had been born of so beautiful a Mother He then caused her womb to be ript up that he might see the place wherein himself had lain After which horrid fact he was continually tormented with the sting of his own conscience and protested That his Mother often appeared to him with burning Torches lashing him for that cruel Murder yet he still continued his cursed Butcheries He murthered his Aunt Domitia and because Antonia the Daughter of Claudius refused to marry him he caused her to be slain pretending that she went about to make some Innovations in the State He hired Conjurers to lay the Ghost of his Mother He caused Crisoinus his Son-in-law by Poppaea to be drowned as he was fishing He slew many others who by blood affinity were near to him He murthered Aulus Plancus a young man after he had by violence committed Sodomy with him He forced his Master Seneca to murther himself though he had often sworn to him he would not do it and that he would sooner perish himself than do him any hurt and he sent Poison to his other Master Burrhus Divers of his Rich Freed men and other Old men who had helped him to the Empire and favoured him therein he murdered by mixing Poison either in their meat or drink Neither was he less cruel to others especially after two Conspiracies were discovered against him and some of the Conspirators confessed the Fact saying That they knew not how otherwise than by his death to free him from all that wickedness wherewith he had dâ—filed himself And Nero asking Sulpâ—tius Aper a Centurion why he conspired against him he answered Because I knew not how by any other means to do thee a kindness After this he raged more extreâ—mly against all sorts of Persons setting no bounds to his Cruelty but murthering whom he pleased He gave not above an hours space to any of those whom he commanded to kiâ—â— themselves to prepare for dâ—ath and had Chirurgions ready to cut all their veins if they made any delay His Profuseness and Prodigality ansâ—ered his Cruelâ—y for it was without all measure saying often That those who proportioned their Expences to their Incomes were sordid and covetous and that they only who most profusely and prodigally wasted their Estates were magnificent and praise-worthy He never put on the same Apparel twice He was very extravagant in costly Buildings and when his Treasury was exhausted he endeavoured by Rapine and Forgeries to enrich himself He never conferred an Office upon any man but he would say to him Thou knowest what I want let us make it our business that none may have any thing but our selves He took the curious and costly Images of the Heathen Gods of Gold and Silver out of the Temple and sold them and as he spared not men so neither did he spare the City of Rome for being displeased with the Building narrowness and crookedness of the Streets he sent some Villains who made it their business to run up and down and set the City on fire and whilst it was all in a flame he went up to the top of Moecenas his Tower to feed his Eyes with that pleasant sight and in a Players Habit tuned his Harp and sung a song of the burning of Troy and when he afterward heard how ill he was spoken of for this Act he raised a Report that it was done by the Christians and thereupon used all manner of Cruelty toward them and exposed them to the fury of the People who horridly tormented them as if they had been common Burners and Destroyers of Cities and the deadly Enemies of Humane Society Yea Nero himself caused some of them to be cloathed in wild Beasts skins and torn to pieces with Dogs others were crucified some he made Bonfires of to light him in his night sports In brief such exquisite Torments he put them to as caused their Enemies themselves to pity them and whereas Tiberius used to say After my death let the World be destroyed by Fire Pestilence Famine c. Yea said Nero let it be destroyed in my Life time that I may be a spectator of it But Almighty Justice at last overtook him for being adjudged by the Senate to be an Enemy to Mankind it was condemned to be whipt to death through the streets of Rome and all his Armies and Forces forsaking him to avoid this shameful and ignominious death he fled and hid himself among Briers and Thorns and being weary of his life desired some of his Attendants to kill him which they refusing he cryed out I have neither a Friend nor an Enemy miserable man that I am and thereupon threw himself into a Pit four foot deep and there desperately slew himself Sueton. XI Tigellinus one of the Captains of Nero's Guard had been a principal abettor and encourager of him in his Tyrannies and the chief cause of the death of many great Personages in Rome enriching himself with their spoils and the Robberies he committed After the death of Nero whom in his extremity he forsook he plunged himself wallowed in all manner of filthiness and debauchery now though he was worthy of a thousand deaths for his Cruelties toward many