them a great reward and presently brake all the vessels in pieces and being asked the reason of it he answered Because knowing that I am soon angry I may prevent being angry with those that might hereafter break them Eras. Lib. 5. Adag Alexander Magnus being of a cholerick disposition obscured three of his greatest victories with the death of three of his friends causing Lysimachus to be cast to a Lion Clitus to be slaine with a speare and Calisthenes to be put to death Theat vitae hum King Perses being overcome by Paulus AEmilius grew into such a passion that he slew two of his Nobles which came to comfort him which so provoked the rest that they all forsooke him Theat vitae hum L. Sylla who in his anger had spilt the blood of many at last in his fury raging and crying out against one that had broken promise with him thereby brake a veine within him vomiting out his blood soul and anger together Val. Max. lib. 9. Amilcar the Carthaginian did so extreamly hate the Romanes that having four sons he used to say that he bred up those foure Lions whelps for the destruction of the Romane Empire Probus in vita Semiramis as she was dressing her head newes being brought that Babylon rebelled against her she was so incensed that in that habit her haire halfe tied up and half hanging loose she hastened to reduce it and never dressed up her head till she had subdued that great City Polyb. Tomyris Queen of Scythia having overcome and taken Cyrus King of Persia caused his head to be cut off and thrown into a bowle of blood bidding him to drink his fill for that he had so much thirsted after blood and had slaine her sonne in the Warres Val. Max. Lysander the Lacedemonian was noted to be of such an implacable disposition tbat nothing could appease his malice but the death of the person with whom he was angry whereupon it grew to a proverb That Greece could not bear two Lysanders Pez Mel. Hist. Alexander M in a drunken feast that he made after his conquest of Persia began to boast of his great victories and atchievments to the distaste of his own Captaines insomuch as one of them called Clitus speaking to another said He boasts of those victories which were purchased with other mens blood Alexander suspecting that he spake against him asked what he said and when all were silent Clitus spake of the great victories which Philip his father had gotten in Greece preferring them before these which so incensed Alexander that he bade him be gone out of his presence and when Clitus hastened not but multiplied words the King rose up in a great fury and snatching a lance out of his Squires hand therewith he thrust Clitus thorow and killed him This Clitus had formerly saved the Kings life in the battel against Darius He was an old souldier of King Philips and had performed many excellent exploits Besides his mother had nursed Alexander and he was brought up with him as his foster-brother So that Alexander when the heat of his anger was over was so enraged against himselfe for this murther that he was about with the same lance to have murthered himself if he had not been violently restrained by his servants Q. Cur. Caius Caligula was of a most malicious disposition for which end he kept two books which he called his sword and dagger wherein he wrote the names of all such as he had appointed to death He had such a chest of all sorts of the most exquisite poisons that when afterwards it was thrown into the sea by his successor Claudius it poisoned a great multitude of fishes Sueto Amilcar the Carthaginian at what time he did sacrifice being ready to take his journey into Spaine called his young son Hannibal being then but nine years old and caused him to lay his hand upon the Altar and to sweare that being come to mans estate he should pursue the Romanes with immortal hatred and work them all the mischief that possibly he could Sir W. Raw. King Edward the first of England going against Bruce King of Scotland caused his eldest sonne and all his Nobles to swear that if he died in his journey they should carry his corps about Scotland with them and not suffer it to be interred till they had vanquished the Scots and subdued the whole Kingdom Sed ira mortalium debet esse mortalis saith Lactantius Darius being offended with the Athenians for assisting his enemies he called for a bowe wherewith he shot up an arrow towards heaven saying O Jupiter grant that I may be revenged upon the Athenians He appointed also one of his servants every night when he was at supper to say to him Here memento Atheniensium Master remember the Athenians Pez Mel. Hist. Camillus a Noble Romane after many great services done for the Common-wealth was at the instigation of a wicked detractor condemned by the common people to pay a greater summe of money then he was able But he scorning such an open shame resolved to go into voluntary exile and so taking leave of his wife children and friends he went out of the City-gate but then turning again and lifting up his hands towards the Capitol he said O ye gods if it be of spite and malice that the common people thus drive me away then let them have quickly cause to repent and stand in need of me Put. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart Leviticus 19. 17. Cursed be their anger for it was fierce and their wrath for it was cruel Gen. 49. 7. CHAP. XIX Examples of Patience Moderation and Meeknesse SOme of the Heathens have attained to a great eminencie in this vertue of Patience but Christians are to adde it to the number of their graces 2 Pet. 1. 6. And indeed it is that that gives a great lustre to all the rest Humility is the root whence it springs and the fruit of it is both amiable and profitable It puts and keeps a man in possession of his soul Luk. 21. 19. It makes all burthens light and is much improved by exercise Rom. 5. 3. Moses his meeknesse and Jobs patience are exemplary and so held forth in the Scripture And these which follow also may be useful to quicken us to an earnest pursuit after this so excellent a vertue Commanded Luke 21. 19. Col. 1. 11. Rom 12. 12. 1 Thes. 5. 14. Jam. 5. 7 8. c. 1 Tim. 6. 11. Heb. 10. 36. 12. 1. 2 Pet. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 20. Mat. 11. 29. Commanded Eccles. 7. 8. 2 Cor. 6. 4. 12. 12. 1 Tim. 3. 3. 2 Tim. 2. 24. 2 Thes. 1 4. Tit. 2. 2. Heb. 6. 12. Jam. 1 3 4. Rev. 2. 2 3 19 13. 10. 14. 12. Psal. 22. 26. 25. 9. 37. 11. 76. 9. 147. 6. 149 4. Isa. 29. 19. Mat. 5. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 4. Scriptural examples Paul 2 Cor. 6. 4. Moses Num. 12. 3.
second having raised a great Army against the French as he was going out of Rome with it he took his keys and threw them into the River Tibur saying That for as much as the keys of Saint Peter would not serve him to his purpose he would be take himselfe to the sword of Saint Paul Of which Pope it is observed that partly by warre partly by cursings he was the cause of the death of two hundred thousand Christians in the space of seven yeares Act. Mon. Pope Nicolas the first prohibited marriage to the Clergy saying That it was more honest to have to do with many women privately then openly to take one wife Insomuch that a Priest of Placâ—ntia being accused to have a wife and children was deprived of his benefice but proving the same woman to be wife to another man and but his Concubine he was restored againe Iohn the twenty fourth was accused before the Councel of Constance for heresie Simony murther poisonings cousenings Adulteries and Sodomy which being proved against him he was deposed and imprisoned whereupon through vexation and griefe he ended his wretched life A certain Cardinal in Rome much blamed a Painter for colouring the visages of Peter Paul too red to whom he tartly replied That he painted them so as blushing at the lives of those who stiled themselves their successors Pope Honorius the second sent one Iohn Cremensis his Legate into England to disswade the Clergy from marriage who having called a Convocation the Legate made a very accurate speech in the praise of a single life and how fit it was that Ministers should live sequestred from the cares of the world but the night following he himselfe was taken in the very act of adultery Mat. Paris Pope Iulius called for his Pork flesh which was forbidden him by his Physicians and said that he would have it Al despito de Dio in dispite of God And having appointed a cold Peacock to be reserved for him when he missed it the next meale he grew into a great rage and being requested not to be so angry for such a trifle he answered That if God was so angry for an Apple why might not he be as angry for his Peacock Act. Mon. Doctor Cranmer with the Earle of Wiltshire and some others being sent by King Henry the eighth to the Pope about his divorce from Queen Katherin when the day of hearing was come and the Pope sitting in his Pontificalibus put forth his foot to be kissed of the Ambassadors an unmannerly Spaniell of the Earles ran and caught his great Toe in his teeth so that the Ambassadors disdaining to kisse where the Dog had taken an assay let the Pope draw back his foot and so they lost the espicial favour offered unto them Speed Chron. 10. 