Greg. of Tour. lib. 4. Anno Christi 1461. there was in Juchi neere Cambray an unnatural son that in a fury threw his mother out of his doores thrice in one day telling her that he had rather see his house on fire and burned to coles then that she should remaine in it one day longer and accordingly the very same day his house was fired and wholly burned down with all that was in it none knowing how or by what meanes the fire came Enguer de Monst v. 2. The Emperor Henry the fifth being provoked thereto by the Pope rose up in rebellion and made cruel War against his father Henry the fourth not ceasing till he had despoiled him of his Empire But the Lord presently after plagued him for it making him and his Army a prey to his enemies the Saxons stirring up the Pope to be as grievous a scourge to him also as he had been to his father P. Melanct. Chron. l. 4. Manlius relateth a story of an old man crooked with age very poore and almost pined with hunger who having a rich and wealthy sonne went to him only for some food for his belly clothes for his back but this proud young man thinking that it would be a dishonour to him to be borne of such parents drave him away denying not only to give him sustenance but disclaiming him from being his father giving him bitter and reproachful speeches which made the poore old man to go away with an heavy heart and teares flowing from his eyes which the Lord beholding struck his unnatural son with madnesse of which he could never be cured till his death The same author relates another story of another man that kept his father in his old age but used him very currishly as if he had been his slave thinking every thing too good for him and on a time coming in found a good dish set on the table for his father which he took away and set courser meat in the roome but a while after sending his servant to fetch out that dish for himself he found the meat turned into snakes and the sauce into serpents one of which leaping up caught this unnatural sonne by his lip from which it could never be pulled to his dying day so that he could never feed himselfe but he must feed the serpent also At Millane there was a wicked and dissolute young man who when he was admonished by his mother of some fault which he had committed made a wry mouth and pointed at her with his finger in scorne and derision whereupon his mother being angry wished that he might make such a mouth upon the Gallowes which not long after came to passe for being apprehended for felony and condemned to be hanged being upon the ladder he was observed to writhe his mouth in grief as he had formerly done to his mother in derision Theat hist. Henry the second King of England son to Jeffery Plantaginet and Maud the Emperesse after he had reigned twenty yeares made his young son Henry who had married Margaret the French Kings daughter King in his life-time but like an unnatural son he sought to dispossesse his father of the whole and by the instigation of the King of France and some others he took Armes and fought often with his father who still put him to the worst So that this rebellious son at last was fain to stoop and ask forgivenesse of his father which he gently granted and forgave his offence Howbeit the Lord plagued him for his disobedience striking him with sicknesse in the flower of his youth whereof he died six years before his father Speed Anno Christi 1071. Diogenes Romanus Emperour of the Greekes having led an Army against the Turkes as far as the River Euphrates where he was like to have prevailed but by the treason of his Son in Law Andronicus his Army was routed and himself taken prisoner yet the Turkes used him honourably and after a while sent him home But in the mean season they of Constantinople had chosen Michael Ducas for their Emperour who hearing of Diogenes his returne sent Andronicus to meet him who unnaturally plucked out his fathers eyes and applying no medecines thereto wormes bred in the holes which eating into his braines killed him Zonaras Adolf son of Arnold Duke of Guelders repining at his fathers long life one night as he was going to bed came upon him suddenly and took him prisoner and bare-legged as he was made him go on foot in a cold season five Germane leagues and then shut him up a close prisoner for six months in a dark dungeon but the Lord suffered not such disobedience and cruelty to go long unpunished For shortly after the son was apprehended and long inprisoned and after his release was slaine in a sight against the French History of the Netherlands One Garret a Frenchman and a Protestant by profession but given to all manner of vices was by his father cast off for his wickednesse yet found entertainment in a Gentlemans house of good note in whose family he became sworn brother to a young Gentleman that was a Protestant But afterwards coming to his estate he turned Papist of whose constancy because the Papists could hardly be assured he promised his Confessor to prove himself an undoubted Catholick by setting a sure seal to his profession whereupon he plotted the death of his dearest Protestant friends and thus effected it He invited his Father Monsieur Seamats his sworn brother and six other Genlemen of his acquaintance to dinner and all dinner time intertained them with protestations of his great obligements to them But the bloody Catastrophe was this dinner being ended sixteen armed men came up into the roome and laid hold on all the guests and this wicked Parricide laid hold on his Father willing the rest to hold his hands till he had dispatched him he stabbed the old Gentleman crying to the Lord for mercy foure times to the heart the young Gentleman his sworne brother he dragged to a window and there caused him to sing which he could dovery sweetly though then no doubt he did it with a very heavy heart and towards the end of the Ditty he stabbed him first into the throat and then to the heart and so with his Poiniard stabbed all the rest but three who were dispatched by those armed Ruffians at their first entrance and so they flung all the dead bodies out at a window into a ditch Oubig Hist. France The base son of Scipio Africanus the Conquerour of Hannibal and Africk so ill imitated his father that for his viciousnesse he received many disgracefull repulses from the people of Rome the fragrant smell of his fathers memory making him to stinke the more in their nostriles yea they forced him to pluck off from his finger a signet-ring wherin the face of his father was engraven as counting him unworthy to wear his picture whose vertue he would not imitate Val. Maxi. Tarpeia the
daughter of Sp. Tarpeius betrayed her father and the tower whereof he was governour to Tatius King of the Sabines who besiedged it for all that the Sabine Souldiers wore upon their left armes meaning their golden bracelets But when she demanded her reward Tatius badehis souldiers to do as he did and so together with their bracelets throwing their shields which they wore on their left armes upon her they crushed her to death Romulus ordained no punishment for Parrioide because he thought it impossible that any one should so much degenerate from nature as to commit that sin but he called all other murthers Parricides to shew the heinousnesse of them and for six hundred years after his time such a sin as Parricide was never heard of in Rome Plut. Darius the son of Artaxerxes Mnemon King of Persia affecting the Kingdome conspired to take away the life of his father but his treason being discovered he together with his wives and children were altogether put to death that so none might remain of so wicked a breed Diod. Sic. Servius Tullius the 6th King of the Romanes married his daughter to Tarquinius she was a woman of an exceeding ambitious spirit and would not suffer her husband to be at quiet till she had procured him to murther her father and as soon as ever she heard that the fact was committed she hasted in her chariot to salute her husband King and by the way encountring with the dead body of her murthered father she caused her chariot to be driven over it Ovid. Pezel Mel. Hist. Nero sending some to murther his own mother Agrippina when they came into her chamber she seeing one to unsheath his sword and believing what they came for and by whose directions she laid open her bare belly to him bidding him strike that as having deserved it for bringing forth such a monster as Nero. Nero hearing that she was dead came presently to the place caused her body to be stripped and Crowner-like beheld it all over praising this part dispraising that as if he had been to censure a Statue and at last caused her wombe to be opened that he might behold the place of his conception Neros Life Not long after about the neck of one of Nero's Statues was hung a leather sack to upbraid his parricide the punishment whereof by the ancient Laws of Rome was to be trussed in such a sack with a cock a dog and a viper and so all to be thrown quick into Tyber Nero's Life The eye that mocketh at his father and despiseth to obey his mother the ravens of the valley shall pick it out and the young eagles shall eat it Prov. 30. 17. Every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death he hath cursed his father or his mother his blood shall be upon him Lev. 20. 9. CHAP. XXXI Examples of Parents love to and Care over their Children THey are to bring their children to God Luk. 2. 27. 41. Mark 10. 13. To instruct them Ephes. 6. 4. Prov. 22. 6. Exod. 12. 26. Deut. 6. 7. 11. 19 32. 46. 4. 10. 31. 13. Gen. 18. 19. To lay up for them 2 Cor. 12. 14. Prov. 19. 14. To correct them Prov. 22. 15. 23. 13. 29. 15 17. Heb. 12. 9. 1 Tim. 3. 4. Not to provoke them to anger Col. 3. 21. Eph. 6. 4. Not to give them evil examples Ier. 7. 18. 31. 29. Ezek. 18. 2. Ier. 17. 2. Mothers must instruct them Proverb 31. 1 c. 2 Tim. 1. 5. Numa Pompilius reformed the Law amongst the Romanes which gave liberty to parents to sell their children exempting children that were married provided that they married with their parents consent Plut See Callings Trades Agesilaus King of Sparta a prudent man and brave souldier did exceedingly love his children and on a time a friend coming to his house found him riding upon an hobby-horse amongst them whereupon Agesilaus fearing lest he should speak of it to his disgrace intreated him not to censure him for it nor to speak of it to any till himselfe had some children Plut. Augustus Caesar found out the inclinations and dispositions of his two daughters by observing their company at a publick shew where much people were present at which time his daughter Livia associated herselfe and discoursed with grave and prudent Senators but his daughter Iulia adjoyned herselfe to loose youngsters and riotous persons Sueto Noscitur ex socio qui non cognoscitur ex se. Scillurus who had eighty sonnes when he lay on his death-bed called them all before him presented them with a bundle of speares or sheafe of arrows and bade each of them trie whether he could break that bundle which they assayed to do but were not able Then he pulled out one javlin out of the bundle and bade them break that which they did easily intimating thereby that unity and compacted strength is the bond which preserves families and Kingdomes which bond if it be once broken all runnes quickly to ruine Micypsa when he was on his death-bed called all his sonnes and caused them to write this sentence in golden letters Concordiâ parvae res crescunt Discordiâ magnae dilabuntur By concord small things are increased but by discord the greatest are overthrown Fathers provoke not your children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Eph. 6. 4. Richard Woodmans father in the reigne of Queen Mary betrayed him into the hands of his bloody persecutors whereby he lost his life See my English Martyrology p. 185. Philip King of Spaine out of an unnatural and bloody zeale suffered his eldest sonne Charles to be murthered by the Fathers Inquisitors because he favoured the Protestant religion which when the Pope heard of he abusively applied that text of Scripture to him He spared not his own Sonne but delivered him up for us all Act. Mon. Alfrith mother of King Edward hearing that her sonne was coming to visit her suborned one of her servants to murther him who accordingly as the King was drinking with her struck him into the body with a two-edged dagger whereof he died and this she did to make way for another of her sonnes to come to the Crowne See my English Martyrology p. 31. Master Iulins Palmer in the reigne of our Queen Mary went to Evesham in Glocestershire to his own mother hoping to obtaine a legacy left him by his father and when he came kneeling down to crave her blessing she said Thou shalt have Christs curse and mine wherever thou goest for saith she thou doest not believe as thy father and I nor as thy fore-fathers but art an Heretick and therefore get thee out of my house and out of my sight and never take me for thy mother any more Faggots I have to burn thee but no money for thee c. Eodem p. 173. Even the sea-monsters draw out the breast they give suck to their young
ones the daughter of my people is become cruel like Ostriches in the wildernesse Lam. 4. 3. CHAP. XXXII Examples of fond Parents and the miseries that they have brought upon themselves thereby FOrbidden Deut. 13. 8 9. Prov. 19. 18. 13. 24. 29. 17. Scriptural Examples Eli 1 Sam. 2. 22 29. David to Adonijah 1 Kings 1. 6. to Absalom 2 Sam. 18. 33. How severely God punished Eli for his indulgence to his wicked sonnes See it in 1 Sam. 2. 27 c. 3. 11 c. David also who cockered Absalom and Adonijah above all the rest of his children was most afflicted by them one breaking out into open rebellion wherein he died the other usurping the Crowne before his fathers death which cost him his life also 2 Sam. 15. 1 King 1. 5 c. A certaine woman in Flanders contrary to the will of her husband used to feed her two sonnes with money to maintaine their riot yea to furnish them she would rob her husband but presently after her husbands death God plagued her for this her foolish indulgence for from rioting these youngsters fell to robbing for the which one of them was executed by the sword and the other by the halter the mother looking on as a witnesse of their destructions Ludo. Vives A young man in our owne Nation as he was going to the gallows desired to speak with his mother in her eare but when she came instead of whispering he bit of her eare with his teeth exclaiming upon her as the cause of his death because she did not chastise him in his youth for his faults but by her fondnesse so imboldened him in his vices as brought him to this wofull end Seleucus marrying Stratonica the daughter of Demetrius shortly after Antiochus the sonne of Seleucus fell in love with his stepmother and not daring to discover it for feare of the displeasure of his father he pined a way from day to day at last one of his Physicians found out the cause of his disease and acquainted his father therewith who out of indulgence to his sonne calling his Nobles and people together said I have decreed to make Antiochus my sonne King of all my superior Provinces and to give him Stratonica for his wife and Queen and if she scruple the unlawfulnesse of the marriage I desire you that are my friends to perswade her that all things are honest and just that a King shall decree for the publick profit Plut. Andronicus one of the Greek Emperours doted with such extream impotency of partial affection upon his Nephew young Andronicus that in comparison of him he disregarded not only the rest of his Nephews but his own children also being unwilling to spare him out of sight either day or night but when this young man was stept further into yeares besides a world of miseries and molestations created to his Grand-father in the mean time at last he pressed without resistance upon his Palace with purpose to surprise his person though the old Emperout intreated him with much affectionate eloquence that he would reverence those hands which had oftentimes so willingly embraced him and those lips which had so oft lovingly kissed him and that he would spare to spill that blood from which himselfe had taken the fountaine of life yet for all this he caused the old Emperour to be polled shaven and made a Monk and not only so but also the very Anvile of much dunghill-scorne and vilest indignities untill the workmanship of death had finished the sorrowful businesse of a wretched lfie Turk Hist. Austine upon a terrible and dreadfull accident called his people together to a Sermon wherein he relates this dolefull story Our Noble Citizen saith he Cyrillus a man mighty amongst us both in work and word and much beloved had as you know one onely sonne and because but one he loved him immeasurably and above God and so being drunke with immoderate doting he neglected to correct him and gave him liberty to do whatsoever he list Now this very day saith he this same fellow thus long suffered in this dissolute and riotous courses hath in his drunken humour wickedly offered violence to his mother great with childe would have violated his sister hath killed his father and wounded two of his sisters to death Adfrat in Eremo Ser. 33. Chasten thy sonne betimes and let not thy soul spare for his crying Prov. 19. 18. CHAP. XXXIII Examples of Brethrens love each to other THey ought to love one another Prov. 17. 17. 1 Pet. 3. 8. Rom. 12. 10. Heb. 13. 1. It 's an excellent thing Psal 133. 1. Scriptural examples Jobs children Job 1. 13. Lazarus Martha and Mary John 11. 19 c. Joseph Gen. 43. 29 c. 45. 14. Joab and Abishai 2 Sam. 3. 27 30. Judah Gen. 37. 26. In the beginning of the reigne of Darius King of Persia one of his Nobles called Intaphernes conspired against him which being discovered to Darius he caused him and all his kindred to be cast into prison But Intaphernes wife exceedingly weeping and houling Darius gave her leave to choose any one of the prisoners whose life she would have spared whereupon amongst them all she chose her brother and Darius asking her why she â—…se her brother rather then her husband or son she answered Because if God please I may have another husband and children but my Parents being dead I cannot have another brother This so pleased Darius that he granted her the life not only of her brother but of her son too Herod Darius King of Persia being dead left two sons Ariamenes or as some call him Artabazanes and Xerxes these both claimed the Kingdome but brotherly love so prevailed with them that they were contented to stand to the judgement of the Persian Nobles yet in the interim Xerxes being in Persia performed all the offices of a King and Ariaments coming out of Media Xerxes sent great presents to him commanding the messengers to tell him Thy brother Xerxes presents thee with these gifts and if by the consent and suffrage of the Nobles he be declared King he promises thee the chiefest place next unto himself To which Ariamenes returned this answer Truly I willingly accept of these gifts yet claim the Sovereignty to belong to me but will reserve the next place of dignity for my brother Xerxes The Persian Nobles referred the determination of this controversie to their Uncle Artabanus who having heard both sides determined for Xerxes because Ariamenes was borne to Darius whil'st he was a private person Xerxes after he was a King the mother of Ariamenes was the daughter of Gobrias a private woman the mother of Xerxes was Atossa a Queen Ariamenes hearing this judgement without any distemper of spirit rose up worshipped his brother and taking him by the hand placed him in the Kingly throne and ever after was very obsequious to him Plut. Herod And he fell upon his brother Benjamins neck and wept and
