the cause of the Gospel but afterwards Apostatizing to Poperie he began to be much troubled in minde and from thence fell into despaire against which he wrestled a great while but at length being wholly overcome by it as he was drawn to walk into the fields with some scholars his familiar friends he feigned wearinesse and so sat down by a springs side and his friends being gone a little before he drew out a dagger and stabbed himself into the breast his friends seeing him shrinking down and the water discoloured with his blood ran to him took him up searched his wound and carried him to the next house but whilest they were busie about him he espied a knife by one of their sides whereupon he plucked it forth and suddenly stobbed himself to the heart whereby he died miserably Act. Mon. Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester cried out on his death-bed that he had denied his Master with Peter but not repented with Peter and so stinking above ground ended his wretched life See my English Martyrolgy Master West Chaplaine to Bishop Ridley and a Preacher and Professour of the truth in King Edward the sixths dayes afterwards in Queen Maries time he turned Papist forsook his Master and said Masse though it were against his conscience For which he fell into such torment of conscience that he pined away and so died Act. Mon. Of Hardings Apostacie See in my second Part in the Life of the Lady Jane Gray As also divers other examples in my Martyrologies Theoderick an Arian King of the Vandals did exceedingly affect and love a certaine Orthodox Deacon but the Deacon thinking farther to ingratiate himself and to get greater preferment Apostatized from the truth and turned Arian which when the Emperour understood he turned his love into hatred and commanded his head to be struck off saying That if he proved false and unfaithful to his God how could he expect any good or faithful service from him Adam Neucerus sometimes a professour of the truth and Pastour of a Church in Heidleberg afterwards plaid the Apostate upon some discontent and turned Turk But not long after he died miserably in Constantinople Mel. Adam in vit Gerl. See the History of Francis Spira A Treasurer of Julians to please his Lord and Master Apostatized from the faith and coming into a Church where he saw the holy vessels scoffingly said Behold with what vessels they minister to the Son of Mary but shortly after he vomited all the blood in his body out at his mouth whereby he died miserablis Theod. L. 3. During the Heptarchy of the Saxons in England there were in Northumberland two Kings Ostrich and Eaufride who before their coming to the Crown had been instructed and trained up in the Christian Religion by Paulinus a worthy and godly Bishop But after they came to their Kingly dignities they renounced Christ and returned to the service of their filthy Idols Whereupon as they forsook Christ he forsook them and within one yeares space both of them were slaine by Cedwalla King of the Britanes Beda Cardinal Poole whilest he was in Italy was informed of the truth and was a savourer of it as you may see in Peter Martyrs Life in my first Part but afterwards he became a cruel Persecutor of it here in England in Queen Maries dayes but it pleased God that about two dayes after the Queens death he died in horrible fear and terrour Peter Castellan Bishop of Maston who sometimes had been a forward professour of the truth but afterwards turning to Popery in a Sermon at Orleance he enveighed bitterly against the profession and professors of the true Religion whereupon it pleased God to strike him with a strange and terrible disease unknown to Physicians for one halfe of his body burned like fire and the other halfe was as cold as ice and in this torment with horrible cries and groans he ended his wretched life A Gray Frier called Picard who sometimes made a Profession of the truth afterwards fell away and preached against it adding infinite blasphemies against the truth But presently after God struck him speechlesse and so being carried to his bed half dead he presently after died without the least signe of Repentance Lambespine a Counsellor in the Parliament of Grenoble had formerly been a professour of the Reformed Religion but falling from the truth he became a Persecutour of the godly in Valence of Daulphine and amongst others of two godly Ministers which suffered Martyrdome But shortly after he fell passionately in love with a young maide whom shamefully he followed up and down whithersoever she went and seeing his love and labour despised he pined away with grief and being regardlesse of himself multitudes of lice bred and fed upon him yea they issued out abundantly from every part of his body So that feeling Gods heavy vengeance upon him he began to despaire of mercy and resolved to pine himself which purpose the lice seemed to further for they clustered so many in his throat as almost choaked him and when some of his friends pittying his condition set open his mouth with a gag to poure in broth the lice went down with it and choaked him so that as he had gagged the godly Ministers at their death himself died with a gag in his mouth King Henry the fourth of France who had all his life-time before been a Protestant shortly after he came to the Crown of France when he had almost subdued all his enemies which opposed him thereâ—n suddenly turned Papist Not long after as he was taking his leave of his Nobles to begin his Progresse one John Castile suborded by the Jesuites intended to have stabbed him into the body with a knife but the King at the same instant stooping to take up one of his Lords who was on his knees before him the blow fell upon his right upper jaw cutting out one of his teeth and somewhat wounding his tongue It is reported that in his progresse a Protestant Minister in private conference said unto him You have denied God with your tongue and have received a wound in the same take heed of denying him with your heart lest you receive a wound in that also which indeed proved a prophecie for riding abroad in his Coach to refresh himself one Ravilliac watched his opportunity and stabbed him first into the left pap and with a second blow struck him between the fifth and sixth rib cutting asunder the veine leading to the heart the knife entering into the vena cava of which wound he died French Hâ—st Read also the history of Francis Spira lately printed and observe Gods severe judgements upon him for his Apostasie In the year 1287 the King of Hungary forsaking the Christian saith became an Apostata and when he had called fraudulently to a Parliament the great Potentates of his land Meramomelius a puissant Saracene came upon them with twenty thousand souldiers carrying away with him the King with all the
36 Stratagems p. 273 e. 35 p. 311 e. 11 p. 539 c. Strength extraordinary p. 270 e. 23 24. p. 275 e. 45 Students hard p. 407 c. Subtilty of the Churches enemies p. 34 e. 28 p. 37 e. 8 p. 41 e 21 Superstition p. 276 e. 47 p. 483 c. p. 511 e. 3. p. 569 e 13. Swearers plagued p. 95 e. 26 27 p. 96 e. 31 32 p. 118 e. 1 c. p. 206 e. 1 c. Sympathy See Compassion T. TAddi an excellent wine out of trees p. 569 e. 14 Temple of Diana described p. 616 Temperance See Abstinence Tentations to uncleannesse resisted p. 24 e. 8. Tentations prevailing yet overcome at last p. 8 e. 19 20 21 22 23. p. 17. e. 41. p. 21 e. 53. Thanksgiving p. 386 c. See Gratitude Thieves converted p. 14 e. 32 p. 18 e. 45. Time preâ—ious p. 545 e. 12. Timerousnesse See Cowardize Tomb of Porsenna described p. 613. See Monuments for the Dead Torpedo a strange Fish p. 571 e. 19. Trades p. 412 c. Treachery Treason p. 69 e. 2. punished p. 286 e. 3 p. 288 e. 16 p. 289 e. 17 18 23. p. 307 c. p. 385 e. 29. Trees strange p. 552 e. 6. p. 571 e. 21 c. p. 578 e. 50. p. 582 e. 69. Trial of sincerity p. 27 e. 1. Truth preferred before life p. 273 e. 34. Tyrants Tyranny p. 366 c. Hatefull p. 265 e. 12 p. 269 e. 22. punished p. 287 e. 8 c. p. 288 e. 22 c. p. 289 e. 17 p. 368 e. 5 c. p. 373 e. 3. V. VAin-glory See Pride Valour p. 261 c. See Magnanimity Vanity of all earthly things p. 372 c. p. 445. e. 4 c. Venice with its rarities and riches described p. 624. Victories of the Saints over their enemies p. 6. e. 12. Unity the benefit of it p. 253. e. 4 5. Unstablenesse See Inconstancy Unkindnesse Unthankfulnesse See Ingratitude Utrech how situated p. 637. W. VVAies strange and admirable p. 568 e. 12. p. 620. Waters strange p. 556 e. 29 31. Waters turned into stone p. 556 e. 27. Waters from a Tree p. 581 e. 63. Whales and their enemies p. 579 e. 56. Whoredom plagued p. 58 e. 3 4. p. 61 e. 14. Wicked fly when none pursues p. 6. e. 11. Wisdom See Prudence Witches p. 453. See Conjurers Wives must keep home p. 303 e. 11. Wives love to their husbands p 299 e. 2 5 c. p. 303 e. 12 c. Wives unnatural p. 97 e. 38 p. 306 e. 1. Witty speeches p. 63 e. 20 p. 64 e. 26 p. 66 e. 33. See Speeches Women wise p. 507 508 e. 4. Cruel p. 372 e. 13. Women valiant p. 273 e. 36 p. 277 e. 51 c. p. 301 e. 6. p. 304 e. 16. Word of God reverenced and prized p. 136 c. Studied p. 339 e. 15 c. p. 407 e. 3. Contemned and its contemners plagued p. 340 c. See Scriptures Wondrous works of God in nature p. 551 c. World contemned p. 330 c. Wrath. See Anger Z. ZEal for the truth p. 30. e. 12. p. 32. e. 19 20. Zeal against sin p. 191. e. 17. Zeal blind and bloody p. 69. e. 4. EXAMPLES OF Miracles of Gods Mercies to His CHILDREN CHAP. I. THe people of God who live in such times wherein publike dangers and persecutions are approaching being conscious to their own infirmities and weaknesse are many times much perplexed and distracted with the feares and apprehensions of the ensuing perills and through weaknesse of Faith much question whether they be able to undergo such conflicts and endure such temptations as the people of God formerly have done or whether the power of God doth so eminently appeare in these latter times for the deliverance of his Church and Children as in the time of the Old Testament and in the first primitive times of the Gospel it did But certainly the Name of God is wonderful still His arme is not shortened that it cannot save nor his eare heavy that it cannot heare So that we may assure our selves that either he will preserve us from or support us under or deliver us out of any temptation that may or shall befall us For God never puts his servants to suffer but he furnisheth them with spirituall sufficiency to go through with the same And like as a prudent Commander makes not choice of white-livered Souldiers for hot service high attempts but of those of greatest experience and most approved valour so God singles out his valiantest Souldiers for strongest encounters his best Scholars for the largest lessons his choicest armour for the highest proof the most courageous Christians for the sorest afflictions And that the truth hereof may the more clearly appear view seriously thâ—se ensuing examples both of the ancient and moderne times which as they were first recorded for the publike benefit so are they now collected out of severall authours of good credit for our present instruction and consolation MArcus Aâ—relius the Emperour who raised the fourth persecution against the Christians could by no perswasions be appeased till in his warres against the Germanes his Army was ready to perish for want of water whereupon one of his Legions being all Christians prayed unto Christ who immediately sent abundance of raine which refreshed the Roman Army and dashed their enemies with thunder and fire in remembrance whereof that Legion was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the lightning Legion after which victory so miraculously obtained he stayed the persecution Euseb. Ignatius Bishop of Antioch being apprehended and brought to execution had his spirit so fortified against fears that he cried out Let the fire the Crosse the Beasts the breaking of bones convulsion of members and bruising of the whole body yea and the torments of the Devill seize upon me provided that I may partake of Jesus Christ I passe them not Also when he was cast unto the wilde beasts he allured them to devour him saying That if he were ground with their teeth he should be found fine flour in the house of his Father Euseb. John Bishop of Bergomum a godly and reverend man having freely reproved a King of the Lombards for his wickednesse the King desirous of revenge commanded him to be sent home upon a fierce horse which used to cast his riders and teare them to pieces but the godly Bishop being mounted upon him he laid aside his fiercenesse and carried him home safely to his own house Platin. Theodosius a godly Emperour fighting against the Tyrant Eugenius his Army was in great danger of being overthrown but Theodosius having recourse unto God by prayer the Lord sent a mighty tempest of winde which blew so vehemently in his enemies faces that it drove back their darts upon themselves whereby they were overcome Ruffin Constantius the Emperour an Arian being incensed against Aâ—banasius a godly Bishop sent a Captaine with five thousand armed men to slay him but the
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
