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
tore him all to peeces Act. and Mon. Sigismund the Emperour having granted letters of safe conduct unto Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prague under the faith and protection of himself and the Empire yet suffered them to be unjustly burnt at the Councel of Constance after which time the said Emperour never prospered in any thing that he took in hand he died without issue male and his daughters son Ladislaus died also childlesse whereby his name was quite extinguished in one age And his Emperesse became a dishonour also to the royal place which she held and so Gods judgements justly followed him for his perjury Luther Elfred a Nobleman in the dayes of King Ethelstane of England conspiring against his Sovereigne intended at Winchester to have pulled out his eyes but his treason being discovered he was sent to Rome to purge himself by oath where before the Altar of Saint Peter and in the presence of Pope Iohn the tenth he abjuring the thing suddenly fell down to the earth and being carried by his servants into the English schoole within three dayes after he there died Sp. Chron p. 340. Goodwin Earle of Kent Anno 1055. being charged by King Edward with the death of his brother Alfred excused himself with many words and at last eating a morsel of bread wished that it might choake him if he were guilty thereof but before he stirred one foot from the place he was according to his own imprecation forthwith choaked In the reigne of Queen Elizabeth one Annis Averies in the City of London widow forswore her selfe for a little mony which she should have paid for six pounds of Towe at a shop in Woodstreet and by Gods just judgement she immediately fell down speechless casting her excrements upwards which should have been voided downwards and so presently died Act. Mon. A certain Inne-Keeper in the town of Rutlinguen receiving a Budget of money from a passenger to keep for him forswore the same before the Judge giving himself to the devil if he swore falsly and was by two that testified against him which indeed were two Fiends of Hell presently in the presence of the Judge hoisted up into the aire where he vanished away with them and was never found after One hearing perjury condemned by a godly Preacher and how it never escaped unpunished said in a bravery I have often for sworne my self and yet my right hand is no shorter then my left which words he had scarce uttered when such an inflammation arose in that hand that he was forced to go to the Chirurgion and cut it off lest it should have infected his whole body whereby it became shorter then the other A rich young maide in Saxony promised marriage to a proper young man but poore He fore-seeing that wealth and inconstancy might alter her minde freely disclosed his thoughts to her whereupon she made a thousand imprecations to the contrary wishing that if she ever married another the devil might take her away on the wedding day yet afterwards the fickle wench was betrothed and married to another At dinner two men on horseback came to the house and were entertained at the feast and after dinner one of them leading the Bride a dance he took her by the hand and led her a turne or two and then in the presence of all her friends he caught her crying out for help and went out at the gate where he hoisted her up into the aire and vanished away with his companion and horses so that she was never seen more Sword against Swearers Philip King of Macedonia was a great contemner of all oaths and held the religious observation of them as a vaine thing for which cause the vengeance of God followed him and all his posterity For himself being scarce fourty six years old was slaine and his whole family was quickly extinguished Arideus one of his sons was slaine by Olympias his wife Another son that he had by Cleopatra was by his mother tormented to death in a brazen vessel compassed about with fire the rest of his sons perished in the like manner and his son Alexander after his great conquests in the prime of his dayes and in the middest of his victories died miserably as some think of poison Pausanius A certain maid in London that had stolen many things from her Mistris being examined forswore them wishing that she might rot if ever she touched them or knew of them but being yet carried to prison she began so to rot and stink that they were forced to thrust her out of prison into a common hospitall Iohn Cooper a godly man in Queen Maries dayes was falsely and maliciously accused of treason for speaking some words against the Queen and accordingly executed but one Grimwood who had sworn falsely against him being shortly after about his labour in the harvest and in good health suddenly his bowels fell out of his body and so he died most miserably Act. Mon. CHAP. XXV Examples of Gods Iudgements upon common Swearers BIshop Ridly in a Sermon at Pauls Crosse related a story of a young Gentleman of Cornwall in the dayes of King Edward the sixth who riding in the company of other Gentlemen began to swear and swagger and being reproved for it he swore the more and raged worse to whom one Master Haines a Minister with gentle words said that he should one day give an account thereof whereat the Gentleman being in a fume bade him take no thought for him but to prepare for his own Winding-sheet Well said the other amend for death gives no warning Gods wounds said he care not thou for me still raging worse and worse till coming to a bridge which passed over an arme of the Sea the young Gallant so spurred and switched his horse that he leaped over with him into the water who as he was going cried Horse and man and all to the devil Act. Mon. A Serving-man in Lincolnshire for every trifle used to swear by Gods precious blood and would not be warned by his friends till at length falling into a grievous sicknesse he was again much perswaded by his friends to repent which counsel he still rejected and hearing the Bell to toll in the very paines of death he start up swearing Gods wounds the Bell tolles for me but he shall not have me yet whereupon the blood issued out in a most fearful manner from all the joynts of his body from mouth nose wrists knees heeles and toes and other parts of his body and so he died Mr. Perkins Michael a Jewish Rabbin as he was swearing and blaspheming the Name of Iesus fell down and brake his neck Socrat. Eccl. Hist. Three Souldiers passing through a Wood in the Countrey of Samurtia there arose a tempest of thunder and lightning and one of them to shew his contempt of God and his judgements burst forth into swearing and blasphemy but the tempest tearing up an huge tree it fell upon him and crushed him to peeces
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
justly condemned any for their faults Suet. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love Rejoyce with them that do rejoyce and weep with them that weep Rom. 12. 10 15. CHAP. LXIIII. Examples of the workings of Conscience A Good Conscience Act. 23. 1. 24. 16. Rom. 9. 1. 2 Cor. 1. 12. 1 Tim. 3. 9. 1. 5 19. 2 Tim. 1. 3. Heb. 10. 2. 22. 1 Pet. 2. 19. Heb. 13. 18. 1 Pet. 3. 16. 21. Bad conscience Joh. 8. 8. 1 Tim. 4. 2. Tit. 1. 15. Prov. 28. 1. Weak conscience 1 Cor. 8. 7. 10 29. Conscience Rom. 2. 15. 13. 5. 1 Cor. 10. 25. 2 Cor. 4. 2. 5. 11. Heb. 9. 9 14 10. 2. Defin. It 's a part of our understanding determining of all our particular actions either with or against them excusing or accusing When the conscience accuseth the tongue confesses the eyes weep the hands wring the heart akes and the voyce cryes no part can be at ease as Juvenal Cur hos evasisse putes quos diri conscientia facti Mens habet attonitos surdo verbere caedit c. How deem'st thou them acquit whom guilty mind of fact so foul doth fright And scourge unseen doth beat with unheard blow Their hangman restlesse conscience biting so Scriptural examples of guilty consciences Adam when he ran from God Gen. 3. 8. Cain for murthering Abel Gen. 4. 15. Josephs brethren Gen. 42. 21. c. Belshazzar Dan. 5 6. Herod for beheading John Luke 9. 7. Judas for betraying Christ Matth. 27. 3. c. the unworthy Guest Matth 22. 12. the Pharises Joh. 8. 9. A wounded spirit who can bear Prov. 18. 14. Examples of a good conscience Abimelech Gen. 20. 4 5. Hezekiah Isa. 38. 3. David Psal. 3. 5 6. 23. 4. Paul Act. 23. 1. 24. 16. Heb. 13. 