were not so and according to his wish so it befell him at Saint Peters Monastery in Erforâ—s Anno 1148. Luther on 1 Cor. 15. reports of one in Germany of a most wicked life who at almost every word he spake the devil was at one end Now it happened on a time as he was passing over a bridge he fell down and as he was falling cried out Hoist up with an hundred devils which was no sooner spoken but the devil whom he called on so oft was at his elbow to strangle and carry him away with him Another story he relates of a Popish Priest once a Professour of the truth but now an Apostate who thundered out many bitter curses against Luther at a place called Ruthnerwald and amongst other passages wished if Luthers doctrine were true that a thunderbolt might strike him to death Now three dayes after there arose a mighty tempest with thunder and lightning whereat the cursing Priest being affrighted having a guilty conscience within him ran hastily to the Church and there fell to his prayers before the Altar but Gods vengeance pursued him and by a flash of lightning he was struck dead and though they recovered life in him again yet as they carried him home in the Church-yard another flash of lightning burnt him from the head to the foot as black as a shoe whereby he immediately died Anno Christi 1551. there lived in a City of Savoy a man who was a monstrous swearer and curser and though he was often admonished and blamed for it yet would by no meanes mend his manners At length a great plague happening in the City he withdrew himself with his wife and a kinswoman into a Garden which he had where being again admonished to give over his wickednesse he hardened his heart more swearing blaspheming God and giving himself to the devil and immediately the devil snatched him up suddenly his wife and kinswoman looking on and carried him quite away The Magistrates advertised hereof went to the place and examined the two women who justified the truth of it At Oundle in Northampton-shire there was one William Hacket who used in his earnest talke thus to curse himself If it be not true let God send a visible confusion upon me which wish of his came to passe for falling into abominable errours he called himselfe Christ and Judge of the world for which he was hanged in the thirty third year of Queen Elizabeth in Cheapside At Oster in the Dutchy of Magalaâ—ole a wicked woman used in her cursings to give her selfe body and soul to the devil and being reproved for it she still contined the same till being at a wedding-feast the devil came in person and carried her up into the aire with most horrible out-cries and roarings and in that sort carried her round about the towne that the inhabitants were ready to die with fear and by and by tore her in foure peeces leaving her foure quarters in four several high-wayes and then brought her bowels to the marriage-feast and threw them upon the table before the Major of the town saying Behold these dishes of meat belong to thee whom the like destruction waiteth for if thou doest not amend thy wicked life At Wittenberg before Martin Luther and others a woman whose daughter was possessed with a spirit confessed that being angry she bid the devil take her and that she had no sooner spoken the word but she was possessed after a strange sort In a towne in Misnia Sep. 11. Anno 1552. a cholerick father seeing his sonne slack about his businesse wished that he might never stirre from that place which he had no sooner spoken but his son stuck fast indeed nor could by any meanes possible be removed no not so much as to fit or bend his body till by the prayers of the faithful his paines were mitigated though not remitted three yeares he continued so standing with a post at his back for his ease and four years sitting at the end whereof he died nothing weakned in his understanding but professing the faith and not doubting of his salvation through Jesus Christ when at any time he was asked how he did his answer usualy was that he was fastened of God and that it was not in man to release him At Noeburg in Germany a woman in her anger cursed her sonne wishing that she might never see him return alive and the same day the young man bathing himselfe in water was drowned so that as she wished it befel her This is the curse which goeth forth over the face of the whole world I will bring it forth saith the Lord and it shall enter into the house of the thiefe and into the house of him that sweareth falsly by my Name and it shall remaine in the middest of his house and shall consume it with the timber thereof and with the stones thereof Zach. 5. 3 4. CHAP. XXVII Examples of Gods judgements upon Hereticks and Schismaticks IT is just with God that they which will not have truth their King and willingly obey it should have falsehood their Tyrant to whom their judgements should be captivated and enslaved hence iâ— is that as errors in practice are like a fretting Leprosie of a contagious and spreading nature so errors in judgements are very diffusive also A little Leaven leaveneth the whole lump 1 Cor. 5. 6. and hereticks false doctrines fâ—et like a Gangrene 2 Tim. 2. 17. for no opinion is so monstrous but if it have a mother it will get a nurse wofull experience in these times wherein the golden reines of Government are wanting doth clearly evince the truth hereof But yet the Lord doth seldome suffer the Authors and chiefe fomentors of Heresies and Schismes even in this world to go unpunished as will fully appear in these ensuing examples An heretick is one that erres in a necessary doctrine of faith and being sufficiently admonished wilfully persists therein Tit. 3. 10. Called Foxes Cant. 2. 15. Dogs Phil. 3. 12. men of corrupt mindes 1 Tim. 6. 5. Reprobate concerning the faith 2 Tim. 3. 8. teachers for lucre sake Tit. 3. 11. Seducing spirits 1 Tim. 4. 1. men of seared consciences 1 Tim. 4. 2. Deceitfull workers Phil. 3. 2. 2 Cor. 11. 13. Teachers of perverse things Act. 20. 30. enemies to the Crosse of Christ Phil. 3. 18. Heresie is called Leaven Luk. 12. 1. Wood hay stubble 1 Cor. 3. 12. Windy Doctrine Eph. 4. 4. Damnable Doctrine 2 Pet. 2. 1. Mystery of iniquity 2 Thes. 2. 7. Contrary to sound Doctrine 1 Tim. 1. 10. Doctrine of devils 1 Tim. 4. 1. Doctrine of men Col. 2. 22. Dissenting from wholesome Doctrine 1 Tim. 6. 3. Perverse disputings 1 Tim. 6. 5. a word that eats like a Gangrene 2 Tim. 2. 17. Erring from the truth 2 Tim. 2. 8. Strange Doctrine Heb. 13. 9. Root of bitternesse Heb. 12. 15. which should not be taught Tit. 1. 11. Doctrine of Balaam and Nicholaitans Rev. 2. 14 15. a work of
Christians had many malicious slanders raised against them as that they lived in incest that in their night-meetings putting out the candles they mixed together in a filthy manner that they killed their children and fed upon mans flesh that they were seditious and rebellious and refused to swear by the fortune of Caesar c. which much incensed the Emperours against them Idem p. 34. Under the third Persecution the Heathens imputed to the Christians all those miseries and mischiefs which befell them yea they invented against them all manner of conâ—umelies and false crimes that they might have the more pretence to persecute them Idem p. 37. Under the fourth Persecution heathen servants were examined against their Christian Masters and being threatned with most exquisite torments were enforced to confesse against their Masters that at their meetings they kept the Feasts of Thyestes and committed the incests of Oedipus and such like abominations not fit to be named Idem p. 41. Under the fifth Persecution the Christians were slanderously reported to be seditious and rebellious against the Emperours to be guilty of Sacriledge murthering their infants incestuous pollutions eating raw flesh worshipping the head of an Asse c. Idem p. 46. Under the eighth Persecution the Christians were falsely charged with all the calamities of war famine and Pestilence which befell the world because they refused to worship Idols and the Emperour Idem p. 56. Under the tenth Persecution there was a Conjurer in Athens which made an Image of Jupiter that uttered these words Jupiter commands the Christians to be banished out of this City because they are enemies to him Also certain Harlots were suborned to say that formerly they had been Christians and so were privy to the wicked and lascivious acts which they committed amongst themselves at their Sabbath-meetings c. Idem p. 68. The Queen of Persia being sick the wicked Jewes and Magicians accused two godly Virgins for that by charmes and inchantments they had procured the Queens sicknesse whereupon they were sawen in sunder by the wastes and their Quarters hung upon stakes that the Queen might go betwixt them thinking thereby to be freed from her disease Idem p. 80. The Popish Friers to make the godly Waldenses odious raised up many foul slanders against them as that they were Sorcerers Buggerers c. that when they assembled together in the night-time their Pastors commanded the lights to be put out saying Qui potest capere capiat whereupon they committed abominable Incests the son with his mother the brother with his sister the father with his daughter c. As also that they held many false and damnable opinions Idem p. 103. See more in my Gen. Martyrologie and two Parts of Lives CHAP. LXVIII Examples of Discord Contention and the Evils of iâ— IT 's a great Evil Prov. 6. 14 19. worst in wives Prov. 19. 13. 27. 15. Condemned Ephes. 4. 31. Col. 3. 8. Prov. 17. 14. Tit. 3. 9. Rom. 13. 13. It comes from Pride Prov. 13. 10. Scriptural Examples Kings Gen. 14. 4. Abimelech and Sechem Judg. 9. Pharisees and Sadduces Act. 23. 2. Servants Gen. 13. 7. Hebrews Exo. 2. 13. Judah and Israel 2 Sam. 19. 4. Aaron and Moses Num. 12. 1. Israel and Benjamin Judg. 20. 13. Disciples Luk. 22. 24. Paul and Barnabas Act. 15. 39. Corinthians 1 Cor. 1. 11 12. 3. 3 4. 11. 18. 6. 7. Abrahams and Lots heardsmen Gen. 13. 7. Israelites Isa. 9. 21. Epiphanius tells a sad story of two Bishops Milesius and Peter Bishop of Alexandria both Professours and fellow-sufferers for the Christian faith These two men being condemned and sent to work in the Mettal-Mines for a small difference fell into so great a Schisme that they drew a partitian-wall between each other in the Mine and would not hold Communion each with other in the service of Christ for which they both were sufferers which dissension of theirs caused such a rent in the Church that it did more hurt then an open Persecution from the enemy How much better did Bishop Ridley and Hooper who though in King Edward the sixth his daies they had been at great variance about the Ceremonies yet when in Queen Maries Reign they were imprisoned for the same cause they forgat all former quarrels loved and wrote each to other as brethren See Dr. Ridley's Life in my first Part. In Constantine's time the differences of the Bishops were so many and so great that they brought in whole bundles of Petitions one against another to the Emperour which he out of a wonderfull desire after peace would not so much as read but burnt them all before their faces Aristides and Themistocles being sent joynt Ambassadours to the same City fell out by the way Aristides was stout enough and crosse enough yet when he came neer the City gates whither they were sent he condescended so far as to bespeak Themistocles in this manner Sir you and I are not now at leisure thus to squabble Let us dispatch our Countrey affaires It will be time enough to renew our quarrel when our work is at an end Plut. Empedocles was of such a contentious disposition that every day he would quarrel with some body or other and prosecute his contentions with much violence Ravis Hyperbolus was a man so addicted to strife and contention that it grew into a Proverb Ultra Hyperbolum Frowardnesse is in the heart of a naughty person he deviseth mischief continually he soweth discord Prov. 6. 14. CHAP. LXIX Examples of strange Accidents MAthias Huniades the thundering sonne of a lightning father being cast into prison by Uladislaus King of Hungary and Bohemia was sent into Bohemia to his execution but Uladislaus immediately after dying upon the eating of a poisoned Apple the Hungarians partly affected with the merit of his father and hopes of the sons valour and partly by means of the solicitations of his friends chose Huniades for their King and to give him notice thereof they sent Letters by Ambassadours to Pâ—gibrachius King of Bohemia with whom Matthias was prisoner which he receiving at Supper presently raised Matthias from the lower end of the Table where he sate and set him above himself wishing him not to be dismayed for he had glad tydings for him which he would impart after Supper and so he did saluting him King of Hungary and gave him Katherine his daughter to wife Look Glass of the Hol War A young man the son of Sinan the Jew a famous Sea-Captain under the Turk having been taken prisoner by the Christians was at length delivered and sent home to his father The old man over-joyed at the sudden and unexpected return of his son in imbracing of him fainted and presently dyed in an extasie of joy Turk Hist. p. 750. Dudilius relates a sad story of one Bochna a woman who had but two sons and whilest she was walking with one towards a River she heard the other cry out whereupon returning
hell he could have despaired no more of his salvation in which condition although he neither had nor could have any joy of his meat yet he did eate against his appetite to deferre the time of his damnation so long as he might thinking that he must needs be thrown into hell so soon as the breath should depart out of his body yet the Lord who graciously preserved him all that while not onely at last did rid him out of all discomfort but also framed him thereby to such mortification of life as the like hath seldome been seen in such sort as he being like one already placed in heaven and dead in this world both in word and meditation led a life altogether celestial abhorring in his minde all profane doings Act. Mon. Mr. John Holland a faithfull Minister of Gods Word the day before his death calling for a Bible continued his meditation and exposition upon the 8. to the Rom. for the space of two hours but on a sudden he said O stay your reading what brightnesse is this I see have you light up any candles A stander by said No it is the Sun-shine for it was about five a clock in a clear Summers evening Sun-shine saith he Nay it is my Saviours-shine now farewell world welcome heaven the day-star from on high hath visited my heart O speak it when I am gone and preach it at my Funeral God dealeth familiarly with man I feele his mercy I see his Majesty whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell God he knoweth But I see things that are unutterable And being thus ravished in his spirit he roamed towards heaven with a chearful look and soft sweet voice but what he said was not understood with the Sunne in the morning following raising himself as Jacob did upon his staffe he shut up his blessed life with these blessed words O what an happy change shall I make from night to day from darknesse to light from death to life from sorrow to solace from a factious world to an heavenly being Oh my dear brethren sisters and friends it pitieth me to leave you behinde yet remember my death when I am gone and what I now feele I hope you shall feele ere you die that God doth and will deale familiarly with men and now thou fiery Chariot that cam'st down to fetch up Elijah carry me to my happy hold and all you blessed Angels that attended the soul of Lazarus to bring it to Heaven bear me Oh bear me into the bosome of my best beloved Amen Amen Come Lord Jesus come quickly And so he fell asleep Leigh Luther who had the Devill the Popes the Emperour and almost all the Christian World against him both by open force and secret fraud seeking his destruction yet the Lord miraculously preserved him for the space of about thirty years in despite of them all and at last he died in peace in his bed at which time he made this heavenly Prayer My heavenly Father Eternall and Mercifull God thou hast manifested unto me thy deare Son our Lord Iesus Christ I have taught him I have known him I love him as my Life my health and my Redemption whom the wicked have injured persecuted maligned and afflicted Draw my soule unto thee for though I must lay down this frail body yet I certainly know that I shall live with thee eternally and that I cannot be taken out of thy hands I commend my spirit into thy hands thou hast redeem'd it O Lord God of truth God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that all that believe in him should have life everlasting which he repeated thrice and so as one falling asleep without any bodily pain that could be discerned he departed this life 1546. See his life in my first part Mr. Bolton upon his death-bed speaking to his Children told them That he verily believed that none of them durst thinke to meet him at the great Tribunall in an unregenerate state and to some of his Parishioners desiring him that as he had by his doctrine discovered unto them the exceeding comforts that were in Christ so he would now tell them what he felt in his soul he answered To give you satisfaction though I want breath to speake I am by the wonderfull mercies of Christ as full of comfort as my heart can hold and feels nothing in my soule but Christ with whom I heartily desire to be See his life in my first part Zuinglius being slaine by his Popish enemies they cut his body into foure peeces and then burnt it in the fire but three dayes after some of his friends coming to the place found his heart in the ashes whole and untouched with the fire The like also was observed of Bishop Cramner See his life in my first part Henry Henry Voes and John Esch when they came to be burnt for the truth of the Gospell joyfully embraced the stake continuing singing of Psalms and when the fire was kindled at their feet one of them said Me thinks you do strew Roses under my feet See my General Martyrology George Scherter being for Religion condemned first to be beheaded and then burnt he told the people that he would give them a signe that he died a true Christian and when his head was cut off his body falling upon the belly lay still whilest one might leasurely eate an Egge and then turned it selfe softly upon the back and crossed the right leg and right arme over the left whereby many of the spectatours were induced to believe the Gospel Act. Mon. Two godly Virgins in Flanders being condemned to be burnt and had the sentence accordingly executed yet could not the Executioners by any means consume their bodies with fire but still they remained white and unhurt Act. Mon. Domicillus being condemned to be burnt for Religion when he was at the stake and the fire kindled the winde so drove away the flame that he continued by the space of an houre untouched by it exhorting and instructing the people that stood by whereupon they brought more wood and vessels of Oile yet neither could he therewith be burnt which the executioner seeing struck at his head with a staffe to whom the holy Martyr said I am condemned to be burned and do you beat me with staves with that the Hangman thrust him through the belly and guts with his Pike and so slew him Act. Mon. Bergerius at Lyons in France being accused and apprehended for Religion was cast into a loathsome dungeon wherein was a thief who had laine there by the space of seven or eight moneths who by reason of his paine and torment blasphemed God and cursed his parents that begat him being almost eaten up with Lice and fed with such bread as Dogs and Horses refused to eate but through the preaching and prayers of Bergerius he was brought to repentance of which he wrote a sweet letter to some of his friends