worthy Citizens yet by bribing some of the chief Favourites of the succeeding Emperor Galba he escaped being questioned but as soon as Otho was installed in the Empire his destruction soon followed for to gratify the Romans Otho sent to apprehend him who was then in his Banquetting Houses in the Fields rioting and sporting with his Harlots and finding himself thus surprized and that he had no way to make his escape though he had prepared Boats on purpose to carry him away in any danger and not being able to bribe the Messenger sent to take him though he offered him great rewards he intreated only the favour to shave his beard before he went which being granted he took a rasor and instead of shaving cut his own throat Beards Theatre XII Antonius Heliogabalus Emperor of Rome was infamous for Cruelty Gluttony Lust and all manner of wickedness and his death was answerable to his life he had his name from an Idol of the Sun whose Priest he had been in Syria and being exceeding rich by his profuse gifts to his Souldiers he procured himself to be chosen Emperor and sending Messengers thereof to Rome he was by the Senate accepted such was the luxurious pomp of this Beastly Emperor that he used Balm in his Lamps and filled his Fishponds with Rosewater his Garments were of the finest Gold and the most costly â—â—lk his Shoes glistered with precious stones curiously ingraven he was never two days served with one kind of meat nor wore one Garment twice he doted exceedingly upon his Mother with whom he committed Incest and did all by her appointment and was the first that brought a Woman into the Senate causing his Mother to sit in one of the Consuls Seats he erected a Senate of Women wherein many
that notwithstanding all the help of Chirurgery he died soon after and that in a very sad condition for he cursed and blasphemed to the last gasp and his last breath passed out of his body with an horrid Oath to the terrour of all that beheld him and herein did the Divine Justice remarkably appear in that his own hand which had written those Blasphemies was made an Instrument to punish that head and brain which had wickedly devised them Beards Theatre III. In the year 1527. A young Italian esteemed a man very brave and valiant in Arms was to fight with another young man who because he was melancholy and spake very little was called Forchebene they went together with a great company to the Place appointed which was without the Port of St. Gall whither being come a friend to the former went to him and said God give you the Victory the proud young man adding blasphemy to his Temerity answered How shall he chuse but give it me They came to use their weapons and after many blows given and taken both by the one and the other Forchebene being become as the Minister and Instrument of God gave him a thrust in the mouth with such force that having fastened his Tongue to the Poll of his Neck where the Sword went thorow above the length of a Span he made him 〈…〉 the Sword remaining in his Mouth to the end that the Tongue which had so grievously offended might even in this world endure punishment for so horrible a sin L. Remys Consid c. 59. IV. Another of our own Nation is not to be overpassed who for Atheism may be compared to the former and for God's severe Judgment upon him may give place to none It was a Gentleman in Bark-shire whose Name I forbear to mention This man had a great Estate but was an open Scoffer and Contemner of all Religion a profest Atheist and a Scorner of the Word and Sacraments insomuch that I have heard it very credibly reported that being Witness to the Baptizing of a Child he would needs have it named Beelzebub He was likewise given to all manner of Debauchery keeping several notorious Strumpets openly in his House without shame He was so accustomed to Swearing that he could scarce speak without an Oath This miserable Man or rather Brute having continued long in this damnable course of life at last Divine Vengeance found him out for going one day a hunting with one of his Companions As they were discoursing of divers Idle Stories it pleased Almighty God to strike him with sudden death for falling suddenly on the Crupper of his Horse backward he was taken off stark dead with his Tongue hanging out of his Mouth in a very fearful manner and became a terrible Example of God's Justice against all wicked Atheists Beards Theatre V. Cluverius an Author worthy of credit who professeth that he had this Relation not only by hear-say but from Eye-witnesses who saw it gives this wonderful Account That in the Month of March 1632 there lived in the Borders of Muscovia a Noble-man by Office a gatherer of Tribute or Taxes by name Albertus Periâ—scius his manner was when poor men could not presently pay their Taxes to distrain upon their Cattle and drive them to his own home Now it came to pass that this Noble-man being from home lost all his unjust gains in one 〈…〉 for all his Cattle