moved out of that place he was smitten with such a feeblenesse of heart and dizzinesse in his head that desiring help to carry him to an house he died before the Lords day came At Walton upon Thames in Surrey in a great Frost 1634. three young men on the Lords day after they had been at the Church in the forenoone where the Minister pressing the words of his text out of 2 Cor. 5. 10. that We must all appear before the judgement-seat of Christ c. they the while whispering as they sate In the afternoone they went together over the Thames upon the Ice unto an house of disorder and gaming where they spent the rest of the Lords day and part of the night also in revelling one of them in a Taverne merrily discoursing the next day of his Sabbaths acts and voyage over the Ice but on Tuseday next after these three returning homewards and attempting to passe againe over the Ice they all sunk down to the bottome as stones whereof one only of them was miraculously preserved but the other two were drowned These foure last are attested by good hands Anno Christi 1598. the towne of Feverton in Devonshire was often admonished by her godly Pastor that God would bring some heavy judgement upon the inhabitants of that place for their horrible profanation of the Lords day occasioned chiefly by their market on the Munday and accordingly not long after the said Ministers death on the third of April in the year aforesaid God sent a terrible fire which in lesse then halfe an houre consumed the whole towne except the Church the Conrt-house Almes-houses and a few poor peoples dwellings and above 50. persons were consumed in the flames Also Anno Christi 1612. it was again wholly burnt down except a few poor houses they being not warned by the former judgement but continuing in the same sin Beards Theat If ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath-day and not to bear a burden even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath-day then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof and it shall devour the Palaces of Jerusalem and it shall not be quenched Jer. 17. 27. CHAP. XXXVI Examples of Gods judgments upon Murtherers and Blood-shedders THe positive judiciall Law of God is that whosoever sheddeth mans bloud by man shall his bloud be shed Gen. 9. 6. and the reason is there rendred because such destroy Gods Image wherein man is made and the cry of blood if not punished by man is so great Gen. 4. 10. that the Lord comes down from heaven to call the murtherer to account and by some visible and remarkable judgements or other to stigmatize this sin as these following Examples will more fully manifest Murtherers ought to be punished with death Gen. 9. 6. Exod. 21. 12. Prov. 28. 17. Rev. 13. 10. No recompence is to be taken for it Num. 35. 32 c. for it defiles the land Hos. 4. 2 3. It 's diligently to be sought out Deut. 21. 1 c. God punisheth it here Psal. 55. 23. It excludes from heaven Gal. 5. 21. Rev. 21. 8. Scripturall Examples Cain Gen. 4. 8. Pharaoh Exodus 1. 16 Simeon and Levt Gen. 34. 25. c. Abimelech Judg. 9. 5. Agag 1 Sam. 15. 33. Joab 2 Sam. 3. 27. David 2 Sam. 11. 14 c. Absalom 2 Sam. 13. 28 29 Manasseh 2 King 21. 16. Amons servants 2 Kings 21. 23. Ahab and Jezabel 1 Kings 21. 9 c. Baanah and Rechab 2 Sam. 4. 6. Saul 2 Sam. 21. 1. 1 Sam. 22. 18. Athaliah Chron. 22. 10. Baasha Kin. 15. 27. Zimri 1 Kin. 16. 9. Joash 2 Chron 24. 21. Shalâ—um 2 Kings 15. 10. Manahem 2 Kings 15. 14 16. Herod Acts 12. 2. Cain for murthering his brother Abel was cursed by God Gen. 4. Abimelech who slew his 70. brethren was slain by a woman at Thebez Jud. 9. Baanah and Rechab who slew their L. Ishbosheth were slain by the command of David 2 Sam. 4. Joab who slew Abner and Amasa treacherously was slain by the command of Solomon 1 Kin. 2. Cyrus K. of Persia who for 30. years together made cruell war in many places at last fighting against the Scythians was overcome 200000 of his men slain and himself salling into the hands of Q. Tomyris she cut off his head threw it into a bowl of blood saying Thou hast all thy time thirsted after blood now drink thy fill and satiate thy self therewith Orosius Cambyses his son a bloody and cruell man who shot a noblemans son thorow the heart because the father had reproved him for drunkennesse He caused his own brother to be privily murthered lest he should usurp the Kingdom slew his own sister for reproving him for that deed At last as he was riding his sword fell out of the scabbard and himself falling upon it was slain thereby Herodo Xerxes who with his huge Army passed over into Greece being overthrown by sea and land fled shamefully into Asia in a fisherboat and shortly after was slain by Artabanus the Captain of his guard in his own palace Diod. Sic. The 30. Tyrants in Athens were cruell bloodsuckers till the people rising up against them slew them all Just. Phocas who to get the Empire put to death all the sons of Mauricius the Emperor before his face and then slew him also and after many villainies by him committed was pursued by his son in law Priscus and being taken had his hands and feet cut off and afterwards with all his posterity was put to a cruell death Nicephorus Anno Christi 1346. Popiel K. of Poland to obtain the Kingdom poysoned his two uncles and gave himself over to all manner of wickednesse He used upon every occasion to say If this be not true would rats might devour me On a time as he was going to a great feast an Army of rats out of the putrefied body of his uncles set upon him which all his guard with their weapons were not able to drive away Then did they make great cole-fires about him yet through the middest of the fire did the rats assault him Then did they put him with his wife and children into a boat and rowed them in the middest of a great lake yet thither did the rats swim to him and lastly he gat up to the top of an high Tower yet still the rats pursued him and they eat him up to the very bones together with his wife and children Munst. Cos. Bassianus the Emperour who slew his own brother in his mothers armes and tooke to wife his own mother in Law was shortly after himselfe murthered by the procurement of Macrinus to prevent his owne death Justinian the Emperour a cruel and bloody man who was the cause of many murthers was first banished from his Empire and afterwards slaine by one of his own servants Euseb. Clovis King of France an horrible murtherer who amongst other cruel facts caused one of his Peers to be murthered
5. 7. Mat. 5. 28 32. Gal. 5. 19. 2 Pet. 2. 14. Rom. 2. 22. Ier. 13. 27. Prov. 30. 20 Threatened Psal. 50. 18 c. Mal. 3. 5. 1 Cor. 6. 9. Heb. 13. 3. Ier. 29. 23. Hos. 4. 2 c. Hos. 4. 13 14. Iam. 2. 11. Rev. 2. 22. Punished Lev. 20. 10. Prov. 6. 32. Ioh. 8. 3 4. Scripturall examples Iudah Gen. 38. 16 c. Potiphars wife Gen. 39. 7. David 2. Sam. 11. 4. the Benjamites Iud. 19. 25. Amon 2. Sam. 13. 11 c. Mary Magdalen Iohn 8. 4. The Corinthian 1 Cor. 5. 1. Absalon 2 Sam. 16. 22. Reuben Gen. 35. 22. Lot Gen. 19. 36. Herod Mat. 14. 3. Other examples Ninus King of Assyria fell in love with Semiramis wife of Menon one of his Officers and when he could not perswade Menon to deliver his wife to him he threatened to pull out his eyes whereupon Menon hanged himselfe and Ninus married his wife Diod. Sic. Julius Caesar was a great adulterer defiling many of the chief Senators wives for which amongst other things he was murther'd in the Senate-house Sueto Augustus the Emperour was an adulterer and being at a feast he took a Noble woman from the table her husband being by and had her into a chamber and after brought her back her eyes very red and her hair all disordered Ibidem The like adulterer was Tiberius and most of the Romane Emperours C. Caligula was a most impudent and impure adulterer he took many wives from their husbands and when he had satiated his lust with them hated them as much as formerly he had pretended love to them Theat vitae hum He committed Incest with his own sisters and then banished them Messalina the wife of Cladius the Emperour was one of the most impudent adulteresses that ever was in the world She had a chamber in her palace wherein her selfe with many of the Noble women of Rome did commonly prostitute themselves she sent for Appius Sylvanus a Noble young man and solicited him to lie with her and because he refused she accused him to the Emperour her husband as Potiphars wife did Joseph and caused him to be put to death She also would needs be married to Caius Silus made a great feast at her wedding gave him much of the Emperours treasure She caused divers of the Noble women of Rome in her palace to commit adulterie their husbands standing by and looking on rewarding them greatly for the same but if any refused to do it she hated them exceedingly and by all meanes sought their destruction She eagerly doted upon a common dancer and when she could not prevail with him to lie with her she caused her husband to command him to obey her in whatsoever she should require of him and thereby had her desire with him the like she did with many others She went often to the common Stewes to satiate her lust with all comers Striving with the famousest Strumpets in all Rome to exceed them in their divellish art to vie with them in their filthy lusts For which at the complaint of the Nobles she was put to death Lang. Chron. Nero having made a great feast in a publick Theater after supper commanded all his guests to go into some house hard by into which he had gathered abundance of wives virgins maid-servants and harlots and there to defile whom they pleased commanding that none should be denied so that the servant committed wickednesse with his Mistris his Master being by and base fellowes with Noble virgins their fathers being by c. Xiphilinus Romulus ordained a Law amongst the Romanes that a man might put away his wife if she was proved to have committed adultery or consented to the poisoning of her children but if he put her away for any other cause she was to have halfe his goods and the other halfe went to the goddesse Ceres Plut. Artaxerxes Mnemon King of Persia fell in love with his own daughter a beautiful Virgin called Atossa which his own mother Parysatis perceiving perswaded him to marry her and so to make her his wife and though the Persian Lawes had formerly forbidden such incestuous marriages yet taking counsel with his wicked mother and his own lust he married her after which time he never prospered in any thing that he took in hand Diod. Sic. Nero the Emperour when he rode abroad with his mother Agrippina in his horse-litter used ordinarily to commit incest with her Suet. Cleopatra being very young was with her brother Ptolomaeus King of Egypt besieged in Alexandria by Iulius Caesar After a while she caused one Apollidorus to binde her up in cloaths like a bed and so carried her into Caesars tent where being laid down at Caesars feet the man opens his fardel and a Venus comes forth whose beauty Caesar being taken with used her body at his pleasure not long before she had been defiled by Pompey But these were her childish whoredomes Afterwards Mark Anthony being in Asia raising tributes and ready to underake the Parthian Warre sends for Cleopatra to plead her cause before him for assisting Cassius his enemy with money She attires her self after the curiousest and costliest manner that could be and upon the River Cydnus enters into her Galley all guilt with gold the oares covered with silver that kept their stroakes by the sound of Musicians the sailes were of purple silke her self lay under a heaven of gold beset with all sorts of precious stones many Ganimeds stood about her to fanne winde to coole her her Ladies like Nymphs sat up and down the ship burning incense and sweet persumes Being come to the place where Anthony was he to keep the Roman gravity sat in the Tribunal with the Officers and people about him and sends for her thither but she goes straight to her Inne and all the people left Anthony to gaze upon her So that being left alone he returnes to his quarters and sends to invite her to supper She refuses and excuseth herself Anthony could no longer forbear but goes to her sups with her eates and drinks in love her beauty wit and smooth tongue soon bewitched him She could readily speak Hebrew Greek Arabick AEthiopick and Persian language in their own Idiome Anthony being thus taken forgets his Warres his wives and all relations goes with her into Egypt and spends his time in adulteries till vengeance seized on them both which was executed by Octa. Caesar. Lipsius Faustina the wife of M. Anthoninus the Philosopher was insatiable in her lusts She used to prostitute herself in the stews in the baths in the Theaters She used to frequent the places where naked men strove for masteries and there noting those that were greatest of flesh would send for them to commit filthinesse with her She prefered to the Empire Commodus one of her adulterers and the sonne of a sword-player which ruined the Empire Lipsius In France there was one Fredegundis a famous whore who for her beauty was entertained
them a great reward and presently brake all the vessels in pieces and being asked the reason of it he answered Because knowing that I am soon angry I may prevent being angry with those that might hereafter break them Eras. Lib. 5. Adag Alexander Magnus being of a cholerick disposition obscured three of his greatest victories with the death of three of his friends causing Lysimachus to be cast to a Lion Clitus to be slaine with a speare and Calisthenes to be put to death Theat vitae hum King Perses being overcome by Paulus AEmilius grew into such a passion that he slew two of his Nobles which came to comfort him which so provoked the rest that they all forsooke him Theat vitae hum L. Sylla who in his anger had spilt the blood of many at last in his fury raging and crying out against one that had broken promise with him thereby brake a veine within him vomiting out his blood soul and anger together Val. Max. lib. 9. Amilcar the Carthaginian did so extreamly hate the Romanes that having four sons he used to say that he bred up those foure Lions whelps for the destruction of the Romane Empire Probus in vita Semiramis as she was dressing her head newes being brought that Babylon rebelled against her she was so incensed that in that habit her haire halfe tied up and half hanging loose she hastened to reduce it and never dressed up her head till she had subdued that great City Polyb. Tomyris Queen of Scythia having overcome and taken Cyrus King of Persia caused his head to be cut off and thrown into a bowle of blood bidding him to drink his fill for that he had so much thirsted after blood and had slaine her sonne in the Warres Val. Max. Lysander the Lacedemonian was noted to be of such an implacable disposition tbat nothing could appease his malice but the death of the person with whom he was angry whereupon it grew to a proverb That Greece could not bear two Lysanders Pez Mel. Hist. Alexander M in a drunken feast that he made after his conquest of Persia began to boast of his great victories and atchievments to the distaste of his own Captaines insomuch as one of them called Clitus speaking to another said He boasts of those victories which were purchased with other mens blood Alexander suspecting that he spake against him asked what he said and when all were silent Clitus spake of the great victories which Philip his father had gotten in Greece preferring them before these which so incensed Alexander that he bade him be gone out of his presence and when Clitus hastened not but multiplied words the King rose up in a great fury and snatching a lance out of his Squires hand therewith he thrust Clitus thorow and killed him This Clitus had formerly saved the Kings life in the battel against Darius He was an old souldier of King Philips and had performed many excellent exploits Besides his mother had nursed Alexander and he was brought up with him as his foster-brother So that Alexander when the heat of his anger was over was so enraged against himselfe for this murther that he was about with the same lance to have murthered himself if he had not been violently restrained by his servants Q. Cur. Caius Caligula was of a most malicious disposition for which end he kept two books which he called his sword and dagger wherein he wrote the names of all such as he had appointed to death He had such a chest of all sorts of the most exquisite poisons that when afterwards it was thrown into the sea by his successor Claudius it poisoned a great multitude of fishes Sueto Amilcar the Carthaginian at what time he did sacrifice being ready to take his journey into Spaine called his young son Hannibal being then but nine years old and caused him to lay his hand upon the Altar and to sweare that being come to mans estate he should pursue the Romanes with immortal hatred and work them all the mischief that possibly he could Sir W. Raw. King Edward the first of England going against Bruce King of Scotland caused his eldest sonne and all his Nobles to swear that if he died in his journey they should carry his corps about Scotland with them and not suffer it to be interred till they had vanquished the Scots and subdued the whole Kingdom Sed ira mortalium debet esse mortalis saith Lactantius Darius being offended with the Athenians for assisting his enemies he called for a bowe wherewith he shot up an arrow towards heaven saying O Jupiter grant that I may be revenged upon the Athenians He appointed also one of his servants every night when he was at supper to say to him Here memento Atheniensium Master remember the Athenians Pez Mel. Hist. Camillus a Noble Romane after many great services done for the Common-wealth was at the instigation of a wicked detractor condemned by the common people to pay a greater summe of money then he was able But he scorning such an open shame resolved to go into voluntary exile and so taking leave of his wife children and friends he went out of the City-gate but then turning again and lifting up his hands towards the Capitol he said O ye gods if it be of spite and malice that the common people thus drive me away then let them have quickly cause to repent and stand in need of me Put. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart Leviticus 19. 17. Cursed be their anger for it was fierce and their wrath for it was cruel Gen. 49. 7. CHAP. XIX Examples of Patience Moderation and Meeknesse SOme of the Heathens have attained to a great eminencie in this vertue of Patience but Christians are to adde it to the number of their graces 2 Pet. 1. 6. And indeed it is that that gives a great lustre to all the rest Humility is the root whence it springs and the fruit of it is both amiable and profitable It puts and keeps a man in possession of his soul Luk. 21. 19. It makes all burthens light and is much improved by exercise Rom. 5. 3. Moses his meeknesse and Jobs patience are exemplary and so held forth in the Scripture And these which follow also may be useful to quicken us to an earnest pursuit after this so excellent a vertue Commanded Luke 21. 19. Col. 1. 11. Rom 12. 12. 1 Thes. 5. 14. Jam. 5. 7 8. c. 1 Tim. 6. 11. Heb. 10. 36. 12. 1. 2 Pet. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 20. Mat. 11. 29. Commanded Eccles. 7. 8. 2 Cor. 6. 4. 12. 12. 1 Tim. 3. 3. 2 Tim. 2. 24. 2 Thes. 1 4. Tit. 2. 2. Heb. 6. 12. Jam. 1 3 4. Rev. 2. 2 3 19 13. 10. 14. 12. Psal. 22. 26. 25. 9. 37. 11. 76. 9. 147. 6. 149 4. Isa. 29. 19. Mat. 5. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 4. Scriptural examples Paul 2 Cor. 6. 4. Moses Num. 12. 3.