to marry her but before night he cut off his head and gave her all his possessions Anno Christi 1056. A certain Advocate in Constance extreamly lusted after the wife of the Kings Procurator which Procuratour finding the Advocate and his wife sporting together in a Bath and afterwards in an old womans house hard by he gat him a sharp curry-comb and leaving three men at the doore to see that none should come in he so curried the Advocate that he tore out his eyes and so rent his whole body that he died within three dayes The like he would have done to his wife but that she was with childe In Germany a Gentleman of note solicited a Citizens wife to uncleannesse which her husband being informed of watched them so narrowly that finding them in bed together he first slew the adulterer and then his own wife Luther's Col. Mary of Arragon wife to the Emperour Otho the third was so unchast and lascivious a woman that she could never satisfie her lust carrying about her a young lecher in womans clothes with whom she daily committed filthinesse but this fellow being at last suspected was in the presence of many untired and found to be a man for which he was burnt to death yet did the Emperesse continue in her filthy course falling in love with the Count of Mutina a gallant young Gentleman and because she could not draw him to her lure she accused him to the Emperour for attempting to ravish her whereupon the Emperour caused his head to be cut off But by the meanes of his wife this wickednesse was discovered to the Emperour who enquiring more narrowly into the bufinesse found out his wives wickednesse and for the same caused her to be burnt at a stake Rodoaldus the eighth King of Lombardy being taken in adultery was by the husband of the adulteresse immediately slaine P. Melan. Chron. A Noble man in Thuringia being taken in adultery the husband of the adulteresse took him bound him hand and foot and cast him into prison and to quench his lust he kept him fasting and the more to augment his paine he daily set dishes of hot meat before him that the sight and smell might the more provoke his appetite In this torture the Lecher continued till he gnawed off the flesh from his own shoulders and so the eleventh day after his imprisonment ended his wretched life Luther Sergus a King of Scotland was so addicted to harlots that he neglected his own wife and drave her to such poverty that she was faine to serve another Noble-woman for her living whereupon watching her opportunity she slew her husband in his bed and her self after it Lang. Chron. Kenulphus King of the West-Saxons as he usually frequented the company of a whore that he kept at Merton was slaine by Clito the kinsman of the late King called Sigebert In the County of Fermanah in Ireland is a famous Meere called Logh-Erne stretching out fourty miles concerning which it's a common speech amongst the inhabitants that this Lake was formerly firme ground passing well husbanded with tillage and replenished with inhabitants But suddenly for their abominable Buggery committed with beasts it was overflowed with waters and turned into a Lake Camb. Brit. Irel. p. 106. Attalus who was one of Philip King of Macedonia's Courtiers Favourites Sodomitically defiled one Pausanias a Noble young man and not content therewith at a drunken feast he exposed him to be defiled by his guests also This indignity did so exasperate Pausanias that he complained to King Philip of the wrong who entertained him with scoffs and scornes in stead of punishing the offender Pausanias seeing this was so enraged against the King that on a day when he made a great feast for the Coronation of his son Alexander King of Epyrus and for the marriage of his daughter Cleopatra Pausanius watching his opportunity slew him thereby turning their melody into mourning and their joy into sorrow Diod. Sic. Nero the Emperour kept many Catamites and amongst the rest he caused the genitals of a boy called Sporus to be cut off and endeavoured to transforme him into a woman and causing him to be dressed like a woman he was solemnly married to him whereupon one said merrily That it had been well for the world if his father Domitian had had such a wife Pez Mel. Hist. Anno Christi 1120. Henry the first being King of England his two sonnes William and Richard with many Noble men Knights others coming out of Normandy towards England were shipwracked by the way and drowned all or most of them being polluted with the filthy sinne of Sodomy too rife in those dayes Henry Huntington Let not thine heart decline to the wayes of an whorish woman go not a stray in her paths For she hath cast down many wounded yea many strong men have been slaine by her Her house is the way to hell going down to the Chambers of death Prov. 7. 25 26 27. CHAP. XI Examples of Chastity and Modesty THe way to heaven is up the hill all the way and the uncleane adulterer with his rotten Lungs and wasted Loines cannot climbe up it Virgins which are not defiled with women are they which follow the Lambe in white whithersoever he goes The frequency of the sinne of uncleannesse amongst Christians brings dishonour to God scandal to their profession and a wound to their own souls and many of the Heathen will rise up in judgement in the last day against such as these following Examples will more fully declare Chastity Commended Mat. 19. 12. 1 Thes. 4. 4. 1 Pet. 3. 2. 1 Cor. 7. 37. 1 Tim. 2. 9. Commanded Tit. 2. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 3 c. Scriptural Examples Isaac Gen. 25. 20. Joseph Gen. 39. 8 12. Boaz Ruth 3. 13. Job chap. 31. 1. Tamar 2 Sam. 13. 12. Other Examples Pericles the Athenian being made Admiral of the Athenian Fleet together with Sophocles who was joyned in the commission with him as they were going towards the haven they met a beautiful young boy whom Sophocles earnestly beholding highly commended his beauty to whom Pericles answered Sophocles a Governour must not onely have his hands but also his eyes chaste and clean Plut. Agesilaus King of Sparta was a great lover of chastity and as he was a great conquerer of others so also he conquerred his own lusts In his journey he would never lodge in private houses where he might have the company of women but ever lodged either in the Temples or in the open fields making all men the witnesses of his modesty and chastity Plut. Alexander M. being in the heat of youth shewed an admirable example of chastity when having taken the mother wives and daughters of Darius which were women of admirable beauty yet he neither by word or deed proffered them the least indignity thinking it a greater honour to overcome himself then his adversaries and when he looked upon other captive Ladies that excelled in stature and beauty
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
onely said What an ill thing is it that men cannot foresee when they should put on an helmet before they go abroad And at another time being kicked by one If an Asse should kick me said he should I spurne him again And when another had wronged him he said I would have smitten thee but that I am angry Nicolas of Johnvile being condemned by the Papists to die for the cause of God as he was carried in a Cart to execution his own father coming with astaffe would have beaten him but the officers not suffering it were about to strike the old man The son calling to them desired them to let his father alone saying he had power over him to do in that kinde what he pleased but Christ was dearer to him then the dearest friend on earth Act. Mon. Aristippus an Heathen went of his own accord to AEschines his enemy saying Shall we not be reconciled till we become a table-talke to all the countrey and when AEschines answered that he would most gladly be at peace with him Remember then said Aristippus that although I be the elder and better man yet I sought first unto thee Thou are indeed a far better man then 〈…〉 said AEschines for I began the quarrel but thou the reconcilement Julius Caesar being extreamely defamed by Clavus the Oratour and Catullus the Poet Yet afterwads when truth setled shamefastnesse on their foreheadâ— and repentance in their consciences Caesar was satisfied with it and seeing Calvus desire his friendship but durst not intreat it he in an expresse letter offered it unto him and for Catullus he invited him to supper the same day that he published his Poeme against him Suet. Augustus Caesar was also of the same disposition For when as Timagines an Historian wrote against him together with his wife daughters and all his family he onely sent to him advising him to use his tongue and pen with more moderation especially towards him and his friends For Augustus had bred him up but he still persevering and the Emperour being enforced to take notice of it by way of punishment he onely sent to him to retire himself out of the City of Rome into the countrey Seneca King Henry the sixth was of that meek disposition that being wounded in the side by a Ruffian whilest he was a prisoner in the Tower when afterwards he was restored to his Kingly estate he freely forgave him the fact and another like Ruffian striking him on the face he punished with this onely reprehension Forsooth you are to blame to strike me your anointed King Oaths he used none but in weighty matters his affirmation was forsooth and forsooth Sp. Chron. p. 86â— Austin when the Donatists upbraided him unworthily with the impietie and impurity of his former life Look said he how much they blame my fault so much I commend and praise my Phisician See his Life in my first Part. A fellow objecting to Beza his youthly Poems This man said he vexeth himself because Christ hath vouchsafed to me his grace See his life in my first Part. Be ye not stothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises Heb. 6. 12. Vince animos ir ámque tuam qui caeter a vincis CHAP. XV. Examples of Gods judgements upon Apostates and backsliders TRue grace is not like a slight staine but a durable die and graine-colour which can never be washed out the gates of hell cannot prevaile against the faith of Gods elect so that though they may lose the lustre of their graces yet not the graces themselves but a see will still remaine in them The reason then why some glorious professors do fall like starres from heaven is because they were never fixed in the true Orbe They had a name only that they lived but were dead Rev. 3. 1. they had an evil heart of unbelief in them and therefore they depart away from the living God Heb. 3. 12. They began in hypocrisie and so end in Apostasie But that the danger misery of such persons may more manifestly appear unto us lay to heart these texts Examples following Foretold 2 Thes. 2. 3. Exod. 32. 8. 1 Tim. 4. 1. Mat. 24. 12. Complained of Jer. 8. 5. Prov. 2. 13. Esa. 31. 6. Jer. 7. 24. and 2. 21. and 6. 28. 1 Tim. 1. 19. Threatened Ps. 125. 5. Heb. 10. 38 39. Mat. 10. 33. 2 Pet. 2. 1. Prov. 14. 14. It 's sometimes partial as Peters Mat. 26. 74 75. Aarons and the Israelites Exod. 32. 1 c. Rehoboams and Judah 2 Chron. 12. 1 6. Manasses 2 Chron. 32. 2 12 c. Sometimes total Heb. 3. 12. and 6. 6. and 10. 39. as Judas Acts 1. 18. Demas 2 Tim. 4. 10. Diotrephes 3 Joh. 9. Hymeneus and Alexander 1 Tim. 1. 20. Hymeneus and Philetus 2 Tim. 2. 17. Alexander 2 Tim. 4. 14. Other examples Ieroboam the sonne of Nâ—bat fell from the service of God and his true worship and erected two golden calves in Dan and Bethel and when the Prophet prophesied against his Idolatry he stretched forth his hand against him which was immediately dried up But not taking warning hereby shortly after the Lord struck his sonne Abijah with siknesse whereof he died 1 Kings 14. Then was he assaulted by Abijam King of Judah and though Jeroboams Army was twice so big yet was he overthrown and lost five hundred thousand of his men besides some of his Cities and not long after himselfe was stricken by God that he died Jehoram King of Iudah though he had been religiously educated by his father Iehosaphat and had seen his zeal in purging out Idolatry and maintaining the pure service of God yet marrying Athalia the daughter of Ahab he turned an Idolater and caused the men of Judah to run a whoring after strange gods whereupon the Arabians and Philistines rose up against him wasted his countrey robbed him of his treasures took away his wives and murthered all his children save Jehoahaz his youngest sonne After which the Lord smote him with an incurable disease in his bowels so that after he had lived two yeers in grievous torments his guts fell out of his belly and he died 2 Chron. 21. Joas King of Judah who had been preserved and religiously educated by that godly High Priest Jehojadah after his death this Joas Apostatized from the service of God and fell to Idolatry For which God raised up the Syrians against him who came with a small army against a mighty host yet did they prevaile against Joas slew his Princes and carried away a great spoile to Damascus and shortly after the Lord struck Joas with grievous diseases and his own servants conspiring against him slew him the people not affording him a burial amongst the Kings 2 Chron. 24. Amaziah King of Judah began his reigne well pretending much zeal for the service of God but after a while having overcome the Edomites he brought home their gods worshipped and burned incense
the flesh Gal. 5 20. Scriptural examples Ahab and Zedekiah Jer. 29. 21. Shemaiah Jer. 29. 24 31 32. Hananiah Jer. 28. 13 27. Zedekiah 1 Kings 22. 11 24 25. Shemaiah Nehem 6. 10. Scribes and Pharisees Mat. 15. 3. 16. 6 12 Sadduces Mat. 22. 23. 16. 12. Herod Mark 8. 15. Hymeneus and Alexander 1 Tim. 1. 20. Philetus 2 Tim. 2. 17. Phygellus and Hermogenes 2 Tim. 1. 15. Balaam Revel 2. 14. Barjesus Acts 13. 6 8. Herodians Mark 3. 6. 12. 13. Noadiah Nehem. 6. 14. Jezabel Rev. 2. 20. The Arian Heresie having overspread the City of Antiochia whereupon arose a great Schisme and contention amongst the inhabitants the Lord sent a terrible Earth-quake which overthrew a great part of the City and with the Earth-quake fire also brake forth of the ground which consumed all the residue by both which multitudes of persons perished Evag. Arrius himselfe the father of that Heresie as he was easing nature in a secret place his bowels gushed our and so he died miserably Theod. Saint Augustine being to dispute with Pascentius the Ariâ—â— Pascenâ—ius requested that what passed betwixt them might not be set down in writing and afterwards made his bâ—â—gs that he had wâ—â—sted Augustine in the diâ—pâ—â—e which report was believed of all that desâ—â—ed â—t Aug. 〈◊〉 2 Ep. 17â— Simâ—n Magus after that he was so sharply reproved by â—eter wâ—nt tâ— Rome and taught many abominable heresies affirming himself to be the true God That the wâ—rlâ— was created by Angels that Christ was neither come noâ— did sufferâ— he denied the resurrection of the body brought in the promiscuous use of women used the company of one Hâ—lâ—na an harlot whom he affirmed to be the Holy Ghost and that he begat Angels of her he attempted to shew his power to the people by flying in the aire but falling down he brake his thigh and died miserably Jacks Châ—oâ— p. 186. Manas or Manicheus the Heretick denied the Old Testament called himselfe the holy Spirit and professed that he had power to work miracles whereupon he was sent for by the King of Persia to cure his sonne who lay sick of a dangerous disease but his impostures saiâ—ing and the childe dying under his hand the King caused him to be slaine and his skin taken off and to be stuffed full of chaffe and set up before the gâ—tâ— of the City Simps Nestorius the â—eretick who spake against the union of the Divine and humane nature of Christ making as it were two Christs had his blasphemous tongue â—orted in his mouth and consumed with wormes and at length the earth opened her mouth and swallowed him up Evag. Niceph. The Emperour Valence who was an Arian Heretick was overtaken by the Goths in a Village which they set on fire where in he was burnt to death leaving no successor and his name became a curse and execration to all ages Sozom. Under the reign of Adrian the Emperour there was one called Benchochab who professed himselfe to be the Messias that descended from Heaven in the likenesse of a starre to redeem the Jews whereby he drew a multitude of disciples after him but shortly after himselfe and all his followers were slaine which occasioned the Jews to call him Bencozba the sonne of a lie Eus. Gerinthus the heretick being in a Bath at Ephesus the Apostle John seeing him said to those that were with him Let us depart lest the house wherein the Lords enemy is should fall upon our heads and accordingly when he was gone it fell upon Cerinthus and his associats and killed them Eus. Montanus who denied the Divinity of Christ and called himselfe the Comforter or holy Spirit that was to come into the world And his two wives Priscilla and Maxilla he named his Prophetesses but shortly after God gave him over to despaire that he hanged himselfe Magdebur Niceph. Heraclius the Emperour infected with the Heresie of the Monothelites having raised a great Army against his enemies fifty two thousand of them died in one night whereupon he presently fell sick and died Simps Constance the Emperour a Monothelite was slaine by one of his own servants as he was washing of himselfe in a Bath Simps Constantius the Emperour a great favourer and supporter of the Arian Heresie died suddenly of an Apoplexie Socr. Cyril hath of his own knowledge recorded a wonderful judgement of God upon an Heretick in his time There was saith he presently after the death of Saint Hierom a bold and blasphemous Heretick called Sabinianus who denied the distinction of persons in the Trinity affirming the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost to be but one indistinct person and to gaine credit to his heresie he wrote a book to confirme his opinions which he published in the name of Saint Hierome whereupon Silvanus Bishop of Nazareth sharply reproved him for depraving so worthy a man now dead and to detect his falsehood agreed with Sabinianus that if Hierome did not the next day by some miracle declare his falsehood he would willingly die but if he did the other should die this being agreed upon the day following they went to the Temple at Hierusalem multitudes of people following them to see the issue and the day was now past and no miracle appeared so that Silvanus was required to yield his neck to the headsman which he willingly and confidently did but when he was ready to receive the blow something appeared like Saint Hierome and staid the blow and then vanishing presently the head of Sabinianus fell off and his carcase tumbled upon the ground Grimoald King of Lombardy an Arian Heretick being let blood for some distempers eleven dayes after as he was drawing a bowe the veine opening a new he bled to death Nestorius the Heretick being made Bishop of Constance by Theodosius bespake him thus in a Sermon O Caesar purge me the Land of Hereticks meaning the Orthodox Christians and I shall give thee Heaven Help thou me to root out them and I shall help thee to overcome thine enemies For which cause he was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or fling-fire in French Boutefeux Hist. Trip. About â—he yeere 1629. there lived at Cubbington in Warwick-shire a Gentleman called Master Griswould of a competent estate and a zealous prosessor of Religion familiarly acquainted with most of the godly Ministers and Christians thereabouts and well esteemed of by them till one Canne lately of Amsterdam falling into his acquaintance began to seduce him from his former opinions and practice causing him to scruple first joyning with our Congregations in Prayers and the Sacrament Secondly to question whether he might lawfully hear a conformable Minister though able and godly from thence he fell to separation and after a while he first questioned and after concluded that there was no true Church in the world to which he might adjoyne himselfe and therefore kept himselfe to duties with his own family and rejected all others yet staid he not long here but after
