daughter of Sp. Tarpeius betrayed her father and the tower whereof he was governour to Tatius King of the Sabines who besiedged it for all that the Sabine Souldiers wore upon their left armes meaning their golden bracelets But when she demanded her reward Tatius badehis souldiers to do as he did and so together with their bracelets throwing their shields which they wore on their left armes upon her they crushed her to death Romulus ordained no punishment for Parrioide because he thought it impossible that any one should so much degenerate from nature as to commit that sin but he called all other murthers Parricides to shew the heinousnesse of them and for six hundred years after his time such a sin as Parricide was never heard of in Rome Plut. Darius the son of Artaxerxes Mnemon King of Persia affecting the Kingdome conspired to take away the life of his father but his treason being discovered he together with his wives and children were altogether put to death that so none might remain of so wicked a breed Diod. Sic. Servius Tullius the 6th King of the Romanes married his daughter to Tarquinius she was a woman of an exceeding ambitious spirit and would not suffer her husband to be at quiet till she had procured him to murther her father and as soon as ever she heard that the fact was committed she hasted in her chariot to salute her husband King and by the way encountring with the dead body of her murthered father she caused her chariot to be driven over it Ovid. Pezel Mel. Hist. Nero sending some to murther his own mother Agrippina when they came into her chamber she seeing one to unsheath his sword and believing what they came for and by whose directions she laid open her bare belly to him bidding him strike that as having deserved it for bringing forth such a monster as Nero. Nero hearing that she was dead came presently to the place caused her body to be stripped and Crowner-like beheld it all over praising this part dispraising that as if he had been to censure a Statue and at last caused her wombe to be opened that he might behold the place of his conception Neros Life Not long after about the neck of one of Nero's Statues was hung a leather sack to upbraid his parricide the punishment whereof by the ancient Laws of Rome was to be trussed in such a sack with a cock a dog and a viper and so all to be thrown quick into Tyber Nero's Life The eye that mocketh at his father and despiseth to obey his mother the ravens of the valley shall pick it out and the young eagles shall eat it Prov. 30. 17. Every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death he hath cursed his father or his mother his blood shall be upon him Lev. 20. 9. CHAP. XXXI Examples of Parents love to and Care over their Children THey are to bring their children to God Luk. 2. 27. 41. Mark 10. 13. To instruct them Ephes. 6. 4. Prov. 22. 6. Exod. 12. 26. Deut. 6. 7. 11. 19 32. 46. 4. 10. 31. 13. Gen. 18. 19. To lay up for them 2 Cor. 12. 14. Prov. 19. 14. To correct them Prov. 22. 15. 23. 13. 29. 15 17. Heb. 12. 9. 1 Tim. 3. 4. Not to provoke them to anger Col. 3. 21. Eph. 6. 4. Not to give them evil examples Ier. 7. 18. 31. 29. Ezek. 18. 2. Ier. 17. 2. Mothers must instruct them Proverb 31. 1 c. 2 Tim. 1. 5. Numa Pompilius reformed the Law amongst the Romanes which gave liberty to parents to sell their children exempting children that were married provided that they married with their parents consent Plut See Callings Trades Agesilaus King of Sparta a prudent man and brave souldier did exceedingly love his children and on a time a friend coming to his house found him riding upon an hobby-horse amongst them whereupon Agesilaus fearing lest he should speak of it to his disgrace intreated him not to censure him for it nor to speak of it to any till himselfe had some children Plut. Augustus Caesar found out the inclinations and dispositions of his two daughters by observing their company at a publick shew where much people were present at which time his daughter Livia associated herselfe and discoursed with grave and prudent Senators but his daughter Iulia adjoyned herselfe to loose youngsters and riotous persons Sueto Noscitur ex socio qui non cognoscitur ex se. Scillurus who had eighty sonnes when he lay on his death-bed called them all before him presented them with a bundle of speares or sheafe of arrows and bade each of them trie whether he could break that bundle which they assayed to do but were not able Then he pulled out one javlin out of the bundle and bade them break that which they did easily intimating thereby that unity and compacted strength is the bond which preserves families and Kingdomes which bond if it be once broken all runnes quickly to ruine Micypsa when he was on his death-bed called all his sonnes and caused them to write this sentence in golden letters Concordiâ parvae res crescunt Discordiâ magnae dilabuntur By concord small things are increased but by discord the greatest are overthrown Fathers provoke not your children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Eph. 6. 4. Richard Woodmans father in the reigne of Queen Mary betrayed him into the hands of his bloody persecutors whereby he lost his life See my English Martyrology p. 185. Philip King of Spaine out of an unnatural and bloody zeale suffered his eldest sonne Charles to be murthered by the Fathers Inquisitors because he favoured the Protestant religion which when the Pope heard of he abusively applied that text of Scripture to him He spared not his own Sonne but delivered him up for us all Act. Mon. Alfrith mother of King Edward hearing that her sonne was coming to visit her suborned one of her servants to murther him who accordingly as the King was drinking with her struck him into the body with a two-edged dagger whereof he died and this she did to make way for another of her sonnes to come to the Crowne See my English Martyrology p. 31. Master Iulins Palmer in the reigne of our Queen Mary went to Evesham in Glocestershire to his own mother hoping to obtaine a legacy left him by his father and when he came kneeling down to crave her blessing she said Thou shalt have Christs curse and mine wherever thou goest for saith she thou doest not believe as thy father and I nor as thy fore-fathers but art an Heretick and therefore get thee out of my house and out of my sight and never take me for thy mother any more Faggots I have to burn thee but no money for thee c. Eodem p. 173. Even the sea-monsters draw out the breast they give suck to their young
ones the daughter of my people is become cruel like Ostriches in the wildernesse Lam. 4. 3. CHAP. XXXII Examples of fond Parents and the miseries that they have brought upon themselves thereby FOrbidden Deut. 13. 8 9. Prov. 19. 18. 13. 24. 29. 17. Scriptural Examples Eli 1 Sam. 2. 22 29. David to Adonijah 1 Kings 1. 6. to Absalom 2 Sam. 18. 33. How severely God punished Eli for his indulgence to his wicked sonnes See it in 1 Sam. 2. 27 c. 3. 11 c. David also who cockered Absalom and Adonijah above all the rest of his children was most afflicted by them one breaking out into open rebellion wherein he died the other usurping the Crowne before his fathers death which cost him his life also 2 Sam. 15. 1 King 1. 5 c. A certaine woman in Flanders contrary to the will of her husband used to feed her two sonnes with money to maintaine their riot yea to furnish them she would rob her husband but presently after her husbands death God plagued her for this her foolish indulgence for from rioting these youngsters fell to robbing for the which one of them was executed by the sword and the other by the halter the mother looking on as a witnesse of their destructions Ludo. Vives A young man in our owne Nation as he was going to the gallows desired to speak with his mother in her eare but when she came instead of whispering he bit of her eare with his teeth exclaiming upon her as the cause of his death because she did not chastise him in his youth for his faults but by her fondnesse so imboldened him in his vices as brought him to this wofull end Seleucus marrying Stratonica the daughter of Demetrius shortly after Antiochus the sonne of Seleucus fell in love with his stepmother and not daring to discover it for feare of the displeasure of his father he pined a way from day to day at last one of his Physicians found out the cause of his disease and acquainted his father therewith who out of indulgence to his sonne calling his Nobles and people together said I have decreed to make Antiochus my sonne King of all my superior Provinces and to give him Stratonica for his wife and Queen and if she scruple the unlawfulnesse of the marriage I desire you that are my friends to perswade her that all things are honest and just that a King shall decree for the publick profit Plut. Andronicus one of the Greek Emperours doted with such extream impotency of partial affection upon his Nephew young Andronicus that in comparison of him he disregarded not only the rest of his Nephews but his own children also being unwilling to spare him out of sight either day or night but when this young man was stept further into yeares besides a world of miseries and molestations created to his Grand-father in the mean time at last he pressed without resistance upon his Palace with purpose to surprise his person though the old Emperout intreated him with much affectionate eloquence that he would reverence those hands which had oftentimes so willingly embraced him and those lips which had so oft lovingly kissed him and that he would spare to spill that blood from which himselfe had taken the fountaine of life yet for all this he caused the old Emperour to be polled shaven and made a Monk and not only so but also the very Anvile of much dunghill-scorne and vilest indignities untill the workmanship of death had finished the sorrowful businesse of a wretched lfie Turk Hist. Austine upon a terrible and dreadfull accident called his people together to a Sermon wherein he relates this dolefull story Our Noble Citizen saith he Cyrillus a man mighty amongst us both in work and word and much beloved had as you know one onely sonne and because but one he loved him immeasurably and above God and so being drunke with immoderate doting he neglected to correct him and gave him liberty to do whatsoever he list Now this very day saith he this same fellow thus long suffered in this dissolute and riotous courses hath in his drunken humour wickedly offered violence to his mother great with childe would have violated his sister hath killed his father and wounded two of his sisters to death Adfrat in Eremo Ser. 33. Chasten thy sonne betimes and let not thy soul spare for his crying Prov. 19. 