terrible alteration that lately had hapned in Germanie where by the means of one onely Luther the Romish Religion had suffered such a blow as that it could neither bee cured by dissimulation nor defended by power but the Clergie must either mend their manners or lose their dignities on the other side when hee saw how propense the common people inhabiting in the bordering countries of Italy vvere to entertaine those new opinions hee now thought it no time to dispute or perswade but with speed repaires to the Senate and procures authoritie from them to send for Spira Spira by this time had considered vvith himselfe of the nature of his carriage how evident and notorious it vvas and therefore subject to bee envied by such as neither liked his person nor Religion hee perceived that his opinions were neither retyred nor speculative but such as aymed at the overthrovv of the Romish Faction and at change of Policie vvherein at the best he could expect but a bloudy victory and that his enemies vvanted neither povver nor occasion to call him to account in publique vvhen he must either Apostatize and shamefully give his former life yea his ovvn conscience the lye or endure the utmost malice of his deadly enemies or forsake his wife children friends goods authoritie yea his deare Countrey and betake himselfe to a forraigne people there to endure a thousand miseries that do continually waite upon a voluntary exile Being thus distracted and tossed in the restlesse waves of doubt without guid to trust to or haven to flye to for succour on the sudden Gods Spirit assisting hee felt a calme and began to discourse with himselfe in this manner Why wandrest thou thus in uncertainties unhappy man cast away feare put on thy shield the shield of faith Where is thy wonted courage thy goodnesse thy constancie remember that Christs glorie lies at the stake suffer thou without feare and hee will defend thee hee will tell thee what thou shalt answer hee can beat downe all danger bring thee out of prison raise thee from the dead consider Peter in the dungeon the Martyrs in the fire if thou makest a good confession thou mayest indeed goe to prison or death but an eternall reward in heaven remaines for thee What hast thou in this world comparable to eternall life to everlasting happinesse if thou dost otherwise thinke of the scandall common people live by example thinking what ever is done is well done feare the losse of peace and joy feare hell death and eternall wrath or if thy flesh be so strong as to cause thee to doubt of the issue flie thy Countrie get thee away though never so far rather then denie the Lord of Life Now was Spira in reasonable quiet being resolved to yeeld to these weightie reasons yet holding it wisedome to examine all things hee consults also with flesh and bloud thus the battaile doth renew and the flesh beginnes in this manner Bee well advised fond man consider reasons on both sides and then judge how canst thou thus overweene thine owne sufficiencie as thou neither regardest the examples of thy Progenitors nor the judgment of the whole Church dost thou not consider what miserie this thy rashnesse will bring thee unto thou shalt lose thy substance gotten with so much care and travell thou shalt undergoe the most exquisite torments that malice it selfe can devise thou shalt bee counted an heretique of all and to close up all thou shalt die shamefully What thinkest thou of the loathsome stinking dungeon the bloudie axe the burning fagot are they delightfull Bee wise at length and keepe thy life and honour thou maist live to do much good to good men as God commands thee thou maist be an ornament to thy Countrie and put case thy Countries losse would bee of small esteeme with thee Wilt thou bring thy friends also into danger thou hast begotten children wilt thou now cut their throats inhumanely butcher them which may in time bring honor to their Countrie glorie to God helpe and furtherance to his Church goe to the Legate weake man freely confesse thy fault and helpe all these miseries Thus did the cares of this world and the deceitfullnesse of riches choke the good Seed that was formerly sowne so as fearing hee faints and yeelds unto the allurements of this present world being thus blinded he goes to the Legate at Venice and salutes him with this news Having for these divers yeares entertained an opinion concerning some Articles of faith contrary to the Orthodox and received judgement of the Church and uttered many things against the authoritie of the Church of Rome and the universall Bishop I humblie acknowledge my fault and errour and my folly in misleading others I therefore yeeld my selfe in all obedience to the Supreme Bishop into the bosome of the Church of Rome never to depart again from the Traditions and Decrees of the holy See I am heartily sorry for what is past and I humbly begge pardon forso great an offence The Legate perceiving Spira to faint he pursues him to the utmost hee causeth a recitation of all his Errours to be drawne in writing together with the Confession annexed to it and commands Spira to subscribe his name there which accordingly he did then the Legate commands him to return to his owne Towne and there to declare this Confession of his and to acknowledg the whole Doctrine of the Church of Rome to be holy and true and to abjure the Opinions of Luther and other such Teachers as false hereticall Man knowes the beginnings of sinne but who bounds the issues thereof Spira having once lost footing goes downe amaine he cannot stay nor gaine-say the Legate but promiseth to accomplish his whole will and pleasure he soone addresseth himselfe for his