with all his might when behold the dagger vanished and five drops of blood fell upon the table in the midst of them and immediately the devil came in annd carried away the blasphemous wretch with such a noise that the whole City was amazed at it The other halfe distracted with fear strove with all their strength to wipe out the drops of blood but the more they wiped it the more clearly it appeared The rumour hereof flying through the City multitudes flocked to the place where they found the Gamesters washing the board whom by the decree of the Senate they bound with chaines and carried towards the prison but as they went by the way one of them was stricken suddenly dead with such a number of lice and wormes creeping out of him as was wonderful and loathsome to behold The third to avert the indignation that seemed to hang over their heads was by the Citizens immediately put to death The table was preserved for a monument to shew the accursednesse of Dicing with the inconveniences and mischiefes attending the same Fincel Mandat 4. Anno Christi 1550. there lived in Alsatia one Adam Steckman who got his living by dressing vines This man having received his wages lost it all at Dice whereupon he grew so distempered in minde wanting wherewithall to maintaine his family that in his wives absence he cut his three childrens throats and would have hanged himselfe but that his wife coming in and seeing this pittifull tragedie gave a great out-cry and fell down dead whereupon the neighbours coming in apprehended the man who by the Law was adjudged to a cruel death Fincel l. 2. Isabel wife to Ferdinand King of Spaine was a very vertuous and magnanimous Princesse a great enemy to playing at Cards and Dice which that Nation was much addicted to yea she caused such severe Lawes to be made against them that in her time none durst use them no not in corners Lipsius Let him that stole steale no more but rather let him labour with his hand the thing that is good that he may have to give to him that lacketh Eph. 4. 28. The lot is cast into the lap but the whole disposition thereof is of the Lord Prov. 1â— 33. CHAP. XLVII Examples of Justice The duty of Judges and Magistrates TO do justly is the duty of every Christian Mich. 6. 8. but especially of Magistrates and such as are in authority and then people may sit under their own Vines and Fig-trees in safety when Iustice runs down like a river and righteousness as a mighty stream in the streets But alas in such woful times as these wherein the sword rages and is drunk with blood we may complaine with the Prophet Isa. 59. 14. that Judgement is turned backwards and Justice stands afar off Truth is falne in the street and equity cannot enter for it is with us as with that man who came to the General of an army for justice to whom he answered What dost thou talke to me of justice I cannot heare the voice of Justice for the noise of Guns and Drums Oh therefore pray for the peace of Jerusalem and give God no rest till he make and till he establish it a praise in the earth and that we may be the more enamoured with the beauty of justice consider these Examples following and these Scriptures requiring it Judges ought to be submitted to Deut. 17. 9 c. 25. 1 c. Ezra 7. 26. The duty of Judges Deut. 1. 16 c. 16. 18 c. 25. 1. 19. 18. 2 Chron. 19. 6 7 Exod. 23. 2 3. Lev. 19. 15. Jer. 22. 3 15 16. Jos. 7. 51. Prov. 31. 4 5. Their qualifications Exod. 18. 21. Deut. 1. 13. Ezra 7. 25. Psal. 2. 10. Judge justly Isa. 1. 17. 16. 3. 56. 1. Jer. 7. 5. 21. 12. 22. 3. Ezek. 18. 8. 45. 9. Hos. 12. 6. Amos 5. 15 24. Zach. 7. 9. 8. 16. Distributive Justice is commanded by God Lev. 19. 15. Deut. 1. 16. 16. 18. Psal. 9. 9. 45. 5 8. 48. 11. 89. 15. 94. 15. 97. 2. Isa. 11. 4 5. 59 9. Jer. 23. 5. 33. 15. Dan. 9. 7. Act. 24. 23. Heb. 1. 9. It 's a great blessing Psal. 85. 11 12 14. 72. 3 4 5 6 7. Kings and Magistrates ought to observe it 2 Sam. 18. 15. 23. 3. Psal. 45. 8. 72. 1 2. Prov. 20. 8. 25. 5. 29. 14. 31. 8 9. Isa. 16. 5. 32. 1. Jer. 22. 15 c. Esek 44. 9. Scriptural examples Moses Exod. 18 13. Othniel Judg. 3. 9 10. Tola Jud. 10. 1 2. Jephtah Jud. 12. 7. Samuel 1 Sam. 7 15. David Psal. 78. 72. Solomon 1 King 3. 27 28. Psal. 72. 2 4. When one told old Bishop Latimer that the cutler had cousened him in making him pay two pence for a knife not in those dayes worth a peny No quoth Latimer he cousened not me but his own conscience Saint Augustine tells us of a seller who out of ignorance asked for a book farre lesse then it was worth and the man meaning himself of his own accord gave him the full value thereof Lib. 13. de trinit c. 3. The Lord Morris Fitz-Thomas Justice of Ireland was a most righteous Justicer in that he stuck not to hang up those of his own blood for theft rapine and other misdemeanours even assoone as strangers Camb. Brit. Irel. p. 192. In the yeere 1356. Sir Thomas Rockesby was made Justice of Ireland who was very careful to pay for the victuals he took saying I will eate and drink out of Treene vessels and yet pay both gold and silver for my food and apparel yea and for my Pensioners also Camb. Brit. Irel. p. 19â— Elfred a King of the West-Saxons here in England designed the day and night equally divided into three parts to three special uses and observed them by the burning of a Taper set in his Chappel eight houres he spent in meditation reading and prayers eight houres in provision for himself his repose and health and the other eight about the affaires of his kingdome he was in continual warres with the Danes and yet so exact in the administration of justice that a Virgin might travel alone through all his dominions without any violence offered her and bracelets of gold were hanged in the high wayes and no man was so hardy as to take them away Speed Chron. p. 332. Charles Duke of Calabria who died in the yeere 1328. was a Prince so careful to have justice executed to all his Subjects that perceiving how difficult it was for the poore to have accesse to him he caused a bell to be hung at his Palace-gate so that he that rung it was sure presently to be brought to his presence or to have some Officers sent out to hear his cause Trajane the Emperour in creating of a Tribune used to put a sword into his hand as an Ensigne of
requested of the Athenians that they would give him a laurel crowne as a reward for all his services whereupon an ungrateful person stood up and said O Miltiades when thou fightest alone and overcomest the Barbarians alone then alone request a reward Justin. Cimon a brave General of the Athenians who by his valour and Policy had exceedingly advanced that Common-wealth was at last by his ingrateful Citizens driven into banishment Plut. See the example of Camillus in Revenge An army of ten thousand Greeks going with Cyrus into Persia against Artaxerxes M. after the death of Cyrus who was slaine in the battel in despite of Artaxerxes and all his huge Army returned under the command of Xenophon through all those vast Kingdomes and countreys in each of which they met with great Armies to oppose them besides the interposition of many great rivers and difficulties of the wayes and at last having passed through a thousand dangers arrived in safety in their own countrey where the Athenians instead of rewarding the Virtue and Valour of Xenophon most ungratefully banished him under a pretence that he went to fight against the King of Persia. Plut. Pausanias a gallant General of the Lacedemonians after all the service that he had done for his countrey was upon trivial occasions accused by the common people and banished Plut. See the Example of Alexander M. in Anger Pub. Scipio Affricanus after all the great things which he had done for his countrey was accused by the Tribunes of the people for concealing some money which belonged to the common treasury whereupon he brought forth his book of accounts and shewed it before all the people saying On this very day I overcame Carthage Let us go to the Capitol and give the gods thanks and so he went into voluntary exile and when he was ready to die he desired his wife that his dead body might not be carried to Rome saying Tu ingrata patria ne mortui quidem ossa habebis Thou ungrateful Countrey shalt not have so much as my dead bones Plut. Lepidus Antonius and Augustus having divided the Romane Empire amongst themselves agreed to proscribe their enemies amongst which number Cicero was accounted one by Antony because he had freely written against his exorbitant courses Augustus stood oft three dayes before he consented to his proscription having received great favours from him yet at last yielded Cicero hearing of it fled to Cajetta and there taking ship intended to escape but was often driven back with the windes so that at last he said Moriar in patria saepè servaâ—a I will die in my countrey which I have often saved yet when his servants heard that the murtherers approached they perforce put him into a Liter and carried him away but when the murtherers had overtaken him he with an undaunted countenance put his head out of the Liter to receive the fatal stroake and so had his head cut off by Popilius Lenas whom a little before he had saved from the gallowes for murther Plut. When Tamerlane the Great had overcome and taken prisoner Bajazet the great Turk he asked him whether he had ever given God thanks for making him so great an Emperour Bajazet ingenuously confessed that he had never so much as thought upon such a thing To whom Tamerlane replied That is was no wonder so ungrateful a man should be made a spectacle of misery For saith he you being blinde of one eye and I lame of one leg what worth was there in us that God should set us over two such great Empires to command so many men far more worthy then our selves See his life in my second Part. Lycurgus would make no Law against ingratitude because he thought that no man would fall so far below Reason as not thankfully to acknowledge a benefit The Persians accounted this sin of ingratitude so hainous that such as were found guilty of it were not suffered to live Plato used to call Aristotle a Mule which being not satified with his mothers milke useth to kick her with his heeles closely taxing him of ingratitude for that when he had received almost all his learning from him yet he set up a School wherein he used to speak much against him AElian Antonius Caracalla being made Emperour caused many innocent men to be put to death and amongst the rest Cilon who had brought him up and from whom he had received so many favours that formerly he used to call him Father Dion Alexander M. most ungrateful in a feast slew Clitus whose mother had been his nurce and who a little before in a great battel had saved Alexanders life Sab. The Carthaginians who in the first Punick Warres had been notably holpen by Xantippus the Lacedemonian and by whose assistance they had taken King Attalus prisoner when they had done with him pretending to carry him home into his Countrey they most ungratefully drowned him by the way Val. Max. Octavius Augustus when he understood that a Senatour whom he dearly loved was much in debt of his own accord he payed it all which the Senatour hearing of wrote only to him At mihi nihil But thou hast given me nothing because all the money which he payed for him went to others Suet. The Syracusians being freed from the Tyranny of Dionysius by the extraordinary diligence charges and perill of Dion shortly after most ungratefully banished him out of their City and a while after calling him home againe they falsely accused him of treason and executed him Fulgos. In the last dayes perilous times shall come For men shall be unthankful unholy c. 2 Tim. 3. 1 2. CHAP. LV. Examples of Fattery Parasites It 's proper to the wicked Psal. 5. 9. 78. 36. 36. 2. 12. 2 3. To the whore Prov. 2. 16. 7. 5 21. Such are to be shunned Prov. 20. 19. 29. 5. Are hateful Prov. 28. 23. Hence Job 32. 21 22. The mischief of it Prov. 26. 28. Job 17. 5. Scriptural examples The young men 1 King 10. 1â— the Princes of Judah 2 Cron. 24. 17. A King Dan. 11. 21. Others Dan. 1â— 32 34. False Apostles 1 Thes. 2. 5. False Prophets Ezek. 12. 24. 13. 10 c. 22. 28. The people Herod Act. 12. 22. Alexander M. used to carry his head on one side inclining to the left shoulder wherein his Couâ—t-Parasites to â—…tiate themselves with him imitated him Justin. Alexander also having in his fury slaine Clitus his faithful servant that had saved his life he was afterwards so grieved for it that he would have slaine himself but being restrained from that â—he would neither eate nor drink for three dayes whereupon his friends brought Anaxarchus the Philosopher to comfort him who in a flattering manner told him that the ancients used to place the Image of Justice by Jupiter to shew that whatsoever Jupiter did must needs be Just and therefore said he Whatsoever so great a King as thou art doest it ougbt to be esteemed
presently after he were hanged again but by the neck as Christian malefactors suffered which was accordingly granted to him Mel. Adam in vit Ja. Andr. p. 639. One who had accused the Apostle Saint Iames the brother of Iohn when he saw that he was condemned and led to execution was so pricked in conscience that of his own accord he confessed himselfe to be a Christian and so they were both led forth together to be executed As they were in the way he desired Saint Iames to forgive him that which he had done who after that he had paused a little upon the mater turned to him and said Peace be unto thee brother and kissed him and so both were beheaded together Euseb. Potamiaena a young and beautifull Virgin being condemned to death for that she was a Christian and delivered to a captaine called Basilides who stayed the insolence of the people which followed her to the place of execution she thereupon prayed for his conversion and was heard of God so that he became a Christian and suffered martyrdome also Act and Mon. William Hunter being at the stake ready to be burnt for Christs cause lifting up his hands and eyes to heaven cryed Sonne of God shine upon me and immediately the Sunne out of a dark cloud shone so full in his face that he was constrained to looke another way whereat the standers by much mused because it was so dark a little before Act. and Mon. Robert Smith a godly Martyr being at the stake ready to be burned exhorted the people to thinke well of his cause not doubting but that his body dying in that quarrell should rise againe to life and told them that God would shew them some token thereof and accordingly when he was halfe burnt all black with fire and clustered together on a lump like a black coale all men thinking him dead suddenly rose upright lifting up the stumps of his armes and clapping the same together declaring a rejoycing heart and so bending downe again he slept in the Lord. Act. and Mon. Mr. Robert Glover a godly Martyr a little before his death had lost the sense of Gods favour and the comforts of his Spirit whereby he was in much heavinesse and made great moane but when he came within the sight of the stake whereat he was to suffer suddenly he was so mightily replenished with Gods holy comfort and heavenly joyes that he cryed out clapping his hands He is come he is come and so dyed most cheerfully Act. and Mon. Three godly men being condemned to be burned when they were at the stake the chaine about them one of them slipped out and went apart from the rest whereupon there was great fear lest he would have recanted but the reason was because he felt not the comforts of Christ in his soul which made him pray earnestly and vehemently to the Lord who at last sent him comfort whereupon he arose with great joy saying now I thank God I am strong and passe not what man can do unto me and so returning to his fellowes they all suffered joyfully Act. and Mon. The Cardinall of Loraine a principall pillar of the house of Guise and a crafty and cruell persecutor of Gods people coming from Rome with a purpose to stirre up the Kings of France and Polonia utterly to root out the Christian assemblies the Lord wrought so wonderfully for his peoples safety that by the way he fell mad at Avignion and died in the flower of his youth at the instant of whose death there happened such an horrible tempest in the aire that all stood amazed at it Act. and Mon. Archbishop Cramner by the wilely subtilties and large promises of the Papists being drawn to subscribe to a recantation afterwards by Gods great mercies recovered againe and when he was at the stake to be burned as soone as the fire was kindled he stretched out his hand wherewith he had subscribed and held it so stedfast and unmoveable saving that once he wiped his face with it that all men saw his hand burned before his body was touched He also abid burning with such constancy and stedfastnesse that alwayes standing in one place his body moved no more then the stake to which he was bound Act. and Mon. He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength They that waite upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walke and not faint Esa. 40. 29. 31. CHAP. II. Examples sit for Gods Ministers to imitate GOds faithfull Ministers as they are set up by God in a speciall manner to oppose and beat down the kingdome of sinne and Satan so usually they are singled out by the Devill and his instruments as the principall Buts against which the invenomed Arrowes of their malicious hearts are most directed and therefore not onely Serpentine wisdome and Dove-like innocency is necessary for them above others but also courage and magnanimitie not to feare the faces of men Sanctity and holinesse without which all their naturall and acquired parts are but as a Pearle in the head of a filthy Toade a Pearle in the head and the body all poyson And lastly diligence and indefatigablenesse in that work which God imployes them about who puts no difference between nequam and nequaquam an idle and an evill servant Which things that they may be better stirred up to endeavour after let them diligently observe these following examples Mr. Calvin being much weakened by his incessant paines in the work of the Ministery towards his end was advised by his friends to take care of his health to whom he replyed Would you have the Lord when he omes finde me idle See his life in my first part St. Ambrose used to commend to Ministers the reading and study of the Scriptures above all other books and it was his owne practice not onely in his younger dayes but in his old age daily to expound and write Commentaries upon it which he continued also in his last sicknesse being imployed in commenting at that time upon the 48th Psalme with the which when he had finished all but the two last verses he finished his life Paulinus in vita St. Ambros. Bishop Iewell riding to preach at Lacock in Wiltshire a Gentleman that met him perceiving his feeblenesse advised him for his healths sake to turne home againe to whom he answered Oportet Episcopum concionantem mori A Bishop should die preaching and so indeed he did for presently after the Sermon by reason of his sicknesse he was forced to bed from which he never came off till he was translated to glory See his Life in my first parr Doctor Reynolds when the Doctors of Oxsor came to visit him in his last sicknesse which he had contracted meerly by his exceeding paines in his study whereby he brought his withered body to be a very Sceleton they earnestly perswaded
together with many other Popish Princes had conspired to root out the true Christians in Bohemia which should have been put in execution at the time of his marriage immediately before in the middest of his great preparations fell sick and within 36 houres died of a pestilent sore in his groine Act. and Mon. Philip the second King of Spaine who was a great enemie to the light of the Gospel that then shined especially in the Netherlands and a bloody persecutor of the Professors thereof after that he had lost many of his Provinces had an imposthume on his right leg and foure other upon his breast which being broken cast forth abundance of stinking matter with great store of Lice so that the Physicians could hardly cleanse them and he was thereby so weak that his servants were faine to lift him to and fro in a sheet and so he died in much misery Hist. of Nether Agodly Minister being persecuted in Hungary by a Popish Bishop who caused Hares Geese and Hens to be tied round about his body and Dogs to be set at him whereby he was cruelly torne in peeces within few dayes after the ungodly Bishop fell sick and ran mad and so ravingly died Act. and Mon. Philip de Lune a godly Gentlewoman of Paris being caught at an assembly of the Protestants was arraigned and condemned some of her Popish neighbours bearing witnesse against her whereof two falling out incontinently the one stabbed the other with a knife Act. and Mon. Peter Arandeau burned for the Protestant Religion in France one Mornay who was his principall accuser presently after died suddenly and the Lieutenant which condemned him was presently after condemned fined deposed from his office and branded with perpetuall infamy for bribery and other vices Act. and Mon. The Lord of Revest chife President of the Parliament of Aixe in France put many godly persons to death but shortly after being put out of his office was stricken with such an horrible disease that he ran mad and none of his friends durst come neare him whereby he perished miserably After him sueceeded Bartholomew Cassaneus a pestilent persecutor also whom the Lord struck also with a fearfull and sudden death Act. and Mon. The Duke of Joyeuse one of the Popish Leaguers in France against the Protestants being overthrown by them in a battell wherein he lost three thousand men three Cannons and two Culverins was heard in a desperate manner to vomit forth these blasphemous words Farewell my great Cannons Ha! I renounce God I run this day an high fortune and therewith plunged himselfe horse and man into the river Tac and died miserably Act. and Mon. Don Iohn of Austria being imployed by the King of Spaine to subdue the Netherlands and root out the Protestants there came with an Army against them and a Banner with a crosse and this Motto upon it By this signe I overcame the Turks and by the same I will overcome the Hereticks But in his first onset he was so entertained that after the losse of many of his Souldiers full of blasphemy and cursings he was forced to retire and shortly after he died of the Plague Hist. of the Netherl Wolfgangus Schuch a godly and learned Minister in Germany was condemned by two Popish Judges and burnt for his Religion Shortly after one of the Judges fell suddenly downe and died The other hearing some Guns discharged was so astonished with sudden feare that he also fell downe and died Act. and Mon. Johannes de Roma a Monke and bloody persecutor of the godly Waldenses His manner was to fill Bootes with boyling Grease and put them upon their legs tying of them backwards over a forme their legs hanging down over a soft fire and afterwards cruelly put them to death and robbed them of their goods but shortly after his owne servant robbed him of all those ill gotten goods and he fell into a most horrible disease unknown to any Physician the paines and torments whereof did so incessantly vex him that no meanes could give him one minutes ease neither could any indure to come neere him by reason of his stinke which even himselfe could not endure his body being full of sores and ulcers and swarming with vermine so that he rotted away and his flesh fell off by peece-meale from his bones In which torments he would often crie out Oh! who will deliver me who will kill me and deliver me out of these intolerable paines Yea often indeavouring to destroy himselfe but had not power to do it and so languishing in anguish and fearfull despaire he ended his accursed life Act. and Mon. John Martin another enemie to the Waldenses used to vaunt every where that he would slit the nose of one of their prime Ministers Shortly after himselfe was assaulted by a Wolfe which bit off his nose whereupon he ran mad and died Act. and Mon. Sir Thomas Moore and Fisher Bishop of Rochester who had put to death John Frith and some others for Religion were themselves shortly after condemned for treason and beheaded Act. and Mon. Philips who betrayed Mr. Tindall to the Emperours Secretary shortly after fell into a grievous sicknesse and was consumed with Lice Act. and Mon. Pavier Town-Clerke of the Citie of London a cruell enemie to the true Professors of the Gospel swore a great oath that if he thought the King would set forth the Scriptures in English rather then he would so long live he would cut own his throat But he brake promise saith the Author for instead thereof he hanged himselfe shortly after Act. and Mon. Foxford Chancellor to Stokesley Bishop of London a bloody Persecutor and common Butcher of Gods Saints died suddenly sitting in his chaire his belly breaking and his guts falling out before him Act. and Mon. Rockwood who was a great stirrer up of persecution against the godly in Calice suddenly fell sick staring raging and crying out I am utterly damned and being willed to ask God mercy he prayed and cried out ' All too late for I have maâ—liciously sought the death of many godly persons â—and that against mine own conscience and therefore â—al too late all too late so he continued unto his end The under Marshall also who at the same time was another persecutor there suddenly fell down in the Councell-Chamber and never spake word more Act. and Mon. Adam Damlip a godly Preacher in Calice was falsely accused of treason and executed and when he would have purged himselfe one Sir Ralph Ellerker would not suffer him but commanded him to be had away saying that he would not depart till he saw the Traitors heart out Shortly after in a skirmish against the French he was slaine and after they had stripped him they cut off his privie members and pulled out his heart which they did not to any of the rest of the slaine Act. and Mon. Doctor Story a bloody persecutor in Queen 〈◊〉 dayes when Queen Elizabeth came to the Crown could not forbeare to