18. CHAP. XXXIII Examples of Brethrens love each to other THey ought to love one another Prov. 17. 17. 1 Pet. 3. 8. Rom. 12. 10. Heb. 13. 1. It 's an excellent thing Psal 133. 1. Scriptural examples Jobs children Job 1. 13. Lazarus Martha and Mary John 11. 19 c. Joseph Gen. 43. 29 c. 45. 14. Joab and Abishai 2 Sam. 3. 27 30. Judah Gen. 37. 26. In the beginning of the reigne of Darius King of Persia one of his Nobles called Intaphernes conspired against him which being discovered to Darius he caused him and all his kindred to be cast into prison But Intaphernes wife exceedingly weeping and houling Darius gave her leave to choose any one of the prisoners whose life she would have spared whereupon amongst them all she chose her brother and Darius asking her why she â—…se her brother rather then her husband or son she answered Because if God please I may have another husband and children but my Parents being dead I cannot have another brother This so pleased Darius that he granted her the life not only of her brother but of her son too Herod Darius King of Persia being dead left two sons Ariamenes or as some call him Artabazanes and Xerxes these both claimed the Kingdome but brotherly love so prevailed with them that they were contented to stand to the judgement of the Persian Nobles yet in the interim Xerxes being in Persia performed all the offices of a King and Ariaments coming out of Media Xerxes sent great presents to him commanding the messengers to tell him Thy brother Xerxes presents thee with these gifts and if by the consent and suffrage of the Nobles he be declared King he promises thee the chiefest place next unto himself To which Ariamenes returned this answer Truly I willingly accept of these gifts yet claim the Sovereignty to belong to me but will reserve the next place of dignity for my brother Xerxes The Persian Nobles referred the determination of this controversie to their Uncle Artabanus who having heard both sides determined for Xerxes because Ariamenes was borne to Darius whil'st he was a private person Xerxes after he was a King the mother of Ariamenes was the daughter of Gobrias a private woman the mother of Xerxes was Atossa a Queen Ariamenes hearing this judgement without any distemper of spirit rose up worshipped his brother and taking him by the hand placed him in the Kingly throne and ever after was very obsequious to him Plut. Herod And he fell upon his brother Benjamins neck and wept and
capitulated that she might have so much of her most precious movables as she could carry out at one time the which being granted she with the help of her chamber maid carried her husband lockt in a chest out of the Castle leaving all her rings and jewels behinde her Belg. Com. Wealth p. 55. In a great battel fought betwixt Selimus the Great Turk and the Persians wherein the Turks had the better amongst the heaps of the slaine Persians were found the dead bodies of many women who being armed and following their husbands died with them in the battel Turk Hist. p. 512. Antonia Flaxilla when her husband Priscus was banished by Nero whereas she might have enjoyed all the abundance and plenty in Rome left all the pleasures and delights of the City to accompany her desolate Lord in his penurious and uncomfortable banishment Hist. of women A Reverend man seeing a very Cholerick couple that were married together live very lovingly and peaceably asked them how they could so sweetly confort together to whom the man answered When my wives fit is upon her I yield to her as Abraham did to Sarah and when my fit is upon me she yields to me and so we never strive together but asunder In the Bohemian Persecution we read of the Major of Litomeritia who apprehended twenty four godly Citizens of whom his own sonne in Law was one and after he had almost pined them in prison he adjudged them to be drowned in the river Albis whereupon his daughter wringing her hands and falling at her fathers feet besought him to spare her husband but he harder then a rock bade her hold her peace saying What can you not have a worthier husband then this to which she answered You shall never more espouse me to any and so beating her breast tearing her haire she followed her husband to the river and when he was cast into the middest of the river bound she leaped in and caught him about the middle but being unable to draw him forth they were both drowned together and the next day were found embracing one another See my Gen. Martyr p. 151. A young and beautiful maide was matched to a man stricken in years whom after she found to have a very fulsome and diseased body yet out of conscience being by Gods providence become his wife she most worthily digested with incredible patience and contentment the languishing and loath somenesse of an husband continually visited with variety of most irkesome and infectious diseases and though friends and Physicians advised her by no means to come neere him for feare of danger and infection yet she passing by with a loving disdaine and contempt these unkinde disswasions plied him still night and day with extraordinary tendernesse and care and services of all sorts above her strength and ability she was to him friends Physician Husband Nurse yea she was Father Mother Brother Sister Daughter every thing any thing to do him good any manner of way she was full of merciful and melting affections towards him for falling into want by reason of extraordinary expence and excessive charges about him she sold her Chaines Rings and richest Attire she emptied her cupboard of Plate her Chabinet of chiefest and choisest Jewels to do him good and when he was dead and friends came about her rather to congratulate her happy riddance then to bewaile her widowhood she did not onely abhorre and deprecate all speeches tending that way but protested if it were possible she would willingly redeeme her husbands life with the losse of her five dearest children and though as yet the flower and prime of her beautifullest and best time was not expired yet she strongly resolved against a second match Because said she I shall not finde a second Valdaura for so her husband was called Vives Lib. 2. De Christiana foemina pag. 360. An unnatural Husband In the time of the fourth Persecution there was in Egypt a woman married to an husband that was given much to the sinne of uncleannesse which when by no meanes she could reforme in him she sued out a bill of Divorce whereupon this wretched man went and accused her to the Governour that she was a Christian and so caused her to be put to death A Wife murthering her Husband Semiramis the wife of Ninus being very witty and beautiful woman whom her husband loved exceedingly as she was one day in discourse with him told him that she was exceeding desirous of a thing yet because of the greatnesse of it she durst not discover it nor could hope to prevaile Ninus not fearing her subtilty báde her tell him what it was She answered that he should deliver to her the Government of his Empire for five dayes which when she had obtained she caused her husband to be slaine and so usurped the Government of the Empire into her own hands Diod. Sic. Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it Cant. 8. 7. CHAP. XXXVIII Examples of Treachery and Perfidiousness Complained of Isa. 21. 2. 24. 16. Jer. 9. 2. Lam. 1. 2. Mal. 2. 10. Scriptural Examples Men of Sechem Judg. 9. 23. Jacobs sons Gen. 34. 13. Gibeonites Jos. 9. 4. Joab 2 Sam. 3. 27. 20. 9. Rechab and Baanah 2 Sam. 4. 7. Absalom 2 Sam. 13. 23. Men of Judah Jer. 3. 7 c. 9. 2. Mal. 2. 10 c. See more in Murther Judas Mat. 26. 48. The Lacedemonians having intelligence that their King Pausanias treacherously held correspondence with their enemy Xerxes they sent for him home and when he came back perceiving that his treason was discovered he took sanctuary in the Temple of Pallas and the Lacedemonians fearing to violate the priviledge of the place durst not fetch him out to punishment whereupon Pausanias his mother took a brick and said it in the door of the Temple and the other Lacedemonians seeing it they all brought bricks and made up the doore whereby Pausanias perished of famine Herod When the Sabines came against Rome and besieged the Castle where Tarpeius was Governour his daughter Tarpeia contracted with them to betray the Castle into their hands upon condition that they would give her all the golden bracelets which they wore upon their left armes to this the Sabines agreed and she in the night-time opened a posterne and let them in and afterwards when she challenged her reward Tacius the Sabine General bade all his souldiers do as he did and withall he threw his bracelet at her and his buckler also which he wore on his left arme and all the souldiers doing the like she was pressed down with the weight of them and died immediately and so received the just reward of her treachery Antigonus was not singular when he said that he loved them that did betray but hated them that had betrayed Nor Augustus Cesar who told Rymitalces the Thracian that he loved the treason but hated the traytor Plut. Camillus with the Romane Army besieged
