Protestants dare not say that Christianity was vnsound Examples within the first three hundred yeares BEing to alleadge Examples of dreadfull deaths and mischances happened vnto Saints since the Christian tymes where can I better beginne then with Christ Iesus himselfe Heb. 12.2 Eph. 1.22 Rom. 8.19 the founder of our Fayth the accomplisher of our Hope the head of the Christian elect the Patterne of perfection according to the modell wherof the Saints of God are framed Could the eternall Father designe for his beloued Sonne any kind of death more dismall and pittifull more disgracefull and horrible then that of the Crosse A death infamous vnto the Gentile execrable vnto the Iew Maledictushomo qui peÌ„det in ligno Deut. 21.23 branded with a curse by Gods owne word Which Crosse though he imbraced out of his voluntary choyce and infinite charity for the redeÌ„ption of maÌ„kind yet that the same might seeme more ignominious in the eye of the world he would haue things carryed in such sort as if against his will his enemyes through the treachery of his disciple strength of their practises had preuayled to lay that horrible death vpon him This course of prouidence God vsed towards Christ Iesus the Saint of Saints for the Comfort of Christian Saints amongst whome as Saint Angustin writes Multi multarum mortium faeda varietate consumpti sunt Lib. 1. de ciuit c. 11. Many haue byn destroyed with strange variety of dreadfull deaths By this ExaÌ„ple we are taught that as sayth the same excellent Doctour No death is euill which is the sequell of good life That death is made miserable not by the miseryes that go before it but by the miseryes that follow vpon it That men seeing they must of necessity dye are to regard not the horrour of the mischance by which they are taken away but the quality of the place they are by death carryed vnto But as Christ Iesus in regard of the dignity of his person is without peere so this example by reason of the strangenes therof shall passe as incomparable and not to be put in number with the rest I will therfore pose proud presumers that dare determine when on whome God sendeth his vengeance with the different kind of prouidence he shewed towards two Roman Emperours of coÌ„trary dispositions to wit Caius Caligula Senec coÌ„solat ad Heb. Quid suÌ„ma vitia in summa fortuna possintâ— Hieron de obitu Nepotiani and Titus Vespasianus The one surnamed the monster of mankind whom Nature as Seneca writes may seeme to haue brought forth to no other end then that in him as in a glasse it might appeare vnto what extremity of wickednes man may arriue when the basest disposition vnto vice and the highest condition of Prince meete togeather in the same person The other surnamed Delitiae generis humani The ioy and pleasure of mankind in whom was seene a secret neuer before nor perchance since seen in the world Nec caedes fecit nec amoribus inseruiuit comis continens adeo mores statim mutauit Sueton. in Tito c. 11. Dio Sueton in Caio Dio Sueton in Tito Philo de legat ad Caium one made better that is mild modest chast clement and courteous by being raysed vnto the height and dignity of Emperour I will not stande to rehearse the barbarous crueltyes of Caligula without any cause vsed vpon his nearest kindred and friendes nor the incredible clemencyes of Titus towards his enemyes and euen vnto them that he knew by dayly practises went about to shorten his life This I may further affirme that the first to wit Caius was an enemy of true Religion or rather a bloudy persecutour of all Religion causing himself euery where to be adored as the only God with murders and massacres of theÌ„ that would not yeeld vnto this impiety Titus on the other side a friend and fauourer of Christians who stayed the persecution that Nero had raysed against them Oh into what danger of erring do they precipitate theÌ„selues that presume they can diue into the depth of Gods secrets and will iudge of men and Religion by disasterous euents For the dayes of the Empire of the most wicked Caius were full of prosperity Sueton. in Câ—io c. 31. no misfortune of warre no famines no plagues no burning of townes no earth-quakes no falling of houses in so much as the barbarous Tyrant was grieued thereat wishing that his Empire by some memorable calamity might be made renowned vnto posterity On the other side what of the short Empire of Titus Sueton. in Tito c 8. The same was from the beginning to the end infested with dreadfull aduersityes with fires from heauen with earth-quakes so strange and hydeous as the like were neuer heard off before nor recorded in any History Dion in Tito IncendiuÌ„ noÌ„ ex terrâ— diuinuÌ„ potius quam humanum id malum fuit wherwith not only townes and cittyes but many whole countryes were layd wast and destroyed chiefly the citty of Rome with all the most excellent ornaments therof These calamityes were the cause that he pined away with sorrow to the great griefe of all good men particularly of Christians his death being also hastned with poyson giuen him by Domitian his vnnaturall Brother whose cruelty he could neuer ouercome with all kind of curtesies clemencies and tokens of more theÌ„ brotherly loue Who considering these things will not rest astonished at Gods inuestigable iudgments Who will not with the Prophet acknowledge Psal â—3 5 that he is terrible in his counsels aboue the Sonnes of men Specially seeing Infidels tooke this occasion of calamityes happening vpon this Emperour the friend of Christians Tertul. Apolog. cap. 40. otherwise so iust and benigne to calumniate their Religion as if all miseryes were sent vpon the world in regard of them which scaÌ„dalous conceyt by this accident of Titus his vnfortunate raigne tooke such roote in the hart of Pagans Aug. l. 1. de Ciuit. c. 2. as it neuer afterward went out so long as they breathed within the Roman Empire Heerin they were confirmed by the successe of the raigne of Gordian the Emperour a friend of Christian Religion if not also a worshipper of Christ secretly See the life of S. Cecily Virg. and Mart. Iulius Capitolin in Gordiano Nissen in vita Greg. Thaum Ciuitates omnes quae circuÌ„ circa Regiones Cyp. serm de mortal Orig. contra Col. l. 3. and in hart In the beginning of his Empire when he had forbidden the persecution raysed against Christians by Maximinus the Thracian his bloudy barbarous Predecessor presently happened most horrible Earth-quakes wherwith whole Cittyes with all the people dwelling therin perished and were swallowed vp aliue by the opening of the ground many of them without question being Christians of very holy life For Christians were then so multiplied as they filled all Cittyes Townes and almost Villages of the Roman Empire