curse her daily in his grace at board was worthily hanged for his Treason therein Anno 1571. Camb. Eliz. Valence the Emperour that mirrour of impietie going against the Gothes was defeated in the very first battel for which he upbraided Trajan his General at a feast with cowardise and sloth as the cause of his overthrow but noble Trajan not enduring that indignity told him in plaine termes that he had lost the day by warring against God in persecuting the Christians whereby he had lost the victory and sent it to his enemies For it is God saith he that overcometh and giveth the victory to those that obey him but such are your adversaries and therefore having God to fight against you how can you overcome Niceph. Eccl. Hist. Apian scoffing at Religion and especially at circumcision had an Ulcer at the same time and in the same place Josephus Antonius Heliogabulus the Emperour a most prodâ—gious monster built a Temple to the Sun and commanded Christians to worship in the same but shortly after he was murthered by his own guard and his body shamefully drawn through the Citie of Rome and thrown into the River Tybur Euseb. Anno 1530 divers noble men in Germany being at supper together and threatning horrible things against the Professors of the Gospel amongst the rest Count Felix of Wartenburg a great Warrier who had been in command under Maximilian the Emperour said that he hoped before he died to ride up to the Spurs in blood of the Lutherans but being smitten by God that very night he fell a bleeding in that violent manner that his owne blood choaked him and so he ended his life Flac. Illyr Francis the first of France was so filled with rage against the truth of God and the reformation in Luthers time that in solemne a Assembly he protested that if he knew any part of his body infected with that contagion he would presently tear it from him that it might spread no further Sleid. Com. l. 9. Ballasius Governour of Egypt under Constantius the Emperour a great persecutor of holy Athanasius as he was riding his horse turning back his neck bit him by the the thigh and therewithall plucking him off his back so bruised him that within three dayes he died Athanasius Iohn Twiford a furious Papist who used to set up the stakes for those that were burned in Smithfield died rotting above ground so that none could endure to come neare unto him by reason of stinke Act. and Mon. David Beaton a bloody Archbishop and Cardinall of Scotland who amongst others had condemned and burned one George Wiseheart was shortly after assaulted by some that brake into his Castle who murthered him in his bed crying out Alasse alasse slay me not I am Priest after which he lay seven moneths unburied and at last like a Carrion he was buried in a dunghill Act. and Mon. William Gardiner an English Merchant being present in Lisborne at the marriage of the Prince of Portugall to the King of Spaines daughter and seeing the abominable Idolatry then used in the presence the King and of all States there assembled he stepped to the Cardinal who was celebrating of Mass and plucked the Cake out of his hand and trampled it under his feet and overthrew the Chalice for which by most exquisite torments in an horrible manner they put him to death by degrees and then burned him a sparke of whose fire was driven a great way into one of the Kings ships lying in the haven and consumed it and within halfe a year after the new married Prince died and the year after the King himselfe also died Act. and Mon. Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury having silenced many faithful Ministers by Gods just judgement had his tongue swelled so bigge in his mouth that he could neither eate drink not speak for many dayes and so died of hunger after he had starved many poor Christian soules and burned their bodies to ashes Act. Mon. Cardinal Woolsey after much opposition against the light of the Gospel which sprang up in his time and much cruelty used towards the professours of it falling into disgrace with King Henry the eighth was sent for up out of Yorkeshire and in his journey suspecting the issue took such a strong purge that his rotten body being not able to bear it died thereof at Lecester-Abby His dead body was as black as pitch and so heavy that six men could scarcely bear it and stanke so intolerably that they were forced to hasten his burial in the night at whose burial there was such an hideous tempest that all the Torches were put out and withall such a stinke that they were glad to throw him into his Tombe and there leave him Act. Mon. Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester a bloody persecutor in Queen Maries time upon the day that Master Ridley and Latimer were burned at Oxford would not sit downe to dinner till one of his servants about four a clock in the afternoone coming Post brought him word that they were executed whereupon he hastened to dinner and being very merry having eaten a few bits a sudden stroke of Gods hand fell upon him so that he was carried immediately to his bed where he continued for fifteen dayes in intolerable anguish and torments rotting above ground all which time he could avoide nothing that he received either by urin or otherwise his tongue also hung out of his mouth swolne and black and so he died miserably Act. Mon. Cyrillus who in the time of Constantine had broken in peeces many Images of the Gentiles being afterwards taken by them was slaine his belly ript his liver drawn out which with barbarous inhumanity they chawed with their teeth but shortly after the teeth of these miscreants fell out of their Jaw-bones their tongues rotted within their mouthes and their eyes were blinde Theod. Henry Arch-bishop of Mentz a godly and vertuous man being accused of heresie to the Pope he sent two Cardinals who most unjustly deposed him from his place whereupon he said unto them If I should from this your unjust sentence appeale unto the Pope it is like I should finde no redresse from him wherefore I appeal to the Lord Jesus Christ the just and righteous Judge and cite you to answer me before his judgement-seat for this injury To which they scoffingly answered Go you first and we will follow after Shortly after the Archbishop died which the Cardinals hearing of said jestingly one to another Behold he is gone before and we must follow according to our promise and indeed shortly after they both died upon on day The one sitting upon a Jakes voided out all his intrals The other gnawing off his own fingers all deformed with devouring himself died miserably Act. Mon. Judge Morgan who gave the sentence of condemnation against the Lady Jane Dudly a most religious and vertuous Lady shortly after fell mad and in his raving cried out continually to have the Lady Jane taken
away from him and so ended his life Act. Mon. Morgan Bishop of Saint Davids who condemned the blesse Martyr Master Farrar and unjustly usurped his Bishoprick not long after was stricken by God after a most strange sort his meat would not go down but pick up again sometimes at his mouth sometimes blown out of his nose most horrible to behold and so he continued till he died Master Leyson also who was Sheriffe at Master Farrars burning having fetched away his cattel and put them into his own grounds divers of them would never eat meat but lay bellowing and roaring and so died Act. Mon. Doctor Duning Chancellour of Norwich a bloody persecutor in Queen Maries dayes was suddenly taken sitting in his chaire and died Act. Mon. Berry Commissary of Norfolke another bloody persecutor as he was walking with one of his Concubines fell down suddenly with an heavy groan and never stirred after A persecuting suffragan of Dover having been with Cardinal Poole for his blessing coming out of the Cardinals Chamber fell down the staires and brake his neck Act. Mon. Bishop Thornton a cruel persecutor also as he was looking upon his men at bowles upon the Sabbath-day fell suddenly into a Palsey and being carried to his bed and willed to remember the Lord Yea so I do said he and my Lord Cardinal too and so he died Act. Mon. Doctor Jeffery Chancellour of Salisbury a wretched persecutor having appointed to call before him ninety honest persons to examine them by inquisition the day before being looking upon his buildings fell down suddenly dead Act Mon. See more of these in my two Martyrologies It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you And to them which are troubled rest 2 Thes. 1. 6 7. Dicetur reprobis Ite Venite probis CHAP. V. Examples of the wicked lives and woful deaths of many of the Popes and Popelings THat Rome is Babylon and the Pope Antichrist are things now so evident and notorious that few question it but that so many thousands which live under the Romish jurisdiction should abide in so grosse ignorance as to continue courting that old and withered strumpet may justly seeme a marvell were it not that the common people are kept in such miserable ignorance being deprived of the soul-enlightning Word of God and enjoyned to pin their faith on the Priests sleeve And the more knowing sort of them are by Gods just judgement given over to strong delusions to believe a lie as the Apostle Paul long since foretold 2 Thes. 2. 11. which prophecie as it is in many other things fulfilled so especially in these prodigious blasphemies which are not onely published but believed and entertained with great applause among them Many instances might be given but take one onely in stead of all wherein they affirme that Christ imprinted his five wounds upon Francis of Assise the Freir as if he also were to suffer for the world and redeem mankinde whereupon Tursellin the Jesuite made these Verses Exue Franciscum tunicâ laceróque cucullo Qui Franciscus erat jam modo Christus erit Francisci exuviis siqualicet indue Christum Jam Franciscus erit qui modo Christus erat Strip Francis from his coat and cowle all nak't and you shall see He that even now St. Francis was to Christ will turned be Again put Francis coat and cowle on Christ and marke the lier He that even now Christ Jesus was will Francis be the Frier But that you may the better see what manner of persons the Popes themselves have been what their lives and what their deaths reade these Examples following Pope Joane whose proper name was Gilberta a Dutch woman cloathing her self in mans apparel and attaining to learning procured to be chosen Pope under the name of John the eighth who afterwards playing the whore fell in travel in the time of a solemne procession and died thereof since which time the Cardinals shun that place in all their processions Simps Pope Stephen the sixth so envied the name of his predecessor Formosus that he abrogated and dissolved all his decrees caused his body to be taken up cutting off two fingers of his right hand which he commanded to be cast into the River Tybur and then buried him in a private Sepulchre Simps Pope John the eleventh kept for his Paramour a famous strumpet called Marozia by whom afterwards he was smothered with a pillow that so her son might attaine to the Popedome Simps Pope John the thirteenth was a whoremaster an adulterer incestuous a gamester and extortioner Of some of his Cardinals he put out their eyes from some he cut out their tongues some their fingers some their noses and privy members He ordained Deacons in a Stable committed incest with two of his sisters at Dice he called to the devil for help and dranke an health to him for money made boyes Bishops lay with his fathers Concubine ravished maides and wives lay with his own mother made his Palace a Stews at length being found in the act of adultery was slaine by the womans husband Simps Pope Silvester the second was a great Conjurer and by the help of the devil obtained the Popedome He enquiring of the devil how long he should live was answered Till he should say Masse in Jerusalem In the Lent after as he was saying Masse in the Chappell of Saint Crosse he suddenly fell sick and remembering that that Chappel was called Jerusalem he perceived how he was cousened by the devil He commanded his Cardinals that after his death they should cut his body in peeces and so bury him having before bequeathed his soul to the devil It is commonly reported that by the ratling of his bones in his tombe is portended the death of the Pope Simps Pope Benedict the ninth attained to the Popedome by Magick and practised inchantments and conjuration in woods after an horrible manner and by magical Art used to allure women to his lust and being in fear of the Emperour whom he had much abused sold his Popedome for fifteen hundred pound weight of gold and going into a Forrest to practise his sorceries the more privately the devil strangled him to death Simps Pope Gregory the sixth scholar to Silvester and as great a Conjurer as his Master after many horrible mischiefs committed was banished Rome and ended his life most miserably in Germany Balleus Pope Hildebrand attaining to his Papacy by unlawful means set the whole Christian world into a combustion As he rose out of his seat to excommunicate the Emperour Henry the fourth his seat being newly made of great timber rent and shivered in peeces Afterwards he hired one to knock the Emperour on the head as he was at prayers Enquiring of the Hoast for an answer against the Emperour because it would not speak he threw it into the fire and burnt it and after many such outragious villainies he was deposed and banished after which
he would take them by the hand and tell them that perhaps his wife which sate in a roome by could perswade them more effectually unto whom he would lead them When they approached the Image would rise up open her armes and imbrace them which armes and her breasts also were full of sharpe â—ron nailes wherewith she griped the poore wretch till she had killed him and then the Tyrant seised on his goods Philip King of Spaine out of an unnaturall and bloody zeale suffered his eldest son Charles to be murthered by the cruell Inquisition because he favoured the Protestants Religion which when the Pope heard of he abused that Scripture He spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us Act. and Mon. Mahomet the great a most cruell and mercilesse Tyrant is said in his life-time to have been the cause of the death of eight hundred thousand men Turk Hist. Fernesius as he was going out of Italy towards Germany made this feral and bloody boast That he would make his horse swim in the blood of the German Lutherans A Frier Augustine of Antwerp openly in the Pulpit whilst he was preaching to the people wished that Luther was there that he might bite out his throat with his teeth and said that so doing he would nothing doubt to resort to the Altar with the same bloody teeth and receive the body of Christ. Eras. Epist. Tarquinius Superbius entering the Senate-house in Rome in royall Ornaments laid claime to the Kingdome but was opposed by his father-in-Law Servius whereupon he wounded him and forced him to depart which Tullia Tarquins wife hearing of came to the Senate-house and saluted her husband King causing him to send some after her father Servius who killed him leaving his body in so narrow a street that when Tullia returned that way the Charioter stayed lest he should drive over the the corps but she threw the seat of the Chariot at his head and forced him to drive over her fathers body since which time that street hath been called the wicked street Dioâ— Solyman the great Turk having obtained a victory against the Germans finding amongst the Captives a Bavarian Souldier of an exceeding high stature delivered him to a little dwarfe to be slaine whose head was scarce so high as the others knees that goodly tall man was mangled about the legs a long time by the apâ—sh dwarf with his little Scimeter till falling down with many feeble blowes he was at length slaine the Prince beholding it with great sport Turk Hist. p. â—09 The Spaniards when they had taken Heidelberg in the Palatinate took an ancient Minister a man of God called Monsieur Mileus and having abused his daughter before his face they tied a small cord about his head which with their truncheons they twisted about till they had squeezed out his braines Looking-glasse of the holy war In the reign of Saint Edward King of England two Earles that were brethren Harrould and Tosto fell out in the Kings Court at Windsor from words falling to blowes and Tosto having the worst secretly hied him to the Marches of Wales to his brother Harroulds house which was then in preparing to entertaine the King where he slew all his brothers servants and cutting them peece meale into gobbets salted some of their limbs and cast the rest into vessels of Meath and wine sending his brother word that he had furnished him with poudered meats against the Kings coming thither but this barbarous act caused his name to be so odious amongst his Northumbrians where he was Earle that at last it was repayed with his own death Speeds Chron. pag. 402. A rich Merchant in Paris jesting at the Franciscan Fiers was by their meanes apprehended accused and condemned to be hanged but he thinking to save his life made a publick and solemne recantation which when the Friers were informed of they commended him saying That if he so continued he should undoubtedly be saved and withall called upon the officers to haste him to the Gallows to hang him whilest he was in so good a minde which was accordingly done Act. Mon. In the persecution of the Saints of God in Calabria Anno 1560. fourscore godly persons being all thrust up in one house together like sheep for the slaughter the executioner comes in and taking forth one blindefolds him with a mufler about his eyes and so leades him forth to a large place where coâ—…ding him to kneele down he cuts his threat and so leaving him halfe dead and taking his Butchers knife and mufler all goare blood comes back to the râ—â—t and so leading them forth one after another he dispatched them all All the elder went to the slaughter more cheerfully the younger more timerously I tremble and quake saith a Romane Catholick out of whose letter to his Lord this is transcribed even to remember how the executioner held his bloody knife between his teeth with the bloody mufler in his hand and his armes all goare blood up to the elbowes going to the fold and taking every one of them one after another by the hand and so dispatching them all no otherwise then a Butcher doth his Calves or Sheep In the Spanish Inquisition if any Protestant be secretly conveyed into it they bring him not unto a legal trial but make him away secretly For as Hoffeus the Jesuite was wont to brag they hold it a good peece of Piety instantly to condemne him to the fire Ut anima ejus in curru igneo ad inferos trahatur that his soul might forthwith be carried to hell in a fiery Chariot The poore Spaniards are kept in such aw by the Lords Inquisitors that one of those Inquisitors desiring to eat some peares that grew in a poor mans Orchard not farre from him sent for the man to come and speak with him This message put the poore man into such a fright that he fell sick and kept his bed But being informed that his peares were the cause of his sending for he caused his tree to be cut down and withall the peares on it to be sent to the Inquisitor and being afterwards by him demanded the reason of that unhusbandly action he protested that he would not keep that thing about him which should give an occasion to aâ—…f their Lordships to send for him any more The Numantines being assaulted by the Romanes made solemne vowes amongst themselves no day to break their fast but with the flesh of a Romane nor to drink before they had tasted the blood of an enemy Guevara Ep. In the Massacre of Paris which was the most abhorred prodigious villainy that ever the Sunne saw till the late Irish rebellion there were murthered in divers places of France threescore thousand Protestants so that the streets ran with blood and Rivers were died red with the same Besides there were three hundred faithful servants of Christ burnt to ashes in that Kingdom within lesse then five yeares space and in their late
civil Warres about twelve hundred thousand natural French are said to be slaine Act. Mon. A man or rather a monster in Italy having on a sudden surprized one whom he hated deadly presently overthrew him and setting his dagger to his breast told him that he would stab him to the heart except he would renounce abjure and blaspheme God which when the wretched man had done too sinfully greedy of a miserable life he notwithstanding immediately dispatched him as soone as those prodigious blaspemies were out of his mouth and with a bloody triumph insulting over him he said Oh this is right noble and heroical revenge which doth not onely deprive the body of temporal life but bring also the immortal soul to endlesse flames everlastingly Bolton Caligula an Emperour of Rome so excelled in cruelty that he wished that all the people of Rome had but one neck that so he might at one blow cut them all off Act. Mon. Saint Jerome in an Epistle to Cromatius writes that the number of Martyrs in his time was so great that there was no day in the yeere unto which the number of five thousand Martyrs could not be ascribed except onely the first of January Theodora a beautiful Virgin refusing to sacrifice to the Idols was condemned to the Stews and many wanton young men pressed to the door to defiled her but one Didymus a Christian in a Souldiers habit first entered in counselled her to change apparel with him and so to steal away and he in her apparel remained in the place who afterwards being found a man was accused to the judges unto whom he uttered the whole truth withal professing himself to be a Christian whereupon he was condemned and led to execution which Theodora hearing of thinking to excuse him presented her selfe desiring that he might be freed and she executed but the cruell judge neither considering the virtuousnesse of the persons nor the equity of the cause caused them both to be tormented to death Act. Mon. Laurence a Deacon of the Church refusing to yield to a Tyrant in delivering up to him the Churches treasure was commanded first to be scourged then buffeted pinched with fiery tongues girded with burning plates and lastly to be cast upon a grate of iron red hot upon which when he had been long pressed down with fireforks in the mighty spirit of God he spake thus to the Tyrant This side is now roasted enough Turne up O Tyrant great Assay whether roasted or raw Thou think'st the better meat Act. Mon. Many Christians being assembled together in a Church Maximianus a Tyrant commanded it to be surrounded with armed men and set on fire but first proclaimed that whosoever would have life should come forth and worship to the Idols whereupon one stepping up into a widow answered in the name of all the rest we are all Christians and will do service to none but the true God upon which speech the fire was kindled there were burnt of men women and children any thousands Act. Mon. In Thebaide so many Christians were slaine that the swords of their persecutors grew blunt and they were so tired that they were faine to sit down and rest them whilst others took their places and yet the Martyrs were no whit discouraged but unto the last gaspe sang Psalmes of praise unto God Act. Mon. Thomas Tomkins being imprisoned by Bonner for the profession of the truth the said Bonner calling for him into his Chamber before divers Popish Doctors first cruelly beat him for his constancy afterwards took a wax Taper and holding him by the fingers held his hand directly over the flame till the veines shrunk and the sinews burst and the water out of them spurt into Doctor Harpsfields face as he stood by whereupon he moved with pity desired the Bishop to stay saying he had tryed him enough Thomas Tomkins afterwards affirmed to some of his friends that during this cruell burning his spirit was so wrapt that he felt no paine Act. Mon. Mr. Samuel a Preacher being convented before Bonner was by him committed to prison and there chained up to a Post in such sort that standing on tiptoes he bore up all the weight of his body thereby besides he allowed him but three morsels of bread and three spoonfuls of water a day whereby he was miserably tormented with hunger and thirst be sides his other paine that he would have drunk his own water but that his body was so miserably dried up that he could not make one drop When he was going to be burned he told a friend that after he had been in this misery three dayes he fell a sleep and one clad all in white seemed to stand before him telling him that after that day he should never hunger or thirst which accordingly came to passe Act. and Mon. Three godly women in the Isle of Garnesey were condemned to be burned and though one of them was great with childe yet had she no favour As they were in the fire the belly of the woman breaking with the vehemency of the flame the Infant being a fair manchilde fell into the fire which being taken out carried to the Bayliffe he commanded it to be carried back and thrown into the fire whereby it was both borne and died a Martyr Act. Mon. Master Denly being condemned to be burned by Bonner as he was in the middest of the flames sang a Psalme whereupon Doctor Story a bloody persecutor commanded one of the tormentors to hurle a fagot at him which hitting him on the face made it run down with blood which made him leave singing and clap his hands on his face Truly quoth Doctor Story to him that hurled the fagot thou hast marred a good old song Act. and Mon. Edmund Tyrell with some other persecuting Papists searching the house of father Munt and finding him in bed with his wife bad them rise for that they must go to prison The old woman being very sick desired that her daughter might first fetch her some drink which accordingly she did Tyrell meeting her by the way took the candle out of her hand and held it crosse-wise under the back of her hand continuing it so long till her sinews crackt asunder still saying Why whore wilt thou not cry Afterwards the said maid told a friend that at first she felt some paine but afterwards little or none at all Act. and Mon. Iohn Rabeck a godly man in France being required to pronounce Jesus Maria and to joyne them together in one Prayer answered that if his tongue should but offer to utter those words at their bidding himselfe would bite it asunder with his teeth whereupon the mercilesse Papists cut out his tongue Act. and Mon. In the Massacre of Paris a godly woman being great with childe and having the Midwise with her some of the bloody murthereâ—s came knocking at the door requiring it to be opened in the Kings name whereupon the great bellied
