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
brought them by degrces to much holinesse and devotion to much justice and unity amongst themselves by which means for a time they enjoyed great tranquillity Plut. Alexanders Macedonians being sensible of his displeasure laid by theit Armes put on mourning apparel came running in Troops to his Tent where for almost three daies together they remained with loud cryes and abundance of teares testifying their remorse for offending him and beseeching his pardon which at last they obtained How much more should we repent of and mourn for offending God and implore his pardon c CHAP. XCV Scriptures the Word of God Not to be profaned ALL Scripture is divinely inspired 2 Tim. 3. 16. And holy men spake as they were acted and carried thereunto by the holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 21. God spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets Luke 1. 70. we speak saith Paul not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the holy Ghost teacheth 1 Cor. 2. 13. and that both for matter as v. 12. and words These are the very sentences yea notions that were writien of old in the mind of God and are now clothed with his own very terms and expressions though by some of his servants he hath uttered himself more loftily by some in a lower Language according to the several abilities of the speakers and capacity of the hearers Arguments à posteriori to prove the Divinity of the Scriptures are The venerable antiquity matchlesse majesty lively efficacy beautiful harmony incorrigible purity invincible perennity and continuance of them mauger the injury and iniquity of times and Tyrants who have sought to suppressc them Besides the confirmation by Miracles confession of Martyrs destruction of oppugners fulfilling of Prophecies consent of Churches yea assent of adversaries As first of Hereticks who in oppugning of Scriptures do yet alledge Scripture to their own utter destruction 2 Pet. 3. 16. Secondly of Jewes Gods Library-keepers as St Augustine cals them who studiously read and curiously kept the Books of the Old Testament by a singular Providence of God for our benefit and behoof 3. Many Heathens have sealed to the truth of the Scripture by their testimonies and confirmed them to be Divine Porphyry testifieth that Moses hath written the History of the Law truly Numenius the Pythagorist recites Moses's History almost word for word testifying that he was a great Divine But we have better testimonies both outward and inward That without us is First The Scripture testifying of it self and we know its testimony is true because it 's the Word of that God that can as soon die as lie Hence Moses so often saith I am the Lord And the Prophets Thus saith the Lord The Evangelists Jesus said The Apostles I have received of the Lord that which I delivered unto you The truth is the best proof of the Scripture is to be fetched out of it self whence also it 's called Light Psal. 119. 105. because it discovers it self and the Testimony of the Lord because it beares witnesse to it self and this it doth not authoritativè onely by an inartificial argument but ratiocinativè by sound reasons whether we look to the Pen-men of the Scripture the subject matter of the Scripture or the admirable effects thereof The Pen-men besides their divine vocation mission and inspiration were plain men poor men shepherds neat-herds fishers Publicans c. neither eloquent Orators nor cunning headed Politicians to art out an Imposture nor witty enough to deceive Act. 4. 13. Adde hereunto their impartial faithfulnesse in relating the naked truth though to the discredit as it might seem of themselves and their best friends Moses repeats the sin and doom of his grandfather Levi of his brother Aâ—ron and sister Miriam nay of himself how he sinned and was sentenced at the waters of strife David shames himself in his preface to the 51. Psalm Isaiah tells the world of the wickednesse of Ahaz and weaknesse of Hezekiah his natural Princes Ezekiel makes honorable mention of Daniel his coetaneous and Peter of Paul though he took him up publickly for halting at Antioch I was a blasphemer an oppressour a persecutor saith that blessed Apostle whereby we see that it 's free from partiality and flattery Secondly For the matter of the Scripture it 's proved to be the Word of God By the Majesty of it which besides the stately plainnesse of the stile far surpasseth the creatures capacity the fathom