are now our husbands but you left us so long with them that now we are tied to them by the strongest bonds of nature that can be You came not to our rescue when we were Virgins untouched but now you come to take the wives from their husbands and the mothers from their little ones so that the help which you now think to give us doth but grieve us more then your former neglect of us These and such like speeches brought the two Armies to a parley during which the women brought their husbands to their parents and brethren
of persons Eus. Alexander Severus the Emperour did so reverence the High Priest that whatsoever sentence he had passed in judgement he suffered the same to be revoked by the Priest if he saw cause for it Lipsius When at the Councel of Nice many Bishops brought complaints and Petitions each against other to Constantine the Great he would not so much as read them but burned them all before their faces saying It 's fit that I should be judged by you and not you by me Euseb. Bread and cheese with the Gospel is good cheere said Greenham Act. Mon. Ingo King of the Venudes at a great feast to shew his love to the Saints of God set his Pagan Nobles in the Hall and certain poor Christians with him in the Parlour A certaine Emperour of Germany coming by chance into a Church upon the Sabbath-day found there a most mis-shapen Priest penè portentum naturae insomuch as the Emperour much scorned and contemned him but when he heard him read those words in the Service For it is he that hath made us and not we our selves the Emperour checked his own proud thoughts and made enquiry into the quality and conditions of the man and finding upon examination that he was a very learned and devout man he made him Archbishop of Collen which place he discharged with much commendations Wâ—l of Malmsb. Queen Elizabeth when she came first to the Crown as she rode through the City of London a childe from a Pageant let down in a silken lace an English Bible to her she kissed her hands took it kissed it laid it to her breast then held it up thanking the City especially for that gift though they had given her some rich presents before promising to be a diligent reader of it See her life in my second Part. Constantine the Great made a decree that all Ministers and such whose vocation was to serve in the Church should be free and exempted from all publick duties taxes and burthens whatsoever that being so priviledged they might the better attend upon Divine administrations Yea so careful was he to nourish and cherish learning and learned men that he enacted a Law which ranne thus Medicos Grammaticos alios Professores literarum legum Doctores c. We will and decree that Physicians Grammarians and other Professors of the liberal Arts shall be free together with their lands and possessions from all civil charges and offices c. as also that their stipends and Salaries shall be well and truly paid them whereby they may the more freely attend upon their offices c. How will this rise up in judgement against those which think they can never lay burthens enough upon Ministers Universities c See his life in my second Part. Our King Edward the sixth was a diligent attender upon Sermons heard them with great reverence and penned them with his owne hand which he diligently studied afterwards See his Life in my second Part. The great love reverence and respect that Master John Bruen of Bruen Stapleford shewed to godly Ministers See his Life in my second Part. Mercurius Trismegistus was in such respect amongst the Egyptians that in reverence of him it was nos lawful to pronounce his name commonly and rashly How much more precious should the Name of God be amongst Christians The greatest delight of Queen Elizabeth was often to reade the Sacred Scriptures and to hear Sermons which she alwayes attended unto with great reverence See her Life in my Second Part. The young Lord Harrington was wondrons attentive in hearing the Word of God preached or read and carried himselfe exceeding reverently therein knowing that he was in the presence of that God who is no respector of persons and that he heard not the words of a man but of God See his Life in my second Part. Robert King of Sicily was so wonderfully affected with the Scriptures that speaking to Fran. Petrarcha he thus said of them Juro tibi Petrarcha multò chariâ—res mihi esse literas quam regnum si alterutro mihi carendum sit aequanimiù◠me diademate quà m literis careturum Corn. è Lapide Theodosius the Emperour wrote out the whole New Testament with his own hand accounting it a great Jewel and reading part of it every day Doctor Cranmer in his journey to Rome learned all the New Testament by heart The like did Doctor Ridley in the walks of Pembrook-Hall See his Life in my first Part. We beseech you brethren to know them which labour amongst you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake 1. Thes. 5. 