woman as ill as she was adventured to goe down and open it These Tyrants presently stabbed her husband in his bed The Midwife seeing them bent to murther the woman also earnestly intreated them to stay at least so long till the Infant which would be the twentieth childe that God had given her was borne but they took this poor woman and thrust her with a dagger into the fundament to the very hilts she finding her selfe mortally wounded and yet desirous to bring forth her fruit fled into a Corne-loft whither they pursued her giving her another stab into the belly and then cast â—er out of a window into the street in which fall the child came forth of her body gaping yawning a most woful â—ueful sight Act. Mon. At the same time also one of the bloody Papists having snatched up a little Child in his arms the poor Babe began to play with his Beard and to smile upon him but this barbarous wretch was so far from compassion that he wounded it with his dagger and so cast it all gore blood into the River Act and Mon In the Massacre at â—lâ—ise in France whilest the Protestants were cruelly handled and murthered in that disorder even many of the Romane Catholiques drank with them of the same cup whereupon both parties made their complaints to the Duke of Guise in hope of redresse whose answer was that the Kingdom was but too full of people and therefore his purpose was to cut off as many as he could that so all kinde of victuals might be better cheap Act and Mon. At the Massacre of Paris a Gentleman obtained letters from the King to murther the Protestants at Angiers also who coming to the house of a reverend and learned Minister one Master John Mason and meeting his wife at the entrance he saluted her and kis't her enquiring where her husband was she said In his garden and directed him to him whom also he very lovingly embraced asking him if he knew wherefore he was come to him The King saith he hath commanded me to kill you presently wherewithal he presented a Pistol to his breast The Minister said that he knew not wherein he had offended the King but seeing he would have his life he desired him to give him leave to commend his soule into the hands of God and having made a short prayer he willingly presented his body to the murtherer who shot him so that he presently died Act. and Mon. Anno Christi 1443 the Switzers having vanquished their enemies the Thuricenses in battell banquetted in the place where they won the victory using the dead bodies of their adversaries instead of stooles tables Cruelty complained of Gen. 49. 7. Exod. 6. 9. Deut. 32. 33. Psal. 25. 19. 71. 4. Prov. 12. 10. Jer. 6. 23. 50. 42. Lam. 4. 3. Heb. 11. 36. Ps. 27. 12. 74. 20. Ezek. 34. 4. The evils of it Prov. 11. 17. 27. 4. Scriptural examples Adonibezek Jud. 1. 7. Cain Gen. 1. 8. Simeon and Levi Gen. 342. 5. Pharaoh Exod. 1. 16 22. Saul 1 Sam. 22. 18 19. Athaliah 1 Chron. 22. 10. Menahem 2 King 15. 16. Jehoram 2 Chron. 21. 4. Abimelech Jud 9. 5. Philistines Jud. 15. 6. David 2 Sam. 12. 31. 1 Chron. 20. 3. Hazael 2 King 8. 12. Manasseh 2 King 21. 16. Amaziah 2 Chron. 25. 12. Nebuchadnezzar 2 Chron. 36. 17. Ezek. 23. 25. Jer. 51. 34. Haman Esther 3. 5 6. Medes Is. 13. 18. Edom Amos 1. 11. Ammon Amos 1. 13. Moab Amos 2. 1. Paul Act. 9. 1. 22. 4. It 's recorded of Julius Caesar that in his warres he slew eleven hundred ninty and two thousand men and at last was himself slaine by his seeming friends in the Senate-house Plin. Gains Caligula the fourth Emperour of Rome was of a most bloody and cruel disposition he caused Tiberius who was made coheire with him to be murthered He caused Syllanus his wives father to murther himself He caused divers of the Senators to be privily murthered and then gave it out that they had murthered themselves many other noble men he stigmatized then condemned them to the mettal-mines or to mending the high-wayes or to the wilde beasts Some he sawed a sunder in the middest He forced parents to be present at the torments of their children and whereas one excused himself by reason of sicknesse he sent his horse-litter for him Another asking whether he might not wink for that he caused him to be slaine Another whom he forced to be present at the torments of his children he presently took him home with him to a feast and forced him to be merry When he wanted condemned persons to feed his beasts he would cause some of the innocent spectators to have their tongues cut out that they might not complaine and so to be throwne to the beasts When he distasted any of the Senatours he would suborne some to come into the Courts and to declare them publick enemies to the State and presently to murther them yet was he not satisfied till he saw them torne peece-meale and their bowels dragged along the streets He used to say that he commended nothing more in his nature then his impudence He would not have men presently to be killed but used to say to his executioners Ita percute ut mori se sentiat So strike that he may feel himself to die Being angry with the people for coming slowly to his sports he wished Vtinam Populus Romanus unam cervicem haberet Would al the people of Rome had but one neck He used to complaine of his times that they were not made famous by some great publick calamity and therefore he used to wish for the destruction of his Armies famines pestilence burning or some extraordinary gapings of the earth grieved for that he should be soon forgotten because of the prosperity of all things Having entertained the two Consuls at a great feast suddenly he fell into a great laughter when they asked him mildly what he laughed at he answered To think that with one nod I can presently cause you both to be murthered When he used to kiss the necks of his wives and concubines he said This fair neck assoon as I command shall be cut off Sueto Vitellius the Romane Emperour was exceeding cruel putting many to death contrary to all Law equity seeking forgeries and false accusations against them One of his friends coming to visit him finding himself not well called for some water to drink the Emperour with his own hands cast poison into it poisoned him He commanded some young men to be slaine only because they came to intâ—eate him to pardon their father whom he had condemned to die Imperial Hist. Cursed be their anger for it was fierce and their wrath for it was cruel Gen 49. 7. The darke places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelly Psal. 74. 20. CHAP. VII Examples of Temperance Abstinence and Sobriety
16. 19. the Jewes Jer. 6. 13. 8. 10. the young man Mat. 19. 22. the Pharisees Luke 16. 14. Nabal 1 Sam. 25. 11. the rich man Luke 16. 21 c. See some examples of the danger of covetousnesse in my first Part of the Marrow of Eccles. History Julius Caesar was of such a covetous disposition that making Warre in Spaine he picked quarrels with divers rich Cities that he might plunder them He brake also into the Temples of the gods and robbed them of their rich gifts which had been bestowed upon them In his first Consulship he robbed the Capitol of three thousand pound weight of gold In his own and Pompey's name he took six thousand Talents from Ptolemy King of Egypt Theat vitae hum Tiberius Caesar was so overcome by covetousnesse that when Cn. Lentulus a worthy Senatour had in his will declared him to be his heire he sent and killed him that so he might have present possession of his goods Also when Vonorais King of Parthia being expelled out of his Kingdome fled to him for refuge he seeing that he had brought a mighty masse of treasure with him killed him that so he might enjoy his riches Theat vitae hum C. Caligula the Emperour having by profusenesse and prodigality wasted the treasure of the Empire fell afterwards to sordid covetousnesse and rapine whereupon he forced many rich men to make tbeir wills and therein to declare him to be their heir and presently after used to poison them scoffing at them and saying that when men had once made their wills it was fit they should die Having by a tribute raised a mighty masse of money stripping himself naked he rolled himself upon it seeking thereby to satisfie his thirst after gold He sold also the servants and houshold-stuffe Jewels and ornaments of his sisters taking the price of them to himself Theat vitae hum Nero that monster of men when by his profusenesse and Luxury he had wasted the Imperial treasures fell to such covetousnesse that he imposed new tributes on his subjects Injuriously seized upon many rich mens estates and often put the owners to death Robbed many Temples and took away the gold and silver Images Theat vitae hum Sergius Galba to satisfie his covetousnesse imposed great fines upon divers Cities in Spaine and France Took away from the Image of Jupiter a crown of gold that weighed fifteen pound weight and having a plentiful supper set before him he sighed at the consideration of the cost Theat vitae hum Vespasian though he be reckoned amongst the good Emperours yet he was extreame covetous Being blamed by his friends for sending such oppressive officers into the Romane Provinces He answered that he used them but as spunges to squeese them when they were full He imposed a taxe upon every family according to the quantity of urine that was made in it which his son Titus being offended at and blaming him for it as dishonourable to so great an Emperour He answered him little for the present but a while after when his Publicans had brought in the tribute he called his son Titus and bad him smell what ill savour that gold had Titus smelling told him that he found no ill savour in it his father laughing told him that it was urine and withal added Dulcis odor lucri ex re â—ualibet The smell of gaine is sweet out of any thing Yea from the principle of covetousnesse he would publickly do such businesse as a private man would be ashamed of Didius Julianus the Emperour was so extreamly covetous that he made himself hateful to the people and being forsaken of all men was at last slaine in his Palace Guido Bitur Constans Tertius the Emperour going to Rome spoiled all places both holy and prophane carrying away more of the riches ornaments of the City then all the Barbarous Nations that had formerly plundered it He also grievously oppressed his Subjects especially the inhabitants of Sicily whereby many parents were forced to sell their own children which made him so hateful to all that his own souldiers rose up against him and slew him Fulgosus Lib. 9. c. 4. Cardinal Angelot was so basely covetous that by a private way he used to go into the stable and steale the oats from his horses so that on a time the Master of his horse going into the stable in the dark and finding him there taking him for a thief beat him soundly he was also so hard towards his servants that his Chamberlaine watching his opportunity slew him Pontanus lib. de Prin. A certain young man in Lacedaemon having bought an house and land at a very under rate the Magistrates hearing of it sent for him and fined him for that he being a yound man had shewed so much covetousnesse seeking to inrich himself by the losse of another AElian Lib. 14. Semiramis caused to be ingraven upon her sepulchre What King soever shall want money let him open this sepulchre and he shall finde as much as he needs Darius long after finding this inscription brake open the sepulchre but instead of money he only found this inscription within Except thou wert a wicked man and basely covetous thou wouldest never have broken open the sepulchres of the dead Stobaeus Anno Christi 1066. Reginherus Bishop of Misnia being at Goslaria after dinner went into his chamber where he had hid his treasures being an extream covetous man and shut himself in as if he would take a little sleep but his servants thinking him long first knocked at the doore and afterwards brake it open and found him dead with his neck broken and his body of an ugly colour lying in a miserable manner upon his money Lamb. Scaffnaburgensis Caratacus a Prince of the Britaine 's being taken prisoner and carried to Rome when he had throughly viewed the stately magnificence of that City What mean you saith he when you have these and such like buildings of your own to covet our small cottages Camb. Brit. p. 957. The Spaniards in the conquest of Peru told Atabalipa the King thereof that they were sent from an Emperour unto whom the Pope had given all that land to convert them to the Christian faith Whereunto Atabalipa answered That he would gladly be friends with the Emperour because he was so great a Monarch but in no case with the Pope because he gave to another that which was none of his own Pur. Pilgrims Vol. 4. p. 1445. Thira a Dane wife to Godwin Earle of Kent used to make Merchandise of Englands beateous Virgins by selling them at a deare rate into Denmark seeking thereby to satisfie her own covetousnesse and the Danes lusts which practice she continued till a just reward of Gods wrath fell upon her by a thunderbolt from heaven whereby she was slaine Speed Nigh unto the City of Lunenberg in Germany there flowed plentifully a salt spring till such time as the rich men ingrossing all the profit to themselves would not suffer
onely said What an ill thing is it that men cannot foresee when they should put on an helmet before they go abroad And at another time being kicked by one If an Asse should kick me said he should I spurne him again And when another had wronged him he said I would have smitten thee but that I am angry Nicolas of Johnvile being condemned by the Papists to die for the cause of God as he was carried in a Cart to execution his own father coming with astaffe would have beaten him but the officers not suffering it were about to strike the old man The son calling to them desired them to let his father alone saying he had power over him to do in that kinde what he pleased but Christ was dearer to him then the dearest friend on earth Act. Mon. Aristippus an Heathen went of his own accord to AEschines his enemy saying Shall we not be reconciled till we become a table-talke to all the countrey and when AEschines answered that he would most gladly be at peace with him Remember then said Aristippus that although I be the elder and better man yet I sought first unto thee Thou are indeed a far better man then 〈…〉 said AEschines for I began the quarrel but thou the reconcilement Julius Caesar being extreamely defamed by Clavus the Oratour and Catullus the Poet Yet afterwads when truth setled shamefastnesse on their foreheadâ— and repentance in their consciences Caesar was satisfied with it and seeing Calvus desire his friendship but durst not intreat it he in an expresse letter offered it unto him and for Catullus he invited him to supper the same day that he published his Poeme against him Suet. Augustus Caesar was also of the same disposition For when as Timagines an Historian wrote against him together with his wife daughters and all his family he onely sent to him advising him to use his tongue and pen with more moderation especially towards him and his friends For Augustus had bred him up but he still persevering and the Emperour being enforced to take notice of it by way of punishment he onely sent to him to retire himself out of the City of Rome into the countrey Seneca King Henry the sixth was of that meek disposition that being wounded in the side by a Ruffian whilest he was a prisoner in the Tower when afterwards he was restored to his Kingly estate he freely forgave him the fact and another like Ruffian striking him on the face he punished with this onely reprehension Forsooth you are to blame to strike me your anointed King Oaths he used none but in weighty matters his affirmation was forsooth and forsooth Sp. Chron. p. 86â— Austin when the Donatists upbraided him unworthily with the impietie and impurity of his former life Look said he how much they blame my fault so much I commend and praise my Phisician See his Life in my first Part. A fellow objecting to Beza his youthly Poems This man said he vexeth himself because Christ hath vouchsafed to me his grace See his life in my first Part. Be ye not stothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises Heb. 6. 12. Vince animos ir ámque tuam qui caeter a vincis CHAP. XV. Examples of Gods judgements upon Apostates and backsliders TRue grace is not like a slight staine but a durable die and graine-colour which can never be washed out the gates of hell cannot prevaile against the faith of Gods elect so that though they may lose the lustre of their graces yet not the graces themselves but a see will still remaine in them The reason then why some glorious professors do fall like starres from heaven is because they were never fixed in the true Orbe They had a name only that they lived but were dead Rev. 3. 1. they had an evil heart of unbelief in them and therefore they depart away from the living God Heb. 3. 12. They began in hypocrisie and so end in Apostasie But that the danger misery of such persons may more manifestly appear unto us lay to heart these texts Examples following Foretold 2 Thes. 2. 3. Exod. 32. 8. 1 Tim. 4. 1. Mat. 24. 12. Complained of Jer. 8. 5. Prov. 2. 13. Esa. 31. 6. Jer. 7. 24. and 2. 21. and 6. 28. 1 Tim. 1. 19. Threatened Ps. 125. 5. Heb. 10. 38 39. Mat. 10. 33. 2 Pet. 2. 1. Prov. 14. 14. It 's sometimes partial as Peters Mat. 26. 74 75. Aarons and the Israelites Exod. 32. 1 c. Rehoboams and Judah 2 Chron. 12. 1 6. Manasses 2 Chron. 32. 2 12 c. Sometimes total Heb. 3. 12. and 6. 6. and 10. 39. as Judas Acts 1. 18. Demas 2 Tim. 4. 10. Diotrephes 3 Joh. 9. Hymeneus and Alexander 1 Tim. 1. 20. Hymeneus and Philetus 2 Tim. 2. 17. Alexander 2 Tim. 4. 14. Other examples Ieroboam the sonne of Nâ—bat fell from the service of God and his true worship and erected two golden calves in Dan and Bethel and when the Prophet prophesied against his Idolatry he stretched forth his hand against him which was immediately dried up But not taking warning hereby shortly after the Lord struck his sonne Abijah with siknesse whereof he died 1 Kings 14. Then was he assaulted by Abijam King of Judah and though Jeroboams Army was twice so big yet was he overthrown and lost five hundred thousand of his men besides some of his Cities and not long after himselfe was stricken by God that he died Jehoram King of Iudah though he had been religiously educated by his father Iehosaphat and had seen his zeal in purging out Idolatry and maintaining the pure service of God yet marrying Athalia the daughter of Ahab he turned an Idolater and caused the men of Judah to run a whoring after strange gods whereupon the Arabians and Philistines rose up against him wasted his countrey robbed him of his treasures took away his wives and murthered all his children save Jehoahaz his youngest sonne After which the Lord smote him with an incurable disease in his bowels so that after he had lived two yeers in grievous torments his guts fell out of his belly and he died 2 Chron. 21. Joas King of Judah who had been preserved and religiously educated by that godly High Priest Jehojadah after his death this Joas Apostatized from the service of God and fell to Idolatry For which God raised up the Syrians against him who came with a small army against a mighty host yet did they prevaile against Joas slew his Princes and carried away a great spoile to Damascus and shortly after the Lord struck Joas with grievous diseases and his own servants conspiring against him slew him the people not affording him a burial amongst the Kings 2 Chron. 24. Amaziah King of Judah began his reigne well pretending much zeal for the service of God but after a while having overcome the Edomites he brought home their gods worshipped and burned incense
to them And being reproved by a Prophet he threatened him with death if he ceased not For which the Lord delivered him up into the hand of the King of Israel who overthrew his Army took him prisoner carried him back to Hierusalem and for the greater reproach before his face brake down part of the City-walls ransacked the Temple and Kings palace carried away all the treasure out of both took his children for hostages to Samaria and after all this his subjects wrought treason against him which made him fly to Lachish yet thither did they pursue him and put him to death 2 Chron. 25. Judas Iscariot who for covetousnesse fell from Christ and betrayed him to the Jewes could afterwards finde no rest nor quiet in his guilty conscience so that being plunged into the bottomlesse pit of despaire he hanged himself burst in twaine and all his bowels fell out Acts 1. 18. Lucian who had made a profession of Religion in the time of Trajan afterwards fell from it and became a railer against it yea against God himselfe whereupon he was sirnamed the Atheist but the Lord inflicted a just judgement upon him for he was torne in pieces and devoured of dogs Suidas Porphyrie after he had received the knowledge of the truth being reproved for his faults by some Christians for very spite and anger apostatized from his profession set himselfe against the Christians published books full of horrible blasphemies against the profession of Christianity But perceiving himselfe to be confuted and loathed for his wickednesse in horrible despaire and torments of soul he died Suid. Ammonius who was Master to Origen was from his childhood brought up in the Christian Religion but afterwards was so affected with the study of Philosophy that he apostatized from Christianity and fell to Heathenisme Ravis Origen who had been all his life-time ambitious of Martyrdom fainted under the seventh Persecution his heart being overcome by feare when he was put to his choice either to offer incense to Idols or to have his body defiled by an ugly blackamoore whereupon he chose the former but thereby he lost the peace of his conscience which he could not recover of a long time after See his Life in my first Part of the Marrow of Ecclesiastical History Under the eighth Persecution a certain Christian denying his faith went up into the Capitol at Rome to abjure Christ and his profession which he had no sooner done but was immediately stricken speechlesse Cypri de Lapsu A Christian woman denying her profession was presently possessed by an evil spirit whereby she fell a tormenting her selfe and bit out her tongue with her own teeth Cyp. An ancient woman who had revolted from the truth and denied her profession yet thrust her selfe into the Assembly of the Faithful and received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper with them but it proved her bane for immediately trembling and stamping she fell down and died Cyp. A man also that had renounced his faith did notwithstanding present himselfe to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper but when he had received the bread into his hand thinking to put it into his mouth it was turned into ashes Cyp. Tamerus a professor of the reformed Religion being seduced by his brother denied his faith and turned Papist but shortly after he fell into despaire and hung himselfe Theat Hist. Anno Christi 1569. One Henry Smith a Lawyer of the middle Temple who made a zealous profession of the truth afterwards by the seducement of one of his friends turned Papist for which being stricken with terrors of conscience he hanged himselfe in his own chamber Act. Mon. Theoderick an Arrian King of the Goths exceedingly affected a certaine Deacon though Orthodox But this Deacon thinking to ingraciate himselfe more with the King and to attaine to great advancement thereby turned Arrian which when Theoderick understood he changed his love into hatred and caused his head to be struck off saying If he kept not his Faith to God what duty in conscience can a man expect from him Euseb. l. 2. Julian the Emperour who was brought up in the Christian Religion afterwards turned Pagan and became a malicious persecutor of Christianity but after a short Reigne in a battel that he fought against the Persians he was wounded with a dart which was never known from whence it came and feeling his strength to faile by reason of his wound he took of his own blood in his hands holding it up and with extream pride cryed out O thou Galilaean thou hast overcome me calling Christ Galilaean in scorn and so he died Simps Nicomachus under one of the first Persecutions being put to extream torments for the profession of Christ shrunk from his profession and cried out that he was no Christian whereupon he was freed from his torments but assoon as he had sacrificed to the Idols he was presently taken with a wicked spirit and thrown down violently to the ground where biting off his tongue with his teeth he presently died Act. Mon. Bolsechus of whom Beza writeth religionem ephemeram habere existimabatur his religion changed like the moon See the Life of Beza in my first Part. Baldwin was a notable turncoat that changed his religion three or four times at least for advantage and at last died of envy that another was preferred before him to be Chaplain to the Duke of Anjou when he went to take possession of the Kingdome of Poland Petrus Caroli an odious Apostate and tronbler of the Church See the life of Calvin in my first Part. The like were Staphylus Spicerus Brisonettus and of late Bertius Tilenus Spalatensis and many Renegado English who in Queen Elizabeths time turned Papists for advantage Bishop Bonner who in King Henry the eighths dayes was a great favourer of the Gospel for which he was advanced to a Bishoprick by the Lord Cromwel yet afterwards proved an Apostate and grievous persecutor of the Church See my English Martyrologie Latomus of Lovaine sometimes a professor of the Gospel but afterwards an Apostate went to Bruxels where he made an Oration before the Emperour Charles the fifth against Luther and his followers but so foolishly and ridiculously that he was laughed to scorn by most of the Courtiers after which returning to Lovaine againe in his publick Lecture he fell into an open frenzie and madnesse uttering such words of desparation and blasphemous impiety that by other Divines present he was carried away raving and shut up in a close chamber from which time to his last breath he continually cried out that he was damned and rejected of God and that there was no hope of salvation for him because that wittingly and against his knowledge he had withstood the manifest truth of the Word of God Senarclaeus in epist. ante hist de morte Diazi Arnold Bomelius a student in the University of Lovaine a man much commended for an excellent wit and ripenesse of learning and for favouring
