moved out of that place he was smitten with such a feeblenesse of heart and dizzinesse in his head that desiring help to carry him to an house he died before the Lords day came At Walton upon Thames in Surrey in a great Frost 1634. three young men on the Lords day after they had been at the Church in the forenoone where the Minister pressing the words of his text out of 2 Cor. 5. 10. that We must all appear before the judgement-seat of Christ c. they the while whispering as they sate In the afternoone they went together over the Thames upon the Ice unto an house of disorder and gaming where they spent the rest of the Lords day and part of the night also in revelling one of them in a Taverne merrily discoursing the next day of his Sabbaths acts and voyage over the Ice but on Tuseday next after these three returning homewards and attempting to passe againe over the Ice they all sunk down to the bottome as stones whereof one only of them was miraculously preserved but the other two were drowned These foure last are attested by good hands Anno Christi 1598. the towne of Feverton in Devonshire was often admonished by her godly Pastor that God would bring some heavy judgement upon the inhabitants of that place for their horrible profanation of the Lords day occasioned chiefly by their market on the Munday and accordingly not long after the said Ministers death on the third of April in the year aforesaid God sent a terrible fire which in lesse then halfe an houre consumed the whole towne except the Church the Conrt-house Almes-houses and a few poor peoples dwellings and above 50. persons were consumed in the flames Also Anno Christi 1612. it was again wholly burnt down except a few poor houses they being not warned by the former judgement but continuing in the same sin Beards Theat If ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath-day and not to bear a burden even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath-day then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof and it shall devour the Palaces of Jerusalem and it shall not be quenched Jer. 17. 27. CHAP. XXXVI Examples of Gods judgments upon Murtherers and Blood-shedders THe positive judiciall Law of God is that whosoever sheddeth mans bloud by man shall his bloud be shed Gen. 9. 6. and the reason is there rendred because such destroy Gods Image wherein man is made and the cry of blood if not punished by man is so great Gen. 4. 10. that the Lord comes down from heaven to call the murtherer to account and by some visible and remarkable judgements or other to stigmatize this sin as these following Examples will more fully manifest Murtherers ought to be punished with death Gen. 9. 6. Exod. 21. 12. Prov. 28. 17. Rev. 13. 10. No recompence is to be taken for it Num. 35. 32 c. for it defiles the land Hos. 4. 2 3. It 's diligently to be sought out Deut. 21. 1 c. God punisheth it here Psal. 55. 23. It excludes from heaven Gal. 5. 21. Rev. 21. 8. Scripturall Examples Cain Gen. 4. 8. Pharaoh Exodus 1. 16 Simeon and Levt Gen. 34. 25. c. Abimelech Judg. 9. 5. Agag 1 Sam. 15. 33. Joab 2 Sam. 3. 27. David 2 Sam. 11. 14 c. Absalom 2 Sam. 13. 28 29 Manasseh 2 King 21. 16. Amons servants 2 Kings 21. 23. Ahab and Jezabel 1 Kings 21. 9 c. Baanah and Rechab 2 Sam. 4. 6. Saul 2 Sam. 21. 1. 1 Sam. 22. 18. Athaliah Chron. 22. 10. Baasha Kin. 15. 27. Zimri 1 Kin. 16. 9. Joash 2 Chron 24. 21. Shalâ—um 2 Kings 15. 10. Manahem 2 Kings 15. 14 16. Herod Acts 12. 2. Cain for murthering his brother Abel was cursed by God Gen. 4. Abimelech who slew his 70. brethren was slain by a woman at Thebez Jud. 9. Baanah and Rechab who slew their L. Ishbosheth were slain by the command of David 2 Sam. 4. Joab who slew Abner and Amasa treacherously was slain by the command of Solomon 1 Kin. 2. Cyrus K. of Persia who for 30. years together made cruell war in many places at last fighting against the Scythians was overcome 200000 of his men slain and himself salling into the hands of Q. Tomyris she cut off his head threw it into a bowl of blood saying Thou hast all thy time thirsted after blood now drink thy fill and satiate thy self therewith Orosius Cambyses his son a bloody and cruell man who shot a noblemans son thorow the heart because the father had reproved him for drunkennesse He caused his own brother to be privily murthered lest he should usurp the Kingdom slew his own sister for reproving him for that deed At last as he was riding his sword fell out of the scabbard and himself falling upon it was slain thereby Herodo Xerxes who with his huge Army passed over into Greece being overthrown by sea and land fled shamefully into Asia in a fisherboat and shortly after was slain by Artabanus the Captain of his guard in his own palace Diod. Sic. The 30. Tyrants in Athens were cruell bloodsuckers till the people rising up against them slew them all Just. Phocas who to get the Empire put to death all the sons of Mauricius the Emperor before his face and then slew him also and after many villainies by him committed was pursued by his son in law Priscus and being taken had his hands and feet cut off and afterwards with all his posterity was put to a cruell death Nicephorus Anno Christi 1346. Popiel K. of Poland to obtain the Kingdom poysoned his two uncles and gave himself over to all manner of wickednesse He used upon every occasion to say If this be not true would rats might devour me On a time as he was going to a great feast an Army of rats out of the putrefied body of his uncles set upon him which all his guard with their weapons were not able to drive away Then did they make great cole-fires about him yet through the middest of the fire did the rats assault him Then did they put him with his wife and children into a boat and rowed them in the middest of a great lake yet thither did the rats swim to him and lastly he gat up to the top of an high Tower yet still the rats pursued him and they eat him up to the very bones together with his wife and children Munst. Cos. Bassianus the Emperour who slew his own brother in his mothers armes and tooke to wife his own mother in Law was shortly after himselfe murthered by the procurement of Macrinus to prevent his owne death Justinian the Emperour a cruel and bloody man who was the cause of many murthers was first banished from his Empire and afterwards slaine by one of his own servants Euseb. Clovis King of France an horrible murtherer who amongst other cruel facts caused one of his Peers to be murthered