nequam omne debitum dimisi tibi c. Superbia crudelitate impulsus Osiand Epitom hist fol. 30 Qui manet in charitate in Deo manet 1. Io. 4.16 Qui non diligit manet in morre 1. Io. 3.15 Valerius Max. l. 4. c. 4. Daniel 12. ◠for that was the subiect his sermon preching the Precept of charity perswading his deuout Auditours to loue their enemyes to forgiue iniuryes to roote reuenge and rancour cleane out of their hart From the eyes of one sparkled fire of anger and Martiall fury not to be quenched but with the bloud of his enemyes From the eyes of the other sprunge teares of Deuotion and Piety which by Sympathy caused waters of Contrition in the harts of his hearers which flowing out at their eyes might serue as a second Baptisme to wash their soules pure in that moment of dissolution and death Is there any man so voyd of Christianity that will not preferre this death in charity and therfore in God before that death of hatred and reuenge and therfore a death not of body only but euen of soule Oh that the Spirit of God with the gale of his aspiring Grace would driue away the cloudes of human sorrow that ouer-whelme the harts of flesh and bloud that pure Christian Fayth shining in her proper brightnes might giue sentence of the quality of this accident Then we would not soe much pitty as enuy such happy passages out of this life nor tearme them disastrous but rather if I may so speake Astruous deaths For that I may apply the wordes of a prophane Authour vnto a true subiect Non ita homines ex spirant sed Astra sedes suas repetunt These be deaths by which men fall not to the ground but STARRES returne vnto their heauenly home those starres I meane wherof Daniel sayth They that informe men vnto righteousnes shall shine as STARRES in the firmament for all eternity Certainly his body fell not so fast to the ground but his soule flew vp as fast vnto heauen like the Doue into Noe his Arke with the branch of Oliue the Word of Peace and Charity in mouth King Euander in the vntimely death of his only sonne tooke comfort to consider he dyed in a glorious enterprize of human friendship in the conducting of his exiled friends into theit promised Country of rest professing that he would euer ioy in the memory of that heroicall death Ducentem in Latium Teucros cecidisse iuuabit What greater or more glorious endeauour of Diuine Charity then to guide soules made to Gods image into the felicity of their cecestiall Country that is the blissefull vision of the face of their Creatour Seing it was Gods holy pleasure to take them out of the world whose longer liues in our iudgment would haue byn beneficiall vnto his Church though we cannot but feele their immature death yet we cannot also but ioy in this happy circumstance therof that they dyed in the exercise of the highest act of Christian Mercy that their last breath was in calling men vnto God most blessedly spent that the sweat of death they felt was no other but the sweat of burning charity towardes God and man Ducentem ad caelos animas cecidisse iuuabit Here we may with reason take into our mouth King Dauid his funerall songe in prayse of Abner As the slouthfull vse to dy thou didst not dye O Abner 2. Reg. 2.3 not groning breathing forth thy soule and spirit in bed but thundering and breathing forth Gods holy Word and spirit in pulpit Thyne handes were not bound but still mouing in charitable deedes so long as they had motion of life Thy feete were not put into fetters but free and that of them particularly the Prophet may seeme to haue spoken Isa 52.7 How beautifull are the feete of him that doth preach Peace that doth denounce the best things For what thing better then charity loue as men fall before the sonnes of iniquity so thou fallest a Martyr in the sight of God his Angels though the persecutor appeared not in the sight of men What shall I say more I will conclude with the words of our Sauiour Matth. 24.45 so proper to set forth the happines of this death as I shall not need to adde so much as a word by way of application Who is the faythfull and prudent seruant whom his Lord hath put ouer his family to giue them MEATE in tyme Non in pane sed in VERBO Blessed that seruant whom his Master coming shall finde SO DOING Verily I say vnto you he will place him ouer all his goodes Protestants that were present at this Sermon defended SOme vrge this accident as a iudgment of Gods vengeance not so much agaynst Catholikes as agaynst Protestants that hauing preachers of their owne would resort vnto this Catholike Sermon whom I will refell briefly not by way of Rhetoricall discourse but by way of Syllogisme prouing by their owne principles these fower ensuing propositions vnanswerably The first Proposition Protestants by the Law of God may heare Catholike Sermons THis is proued Because Protestants may heare the Ministers of Gods holy Worde that haue Diuine Order Diuine calling Diuine Commission to preach it For whom may they heare if they may not heare them whom God appoynts But the Priests of the Roman Church haue Diuine Order Diuine Calling Diuine Cōmission to preach Gods holy Word as now Protestants euē Luther did who sayth The Papists haue the TRVE office of Preaching In Papatu est VERVM prudicandi officiū Luth. cōt Anabapt Mason his booke of this argument acknowledge with full consent yea they pretend and contend to haue a Diuine Order Calling and Commission to preach and administer Sacramēts by the Tradition of our Church from handes of Catholike Bishops originally from the Pope Therfore Protestants by the law of God may heare the Sermons of Catholike Priests at the least with the same prouiso wherwith they heare their own to approue what they find to agree with Scripture and reproue what they find preached agaynst it The second Proposition Protestants should rather heare Catholike Sermons then Puritan THis is proued Because wisedome teacheth that in doubtfull Questions we choose the surest side specially in affayres that concerne the euerlasting saluation of our soules Wherfore in this question whether Catholik or Puritā Preachers are to be heard we must rather choose the certainest part But that Catholike Priests are the Ministers of God endued with Diuine Order and authority to preach his Word and consequently the Men who by Diuine Ordination are to be heard is most sure and certayne because all agree therin in so much as Protestāts as I sayd chaleng their Orders from the Roman that if the Roman ordination be not currant M. Bridges defence of the Gouern pag. 1276. much lesse can theirs be currant as sayth the Protestant Bishop of Oxford If the Roman Priests be not Ministers then
this Holy Hoste in which the Emperour was in person with other great Princes of Europe And the Saint wrought many miracles as the healing of diuers that had byn borne blind and lame to shew it was Gods will they should goe They went they were dispersed they were killed they dyed of Famine very few returned backe into their countryes A most sad accideÌ„t and so dreadfull as it filled all Europe with lamentations and teares Why was this done Gods holy purpose heerin was that men by that leauing their friends and country by the pious labour of the iourney Vide ep Bern. 333. by that offering their liues vnto danger for Christian Religion being cleansed and hauing satisfied for their sinnes might in the seruour of their pennance happily dy be eternally saued Some holy meÌ„ that liued in that Age Ioâ—annes Abbas Casaemarij had reuelations wherin whilest the whole Christian world was drowned in sorrow for the dishonour and death of their friendes they saw the Angels exult in heauen and heard them reioyce singe because many of their seates made voyd by the fall of their fellowes were filled agayne with the saued soules of them that dyed in that voyage O how contrary vnto the iudgments of flesh bloud are the courses of God! who to worke the saluation of soules little regards yea laughes at the temporall disgrace ouerthrow and slaughter of a thousand of armyes and no wonder seing in this case he spared not the bloud of his only Sonne What can Christian Piety thinke better of Gods infinite goodnes but that he ordayned this meeting for the saluation and entrance into heauen of many soules at once seing they were afore hand so Religiously prepared