the cause of the Gospel but afterwards Apostatizing to Poperie he began to be much troubled in minde and from thence fell into despaire against which he wrestled a great while but at length being wholly overcome by it as he was drawn to walk into the fields with some scholars his familiar friends he feigned wearinesse and so sat down by a springs side and his friends being gone a little before he drew out a dagger and stabbed himself into the breast his friends seeing him shrinking down and the water discoloured with his blood ran to him took him up searched his wound and carried him to the next house but whilest they were busie about him he espied a knife by one of their sides whereupon he plucked it forth and suddenly stobbed himself to the heart whereby he died miserably Act. Mon. Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester cried out on his death-bed that he had denied his Master with Peter but not repented with Peter and so stinking above ground ended his wretched life See my English Martyrolgy Master West Chaplaine to Bishop Ridley and a Preacher and Professour of the truth in King Edward the sixths dayes afterwards in Queen Maries time he turned Papist forsook his Master and said Masse though it were against his conscience For which he fell into such torment of conscience that he pined away and so died Act. Mon. Of Hardings Apostacie See in my second Part in the Life of the Lady Jane Gray As also divers other examples in my Martyrologies Theoderick an Arian King of the Vandals did exceedingly affect and love a certaine Orthodox Deacon but the Deacon thinking farther to ingratiate himself and to get greater preferment Apostatized from the truth and turned Arian which when the Emperour understood he turned his love into hatred and commanded his head to be struck off saying That if he proved false and unfaithful to his God how could he expect any good or faithful service from him Adam Neucerus sometimes a professour of the truth and Pastour of a Church in Heidleberg afterwards plaid the Apostate upon some discontent and turned Turk But not long after he died miserably in Constantinople Mel. Adam in vit Gerl. See the History of Francis Spira A Treasurer of Julians to please his Lord and Master Apostatized from the faith and coming into a Church where he saw the holy vessels scoffingly said Behold with what vessels they minister to the Son of Mary but shortly after he vomited all the blood in his body out at his mouth whereby he died miserablis Theod. L. 3. During the Heptarchy of the Saxons in England there were in Northumberland two Kings Ostrich and Eaufride who before their coming to the Crown had been instructed and trained up in the Christian Religion by Paulinus a worthy and godly Bishop But after they came to their Kingly dignities they renounced Christ and returned to the service of their filthy Idols Whereupon as they forsook Christ he forsook them and within one yeares space both of them were slaine by Cedwalla King of the Britanes Beda Cardinal Poole whilest he was in Italy was informed of the truth and was a savourer of it as you may see in Peter Martyrs Life in my first Part but afterwards he became a cruel Persecutor of it here in England in Queen Maries dayes but it pleased God that about two dayes after the Queens death he died in horrible fear and terrour Peter Castellan Bishop of Maston who sometimes had been a forward professour of the truth but afterwards turning to Popery in a Sermon at Orleance he enveighed bitterly against the profession and professors of the true Religion whereupon it pleased God to strike him with a strange and terrible disease unknown to Physicians for one halfe of his body burned like fire and the other halfe was as cold as ice and in this torment with horrible cries and groans he ended his wretched life A Gray Frier called Picard who sometimes made a Profession of the truth afterwards fell away and preached against it adding infinite blasphemies against the truth But presently after God struck him speechlesse and so being carried to his bed half dead he presently after died without the least signe of Repentance Lambespine a Counsellor in the Parliament of Grenoble had formerly been a professour of the Reformed Religion but falling from the truth he became a Persecutour of the godly in Valence of Daulphine and amongst others of two godly Ministers which suffered Martyrdome But shortly after he fell passionately in love with a young maide whom shamefully he followed up and down whithersoever she went and seeing his love and labour despised he pined away with grief and being regardlesse of himself multitudes of lice bred and fed upon him yea they issued out abundantly from every part of his body So that feeling Gods heavy vengeance upon him he began to despaire of mercy and resolved to pine himself which purpose the lice seemed to further for they clustered so many in his throat as almost choaked him and when some of his friends pittying his condition set open his mouth with a gag to poure in broth the lice went down with it and choaked him so that as he had gagged the godly Ministers at their death himself died with a gag in his mouth King Henry the fourth of France who had all his life-time before been a Protestant shortly after he came to the Crown of France when he had almost subdued all his enemies which opposed him thereâ—n suddenly turned Papist Not long after as he was taking his leave of his Nobles to begin his Progresse one John Castile suborded by the Jesuites intended to have stabbed him into the body with a knife but the King at the same instant stooping to take up one of his Lords who was on his knees before him the blow fell upon his right upper jaw cutting out one of his teeth and somewhat wounding his tongue It is reported that in his progresse a Protestant Minister in private conference said unto him You have denied God with your tongue and have received a wound in the same take heed of denying him with your heart lest you receive a wound in that also which indeed proved a prophecie for riding abroad in his Coach to refresh himself one Ravilliac watched his opportunity and stabbed him first into the left pap and with a second blow struck him between the fifth and sixth rib cutting asunder the veine leading to the heart the knife entering into the vena cava of which wound he died French Hâ—st Read also the history of Francis Spira lately printed and observe Gods severe judgements upon him for his Apostasie In the year 1287 the King of Hungary forsaking the Christian saith became an Apostata and when he had called fraudulently to a Parliament the great Potentates of his land Meramomelius a puissant Saracene came upon them with twenty thousand souldiers carrying away with him the King with all the
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
a while excluding his servants he kept himselfe in his chamber with his children only Then he conceited that all civil society with others defiled him and thereupon locking his chamber-door continually he caused his servants to reach in at the window food for himselfe and children He cut out all the contents of the Chapters through the whole Bible expected Enthusiasmes and revelations often in the day lying along on the floore and causing his children to do the like with their heads in a ring and when his ancient friends Ministers and others hearing of it came to speake with him amongst whom my selfe was one knocking at his chamber-door importuning intreating and threatening to break open the doore yet could they by no meanes prevaile either to have a word from him or the door opened at length one of his children sickened and died yet he concealing it privately carried it into the next roome and locked it up till the corpse putrefying almost choaked him whereupon he caused his servant to bring him some Mosse still concealing the occasion wherewith he stopped the cranies in his wall to keep out the stench But his course of life being much talked of abroad a neighbour Justice of Peace pittying his condition sent some with command to break open his chamber-doore which being done they found him and his children like Nebuchadnezzar much deformed with their haire and nailes grown very long their clothes almost rotten upon their backes for the want of shift and all their healths very much impaired with that course of life yet neither would he nor any of his children being so tutored by him speak to any one though never so much pressed thereunto But it pleased God at length that his children being taken from him and sent to some friends recovered both their tongues and health Himself upon the breaking open of this door presently took his bed refusing to speak to or converse with any and though by godly Ministers and others which came to him he was laboured with to take notice of the dangerous temptation under which he lay intreated counselled threatened and prayed with and for him yet still turning his face to the wall he would neither heare nor answer them one word In which obstinate condition he remained till his death which was not long after David George alins Haàs Van Burcht borne in Delft in the Low-countreys a man altogether unlearned being a painter of glasses yet subtile of understanding and eloquent withal after he began to disperse his erroneous tenets was sought after by the Magistrates of that place whereupon he fled with his family to Basil in Suitzerland where in private he taught and advanced his damnable Heresies confirming his absent disciples by letters and books which he caused to be printed in the Castle of Beningen He died in the said town of Basil Anno 1556. for griefe that one of his followers was revolted Before his death whereas his disciples thought him to be god seeing him draw towards death he resolutely said unto them Be not amased I go to begin to shew my power Christ my predecessour to shew his power rose again the third day but I to shew my greater glory will rise again at the end of three years Afterwards the Magistrate being throughly informed of his life and doctrine caused his processe to be drawn and by a sentence his body was taken out of the ground and justice done as if he had been alive his goods confiscated and his books burnt Belg. Com. Wealth p. 65. 66. At Boston in New England the seventeenth of Octob. 1637. the wife of Master William Dier which woman held many monstrous and Heretical opinions was brought to bed of a Monster which had no head the face stood low upon the breast the eares like an Apes grew upon the shoulders the eyes stood far out and so did the mouth the nose was hooking upward the breast and back full of short prickles like a Thornback the Navel belly and distinction of the sexe were where the hips should have been and those back-parts were on the same side with the face the armes hands thighes and leggs were as other childrens but instead of toes it had on each foot three clawes with Tallons like a Fowle upon the back above the belly it had two great holes like mouths and in each of them stood out two peeces of flesh it had no forehead but in the place above the eyes it had four hornes two of above an inch long hard and sharpe and the othee two somewhat lesse It was of the female Sexe both the father and mother of it were great Familists The midwife one Hawkins wife of St. Ives was notorious for familiarity with the devil and a prime Familist Most of the women who were present at this womans travel were suddenly taken with such a violent vomiting and purging without eating or drinking any thing that they were forced to go home others had their children so taken with Convulsions which they neither had before nor after that they were sent for home so that none were left at the time of the birth of it but the Midwife and two other one of which was fallen asleep and at such time as the child died which was about two houres before the birth of it the bed wherein the mother lay shook so violently as that all that were in the roome perceived it the afterbirth had prickles on the inside like those on the childes breast See Mr. Wells short story c p. 44. Also about the same time and in the same place one Mistris Hutchinson who held about thirty monstrous and Heretical opinions whereof you have a Catalogue set down by the same Author Pag. 59. c. growing big with childe and towards the time of her labour at last brought forth thirty monstrous births or thereabouts at once some of them bigger and some lesser some of one shape and some of another few of any perfect shape none of all of them of humane shape This Mistris Hutchinson was first banished by the Magistrates of New-England into Read-Island for her Heresies but not staying long there she removed with all her family her daughter and her children into the Dutch Plantation to a place called Helgate where the Indians set upon them and slew her with all her family her daughter and her daughters husband with all their children save onely one that escaped which is the more remarkable because it was never heard that the Indians either before or since did commit the like outrage upon any others A Popish Priest Parson of Crondal neere Canterbury at the coming in of Cardinal Poole was absolved by him got a Copy of the Popes Bull of pardon brought into England by the said Poole which the Sabbath following he read to his people and withal told them that having been with the Cardinal on the Thursday before he had made him as clean from his sinnes as he was at the Font-stone or
the night wherein he was borne whilest he was relating this in the Pulpit he fell down stark dead and never stirred more Act. and Mon. John Duns called Scotus borne in Emildon in Northumberland who being brought up in Merton Colledge in Oxford was wonderful well learned in Logick and in that crabbed and intricate Devinity of those dayes yet as one still doubtful and unresolved he did overcast the truth of Religion with mists of obscurity but he died miserably being taken with an Apoplexie and over-hastily buried he after a time revived and making means in vaine by a lamentable noise to call for help after he had a long time knocked his head against the grave-stone dashed out his braines and so yielded up his vital breath whereupon were made these verses Quaecunque humani fuerant jurisque sacrati In dubium veniunt cuncta vocante Scoto Quid quod in dubium illius sit vita vocata Morte illum simili ludificaute stropha Quum non ante virum vitâ jugulârit ademptâ Quà m vivus tumulo conditus ille foret All learning taught in humane books and couch'd in holy writ Duns Scotus dark and doubtful made by subtilty of wit No marvel that to doubtful tearmes of life himself was brought Whil'st with like wile and subtile trick death on his body wrought When as her stroke to kill outright she would not him vouchsafe Until that man a pitious case was buried quick in grave Camb. Brit. p. 814. Mahomet by birth an Arabian was one of the monstrousest hereticks that ever lived He came of a base stock and being fatherlesse one Abdemonoples bought him for his slave and loved him for his parts so that he made him ruler of his house about which time one Sergâ—us a Monk flying for his Heresie into Arabia instructed him in the Heresie of Nestorius A while after his Master died and Mahâ—met married his widow after whose death he grew famous for his wealth and skill in Magick Wherefore by the advice of Sergius he called himself the great prophet of God and his fame encreasing he devised a Law and wrote it which he called the Alcoran wherein he borrowed something from almost all the Heresies which were before his time With the Sabellians he denied the Trinity With the Manichees he affirmed that there were but two persons in the Deity With Eunomius he denied the equality of the Father with the Son With Macedonius he said that the Holy Ghost was a Creature and held the community of women with the Nicolaitans He borrowed of the Jews circumcision and of the Gentiles much superstition And somewhat he took from the Christian verity besides many devilish phansies invented of his own braine But when he had lived in wickednesse about fourty years God cut him off by the falling sicknesse which of a long time having been troubled with he told his seduced disciples that at those times the Angel Gabriel appeared to him whose brightnesse he could not behold A certain Jesuite in Lancashire as he was walking by the way lost his glove and one that came after him finding it followed him apace with intention to restore it but he fearing the worst being inwardly pursued with a guilty conscience ran away and hastily leaping over an hedge fell into a marle pit which was on the other side and in which he was drowned Wards Ser. Anno Christi 1591. there was one Edmund Coppinger and Henry Arthington two gentlemen who associated themselves with William Hacket sometimes a very lewd person but now converted in outward shew by whose hypocritical behaviour the aforesaid gentlemen were deluded to think that Hacket was anointed to be Judge of the world wherefore coming one day to his lodging in London Hacket told them that he had been anointed by the holy Ghost Then Coppinger asked what his pleasure was to command them Go saith he and proclaime in the City that Jesus Christ is come with his fan in his hand to judge the earth and if they will not believe you let them come and kill me if they can Coppinger answered that it should be done and so immediately he and Arthingtonâ—an â—an into the streets and proclaimed their messageâ— and when by reason of the confluence of people they could go no further they gat up into two empty carts in Cheapside crying Repent repent for Jesus Christ is come to judge the world And so pulling a paper out of their bosoms they read out of it many things touching the calling and office of Hacket as how he represented Christ by partaking of his glorified body c. They also called themselves his Prophets one of Justice the other of Mercy The City being amazed at this thing took Hacket carried him before a Justice who after examination committed him and at the Sessions being found guilty of sedition and speaking traiterous words against the Queen he was condemned and hanged on a Gibbet in Cheap-side uttering horrible blasphemies against the Majesty of God Coppinger died the next day in Bridewel and Arthington was kept in prison upon the hope of repentance Some Donatists which cast the holy elements of the Lords Supper to dogs were themselves devoured by dogs Simpson Arminius who craftily revived the heresie of Pelagius and sowed the seeds of his errors in Leiden and many other places in Holland to the great disturbance of the peace of Gods Church fell sick being grievously tormented with a cough gout ague and incessant paine in his belly with a great binding and stopping under the heart which caused him to draw his breath with much difficulty he slept also very unquietly and could not digest his meat his radical moisture dried up and he had a vehement paine in his bowels with an obstruction in his Optick sinews which made him blinde of his left eye and his right shoulder was much swolne whereby he lost the use of his right arme and thus languishing in much misery he ended his dayes October 19. 1609. Hist. of the Netherl Olympius an Arian Bishop as he was bathing himselfe at Carthage and blâ—spheming the blessed Trinity was suddenly smit from Heaven with three fiery darts and so burned to death Hist. of the Netherl Pau. Diaco In the year 1327. there was one Adam Duff an Irish man burnt at Dublin for denying the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and saying that there could not be three persons and but one God and for affirming the Virgin Mary to be an Harlot for denying the resurrection of the dead and avouching that the Sacred Scriptures were but fables Camb. Brit. Irel. p. 181. Policarp at a certaine time meeting Marcion the Heretick Marcion said unto him Doest thou not know me Yea said Policarp I know thee for the first-begotten of Satan See his Life in my first Part. Donatus the father of the Donatists about the year 331. taking offence at the choice of Caecilianus to the Bishoprick of Carthage made a schisme in the Church and fell from one error
to another till at last some of his disciples which were called Circumcellions grew to that height of madnesse that running up and down when they met with any passengers by the way they would force them to kill them others of them by leaping from rocks and high places would break their own necks or burne themselves in the fire that so they might die Martyrs August A certaine Anabaptist in the field of Sancto Galli by the instigation of the Devil having his sword under his cloake called his brother nothing aware of his bloody intent before his father mother sisters and the whole family commanding him to kneele down before them and suddenly whips out his sword and cuts off his head throwing it at the feet of his parents whereat they were so affrighted that they died mad the murtherer himselfe defended the fact saying Voluntas Dâ—i impleta est The will of the Lord is fulfilled Gastius John Matthias one of the Prophets of the Anabaptists in Germany being vexed with a disgracefull scoffe which was given him by a blacksmith procured him to be condemned to death by some of his own rabble and himselfe would needs be the executioner wounding him first with an Halberd and that wound not proving mortal he after shot him through with a Pistoll Then shedding some Crocodile-teares he pardoned him for his rash speech saying That God was reconciled to him and that he had a revelation from Heaven that the man should not die of his wounds yet he proved a false Prophet the man dying within a few dayes after Hist. of the Anabap. John of Leiden a Taylor whom the Anabaptists in Germany chose for their King presently after his Coronation made a great feast inviting at least foure thousand men and women to it and between the first and second course he accuseth a man of high Treason and cuts off his head with his own hands and returnes merry to supper and after supper with the same bloody hands he administers the Lords Supper Not long after though there was a great famine in the City of Munster where they were yet he and his Courtiers abated nothing of their full dishes But one of his fifteen wives for so many he had somewhat more consciencious then the rest said That she thought God was not well pleased with their feasting and rioting when the other people pined with hunger and so were famished to death in the streets This mock-King being told of this speech of hers brought her into the market-place with other of his wives and making her kneel down cut off her head commanding his other wives to sing and give praise for it to their heavenly Father Hist. Anabap. Within the space of two years wherein this Sect of the Anabaptists by their fanaticall opinions and practices disturbed the peace of Germany and much hindred the Reformation of Religion begun by Luther and others it pleased God by eminent visible judgments to punish the prime actors fomentors of the same For Thomas Muncer was put to the rack by George Duke of Saxony where he roared most fearfully and in the end had his head cut off and put upon an high pole in the fields Three hundred Anabaptists that fell upon a Monastery in Friesland and rifled it were most of them either killed by the ruines of the Monastery or put to death by the hangman John of Leiden and their Consul Bernard Knipperdoling were tied to a stake and together with their great Prophet had their flesh torne off with hot pinchers and in the end being slaine had their bodies put into iron Cages and hanged on the steeple of Saint Lambert Sleid. Com. Lib. 10. There was in the yeare 1647. one Quarterman who had sometimes lived in Oxford and been a zealous professor of Religion and one that had suffered under the Tyranny of the Bishops At the beginning of the difference between the King and Parliament he was chosen Marshal of the City of London and continued some yeares in that imployment afterwards he turned a violent Sectarie and being discarded by the City he went to the Army where he found countenance and imployment But withall he sucked in errors so fast that in Southwark before a godly Minister he said That there was no more holinesse in the Scriptures then in a dogs taile which afterwards he againe affirmed before the said Minister and many of his Congregation whereupon the Minister went forth fearing as he professed lest the house should fall upon his head wherein such a blasphemous wretch was and within few dayes after it pleased God to strike the said Quarterman with a violent disease viz. upon February the eleventh where of he presently died and was buried February the sixteenth 1647. In the same year there were in York-shire certaine seduced Sectaries who pretended that they had a revelation to sacrifice unto God certaine creatures and amongst the rest their aged mother whom accordingly they slew perswading her that she should rise againe the third day for which they were apprehended and afterwards hanged at York Anno Christi 1648. there lived in Southwark one Gunne a Sectarian Preacher who lived in adultery with another mans wife for about the space of nine yeares and afterwards solicited and lay with one Greens widow whereupon it pleased God to strike him with such horror of conscience that he ran mad and continued raving and raging in a fearfull manner till at the length having an opportunity he murthered himselfe and the woman with whom he lay being examined about it acknowledged the fact saying That she did it to cure her brother of his burnings Bolton one that by Separation made the first schisme here in England first through the stirring of his conscience made a publick Recantation of his errors at Pauls Crosse and yet afterward was so dogged with a desperate remorse that he rested not till that by hanging himselfe he had ended his miserable life Robins Justif. See more of these in Mr. Baylies disswasive page 13 c. Anno Christi 1647. there was at Newbery some she Anabaptists that took upon them to have revelations and therein to see and know such glorious things as could not be imagined and one of them had such strange gestures and fits as the like was seldome seen This woman gave forth that she had a revelation that such a night she should be taken up into heaven against which time many of them assembled together took their solemne leaves of her with tears and the time being come out they go to see her ascension The night was a Moonshiny night and as they expected when an Angel should come to fetch her up in a Chariot a cloud comes and covers the face of the Moone whereupon they all cry out Behold he comes in the clouds but presently the cloud vanisheth whereupon their hopes being frustrate they still expect his coming And after a while comes a flock of wilde geese a good way off whereupon again
Greg. of Tour. lib. 4. Anno Christi 1461. there was in Juchi neere Cambray an unnatural son that in a fury threw his mother out of his doores thrice in one day telling her that he had rather see his house on fire and burned to coles then that she should remaine in it one day longer and accordingly the very same day his house was fired and wholly burned down with all that was in it none knowing how or by what meanes the fire came Enguer de Monst v. 2. The Emperor Henry the fifth being provoked thereto by the Pope rose up in rebellion and made cruel War against his father Henry the fourth not ceasing till he had despoiled him of his Empire But the Lord presently after plagued him for it making him and his Army a prey to his enemies the Saxons stirring up the Pope to be as grievous a scourge to him also as he had been to his father P. Melanct. Chron. l. 4. Manlius relateth a story of an old man crooked with age very poore and almost pined with hunger who having a rich and wealthy sonne went to him only for some food for his belly clothes for his back but this proud young man thinking that it would be a dishonour to him to be borne of such parents drave him away denying not only to give him sustenance but disclaiming him from being his father giving him bitter and reproachful speeches which made the poore old man to go away with an heavy heart and teares flowing from his eyes which the Lord beholding struck his unnatural son with madnesse of which he could never be cured till his death The same author relates another story of another man that kept his father in his old age but used him very currishly as if he had been his slave thinking every thing too good for him and on a time coming in found a good dish set on the table for his father which he took away and set courser meat in the roome but a while after sending his servant to fetch out that dish for himself he found the meat turned into snakes and the sauce into serpents one of which leaping up caught this unnatural sonne by his lip from which it could never be pulled to his dying day so that he could never feed himselfe but he must feed the serpent also At Millane there was a wicked and dissolute young man who when he was admonished by his mother of some fault which he had committed made a wry mouth and pointed at her with his finger in scorne and derision whereupon his mother being angry wished that he might make such a mouth upon the Gallowes which not long after came to passe for being apprehended for felony and condemned to be hanged being upon the ladder he was observed to writhe his mouth in grief as he had formerly done to his mother in derision Theat hist. Henry the second King of England son to Jeffery Plantaginet and Maud the Emperesse after he had reigned twenty yeares made his young son Henry who had married Margaret the French Kings daughter King in his life-time but like an unnatural son he sought to dispossesse his father of the whole and by the instigation of the King of France and some others he took Armes and fought often with his father who still put him to the worst So that this rebellious son at last was fain to stoop and ask forgivenesse of his father which he gently granted and forgave his offence Howbeit the Lord plagued him for his disobedience striking him with sicknesse in the flower of his youth whereof he died six years before his father Speed Anno Christi 1071. Diogenes Romanus Emperour of the Greekes having led an Army against the Turkes as far as the River Euphrates where he was like to have prevailed but by the treason of his Son in Law Andronicus his Army was routed and himself taken prisoner yet the Turkes used him honourably and after a while sent him home But in the mean season they of Constantinople had chosen Michael Ducas for their Emperour who hearing of Diogenes his returne sent Andronicus to meet him who unnaturally plucked out his fathers eyes and applying no medecines thereto wormes bred in the holes which eating into his braines killed him Zonaras Adolf son of Arnold Duke of Guelders repining at his fathers long life one night as he was going to bed came upon him suddenly and took him prisoner and bare-legged as he was made him go on foot in a cold season five Germane leagues and then shut him up a close prisoner for six months in a dark dungeon but the Lord suffered not such disobedience and cruelty to go long unpunished For shortly after the son was apprehended and long inprisoned and after his release was slaine in a sight against the French History of the Netherlands One Garret a Frenchman and a Protestant by profession but given to all manner of vices was by his father cast off for his wickednesse yet found entertainment in a Gentlemans house of good note in whose family he became sworn brother to a young Gentleman that was a Protestant But afterwards coming to his estate he turned Papist of whose constancy because the Papists could hardly be assured he promised his Confessor to prove himself an undoubted Catholick by setting a sure seal to his profession whereupon he plotted the death of his dearest Protestant friends and thus effected it He invited his Father Monsieur Seamats his sworn brother and six other Genlemen of his acquaintance to dinner and all dinner time intertained them with protestations of his great obligements to them But the bloody Catastrophe was this dinner being ended sixteen armed men came up into the roome and laid hold on all the guests and this wicked Parricide laid hold on his Father willing the rest to hold his hands till he had dispatched him he stabbed the old Gentleman crying to the Lord for mercy foure times to the heart the young Gentleman his sworne brother he dragged to a window and there caused him to sing which he could dovery sweetly though then no doubt he did it with a very heavy heart and towards the end of the Ditty he stabbed him first into the throat and then to the heart and so with his Poiniard stabbed all the rest but three who were dispatched by those armed Ruffians at their first entrance and so they flung all the dead bodies out at a window into a ditch Oubig Hist. France The base son of Scipio Africanus the Conquerour of Hannibal and Africk so ill imitated his father that for his viciousnesse he received many disgracefull repulses from the people of Rome the fragrant smell of his fathers memory making him to stinke the more in their nostriles yea they forced him to pluck off from his finger a signet-ring wherin the face of his father was engraven as counting him unworthy to wear his picture whose vertue he would not imitate Val. Maxi. Tarpeia the