so much gold and silver that he should never repent his kindenesse to Darius c. Herod Aristides dying very poor the Athenians to testifie their gratitude to him that had deserved so well of them gave dowries to his daughters and disposed of them in marriage they also allowed an annuel stipend to his sonne Justin. Darius Junior accounted nothing more pleasing to him then to reward those that had deserved well of him and to overcome his enemies by reason and he used often to say That he desired to live only so long till he had rewarded his friends and overcome his enemies with kindnesse Xenoph. Agesilaus King of Sparta was alwayes very gratefull for any courtesies that he received and used to say That it was not only an unjust thing not to be gratefull but if he did not return greater kindenesse then he received Plut. The Bernates in Switzerland caused the day and year wherein the Reformation of Religion began amongst them to be engraven in golden letters upon a pillar of stone for a perpetual remembrance of Gods mercy to them in all future ages The only daughter of Peter Martyr through the riot and prodigality of her debauched husband being brought to extream poverty the Senate at Zurick out of a grateful remembrance of her fathers worth supported her with a bountiful maintenance so long as she lived Thuanus Tully calls gratitude Maximam imo matrem omnium virtutum reliquarum the greatest yea the mother of all other vertues One the Town-house of Geneva upon a Marble-table is written in letters of gold thus Post tenebras Lux. Quum Anno 1535. profligata Romana Antichristi Tyrannide abrogatisque ejus superstitionibus Sacrosancta Christi Religio Hic in suam puritatem Ecclesia in meliorem ordinem singulari Dei beneficio reposita simul pulsis fugatisque hostibus urbs ipsa in suam libertatem non sine insigni Miraculo restituta fuerit Senatus populusque Genevensis Monumentum hoc perpetuae memoriae causa fieri atque hoc loco erigi curavit Quo suam erga Deum Gratitudinem ad Posteros testatam fecerit Before Master Calvin opened their eyes by his Ministery their Motto was Post tenebras spero Lucem Since they altered it to Post tenebras Lux. Chilon the wise Philosopher used to say That men ought to forget the good turnes they do to others but alwayes to remember such as they receive from others Laertius Clodovaeus King of France gave so much land to Remigius Bishop of Remes who converted him to the Christian Faith as he could compasse in a day whilest the King slept Hincmarus Q. Fulvius to shew his gratefull minde to his Master Ennius bestowed a whole City upon him Volat. Antoninus the Emperour did so dearly love his Master Fronto that to shew his gratitude he obtained of the Senate leave to erect his statue Idem Gratian the Emperour to shew his gratitude to his Master Ausonius made him Consull and bestowed many other liberal gifts upon him Pyrrhus King of Epirus when he fought against C. Fabricius the Roman General his Physician sent to Fabricius telling him that if he pleased he would poison his Master but Fabricius abhorring such villainy sent Pyrrhus word of it whereupon he apprehended and crucified his Physician and withall to testifie his gratitude to Fabricius he dismissed all the Romane prisoners without any ransom withal acknowledging that he could not make sufficient compensation for such a favour Plut. The Athenians remembring how much Aristides had done for their safety in the time of the Persian warre to testifie their gratitude gave dowries to his daughters out of the publick Treasury and to his son Lysimachus they gave one hundred pounds of silver and so many acres of land allowing him besides fourty Drachmes a day for his expences Fulgos. P. Scipio rewarded Masinissa for his faithfull assistance against the Carthaginians not only by restoring to him his fathers Kingdome but gave him also a good part of the Kingdom of Siphax Pontanus Ephestion one of Alexanders great Captaines to testisie his grateful minde to his dead Master built him a Monument which cost him twelve thousand Talents and commanded him to be worshipped as a god Justin. In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you 1 Thes. 5. 18. CHAP. LIV. Examples of Ingratitude Unthankfulnesse Unkindenesse IT 's a great sinne 2 Tim. 3. 2. Prov. 17. 13. Plagued by God Prov. 17. 13. Scriptural examples Pharaohs butler Gen. 40. 23. Laban to Jacob Gen 31. 1. Pharaoh to Joseph Exod. 1. 8. Act. 7. 18. Israelites to Moses Exod. 17. 3. Corah and his companions Num. 16. 3. Nabal to David 1 Sam. 25. 14 15. Hanun 2 Sam. 10. 4. Joash to Jehoiadah 2 Chron. 24. 21. Men of Keilah 1 Sam. 23. 11. Saul to David 1 Sam. 19. 4 5. 20. 30. 24. 9 10. 26. 2 8. David to Uriah 2 Sam. 11. 15. The nine Lepers Luk. 17. 18. The Jews Act. 3. 14. Hezekiah 2 Chron. 32. 25. Other examples Miltiades a brave Captain of the Athenians who had prosperously carried on their Wars for a great while together at length miscarrying in one enterprize he was accused to the people and himselfe lying sick of a dangerous wound in his thigh some friends pleaded for him minding the Athenians of the great services which he had done them yet like ungrateful wretches they fined him fifty Talents which Cymon his son payed for him to get him out of prison shortly after which he died Herodot Pythius a mighty rich man royally entertained and feasted Xerxes and all his huge Army consisting of above a million of men and proffered him an huge summe of gold besides towards the charges of the War after which Xerxes having pressed his five sons for the War Pythius went to him intreating him to release his eldest sonne to be a comfort and support to his old age But Xerxes being angry at his request most ungratefully caused his son to be cut in two peeces and laid in the way for his Army to march over Herod Themistocles that had deserved so well of the Athenians by all those great victories that they had obtained under his conduct was at last through the envie of his Citizens in a most ungrateful manner banished the City and forced to flie to his mortal enemy Artaxerxes King of Persia with whom yet he found more favour then with his own Citizens Diodor. Plut. Themistocles used to say that the Athenians dealt with him when they were in danger as men deale with a great oake when a tempest comes they runne under it for shelter but when the tempest is over they most ungratefully crop and lop off the houghs of it Justin. Aristides the Just that had done as much for the Athenians as any man both in peace and war yet upon envy was banished by his ungrateful Citizens Plut. See more of it in Envy Miltiades after his great victories
the strength of him that beareth it and if at any time the furnace be made hotter then ordinary yet then will he make his power to appeare in our weaknesse so steeling our hearts and raising our resolutions that no danger though never so great shal be able to appale it as will appeare evidently in these examples following Constantius the father of Constantine the great to try the faith and beliefe in God of his Courtiers put it to their free choice either to sacrifice to the Idol-gods and so to stay with him or else if they refused to leave their honours and offices and so to depart but those that would leave all and depart rather then to renounce and forsake their faith in God he kept with him still and highly prized them casting off all the rest who he supposed would prove disloyall unto him seeing they had abandoned their beliefe in God Eusebius Luther being cited by an Herauld of Armes to appeare before the Councel at Wormes many of his friends perswaded him not to adventure himselfe to such a present danger to whom he answered that he was resolved and certainly determined to enter into Wormes in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ although he knew that there were so many Devill to resist him as there were tiles to cover the houses in Wormes Slâ—id Com. The Dutches Dowager of Ferrar who was a great Patronesse of the Protestants in France had one Malicorne a Knight of the Order sent by the Duke Guise to seize upon her towne and Castle who began to threaten the Lady with Cannon shot to batter her Castle but she couragiously sent him word that if he proceeded to such boldnesse to do it she would first stand in the breach her selfe to try if he durst be so bold to kill the daughter of a King for so she was whereupon like a snaile he pulled in his hornes and departed French Hist. St. Ierome relates an History of a young man under one of the first persecutions of most invincible courage and constancy against whom the adversaries had very little hope of prevailing by tortures and torments and therefore they took another course with him They brought him into a most fragrant Garden flowing with all pleasure and delight there they laid him upon a bed of downe softly enwrapped in a net of silke amongst the Lillies and the Roses the delicious murmur of the streames and the sweet whistling of the leaves and then all departed presently in comes a beautifull strumpet and useth all the abominable tricks of her impure Art and whorish villanies to draw him to her desire whereupon the young man fearing that he should now beconquered by folly who was conqueror over fury bites off a peece of his tongue with his own teeth and spits it into the face of the whore and so prevented the hurt of sin by the smart of his wound Domosthenes the famous Oratour of Athens soliciting Lais a beautiful strumpet for a nights lodging with her she demanded of him a thousand Drachmas for it but he being affrighted at the name of so great a sum thus replyed I purpose not to buy repentance so deare Non poenitentiam tanti emam Plut. Saint Jerome himselfe shewed his owne resolution by this speech If my father stood weeping on his knees before me and my mother hanging on my neck behinde and all my brethren sisters children and kinsfolk houling on every side to retaine me in a sinfull life I would fling my mother to the ground despise all my kindred run over my father and tread him under my feet that I might run to Christ when he calleth me See his life in my first part Saint Chrysostome also shewes the like heroicall spirit in these words When saith he I was driven from the City none of these things troubled me but I said within my selfe if the Queen will let her Banish me the earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof if she will let her saw me asunder Isaiah suffered the same if she will let her cast me into the Sea I will remember Jonah if she will let her cast me into a burning fiery Furnace or amongst wilde beasts the three children and Daniel were so dealt with if she will let her stone me or cut off mine head I have then Saint Stephen and the Baptist my blessed companions if she will let her take away all my substance Naked came I out of my mothers wombe and naked shall I returne thither agiaine Kilian a Dutch Schoolmaster being in prison for the cause of Christ was asked if he loved not his wife and children yea said he my wife and my children are so deare unto me that if the world were all gold and were mine to dispose of I would give it to live with them yea though it were in prison yet my soule and Christ are dearer to me then all Act. and Mon. George Carpenter a Martyr said My wife and my children are so deare unto me that they cannot be bought from me forall the riches and possessions of the greatest Duke yet for the love of my Lord God I will willingly forsake them all Act. and Mon. Benevolus being offered preferment by Justina the Emperesse an Arian if he would be an instrument of some vile service What saith he do you promise me an higher place for a reward of iniquity nay take this away that I have already with all my heart so that I may keep a good conscience and thereupon threw at her feet his girdle the ensigne of his honour Act. and Mon. Polycarpus being accused for that he was a Christian and brought before the Proconsul was perswaded to sweare by the fortune of Caesar and to defie Christ to whom he answered Fourscore and six yeares have I been his servant yet in all this time hath he not so much as once hurt me how then may I speak evill of my King and Lord who hath thus preserved me King Edward the sixth being sollicited by some of his best friends to permit the Lady Mary his sister to have the Masse in her house answered That he would rather spend his life and all that he had then to grant that that he knew certainly to be against Gods truth And in his message to the Devonshire Rebels who stood for Popery Assure your selves said he most surely that we of no earthly thing under heaven make such account as of this one to have our Lawes obeyed and this cause of God which we have taken in hand to be throughly maintained from the which we wil never remove one haires breadth or give place to any creature living much lesse to any subject wherein we will spend our owne Royall person our Crowne Treasure Realme and all our Estate whereof we assure you upon our high honour Act. and Mon. Bernard used to say Lord Iesus I love thee plus quà m mea meos me more then all my goods all my friends all my relations yea more