for death For that day the most of them were purified by the Sacrament of the Church and all of them afterward sanctified by the preaching of Gods holy Word and the doctrine of Charity which hydeth the multitude of sinnes Prouerb 10.12 1. Pet. 4.8 Isa 6.3 Why then may we not thinke that as their bodyes by the weight of nature fell to the ground so their soules with the Seraphicall winges of Charity which the Sermon gaue them tooke their flight togeather at the same tyme into the bosome of God Illuminatos oculos cordis Eph. 1.18 They that haue the eyes of their Fayth more quicke then their sight of flesh and bloud will easily belieue there was not greater weeping amongst their friendes on earth for their bodyes then was reioycing among the Angels in Heauen for their soules 〈◊〉 the saying of S. Hierome be true and what more true being taken from the mouth of Verity it selfe Hier. ep ad Heliod Luc. 12.37 Beatiserâ—â— quos cum venerit Dominus inuenerit vigilaÌ„tes Happy the â—an whom the LAST HOVRE findes imployed in the Diuine â—eruice Then were these men most happy whom the LAST HOVRE yea moment of life found in the … blest act of the Diuine seruice hearing his holy Word â—ith great content and deuotion of soule As for Protestants that were present it is likely there were few such in hart yet it there were any we may … pe yea we need not doubt of Gods mercy towardes … hem in that moment He endued their harts with the … ght of true Fayth with sorrow for their sinnes with … uall or at least virtuall desire of the Sacraments of the Church and so they found by happy experience the … th of that Diuine promise Isa 45. 1â— Ezec. 18.21 1. Pet. 3. Matth. 24.37 Hier. in qq Hebr. Bellar. l. 4 de Christ c. 11. In whatsoeuer houre the sinner … ene vnto me I will not remember any of his sinnes If many that â—â—â— been incredulous in the dayes of Noe feasting and banquetting i … derision of the Deluge he threatned to come vpon them … en they saw themselues inclosed with inundations of water cryed vnto God and God as soone as they cryed 〈◊〉 pardon sent vpon them the Spirit of his grace heard 〈◊〉 grones and sighs of their pennance notwithstanding 〈◊〉 hydeous roaring of waues may we not with more … son hope of the conuersion of these that came spontaâ—â—ously to this Sermon They were taken not feasting … d banquetting but in an exercise of piety not as they … e deriding but as they were diligent in hearing Gods … y Word and as they were by the power therof mol … ied togeather with others to sorrow for their sinnes Could the cracke of the chaÌ„ber in the fall so drown their grones as they passed not into the eare of Gods mercy Could the dust rubbish so hide their lifting vp of harts and handes for pardon as not to be perceaued by the eye of his goodnes Can we thinke that God that loueth soules brought these men desirous of sauing truth to a Sermon where the same was preached Sap. 11.17 to dye in the very preaching therof but that they should be saued He prouided them a Preacher to sound the word of Saluation to their care shall we thinke his spirit was waÌ„ting to print the same in their hart A Sparow though not worth a farthing falles not to the ground without the heauenly Father Matth. 10.27 and could men desirous of sauing truth for whome Christ dyed fall with the sound therof in their eare without the Heauenly Father working in their soules No no Surely it was for their eternall happines that he conducted them where they should be so Religlously occupyed so deuoutly disposed Eue. 13.30 so penitently affected in that moment on which eternity dependes Comming with the last they were rewarded with the first and they haue proued with the holy Prophet Psal 83.11 that it is a better choyce Abiectus esse in domo Domini quà m habitare in tabernaculis peccatorum To be abiected or cast downe to the ground in the house of God theÌ„ to liue in the Tabernacle of sinners Now to returne vnto the Catholikes slayne some may obiect that they dyed suddainly wheÌ„ they did not think I answere that suddaynes of death is a fauour in them that are prepared as these were In this their death coÌ„curred what is good and to be wished in each kind eyther of suddaine or expected death The good of suddaynes is to be quit of the terrour of expectation of death which many times is more terrible then death it selfe â— longè grauior expectata quà m illata mors Hier. in vita Malchi They that expect death as imminent their good is to be prepared by harty coÌ„trition of sinnes agaynst it the want wherof is the only thing feared in them that are suddainly taken away Now behold the happines of these men they wanted the terrour of the expectation of death but not the piety of preparation for death through the suddaines of the accident wherby they dyed the weakenes of Nature had scarse any time to feele the terrour of death through the
sanctity of the action wherin they dyed the power of grace had the fittest commodity to make them feele contrition of their sinnes The expectation of death was layd before their eyes not by the violence of sicknes but by the verity of Gods Word which caused in theÌ„ not sadnes 2. Cor. 7.10 according to the world but sadnes according to God which as the Apostle sayth worketh pennance with assured saluation Hence their purposes to leaue sinne were as harty as in the sad expectation of present death and their purposes to doe good workes as absolute as in the prudent expectation of long life They then resolued to liue better then the custome of other men Rapti suÌ„t ne malitia mutaret mentem Sap. 4. 11. when they thought as they might they should liue aswell as other men but they were straight taken away and not put to the triall wherein they might haue fayled aswell as other men In them that looke to dye griefe for sinne is stronge but commonly stayned with some seruility of feare in them that thinke to liue though griefe for sinne may be pure yet commonly it is so weake as it doth not conquer the ensuing temptations of sinne The death of these was hidden and sudden hidden from their eyes of flesh that feare might not stayne the purity of their pennance sudden comming in the very instant that tyme might not weaken the constancy of their purposes But some agayne will say their death was dreadfull their bodyes bruyzed their faces disfigured they were not knowne of their friendes Let S. Augustine answere l. 1. de ciu c. 6. Seing sayth he Christians belieue the death of Lazarus among doggs licking his sores more happy then the death of Diues in purple and fine linnen they that lead holy liues Quid illis horrenda genera mortium obfueruÌ„t qui bene vixerunt 1. Reg. 6. v. 24. 2. Reg. 6.6 7. what are they worse in that they dyed terrible deaths God will haue his children feare any the least sinne more then any the dreadfullest death and therfore sometymes he doth punish small offences with horrible slaughters The Bethsamites in the midst of their pious ioy for the returne of the Arke were slayne by fifty thousands only for a curious looke Oza that put his hand to saue the Arke from falling was strucken dead because he did it in lesse reuerent manner In the Bookes of Kings is recorded the death of an holy Prophet presently vpon his working a most strange miracle â— Reg. 13. 