Benjamin wept upon his neck Gen. 45. 14. Brethren unnatural Breaches amongst brethren are great Pro. 18. 19. Not to be trusted Jer. 9. 4. Mat. 10. 21. It 's a cursed thing to divide brethren Pro. 6. 19. Scriptural examples Cain Gen. 48. 1 Joh. 3. 12. Esau Gen. 27. 44. Josephs brethren Gen. 37. 18 c. Abimelech Judg. 9. 5. Absalom 2 Sam. 13. 28. Onan Gen. 38. 9. Simeon and Levi brethren in evil Gen. 49. 5. Bassianus and Geta the two sons of Severus were left by him to succeed in the Romane Empire who being at deadly feud betwixt themselves Bassianns watching his opportunity when all were at dinner came with some other cut-throats into his brother Gâ—ta's chamber and before he could provide for his own defence slew him in his mothers armes Imp. â—â—ist In the reign of Queen Mary Richard Woodmans brother joyning with his father betrayed him into the hands of his bloody persecutors whereby he suffered Martyrdome See my English Martyrology 1 4. Cambyses King of Persia seeing his brother Smerdis draw a stronger bowe then any of the reâ—â— of his Souldiers could do was in enslamed with envy against him that he caused him to be slâ—â—ne Not long after Cambyses caused a young Lion and a young Maâ—â—iffe to fight together before him but the Lion being too hard for the Dog another Whelp of the same litter brake his chaine and came in upon the Lion and so being two they were too hard for the Lion whereupon Cambyses laughed but his wife who was also his sister fell a weeping and Cambyses asking her the cause she answered Because seeing the Whelp to help his brother I thinke of Smerdis whom thou hast slain and yet he hath none to revenge his death This â—o provoked Cambyses that he slew her also Pez Mel. Hist. It hath been the constant practice of the great Turk ever since the beginning of that Empire till of late that so soon as he came to the Crown he sent and strangled all his brethren Turk Hist. My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook and as the stream of brookes they passe away Job 6. 15. CHAP. XXXIV Examples of Fortitude Valour and Magnanimity WHil'st a people walk in obedience to God he hath promised that they shall chase their enemies who shall fall before them on the sword and that five of them shal chase an hundred and an hundred of them shal put ten thousand to flight Lev. 26. 7 8. Whence it appeares that the spirit of courage and valour is from the Lord who by small and weak meanes doth many times effect great and wonderfull things that the glory of all may be his We have had much experience hereof in these unhappy bloody civil warres wherein our great victories and successes have been obtained and carried on most happily when the enemy hath been most elated and our selves most weak and almost in despaire neither is this any new thing but according to Gods dealings in former times as these following Scriptures Examples will more clearly evince Exhorted to Joshua 1. 6 7. 23. 6. Phil. 1. 28. 1 Peter 3. 6. Scripturall examples Abraham Gen. 14. 14. Jacob Gen. 48. 22. Jephthah Judg. 11. 1. Gideon Judg. 6. 12. David 1 Sam. 16. 18 50. 2 Sam. 17. 8. Davids Worthies 2 Sam. 23. 8 c. and 20. 24 39. Jehoiadah 2 Sam. 23. 20. Cherethites and Pelethites 1 King 1. 8 44. the Sons of Ulam 1 Chron 8. 40. Barak Sampson c. Heb. 11. 32. Saul 1 Sam. 9. 1 2. Joab 2 Sam. 11. 6. Abishai 2 Sam. 23. 18. Jeroboam 1 King 11. 28. Jonathan 1 King 1. 42. Abner 1 Sam. 17. 55. 26. 15. the sons of Perez Neh. 11. 6. Jehu 2 Kings 9 24. Others 1 Sam. 2. 15. 1 Chron. 12. 2 Chron. 17. 16 17. 26. 13 14. In and for Religion Azariah and the Priests 2 Chron. 26. 17. Shadrach c. Dan. 3. 12 16 17. Daniel Chap. 6. 10. Joseph Matth. 27. 57. Peter and John Acts 4. 19. Steven Acts 6. 8 10. and 7. 52. Paul Acts 13. 10. and 17. 17. and 19. 30. and 21. 13. Elijah 1 King 18. 15 18 40. Micaiah 1 Kings 22. 14 19. Jehoiadah 2 King 11. 4. Elisha 2 Kings 3. 13. Other examples Darius sent a very great Army of Horse and foot in 600 Gallies against the Athenians charging his Commanders to destroy the City and bring all the people captives to him accordingly they â—ailed into Attica where landing they made grievous spoile of all before them thinking that Athens would have submitted so soon as they came near them but the Athenians choosing Miltiades for their Generall sent him forth with ten thousand Citizens and one thousand Auxiliaries who marching to Marathon about two leagues from Athens encountered with the great Army of the Persians charging them so furiously that they prevented the throwing of their darts and enforced them to run away like sheep to their Navy and after a great carnage they burnt and took many of their ships also At this time Themistocles being a very young man shewed much valour and dexterity in the battel Justin. Also in this battel Cynaegirus an Athenian shewed such incomparable valour that pursuing the Persians to then ships when some of them were putting off from the shore he caught hold of one of the ships with his right hand holding it till his hand was cut off then did he lay hold on it with his left hand till that also was cut off and then he caught hold of it with his teeth Iustin. Xerxes sending his Ambassadours to Lacedaemon and Athens requiring them to send him earth and water in token of their homage they out of greatnesse of spirit scorning the message took his Ambassadours and threw some of them into a Jakes others into a pit of water bidding them to take earth and water from thence if they pleased to carry to their Lord. Pezel Mel. Hist. The Lacedemonians in their publick feasts had alwayes three dances The first of old men who sang We have been young and strong and valiant heretofore Till crooked age did hold us back and bid us do no more The second of young men who sang We yet are young bold strong and ready to maintaine That quarrel still against all men that do on earth remain The third of children who sang And we do hope as well to passe you all at last And that the world shall witnesse be ere many yeares be past In their warres they assaulted their enemies very fiercely and never gave over till the flight of their enemies had assured them of the victory and then they quickly and quietly retreated into their camp judging it unworthy their manhood and an ignoble action to kill and hew in pieces men once scattered and out of order this much surthered their victories their enemies being upon their flight secured from further danger Plut. When Alexander M. had put Calisthenes to death he suspected Lysimachus another of his
fear their crying children withall He fought five times upon one day with them and five times foiled and put them to slight He killed that valiant Viceroy of Asia Mefites Bassa with his sonne and twenty thousand Turks moe At that famous battel of Vascape with fifteen thousand souldiers he overthrew Abedin Bassa with fourescore thousand fighting men Car. Lib. 5. In the Reigne of King John of England a controversie arising betwixt him and the King of France about a Seigniory and certain Castles the King of France offered a Champion to fight for his right whereupon King John chose John Cursy Earle of Ulster but when the French Champion heard of his exceeding great feeding and mighty strength he refused the combate Then the King of France desired to see a stroak given by the hand of Iohn Cursy and he set a strong and doughty good morion or head-piece full of maile upon a great block and taking his skeine or sword he smote the morion through from the crest downward and his sword stuck so fast in the wood that no other man but himselfe could pull it out yet he himselfe did it with much facility Camb. Brit. Ire p. 154. Ulâ—zales and Caracoza great Captaines amongst the Turks landing their men in the Island of Curzola Anthonius Contarenus the Governour of the chiefe Towne â—led out in the night with the Townsmen also into the rocks for safety so that there was not left in the Towne above twenty men and eighty women who with weapons in their hands came to the walls desiring rather to die then to fall into the hands of the Turks and as the Turks approached to the walls the women with stones fire and such weapons beat them off with greater courage then could have been expected in their weake sexe which whil'st they were doing it pleased God that a great storme arose suddenly which so outragiously tossed the Gallies that the Turks were glad to give over the assault and to hie away to a place of more safety Turk Hist. p. 869. Scanderbeg was such a mirrour of manhood and so terrible to the Turks that nine years after his death as they passed through Lyssa where his body lay buried they digged up his bones with great devotion reckoning it some part of their happinesse if they might but see or touch the same and such as could get any part thereof were it never so little caused the same to be set some in silver some in gold to hang about their necks thinking that it would animate their spirits with extraordinary vigour Paulus Jovius Illust. virorum A brave and valiant Captaine who had long with incredible courage withstood Dionysius the elder in defence of a City at length falling into his hands the Tyrant told him that the day before he had caused his sonne and all his kinsfolke to be drowned To whom the brave Captaine stoutly outstaring him answered nothing but that they were more happy then himselfe by the space of one day afterwards he caused him to be stripped and by his executioner to be dragged through the City most ignominiously cruelly whipping him and contumeliously scoffing at him but he as no whit dismayed ever shewed a constant and resolute heart And with a chearfull and bold countenance went on still boldly recounting the honourable and glorious cause of his death which was that he would never consent to yield his country into the hands of a cruel Tyrant Bolton Pompey in the time of a great dearth at Rome was transporting corne thither but finding the sea rough and dangerous some would have disswaded him from adventuring himselfe in such weather to whom he gallantly answered It 's necessary that corne should be carried to Rome but not that I should live Antigonus hearing some of his souldiers reckoning how many their enemies were to prevent their feares steps in suddenly amongst them saying And how many do you reckon me for Valour of Women Zenobia the wife of Odenate King of the Palmyrenians accustomed her selfe to all those many imployments which her husband used both in peace and warre She loved her husband exceedingly but having once conceived by him she would lie with him no more till after her delivery she was very expert in the Orientall Histories which she wrote and left them for the use of posterity She was very beautiful and black sparkling eyes and her teeth to white that they seemed rather to be pearles then teeth her husband being treacherously murthered she took upon her the government and having been formerly accustomed to the Warres she fought often with the Romanes Subdued Egypt and drave out thence Probus the Romane president At last she rather by compact yielded to then by conquest was overcome by Aurelian the Emperour whose sonne married her daughter and many of her stock flourished in Rome long after Lipsius Valour of Women Semiranus was of so manlike a disposition that she waged warre with great felicity she had in her Army three millions of foot and fifty thousand horse and about a thousand Chariots As she was dressing her self hearing of the defection of Babylon in the same posture with one part of her haire bound up and the other loose she presently went against it and never dressed up her head till she had brought it into subjection Pez Mel. Hist. Tomyris Queen of the Masigetes was a woman of an heroical disposition When Cyrus King of Persia came with an huge Army against her the pretending fear retired into certaine mountaines into the stacts whereof when Cyrus followed her she set upon him and after a bloody â—ight slew two hundred thousand of his men and himselfe also after which she caused his head to be cut off and threw it into a bowle of blood saying Satia te sanguine quâ—m sitivisti cujusque semper insatiabilis fuisti Glut they selfe with blood which thou hast alwayes thirsted after and with which thou could'st never be satisfied Justin. Cowardize Timerousnesse Fearfulnesse In a great battel that was fought between Philip King of Macedon and the Athenians at Cheronaea wherein the liberty of Greece lay at the stake Demosthenes the Athenian Orator before there was any just cause for it most cowardly ranne away forgetting the inscription upon his shield in golden letters which was Quod foelix faustúmque sit whereupon one meeting him in scorne said to him He that runnes away may fight afterwards Diod. Sic. And it was told the house of David saying Syria is confederate with Ephraim and his heart was moved and the heart of his people as the trees of the wood are moved with the winde Isa. 7. 2. Thy servant slew both the Lion and the Beare and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them 1 Sam. 17. 36. Five of you shall chase an hundred and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword Levit. 26. â— CHAP. XXXV Examples of Gods judgements upon
by his own sonne that he might seize upon his riches but whil'st he was stooping down to draw forth bags full of gold out of a Chest the same person caused his braines to be beaten out French History Selimus a cruel and bloody Emperour of the Turks intending to turne all his powers against the Christians was suddenly attached by the hand of God being struck in the reines of the back with a Cancer which contemning all cure did by little and little so eate and corrupt his body that he became loathsome both to himselfe and others and so rotting above ground died miserably Turk Hist. Agathocles a bloody Tyrant of Syracuse after many most horrible murthers committed by him lived to see most of his family slaine and himselfe devested of his Kingdome After which he was taken with a grievous sicknesse wherein his whole body rotted which spread it selfe through all his veines and sinews wherewith in short time he ended his accursed life Robert Erle of Fife in Scotland being advanced by his brother King Robert the third to be the first Duke of Albany afterwards ungratefull person that he was pricked on with the spirit of Ambition famished to death David his said brothers son who was heir to the Crown but the punishment due for this fact which himself by the long sufferance of God felt not His son Mordac the second Duke of Albany suffered most grievously being condemned for treason and beheaded when he had seen his two sons the day before executed in the same manner Camb. Brit. Scot. p. 39. King Richard the third of England who caused his two Nephews most unnaturally to be murthered in the Tower and shed much other innocent blood by Gods just judgement had his onely son taken away by death and himself was slain in Bosworth-field his carrion carcasse being found naked among the slain filthily polluted with blood and dirt was cast upon an horse behinde a pursuivant at Armes his head and armes hanging down on the one side of the horse and his legs on the other like a Calfe and so was interred at Leicester with as base a Funerall as he formerly bestowed upon his Nephews in the Tower Eng. Hist. Iames Tyrell Iohn Dighton and Miles Forrest who were procured by this King Richard to murther the two young Princes entering into their Chamber about midnight so bewrapped them among the clothes keeping down the Feather-bed and Pillows hard unto their mouths that within a while they were smothered but these Murtherers escaped not long the vengeance of God for Miles Forrest by peecemeale rotted away Dighton lived at Calis so disdained and hated that he was pointed at of all men and there died in much misery and Sir Iames Tyrell was beheaded on Tower-Hill for Treason Act. Mon. Senercleus relateth the just hand of God upon that villainous parricide Alphonsus Diazius a Popish Spaniard who after he had like another Cain murthered his own naturall brother Iohn Diazius meerly because he had renounced Popery and became a Professor of the reformed Religion and was not onely not punished but highly commended of the Romanists for his heroical atchievement as they called it being haunted and hunted by the furies of his own conscience desperately hanged himself at Trent about the neck of his own Mule Some bloody villains basely murthered Theodorick B. of Trever But Gods just judgments overtook all the murtherers For Conrade the chief author died suddenly A souldier that helped to throw him down the rock was chok'd as he was at supper and two other servants that assisted desperately slew themselves Marti The Cardinall of Winchester commonly called the rich Cardinall who procured the death of the good Duke of Glocester in the reign of King Henry the sixth was shortly after struck with an incurable disease who understanding by his Physicians that he could not live murmuring and repining thereat he cried out Fie will not death be hired will money do nothing must I die that have so great riches If the whole realme would save my life I am able either by policy to get it or by riches to buy it But yet all would not prevail but that he died of the same disease Sp. Chr. See the Example of Scedasus's daughters in Rapes Olympias the mother of Alex M. being a woman of a proud and revengefull disposition having gotten Eurydice Queen of Macedonia into her hands sent her a sword an halter and a cup of poison giving her leave to choose with which of them she would kill her self Eurydice seeing them prayed to the gods that she that sent her those presents might her self partake of the like and so hanged her self But shortly after the Divine â—ustice met with Olympias who by the appointment of Cassander one of her sons Captains was murthered Diod. Sic. Justin This Cassander murthered also the two wives of Alex. and their sons and thereby seized upon the Kingdome of Macedonia but shortly after God plagued him with a filthy disease in his body whereby wormes were bred that devoured him his eldest son Philip died of a consumption Antipater his second son slew his own mother Thessalonica and was himself slain by his father in law Lysimachus and Alexander the youngest son was treacherously slain by Demetrius and so the whole family of Cassander was rooted out Plut. Examples of selfe Murther Calanus an Indian Philosopher followed Alexander M. when he returned out of India who having lived seventy three years without any disease was at last taken with a dysenterie and fearing that his former felicity should be overclouded with a lingring disease he asked leave of Alexander that he might burn himself the King laboured to disswade him from his unnaturall purpose but when he could not prevail by arguments he gave his consent whereupon Calanus caused a pile of wood to be made and riding to it he made his prayers to his Countrey gods and so with a cheerfull countenance he ascended the pile and causing the fire to be put to it he sate with a fixt and unmovable body till he was burned to ashes Q. Cur. Alex. M. besieging one of the Indian Cities the inhabitants seeing that they could hold out no longer shut up themselves their wives and children in their houses and set fire on them Alexanders men breaking in laboured to quench the fire and the others laboured as much to encrease it so that it was a strange thing to see the fight that was betwixt one to destroy themselves the other to save their enemies Quin. Cur. Demosthenes the Athenian Orator for standing for the liberty of Greece was hated by Antipater the Governour of Macedonia who sent some to kill him under Captain Archia whereupon Demosthenes took sanctuary in Neptunes Temple But Archia sent to him to come out of the Temple so that Demosthenes perceiving that they were resolved to have his life he took some poison which he had ready for the purpose and so presently died Plut. Perdiccas besieging the
and therein the King Psammenitus and all his family and Nobles after which he kept him prisoner in the suburbs and then caused the daughters of the Nobles and amongst them Psammenitus daughter clad in base apparel to fetch water in tankards from the river which when their parents saw they all brake forth into grievous weeping only Psammenitus with his eyes fixed upon the ground shewed no signe of sorrow Then did Cambyses cause the Noble-mens sonnes and amongst them Psammenitus his sonne to be led to execution tied together by the necks with ropes and bridles put into their mouths hereupon their fathers again brake forth into lamentations only Psammenitus stood quiet as before But presently after seeing an old man his intimate friend begging in the streets he brake forth into grievous lamentations which Cambyses observing sent to him to know what was the reason that he when he saw his daughter so abused and his son led to death mourned not but now when he saw this poor man that was no kin to him begging he made such heavy mone To whom Psammenitus answered My domestick evils were greater then that I could expresse my sorrow for them but the calamity of my friend deserves my teares for that now in his old age from an high estate he is brought to such extreame poverty Herod Darius having escaped a great danger in his returne out of Scythia by the faithful counsel and assistance of Histiaeus the Milesian he sent for him to his Court and made him one of his privy Councel saying Omnium possessionum pretiosissimam esse amicum fide prudentiâ— praestantem That of all possessions the most precious is a friend excelling in fidelity and prudence Pez Mel. Hist. Cyrus Junior was of that friendly disposition that of those many gifts that were presented to him by his Subjects he reserved none to himself but distributed them amongst his friends according to their several qualities and when he had choice apparel sent him he used to say that his own body could not weare it but he thought himself richly adorned in seeing his friends adorned with it When he had excellent wine he would send his friends most of it saying that he beleeved that they could not get better When he had costly cates at his table he would send them a great part with this message Tell them that Cyrus sends you these things because himself liked them exceeding well Xenophon Agesilaus King of Sparta seeing divers of his friends and kindred in poverty and want he divided halfe his patrimony amongst them esteeming his inheritance to be left him rather thereby to purchase friends then to make himself an object of envy to his enemies Xenophon Damon and Pythias two Pithagorean Phylosophers so intirely loved each other that Dionysius the Tyrant having condemned one of them to death the other offered to die for him wherewith the Tyrant was so affected that he pardoned the condemned party and desired to be admitted a third person in their amity Cicero de Offi. In Queen Elizabeths Reigne in a fight between the Earle of Kildare and the Earl of Tir-oâ—en two of the Earl of Kildares Foster brethren were slain whose death he took so heavily that himself shortly after died for grief For there is no love in the world comparable by many degrees to that of Foster-brethren in Ireland Camb. Brit. Iâ—el p. 116. Darius having opened a Pomegranate that was full of seeds his brother Artabanus asked him of what things he would chiefly desire so great a number Darius answered that he would desire so many Magabysuses as there were graines in that fruit for â—aith he Kings can have no treasure of so great worth as faithful friends Herod Under the seventh Persecution Theodora a godly Virgin for her Religion was condemned to the Stews where her chastity was to be a prey to all commers which sentence being executed many wanton young men were ready to presse into the house but one of the brethren called Didymus putting on a souldiers habit would have the first turne and to going in perâ—waded her to change garments with him and so she in the souldiers habit escaped and Didymus being found a man was carried before the President to whom he confessed the whole matter and so was condemned Theodora hearing of it thinking to excuse him came and presented herself as the guilty party desiring that she might die and the other be excused but the mercilesse Iudge caused them both to be put to death See my Gen. Martyr p. 52. Thine own friend and thy fathers friend forsake not Prov. 27. 10. CHAP. XLII Examples of grosse Ignorance and Folly THere were never any former ages which enjoyed the like meanes of knowledge as we which live at this day do for besides the sacred Scriptures in a known tongue how many volumes of heavenly truths dropping from the mounthes and pens both of ancient and moderne Divines hath that most excellent and exquisite Art of Printing conveyed to us how many burning and shining lights do daily waste and consume themselves to propagate saving knowledge unto others therefore to love darkness or to live in darknesse under so great light will much aggravate our condemnation whence it is that we have great cause to bewaile with teares of blood not only that woful ignorance which is still to be found in those kingdomes wherein the more then Egyptian darknesse of Popery hath overspread their Horizons but which also is too rife frequent amongst our selves both which may in part be discerned by these ensuing Examples Ignorance is a sin Lev. 4. 2 13 22 27. 5. 15 18. Num. 15. 24 c. It 's the cause of much sinne Eph. 4. 18. 1 Pet. 1. 14. Isa. 56. 10. Wilful ignorance aggravates sin 2 Pet. 3. 5. Simple ignorance extenuates sin Deut. 19. 4. 1 Tim. 1. 13. Luk. 12 48. Num. 15. 28. Act. 17. 30. 3. 17. David chargeth himself with it Psal. 73. 22. and Agur Prov. 30. 2 3. The Apostles were accounted such Act 4. 13. How fooles are discovered Prov. 10. 8 23. 12. 16. 13. 16 19. 14. 16. 15. 5. 17. 10. 18. 6 7. and 20. 3. and 27. 3 22. and 29. 11. Eccles. 2. 14. and 4. 5. and 5. 3. and 10. 2 14. Prov. 1. 22. Scriptural examples The rich man Luk. 12. 20. Nabal 1 Sam 25. 15. Some Psal. 49. 13. 2 Tim. 3. 9. The Prophet Ezek. 13. 7. Hos. 9. 7. Galatians Chap. 3. 1 3. The Bishop of Dunkelden in Scotland thanked God that he never knew what the Old and New Testament was affirming that he cared to know no more then his Portuis and Pontifical Act. and Mon. At an Assembly of the States in Germany one Albertus a Bishop lighting by chance upon a Bible as he was reading therein one of the States asked him what book it was I know not said the Bishop but this I finde that whatsoever I read in it is utterly