12. Pope Paul the third when his sonne Farnesis had committed an unspeakable violence on the body of Cosmus Chaerius Bishop of Fanum and then poisoned him held himselfe sufficiently excused that he could say Haec vitia me non commonstratore didicit He never learned this of me Pope Pius Quintus spake thus of himselfe Cùm essem Religiosus sperabam bene de salute animae meae Cardinalis factus extimui Pontifex creatus penè despero When I was first in orders without any other Ecclesiastical dignity I had some good hope of my salvation when I became a Cardinal I had lesse since I was made a Pope least of all Corn. è Lapi Before the Pope is set in his chair and puts on his tripple Crown a piece of Towe or Wadd of straw is set on fire before him and one is appointed to say Sic transit gloria munda The glory of the world is but a blaze Also one day in the yeare the Popes Almoner rides before him casting abroad to the poor some pieces of brasse and lead profanely abusing that Scripture saying Silver and Gold have I none but such as I have I give unto you Pope Adrian the sixth having built a faire Colledge at Lovain caused this inscription to be written upon the gates thereof in letters of Gold Trajectum plantavit Lovanium rigavit Caesar dedit incrementum Utrecht planted me there he was born Lovaine watered me there he was bred up in learning and Caefar gave the encrease for the Emperour had preferred him One to meet with his folly and forgetfulnesse wrote underneath Hic Deus nihil fecit Here God did nothing The Popes have a book called Taxa Camerae Apostolicae wherein men may know the rate of any sinne upon what termes a man may keep a whore be a Sodomite murther his father c. When the Emperour Henry the seventh having pacified Germany went into Italy to reforme the many and great abuses there A certain Monk to gratifie the Pope mixed poison with the bread of the Eucharist and gave it him whereof he died Simps Ec. Hist. King John of England having broken with the Pope was afterwards no good friend to him and his clergy especially to their loose and licentious lives whereupon as the King in his progresse rested himself for two dayes at Swinstead-Abby not far from Lincolne a Monk of that house went to his Abbat and told him that he had a purpose to poison the King saying It 's better that one man should die then that all the people should perish The Abbat wept for joy and absolved the Monk from all his sinnes Then did this varlot mixe the poison of a filthy toade with a cup of excellent wine and brought it to the King saying My Liege here is such a cup of wine as you never drank a better in all your life I trust this wassail shall make all England glad and therewithal began a good draught to him and the King pledging him shortly after died Anno Christi 1605. when the powder-plot was in agitation Catesby one of the Plotters repaired to Garnet a Popish Priest with this case of conscience Whether it was lawful in some cases to destroy the innocent with the wicked This good father so soon as he perceived the conspirators to be in good earnest peremptorily resolved that without all doubt it was when the good coming by it might make compensation for the losse of their lives Pope John the twenty third calling a Councel at Rome against the godly Christians in Bohemia when the Councel was set the Masse of the holy Ghost sung and the Pope placed in his chair there came flying in amongst them an ugly Owle with an ill-fauoured hooting and set her self upon a crosse beam just over against the Pope casting her staring eyes upon him whereupon the whole company began to marvel and whispering each to other said Behold the Spirit is come in the likenesse of an Owle The Pope himself blushed at the matter and began to sweat fret and fume and so being in great distraction dissolved the Councel for the present yet afterwards calling another Sessions when they were met in
he would take them by the hand and tell them that perhaps his wife which sate in a roome by could perswade them more effectually unto whom he would lead them When they approached the Image would rise up open her armes and imbrace them which armes and her breasts also were full of sharpe â—ron nailes wherewith she griped the poore wretch till she had killed him and then the Tyrant seised on his goods Philip King of Spaine out of an unnaturall and bloody zeale suffered his eldest son Charles to be murthered by the cruell Inquisition because he favoured the Protestants Religion which when the Pope heard of he abused that Scripture He spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us Act. and Mon. Mahomet the great a most cruell and mercilesse Tyrant is said in his life-time to have been the cause of the death of eight hundred thousand men Turk Hist. Fernesius as he was going out of Italy towards Germany made this feral and bloody boast That he would make his horse swim in the blood of the German Lutherans A Frier Augustine of Antwerp openly in the Pulpit whilst he was preaching to the people wished that Luther was there that he might bite out his throat with his teeth and said that so doing he would nothing doubt to resort to the Altar with the same bloody teeth and receive the body of Christ. Eras. Epist. Tarquinius Superbius entering the Senate-house in Rome in royall Ornaments laid claime to the Kingdome but was opposed by his father-in-Law Servius whereupon he wounded him and forced him to depart which Tullia Tarquins wife hearing of came to the Senate-house and saluted her husband King causing him to send some after her father Servius who killed him leaving his body in so narrow a street that when Tullia returned that way the Charioter stayed lest he should drive over the the corps but she threw the seat of the Chariot at his head and forced him to drive over her fathers body since which time that street hath been called the wicked street Dioâ— Solyman the great Turk having obtained a victory against the Germans finding amongst the Captives a Bavarian Souldier of an exceeding high stature delivered him to a little dwarfe to be slaine whose head was scarce so high as the others knees that goodly tall man was mangled about the legs a long time by the apâ—sh dwarf with his little Scimeter till falling down with many feeble blowes he was at length slaine the Prince beholding it with great sport Turk Hist. p. â—09 The Spaniards when they had taken Heidelberg in the Palatinate took an ancient Minister a man of God called Monsieur Mileus and having abused his daughter before his face they tied a small cord about his head which with their truncheons they twisted about till they had squeezed out his braines Looking-glasse of the holy war In the reign of Saint Edward King of England two Earles that were brethren Harrould and Tosto fell out in the Kings Court at Windsor from words falling to blowes and Tosto having the worst secretly hied him to the Marches of Wales to his brother Harroulds house which was then in preparing to entertaine the King where he slew all his brothers servants and cutting them peece meale into gobbets salted some of their limbs and cast the rest into vessels of Meath and wine sending his brother word that he had furnished him with poudered meats against the Kings coming thither but this barbarous act caused his name to be so odious amongst his Northumbrians where he was Earle that at last it was repayed with his own death Speeds Chron. pag. 402. A rich Merchant in Paris jesting at the Franciscan Fiers was by their meanes apprehended accused and condemned to be hanged but he thinking to save his life made a publick and solemne recantation which when the Friers were informed of they commended him saying That if he so continued he should undoubtedly be saved and withall called upon the officers to haste him to the Gallows to hang him whilest he was in so good a minde which was accordingly done Act. Mon. In the persecution of the Saints of God in Calabria Anno 1560. fourscore godly persons being all thrust up in one house together like sheep for the slaughter the executioner comes in and taking forth one blindefolds him with a mufler about his eyes and so leades him forth to a large place where coâ—…ding him to kneele down he cuts his threat and so leaving him halfe dead and taking his Butchers knife and mufler all goare blood comes back to the râ—â—t and so leading them forth one after another he dispatched them all All the elder went to the slaughter more cheerfully the younger more timerously I tremble and quake saith a Romane Catholick out of whose letter to his Lord this is transcribed even to remember how the executioner held his bloody knife between his teeth with the bloody mufler in his hand and his armes all goare blood up to the elbowes going to the fold and taking every one of them one after another by the hand and so dispatching them all no otherwise then a Butcher doth his Calves or Sheep In the Spanish Inquisition if any Protestant be secretly conveyed into it they bring him not unto a legal trial but make him away secretly For as Hoffeus the Jesuite was wont to brag they hold it a good peece of Piety instantly to condemne him to the fire Ut anima ejus in curru igneo ad inferos trahatur that his soul might forthwith be carried to hell in a fiery Chariot The poore Spaniards are kept in such aw by the Lords Inquisitors that one of those Inquisitors desiring to eat some peares that grew in a poor mans Orchard not farre from him sent for the man to come and speak with him This message put the poore man into such a fright that he fell sick and kept his bed But being informed that his peares were the cause of his sending for he caused his tree to be cut down and withall the peares on it to be sent to the Inquisitor and being afterwards by him demanded the reason of that unhusbandly action he protested that he would not keep that thing about him which should give an occasion to aâ—…f their Lordships to send for him any more The Numantines being assaulted by the Romanes made solemne vowes amongst themselves no day to break their fast but with the flesh of a Romane nor to drink before they had tasted the blood of an enemy Guevara Ep. In the Massacre of Paris which was the most abhorred prodigious villainy that ever the Sunne saw till the late Irish rebellion there were murthered in divers places of France threescore thousand Protestants so that the streets ran with blood and Rivers were died red with the same Besides there were three hundred faithful servants of Christ burnt to ashes in that Kingdom within lesse then five yeares space and in their late