12 13. CHAP. XLV Examples of Gods judgements upon contemners of his Ministers Word and Sacraments THe Lord testified against Israel and against Judah by all the Prophets and by all the Seers saying Turne ye from your evil wayes and keep my commandments and my statutes according to all the Law that I commanded your fathers and which I sent to you by my servants the Prophets Notwithstanding they would not hear but hardoned their necks like unto the necks of their fathers c. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight c. 2. King 17. 13 14 18. And the Lord God of their fathers sent unto them by his messengers rising up early and sending because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place But they mocked the messengers of God and despise his Word and misused his Prophets till the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy therefore he brought upon them the King of the Caldees who slew their young men with the sword and had no compassion c. 2 Chron. 36. 15 16 17. For this sinne was Hierusalem destroyed by Titus Mat. 23. 37 c. Heb. 10. 28 29. Pontius Pilate writing unto Tiberius Nero a true report of the Ministery and miracles of the resurrection and ascension of Iesus Christ adding that by good men he was accounted a God the Emperour was so moved therewith that he made a motion in the Senate at Rome that he might be enrolled in the number of their gods but the Senate refused it upon this reason because he was consecrated for a God before the Senate had decreed and approved of the same but what miseries befell the Senate and people of Rome for rejecting him the stories of those times shew Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of England reports that Anno Christi 420. After that the Britanes had been long afflicted by the Picts and Scots the Lord at last gave them rest from all their enemies and sent them such plenty of corne and fruits of the earth as the like was never known before But instead of returning thanks for those mercies they fell to all manner of riot and excesse which was accompanied with many other foul enormities especially with a hatred of the truth
honestate quà m sol à cursu suo averti potest It's easier to turne the Sun out of his course then Fabricius from his honesty Eutropius Marcus Attilius Regulus a Romane Consull fighting in Affrica against the Carthaginians was at last by subtility taken prisoner Yet was sent to Rome for the exchange of prisoners upon his oath that in case he prevailed not he should return and yield up himself prisoner to them again when he came to Rome he made a speech in the Senate-house to disswade them from accepting of the conditions and so without respecting his wife and children he returned to Carthage where he was grievously tormented in a Little-Ease knocked full of nailes that he could neither leane sit nor lie till he died Cicero When the Corps of Thomas Howard second Duke of Norfolk was carried to be interred in the Abbey of Thetford Anno 1524. No person could demand of him one groat for debt or restitution for any injury done by him Weav Fun. Mon. p. 839. It was said of the famous Lawyer Andreas Taraquillus that singulis annis singulos libros liberos Reipublicae dedit Thuanus Obit Doct. vir anno 1558. In the dayes of Queen Mary Judge Morgan chief Justice of the Common Pleas refusing to admit any witnesse to speak or any other matter to be heard in favour of the adversary her Majesty being party the Queen declared that her pleasure was that whatsoever could be brought in favour of the Subject should be admitted and heard Qui pro veritate est pro Rege est Holinsh. in Q. Mary p. 1112. A certaine Lawyer in France was so much delighted in Law-sport that when Lewis the King offered to ease him of a number of suits he earnestly besought his Highnesse to leave him some twenty or thirty behinde wherewith he might merrily passe away the time we have too many such that love to fish in troubled waters Bassanus King of the Sicambrians was so severe in the execution of his laws that he executed his own sonne for adultery and being reviled