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
the strength of him that beareth it and if at any time the furnace be made hotter then ordinary yet then will he make his power to appeare in our weaknesse so steeling our hearts and raising our resolutions that no danger though never so great shal be able to appale it as will appeare evidently in these examples following Constantius the father of Constantine the great to try the faith and beliefe in God of his Courtiers put it to their free choice either to sacrifice to the Idol-gods and so to stay with him or else if they refused to leave their honours and offices and so to depart but those that would leave all and depart rather then to renounce and forsake their faith in God he kept with him still and highly prized them casting off all the rest who he supposed would prove disloyall unto him seeing they had abandoned their beliefe in God Eusebius Luther being cited by an Herauld of Armes to appeare before the Councel at Wormes many of his friends perswaded him not to adventure himselfe to such a present danger to whom he answered that he was resolved and certainly determined to enter into Wormes in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ although he knew that there were so many Devill to resist him as there were tiles to cover the houses in Wormes Slâ—id Com. The Dutches Dowager of Ferrar who was a great Patronesse of the Protestants in France had one Malicorne a Knight of the Order sent by the Duke Guise to seize upon her towne and Castle who began to threaten the Lady with Cannon shot to batter her Castle but she couragiously sent him word that if he proceeded to such boldnesse to do it she would first stand in the breach her selfe to try if he durst be so bold to kill the daughter of a King for so she was whereupon like a snaile he pulled in his hornes and departed French Hist. St. Ierome relates an History of a young man under one of the first persecutions of most invincible courage and constancy against whom the adversaries had very little hope of prevailing by tortures and torments and therefore they took another course with him They brought him into a most fragrant Garden flowing with all pleasure and delight there they laid him upon a bed of downe softly enwrapped in a net of silke amongst the Lillies and the Roses the delicious murmur of the streames and the sweet whistling of the leaves and then all departed presently in comes a beautifull strumpet and useth all the abominable tricks of her impure Art and whorish villanies to draw him to her desire whereupon the young man fearing that he should now beconquered by folly who was conqueror over fury bites off a peece of his tongue with his own teeth and spits it into the face of the whore and so prevented the hurt of sin by the smart of his wound Domosthenes the famous Oratour of Athens soliciting Lais a beautiful strumpet for a nights lodging with her she demanded of him a thousand Drachmas for it but he being affrighted at the name of so great a sum thus replyed I purpose not to buy repentance so deare Non poenitentiam tanti emam Plut. Saint Jerome himselfe shewed his owne resolution by this speech If my father stood weeping on his knees before me and my mother hanging on my neck behinde and all my brethren sisters children and kinsfolk houling on every side to retaine me in a sinfull life I would fling my mother to the ground despise all my kindred run over my father and tread him under my feet that I might run to Christ when he calleth me See his life in my first part Saint Chrysostome also shewes the like heroicall spirit in these words When saith he I was driven from the City none of these things troubled me but I said within my selfe if the Queen will let her Banish me the earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof if she will let her saw me asunder Isaiah suffered the same if she will let her cast me into the Sea I will remember Jonah if she will let her cast me into a burning fiery Furnace or amongst wilde beasts the three children and Daniel were so dealt with if she will let her stone me or cut off mine head I have then Saint Stephen and the Baptist my blessed companions if she will let her take away all my substance Naked came I out of my mothers wombe and naked shall I returne thither agiaine Kilian a Dutch Schoolmaster being in prison for the cause of Christ was asked if he loved not his wife and children yea said he my wife and my children are so deare unto me that if the world were all gold and were mine to dispose of I would give it to live with them yea though it were in prison yet my soule and Christ are dearer to me then all Act. and Mon. George Carpenter a Martyr said My wife and my children are so deare unto me that they cannot be bought from me forall the riches and possessions of the greatest Duke yet for the love of my Lord God I will willingly forsake them all Act. and Mon. Benevolus being offered preferment by Justina the Emperesse an Arian if he would be an instrument of some vile service What saith he do you promise me an higher place for a reward of iniquity nay take this away that I have already with all my heart so that I may keep a good conscience and thereupon threw at her feet his girdle the ensigne of his honour Act. and Mon. Polycarpus being accused for that he was