second having raised a great Army against the French as he was going out of Rome with it he took his keys and threw them into the River Tibur saying That for as much as the keys of Saint Peter would not serve him to his purpose he would be take himselfe to the sword of Saint Paul Of which Pope it is observed that partly by warre partly by cursings he was the cause of the death of two hundred thousand Christians in the space of seven yeares Act. Mon. Pope Nicolas the first prohibited marriage to the Clergy saying That it was more honest to have to do with many women privately then openly to take one wife Insomuch that a Priest of Placâ—ntia being accused to have a wife and children was deprived of his benefice but proving the same woman to be wife to another man and but his Concubine he was restored againe Iohn the twenty fourth was accused before the Councel of Constance for heresie Simony murther poisonings cousenings Adulteries and Sodomy which being proved against him he was deposed and imprisoned whereupon through vexation and griefe he ended his wretched life A certain Cardinal in Rome much blamed a Painter for colouring the visages of Peter Paul too red to whom he tartly replied That he painted them so as blushing at the lives of those who stiled themselves their successors Pope Honorius the second sent one Iohn Cremensis his Legate into England to disswade the Clergy from marriage who having called a Convocation the Legate made a very accurate speech in the praise of a single life and how fit it was that Ministers should live sequestred from the cares of the world but the night following he himselfe was taken in the very act of adultery Mat. Paris Pope Iulius called for his Pork flesh which was forbidden him by his Physicians and said that he would have it Al despito de Dio in dispite of God And having appointed a cold Peacock to be reserved for him when he missed it the next meale he grew into a great rage and being requested not to be so angry for such a trifle he answered That if God was so angry for an Apple why might not he be as angry for his Peacock Act. Mon. Doctor Cranmer with the Earle of Wiltshire and some others being sent by King Henry the eighth to the Pope about his divorce from Queen Katherin when the day of hearing was come and the Pope sitting in his Pontificalibus put forth his foot to be kissed of the Ambassadors an unmannerly Spaniell of the Earles ran and caught his great Toe in his teeth so that the Ambassadors disdaining to kisse where the Dog had taken an assay let the Pope draw back his foot and so they lost the espicial favour offered unto them Speed Chron. 10. 12. Pope Paul the third when his sonne Farnesis had committed an unspeakable violence on the body of Cosmus Chaerius Bishop of Fanum and then poisoned him held himselfe sufficiently excused that he could say Haec vitia me non commonstratore didicit He never learned this of me Pope Pius Quintus spake thus of himselfe Cùm essem Religiosus sperabam bene de salute animae meae Cardinalis factus extimui Pontifex creatus penè despero When I was first in orders without any other Ecclesiastical dignity I had some good hope of my salvation when I became a Cardinal I had lesse since I was made a Pope least of all Corn. è Lapi Before the Pope is set in his chair and puts on his tripple Crown a piece of Towe or Wadd of straw is set on fire before him and one is appointed to say Sic transit gloria munda The glory of the world is but a blaze Also one day in the yeare the Popes Almoner rides before him casting abroad to the poor some pieces of brasse and lead profanely abusing that Scripture saying Silver and Gold have I none but such as I have I give unto you Pope Adrian the sixth having built a faire Colledge at Lovain caused this inscription to be written upon the gates thereof in letters of Gold Trajectum plantavit Lovanium rigavit Caesar dedit incrementum Utrecht planted me there he was born Lovaine watered me there he was bred up in learning and Caefar gave the encrease for the Emperour had preferred him One to meet with his folly and forgetfulnesse wrote underneath Hic Deus nihil fecit Here God did nothing The Popes have a book called Taxa Camerae Apostolicae wherein men may know the rate of any sinne upon what termes a man may keep a whore be a Sodomite murther his father c. When the Emperour Henry the seventh having pacified Germany went into Italy to reforme the many and great abuses there A certain Monk to gratifie the Pope mixed poison with the bread of the Eucharist and gave it him whereof he died Simps Ec. Hist. King John of England having broken with the Pope was afterwards no good friend to him and his clergy especially to their loose and licentious lives whereupon as the King in his progresse rested himself for two dayes at Swinstead-Abby not far from Lincolne a Monk of that house went to his Abbat and told him that he had a purpose to poison the King saying It 's better that one man should die then that all the people should perish The Abbat wept for joy and absolved the Monk from all his sinnes Then did this varlot mixe the poison of a filthy toade with a cup of excellent wine and brought it to the King saying My Liege here is such a cup of wine as you never drank a better in all your life I trust this wassail shall make all England glad and therewithal began a good draught to him and the King pledging him shortly after died Anno Christi 1605. when the powder-plot was in agitation Catesby one of the Plotters repaired to Garnet a Popish Priest with this case of conscience Whether it was lawful in some cases to destroy the innocent with the wicked This good father so soon as he perceived the conspirators to be in good earnest peremptorily resolved that without all doubt it was when the good coming by it might make compensation for the losse of their lives Pope John the twenty third calling a Councel at Rome against the godly Christians in Bohemia when the Councel was set the Masse of the holy Ghost sung and the Pope placed in his chair there came flying in amongst them an ugly Owle with an ill-fauoured hooting and set her self upon a crosse beam just over against the Pope casting her staring eyes upon him whereupon the whole company began to marvel and whispering each to other said Behold the Spirit is come in the likenesse of an Owle The Pope himself blushed at the matter and began to sweat fret and fume and so being in great distraction dissolved the Councel for the present yet afterwards calling another Sessions when they were met in
by Chilperic King of France whom she caused to banish his Queen Andovera and his other wife called Galsuinda she caused to be murthered that she might enjoy the King alone yet neither was she faithful to him but prostituted her body to Landric Master of the Kings horse On a time the King being to go a hunting went to bid his wife farewell who was combing her haire The King went softly behinde her and with his wand in sport struck her behinde She thinking it had been her Landric said What doest thou do my Landric It 's the part of a good Knight to charge a Lady before and not behinde The King by this means finding her falshood went his wayes on hunting and she finding her self discovered sent for Landric told him what was happened and therefore perswaded him to kill the King for his and her safety which he undertook and effected that night as the King came late from hunting French Hist. Semiramis sought out men to satisfie her brutish lust whom shortly after she used to slay And at last she grew to that abominable impudence that she drew her own sonne to lie with her and to cover her filthinesse enacted a law That propinquity of blood should not hinder marriage Orosius Cambyses King of Persia falling in love with his own sister sent for his Judges and asked them if there were any law that suffered a man to marry with his own sister to whom they answered That they found no such Law but they found another Law that the Kings of Persia might do whatsoever they pleased Whereupon he married her and afterwards he married another of his sisters also Herod Xerxes falling in love with Artaynta his daughter in law often commited incest with her which his wife Amestris taking notice of and supposing that Artaynta's mother was the baude betwixt them she sent for her and put her to grievous torments cutting off her breasts casting them to the dogs she cut off also her nose eares lips and tongue and so dismissed her but shortly after Xerxes going with his innumerable army against the Grecians was plagued by God for his incest and his wives cruelty with the utter overthrow of his forces and himself hardly escaped with life Herod Solon made a law amongst the Athenians that it might be lawful for any man to kill an adulterer taking him in the fact Nerva the Romane Emperour made a law that no man should marry his neece or brothers daughter Suet. Agrippina was of so impudent and lustful a disposition that having formerly traded her self in manifold incests with Caligula her brother and Claudius her Uncle she at last offered her body to the lustful imbraces of her son Nero who scarcely twenty yeares before was bred therein Nero's Life The Egyptians used to punish adultery in a man by giving him a thousand jerks with a reed and in a woman by cutting off her nose And he that violated a free woman had his privy members cut off By the law of Julia amongst the Romanes adulterers were without difference to be put to death Before Moses time it was a custome to burne adulterers in the fire as appears in the case of Thamar Gen. 38. 24. What mischiefs the Levites wife that played the adulteresse brought upon all Israel may be read Judges 19 20 and 21. chapters What misery David brought upon himself and family by committing adultery with Bathsheba may be seen in 2 Sam. 12. 13. and 13. chapters Paris by his adultery with Helena stirred up warres between the Grecians and Trojans which lasted ten yeares and ended in the ruines of that famous City and Kingdome of Troy in the death of Paris and Helen of King Priamus and all his posterity Sextus Tarquinius sonne to Superbus the last King of the Romanes by ravishing Lucretia the wife of Collatinus was the author of manifold mischiefs For Lucretia slew her self in the presence of her husband and kinsfolk the Romanes expelled their King and his family and would never be reconciled to them again The adulterer was slaine by the Sabines and his father also fighting to recover his Kingdom was slaine by the Romanes Valentinian the third Emperour of Rome by dishonouring the wife of Petronius Maximus a Senator of Rome lost his life and was thereby the author of the final destruction of the Romane Empire For Petronius being informed of the wrong which the Emperour had done him by defiling his wife was purposed to revenge it with his own hands but knowing that he could not do it whilest Actius the General of his Army lived a man famous for his valiant exploits against the Burgundians and Gothes he accused him falsely to the Emperour of treason and thereby procured his death then did he stirre up some of Actius friends to revenge his death upon the Emperour which they also performed upon him as he was sitting in judgement then did Maximus not only seize upon the Empire but upon Eudoxia the Emperesse forcing her to be his wife which indignity she not enduring sent privately into Africa to Genserick King of the Vandals to come and deliver her and the City of Rome from the Tyranny of Maximus which occasion he laying hold of came into Italy with a huge Army whereupon the Citizens of Rome were so affrighted that they fled into the Mountains and Maximus flying with them was murthered by the way and hewen in pieces by some of the Senators And Genserick entring Rome found it empty of inhabitants but not of infinite riches all which he exposed as a prey to his Army and carried away into Africk together with a great number of the people and amongst them was Eudoxia the Emperesse and her two daughters Eudocia and Placidia After which the Romane Empire could never recover it self but grew weaker and weaker till it came to utter ruine Childerick King of France was so odious for his adulteries that his Nobility conspired against him and drave him out of his Kingdom Two of the daughters of Philip the fair King of France being found guilty of Adultery were condemned to perpetual imprisonment and they which had committed adultery with them were first slaine and then hanged A certain Seneschal of Normandy suspected the vicious behaviour of his wife with his Steward watched them so narrowly that at last he found them in bed together whereupon he slew them both first the adulterer and then his wife though she was sister to Lewis the eleventh the then King Fulgos. l. 6. c. 1. A Nobleman in Burgundy having in Warre taken a Gentleman Captive his wife being a beautiful Lady came to redeeme her husband The Nobleman promised to free him if she would let him lie with her which by the perswasion of her husband she consented to But the adulterous Nobleman the next day cut off his prisoners head and so delivered his body to his wife which horrible fact being complained of by her to the Duke of Burgundy he caused this Nobleman