18. 7 12. Without it repentance is not accepted Num. 5. 6 7. Scriptural examples Josephs brethren Gen. 43. 12. 44. 8. Micha Iugdes 17. 3. David 2 Sam. 9. 7. Benhadad 1 King 20. 34. Jehoram 2 King 8 6. Iewish Nobles Neh. 5. 12. Cyrus Ezra 1. 7 8. Darius Ezra 6. 5. Judas Mat. 27. 3. Samuel proffered it 1 Sam. 12. 3. Zacheus Luk. 19. 8. King of Israel 2 King 8. 6. Examples of restitution When Selymus the great Turke lay upon his death-bed being moved by Pyrrhus his great Bashaw to bestow that abundance of wealth which he had taken wrongfully from the Persian Merchants upon some notable Hospitall for relief of the poore he commanded it rather to be restored to the right owners which was forthwith effected Turk Hist. p. 561. King Henry the third of England who was a great oppressor of his Subjects in their liberties and estates having upon a time sent a load of Freese to the Friars Minors to clothe them they returned back the same with this message That he ought not to give almes of that that he had rent from the poor neither would they accept of that abominable gift Dan. Chron. Pliny an Heathen tells us that the poore are not to be fed like the Whelps of wilde beasts with blood and murther rapine and spoile but that which is most acceptable to the receivers they should know that that which is given unto them is not taken from any body else In Cant. Ser. 71. Bernard saith that God receives not any Almes at the hands of an oppressor or Usurer In Ca. Ezek. 18. Hierome saith that no man should turne bread gotten by oppression and usury into a work of mercy Augustine saith that when God shall judge those that live now by fraud and give almes of the spoiles of the oppressed he will say unto them You tell me what you have given but you tell me not what you have taken away You recount whom you have fed but remember not whom you have undone They rejoyce whom you have clothed but they lament whom you have spoiled Tom. 10. Hom. 47. Augustine in another place saith Non remittitur peccatum nisi restituatur ablatum Sinne is not forgiven till the thing taken away be restored Quest. Is restitution so absolutely necessary Answ. Yea quoad affectum though not quoad effectum If we are not able If there be a willing minde it is accepted c. 2 Cor. 8. 12. God accepts of that quod quisquam verè voluit tametsi adimplere non valuit which a man faithfully would do though he cannot CHAP. L. Law Law-givers MOses was the Law-giver to the Israelites Num. 21. 18. Deut. 33. 21. Amongst the Lacedemonians Law-suites were not heard of because amongst them there was neither covetousnesse nor poverty but equality with abundance and a quiet life with sobriety Plut. Lycurgus was the Law-giver to the Lacedemonians and to gaine more credit to his Lawes he went to Delphos to the Oracle of Apollo to consult therewith about the successe of his enterprize Plut. He would have none of his Lawes written but commanded parents by the virtuous education of their children and youth to implant them in their hearts and lives Plut. When by experience he saw his Lawes well approved of and the Common-wealth to flourish under them he had a great desire to make them immortal for which end he assembled all the people together and told them that he thought his civil Policy was already sufficiently established to make them happy yet one thing of the greatest importance was still behinde which he could not reveale till he had first consulted with the Oracle of Apollo and in the meane time he desired them to observe his Laws inviolably without altering any thing untill his returne this they all promised him faithfully yet for the greater security he took an oath of the Kings Senators and all the people to make good their promise to him and so went to Delphos where he sacrificed to Apollo and asked him if his Lawes were sufficient to make a people happy the Oracle answered that they were and that his Citizens observing them should be the most renowned in all the world This answer Lycurgus wrote and sent to Sparta and then taking his leave of his sonne and friends he pined himself tò death commanding his friends to burne his body and to throw his ashes into the sea lest any part of him being carried into Sparta his Citizens should say that he was returned again and so think themselves absolved from their oath According to his expectation whilest Lacedemon observed his Lawes it flourished in wonderful prosperity and honour for five hundred yeeres together till King Agis his time in whose reigne gold and silver began to be in request and so pride covetousnesse and curiosity crept in which by degrees wrought their ruine Plut. Numa Pompilius the first Law-giver amongst the Romanes gave out that he conversed in the woods with the goodesse Egeria that so he might procure the greater esteeme to himself and to the Lawes which he enacted Plut. Solon the Law-giver to the Athenians collecting and writing down many excellent Lawes Anacharsis a very wise man laughed at him saying Thinkest thou by written Lawes to bridle the covetousnesse and injustice of men Knowest thou not that Lawes are like cobwebs that catch little flies but the rich and mighty will break through them at their pleasure Plut. Draco that first gave Lawes to the Athenians punished idlenesse and almost all offences with death whence his Lawes were said to be written in blood But when Solon reformed them he made them more milde and moderate Plut. CHAP. LI. Tyrants Tyranny THey shall not live out half their dayes Ps. 55. 25. Forbidden Lev. 25. 43 46 53. Scriptural Examples Adonibezeck Jud. 1. Abimelech Jud. 9. Athaliah 2 King 11. Jezebel 1 King 21. Manahem 2 King 15. Saul 1 Sam. 22. Ahaz 2 King 17. Manasseh 2 Chron. 22. Nebuchadnezzar Jer. 39. Herod Mat. 2. Pharaoh Exod. 1. Ishmael Ier. 41. Pilate Luk. 13. 1. See in Reproofe the examples of Cambyses Darius going to warre against the Scythians would take along with him the three sons of Deobaces one of his Noble men that was very old whereupon Deobaces requested him to leave one of his sonnes at home to be a solace to his old age Yea said Darius I will leave them all three and so he caused them to be all slaine and thrown into their fathers presence Pez Mel Hist. The Lacedemonians having in divers battels by sea and land overthrown the Athenians they at last set thirty Tyrants over them which exercised extreme cruelty towards them The honest Citizens whom they either feared or hated or that excelled in wealth they either banished or slew them and Teized upon their estates Whereupon one of them somewhat better then the rest called Theramenes spake against this cruelty which caused another called Critias to accuse him of treason and so to
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
them for succour they sent some to meet him to charge him that he should not come neere their coasts for that they had made a decree that no King should come into Athens Plut. Justin. Caius Caligula the Romane Emperour was of such an inconstant nature that none knew how to carry themselves towards him Sometimes he delighted in multitude of society other sometimes in solitarinesse Sometimes he used to be angry when any thing was begged of him other times because nothing Many wicked men he suffered to go unpunished when in the meane time he was extreme cruel to the good and innocent To his enemies he would be merciful and to his friends inexorable c. Sueto Ratholdus Captaine of the Frisons being converted to the knowledge of the truth by the Ministery of Wolfranius Bistop of Seanes was contented to be baptized by him But when he had one foot in the Font He asked the Bishop where his ancestors were whether in heaven or hell the Bishop answered that no doubt they were in hell for that none of them had the knowledge of Christ Hereupon Wolfranius pulled his foot out of the Font saying I also will then go to hell where my predecessors are choosing rather to be in that place where are most then where are fewest Fulgos. Tertullian who had been famous both for his life and learning and had written many things excellently in defence of the truth At the last being disgraced by some of the Romane Clergy took such offence at it that he forsook the truth and imbraced the Heresie of Montanus and wrote against the truth See his life in my first Part. See the example of Pendleton in my English Martyrology And of Doctor Perne Pausanias King of the Lacedemonians fought many succesful battels in Asia against Xerxes yet at last through inconstancy degenerated into the Asian luxury and proffered to deliver up the government of Sparta into Xerxes his hands if he would give him his daughter in marriage Val. Max. M. Otho the Emperour in his younger dayes was given to all manner of loosenesse and licentiousnesse But when he was made Governour of Lusitania he ruled it with admirable justice which made all men to wonder at him But afterwards being chosen Emperour he returned to his former debauchery yet before his death reformed it again Fulgos. Seneca that wrote so excellently in the commendation of moral virtues yet himself allowed his Scholar Nero to commit incest with his own mother Agrippina And when he wrote against Tyranny himselfe was Schoolmaster to a Tyrant And when he reproved others for frequenting the Emperours Court himself was scarce ever out of it And when he reproached flatterers himself practised it in a shameful manner towards the Queens and Freedmen whilst he inveighed against riches and rich men he heaped together infinite riches by usury and unjust dealings And whilst he condemned Luxury in others himself had five hundred costly chaires made of Cedar their feet of Ivory and all other things answerable Xiphil in vita Neromis CHAP. LIX Examples of such as have been hard Students SOcrates used to stand many times plodding upon points of Philosophy in the same posture of body for divers houres together being all that while unsensible of any thing that was done about him Chrysippus was