of flesh and reach of reason There is no jot or tittle of it that savours of earthlinesse Every word of Gods mouth is pure precious and profitable not a syllable superfluous The very majesty of the sentence is such as cannot be conceived and yet it 's alwaies more powerful in matter then in words It sets forth such an admirable concurrence of Gods mercy and Justice in mans Redemption by the man Christ Jesus as no creature could possibly contrive or if they could yet certainly would not Not good men or Angels for they would never have put upon the world such a notorious imposture Not evil men or Devils for it crosseth and controlleth their contrary courses and condemnes them to the pit of hell It utterly overturns the Devils Kingdome who therefore sharply eggeth and edgeth all his instruments against it yea and tempteth better men sometimes to doubt of it whereas if it were forged and false he would like a liar as he is foment and fight for it promote and propagate it as he doth Turcisme and Paganisme and other falshoods abroad in the world though never so absurd and impious Lastly look upon its admirable effects and irresistible power to effect the thing whereunto it 's appointed as to break the stubborn to binde up the broken-hearted c. Not onely to inform as other writings but to reform yea transform the soul from glory to glory till it be wholly conformed to that heavenly pattern Adde hereunto that it 's effectual for the conversion of a sinner from the errour of his way Not from errour of his mind onely but of his manners also For the mind may be thorowly convinced and yet the man not truly converted yea and when the spirit feeles it self dead and decayed as by a relapse into some foul sin this good Word revives it as the breath of God did those dry bones in Ezekiel Humane writings may shew some faults to be avoided but give no power to amend them But Now are ye clean by the Word that I have spoken saith Christ Sanctifié them by thy truth thy Word is truth Philosophie may civilize not sanctifie hide some sins not heal them cover not cure them So then the efficacy and virtue of the Scripture to produce the love of God and our enemies to purifie the heart to pacifie the conscience to rectifie the whole both constitution and conversation of a man to take him off from the delights of the world and the flesh to make him glory in afflictions sing in the flames triumph over
here in England convented before the Bishop where they were charged for that in the night-time they used to read in a great book of Heresie meaning the Bible certain chapters of the Evangelists in English cantaining in them divers erroneous and damnable opinions and conclusions of Heresie See my English Martyrology p. 60. Mr Hauks being convented before Bishop Bonner for refusing to have his childe baptized the Bishop asked him the reason of it He answered because he durst not admit of their use of oile spittle cream salt c. whereupon one Darbishire the Bishops kinsman said to him in a blasphemous manner You are too curious you will have nothing but your little pretty Gods Book Eodem p. 141. Master Denley Martyr as he was burning at Uxbridge in the middest of the flames sung a Psalme whereupon Doctor Story commanded one to hurle a faggot at him which hitting him on the face made it to bleed so that Master Denley gave over singing then said Story Truly thou hast marred a good old song Eodem p. 148. Julian at Constantinople offered sacrifice to the goddesse Fortune whereupon Maris Bishop of Chalcedon rebuked him sharply calling him an impious person an Apostate an Atheist c. The Emperour on the contrary called the Bishop Blinde fool blasphemously adding Thy God of Galilee will not restore thy sight to thee again Maris replied I thank my God for making me blinde that I might not behold so ungracious a face as thine is See my General Martyrology p. 84. In the late Persecution in Bohemia a Popish Captain going into one of the Churches took a cup from the Communion table being full of wine and drank to his horse who having pledged him he blasphemously said Now my horse is one of the communicants in both kindes Eodem p. 152. At the same time when divers godly Nobles and Citizens were carrying to prison in Prague the Papists insultingly cried after them Why do you not now sing The Lord reigneth Eodem p. 169. When any of the protestants desired to be convinced by Scripture they answered with scoffs and jeers saying That the Scripture was impersect