a Christian and brought before the Proconsul was perswaded to sweare by the fortune of Caesar and to defie Christ to whom he answered Fourscore and six yeares have I been his servant yet in all this time hath he not so much as once hurt me how then may I speak evill of my King and Lord who hath thus preserved me King Edward the sixth being sollicited by some of his best friends to permit the Lady Mary his sister to have the Masse in her house answered That he would rather spend his life and all that he had then to grant that that he knew certainly to be against Gods truth And in his message to the Devonshire Rebels who stood for Popery Assure your selves said he most surely that we of no earthly thing under heaven make such account as of this one to have our Lawes obeyed and this cause of God which we have taken in hand to be throughly maintained from the which we wil never remove one haires breadth or give place to any creature living much lesse to any subject wherein we will spend our owne Royall person our Crowne Treasure Realme and all our Estate whereof we assure you upon our high honour Act. and Mon. Bernard used to say Lord Iesus I love thee plus quà m mea meos me more then all my goods all my friends all my relations yea more
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
the strong City of the Falerians in Italy but it was so well fortified and furnished that the inhabitants made little account of the siege At this time the whole City had but one common Scholmaster who used to lead out his Schoolars into the fields to play and watching his opportunity he at last led them to the Romane Guards delivering them all up into their hands and himself going to Camillus said Sir I am Schoolmaster to all these children yet do I preferre the favour of the Romanes before my honour and office and therefore have I delivered up these children to you by whom you may make the Falerians yield upon your own tearms Camillus answered that indeed in the Warres there were many wrongs done yet a Noble General should rather seek victory by Valour then by wicked or treacherous means and therefore abhorring this vallainy he presently commanded his Sergeants to teare off this Schoolmasters clothes and to binde his hands behinde him and to give the boyes whips and rods to whip back the Traitor into the City that had so basely betrayed them In the meane time the Falerians hearing how their children were betrayed ran up to their City-Walls like distracted persons but there they spied the boyes whipping the Schoolmaster starke naked towards the City which so wrought upon them that they presently sent forth and made peace with the Romanes Plut. Aristomenes King of the Messenians being driven out of his own country by the Lacedemonians was forced to flie to the Arcadians for succour and being a gallant man had purposed with a select band to have invaded Sparta whilest their Army was plundering his Country but the King of Arcadia being privy to his designe discovered it to the Lacedemonians and so prevented it for which treachery his own subjects stoned him and cast him unburied out of their confines setting up a Pillar by him with this inscription Difficile est hominem perjurum fallere Divos Diod. Sic. Ochus King of Persia raising a great Army went against the City of Sidon in Phenicia where one Tennes was King who hearing of Ochus his purpose hired Mentor of Rhodes with some other Grecian Auxiliaries for his aide but when Ochus drew neere with his huge Army he sought to provide for his safety rather then his honour sending one privately to Ochus proffering to betray the City to him Ochus being glad to heare this promised whatsoever he required whereupon Tennes accordingly betrayed the City into his hands But before Ochus came the Sidonians to make their men to fight more desperately had burnt all their ships in the haven that so all hopes of escaping might be taken away so that the City being thus betrayed the Citizens seeing their desperate condition shut up themselves with their wives and children in their houses and so firing them burnt themselves and all that they had by which meanes there perished above fourty thousand persons But Ochus now standing in no further need of Tennes caused him to be murthered A just reward for his treachery Pez Mel. Hist. Philip King of Macedon going to besiege a City one of his Captaines told him that it was so strongly fortified both by nature and art that it was altogether inexpugnable to whom he said But is it impossible for gold 〈◊〉 gâ—t over the walls for I have often seen that other 〈◊〉 which by no other meanes I could conquer yet by my gold I have corrupted some to betray them to me Justin. The same Philip having married the sister of Arysbas King of the Molossians and thereby being chosen Tutour to the young King most perâ—idiously seized upon his Kingdome and 〈…〉 Arysbas who died in 〈…〉 He also treacherously getting the King oâ—… power flew him and annexed his Kingdome 〈…〉 And divers free Cities having chosen Philip for 〈◊〉 Captaine he perfidiously seized upon 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 them 〈◊〉 vassales Also the two Kings of 〈◊〉 â—alling 〈◊〉 between themselves those King Philipâ—o â—o be the Umpire betwixt them whereupon privacely he raised an Army and went into Thrace pretending to come