by his wife for it he put her away sending her back to her father who was King of the Orcades Isac Chron. p. 152. Henry the fourth King of England when his eldest sonne the Prince of Wales was by the Lord chief Justice committed to prison for affronting him on the bench gave thanks to God for that he had a Judge so impartial in executing justice and a sonne so obedient as to submit to such a punishment Speed A Judge in Germany aggravating the fault of a murtherer that was before him told him that he deserved no favour for that he had killed six men No my Lerd said an Advocate that stood by he killed but one and you are guilty of the blood of the other five because you let him escape upon the murther of the first The Egyptian Kings usually and solemnly presented this oath to their Judges Not to swarve from their consciences no though they should receive a command from themselves to the contrary It 's a principle in moral policy That an ill executor of the Laws is worse in a State then a great breaker of them Pericles a famous Oratour of Greece who for the excellency of his speech and mightinesse of his eloquence was said to thunder and lighten at the Barre from the Principles of nature ever before he pleaded a cause intreated his gods that not a word should fall from him besides his cause An old woman complaining to the Emperour Adrian of some wrong that was done her her he told her that he was not at leasure to heare her suit to whom she plainly replied That then he ought not to be at leasure to be Emperour which came so to the quick that he was ever after more facile to suitours Fulgâ— Lewis the first King of France used three dayes in the week publickly to hear the complaints and grievances of his people and to right their wrongs A Macedonian Gentleman called Pausanias ran at King Philip and slew him because he had refused to do him justice when he complained against a Peer of the Realme Some of the kindred of Tatius King of the Romans robbed and murthered certain Ambassadours that were going to Rome for which their â—â—â—â—olk demanded justice of Tatius but he connâ—ving at the wrong because of his relation to them the kindred of the slaine watched their opportunity and slew him as he was sacrificing to his gods Plut. Lewis called Saint Lewis of France having given a pardon to a Malefactor upon second thoughts revoked it again saying That he would give no pardon where the Law did not pardon For that it was a work of mercy and charity to punish an offendor and not to punish crimes was as much as to commit them A certaine husbandman coming to Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lincolne challenged kindred of him and thereupon desired him to preferre him to such an office Cousen quoth the Bishop if your cart be broken I will mend it If your plâ—ugh be old I will give you a new one or seed to sowe your land But an husbandman I found you and an husbandman I will leave you Domitius the Emperour used to say that he had rather seem cruel in punishing then to be dissolute in sparing It was said of Chilperick King of France that he was Titularis non Tutelaris Rex Defuit Reipublicae non praefuit Cambyses King of Persia dying without issue his Nobles agreed that his horse that should first neigh at the place where they appointed to meet the next morning he should be their King Whereupon Ocbares Gentleman of the horse to Darius led his horse over-night to that place and let him there cover a Mare and the next morning when they were all met Darius his horse knowing the place and missing the Mare neighed and so Darius was presently saluted for King Herod l. 5. St. Bernards counsel to Eugenius was that he should so rule the people as that they might prosper and grow rich under him and not he be wealthy by the people It was observed of Varus Governour of Syria that he came poore into the Countrey and found it rich but departed thence rich and left the Countrey poore Ptolomaeus Lagi though a great King yet never had but little of his own and his usual saying was That it was fit for a King rather to make others rich then to be rich himselfe Plut. Tiberius Caesar being solicited by the Governours of his Provinces to lay greater taxes and subsidies upon his people answered That a good shepherd ought to sheare his sheep not flay them St. Lewis King of France on his death-bed advised his sonne never to lay any taxe upon his subjects but when necessity urged him and when there was just cause for it Otherwise saith he you will not be reputed for a King but a Tyrant The Emperour Theodosius was wont to say That he accounted it a greater honour to be a member