the third replyed thus I am much more afraid of his Almes and Prayers then I am of his Armies Dr. Powel Frederick the Elector of Saxony intending to make war against the Archbishop of Magdeburg sent a Spie into his Countrey to see what preparations the Archbishop made for his own defence By whom being informed that the Archbishop wholly applyed himself to fasting and prayer and reforming his Church Let him fight said the Duke that hath a mind to it for I am not soâ—mâ—d as to fight against him that trusts to have God for his deliverâ—r Buchol Numa Pompilius being told that his enemies were coming upon him as he was offering sacrifice thought it sufficient for his safety that he could answer At ego rem Divinam facio But I am about the service of my God Buchol Tertullian's manner was constantly in private to pray three times a day at the third sixth and ninth houres See his Life in my first Part of the Marrow of Eccles. History Petrus Chrysologus alwaies before he penned any thing would with great ardency and humility set himself by prayer to seek unto God for direction therein Eodem p. 164. Mr. Laurence Saunders used to be very frequent and fervent in prayer and when he was assaulted by any temptations he still found much support and comfort by prayer whereby he gained such experience that he became a great comforter of others with the same consolations which himself had found from God Eodem p. 491. Mr. Hugh Latimer used constantly in his prayers to beg that God of his mercy would restore his Gospel to England once again once again which he often inculcated in his prayers and that with such ardency as though he had seen God before him and spoken to him face to face Eodem p. 528. Mr Robert Bolâ—on used constantly to pray six times a day twice with his family twice with his wife and twice in secret Besides he kept many daies of private humiliation as alwaies before the Sacrament and upon occasion of the miseries of the Church both at home and abroad which he performed with much ardency of spirit Eodem p. 926. Mr. William Whatelâ—y's constant practice was besides Family-prayer twice a day to pray also with his wife and alone both morning and evening He also set apart daies of private humiliation for his Family upon special occasions and oft for their preparation to the Lords Supper at which time he would exceed himself in pouring out his soul to God with many teares He was much also in daies of private fasting and humbling himself alone before God c. Eodem p. 932. St. Augustine was very powerful in prayer so that thereby he sometimes cast out Devils and restored â—â—ck men to their health again Eodem p. 160. Fulgentius was very powerfull in prayer and before his death the barbarous Moores invading the Territories of Ruspa filling all places with Rapines murthers c. yet so long as Fulgentius lived the City of Ruspa remained in safety and when all the rest of the Province was under miserable captivity that City alone enjoyed an happy peace Eodem p. 176. Vitus Theodorus writing of Luther saith thus of him No day passeth wherein Luther spends not three houres at least in prayer Once it fell out saith he that I heard him Good God! what a spirit what a confidence was in his very expressions with such a reverence he sued as one begging of God and yet with such hope and assurance as if he spake to a loving father or friend See many examples of his prevalency in prayer in his Life in my first Part. p. 245 c. Anno Christi 1564. there brake out a great Plague in Zurick whereof Mr. Bullinger fell so sick that all men despaired of his life But the Church by their frequent and servent prayers prevailed with God for the restoring of him to health again Eodem p. 742. See an admirable example of the power of prayer in the Life of Mr. Perkins in my first Part p. 853. and divers other examples in my two Martyrologies CHAP. LXXXIX Prudence Wisdom Policy IT 's spoken of as wordly Isa. 3. 2. Matth. 11. 25 1 Cor. 1. 19. As spiritual 1 Sam. 16. 18. In opinion Prov. 3. 7. 26. 12. 28. 11. Isa. 5. 21. 10. 13. Properties of the prudent He covereth shame Prov. 12. 16. concealeth knowledge to utter it seasonably Prov. 12. 23. dealeth with knowledge Prov. 13. 16. understands his way Prov. 14. 8. regards reproof Prov. 15. 1. encreaseth knowledge by his lips Prov. 16. 21. foresees the evil and hides himself Prov. 22. 3. Scriptural Examples of men Abraham Gen. 1â— 9. 25. 5 6. Jacob Gen. 30. 32. 32. 3 7. Joseph Gen. 40. 14. 41. 33 38. Jethro Exod. 18. 19. Jotham Judg. 9. 7. Gileadites Judg. 12. 5 6. David 1 Sam. 16. 18. 18. 5 24. 21. 13. Solomon 1 King 3. 9. 25 c. Rehoboam's old Counsellors 1 King 12. 7. Jehoiadah 2 King 11. 42. 2 Chron. 23. 1. Hezekiah Isa. 36. 21. 2 Chron. 32. 3 Nehemiah Ch. 2. 12. Mordecai Esth. 4. 13. Ser. Paulus Act. 13. 7. St. Paul Act. 16. 37. 21. 25. 23. 6 17. Wise women Rahab Jos. 2. 4. Abigail 1 Sam. 25. 18 13. the Tekohite 2 Sam. 14. 2. the Abelite 2 Sam. 20. 16. Bathsheba 1 King 1. 15. Prov. 31. Esther Ch. 4. 