sometimes so transported at his study that he had perished with hunger if his maide had not thrust meat into his mouth Alphonsus King of Spaine and Naples was wont to bewaile the case of Kings for that hearing with other mens eares they could seldome heare the truth and therefore he held himselfe happy in his Muti Magistri his Books especially his Bible which he read over fourteen times with Lyra's and other mens notes upon the Text. Archimedes a famous Mathematician of Syracuse in the Isle of Sicily when the City was besieged by the Romanes by his rare Engins annoyed the Romanes more then all the men in the City yet at last through treachery the Romanes entred and Archimedes being drawing Mathematical Figures in his study heard not the noise yea his study was broken open by a rude souldier yet he heeded it not so that the souldier thinking that he slighted him ran him through with his sword This Archimedes was he that said If you would give him a place whereon to fix it he could make an Engin that would remove the whole earth Theodosius the Emperour wrote out the whole New Testament with his own hand accounted it a great Jewell and read part of it every day Henry the first King of England was bread up in learning and such a prizer of it that he often said that he esteemed an unlearned King but as a crowned Asse Speed Themistocles from his child-hood much affected learning and was so studious that when his fellows were at play he would never be idle but was alwayes either making or conning Orations either to defend or accuse some of his companions which his Master observing used to say That he was borne either to do some great good or some extreme mischief to the Common-wealth Plut. Alexander the Great was by his father Philip placed under Aristotle to be brought up in learning who carefully instructed him in most of the liberal sciences in the study whereof Alexander took such delight that he used to say that he had rather have knowledge then to excell in power He so prized Homers Iliads that during all his Wars he alwayes carried it in his pocket and laid it under his pillow anights He loved his Master Aristotle as if he had been his father and used to say that as we have our being from our Parents so we have our well being from our School-masters Just. Q. Curtius Solon a very wise man and great Scholar amongst the Athenians used to say I grow old learning still Plut. Vespasian the Romane Emperour was a great friend to learning and learned men giving them large pensions out of his Exchequer besides other favours and notable rewards â—mp Hist. Nicostratus the Athenian Painrer standing with admiration whilst he beheld the picture of Helena drawn by Zeuxis one asked him the cause of his wondring To whom he answered Friend if you had mine eyes you would not have asked me this question but rather have admired it as I do Plin. Endymion was so affected with the study of Astronomy that he spent whole nights upon rocks and mountaines in contemplating the motions of the stars whence the Poets feigned that the Moon was in love with c. Atlas the Lybian was so delighted with observing the motions of the heavens that leaving the society of men he went and lived upon the highest mountaine of Affrica whence that mountaine was called by his name and for his singular knowledge in Astronomy the Poets feigned that he bore up the heavens with his shoulders The Indian Gymnosophists used to stand upon the hot sands from the rising to the setting of the Sunne sometimes upon one leg
Earth-quake wherewith the people were so affrighted that many of them forsook their houses and some houses were so shaken that the Chimnies fell down In January Anno Christi 1648. there was seen a great fiery meteor in the air near Bristow on the South-side of the City for divers nights together in form long with fiery streames shooting out East and West which was the week before the beheading of the late King eye-witnesse Also the day before he was beheaded a great Whale ran himself on shore three miles from Dover where he died He was 66 foot long A thing rarely seen in this Island November the 30th Anno Christi 1650. being St. Andrews day a little before or about Sun-rising the skie opened in a fearful manner in the Southwest over Standish a Town five miles from Gloucester and there appeared a terrible fearful fiery shaking sword with the hilt upwards towards the heavens the point downwards towards the earth the hilt seemed to be blue the Sword was of a great length shaking hither and thither and comming lower towards the earth There was a long flame of fire towards the point sparkling and flaming in a fearful manner to the great astonishment of the Spectators who were many At last the heaven closing the Sword vanished and the fire fell to the earth and ran upon the ground This I had from an eye-witnesse In June Anno Christi 1653. a black cloud was seen over the Town of Pool which a while after was dissolved into a showr of blood that fell warm upon mens hands some green leaves with those drops of blood upon them were sent up to London A little before the Civil broiles between the houses of York and Lancaster wherewith England for a long time was rent in pieces the River Ouse in Bedfordshire stood still and by reason that the waters gave back on both sides men might passe on foot in the very chanel for three miles together not without the astonishment of all that saw it who took it as a presage of the divisions ensuing Camb. Brit. p. 399. Not long before the contention between Galba Otho and Vitellius about the Roman Empire there appeared three Suns as it were pointing out that tripatite contention for the Imperial Diadem April the 7th Anno Christi 1233. there appeared here in England four Suns besides the natural Sun and presently afrer fell out the great contention between our King Henry the third and his Barons and the year after England was wasted with fire snd sword from Wales to Salisbury there ensued also a great drought and Pestilence Stow. Anno Christi 1460. three Suns appeared the very day before the three Earles viz. Edward Earl of March with the Earl of Pembrook and the Earl of Wiltshire fought that great battel in Wales at Mortimer's Crosse where the Earl of March put the other two to flight and slew many of their men Idem Anno Christi 1233. a little before the Warres brake forth between King Henry the third and his Barons there appeared in April in Hereford and VVorcestershire five Suns at once and a certain great circle of a Crystal colour of about two foot in breadth as it were compassing all England Matth. Paris CHAP. XCI Remuneration Retaliation Requital COmmanded sometime by God Gen 9. 6. Exod. 21. 23 c. Lev. 24. 19 c. Matth. 5. 38. Psal. 137. 8. Jer. 50. 15. Rev. 18. 6. Thus God threatens to the enemies of his Church Jer. 30. 16. 48. 26 27. 49. 2. Rev. 13. 10. Jer. 51. 49. Ezek. 35. 5 6. 39. 30. Hab. 2. 8. Joel 3. 6 7 8. 1 Thess. 1. 6. To those that sin in his Church Pit for pit Psal. 7. 15 16. Idolatry for Idolatry Jer. 5. 19. Spoil for spoil Isa. 33. 1. Prov 22. 23. Treachery for treachery Isa. 33. 1. Harlots hire for harlots hire Mich. 1. 7. Not to hear shall not be heard Prov. 1. 28. Zach. 7. 13. Altars for sin with Altars to sin Hos. 8. 11. they that judge shall be judged Matth. 7. 2. Scriptural Examples Pharaoh drowned others and was drowned himself Exod. 1. 22. with 14. 27. 30. Abimelech and the Sechemites Judg. 9. 24 56 57. Adonibezek Judg. 1. 7. Levites Concubine Judg. 19. 2 25. Ahab and Jesabel 1 King 21. 19. with 22. 34 38. 18. 13. 22. 23. 2 King 9. 33 36 37. Kings which were traytors and slew others were slain themselves 2 King 15. 10 14 23 25 30. Agag 1 Sam. 15. 33. Joab 1 King 2. 32. Daniel's enemies Dan. 6. 7 12 15 24. Other Examples Orodes King of Parthia who had overcome and slain Crassus the Roman Consul in his old age fell desperately sick for grief at the losse of his son Pacones slain by Venticius yet his younger son Phraates had not patience to expect his death but gave him poison to accelerate it But behold Gods providence the poison proving a strong purge wrought out not onely it self but the disease too so that Orodes recovered beyond expectation which Phraates seeing strangled him and to settle him the surer in his Kingdome obtained by Parricide he entred into league with the Romans sending back the Ensigns of Crassus and other Presents the Romans to requite him sent him great gifts and amongst the rest a beautiful Italian strumpet by whom he had a son which being grown up by the advice and help of his mother poisoned his father to get his Crown Tulit quae meruit et quae docuit Lipsius Mithridates King of Pontus to get the Crown slew his mother brother and her three sons and as many daughters but in his old age his own son Phanacus slow him for the same cause Lipsius Ptolemaeus one of Alexander's Successours expelling Antigonus seizeth upon Macedonia makes peace with Antiochus enters into league and affinity with Pyrrhus now all things were sure but onelyfor his sister Arsinoe and her sons who had been married to Lysimachus King of Macedonia therefore intending to entrap her he sent Ambassadours to her pretending love promising to marry her to make her partner with him in the Kingdom and her sons his heires protesting that he took up armes for no other end proffering to swear upon the holy Altars when and where she pleased that all this was in good faith The poor Lady deceived hereby sent some of her friends to take his oath before whom he went into the most ancient Temple and there touching the gods and the Altar swears That he sincerely purposed to marry her to make her his Queen and her children his heires otherwise he prayes for vengeance upon himself c. Upon this Arsinoe comes to him is married and crowned Queen of Macedonia then she delivers up to him Cassandrea a most strong City where her children and all her treasures were he having now his desire sends men that slew her children in their mothers lap and drave her into exile but God suffered not this wickednesse to go long unrevenged