18. Nero after the murther of his mother Agrippina was so continually haunted with the furies of his conscience that he alwayes thought her ghost haunted him which no incantation nor sacrifices could appease till his own descended so that when he was to leave this life for a worse he cryed out that his mother wife and father willed him to die Nero's life Livius Drusus being to build him a house in the Palace at Rome the chief workman told him that he would so contrive it that none should overlook him nor see what was done in his house to whom Drusus answered Quin tu potiùs si quid in te artis est it à compone domuâ— meaâ— ut quicquid â—gam ab omnibus inspici possit Rather saith he if thou hast any art shew it in so contriving my house that whatsoever I do may be beheld by all Lipsius Nicephorus Phocas the Greek Emperour having a guilty and hellish conscience and fearing heavens Justice for his sins caused his Palace at Constantinople to be made impregnable and then began to cast off his fears But when he thought all safe â— voyce was heard none know from whom or whence taxing his foolish confidence and telling him that though he raised his walls as high as heaven yet as long as wickednesse dwelt within there was no safety to be expected In the reign of Q. Mary there was one Ralph Allerton who coming into the Church of Bently in Essex finding the people idle or ill imployed read a Chapter to them and prayed with them for which being brought before Bonner he by his subtile perswasions and flatteries so prevailed with him that he drew him to a recantation after which this Allerton was brought into such bondage and terrours of conscience and was so cast down that if the Lord had not looked mercifully upon him he had been utterly undone but through Gods goodnesse upon his unseigned repentance he at last recovered comfort and gave his life for the cause of Christ. See my Eng. Manyrologie p. 193. About the same time there was one Mr. Whittle an Essex Minister who being also called before Bonner by the subtile practices of the B. and the advice of some carnal friends set his hand to a recantation but presently after he fell into grievous terrours of conscience whereof himself thus writes After saith he I had done this thing I had little joy of any thing my conscience telling me that I had done very ill by so slight a means to shake off the sweet Crosse of Christ. Yea his terrours of conscience were so great that he could not sleep whereupon he procured the writing and to are out his name After which he thus writes Being condemned to die my conscience and mind I praise God is quiet in Christ and I by his grace am very willing and content to give over this body to death for the testimony of Christs truth and pure religion against Antichrist c. Idem p. 160 161. Before this in the reign of King Henry the 8 th Mr. Thomas Bilney for fear of Death was drawn to an Abjuration after which he fell into such terrours of conscience that he was near the point of utter despaire so that his friends were fain to watch with him night and day endeavouring to comfort him but all in vain In this woful condition he continued for the space of a whole year and was in such anguish that neither eating drinking sleeping nor any thing else did him good yea he thought that all the Word of God was against him and sounded his condemnation But at last resolving through Gods Grace to lay down his life for the truth he began to feel some comfort c. See his Life in my first Part. When Gensericus K. of the Arian Vandals in Africa raised a Persecution against the Orthodox he had such a hellish and guilty conscience that if any Minister in his Sermon did but mention Pharaoh Nebuchadnezzar Herod c. he presently applyed it to himself and thereupon banished him See my Gen. Martyro p. 92. Sr. Con Mac Genis one of the late Irish Rebels after he had murthered one Mr. Trug a Minister was so haunted with the furies of his own conscience that he thought his ghost followed him day and night so that he commanded his Souldiers to slay no more of the Protestants Idim p. 363. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity but a wounded spirit who can bear Prov. 18. 14. CHAP. LXV Examples of Love to ones Countrey and Countrey-men SCriptural Examples David 2 Sam. 24. 17. Mordecai Esth. 4. 1. Esther c. 4. 16. Nehemiah c. 1. 4. c. The Jewes Psal. 137. 1 5 6. Paul Rom. 9. 2 3. Camillus the Roman General having after ten years siege taken the rich City of Veia one came to him and told him that he was a happy man whereupon lifting up his hands towards heaven he said O mighty Jupiter and ye O gods which see and judge mens works good and bad you know right well that we have not begun this war but justly to be revenged on a City that wronged us But if to
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
then my selfe Mr. Welch a Suffolk Minister weeping as he sate at table was asked the reason of it he answered that it was because he could love Christ no more Mr. Walls None but Christ. Luthers resolution was such that he affirmed Mallem ruere cum Christo quà m regnare cum Caesare I had rather I were ruined with Christ then that I should reigne as a King without him Saint Basil relates a story of 40. Martyrs who being cast out naked all night in the winter and were to be burned the next day they comforted themselves on this wise Sharp is the winter but sweet is Paradise painfull is the frost but joyfull the fruition that followeth it waite but a while and the Patriarchs bosome shall cherish us After one night we shall lay hold upon eternall life Let our feet feel the fire for a season that we may for ever walk arme in arme with the Angels Let our hands fall off that they may for ever be lifted up to praise the Almighty c. A godly Christian being tormented by Infidels with divers paines and ignominious taunts they demanded of him by way of scorne Tell us what miracles thy Christ hath done to whom he answered Even this that you see that I am not moved with all the cruelties and contumelies that you cast upon me It is said of Luther unus homo solus totius orbis impetum sustinuit that he alone opposed all the world When Eudoxia the Emperesse sent a threatning message to Saint Chrysostome Go tell her saith he from me Nil nisi peccatum timeo that I feare nothing but sin Theodosius the great having in Egypt abolished their heathenish sacrifices and worship upon paine of confiscation and death the people fearing that the omission of their accustomed superstitions would make the river Nilus which they honoured as a God keep in his streames and not water their Land as formerly began to mutiny whereupon the President wrote to the Emperour beseeching him for once to gratifie the people by conniving at their superstition to whom he heroically answered that it was better to continue faithfull and constant to God then to preferre the overflowing of Nilus and the fertility of the earth before piety and godlinesse and that he had rather Nilus should never overflow then that they should raise it by sacrifices and inchantments Soz. Saint Basil being sent to by the Emperor to subscribe to the Arian heresie the messenger at first gave him good language and promised him great preferment if he would turne Arian to whom he answered Alas Sir these speeches are fit to catch little children withall that look after such things but we that are nourished and taught by the holy Scriptures are readier to suffer a thousand deaths then to suffer one syllable or tittle of the Scripture to be altered The messenger offended with his boldnesse told him that he was mad to whom he replied Opto me in aeternum sic delirare I wish I were for ever thus mad Theodor. Melancthon being much disquieted in spirit by reason of the great opposition which the German reformation met with Luther thus encourageth him Seeing the businesse is not mans but Almighty Gods laying aside all care you should cast the whole weight of it upon him why do you vex your self If God hath bestowed his Sonne upon us why are we afraid what tremble we at why are we distracted and sadded Is Satan stronger then he why fear we the world which Christ hath conquered If we defend an evil cause why do we not change our purpose If the cause be holy and just why do we not trust Gods promises Certainly there is nothing besides our lives that Satan can snatch from us and though we die yet Christ lives and reignes for ever to defend his own cause c. Sleid Com. l. 7. Chrysostome speaking to the people of Antioch like himself a man of an invincible spirit against the Tyrants of his times saith thus In this should a gracious man differ from a gracelesse man that he should bear his crosses couragiously and as it were with the wings of faith outsoare the height of all humane miseries He should be like a Rock being incorporated into Iesus Christ inexpugnable and unshaken with the most furious incursions of the waves and stormes of worldly troubles pressures and persecutions Ad pop Antioch He that writes the life of Anselme saith thus of him that he feared nothing in the world more then sinne and that if on the one hand he should see corporally the horrour of sin and on the other the paines of hell and must necessarily be plunged into the one he would chuse hell rather then sinne and that he would rather have hell being innocent and free from sinne then polluted with the filth thereof possesse the kingdome of heaven Mr. Woodman Martyr speaks thus of himself When I have been in prison wearing bolts and shackles sometimes lying upon the bare ground sometimes sitting in the stocks sometimes bound with cords that all my body hath been swolne like to be overcome with paine sometimes faine to lie without in the woods and fields wandring to and fro sometimes brought before the Justices Sheriffes Lords Doctors and Bishops sometimes called Dog Devil Heretick Whoremonger Traitor Theefe Deceiver c. yea and they that did eat of my bread and should have been most my friends by nature have betrayed me yet for all this I praise my Lord God that hath separated me from my mothers wombe all this that hath happened to me hath been easie light and most delectable and joyful of any treasure that ever I possessed Act. and Mon. There were five Monks that were studying to finde out the best means to mortifie sinne One said that it was to meditate on death The second to meditate on judgement The third to meditate on the joyes of heaven The fourth to meditate on the torments of hell The fifth to meditate on the love and sufferings of Christ which indeed is the strongest motive of all Hormisdas a Noble man of Persia famous for Piety was deposed from all his honours and offices because he would not forsake Christ and his truth yet at last was by the King restored to them again yet withall was required to renounce his profession of Christianity to which he bravely answered Si propter ista me denegaturum Christum putas ista denuo accipe If you think that I will deny Christ to keep my offices take them all again Julian the Apostate that subtil enemy of the Church of Christ when his Army was to be paid caused an Altar to be set by him and a table with incense on it requiring every souldier as he came to receive his pay to cast some incense into the fire upon the Altar which many of the Christians understanding it to be interpretive and implicit Idolatry refused to do rather choosing to lose their wages whilest others not knowing the depth of this