11. Agesilaus having overthrown the Persians in a great battel caused all the captives which were bravely clad to be stripped naked and their garments to be sold on the one side and the naked persons on the other that so his Souldiers might see the soft and â—ffeminate bodies of their adversaries and gather courage thereby and when his Souldiers bought up all the rich garments but slâ—ighted the persons as uselesse he said unto them But these are they against whom ye fight and the other for which ye fight Xenoph. Lysander King of Sparta a gallant General and very Politick used to say That where the Lions skin would not suffice it was meet to put the Foxes skin upon it Xenoph. Antipater who was counted the wisest King that then lived had a daughter called Phila who was so wise a maid that her father would oft consult with her about his weightiest affaires and when she was afterwards married first to Craterus and then to Demetrius she was admired for her wisdom if the Souldiers at any time mutined in the Camp she by her wisdome could quiet them Poor Maids she disposed of in marriage upon her own costs many that were in danger upon false accusations she by her prudence set them free c. and yet when Demetrius her husband was beaten out of the Kingdome of Macedon and deserted by his Souldiers she could not bear the disgrace but poisoned her self Justin. Plut. Pulcheria the sister of Theodosius junior observing her brothers rashnesse in signing Warrants and Orders without ever reading of them used this Policy to
him that he would not perdere substantiam propter accidentia lose his life for learning he with a smile answered out of the Poet. Nec propter vitam vivendi perdere causas Baudisius a Dutch Divine being by his friends advised to favour himselfe I will said he do my duty whilst I can yea though I hasten my death by preaching Dr. Burges of Sutton Cofield immediately after he came forth of the Pulpit fell sick shortly after died Mr. William Perkins borne at Marston nigh Coventry in Warwick-shire was a painfull and powerfull Preacher in Cambridge whose Sermons were not so plaine but the piously learned did admire them nor so learned but the plaine did understand them He would pronounce the word Damne with such an emphasis as left a dolefull echo in his auditors ear esa good while after He had a rare felicity in speedy reading of books and as it were but turning them over would give an exact account of all considerables therein besides his frequent preaching he wrote many bookes and though lame of his right hand yet this Ehud with a left-handed pen did stab the Romish cause and as one saith Dextera quantum vis fuerat tibi manca docendi Pollebas mirà dexteritate tamen Though nature thee of thy right hand bereft Right well thou writest with thy hand that 's left Holy State in vita ejus St. Augustines wish was that Christ when he came might finde him aut precantem aut praedicantem either praying or preaching Melancthon was wont to say that none underwent such paines as Preachers Rulers and women in travell and Luther said that a master of a family hath something to do a Magistrate more and a Minister most of all When Chrysostome was like to be silenced all the people cried our Satius est ut sol non luceat quam ut non doceat Chrysostomus we had better want the shining of the Sunne then the preaching of Chrysostome Holy Melancthon being himselfe newly converted thought it impossible for his hearers to withstand the evidence of the Gospel but after he had been a Preacher a while he complained that old Adam was too hard for young Melancthon Mr. Bolton having much weakned his body by his indefatigable paines in his private devotions and publick preaching was advised by his Physitians for his healths-sake to break off the strong intentions of his studies but he rejected their counsell accounting it greater riches to enjoy Christ by those servent intentions of his minde then to remit them for the safeguard of his health Bishop Ridley offering to preach before the Lady Mary afterwards Queene she refused to heare him and being brought by Sir Thomas Wharton her Steward into the dining roome was desired to drink which when he had done he paused a while looking very sad and being asked the reason he said Surely I have done amisse in drinking in that place where the Word of God being offered was rejected whereas I should have departed presently and shaken off the dust from my shooes for a testimony against this house Bugenhagius a Dutch Divine was so joyfull when he together with Luther and some other learned men had finished the translation of the Bible out of the Originals into Dutch that ever after he invited his friends on that day wherein they ended their work to a feast which he called The feast of the Translation of the Bible See his Life in my first part Doctor Cramner being sent by King Henry the eighth to Rome about his Divorce in his voyage to and fro he learned all the New Testament by heart Baronius the compiler of those voluminous Annals of the Church yet for thirty yeares together preached three or foure times a week to the people Spond in vita Baro pag. 2. part 7. When a certaine Frenchman came to visit Melancthon he found him in his stove dandling his childe in the swadling clouts with the one hand and in the other hand holding his book and reading it A good Minister and a good father may well agree together Pantal de illust Germ in vita Melan A certain man causelesly disaffected to his Minister complained that he in his last Sermon had personally inveigâ—ed against him accusing him thereof to a grave religious Gentleman in the Parish Truly said the Gentleman I had thought in his Sermon he had meant me it so touched my heart which saying abated the edge