as a Iudge but finding them unprovided to resist him he dispoiled them both of their kingdomes Justin. Before the first great battel that Darius King of Persia fought with Alexander M. he sent the greatest part of his money and rich furniture to Damascus to be kept in safety there but Alexander sending Parmenio against it the Governour betrayed the City and all those infinite riches into his hands which treason he escaped not long with for one of his own consorts slew him and cutting off his head carried it to Darius Q. Cur. Bessus having basely betrayed and murthered Darius Alexander pursued him into Bactria and when he drew neere him Spitamenes one of Bessus's chiefe friends laid hands on him bound him stript him naked and so putting a chaine about his neck led him to Alexander to whom Alexander said What brutish madnesse seized upon thee that thou durst lay hands on thy King and murther him when he had deserved so well of thee Bessus would have made an apology but Alexander delivered him to Darius his brother to do with him as he pleased who leading him to the place where he had murthered Darius cut him in peeces there Q. Cur. Darius having for a long time besieged Babylon in vaine one of his Captaines named Zopyrus cut off his own eares and nose and with his fresh bleeding wounds fled to the Babylonians pretending that he came to them for succour and accused Darius for his cruelty saying that he had so mangled him for counselling him to give over the siege whereupon the Babylonians knowing his prowesse trusted him with the greatest part of their forces which when Zopyrus had obtained after some small colourable overthrowes given to the Persians in â—allies spying his opportunity he betrayed the City and delivered it up into Darius his hand who had laine in siege before it twenty moneths A wicked Varlot betrayed the Isle of Rhodes to the Great Turke upon condition to have his daughter to wife with a great Dowry but when the Turke had gotten the Isle he told him that he must not have a Christian to his son in Law but he must first be a Musselman both within and without and therefore he caused his Baptized skin as he called it to be flayed off and appointed him to be put into a bed strewed with salt that he might get a new skin promising that then he should be his sonne in Law But the wicked wretch ended his life with shame and torment Princes love treason but hate the traytor Turk Hist. Banister servant to the Duke of Buckingham in the reigne of Richard the third upon the promise of a thousand pound basely betrayed his Lord and Master from whom he had formerly received great favours but after his base treachery he never had the reward promised and besides had these judgements befell him His eldest sonne fell madde and so died in a Swine-stiâ— His
and contempt of the Word of God For which cause the Lord sent amongst them such a contagious plague that the living were scarce able to bury the dead and when by this judgement they were not reclaimed the Lord brought upon them the fierce and cruel Nations of the Saxons and Angli out of Germany who though at first they came to help them yet after a while they turned against them and after much blood-shed drave them out of their Countrey into the mountaines of Wales where they remaine unto this day See this more fully in my English Martyrologie Gildes a godly and learned man was at another time raised up by God to exhort the Britanes to repentance and amendment of life but they laughed him to scorn and took him for a false Prophet for which cause the Lord plagued them delivering them into the hands of their enemies on every side In the Reigne of King Edward the third God raised up John Wickliffs to preach repentance to the English to exhort them to turn from their Idolatry and supersticion But his Ministery was contemned and his body and books were burned after his death For which a heavy judgement befell them They slew their lawfull King and set up three Usurpers on a row by which most of the Nobles of the Land were slaine and one halfe of the Commons so that Cities and Townes were decayed and much of the Land turned to a wildernesse Nicholas Hemingius relates a story of a lewd fellow in Denmark Anno Christi 1550. which usually made a mock at Religion and the professors of it and on a time coming into a Church where a godly Minister was preaching by his countenance and gestures shewed a great contempt against the Word but as he passed out of the Church a tile fell upon his head and slew him in the place Anno Christi 1547. one Christopher Turk a Councellour of estate in Germany mocked a godly Noble-man that was taken prisoner saying See what hecomes of these gallants that use to sing when any one wrongs us God is our succour and defence but assoon as the words were out of his mouth God struck him with a grievous disease and being carried to his bed he died in despaire Beards Theat A profane Priest in Misnia that used to mock at the Sacrament of Baptisme and when a woman-childe came to be baptized would wish them that brought it to throw it into the river as he was looking over the bridge of Elbe at the boats that passed by by Gods just judgement he fell over the bridge and was drowned Beard Two schismatical Donatists at Thipasa in Mauritania commanded the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be