both those he had taken by Violence and what he had bought with his Money suddenly dyed This wretched man coming home was told â— his Wife and Servants what a fearful Judgment from God was befallen him whereat he began to rage and rave extreamly and taking his Musquet shot it up against Heaven breaking forth into these blasphemous speeches Let him that killed my attle devour them If thou wouldest not let me eat them eat them thy self Upon these furious barkings against God there fell some drops of blood and this wicked man was turned into a black Dog and howling he raâ— to the dead Cattle and began to feed upon them and for ought I know saith mine Author who wrote this story presently after is yet feeding upon them His Wife great with Child being astonished and terrified with the strangeness of God's Judgments shortly after died Clark's Exam. 1 Part. VI. Simon Churmay in 1201. having most subtilly and acutely disputed about the Trinity some of his familiar friends persuaded him to put it into writing that so the memorial of such excellent things might not be lost whereupon he proudly brake forth into this Atheistical speech O Jesule Jesule c. O little Jesus little Jesus how much have I confirmed and advanced thy Law in this Question but if I had a mind 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 strucken dumb and 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 Not much unlike this is that of Michael a blasphemous Jew who as he was banquetting with his Companions fell to blaspheming Christ and his Mother boasting That he had gotten the Victory over the Christians God but as he went down Stairs out of the Room he fell down and brake his Neck Fincelius Miserable was the end of Perieres who writ a blasphemous Book wherein he openly mocked at God and all Religion for he fell into most desperate despair and notwithstanding strict watch was kept about him yet he killed himself 〈…〉 the year 1502. there lived one Hermanus Biswick a Grand Atheist and a notable Instrument of the Devil who affirmed That the World never had a beginning as foolish Moses dreamed and that there were neither Angels nor Devils nor Hell nor future a Life but that the Souls of Men perished with their Bodies and that Jesus Christ was nothing else but a Seducer of the People and that the Faith of Christians and whatever else was contained in the Holy Scriptures was meer vanity These Opinions full of Atheism and Impiety he was so hardened in that he constantly avouched them to the death and was for the same together with his Books deservedly burnt in Holland Theat Hist VII A certain Rich man at Halterstadt in Germany abounding with all manner of worldly happiness he gave up his whole Soul in delighting therein so that he had no sense of Heaven or Religion yea he was so Atheistical as to say That if he might lead such a life continually upon the Earth he would not envy those that enjoyed Heaven ner desire to exchange his condition with them But soon after it pleased God contrary to his expectation to cut him off by death and so the pleasures which he doated on came to an end But after his death there were seen such Diabolical Apparitions in his House that no man durst inhabit it so that it became desolate For every
day there appeared the Form of this Epicure sitting with a great many Guests drinking carousing and making good Cheer the Table being furnished seemingly with all manner of Delicacies and attended on by many Persons together with Fidlers Trumpeters and the like so that whatever he delighted in while he was alive was there daily to be seen God permitting Satan to deceive mens sight by such Appearances to deter others from living in such a course of Atheism and Impiety Theat Hist VIII At a Village called Benarides in Spain two young men one whereof was noted to be an outragious Swearer and Blasphemer of God's Holy Name being together in the Fields on a sudden there arose a terrible Tempest of Rain and Wind accompanied with so impetuous a Whirlwind that it amazed all that beheld it the two young men seeing it furiously coming toward them to avoid the danger ran away as fast as they could possible but notwithstanding their haste it overtook them and for fear it should carry them up into the Air they fell flat down upon the ground where the Whirlwind whilked about them for some time and then passed forward one of them arose so affrighted and in such an Agony that he was scarce able to stand on his feet the other lying still without motion some that stood under an hedge hard by came to see how he did and found him to be stark dead not without some wonderful symptoms of Divine Justice for all his bones were so crushed that the Joynts of his Legs and Arms were to be turned every way as though his whole Body had been made of Moss and besides his Tongue was pluckt out by the roots and could not by any means be found though it was diligently sought for and this was the miserable end of