of the others anger Holy State pa 94. At the disputation of Ratisbone where Melancthon was pressed with a shrewd argument by Ecchius I will answer thee said he to morrow Nay said Ecchius do it now or it s nothing worth yea said Melancthon I seek the truth and not my own credit and therefore it will be as good if I answer thee to morrow by Gods assistance Melch Adain vit Germ Theol p. 339. Latimer presented King Henry the eighth for a new years gift with a New Testament wrapped up in a napkin with this Posie about it Fornicatores adulteros judicabit Dominus Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge which was the sin that the King rers notoriously guilty of Frederick Bishop of Uarich sitting at dinner with the Emperour Ludovicus Pius the Emperour bade him execute his office without respect of persons The Bishop humbly thanked him and having a fish before him asked him whether he should begin with the head or taile The Emperour replied With the head which is the chiefest member It 's well said the Bishop Then break you off your Incestuous match with Judith And accordingly the Emperour did it for a time But the Pope a while after for some thousands of Crowns gave him a dispensation and made up the match again whereupon this Herodias for his free speech caused the Bishop to be slaine in his own Church Rand in Polychron Preach the Word be instant in season out of season reprove rebuk exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine 2 Tim. 4. 2. Blessed is that servant whom when his Lord comes he shall finde so doing Matth. 24. 46. Fructus honos oneris fructus honoris onus CHAP. III. Ezamples of Christian courage and resolution THe Naturalists write of the Eagle that she trieth her young ones by turning their eies upon the Sun when it shineth brightly so God doth his children who if they can outface the Sun of persecution they are sincere indeed not but that he knowes them sufficiently without such a triall but hereby he makes them known both to themselves and others for Grace is hid in nature here as sweet water in Rose-leaves the fire of affliction must be put under to distil it out and as trees fix their roots the faster the more they are shaken so comforts abound as sufferings abound yet lest any should think that he can stand by his own strength the Apostle Paul tells him that all our sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3. 5. who useth to proportion the burthen to the back and the stroke to
Emperours few or none of them escaped Gods revenging hand so that there is numbred fourty three of them that came to untimely ends Act. Mon. Constantine the Emperour a Monothelite being a cruel persecutor of godly Christians was slaine by one of his own servants as he was washing himself in a Bath Hist. Magd. Arnolphus the Emperour raging exceedingly against the Christians the wife of one Guido upon another grudge gave him a cup of poison by meanes whereof such rottenness possessed his members that lice and wormes issuing out continually he died a miserable death P. Melan. Chron. l. 4. Agapetus a young man of the age of fifteen years for the profession of Christ was first scourged with whips then hung up by the feet and scalding water poured upon him then cast to the wilde beasts which being more merciful then men refused to touch him whereupon he was taken and beheaded but Antiochus who passed sentence upon him suddenly fell down from his judicial seat crying out that all his bowels burned within him and so he gave up the ghost Act. Mon. Genserick an Arian King of the Vandals shewed a great deal of cruelty against the Oxthodox But the Lord met with him for he died being possessed with an evil spirit P. Melanc Chron. l. 3. Hunericus son to a King of the Vandals being an Arian was a mercilesse persecutor of the godly Christians banishing five thousand of them at one time amongst which some of them being unable to travel he caused cords to be tied to their legges and to drag them through rough places whereby many of them perished But shortly after he was tormented with venomous biles all over his body and in the end was consumed with vermine Hist. Mag◠Claudius who was President under Valerian and his instrument to torment and condemne many godly Christians was shortly after possessed with the devil and so tormented that biting off his own tongue in small peeces he ended his life in much misery Act. Mon. Anastasius the Emperour a Patron of the Eutychian Heresie became a bloody persecutor of godly Christians and by Gods just judgement was slain with a Thunderbolt Plat. Autharis King of the Longobards who forbade children to be baptized or instructed in the Christian faith ere he had reigned six years died of poison at Pavia Paulus Diac. l. 3. c. 18. Arcadius the Emperour having by the perswasion of his wife Eudoxia an Heretick banished Chrysostome The very next night there arose such a terrible earth-quake that the Emperour and all the people being affrighted therewith was faign to send Post after Post to fetch him home againe Mandat of calumniation l. 2. c. 44. Mamuca a Saracen being a cruel Persecutor of the Church of God like unto Pharaoh met with the like destruction from God for as he returned from the slaughter of many Christians the Lord caused the sea to swallow him up with the greatest part of his Army in an hundred ships so that few or none escaped Paul Diaconus l. 3. c. 12. Theodoricus an Arian King of the Goths persecuted the true Christians with all hostilitie amongst whom he slew two noble Senators Symmachus and Boëtius but shortly after the Lord struck him with madnesse and sitting at the table had the head of a great fish set before him which he imagining to be the head of Symmachus whom he had slaine was