Christians had many malicious slanders raised against them as that they lived in incest that in their night-meetings putting out the candles they mixed together in a filthy manner that they killed their children and fed upon mans flesh that they were seditious and rebellious and refused to swear by the fortune of Caesar c. which much incensed the Emperours against them Idem p. 34. Under the third Persecution the Heathens imputed to the Christians all those miseries and mischiefs which befell them yea they invented against them all manner of conâ—umelies and false crimes that they might have the more pretence to persecute them Idem p. 37. Under the fourth Persecution heathen servants were examined against their Christian Masters and being threatned with most exquisite torments were enforced to confesse against their Masters that at their meetings they kept the Feasts of Thyestes and committed the incests of Oedipus and such like abominations not fit to be named Idem p. 41. Under the fifth Persecution the Christians were slanderously reported to be seditious and rebellious against the Emperours to be guilty of Sacriledge murthering their infants incestuous pollutions eating raw flesh worshipping the head of an Asse c. Idem p. 46. Under the eighth Persecution the Christians were falsely charged with all the calamities of war famine and Pestilence which befell the world because they refused to worship Idols and the Emperour Idem p. 56. Under the tenth Persecution there was a Conjurer in Athens which made an Image of Jupiter that uttered these words Jupiter commands the Christians to be banished out of this City because they are enemies to him Also certain Harlots were suborned to say that formerly they had been Christians and so were privy to the wicked and lascivious acts which they committed amongst themselves at their Sabbath-meetings c. Idem p. 68. The Queen of Persia being sick the wicked Jewes and Magicians accused two godly Virgins for that by charmes and inchantments they had procured the Queens sicknesse whereupon they were sawen in sunder by the wastes and their Quarters hung upon stakes that the Queen might go betwixt them thinking thereby to be freed from her disease Idem p. 80. The Popish Friers to make the godly Waldenses odious raised up many foul slanders against them as that they were Sorcerers Buggerers c. that when they assembled together in the night-time their Pastors commanded the lights to be put out saying Qui potest capere capiat whereupon they committed abominable Incests the son with his mother the brother with his sister the father with his daughter c. As also that they held many false and damnable opinions Idem p. 103. See more in my Gen. Martyrologie and two Parts of Lives CHAP. LXVIII Examples of Discord Contention and the Evils of iâ— IT 's a great Evil Prov. 6. 14 19. worst in wives Prov. 19. 13. 27. 15. Condemned Ephes. 4. 31. Col. 3. 8. Prov. 17. 14. Tit. 3. 9. Rom. 13. 13. It comes from Pride Prov. 13. 10. Scriptural Examples Kings Gen. 14. 4. Abimelech and Sechem Judg. 9. Pharisees and Sadduces Act. 23. 2. Servants Gen. 13. 7. Hebrews Exo. 2. 13. Judah and Israel 2 Sam. 19. 4. Aaron and Moses Num. 12. 1. Israel and Benjamin Judg. 20. 13. Disciples Luk. 22. 24. Paul and Barnabas Act. 15. 39. Corinthians 1 Cor. 1. 11 12. 3. 3 4. 11. 18. 6. 7. Abrahams and Lots heardsmen Gen. 13. 7. Israelites Isa. 9. 21. Epiphanius tells a sad story of two Bishops Milesius and Peter Bishop of Alexandria both Professours and fellow-sufferers for the Christian faith These two men being condemned and sent to work in the Mettal-Mines for a small difference fell into so great a Schisme that they drew a partitian-wall between each other in the Mine and would not hold Communion each with other in the service of Christ for which they both were sufferers which dissension of theirs caused such a rent in the Church that it did more hurt then an open Persecution from the enemy How much better did Bishop Ridley and Hooper who though in King Edward the sixth his daies they had been at great variance about the Ceremonies yet when in Queen Maries Reign they were imprisoned for the same cause they forgat all former quarrels loved and wrote each to other as brethren See Dr. Ridley's Life in my first Part. In Constantine's time the differences of the Bishops were so many and so great that they brought