he wandred as a vagabond without comfort without help without hope in a pitiful estate yet pitied of no man travelling under the unsupportable burthen of a restlesse conscience and at last died for grief Simps Pope Clement the sixth raised many horrible Wars against the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria and was the death of twenty thousand Frenchmen by the King of England At last he poisoned the Emperour But shortly after himself was by Gods just judgement stifled to death Pope Adrian the fourth a most proud person who was angry with the Emperour Frederick Barbarussa for holding his stirrup on the left side as he was walking with his Cardinals abroad a flie got into his throat and choaked him Simps Pope Alexander the third a proud and turbulent person having taken the Emperours son prisoner the father was faine to submit himself to the Pope who putting his foot upon the Emperours neck spake these words Thou shalt walk upon the Adder and the Basiliske and shalt tread down the Lion and Dragon The Emperour said Not to thee but to Peter To whom the Pope answered Both to me and to Peter Simps Pope Boniface the eighth was a most proud and turbulent man who took upon him to give and take away kingdomes at his pleasure He excommunicated Philip King of France and his posterity to the fourth generation for making a Decree that no money should be carried out of his Countrey to Rome but the King sent the steward of his house and a Noble man of Rome whom the Pope had driven out of his inheritance to publish his appeal to the next general Councel who seizing upon the Pope spoyled his treasures and set him upon a wanton Colt with his face towards the taile and so made him a ridiculous spectacle to all the people whereupon he fell into so cruel a frenzie that he eat his own hands and died miserably of whom it was said that he entered like a Fox reigned like a Lion and died like a dog Simps Pope Urbane the sixth was a most cruel and bloody man He caused one of his Cardinals which had displeased him to be slaine five others of them to be sowed up in Sacks and cast into the Sea three more of them in the presence of all the people to be knockt on the head and their bodies to be dried in an oven and carried in Chests about with him with their red hats set upon the same but shortly after as he was with much greedinesse gathering money he fell from his Mule and so bruised himself that he languished thereof for twenty seven dayes dying by degrees and so suffering the paines which he caused his Cardinals to endure Simps Pope Sixtus the fourth most unjustly vexed all Italy with warres and dissentions One of his own writers saith that amongst all the Bawds of these latter dayes that built brothell-houses this Pope surmounted them all who at Rome erected Stews of double abomination one of women the other of c. and allowed the whole family of the Cardinall of St. Lucy in the three hot moneths of Summer free leave to use Sodomitry He caused every whore to pay him a certain rate which yearly amounted to the summe of fourty thousand Duckets of whom these Epitaphs were made Sixte jaces tandem nostri discordia sceli Sâ—visti in superos nunc Acheronta move Sixte jaces tandèm deflent tua busta cinaedi Scortâ—que lenones â—lea vina Venus Another Gaude prisce Nero vincit te Crimine Sixtus Hîc scelus omne simul clauditur vitium Act. Mon. Pope Innocentius the fourth a bloody and turbulent man after many wicked and abominable prankes as he was in Naples a voice was heard in his Court Surge miser veni ad judicium Arise oh wretch and come to judgement and the day following he was found dead in his bed all black and blew as though he had been beaten with bats Simps Pope John the 22. told his friends that he knew by the position of the starres that he should live a long time in this world but very shortly after he was smothered to death by the sudden fall of a Chamber which he had newly built for his solace and pleasure Simps Pope Paul the second being an ignorant and illiterate person himselfe accounted all that were learned hereticks and thereupon exercised much cruelty against many learned and famous men Plat. Pope Alexander the sixth was endued with most filthy conditions void of sincerity truth faith and Religion was full of unquenchable covetousnesse unreasonable ambition more then barbarous cruelty and a burning desire of advancing his bastards whereof he had many He set benefices and promotions to sale He poisoned John Michael Cardinal of Venice at Rome for his gold and treasures In adulteries he was most filthy and abominable In Tyrannie most mercilesse In Magick most cunning and therefore execrable He poisoned his own father He committed incest with his own sister Lucretia He poisoned Zemes brother to Bajazet the great Turk being hired thereto by two hundred Duckets after he had sworne friendship to him He procured aide of the Turk against the King of France He caused the tongue and hands of Anthony Mancivel a learned and prudent man to be cut off for making an Oration in reproof of his wickednesse He never attempted any thing but he first consulted with the devil He was accustomed to poison any whom he disliked but at last through the mistake of his Butler had the poisoned wine which he had prepared for some of his Cardinals put into his own hand which he drinking off with horrible cries and groans died immediately Simps Guich Bembus Pope Anastasius the second who was a deadly enemy to all that were good as he was doing his secret businesse his bowels gushed out and so he died miserably Plat. Pope Benedict the eleventh when the Ambassadors of the Councel of Constance came to him laying his hand on his breast cried out Hîc est Arca Noae To which they tartly but truly replied In Noahs Arke there were few men but many beasts Act. Mon. Pope Leo the tenth admiring the huge masses of money which by his indulgences he had raked together said unto Cardinal Bembus most Atheistically Vide quantum haec fabula de Christo nobis profuit See what a deal of wealth we have gotten by this fable of Christ And when he lay upon his death-bed the same Cardinal rehearsing a text of Scripture to comfort him he replied Apage has nugas de Christo Away with these bawbles concerning Christ. Act. Mon. Pope Adrian the sixth before he was Pope taxed sharply many errors and abuses in the Court of Rome but having attained the Popedome when he was pressed to reforme them being in place and having power to do it answered When I was a childe I thought like a childe and spake like a childe but now I am a man I have put away childish things Act. Mon. Pope Julius the
he merrily said Persides oculorum dolores esse That the Persian women were a disease of the eyes and yet he looked on them but on so many statues And understanding that two of his Captaines under Parmenio had ravished two of the Persian wives he wrote to him to enquire after the matter and if he found it true that he should cut of their heads as of beasts borne for the hurt of mankinde he also wrote him word that he himself was so farre from contemplating the beauty of Darius's wife that he would not so much as suffer her to be commended in his presence and that he was so careful of their chastity that they lived in his camp shut up in their tent as if they had been in a Temple Plut. Appius Claudius one of the Decemviri of Rome seeking to ravish a Virgin that was daughter to Virginius her father to preserve her chastity slew her and complaining to the souldiers whereupon that forme of Government was abolished Eutropius Pub. Scipio Africanus warring in Spain took New Carthage by storme at which time a beautiful and Noble Virgin fled to him for succour to preserve her chastity he being but twenty four years old and so in the heat of youth hearing of it would not suffer her to come into his sight for fear of a temptation but caused her to be restored in safety to her father Aure Victor Amongst the Lacedaemonians when any maid was to be married she was laid in the dark and the groom being neither drunk nor finelier apparrelled then ordinary after his moderate supper secretly went to the place where she lay and having untied her girdle and stayed a while with her stole away to the place where he used to lie amongst other young men and thus he continued and onely sometimes met with his wife in private till he had a childe by her after which they boldly met together in the day-time This was a means to preserve chastity and modesty amongst them Plut. Cassander sending some to murther Olympias the mother of Alexander M. she met them with an unappaled countenance and without once changing colour received the sword into her bosome and finding death to approach she sat down and covering her feet with her haire and her garments she took care that nothing unseemly should appear about her body after death Diod. Sic. Aurelian an Heathen Emperour was so careful to preserve the chastity of women that one of his souldiers being found guilty of lying with his hostesse he commanded that the heads of two young trees should be bowed down and the souldiers legs tied thereto which being suddenly let go tore him into two peeces Emme the mother to King Edward the Confessour being charged for incontinency with Aldwin Bishop of Winchester to clear her self from that imputation being hoodwinked went barefoot over nine-coulters red hot in Winchester Church withoutany harme an usual kinde of trial in those dayes then called Ordalium making her chastity by so great a miracle famous to posterity Cam. Brit. p. 211. In the time when the barbarous and bloody Danes raged here in England they coming to Coldingham a Nunnery on the hither part of Scotland Ebba the Prioresse with the rest of the Nunnes cut off their own noses and lips choosing rather to preserve their Virginity from the Danes then their beauty and favour and yet for all that the Danes burnt their Monastery and them with all in it Cam. Brit. Scot. p. 10. Our Henry the sixth was so chaste a Prince that when certain Ladies presented themselves before him in a Maske with their haire loose and their breasts uncovered he being then at mans estate and unmaried immediately rose up and departed the Presence saying Fie fie forsooth you are much too blame Sp. Chron. For this is the will of God even your sanctification that ye should abstain from Fornication that every one of you should know how to possesse his vessel in sanctification and honour 1 Thes. 4. 