Iourney and being onward in the way bethinks himselfe of large spoyles hee had brought away from the Conflict with the Legate what glorious testimony hee had given of his great faith and constancie in Christs cause and to be plaine how impiously hee had denyed Christ and his Gospell at Venice and what he promised to do further in his owne Country and thus partly with feare and partly with shame being confounded he thought he heard a voyce speaking unto him in this manner Spira What dost thou heere whither goest thou hast thou unhappy man given thy hand-writing to the Legate at Venice yet see thou dost not seale it in thine owne Countrey dost thou indeed thinke eternall life so meane as that thou preferrest this present life before it dost thou well in preferring wife and children before Christ is the windie applause of the people better indeed then the glorie of God and the possession of this worlds good more deare to thee then the salvation of thine owne Soule is the small use of a moment of time more desireable then eternall wrath is dreadfull Thinke with thy selfe what Christ endured for thy sake is it not equall thou shouldest suffer
gift of God O that hee would give it mee but it is as impossible as to drinke up the Sea at a draught as for that of Solomon if hee had ever tried that which I feele by woefull experience hee would never have spoken as he did but the truth is never had mortall man such an evident experience of Gods anger and hatred against him as I have you that are in a good estate thinke repentance and faith to be workes of great facilitie and therefore you thinke it an easie matter to perswade a man to beleeve the whole need not the Physician and hee that is well can soone give counsell to such as are ill but this is the hell to mee my heart is hardned I cannot beleeve many are called but few are chosen Vpon what grounds said they doe you conceive so ill an opinion of your selfe I once did know God to bee my Father not onely by creation but by regeneration I knew him by his beloved Sonne the authour and finisher of our Salvation I could pray to him and hope for pardon of sinnes from him I had a taste of his sweetnesse peace and comfort now contrarily I know God not as a Father but as an enemy what more my heart hates God and seekes to get above him I have nothing else to flie to but terrour despaire Belike you thinke then said they that those who have the earnest and first fruits of Gods Spirit may notwithstanding fall away The judgements of God are a deepe abisse said he wee are soone drowned if we enter into them he that thinks he standeth let him take heed lest hee fall as for my selfe I know I am falne backe and that I once did know the truth though it may be not so throughly I know not what else to say but that I am one of that number which God hath threatned to teare in pieces Say not so answered they for God may come though at the last houre keepe hold therefore at the least by hope This quoth he is my case I tell you I cannot God hath deprived mee of hope this brings terror to my minde and pines this hodie which now is so weake as it cannot performe the severall offices thereof for as the Elect have the Spirit testifying that they are the sonnes of God so the Reprobates even while they live do often feele a worme in their conscience whereby they are condemned already and therefore as soone as I perceived this wound inflicted on my minde and will I I knew that I wanted the gifts of saving grace and that I was utterly undone God chasteneth his children with temporarie afflictions that they may come as gold out of the fire but pupunisheth the wicked with blindnesse in their understandings hardnesse of heart and woe be to such from whom God takes his holie Spirit Here one rebuked him and told him he gave too much credit to sence that hee was not to beleeve himselfe but rather him that was in a good estate and I testifie to you said he that God will be mercifull to you Nay answered he for because I am in this ill estate therfore can I beleeve nothing but what is contrarie to my salvation and comfort but you that are so confident of your good state looke that it bee true for it is no such small matter to be assured of sinceritie a man had need bee exceeding stronglie grounded in the Truth before hee can bee able to affirme such a matter as you now doe it is not the performance of a few outward duties but a mightie constant labour with all intention of heart and affection with full desire and endeavour continually to set forth Gods glorie there must bee neither feare of Legates Inquisitors Prisons nor anie death whatsoever manie thinke themselves happie that are not it is not every one that saith Lord Lord that shall goe to heaven They came another day and found him with his eyes shut as if hee had beene drowzie and verie loath to discourse at which time there came in also a grave man from Cittadella who demanded of Spira if hee knew him or not he lifting up his eye-lids and not suddenly remembring him the man said to him I am Presbiter Antonie Fontanina I was with you at Venice some 8. weeks since O cursed day sayd Spira O cursed day O that I had never gone thither would God I had then died Afterwards came in a Priest called Bernardinus Sardoneus bringing with him a booke of Exorcismes to conjure this divell whom when Spira saw shaking his head he said I am verily perswaded indeed that God hath left mee to the power of the divells but such they are as are not to be found in your Letanie neither will they be cast out by spels The Priest proceeding in his intended purpose with a strange uncouth gesture and a loud voice adjured the Spirit to