he thought that he should be taken away in a flame of fire other sometimes that the earth would open and swallow him Yet at last it pleased God as it seemes to give him repentance and peace in his conscience whereupon he published a Narrative of these things to discover the danger of these ways and to be for caution to others to take heed how they go out of Gods wayes and forsake his Ordinances least falling into the error of the wicked they decline from their former stedfastnesse and lest not receiving the love of the truth that they might be saved God give them over to strong delusions to believe a lie This is attested under the hand of the Major of Kendal the Minister Schoolmaster and some others As we may not tell a lie so neither may we conceal the truth especially when the publishing of it may tend to the advancement of Gods glory There was not many years since in the Parish of Kirkham in Lancashire one Mistris Houghton a Papist who used to say I pray God rather then I shall be around-head or bear a round-head I may bring forth a childe without an head Her mother also being a Papist used to mock and scoffe at the round-heads and in derision of Master Prin cut off her cats eares and called him Prin but behold the just retribution of God! For not long after the said Mistris Houghton being brought to bed was delivered of a child without an head ugly and deformed This was attested by Master Edward Fleetwood Minister the midwife and others that saw the childe taken out of its grave A man that is an Heretick reject after the first second admonition knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself Tit. 3. 10. 11. CHAP. XXVIII Examples of Gods judgements upon false Witnesses and Liars FOrbidden Exod 20. 16. Deut. 5. 20. Mat. 19. 18. Mark 10. 19. Luk 18. 20. Rom. 13. 9. Lying Lev. 6. 2 c. 19. 11. Col. 3 9. Jam. 3. 14. 1 Tim. 4. 2. How to be punished Deut. 19. 16 c. Rev. 21. 27. 22. 15. Ps. 63. 11. Prov. 19. 5 9. 29. 12. Odious Prov. 6. 19. 12. 17. 14. 5. 21. 28. â—5 18. Ps. 40 4. 58 3. 62. 4. 101. 7. Prov. 30 8. Whence it proceeds Mat. 15. 19. Scriptural examples Against David Ps. 27. 12. 35. 11. 119. 69. Against Christ Mat. 26. 59. Mark 14. 56 57. Against Steven Act. 6. 13. Ananias and Sapphira Act. 5. 3 c. Som. Rev. 3. 9. False Prophets Jer. 27. 10 14 16. 29. 21 31. Ezek. 21. 29. Diviners Zach. 10. 2. the Devil Joh. 8. 44. Iewes Isa. 28. 15. 59. 3. 4. Jer. 9. 3 5. 23. 14. Lying Kings Dan. 11. â—7 Princes Hos. 7. 3. Forbidden Lev. 19. 11. Eph. 4. 25. Col. 3. 9. It 's a great sinne Lev. 6. 2. Job 6. 28. Prov. 14 5. 10. 18. 38. 8. Ps. 40. 4. 58. 3. 62. 4 101. 7. Pro. 29. 12. 30. 8. Psal. 119. 29 163. Esa. 28. 15. 59. 3 4. 30. 9. 32. 7 59. 13. Jer. 29. 23. 9. 45. 23. 14 32. Dan. 11. 27. Hos. 7. 13. 11. 12. 12. 1. Amos 2. 4. Mich. 6. 12. 1 Tim. 4. 2. Threatened Ps. 63. 11. Prov. 19 5 9. Jer. 16. 19. 20. 6. Nahum 3. 1. Hos. 4. 2 c. Ps. 59. 12. Scriptural examples Satan Gen. 3 4. 1 King 22. 22. 2 Chron. 18. 21. Joh. 8. 44. Sarah Gen. 18. 15. Abraham Gen. 12. 13. 20. 2. Isaac Gen. 26. 7. Jacob Gen. 27. 19 24. Rachel Gen. 31 35. Patriarchs Gen. 37. 31 32. Potiphars wife Gen. 39. 14. Gibeonites Jos. 9. 8 9. Sampson Judges 16. 13 14 c. A woman 2 Sam. 17 20 the Harlot 1 King 3. 22 23. False witnesses 1 King 21. 13. the old Prophet 1 King 13. 18. Gehazi 2 King 5. 22. Hazael 2 King 8. 14 15. Peter Mat. 26. 70 71. Midwives Exod. 1. 18 19. Rahab Jos. 2. 4 c. Michael 1 Sam. 19. 16. David 1 Sam. 20. 2 7. 21. 9 13. Hushai 2 Sam. 16. 17. 18. Ananias and Saphira Act. 5. 2 8. Demetrius Act. 19. 25 26. Tertullus Act. 24. 5. Ahab and Jezabel that suborned false witnesses against Naboth had this message sent them from God by Elijah Thus saith the Lord In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall they lick thy blood also and as for Jezabel dogs shall eat her by the wall of Jezreel and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall c. 1 Kings 22. 1 22. 2 Kings 9. Amaziah the Priest of Bethel who falsly accused the Prophet Amos to the King as having conspired against him met with this message from the Lord Thy wife shall be an harlot in the City thy sonnes and thy daughters shall fall by the sword and thy land shall be divided by line thou shalt die in a polluted land Amos 7. 17. Haman who fasly accused the Jewes to Ahasuerus see what judgement befell him and his house Esth. 7. 10. and 9. 10. The envious Courtiers who falsly accused Daniel to King Darius for breaking his decrees were themselves thrown to and devoured by the Lions Dan. 6. 24 Antiphilus a Painter the envier of the Art and excellent workmanship of Apelles that most famous Painter falsly accused him to King Ptolemy to have caused the defection of Pelusium from him whereby he had almost oppressed Apelles But the King by examination found out his falshood and the cause of it whereupon he gave Apelles one hundred talents by way of recompence and rewarded Antiphilus that falsly accused him with perpetual servitude Theat Hist. How God punished Ananias and Saphyra for their lying See Acts 5. 5. 10. Maximus the Emperour one of the cruel persecutors of the Christians amongst other of his wicked practices caused lying and blasphemous books to be published of a conference between Pilate and Christ causing them to be taught in schooles that children might no sooner speak then learn them He suborned also certaine lewd women to say that they had been Christians and to avouch that much filthinesse and uncleannes was daily committed by them c. But these liars and false accusers were one after another plagued by God with notable judgements and Maximus himselfe was consumed with wormes as afore Euseb. Niceph. l. 7. c. 27. A wicked wretch under Commodus the Emperour accused Apollonius a godly Christian to the Judges for certaine grievous crimes which when he could not prove he was adjudged to have his legges broken according to an ancient law of the Romanes Niceph. Certaine Arians suborned a filthy strumpet to come with a childe in her armes into a Councel of two thousand five hundred Bishops there to accuse Eustathius a godly and Orthodox Bishop of Antioch of Adultery and to sweare that he had got that childe of her body
that famous Thebane Captaine three thousand pieces of gold to make him his friend he sharply rebuked the Ambassadour that brought it for travelling so long a journey to corrupt Epaminondas and bad him take it back and tell his King that if he deserved the favour of the Thebanes Epaminondas would be his friend without a bribe but if he deserved otherwise he would be his enemy Plut. The same Epaminondas hearing that his Squire had taken a great summe of money for the redemption of a Captive called him to him and said Give me my shield from thee and go and buy thee a shop and turn hucster for now that thou art grown rich I am sure thou wilt not adventure thy self into dangers Plut. Agesilaus King of Sparta was a great contemner of riches and could not endure covetousnesse So that never any of his souldiers or Officers had cause to complaine that he wronged them in their wages or otherwise but every one praised him for his bounty Plut. Agesilaus King of Sparta was such a contemner of riches that he would never suffer himself to be corrupted by them to do any thing that was prejudicial to his Countrey and whereas the Kings of Persia in his time made it all their care to heape up gold silver and all precious things he on the contrary valued not any of them he suited his expences to his incomes and to get money would never do any unjust thing Plut. Pyrrhus King of Epyrus in the first battel that he fought in Italy against the Romanes overcame them and took one thousand eight hundred prisoners whereupon the Romanes sent Ambassadours to him proffering a great summe of money for their ransome but he rejâ—cting their money set them free gratis and taking a great love to one of the Ambassadours called Fabricius and understanding that he was very poore he proffered him a fourth part of his Kingdom if he would serve him But Fabricius scorned the proffer wherewith Pyrrhus was so taken that he presently sent and made peace with the Romanes Eutrop. Marcus â—ttilius Regulus the Romane Consul was so poâ—re that whâ—l'st he fought in Affrica against the Carthaginians his wife and children were maintained upon the publick charges Polyb. Curius Dentatus the Romane Consul having gorten a great victory over the Samnites they sent Ambassadours to him with a great summe of gold who found him parching pease for his dinner and when they proffered him the gold he said to them I had rather have these pease in my earthen pots and rule over those that have gold then to receive your gold of you And when he was afterwards charged with stealing something that should have been brought into the publick treasury he brought forth a wooden platter that he used to sacrifice in and swore that of all the spoils he had reserved only that to himselfe Aur. Victor Vergerius the Popes Legate was sent by his Master to Luther when he first began to preach against the corrruptions of the Church of Rome to proffer him a Cardinals hat if he would relinquish his opinions To whom he answered Contemptus est à me Romanus favor furor I neither care for the favour nor fury of Rome At another time there was a designe to give him a great summe of money but one wiser then the rest cried out Hem Germana illa bestia non curat aurum That beast of Germany cares not for money See his Life in my first Part. Luther tells us that when the Pope sent some Cardinals to him to tempt him with promises of great wealth and honour Turning my self saith he to God Valde protestatus sum me nolle sic satiari ab eo I said flatly that God