the night wherein he was borne whilest he was relating this in the Pulpit he fell down stark dead and never stirred more Act. and Mon. John Duns called Scotus borne in Emildon in Northumberland who being brought up in Merton Colledge in Oxford was wonderful well learned in Logick and in that crabbed and intricate Devinity of those dayes yet as one still doubtful and unresolved he did overcast the truth of Religion with mists of obscurity but he died miserably being taken with an Apoplexie and over-hastily buried he after a time revived and making means in vaine by a lamentable noise to call for help after he had a long time knocked his head against the grave-stone dashed out his braines and so yielded up his vital breath whereupon were made these verses Quaecunque humani fuerant jurisque sacrati In dubium veniunt cuncta vocante Scoto Quid quod in dubium illius sit vita vocata Morte illum simili ludificaute stropha Quum non ante virum vitâ jugulârit ademptâ Quà m vivus tumulo conditus ille foret All learning taught in humane books and couch'd in holy writ Duns Scotus dark and doubtful made by subtilty of wit No marvel that to doubtful tearmes of life himself was brought Whil'st with like wile and subtile trick death on his body wrought When as her stroke to kill outright she would not him vouchsafe Until that man a pitious case was buried quick in grave Camb. Brit. p. 814. Mahomet by birth an Arabian was one of the monstrousest hereticks that ever lived He came of a base stock and being fatherlesse one Abdemonoples bought him for his slave and loved him for his parts so that he made him ruler of his house about which time one Sergâ—us a Monk flying for his Heresie into Arabia instructed him in the Heresie of Nestorius A while after his Master died and Mahâ—met married his widow after whose death he grew famous for his wealth and skill in Magick Wherefore by the advice of Sergius he called himself the great prophet of God and his fame encreasing he devised a Law and wrote it which he called the Alcoran wherein he borrowed something from almost all the Heresies which were before his time With the Sabellians he denied the Trinity With the Manichees he affirmed that there were but two persons in the Deity With Eunomius he denied the equality of the Father with the Son With Macedonius he said that the Holy Ghost was a Creature and held the community of women with the Nicolaitans He borrowed of the Jews circumcision and of the Gentiles much superstition And somewhat he took from the Christian verity besides many devilish phansies invented of his own braine But when he had lived in wickednesse about fourty years God cut him off by the falling sicknesse which of a long time having been troubled with he told his seduced disciples that at those times the Angel Gabriel appeared to him whose brightnesse he could not behold A certain Jesuite in Lancashire as he was walking by the way lost his glove and one that came after him finding it followed him apace with intention to restore it but he fearing the worst being inwardly pursued with a guilty conscience ran away and hastily leaping over an hedge fell into a marle pit which was on the other side and in which he was drowned Wards Ser. Anno Christi 1591. there was one Edmund Coppinger and Henry Arthington two gentlemen who associated themselves with William Hacket sometimes a very lewd person but now converted in outward shew by whose hypocritical behaviour the aforesaid gentlemen were deluded to think that Hacket was anointed to be Judge of the world wherefore coming one day to his lodging in London Hacket told them that he had been anointed by the holy Ghost Then Coppinger asked what his pleasure was to command them Go saith he and proclaime in the City that Jesus Christ is come with his fan in his hand to judge the earth and if they will not believe you let them come and kill me if they can Coppinger answered that it should be done and so immediately he and Arthingtonâ—an â—an into the streets and proclaimed their messageâ— and when by reason of the confluence of people they could go no further they gat up into two empty carts in Cheapside crying Repent repent for Jesus Christ is come to judge the world And so pulling a paper out of their bosoms they read out of it many things touching the calling and office of Hacket as how he represented Christ by partaking of his glorified body c. They also called themselves his Prophets one of Justice the other of Mercy The City being amazed at this thing took Hacket carried him before a Justice who after examination committed him and at the Sessions being found guilty of sedition and speaking traiterous words against the Queen he was condemned and hanged on a Gibbet in Cheap-side uttering horrible blasphemies against the Majesty of God Coppinger died the next day in Bridewel and Arthington was kept in prison upon the hope of repentance Some Donatists which cast the holy elements of the Lords Supper to dogs were themselves devoured by dogs Simpson Arminius who craftily revived the heresie of Pelagius and sowed the seeds of his errors in Leiden and many other places in Holland to the great disturbance of the peace of Gods Church fell sick being grievously tormented with a cough gout ague and incessant paine in his belly with a great binding and stopping under the heart which caused him to draw his breath with much difficulty he slept also very unquietly and could not digest his meat his radical moisture dried up and he had a vehement paine in his bowels with an obstruction in his Optick sinews which made him blinde of his left eye and his right shoulder was much swolne whereby he lost the use of his right arme and thus languishing in much misery he ended his dayes October 19. 1609. Hist. of the Netherl Olympius an Arian Bishop as he was bathing himselfe at Carthage and blâ—spheming the blessed Trinity was suddenly smit from Heaven with three fiery darts and so burned to death Hist. of the Netherl Pau. Diaco In the year 1327. there was one Adam Duff an Irish man burnt at Dublin for denying the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and saying that there could not be three persons and but one God and for affirming the Virgin Mary to be an Harlot for denying the resurrection of the dead and avouching that the Sacred Scriptures were but fables Camb. Brit. Irel. p. 181. Policarp at a certaine time meeting Marcion the Heretick Marcion said unto him Doest thou not know me Yea said Policarp I know thee for the first-begotten of Satan See his Life in my first Part. Donatus the father of the Donatists about the year 331. taking offence at the choice of Caecilianus to the Bishoprick of Carthage made a schisme in the Church and fell from one error
whereupon he was deposed and banished from his Bishoprick But shortly after Gods heavy judgement falling upon the woman in her sicknesse she confessed that she was suborned by the Arians to accuse this holy man and that it was one Eustathius a Tradesman that had gotten that childe Niceph. l. 8. c. 46. See the like practice against Athanatius in his Life In my first Part of the Marrow of Ecclesiastical History In the reigne of King Canutus at a Parliament held at London the King asked the Lords and Nobles whether in the Agreement made betwixt King Edmund and him there was any mention made of the children or brethren of Edmund to have any part of the land divided to them The Lords flatteringly answered That there was none Yea they confirmed their false words with an oath thinking thereby to have procured great favour with the King But he on the contrary ever after mistrusted and disdained them especially such as had sworne fealty to King Edmund Yea some of them he exiled many he beheaded and divers of them by Gods just judgement died suddenly Speed In the Reigne of King Henry the eighth one Richard Long bore false witnesse against a Minister in Calice falsly accusing him for eating meat in Lent But shortly after Gods wrath did lie so heavy upon his conscience that he desperately drowned himselfe Aze Mon. About the same time Gregory Bradway accused one Brook falsly for stealth but shortly after through terrors of conscience he sought to cut his own throat but being prevented he fell mad In Queen Maries dayes one William Feming accused an honest man called John Cooper because he would not fell him two bullocks as if he had spoken traiterous words against the Queen and suborned two false witnesses to depose it Cooper was hanged and quartered and all his goods taken from his wife and nine children but shortly after one of these false witnesses being well and at harvest-work was stricken by God so that his bowels fell out and he died miserably See My English Martyrology The Egyptians had no punishment for lying and therefore no measure in lying One Thespis a Poet in Athens made a play wherewith the Citizens were much delighted and grave Solon himselfe went to see it but when the play was ended wherein Thespis himselfe acted a part Solon called him to him and asked him if he were not ashamed to lie so openly in the face of all the City Thespis answered that it made no matter so long as it was but in sport But Solon beating the ground with his staffe said If we commend or allow lying in sport we shall shortly finde it used in good earnest in all our bargaines and dealings Plut. Artaxerxes M. having found one of his souldiers in a lie caused his tongue to be thrust through with three needles Plut. Putting away lying speake every man the truth with his neighbour for we are members one of an other Eph. 4. 25. CHAP. XXIX Examples of Childrens Obedience and Love to their Parents COmmanded Eph. 6. 1. and why v. 2. Col 3. 20. Prov. 4. 1. 6. 20. Exod. 20. 12. Deut. 5. 16. Mat. 15. 4. 19. 19. Mark 7. 10. 10. 19. Luk. 18. 20. Commended Mal. 1. 6. Scriptural Examples Shem and Japhet Gen. 9. 23. Isaac Gen. 22. 6 c. Jacob Gen. 28. 1 5. Ioseph Gen. 37. 13. Ruth Chap. 1. 16 17. Solomon 1 King 2. 19. Other examples Pomponius Atticus making the funeral Oration at his mothers death protested that having lived with her sixty and seven years he was never reconciled to her Because said he there never happened betwixt us the least jarre which needed reconciliation In vita Attici Cyrus King of Persia having overcome Croesus King of Lydia in battel Croesus fled into the City of Sardis but Cyrus following took the City by storme and a souldier running after Croesus with his sword Croesus his sonne that had been dumb all his life-time before with the violence of natural affection seeing his father in such danger suddenly cryed out O man kill not Croesus and so continued to speak all his life after Pez Mel. Hist. Miltiades a famous Captaine of the Athenians died in prison for debt his sonne Cimon to redeeme his fathers body for burial voluntarily went into the prison and submitted to be cast into chaines there till the debt was paid Iustin. Cleobis and Biton two brethren in Greece loved their mother dearly insomuch as she being to go to Juno's Temple in her coach drawn by two oxen the oxen being out of the way they willingly harnessed themselves and drew her thither she much rejoycing that she had borne two such sonnes Plut. Olympias the mother of Alexander M. was very severe and morose in her carriage towards him and once Antipater Alexanders deputy in Europe wrote large letters of complaint against her to whom he returned this answer Knowest thou not that one little teare of my mothers will blot out a thousand of thy letters of complaint Plut. King Demetrius being overcome by Seleucus and taken prisoner his sonne Antigonus hearing of it mourned exceedingly and wrote lamentably to Seleucus in the behalfe of his father proffering to deliver up into his hands all the Countreys which he yet held and to become a pledge himselfe for his father so that he might be delivered out of captivity Diod. Sic. The carriage of Master Herbert Palmer towards his parents was very dutifull and obsequious not only during his minority but even afterwards which was very evident in that honour and respect which he continued to expresse to his aged mother to the day of her death being also a special help to her in the wayes of holinesse See his Life at the end of my General Martyrology Honour thy father and thy mother that thy dayes may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Exod. 20. 12. CHAP. XXX Examples of Gods judgements upon Unnatural and rebellious children Such were to be punished with death Exod. 21. 17. Levit. 20. 9. Mat. 15. 4. Mark 7. 10. Prov. 20. 20. Deut. 21. 18. c. Such are cursed Deut. 27. 16. It 's a damnable sinne 1 Tim. 1. 9. Rom. 1. 31. 2 Tim. 3. 3. Prov. 30. 11. Scriptural examples Simeon and Levi Gen. 34. 30. Elies sons 1 Sam. 2. 25. C ham for mocking the nakednesse of his father Noah was cursed by him Gen. 9. 25. Absalom for rebelling against his father David was hanged by his head and thrust through by Joab 2 Sam. 18. Adramelech and Sharaser that slew their father Sennacherib to enjoy his Kingdome were banished into Armenia and Esarhaddon succeeded his father 2 King 19. ult Crannius the son of Clotharius King of France conspired treacherously and raised warre against his father but being vanquished as together with his wife and children he was flying thinking to escape by sea being overtaken by the command of his father they were all shut up in a little house and so burned
brave Captaines because he had been a familiar friend to Calisthenes and thereupon caused him to be cast naked to a most fierce Lion but when the Lion came roaring upon him Lysimachus wrapped his shirt about his arme and thrusting his hand into the Lions mouth and taking fast hold of his tongue he slew the Lion which Alexander being informed of having his valour in admiration he not only forgave him but esteemed him more highly then ever before Q. Cur. Alexander M. being very swift of foot when he was young some of his followers asked him if he would not runne in the Olympick games Yea truly said he of Kings will contend with me therein Justin. When he heard of any great City that his father had taken he used to be very sorrowfull and to say to his companions My father will take away all occasions from me of atchieving any great matters A gallant horse called Bucephalus being proffered to King Philip and prized at eight thousand seven hundred crownes he refused to give it because he would let none get upon his back Alexander being by and seeing their error in setting him so that their shadow frighted him he would needs lay the price of the horse with his father that he would back him and accordingly turning him on the other side where the horse might not see his shadow he mounted on his back and rode him up and down His father wondering at his Magnanimity when he alighted kissed him and said O my sonne thou must seek out some other Kingdomes for Macedonia is too little for thee Diod. Sic. Q. Cur. Porus an Indian King fighting valiantly against Alexander received many wounds and at last falling into his enemies hands they led him to Alexander who hearing of his coming went forth with some of his friends to meet him and asked him what he would have him to do for him Porus answered Only that thou use me like a King Alexander being taken with his Magnanimity said This I will do for mine one sake but what shall I do for thee for thy sake Porus answered That all was contained in his former demand of Kingly usage This so pleased Alexander that he restored him to his Kingdome and gave him another bigger then his own Q Cur. Demetrius the son of Antigonus fighting against Ptolomaeus King of Egypt was overthrowne in the battel and losing his carriages he lost all his furniture and apparel with them but Ptolomaeus sent him back these together with his friends that were taken prisoners saying That he fought with him only for glory and Empire Demetrius was so affected herewith that he prayed to the gods to give him an opportunity that he might not be long in Ptolomaeus his debt but might requite him with the like courtesie which shortly after fell out for in another battel Demetrius overcame Ptolomy and rejoyced not so much for what he had gotten as that hereby he could retaliate Ptolomies kindnesse which accordingly he did by a free release of all his captives Plut. Julius Caesar was of a most magnanimous resolution insomuch as being forewarned of the conspiracy that was made against him in the