come into Spira's tongue and to answer Spira deriding his fruitlesse labour with a sigh turned from him A Bishop being there present said to Spira brother God hath put vertue into the Word and Sacraments and wee have used the one means and find not that effect which we desire shall we trie the efficacie of the Sacraments surely if you take it as a true Christian ought to receive the body and bloud of Christ it will proove a soveraigne medicine for your sicke soule This I cannot do answered hee for they that have no right to the promises have no right to the seales the Eucharist was appointed onely for beleevers if wee have not faith we eate and drinke judgement to our selves I received it about a moneth since but I did not well in so doing for I tooke it by constraint and so I tooke it to my deeper condemnation Here Vergerius began to importune him earnestly to beware that he did not wilfully resist grace put himself out of haven charging him vehemently by all the love that was betweene them by the love which hee bare to his children yea to his owne soule that he would set himselfe seriously to returne to that faith and hope which once hee had in the death of Christ with many such like words Spira having heard much of the like matter formerlie being somewhat moved said You do but repeat Vergerius what should I hope why should I beleeve God hath taken faith from mee shew mee then whither I shall goe shew mee a haven whereto I shall retire you tell mee of Gods mercy when as God hath cast mee off you tell mee of Christs intercession I have denied him you command mee to beleeve I say I cannot you bring mee no comfort your command is as impossible for me to obey as to keep the Morall Law if you should perswade one to love God with all his heart soule and strength and God gives him not the power can he performe your desire doth not the church teach us to sing direct us O
Lord to love thy commandements hypocrites say that they love God with all their heart but they lye for my part I will not lye but tell you plainely such is my case that though you should never so much much importune mee to hope or beleeve though I desire it yet I cannot for God as a punishment of my wickednesse hath taken away from me all his saving graces faith hope and all I am not the man therefore that you take mee for belike you thinke I delight in this estate if I could conceive but the least sparke of hope of a better estate hereafter I would not refuse to endure the most heavie weight of the wrath of that great God yea for twenty thousand years so that I might at length attaine to the end of that misery which I now know will bee eternall but I tell you my will is wounded who longs more to beleeve then I doe but all the ground-worke of my hope is quite gone for if the testimonies of holy Scripture bee true as they are most certainly true is not this as true whosoever denies mee before men him saith Christ will I denie before my Father which is in heaven is not this properly my case as if it had purposely beene intended against this very person of mine I pray you what shall become of such as Christ denieth seeing there is no other Name under heaven whereby you looke to bee saved what saith Saint Paul to the Hebrewes It is impossible for those who were once enlightned and have tasted of the heavenly gift were made partakers of the Holie Ghost if they fall away to be renued to repentance what can be more plaine against me Is not that Scripture also if wee sinne wilfully after wee have received the Knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinne but a certaine looking for of judgement the Scripture speakes of mee Saint Paul means me S. Peter tels me it had been better I had not knowne the way of Righteousnesse then after I have knowne to turne from the holy commandement if it had beene better I had not known and yet then my condemnation had beene most certaine doe you not see evidently that I have wilfully denied the known truth may justly expect not onely damnation but worse if worse may be imagined God will have mee undergoe the just punishment of my sinne and make mee an example of his wrath for your sakes The company present admired his discourse so grievously accusing himselfe of his fore-past life so gravely and wisely dilating concerning the judgements of God that they then were convinced that it was not frenzie or madnesse that had possessed him and being as it were in admiration of his estate Spira proceeded againe in this manner Take heed to your selves it is no light or easie matter to bee a Christian it is not baptisme or reading of the Scriptures or boasting of faith in Christ though even these are good that can proove one to be an absolute Christian you know what I said before there must be a conformity in life a Christian must bee strong unconquerable not carrying an obscure profession but resolute expressing the image of Christ and holding out against all opposition to the last breath hee must give all diligence by righteousnesse and holinesse to make his calling and election sure many there are that snatch at the promises in the Gospel as if they undoubtedly did belong to them and yet they remaine sluggish and carelesse and beeing flattered by the things of this present world they passe in their course in quietnesse and securitie as if they were the onely happie men whom neverthelesse the Lord in his providence hath ordained to eternall wrath as you may see in S. Lukes rich man thus it was with mee therefore take heed Then came one of his Nephews and offered him some sustenance which he disdainfully refusing so moved the youngmans choler that hee charged him with