should not put me off with these low things See his Life in my first Part. Love of money the root of all evil After the battel of Marathon a Persian to obtain favour shewed one Callias an Athenian a mighty Masse of treasure that was hidden by the Persians in a pit but Callias most unjustly and cruelly murthered him that shewed it him lest he should speak of it to others Pez Mel. Hist. Lycurgus the Lacedemonian Lawgiver considering the manifold mischiefs which come by the love of money and covetousnesse banished the use of money out of the Common-wealth forbidding all coine of gold and silver imploying iron in stead thereof whereof a great quantity was but worth a little so that to lay up ten pound in iron would have filled an whole Cellar hereby he prevented all theft and robberies Hereby also he prevented all superfluous and unprofitable sciences for who would make such things as would undo them by reason of the basenesse of the money which they should receive for them Hereby also they could buy no forreigne commodities because their iron money would go no where else This kept out of his Common-wealth Rhetoricians which teach the cunning art of Lying and Panders which keep brothel-houses and Goldsmiths and Jewellers which sell toyes for women Hereby delicatenesse wanting fewel by little and little vanished Housholdstuffe was excellently made for Artificers laying aside superfluous works wholly imployed themselves in making necessary things Plut. They that will be rich fall into tentation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition 1 Tim. 6. 9. CHAP. XLIV Examples of Honour shewed to Gods Word and Ministers THe duty of people towards their Pastors is to subject themselves to them 1 Cor. 16. 16. To love them 1 Thes. 5. 13. Gal. 4. 15. To pray for them 1 Thes. 5. 25. 2 Thes. 3. 1. Heb. 13. 18. To pray for the destruction of their enemies Deut. 33. 11. To grieve when they are sick Phil. 2. 26. To honour and Reverence them Mat. 10 40. 1 Cor. 16. 18. 2 Cor. 7. 15. Phil. 2. 29. 1 Thes. 5. 12. 1 Tim. 5. 17. Gal 4. 14 Not to despise them 1 Cor. 16. 11. 1 Tim. 4. 12. To obey them 2 Cor. 7. 15. 1 Thes. 2. 12. Heb. 13. 17. 1 Ioh. 4. 6. To be bountiful to them Deut. 12. 19. 14 27. 16. 11. 24. 14 15. 25. 4. Mat. 10. 10. Luk. 9. 3. 10. 7. Rom. 15. 27. 1 Cor. 9. 7 9 10. 2 Cor. 11. 7 c. Gal. 6. 6. Phil. 2. 29. 4. 10 16. 1 Thes. 2. 6. 5. 12. 1 Tim. 5. 17 18. 2 Tim. 26. Heb. 13. 17. To stand by and for them in times of danger 2 Tim 4. 16 17. Other Examples When Ehud told King Eglon that he had a message to him from God to shew his reverence he rose up out of his seat Jud. 3. 20. Constantine the Great used to shew so much reverence and attention to the Word of God preached that many times he would stand up all the Sermon while and when some of his Courtiers told him that it tended to his disparagement he answered That it was in the service of the great God who is no respector
command saying Receive this Sword which if that I command and rule in reason as a Prince should do draw it out and use it for me but if I do otherwise use it against me Spart in vita Hadriani Lewis King of France having upon intreaty spared a man that deserved death and not long after reading that Text Psal. 106. 3. Blessed are they that keep judgement and he that doth righteousnesse at all times this doing righteousnesse at all times so wrought upon him that presently he reversed what he had granted saying He that hath power to punish sinne and doth it not becometh a Patron of it and is as guilty before God as if himself had committed it Annals of France Aristides the Athenian had the rating of the Cities of Greece in a common taxe referred unto him wherein he dealt so equally and impartially that he obtained the name of Just yet died he so poore that he left not wherewithal to bury him Diodo As Furius Camillus besieged the Falisci a people in Italy a perfidious Schoole-master who taught the children of all the principal Citizens under pretence of recreating them took them into the field and trained them on till they came into the Romane Camp and there yielded them all up unto the enemy expecting a great reward for his paines But Camillus deresting such treason bound the Traitor and put him into the hands of his Scholars wishing them to whip him back into the Town which forthwith yielded themselves to him in reverence to his justice Sir W. Raw. Aristides amongst the Athenians carried himself so exactly in all matters of judgement that he obtained the sirname of Iust. Plut. King Tarquin being banished Rome for his rape of Lucretia Brustus and Collatinus husband to Lucretia were chosen Consuls and in the time of their Consulship Tarquins agents had corrupted two of the ancientest famâ—lies in Rome the Aquillians who were Nephews to Collatine and the Vitellians who were allied to Brutus and two of his own sons were drawn into this treason by them The conspiracy being at last discovered the Consuls met in the publick place and sent for the conspirators and there before all the people discovered the treason The people being much amazed hung down their heads only some few thinking to gratifie Brutus moved that they might be banished but Brutus calling his sons by name asked them what they could answer for themselves and when being confounded they held their peace he said to the Sergeants They are in your hands Do justice Then did the Sergeants teare off their cloathes bound their hands and whipt them with rods which sad spectacle moved the people to pitty so that they turned away their faces But their father never looked off nor changed his severe countenance till at last they were laid flat on the ground and had their heads struck off Then did Brutus depart and left the execution of the rest to his fellow-Consull But Collatine shewed more favour to his kindred being solicited thereto by his and their wives Valerius a Noble man of Rome seeing this partiality exclaimed against him for it saying That Brutus spared not his own sons but Collatine to please a few women was about to let manifest Traytors to their countrey escape and the people called for Brutus again who being returned to his seate spake thus For mine own children I judged them and saw the Law executed upon them for these other I leave them freely to the judgement of the people whereupon they all cried out Execution execution and accordingly their heads were presently struck off Plut. See the example of Isadas in Valour Alexander M. returning out of India into Media great complaints were made to him of the covetousnesse and injustice of Cleander and Sitales whom he had made Governours over that countrey whereupon he commanded them to be slaine for the terror of others the like he did in divers other countreys upon the like complaints made against them Q. Cur. Domitian the Romane Emperour though otherwise a wicked man yet was severe in punishing Bribery in his Judges and Officers Sueto Alexander the Great though full of military affairs yet would many times sit in judgement to heare criminal causes and while the accuser was pleading he used to stop one of his eares to keep it pure and unprejudiced therewith to heare the accuseds defence and play for himself Plut. Augustus Caesar took such delight in hearing causes and administring Justice that oft-times the night could scarce take him off yea in his sicknesse he would cause the parties to come to his bed-side that he might heare them Sueto Nero in the beginning of his Reigne was so tender-hearted that when he was to signe a warrant for the execution of a condemned person he wished that he could neither write nor read that so he might be exempted from such actions David King of Scotland Anno Christi 1125. used himself in person to heare the causes of the poore and if he understood that any were oppressed by wrongful judgement he recompenced the party wronged according to his losse and hindrance out of the estate of the Judge that had pronounced false judgement John Mayor in his Chronicle Themistocles being Praetor of Athens Simonides the Poet much importuned him for an unjust thing to whom he answered Neque tu bonus Poeta esses si praeter leges carminis caneres neque ego câ—vilis Praetor essem si praeterquam quod leges permittunt tibi gratificarer As thou Simonides shouldest be no good Poet if thou shouldst swarve from the rules of Poetry so neither can I be a good Magistrate if to gratifie thee I should swarve from the rule of the Lawes Herod Themistocles telling the Athenians that he had found out a way to make Athens the greatest of all the Cities in Greece but it was a secret not fit to be imparted to all the people they thereupon commanded him privately to communicate it to Aristides of whose honesty and Justice they all relied this Themistocles did telling him that if they would presently burne the Grecian Navy they by their shipping might command all Greece Aristides coming forth to the people told them that nothing was more profitable but withal nothing was more unjust then the project of Themistocles whereupon the people commanded him to forbeare the execution of it Pez Mel. Hist Darius Junior was so strict and a severe Justicer that men might travel safely through all his dominions with out any danger Xenophon Pyrrhus King of Epyrus war ring in Italy against the Romanes Fabricius was sent with an army against him and the Tents of each Army being pâ—…ed nâ—ere together the Physician of Pyrrhus came to Fabricius and proffered to poison his King if he would give him a good reward but Fabricius instead of rewarding him bound him and sent him to Pyrrhus telling him of his treason Pyrrhus admiring him for his justice said Ille est Fabricius qui difficiliùs ab
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