shop who was dishing up of meat till his stomach was satisfied with the only smell thereof the cholerick covetous Cook demanded of him to pay for his breakfast the poore man denied it and the controversie was referred to be decided by the next man that went by which chanced to be the most notorious Ideot in the whole City He upon the relation of the whole matter determined that the poore mans money should be put betwixt two empty dishes and the Cook should be recompenced with the gingling of the mans money as he was satisfied only with the smell of the Cooks meat Holy State p. 182. A Courtier having begg'd a rich-landed Fool used to carry him about to waite upon him He coming with his Master to a Gentlemans house where the picture of a foole was wrought in a rich suit of Arras cut the picture out with a penknife and being chidden for so doing You have more cause said he to thank me for if my Master had seen the picture of the Fool he would have begged your hangings of the King as he did my land Eodem The standers by comforting of a Natural that lay on his death-bed telling him that foure proper fellows should carry his body to the Church Yea quoth he but I had rather by half go thither my self and then prayed to God at his last gaspe not to require more of him then he gave him Eodem Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God throw the ignorance that is in them because of the blindnesse of their heart Eph. 4. 18. The times of this ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all men every where to repent Act. 17. 30. CHAP. XLIII Examples of Contempt of the World of Riches Honours c. WE must not love the world 1 John 2. 15. for it passeth away ver 17. Love of the world is a character of the wicked 1 Joh. 2. 15. We must so love it as not to abuse it 1 Cor. 7. 31. All the glory of the world is but a fancy Act. 25. 23. Scriptural examples Abram Gen. 14. 22 c Gideon Jud. 8. 23. Christ Mat. 8. 20. Luk. 9. 58. Iohn 6. 15. Paul Phil. 3. 8. Peter Marke 10. 28 c. â—uk 18. 28 c. After the battel of Marathon wherein the Grecians had overthrown the Persians they found their enemies tents full of gold silver rich apparel and other treasures yet Aristides to whom a great share of them did belong would not touch any of them nor take to himselfe the worth of one farthing Plut. Aristides who by his prudence Policy and valour had exceedingly enriched the Athenians did so contemne riches that when others abounded he only remained poore and when a kinsman of his callâ—d Callias who had exceedingly enriched himself by the Persian treasure was accused to the people for neglecting to relieve him in his wants Aristides himself undertook his defence telling them that Callias had often offered him much but he had alwayes refused it For there are many saith he that abuse their riches but few can bear poverty well Plut When he died he was burâ—ed at the publick charges of the City not leaving so much as would pay for his own funeral Plato thought that amongst all those famous and worthy men that Athens had bread none deserved so much honour as Aristides for that whereas others had filled Athens with stately buildings money and other trifles only Aristides in managing the affairs of the Common-wealth had proposed nothing to himself but the advancement of virtue Pez Mel. Hist. Cimon the sonne of Aristides after his fathers death governing the Common-wealth of Athens would by no means take any bribes but did and spake all things gratis and when a certaine Persian exile with a great Masse of treasures fled to Athens meeting there with some affronts went to the house of Cimon and there set down before him two great goblets full of gold and silver Cimon seeing it laughed and said unto him Whether wouldst thou have me thy friend Gratis or thy Patron hired by a great summe of money Therefore said he take these things away and mâ—ke use of me as thy friend and imploy thy money otherwise as thou pleasest Plut. This Cimon when he had gotten a compeâ—ent estate caused the hedges of his fields to be thrown down that so every one might freely make use of the fruits thereof He kept a frugal Table yet enough for many and so entertained all comers Plut. Epimenides a very wise and good man having taken great paines in reforming Athens when he was to returne home the people offered him great summes of money but he refused all only desiring them to give him a branch of Olive with which he returned into his own countrey See his example in Reformation Plut. Epaminondas that was one of the gallantest men that ever Greece bred who freed his countrey of Thebes from the Lacedemonian slavery and obtained many great and admirable victories yet was he such a contemner of riches that when he died he left not enough to discharge the charge of his funeral Just. The Lacedemonians having freed themselves from those Tyrants that had lorded it over them they sold their houses and goods by which they raised one hundred and twenty Talents then bethinking themselves where to choose a worthy General they at last pitched upon Philopoemen the most accomplished man in all Greece and thereupon resolved to send Ambassadours to make a tender to him of this Masse of money but every one knowing how far he was from being caught with such baits refused that office At last they chose one Timolaus of his ancient acquaintance who wen to him at Megalopolis where being entertained and feasted by Philopoemen observing his gravity frugality and temperance was so discouraged that not daring to deliver his message he returned without effecting any thing the like did a second but a third being sent to him took the boldnesse to tell him how much the Lacedemonians esteemed and honoured his virtues whereby he prevailed with Philopoemen to go to Lacedemon who there in a publick Assembly of the people exhorted shem that they would not go about to buy friends by their gifts who were ready to serve them without them perswading them rather to imploy that money in bribing their turbulent Oratours that disturbed the peace of the City with so high a minde did he despise their money Plut. Agesilaus King of Sparta used to say that he had rather make his souldiers rich then to be rich himself Xenoph. Lysander King of Sparta having overcome the Athenians in a great battel did wonderfully enrich his Countrey with the spoiles yet himself remained poor not enriching himself one penny thereby And when Dionysius the Sicilian Tyrant sent him costly garments for his daughters he returned them back again saying That he feared lest his daughters should be disgraced by them Plut. Xenoph. The King of Persia sending to Epaminondas
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
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
were witnesses of Pausanias reports that one Balthus a dumb man wandring in a desert met with a Lion and was struck with such exceeding fear and trepidation that thereupon the strings of his tongue were loosed and he spake ever after CHAP. LVII Examples of Constancy COmmanded 1 Chron. 28. 7. â—it 3. 8. Gal. 5. 10. 2 Tim. 2. 1. Heb. 13. 9. Jam. 1. 17. 2 Cor. 1. 17. 1 Cor. 15. 58. 2 Pet. 3. 17. 2 Tim. 3. 14. Rev. 2. 10. Commended Prov. 21. 28. Heb. 12. 3. Rom. 11. 22. Exhorted to 1 Cor. 16. 13. Eph. 4. 14 15. â— Tim. 3 14. Heb. 12. 1. 13. 9. Mat. 10. 22. 24. 13. Phil. 4. 1. Rev. 3. 11. Scriptural Examples Joshua ch 24 15. Ruth ch 1. 15. Levites 2 Chron. 11. 13. Josiah 2 Chron. 34. 2. Jewes Ezra 3. 3. David Psal. 119. 157. John Baptist Mat. 11. 7. Luke 7. 24. Paul Acts 20. 23 24. 2 Tim. 4. 7. Antipas Rev. 2. 13. Angel Rev. 2. 13. Disciples Luke 22. 28. Hebrews chap. 10. 32 34. Dionysius c. Acts 17. 34. Jewes and Proselytes Acts 13. 43. Other Examples Aristides is an admirable example of constancy of whom Phlutarch writes that amidst all the changes which befell the Athenians in his time he remained alwayes the same for honours never puffed him up with pride nor adversity never made him impatient For when AEschylus the Poet in the publick Amphytheater made verses in his commendation and thereupon the eyes of all the people were fixed upon him he was nothing affected or puffed up with it neither at other times was he afflicted at the reproaches and indignities of his enemies He used to say That it was the part of a good Citizen only to rejoyce in his good speeches and actions Plut. Nero being weary of his wife Octavia the daughter of Claudius by whom he had the Empire charged her with adultery and Pythias one of her women was miserably tormented upon the rack to extort a confession against her imperial Lady but she left this memorable Example of loyal constancy Nero's instrument of cruelty sitting in Commission at the rack demanded of her some immodest questions about her Lady Octavia But she being raised above fear or paine by honest courage did spit into his face saying that Octavia was honester in her womans parts then his mouth Suet. Phocion the Athenian was semper idem alwayes the same neither favour nor fear altering him the Oracle declaring that there was one man that was an enemy to the concord of the City when the enraged people enquired after him he said Pray you be quiet I am the man whom ye seek for there are none of your doings that please me Athens was at this time in her dotage Afterwards being chosen Captaine of the Athenians against the Macedonians he seeing that his cowardly souldiers were only valiant in their tongues wisely forbore fighting and made a peace afterwards being upbraided as if he had done it through cowardice he answered You are happy that you had a Captaine that knew you well enough otherwise you had all perished before this At another time when Demosthenes that rode the people by his flattery told Phocion that the Athenians would kill him when they began to be mad But said Phocion they will kill thee when they begin to be wise Lipsius Saint Ambrose Bishop of Millaine being besieged in his Church by the Emperour Valentinian junior at the instigation of Justina his mother an Arian the Emperour commanded him to come forth of the Church intending to deliver it to the Arians But Ambrose told him that he would never come out of it willingly neither would betray his sheepfold to the wolvs nor his Church to such as were blasphemers of God Therefore saith he if thou wilt kill me come in and thrust me through either with thy sword or speare which death will be very grateful unto me Theod. Valerianus Bishop of Hâ—benza in Africa being commanded by Genserick an Arian King of the Vandals to deliver up to him the books of the Sacred Scripture and other vessels belonging to the Church he rather chose being eighty years old to be stripped naked and driven out of the City where he lay amongst the dunghills till he perished Sige. Chron. Hormisdas a Nobleman of Persia professing Christianity in the time of a great persecution was called before the King Varanes who sharply chid him threatening him with death if he persisted therein To whom Hormisdas constantly answered That which you command me O King is wicked and therefore I may not abjure the God of the whole world to procure your Majesties favour For a crime committed against his Majesty is farre greater then disobedience to you Niceph. Constance the third could neither prevaile by promises nor threats with Martin Bishop of Rome to confirme the heresie of the Monothelites he choosing banishment rather then thus to sinne against God Fulgos. Publius Rutilius shewed his excellent constancy when being requested by a friend to do for him a thing which was unjust he refused to do it whereupon his friend said What am I the better for thy friendship if thou wilt not do for me so small a courtesie when it is desired of thee To whom he answered And what am I the better for such a friend as requests of me such unjust things Val. l. 6. c. 4. Pomponius a Knight of Rome fighting in the Army of Lucullus against Mithridates was wounded and taken prisoner and being brought before Mithridates he said to him If I take care for the cure of thy wounds wilt thou be my friend To whom Pomponius answered Not except thou beest a friend to the people of Rome Fulgos. Marc. Brutus warring in Lusitania when he had conquered almost the whole Countrey only the City of Cyania stood out against him he sent Ambassadours to them proffering them a great summe of gold to deliver up their City to him To whom they answered with admirable constancy Our father 's left us swords wherewith to defend our liberty not gold nor rich gifts wherewith to redeem our selves from our enemies Eras. Apoth C. Mevius a Captaine of Augustus Caesars having often fought valiantly against Mark Anthony was at last circumvented taken prisoner and carried before Anthony who asked him what he would have him to determine about him To whom Mevius most constantly answered Command my throat to be cut seeing I am resolved neither for the hope of life nor for the fear of death to forsake Caesar nor to serve thee Val. Max. See more in the Chapter of Valour and Magnanimity CHAP. LVIII Examples of Inconstancy Unstableness SPoken of Jam. 1. 8. 2 Pet. 2. 14. 3. 16. Reuben is said to be so Gen. 49. 4. The Athenians who a little before had given divine honours to King Demetrius and in a most base manner flattered him during his great victories when they heard of his overthrow by Ptolemy King of Egypt and that he was coming to
he had made himselfe sweat by some labour Stobaeus Anrelianus the Emperour never suffered day to passe over his head wherein he did not exercise himselfe in some hard labour or military imployment Alex. ab Alex. The City of Casan in Parthia is much to be commended for its civil Government for an idle person is not suffered to live amongst them The childe that is but six years old is set to labour no ill rule disorder or riot is suffered there They have a Law amongst them whereby every person is compelled to give in his name to the Magistrates withall declaring by what course he liveth and if any tell untruly he is either soundly beaten on the feet or imployed in publick slavery P. Pil. v. 1. In China the whole Countrey is well husbanded and though the people generally are great spenders yet they first get it by their hard labour Idle persons are much abhorred in this Countrey and such as will not labour must not eat amongst them for there are none that will give almes to the poore If any be blinde they are put to grinde in horse mills If lame impotent bedrid c. the next of their kin is forced to maintaine them If they be not able the King hath Hospitals in every City wherein they are sufficiently provided for P. Pil. v. 3. CHAP. LXII Examples of such as have preferred Christ before all earthly enjoyments Under the eight Persecution there was one Marinus a Nobleman and valiant Captaine in Caesaria who stood for an honourable office that of right fell to him but his Competitor to prevent him accused him to the Judge for being a Christian The Judge examining him of his faith and finding it true gave him three houres time to deliberate with himselfe whether he would lose his Office and Life or renounce Christ and his profession Marinus being much perplexed what to resolve on a godly Bishop took him by the hand led him into the Church laid before him a sword and a New-Testament bidding him freely take his choice which of them he would have whereupon Marinus ranne to the New Testament and chose that and so being encouraged by the Bishop he went boldly to the Judge by whose sentence he was beheaded Dioclesian that bloody Persecutor first laboured to seduce the Christian souldiers in his Camp commanding them either to sacrifice to his gods or to lay down their places offices and armes To whom they resolutely answered That they were not only ready to lay down their honours and weapons but even their lives if he required it rather then to sinne against God and deny Christ. A Noble Virgin in Portugal called Eulalia under the tenth Persecution seeing the cruelty used against Christians for the cause of Christ went to the Judge and thus bespake him What a shame is it for you thus wickedly to seek to kill mens souls and to break their bodies in pieces seeking thereby to withdraw them from Christ Would you know what I am I am a Christian ana an enemy to your devillish sacrifices I spurne your idols under my feet c. Hereupon the Judge being enraged said unto her O fond and sturdy girle I would faine have thee before thou diest revoke thy wickednesse Remember the Honourable House of which thou art come and thy friends teares Wilt thou cast away thy selfe in the flower of thy youth Wilt thou bereave thy selfe of honourable marriage Doth the glittering pomp of the bride-bed nothing prevaile with thee c. Behold if these things will not move thee I have here variety of engins prepared to put thee to a cruel death c. But our Noble Eulalia having her heart ravished with the love of Christ to whom she desired to be married rejected both his flatteries and threats and chose death rather then to forsake Christ. See my General Martyrology p. 77. In the late Bohemian Persecution a noble Lady of the City of Latium leaving all her riches house and friends crept under the walls through the common sewer the gates being guarded that she might enjoy Christ in his Ordinances elsewhere In the Affrican Persecution under the Arians there was a noble man called Saturus eminent for piety and holinesse whom the Tyrant King laboured to withdraw from Christ and his truth to the Arian Heresie telling him that if he consented not presently he should forfeit his house his Lands his goods his honours that his children and servants should be sold that his wife should be given to one of his basest slaves c. But when threats prevailed not he was cast into prison and when his Lady heard her doom she went to him with her garments rent and her hair disheveled her children at her heeles and a sucking infant in her armes and falling down at her husbands feet she took him about the knees saying Have compassion O my sweetest of me thy poor wife and of these thy children look upon them let them not be made slaves let not me be yoaked in so base a marriage consider that which thou art required to do thou doest it not willingly but art constrained thereto and therefore it will not be laid to thy charge c. But this valiant Souldier of Christ answered her in the words of Job Thou speakest like a foolish woman Thou actest the Devils part If thou truly lovedst thy husband thou wouldest never seek to draw him to sin that may separate him from Christ and expose him to the second death Know assuredly that I am resolved as my Saviour Christ commands me to forsake wife children house lands c. that so I may enjoy him which is best of all One Copin a Merchant in France was apprehended and carried before the Bishop of Ast for his bold asserting of the truth to whom the B. said that he must either recant his opinions or be punished But Copin answered that he would maintain them with his life For saith he I have goods a wife and children and yet have I lost those affections which I formerly bore to them neither are they dear to me so I may gain Christ. See more Examples of this kind before in this Book p. 29 30 31. Anno Christi 1620. in that bloody Persecution in the Valtoline a noble Gentleman having for a while hid himself was at last found out by his Popish adversaries whom he requested to spare him for his childrens sake but they told him that this was no time for pity except he would renounce his Religion and embrace Popery whereupon he said God forbid that to save this temporal life I should deny my Lord Jesus Christ who with his precious blood upon the Crosse redeemed me at so dear a rate c. I say God forbid and so they murthered him See my Gen. Martyrologie p. 327. Anno Christi 1507. one Laurence Guest being in prison for the truth in Salisbury the Bishop because he had good friends laboured by all means to draw him to recant but not
Dogs Domitian to prove him a lyar commanded him presently to be slaine and his body to be burnt but while it was in burning there fell out a great tempest that quenched the fire and so his body half unburnt was devoured by Dogs Suâ—t Constantine forbad all to ask Counsel at Witches oâ— to use the help of Charmers or Sorcerers upon pain of death Saul when he sought to the Witch at Endor instead of finding comfort was told of his utter ruine and destruction 1 Sam. 28. 19. Natholicus the 31th King of the Scots who had usurped the Crown sent a trusty friend to a famous Witch to know what successe he should have in his Kingdom and how long he should live The Witch answered that he should shortly be murthered not by an enemy but by his friend The Messenger instantly inquired by what friend By thy self said the Witch The Messenger at first abhorred the thought of any such villainy but afterwards considering that it was not safe to reveal the Witches answer and yet that it could not be concealed he resolved rather to kill the King to the content of many then to hazard the losse of his own head Thereupon at his return being in secret with the King to declare to him the Witches answer he suddenly slew him Bucâ—an Cleomedes a great Conjurer in Rome having practised the death of many little children the Parents of them at last sought revenge on him who to shun their fury shut himself up close in a Coffer but when they had broken it open the Divel had carried away the Conjurer Plut. Piso being accused by Tyberius for bewitching Germanicus to death instead of defending himself cut his own throat Taci There was in Denmark one Otto a great Magician and a great Pirat who used to passe the Seas without the help of a ship or any other Vessel and by his divellish Art to raise stormes and drown his enemies but at last being overmatched by one that was more expert in that Art then himself he was by him drowned in the Seas Olaus Mag. There was a Conjurer in Saltzburg who attempted to gather together all the Serpents there abouts into a Ditch and to feed them there but as he was practising of it the old Serpent the Divel drew him into the Ditch amongst them where he perished miserably The Governour of Mascon a great Magician as he was at dinner with some company was snatched away by the Divel hoisted up into the air and carried three times about the Town to the great astonishment of the inhabitants to whom he cried for help but all in vain Hugo de Cluni Anno Christi 1437. in the reign of Charles the 7th King of France Sr. Giles of Britane high-Constable of France was a wicked Magician having murthered above 160. Infants and women great with child with whose blood he wrote Books full of horrible Conjurations which being proved against him he was adjudged to be hanged and burned to death which was accordingly executed Picus Mirandula writes that in his time a great Conjurer promised a certain Prince that he would present to him the Siege of Troy with Hector and Achilles fighting together as when they were alive But as he was about his Conjurations the Divel carried him away that he was never heard of after The Lord of Orue in Lorraine when Noble-men or Gentle-men came to visit him used as they thought to serve them very honourbly with all sorts of daintie dishes and viands but when they departed they found their stomachs empty having eaten nothing On a time a Lords servant going from thence having forgotten some thing behind him went back and suddenly entering the Hall found a Munkie beating the Lord of the house that had feasted them others reported that he hath been seen through the chink of a door lying on his belly along upon a Table and a Munkie scourging him very strongly to whom he would say Let me al ne wilt thou alwayes thus torment me at last he fell into so great misery and beggery that he was fain to get into an Hospital in Paris where he ended his wrethed life Anno Christi 1530. there was in Nuâ—â—mburg a Popish Priest that studied the black Art who coveting riches the Divel shewed him through a Cristal treasures hidden in a part of the City Thither therefore did the Priest go with another companion and having digged an hollow pit he perceived in the bottom a Coffer with a great black Dog lying by it which whilest he beheld the earth fell upon him and crushed him to death Wierus Cornelius Agrippa was a great Necromancer and was alwayes accompanied with a familiar spirit in the shape of a black Dog But when his end approached he took off the Inchanted choller from the Dogs neck saying Get thee hence thou cursed beast which hast utterly destroyed me After which the Dog was never seen and he died a miserable death P. Jovius Zoroastres King of Bactria a great Astrologer and Magician was burned to death by the Divel Theat Anno Christi 1578. one Simon Pembrook of St. Georges Parish in London was suspected to be a Conjurer and used to erect figures for which he was called in question but whilest he was before the Judge he fell down and died having some Conjuring Books found about him Julian the Apostate sending to Delphos to enquire of the Divel the successe of his Parthian War whilest his Ambassadors were there fire came down from heaven and destroyed Apollos Temple and beat his Image all to pieces like to the lightest and smallest powder or dust Mr. Tindal being present in a roome where a Conjurer was hindred him that he could not play his pranks A Saints presence may hinder Satans elbow-roome from doing his tricks See Tindals Life in my first Part And the Like of Athanasius in his Life in the same Book CHAP. LXXIII Examples of Apparitions and Satanical delusions ANno Christi 1228. in a Synod held by the Popish Clergy at Paris in France there was one appointed to make a Sermon who as he was walking abroad and meditating upon what subject to preach the Devil appeared to him asking him what he needed to be so solicitous about that matter Say saith he in thy Sermon The Princes of hell salute you O ye Princes of the Church and gladly give you thanks for that through your default and negligence it comes to passe that so many soules come down to hell Adding that he was enforced by God to declare the same Yea and he gave this Priest a certain token whereby the Synod might evidently see that he did not lie On a time as Luther was walking in his garden the Devil appeared to him in the likenesse of a black Boar But Luther sleighting and not regarding him he vanished away See his Life in my first Part. Luther telleth us that when he was lodged in the Castle of Wartzhurg in a Chamber far from any company he was many times