do them good that one day being spent by him without any notable action in sorrow he said Perdidimus diem I have quite lost a day Whilest King Edward the third besieged Callis when victuals in the Town began to fail the Citizens put forth all unuseful persons as old men women and children and the merciful King turned not them back again as he might have done the sooner to consume the enemies store but suffered them to passe through his Army gave them Victuals to eate and to every one of them two pence apeece in money Dan. Chron. p. 240 When thou doest thine almes do not sound a trumpet before thee as the Hypocrites do in the Synagogues and streets that they may have glory of men Verily I say unto you they have their reward But when thou doest Almes let not thy left band know what thy right hand doth that thine Almes may bâ— in sâ—â—ret and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly Matth. 6. 2 3 4 Est modus in dando quis quid cui quomodo quando CHAP. XIII Examples of Liberality Bounty Munificence COmmanded Deut. 15. 14. Commended Cor. 16. 3. 2 Cor. 8. 2. Prov. 11. 25. Isa. 32. 8. 2 Cor. 9. 13. Scriptural Examples King of Sodom Gen. 14. 21. Rebecca Gen. 24. 18 19. Jacob Gen. 33. 10. Israelites Exod. 36. 5. David 1 Sam. 30. 26. 2 Sam. 9. 27. 28. Solomon 1 King 10. 13. Barzillai 2 Sam. 17. 27. 28. Queen of Sheba 1 King 10. 10. Princes of Ephraim 2 Chron. 12. 1â— Cyrus Ezr. 1. 7. and 6. 3 c. Chief Fathers Ezr. 2. 68. Artaxerxes Ezr. 6. 8 9. Nehemiah Neh. 5. 10. and 7. 70. Job Ch. 29. 15 16. and 31. 17 18. Zacheus Luke 19. 6 8. Other Examples Themistocles being banished Athens was forced to flie to his mortal enemy Artaxerxes King of Persia who yet received him favourably knowing his great worth and within a few dayes after his coming bestowed two hundred talents upon him saying I formerly promised two hundred talents to any one that would bring me Themistocles either alive or dead and now because thou hast brought him to me thy selfe it is but equal that thou shouldest receive the promised reward Plut. Artaxerxes Mnemon King of Persia going his progresse the people used to present him with several gifts in the way and amongst the rest a country man having nothing else to present him with ran to the river and taking up his hands full of water presented him with that Artaxerxes was so taken herewith that he gave the fellow a golden platter and a thousand pieces of gold besides Plut. Alexander M. was of such a bountiful disposition that it was a greater trouble to him not to be asked then to give He wrote to Phocion that he would make use of his friendship no more is he refused his gifts Serapion a young man that used to play at ball with him received nothing because he asked nothing whereupon the next time he threw the ball to all but Alexander the King marvelling at it asked him why he threw not the ball to him Forsooth saith Serapion because you asked it not Alexander laughing at the jest sent him a liberal gift His mother Olympias often reproved him because he gave away such great riches amongst his friends Q. Curtius When Alexander M was a boy he took both his handfulls of perfumes and cast them into the fire when he was offering sacrifice whereupon Leonidas his Schoolmaster said to him O Alexander when thou hast conquered those countreys where these Odours grow then thou mayest be so liberal but in the mean time be more sparing Afterwards when he had conquered Arabia Foelix he sent to Leonidas an hundred Talents of Myrrhe and five hundred of Frankincense bidding him hereafter to be more liberall in his service to the gods Q. Cur. Alexander M. having overcome Darius he marched to Persepolis and when he came neer to it there met him a miserable company of neere four thousand captive Greeks wofully mangled by the Persians some having their legs cut off some their hands some their eares and all branded with some letters they seemed rather carcases then men so that this wofull object drew teares from all his Army and from Alexander himself but to comfort them in their misery he gave to each of them three thousand pence or three hundred crownes ten change of garments with corn cattel and land to build and plant upon Q. Cur. Alexander M. going to conquer a Kingdome in India Taxilis King thereof came and met him saying O Alexander what need we fight if thou comest not to take away our food and water for which it's only fit for wise men to fight If thou comest for riches if I have more then thou I will give thee part of mine if thou hast more then I I will not refuse to receive part of thine Alexander being much taken with this speech said to him Go to I will contend with thee in bounty and so they mutually gave and received many gifts at last Alexander gave him a thousand Talents which grieved his friends and pleased the Barbarians very much Plut. One craving a small courtesie of Alexander the Great he gave him an whole City and when the poor man said that it was too much for him to receive Yea said Alexander but not for me to give So God gives liberally like himself He that sowes sparingly shall reap sparingly and he that sowes bountifully shall reap bountifully 2 Cor. 9. 6. CHAP. XIV Examples of Covetousnesse and Avarice FOrbidden by God Exod. 20. 17. Rom. 13. 9. Luke 12. 15. Ephes. 5. 3. Col. 3. 5. Heb. 13. 5. 1 Tim. 3. 3. Complained of by God Mic. 2. 2. 2 Tim. 3. 2. 2 Pet. 2. 14. Jer. 6. 13. 8. 10. 22. 17. Ezek. 33. 31. Rom. 1. 29. Eccles. 6. 1 2. Prayed against Psal. 119. 36. It 's the root of all evil 1 Tim. 6. 10. Threatened Hab. 2. 9. 1 Cor. 6. 10. Ephes. 5. 5. Col. 3. 5 6. 2 Pet. 2. 14. Isa. 57. 17. Jer. 51. 13. Amos 8. 4 c. Psal. 10. 3. 1 Cor. 5. 11. Covetous persons are deceivers Amos 8. 5. Prov. 21. 6. Murtherers Prov. 1. 19. Can never be satisfied Eccles. 4. 8. Prov. 27. 20. Eccles. 5. 10. Prov. 30. 15. 21. 26. Trouble their own house Prov. 15. 27. And themselves Eccles. 5. 12. Are very fooles Eccles. 5. 15 16. 4. 8. Psalme 39. 7. Desire their own hurt Eccles. 5. 13 17. Prov. 11. 28. It comes from the heart Mark 7. 22. Scriptural examples Achan Jos. 7. 20 c. Gehazi 2 King 5. 20 c. Ahab 1 King 21. 19 c. Ananias and Saphira Act. 5. 1 c. Balaam Numb 22. 22. 2 Pet. 2. 15. Demas 2 Tim. 4. 10. Demetrius Act. 19. 24 25. Felix Act. 24. 26. Samuels sonneâ— 1 Sam. 8. 3. Judas Joh. 12. 6. Mat. 26. 15. Laban Gen. 31. 41. the Master of the maide Act.
said pleasantly unto him Be merry my best sonne for there is not another Prince in the whole world which hath such an Officer to serve him at the table this day To whom the young King scornefully answered Why do ye wonder My father doth not think that he doth more then what becomes him For he being a King onely by the mothers side serveth me who had a King to my father and a Queen to my mother Pol. Virgil. The Great Cham of Tartary had wont when he had dined to cause his trumpeters to sound their trumpets before his palace-gates thereby to give notice to all the Kings in the world that now the great Cham had dined they might take leave to go to dinner A poor Spanish Cobler lying on his death-bed his eldest sonne came to him for his last blessing upon whom he laid a special charge that he should alwayes remember to retain the Majesty worthy his family A Spanish Cavalier for some faults by him committed was whipped thorow the principal streets of Paris and keeping a sober pace he was advised by some that pitied him to go faster that he might scape the better but he halse in Choler replied That he would not alter one step of his pace for all the whipping in Paris A poore woman in Spaine attended by three of her Brats went a begging from doore to doore some French Merchants travelling that way out of pitty proffered to take the bigger of her Boyes into their service but she poore and proud scorned as she said that any of her lineage should endure an Apprentiship for for ought that she knew or they either her son as simple as he stood there might live to be King of Spaine The Spaniard begs in this Method first he looks about to see whether the coast be clear before he will utter one suppliant word then he approaches in a more submisse strain yet if any one chance to cast an eye that way he retreats to familiarity pressing the justnesse of his demands till he obtaines the almes If it be but a penny or so he casts it contemptibly into the donors face but soon after peaceably searches for the money and when it 's found prayes for the benefactor Sigismund King of Hungary having raised a mighty great Army against the Turks when he heard that his enemies approached in great pride said to his souldiers What need we fear the Turks who need not fear the falling of the heavens who with our Speares and Halberds are able to hold them up if they should fall But thus relying upon the arme of flesh his great Army was presently routed and himself hardly escaped in a little boat over the River Danubius leaving most of his Army to the slaughter and captivity of the Turks Turk Hist. Eunomius the Heretick proudly boasting that he knew God and his Divinity Basil to convince him of his ignorance and folly gravelled him in twenty one questions about the body of a Pismire Epist. 168. ad Eunom Philip King of Macedonia proudly boasting of his great victory over the Grecians at Cheronea Archidamus son to Agesilaus took him wisely down with this cooler You cannot saith he see your shadow one jot longer after this great victory then it was before Look of the H. War Henry the sixth the Emperour of Germany being tired out by his Warres with the Pope at last submitted to be crowned by him The Pope also upon some advantageous conditions to himself assented thereunto and sitting in his chaire Pontifical he held the Crowne of gold between his feet the Emperour kneeling and bowing down his head received it thereon but presently the Pope with his foot struck it off again to the ground declaring that he had power to depose him again in case that he offended him Act. Mon. In the beginning of Queen Maries reigne Doctor Pendleton and Master Sanders meeting together began to speak of the Persecution that was like to ensue about which Master Sanders shewed much weaknesse and many feares to whom Pendleton said What man there is much more cause for me to fear then for you forasmuch as I have a bigge and fat body yet will I see the utmost drop of this grease of mine molten away and the last gobbet of this flesh of mine consumed to ashes before I will for sake Jesus Christ and his truth which I have professed yet not long after upon trial poor feeble faint hearted Sanders by the power and goodnesse of God boldly and stoutly by his Ministery confirmed his flock and sealed the truth with his blood whereas this proud Pendleton played the Apostate and turned Papist Act. Mon. A fearful Example of Gods judgement upon pride in haire A most loathsome and horrible disease bred by Luxury and excesse seized especially upon women and by reason of a viscous venemous humour glues together the haire of the head with a prodigious ugly implication and intanglement sometimes taking the forme of a great Snake sometimes of many little Serpents full of nastinesse vermine and noysome smell and that which is most to be admired and never eye saw before pricked with a needle they yield bloody-drops and at the first spreading of this dreadful disease in Poland all that cut off this horrible snaky haire lost their eyes or the humour falling down upon other parts of the body tortured them extreamly It began not many yeeres ago in Poland and afterwards entered into many parts of Germany And me thinks saith mine author our monstrous Fashionists both males and females The one for nourishing their horrid bushes of vanity the other for their most unnatural and cursed cutting of their haire should every houre fear and tremble lest they should bring it upon their own heads and amongst us in this Nation Bolton Examples of such as have sought honour by wickedness Cleopes King of Egipt began to build a huge Pyramis but wanting money before he had finished it and having a beautiful daughter he prostituted her amongst his workmen thereby to get money to perfect his great work which he left as a perpetual monument of his wickednesse and folly Herod L. 4. Rhodophe a famous strumpet in Egypt having gotten a vast some of money by her whoredomes to get her self a great name built a Pyramis though lesse then the other yet of farre more curious workmanship Plut. Erostratus a young man to make himself famous and to perpetuate his name set Diana's Temple at Ephesus on fire which for the stately fabrick was one of the wonders of the world Val. Max. Lib. 8. C. 15. Pausanius asking one by what means he might suddenly become famous the other answered If he would kill some famous man whereupon he presently slew King Philip. Ibidem Caligula seeing that he could not attaine a great name by his vertue used often to wish that some notorious judgement might fall out in his time that thereby his name might be remembered Fulg. Lib. 8. Cap. 15. The wicked