3 4. CHAP. XII Examples of Charity AS Husbandmen cast some of their Corne back into a fruitful soile whereby in due time they receive it back again with increase So should we do with worldly blessings sowe them in the bowels and on the backs of poor members of Christ and in the day of harvest we shall finde great increase Such laying out is a laying up our treasure in heaven Hereby we make to our selves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousnesse and though for the present it seem like bread cast upon the waters yet Solomon assures us That after many dayes we shall finde it again Eccses 11. 1. For we make God our debtour who is a sure paymaster Prov. 19. 17. Charity justifieth our faith as faith doth our persons James 2. 14 c. But yet we must look to our affections and ends in giving We must not draw forth our sheaves onely but our souls also Esay 58. 10. But on the contrary miserly muck-wormes are like the muckhill that never doth good till it be carried out like the earthen box that hath one chink to receive but never a one to let out and so doth no good till it be broken Or like the fat hog that yields no profit till he comes to the knife But that we may be the more quickened to that lovely grace of Charity observe these texts and examples following Directed Mat. 6. 1 c. 2 Cor. 9. 5 c. Rom. 12. 8. 1 Cor. 16. 2. Commanded Luk. 11. 41. 12. 33. Mica 6. 8. Zach. 7. 9. 1 Tim. 6. 18. Luk. 3. 11. 1 John 3. 17. Luke 6. 36. Lev. 25. 35. Nehem. 8. 10. Rom. 12. 13. Heb. 13 16. Commended Luk. 21. 4. 2 Cor. 8. 2 c. Psal. 12. 9. Mat. 5. 7. Psal. 41. 1. Phil. 4. 16. 1 Tim. 5. 10. It must be with compassion Job 30. 25. Isa. 58. 10. Col. 3. 12. Heartily 2 Cor. 9. 7. Considerately Psal. 37. 26. 112. 5. Willingly 1 Tim. 6. 18. Chearfully Rom 12. 8 2 Cor. 9. 7. Liberally 2 Cor. 9. 6. Psal. 112. 9. Prov. 11. 25. 22. 9. Eccles. 11. 1 2 6. Luk. 6. 38. Seasonably Prov. 3. 27 28. Impartially Prov. 25. 21 22. Rom. 12. 20. Not grudgingly Deut. 15. 10. 1 Pet. 4. 9. Prov. 21. 26. Scriptural Examples Christians Act. 2. 45. 4. 34. Women Luk. 8. 23. the poor widow Mar. 12. 42. Dorcas Act. 9. 36. Paul Act. 24. 17. Cornelius Act. 10. 2. Job Chap. 31. 16 21. Barnabas Act. 4. 36 37. Zacheus Luk. 19. 8. Phebe Rom. 16. 2. Hebrews Chap. 6. 10. Philemon Verse 5 7. the virtuous woman Prov. 31. 20. Obadia 1 King 18. 13. Onesiphorus 2 Tim. 1. 18. Saint Augustine was of so charirable a disposition that wanting of his own wherewith to do it he caused the ornaments of the Church to be sold and imployed the money for the redeeming of Captives and maintaining the poore Possid in vit Aug. chap. 24. Francis Russel second Earle of Bedford of
were not so and according to his wish so it befell him at Saint Peters Monastery in Erforâ—s Anno 1148. Luther on 1 Cor. 15. reports of one in Germany of a most wicked life who at almost every word he spake the devil was at one end Now it happened on a time as he was passing over a bridge he fell down and as he was falling cried out Hoist up with an hundred devils which was no sooner spoken but the devil whom he called on so oft was at his elbow to strangle and carry him away with him Another story he relates of a Popish Priest once a Professour of the truth but now an Apostate who thundered out many bitter curses against Luther at a place called Ruthnerwald and amongst other passages wished if Luthers doctrine were true that a thunderbolt might strike him to death Now three dayes after there arose a mighty tempest with thunder and lightning whereat the cursing Priest being affrighted having a guilty conscience within him ran hastily to the Church and there fell to his prayers before the Altar but Gods vengeance pursued him and by a flash of lightning he was struck dead and though they recovered life in him again yet as they carried him home in the Church-yard another flash of lightning burnt him from the head to the foot as black as a shoe whereby he immediately died Anno Christi 1551. there lived in a City of Savoy a man who was a monstrous swearer and curser and though he was often admonished and blamed for it yet would by no meanes mend his manners At length a great plague happening in the City he withdrew himself with his wife and a kinswoman into a Garden which he had where being again admonished to give over his wickednesse he hardened his heart more swearing blaspheming God and giving himself to the devil and immediately the devil snatched him up suddenly his wife and kinswoman looking on and carried him quite away The Magistrates advertised hereof went to the place and examined the two women who justified the truth of it At Oundle in Northampton-shire there was one William Hacket who used in his earnest talke thus to curse himself If it be not true let God send a visible confusion upon me which wish of his came to passe for falling into abominable errours he called himselfe Christ and Judge of the world for which he was hanged in the thirty third year of Queen Elizabeth in Cheapside At Oster in the Dutchy of Magalaâ—ole a wicked woman used in her cursings to give her selfe body and soul to the devil and being reproved for it she still contined the same till being at a wedding-feast the devil came in person and carried her up into the aire with most horrible out-cries and roarings and in that sort carried her round about the towne that the inhabitants were ready to die with fear and by and by tore her in foure peeces leaving her foure quarters in four several high-wayes and then brought her bowels to the marriage-feast and threw them upon the table before the Major of the town saying Behold these dishes of meat belong to thee whom the like destruction waiteth for if thou doest not amend thy wicked life At Wittenberg before Martin Luther and others a woman whose daughter was possessed with a spirit confessed that being angry she bid the devil take her and that she had no sooner spoken the word but she was possessed after a strange sort In a towne in Misnia Sep. 11. Anno 1552. a cholerick father seeing his sonne slack about his businesse wished that he might never stirre from that place which he had no sooner spoken but his son stuck fast indeed nor could by any meanes possible be removed no not so much as to fit or bend his body till by the prayers of the faithful his paines were mitigated though not remitted three yeares he continued so standing with a post at his back for his ease and four years sitting at the end whereof he died nothing weakned in his understanding but professing the faith and not doubting of his salvation through Jesus Christ when at any time he was asked how he did his answer usualy was that he was fastened of God and that it was not in man to release him At Noeburg in Germany a woman in her anger cursed her sonne wishing that she might never see him return alive and the same day the young man bathing himselfe in water was drowned so that as she wished it befel her This is the curse which goeth forth over the face of the whole world I will bring it forth saith the Lord and it shall enter into the house of the thiefe and into the house of him that sweareth falsly by my Name and it shall remaine in the middest of his house and shall consume it with the timber thereof and with the stones thereof Zach. 5. 3 4. CHAP. XXVII Examples of Gods judgements upon Hereticks and Schismaticks IT is just with God that they which will not have truth their King and willingly obey it should have falsehood their Tyrant to whom their judgements should be captivated and enslaved hence iâ— is that as errors in practice are like a fretting Leprosie of a contagious and spreading nature so errors in judgements are very diffusive also A little Leaven leaveneth the whole lump 1 Cor. 5. 6. and hereticks false doctrines fâ—et like a Gangrene 2 Tim. 2. 17. for no opinion is so monstrous but if it have a mother it will get a nurse wofull experience in these times wherein the golden reines of Government are wanting doth clearly evince the truth hereof But yet the Lord doth seldome suffer the Authors and chiefe fomentors of Heresies and Schismes even in this world to go unpunished as will fully appear in these ensuing examples An heretick is one that erres in a necessary doctrine of faith and being sufficiently admonished wilfully persists therein Tit. 3. 10. Called Foxes Cant. 2. 15. Dogs Phil. 3. 12. men of corrupt mindes 1 Tim. 6. 5. Reprobate concerning the faith 2 Tim. 3. 8. teachers for lucre sake Tit. 3. 11. Seducing spirits 1 Tim. 4. 1. men of seared consciences 1 Tim. 4. 2. Deceitfull workers Phil. 3. 2. 2 Cor. 11. 13. Teachers of perverse things Act. 20. 30. enemies to the Crosse of Christ Phil. 3. 18. Heresie is called Leaven Luk. 12. 1. Wood hay stubble 1 Cor. 3. 12. Windy Doctrine Eph. 4. 4. Damnable Doctrine 2 Pet. 2. 1. Mystery of iniquity 2 Thes. 2. 7. Contrary to sound Doctrine 1 Tim. 1. 10. Doctrine of devils 1 Tim. 4. 1. Doctrine of men Col. 2. 22. Dissenting from wholesome Doctrine 1 Tim. 6. 3. Perverse disputings 1 Tim. 6. 5. a word that eats like a Gangrene 2 Tim. 2. 17. Erring from the truth 2 Tim. 2. 8. Strange Doctrine Heb. 13. 9. Root of bitternesse Heb. 12. 15. which should not be taught Tit. 1. 11. Doctrine of Balaam and Nicholaitans Rev. 2. 14 15. a work of
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
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