this wretched youth who was made an Example to the World of God's Vengeance against Swearers and Blasphemers Beards Theatre IX Mirtiques Governour of Brittany in France in the War against the Protestants persuaded them to yield to the King since their strong God had now forsaken them and scoffingly said It was time for them to sing Help us now O Lord for it is time but he soon found that their strong God was able to defend them and to confound the Proud he himself being presently after slain in the Siege Acts Mon. Remarkable is the Relation of one Libanius who was a Sophistical Atheist he being at Antioch demanded blasphemously of a Learned and Religious Shoolmaster What the Carpenters Son did and how he employed himself To whom the Schoolmaster full of the Divine Spirit replyed The Creator of the World whom thou disdainfully callest the Carpenters Son is making a Coffin for thee to carry thee to thy Grave at which the Sophister laughing went away and within few daies after died and was buried in a Coffin according to the Prophecy of that Holy Man Beards Theatre In the 〈…〉 an Arrian Bishop called Olympius being in the Baths of Carthage openly scoffed and blasphemed the Holy and Sacred Trinity but Lightning fell down from Heaven upon him three times wherewith he was burnt and consumed to Ashes There was also in the time of Alphonsus King of Arragon and Sicily in an Isle toward Africa a certain prophane Hermite called Antonius who impudently and impiously belched out blasphemous speeches against our Blessed Saviour and the Virgin Mary his Mother but he was struck with a most grievous and tormenting Disease so that he was eaten and gnawn to pieces with Worms till he died Aeneas Sylvius X. Neither hath Divine Vengeance left itself without witness against Cursers and those who by denying God give themselves to the Devil as may plainly appear â—y the following dreadful Examples A Souldier travelling through Marcia a Country of Almaign and finding himself not well went to an Inn where he lay to recover his health and delivered to his Hostess a certain sum of money which he had about him A while after being recovered of his Sickness he demanded his money again but the Woman upon consultation with her Husband denied the receipt of any and accused him of wronging her in demanding what she never received On the other side the Souldier was much enraged accusing her of cheating him when the Man of the House heard the noise though he was privy to all before yet he dissembling the matter took his Wife's part and thrust the Souldier out of doors who seeing himself thus abused drew his Sword and ran against the door with the point thereof whereat the Host began to cry out Thieves Thieves affirming that he would have entred his House by force and have robbed him whereupon the poor Souldier was taken and cast into Prison and by process of Law was ready to be condemned to death but the very day wherein this heavy Sentence was to be pronounced and Executed the Devil entred into the Prison and told the Souldier That he was condemned 〈…〉 dye nevertheless if he would give himself Body and Soul to him he would promise to deliver him out of their hands The Prisoner replyed That he had rather dye being innocent and without cause than to be delivered upon that account The Devil then represented to him the great danger of death wherein he was and used all manner of craft to delude him but finding all his Arguments uneffectual he at length left his suit but yet promised him both assistance and revenge upon his Enemies for nothing advising him when he came to his Tryal he should plead not guilty and declare his innocence and the wrong which he suffered and to entreat the Judge to grant him the favour That one in a Blew Cap who was in the Court might make his Defence for him now this one in the Blew Cap was the Devil himself The Souldier accepted his offer and being called to the Bar and Indicted of Felony he presently desired to have his Attorney who was there present to plead his Cause which being granted him this witty crafty Lawyer began very cunningly to defend his Client affirming him To have been falsly accused and consequently would be unjustly condemned and that his Host did withhold the money and had offered him violence and to demonstrate the Truth of what he asserted he reckoned up every Circumstance of the whole Action yea the very place where they had hid they money The Host on the other side very impudently denied all wishing withal That the Devil might take him Body and Soul if he had This subtil Attorney in the Blew Cap finding now the advantage which he had hitherto looked for left off his pleading and immediately seizing upon the Host carryed him out of the Sessions-House and hoisted him into the Air so high that he was never after seen nor heard of And thus was the Souldier wonderfully delivered from death to the astonishment of all the Beholders who were Eye-witnesses of this terrible Judgment upon this perjured cursing Host Wierus of Spirits lib. 3. XI