had wont to be called the best stable of woodden Horses because of their potency in shipping though now the English have out-shot them in their own Bowe England was wont to be accounted the Popes Pack-horse for indeed she seldome rested in the stable when any work was to be done The Italians are said to be wise before-hand The Germans in the action and the French after it is done Mr. Aschâ—m thanks God that he was but nine daies in Italy where in one City Venice he saw more liberty co sin then in London he ever heard of in nine years Preface to his School The Neaepolitane Gentry are observed to stand so much upon the puntilio's of their honour that they prefer robbery before industry and will rather suffer their daughter to make merchandise of her chastity then marry the richest Merchant Sr. W. Segar in his honors The earth in Italy yields five harvests in a year 1. In June that of Silks 2. In July of divers Fruits 3. In August that of Corn which afterwards they sowe with Millio Rice Turkey Wheat or the like grain and within two moneths have another Crop 4. In September that of their Wines 5. In October that of Oyl Englands Priviledges The first Christian King that ever was in the world was Lucius King of the Britans that built Peter's Church in Cornhill London The first Christian Emperour that was in the world was Constantine the Great born in England of Helena an English woman The first King that shook off subjection to Antichrist was our King Henry the eighth And the first Christian King that ever wrote that the Pope was Antichrist was our King James CHAP. CII Examples of the wonders of Gods works in Nature IN Cornwal near unto a place called Pen sans is that famous stone called Main-Amber which is a great Rock advanced upon some other of meaner size with so equal a counterpoize that a man may stir it with the push of his finger but to remove it quite out of his place a great number of men are not able Camb. Brit. p. 188. The like is in the Countrey of Stratherne in Scotland In the year 1581. in the Countie of Essex an Army of Mice so overran the Marshes in Dengey hundred near unto South-minster that they shore the grasse to the very roots and so tainted the same with their venemous teeth that a great murrain fell upon the Cattel which grased thereon Speeds Essex In the year 1555. when by reason of unseasonable weather there was a great Dearth in the Land there sprang up upon the Rocks without tillage or sowing in the Countie of Essex betwixt Orford and Adlebrough such a Crop of pease that in August there was gathered above an hundred Quarters and in blossoming there remained as many more where never grasse grew nor earth was ever seen but hard solid Rock for three yards deep under their Roots Speed in Suffolk In the Countie of Devon not far from Lidford the river Lid at a Bridge is gathered into a strait and pent in between rocks whereon it runneth down amaine and the ground daily waxing more and more deep his water is not seen onely a roaring noise is heard to the great wonder of those that pass by Camb. Brit. p. 199. In Warwickshire at Neuenham Regis three fountains walme out of the ground strained through a veine of Allum the water whereof carrying the colour and taste of milk cureth the stone provoketh urine abundantly green wounds it quickly closeth up and healeth being drunk with salt it looseth and with sugar it bindeth the belly Camh. Brit. p. 562. In Summersetshire near unto Glastenbury in Wiral-Pâ—rk there is an Hawthorne tree which upon Christmas-day sprouteth forth as well as in May. Camb. Brit. p. 227. Also in the same Shire near unto Cainsham are found in Stone-quarries stones resembling Serpents winding round in manner of a wreath the head bearing up in the Circumference and the end of the taile taking up the centre within but most of them are headlesse Camb. Brit. p. 236. In Herefordshire a little beneath Richards Castle Nature who no where disporteth her self more in shewing wonders then in waters hath brought forth a pretty Well which is alwaies full of little fish bones although they be from time to time quite drawn out of it whence it 's called commonly Bone-well Camb. Brit. p. 619. In Gloucestershire upon the hills near Alderly are found certain stones resembling Cockles Periwinckles and Oisters which seem to be the garmsome works of Nature or such shells turned into stone Camb. Brit. p. 363. In Yorkshire about Whitby are found certain stones fashioned like Serpents foulded and wrapped round as in a wreath so that a man would verily think that they had been sometimes Serpents turned into stone Camb. Brit. p. 718. Also in the same County at Huntly Nabb there lie scattering here and there amongst the rocks stones of divers bignesse so Artificially by nature shaped round in manner of a Globe that one would take them to be big Bullets made by the Turners hand for shot to be discharged out of great Ordnance In which if you break them are found stony Serpents enwrapped round like a wreath but most of them are headlesse Camb. Brit. p. 721. In the County of Cornwal near unto St. Neots there are a number of good great rocks heaped up together and under them one stone of lesser size fashioned naturally in the form of a Cheese lying in presse whereupon it 's named Wring-cheese Camb. Brit. p. 192. In Yorkshire upon the Sea-shore by Sken-grave when the winds are laid and that upon still weather the Sea is most Calme and the water lies level and plain without any noise there is heard here many times on a sudden a great way off as it were an horrible and a fearful groaning which affrights the fishermen at those times from launching forth into the Sea Camb. Brit. p. 720. In Richmondshire amongst the ragged rocks are found stones like unto Periwinckles Cockles and other shell fish Camb. Brit. p. 727. In the County of Hereford a hill which they call Marcley-hill in the year 1571. as though it had wakened on a sudden out of a deep sleep roused it self up and for the space of three dayes together moving and shewing it self as mighty and huge an heape as it was with roaring noise in a fearful sort and overturning all things that stood in the way advanced it self foreward to the wondrous astonishment of the beholders Camb. Brit. p. 620. In Glamorganshire in a rock or cliffe by the Sea-side there appeareth a very little chink unto which if you lay your ear you shall hear a noise as if it were of Smiths at work one while the blowing of bellows another while the striking of the sledge and hammer sometimes the sound of the grindstone and iron tooles rubbing against it the hissing sparks also of steel gads within holes as they are beaten and the puffing
he merrily said Persides oculorum dolores esse That the Persian women were a disease of the eyes and yet he looked on them but on so many statues And understanding that two of his Captaines under Parmenio had ravished two of the Persian wives he wrote to him to enquire after the matter and if he found it true that he should cut of their heads as of beasts borne for the hurt of mankinde he also wrote him word that he himself was so farre from contemplating the beauty of Darius's wife that he would not so much as suffer her to be commended in his presence and that he was so careful of their chastity that they lived in his camp shut up in their tent as if they had been in a Temple Plut. Appius Claudius one of the Decemviri of Rome seeking to ravish a Virgin that was daughter to Virginius her father to preserve her chastity slew her and complaining to the souldiers whereupon that forme of Government was abolished Eutropius Pub. Scipio Africanus warring in Spain took New Carthage by storme at which time a beautiful and Noble Virgin fled to him for succour to preserve her chastity he being but twenty four years old and so in the heat of youth hearing of it would not suffer her to come into his sight for fear of a temptation but caused her to be restored in safety to her father Aure Victor Amongst the Lacedaemonians when any maid was to be married she was laid in the dark and the groom being neither drunk nor finelier apparrelled then ordinary after his moderate supper secretly went to the place where she lay and having untied her girdle and stayed a while with her stole away to the place where he used to lie amongst other young men and thus he continued and onely sometimes met with his wife in private till he had a childe by her after which they boldly met together in the day-time This was a means to preserve chastity and modesty amongst them Plut. Cassander sending some to murther Olympias the mother of Alexander M. she met them with an unappaled countenance and without once changing colour received the sword into her bosome and finding death to approach she sat down and covering her feet with her haire and her garments she took care that nothing unseemly should appear about her body after death Diod. Sic. Aurelian an Heathen Emperour was so careful to preserve the chastity of women that one of his souldiers being found guilty of lying with his hostesse he commanded that the heads of two young trees should be bowed down and the souldiers legs tied thereto which being suddenly let go tore him into two peeces Emme the mother to King Edward the Confessour being charged for incontinency with Aldwin Bishop of Winchester to clear her self from that imputation being hoodwinked went barefoot over nine-coulters red hot in Winchester Church withoutany harme an usual kinde of trial in those dayes then called Ordalium making her chastity by so great a miracle famous to posterity Cam. Brit. p. 211. In the time when the barbarous and bloody Danes raged here in England they coming to Coldingham a Nunnery on the hither part of Scotland Ebba the Prioresse with the rest of the Nunnes cut off their own noses and lips choosing rather to preserve their Virginity from the Danes then their beauty and favour and yet for all that the Danes burnt their Monastery and them with all in it Cam. Brit. Scot. p. 10. Our Henry the sixth was so chaste a Prince that when certain Ladies presented themselves before him in a Maske with their haire loose and their breasts uncovered he being then at mans estate and unmaried immediately rose up and departed the Presence saying Fie fie forsooth you are much too blame Sp. Chron. For this is the will of God even your sanctification that ye should abstain from Fornication that every one of you should know how to possesse his vessel in sanctification and honour 1 Thes. 4. 