Senate he answered Morise quà m timere malle that he had rather die then admit of feare Plut. Subrius Flavius a Tribune of the Praetorian souldiers having with others conspired the death of Nero the conspiracy being discovered Nero asked him why contrary to his oath and duty he had made one against him he stoutly answered Because I hated thee and yet there was not one in thine army more loyal then my selfe all the while thou deservedst love but after thou hadst murthered thy mother and wife and hadst turned Charioteer Stage-player and Boutefeux I could no longer endure thee Suet. Sulpicius Afer a Centurian and another of the conspirators to the like question returned this blunt answer Because saith he there was no other way to help thee but to rid thee out of the world Suet. Mardonius being left with a great Army in Greece after Xerxes his returne into Asia he sent Ambassadors to the Athenians perswading them to make peace with him making many golden promises to them if they would do it the Lacedaemonians hearing of it sent their Ambassadors also to them to disswade them from it shewing how dishonourable it would be to them and dangerous to all Greece and the better to prevaile they sent them word that whereas their houses had been burnt and their harvest spoiled by the Persians they would provide for their wives and children so long as the warre lasted To the Persian Ambassadors the Athenians answered that they scorned so long as the Sunne kept his course to make any friendship with the Persians whom they hoped by the assistance of the gods to drive out of their Countrey To the Lacedaemonians they answered that knowing the valour of the Athenians they marvelled why they should suspect their complying with the Persians assuring them that the greatest promises in the world could not make them unfaithful to their Countrey nor to agree with the Persians whil'st there was any one of them alive and for their proffer to provide for their wives and children they gave them hearty thanks for the same but withall told them that they hoped they should be able to provide for them themselves and therefore would not be burthensome unto others Herod King Porsenna making warre against the Romanes the Consul Publicola â—allied out against him betwixt whom began an hot skirmish neer Tyber and the enemies exceeding in number Publicola fighting valiantly was wounded so dangerously that he was carried away by his souldiers which so discouraged his Army that they fled towards the City the enemies pursuing them to the wooden bridge whereby Rome was in danger to be taken But Horatius Cocles with two other young Noblemen made head upon the bridge against them till the bridge was broken down behinde them then Cocles armed as he was and hurt in the hip with a pike leaped into Tyber and swam to the other side of the river Publicola admiring his valour gave him an annual pension for his life and so much land as he could compasse about in a day with a plough Plut. Whil'st Porsenna besieged Rome a citizen called Mutius devising how he might kill him disguised himselfe and went into his army and speaking the Tuscan language perfectly was admitted into the Kings presence but not knowing him he drew his sword and slew one that was neer him mistaking him for the King hereupon he was apprehended and Porsenna calling for a pan of coales caused his right hand to be held over it till the flesh fried and the sinewes shrunk yet did Mutius all the while look upon the King with an undaunted countenance which Porsenna wondering at caused the fire to be removed and his sword to be restored to him which he taking with his left hand was thence called Scaevola Plut. Aristomenes King of the Messenians was a very gallant
by his own sonne that he might seize upon his riches but whil'st he was stooping down to draw forth bags full of gold out of a Chest the same person caused his braines to be beaten out French History Selimus a cruel and bloody Emperour of the Turks intending to turne all his powers against the Christians was suddenly attached by the hand of God being struck in the reines of the back with a Cancer which contemning all cure did by little and little so eate and corrupt his body that he became loathsome both to himselfe and others and so rotting above ground died miserably Turk Hist. Agathocles a bloody Tyrant of Syracuse after many most horrible murthers committed by him lived to see most of his family slaine and himselfe devested of his Kingdome After which he was taken with a grievous sicknesse wherein his whole body rotted which spread it selfe through all his veines and sinews wherewith in short time he ended his accursed life Robert Erle of Fife in Scotland being advanced by his brother King Robert the third to be the first Duke of Albany afterwards ungratefull person that he was pricked on with the spirit of Ambition famished to death David his said brothers son who was heir to the Crown but the punishment due for this fact which himself by the long sufferance of God felt not His son Mordac the second Duke of Albany suffered most grievously being condemned for treason and beheaded when he had seen his two sons the day before executed in the same manner Camb. Brit. Scot. p. 39. King Richard the third of England who caused his two Nephews most unnaturally to be murthered in the Tower and shed much other innocent blood by Gods just judgement had his onely son taken away by death and himself was slain in Bosworth-field his carrion carcasse being found naked among the slain filthily polluted with blood and dirt was cast upon an horse behinde a pursuivant at Armes his head and armes hanging down on the one side of the horse and his legs on the other like a Calfe and so was interred at Leicester with as base a Funerall as he formerly bestowed upon his Nephews in the Tower Eng. Hist. Iames Tyrell Iohn Dighton and Miles Forrest who were procured by this King Richard to murther the two young Princes entering into their Chamber about midnight so bewrapped them among the clothes keeping down the Feather-bed and Pillows hard unto their mouths that within a while they were smothered but these Murtherers escaped not long the vengeance of God for Miles Forrest by peecemeale rotted away Dighton lived at Calis so disdained and hated that he was pointed at of all men and there died in much misery and Sir Iames Tyrell was beheaded on Tower-Hill for Treason Act. Mon. Senercleus relateth the just hand of God upon that villainous parricide Alphonsus Diazius a Popish Spaniard who after he had like another Cain murthered his own naturall brother Iohn Diazius meerly because he had renounced Popery and became a Professor of the reformed Religion and was not onely not punished but highly commended of the Romanists for his heroical atchievement as they called it being haunted and hunted by the furies of his own conscience desperately hanged himself at Trent about the neck of his own Mule Some bloody villains basely murthered Theodorick B. of Trever But Gods just judgments overtook all the murtherers For Conrade the chief author died suddenly A souldier that helped to throw him down the rock was chok'd as he was at supper and two other servants that assisted desperately slew themselves Marti The Cardinall of Winchester commonly called the rich Cardinall who procured the death of the good Duke of Glocester in the reign of King Henry the sixth was shortly after struck with an incurable disease who understanding by his Physicians that he could not live murmuring and repining thereat he cried out Fie will not death be hired will money do nothing must I die that have so great riches If the whole realme would save my life I am able either by policy to get it or by riches to buy it But yet all would not prevail but that he died of the same disease Sp. Chr. See the Example of Scedasus's daughters in Rapes Olympias the mother of Alex M. being a woman of a proud and revengefull disposition having gotten Eurydice Queen of Macedonia into her hands sent her a sword an halter and a cup of poison giving her leave to choose with which of them she would kill her self Eurydice seeing them prayed to the gods that she that sent her those presents might her self partake of the like and so hanged her self But shortly after the Divine â—ustice met with Olympias who by the appointment of Cassander one of her sons Captains was murthered Diod. Sic. Justin This Cassander murthered also the two wives of Alex. and their sons and thereby seized upon the Kingdome of Macedonia but shortly after God plagued him with a filthy disease in his body whereby wormes were bred that devoured him his eldest son Philip died of a consumption Antipater his second son slew his own mother Thessalonica and was himself slain by his father in law Lysimachus and Alexander the youngest son was treacherously slain by Demetrius and so the whole family of Cassander was rooted out Plut. Examples of selfe Murther Calanus an Indian Philosopher followed Alexander M. when he returned out of India who having lived seventy three years without any disease was at last taken with a dysenterie and fearing that his former felicity should be overclouded with a lingring disease he asked leave of Alexander that he might burn himself the King laboured to disswade him from his unnaturall purpose but when he could not prevail by arguments he gave his consent whereupon Calanus caused a pile of wood to be made and riding to it he made his prayers to his Countrey gods and so with a cheerfull countenance he ascended the pile and causing the fire to be put to it he sate with a fixt and unmovable body till he was burned to ashes Q. Cur. Alex. M. besieging one of the Indian Cities the inhabitants seeing that they could hold out no longer shut up themselves their wives and children in their houses and set fire on them Alexanders men breaking in laboured to quench the fire and the others laboured as much to encrease it so that it was a strange thing to see the fight that was betwixt one to destroy themselves the other to save their enemies Quin. Cur. Demosthenes the Athenian Orator for standing for the liberty of Greece was hated by Antipater the Governour of Macedonia who sent some to kill him under Captain Archia whereupon Demosthenes took sanctuary in Neptunes Temple But Archia sent to him to come out of the Temple so that Demosthenes perceiving that they were resolved to have his life he took some poison which he had ready for the purpose and so presently died Plut. Perdiccas besieging the
provided them meat and drink dressed their wounds and carrying them home to their houses shewed them that they were Mistresses there with their husbands highly loved and honoured by them So that in the end a peace was concluded and amongst other Articles of agreement these were some that the Sabine women should remaine with their husbands that they should be exempted from all service and work save spinning of wooll that they should have the upperhand of their husbands that the men should speak no foule nor dishonest words nor discover their nakednesse before them c. Plut. A woman of another Countrey being in talk with Gorgona the wife of Leonidas King of Sparta said to her There be no wives in the world that so much love and commend their husbands as you Lacedemonian wives do the Queen straight replied Neither be there any women but we that bring forth men Plut. Numa enacted a Law amongst the Romanes that when any man died his wife should remaine a widow for the space of ten moneths Augustus Caesar died in the kisses of his wife Livia of whom he took this farewell Livia nostri conjugii memor vive vale She was alwayes exceeding dear to him and being asked how she kept his love so long she answered Quòd diligenter prudenter agens summum adhibuisset studium ut omnia faceret ex animo Augusti nec curiose perquisivisset quidquam eorum quae Augustus faceret Plut. Portia the daughter of Cato was married to M. Brutus who having conspired with some others the death of Iulius Caesar was something melancholy and troubled in minde about the thing his wife Portia observing it and being grieved that her husband should conceale any thing from her she took a rasour and wounded her thigh and losing much blood fell into a feaver Her husband coming home and hearing of the sicknesse of his wife was much grieved and went to visit her She taking the opportunity they being alone said thus unto him My deare husband sit down and let us talke seriously together when I married you I came to your house as a wife not as a friend or harlot and gave up my self unto you not onely at bed and board but as a companion of all your joy and sorrows I am Cato's daughter and I desire that you will take notice of what stock I come What therefore shall I complaine of you truly I cannot do it in other things onely one thing troubles me that you make me not a partaker of your secrets as doubting of my fidelity and taciturnity you cannot dissemble with me I discerne that your minde is full of trouble and there is some great secret that you are about Why do you conceale it from me if you cannot expect help yet expect comfort from me and I will assure you of my silence Do not consider what others of my sex are but remember againe that I am Cato's daughter and Brutus's wife either nature from my father or custome from my husband hath made me valiant and constant so as not to fear any danger What need more words I have made trial of myself by this wound the smart and paine whereof I can easily beare yea assure your self that I can die with Brutus and for my husband Wherefore if thou art about any honest thing that beseemes us both do not conceale it from me Brutus wondring at her courage kissed her and with his hand lift up to heaven he said O ye Celestial gods I pray you make me an husband fit for such a wife and so discloseth the whole matter to her Afterwards when she heard of his death after the battel in the Philippic fields she resolved to die and being for a while hindred by those about her she at last snatched some burning coles out of the fire and putting them into her mouth and throat suffocated herself Lipsius See the Example of Zenobia in Fortitude Licurgus the Lacedemonian Lawgiver enacted that all they should be infamous that would not marry So that on a time Dercillides a Noble Captaine coming into a place there was a young man that refused to rise up and do him reverence for said he Thou hast not gotten a son that may do the like to me in time to come Plut. Solon the Athenian Lawgiver ordeined that no joyntures nor dowries should be given or made to maides at marriage commanding that wives should bring to their husbands no more then three gownes and some other movables of small value Utterly forbidding that they should buy their husbands or make merchandize of marriages as of other trades he willed that men and women should marry together for issue pleasure and love but not for money Plut. Two men being suiters to the daughter of Themistocles he preferred the honester before the richer saying that he had rather have to his sonne in Law a man that wanted goods then goods that wanted a man Plut. A Virgin of Lacaena being poore was demanded what dower she had to bring to an husband and to marry her with she answered That which was left me as an inheritance from mine Ancestors viz. Vertue and Modesty Hist. of women p. 331. It was a custome among the Grecians for the bride to be carried through the streets in a Chariot the Axeltree whereof at her coming home was taken off and burned before the gates of her house to signifie that she must ever after be an houswife and keepe within as a faithful and industrious overseer of their domestick affaires and businesse Hist. of women p. 336. Prince Edward of England whilest he was warring in Palestine against the Turks was stabbed by an Assâ—ssine with a poisoned knife but by the diligence of his Chirurgions and the unparallel'd love of his wife who sucked the poison out of his wounds without doing any hurt to her selfe he quickly recovered so sovereigne a medicine is a womans tongue anointed with the vertue of loving affections Holy Warre The Emperour Conrade besieging the City of Winsperge in Germany and the women perceiving that the Town could not hold out long petitioned the Emperour that they might depart onely with so much as each of them could carry upon her back which the Emperour condescended unto expecting that they would have loaden themselves with silver gold c. but they came all forth with every one her husband on her back whereby the men were all saved and their wives gat immortal credit to themselves Rubenius Celer would needs have it ingraven on his Tombe that he had lived with his wife Ennea fourty three years and eight moneths and yet they never fell out The Lord of Harlem in the Low-countries having by his exactions and cruelty made himself odious to all his people was together with his wife besieged in his Castle by them and so prest for want of victuals that he was compelled to enter into treaty His wife a true mirrour of piety and love towards her husband amongst other Articles