to them And being reproved by a Prophet he threatened him with death if he ceased not For which the Lord delivered him up into the hand of the King of Israel who overthrew his Army took him prisoner carried him back to Hierusalem and for the greater reproach before his face brake down part of the City-walls ransacked the Temple and Kings palace carried away all the treasure out of both took his children for hostages to Samaria and after all this his subjects wrought treason against him which made him fly to Lachish yet thither did they pursue him and put him to death 2 Chron. 25. Judas Iscariot who for covetousnesse fell from Christ and betrayed him to the Jewes could afterwards finde no rest nor quiet in his guilty conscience so that being plunged into the bottomlesse pit of despaire he hanged himself burst in twaine and all his bowels fell out Acts 1. 18. Lucian who had made a profession of Religion in the time of Trajan afterwards fell from it and became a railer against it yea against God himselfe whereupon he was sirnamed the Atheist but the Lord inflicted a just judgement upon him for he was torne in pieces and devoured of dogs Suidas Porphyrie after he had received the knowledge of the truth being reproved for his faults by some Christians for very spite and anger apostatized from his profession set himselfe against the Christians published books full of horrible blasphemies against the profession of Christianity But perceiving himselfe to be confuted and loathed for his wickednesse in horrible despaire and torments of soul he died Suid. Ammonius who was Master to Origen was from his childhood brought up in the Christian Religion but afterwards was so affected with the study of Philosophy that he apostatized from Christianity and fell to Heathenisme Ravis Origen who had been all his life-time ambitious of Martyrdom fainted under the seventh Persecution his heart being overcome by feare when he was put to his choice either to offer incense to Idols or to have his body defiled by an ugly blackamoore whereupon he chose the former but thereby he lost the peace of his conscience which he could not recover of a long time after See his Life in my first Part of the Marrow of Ecclesiastical History Under the eighth Persecution a certain Christian denying his faith went up into the Capitol at Rome to abjure Christ and his profession which he had no sooner done but was immediately stricken speechlesse Cypri de Lapsu A Christian woman denying her profession was presently possessed by an evil spirit whereby she fell a tormenting her selfe and bit out her tongue with her own teeth Cyp. An ancient woman who had revolted from the truth and denied her profession yet thrust her selfe into the Assembly of the Faithful and received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper with them but it proved her bane for immediately trembling and stamping she fell down and died Cyp. A man also that had renounced his faith did notwithstanding present himselfe to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper but when he had received the bread into his hand thinking to put it into his mouth it was turned into ashes Cyp. Tamerus a professor of the reformed Religion being seduced by his brother denied his faith and turned Papist but shortly after he fell into despaire and hung himselfe Theat Hist. Anno Christi 1569. One Henry Smith a Lawyer of the middle Temple who made a zealous profession of the truth afterwards by the seducement of one of his friends turned Papist for which being stricken with terrors of conscience he hanged himselfe in his own chamber Act. Mon. Theoderick an Arrian King of the Goths exceedingly affected a certaine Deacon though Orthodox But this Deacon thinking to ingraciate himselfe more with the King and to attaine to great advancement thereby turned Arrian which when Theoderick understood he changed his love into hatred and caused his head to be struck off saying If he kept not his Faith to God what duty in conscience can a man expect from him Euseb. l. 2. Julian the Emperour who was brought up in the Christian Religion afterwards turned Pagan and became a malicious persecutor of Christianity but after a short Reigne in a battel that he fought against the Persians he was wounded with a dart which was never known from whence it came and feeling his strength to faile by reason of his wound he took of his own blood in his hands holding it up and with extream pride cryed out O thou Galilaean thou hast overcome me calling Christ Galilaean in scorn and so he died Simps Nicomachus under one of the first Persecutions being put to extream torments for the profession of Christ shrunk from his profession and cried out that he was no Christian whereupon he was freed from his torments but assoon as he had sacrificed to the Idols he was presently taken with a wicked spirit and thrown down violently to the ground where biting off his tongue with his teeth he presently died Act. Mon. Bolsechus of whom Beza writeth religionem ephemeram habere existimabatur his religion changed like the moon See the Life of Beza in my first Part. Baldwin was a notable turncoat that changed his religion three or four times at least for advantage and at last died of envy that another was preferred before him to be Chaplain to the Duke of Anjou when he went to take possession of the Kingdome of Poland Petrus Caroli an odious Apostate and tronbler of the Church See the life of Calvin in my first Part. The like were Staphylus Spicerus Brisonettus and of late Bertius Tilenus Spalatensis and many Renegado English who in Queen Elizabeths time turned Papists for advantage Bishop Bonner who in King Henry the eighths dayes was a great favourer of the Gospel for which he was advanced to a Bishoprick by the Lord Cromwel yet afterwards proved an Apostate and grievous persecutor of the Church See my English Martyrologie Latomus of Lovaine sometimes a professor of the Gospel but afterwards an Apostate went to Bruxels where he made an Oration before the Emperour Charles the fifth against Luther and his followers but so foolishly and ridiculously that he was laughed to scorn by most of the Courtiers after which returning to Lovaine againe in his publick Lecture he fell into an open frenzie and madnesse uttering such words of desparation and blasphemous impiety that by other Divines present he was carried away raving and shut up in a close chamber from which time to his last breath he continually cried out that he was damned and rejected of God and that there was no hope of salvation for him because that wittingly and against his knowledge he had withstood the manifest truth of the Word of God Senarclaeus in epist. ante hist de morte Diazi Arnold Bomelius a student in the University of Lovaine a man much commended for an excellent wit and ripenesse of learning and for favouring
Christians there assembled but as they were journeying the weather that was clear and faire became cloudy and suddenly a tempest of haile killed many of the Infidels whereby the Christians escaped to their own homes and the Apostate King alone was carried away by the Saracenes Camb. Brit. Irel. p. 1â—8 A Smith in King Edward the sixths dayes called Richard Denson was a forward professor of Religion and by his Christian instructions the happy instrument of the conversion of a young man to the faith Afterwards in the reigne of Queen Mary this young man was cast into prison for his religion who remembring his old friend the Smith to whom he alwayes carried a reverend respect for the good that he had received by him sent to know whether he was not imprisoned also and finding that he was not desired to speak with him and when he came asked his advice whether he thought it comfortable for him to remaine in prison and whether he would encourage him to burne at a stake for his religion To whom the Smith answered that his cause was good and he might with comfort suffer for it But for my 〈◊〉 saith he I cannot burne But he that could 〈◊〉 burne for religion by Gods just judgement was burned for his Apostasie For shortly after his shop and house being set on fire whilest over-eâ—gerly be sought to save his goods himself was burned Under the fourth Persecution there were some Christians who for fear of torments and death denied their faith and sacrificed to Idols yet did not thâ—â— bloody persecutors spare them and it was observed that being full of guilt they went to their death 〈◊〉 dejected and ill-favoured countenanâ—es so â—hâ—â— the very Gentiles took notice of it and reproached them as degenerous persons and worthy to suffer 〈…〉 doers See my Gen. Martyr p. 43. In the late Persecution in Bohemia a godly maâ—…ing tired out with imprisonment promised to 〈◊〉 Catholick and thereupon was released But preâ—…ly after God chastized him for this fault holding 〈◊〉 conscience in captivity so that he could have 〈◊〉 hope of mercy for a whole year together c. 〈◊〉 p. 190. One Philbert Hamlin in France having converted â— Priest to the profession of the truth was together with the Priest apprehended and cast into prison at Burdeaux But after a while the Priest being terrified with the prison and fear of death renounced Christ and was set at liberty whereupon Philbert said to him O unhappy and more then miserable man Is it possible that to save your life for a few dayes you should so deny the truth Know therefore that though you have avoided the corporal sire yet your life shall not be prolonged for you shall die before me and you shall not have the honour to die for the cause of God but you shall be an Example to all Apostates And accordingly as he went out of the prison two Gentlemen that had a former quarrel to him met him and slew him Eodem p. 292. If any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him Heb. 10. 38. CHAP. XXI Examples of Gods judgements upon Atheists Complained of Ps. 14. 1. Rom. 3. 18. That there are such See Job 18. 21. Eph. 2. 12. Ps 50. 21. and 10. 11 13. Such are they that are spoken of Job 21. 14 15. Ps. 73. 11. and 10. 4 11 13. and 59. 7. and 64. 5. and 78. 19 20. and â—4 7. Job 22. 13 14 17. and 34. 9. and 35. 3. Ezek. 8. 12. Tit. 1. 16. Scriptural examples Pharaoh Exod. 5. 2. The fool Psal. 14. 1. The rich glutton Luk. 12. 19. Other examples Some are atheists out of sensuality as Epicurus Lucretius c. Or out of stomack as Diagoras who having written a Poem and prepared it for the publick one stole it from him whereupon he brought him before the Senate of Athens where the man forswore it and was dismissed and afterwards published the Poem in his own name Diagoras seeing this turned Atheist because this fellow was not smitten with some visible vengeance from heaven that had so forsworn himself Porphyrie was at first a Christian but having received some injury from the Christians he became an Atheist and wrote a book against the Scriptures Aristotle reading the history of the creation in Genesis said Egregiè dicis Domine Moses sed quomodo probas You speak of strange matters Sir Moses but how do you prove them Lucian impudently derided not only all the Heathen gods but with the same blasphemous mouth railed upon Christ as a crucified cousener and upon Christians as mad men because they were so forward to suffer Martyrdom and scoffingly said That Jupiter at certain times looked down through some certain cranies in Heaven at which times if men were praying they might be heard otherwise not he was at last torn in pieces by dogs Suidas Caligula the Romane Emperour fancied himselfe a god and would needs finde out a way to imitate Ioves thunder He commanded himselfe to be worshipped and set up his Images every where He dedicated the Temple at Hierusalem to his own worship But when the true God gave forth his voice of Majesty from heaven he that before was so high was now as low and of a poor spirit covering his eyes with his cap running under a bed or creeping into a bench-hole for safety Yet did Gods judgement finde out this Atheist for he reigned but three yeares and three moneths and was slaine by a Tribune Suet. in Calig Herod Agrippa when he suffered himselfe to be honoured as a god was smitten by an Angel because he gave not God the glory and was eaten up of wormes Acts 12. 22 23. Daphida the Sophister going to Apollo's Oracle at Delphos enquired whether he should finde his horse or no whereas he had no horse but did it out of an Atheistical humour to deride the Oracle He was answered that he should finde his horse but being thrown from him he should breake his neck with this answer he made himselfe very merry and so went homewards but by the way he met with King Attalus whom he had sormerly much abused who caused his servants to carry Daphida upon a great rock which was called The horse and from thence to throw him down whereby he was broken in pieces Val. Max. L. 1. Commodus the Emperour was a very Atheist and a great contemner of the Romane gods for which he became hatefull both to God and man and was slaine by his servants as he lay upon his bed his body was cast out into the streets where he was made the object of every ones scorne and at last was thrown into the river Tyber Fulgen. l. 1. c. 2. Heliog abalus forced a Vest all Virgin to marry him made warre against all the gods and contemned all religious serving of them for which he was slaine by his own horsemen his body being dragged up and down the streets and at last thrown into Tyber Ibid. It is said