24. Greg. l. 3. ep 10 â— killed by a Lion for a sinne of meere ignorance S. Gregory writes of many holy Monkes and Religious Officers that digged out of deuotion for the greater ornameÌ„t of the place about the tombe of S. Laurence because though by chaÌ„ce and agaynst their will they opened his Shrine and saw his body fell presently sicke and dyed all within ten dayes after Viâ—ae Patr. Herebert 〈…〉 libell 〈…〉 In vitis Patrum we read of a godly man going â—o visit an Ermite his friend As he passed in the streete he saw the body of a great rich maÌ„ famous for wickednes that had dyed a still death in bed carryed with great honour vnto his Sepulture When he came to the wildernes he found the Ermite that had lead an holy and austere life deuoured of wild beasts Astonished therat with many teares he besought of God he might know the reason of this proceeding and God thought good for our instruction in like euents to reueale him the mystery by his Angel The richman amongst many enormous crimes had done some smaller good deedes These were rewarded with peaceble death honourable exequyes whilest his soule for the other burned in fire inextinguishable The Eâ—mite with his many dayly excellent workes had mingled some lesser offences which were expiated by that horrible death that his soule might goe preseÌ„tly to enioy his Crowne Can the world discerne any difference of vnhappines betwixt the death of our King Edmund the Martyr and the death of our King Richard the Tyrant They both were defeated in field both killed and couered with an heape of slaughter the dead bodyes of them both came into the power of their enemyes to be scorned Compare the death of King Lewis the Saynt with the death of King Antiochus the wicked no dissimilitude appeares in outward shew Both dyed in a strange country both after a shamefull repulse both stroken with a lothsome pestilent vlcer And yet these deaths such paralells in the aye of flesh and bloud did differ no lesse then Heauen Hell in the sight of God and his Angels Man iudgeth accoâ—ding to the face God looketh into the hart 1. Reg. 10. 7. It is fedity of soule not deformity of body that makes God say vnto some I know you not It little importes the dead that their bodyes be knowne of their friends who when they know them will but lay them vnder earth to be the food of wormes Matt. 25 1â— That which importes theÌ„ is that their soules be knowne of the Angels that going out of their bodyes Luc. 10. â— 22. they may be carâ—â—â—d by them into the bosome of Abraham and into the euerlasting â—â—â—â—rnacles And yet I dare say their bodyes were not so disfiguâ—â—d as they may compare in deformity with the body of their crucified Lord and Sauiour Isa 53.4 of whome the Prophet sayth We saw him and there was neyther shape nor figure in him so we know him not but made esteeme of him as of a leaper and as of a man strocken of God It is a part of their honour they were so like to their Master and the day shall come when the disfigured bodyes of their humility Phil. 5. â—â— shall be configured vnto the body of his clarity then be so much the more beautifull by how much now they seemed horrible Reasons for the Profit of Catholikes and the Conclusion TO Conclude with whome I began You the worthy Children of the Church God hath permitted this Accident to be vnto you a Warning a Triall an Occasion a Presage a Warning of Death a Triall of Charity an Occasion of more Pennance a Presage of Comfort The Deaths of these our Friends are Documents how incertayne life is and Warnings to be at all tymes and in euery place prouided for death God shewed in his Saynts what may happen vnto sinners he stroake their bodyes with suddayne and short oppressioÌ„ of death to strike into our soules longe and perpetuall meditation of death The Chambers of impurity haue no priuiledge agaynst death more then the Chapells of sanctity nor haue riotous feasters in a Tauerne a surer warrant of life then Religious hearers of a Sermon Death which came vpon these as they were in the act of abhorring may likewise set vpon them as they are in the act of committing sinne Behold here Heb. 11.1 as I may say with
what cause of sorow you haue which he had not in greater measure what solace had Iob that you want That his Children so suddainly slayne were of holy life Lib. 1. in Iob. The same you may presume of these your Friendes and take the wordes of Origen as agreeing equally vnto them both They were simple and sincere of hart chast and pure in soule of vnspotted conscience beloued of God deare to his Angels for their innocency full of brotherly charity one towards another not any did or could speake of them an euill word That they had byn sanctified not long before by the sacrifices then in vse These also on the very same day were expiated by the Christian Sacraments by a sacrifice of a farre greater force yea of infinite price De sanctitate secuÌ„ loquentes cum sororibus c. That they died holily in an action of brotherly charity and loue In a farre more holy action and exercise of piety were these taken away that what Origen sayth of theÌ„ is much more certayne of these They were taken as they were discoursing of Piety and Sanctity among themselues honouring God in their hartes praysing him as their Creatour adoring him as their Benefactour giuing him thankes as vnto their Foster-father Filij sancti sanctissimi Patris As little Innocents sit and stand play and sport togeather without any malice or vncleanes in minde so were these holy Children of their most holy Father when the blow came vpon them On the other side what cause haue you of afflictioÌ„ that did not presse more heauily vpon the fatherly hart of holy Iob You haue lost them that were deare vnto you but not more deare then was vnto him his whole family of children A stroake sayth Origen whereof none can coÌ„prehend the dolefulnes but such as know by experieÌ„ce what is the loue of a Father though the sole imaginatioÌ„ therof may moue any mans hart vnto teares of compassion He lost his Sonnes whom he had nourished to whom he had giuen best education Orig. l. 1. in Iob. that now were come to ripe yeares His Sons whom he had brought vp in piety seasoned with the feare and worshippe of God settled in charity and mutuall loue made in all kind of sanctity like to himself His Sonnes whose yssue he did desire to see whose posterity he did so earnestly expect from whom in his old age he did hope for comfort These Sonnes and not they only but also his Daughters so chast so pure so religious immaculate without blemish on whose heades on the day of their mariage he did intend to set garlands of ioy All these perished togeather at once and togeather with them spes quanta nepotum all his ioyfull hopes of glorious ofspring The death of your Friendes was dreadfull horrible wherof the very remembrance is execrable how much more the sight Not more rufull terrible then the death of the holy Children of this blessed Patriarke which Origen describes in these wordes Orig. vbi supra They dyed not an ordinary but a most lamentable death they were most miserably slayne Their bodyes were torne in peeces with stones bruysed with the weight of beames couered and defiled with dust lime and rubbish Mamocks of their torne flesh togeather with peeces of their broken bones their braynes their bowells their bloud the brothers with their sisters the sisters with their brothers lay mingled with clay morter and stone in one inseparable masse For the Diuell left nothing of them entyre not their sculls not their bowels not their stomackes not their armes not their handes not their leggs not their feete in summe not any part of their body A rufull spectacle a wofull sight yea rather no spectacle no