provided them meat and drink dressed their wounds and carrying them home to their houses shewed them that they were Mistresses there with their husbands highly loved and honoured by them So that in the end a peace was concluded and amongst other Articles of agreement these were some that the Sabine women should remaine with their husbands that they should be exempted from all service and work save spinning of wooll that they should have the upperhand of their husbands that the men should speak no foule nor dishonest words nor discover their nakednesse before them c. Plut. A woman of another Countrey being in talk with Gorgona the wife of Leonidas King of Sparta said to her There be no wives in the world that so much love and commend their husbands as you Lacedemonian wives do the Queen straight replied Neither be there any women but we that bring forth men Plut. Numa enacted a Law amongst the Romanes that when any man died his wife should remaine a widow for the space of ten moneths Augustus Caesar died in the kisses of his wife Livia of whom he took this farewell Livia nostri conjugii memor vive vale She was alwayes exceeding dear to him and being asked how she kept his love so long she answered Quòd diligenter prudenter agens summum adhibuisset studium ut omnia faceret ex animo Augusti nec curiose perquisivisset quidquam eorum quae Augustus faceret Plut. Portia the daughter of Cato was married to M. Brutus who having conspired with some others the death of Iulius Caesar was something melancholy and troubled in minde about the thing his wife Portia observing it and being grieved that her husband should conceale any thing from her she took a rasour and wounded her thigh and losing much blood fell into a feaver Her husband coming home and hearing of the sicknesse of his wife was much grieved and went to visit her She taking the opportunity they being alone said thus unto him My deare husband sit down and let us talke seriously together when I married you I came to your house as a wife not as a friend or harlot and gave up my self unto you not onely at bed and board but as a companion of all your joy and sorrows I am Cato's daughter and I desire that you will take notice of what stock I come What therefore shall I complaine of you truly I cannot do it in other things onely one thing troubles me that you make me not a partaker of your secrets as doubting of my fidelity and taciturnity you cannot dissemble with me I discerne that your minde is full of trouble and there is some great secret that you are about Why do you conceale it from me if you cannot expect help yet expect comfort from me and I will assure you of my silence Do not consider what others of my sex are but remember againe that I am Cato's daughter and Brutus's wife either nature from my father or custome from my husband hath made me valiant and constant so as not to fear any danger What need more words I have made trial of myself by this wound the smart and paine whereof I can easily beare yea assure your self that I can die with Brutus and for my husband Wherefore if thou art about any honest thing that beseemes us both do not conceale it from me Brutus wondring at her courage kissed her and with his hand lift up to heaven he said O ye Celestial gods I pray you make me an husband fit for such a wife and so discloseth the whole matter to her Afterwards when she heard of his death after the battel in the Philippic fields she resolved to die and being for a while hindred by those about her she at last snatched some burning coles out of the fire and putting them into her mouth and throat suffocated herself Lipsius See the Example of Zenobia in Fortitude Licurgus the Lacedemonian Lawgiver enacted that all they should be infamous that would not marry So that on a time Dercillides a Noble Captaine coming into a place there was a young man that refused to rise up and do him reverence for said he Thou hast not gotten a son that may do the like to me in time to come Plut. Solon the Athenian Lawgiver ordeined that no joyntures nor dowries should be given or made to maides at marriage commanding that wives should bring to their husbands no more then three gownes and some other movables of small value Utterly forbidding that they should buy their husbands or make merchandize of marriages as of other trades he willed that men and women should marry together for issue pleasure and love but not for money Plut. Two men being suiters to the daughter of Themistocles he preferred the honester before the richer saying that he had rather have to his sonne in Law a man that wanted goods then goods that wanted a man Plut. A Virgin of Lacaena being poore was demanded what dower she had to bring to an husband and to marry her with she answered That which was left me as an inheritance from mine Ancestors viz. Vertue and Modesty Hist. of women p. 331. It was a custome among the Grecians for the bride to be carried through the streets in a Chariot the Axeltree whereof at her coming home was taken off and burned before the gates of her house to signifie that she must ever after be an houswife and keepe within as a faithful and industrious overseer of their domestick affaires and businesse Hist. of women p. 336. Prince Edward of England whilest he was warring in Palestine against the Turks was stabbed by an Assâ—ssine with a poisoned knife but by the diligence of his Chirurgions and the unparallel'd love of his wife who sucked the poison out of his wounds without doing any hurt to her selfe he quickly recovered so sovereigne a medicine is a womans tongue anointed with the vertue of loving affections Holy Warre The Emperour Conrade besieging the City of Winsperge in Germany and the women perceiving that the Town could not hold out long petitioned the Emperour that they might depart onely with so much as each of them could carry upon her back which the Emperour condescended unto expecting that they would have loaden themselves with silver gold c. but they came all forth with every one her husband on her back whereby the men were all saved and their wives gat immortal credit to themselves Rubenius Celer would needs have it ingraven on his Tombe that he had lived with his wife Ennea fourty three years and eight moneths and yet they never fell out The Lord of Harlem in the Low-countries having by his exactions and cruelty made himself odious to all his people was together with his wife besieged in his Castle by them and so prest for want of victuals that he was compelled to enter into treaty His wife a true mirrour of piety and love towards her husband amongst other Articles
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
prevailing he condemned him yet when he was at the stake he sent his wife and seven children to him hoping by that meanes to work upon him but through Gods grace Religion overcame nature and when his wife intreated him with tears to favour himself he answered Be not a block in my way for I am in a good course and running towards the mark of my salvation and so he patiently suffered Martyrdome In Q Maries daies one Steven Knight Martyr when he came to the stake kneeled down and prayed thus O Lord Jesus Christ for the love of whom I willingly leave this life and rather desire the bitter death of thy Crosse with the losse of all earthly goods then to obey men in breaking thy holy Commandments Thou seest O Lord that whereas I might live in worldly wealth if I would worship a false god I rather choose the torments of my body and losse of my life counting all things but dung and drosse that I might win thee for whose sake death is dearer unto me then thousands of gold and silver c. See my Eng. Martyrologie p. 132. Thomas Watts Martyr when he was at the stake called his wife and six children to him saying Dear wife and my good children I must now leave you and therefore henceforth know I you no more as the Lord gave you unto me so I give you back again to the Lord c. and so kissing them he bade them farewell and went joyfully to the stake Idem p. 143. Nicholas Sheterden Martyr when he was ready to be burned said Lord thou knowest that if I would but seem to please men in things contrary to thy Word I might enjoy the commodities of life as others do as wife children goods and friends But seeing the world will not suffer me to enjoy them except I sin against thy holy Lawes lo I willingly leave all the pleasures of this life for the hopes sake of eternal life c. Idem p. 146. Richard Woodman Martyr when he was brought to his answer the Bishop told him that if he would be reformed he might enjoy his wife and children c. To whom he answered I love my wife and children in the Lord and if I had ten thousand pounds in gold I had rather forgo it all then them but yet I have them as if I had them not and will not for their sakes for sake Christ. Idem p. 185. A poor woman in Cornwall being admonished by the Bishop to remember her husband and children She answered I have them and I have them not whilest I was at liberty I enjoyed them but now seeing I must either forsake Christ or them I am resolved to stick to Christ alone my heavenly Spouse and to renounce the other Idem p. 211. See more in my two parts of Lives I count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him c. Phil. 3. 8 9. Examples concerning Christ our Mediatour Themistocles being banished Athens was forced to fly to his deadly enemy Admetus King of the Molossians and when he came thither he took the Kings son being a child in his armes and so prostrated himself before the K. and found favour for it was a sacred Law amongst the Molossians that whosoever thus came before the King should have pardon whatsoever his offence was so whosoever goes to God the Father with Christ in his armes shall be sure to speed in his request Claudius Tib. Caesar hearing of the miracles and resurrection of Jesus Christ moved the Senate at Rome that he might be numbred amongst the gods but the Senate refused because he was by some esteemed for a God before the Senate had decreed him one Tert. One in Tamerlanes Army having found a great pot of Gold digged it up and brought it to Tamerlane who asked whether the Gold had his Fathers stamp upon it but when he saw it had the Roman stamp he would not own it So God will own none but such as have the stamp of Christ and his Image upon them CHAP. LXIII Examples of Compassion Sympathy COmmanded 1 Pet. 3. 8. Zach. 7. 8. Such as want it love not God 1 Joh. 3. 17. And are wicked 2 Chron. 36. 17. Scriptural Examples Our Saviour Christ Matt. 9. 36. 14. 14. 15. 32. Mark 1. 41. 6. 34. A Lord Matth. 18. 27. Pharaohs daughter Exod. 2. 6. The Father of the Prodigal Luke 15. 20. Darius his wife being a Captive with Alexander miscarried by reason of a fall and so died which when Alexander heard of he brake forth into weeping and suffered one of her Eunuches to carry Darius word of her death Darius hearing that Alexander wept at the newes of her death conceited that he had been too familiar with her but when the Eunuch by grievous asseverations protested that he had never seen her but once and then never offered the least indignity to her Darius lifting up his hands to heaven prayed the gods that if the Persian Empire were at an end that none might sit in Cyrus his Throne but so just and merciful a Conquerour Q. Cur. When Alexander M. found Darius murthered by his own servants though he was his enemy yet he could not refrain from weeping and putting off his own Coate he covered the body of Darius with it and so clothing of him with Kingly Ornaments he sent him to his mother Sisigambis to be interred amongst his Ancestors in a royall manner Q. Cur. Nero the Emperour in the first five years of his reign was of a very compassionate disposition insomuch as being requested to set his hand to a Writ for the execution of a Malefactor he said Quà m vellem me nescire literas Would I had never learned to write Sâ—ne Camillus with the Roman Army after ten years siege took the City of Veia in Italy by storme and when Camillus from the top of the Castle saw the infinite riches which the Souldiers took by plundering the City he wept for very pitty to see the miseries which were brought upon the inhabitants Plut. The Thebans having given the Lacedemonians a very great overthrow in the Battel of Leuctra they presently sent an Ambassador to Athens to acquaint them with it and to desire them to enter into confederacy with them against the Lacedemonians their old enemies telling them that now was the time when they might be fully revenged of them for all the wrongs which they had received from them but the Athenian Senate was so far from rejoycing at the misery of the Lacedemonians that they did not so much as give lodging the Ambassadour or treat at all with him about a League Plut. Vespasian the Emperour was of such a merciful disposition that he never rejoyced at the death of any though his enemies yea he used to sigh and weep when he