so overcome with feare that anon after he died Evag. At Vassie in France fifteen hundred people being assembled in a Church upon a Sabbath-day hearing the Word of God preached The Duke of Guise suddenly compassed the Church with armed Souldiers himselfe standing in the doore with a drawn sword and sent in his Souldiers who cruelly killed all without distinction of age or sex but himselfe was shortly after slaine at the siege of Orleance Act. and Mon. Minerius Governour of Province who was sent by the King of France with an Army against the Waldenses used much cruelty against them burning some killing others driving others into woods and mountaines whereby they perished of famine depopulating whole townes But the Lord smote him with a tertible disease so that he felt like a fire burning him from the Navel upwards and his lower parts rotted and were consumed with vermine which was attended with a grievous stinke and profusion of blood in the place of his urine and in those extreame torments he ended his wretched life Simps The Emperour Phocas a most vicious and bloody persecutor being the first that ordained that the Bishop of Rome should be called the universall Bishop and the Church of Rome the head of other Churches was betrayed by his own son in Law and delivered up into the hands of his enemy Heracleus who commanded his head feet and privie members to be cut off and his body to be burned Plat. Earle Simon of Montfort a cruell persecutor of the Albingenses by the instigation of the Pope as he besieged some of them in Tholous had his head parted from his body by a fire stone which a woman let out of an Engine Simps King Lewis of France besieging Avignion a City of the Albingenses and vowing never to depart till he had taken it was shortly after punished with a grievous pestilence which daily wasted great numbers of his men So that the King going aside to an Abbey not far distant to avoide the same there died out of his wits Act. and Mon. King Charles the ninth of France a bloody persecutor of the Protestants who had caused the effusion of the blood of thirty thousand of them in the massacre of Paris by Gods just judgement fell sick and with great effusion of blood out of many parts of his body died miserably Act. and Mon. Truchetus an expert Captain imployed by the Duke of Savoy against the Protestants in his dominions who were a naked and unarmed people was first sore wounded with stones and afterwards slaine with his owne sword by a poor Shepherd who was keeping of Cattell in the field Act. and Mon. Henry the second King of France a cruel persecutor of Protestants caused Annas Burgeus a noble Counsellour of Paris to be condemned and in a great passion said that he would stand by and see him burned but before the time came the King being at Tilt put a Speare into one of his Noble mens hands and compelled him against his will to run against him at which time the Speare breaking a small splinter of it entred in at the Kings eye and pierced into his braine whereof he died Act. and Mon. King Henry the third of France in the selfe-same Chamber wherein the Massacre of Paris was concluded whereof himselfe being at that time Duke of Anjou was one of the chiefe was stabbed by a Iacobine Monke who thrust a knife violently into his small Ribs whereof he shortly after died Act. and Mon. Ladislaus King of Bohemia and Hungary who most unjustly had caused Ladislaus Huniades his son to be beheaded and
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
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
Sabbath-breakers The command of the Sabbath hath a special Memento or Remember prefixed unto it that by timely thinking of it we might lay aside our worldly businesse and get our hearts into an holy array and readinesse for entertainment of God into them It is the market-day of the soul wherein the Lord useth to meet his people to dispense his blessings and graces in and by his Ordinances to those which humbly and reverently attend upon him therein The carefull sanctification of it keeps up the power of godlinesse in our hearts and lives And if worldly labour is unlawfull upon that day much more are carnal delights and pastimes Melius arare quà m saltare in Sabbato It is better to plow then to dance on the Sabbath was St. Austines judgement and when men neglect to punish the profanation of it the Lord usually takes the sword into his own hand and by visible judgements plagues the profaners of it as will further appeare by these Examples following Sabbath instituted Gen. 2. 3. Called holy Exod. 16. 23. 31. 14. Nehem. 9. 14. Isa. 58. 13. The Lords day Rev. 1. 10. The first day of the week This name is given to rhe seventh day Exod. 21. 10. 31. 15. Lev. 23. 3. Deut. 5. 14. To the tenth day in the seventh moneth Lev. 16. 29. 31. 23. 27 32. Num. 29. 7. To some dayes annexed to the solemne festivals as to the first and eighth day Lev. 23. 39. To the seventh year Lev. 26. 4. To the fiftieth year Lev. 25. 10. To the week Luk. 24. 1. 18. 12. the word week is in the Greek Sabbath It was kept 1. By ceasing from servile labour Exod. 20. 8. 31. 14. Luk. 23. 56. Jer. 17. 22. and from doing evil Isa. 56. 2. 2. By preparing to keep it holy Exod. 35. 2. Mark 1. 35 39. with delight Isa. 58. 13 14. 3. By worshipping God Ezek. 46. 3. in the Sanctuary Lev. 26. 2. Numb 28. 18. 4. By praying Ezra 6. 10. Isa. 56. 7. Acts 16. 13. 5. By singing Psalmes 1 Chron. 23. 30. Psal. 92. 95. 2. 6. By reading the Scriptures Acts 13. 15. 15. 21. Deut. 31. 11 c. 7. By Preaching Acts 15. 21. 13. 42 44. Mark 6. 2. Luk. 4. 16 31. 6. 6 13. 10. Mal. 2. 7. Neh. 8. 3. 6. 8. By conference Acts 17. 17. 18. 4 19. 9. Administring the Sacraments John 7. 22. 10. Searching the Scriptures after hearing Act. 17. 