in whole bundles of Petitions one against another to the Emperour which he out of a wonderfull desire after peace would not so much as read but burnt them all before their faces Aristides and Themistocles being sent joynt Ambassadours to the same City fell out by the way Aristides was stout enough and crosse enough yet when he came neer the City gates whither they were sent he condescended so far as to bespeak Themistocles in this manner Sir you and I are not now at leisure thus to squabble Let us dispatch our Countrey affaires It will be time enough to renew our quarrel when our work is at an end Plut. Empedocles was of such a contentious disposition that every day he would quarrel with some body or other and prosecute his contentions with much violence Ravis Hyperbolus was a man so addicted to strife and contention that it grew into a Proverb Ultra Hyperbolum Frowardnesse is in the heart of a naughty person he deviseth mischief continually he soweth discord Prov. 6. 14. CHAP. LXIX Examples of strange Accidents MAthias Huniades the thundering sonne of a lightning father being cast into prison by Uladislaus King of Hungary and Bohemia was sent into Bohemia to his execution but Uladislaus immediately after dying upon the eating of a poisoned Apple the Hungarians partly affected with the merit of his father and hopes of the sons valour and partly by means of the solicitations of his friends chose Huniades for their King and to give him notice thereof they sent Letters by Ambassadours to Pâ—gibrachius King of Bohemia with whom Matthias was prisoner which he receiving at Supper presently raised Matthias from the lower end of the Table where he sate and set him above himself wishing him not to be dismayed for he had glad tydings for him which he would impart after Supper and so he did saluting him King of Hungary and gave him Katherine his daughter to wife Look Glass of the Hol War A young man the son of Sinan the Jew a famous Sea-Captain under the Turk having been taken prisoner by the Christians was at length delivered and sent home to his father The old man over-joyed at the sudden and unexpected return of his son in imbracing of him fainted and presently dyed in an extasie of joy Turk Hist. p. 750. Dudilius relates a sad story of one Bochna a woman who had but two sons and whilest she was walking with one towards a River she heard the other cry out whereupon returning
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
Christian Merchants and Mariners saved some and stayed the madnesse of others But when the Iews sought to revenge themselves on this counterfeit Moses he could no where be found and thereupon they concluded him to be the Devil in humane shape that thus sought their destruction Socrates Adrian banished 500000 of them into Spain whence they were again banished by Ferdinand and Isabel Anno Christi 1492. at which time there went out of Spain 120000 Families From thence they passed into Tuscany and the Popes Dominions but were again banished thence by Paul the fourth and Pius the fifth But it would be endlesse to shew what miseries they have endured ever since they committed that great sin CHAP. LXXIX Images Idols FOrbidden Exod 20. 4. 23. 24. 34. 13. Deut. 16. 22. Lev. 26. 1. Num. 33. 52. Deut. 7. 5 Ezek. 30. 13. Lev. 19. 4. Act. 15. 20. Destroyed 2 King 3. 2. 10. 17 26. 11. 18. 18. 4. 23. 14. 2 Chron. 14. 3 5 23. 17. 31. 1. 34. 4 7. Isa. 30 22. Ier. 43. 13. 50. 2. Ezek. 6. 4. 2 Chron. 15. 16. 33. 15. 1 King 15. 12. Isa. 2. 20. 31. 7. Hos. 14. 8. They called them gods Gen. 31. 30. 2 King 17. 31. 1. 2. Act. 19. 27. Exod. 32. 4. Worshipped them Ier. 3. 9. Trusted in them Ier. 48. 13. Isa. 42. 17. Psal. 115. 8. Hab. 2. 18. Consulted with them Ezek. 21. 21. Swore by them Ier. 5. 7. 12. 16. Zeph. 1. 5. 1 King 19. 2. 20. 10. They are teachers of lies Hab. 2. 18. Ier. 10. 8. and profit nothing Isa. 44. 