3 4. CHAP. XII Examples of Charity AS Husbandmen cast some of their Corne back into a fruitful soile whereby in due time they receive it back again with increase So should we do with worldly blessings sowe them in the bowels and on the backs of poor members of Christ and in the day of harvest we shall finde great increase Such laying out is a laying up our treasure in heaven Hereby we make to our selves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousnesse and though for the present it seem like bread cast upon the waters yet Solomon assures us That after many dayes we shall finde it again Eccses 11. 1. For we make God our debtour who is a sure paymaster Prov. 19. 17. Charity justifieth our faith as faith doth our persons James 2. 14 c. But yet we must look to our affections and ends in giving We must not draw forth our sheaves onely but our souls also Esay 58. 10. But on the contrary miserly muck-wormes are like the muckhill that never doth good till it be carried out like the earthen box that hath one chink to receive but never a one to let out and so doth no good till it be broken Or like the fat hog that yields no profit till he comes to the knife But that we may be the more quickened to that lovely grace of Charity observe these texts and examples following Directed Mat. 6. 1 c. 2 Cor. 9. 5 c. Rom. 12. 8. 1 Cor. 16. 2. Commanded Luk. 11. 41. 12. 33. Mica 6. 8. Zach. 7. 9. 1 Tim. 6. 18. Luk. 3. 11. 1 John 3. 17. Luke 6. 36. Lev. 25. 35. Nehem. 8. 10. Rom. 12. 13. Heb. 13 16. Commended Luk. 21. 4. 2 Cor. 8. 2 c. Psal. 12. 9. Mat. 5. 7. Psal. 41. 1. Phil. 4. 16. 1 Tim. 5. 10. It must be with compassion Job 30. 25. Isa. 58. 10. Col. 3. 12. Heartily 2 Cor. 9. 7. Considerately Psal. 37. 26. 112. 5. Willingly 1 Tim. 6. 18. Chearfully Rom 12. 8 2 Cor. 9. 7. Liberally 2 Cor. 9. 6. Psal. 112. 9. Prov. 11. 25. 22. 9. Eccles. 11. 1 2 6. Luk. 6. 38. Seasonably Prov. 3. 27 28. Impartially Prov. 25. 21 22. Rom. 12. 20. Not grudgingly Deut. 15. 10. 1 Pet. 4. 9. Prov. 21. 26. Scriptural Examples Christians Act. 2. 45. 4. 34. Women Luk. 8. 23. the poor widow Mar. 12. 42. Dorcas Act. 9. 36. Paul Act. 24. 17. Cornelius Act. 10. 2. Job Chap. 31. 16 21. Barnabas Act. 4. 36 37. Zacheus Luk. 19. 8. Phebe Rom. 16. 2. Hebrews Chap. 6. 10. Philemon Verse 5 7. the virtuous woman Prov. 31. 20. Obadia 1 King 18. 13. Onesiphorus 2 Tim. 1. 18. Saint Augustine was of so charirable a disposition that wanting of his own wherewith to do it he caused the ornaments of the Church to be sold and imployed the money for the redeeming of Captives and maintaining the poore Possid in vit Aug. chap. 24. Francis Russel second Earle of Bedford of
16. 19. the Jewes Jer. 6. 13. 8. 10. the young man Mat. 19. 22. the Pharisees Luke 16. 14. Nabal 1 Sam. 25. 11. the rich man Luke 16. 21 c. See some examples of the danger of covetousnesse in my first Part of the Marrow of Eccles. History Julius Caesar was of such a covetous disposition that making Warre in Spaine he picked quarrels with divers rich Cities that he might plunder them He brake also into the Temples of the gods and robbed them of their rich gifts which had been bestowed upon them In his first Consulship he robbed the Capitol of three thousand pound weight of gold In his own and Pompey's name he took six thousand Talents from Ptolemy King of Egypt Theat vitae hum Tiberius Caesar was so overcome by covetousnesse that when Cn. Lentulus a worthy Senatour had in his will declared him to be his heire he sent and killed him that so he might have present possession of his goods Also when Vonorais King of Parthia being expelled out of his Kingdome fled to him for refuge he seeing that he had brought a mighty masse of treasure with him killed him that so he might enjoy his riches Theat vitae hum C. Caligula the Emperour having by profusenesse and prodigality wasted the treasure of the Empire fell afterwards to sordid covetousnesse and rapine whereupon he forced many rich men to make tbeir wills and therein to declare him to be their heir and presently after used to poison them scoffing at them and saying that when men had once made their wills it was fit they should die Having by a tribute raised a mighty masse of money stripping himself naked he rolled himself upon it seeking thereby to satisfie his thirst after gold He sold also the servants and houshold-stuffe Jewels and ornaments of his sisters taking the price of them to himself Theat vitae hum Nero that monster of men when by his profusenesse and Luxury he had wasted the Imperial treasures fell to such covetousnesse that he imposed new tributes on his subjects Injuriously seized upon many rich mens estates and often put the owners to death Robbed many Temples and took away the gold and silver Images Theat vitae hum Sergius Galba to satisfie his covetousnesse imposed great fines upon divers Cities in Spaine and France Took away from the Image of Jupiter a crown of gold that weighed fifteen pound weight and having a plentiful supper set before him he sighed at the consideration of the cost Theat vitae hum Vespasian though he be reckoned amongst the good Emperours yet he was extreame covetous Being blamed by his friends for sending such oppressive officers into the Romane Provinces He answered that he used them but as spunges to squeese them when they were full He imposed a taxe upon every family according to the quantity of urine that was made in it which his son Titus being offended at and blaming him for it as dishonourable to so great an Emperour He answered him little for the present but a while after when his Publicans had brought in the tribute he called his son Titus and bad him smell what ill savour that gold had Titus smelling told him that he found no ill savour in it his father laughing told him that it was urine and withal added Dulcis odor lucri ex re â—ualibet The smell of gaine is sweet out of any thing Yea from the principle of covetousnesse he would publickly do such businesse as a private man would be ashamed of Didius Julianus the Emperour was so extreamly covetous that he made himself hateful to the people and being forsaken of all men was at last slaine in his Palace Guido Bitur Constans Tertius the Emperour going to Rome spoiled all places both holy and prophane carrying away more of the riches ornaments of the City then all the Barbarous Nations that had formerly plundered it He also grievously oppressed his Subjects especially the inhabitants of Sicily whereby many parents were forced to sell their own children which made him so hateful to all that his own souldiers rose up against him and slew him Fulgosus Lib. 9. c. 4. Cardinal Angelot was so basely covetous that by a private way he used to go into the stable and steale the oats from his horses so that on a time the Master of his horse going into the stable in the dark and finding him there taking him for a thief beat him soundly he was also so hard towards his servants that his Chamberlaine watching his opportunity slew him Pontanus lib. de Prin. A certain young man in Lacedaemon having bought an house and land at a very under rate the Magistrates hearing of it sent for him and fined him for that he being a yound man had shewed so much covetousnesse seeking to inrich himself by the losse of another AElian Lib. 14. Semiramis caused to be ingraven upon her sepulchre What King soever shall want money let him open this sepulchre and he shall finde as much as he needs Darius long after finding this inscription brake open the sepulchre but instead of money he only found this inscription within Except thou wert a wicked man and basely covetous thou wouldest never have broken open the sepulchres of the dead Stobaeus Anno Christi 1066. Reginherus Bishop of Misnia being at Goslaria after dinner went into his chamber where he had hid his treasures being an extream covetous man and shut himself in as if he would take a little sleep but his servants thinking him long first knocked at the doore and afterwards brake it open and found him dead with his neck broken and his body of an ugly colour lying in a miserable manner upon his money Lamb. Scaffnaburgensis Caratacus a Prince of the Britaine 's being taken prisoner and carried to Rome when he had throughly viewed the stately magnificence of that City What mean you saith he when you have these and such like buildings of your own to covet our small cottages Camb. Brit. p. 957. The Spaniards in the conquest of Peru told Atabalipa the King thereof that they were sent from an Emperour unto whom the Pope had given all that land to convert them to the Christian faith Whereunto Atabalipa answered That he would gladly be friends with the Emperour because he was so great a Monarch but in no case with the Pope because he gave to another that which was none of his own Pur. Pilgrims Vol. 4. p. 1445. Thira a Dane wife to Godwin Earle of Kent used to make Merchandise of Englands beateous Virgins by selling them at a deare rate into Denmark seeking thereby to satisfie her own covetousnesse and the Danes lusts which practice she continued till a just reward of Gods wrath fell upon her by a thunderbolt from heaven whereby she was slaine Speed Nigh unto the City of Lunenberg in Germany there flowed plentifully a salt spring till such time as the rich men ingrossing all the profit to themselves would not suffer