go long unpunished for this man upon a quarrel intending to have stabbed another the other party perceiving it to avoid the stroke caught hold on his wrist and forced him to stab his own dagger into his own head which wound could not be cured by Surgery so that he lay cursing swearing and blaspheming and together with an oath breathed forth his accursed soul Gods Justice notably appearing in that his own hand that had written those blasphemies was an instrument to wound his head that had devised them Beards Theat A Gentleman in Bark-shire was an open contemner of God and all Religion a profest Atheist and a scorner of Gods holy Word and Sacraments and being intreated to be a witnesse at the Baptizing of a childe he would needs have him named Beelzebub He was a notorious whoremaster and so addicted to swearing that he could scarce speak without an oath but at last Gods hand found him out For being a hunting he was stricken by God suddenly so that falling backwards on his horse he was taken down stark dead with his tongue hanging out of his mouth after a fearful manner Beards Theat And I perswade my selfe that in these wicked times wherein Atheisme doth so much abound many like examples of Gods judgements might be observed if they were but taken notice of and recorded for Gods glory and caution to others The fool hath aid in his heart There is no God They are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good Psal. 14. 1. CHAP. XXII Examples of Blasphemy Blasphemers and Gods judgements on them IT 's a great sinne Mat. 15. 19. Lev. 18. 2. Psal. 44. 16. Tit. 2. 5. Rev. 13. 1 3 16. 16. 11 21. Lev. 24. 16. Rom. 2. 24. Act. 26. 11. 1 Tim. 6. 1. 2 Pet. 2. 2 12. Act. 13. 45. 18. 6. Mat. 12 31. Luk. 12. 10. 1 John 5. 16. 2 Tim. 2. 3. Rev. 2. 9. Luk 22. 65. To Blaspheme men forbidden Tit. 3. 2. 1 Pet. 4. 4. Jam. 2. 7. 1 Cor. 4. 13. Who they be that Blaspheme See Bernards Thesaurus It ought to be carefully avoided Col. 3. 8. 2 Sam. 12. 14. Psal. 74. 10 18. 1 Tim. 1. 20. Scriptural examples Satan Gen. 3. 4 5. the Egyptians Lev. 24. 11. Sennacherib and Rabshakeh 2 King 19. 6. Esa. 37. 6. Edomites Ezek. 35. 12. Israelites Ezek. 20. 27. Esa. 52. 5. 65. 7. Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 3. 15. Anti. Epiphanes Dan 7. 25. some Jews Mal. 2. 17. 3. 18 19. Act. 13. 45. Scribes and Pharisees Mat. 27. 39 69. 12. 31. John 8. 48. 7. 20. 8. 48. Luke 22. 65. Paul 1 Tim. 1. 13. Hymeneus and Alexander 1 Tim. 1. 20. the whore of Rome Rev. 17. 3. the Beast Rev. 13. 1 5. Unrepentant under plagues Rev. 16. 9. 11. 21. Falsly charged on Naboth 1 King 21. 10 13. and on Christ Mat. 9. 3. 26. 65. Mark 14. 64. John 10. 33. Mark 2. 7. Luke 5. 21. and on Stephen Acts 6. 11 13. Other examples Justinian made a Law that blasphemers should be severely punished by Judges and Magistrates Cod. l. 3. tit 43. King Lewis of France caused a Noble man to have his lips slit with an hot iron for blaspheming the Name of God Fr. Chron. Sennacherib for his Blasphemies had an Angel sent that in one night slew one hundred eighty five thousand of his men and himself was shortly after slain by his own sons 2 King 19. In Julian the Apostates time one Julian Governour of the East to please the Emperour overthrew the Christian Churches and pissed against the communion table and struck Euzojus on the eare for reproving him for it But shortly after the Lord sent upon him a grievous disease his intrails rotting within him so that he voided his excrements at his mouth dying in much misery Another of his officers called Felix seeing the holy vessels which belonged to the Church said in scorne See what precious vessels Maries Sonne is here served withal but shortly after he was taken with a vomitting of blood night and day out of his blasphemous mouth till he died Theod. Libanius the Sophist about the same time at Antioch demanded of a godly and learned Schoolmaster what the Carpenters son did and how he imploied himself He is quoth the other making a Coffin for such a blasphemer as thou art to carry thee to the grave Libanius jested at this answer but within a few dayes he died suddenly and was so buried Theat Hist. Michael a blasphemous Rabbin as he was banquetting with his companions fell to blaspheming Christ and his mother Mary boasting that he had gotten the victory over the Christians God but as he went down the stairs out of the roome he fell down and brake his neck Fincelius One Dennis Benefield a girle of twelve years of age going to school amongst other girles they fell to reasoning of God what he was One said he was a good old Father but this Dennis said blasphemously that he was an old doting fool the next day as she went between London and Hackney she was suddenly stricken dead one side of her being all black and was buried at Hackney Act. Mon. Olympius an Arian Bishop being at a Bath in Carthage reproached and blasphemed the sacred Trinity whereupon he was suddenly smitten with three flashes of lightning which burned him to death Pau. Diaconus Agoland a King of the Moores having long promised to be baptized came at length very gallantly attended to the Court of Charemaine King of France to performe his promise where seeing many Lazers and poor people expecting the Kings almes he asked What they were answer being made that they were the messengers and servants of God he speedily posted away protesting desperately that he would not serve that God who could keep his servants no better Simon Churnay a Master of Paris Anno Christi 1201. having most subtilly and acutely disputed about the Trinity some of his familiar friends perswaded him to put it in writing that so the memorial of such excellent things might not be lost whereupon he proudly brake forth into this blasphemous speech O Jesule Jesule O little Jesus little Jesus how much have I confirmed advanced thy law in this question but if I list to deal crosly I know how with stronger reasons and arguments to weaken and disprove the same Which was no sooner spoken but he was stricken dumb not only so but he became an Ideot and ridiculously foolish and was made a common hissing and mocking stock to all that saw him Mat. Paris Frederick the second Emperour of Germany used to say that there were three notable impostors which seduced the world more then any other viz. Moses Christ and Mahomet Lipsius Alphonsus the tenth King of Spaine used to say that if he had been with God at the first making of the world it had been framed farre better and more regularly Lipsius About the year 1511. there were some godly Christians
to sweare allegiance to his daughter Maud and that she should succeed in his Kingdome they which swore were first William Arch-bishop of Canterbury and the rest of the Bishops and Abbats then David King of Scotland Uncle to Maud now married to the Emperesse of Germany then Stephen Earle of Mortaigne and Bulloigne Nephew to the King c. But so soon as King Henry was dead in Normandy Stephen hasted into England and by the help especially of the Bishops was made King and the Emperesse put by but behold the revenging hand of God following their Perjury Stephen though otherwise a gallant Prince yet found his Crowne to be but a glorious misery Mars and Vulcan never suffering him to be at quiet and as he would not suffer the right heire to inherit so God would not suffer him to have an heire to inherit for his sonne was put by the Crowne which was conferred upon Henry sonne to the Emperesse the rightfull heire Also William Arch-bishop of Canterbury never prospered after his perjury but died within that yeare Roger Bishop of Salisbury fell into displeasure with King Stephen who took him prisoner seized upon his Castles and treasures and so used him that he died for very griefe Alexander Bishop of Lincolne was also taken by the King and led in a rope to the Castle of Newark upon Trent the King swearing that the Bishop should neither eat nor drink till his Castle was surrendered so that there he gat all the Bishops treasure and as for Hugh Bigot he also escaped not long unpunished saith Fabian Rodulph Duke of Sweveh provoked by the Pope rebelled against his Sovereigne the Emperour Henry the fourth but in a battel which he fought against him he lost his right arme whereof he shortly after died acknowledging Gods justice for his disloyalty punishing him in that arme which before was lift up to sweare the oath of allegiance to his Master Act. Mon. Narcissus a godly Bishop of Ierusalem was falsly accused by three men of many foule matters who sealed up with oathes and imprecations their false testimonies But shortly after one of them with his whole family and substance was burnt with fire another of them was stricken with a grievous disease such as in his imprecation he had wished to himselfe the third terrified with the sight of Gods judgements upon the former became very panitent and poured out the griefe of his heart in such aboundance of teares that thereby he became blinde Euseb. The Arians hired a woman to accuse Eustatius a godly Bishop of committing whoredome with her thereby procuring his banishment But shortly after the Lord struck her with a grievous disease whereupon she confessed her perjury the childe being begotten by Eustatius a Smith and not Eustatius the Bishop and so presently after she died Euseb. The Emperour Albert having made a truce with the great Turke and solemnly sworne to the same Pope Eugenius the fourth sent him a dispensation from his oath and excited him to renew the warre against them but in the first battel he was discomfited and slaine to the great shame of Christianity the infidels justly accusing them of Perjury and Covenant breaking sealed by the Name of Christ whom they professe to be their Saviour Turk Hist. Almerick King of Ierusalem having entred into League with the Caliph of Egypt and confirmed the same by an oath afterwards warred upon him contrary to his promise whereupon God raised him up many enemies who miserably wasted the Kingdome of Ierusalem himselfe was beaten out of Egypt and all hopes of succour failing him being wearied with whole volleys of miseries he ended his life of a bloody Flux Hist. holy Warres The Egyptians reputed perjury so capital a crime that whosoever was convinced thereof was punished with death Pausanias noteth this to be one chiefe cause why Philip King of Macedon with all his posterity were so quickly destroyed because he made no account of keeping his oathes but sware and unswere as might stand best with his interest Gregory of Tours makes mention of a wicked varlet in France among the people called Averni that forswearing himselfe in an unjust-cause had his tongue presently so tied that he could not speake but roare till by his inward prayer and repentance the Lord restored him the use of that unruly member Theodor Beza recordeth what befell a perjured person who forswore himselfe to the prejudice of his neighbour He had no sooner made an end of his oath but being suddenly stricken with an Apoplexie he never spake word more till he died Cleomenes King of Lacedemonia making truce with the Argives for seven dayes oppressed them in the third night unawares thinking thereby to avoid perjury But the Argive women their husbands being slaine took up armes like so many Amazones and repelled Cleomenes who afterwards was banished into Egypt where desperately he slew himselfe Plut. Uladislaus King of Hungary having contracted a League with Amurath the great Turke and bound himselfe to it by an oath the Pope sent a Legat to absolve him from his oath and provoke him to warre which he undertaking with a very great Army the victory stood doubtfull a great while together but Amurath seeing a Crucifix in the Christians Ensigne pluckt the writing wherein the late League was contained out of his bosome and with his eyes and hands cast up to heaven said O thou crucified Christ behold this is the League thy Christians in thy Name made with me which they have causelesly violated If thou be a God as they say thou art and as we dream revenge the wrong now done unto thy Name and me and shew thy power upon thy perjured people who in their deeds deny thee their God Immediately afterward the King in the middest of his enemies was slaine and the Christians fled very few ever returning to their own homes but perished miserably Turk Hist. When Harold King of England was ready to joyne in battel with William the Conquerer and his Normans Gyth a younger brother of his advised him that in case he had made promise unto William of the Kingdome he should for his own person withdraw himselfe out of the battel for surely all his forces could not secure him against God and his own conscience who no doubt would require punishment for breach offaith and promise withall assuring him that if he would commit the fortune of that battel into his hands he would not faile to performe the part of a good brother and valiant Captaine but the King contemning this wholesome counsel would needs joyne battel himselfe wherein he lost his Army Kingdome and his own life Camb Brit. p. 149 150. Henry Falmer being accused by his own brother of Heresie as they call it suffered Martyrdome for the same but shortly after his said brother who had borne false witnesse against him was pressed for a Pioner in the voyage to Bulloine where within three dayes as he was exonerating nature a Gun took him and