take away mens lives by dashing their Bodies to pieces against the Rocks and all manner of Cruelties and also to endeavour to destroy their Souls by compelling them to deny the Omnipotent God! would you know O you ignorant Souls what I am behold I am a Christian and an Enemy to your devilish Sacrifices I scorn and despise your Idols and tread them under my feet and acknowledge only God Almighty the Creator of Heaven and Earth and Jesus Christ his only Son and the Saviour of the World but what are your Gods but dead Idols and the works of Mens hands c. Come on therefore and let the Hangman burn cut and mangle this poor mortal Carkass 'T is very easy to break and destroy a weak brittle perishing body but the mind and soul you cannot touch with all that you can do the Judge enraged herewith said to the Executioner Take her and pull her out by the hair of the head to torments let her feel the power of our Gods and know what we can do but yet O sturdy Girl I would fain have thee before thou diest to recant this thy wickedness and to save thy self from a wretched death consider what pleasures thou maist enjoy in the House of thy Honourable Parents consider the Lamentations and Tears of thy miserable Family and Relations which by thy perverseness will be brought to ruine consider that thou art now in thy Youth in the very flower of thine Age in the way to Honour and Preferment by an Honourable Marriage agreeable to thy Quality and Estate do not these glistering Glories and the delights of the Marriage-Bed move thee doth not the sorrow and extream grief of thy dear Parents encline thee to pity thy self and them Yea who is there almost that doth nonlament thy madness and folly If this doth not prevail yet consider the terrible death that thou art like to suffer consider what variety of torments are prepared for thee for thou shalt either be beheaded by this Sword or thou shalt be torn in pieces by the teeth of wild Beasts or else thou shalt be thrown alive into the burning flames and there only attended with the lamentable bewailings of thy friends and kindred shalt be consumed to ashes Now how easy and small a matter is required of thee to avoid all this punishment for if thou wilt but take a little Salt and Incense between thy fingers and put it into the Censer in honour of our Gods thou shalt be set free and dilivered from all further danger and trouble When Eulalia heard him thus speak being extreamly moved she spit in the Tyrants face and presently threw down the Idols to the ground and kicked about the Incense prepared for Sacrifice whereupon without further delay the Hangmen took her and with all their strength pluckt her Limbs out of joint and then with the Claws of wild Beasts tore off her flesh to the bones while she all the while not in the least daunted with their cruel Torments fell a singing and praising in this manner O Lord I will never forget thy goodness and mercy what a pleasure is it O Jesus to remember thy Triumphant victories who by suffering hast attained to the height of Glory Thus with great constancy and courage she continued joyfully and chearfully to sing praises to God even when she was all over stained and imbrued in her own blood and cruelly tormented in all parts of her Body they then proceeded to the last and final torture which was the tearing and rending of her Body with the Iron Grate and Hurdle and burning her Breasts and Sides with flaming Torches but her Hair which all this while hung down so low that it covered her Modesty at last took fire and she being no longer willing to live opened her mouth and swallowed the flame upon which she immediately gave up the Ghost and is now one of those Souls under the Altar who cry how long c. Acts and Monu 1. P. Also Agnes an Honourable young Virgin being accused for a Christian was brought before the Judge who endeavoured first by flatteries and then by threatning her with cruel torments to draw her to the denyal of her Faith but she valiantly answered That she feared not his Tortures as being willing to suffer all manner of Torments yea death itself for the sake of Christ well said the Judge though thou valuest pain and torment so little yet I suppose thou hast a great esteem for thy Virginity and Chastity therefore I am fully determined unless thou Sacrifice to our Gods thou shalt immediately be put into the Common Stews and Brothel-houses Agnes hereupon inveighs vehemently against Minerva and her Worshippers upon which the loose and debauched Youths desired earnestly of the Judge that they might have Agnes as a Prey to their lust and filthiness then said Agnes Jesus Christ is not forgetful of those that are his neither will he leave me destitute of his help nor assistance but is alwaies ready to protect and defend modest and chast Virgins and therefore O Tyrant thou maist freely bath thy Sword in my blood