condemne him to death Theramenes hearing it fled to the Altar saying I flie to this Altar not that I think it will save my life but that I may shew that these Tyrants are not onely cruel towards men but prophane and wicked towards the gods Critias commanded armed men to fetch him away to his death and as they led him through the City he cried out against the Tyrants cruelty whereupon one of their Captaines said to him Flebis si non silebis Thou shalt weep if thou wile not hold thy peace to whom he answered Annon fleba si tacebo Shall I not weep if I do hold my peace when they put the cup of poison into his hand he drank it off and throwing away the bottome he said I drink this to faire Critias After his death they raged more extremely filling all places with rapines and slaughter and not suffering the friends of the murthered to interre their dead bodies Having amongst others slaine one Phidon they at their feast sent for his daughters to come and dance naked upon the floore that was defiled with their fathers blood but the maides abominating such immanity threw themselves down from an high place and brake their necks And to fill up the measure of the Athenians miseries whereas many thousands of them were â—led or banished into all the neighbouring countreys of Greece their proud insulting adversaries the Lacedemonians forbade all persons to entertaine any of these miserable exiles but to returne them to the Tyrants again and that upon the paine of forfeitting three thousand crowns Diod. Sic. Lysander King of Sparta when the Argives came to Lacedemon to dispute about the borders of their country pleading that they had ajuster cause then the Lacedemonians he drew his sword and said They that can hold this best can best dispute about their coasts Xenoph. Alexander the Tyrant of Thessaly was of such a cruel nature that he buried many of his Subjects alive others he sowed up in the skins of boares and beares and worried them with his dogs others he thrust through with darts and that not for any offences that they had done but meerely to make himself sport and when he had gathered the inhabitants of two confederate Cities about him as if he had something to impart to them he caused his guard to fall upon them and murther them all without distinction of Sex age or condition He slew his own uncle Polyphron and then consecrated the speare wherewith he did it to the gods But not long aâ—ter himself was slaine by the conspiracy of his own wife Plut. Euphron the Lacedemonian having made himself a Tyrant in the City of Cicyon was shortly after murthered by the Senators as he sat in counsel with them who defended themselves by this Apology quòd qui manifesti sceleris proditionis tyrannidis rei sunt non sententiâ âliqua dammandi videantur sed ab omnibus hominibus jam antè dammati sunt quòd nulla Graecorum lex ostendi possit quae proditionibus aut Tyrannis securitatem praestet That those which are guilty of Treason and Tyranny need not to be proceeded against in a legal way for that they are before-hand condemned in all mens judgements neither was there any law amongst the Grecians that gave security to traitours and Tyrants Plut Ochus King of Persia succeeding his father Artaxeâ—xes Mnemon presently after his getting the Kingdome filled and defiled all his palace with blood murthered all the Princes and Royal seed without any respect of age or sex and yet through Gods patience he lived ninety three years and reigned fourty three years Diod. Sic. But in the end growing odious and burthensome to all by reason of his bloodshed and cruelty one of his Eunuches called Bagoas poisoned him and threw his dead body to be devoured of cats AElian Lib. 6. Alexander M. after his great victories grew proud and tyrannical and upon bare suspition he cruelly tortured Philotas one of his brave captaines the sonne of Parmenio who had a chief hand in all his victories and after grievous torments caused him to be slaine and not content therewith thinking that his father might seek to revenge the wrong he caused him to be murthered also Qu. Cur. See Alexander M. also in Anger Alexander M. as he was rowing upon a lake in his galley neer Babylon a sudden tempest arising blew off his hat and crown fastened upon it into the lake whereupon one of his Mariners leaping into the lake swam and fetched it to him and to keep it the drier he put it upon his own head Alexander rewarded him with a talent for saving his Crown but withall caused his head to be cut off for presuming to put his Crown upon it Plut. Dionysius the Sicillian Tyrant was so suspicious of every one that he durst not suffer a Barber to trim him but caused his daughters to do it neither when they were grown to womans estate durst he suffer them to use any sizers or rasour about him but caused them to burn his haire with burning walnut-shells He had two wives and when he lodged with either of them he carefully searched all the chamber before he went to bed He durst not come amongst them when he was to speak to the people but spake out of an high Tower to them When he was going to play at tennis he gave his cloke and sword to a boy that waited on him whereupon one said to him Sir you have now put your life into his hands at which the boy smiled whereupon Dionysius caused them both to be slaine the man for teaching the boy how to kill him and the boy for laughing at it There was one Damocles a great slatterer of his who told him what an happy man he was that did so abound in riches Majesty Power c. affirming that there was never any man more happy then himselfe Well said Dionysius wilt thou O Damocles try how happy a man I am seeing thou doest so admire my condition Yea said Damocles with all my heart Hereupon Dionysius caused him to be cloathed in Kingly apparel to be set upon a golden seat in a room richly hung and curiously adorned with pictures then a table to be furnished with all sorts of dainty dishes with a company of beautifull boyes to waite upon him He had also precious ointments Crownes musick and what not So that Domacles thought himselfe a woundroâ—s happy man But presently Dionysius caused a sharp glittering sword tied in an horse-haire to be hung just over his head the terrour whereof so afflicted Damocles lest it should fall on his head that he durst not stirre nor enjoy any of those felicities whereupon he sent to the Tyrant desiring him to give him leave to go away for he desired that happinesse no longer Citero Antiochus Epiphanes warring against Egypt Ptolomy the King of Egypt sent to the Senate at Rome to make them his Guardians and to desire their help against Antiochus
out of the battel and at night the weather being hot he was extreme thirsty and could get nothing to drink whereupon his Eunuches ran up and down to seeke him some water and at last they met with a poore fellow that had gotten some stinking puddle water in a fiâ—thy vessel this they took and carried to the King who drank it all off and when one of them asked him whether that filthy water did not offend him he swore that he never drank such a sweet draught either of wine or water in his life before and therefore he prayed the gods that if he could not reward the poore man that brought it yet that they would make him both blessed and rich for his labour Plut. Philip King of Macedon in the midst of all his glory when he had conquered divers Kingdomes and was chosen by all Greece Captaine General against the Persians upon a festival day at the marriage of his daughter and the Coronation of his sonne Alexander was suddenly stabbed by Pausanias to whom he had formerly denied Justice Diod. Sic. See more of it in Sodomy Alexander M. having overcome Darius went to Babylon where he had the City and Castle delivered up to him and there in infinite treasures from thence he went to Susa which being also surrendred to him he found there fifty thousand Talents in bullion and such abundance of riches as the Persian Kings had for a long time heaped up together leaving it from father to son all which in one houre came into his hands that never cared for it From thence he went to Persepolis which had in it a farre greater Masse of treasure it being the richest City then under the Sunne there he found one hundred and twenty thousand Talents of money and as much other treasures as twenty thousand Mules and ten thousand Camels could carry away much whereof had been reserved there from Cyrus his time Alexander setting himselfe down in the Kings throne it was so high that his feet could not reach the ground whereupon one brough a little table and set under his feet and one of Darius his Eunuches standing by sighed and weeped grievously which Alexander taking notice of asked him what was the cause of it to whom the Eunuch answered I weep to see that table that was so highly prized by my Master Darius to be now made thy footstoole Q. Cur. This Darius flying out of the battel who a little before was Lord of so many Kingdomes and people of so much treasure and riches and was adored as a god by his Subjects was now taken by some of his own servants put into a base waggon covered with hides of beasts and so carried hither and thither as they pleased and to fill up the measure of his wretchednesse they bound him in golden setters and drave all his attendants from him and when they heard that Alexander pursued and was now come neere to them these villaines Bessus Artabazus and others took Darius wounded him in many places and wounded the beasts that drew him and so fled themselves into Bactria In the mean time the beasts that drew Darius being weary hot and wounded turned out of the way into a certaine valley whither one of Alexanders men called Polystratus coming to seek for water as he was drinking out of his helmet he spied the waggon and mangled beasts and going looking into it he spied a man halfe dead with many wounds Darius lifting up his eyes and seeing him said This comfort I have in