tore him all to peeces Act. and Mon. Sigismund the Emperour having granted letters of safe conduct unto Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prague under the faith and protection of himself and the Empire yet suffered them to be unjustly burnt at the Councel of Constance after which time the said Emperour never prospered in any thing that he took in hand he died without issue male and his daughters son Ladislaus died also childlesse whereby his name was quite extinguished in one age And his Emperesse became a dishonour also to the royal place which she held and so Gods judgements justly followed him for his perjury Luther Elfred a Nobleman in the dayes of King Ethelstane of England conspiring against his Sovereigne intended at Winchester to have pulled out his eyes but his treason being discovered he was sent to Rome to purge himself by oath where before the Altar of Saint Peter and in the presence of Pope Iohn the tenth he abjuring the thing suddenly fell down to the earth and being carried by his servants into the English schoole within three dayes after he there died Sp. Chron p. 340. Goodwin Earle of Kent Anno 1055. being charged by King Edward with the death of his brother Alfred excused himself with many words and at last eating a morsel of bread wished that it might choake him if he were guilty thereof but before he stirred one foot from the place he was according to his own imprecation forthwith choaked In the reigne of Queen Elizabeth one Annis Averies in the City of London widow forswore her selfe for a little mony which she should have paid for six pounds of Towe at a shop in Woodstreet and by Gods just judgement she immediately fell down speechless casting her excrements upwards which should have been voided downwards and so presently died Act. Mon. A certain Inne-Keeper in the town of Rutlinguen receiving a Budget of money from a passenger to keep for him forswore the same before the Judge giving himself to the devil if he swore falsly and was by two that testified against him which indeed were two Fiends of Hell presently in the presence of the Judge hoisted up into the aire where he vanished away with them and was never found after One hearing perjury condemned by a godly Preacher and how it never escaped unpunished said in a bravery I have often for sworne my self and yet my right hand is no shorter then my left which words he had scarce uttered when such an inflammation arose in that hand that he was forced to go to the Chirurgion and cut it off lest it should have infected his whole body whereby it became shorter then the other A rich young maide in Saxony promised marriage to a proper young man but poore He fore-seeing that wealth and inconstancy might alter her minde freely disclosed his thoughts to her whereupon she made a thousand imprecations to the contrary wishing that if she ever married another the devil might take her away on the wedding day yet afterwards the fickle wench was betrothed and married to another At dinner two men on horseback came to the house and were entertained at the feast and after dinner one of them leading the Bride a dance he took her by the hand and led her a turne or two and then in the presence of all her friends he caught her crying out for help and went out at the gate where he hoisted her up into the aire and vanished away with his companion and horses so that she was never seen more Sword against Swearers Philip King of Macedonia was a great contemner of all oaths and held the religious observation of them as a vaine thing for which cause the vengeance of God followed him and all his posterity For himself being scarce fourty six years old was slaine and his whole family was quickly extinguished Arideus one of his sons was slaine by Olympias his wife Another son that he had by Cleopatra was by his mother tormented to death in a brazen vessel compassed about with fire the rest of his sons perished in the like manner and his son Alexander after his great conquests in the prime of his dayes and in the middest of his victories died miserably as some think of poison Pausanius A certain maid in London that had stolen many things from her Mistris being examined forswore them wishing that she might rot if ever she touched them or knew of them but being yet carried to prison she began so to rot and stink that they were forced to thrust her out of prison into a common hospitall Iohn Cooper a godly man in Queen Maries dayes was falsely and maliciously accused of treason for speaking some words against the Queen and accordingly executed but one Grimwood who had sworn falsely against him being shortly after about his labour in the harvest and in good health suddenly his bowels fell out of his body and so he died most miserably Act. Mon. CHAP. XXV Examples of Gods Iudgements upon common Swearers BIshop Ridly in a Sermon at Pauls Crosse related a story of a young Gentleman of Cornwall in the dayes of King Edward the sixth who riding in the company of other Gentlemen began to swear and swagger and being reproved for it he swore the more and raged worse to whom one Master Haines a Minister with gentle words said that he should one day give an account thereof whereat the Gentleman being in a fume bade him take no thought for him but to prepare for his own Winding-sheet Well said the other amend for death gives no warning Gods wounds said he care not thou for me still raging worse and worse till coming to a bridge which passed over an arme of the Sea the young Gallant so spurred and switched his horse that he leaped over with him into the water who as he was going cried Horse and man and all to the devil Act. Mon. A Serving-man in Lincolnshire for every trifle used to swear by Gods precious blood and would not be warned by his friends till at length falling into a grievous sicknesse he was again much perswaded by his friends to repent which counsel he still rejected and hearing the Bell to toll in the very paines of death he start up swearing Gods wounds the Bell tolles for me but he shall not have me yet whereupon the blood issued out in a most fearful manner from all the joynts of his body from mouth nose wrists knees heeles and toes and other parts of his body and so he died Mr. Perkins Michael a Jewish Rabbin as he was swearing and blaspheming the Name of Iesus fell down and brake his neck Socrat. Eccl. Hist. Three Souldiers passing through a Wood in the Countrey of Samurtia there arose a tempest of thunder and lightning and one of them to shew his contempt of God and his judgements burst forth into swearing and blasphemy but the tempest tearing up an huge tree it fell upon him and crushed him to peeces
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
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
City of Isaurum in Pisidia when the Citizens saw that they could no longer hold out against him they shut up their parents wives and children with all their substance in their houses and so burnt them and then threw themselves down from the walls and brake their own necks Diod. Sic. Ptolomy King of Egypt hearing that Nicocles King of Cyprus did closely hold correspondence with Antigonus he sent some to slay him these coming into Cyprus beset his Palace and demanded him to be delivered up to punishment Nicocles would at fiâ—st have excused the matter but when he saw that it would not serve turn he slew himself Then did Axiothea his wife slay her daughters that were Virgins that they might not come into the enemies power She also perswaded the wives of Nicocles brethren with her to murther themselves their husbands seeing this set fire upon the Palace burning themselves and all together Diod. Sic. Hannibal in his old age flying to Prusias King of Bythinia was demanded by the Romane Ambassadors to be delivered to them but rather than he would come into their hands he drank poison which he alwayes kept for that purpose and so died Aur. Victor Augustus Caesar besieging M. Antony and Cleopatra in Alexandria after a long siege Antony hearing a false rumor that Cleopatra was slain suddenly slew himself and Cleopatra scorning to be carried in triumph by Caesar set a couple of asps to her breasts whereby she presently died Plut. Zimri K. of Israel desperately burned himself in his own Palace 1 King 16. 18. Achitophel hanged himself 2 Sam. 17. 23. Judas hanged himself Act. 1. 18. Saul and his Armor-bearer 1 Sam. 31. 4 5. fell upon their own swords Tomyris Queen of the Massagetes having in a battell overthrown and slain Cyrus King of Persia cut off his head and 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 When he maketh inquisition for blood he remembreth them He for gets not the cry of the humble Psal. 9. 12. The Admirà ble Discoveries of sundry Murthers Parthenius Treasurer to Theodobert King of France traiterously slew a friend of his called Ausanius together with his wife Papianilla no man knowing or suspecting it but not long after in his sleep he suddenly roared out crying for help or else he perished and being asked what ailed him Between sleep and wake he answered that his friend Ausanius and his wife whom he had slain summoned him to judgement before God for which being apprehended he was stoned to death Greg. of Toures Mr. Arden of Feversham in Kent had a fair but dishonest wife who being in love with one Mosby with him conspired her husbands death hiring a ruffian called Black Will to strangle him with a towel which though for the present was not known yet the woman being pursued with a guilty conscience and by some blood that appeared in the house the murther was discovered the woman was burned at Canterbury Mr. Ardens man who had a hand in the murther was hanged in chains at Feversham Mosby was hanged in Smithfield Black Wil though he fled yet being overtaken was burnt at Flushing in Zealand A souldier of King Pyrrhus being slaine a dog which he had could by no meanes be entised from the dead body but the King coming by he fawned upon him as it were craving help at his hand whereupon the King caused all his Army to march by in order and when the muâ—cherers came the dog flew fiercely upon them and then fawned upon the King the souldiers being hereupon examined confessed the fact and were hanged for their labour â—lut In the Reigne of Edmund King of the East Saxons a Noble Dane called Lothebrocus being driven upon his coast the King entertained him and finding his dexterity in hunting and hawking loved him exceedingly for which the Kings Faulconer bore a great malice to him and watching his opportunity murthered him and threw him into a brook But his dog continued by his masters corps in the wood sometimes coming to the Court and fawning on the King and so running towards the wood againe the King missing his friend of whom he could hear no tidings began to suspect the matter and therefore following the dog found the corps and by some words the Faulconer was suspected and upon examination found guilty whereupon being put alone into a boat he was committed to the mercy of the Sea that carried him to Denmark there to be punished for his fault Two French Merchants travelling through a wood together one rose up against the other and slew him for his money and so buried him and went on his journey But the murthered mans dog filled the wood with his howlings still staying by his Masters grave the inhabitants by this meanes found out the dog and the murther and the Faire being ended they watched the coming back of the Merchants till the murtherer coming by the dog fell upon him with all his might whereupon the people apprehended him who upon examination confessed the fact and was justly executed Blond A Germane called Ibycus travelling fell amongst theeves who being about to murther him behold a flight of crowes to whom Ibycus said O crowes I take you for witnesses and revengers of my death About three dayes after as these theeves were drinking in an Inne a company of crowes came and lighted on the house whereupon they laughed saying See yonder are they which must revenge his death whom we murthered which the Tapster over-hearing informed the Magistrate and he upon strict examination extorted a confession for which they were deservedly hanged Luther Plutarch relates a story of one Bessus who having murthered his father was so pursued with a guilty conscience that he thought the swallowes in their chattering language said one to another Bessus hath killed his father whereupon not being able to conceale his guilt he confessed the fact and received condigne punishment A Merchant of Luca travelling from London to Roan in France was in the way murthered by a French man his servant and thrown amongst the vines As the fact was doing comes by a blinde man led by a dog and hearing one groane asked who it was the murtherer answered that it was a sick man easing himselfe This villaine with his masters money and bills of exchange sets up a shop at Roan In the mean time the Merchant was expected at Luca and when he came not a messenger was dispatched to seek him who after much enquiry heard at an Inne that six moneths before a Lucquois Merchant lodged there and was going towards Paris But the messenger hearing nothing of him there began to suspect that he was murthered and made his complaint to the Parliament of Roan who being directed by Gods providence enquired if any about that time had set up a new shop and finding this man caused him to be arested who upon examination denied the fact till the dead