good meat Others fed upon old leather and some women boiled their own children and did eat them Many thinking to save their lives by flying to the Romans were slit in pieces to search for gold and Jewels in their guts two thousand dyed thus miserably in one night 97000 were taken prisoners at the taking of the City by Titus eleven hundred thousand were slain As for the prisoners some of them were carried to Rome in triumph Others were slain in sundry places at the Conquerers will Some were torn in pieces and devoured by wild beasts Others were compelled to march in Troops against their fellowes and to kill one another to make the spectators sport The reliques of these wretched people were dispersed into all Nations under heaven having no Magistrates of their own to protect them but were and still are altogether at the will and discretion of the Lords of those Countries where they sojourn so that no Nation in the world is so vile and contemptible as the Jewes In the time of Julian the Apostate he gave leave to the Jewes to re-build the Temple at Jerusalem but so soon as they had laid the foundations thereof all was overthrown by an earthquake many thousands of them being overwhelmed with the mines and those which were left were slain and scattered by a tempest and thunder The Jewes at Imnester near Antioch celebrating their accustomed Playes and Feasts in the middest of their jollity according to their custome they reviled Christ and in contempt to him gat a Christian's child and hung him upon a Crosse and after many mocks and taunts whipt him to death So also they served a boy called Simeon Anno Christi 1476. And another in Fretulium five years after At another time they took a Carpenters sonne in Hungary in contempt of Christ whom they called the son of a Carpenter and cutting all his veines sucked out all his blood with quills And being apprehended and tortured they confessed that they had done the like at Thirna four years before and that they could not be without Christian blood for that therewith they anointed their Priests But at all these times their wickednesse being discovered they suffered just punishment by hanging burning or some other cruel death Anno Christi 1492. one Eleazar a Jew bought the holy Host of a Popish Priest and most despightfully thrust it through with his knife for which he was burned and the like have others of them done at several times Fincel Anno Christi 1407. a Jew stole the picture of Christ out of a Church and chrust it in contempt many times thorow with his sword out of which when blood miraculously issued the caitiffe would have burned it but being taken in the manner by some Christians they stoned him to death Gasp. AEdio l. 3. c. 6. The Jewes whilest they were suffered to live here in England used every year to steal some Christian's child and on Good-Priday to crucifie him in despite of Christ and the Christian Religion Thus they served a child at Lincoln Anno Christi 1255. under the Reign of King Henry the third And another at Norwich having first circumcised him and kept him a whole year For which being apprehended thirty two of them were put to death at Lincoln and twenty at Norwich Others of them being besieged at York when they could hold out no longer cut their own throats whereby fifteen hundred of them perished at that time At Northhampton many of them were burnt for attempting to set the City on fire with wildfire And at last for their many wicked practices they were utterly banished the Kingdome of England by King Edward the first Anno Christi 1291. for which the Commons gave the King a Fifteenth Judea hath now onely some few parcels of rich ground found in it that men may guesse the goodnesse of the cloth by the finenesse of the shreads wherein the Word of God is fulfilled Psal. 107. 34. He turneth a fruitful Land into barrennesse for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein In the Reign of Adrianus the Emperour he sent Severus his General against the Jewes who by reason of their multitudes would not try it out in a set battel but proceeding more warily and taking his opportunitie he by degrees took fifty of their fortified Castles rased nine hundred and fourscore of their best Townes and slew five hundred and eighty thousand of their men besides innumerable multitudes which perished by famine sicknesse and fire so that almost all Judaea was left destitute and Adrian by an Edict prohibited the Jewes from coming neer to Hierusalem or once from any high place to look towards the same or the Region adjoyning Dion Salmanticensis saith that there was a decree made at Rome that no Jew should ever enter Cyprus the place where their rebellion began and that Adrian destroyed twice as many Jewes as Moses brought out of Egypt He rased Hierusalem and not far from it built another City the now Hierusalem and called it after his own name AElia And over the gate of this City he placed the Statues of swine which were faithful Porters to prohibit the superstitious Iewes from entrance This was about the year 135. St. Hierom tells us that in his time on that day wherein Hierusalem was taken by the Romans you may see decrepit women and old ragged men and many wretched people but pitied of none with blubbered cheeks black armes dishevelled hair howling and lamenting for the ruines of their Sanctuary in their bodies and habits bearing and wearing â—he sad characters of Divine vengeance of whom the Souldiers also exact their fee for liberty of further weeping so that they which formerly sold the blood of Christ are now fain to buy their own teares In the Reign of Trajan Adrian's predecessour the Jewes rebelled in Egypt and Cyrene where they slew many Greeks and Romans did eat their flesh girt themselves with their guts imbrewed themselves with their blood and clothed themselves with their skins many they sawed in sunder from the Crown downwards many they cast to the Beasts c. Hereupon Trajan sent against them Martius Turbo who destroved many thousands of them and fearing lest the Jewes in Mesopotamia should break out into the like outrages he commanded Lucius Quietus to destroy them utterly who so diligently executed his will that the Emperour to recompence his service made him President of Judea Dion In Creet there arose amongst them a false Prophet that affirmed himself to be Moses that led the Israelites through the Red-sea telling them that he was come to lead them through the Sea into the holy Land Thus for a whole year he went from City to City amongst them perswading them to leave their riches to any that would take them and to follow him and at a day appointed he went before them to a Promontorie of the Sea and there bidsthem leap in which many doing perished in the waves and more would have done but that some
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
for presently after the Gaules brake into Macedonia overthrew Ptolemie cut off his head and carried it upon a Lance about with them Lipsius CHAP. XCII Love of God to his Children and their love to him THe Spouses to Christ Cant. 2. 5 7. 5. 8. 8. 6 7. Jer. 2. 2. Cant. 1 3 4. 3. 1 c. Christ's to his Spouse Cant. 2. 4. God's to his people is eternal Jer. 31. 3. Rom. 8. 35 39. It 's great Hos. 3. 1. 11. 4. Ephes. 2. 4. 3. 19. 1 Joh. 3. 1. 4. 16. So should our love to him be as 2 Cor. 5. 14. Deut. 6. 5. 10. 12. 11. 1 13 22. 30. 6 16 20. Jos. 22. 5. 23. 11. Psal. 31. 23. Matth. 22. 37. Mar. 12. 30. Luk. 10 27. Every thing shall turn to the good of such Rom. 8. 28. Great things are prepared for them 1 Cor. 2. 9. and promised Jam. 1. 12. 2. 5. They shall be joyful Psal. 5. 11. Blessed Psal. 69. 36. 119. 132. Have peace Psal. 119. 165. Be preserved Psal. 145. 20. Scriptural Examples David Psal. 18. 1. Solomon 1 King 3. 3. Solomon was beloved of God 2 Sam. 12. 24. and Israel 1 King 10. 9. 2 Chron. 9. 1. Psal. 4â— 4. Hos. 11. 1. and the world of the Elect Joh. 3. 16. and Paul Gal. 2. 20. the Church Rev. 1. 5. Jacob Rom. 9. 13. Other Examples Artabazus in Xenophon when Cyrus had given him a cup of gold and to Chrysantas a kisse in token of his special favour complained that the cup which Alexander had given him was not so good gold as the Kisse which he gave to Chrysantas So the secret kisses which God gives to his children are better then all the riches and honours which he gives to the wicked Vespasian the Emperour commanded that a liberal reward should be given to a woman that came and professed that she was in Love with him whereupon his Steward asked him under what Item he should put that gift in his book of accounts Vespasiano adamato saith the Emperour Item to her that loved Vespasian So when God gives much or forgives much to any you may write this Item Because he loved much Galeacius Caracciolus being tempted by a Jesuite with a great summe of gold to return from Geneva into Iealy made this answer Let their gold perish with them who prefer all the gold in the world before the love of God or one daies society with Jesus Christ and his holy Spirit See his Life in my second Part. CHAP. XCIII Reproof Reprehension THe wise love it Prov. 29. 25. 25. 12. 13. 18. 15. 5 31. 17. 10. 29. 15. and 6. 23. It 's the Ministers duty 2 Tim. 4. 2. Gods Word is profitable for it 2 Tim. 3. 16. Scorners will not endure it Prov. 9. 8. 15. 12. Isa. 29. 21. Such are neer to destruction Prov. 29. 1. 10. 17. Are brutish Prov. 12. 1. 15. 10 32. David desired it Psal. 141. 5. Herod could not endure it Luk. 3. 19. Nor the wicked Prov. 1. 25 30. 5. 12. Reproof not endured Cambyses King of Persia being reproved by Prexaspes one of his Nobles that was familiar with him for his drunkennesse was so impatient of reproof that he caused the son of Prexaspes to be set before him saying If I can shoot just into thy sons heart neither thou nor the Persians have any cause to charge me with drunkennesse and so shooting he slew him and then caused his body to be opened where the arrow was found in the middest of his heart whereupon he much rejoyced saying to Prexaspes Whether doest thou now believe that I am sober or drunk c Pez Mel. Hist. The same Cambyses having caused twelve of his Nobles to be put to death Croesus who was left as a Counsellor to him by his father Cyrus reproved him for it admonishing him not so to give way to his passion lest he provoked his Subjects to rise up against him Cambyses instead of making a good use of it took a bowe and would have slain Croesus for it but he escaping from him Cambyses commanded his servants to slay him yet they thinking that he would afterwards repent it hid Croesus and slew him not and when Cambyses not long after wanted Croesus for his faithful counsel and bemoaned his rash putting of him to death his servants expecting a great reward brought him forth Cambyses was glad that Croesus was alive but yet he put his servants to death for sparing him contrary to his command Pez Mel. Hist. Philip King of Macedon having great contentions in his Family was thus reproved by Demarathus the Corinthian for it Philip asking him what concord there was amongst the Grecians Sir said he it is not fit for you to enquire after the affaires of Greece who cannot settle and maintain peace in your own Family Diod. Sic. Alexander M. writing to Philotas one of his brave Captains sent him word how that the Oracle of Jupiter Hamon had acknowledged him to be his son Philotas wrote back That he was glad that he was received into the number of the gods but withal that he could not but be sensible how miserable they were that should live under one that thought himself more then a man which reproof Alexander never forgat till he had taken away his life Q. Cur. CHAP. XCIV Repentance and Reformation the way to pacifie Gods wrath REpentance exhorted to Ezek. 14. 6. 18. 30. Matth. 3. 2. 4. 17. Mar. 1. 15. Act. 2 38. 3. 19. 8. 22. Rev. 2. 5 16. 3. 3 19. Repentance attributed to God Gen. 6. 6. Exod. 32. 14. Judg. 2. 18. 1 Sam. 15. 35. 2 Sam. 24. 16. Psal. 106 45. Jer. 26. 19. Amos 7. 3 6. Jon. 3. 10. 4. 2. Joel 2 13. Hos. 11. 8. Repentance turns away God's wrath 1 King 18. 30 c. Jer. 26. 3 13. Ezek. 18. 30. Joel 2. 14. Jona 3. 9. Rev 2. 5 16 22. Exod. 32. 14. 2 Sam. 24. 15 16. Jer. 31. 19 20. Jona 3. 9 10. 2 Chron. 7. 14 c. We have Gods promise for it Lev. 26. 41 c. 2 Chron. 12. 7. 24. 37. in the example of Josiah And Hezekiah 2 Chron. 32. 26. And Manasses 2 Chr. 33. 12 13. The Romans punished a young man that was seen looking out at a window with a Crown of Roses upon his head in the time of a publick calamity At a time in Athens strange Prodigies were seen and the Prognosticators told the people that they perceived by their sacrifices that the City was defiled with some abominable and filthy thing Hereupon they sent to Crete for Epimenides an holy and devout man and one who was esteemed a Prophet He being come taught them to make their Sacrifices with lesse cost whereby they were more frequent He taught them to pray daily to the gods to mourn moderately for the dead c. and so
mystery of iniquity and suspecting no hurt did it and so defiled their consciences which afterwards filled them with such extreame grief and horror that they offered to expiate their sin with their blood Theod. I say unto you my friends Be not afraid of them that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do But I will forewarne you whom you shall feare Fear him which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell yea I say unto you Fear him Luke 12. 4 5. CHAP IV. Examples of Gods judgements upon Persecutors THere hath ever been from the beginninâ—â—n inveterate antipathy between Satan and his instruments and the children of God whence it is that wicked men being more for number and stronger in power then Christs flock have watched all opportunities to be pushing and goaring of them yea solacing and pleasing themselves in the others sufferings So that if Christ the great Shepherd of his sheepe should not cut short or break off the hornes of the wicked there would be no living by them yet the Lord may and many times doth lengthen the chaine and enlarge the power of such to do much mischief though not to the ruine and subversion of the Church yet to the cutting off many of the members but still with this promise that when he hath accomplished all his work upon mount Sion and Jerusalem he will then visit the proud heart of those his enemies and like a loving and tender Father when he hath sufficiently corrected his children he will burne the rod in the fire so that all shall say Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth The truth where of will manifestly appear in these examples following Manasses King of Judah being reproved by that aged and reverend Prophet Esay he caused him near to the fountain of Silce to be sawen in sunder with a woodden saw in the eightieth yeere of his age for which cruel fact amongst other of his sins see his punishments 2 Chron. 33. 11. c. Antiochus Epiphanes a grievous blasphemer of God and a cruel persecutor of the Jews proudly protesting that he would make Jerusalem a common burying place and the streets thereof to runne with their blood being smitten by God as he went thitherward began to relent seeming very penitent and vowed that if he recovered he would do many and great things for the people of God and that he would become a Jew and go through all the known world to declare the power of God but the Lord knowing his hypocrisie still continued his disease which was a remedilesse paine of the bowels intolerable torments of the inward parts his body breeding abundance of Wormes which issued out of the same so that he rotted above ground and by reason of the intolerablestinke thereof no man could endure to come neere him yea himself could not abide the same and so he ended his wretched life in much misery Josephus Herod the great who caused the babes of Bethlehem to be slaine hoping thereby to destroy Christ shortly after was plagued by God with an incurable disease having a slow and slack fire continually tormenting his inward parts a vehement and greedy desire to eat and yet nothing sufficed him a grievous flux in the fundament a droptick humour issuing from his feet a rotting of his inward bowels an issue from his bladder his privy members rotted ingendring abundance of wormes which issued from the same a short and stinking breath and great paine in breathing and in all his members so violent a crampe that nature was not able to bear it and so growing mad with paine he died miserably Euseb. Herod Antipas who beheaded John Baptist not long after falling into disgrace with the Romane Emperour with his incestuous Herodias the suggester of that murther they were banished and fell into such misery and penury that they ended their wretched lives with much shame and misery Euseb. Caiaphas the high Priest who gathered the Councel and suborned false witnesses against the Lord Christ was shortly after put out of his office and one Jonathan substituted in his room Whereupon he killed himself Euseb. Pontius Pilate who condemned our Lord Christ shortly after falling into disgrace with the Romane Emperour was by him banished and fell into such misery that he hanged himself Euseb. Herod Agrippa having slaine James the brother of John with the sword and imprisoned Peter intending to have slaine him also presently after in the middest of all his pompe was smitten by the Angel of God and was devoured of Worms Act. 12. 23. Nero that monster of men who raised the first bloody Persecution to pick a quarrel with the Christians set the City of Rome on fire and then charged it upon them under which pretence he exposed them to the fury of the people who cruelly tormented them as if they had been common burners and destroyer of Cities and the deadly enemies of mankinde Yea Nero himself caused them to be apprehended clad in wilde beasts skins and torne in pieces with Dogges others were crucified Some he made bonefires of to light him in his night-sports In briefe such horrible cruelty he used towards them as caused many of their enemies to pity them But God found out this wretched Persecutor at last For being adjudged by the Senate an enemy to mankinde he was condemned to be whipt to death for the prevention whereof he cut his own throat Niceph. Tacit. Anal. l. 5. Domitian the authour of the second Persecution against the Christians was so puffed up with pride that he would needs be adored as a god But against him rose up his own houshold-servants who by the consent of his wife slew him with daggers in his privy chamber his body was buried without honour His memory cursed to posterity and his Armes and Ensignes were thrown down and defaced Sueto Eutrop. Trajan though in the government of the common-wealth he was a good and prudent Prince yet by the suggestion of Satan raised the third Persecution against the Church For which cause the vengeance of God and his heavy hand fell upon him For first he fell into a Palsie then lost the use of his senses afterwards fell into a dropsie died in great anguish Dion Hadrian who raised the fourth Persecution and caused ten thousand Christians to be crucified in Armenia at one time and afterwards stirred up a hot Persecution against them in all places was striken by God with an issue of blood which so weakened and disquieted him that he would faine have made away himself Then fell he into a consumption of the Lungs which he continually spat out and after with an insatiable dropsie so that finding himselfe in such horrible torment he desired poison to hasten his death or a knife to cut his throat But these being kept back from him he was forced to indure the torment and so died in much misery Spart Marcus Antonius verus who continued the fourth Persecution exercising
exceeding great cruelties against the Christians every where especially at Lyons and Vienna in Daulphine for the same God struck him with a grievous Apoplexy of which after he had lien speechlesse and in misery three dayes he died Euseb. Spart Commodus the Emperour under whom also was continued the fourth Persecution against the Christians was given over to such abominable wickednesse that he kept three hundred Concubines and as many Boyes for detestable uses and for his cruelty was poysoned by his friend Marcia whereupon falling into an extreame vomiting he was slaine by Narcissus Euseb. Severus the authour of the fifth Persecution after he began to persecute the Christians never prospered but fell into divers calamities and at last had such an extreame paine through his whole body that languishing therewith he would faine have poisoned himself But being prevented he died in much misery Also Vitellius Saturnius one of the instruments of his cruelty fell blinde Another called Claudius Herminianus Governour of Cappadocia who out of hatred against his wife that was a Christian had extreamly afflicted many of Gods Children was stricken by God with the Pestilence Had vermine bred in his bowels which devoured him a live after a most horrible manner which extorted from him a confession that those plagues justly befell him for his cruelty against the Christians Tert. ad Scap. Maximinus the Emperour who raised the sixth Persecution against the Christians especially against the Pastors of the Church was himselfe to gether with his sonne slaine by his own Souldiers Euseb. Decius who raised the seventh Persecution laboured by all means to destroy the Church of Christ using all the cruelty and torments that mans wit could vise For this God raised up the Scythians against him whereby his Army was overthrown and himself and son cruelly slaine or as others say he leaped his horse into a whirl-pit after which his body could never be found Oros. Euseb. Pomponius Immediately after the death of this Tyrant God sent a grievous Plague and Pestilence upon the bloody Gentiles in every Province which lasting ten years together made such havock as is horrible to hear and almost incredible to believe And it was observed that where the Emperours Edicts had been put in execution with most severity there it raged most so that many places became utterly desolate See more in my General Martyrologie p. 54. Euseb. Gallus the Emperour who continued the seventh Persecution was himself with his son slaine by one of own his Captaines Act Mon. Valerian in the beginning of his reigne was milde towards the Christians but afterwards proved a terrible persecutor of them through all his Dominions which was the eight Persecution But it was not long before he was overthrown in the Persian Warres taken prisoner being seventy yeares old and made so vile a slave that Sapores the King of Persia used his back as a block whereby to mount upon his horse and at last caused him to be flayed alive and powdered with salt Euseb. Likewise Claudius a President one of the ministers of his cruelty was possessed by the devil and so tormented that biting off his tongue in small bits he died miserably Aurelian the authour of the ninth Persecution being about to give out an Edict for renuing the persecution against the Christians had at the same time a thunderbolt which fell at his feet which so terrified him that for a time he forbore But afterwards returning to his bloody disposition God stirred up his own servants to cut his throat Niceph. Eutrop. Dioclesian the authour of the tenth Persecution went more subtilly to work For first he used all politick ways to make the Christians in his Army renounce their Faith Thén by Proclamation commanded their Churches to be beaten down their Bibles to be burnt and torne in pieces that all Christians which bore any office should be deposed that bondmen who would forsake their profession should be made free But when after all his subtilty and cruelty he saw that the number of Christians still encreased being satiated with blood he gave up the Empire After which he was tormented with divers and strange diseases had his house burnt down by lightning and was himself so frighted with thunder that he fell mad and klled himself Ruffinus Maximinian his fellow-Emperour vvas also exceeding cruel and outragious against the Christians For vvhen tvventy thousand of them vvere met together in a Temple at Nicomedia upon a solemne Festival day to serve God he caused it to be invironed by a band of souldiers set on fire and burned vvith all that vvere in it Another City in Phrygia of Christians after a long siege he caused to be burnt to cinders with all the inhabitants therein But God shortly after struck him with a grievous disease Vermine bred abundantly in his body with such an horrible stinke that being not able to endure it he hanged himself Euseb. Niceph. Maximinus that next succeeded in the Easterne Empire was a cruell and bloody Persecutor of the Saints For which God struck him with an unâ—outh disease In his privy members there grew a sudden putrefaction and in the bottome of the same a botchy corrupt Bile with a Fistula consuming and eating up his intrals out of which came swarming an innumerable company of lice with such a pestiferous stinke that no man could abide him And being a fat man all his fat so putrified and stanke so horribly that some of his Physicians not being able to endure it were commanded to be slaine others were cruelly put to death because they could not cure him But at last being told that this was Gods just vengeance upon him for destroying the Christians he seemed to repent and commanded the persecution to cease and thereupon it pleased God to free him from his disease But about six moneths after he sent forth a new Proclamation for the utter rooting out of the name of Christians whereupon his disease returned again and assaulted him in great extremity so that his body being all rotten full of corruption and wormes he died miserably Chrysostome saith that the apples of his eyes fell out before his death Galerius a chief instrument of persecution under Dioclesian fell into a grievous disease a fore rising in the nether part of his belly which consumed his privy members from whence issued abundance of wormes bred by the putrefaction This could neither be cured by Chirurgeons nor Phisicians whereupon he acknowledged that it befell him justly for his monstrous cruelty to the Christians howbeit he died miserably or as some write slew himself Lanquet Chron. Licinius the Emperour who had set forth three cruel edicts for persecuting of the Christians was shortly after overcome by Constantine and slaine by the souldiers Simps The Romane Emperours betwixt Christs and Constantines time being about three hundred and thirty yeares were all of them contemners of Christ enemies to his Word and many of them persecutors of his Saints amongst which