but thou shalt never defile my Body with filthy Lust with all that thou canst do She had no sooner spoke these words but the Tyrant commanded her to be tied stark naked at the corner of a Street where Strumpets commonly used to haunt upon which the greatest part of the People being both sorry and ashamed to see so shameless and unseemly a sight some turning their heads and some hiding their faces passed by but one young Man among the rest with lascivious Eyes and lustful thoughts beholding her immediately a flash of Lightning struck out both his Eyes and he falling down wallowed in the Street whereupon Agnes sung Praises to God the â—â—uel Tyrant inraged hereby commanded the Executioner to draw out his Sword and dispatch her she seeing sturdy Soldier coming toward her with his drawn Sword rejoiced saying This O this is he that I love I will make hast to meet him and no longer protract my longing desires I will willingly receive his Sword in my Breast O Eternal Father vouchfafe to open the Gates of Heaven to my Soul that seeketh thee and so kneeling down in the midst of her Ejaculations he at one blow cut off her head Acts Monum Domitian by his Cruelties grew terrible and hateful to his very Friends and Servants yea to his own Wife a certain Astrologer boasted to him that by his Art he could foretel what should come to pass Domitian asked him if he foresaw what his own end should be he answered That he should be torn in pieces of Dogs Domitian to prove him a Lyar commanded him presently to be slain and his Body to be burnt to ashes but as they were about to do it so violent a shower happened as quenched the fire and immediately Dogs came and tore him in pieces this much increased the fear of Domitian who had been told by a
them two should first depart out of this Life should if possible give an account to the Survivor of the State of the other Life and whether the Soul be immortal or not This agreement being made and mutually sworn to they departed In a short time after it fell our that while Michael Mercatus was one morning early at his study upon a sudden he heard the noise of a Horse opon the Gallop and then stopping at the door and immediately he heard the voice of his Friend Marsilius crying out to him O Michael Micheal those things are true they are true Michael wondring to hear his Friends voice rose up and opened his Casement where he saw the back part of him whom he had heard speak in white and galloping away upon a white Horse He called after him Marsilius Marsilius and followed him with his eye but he soon vanished out of sight Michael amazed at this extraordinary accident very strictly inquired if any thing had happened to Marsilius who then lived at Florence some distance from thence where he likewise breathed his last and he found upon strict inquiry that he dyed at that very time when he was thus seen and heard by him Wanly Hist Man P. 88. IV. About the year 1060. There was a great Doctor buried at Paris at the enterring of whom when the Priest in the form then used came to the words Responde mihi Answer me the Corps sat upright on the Bier and to the amazement of all that were there cryed out Justo Dei judicio accusatus sum At the just Tribunal of God I am accused lying presently down again The attendants being astonished deferred the Funeral till the next day to see the Issue of this strange accident at which time a multitude met to observe the event when at the same words again repeated the disturbed Body riseth again and with the like hideous noise cryed out Justo Dei Judicio Judicatus sum By the just Judgment of God I am judged The People being yet more amazed deferred the Interment one day longer when almost the whole City thronged to this strange Burial and in the presence of them all at the reciting of the same words he rose up the third time and cryed out Justo Dei Judicio condemnatus sum by the just Judgment of God I am condemned whereat as the whole City were affrighted so Bruno an eminent Doctor in that University was seriously affected and told them That as they had formerly heard so now they saw the Judgments of the Lord were unsearchable and past finding out for this Person whom we honoured for the strictness of his Life the modesty and unblamableness of his Conversation cryeth out now that he is damned by the just Judgment of God This dreadful Example he inforced upon the minds of the Auditors with so many prevailing Arguments that by the Blessing of God several of them retired themselves from the world and spent the rest of their days wholly in the service of God and preparing their Souls for an Eternal State in the world to come Dying Mens words p. 196. V. Charles the 5th Emperor of Germany King of Spain and Lord of the Netherlands after Three and Twenty Pitcht Battles six Triumphs Four Kingdoms won and Eight Principalities added to his Dominions which he ruled over Fourteen years yet at last resigned all these retired to his