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
followers and by his meaner servants he was dispoiled of Armour Vessels Apparel and all Princely furniture and his naked body left upon the floore his Funeral wholly neglected till one Harluins a poore countrey Knight undertook the carriage of his Corps to Caen in Normandy to Saint Stevens Church which this dead King had formerly founded At his entrance into Caen the Covent of Monks came forth to meet him but at the same instant there happened a great fire so that as his Corps before so now his Hearse was of all men forsaken every one running to quench the fire which done his body being at last carried to the Church and the Funeral Sermon ended and the stone Coffin set into the earth in the Chancel as the body was ready to be laid therein one Ascelinus Fitz-Arthur stood up and forbâ—de the burial alleadging that that very place was the floore of his fathers house which this dead Duke violently took from him to build this Church upon Therefore saith he I challenge this ground and in the Name of God forbid that the body of this dispoiler be covered in my earth so that they were enforced to compound with him for one hundred pounds But when the body came to be laid in the Tombe it proved too little for it so that being pressed the belly not bowelled brake and with an intolerable stench so annoyed the by-standers that all their Gums and spices â—uming in their Censers could not relieve them whereupon all with great amazement hasting away left the Monks only to shuffle up the burial which they did in haste and so gat them to their Cells Speeds Chron. William Rufus King of England as he was hunting in the new Forrest was by the glance of an arrow against a tree shot in the breast he hastily taking hold of so much of the arrow as stuck out of his body brake it off and with one only groane fell down and died whereupon most of his followers hasted away and those few which remained laid his body basely into a Colliers cart which being drawn with one silly lean beast in a very foul and filthy way the cart brake where lay the spectacle of wordly glory both pitifully goared and filthily bemired till being conveyed to Winchester he was buried under a plain Marble-stone Sp. Chron. page 449. Pithias pined away for lack of bread who formerly was able to entertain and feast Xerxes and his whole Army Bajazet the Great Turke being overcome and taken prisoner by Tamerlane was carried about in an Iron Cage and fed with scraps from Tamerlanes Table Sir Edward de Sancto Mauro commonly Seimor being advanced by King Edward the sixth was most powerfull honourable and loaden with titles being Duke of Summerset Earle of Hartford Vicount Beauchamp Baron Seimor Uncle to the King Governour of the King Protector of his Realmes Dominions and Subjects Leiutenant of all his Forces by Land and Sea Lord High Treasurer and Marshal of England Captaine of the Isles of Garnsey and Jarsey c. Yet this great man was suddenly overwhelmed and for a small crime and that upon a nice point subtilly devised and packed by his enemies was bereaved both of his dignities and life also Camb. Brit. p. 240. Henry Holland Duke of Exeter and Earle of Huntington who married the sister of King Edward the fourth was driven to such want that Philip Comines saith that he saw him runne on foot bare-legged after the Duke of Burgundies traine begging his bread for Gods sake concealing himselfe but afterwards being known what he was Burgundy gave him a small pension to maintaine his estate The Duke of Buckingham who had been a chief instrument of advancing Richard the third to the Crown and the chiefest man of power in the Kingdome falling into the displeasure of the King and forced to hide himselfe at a servants house of his called Humphrey Banister was betrayed by him and apprehended disguised like a poor countrey-man and digging in a grove near to Banisters house and being carried to Salisbury where the King was without arraignment or judgement there lost his head Speed Chron. page 927. Queen Elizabeth in the life of her sister Mary being kept prisoner at Woodstock chanced to see a maid milking of Kine in the Parke and singing merrily over her paile which struck this pensive prisoner into a deep meditation preferring the maides fortunes farre above her own heartily wishing that her selfe were a Milk-maide Sp. Chron. p. 1120. Vanity of vanities saith the Preacher vanity of vanities all is vanitie Eccles. 1. 2. CHAP. LIII Examples of Gratitude Tanksgiving WHat we are to give thanks to God for For deliverances 2 Sam. 22. 50. 1 Chron. 16. 35. Ps. 35. 17 18. 18. 49. 30. 4 11 12. 105. 1 5. 106. 1. 107. 1. For willingnesse to do good 1 Chron. 29. 13 14. For wisdome Dan. 2. 23. For Gods grace to others Rom. 1. 8. 16. 4. 1 Cor. 1. 4. Phil. 1. 3 5. Eph. 1. 16. For deliverance from sinne Rom. 7. 25. 1 Cor. 15. 57. For the free passage of the Gospel 1 Thes. 2. 13. for being made able Ministers 1 Tim. 1. 12. For Christ. Luk. 2. 38. For health Luk. 17. 16. For food Acts 27. 35. For Gods Ministers deliverances 2 Cor. 1. 11. For blessing upon the Ministery 2 Cor. 2. 14. For Gods grace on others 2 Cor. 9. 15. For fitting us for Heaven Col. 1. 12. For all things Eph. 5. 20. 1 Thes. 5. 18. As all good comes from him Jam. 1. 17. So all praise is due to him Thanks also is due to men for kindnesse received by remembring it publishing it and remunerating it Scriptural Examples of thankfulnesse to God The Priests Ezra 3. 11. Moses Exod 15. Hannah 1 Sam. 2. 1 c. David 2 Sam. 22. Psal. 69. 30. 116. 17. Mary Luke 1. 46. Zachary Luke 1. 68. The Sheepherds Luke 2. 20. Simeon Luke 2. 28. The Leper Luke 17. 16. Paul Acts 27. 35. 1 Cor. 15. 57 2 Cor. 2. 14. Of thankfulnesse to man Ahashuerus to Mordicai Est. 6. 3. David to Abigail by marrying her for her good advice 1 Sam. 25. King of Sodom by proffering Abraham all the goods taken Gen. 14. Naaman to Elisha by proffering a reward for his clensing 2 Kin. 5. 15. One siphorus by Ministering unto Paul 2 Tim. 1. 16 17. Gaoler to Paul and Barnabas Acts 16. 33. and Lydia Acts 16. 15. Pharaoh by advancing Joseph Gen. 41. 39 c. and Paul by praying for him 2 Tim. 1. 16 17. Other Examples Darius Hystaspis whilst he was a Captaine under Cambyses seeing one Siloson to have a very curious vesture desired to buy it of him but Siloson told him that he was resolved not to sell but yet he would freely give it him afterwards Darius being King Siloson came to salute him and Danius remembring his former kindenesse entertained him curteously and told him that in consideration of that garment he would give him
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
were witnesses of Pausanias reports that one Balthus a dumb man wandring in a desert met with a Lion and was struck with such exceeding fear and trepidation that thereupon the strings of his tongue were loosed and he spake ever after CHAP. LVII Examples of Constancy COmmanded 1 Chron. 28. 7. â—it 3. 8. Gal. 5. 10. 2 Tim. 2. 1. Heb. 13. 9. Jam. 1. 17. 2 Cor. 1. 17. 1 Cor. 15. 58. 2 Pet. 3. 17. 2 Tim. 3. 14. Rev. 2. 10. Commended Prov. 21. 28. Heb. 12. 3. Rom. 11. 22. Exhorted to 1 Cor. 16. 13. Eph. 4. 14 15. â— Tim. 3 14. Heb. 12. 1. 13. 9. Mat. 10. 22. 24. 13. Phil. 4. 1. Rev. 3. 11. Scriptural Examples Joshua ch 24 15. Ruth ch 1. 15. Levites 2 Chron. 11. 13. Josiah 2 Chron. 34. 2. Jewes Ezra 3. 3. David Psal. 119. 157. John Baptist Mat. 11. 7. Luke 7. 24. Paul Acts 20. 23 24. 2 Tim. 4. 7. Antipas Rev. 2. 13. Angel Rev. 2. 13. Disciples Luke 22. 28. Hebrews chap. 10. 32 34. Dionysius c. Acts 17. 34. Jewes and Proselytes Acts 13. 43. Other Examples Aristides is an admirable example of constancy of whom Phlutarch writes that amidst all the changes which befell the Athenians in his time he remained alwayes the same for honours never puffed him up with pride nor adversity never made him impatient For when AEschylus the Poet in the publick Amphytheater made verses in his commendation and thereupon the eyes of all the people were fixed upon him he was nothing affected or puffed up with it neither at other times was he afflicted at the reproaches and indignities of his enemies He used to say That it was the part of a good Citizen only to rejoyce in his good speeches and actions Plut. Nero being weary of his wife Octavia the daughter of Claudius by whom he had the Empire charged her with adultery and Pythias one of her women was miserably tormented upon the rack to extort a confession against her imperial Lady but she left this memorable Example of loyal constancy Nero's instrument of cruelty sitting in Commission at the rack demanded of her some immodest questions about her Lady Octavia But she being raised above fear or paine by honest courage did spit into his face saying that Octavia was honester in her womans parts then his mouth Suet. Phocion the Athenian was semper idem alwayes the same neither favour nor fear altering him the Oracle declaring that there was one man that was an enemy to the concord of the City when the enraged people enquired after him he said Pray you be quiet I am the man whom ye seek for there are none of your doings that please me Athens was at this time in her dotage Afterwards being chosen Captaine of the Athenians against the Macedonians he seeing that his cowardly souldiers were only valiant in their tongues wisely forbore fighting and made a peace afterwards being upbraided as if he had done it through cowardice he answered You are happy that you had a Captaine that knew you well enough otherwise you had all perished before this At another time when Demosthenes that rode the people by his flattery told Phocion that the Athenians would kill him when they began to be mad But said Phocion they will kill thee when they begin to be wise Lipsius Saint Ambrose Bishop of Millaine being besieged in his Church by the Emperour Valentinian junior at the instigation of Justina his mother an Arian the Emperour commanded him to come forth of the Church intending to deliver it to the Arians But Ambrose told him that he would never come out of it willingly neither would betray his sheepfold to the wolvs nor his Church to such as were blasphemers of God Therefore saith he if thou wilt kill me come in and thrust me through either with thy sword or speare which death will be very grateful unto me Theod. Valerianus Bishop of Hâ—benza in Africa being commanded by Genserick an Arian King of the Vandals to deliver up to him the books of the Sacred Scripture and other vessels belonging to the Church he rather chose being eighty years old to be stripped naked and driven out of the City where he lay amongst the dunghills till he perished Sige. Chron. Hormisdas a Nobleman of Persia professing Christianity in the time of a great persecution was called before the King Varanes who sharply chid him threatening him with death if he persisted therein To whom Hormisdas constantly answered That which you command me O King is wicked and therefore I may not abjure the God of the whole world to procure your Majesties favour For a crime committed against his Majesty is farre greater then disobedience to you Niceph. Constance the third could neither prevaile by promises nor threats with Martin Bishop of Rome to confirme the heresie of the Monothelites he choosing banishment rather then thus to sinne against God Fulgos. Publius Rutilius shewed his excellent constancy when being requested by a friend to do for him a thing which was unjust he refused to do it whereupon his friend said What am I the better for thy friendship if thou wilt not do for me so small a courtesie when it is desired of thee To whom he answered And what am I the better for such a friend as requests of me such unjust things Val. l. 6. c. 4. Pomponius a Knight of Rome fighting in the Army of Lucullus against Mithridates was wounded and taken prisoner and being brought before Mithridates he said to him If I take care for the cure of thy wounds wilt thou be my friend To whom Pomponius answered Not except thou beest a friend to the people of Rome Fulgos. Marc. Brutus warring in Lusitania when he had conquered almost the whole Countrey only the City of Cyania stood out against him he sent Ambassadours to them proffering them a great summe of gold to deliver up their City to him To whom they answered with admirable constancy Our father 's left us swords wherewith to defend our liberty not gold nor rich gifts wherewith to redeem our selves from our enemies Eras. Apoth C. Mevius a Captaine of Augustus Caesars having often fought valiantly against Mark Anthony was at last circumvented taken prisoner and carried before Anthony who asked him what he would have him to determine about him To whom Mevius most constantly answered Command my throat to be cut seeing I am resolved neither for the hope of life nor for the fear of death to forsake Caesar nor to serve thee Val. Max. See more in the Chapter of Valour and Magnanimity CHAP. LVIII Examples of Inconstancy Unstableness SPoken of Jam. 1. 8. 2 Pet. 2. 14. 3. 16. Reuben is said to be so Gen. 49. 4. The Athenians who a little before had given divine honours to King Demetrius and in a most base manner flattered him during his great victories when they heard of his overthrow by Ptolemy King of Egypt and that he was coming to