fight at all For nothing was to be seen nothing that could be known flesh and bones stones and timber clay and morter bloud and wine lay so confusedly togeather in one heape Neyther the maisters from the seruants nor the brothers from the sisters nor his children among themselues were discernable the one from the other eyther by their faces or by their persons Thus dyed the holy innocent Children of Iob whose death yet was deare and precious in Gods sight that we might not iudge of the sanctity of mens liues by the hydeous â—hew of their deaths But Iob his Religion you will say was not reproached in regard of this accident Yes and perchance much more then the Catholike now is in respect of this late Euent For I am perswaded that all moderate Protestants behold this mischance with the eye of pitty as a misery indifferently incident vnto mankind not with eyes of disdayne as an argument of iust contempt of the ReligioÌ„ of them that stood obnoxious therunto Neyther do I thinke that they vnto whome indiscreet auersion from euery thing of our Church hath giuen the name of Pure do presse this fall as a iust reason to fall from our Religion except they be so voyd of discretion and vnwise as to make the truth of GODS Word which will not fayle though heauen earth passe away to depend on the staÌ„ding or falling of an house If some whom the temporalities they haue gotten by the banishment of our ReligioÌ„ engage and late vayne and idle feares of loosing what they haue gotten enrage against the Roman Church if these men I say by their declamations in pulpit incense the rude vulgar multitude to take this occasion to insult vpon our Religion Beato Iob insultabaÌ„t Reges Tob. 2.15 they do no more vnto vs then was also done vnto the most holy Iob in his distresse by the Ministers of Satan For who knowes not how he was assaulted and iusulted vpon by them that vpon the newes of his mishapp came to comfort him Orig. l. 1. in Iob. but the Diuell changed their hartes into bitternes agaynst him filled their mouths with blasphemyes and iniurious wordes So that in place of consolatioÌ„ they fell to reproach his Religion vrging the sayd mischance to condemne his sincerity of diuine seruice true practise of piety Wherfore as you are the consorts of holy Iob in your triall so be like vnto him in your trust and confidence in God and from his goodnes expect in deuout silence the like reward of your constancy not only a crowne of patience in the next world but also increase of temporall comfort in the present CHAP. II. Comfort by the Examples of former Christian tymes THe comfort of holy Scripture is seconded by the practise of Gods Prouidence in the Christian Church QuaecuÌ„que sunt carnis incoÌ„moda SaÌ„ctis sunt cum ceteris sine exceptione communia Cyp. ser de mortal which hath been still subiect vnto the dreadfull mischances of mortality no lesse then other men wherby both Pagans and Heretikes haue byn moued to insult vpon the Catholike Christians as I shall demonstrate by diuers Examples of the first six hundred yeares during which tyme most
els but a mangled multitude of deformed corses Diuers within their owne houses were with ruines round about inclosed and imprisoned aliue and sound to be consumed with anguish and hunger amongst whome Aristenaetus gouernour of the towne breathed out his soule by the tormeÌ„t of a long death Some in their falling had their heades bruyzed broken one agaynst another some their leggs some their thighs some their armes some their very shoulders strokeÌ„ off froÌ„ their bodies who lay groning betwixt life and death with most pittifull cryes and obsecrations imploring the ayde of them that were in the same misery A great part of that infortunate Citty alwell of Churches as of houses and men might notwithstanding this calamity haue remayned had not terrible globes of flame issued out of houses which wandering euery where about the Citty for fifty dayes and fifty nights consumed into ashes whatsoeuer was obnoxious vnto fire Thus Ammianus This dreadfull destruction of Nicomedia was censured as a vengeance of God agaynst Christian and Catholike ReligioÌ„ because it happened at the same tyme wheÌ„ agaynst the errour of Photinus and Aetius a Councell of Bishops was thyther summoned to be held Sozom. â— 4. c. 15. The Bishops were in their way yea some though few already arriued who perished with the rest Amongst others that most holy man Vrsacius Episcopus Nicomediae alij ex Bosphoro Sozom. ibid. that had byn a glorious Confessour of Christ in the persecution of Licinius who forsaking the court of the Emperour hauing giuen away all to the poore there lead an heauenly forme of Monasticall life in continuall fasting and prayer renowned also for miracles as casting out of Diuels and by a word only killing a Dragon that infested the citty who likewyse had foretold this calamity wishing the cittizens particularly the Priests by pennance and prayer to seeke to preuent the same This great Saint I say put into the Catholike Martyrologe was found dead in his cell Martyrol Roman 16. Aug. or little cottage he had built to himself lying prostrate on his face as he did vse in his prayers eyther stifled with the smoake of the fire or els dying in his prayer out of griefe For he had desired of God that he might not liue after the destruction of that citty wherin he had byn made a Christian afterward professed the state of Euangelicall perfection The death of this holy man of many others was taken of Infidels as diuine vengeance vpon ChristiaÌ„ Religion so that full of ioy they went triuÌ„phing vnto the Emperour and mingling falshood with truth sayd That the whole multitude of Christian Bishops and Priests men women and children had byn slayne by the veÌ„geance of their Gods within their very Churches whither they were fled for security and succour Mâ—gno EpiscoporuÌ„ qui sacrae doctrinae fauebant dolore yea that the famous Temple built vnto Christ by Constantine his Father was vtterly from the very foundation razed as indeed it was to the great grief of the orthodoxe Bishops especially in regard of the scandall that Heretikes and Infidels tooke therat Wherby the vanity and head-long blindnes of our Aduersaries may appeare who insult vpoÌ„ Catholiks in regard of a vulgar euent a very trifle in coÌ„parison of this But something they must haue that may giue them occasion to rayle at our Religion which by reason they cannot impugne no nor dare looke vpon it truly related they know the same to be so warrantable Not altogeather so terrible yet in respect of the circumstance of the tyme more scandalous was the wonderfull destruction of the citty of Nicea where the first Christian generall Councell was celebrated agaynst the AriaÌ„s and the doctrine of Homousion or CoÌ„substantiality defined When Valence the Arian Emperour began to persecute the Nicen Fayth some few yeares after his being come to the Empire iust at the same tyme the Citty of Nicea was ouerthrown from the very fouÌ„dations by an earth-quake Saint Gregory Nazianzen tearmeth this earth-quake the greatest that had happened within the memory of man whereby his holy Brother Caesarius then the Emperours Receauer was in danger and miraculously escaped For being couered within the rubbish of the ruines the same were a defence vnto him agaynst further mischiefe till he was thence taken out a little hurt and thereupon resolued to giue ouer the world Heere the Arians did triumph agaynst the Catholiks of that tyme euen as some hoat