hypocrisie and dissimulation or frenzie to whom Spira gravely answering said You may interpret the matter as you will but I am sure I am not only the Actor but the argument and matter of the Tragedy I would it were frenzie either fained or true for if it were fained I could put it off at pleasure if it were a reall frenzy yet there were some hope left of Gods mercie whereas now there is none for I know that God hath pronounced mee an enemie and guiltie of high Treason against his Majestie I am a cast-away a vassaile of wrath yet dare you call it dissembling and frenzie and can mocke at the formidable example of the heavie wrath of God that should teach you feare and terrour but it is naturall to the flesh either out of malice or ignorance to speake perversly of the workes of God the naturall man discerneth not of the things that are of God because they are spiritually discerned How can this be said Gribauldus that you can thus excellently discourse of the judgements of God and of the graces of his holie Spirit that you finde the want of them and earnestly desire them and yet you thinke you are utterly deprived of them Take this for certaine said hee I want the maine grace of all and that which is absolutely necessarie and God doth many times extort most true and strange testimonies of his Majesties justice and mercie yea out of the mouthes of verie reprobates for even Iudas after hee had betrayed his Master was constrained to confesse his sinne and to justifie the innocencie of Christ and therefore if I doe the like it is no new or strange matter God hath taken faith from mee and left mee other common gifts for my deeper condemnation by how much the more I remember what I had and heare others discourse of what they have by so much the more is my torment in that I know what I want and how there is no way to bee relieved Thus spake hee the teares all the while trickling downe professing that his pangs were such as that the damned wights in hell endure not the like miserie that his estate was worse then that of Cain or Iudas and therefore hee desired to die yet behold saith hee the Scriptures are accomplished in mee they shall desire to die and death shall flie from them and verily hee seemed exceedingly to feare lest his life should bee drawne out to a longer thread and finding no ease or rest ever and anone cried out O miserable wretch O miserable wretch then turning to the Company hee besought them in this manner O Brethren take a diligent heed to your life make more account of the gifts of Gods spirit then I have done learne to beware my misery thinke not you are assured Christians because you understand something of the Gospel take heed you grow not secure on that ground be constant and immoveable in the maintaining of your profession confesse even untill death if
you be called thereto he that loveth father mother brothers sisters sons daughters kindred houses lands more then Christ is not worthie of him These words said they doe not sound like the words of a wicked Reprobate I doe but herein imitate said Spira the rich Glutton in the Gospel who though in hell yet was carefull that his brethren should not come to that place of torment and I say to you Brethren take heed of this miserable estate wherein I am Then turning himselfe to certaine young men that were present hee desired them to conceive him aright I doe not speak this to derogate from the certaintie of saving faith and the promises of the Gospel for they are most sure but take heed of relying on that Faith that works not a holy and unblameable life worthy of a beleever credit mee it will faile I have tried it I presumed I had gotten the right faith I preached it to others I had all places of Scripture in memorie that might support it I thought my selfe sure and in the meane time living impiously and carelesly behold now the judgements of God have overtaken mee not to correction but to condemnation and now you would have mee to beleeve but it will not bee for I feele too late that good things belong onely to such as are good whose sinnes are covered with Christs death and bloud as with a vaile and guarded with his righteous merits from the floud of Gods warth even as with a mightie wall left miserable mortals should bee swallowed up with the greatnesse of their sinnes But as for mee I have as it were wilfully with mine hands pulled downe this rampire behind which I might have rested in safetie and now are the swelling waters come even to my soule and I am cast away One of his familiar friends chanced to say that certainly he was overcome with melancholy which being overheard Spira answered Well bee it so seeing you will needs have it so for thus also is Gods wrath manifested against me in that hee hath taken from mee the use of mine understanding and reason so as I can neither rightly esteeme and judge of my distemper nor hope of remedie you see Brethren what a dangerous thing it is to stoppe or stay in things that concerne Gods glorie especially to dissemble upon anie termes what a fearefull thing is it to be neare and almost a Christian never was the like example to this of mine and therefore if you bee wise you will seriously consider therof Oh that God would let loose his hand from me that it were with me now as in times past I would scorn the threats of the most cruell Tyrants beare torments with invincible resolution and glorie in the outward profession of Christ till I were choked in the flame and my body consumed to ashes You say you are desperate O Spira said they why then doe you not strive with some weapon or other violently to make an end of your life as desperate men use to doe Let mee have