capitulated that she might have so much of her most precious movables as she could carry out at one time the which being granted she with the help of her chamber maid carried her husband lockt in a chest out of the Castle leaving all her rings and jewels behinde her Belg. Com. Wealth p. 55. In a great battel fought betwixt Selimus the Great Turk and the Persians wherein the Turks had the better amongst the heaps of the slaine Persians were found the dead bodies of many women who being armed and following their husbands died with them in the battel Turk Hist. p. 512. Antonia Flaxilla when her husband Priscus was banished by Nero whereas she might have enjoyed all the abundance and plenty in Rome left all the pleasures and delights of the City to accompany her desolate Lord in his penurious and uncomfortable banishment Hist. of women A Reverend man seeing a very Cholerick couple that were married together live very lovingly and peaceably asked them how they could so sweetly confort together to whom the man answered When my wives fit is upon her I yield to her as Abraham did to Sarah and when my fit is upon me she yields to me and so we never strive together but asunder In the Bohemian Persecution we read of the Major of Litomeritia who apprehended twenty four godly Citizens of whom his own sonne in Law was one and after he had almost pined them in prison he adjudged them to be drowned in the river Albis whereupon his daughter wringing her hands and falling at her fathers feet besought him to spare her husband but he harder then a rock bade her hold her peace saying What can you not have a worthier husband then this to which she answered You shall never more espouse me to any and so beating her breast tearing her haire she followed her husband to the river and when he was cast into the middest of the river bound she leaped in and caught him about the middle but being unable to draw him forth they were both drowned together and the next day were found embracing one another See my Gen. Martyr p. 151. A young and beautiful maide was matched to a man stricken in years whom after she found to have a very fulsome and diseased body yet out of conscience being by Gods providence become his wife she most worthily digested with incredible patience and contentment the languishing and loath somenesse of an husband continually visited with variety of most irkesome and infectious diseases and though friends and Physicians advised her by no means to come neere him for feare of danger and infection yet she passing by with a loving disdaine and contempt these unkinde disswasions plied him still night and day with extraordinary tendernesse and care and services of all sorts above her strength and ability she was to him friends Physician Husband Nurse yea she was Father Mother Brother Sister Daughter every thing any thing to do him good any manner of way she was full of merciful and melting affections towards him for falling into want by reason of extraordinary expence and excessive charges about him she sold her Chaines Rings and richest Attire she emptied her cupboard of Plate her Chabinet of chiefest and choisest Jewels to do him good and when he was dead and friends came about her rather to congratulate her happy riddance then to bewaile her widowhood she did not onely abhorre and deprecate all speeches tending that way but protested if it were possible she would willingly redeeme her husbands life with the losse of her five dearest children and though as yet the flower and prime of her beautifullest and best time was not expired yet she strongly resolved against a second match Because said she I shall not finde a second Valdaura for so her husband was called Vives Lib. 2. De Christiana foemina pag. 360. An unnatural Husband In the time of the fourth Persecution there was in Egypt a woman married to an husband that was given much to the sinne of uncleannesse which when by no meanes she could reforme in him she sued out a bill of Divorce whereupon this wretched man went and accused her to the Governour that she was a Christian and so caused her to be put to death A Wife murthering her Husband Semiramis the wife of Ninus being very witty and beautiful woman whom her husband loved exceedingly as she was one day in discourse with him told him that she was exceeding desirous of a thing yet because of the greatnesse of it she durst not discover it nor could hope to prevaile Ninus not fearing her subtilty báde her tell him what it was She answered that he should deliver to her the Government of his Empire for five dayes which when she had obtained she caused her husband to be slaine and so usurped the Government of the Empire into her own hands Diod. Sic. Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it Cant. 8. 7. CHAP. XXXVIII Examples of Treachery and Perfidiousness Complained of Isa. 21. 2. 24. 16. Jer. 9. 2. Lam. 1. 2. Mal. 2. 10. Scriptural Examples Men of Sechem Judg. 9. 23. Jacobs sons Gen. 34. 13. Gibeonites Jos. 9. 4. Joab 2 Sam. 3. 27. 20. 9. Rechab and Baanah 2 Sam. 4. 7. Absalom 2 Sam. 13. 23. Men of Judah Jer. 3. 7 c. 9. 2. Mal. 2. 10 c. See more in Murther Judas Mat. 26. 48. The Lacedemonians having intelligence that their King Pausanias treacherously held correspondence with their enemy Xerxes they sent for him home and when he came back perceiving that his treason was discovered he took sanctuary in the Temple of Pallas and the Lacedemonians fearing to violate the priviledge of the place durst not fetch him out to punishment whereupon Pausanias his mother took a brick and said it in the door of the Temple and the other Lacedemonians seeing it they all brought bricks and made up the doore whereby Pausanias perished of famine Herod When the Sabines came against Rome and besieged the Castle where Tarpeius was Governour his daughter Tarpeia contracted with them to betray the Castle into their hands upon condition that they would give her all the golden bracelets which they wore upon their left armes to this the Sabines agreed and she in the night-time opened a posterne and let them in and afterwards when she challenged her reward Tacius the Sabine General bade all his souldiers do as he did and withall he threw his bracelet at her and his buckler also which he wore on his left arme and all the souldiers doing the like she was pressed down with the weight of them and died immediately and so received the just reward of her treachery Antigonus was not singular when he said that he loved them that did betray but hated them that had betrayed Nor Augustus Cesar who told Rymitalces the Thracian that he loved the treason but hated the traytor Plut. Camillus with the Romane Army besieged
honestate quà m sol à cursu suo averti potest It's easier to turne the Sun out of his course then Fabricius from his honesty Eutropius Marcus Attilius Regulus a Romane Consull fighting in Affrica against the Carthaginians was at last by subtility taken prisoner Yet was sent to Rome for the exchange of prisoners upon his oath that in case he prevailed not he should return and yield up himself prisoner to them again when he came to Rome he made a speech in the Senate-house to disswade them from accepting of the conditions and so without respecting his wife and children he returned to Carthage where he was grievously tormented in a Little-Ease knocked full of nailes that he could neither leane sit nor lie till he died Cicero When the Corps of Thomas Howard second Duke of Norfolk was carried to be interred in the Abbey of Thetford Anno 1524. No person could demand of him one groat for debt or restitution for any injury done by him Weav Fun. Mon. p. 839. It was said of the famous Lawyer Andreas Taraquillus that singulis annis singulos libros liberos Reipublicae dedit Thuanus Obit Doct. vir anno 1558. In the dayes of Queen Mary Judge Morgan chief Justice of the Common Pleas refusing to admit any witnesse to speak or any other matter to be heard in favour of the adversary her Majesty being party the Queen declared that her pleasure was that whatsoever could be brought in favour of the Subject should be admitted and heard Qui pro veritate est pro Rege est Holinsh. in Q. Mary p. 1112. A certaine Lawyer in France was so much delighted in Law-sport that when Lewis the King offered to ease him of a number of suits he earnestly besought his Highnesse to leave him some twenty or thirty behinde wherewith he might merrily passe away the time we have too many such that love to fish in troubled waters Bassanus King of the Sicambrians was so severe in the execution of his laws that he executed his own sonne for adultery and being reviled by his wife for it he put her away sending her back to her father who was King of the Orcades Isac Chron. p. 152. Henry the fourth King of England when his eldest sonne the Prince of Wales was by the Lord chief Justice committed to prison for affronting him on the bench gave thanks to God for that he had a Judge so impartial in executing justice and a sonne so obedient as to submit to such a punishment Speed A Judge in Germany aggravating the fault of a murtherer that was before him told him that he deserved no favour for that he had killed six men No my Lerd said an Advocate that stood by he killed but one and you are guilty of the blood of the other five because you let him escape upon the murther of the first The Egyptian Kings usually and solemnly presented this oath to their Judges Not to swarve from their consciences no though they should receive a command from themselves to the contrary It 's a principle in moral policy That an ill executor of the Laws is worse in a State then a great breaker of them Pericles a famous Oratour of Greece who for the excellency of his speech and mightinesse of his eloquence was said to thunder and lighten at the Barre from the Principles of nature ever before he pleaded a cause intreated his gods that not a word should fall from him besides his cause An old woman complaining to the Emperour Adrian of some wrong that was done her her he told her that he was not at leasure to heare her suit to whom she plainly replied That then he ought not to be at leasure to be Emperour which came so to the quick that he was ever after more facile to suitours Fulgâ— Lewis the first King of France used three dayes in the week publickly to hear the complaints and grievances of his people and to right their wrongs A Macedonian Gentleman called Pausanias ran at King Philip and slew him because he had refused to do him justice when he complained against a Peer of the Realme Some of the kindred of Tatius King of the Romans robbed and murthered certain Ambassadours that were going to Rome for which their â—â—â—â—olk demanded justice of Tatius but he connâ—ving at the wrong because of his relation to them the kindred of the slaine watched their opportunity and slew him as he was sacrificing to his gods Plut. Lewis called Saint Lewis of France having given a pardon to a Malefactor upon second thoughts revoked it again saying That he would give no pardon where the Law did not pardon For that it was a work of mercy and charity to punish an offendor and not to punish crimes was as much as to commit them A certaine husbandman coming to Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lincolne challenged kindred of him and thereupon desired him to preferre him to such an office Cousen quoth the Bishop if your cart be broken I will mend it If your plâ—ugh be old I will give you a new one or seed to sowe your land But an husbandman I found you and an husbandman I will leave you Domitius the Emperour used to say that he had rather seem cruel in punishing then to be dissolute in sparing It was said of Chilperick King of France that he was Titularis non Tutelaris Rex Defuit Reipublicae non praefuit Cambyses King of Persia dying without issue his Nobles agreed that his horse that should first neigh at the place where they appointed to meet the next morning he should be their King Whereupon Ocbares Gentleman of the horse to Darius led his horse over-night to that place and let him there cover a Mare and the next morning when they were all met Darius his horse knowing the place and missing the Mare neighed and so Darius was presently saluted for King Herod l. 5. St. Bernards counsel to Eugenius was that he should so rule the people as that they might prosper and grow rich under him and not he be wealthy by the people It was observed of Varus Governour of Syria that he came poore into the Countrey and found it rich but departed thence rich and left the Countrey poore Ptolomaeus Lagi though a great King yet never had but little of his own and his usual saying was That it was fit for a King rather to make others rich then to be rich himselfe Plut. Tiberius Caesar being solicited by the Governours of his Provinces to lay greater taxes and subsidies upon his people answered That a good shepherd ought to sheare his sheep not flay them St. Lewis King of France on his death-bed advised his sonne never to lay any taxe upon his subjects but when necessity urged him and when there was just cause for it Otherwise saith he you will not be reputed for a King but a Tyrant The Emperour Theodosius was wont to say That he accounted it a greater honour to be a member
condemne him to death Theramenes hearing it fled to the Altar saying I flie to this Altar not that I think it will save my life but that I may shew that these Tyrants are not onely cruel towards men but prophane and wicked towards the gods Critias commanded armed men to fetch him away to his death and as they led him through the City he cried out against the Tyrants cruelty whereupon one of their Captaines said to him Flebis si non silebis Thou shalt weep if thou wile not hold thy peace to whom he answered Annon fleba si tacebo Shall I not weep if I do hold my peace when they put the cup of poison into his hand he drank it off and throwing away the bottome he said I drink this to faire Critias After his death they raged more extremely filling all places with rapines and slaughter and not suffering the friends of the murthered to interre their dead bodies Having amongst others slaine one Phidon they at their feast sent for his daughters to come and dance naked upon the floore that was defiled with their fathers blood but the maides abominating such immanity threw themselves down from an high place and brake their necks And to fill up the measure of the Athenians miseries whereas many thousands of them were â—led or banished into all the neighbouring countreys of Greece their proud insulting adversaries the Lacedemonians forbade all persons to entertaine any of these miserable exiles but to returne them to the Tyrants again and that upon the paine of forfeitting three thousand crowns Diod. Sic. Lysander King of Sparta when the Argives came to Lacedemon to dispute about the borders of their country pleading that they had ajuster cause then the Lacedemonians he drew his sword and said They that can hold this best can best dispute about their coasts Xenoph. Alexander the Tyrant of Thessaly was of such a cruel nature that he buried many of his Subjects alive others he sowed up in the skins of boares and beares and worried them with his dogs others he thrust through with darts and that not for any offences that they had done but meerely to make himself sport and when he had gathered the inhabitants of two confederate Cities about him as if he had something to impart to them he caused his guard to fall upon them and murther them all without distinction of Sex age or condition He slew his own uncle Polyphron and then consecrated the speare wherewith he did it to the gods But not long aâ—ter himself was slaine by the conspiracy of his own wife Plut. Euphron the Lacedemonian having made himself a Tyrant in the City of Cicyon was shortly after murthered by the Senators as he sat in counsel with them who defended themselves by this Apology quòd qui manifesti sceleris proditionis tyrannidis rei sunt non sententiâ âliqua dammandi videantur sed ab omnibus hominibus jam antè dammati sunt quòd nulla Graecorum lex ostendi possit quae proditionibus aut Tyrannis securitatem praestet That those which are guilty of Treason and Tyranny need not to be proceeded against in a legal way for that they are before-hand condemned in all mens judgements neither was there any law amongst the Grecians that gave security to traitours and Tyrants Plut Ochus King of Persia succeeding his father Artaxeâ—xes Mnemon presently after his getting the Kingdome filled and defiled all his palace with blood murthered all the Princes and Royal seed without any respect of age or sex and yet through Gods patience he lived ninety three years and reigned fourty three years Diod. Sic. But in the end growing odious and burthensome to all by reason of his bloodshed and cruelty one of his Eunuches called Bagoas poisoned him and threw his dead body to be devoured of cats AElian Lib. 6. Alexander M. after his great victories grew proud and tyrannical and upon bare suspition he cruelly tortured Philotas one of his brave captaines the sonne of Parmenio who had a chief hand in all his victories and after grievous torments caused him to be slaine and not content therewith thinking that his father might seek to revenge the wrong he caused him to be murthered also Qu. Cur. See Alexander M. also in Anger Alexander M. as he was rowing upon a lake in his galley neer Babylon a sudden tempest arising blew off his hat and crown fastened upon it into the lake whereupon one of his Mariners leaping into the lake swam and fetched it to him and to keep it the drier he put it upon his own head Alexander rewarded him with a talent for saving his Crown but withall caused his head to be cut off for presuming to put his Crown upon it Plut. Dionysius the Sicillian Tyrant was so suspicious of every one that he durst not suffer a Barber to trim him but caused his daughters to do it neither when they were grown to womans estate durst he suffer them to use any sizers or rasour about him but caused them to burn his haire with burning walnut-shells He had two wives and when he lodged with either of them he carefully searched all the chamber before he went to bed He durst not come amongst them when he was to speak to the people but spake out of an high Tower to them When he was going to play at tennis he gave his cloke and sword to a boy that waited on him whereupon one said to him Sir you have now put your life into his hands at which the boy smiled whereupon Dionysius caused them both to be slaine the man for teaching the boy how to kill him and the boy for laughing at it There was one Damocles a great slatterer of his who told him what an happy man he was that did so abound in riches Majesty Power c. affirming that there was never any man more happy then himselfe Well said Dionysius wilt thou O Damocles try how happy a man I am seeing thou doest so admire my condition Yea said Damocles with all my heart Hereupon Dionysius caused him to be cloathed in Kingly apparel to be set upon a golden seat in a room richly hung and curiously adorned with pictures then a table to be furnished with all sorts of dainty dishes with a company of beautifull boyes to waite upon him He had also precious ointments Crownes musick and what not So that Domacles thought himselfe a woundroâ—s happy man But presently Dionysius caused a sharp glittering sword tied in an horse-haire to be hung just over his head the terrour whereof so afflicted Damocles lest it should fall on his head that he durst not stirre nor enjoy any of those felicities whereupon he sent to the Tyrant desiring him to give him leave to go away for he desired that happinesse no longer Citero Antiochus Epiphanes warring against Egypt Ptolomy the King of Egypt sent to the Senate at Rome to make them his Guardians and to desire their help against Antiochus