my present fortune that I shall breath out my last words to one that can understand them therefore saith he I pray thee tell Alexander that though I never deserved any favour at his hands yet I shall die his debtour giving him many thanks for his kindnesse to my mother wife and children Tell him that as he hath shewed favour to them so on the contrary my servants and kinsmen that received their lives and livelihood from me have basely betrayed and murthered me Tell him that I pray that he may Conquer all the World and desire him to revenge this wickednesse both for his own and for the sake of all Kings it being of evil example that such treachery should go unpunished and so fainting he desired a little water which when he had drunk he said to Polystratus Whosoever thou art that hast shewed me this kindnesse in my extreme misery the gods requite thee for so great a benefit and the gods requite Alexander also for all his humanity and clemency and so he gave up the ghost Quin. Cur. Perseus King of Macedon a brave warriour and one who was a terrour to the Romane Empire yet at last being overcome and taken by AEmilius was led in Triumph with his children into Rome where after some four yeeres imprisonment he died and his eldest sonne was in that want that he was forced to learne the occupation of a Smith to get his living Ursp. Basiliseus Emperour of Constantinople being overcome by Zeno who was formerly deposed for his riotouâ—nesse was together with his wife and children banished into Cappadocia and a strict command given that none should relieve them whereupon they miserably perished for want of food each in others armes Suid. Cyrus King of Persia caused this Motto to be engraven upon his tombe O man whosoever thou art that shalt come hither know that I am great Cyrus that first erected the Persian Monarchy Therefore envy me not this little earth that now covers my body This tombe was afterwards defaced by some of Alexander M. his followers which when Alexander saw he was much troubled at it considering the vicissitude and incertainty of all earthly things Qu. Cur. Alexander M. after all his great conquests returning to Babylon had Ambassadours that came to him almost from all Countreys some to congratulate his victories others to tender their homage all bringing great and rich presents but whil'st in the midst of his glory he was feasting of them he caught a surfeit with inordinate drinking which turned to a mortal feavour and a little before his death being asked by his friends to whom he would leave his Kingdome he answered To the most worthy man and he being asked When they should do Divine honours to him he answered When they themselves were happy which were his last words and so he died having lived not thirty three years nor reigned thirteen and assoon as he was dead his great Captaines sought to enrich themselves by his spoiles and whil'st they were contonding to share the world amongst them his dead body lay many dayes in that hot Countrey unburied stinking above ground a notable Embleme of the vanity of all earthly greatnesse Plut. Qu. Cur. Besides this his vast Empire was divided amongst his great Captaines to Ptolomaeus Lagi was allotted Egypt and Affrica To Laoâ—â—don Syria and Phoenicia To Philotas Cilicia To Python Media To Eumenes Paphlagonia and Cappadocia To Antigonus Pamphilia Lycia and Phrygia the great
To Cassander Caria To Menander Lydia To Leonatus Phrygia the lesse To Lysimachus Thracia with the neighbouring Countreys To Antipater Macedonia and the neighbouring Nations But these men not contented with their shares fell presently to warres amongst themselves Perdiccas warring upon Egypt was slaine by his own souldiers Antipater died Eumenes was betrayed by his own souldiers and slaine by Antigonus Python was treacherously slaine by Antigonus Olympias the mother of Alexander was slaine by Cassander Cleopatra sister to Alexander was slaine by the treachery of Antigonus Antigonus himselfe was slaine in battel by Cassander and Lysimachus Rhoxane the beloved wife of Alexander together with her sonne Alexander Barsine another of his wives which was the daughter of Darius were all slaine by Cassander Presently after the whole family of Cassander was rooted out Ptolomaeus died in Egypt Lysimachus was slaine by Seleucus And Seleucus himselfe presently after by Ptolomaeus So that all the family of Alexander within a few years after his death was wholly extirpated And all his friends and great Captaines by their mutuall contentions came most of them to untimely ends Diod. Siâ— Justin. Pempey the Great who had been three times Consul of Rome and had three times triumphed after his famous victories and was exalted to that height of honour that the world could afford no greater yet being overcome by Caesar in the Pharsalian plaines he was forced to fly into Egypt in a little fisher-boat where he had deserved well of the King Ptolomy and therefore expected all kinde entertainment but the King on the contrary hearing of his coming sent out some to meet him at the Sea-side who treacherously cut off his head and so he whom the world a little before could not containe now wanted a grave for his burial so that Caesar pursuing him when three dayes after he found him lying on the sand could not forbear weeping Plut. The same Caesar also after all his great victories being adored like a god and loaded with all the honours that possibly could be invented was slaine in the Senate-house with twenty three wounds Plut. Nero who a little before wallowed in all manner of excesse of riot being condemned by the Senate was suddenly forsaken by all his friends and was faine to flie barefooted and muffled upon a sorry jade with only foure persons the small remaines of many thousands these were Phaon his freed-man Epaphroditus Master of requests Sporus his male-concubine and Neophitus When he came to a place of safety as he thought he was faine like a beast to creep on all foure through under woods and briars to hide himselfe in such extream want of all things that for quenching his thirst he was driven to lade water with his hand out of a dirty plash saying This is Nero's Beverege But those men who were sent after him for his execution were outstripped by swifter means which warned him of the nearnesse and inevitablenesse of his approaching danger for the Senate had proclaimed him the publick enemy and to die More majorum or after the ancient manner which was this to have his body stript starke naked his hands fast boâ—nd behinde him his head stockt under a fork and so in open view to be whipt to death with rods Nero hereupon after many timerous delayes and abject lamentations puts a poinard to his throat which Epaphroditus did help to drive home lest he should fall alive into his enemies hands Suet Plinie Thus was Nero's voice and fiddling marred and his last words were O what an artist I die Dio. Sultan Saladine Emperour of the Turks lying upon his death-bed Anno Christi 1193. commanded that no solemnity should be used at his burial but only his shirt in manner of an ensigne fastened upon the point of a speare to be carried before his dead body a simple Priest going before and crying aloud to the people in this sort Saladine Conquerour of the East of all the greatnesse and riches that he had in this life carried nothing away with him but his shirt Hoveden And poore Eumenes of a Potters son By fickle Fortunes help a Kingdome wonne But she for him such diet did provide That he of hunger shortly after died Mahomet the Great the first Emperour of the Turks after the winning of Constantinople fell in love with a most Beautiful Greekish Lady called Irene upon whose rare perfections he so much doated that he gave himself wholly over to her love But when he heard that his Captaines and Officers murmured at it he appointed them all to attend him in his great Hall and commanding Irene to dresse and adorne her self in all her gorgeous appareâ— he brought her in his hand into the midst of them who seeing her incomparable perfections acknowledged their errour saying That their Emperour had just cause to passe his time in solâ—cing himself with such a peerelesse Paragon But he on a sudden caught her by the haire with one of his hands and with the other drawing his Fauchion at one blow struck off her head thereby shewing them that he was not such a slave to his affections but that he preferred his honour before them Turk Hist. Gillimer King of the Vandals in Affrica having lived in all manner of affluence and prosperity for many years together was at the last in agreat battel overcome by that famous Captaine Billisarius and having lost the greatest part of his Army with a few of his servants was forced to flie into a high and inaccessible mountaine for refuge where being besieged by one of Billisarius his Captaines he was brought to such straits that he sent to a special friend requesting him to send him a Spunge an Harp and a Loafe of bread A Spunge to dry up his teares an Harp to solace him in his sorrows and a Loafe of bread to satisfie his hunger Pez Mel. Hist. The Caliph of Babylon being taken together with his City by Haalon the Tartarian was by him shut up in the midst of his infinite treasure which he and his predecessors had with much care and paines scraped togeher who bade him take and eate what he pleased of gold and silver or precious stones for said he it 's fit that so gaineful a guest should be fed with the best and therefore make no spare of any thing The miserable caitiffe being so kept for certaine dayes died of hunger in the middest of those things whereof he thought that he should never have had enough and whereby he thought to have secured himself against any dearth or danger Turk Hist. The Heathenish Romanes had for a difference in their Nobility a little ornament in the forme of a Moone to shew that all worldly honours were mutable and they wore it upon their shooes to shew that they trod it under their feete as base and bootlesse No sooner had the soul of that victorious Prince William the Conquerour left his body but that his dead Corps was abandoned by all his Nobles and