a sword sayd Spira why what would you doe with it quoth they I cannot tell you said hee what this minde would move me to upon occasion nor what I would doe They perceiving smal effect of all this their labour but rather that he grew worse for the avoiding of concourse of people for everie day seldome fewer then 20 continued with him to stop the course of fame which was continually blowne abroad of him they consult to carry him backe againe into his owne countrey and those his friends that came to comfort him began to take their leaves of him Vergerius among the rest required that at their parting they might pray together with him Spira hardly consented and as unwillingly performed for hee said My heart is estranged from God I cannot call him Father from my heart all good motions are now quite gone my heart is full of malediction hatred and blasphemy against God I finde I grow more and more hardned in heart and cannot stoope nor helpe my selfe your prayers for mee shall turne to your owne benefit they can doe mee no good Vergerius came to take his leave of him whom Spira embracing said Although I know that nothing can bring any benefit to mee a Reprobate but that every thing shall tend to my deeper condemnation yet I give you most hearty thankes for your kinde office of love and good will and the Lord returne it unto you with a plentifull increase of all good The next day being brought downe to his intended Iourney by the way looking round about him with a ghastly looke he saw a knife lying on a Table to which he running hastily snatched hold of as intending to mischiefe himselfe but his friends laying hold of him stopped him in his purpose whereupon with indignation hee said I would I were above God for I know hee will have no mercy on me Thus went he homewards often saying that the envied the condition of Cain and Iudas hee lay about 8. weekes in this case in a continuall burning neither desiring nor receiving any thing but by force and that without disgestion so spent that hee appeared a perfect Anatomie expressing to the view nothing but sinewes and bones vehemently raging for drinke ever pining yet fearefull to live long dreadfull of hell yet coveting death in a continuall torment yet his own tormentour and thus consuming himselfe with griefe and horrour impatience despaire like a living man in Hell hee represented an extraordinary example of the justice and power of God and thus as farre as appeareth within a few dayes after his arrivall at his owne home he departed this present life Yet an occasion to make us remember that secret things belong unto the Lord our God but charitie to man to teach him to hope all things EXtraordinary examples of Divine Iustice God never intended for a nine dayes wonder else would hee when hee exemplifi'd Lots wife have turned her into a statue of melting snow not of lasting salt which stood as Iosephus tells us till his age after the destruction of Ierusalem and as some Travellers report till at this day ut quoddam hominibus praestaret condimentum quo sapiant unde illud caveatur exemplum Aug. de civit Dei lib. 16. c. 30. for a season against corruption a preservative against Apostacie This Tragedy when fresh and new was the conversion and confirmation of sundry Worthies Vergerius a daily spectator thereof forsaking a rich Bishopricke of Iustinopolis and tents of Antichrist went to Basil and dyed a worthy Protestant many Nations had Eye-witnesses of their owne Students then in the Vniversitie of Padua who penned the Story the Copies wherof are frequently revived our English ones were very defective and now worne out of shoppes and hands sundry manuscripts of this abroad imperfect which moved mee to compare this labour of a worthy Gentleman who faithfully translated it out of Italian French and Dutch Letters with the Latine of Caelius Secundus Curio Mattheus Gribauldus professors of the Civill Law in Padua Sigismund Gelous a Transilvanian Henricus Scotus all daily visitors of Spira and finde it accord with them Touching Spiraes person I finde most learned writers to incline to the right and hopefull hand moved by his sweet humble and charitable speeches some few desperate ones excepted that fell from him in some little agonies which kept him fasting and watching about six moneths space eating nothing but what was forced downe his throat The sum of Calvins and Borrhaus their their counsels who writ largely of the use of this pattern is that all learne to take heed of backe-sliding which Gods soule abhorres and not to dally with Conscience and hell on earth if justly incensed more to be feared then the Spanish Inquisition or all the Strappadoes and torments in the world and to take heed of Spira's principall Errors which were to dispute with Satan over busily in time of weakenesse especially to reason and conclude from present sense to Gods past Reprobation and future Damnation both which is hard if possible for any man to determine in his owne much more in others cases so commending thee to his grace who is able to establish thee to the end I bid thee farewell and hope well while the space of Grace lasteth Dum spiras spera so mayest thou take good and no hurt by the reading of this terrible example FINIS Decemb. 2. 1637. Imprimatur Tho Wykes R. P. Episc Lond. Cap. Domest Rom. 8. 28. Rom. 2. 15. Ps 119. Luk. 27. 61. Matt. 10. 33. Psal 1. Rom. 9. 11. and Rom. 4. Iam. 2. 10. Rom. 9. 18. 1 Sam. 2. 6. Psal 32. 11. * Signifies the god of flies Psal 6. 5. Psal 89. 30. Eccles 9. 1. Psal 88. 14. Rom. 8. 16. 1 Cor. 11. 33. Rom. 1. 28. Matth. 7. 22. 1 Cor. 11. 29. Heb. 6. and 10. 26. Pet. 2. 21. Luk. 16. Mat. 27. 4. Rev. 9. 6. Luk. 14. 26.