out of the battel and at night the weather being hot he was extreme thirsty and could get nothing to drink whereupon his Eunuches ran up and down to seeke him some water and at last they met with a poore fellow that had gotten some stinking puddle water in a fiâ—thy vessel this they took and carried to the King who drank it all off and when one of them asked him whether that filthy water did not offend him he swore that he never drank such a sweet draught either of wine or water in his life before and therefore he prayed the gods that if he could not reward the poore man that brought it yet that they would make him both blessed and rich for his labour Plut. Philip King of Macedon in the midst of all his glory when he had conquered divers Kingdomes and was chosen by all Greece Captaine General against the Persians upon a festival day at the marriage of his daughter and the Coronation of his sonne Alexander was suddenly stabbed by Pausanias to whom he had formerly denied Justice Diod. Sic. See more of it in Sodomy Alexander M. having overcome Darius went to Babylon where he had the City and Castle delivered up to him and there in infinite treasures from thence he went to Susa which being also surrendred to him he found there fifty thousand Talents in bullion and such abundance of riches as the Persian Kings had for a long time heaped up together leaving it from father to son all which in one houre came into his hands that never cared for it From thence he went to Persepolis which had in it a farre greater Masse of treasure it being the richest City then under the Sunne there he found one hundred and twenty thousand Talents of money and as much other treasures as twenty thousand Mules and ten thousand Camels could carry away much whereof had been reserved there from Cyrus his time Alexander setting himselfe down in the Kings throne it was so high that his feet could not reach the ground whereupon one brough a little table and set under his feet and one of Darius his Eunuches standing by sighed and weeped grievously which Alexander taking notice of asked him what was the cause of it to whom the Eunuch answered I weep to see that table that was so highly prized by my Master Darius to be now made thy footstoole Q. Cur. This Darius flying out of the battel who a little before was Lord of so many Kingdomes and people of so much treasure and riches and was adored as a god by his Subjects was now taken by some of his own servants put into a base waggon covered with hides of beasts and so carried hither and thither as they pleased and to fill up the measure of his wretchednesse they bound him in golden setters and drave all his attendants from him and when they heard that Alexander pursued and was now come neere to them these villaines Bessus Artabazus and others took Darius wounded him in many places and wounded the beasts that drew him and so fled themselves into Bactria In the mean time the beasts that drew Darius being weary hot and wounded turned out of the way into a certaine valley whither one of Alexanders men called Polystratus coming to seek for water as he was drinking out of his helmet he spied the waggon and mangled beasts and going looking into it he spied a man halfe dead with many wounds Darius lifting up his eyes and seeing him said This comfort I have in my present fortune that I shall breath out my last words to one that can understand them therefore saith he I pray thee tell Alexander that though I never deserved any favour at his hands yet I shall die his debtour giving him many thanks for his kindnesse to my mother wife and children Tell him that as he hath shewed favour to them so on the contrary my servants and kinsmen that received their lives and livelihood from me have basely betrayed and murthered me Tell him that I pray that he may Conquer all the World and desire him to revenge this wickednesse both for his own and for the sake of all Kings it being of evil example that such treachery should go unpunished and so fainting he desired a little water which when he had drunk he said to Polystratus Whosoever thou art that hast shewed me this kindnesse in my extreme misery the gods requite thee for so great a benefit and the gods requite Alexander also for all his humanity and clemency and so he gave up the ghost Quin. Cur. Perseus King of Macedon a brave warriour and one who was a terrour to the Romane Empire yet at last being overcome and taken by AEmilius was led in Triumph with his children into Rome where after some four yeeres imprisonment he died and his eldest sonne was in that want that he was forced to learne the occupation of a Smith to get his living Ursp. Basiliseus Emperour of Constantinople being overcome by Zeno who was formerly deposed for his riotouâ—nesse was together with his wife and children banished into Cappadocia and a strict command given that none should relieve them whereupon they miserably perished for want of food each in others armes Suid. Cyrus King of Persia caused this Motto to be engraven upon his tombe O man whosoever thou art that shalt come hither know that I am great Cyrus that first erected the Persian Monarchy Therefore envy me not this little earth that now covers my body This tombe was afterwards defaced by some of Alexander M. his followers which when Alexander saw he was much troubled at it considering the vicissitude and incertainty of all earthly things Qu. Cur. Alexander M. after all his great conquests returning to Babylon had Ambassadours that came to him almost from all Countreys some to congratulate his victories others to tender their homage all bringing great and rich presents but whil'st in the midst of his glory he was feasting of them he caught a surfeit with inordinate drinking which turned to a mortal feavour and a little before his death being asked by his friends to whom he would leave his Kingdome he answered To the most worthy man and he being asked When they should do Divine honours to him he answered When they themselves were happy which were his last words and so he died having lived not thirty three years nor reigned thirteen and assoon as he was dead his great Captaines sought to enrich themselves by his spoiles and whil'st they were contonding to share the world amongst them his dead body lay many dayes in that hot Countrey unburied stinking above ground a notable Embleme of the vanity of all earthly greatnesse Plut. Qu. Cur. Besides this his vast Empire was divided amongst his great Captaines to Ptolomaeus Lagi was allotted Egypt and Affrica To Laoâ—â—don Syria and Phoenicia To Philotas Cilicia To Python Media To Eumenes Paphlagonia and Cappadocia To Antigonus Pamphilia Lycia and Phrygia the great
so much gold and silver that he should never repent his kindenesse to Darius c. Herod Aristides dying very poor the Athenians to testifie their gratitude to him that had deserved so well of them gave dowries to his daughters and disposed of them in marriage they also allowed an annuel stipend to his sonne Justin. Darius Junior accounted nothing more pleasing to him then to reward those that had deserved well of him and to overcome his enemies by reason and he used often to say That he desired to live only so long till he had rewarded his friends and overcome his enemies with kindnesse Xenoph. Agesilaus King of Sparta was alwayes very gratefull for any courtesies that he received and used to say That it was not only an unjust thing not to be gratefull but if he did not return greater kindenesse then he received Plut. The Bernates in Switzerland caused the day and year wherein the Reformation of Religion began amongst them to be engraven in golden letters upon a pillar of stone for a perpetual remembrance of Gods mercy to them in all future ages The only daughter of Peter Martyr through the riot and prodigality of her debauched husband being brought to extream poverty the Senate at Zurick out of a grateful remembrance of her fathers worth supported her with a bountiful maintenance so long as she lived Thuanus Tully calls gratitude Maximam imo matrem omnium virtutum reliquarum the greatest yea the mother of all other vertues One the Town-house of Geneva upon a Marble-table is written in letters of gold thus Post tenebras Lux. Quum Anno 1535. profligata Romana Antichristi Tyrannide abrogatisque ejus superstitionibus Sacrosancta Christi Religio Hic in suam puritatem Ecclesia in meliorem ordinem singulari Dei beneficio reposita simul pulsis fugatisque hostibus urbs ipsa in suam libertatem non sine insigni Miraculo restituta fuerit Senatus populusque Genevensis Monumentum hoc perpetuae memoriae causa fieri atque hoc loco erigi curavit Quo suam erga Deum Gratitudinem ad Posteros testatam fecerit Before Master Calvin opened their eyes by his Ministery their Motto was Post tenebras spero Lucem Since they altered it to Post tenebras Lux. Chilon the wise Philosopher used to say That men ought to forget the good turnes they do to others but alwayes to remember such as they receive from others Laertius Clodovaeus King of France gave so much land to Remigius Bishop of Remes who converted him to the Christian Faith as he could compasse in a day whilest the King slept Hincmarus Q. Fulvius to shew his gratefull minde to his Master Ennius bestowed a whole City upon him Volat. Antoninus the Emperour did so dearly love his Master Fronto that to shew his gratitude he obtained of the Senate leave to erect his statue Idem Gratian the Emperour to shew his gratitude to his Master Ausonius made him Consull and bestowed many other liberal gifts upon him Pyrrhus King of Epirus when he fought against C. Fabricius the Roman General his Physician sent to Fabricius telling him that if he pleased he would poison his Master but Fabricius abhorring such villainy sent Pyrrhus word of it whereupon he apprehended and crucified his Physician and withall to testifie his gratitude to Fabricius he dismissed all the Romane prisoners without any ransom withal acknowledging that he could not make sufficient compensation for such a favour Plut. The Athenians remembring how much Aristides had done for their safety in the time of the Persian warre to testifie their gratitude gave dowries to his daughters out of the publick Treasury and to his son Lysimachus they gave one hundred pounds of silver and so many acres of land allowing him besides fourty Drachmes a day for his expences Fulgos. P. Scipio rewarded Masinissa for his faithfull assistance against the Carthaginians not only by restoring to him his fathers Kingdome but gave him also a good part of the Kingdom of Siphax Pontanus Ephestion one of Alexanders great Captaines to testisie his grateful minde to his dead Master built him a Monument which cost him twelve thousand Talents and commanded him to be worshipped as a god Justin. In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you 1 Thes. 5. 18. CHAP. LIV. Examples of Ingratitude Unthankfulnesse Unkindenesse IT 's a great sinne 2 Tim. 3. 2. Prov. 17. 13. Plagued by God Prov. 17. 13. Scriptural examples Pharaohs butler Gen. 40. 23. Laban to Jacob Gen 31. 1. Pharaoh to Joseph Exod. 1. 8. Act. 7. 18. Israelites to Moses Exod. 17. 3. Corah and his companions Num. 16. 3. Nabal to David 1 Sam. 25. 14 15. Hanun 2 Sam. 10. 4. Joash to Jehoiadah 2 Chron. 24. 21. Men of Keilah 1 Sam. 23. 11. Saul to David 1 Sam. 19. 4 5. 20. 30. 24. 9 10. 26. 2 8. David to Uriah 2 Sam. 11. 15. The nine Lepers Luk. 17. 18. The Jews Act. 3. 14. Hezekiah 2 Chron. 32. 25. Other examples Miltiades a brave Captain of the Athenians who had prosperously carried on their Wars for a great while together at length miscarrying in one enterprize he was accused to the people and himselfe lying sick of a dangerous wound in his thigh some friends pleaded for him minding the Athenians of the great services which he had done them yet like ungrateful wretches they fined him fifty Talents which Cymon his son payed for him to get him out of prison shortly after which he died Herodot Pythius a mighty rich man royally entertained and feasted Xerxes and all his huge Army consisting of above a million of men and proffered him an huge summe of gold besides towards the charges of the War after which Xerxes having pressed his five sons for the War Pythius went to him intreating him to release his eldest sonne to be a comfort and support to his old age But Xerxes being angry at his request most ungratefully caused his son to be cut in two peeces and laid in the way for his Army to march over Herod Themistocles that had deserved so well of the Athenians by all those great victories that they had obtained under his conduct was at last through the envie of his Citizens in a most ungrateful manner banished the City and forced to flie to his mortal enemy Artaxerxes King of Persia with whom yet he found more favour then with his own Citizens Diodor. Plut. Themistocles used to say that the Athenians dealt with him when they were in danger as men deale with a great oake when a tempest comes they runne under it for shelter but when the tempest is over they most ungratefully crop and lop off the houghs of it Justin. Aristides the Just that had done as much for the Athenians as any man both in peace and war yet upon envy was banished by his ungrateful Citizens Plut. See more of it in Envy Miltiades after his great victories
prevailing he condemned him yet when he was at the stake he sent his wife and seven children to him hoping by that meanes to work upon him but through Gods grace Religion overcame nature and when his wife intreated him with tears to favour himself he answered Be not a block in my way for I am in a good course and running towards the mark of my salvation and so he patiently suffered Martyrdome In Q Maries daies one Steven Knight Martyr when he came to the stake kneeled down and prayed thus O Lord Jesus Christ for the love of whom I willingly leave this life and rather desire the bitter death of thy Crosse with the losse of all earthly goods then to obey men in breaking thy holy Commandments Thou seest O Lord that whereas I might live in worldly wealth if I would worship a false god I rather choose the torments of my body and losse of my life counting all things but dung and drosse that I might win thee for whose sake death is dearer unto me then thousands of gold and silver c. See my Eng. Martyrologie p. 132. Thomas Watts Martyr when he was at the stake called his wife and six children to him saying Dear wife and my good children I must now leave you and therefore henceforth know I you no more as the Lord gave you unto me so I give you back again to the Lord c. and so kissing them he bade them farewell and went joyfully to the stake Idem p. 143. Nicholas Sheterden Martyr when he was ready to be burned said Lord thou knowest that if I would but seem to please men in things contrary to thy Word I might enjoy the commodities of life as others do as wife children goods and friends But seeing the world will not suffer me to enjoy them except I sin against thy holy Lawes lo I willingly leave all the pleasures of this life for the hopes sake of eternal life c. Idem p. 146. Richard Woodman Martyr when he was brought to his answer the Bishop told him that if he would be reformed he might enjoy his wife and children c. To whom he answered I love my wife and children in the Lord and if I had ten thousand pounds in gold I had rather forgo it all then them but yet I have them as if I had them not and will not for their sakes for sake Christ. Idem p. 185. A poor woman in Cornwall being admonished by the Bishop to remember her husband and children She answered I have them and I have them not whilest I was at liberty I enjoyed them but now seeing I must either forsake Christ or them I am resolved to stick to Christ alone my heavenly Spouse and to renounce the other Idem p. 211. See more in my two parts of Lives I count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him c. Phil. 3. 8 9. Examples concerning Christ our Mediatour Themistocles being banished Athens was forced to fly to his deadly enemy Admetus King of the Molossians and when he came thither he took the Kings son being a child in his armes and so prostrated himself before the K. and found favour for it was a sacred Law amongst the Molossians that whosoever thus came before the King should have pardon whatsoever his offence was so whosoever goes to God the Father with Christ in his armes shall be sure to speed in his request Claudius Tib. Caesar hearing of the miracles and resurrection of Jesus Christ moved the Senate at Rome that he might be numbred amongst the gods but the Senate refused because he was by some esteemed for a God before the Senate had decreed him one Tert. One in Tamerlanes Army having found a great pot of Gold digged it up and brought it to Tamerlane who asked whether the Gold had his Fathers stamp upon it but when he saw it had the Roman stamp he would not own it So God will own none but such as have the stamp of Christ and his Image upon them CHAP. LXIII Examples of Compassion Sympathy COmmanded 1 Pet. 3. 8. Zach. 7. 8. Such as want it love not God 1 Joh. 3. 17. And are wicked 2 Chron. 36. 17. Scriptural Examples Our Saviour Christ Matt. 9. 36. 14. 14. 15. 32. Mark 1. 41. 6. 34. A Lord Matth. 18. 27. Pharaohs daughter Exod. 2. 6. The Father of the Prodigal Luke 15. 20. Darius his wife being a Captive with Alexander miscarried by reason of a fall and so died which when Alexander heard of he brake forth into weeping and suffered one of her Eunuches to carry Darius word of her death Darius hearing that Alexander wept at the newes of her death conceited that he had been too familiar with her but when the Eunuch by grievous asseverations protested that he had never seen her but once and then never offered the least indignity to her Darius lifting up his hands to heaven prayed the gods that if the Persian Empire were at an end that none might sit in Cyrus his Throne but so just and merciful a Conquerour Q. Cur. When Alexander M. found Darius murthered by his own servants though he was his enemy yet he could not refrain from weeping and putting off his own Coate he covered the body of Darius with it and so clothing of him with Kingly Ornaments he sent him to his mother Sisigambis to be interred amongst his Ancestors in a royall manner Q. Cur. Nero the Emperour in the first five years of his reign was of a very compassionate disposition insomuch as being requested to set his hand to a Writ for the execution of a Malefactor he said Quà m vellem me nescire literas Would I had never learned to write Sâ—ne Camillus with the Roman Army after ten years siege took the City of Veia in Italy by storme and when Camillus from the top of the Castle saw the infinite riches which the Souldiers took by plundering the City he wept for very pitty to see the miseries which were brought upon the inhabitants Plut. The Thebans having given the Lacedemonians a very great overthrow in the Battel of Leuctra they presently sent an Ambassador to Athens to acquaint them with it and to desire them to enter into confederacy with them against the Lacedemonians their old enemies telling them that now was the time when they might be fully revenged of them for all the wrongs which they had received from them but the Athenian Senate was so far from rejoycing at the misery of the Lacedemonians that they did not so much as give lodging the Ambassadour or treat at all with him about a League Plut. Vespasian the Emperour was of such a merciful disposition that he never rejoyced at the death of any though his enemies yea he used to sigh and weep when he