Puritans doe now agaynst vs as if God togeather with the Emperour heauen togeather with earth had coÌ„spired agaynst the Nicene doctrine of Christs being Coeternall and Consubstantiall vnto God his Father These our Antagonists that are so iolly and iocund so puffed vp with pride at the fall of a rotten chamber vpon some few at a Catholike sermoÌ„ where no doctrine was then preached which they dare say was contrary vnto theirs how insolent and intollerable would they be if the Emperour should turne to be of their Sect and persecute the Catholike Fayth and that iust in that coniunction the Citty of Trent with the Church and place where the Councell did meete and made their Decrees should by some earth-quake or lightening from heaueÌ„ be destroyed And yet should they haue no greater argument agaynst the Tridentine then the Arians had agaynst the Nicene definition of Fayth Whence one may gather how vayne empty and destitute of solide causes of ioy their hart and their Religion is that do so much triumph at a trifle wherby they make not their strength of Fayth but their weaknes of iudgment and want of charity manifest vnto the world Other Examples strange and wonderfull HOw much did Infidels reioyce when the Christians of Moguntia were slayne by the Barbarians Ammianâ— l. 20. not as Christians in hatred of their Religion for then they had byn happy martyrs but as subiects of the Roman Empire and out of their auersion from the same which S. Hierome deplores saying Hier. ep 11. ad Aregut Moguntiacum in former tymes a famous and glorious Citty is now destroyed and many thousands murdered within the very Church As also in the death of Iouian Emperour that vnder Iulian had suffered persecution and presently vpon the death of Iulian was by the coÌ„sent of the army chosen Emperour Ammian l. 25. When Christians were fullest of ioy glorying that the Empire was giuen him of God in reward of his constancy in ChristiaÌ„ Religion Iouianus gustatis tantùm Imperialibus bonis prunarum foetore suffocatus est Hier. ep ad Heliodo de morte Nepot Socrates l. 7. c. 38. in the mid'st of their acclamatioÌ„s triumphs he was taken away by suddane death choaked with the smoake of coles in the 7. moneth of his Empire How did the Nouatians exult agaynst the Catholiks when in a most strange and horrible conflagration of the Citty of Constantinople all the chiefe monumeÌ„ts of the citty Catholike Churches being wasted with fire
only the Nouatian Church or meeting place for prayer escaped the houses roūd about being al in a flame Which they did attribute vnto the prayers of their Bishop who was then praying in their Church and in memory of that supposed miracle did early keep a solemne feast and yet after their triumps insultatiōs agaynst Catholike their sect vanished away within short time after there was scarse any memory therof which wil be also the end of these torrēts of errour that novv swell with waters and keep a noyse in the world How great was the ioy of the Pagans when at the time of the banishment of S. Chrysostome the Church of Constantinople being cōsumed with casuall or with procured or as other rather thinke miraculous fire togeather with the Emperours pallace house of the Senate all Christian monuments were wasted and consumed and in particular the Statua's of Constantine and Theodosius the great the two Christian Emperours whom Idolatry did most detest yet two images or Idols the one of Iupiter and the other of Minerua were found in the confused masse of ashes vntoucht Infidels did interprete this prodigy that the Gods had not forsaken the Empire but would agayne returne Which foolish conceyte of cōfort was but a lightening before death seing presently the Gothes preuayling togeather with their entrance Paganisme was wholly vtterly extinct not any practise therof being left in the Empire I will conclude with one more Example of the diuine prouidence in afflicting his seruants the Orthodoxe Christians in such sort that in the iudgment of men and Heresy he might seeme to mislike their Religiō The citty of Antioch being by situation of the place subiect to earth-quakes was free and quiet from such mischances in the gouernment of three Eutychian Emperours Zeno Basiliscus and Anastasius for the space of threescore and seauen yeares Heresy reioycing and florishing therein Euagrius l. 4. c. 5. Iustine the most Catholike Prince succeeding them in the Empire the Catholiks of Antioch were exceedingly cōforted to see their long persecution now at end For Seuerus the Eutichian and head of the Acephali being expeld a Catholike Patriarke was ordayned in his place chosen by the Pope and the Emperour Ammian l. 3. c. 6. with exact care to giue the afflicted Antiochians the best they could find The Catholiks being full of content in respect of this change and peace after so long molestations God in his secret iudgments would alay their wine with water their ioyes with sorow For their Bishop being come behold a suddan earth-quake surpriseth the citty at dinner tyme as they were at meate And a whirle-wind rysing vnfortunatly at that very instant blew the fire and flame of the kitchins then burning according to the tyme of the day vpon the buildings that were shaken by the earth-quake So the commiserable citty set vpon by a double mischiefe and enemy togeather at once was destroyed with the most of her inhabitants amongst them was her Catholike and holy Bishop Euphrasius who his head being first stroken off by the fall of a pillar was buried in a sepulcher of fire to the excessiue ioy of the Eutychians and Seuerus their ring-leader but to the great lamentation of Catholiks specially of the good Emperour Paulus Diaconus in Miscell l. 15. For vpon newes heerof he put off his Diademe and purple vested himselfe in sacke-cloth sate solitary many weekes togeather weeping in silence not admitting of any mirth though the dayes were solemne and festiuall vpō which his custome was to goe with great pompe and splendour vnto the Church Where also we may note that the ioy the Eutychians tooke in this mischance was but the dancing of death seeing presently heereupon they were so rooted out that in the hystories of the next succeeding Age there is no memory of them As Catholiks haue cause of comfort in these Examples to see things succeed with them as they did with the orthodoxe Christians and Saints of God in former ages so likewise our Censurers that making themselues of Gods Priuy Counsell giue out their Writs agaynst vs may tremble to see themselues hardened in malice as former Heretiks were and to feele the same lightenings of death as they did And for conclusion of this Chapter I will agayne repeate the wordes of the Holy Ghost wherwith I beganne in which Catholiks may receaue comfort our insulting Aduersaries may heare their doome from Gods owne mouth This is the worst of all vnder the sunne that the same things happen alike vnto all to the good and to the impious Hence the hartes of the sonnes of men are filled with malice and contempt in their lyfe-time and afterward they shal be carryed into Hell CHAP. III. Comfort by comparison with our Aduersaryes and Gods cleere Iudgments agaynst them BEfore I beginne to discourse of this Argument I must heere meete with an Obiection which I know will be made agaynst what hath byn sayd to wit If mischances happen alyke to the good and to the bad to the Christian and to the Infidell to the Catholike and to the Heretike Why doth Cardinall Bellarmine make Temporall felicity a Marke