obscure ambiguous and the fountaine of Heresie the sanctuary of Hereticks which lay-men had nothing to do with They called the Bible Witlia which in the Bohemian language signifies Vomit c. Eodem p. 189. A godly man called Nicolas being apprehended in the Lowcountreys for Religion as he was going to dinner craved a blessing whereupon a Popish Captaine that was present swearing grievously said Let us see thou lewd Heretick if thy God can deliver thee out of my hand Eodem p. 257. At Angiers in France the Papists burnt many Bibles and meeting with one faire gilt one they hung it on an halbard carried it in procession saying Behold truth is hanged the truth of the Huguenotes the truth of all the devils Behold the mighty God behold the everlasting God will speak and when they came to the Bridge they threw it into the River crying louder Behold the truth of all the devills is drowned Eodem p. 302. About the same time at Volougnes the mercilesse Papists took a godly Minister slew him stripped his body naked dragged it up and down and at last brought it to the chamber where he used to preach to his people saying Now pray to thy God and preach if thou canst Eodem p. 304. At the same time one Monsieur Monluc having defeated a party of the Protestants took many prisoners most of which he hanged especially the Ministers And amongst the prisoners finding a Captaine called La-moth he gave him divers stabbes with his dagger and then thrust him thorow with his rapier saying Villaine thou shalt die in despite of God Yet he proved a liar for the man afterwards was miraculously cured of his wounds Eodem p. 305. At Orleance as they murthered the Protestants they cried out Where is now your God what is become of all your Prayers and Psalmes now Let your God that you called upon save you if he can Others sang in scorne Judge and revenge my cause O Lord Others Have mercy on us Lord c. Eodem p. 316. See many more in my General Martyr In my English Martyr and in my books of Lives Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander whom I have delivered unto Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme 1 Tim 1. 20. CHAP. XXIII Examples of profane Scoffers THe Apostle Peter 2 Pet. 3. 3. foretold that in the last dayes should come Scoffers walking after their own lusts and therefore it is no marvel if we who live in the end and dregs of these last dayes finde this prophecie fulfilled Ishmael was a scoffer in Abrahams family and the Church hath alwayes been pestered with some of his brood and therefore we may lesse wonder if we meet with such amongst those which live out of the pale of Gods Church Some Instances whereof these following examples will exhibite unto us Foretold 2 Pet. 3. 3. Jude 18. They are wicked persons Prov. 9. 7 8. 13. 1. 14. 6. 15. 12. 21. 24. 24. 9. Isa. 29. 10. Psal. 79. 4. Prov. 1. 22. 3. 34. 19. 29. Psal. 123. 4. 1. 1. Prov. 29. 8. Act. 2. 13. Heb. 11. 36. Scriptural examples The Caldeans Hab. 1. 10. Men of Judah 2 Chron. 30. 10. Sanballat c. Neh. 2. 19. Jobs friends Iob 16. 20. Davids enemies Psal. 22. 7. Christs enemies Mat. 9. 24. Mark 5. 40. Luk. 8. 53. Little children 2 King 2. 23. Men of Judah 2 Chron. 36. 16. Souldiers Mat 27. 29 31. Luk. 22. 63. 23. 11 36. Athenians Act. 17. 32. Some others Job 17. 2. Psalm 35. 16. Ier. 15. 17. 20. 7. Ishmael Gen. 21. 9. King Lewis the eleventh of France alwayes wore a Leaden god in his hat and when he had caused any one whom he either feared or hated to be killed he would take it off from his head and kisse it beseeching it that it would pardon him this one evil act more and it should be the last that he would commit Mockeries fit to be used towards a Leaden but not towards the ever-living God Hist. of holy War Martiques Governour of Britany in France in the warre against the Protestants perswaded them to yield to the King for that their strong God had now forsaken them and scoffingly said that it was time for them to sing Help us now O Lord for it is time But shortly after he found that their strong God was living able to help the weak to confound the proud himself being presentiy after slaine in the siege Act. Mon. A Gentleman in France lying upon his death-bed the Priest bringing him the Sacrament of the Altar and telling him that it was the body of Christ he refused to eat it because it was Friday Another also in the like case seeing the Hoast brought to him by a Lubberly Priest scoffingly said that Christ came to him as once riding upon an