a great pile of wood to be made in his Palace in which he shut up all his Concubines and Catamites together with all his gold silver and treasures and so setting it on fire he cast himself into it whereby they all perished together Diod. Sic. Candaules King of Lydia having a very beautiful woman to his wife would needs make one of his Nobles called Gyges a witnesse thereof and placing him behind the hangings in his Chamber he caused his wife to strip her self naked and to walk up and down the Chamber that so Gyges might the better see her compleat beauty but when the Queen came afterwards to hear of iâ— she caused Gyges to kill the King her husband and then married him saying That she was onely fit for him that had so seen her nakednesse Herod Megahysus General to Darius in Europe sent Ambassadours to Amyntas King of Macedon requiring him to send Darius earth and water in token of subjection Amyntas fearing the Persian power assented to it and made the Ambassadours a great supper these Persians being merry with wine required Amyntas to bring forth his wives and daughters for their further entertainment Amyntas consented brought them forth and placed them over against the Ambassadours who being almost drunken they began to kisse the Matrones and Virgins and immodestly to handle their breasts Alexander the son of Amyntas taking this in scorn desired his father to withdraw himself whilest he chastised the petulancy of the Persians and then calling forth the women as if it were for them to dresse themselves more curiously he caused divers youths to be dressed in their apparel who carrying daggers under their clothes when the drunken Ambassadours began to handle them immodestly with their daggers they slew them all Pez Mel. Hist. Claudius Tib. Caesar was so impudent that he caused naked maids and women to bring in and attend upon him at Supper Pez Mel. Hist. Examples of Rapes Solon made a Law amongst the Athenians that if any one ravished a free woman he should pay an hundred Drachmes and the Pander that procured it should pay 20 Drachmes As also that it should be lawful for any man to sell his daughter or sister if she committed whoredome before marriage Plut. Two young men of Sparta being sent to the Oracle of Apollo at Delphos in their journey lodged at the house of one Scedasus in Leuctra a good man and given much to hospitality this Scedasus had two daughters beautifull Virgins upon whom these young men cast wanton eyes and as they came back again they turned into the same house at which time Scedasus was from home and the maids gave them kind entertainment but they seeing their opportunity ravished them and when they saw them make grievous moan for the wrong which they had suffered they murthered them and threw them into a pit and so departed Not long after Scedasus came home and missing his daughters looked up and down for them at last a little Dog that he had came whining to him and ran out of doors inviting him to follow which at last he did and the dog brought him to the pit into which they were thrown whence he drew them out and hearing by his neighbours that those two men had been again at his house he concluded that they were the murtherers and therefore went to Lacedaemon to complain to the Magistrates of that barbarous cruelty where he made his moan first to the Ephori and being neglected by them then to the Kings and they also neglecting it he complained to the people and finding no redresse he with hands lift up to heaven complained to the gods and then stabbed himself but God left not this wickednesse long unpunished for shortly after in a great battel which the Lacedaemonians fought in Leuctra against the Thebans they were overthrown and abundance of them were slain Xenoph. When Alexander M. took the City of Thebes by storm one of his Captains ravished Timoclea a Lady of admirable beauty after which he asked her where she had hid her gold and jewels she told him she would shew him the place and so taking him into her Orchard she shewed him a deep pit which whilest he stooped to look into she pushed him into it and then overwhelmed him with stones for this she was accused and brought before Alexander who asked her who she was She with an undaunted courage answered I am the sister of Theagines who lost his life fighting valiantly against thee for the liberty of Greece at Cheronaea Alexander wondring at her beauty and boldnesse set her and all her children at liberty Diod. Sic. Alexander M. having conquered Persia and taken Persepolis the regal City made a great feast to his Captains at which many Curtizans were also present and amongst the rest Thais that famous Athenian strumpet who having bewitched Alexander with her beauty perswaded him to burn down the Queens Palace which was so stately a thing that the like was not in the world Parmenio much disswaded him from it telling him what a dishonor it would be to him by such a shamefull act to destroy that which he had gotten by his virtue and valour and how distastfull it would be to all the Asiaticks who would thereby judge that he came not to conquer and to possesse but to lay waste Asia but Alexander was so intoxicated with this harlot that to gratifie her he refused that good counsell and caused it to be burnt down Q. Cur. Aurelius a Roman Painter was so impudent that all his delight was to draw the pictures of whores and harlots in immodest postures Plin. Aristogiton an Athenian Orator was so impudent in his whoredomes that the Athenians called him Dog Volat. Octavianus Caesar banished his daughter Julia into a certain Island for that in an immodest manner she frequented feasts in the night time Dion She caught him and kissed him and with an impudent face said unto him Come let us take our fill of love untill the morning let us solace our selves with loves Prov. 7. 13 18. CHAP. LXXVIII Examples of Gods Judgments on the Jewes for crucifying Christ and their other wickednesse THe Jewes were banished Rome Act. 18 2. They persecuted Paul 2 Cor. 11. 24. Act. 21. 27. 23. 12. 25 2 7. 9. 23. They were desperately hardened 1 Cor. 1. 22 23. 1 Thess. 2. 15. Reject the Gospel of Christ Act. 13. 46. The Jewes which crucified the Lord of life and wished that his blood might be upon them and their children presently after through the just Judgment of God had blood to drink in full measure For besides their afflictions in divers Countries being tossed up and down by the Deputies of the Romans There were slain in Caesarea 20000 in one day At Alexandria 50000 another day At Zabulon and Joppa 8400 besides the burning of the Townes At Damascus 10000 had their throats cut In the siege of Hierusalem they were so famished that Oxens dung was accounted
Christian Merchants and Mariners saved some and stayed the madnesse of others But when the Iews sought to revenge themselves on this counterfeit Moses he could no where be found and thereupon they concluded him to be the Devil in humane shape that thus sought their destruction Socrates Adrian banished 500000 of them into Spain whence they were again banished by Ferdinand and Isabel Anno Christi 1492. at which time there went out of Spain 120000 Families From thence they passed into Tuscany and the Popes Dominions but were again banished thence by Paul the fourth and Pius the fifth But it would be endlesse to shew what miseries they have endured ever since they committed that great sin CHAP. LXXIX Images Idols FOrbidden Exod 20. 4. 23. 24. 34. 13. Deut. 16. 22. Lev. 26. 1. Num. 33. 52. Deut. 7. 5 Ezek. 30. 13. Lev. 19. 4. Act. 15. 20. Destroyed 2 King 3. 2. 10. 17 26. 11. 18. 18. 4. 23. 14. 2 Chron. 14. 3 5 23. 17. 31. 1. 34. 4 7. Isa. 30 22. Ier. 43. 13. 50. 2. Ezek. 6. 4. 2 Chron. 15. 16. 33. 15. 1 King 15. 12. Isa. 2. 20. 31. 7. Hos. 14. 8. They called them gods Gen. 31. 30. 2 King 17. 31. 1. 2. Act. 19. 27. Exod. 32. 4. Worshipped them Ier. 3. 9. Trusted in them Ier. 48. 13. Isa. 42. 17. Psal. 115. 8. Hab. 2. 18. Consulted with them Ezek. 21. 21. Swore by them Ier. 5. 7. 12. 16. Zeph. 1. 5. 1 King 19. 2. 20. 10. They are teachers of lies Hab. 2. 18. Ier. 10. 8. and profit nothing Isa. 44. 10. Much question there is about the beginning of Idolatry These three causes seem not improbable When a father mourned grievously for his son taken away by immature death he made his Image which in processe of time was worshipped as a god and served with Ceremonies and Sacrifices The people made the Images of great Tyrants and honoured them that so they might by this flattery live the more peaceably under them The ambitious skill of the workman that through the beauty of the work the multitude being allured took him for a god that a little before was honoured but as a man Lactantius saith That when Noah cast off his son Cham for his wickednesse he went into Canaan and his posterity being ignorant of God because their Founder or Prince received not of his father rules for Gods worship quickly sell to Idolatry The Egyptians being not covered with houses by reason of the temperate ayr observing the motions of the stars whilest they often viewed them more curiously fell to worship them After which they invented monstrous shapes of Beasts and worshipped them Others scattered into other regious admiring the Heavens Sun Moon Earth Sea without Images or Temples worshipped them and sacrificed to them till afterwards they erected Temples and Images to their most puissant Kings and ordained to them sacrifices and Incense c. CHAP. LXXX Exmples of Superstition TO do that in Gods worship which he commands not is superstition Ier. 32. 35. To do that which is right in our own eyes Deut. 12. 8. Judg. 17. 6. Numb 15. 39. Observers of times Deut. 18. 10 14. Lev. 19. 26. Gal. 4. 10. False worship Deut. 17. 3. 29. 26. Exod. 20. 25 26. Mens traditions Matth. 15. 3 9. Col. 2. 22. Mar. 7. 4 7. Will-worship Col. 2. 18 21 23. Scriptural Examples They which take up any thing on their own heads and put Religion therein as The Israelites not eating the sinew Gen. 32. 32. Gideon in making an Ephod Judg. 8. 27. Philistines not treading on the threshold 1 Sam. 5. 5. Rachel stealing her fathers Idols Gen. 31 19. Balaam in trying the Lord in several places Num. 23. 1 14 27 28. Naaman in taking two Mules load of earth c. 2 King 5 17. Micha his house of gods Judg. 17. 5. the Danites Judg. 18. 17. worshippers in high places 1 King 12. 31 32. 14. 23. 15. 14. 2 King 15. 4. 2 Chron. 33. 17. Scribes and Pharisees Matth. 15. 3 9. Mar. 7. 4 7. Joh. 18. 28. Galatians Ch. 4. 9 10. Colossians Ch. 2. 21 16 18 23. All the heathen in their Idolatry Act. 17. 22. Other Examples The AEgyptians of all other Nations were most foolish and vain in their superstitions for they did not onely worship the dead as Isis Serapis and Anubis but even the basest of living creatures as Doggs Catts Crocodiles Haukes Ichnumons Wolves c. To these they gave food consecrated fields and tributes to them the Images of these they carried in their Ensigns and if any man killed any of these they were punished with death for it Lipsius Also in the time of a great Famine they spared these creatures and chose rather to feed upon mans flesh yea they fed these creatures with mans flesh to preserve their lives Diod. Sic. The Carthaginians were so superstitious that they used to sacrifice men and boyes to Saturn in the armes of whose brazen Image they used to lay them and then to tumble them alive into a pit of fire and this they did upon certain daies each year but especially they multiplyed these Sacrifices in the time of any publick calamity so that having suffered a great losse by Agathocles they resolved to offer 200 young Noble-mens sons to appease the angry Deity yea and there were so many youths that voluntarily offered themselves hereunto Plut. When Sâ—eâ—igrade in Egyâ—us was besieged by the Great Turk a Traitor within knowing how superstitiously the Garrison Souldiers abhorred tasting any thing that they deemed unclean threw a dead dog into the onely Well that supplyed the City with water upon the discovery whereof the Souldiers chose rather to die then to drink of it whereupon the City was delivered up to the Turk See Scanderbeg's Life in my second Part. The Idol Moloch or Saturn amongst the Idolatrous Jewes was represented by a Man-like Brazen body and with the head of a Calf The children offered to Moloch were inclosed within the body of this Idol which was compassed about with a great fire and as the Idol heated the Sacrificers filled the ayr with the noise of Instruments that the pitifull cryes of the Sacrificed children might not be heard The women mourning for Thammus Ezek. 8. 14. were such as mourned in their sacrifices to Isis the wife of Osiris after the Idolatrous manner of the Egyptians CHAP. LXXXI Life Long life Life sweet THe age of the ante-diluvian Patriarchs Adam lived 930 years Seth lived 912 years Enos lived 905 yeares Cainan lived 910 yeares Mahalaleel lived 895 years Jared lived 962 yeares Enoch lived before his translation 365 years Methuselah lived 969 yeares Lamech lived 777 years After the Flood Noah lived 950 yeares Shem lived 600 years Arphaxad lived 438 years Salah lived 433 years Eber lived 464 years Peleg lived 239 years Reu lived 239 years Serug lived 230 years Nahor lived 148
past I denied it to your Father and therefore it would not be just to grant that to the son which I refused to the father Imp. Hist. Apollonius being asked as to entrap him what he thought of Nero's singing fearlesly answered the bloody Tigellinus Nero's favourite I think said he far better then you for you repute him worthy to sing but I to hold his peace And so truly it was for his voice was but weak and hollow and therefore to help it he used to lie on his back with a leaden plate on his breast and to fast certain daies in every moneth with nothing but oyl Plinie At the Battel of Newport the Prince of Orange having the Spanish Army before him and the Sea behind him spake thus to his Souldiers If you will live you must either eat up these Spaniards or drink up this Sea When Luther first appeared against the Pope Albertus Crantzius a Bishop that approved of his project but thought it impossible to be brought to passe wrote thus unto him Frater Frater Abi in Cellam dic Miserere mei Deus Frier Frier go into thy Cloister and follow thy beads This businesse is too hard for thee to undertake When amongst many Articles exhibited to our King Henry the 7th by the Irish against the Earl of Kildare the last was Finally all Ireland cannot rule this Earl Then quoth the King this Earl shall rule all Ireland and so made him Deputy thereof Camb. Remaines p. 271. King John of England being perswaded by one of his Courtiers to untomb the bones of one who whilest he lived had been his great enemy O no quoth the King would to God that all mine enemies were as honourably buried A little before the Spanish Invasion in eighty eight the Spanish Ambassadour after a large recital of his Masters demands to Queen Elizabeth summed up the effect of it in this Tetrastich Te veto ne pergas bello defendere Belgas Quae Dracus eripuit nunc restituantur oportet Quas Pater evertit jubeo te Condere cellas Religio Papae fac restituatur ad unguem i. e. These to you are our Commands Send no help to th'Netherlands Of the Treasure took by Drake Restitution you must make And those Abbies build anew Which your fathers overthrew If for any Peace you hope In all points restore the Pope The Queen smiling at these demands returned this sudden answer Ad Graecas bone Rex fient mandata Calendas Worthy King know this your will At latter Lammas wee 'l fulfill See her Life in my second Part. John Duke of Bedford being entombed in the chief Church of Roan afterwards a foolish Courtier perswaded Charles the eighth King of France to deface his Monument to whom the King answered God defend that I should wrong him dead whom whilest he was living all the force of France could not resist Queen Elizabeth coming into a Free-School had an Oration made to her by one of the boyes whom afterwards she jestingly asked How often his Master had whipped him To whom he readily and wittily answered with the words of AEneas to Queen Dido Infandum Regina jubes renovare dolorem At another time having an Oration made to her by a poor boy she understanding his quality said merrily to him Pauper ubique jacet But the boy as confidently and wittily answered In thalamis regina tuis hac nocte jacerem Si verum hoc esset Pauper ubique jacet CHAP. LXXXIII Poverty Poor NOt to be oppressed Exod. 22. 25. Deut. 24. 14. Prov. 22. 16 22. 28. 3 15. 14. 31. 30. 14. Eccles. 5. 8. Isa. 3. 14 15. 10. 2. 11. 4 32. 7. 58. 7. Jer. 2. 32. Ezek. 18. 12. Amos 2. 6. 4. 1. Job 31. 16 c. Psal. 10. 2 c. 12. 5. To be relieved Exod. 23. 11. Lev. 19. 20. 23. 22. 25. 25 35 c. Deut. 15. 7 c. 24. 12. Job 30. 25. Prov. 14. 21. 22. 9. 28. 27. 31. 20. Dan. 4. 27. Mar. 14. 7. Matth. 19. 21. Rom. 15. 26. Gal. 2. 10. Luk. 19. 8. 2 Cor. 9. 9. What brings Poverty Prov. 6. 11. 11. 24. 13. 18. 20. 13. 23. 21. 24. 34. 28. 19 22. Alexander the Great having taken the Kingdome of Sidon gave it to Hephaestion to dispose of it to whom he pleased Hephaestion to shew his gratitude proffered it to his host with whom he quartered but he not being of the Kingly family refused it saying It is not our Countrey fashion that any one should be King but such as are of the King's line and such an one saith he lives hard by a good and a wise man but very poor and one that lives by his hard labour then Hephaestion taking Kingly apparrel with him went to this poor man and saluted him King bidding him wash off his dirt and put off his rags and put on that Kingly apparel the poor mans name was Abdolonimus who thought he had been in a dream but being by the standers by washed and adorned Hephaestion led him into the Palace saying When thou sittest on thy Throne and hast power over the lives of all thy Subjects forget not thy former condition Alexander hearing of it sent for him and asked him with what patience he being of such a noble extraction could bear his former poverty To whom Abdolonimus answered I pray God that I may bear the Kingdome with the same mind for said he these hands provided for my necessity and as I had nothing so I wanted nothing Just. Cur. Diod. Sic. CHAP. LXXXIV Peace Peace makers GOd is the God of Peace Heb. 13. 20. Christ the Prince of Peace Isa. 9. 6. Gods Word the glad tydings of Peace Rom. 10 15. Isa. 52. 7. Gods children are Peace-makers Matth. 5. 9. the Angels singers of Peace Luk 2. 13. Good men are Counsellors of Peace Prov. 12. 20. Gods Kingdome the Kingdome of Peace Rom. 14. 17. Church-Officers Officers of Peace Isa. 60. 17. Hierusalem the City of Peace Psal. 122. 3 7. It 's to be sought after Heb. 14. 14. Rom. 14. 19. 1 Cor. 7. 15. Phil. 4. 7. Psal. 34. 14. Jer. 29. 7. Mar. 5. 50. Ephes. 4. 3. 1 Thess. 5. 13. We must pray for Peace Psal. 122. 6. No peace to the wicked Isa. 48. 22. Scriptural Examples Abraham for peace sake yielded to Lot Gen. 13. 8. Abimelech covenants with Isaac Gen. 26. 28 c. Joseph commands it to his Brethren Gen. 45. 24. Melchisedeck and Salomon were Kings of peace Jacob and his sons Gen. 34. 21. the Primitive Christians Act. 4. 32. David Psal. 120. 7. Numa Pompilius instituted the Priests called Feciales whose office was to preserve peace between the Romans and their neighbouring Nations and if any quarrels did arise they were to pacifie them by reason and not suffer them to come to violence till all hope of peace was past and if the Feciales did not consent
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
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