of persons Eus. Alexander Severus the Emperour did so reverence the High Priest that whatsoever sentence he had passed in judgement he suffered the same to be revoked by the Priest if he saw cause for it Lipsius When at the Councel of Nice many Bishops brought complaints and Petitions each against other to Constantine the Great he would not so much as read them but burned them all before their faces saying It 's fit that I should be judged by you and not you by me Euseb. Bread and cheese with the Gospel is good cheere said Greenham Act. Mon. Ingo King of the Venudes at a great feast to shew his love to the Saints of God set his Pagan Nobles in the Hall and certain poor Christians with him in the Parlour A certaine Emperour of Germany coming by chance into a Church upon the Sabbath-day found there a most mis-shapen Priest penè portentum naturae insomuch as the Emperour much scorned and contemned him but when he heard him read those words in the Service For it is he that hath made us and not we our selves the Emperour checked his own proud thoughts and made enquiry into the quality and conditions of the man and finding upon examination that he was a very learned and devout man he made him Archbishop of Collen which place he discharged with much commendations Wâ—l of Malmsb. Queen Elizabeth when she came first to the Crown as she rode through the City of London a childe from a Pageant let down in a silken lace an English Bible to her she kissed her hands took it kissed it laid it to her breast then held it up thanking the City especially for that gift though they had given her some rich presents before promising to be a diligent reader of it See her life in my second Part. Constantine the Great made a decree that all Ministers and such whose vocation was to serve in the Church should be free and exempted from all publick duties taxes and burthens whatsoever that being so priviledged they might the better attend upon Divine administrations Yea so careful was he to nourish and cherish learning and learned men that he enacted a Law which ranne thus Medicos Grammaticos alios Professores literarum legum Doctores c. We will and decree that Physicians Grammarians and other Professors of the liberal Arts shall be free together with their lands and possessions from all civil charges and offices c. as also that their stipends and Salaries shall be well and truly paid them whereby they may the more freely attend upon their offices c. How will this rise up in judgement against those which think they can never lay burthens enough upon Ministers Universities c See his life in my second Part. Our King Edward the sixth was a diligent attender upon Sermons heard them with great reverence and penned them with his owne hand which he diligently studied afterwards See his Life in my second Part. The great love reverence and respect that Master John Bruen of Bruen Stapleford shewed to godly Ministers See his Life in my second Part. Mercurius Trismegistus was in such respect amongst the Egyptians that in reverence of him it was nos lawful to pronounce his name commonly and rashly How much more precious should the Name of God be amongst Christians The greatest delight of Queen Elizabeth was often to reade the Sacred Scriptures and to hear Sermons which she alwayes attended unto with great reverence See her Life in my Second Part. The young Lord Harrington was wondrons attentive in hearing the Word of God preached or read and carried himselfe exceeding reverently therein knowing that he was in the presence of that God who is no respector of persons and that he heard not the words of a man but of God See his Life in my second Part. Robert King of Sicily was so wonderfully affected with the Scriptures that speaking to Fran. Petrarcha he thus said of them Juro tibi Petrarcha multò chariâ—res mihi esse literas quam regnum si alterutro mihi carendum sit aequanimiù◠me diademate quà m literis careturum Corn. è Lapide Theodosius the Emperour wrote out the whole New Testament with his own hand accounting it a great Jewel and reading part of it every day Doctor Cranmer in his journey to Rome learned all the New Testament by heart The like did Doctor Ridley in the walks of Pembrook-Hall See his Life in my first Part. We beseech you brethren to know them which labour amongst you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake 1. Thes. 5. 12 13. CHAP. XLV Examples of Gods judgements upon contemners of his Ministers Word and Sacraments THe Lord testified against Israel and against Judah by all the Prophets and by all the Seers saying Turne ye from your evil wayes and keep my commandments and my statutes according to all the Law that I commanded your fathers and which I sent to you by my servants the Prophets Notwithstanding they would not hear but hardoned their necks like unto the necks of their fathers c. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight c. 2. King 17. 13 14 18. And the Lord God of their fathers sent unto them by his messengers rising up early and sending because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place But they mocked the messengers of God and despise his Word and misused his Prophets till the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy therefore he brought upon them the King of the Caldees who slew their young men with the sword and had no compassion c. 2 Chron. 36. 15 16 17. For this sinne was Hierusalem destroyed by Titus Mat. 23. 37 c. Heb. 10. 28 29. Pontius Pilate writing unto Tiberius Nero a true report of the Ministery and miracles of the resurrection and ascension of Iesus Christ adding that by good men he was accounted a God the Emperour was so moved therewith that he made a motion in the Senate at Rome that he might be enrolled in the number of their gods but the Senate refused it upon this reason because he was consecrated for a God before the Senate had decreed and approved of the same but what miseries befell the Senate and people of Rome for rejecting him the stories of those times shew Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of England reports that Anno Christi 420. After that the Britanes had been long afflicted by the Picts and Scots the Lord at last gave them rest from all their enemies and sent them such plenty of corne and fruits of the earth as the like was never known before But instead of returning thanks for those mercies they fell to all manner of riot and excesse which was accompanied with many other foul enormities especially with a hatred of the truth
the third replyed thus I am much more afraid of his Almes and Prayers then I am of his Armies Dr. Powel Frederick the Elector of Saxony intending to make war against the Archbishop of Magdeburg sent a Spie into his Countrey to see what preparations the Archbishop made for his own defence By whom being informed that the Archbishop wholly applyed himself to fasting and prayer and reforming his Church Let him fight said the Duke that hath a mind to it for I am not soâ—mâ—d as to fight against him that trusts to have God for his deliverâ—r Buchol Numa Pompilius being told that his enemies were coming upon him as he was offering sacrifice thought it sufficient for his safety that he could answer At ego rem Divinam facio But I am about the service of my God Buchol Tertullian's manner was constantly in private to pray three times a day at the third sixth and ninth houres See his Life in my first Part of the Marrow of Eccles. History Petrus Chrysologus alwaies before he penned any thing would with great ardency and humility set himself by prayer to seek unto God for direction therein Eodem p. 164. Mr. Laurence Saunders used to be very frequent and fervent in prayer and when he was assaulted by any temptations he still found much support and comfort by prayer whereby he gained such experience that he became a great comforter of others with the same consolations which himself had found from God Eodem p. 491. Mr. Hugh Latimer used constantly in his prayers to beg that God of his mercy would restore his Gospel to England once again once again which he often inculcated in his prayers and that with such ardency as though he had seen God before him and spoken to him face to face Eodem p. 528. Mr Robert Bolâ—on used constantly to pray six times a day twice with his family twice with his wife and twice in secret Besides he kept many daies of private humiliation as alwaies before the Sacrament and upon occasion of the miseries of the Church both at home and abroad which he performed with much ardency of spirit Eodem p. 926. Mr. William Whatelâ—y's constant practice was besides Family-prayer twice a day to pray also with his wife and alone both morning and evening He also set apart daies of private humiliation for his Family upon special occasions and oft for their preparation to the Lords Supper at which time he would exceed himself in pouring out his soul to God with many teares He was much also in daies of private fasting and humbling himself alone before God c. Eodem p. 932. St. Augustine was very powerful in prayer so that thereby he sometimes cast out Devils and restored â—â—ck men to their health again Eodem p. 160. Fulgentius was very powerfull in prayer and before his death the barbarous Moores invading the Territories of Ruspa filling all places with Rapines murthers c. yet so long as Fulgentius lived the City of Ruspa remained in safety and when all the rest of the Province was under miserable captivity that City alone enjoyed an happy peace Eodem p. 176. Vitus Theodorus writing of Luther saith thus of him No day passeth wherein Luther spends not three houres at least in prayer Once it fell out saith he that I heard him Good God! what a spirit what a confidence was in his very expressions with such a reverence he sued as one begging of God and yet with such hope and assurance as if he spake to a loving father or friend See many examples of his prevalency in prayer in his Life in my first Part. p. 245 c. Anno Christi 1564. there brake out a great Plague in Zurick whereof Mr. Bullinger fell so sick that all men despaired of his life But the Church by their frequent and servent prayers prevailed with God for the restoring of him to health again Eodem p. 742. See an admirable example of the power of prayer in the Life of Mr. Perkins in my first Part p. 853. and divers other examples in my two Martyrologies CHAP. LXXXIX Prudence Wisdom Policy IT 's spoken of as wordly Isa. 3. 