Christians had many malicious slanders raised against them as that they lived in incest that in their night-meetings putting out the candles they mixed together in a filthy manner that they killed their children and fed upon mans flesh that they were seditious and rebellious and refused to swear by the fortune of Caesar c. which much incensed the Emperours against them Idem p. 34. Under the third Persecution the Heathens imputed to the Christians all those miseries and mischiefs which befell them yea they invented against them all manner of conâ—umelies and false crimes that they might have the more pretence to persecute them Idem p. 37. Under the fourth Persecution heathen servants were examined against their Christian Masters and being threatned with most exquisite torments were enforced to confesse against their Masters that at their meetings they kept the Feasts of Thyestes and committed the incests of Oedipus and such like abominations not fit to be named Idem p. 41. Under the fifth Persecution the Christians were slanderously reported to be seditious and rebellious against the Emperours to be guilty of Sacriledge murthering their infants incestuous pollutions eating raw flesh worshipping the head of an Asse c. Idem p. 46. Under the eighth Persecution the Christians were falsely charged with all the calamities of war famine and Pestilence which befell the world because they refused to worship Idols and the Emperour Idem p. 56. Under the tenth Persecution there was a Conjurer in Athens which made an Image of Jupiter that uttered these words Jupiter commands the Christians to be banished out of this City because they are enemies to him Also certain Harlots were suborned to say that formerly they had been Christians and so were privy to the wicked and lascivious acts which they committed amongst themselves at their Sabbath-meetings c. Idem p. 68. The Queen of Persia being sick the wicked Jewes and Magicians accused two godly Virgins for that by charmes and inchantments they had procured the Queens sicknesse whereupon they were sawen in sunder by the wastes and their Quarters hung upon stakes that the Queen might go betwixt them thinking thereby to be freed from her disease Idem p. 80. The Popish Friers to make the godly Waldenses odious raised up many foul slanders against them as that they were Sorcerers Buggerers c. that when they assembled together in the night-time their Pastors commanded the lights to be put out saying Qui potest capere capiat whereupon they committed abominable Incests the son with his mother the brother with his sister the father with his daughter c. As also that they held many false and damnable opinions Idem p. 103. See more in my Gen. Martyrologie and two Parts of Lives CHAP. LXVIII Examples of Discord Contention and the Evils of iâ— IT 's a great Evil Prov. 6. 14 19. worst in wives Prov. 19. 13. 27. 15. Condemned Ephes. 4. 31. Col. 3. 8. Prov. 17. 14. Tit. 3. 9. Rom. 13. 13. It comes from Pride Prov. 13. 10. Scriptural Examples Kings Gen. 14. 4. Abimelech and Sechem Judg. 9. Pharisees and Sadduces Act. 23. 2. Servants Gen. 13. 7. Hebrews Exo. 2. 13. Judah and Israel 2 Sam. 19. 4. Aaron and Moses Num. 12. 1. Israel and Benjamin Judg. 20. 13. Disciples Luk. 22. 24. Paul and Barnabas Act. 15. 39. Corinthians 1 Cor. 1. 11 12. 3. 3 4. 11. 18. 6. 7. Abrahams and Lots heardsmen Gen. 13. 7. Israelites Isa. 9. 21. Epiphanius tells a sad story of two Bishops Milesius and Peter Bishop of Alexandria both Professours and fellow-sufferers for the Christian faith These two men being condemned and sent to work in the Mettal-Mines for a small difference fell into so great a Schisme that they drew a partitian-wall between each other in the Mine and would not hold Communion each with other in the service of Christ for which they both were sufferers which dissension of theirs caused such a rent in the Church that it did more hurt then an open Persecution from the enemy How much better did Bishop Ridley and Hooper who though in King Edward the sixth his daies they had been at great variance about the Ceremonies yet when in Queen Maries Reign they were imprisoned for the same cause they forgat all former quarrels loved and wrote each to other as brethren See Dr. Ridley's Life in my first Part. In Constantine's time the differences of the Bishops were so many and so great that they brought in whole bundles of Petitions one against another to the Emperour which he out of a wonderfull desire after peace would not so much as read but burnt them all before their faces Aristides and Themistocles being sent joynt Ambassadours to the same City fell out by the way Aristides was stout enough and crosse enough yet when he came neer the City gates whither they were sent he condescended so far as to bespeak Themistocles in this manner Sir you and I are not now at leisure thus to squabble Let us dispatch our Countrey affaires It will be time enough to renew our quarrel when our work is at an end Plut. Empedocles was of such a contentious disposition that every day he would quarrel with some body or other and prosecute his contentions with much violence Ravis Hyperbolus was a man so addicted to strife and contention that it grew into a Proverb Ultra Hyperbolum Frowardnesse is in the heart of a naughty person he deviseth mischief continually he soweth discord Prov. 6. 14. CHAP. LXIX Examples of strange Accidents MAthias Huniades the thundering sonne of a lightning father being cast into prison by Uladislaus King of Hungary and Bohemia was sent into Bohemia to his execution but Uladislaus immediately after dying upon the eating of a poisoned Apple the Hungarians partly affected with the merit of his father and hopes of the sons valour and partly by means of the solicitations of his friends chose Huniades for their King and to give him notice thereof they sent Letters by Ambassadours to Pâ—gibrachius King of Bohemia with whom Matthias was prisoner which he receiving at Supper presently raised Matthias from the lower end of the Table where he sate and set him above himself wishing him not to be dismayed for he had glad tydings for him which he would impart after Supper and so he did saluting him King of Hungary and gave him Katherine his daughter to wife Look Glass of the Hol War A young man the son of Sinan the Jew a famous Sea-Captain under the Turk having been taken prisoner by the Christians was at length delivered and sent home to his father The old man over-joyed at the sudden and unexpected return of his son in imbracing of him fainted and presently dyed in an extasie of joy Turk Hist. p. 750. Dudilius relates a sad story of one Bochna a woman who had but two sons and whilest she was walking with one towards a River she heard the other cry out whereupon returning
a great pile of wood to be made in his Palace in which he shut up all his Concubines and Catamites together with all his gold silver and treasures and so setting it on fire he cast himself into it whereby they all perished together Diod. Sic. Candaules King of Lydia having a very beautiful woman to his wife would needs make one of his Nobles called Gyges a witnesse thereof and placing him behind the hangings in his Chamber he caused his wife to strip her self naked and to walk up and down the Chamber that so Gyges might the better see her compleat beauty but when the Queen came afterwards to hear of iâ— she caused Gyges to kill the King her husband and then married him saying That she was onely fit for him that had so seen her nakednesse Herod Megahysus General to Darius in Europe sent Ambassadours to Amyntas King of Macedon requiring him to send Darius earth and water in token of subjection Amyntas fearing the Persian power assented to it and made the Ambassadours a great supper these Persians being merry with wine required Amyntas to bring forth his wives and daughters for their further entertainment Amyntas consented brought them forth and placed them over against the Ambassadours who being almost drunken they began to kisse the Matrones and Virgins and immodestly to handle their breasts Alexander the son of Amyntas taking this in scorn desired his father to withdraw himself whilest he chastised the petulancy of the Persians and then calling forth the women as if it were for them to dresse themselves more curiously he caused divers youths to be dressed in their apparel who carrying daggers under their clothes when the drunken Ambassadours began to handle them immodestly with their daggers they slew them all Pez Mel. Hist. Claudius Tib. Caesar was so impudent that he caused naked maids and women to bring in and attend upon him at Supper Pez Mel. Hist. Examples of Rapes Solon made a Law amongst the Athenians that if any one ravished a free woman he should pay an hundred Drachmes and the Pander that procured it should pay 20 Drachmes As also that it should be lawful for any man to sell his daughter or sister if she committed whoredome before marriage Plut. Two young men of Sparta being sent to the Oracle of Apollo at Delphos in their journey lodged at the house of one Scedasus in Leuctra a good man and given much to hospitality this Scedasus had two daughters beautifull Virgins upon whom these young men cast wanton eyes and as they came back again they turned