the flesh Gal. 5 20. Scriptural examples Ahab and Zedekiah Jer. 29. 21. Shemaiah Jer. 29. 24 31 32. Hananiah Jer. 28. 13 27. Zedekiah 1 Kings 22. 11 24 25. Shemaiah Nehem 6. 10. Scribes and Pharisees Mat. 15. 3. 16. 6 12 Sadduces Mat. 22. 23. 16. 12. Herod Mark 8. 15. Hymeneus and Alexander 1 Tim. 1. 20. Philetus 2 Tim. 2. 17. Phygellus and Hermogenes 2 Tim. 1. 15. Balaam Revel 2. 14. Barjesus Acts 13. 6 8. Herodians Mark 3. 6. 12. 13. Noadiah Nehem. 6. 14. Jezabel Rev. 2. 20. The Arian Heresie having overspread the City of Antiochia whereupon arose a great Schisme and contention amongst the inhabitants the Lord sent a terrible Earth-quake which overthrew a great part of the City and with the Earth-quake fire also brake forth of the ground which consumed all the residue by both which multitudes of persons perished Evag. Arrius himselfe the father of that Heresie as he was easing nature in a secret place his bowels gushed our and so he died miserably Theod. Saint Augustine being to dispute with Pascentius the Ariâ—â— Pascenâ—ius requested that what passed betwixt them might not be set down in writing and afterwards made his bâ—â—gs that he had wâ—â—sted Augustine in the diâ—pâ—â—e which report was believed of all that desâ—â—ed â—t Aug. 〈◊〉 2 Ep. 17â— Simâ—n Magus after that he was so sharply reproved by â—eter wâ—nt tâ— Rome and taught many abominable heresies affirming himself to be the true God That the wâ—rlâ— was created by Angels that Christ was neither come noâ— did sufferâ— he denied the resurrection of the body brought in the promiscuous use of women used the company of one Hâ—lâ—na an harlot whom he affirmed to be the Holy Ghost and that he begat Angels of her he attempted to shew his power to the people by flying in the aire but falling down he brake his thigh and died miserably Jacks Châ—oâ— p. 186. Manas or Manicheus the Heretick denied the Old Testament called himselfe the holy Spirit and professed that he had power to work miracles whereupon he was sent for by the King of Persia to cure his sonne who lay sick of a dangerous disease but his impostures saiâ—ing and the childe dying under his hand the King caused him to be slaine and his skin taken off and to be stuffed full of chaffe and set up before the gâ—tâ— of the City Simps Nestorius the â—eretick who spake against the union of the Divine and humane nature of Christ making as it were two Christs had his blasphemous tongue â—orted in his mouth and consumed with wormes and at length the earth opened her mouth and swallowed him up Evag. Niceph. The Emperour Valence who was an Arian Heretick was overtaken by the Goths in a Village which they set on fire where in he was burnt to death leaving no successor and his name became a curse and execration to all ages Sozom. Under the reign of Adrian the Emperour there was one called Benchochab who professed himselfe to be the Messias that descended from Heaven in the likenesse of a starre to redeem the Jews whereby he drew a multitude of disciples after him but shortly after himselfe and all his followers were slaine which occasioned the Jews to call him Bencozba the sonne of a lie Eus. Gerinthus the heretick being in a Bath at Ephesus the Apostle John seeing him said to those that were with him Let us depart lest the house wherein the Lords enemy is should fall upon our heads and accordingly when he was gone it fell upon Cerinthus and his associats and killed them Eus. Montanus who denied the Divinity of Christ and called himselfe the Comforter or holy Spirit that was to come into the world And his two wives Priscilla and Maxilla he named his Prophetesses but shortly after God gave him over to despaire that he hanged himselfe Magdebur Niceph. Heraclius the Emperour infected with the Heresie of the Monothelites having raised a great Army against his enemies fifty two thousand of them died in one night whereupon he presently fell sick and died Simps Constance the Emperour a Monothelite was slaine by one of his own servants as he was washing of himselfe in a Bath Simps Constantius the Emperour a great favourer and supporter of the Arian Heresie died suddenly of an Apoplexie Socr. Cyril hath of his own knowledge recorded a wonderful judgement of God upon an Heretick in his time There was saith he presently after the death of Saint Hierom a bold and blasphemous Heretick called Sabinianus who denied the distinction of persons in the Trinity affirming the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost to be but one indistinct person and to gaine credit to his heresie he wrote a book to confirme his opinions which he published in the name of Saint Hierome whereupon Silvanus Bishop of Nazareth sharply reproved him for depraving so worthy a man now dead and to detect his falsehood agreed with Sabinianus that if Hierome did not the next day by some miracle declare his falsehood he would willingly die but if he did the other should die this being agreed upon the day following they went to the Temple at Hierusalem multitudes of people following them to see the issue and the day was now past and no miracle appeared so that Silvanus was required to yield his neck to the headsman which he willingly and confidently did but when he was ready to receive the blow something appeared like Saint Hierome and staid the blow and then vanishing presently the head of Sabinianus fell off and his carcase tumbled upon the ground Grimoald King of Lombardy an Arian Heretick being let blood for some distempers eleven dayes after as he was drawing a bowe the veine opening a new he bled to death Nestorius the Heretick being made Bishop of Constance by Theodosius bespake him thus in a Sermon O Caesar purge me the Land of Hereticks meaning the Orthodox Christians and I shall give thee Heaven Help thou me to root out them and I shall help thee to overcome thine enemies For which cause he was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or fling-fire in French Boutefeux Hist. Trip. About â—he yeere 1629. there lived at Cubbington in Warwick-shire a Gentleman called Master Griswould of a competent estate and a zealous prosessor of Religion familiarly acquainted with most of the godly Ministers and Christians thereabouts and well esteemed of by them till one Canne lately of Amsterdam falling into his acquaintance began to seduce him from his former opinions and practice causing him to scruple first joyning with our Congregations in Prayers and the Sacrament Secondly to question whether he might lawfully hear a conformable Minister though able and godly from thence he fell to separation and after a while he first questioned and after concluded that there was no true Church in the world to which he might adjoyne himselfe and therefore kept himselfe to duties with his own family and rejected all others yet staid he not long here but after
Dogs Domitian to prove him a lyar commanded him presently to be slaine and his body to be burnt but while it was in burning there fell out a great tempest that quenched the fire and so his body half unburnt was devoured by Dogs Suâ—t Constantine forbad all to ask Counsel at Witches oâ— to use the help of Charmers or Sorcerers upon pain of death Saul when he sought to the Witch at Endor instead of finding comfort was told of his utter ruine and destruction 1 Sam. 28. 19. Natholicus the 31th King of the Scots who had usurped the Crown sent a trusty friend to a famous Witch to know what successe he should have in his Kingdom and how long he should live The Witch answered that he should shortly be murthered not by an enemy but by his friend The Messenger instantly inquired by what friend By thy self said the Witch The Messenger at first abhorred the thought of any such villainy but afterwards considering that it was not safe to reveal the Witches answer and yet that it could not be concealed he resolved rather to kill the King to the content of many then to hazard the losse of his own head Thereupon at his return being in secret with the King to declare to him the Witches answer he suddenly slew him Bucâ—an Cleomedes a great Conjurer in Rome having practised the death of many little children the Parents of them at last sought revenge on him who to shun their fury shut himself up close in a Coffer but when they had broken it open the Divel had carried away the Conjurer Plut. Piso being accused by Tyberius for bewitching Germanicus to death instead of defending himself cut his own throat Taci There was in Denmark one Otto a great Magician and a great Pirat who used to passe the Seas without the help of a ship or any other Vessel and by his divellish Art to raise stormes and drown his enemies but at last being overmatched by one that was more expert in that Art then himself he was by him drowned in the Seas Olaus Mag. There was a Conjurer in Saltzburg who attempted to gather together all the Serpents there abouts into a Ditch and to feed them there but as he was practising of it the old Serpent the