11. 11. By holy meditation Deut. 5. 12. Exod. 20. 20. 31. 13 14. It 's commanded Lev. 22. 32. Exod. 20. 8 20. Jer. 17. 24. Deut. 5. 20. It 's not to be polluted Exod. 20. 21 24. Profaned Ezek. 22. 8. 23. 38. with servile work Lev. 23. 7 8. 21. 35 36. Numb 28. 25. 29. 1. Husbandry Exod. 34. 21. Neh. 13. 15. Buying selling or thinking of it Amos 8. 6. Carrying burthens Jer. 17. 11 12. Neh. 13. 15. Journeys about worldly or unnecessary businesses Exod. 16. 29. Doing our own pleasure Isa. 58. 13. January the thirteenth 1583. being the Sabbath about foure a clock in the afternoone the Scaftold in the Bear-garden being overloaden with people suddenly fell down whereby eight persons were slaine outright and many others sorely hurt and bruised to the shortening of their lives Symps. Eccl. Hist. Not long since in Bedfordshire a match at football being appointed on the Sabbath in the afternoone whil'st two were in the Belfree tolling of a Bell to call the company together there was suddenly heard a clap of thunder and a flash of lightning was seene by some that sat in the Church-Porch coming through a dark lane and flashing in their faces which much terrified them and passing through the Porch into the Belfree it tripped up his heeles that was toiling the Bell and struck him starke dead and the other that was with him was so sorely blasted therewith that shortly after he died also Dr. Twist on the Sab. At a place called Tidworth on the Sabbath day many being met together to play at Football in the Church-yard one had his leg brokâ—n which presently Gangrenizing he forthwith died thereof Eodem At Alcester in Warwickshire upon the coming forth of the Declaration for sports a lusty young woman went on the Sabbath day to a Greene not farre off where she said she would dance as long as she could stand but while she was dancing God struck her with a violent disease whereof within two or three dayes after she died Also in the same place not long after a young man presently after the evening Sermon was ended brought a paire of Cudgels into the street neare to the Ministers house calling upon divers to play with him but they all refusing at the length came one who took them up saying Though I never played in my life yet I will play one bout now But shortly after as he was jesting with a young maide he took up a birding-peece which was charged saying Have at thee and the peece going off shot her in the face whereof she immediately died for which act he forfeited all his goods and underwent the trial of the Law At Wootton in the same County a Miller going forth on the â—abbath-day to a Wake when he came home at night found his House Mill and all that he had burnt down to the ground At Woolston in the same County many loose persons kept a Whitson-Ale and had a Moris-dancing on the Sabbath day in a Smiths barne to the great griefe of the godly Minister who laboured all that he could to restraine it But it pleased God that shortly after a fire kindled in that Smiths shop which burnt it down together with his house and barne and raging furiously going sometimes with sometimes against the winde it burnt downe many other houses most of which were prime actors in that profanation of the Lords day I my felfe knew these foure last Examples Anno 1634. on a Lords day in the time of a great frost fourteen young men while they were playing at Football on the Ice on the River Trent neare to Gainsborough meeting all together in a scussle the Ice suddenly brake and they were all drowned In the Edge of Essex near Brinkley two fellows working in a Chalk-pit the one was boasting to his fellow how he had angred his Mistresse with staying so late at their sports the last Sunday night But he said he would anger her worse next Sunday He had no sooner said this but suddenly the earth fell down upon him and flew him outright with the fall whereof his fellows limb was broken who had been also partner with him in his jollity on the Lords day In the County of Devon one Edward Amerideth a Gentleman having been pained in his feet and being somewhat recovered one said unto him he was glad to see him so nimble Ameredith replied that he doubted not but to dance about the May-pole the next Lords day but before he
his enemies Lipsius Portius Cato was of such an honest and blamelesse life that though he was often accused by his adversaries and forced to plead his cause fifty times yet he alwaies came off with credit and that not by favour friends or bribes but against all these And being again accused in his old age he desired that Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus who was his adversary might be made his Judge which being done he so cleared himself before him that Gracchus acquitted him Lipsius Godlinesse with contentment is great gain 1 Tim. 6. 6. CHAP. LXXXVII Prediction Prophecies THe same day that Alexander the Great was born in Macedonia Diana's Temple at Ephesus in Asia was burned down at which time divers Magicians being present they ran up and down tearing their hair and crying out that that day was born the great plague and Pest of Asia Diod. Sic. The same day that Philip King of Macedon had the City of Potidaea surrendred to him three Messengers one after another brought him word first of a great Victory that Parmenio his General had obtained over the Illyrians Secondly of a victory or prize that his horse had gotten at the Olympick Games Thirdly of the birth of his son Alexander whereupon his Southsayers told him that his son which was born at that tiwe wherein he had gotten three such victories should prove unconquerable Justin Domitius AEnobarbus when his son Nero was born his friends coming to congratulate him for the birth of his son said unto them There can