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
his enemies Lipsius Portius Cato was of such an honest and blamelesse life that though he was often accused by his adversaries and forced to plead his cause fifty times yet he alwaies came off with credit and that not by favour friends or bribes but against all these And being again accused in his old age he desired that Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus who was his adversary might be made his Judge which being done he so cleared himself before him that Gracchus acquitted him Lipsius Godlinesse with contentment is great gain 1 Tim. 6. 6. CHAP. LXXXVII Prediction Prophecies THe same day that Alexander the Great was born in Macedonia Diana's Temple at Ephesus in Asia was burned down at which time divers Magicians being present they ran up and down tearing their hair and crying out that that day was born the great plague and Pest of Asia Diod. Sic. The same day that Philip King of Macedon had the City of Potidaea surrendred to him three Messengers one after another brought him word first of a great Victory that Parmenio his General had obtained over the Illyrians Secondly of a victory or prize that his horse had gotten at the Olympick Games Thirdly of the birth of his son Alexander whereupon his Southsayers told him that his son which was born at that tiwe wherein he had gotten three such victories should prove unconquerable Justin Domitius AEnobarbus when his son Nero was born his friends coming to congratulate him for the birth of his son said unto them There can be nothing born to me and Agrippina but that which is detestable and that which is born for the publick hurt Pez Mel. Hist. Nero sending to the Oracle at Delphos to know his final fortune received this ambiguous answer Beware of the 73 year which he understood to be meant of his own ages date but it proved Galba's who dethroned him Superstition is worthily fed with illusion and irreligion as worthily punished with credulity Suet. Learned Gerard tells us of a certain woman called Thoda in Suevia in Germany who Anno Christi 848. Prophesied that that year the world should end which as she said was revealed to her by an Angel Anno Christi 1526. there was an Anabaptist that ran up and down the streets in the City of St. Gallus in Helvetia crying with horrid gestures that the day of the Lord was come that it was present And Anno Christi 1530. upon the like Prophecie another so strongly prevailed with some that he perswaded them the last year of the world was come whereupon they grew prodigal of their goods and substance fearing that they should scarcely spend them in so short a time as the world was to continue An unknown woman came to Tarquinius Superbus in Rome and proffered him the nine books of the Sybils Prophecies at a very great rate which he refused to give her She burned three of them and offered him the other six at the same rate but he refused again whereupon she burnt other three and asked him the same rate for the three remaining which he then bought and layed them up in the Capitol where they continued as Oracles till both Temple and books were burnt Dionys. CHAP. LXXXVIII Examples of the power and prevalency of Prayer IS any sick amongst you Let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him and the prayer of Faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much Elias was a man subject to the like passions as we are and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six moneths And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit Jam. 5 14 c. Fervent prayers are effectual Psal. 34. 4 6 15 17. Matth. 7. 8. Mar. 11. 24. Jam. 1. 5 6. 5. 16. Psal. 3. 4. 107. 6 13. God is a Prayer-hearing God Psal. 65. 2. Delighting in it Cant. 2. 14. It 's as incense to him Psal. 141. 2. Promising to give if we ask Luk. 11. 10. Rom. 10. 12. which promise is sealed with the blood of Christ and back'd with an oath Mich. 7. 20. Joh. 15. 7. Commanding to ask in full â—ssurance Heb. 10. 22. Jam. 1. 6. Encouraging by Parables Luk. 11. 8 9 11 c. 18. 2 c. Sighs and groanes are prayers Exod. 2. 23 24. Psal 79. 11. 12. 5. 39. 12. 56. 8. Rom. 8. 26. Isa. 38. 5. Christ perfumes our prayers with his merits Rev. 8. 3 4. It obtains temporal blessings 1 King 18. 42 c. Zach. 10. 1. God will be sought to Ezek. 36. 37. We shall not seek him in vain Esay 45. 19. It must be tendered in the hand of a Mediatour Matth. 3. 17. Joh 14. 13 14. We must see that we belong to God if we will prevail Psal. 34. 17. 73. 1. Before we ask God heares Isa. 65. 24. Dan. 9. 23. Scriptural Examples of the efficacy of Prayer Abraham praying for Ishmael Gen. 17. 20. For Sodom Ch. 18. 23 c. For Abimelech Ch. 20. 17. Jacob Gen. 32. 24 c. Hose 12. 4. Moses Exod. 14. 15. 15. 25. 17. 11 c. Numb 14. 12 c. Exod. 32. 10. Numb 12. 13. 21. 7. Samuel 1 Sam. 7. 9. Josuah Ch. 10. 12. Elijah 1 King 17. 20. Elisha 2 King 4. 33. Solomon 1 King 3. 11. 9. 3 c. Asa 2 Chron. 14. 11. Hezekiah Isa. 37. 15 c. Jehosaphat 2 Chron. 20. 3 c. Amos Ch. 7. 2 c. the Syrophoenician woman Matth. 15. 22 c. Importunate widow Luk. 18. 2 c. Isaiah Ch. 62. 1 6 7. The persons of Saints are like secret pledges of common quiet and their mediations are a shield to the earth against the wrath of heaven Gregory Nazianzen reports of his sister Gorgonia that her knees seemed to cleave to the earth by reason of her often prayiag And Gregory of his aunt Trucilla that her elbow was as hard as an horn by often leaning upon a desk when she prayed And Eusebius of James Justus that his knees were as hard as a Camels knees bereaved of sense by often praying One reports of Joachim the father of the Virgin Mary that he used to say Cibus Potus mihi est Oratio Prayer is my meat and drink A Gentlewoman being in her Parlour exercised in meditation and prayer cryed out O that I might ever enjoy this sweet Communion with God The Queen-Mother of Scotland in her Warres against the first Reformers confessed openly That she feared more the fasting and Prayers of that man of God John Knox and his Disciples then an Army of twenty thousand men Looking-Glasse of the Holy War Leelin Prince of Wales being perswaded by some about him to make war against our King Henry
Earth-quake wherewith the people were so affrighted that many of them forsook their houses and some houses were so shaken that the Chimnies fell down In January Anno Christi 1648. there was seen a great fiery meteor in the air near Bristow on the South-side of the City for divers nights together in form long with fiery streames shooting out East and West which was the week before the beheading of the late King eye-witnesse Also the day before he was beheaded a great Whale ran himself on shore three miles from Dover where he died He was 66 foot long A thing rarely seen in this Island November the 30th Anno Christi 1650. being St. Andrews day a little before or about Sun-rising the skie opened in a fearful manner in the Southwest over Standish a Town five miles from Gloucester and there appeared a terrible fearful fiery shaking sword with the hilt upwards towards the heavens the point downwards towards the earth the hilt seemed to be blue the Sword was of a great length shaking hither and thither and comming lower towards the earth There was a long flame of fire towards the point sparkling and flaming in a fearful manner to the great astonishment of the Spectators who were many At last the heaven closing the Sword vanished and the fire fell to the earth and ran upon the ground This I had from an eye-witnesse In June Anno Christi 1653. a black cloud was seen over the Town of Pool which a while after was dissolved into a showr of blood that fell warm upon mens hands some green leaves with those drops of blood upon them were sent up to London A little before the Civil broiles between the houses of York and Lancaster wherewith England for a long time was rent in pieces the River Ouse in Bedfordshire stood still and by reason that the waters gave back on both sides men might passe on foot in the very chanel for three miles together not without the astonishment of all that saw it who took it as a presage of the divisions ensuing Camb. Brit. p. 399. Not long before the contention between Galba Otho and Vitellius about the Roman Empire there appeared three Suns as it were pointing out that tripatite contention for the Imperial Diadem April the 7th Anno Christi 1233. there appeared here in England four Suns besides the natural Sun and presently afrer fell out the great contention between our King Henry the third and his Barons and the year after England was wasted with fire snd sword from Wales to Salisbury there ensued also a great drought and Pestilence Stow. Anno Christi 1460. three Suns appeared the very day before the three Earles viz. Edward Earl of March with the Earl of Pembrook and the Earl of Wiltshire fought that great battel in Wales at Mortimer's Crosse where the Earl of March put the other two to flight and slew many of their men Idem Anno Christi 1233. a little before the Warres brake forth between King Henry the third and his Barons there appeared in April in Hereford and VVorcestershire five Suns at once and a certain great circle of a Crystal colour of about two foot in breadth as it were compassing all England Matth. Paris CHAP. XCI Remuneration Retaliation Requital COmmanded sometime by God Gen 9. 6. Exod. 21. 23 c. Lev. 24. 19 c. Matth. 5. 38. Psal. 137. 8. Jer. 50. 15. Rev. 18. 6. Thus God threatens to the enemies of his Church Jer. 30. 16. 48. 26 27. 49. 2. Rev. 13. 10. Jer. 51. 