De Eccles l. 2. c. 20. wherby to discerne the true Christian Church I answere that without all doubt there is a kind of Temporall felicity proper vnto the true Church according to the prediction of the Prophets that haue spoken so much of the Tēporall glory and happines therof This felicity though the same be mingled with many priuate mischances is apparant and may be discerned from the felicity of prophane worldlings by three notes by the Authour by the End by the Effect therof The Authour of this felicity is God not working according to the ordinary course of things but by miracle sending the same downe from heauen And therfore it is tearmed by Bellarmine Diuinitùs data Lib. 5 de ciuit c. 46. especially giuen of God and by S. Augustine A Deo euidentissima largitate concessa comming apparently from the speciall bounty of God This felicity God vseth to grant when the same is necessary for the defence of true Religion agaynst Infidelity and Heresy and it appeared manifestly in the victories obtayned by Constantine the Great by Theodosius the great by Honorius his Sonne by Charles also the great Neyther hath the like speciall prouidence and supernaturall assistance been wanting or lesse apparant in sundry battayles fought in this age betwixt Catholiks and Heretikes For though God permit strange accidents sometymes which tend to particular triall of his seruants yet misfortunes and miraculous ouerthrowes dismall vnfortunate deaths fall more frequently vpō his enemies as might be proued by examples ten for one if need so required Lib. 5. de ciuit c. 18. God sayth S. Augustine that men might not thinke that the prosperity of this life were not to be gotten but by seruing the Diuell adorned the two most Christian Emperours Constantine and Theodosius with all
their Cronicler to saue the credit of their Ghospell make no mention therof Neyther is it without mystery that this fire brake forth from vnder the foote of the Crosse as comming agaynst the enemyes of the signe of the Crosse and to shew Gods anger agaynst them for their contempt of that most holy instrument of our redemption What will they say vnto another Prodigy also set downe in their Annals that vpon the tyme their Religion was begotten by Q Elizabeth and christened in England Iust at the same tyme so many monstruous births happened within two or three moneths as the like is not noted in any of our antiquityes This yeare sayth the sayd M. Stow were many monstruous births In march a mare brought forth a foale with one body and two heades and as it were a long tayle growing betweene the two heades also a Sow farrowed a pig with foure leggs like to the armes of a man-child with handes and fingers c. In April a Sow farrowed a pig with two bodyes eight feete and but one head Many calues and lambes were monstruous some with collars of skins growing about their neckes like to the dubble ruffes of shirts and neckercheffs then vsed On the twentith of May a man-child was borne at Chichester in Sussex the head armes and legges wherof were like an anatomy the breast and belly monstrous bigge from the nauill as it were a longe stringe was hanging about the necke a great collar of flesh and skinne like to the ruffe of a shirt comming vp aboue the eares playting and folding Thus he Was it by chance thinke you that so many monstruous and vgly Births happened thus on a heap togeather with the birth of your Ghospell or rather were they not sent by Gods prouidence to lay before eueÌ„ your carnall eyes the fedity and deformity of your change from the fayth of all your Christian Auncestors I will heere conclude without passing into forrayne countryes only I will intreate our Aduersaries to looke out of England no further then they may almost from thence reach with their corporall sight to wit vnto the Hill on the Sea-shoare neere vnto Deepe There the ruines of one of their Temples are yet to be seen which fell vpon their reformed Puritan Auditory at the tyme of the Preach wherwith foure hundred with the Minister were oppressed The cause of this ouerthrow was not vulgar and ordinary as in our case but a strange and terrible whirle-winde raysed and sent by Gods speciall prouidence to punish them The remembrance of this whirlwind and wofull accident will happily take from them their insulting spirit or at least so blow away their vayne and friuolous clamors that this accident was Gods vengeance vpon vs for our ReligioÌ„ as they will not be heard with esteeme by any man of iudgment The death of the Catholike Preacher of this Sermon compared with the death of Caluin and Zuinglius BVt they thinke we shall not find amongst their Ministers any that was stroken with so suddayne and disastrous a death as the Iesuite Preacher of this SermoÌ„ was This shews how ignoraÌ„t they are of their owne Church and how like the Lamiae of whome Plutarch writes that being at home they pull their eyes out of their head Luther tom 7. WitteÌ„b fol. 230. a. post medium Conradus Schlusselburg in Theolog. Caluin l. 2. fol. 72. and locke them vp in coffers and they only vse them when they are disposed to goe abroad to visit their Neighbours Doth not Luther write that their great Grand-sire Oecolampadius was killed in his bedde shaken with horrible frights the Diuell appearing to him and this in punishment of his errour agaynst the Sacrament Doth not a famous Protestant Super-intendent giue this testimony of the death of the Puritans Dad Iohn Caluin God sayth he in the rod of his fury punished Caluin before the dreadfull houre of his vnhappy death with his mighty hand For being in despayre and calling vpon the Diuell he gaue vp his wicked soule swearing cursing blaspheming He dyed on the disease of lice and wormes increasing in a most loath-some vlcer about his priuy partes so as none present could endure the stench These be the wordes of that Protestant But because this happend within the walls of Geneua and in Caluins priuy Chamber we cannot haue such proofe therof but Puritans will outface both Protestants and vs. Wherfore we will bringe them out of the walls of Geneua into the open field out of Caluins closet into the sight of heauen and earth Iuell defence of the Apology pag. 6â—6 Osiander in Epitom hist Eccl. Cent. 16. pag. 203. Gualt Apol. fol. 30. a. prope finem obijt in bello Zuinglius Armatus obijt vnto a spectacle wherof two whole armyes were witnesses Behold Hulderick Zuinglius whom they honour as a Prophet ioyned in commission with Luther to preach the eternall Ghospell as an excellent man sent of God to giue light vnto the whole world in the midst of darknes wheÌ„ truth was vnknowne and vnheard off This Minister or rather Patriarke of the Ministry as themselues confesse hauing sought by famine to oppresse fiue Catholicke townes and force them by want of victuals to consent vnto his doctrine when they stood in their defence came armed into the field where hauing first embrued his sword in much Christian bloud himselfe togeather with fiue other Militant Ministers was slayne in the battayle I desire the Christian to compare togeather these two deaths the one of Robert Drury that dyed preaching by this last accident The other of the Reformitan Zuinglius which I haue set downe out of their owne recordes This done then in the sight of that God that hateth iniquity and loueth charity let him define which of the two deaths be iudgeth most Christian and happy or with which of the two Preachers he would rather wish his soule Lutherani apud GualteruÌ„ in Apol. fol. 8. a initio Gladium à Christo prohibituÌ„ corripuit Gladius Spiritus quod est verbum Dei Eph. 4.26 Zuinglius the Patriarke of Puritans Ministers dyed as he was pransing on his warlike palfrey with his pistoll at his side and launce in his hande This Father of the Society of Iesus sitting in a chayre the seate and ensigne of Apostolicall authority to preach clothed with such Priestly ornaments as the Church doth prescribe for the more decent performance of that office The one with a sworde in his hand stretching forth his arme to spill ChristiaÌ„ bloud the other with the sword of Gods holy truth in his mouth the enemy only of sinne and vice spreading abroad his armes to gather into the bosome of God and his Church soules redeemed with Christ his most precious bloud The one exhorting both by word and example his armed auditory Noui exquisitissimi facinoris fax auctor Osiand vbi supra to reuenge to murder to massacre The other * His text was serue