be nothing born to me and Agrippina but that which is detestable and that which is born for the publick hurt Pez Mel. Hist. Nero sending to the Oracle at Delphos to know his final fortune received this ambiguous answer Beware of the 73 year which he understood to be meant of his own ages date but it proved Galba's who dethroned him Superstition is worthily fed with illusion and irreligion as worthily punished with credulity Suet. Learned Gerard tells us of a certain woman called Thoda in Suevia in Germany who Anno Christi 848. Prophesied that that year the world should end which as she said was revealed to her by an Angel Anno Christi 1526. there was an Anabaptist that ran up and down the streets in the City of St. Gallus in Helvetia crying with horrid gestures that the day of the Lord was come that it was present And Anno Christi 1530. upon the like Prophecie another so strongly prevailed with some that he perswaded them the last year of the world was come whereupon they grew prodigal of their goods and substance fearing that they should scarcely spend them in so short a time as the world was to continue An unknown woman came to Tarquinius Superbus in Rome and proffered him the nine books of the Sybils Prophecies at a very great rate which he refused to give her She burned three of them and offered him the other six at the same rate but he refused again whereupon she burnt other three and asked him the same rate for the three remaining which he then bought and layed them up in the Capitol where they continued as Oracles till both Temple and books were burnt Dionys. CHAP. LXXXVIII Examples of the power and prevalency of Prayer IS any sick amongst you Let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him and the prayer of Faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much Elias was a man subject to the like passions as we are and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six moneths And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit Jam. 5 14 c. Fervent prayers are effectual Psal. 34. 4 6 15 17. Matth. 7. 8. Mar. 11. 24. Jam. 1. 5 6. 5. 16. Psal. 3. 4. 107. 6 13. God is a Prayer-hearing God Psal. 65. 2. Delighting in it Cant. 2. 14. It 's as incense to him Psal. 141. 2. Promising to give if we ask Luk. 11. 10. Rom. 10. 12. which promise is sealed with the blood of Christ and back'd with an oath Mich. 7. 20. Joh. 15. 7. Commanding to ask in full â—ssurance Heb. 10. 22. Jam. 1. 6. Encouraging by Parables Luk. 11. 8 9 11 c. 18. 2 c. Sighs and groanes are prayers Exod. 2. 23 24. Psal 79. 11. 12. 5. 39. 12. 56. 8. Rom. 8. 26. Isa. 38. 5. Christ perfumes our prayers with his merits Rev. 8. 3 4. It obtains temporal blessings 1 King 18. 42 c. Zach. 10. 1. God will be sought to Ezek. 36. 37. We shall not seek him in vain Esay 45. 19. It must be tendered in the hand of a Mediatour Matth. 3. 17. Joh 14. 13 14. We must see that we belong to God if we will prevail Psal. 34. 17. 73. 1. Before we ask God heares Isa. 65. 24. Dan. 9. 23. Scriptural Examples of the efficacy of Prayer Abraham praying for Ishmael Gen. 17. 20. For Sodom Ch. 18. 23 c. For Abimelech Ch. 20. 17. Jacob Gen. 32. 24 c. Hose 12. 4. Moses Exod. 14. 15. 15. 25. 17. 11 c. Numb 14. 12 c. Exod. 32. 10. Numb 12. 13. 21. 7. Samuel 1 Sam. 7. 9. Josuah Ch. 10. 12. Elijah 1 King 17. 20. Elisha 2 King 4. 33. Solomon 1 King 3. 11. 9. 3 c. Asa 2 Chron. 14. 11. Hezekiah Isa. 37. 15 c. Jehosaphat 2 Chron. 20. 3 c. Amos Ch. 7. 2 c. the Syrophoenician woman Matth. 15. 22 c. Importunate widow Luk. 18. 2 c. Isaiah Ch. 62. 1 6 7. The persons of Saints are like secret pledges of common quiet and their mediations are a shield to the earth against the wrath of heaven Gregory Nazianzen reports of his sister Gorgonia that her knees seemed to cleave to the earth by reason of her often prayiag And Gregory of his aunt Trucilla that her elbow was as hard as an horn by often leaning upon a desk when she prayed And Eusebius of James Justus that his knees were as hard as a Camels knees bereaved of sense by often praying One reports of Joachim the father of the Virgin Mary that he used to say Cibus Potus mihi est Oratio Prayer is my meat and drink A Gentlewoman being in her Parlour exercised in meditation and prayer cryed out O that I might ever enjoy this sweet Communion with God The Queen-Mother of Scotland in her Warres against the first Reformers confessed openly That she feared more the fasting and Prayers of that man of God John Knox and his Disciples then an Army of twenty thousand men Looking-Glasse of the Holy War Leelin Prince of Wales being perswaded by some about him to make war against our King Henry
of Religion Plut. A religious man in an expostulatory strain complained to God of Phocas that Parricide who paved his way to the Throne by the murther of Mauricius his Master and predecessor saying Lord wherefore hast thou made this man Emperour To whom the Lord answered Enimvero quia non inveni pâ—jorâ—m Verily because I have not found a worse Thus God punisheth a wicked people with a wicked and Tyrannical Prince Cedrenus In the Reign of our King Henry the sixth when our brave English Army was called home out of France by reason of our Civill discords at home The French scoffingly asked an English Captain when they would return into France again To whom the Captain modestly and discrectly answered When your sins are greater then ours Sp. Chr. Bede observed of the ancient Britans that immediately before their destruction by the Saxons they were come to that height of wickednesse as to cast Odium in Religionis professores tanquam in adversarios To hate the professors of Religion as their greatest adversaries Gildas also reporteth of them That at that time fornication adultery and