2. Matth. 11. 25 1 Cor. 1. 19. As spiritual 1 Sam. 16. 18. In opinion Prov. 3. 7. 26. 12. 28. 11. Isa. 5. 21. 10. 13. Properties of the prudent He covereth shame Prov. 12. 16. concealeth knowledge to utter it seasonably Prov. 12. 23. dealeth with knowledge Prov. 13. 16. understands his way Prov. 14. 8. regards reproof Prov. 15. 1. encreaseth knowledge by his lips Prov. 16. 21. foresees the evil and hides himself Prov. 22. 3. Scriptural Examples of men Abraham Gen. 1â— 9. 25. 5 6. Jacob Gen. 30. 32. 32. 3 7. Joseph Gen. 40. 14. 41. 33 38. Jethro Exod. 18. 19. Jotham Judg. 9. 7. Gileadites Judg. 12. 5 6. David 1 Sam. 16. 18. 18. 5 24. 21. 13. Solomon 1 King 3. 9. 25 c. Rehoboam's old Counsellors 1 King 12. 7. Jehoiadah 2 King 11. 42. 2 Chron. 23. 1. Hezekiah Isa. 36. 21. 2 Chron. 32. 3 Nehemiah Ch. 2. 12. Mordecai Esth. 4. 13. Ser. Paulus Act. 13. 7. St. Paul Act. 16. 37. 21. 25. 23. 6 17. Wise women Rahab Jos. 2. 4. Abigail 1 Sam. 25. 18 13. the Tekohite 2 Sam. 14. 2. the Abelite 2 Sam. 20. 16. Bathsheba 1 King 1. 15. Prov. 31. Esther Ch. 4. 11. Agesilaus having overthrown the Persians in a great battel caused all the captives which were bravely clad to be stripped naked and their garments to be sold on the one side and the naked persons on the other that so his Souldiers might see the soft and â—ffeminate bodies of their adversaries and gather courage thereby and when his Souldiers bought up all the rich garments but slâ—ighted the persons as uselesse he said unto them But these are they against whom ye fight and the other for which ye fight Xenoph. Lysander King of Sparta a gallant General and very Politick used to say That where the Lions skin would not suffice it was meet to put the Foxes skin upon it Xenoph. Antipater who was counted the wisest King that then lived had a daughter called Phila who was so wise a maid that her father would oft consult with her about his weightiest affaires and when she was afterwards married first to Craterus and then to Demetrius she was admired for her wisdom if the Souldiers at any time mutined in the Camp she by her wisdome could quiet them Poor Maids she disposed of in marriage upon her own costs many that were in danger upon false accusations she by her prudence set them free c. and yet when Demetrius her husband was beaten out of the Kingdome of Macedon and deserted by his Souldiers she could not bear the disgrace but poisoned her self Justin. Plut. Pulcheria the sister of Theodosius junior observing her brothers rashnesse in signing Warrants and Orders without ever reading of them used this Policy to
up at any rate CHAP. XCIX Education of Children Schoolmasters LYcurgus the Lacedemonian Law-giver commanded all his Citizens to eat their meat in publick at a Common-Hall whither all young children went daily as to a School to learn gravity and temperance where they heard no vain or unseemly speeches but grave and wise discourses about the Government of a Common-Wealth there they learned to sport upon words and to give and take jests without offence Plut. One asking Agesilaus King of Sparta what should be especially taught unto children he answered That which they are most like to make use of when they come to be men Xenoph. Philip King of Macedon seeing the hopefulnesse of his son Alexander chose Aristotle to be his Master who carefully instructed him in most of the liberal Sciences in the study whereof he took such delight that he used to say I had rather have knowledge then to excell in power Just. He so prized Homer's Iliads that in all his wars he carried it in his pocket and laid it under his pillow anights How much more should we prize and carry about us the Sacred Scriptures He loved his Master Aristotle as if he had been his Father and used to say That as we have our being from our Parents so we have our well-being from our School Masters Quint. Curtius Seneca the Master of Nero offering to quit his fortunes to save his life Nero refused to accept thereof and acknowledging his immortal debt for the benefit of his instructions he said He had cause to blush that he who for the reason of his learned merits was of all men dearest to â—im was not by his meanes in so long a time become the richest also Nero's Life The Brachmans in India so soon as their children were capable of instruction used to place them forth to good School-Masters that by them they might be instructed in learning and good manners and might be taught subjection to their Superiours and be trained up by good Examples Alex. ab Alex. The Persians so soon as their children could begin to speak used to place them forth to Schoolmasters to be taught virtue temperance frugality and obedience and would not meddle with them for seven years after left by their indulgence they should do them hurt Xenoph. Amongst the Lacedemonians there was a custome that boyes and youths should never sup but in the company of their Masters from whom they might learn examples of frugality and abstinence Alex. The Inhabitants of Mitylene when they were Lords of the Seas about them if any of their associates revolted from them they inflicted this punishment By forbiddiug them to teach their children letters or the knowledge of the liberal Arts Judging it the greatest punishment that could be to passe their lives in ignorance without learning AElian Julian the Apostate when he perceived that the Christians by reason of their learning easily confuted and overthrew the Idolatries of the Gentiles he enacted a Law That no Christian should train up his sonnes in humane learning thereby judging that if he could bring them to ignorance he could quickly bring them to Idolatry Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Prov. 22. 6. The rod and reproof give wisdome but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame Prov 29. 15. CHAP. C. Examples about the Memory BEza being above fourscore yeares of age could perfectly say by heart any Greek Chapter in Paul's Epistles or any thing else that he had learned before but forgat whatsoever was newly told him Thuan. obit Doctorum vir p. 384. His memory was like an Inne retaining old guests but having no room to entertain new S. Augustine tells us of his friend Simplicius who being asked could tell all Virgils Verses backwards and forwards and yet he protested that he knew not that he could do it till they tried him Aug. Tom. 7. de anima et ejus Orig. cap. 7. Staupitius who was Tutor to Luther and a godly man in a vain ostentation of his memory repeated Christs Genealogie Matth. 1. by heart in his Sermon but being out about the Captivity of Babylon I see saith he God resisteth the proud and so betook himself to his book for help Mel. Adam in vit Stau p. 20. The Memory of our Bishop Juel was raised by Art to the highest pitch of humane possibility For he could readily repeat any thing that he penned after once reading it and therefore usually at the ringing of the Bell he began to commit his Sermons to heart and kept what he learned so firmly that he used to say That if he were to make a speech premeditated before a thousand Auditors shouting or fighting all the while yet could he say whatsoever he had provided to speak Many barbarous and hard names out of a Calender and fourty strange words Welch Irish c. after once or twice reading at the most and short meditation he could repeat both forwards and backwards without hesitation Sir Francis Bacon reading to him onely the last clauses of ten lines in Erasmus his Paraphrase in a confused and dismembred manner he after a small pause rehearsed all those broken parcels of sentences the right way and the contrary without stumbling See his Life in my first Part of the Marrow of Eccles. Hist. Anthony Wallaeus by the help of the Art of Memory in six weeks space learned by heart the whole Epitome of Pagnine with such excellent successe that thereby he was enabled well to interpret any place of the holy Scriptures and to give a fit reason of it Idem p. 943. Themistocles had such an excellent memory that he knew all the Citizens of Athens and when he met them could salute them by name Plut. CHAP. CI. The Qualities of sundry people IT 's said of the Italians that they are in their lusts unnatural in their malice unappeasable in their actions deceitful They will blaspheme sooner then swear and murther a man rather then slander him Of their women it 's said That they are Magpies at the door Saints in the Church Goats in the garden Devils in the house Angels in the streets and Syrenes in the windowes The Noble-men of Naples of all men under heaven live the most idle and carelesse lives having like the Tyrant Polycrates nothing to trouble them but that they are troubled with nothing As the French in their language want one proper word to expresse Stand so naturally they mislike a setled and fixed posture and delight in motion It 's said of them that Primus impetus est major quà m virorum secundus minor quà m foeminarum That they come on like Powder But end in smoke That they have these three Properties They neither read as they write nor sing as they prick nor speak as they think The Germans are compared to an heavy Bell which is long in raising but being once up it makes a great sound The Low-Countreys