their charity religious exaÌ„ples of sanctity to the ioy of heauen and wonder of earth These cogitations of truth and the like are both easy and obuious to be had of any that will not shut their eyes agaynst them SperaÌ„dorum substantia Heb. 11.1 Granum frumenti cadens in teâ—ram mortuum Io. 22.24 most efficacious to moue harts not altogeather deuoyd of humanity How can Christians be so barbarous as to hate that Church by which they were first changed from Barbarisme vnto Christianity Or persecute and seeke to ouerthrow that Religion that is the only ground and pillar of hope that any of their Christian ancestors were saued We may therfore thinke that God would haue these Catholiks as so many graynes of wheate to the end that they might beare fruite in abundance fal togeather in terram bonam optimam vpon the ground of the good Luc. 8.15 yea of the best natures that are no nation being if affection do not deceaue me more then English merciful by kind And so we cannot but hope the Catholike Religion so full of inestimable worth and of motiues to winne loue her doctrine being thus sowed in harts mollified by iust compassion will bring forth a stock if not of feruent profession therof yet at least of more clement disposition towardes them that professe it Reasons for Puritans and the Inhumanity of some of them VVIll Puritans haue a reason of Gods permittaÌ„ce on their behalfe God permitted it to the end that by occasion therof that might happen wherby they may see the rudenes of their Pretented Holy Discipline behold the inhumanity their Heresy putteth into peoples harts Hooker l. 4. Ecc. Polit. and so endeauour some remedy therof Least as a learned Protestant warnes them vnder pretence of rooting out Popery they bring extreme Barbarity into the Church For there did not want a multitude Tuleruut lapides Iudaei Io. 8.58 10.31 that not only with contumelious speech flowing from bitternes abunding in their hart not only with durt the image of their contaminate soule but euen with stones the instrumeÌ„ts of Iewish cruelty set vpon the poore creatures hurt by that fall presently as they were taken vp from vnder the ruines and rubbish that some Gentlewomen were forced to leaue their coach to saue themselues in a house of their Friendes This was not the fact of EnglishmeÌ„ they are of more noble nature Nor of English ProtestaÌ„ts Heresy hath not made them so wild but of Puritans not of the whole Lande See their Pamphet tearmed Somthing nor of all London let vs excuse as many as we may but of one particle of London which Puritans boast to be their speciall Nest How behofefull it is that this people so pure in name rude in manners were taught the first rudiments of Christianity Whitak de Ecc. cont 2. q. 5. pag. 301. Si quis actum fidei habeat ei peccata non nocere id omnes dicimus Lut. tom 1. ep latin fol. 334. Etiamsi millies in die c. 1. Ioan. 3. Trabem in oculo tuo habes Luc. 6.42 Est peccarum ad mortem 1. Io. 5.15 that the doctrine of good workes and Christian Charity were more frequently preached vnto them that the fancy of sole Fayth were silenced to wit that if they once belieue they neuer cease to be the children of God and gracious in his sight though they commit murder an hundred times a day I confesse that no circumstance of this accident doth so grieue me to the hart as this not for any hurt they did therin vnto vs for the hurt was only to themselues They shewed themselues more dead in conscience for want of charity then the other were dead in body for want of life the Beames that did oppresse and buize the bones of Catholikes were not so heauy nor so deadly as were the beames of passion and hatred in the eye of these miscreants bruyzing and wounding their soule with the sinne vnto death it being better as the holy * S. Wenceslaus King of Bohemia said to dye an Abel then to liue a Cayn The cause of my griefe is that any in our Country should be found so voyd of common humanity to the discredit of our NatioÌ„ this being done in the eye of the Stranger whence now it is spread abroad to the horrour of the Christian world For euery Nation vnder the Cope of heauen both Christian and Heathen both Ciuill and Barbarous doth by custome pitty yea reuerence them that are newly saued from vnder the death-blow of chaunce Wherof we may giue three reasons grounded on the pious instinct of nature The first is because men saued from this deadly stroake seeme then to beginne to liue and to be then as it were borne a new Wherfore nature bidds men to congratulate welcome theÌ„ againe into the world and the coÌ„trary to wit to seeke to stop the first breathings of this their new life is the greatest barbarity that may be Against which one bitterly but iustly inueigheth as we may read in the Prince of Poets whose inuectiue I could wish none of our NatioÌ„ had drawne particularly vpon themselues Quod genus hoc hominum quaeue hac tam barbara morem Permittit Patria What wild meÌ„ be these what barbarous couÌ„try is this We being sau'd froÌ„ sea euen from the iawes of death They rise agaynst vs straight they do not vs permit In quietnesse to set first footings on the ground Bella cient primaque vetant consistere terra The second reason is because the stroake of chance as it is in truth so is it taken by the instinct of nature as the stroake of Gods speciall prouidence and hand From this stroake they that are saued as they liue by his speciall will and loue towards them so they are regarded of others as things sacred vnto God Cicero Act. 7. in Verrem initio VehemeÌ„ter vererentur ne quem virum fortuna seruasset c. Viri Niniuitae surgent in iudicio c. Matth. 14. Propter iniquitateÌ„ corripuisti homineÌ„ Ps 38 1â— and by speciall bande of ReligioÌ„ tyed vnto him that it is a kind of sacriledge to violate them An Oratour of Rome as Tully writeth pleading for the life of a Captayne that had in the field receaued many dangerous woundes on head and breast shewed the scarres or markes therof vnto the Iudges wherwith he moued them not so much to pitty as to religious reuerence of the Man that they feared to condemne him to death from so many dangers wherof he had byn by fortune that is Gods speciall protection most strangly saued Thesâ— Iudges in the Day of Iudgment shall condemne the Puritans seing they being Heathens bare more reuerence vnto the dead darke signes of Diuine Protection in a guilty person then these did vnto the fresh tokens of Gods speciall saluation in innocent Christian Women The third reason is because the punishment of disastrous change is