Devotion in a Monastery had his own Funeral celebrated before his face and left this Testimony of Christian Religion That the sincere profession thereof had in it those sweets and Joys that Courts were Strangers to And Philip the Third of Spain lying on his Death Bed in 1621 sent thrice at Midnight for Florentius his Confessor who with the Provincial of Castile discoursed to him of approaching Death exhorting him to submit to Gods will so gravely that the King himself could not chuse but weep and after some intermission from his tears and thanks for his wholsome admonition the King spake thus to him Do you not remember that in your Sermon on Ash-Wednesday you said that some of your Auditors might dye that Lent this concerns me for lo my fatal hour is now at hand but shall I obtain eternal felicity which words he uttered with great grief and trouble adding likewise to his Confessor You have not hit upon the right way of healing is there no other Remedy Which when he observed the Confessor thought he meant of his Body the King added Ah I am not solicitous of my Body nor of my temporary Disease but of my Soul The Confessor mournfully answered I have done what I could I must commit the rest to Gods providence Florentius then discoursed at large of Gods mercy remembring His Majesty what he had done for the Honour and Worship of that God to which the King replyed Ah how happy were I had I spent these Twenty three years wherein I have held my Kingdom in a retirement Florentius answered That it would be very acceptable to God if he would lay his Kingdom his Majesty his Life and his Salvation at the feet of his Crucified Saviour Jesus Christ and submit himself to his Will Willingly willingly will I do this said the Heart-sick King and from this moment do I lay all that God hath given me my Dominions Power and my Life at the Feet of Jesus Christ my Saviour who was crucified for me and then among his last words he said to Florentius Now really you have suggested to me very great comfort Fair Warning P. 160. VI. Prince Henry Eldest Son to King James and Queen Anne was most zealous in his love to Religion and Piety and his heart was bent if he had lived to have indeavoured to compound those unkind Jars and differences that were among Religious men He told the Dean of Rochester That he thought that whereaâ— he and others like him did as usual look him in thâ— face when they came first into the Pulpit their Countenance did as it were say to him Sir you must hear mâ— diligently you must have a care to observe what I say He used to say he knew no sport worth an Oath and that he knew not what they called Puritan Preaching 〈◊〉 but he loved that Preaching which went next his heart and spake as if they knew the mind of God His last words were O Christ thou art my Redeemer and 〈◊〉 know that thou hast Redeemed me I wholly depend upon thy Providence and Mercy from the very bottom of my heart I commend my soul into thy hand A Person oâ— Quality waiting on the Prince in his sickness who had been his constant Companion at Tennis and asking how he did he answered Ah Tom I in vain wish for that time I lost with thee and others in vain Recreation He then added Now my Soul be glad for at all parts of this Prison the Lord hath set his aid to loose thee Head Fâ—et Milt and Liver are failing Arise therefore and shake off thy
came loaden with Fruit not for our own liquorishness but even to throw to the Hogs and all this we did not because we might do it but because we would Behold my heart O Lord behold my heart which thou hast pity upon in the very bottom of the bottomless Pit For I most wretched Young Fellow unhappy that I was I was unhappy in the very entrance into my Youth It is true I begged Chastity at thy hands and said Give me Chastity and Continency but do not give it me yet for I was afraid that thou wouldst hear me too soon and too soon deliver me from my Disease of Incontinency which my desire was rather to have satisfied than extinguished But now was the day come wherein I was to be set naked before my self and when mine own Conscience was to convince me for I found a vast Tempest in my own Soul which hurried me into a Garden where I might be only with my self at which time I was most soberly mad being sensible enough what piece of misery I at present was but utterly ignorant how good I was shortly to grow I sat me down fretted in Spirit and angry at my self with a most Tempestuous Indignation for that I went not about to make my Peace and League with thee my God which all my bones cryed out upon me to do extolling it to the very Skies upon which giving liberty to my tears the flouds of mine Eyes gushed out which was an acceptable Sacrifice to thee O Lord and then I cryed out How long How long O Lord wilt thou be angry for ever still to morrow to morrow why not now Wherefore in this very hour is there not an end put to my uncleanness Thus much I uttered weeping in the bitter contrition