thrown to the dogs but immediatly the dogs growing mad fell upon them and rent them to pieces Optat. Melevit l. â— Theopompus a Philosopher being about to insert some of Moses writing into his profane works was immediately stricken with madnesse Joseph Theodectes a Poet that mingled his Tragedies with some of the holy Scriptures was stricken blinde Joseph A husbandman at â—tzsith in Germany being a great despiser of the Word of God on a time railing most bitterly against a godly Minister presently going into the fields to look to his sheep was found dead his body being burnt as black as a coal Luther in Col. Phil. Melancthon relates a story of a Tragedie that was to be acted of the death and passion of Christ But he that acted Christs part on the Crosse was wounded to death by one that should have thrust his sword into a bladder of blood and he with his fall killed one that acted a womans part lamenting under the Crosse His brother that was first slaine seeing this slew the murtherer for which himselfe by the order of justice was hanged February 3. Anno Christs 1652. a Play was acting at Witny in Oxfordshire at the White-Heart-Inne in a great long chamber supported by two strong and substantial beames the place having been formerly a maulting roome the matter of the play was scurrilous and blasphemous containing some bitter taunts against all godly persons under the name of Puritans and at religion it selfe under the name of observing fasting dayes But as they were acting of it it pleased God that the roome wherein the people was fell whereby five were slaine outright and above sixty were hurt and sorely bruised One woman had her leg broken which being cut off she died within three or four dayes besides there were about twelve broken armes and legs and others put out of joynt This is written at large by Mr. John Row a godly Minister and preacher in that place Apian scoffing at Religion and especially at circumcision had an ulcer rose at the same time in the same place Joseph A man in Queen Elizabeths Reigne for compiling a book wherein he had fastened some treasonable dishonours upon the Queen was condemned to die and before his death acknowledged that though he had not done any thing against the Queen which deserved death yet he deserved to die for that he had seduced many of her subjects from hearing the Word of life and though he saw the evil of it and reformed himselfe yet he could never prevaile to reclaime others whom he had seduced and therefore said he The blood of their soules is justly required at my hands He that despiseth despiseth not man but God who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit 1 Thes. 4. 8. CHAP. XLVI Gods judgements upon Dicers and Card-players BY the Elibertine and Constantinopolitan Councils under Justinian Dice-players were punished with Excommunication And the same Emperour made a Law That no man should use Dice-play either in private or publick no nor approve the same by his presence under paine of punishment Cod. l. 3. Tit. 43. Lewis the eighth King of France made a Law that no Cardes or Dice should be made or sold by any thereby to take away all occasion of gaming And surely in these dayes of light under the Gospel all Merchants and Tradesmen should forbear the sale of them lest ministring fuel to the fire of other mens lusts they make themselves guilty of their sinnes In a town of Campania a Jew playing at Dice with a Christian lost a great summe of money to him upon which occasion he belched out most bitter curses against Jesus Christ and his mother the blessed Virgin whereupon the Lord struck him dead immediately in the place and his fellow-gamester the Christian was also stricken with madnesse whereof he died shortly after Blas l. 1. c. 31. Anno Christi 1533. neere to Belissiâ—a in Helvetia three men were playing at Dice on the Lords day and one of them called Ulrick Schraeterus having lost much money at last expecting a good cast brake out into this cursed speech If fortune deceive me now I will thrust my dagger into the very body of God as far as I can and the cast miscarrying he drew his dagger and threw it against heaven
forbidden Rom. 12. 9. Psal. 26. 4. Jam. 1. 8. 1 Pet. 2. 1. Complained of Josh. 7. 11. Jer. 42. 20. Prov. 26 24. Psal. 12. 2. Scriptural Examples Jacob Gen. 27. 19. Jacobs sons Gen. 34. 13. Joseph Gen. 42. 7 23. David 1 Sam. 21. 13. Ammon 2 Sam. 13. 6. Absalon 2 Sam. 13. 20 22 28. Hushai 2 Sam. 16. 16. 17. 11. Joab 2 Sam. 20. 9 10. Jeroboams wife 1 King 14. 2 5. Jehu 2 King 9. 11 12. 10. 18. Sanballat Neh. 6. 2. Shemaiah and others Nehâ— 6. 10 19. Esther ch 5. 4. with 7. 4 Davids enemies Psal. 26. 5. Jeremiah ch 38. 27. Ismael Jer. 41. 6. Herod Matth. 2. 8. Judas Luk. 22. 47. Joh. 12. 5 6. False Apostles 2 Cor. 11. 13 14. Peter Barnabas and other Jews Gal. 2. 12 13. the Beast Rev. 13. 