10. Much question there is about the beginning of Idolatry These three causes seem not improbable When a father mourned grievously for his son taken away by immature death he made his Image which in processe of time was worshipped as a god and served with Ceremonies and Sacrifices The people made the Images of great Tyrants and honoured them that so they might by this flattery live the more peaceably under them The ambitious skill of the workman that through the beauty of the work the multitude being allured took him for a god that a little before was honoured but as a man Lactantius saith That when Noah cast off his son Cham for his wickednesse he went into Canaan and his posterity being ignorant of God because their Founder or Prince received not of his father rules for Gods worship quickly sell to Idolatry The Egyptians being not covered with houses by reason of the temperate ayr observing the motions of the stars whilest they often viewed them more curiously fell to worship them After which they invented monstrous shapes of Beasts and worshipped them Others scattered into other regious admiring the Heavens Sun Moon Earth Sea without Images or Temples worshipped them and sacrificed to them till afterwards they erected Temples and Images to their most puissant Kings and ordained to them sacrifices and Incense c. CHAP. LXXX Exmples of Superstition TO do that in Gods worship which he commands not is superstition Ier. 32. 35. To do that which is right in our own eyes Deut. 12. 8. Judg. 17. 6. Numb 15. 39. Observers of times Deut. 18. 10 14. Lev. 19. 26. Gal. 4. 10. False worship Deut. 17. 3. 29. 26. Exod. 20. 25 26. Mens traditions Matth. 15. 3 9. Col. 2. 22. Mar. 7. 4 7. Will-worship Col. 2. 18 21 23. Scriptural Examples They which take up any thing on their own heads and put Religion therein as The Israelites not eating the sinew Gen. 32. 32. Gideon in making an Ephod Judg. 8. 27. Philistines not treading on the threshold 1 Sam. 5. 5. Rachel stealing her fathers Idols Gen. 31 19. Balaam in trying the Lord in several places Num. 23. 1 14 27 28. Naaman in taking two Mules load of earth c. 2 King 5 17. Micha his house of gods Judg. 17. 5. the Danites Judg. 18. 17. worshippers in high places 1 King 12. 31 32. 14. 23. 15. 14. 2 King 15. 4. 2 Chron. 33. 17. Scribes and Pharisees Matth. 15. 3 9. Mar. 7. 4 7. Joh. 18. 28. Galatians Ch. 4. 9 10. Colossians Ch. 2. 21 16 18 23. All the heathen in their Idolatry Act. 17. 22. Other Examples The AEgyptians of all other Nations were most foolish and vain in their superstitions for they did not onely worship the dead as Isis Serapis and Anubis but even the basest of living creatures as Doggs Catts Crocodiles Haukes Ichnumons Wolves c. To these they gave food consecrated fields and tributes to them the Images of these they carried in their Ensigns and if any man killed any of these they were punished with death for it Lipsius Also in the time of a great Famine they spared these creatures and chose rather to feed upon mans flesh yea they fed these creatures with mans flesh to preserve their lives Diod. Sic. The Carthaginians were so superstitious that they used to sacrifice men and boyes to Saturn in the armes of whose brazen Image they used to lay them and then to tumble them alive into a pit of fire and this they did upon certain daies each year but especially they multiplyed these Sacrifices in the time of any publick calamity so that having suffered a great losse by Agathocles they resolved to offer 200 young Noble-mens sons to appease the angry Deity yea and there were so many youths that voluntarily offered themselves hereunto Plut. When Sâ—eâ—igrade in Egyâ—us was besieged by the Great Turk a Traitor within knowing how superstitiously the Garrison Souldiers abhorred tasting any thing that they deemed unclean threw a dead dog into the onely Well that supplyed the City with water upon the discovery whereof the Souldiers chose rather to die then to drink of it whereupon the City was delivered up to the Turk See Scanderbeg's Life in my second Part. The Idol Moloch or Saturn amongst the Idolatrous Jewes was represented by a Man-like Brazen body and with the head of a Calf The children offered to Moloch were inclosed within the body of this Idol which was compassed about with a great fire and as the Idol heated the Sacrificers filled the ayr with the noise of Instruments that the pitifull cryes of the Sacrificed children might not be heard The women mourning for Thammus Ezek. 8. 14. were such as mourned in their sacrifices to Isis the wife of Osiris after the Idolatrous manner of the Egyptians CHAP. LXXXI Life Long life Life sweet THe age of the ante-diluvian Patriarchs Adam lived 930 years Seth lived 912 years Enos lived 905 yeares Cainan lived 910 yeares Mahalaleel lived 895 years Jared lived 962 yeares Enoch lived before his translation 365 years Methuselah lived 969 yeares Lamech lived 777 years After the Flood Noah lived 950 yeares Shem lived 600 years Arphaxad lived 438 years Salah lived 433 years Eber lived 464 years Peleg lived 239 years Reu lived 239 years Serug lived 230 years Nahor lived 148