of my heart when behold I heard a voice as of a Boy or Child that seemed to come from some Neighbouring house which said in a singing Tune Take up and read Take up and read which was often repeated Instantly hereupon I changed my Countenance and began to consider whether Children were used to sing any such words but I could not remember to have ever heard the like whereupon drying up the violent Torrent of my Tears I got me up interpreting it no other way but that I was from God himself commanded to open the book and to read that Chapter which I should first light upon Hastily therefore I went where I had left the Apostles Book and snatching it up opened it and in silence read that Chapter which I first cast mine eyes upon Not in riating and drunkenness not in chambring and wantonness not in strife and envying but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flâ—sh to fulfil the Lusts thereof No further would I read nor needed I for instantly with the end of this sentence a Divine beam of Light Comfort and Peace darted into my heart and all the darkness of doubting vanished away and thou O my dear Lord didst thereby so throughly convert me to thy self as that I have no other hopes nor thoughts in this world but of thee for which let my heart praise thee and my Tongue yea let all my Bones say O Lord who is like unto thee and do thou answer me and say unto my Soul I am thy Salvation St. Austins Confessions II. Wonderful is the Account which we find in Mr. Baxters Crucifying of the world in these words Sophronius Bishop of Jerusalem delivereth the following History as a most certain and Infallible Truth to Posterity That Leontius Apamipusis a most famous and Religious man who lived many years at Cyrene assured them that Synesius who of a Philosopher became a Bishop found at Cyrene one Evagrius a Philosopher who had been his old Acquaintance Fellow Student and Intimate Friend but an obstinate Heathen Synesius was earnest with him but in vain to become a Christian yet following his Arguments for Christianity very close Evagrius discourses with him to this purpose That to him it sâ—â—â—d but a meer Fable and deceit that the Christian Religion â—acheth men that this world shall have an end and that all men shall rise again in these Bâ—lies and their Flesh be made immortal and incorruptible and that they shall so live for ever and shall receive the reward of all that they have done in the Body and that he that hath pity on the poor lendeth to the Lord and he that giveth to the poor and needy shall have Treasure in Heaven and shall receive an hundred fold from Christ together with eternal Life Synesius assured him and proved to him by very cogent Arguments that these things were most true and certain insomuch that being converted thereby he and his Family were baptized Evagrius soon after brought Three Hundred Pound in Gold to Synesius to be distributed among the poor upon condition that he would give him a Bill under his hand that Jesus Christ would repay him in another World which he did accordingly Evagrius fell sick not long after and thinking he should die ordered his Sons to put Synesius his Bill into his Hand which was done after which he died and was buried About Three days after the Philosopher seemed to appear to Synesius in the Night and to say to him Come to my Sepulchre where I lie and take the Bill for I have received the Debts and am satisfied and for thy assurance I have written a discharge with my own hand The Bishop told Evagrius his Sons what he had seen though he knew nothing of the Bill put into his hand whereupon they all go to the Sepulchre and opening it found the Bill in the Dead mans hand thus subscribed Ego Evagrius c. in English I Evagrius the Philosopher To the Holy Bishop Synâ—â—â—us Greeting I have received the Debt which in this Paper is written with thy hand and am satisfied neither have I any Action against thâ—e for the Gold that I gave thee and by thee to Christ our Saviour They that saw the thing admired and glorified God who gave such wonderful Evidences of his fulfilling his Promises to his Servants And saith Leontius this Bill thus subscribed by the Philosopher is kept at Cyrene most carefully in the Church to this day to be seen of as many as desire it And though saith Mr. Baxter we have a sure word of Promise sufficient to build our hope upon yet I thought it not wholly unprofitable to cite this History from so credible Antiquity that the Works of God may be had in remembrance Baxter Crucifying the World Preface III. Câ—â—sar Baronius tells that there was an entire Friendship between Michael Mercatus the Elder and Marsilius Ficinus and this Friendship was the stronger between them by reason of a mutual agreement in their studies It happened that these two discoursed together usually of the State of man after Death and when they could not agree in some particulars they concluded with this firm agreement That which soever of