past I denied it to your Father and therefore it would not be just to grant that to the son which I refused to the father Imp. Hist. Apollonius being asked as to entrap him what he thought of Nero's singing fearlesly answered the bloody Tigellinus Nero's favourite I think said he far better then you for you repute him worthy to sing but I to hold his peace And so truly it was for his voice was but weak and hollow and therefore to help it he used to lie on his back with a leaden plate on his breast and to fast certain daies in every moneth with nothing but oyl Plinie At the Battel of Newport the Prince of Orange having the Spanish Army before him and the Sea behind him spake thus to his Souldiers If you will live you must either eat up these Spaniards or drink up this Sea When Luther first appeared against the Pope Albertus Crantzius a Bishop that approved of his project but thought it impossible to be brought to passe wrote thus unto him Frater Frater Abi in Cellam dic Miserere mei Deus Frier Frier go into thy Cloister and follow thy beads This businesse is too hard for thee to undertake When amongst many Articles exhibited to our King Henry the 7th by the Irish against the Earl of Kildare the last was Finally all Ireland cannot rule this Earl Then quoth the King this Earl shall rule all Ireland and so made him Deputy thereof Camb. Remaines p. 271. King John of England being perswaded by one of his Courtiers to untomb the bones of one who whilest he lived had been his great enemy O no quoth the King would to God that all mine enemies were as honourably buried A little before the Spanish Invasion in eighty eight the Spanish Ambassadour after a large recital of his Masters demands to Queen Elizabeth summed up the effect of it in this Tetrastich Te veto ne pergas bello defendere Belgas Quae Dracus eripuit nunc restituantur oportet Quas Pater evertit jubeo te Condere cellas Religio Papae fac restituatur ad unguem i. e. These to you are our Commands Send no help to th'Netherlands Of the Treasure took by Drake Restitution you must make And those Abbies build anew Which your fathers overthrew If for any Peace you hope In all points restore the Pope The Queen smiling at these demands returned this sudden answer Ad Graecas bone Rex fient mandata Calendas Worthy King know this your will At latter Lammas wee 'l fulfill See her Life in my second Part. John Duke of Bedford being entombed in the chief Church of Roan afterwards a foolish Courtier perswaded Charles the eighth King of France to deface his Monument to whom the King answered God defend that I should wrong him dead whom whilest he was living all the force of France could not resist Queen Elizabeth coming into a Free-School had an Oration made to her by one of the boyes whom afterwards she jestingly asked How often his Master had whipped him To whom he readily and wittily answered with the words of AEneas to Queen Dido Infandum Regina jubes renovare dolorem At another time having an Oration made to her by a poor boy she understanding his quality said merrily to him Pauper ubique jacet But the boy as confidently and wittily answered In thalamis regina tuis hac nocte jacerem Si verum hoc esset Pauper ubique jacet CHAP. LXXXIII Poverty Poor NOt to be oppressed Exod. 22. 25. Deut. 24. 14. Prov. 22. 16 22. 28. 3 15. 14. 31. 30. 14. Eccles. 5. 8. Isa. 3. 14 15. 10. 2. 11. 4 32. 7. 58. 7. Jer. 2. 32. Ezek. 18. 12. Amos 2. 6. 4. 1. Job 31. 16 c. Psal. 10. 2 c. 12. 5. To be relieved Exod. 23. 11. Lev. 19. 20. 23. 22. 25. 25 35 c. Deut. 15. 7 c. 24. 12. Job 30. 25. Prov. 14. 21. 22. 9. 28. 27. 31. 20. Dan. 4. 27. Mar. 14. 7. Matth. 19. 21. Rom. 15. 26. Gal. 2. 10. Luk. 19. 8. 2 Cor. 9. 9. What brings Poverty Prov. 6. 11. 11. 24. 13. 18. 20. 13. 23. 21. 24. 34. 28. 19 22. Alexander the Great having taken the Kingdome of Sidon gave it to Hephaestion to dispose of it to whom he pleased Hephaestion to shew his gratitude proffered it to his host with whom he quartered but he not being of the Kingly family refused it saying It is not our Countrey fashion that any one should be King but such as are of the King's line and such an one saith he lives hard by a good and a wise man but very poor and one that lives by his hard labour then Hephaestion taking Kingly apparrel with him went to this poor man and saluted him King bidding him wash off his dirt and put off his rags and put on that Kingly apparel the poor mans name was Abdolonimus who thought he had been in a dream but being by the standers by washed and adorned Hephaestion led him into the Palace saying When thou sittest on thy Throne and hast power over the lives of all thy Subjects forget not thy former condition Alexander hearing of it sent for him and asked him with what patience he being of such a noble extraction could bear his former poverty To whom Abdolonimus answered I pray God that I may bear the Kingdome with the same mind for said he these hands provided for my necessity and as I had nothing so I wanted nothing Just. Cur. Diod. Sic. CHAP. LXXXIV Peace Peace makers GOd is the God of Peace Heb. 13. 20. Christ the Prince of Peace Isa. 9. 6. Gods Word the glad tydings of Peace Rom. 10 15. Isa. 52. 7. Gods children are Peace-makers Matth. 5. 9. the Angels singers of Peace Luk 2. 13. Good men are Counsellors of Peace Prov. 12. 20. Gods Kingdome the Kingdome of Peace Rom. 14. 17. Church-Officers Officers of Peace Isa. 60. 17. Hierusalem the City of Peace Psal. 122. 3 7. It 's to be sought after Heb. 14. 14. Rom. 14. 19. 1 Cor. 7. 15. Phil. 4. 7. Psal. 34. 14. Jer. 29. 7. Mar. 5. 50. Ephes. 4. 3. 1 Thess. 5. 13. We must pray for Peace Psal. 122. 6. No peace to the wicked Isa. 48. 22. Scriptural Examples Abraham for peace sake yielded to Lot Gen. 13. 8. Abimelech covenants with Isaac Gen. 26. 28 c. Joseph commands it to his Brethren Gen. 45. 24. Melchisedeck and Salomon were Kings of peace Jacob and his sons Gen. 34. 21. the Primitive Christians Act. 4. 32. David Psal. 120. 7. Numa Pompilius instituted the Priests called Feciales whose office was to preserve peace between the Romans and their neighbouring Nations and if any quarrels did arise they were to pacifie them by reason and not suffer them to come to violence till all hope of peace was past and if the Feciales did not consent
Asse The Queen-Mother of Scotland having received aid from France forced the Protestants for a while to retire towards the High-lands whereupon she scoffingly said Where is now John Knox his God My God is now stronger then his yea even in Fife but her brags lasted not long For within a few dayes six hundred Protestants beat above four thousand French and Scots c. See Master Knox his Life in my first Part. The same Queen-Mother when some English Scots attempted to take Leith by storme and many of them were slaine by reason that the scaling ladders proved too short beholding it from Edenborough Castle where she was burst out into a great laughter saying Now will I go to Masse and praise God for that which mine eyes have seen And when the French had stripped the slaine and laid the naked bodies along the walls the Queen looking on them said scoffingly Yonder are the fairest Tapestries that ever mine eyes beheld I would that the whole fields which are betwixt Leith and this place were all strewed with the same stuffe But this joy lasted not long For presently after a fire kindled in Leith which burnt up their store-houses and provision for the Army and the Queen-Mother fell sick and died Eodem When Christians complained to Julian the Apostate of the abuse and wrongs which his officers did to them he used scoffingly to answer It 's your part when you are injured to take it patiently for so your God commandeth you See my General Martyrology p. 86. In the late Persecution in Bohemia some godly Martyrs in Prague as they were at supper being to suffer the next day comforted themselves saying that this was their last supper upon earth that to morrow they should feast with Christ in heaven whereupon a great Papist flouted them saying Hath Christ Cooks for you in Heaven Eodem p. 170. Now therefore be no more mockers lest your bands be made strong Isa. 28. 22. CHAP. XXIV Examples of Gods judgements against Perjury SWearing Cursing and Perjury are such God-provoking and Heaven-outfacing sinnes that the Lord doth not only reserve wrath for these his enemies in the world to come but many times also even in this world he takes some of the eminentest of these sinners and as it were hangs them up in Gibbets to be monuments of his heavy wrath and indignation for the terrour of others that they may hear and fear and do no more so wickedly as these ensuing Examples may sufficiently evince It 's a great sinne 1 Tim. 1. 9. 10. Lev. 6. 3. Jer. 23. 10 Hos. 10. 4. Forbidden Lev. 19. 12. Mat. 5. 33. Threatened Jer. 5. 2 and 7. 9. Mal. 3. 5. Zach. 5. 3 4 Hos. 10. 4. Scriptural examples Princes and people Jer. 34 10 11 17. Zedekiah Ezek. 17. 18 19. Saul 2 Sam. 21. 1 2. Agesilaus being sent with a great Army from Sparta into Asia Minor against Tissaphernes the King of Persiu's Leiutenant there Tissaphernes desired to know the reason of his coming Agesilaus answered that it was to let the Grecian Cities free Tissaphernes intreated him to make a truce with him till he had sent to the King of Persia to know his pleasure therein Agesilaus consented and so a truce was made with solemne oaths on both sides but Tissaphernes dealt deceitfully and sent to the King for a great Army which being come to him he sent an Herauld to Agesilaus to command him presently to depart out of Asia Agesilaus being nothing daunted with the newes returned this answer That he gave him no small thanks for that by his perjury he had made the gods angry with the Persians and favourable to the Grecians and accordingly it so fell out for coming to a battel he gave the Persians a great overthrow Xenophon Lysander King of Sparta though otherwise a gallant man yet made no conscience of his oaths using to say that boyes used to be deceived with false dice and men with oaths Plut. Eumenes being made General of an Army against Antigonus by the young King of Macedonia Alexander M. his sonne and his protectour they wrote to the two Colonells of the Argyraspides to adjoyne themselves to him These were Alexanders old souldiers whom when he took them with him into India he made them silver shields and called them Argyraspides These Colonells obeying the command went with him into Asia and after some lesser conflicts the two armies met at last in Media where these silvershields of whom none were under sixty and most of them were seventy years old took in such scorne that their sonnes and boyes should fight against them that they charged them with such fury that after the slaughter of many they made Antigonus his infantry wholly to run away but in the mean time Antigonus his Cavalry had routed the Cavalry of Eumenes and seizing upon their carriges had driven them away the Silver shields hearing of it sent presently to Antigonus desiring him to restore them their carriages againe who answered that if they would deliver up Eumenes bound into his hands he would not only restore their carriages but greatly preferre them also Hereupon most treacherously they ran upon Eumenes took away his sword and bound his hands behinde him so that he could scarce get leave to speake before they carried him away but at last having obtained leave he thus spake O my souldiers ye see the habit and ornaments of your General not imposed upon him by his enemies but you your selves of a Conquerer have made him a Captive You that within one yeares space have bound your selves foure times to me by oath do now to redeem your carriages betray me to mine enemies therefore I desire you rather to kill me your selves for Antigonus desires not to have me living but dead and if you will but herein gratifie me I freely absolve you from all the oaths wherewith you have bound your selves to me or if you will not shew me so much favour then loose one of my bands and give me a sword that I may kill my selfe or if you dare not trust me with a sword cast me to the Elephants to be destroyed by them But when he saw that they would gratifie him in none of these he grew into a passion and said Ye cursed villaines I pray the gods who are the revengers of perjury to send you such ends as ye have brought your Generals unto for I am not the first whom you have thus betrayed c. And so being delivered to Antigonus he was shortly after murthered by him But withal he so hated these perjured Silver shields that he burned one of their Colonells and slew the other the rest of them he sent into remote Countreys and put them upon such desperate services that by degrees they were all cut off and never any one of them returned into his own Countrey againe Plut. King Henry the first of England in the twenty seventh year of his reigne caused the Bishops Abbats and Nobles