49. Ezek. 35. 5 6. 39. 30. Hab. 2. 8. Joel 3. 6 7 8. 1 Thess. 1. 6. To those that sin in his Church Pit for pit Psal. 7. 15 16. Idolatry for Idolatry Jer. 5. 19. Spoil for spoil Isa. 33. 1. Prov 22. 23. Treachery for treachery Isa. 33. 1. Harlots hire for harlots hire Mich. 1. 7. Not to hear shall not be heard Prov. 1. 28. Zach. 7. 13. Altars for sin with Altars to sin Hos. 8. 11. they that judge shall be judged Matth. 7. 2. Scriptural Examples Pharaoh drowned others and was drowned himself Exod. 1. 22. with 14. 27. 30. Abimelech and the Sechemites Judg. 9. 24 56 57. Adonibezek Judg. 1. 7. Levites Concubine Judg. 19. 2 25. Ahab and Jesabel 1 King 21. 19. with 22. 34 38. 18. 13. 22. 23. 2 King 9. 33 36 37. Kings which were traytors and slew others were slain themselves 2 King 15. 10 14 23 25 30. Agag 1 Sam. 15. 33. Joab 1 King 2. 32. Daniel's enemies Dan. 6. 7 12 15 24. Other Examples Orodes King of Parthia who had overcome and slain Crassus the Roman Consul in his old age fell desperately sick for grief at the losse of his son Pacones slain by Venticius yet his younger son Phraates had not patience to expect his death but gave him poison to accelerate it But behold Gods providence the poison proving a strong purge wrought out not onely it self but the disease too so that Orodes recovered beyond expectation which Phraates seeing strangled him and to settle him the surer in his Kingdome obtained by Parricide he entred into league with the Romans sending back the Ensigns of Crassus and other Presents the Romans to requite him sent him great gifts and amongst the rest a beautiful Italian strumpet by whom he had a son which being grown up by the advice and help of his mother poisoned his father to get his Crown Tulit quae meruit et quae docuit Lipsius Mithridates King of Pontus to get the Crown slew his mother brother and her three sons and as many daughters but in his old age his own son Phanacus slow him for the same cause Lipsius Ptolemaeus one of Alexander's Successours expelling Antigonus seizeth upon Macedonia makes peace with Antiochus enters into league and affinity with Pyrrhus now all things were sure but onelyfor his sister Arsinoe and her sons who had been married to Lysimachus King of Macedonia therefore intending to entrap her he sent Ambassadours to her pretending love promising to marry her to make her partner with him in the Kingdom and her sons his heires protesting that he took up armes for no other end proffering to swear upon the holy Altars when and where she pleased that all this was in good faith The poor Lady deceived hereby sent some of her friends to take his oath before whom he went into the most ancient Temple and there touching the gods and the Altar swears That he sincerely purposed to marry her to make her his Queen and her children his heires otherwise he prayes for vengeance upon himself c. Upon this Arsinoe comes to him is married and crowned Queen of Macedonia then she delivers up to him Cassandrea a most strong City where her children and all her treasures were he having now his desire sends men that slew her children in their mothers lap and drave her into exile but God suffered not this wickednesse to go long unrevenged
up at any rate CHAP. XCIX Education of Children Schoolmasters LYcurgus the Lacedemonian Law-giver commanded all his Citizens to eat their meat in publick at a Common-Hall whither all young children went daily as to a School to learn gravity and temperance where they heard no vain or unseemly speeches but grave and wise discourses about the Government of a Common-Wealth there they learned to sport upon words and to give and take jests without offence Plut. One asking Agesilaus King of Sparta what should be especially taught unto children he answered That which they are most like to make use of when they come to be men Xenoph. Philip King of Macedon seeing the hopefulnesse of his son Alexander chose Aristotle to be his Master who carefully instructed him in most of the liberal Sciences in the study whereof he took such delight that he used to say I had rather have knowledge then to excell in power Just. He so prized Homer's Iliads that in all his wars he carried it in his pocket and laid it under his pillow anights How much more should we prize and carry about us the Sacred Scriptures He loved his Master Aristotle as if he had been his Father and used to say That as we have our being from our Parents so we have our well-being from our School Masters Quint. Curtius Seneca the Master of Nero offering to quit his fortunes to save his life Nero refused to accept thereof and acknowledging his immortal debt for the benefit of his instructions he said He had cause to blush that he who for the reason of his learned merits was of all men dearest to â—im was not by his meanes in so long a time become the richest also Nero's Life The Brachmans in India so soon as their children were capable of instruction used to place them forth to good School-Masters that by them they might be instructed in learning and good manners and might be taught subjection to their Superiours and be trained up by good Examples Alex. ab Alex. The Persians so soon as their children could begin to speak used to place them forth to Schoolmasters to be taught virtue temperance frugality and obedience and would not meddle with them for seven years after left by their indulgence they should do them hurt Xenoph. Amongst the Lacedemonians there was a custome that boyes and youths should never sup but in the company of their Masters from whom they might learn examples of frugality and abstinence Alex. The Inhabitants of Mitylene when they were Lords of the Seas about them if any of their associates revolted from them they inflicted this punishment By forbiddiug them to teach their children letters or the knowledge of the liberal Arts Judging it the greatest punishment that could be to passe their lives in ignorance without learning AElian Julian the Apostate when he perceived that the Christians by reason of their learning easily confuted and overthrew the Idolatries of the Gentiles he enacted a Law That no Christian should train up his sonnes in humane learning thereby judging that if he could bring them to ignorance he could quickly bring them to Idolatry Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Prov. 22. 6. The rod and reproof give wisdome but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame Prov 29. 15. CHAP. C. Examples about the Memory BEza being above fourscore yeares of age could perfectly say by heart any Greek Chapter in Paul's Epistles or any thing else that he had learned before but forgat whatsoever was newly told him Thuan. obit Doctorum vir p. 384. His memory was like an Inne retaining old guests but having no room to entertain new S. Augustine tells us of his friend Simplicius who being asked could tell all Virgils Verses backwards and forwards and yet he protested that he knew not that he could do it till they tried him Aug. Tom. 7. de anima et ejus Orig. cap. 7. Staupitius who was Tutor to Luther and a godly man in a vain ostentation of his memory repeated Christs Genealogie Matth. 1. by heart in his Sermon but being out about the Captivity of Babylon I see saith he God resisteth the proud and so betook himself to his book for help Mel. Adam in vit Stau p. 20. The Memory of our Bishop Juel was raised by Art to the highest pitch of humane possibility For he could readily repeat any thing that he penned after once reading it and therefore usually at the ringing of the Bell he began to commit his Sermons to heart and kept what he learned so firmly that he used to say That if he were to make a speech premeditated before a thousand Auditors shouting or fighting all the while yet could he say whatsoever he had provided to speak Many barbarous and hard names out of a Calender and fourty strange words Welch Irish c. after once or twice reading at the most and short meditation he could repeat both forwards and backwards without hesitation Sir Francis Bacon reading to him onely the last clauses of ten lines in Erasmus his Paraphrase in a confused and dismembred manner he after a small pause rehearsed all those broken parcels of sentences the right way and the contrary without stumbling See his Life in my first Part of the Marrow of Eccles. Hist. Anthony Wallaeus by the help of the Art of Memory in six weeks space learned by heart the whole Epitome of Pagnine with such excellent successe that thereby he was enabled well to interpret any place of the holy Scriptures and to give a fit reason of it Idem p. 943. Themistocles had such an excellent memory that he knew all the Citizens of Athens and when he met them could salute them by name Plut. CHAP. CI. The Qualities of sundry people IT 's said of the Italians that they are in their lusts unnatural in their malice unappeasable in their actions deceitful They will blaspheme sooner then swear and murther a man rather then slander him Of their women it 's said That they are Magpies at the door Saints in the Church Goats in the garden Devils in the house Angels in the streets and Syrenes in the windowes The Noble-men of Naples of all men under heaven live the most idle and carelesse lives having like the Tyrant Polycrates nothing to trouble them but that they are troubled with nothing As the French in their language want one proper word to expresse Stand so naturally they mislike a setled and fixed posture and delight in motion It 's said of them that Primus impetus est major quà m virorum secundus minor quà m foeminarum That they come on like Powder But end in smoke That they have these three Properties They neither read as they write nor sing as they prick nor speak as they think The Germans are compared to an heavy Bell which is long in raising but being once up it makes a great sound The Low-Countreys