11. Other Examples Tiberius Caesar when the Empire was first proffered to him seemed very shie in accepting of it whereupon one noting his dissimulation said to him Other men are slow to perform what they promise thou dost slowly promise what thou performest Nothing his delay in what he most desired Eras. Apoth Caligula in the beginning of his Empire seemed to be very mild and merciful But Theodore Gadaroeus his Master said that he was Lutum sanguine macâ—ratum noting his cruel disposition as afterwards it came to passe Nero in the first five years of his reign pretended to all manner of virtue so that the people said that he excelled their former good Emperours but afterwards laying aside his dissimulation he proved a Pest and Plague to the whole world What devillish dissimulation Charles the 9th King of France used to draw the Admiral and the Protestant Nobility into his snare See in my Gen. Martyrologie p. 309. c. Richard Duke of Gloucester was so cunning a dissembler that he would accompany most familiarly and jest pleasantly with such as he hated in his heart He made his conscience in all things serve his will though his will could not be obtained without the effusion of guiltlesse blood when he had murthered King Edward the 5th his Nephew and his Brother in the Tower and had cut off the heads of some of the Lords that stood in his way he suborned one Dr. Shaw in a Sermon at Pauls Crosse to blazon his honourable Birth and Parentage to relate his Virtues to commend his Valour to weaken the fame and honour of the deceased King Edward by reason of his lasciviousnesse with Shores Wife to basterdize all his children as being born in Adultery c. and applying his speech to the worthinesse and goodnesse of Richard he took it for granted that the people could not choose but receive him for their undoubted Sovereign and King and so he strove to have prepared the multitude to have shouted when Richard came in and to have cryed King Richard King Richard but he failed of his purpose for every man was silent and more surprised with wonder then with applause to see how wickedly these businesses were carried on The next day the Duke of Buckingham went to Guildhall in London and there to the Citizens endeavoured by like arguments to make Richard the Protector the right and undoubted heire and inheriter of the Crown and though the people took no content in this speech nor by their voyces assented to that which was delivered yet he procured the Lord Major and Aldermen the next day to go with him and many other Lords to Bainard's Castle to the Protector where they offered him to receive him for their lawfull King intreating him to accept of the burden But oft-times he refused to grant their request yet at last seeming to be overcome by their importunity he assented and thus by their perswasions he gained his own hearts desire Mart. Chron. CHAP. LXXV Examples of Envy ENvy dangerous Job 5. 2. Prov. 14. 13. 27. 4. Matth. 27. 18. Mar. 15. 10. Act. 7. 9. 13. 45. 17. 5. Rom. 1. 29. Phil. 4. 15. 1. Tim. 6. 4. Tit. 3. 3. Jam. 4. 5. Eccl. 4. 4. Jam. 3. 14 16. Forbidden Prov 3. 31. 23. 17. Esay 11. 13. and 26. 11. 1 Pet 2. 1. Rom. 13. 13. 1 Cor. 3. 3. Gal. 5. 26. 2 Cor. 12. 20. Gal. 5. 21. Psal. 37. 1. Prov. 24. 1 19. Threatned Ezek. 35. 11. Scriptural Examples Achitophel envied Hushai 2 Sam. 17. 23. the Israelites Moses Psal. 106. 16. the Philistims Isaac Gen. 26. 14. Rachel her sister Gen. 30. 1. Jacob's sons Joseph Gen. 37. 11. Josuah for Moses Num. 11. 29. the elder son the Prodigal Luk. 15. 28. the Priests Jesus Matth. 21. 15. Cain Abel Gen. 4. 5. the Jewes Paul Act. 13. 45. 17. 5. the Princes Daniel Chap. 6. 3 c. Saul David 1 Sam. 18. 7 8. the Apostles Luk. 9. 49. Sathan our first Parents Gen. 3. 1 c. Dathan and Abiram Moses Other Examples Themistocles did so envy Aristides for that favour which he found in Athens that when he had no other exceptions against him he suggested to the people that Aristides by his just and upright dealing engrossed all matters of Judicature into his own hands and thereby affected the sole power and overthrow of all their other Tribunals for which he caused him to be banished Plut. Their banishment was called Ostracisme and the manner was thus Every Citizen was to write his name in a shell whom he would have banished and if 6000 did not concur in their judgments there could be no Ostracisme Now when Aristides was to be banished a certain illiterate Citizen met him in the street and because he could not write himself desired him to set down Aristides his name in his shell Aristides wondring at it asked him whether he had ever suffered any wrong from Aristides or whether he knew him if he saw him No said the other I know him not neither did he ever wrong me but yet I envy him because her hath gotten the sirname of Just. Aristides wondring at it took the mans shell wrote down his own name and so delivered it never discovering himself to him Plut. After the great Battel of Platea betwixt the Persians and Grecians which was obtained by the valour and wisdome of Themistocles and Aristides all the Grecian Captains having sworn upon the Altar that according to their Consciences they would give their voices to him that best deserved it every one gave himself the first place for worthinesse and the second to Themistocles though it was full sore against their wills every one much envying his glory Plut. Alexander M. having given to Taxilis an Indian King a thousand Talents Meleager one of his friends told him that he was glad that he had found something in India which was worth a thousand Talents to whom Alexander answered Invidos homines nihil aliud quà m ipsorum esse tormenta that envious persons were a great torment to themselves Q. Cur. Cambyses King of Persia slew his brother Smerdis out of envy because he