into the same house at which time Scedasus was from home and the maids gave them kind entertainment but they seeing their opportunity ravished them and when they saw them make grievous moan for the wrong which they had suffered they murthered them and threw them into a pit and so departed Not long after Scedasus came home and missing his daughters looked up and down for them at last a little Dog that he had came whining to him and ran out of doors inviting him to follow which at last he did and the dog brought him to the pit into which they were thrown whence he drew them out and hearing by his neighbours that those two men had been again at his house he concluded that they were the murtherers and therefore went to Lacedaemon to complain to the Magistrates of that barbarous cruelty where he made his moan first to the Ephori and being neglected by them then to the Kings and they also neglecting it he complained to the people and finding no redresse he with hands lift up to heaven complained to the gods and then stabbed himself but God left not this wickednesse long unpunished for shortly after in a great battel which the Lacedaemonians fought in Leuctra against the Thebans they were overthrown and abundance of them were slain Xenoph. When Alexander M. took the City of Thebes by storm one of his Captains ravished Timoclea a Lady of admirable beauty after which he asked her where she had hid her gold and jewels she told him she would shew him the place and so taking him into her Orchard she shewed him a deep pit which whilest he stooped to look into she pushed him into it and then overwhelmed him with stones for this she was accused and brought before Alexander who asked her who she was She with an undaunted courage answered I am the sister of Theagines who lost his life fighting valiantly against thee for the liberty of Greece at Cheronaea Alexander wondring at her beauty and boldnesse set her and all her children at liberty Diod. Sic. Alexander M. having conquered Persia and taken Persepolis the regal City made a great feast to his Captains at which many Curtizans were also present and amongst the rest Thais that famous Athenian strumpet who having bewitched Alexander with her beauty perswaded him to burn down the Queens Palace which was so stately a thing that the like was not in the world Parmenio much disswaded him from it telling him what a dishonor it would be to him by such a shamefull act to destroy that which he had gotten by his virtue and valour and how distastfull it would be to all the Asiaticks who would thereby judge that he came not to conquer and to possesse but to lay waste Asia but Alexander was so intoxicated with this harlot that to gratifie her he refused that good counsell and caused it to be burnt down Q. Cur. Aurelius a Roman Painter was so impudent that all his delight was to draw the pictures of whores and harlots in immodest postures Plin. Aristogiton an Athenian Orator was so impudent in his whoredomes that the Athenians called him Dog Volat. Octavianus Caesar banished his daughter Julia into a certain Island for that in an immodest manner she frequented feasts in the night time Dion She caught him and kissed him and with an impudent face said unto him Come let us take our fill of love untill the morning let us solace our selves with loves Prov. 7. 13 18. CHAP. LXXVIII Examples of Gods Judgments on the Jewes for crucifying Christ and their other wickednesse THe Jewes were banished Rome Act. 18 2. They persecuted Paul 2 Cor. 11. 24. Act. 21. 27. 23. 12. 25 2 7. 9. 23. They were desperately hardened 1 Cor. 1. 22 23. 1 Thess. 2. 15. Reject the Gospel of Christ Act. 13. 46. The Jewes which crucified the Lord of life and wished that his blood might be upon them and their children presently after through the just Judgment of God had blood to drink in full measure For besides their afflictions in divers Countries being tossed up and down by the Deputies of the Romans There were slain in Caesarea 20000 in one day At Alexandria 50000 another day At Zabulon and Joppa 8400 besides the burning of the Townes At Damascus 10000 had their throats cut In the siege of Hierusalem they were so famished that Oxens dung was accounted
the third replyed thus I am much more afraid of his Almes and Prayers then I am of his Armies Dr. Powel Frederick the Elector of Saxony intending to make war against the Archbishop of Magdeburg sent a Spie into his Countrey to see what preparations the Archbishop made for his own defence By whom being informed that the Archbishop wholly applyed himself to fasting and prayer and reforming his Church Let him fight said the Duke that hath a mind to it for I am not soâ—mâ—d as to fight against him that trusts to have God for his deliverâ—r Buchol Numa Pompilius being told that his enemies were coming upon him as he was offering sacrifice thought it sufficient for his safety that he could answer At ego rem Divinam facio But I am about the service of my God Buchol Tertullian's manner was constantly in private to pray three times a day at the third sixth and ninth houres See his Life in my first Part of the Marrow of Eccles. History Petrus Chrysologus alwaies before he penned any thing would with great ardency and humility set himself by prayer to seek unto God for direction therein Eodem p. 164. Mr. Laurence Saunders used to be very frequent and fervent in prayer and when he was assaulted by any temptations he still found much support and comfort by prayer whereby he gained such experience that he became a great comforter of others with the same consolations which himself had found from God Eodem p. 491. Mr. Hugh Latimer used constantly in his prayers to beg that God of his mercy would restore his Gospel to England once again once again which he often inculcated in his prayers and that with such ardency as though he had seen God before him and spoken to him face to face Eodem p. 528. Mr Robert Bolâ—on used constantly to pray six times a day twice with his family twice with his wife and twice in secret Besides he kept many daies of private humiliation as alwaies before the Sacrament and upon occasion of the miseries of the Church both at home and abroad which he performed with much ardency of spirit Eodem p. 926. Mr. William Whatelâ—y's constant practice was besides Family-prayer twice a day to pray also with his wife and alone both morning and evening He also set apart daies of private humiliation for his Family upon special occasions and oft for their preparation to the Lords Supper at which time he would exceed himself in pouring out his soul to God with many teares He was much also in daies of private fasting and humbling himself alone before God c. Eodem p. 932. St. Augustine was very powerful in prayer so that thereby he sometimes cast out Devils and restored â—â—ck men to their health again Eodem p. 160. Fulgentius was very powerfull in prayer and before his death the barbarous Moores invading the Territories of Ruspa filling all places with Rapines murthers c. yet so long as Fulgentius lived the City of Ruspa remained in safety and when all the rest of the Province was under miserable captivity that City alone enjoyed an happy peace Eodem p. 176. Vitus Theodorus writing of Luther saith thus of him No day passeth wherein Luther spends not three houres at least in prayer Once it fell out saith he that I heard him Good God! what a spirit what a confidence was in his very expressions with such a reverence he sued as one begging of God and yet with such hope and assurance as if he spake to a loving father or friend See many examples of his prevalency in prayer in his Life in my first Part. p. 245 c. Anno Christi 1564. there brake out a great Plague in Zurick whereof Mr. Bullinger fell so sick that all men despaired of his life But the Church by their frequent and servent prayers prevailed with God for the restoring of him to health again Eodem p. 742. See an admirable example of the power of prayer in the Life of Mr. Perkins in my first Part p. 853. and divers other examples in my two Martyrologies CHAP. LXXXIX Prudence Wisdom Policy IT 's spoken of as wordly Isa. 3. 2. Matth. 11. 25 1 Cor. 1. 19. As spiritual 1 Sam. 16. 18. In opinion Prov. 3. 7. 26. 12. 28. 11. Isa. 5. 21. 10. 13. Properties of the prudent He covereth shame Prov. 12. 16. concealeth knowledge to utter it seasonably Prov. 12. 23. dealeth with knowledge Prov. 13. 16. understands his way Prov. 14. 8. regards reproof Prov. 15. 1. encreaseth knowledge by his lips Prov. 16. 21. foresees the evil and hides himself Prov. 22. 3. Scriptural Examples of men Abraham Gen. 1â— 9. 25. 5 6. Jacob Gen. 30. 32. 32. 3 7. Joseph Gen. 40. 14. 41. 33 38. Jethro Exod. 18. 19. Jotham Judg. 9. 7. Gileadites Judg. 12. 5 6. David 1 Sam. 16. 18. 18. 5 24. 21. 13. Solomon 1 King 3. 9. 25 c. Rehoboam's old Counsellors 1 King 12. 7. Jehoiadah 2 King 11. 42. 2 Chron. 23. 1. Hezekiah Isa. 36. 21. 2 Chron. 32. 3 Nehemiah Ch. 2. 12. Mordecai Esth. 4. 13. Ser. Paulus Act. 13. 7. St. Paul Act. 16. 37. 21. 25. 23. 6 17. Wise women Rahab Jos. 2. 4. Abigail 1 Sam. 25. 18 13. the Tekohite 2 Sam. 14. 2. the Abelite 2 Sam. 20. 16. Bathsheba 1 King 1. 15. Prov. 31. Esther Ch. 4. 11. Agesilaus having overthrown the Persians in a great battel caused all the captives which were bravely clad to be stripped naked and their garments to be sold on the one side and the naked persons on the other that so his Souldiers might see the soft and â—ffeminate bodies of their adversaries and gather courage thereby and when his Souldiers bought up all the rich garments but slâ—ighted the persons as uselesse he said unto them But these are they against whom ye fight and the other for which ye fight Xenoph. Lysander King of Sparta a gallant General and very Politick used to say That where the Lions skin would not suffice it was meet to put the Foxes skin upon it Xenoph. Antipater who was counted the wisest King that then lived had a daughter called Phila who was so wise a maid that her father would oft consult with her about his weightiest affaires and when she was afterwards married first to Craterus and then to Demetrius she was admired for her wisdom if the Souldiers at any time mutined in the Camp she by her wisdome could quiet them Poor Maids she disposed of in marriage upon her own costs many that were in danger upon false accusations she by her prudence set them free c. and yet when Demetrius her husband was beaten out of the Kingdome of Macedon and deserted by his Souldiers she could not bear the disgrace but poisoned her self Justin. Plut. Pulcheria the sister of Theodosius junior observing her brothers rashnesse in signing Warrants and Orders without ever reading of them used this Policy to