Divel drew him into the Ditch amongst them where he perished miserably The Governour of Mascon a great Magician as he was at dinner with some company was snatched away by the Divel hoisted up into the air and carried three times about the Town to the great astonishment of the inhabitants to whom he cried for help but all in vain Hugo de Cluni Anno Christi 1437. in the reign of Charles the 7th King of France Sr. Giles of Britane high-Constable of France was a wicked Magician having murthered above 160. Infants and women great with child with whose blood he wrote Books full of horrible Conjurations which being proved against him he was adjudged to be hanged and burned to death which was accordingly executed Picus Mirandula writes that in his time a great Conjurer promised a certain Prince that he would present to him the Siege of Troy with Hector and Achilles fighting together as when they were alive But as he was about his Conjurations the Divel carried him away that he was never heard of after The Lord of Orue in Lorraine when Noble-men or Gentle-men came to visit him used as they thought to serve them very honourbly with all sorts of daintie dishes and viands but when they departed they found their stomachs empty having eaten nothing On a time a Lords servant going from thence having forgotten some thing behind him went back and suddenly entering the Hall found a Munkie beating the Lord of the house that had feasted them others reported that he hath been seen through the chink of a door lying on his belly along upon a Table and a Munkie scourging him very strongly to whom he would say Let me al ne wilt thou alwayes thus torment me at last he fell into so great misery and beggery that he was fain to get into an Hospital in Paris where he ended his wrethed life Anno Christi 1530. there was in Nuâ—â—mburg a Popish Priest that studied the black Art who coveting riches the Divel shewed him through a Cristal treasures hidden in a part of the City Thither therefore did the Priest go with another companion and having digged an hollow pit he perceived in the bottom a Coffer with a great black Dog lying by it which whilest he beheld the earth fell upon him and crushed him to death Wierus Cornelius Agrippa was a great Necromancer and was alwayes accompanied with a familiar spirit in the shape of a black Dog But when his end approached he took off the Inchanted choller from the Dogs neck saying Get thee hence thou cursed beast which hast utterly destroyed me After which the Dog was never seen and he died a miserable death P. Jovius Zoroastres King of Bactria a great Astrologer and Magician was burned to death by the Divel Theat Anno Christi 1578. one Simon Pembrook of St. Georges Parish in London was suspected to be a Conjurer and used to erect figures for which he was called in question but whilest he was before the Judge he fell down and died having some Conjuring Books found about him Julian the Apostate sending to Delphos to enquire of the Divel the successe of his Parthian War whilest his Ambassadors were there fire came down from heaven and destroyed Apollos Temple and beat his Image all to pieces like to the lightest and smallest powder or dust Mr. Tindal being present in a roome where a Conjurer was hindred him that he could not play his pranks A Saints presence may hinder Satans elbow-roome from doing his tricks See Tindals Life in my first Part And the Like of Athanasius in his Life in the same Book CHAP. LXXIII Examples of Apparitions and Satanical delusions ANno Christi 1228. in a Synod held by the Popish Clergy at Paris in France there was one appointed to make a Sermon who as he was walking abroad and meditating upon what subject to preach the Devil appeared to him asking him what he needed to be so solicitous about that matter Say saith he in thy Sermon The Princes of hell salute you O ye Princes of the Church and gladly give you thanks for that through your default and negligence it comes to passe that so many soules come down to hell Adding that he was enforced by God to declare the same Yea and he gave this Priest a certain token whereby the Synod might evidently see that he did not lie On a time as Luther was walking in his garden the Devil appeared to him in the likenesse of a black Boar But Luther sleighting and not regarding him he vanished away See his Life in my first Part. Luther telleth us that when he was lodged in the Castle of Wartzhurg in a Chamber far from any company he was many times