incest with all other sins incident to mans nature were rife amongst them and especially the hatred of truth and the maintainers of it the love also of lies with the forgers thereof the admitting of evill for good the respective regard of lewdnesse instead of goodnesse desire of darknesse in lieu of the Sun-light and accepting of Satan for an Angel of light Kings were anointed not by God but such as were known to be more cruel then the rest and soon after murthered by their own anointers how abominable their sinnes were and what just judgments God followed them withal read more in Cambdens Britan. Pag. 108 109. out of Gildas Also before the Norman Conquest as Gervasius of Canterbury writeth the Priests were idle drousie and unlearned the people given to riot and loose life Discipline lay dead the Common-Wealth sick of an infinite sort of vices but above all Pride whose waiting-maid is destruction was come to a mighty head yea they fell to fast to all lewdnesse that to be ignorant of sinful crimes was held a great crime Camb. Brit. p. 143. Upon the Persecution of the Church under the Emperour Valerian Cyprian writes thus We must confesse that this great calamity which hath wasted for the most part all our Churches and still doth daily consume us ariseth chiefly from our own wickednesse whilest we walk not in the way of the Lord nor observe his precepts as we ought whilest we are full of lucre pride emulation dissension void of simplicity and faithful dealing renouncing the world in word but not in deed every man pleasing himself and displeasing others and therefore are we thus worthily scourged For Non venissent fratribus haec mala si in unum fuisset fraternitas animata These evils had not befallen the brethren if they had been joyned together in brotherly unanimity See more in my Gen. Martyrologie p. 56. Aurelian the Emperour at first suffered the Christians to enjoy their Religion in peace but when they had lived a while in peace and prosperity they began to grow idle and delicate striving and contending amongst themselves upon every trifling occasion with railing words bespattering one another in a most despightful manner Bishops against Bishops and people against people moving hatred continually yea cursed hypocrisie and dissimulation encreased more and more by reason whereof God sent upon them the ninth Persecution c. See more in my Gen. Martyr p. 61. Salvian Bishop of Masilia complaineth that before the persecuting Vandalls came into Africa the Church of God was much degenerated in those Countries from its ancient purity and that the power of godlinesse was much decayed insomuch as they which lived exactly according to the rule of Gods Word were hissed at as they went in the streets as if they had been Monsters Eodem pag. 101. Before the late Persecution in Bohemia through the long and peaceable enjoyment of the Gospel men by little and little began to be licentious in their lives and carnal security so encreased that many began to presage that some horrible tempest would ere long overwhelm them Eodem p. 160. Before the Massacre of Paris such a general stupidity seized upon the Protestants that their minds were very wavering and few there were that shewed themselves zealously bent to Religion but all both great and small were intent upon worldly matters building to themselves goodly Castles in the ayr Eodem p. 309. CHAP. XCVIII Stratagems SCriptural Examples Jacob Gen. 30. 37. Josua Chap. 8. 2. Gibeonites Josu 9. 4 c. Gideon Judg. 7. 19 c. Israel Judg. 20. 29. After the death of Cambyses there being none of the Royal seed left and the chief Persian Nobles or Magi being all so potent that none would give place to others they at last agreed That meeting all together in such a place the next morning he whose horse first neighed should be acknowledged King one of these was Darius whose Master of his horse hearing what was determined over night took Darius his horse to the place and caused him to cover a Mare the next morning when they came all to the place Darius his horse remembring the Mare presently fell a neighing whereupon all the rest of the Nobles alighted and saluted him for their King Herod Darius besieging the impregnable City of Babylon which had revolted from him after many waies and means assayed knew not how to prevail at last one of his chief Colonels called Zopyrus caused himself to be beaten black and blew his nose and lips and eares to be cut off and acquainting Darius with his purpose he went to Babylon into which being admitted he shewed the people his dismembred and torn body complains of the cruelty of Darius and proffereth his best assistance to them against him the Citizens knowing the worth of the man and not suspecting his fraud made him their Captain and in some skirmishes he beat the Persians at last having drawn forth all the strength of the City he betrayed them to Darius and so delivered up Babylon into his hands After which Darius used to say That he had rather have one Zopyrus then twenty Cities of Babylon Pez Mel. Hist. When the Grecian Navy understood that the Army of Xerxes was entred into Peloponesus every one being solicitous for his own home they resolved to divide themselves and to provide for the safety of their own Countrey This Themistocles mainly opposed as foreseeing that the division of the Grecian Navie would be their ruine and therefore when he could no otherwise prevail he sent a trusty person about him privately to Xerxes to inform him that the Grecian Navy was intended to fly away and that therefore he should presently with his Navie set upon them if he desired a glorious Victory Xerxes being glad of this intelligence thinking that Themistocles had done it out of respect to him he presently