Hereupon the Senate sent Popilius to Antiochus requiring him to forbear medling with Egypt or if he was already entred presently to depart out of it Antiochus offered to kisse Popilius in token of his love to him but Popilius answered Let all private friendship cease till thou hast answered my publick Commands Antiochus told him that he would consult with his friends and shortly return an answer Popilius having a stick in his hand drew with it a circle about him and his friends requiring them to returne an answer and either to chuse warre or peace before they went out of that circle This so daunted the King that he told him he would obey the command of the Senate Justin. Vitellius a Tyrant of Rome being overcome by Vespasian the souldiers took him bound his hands behinde him putting a rope about his neck and tearing off his cloaths they led him through the streets of Rome loading him with an infinite number of indignities and disgraces pulling his haire and setting a dagger under his chin that his face might be seen of all some cast filth and dirt in his face others reviled him and so at last they slew him and threw him into Tyber Imp. Hist. Sylla that great Tyrant that stiled himself The happy died miserably of the lowsies for when saith one was it ever seen that the heavy hand of God did not finally infelicitate a Tyrant Poppaea Sabina was first wife to Rufus Crispinus a worthy Knight of Rome by whom she had a sonne afterwards Nero taking her to himselfe caused her little sonne to be drowned for that amongst his pretty sports he would play for Dukedomes and Empires Suet. Laodice the wife of Ariarathis King of Cappadocia her husband being dead seized upon the government raged cruelly against all sorts both of the Nobility and Commons whom she caused to be murthered yea against her own bowels poisoning â—ix of her own sonnes that so she might keep the Kingdome more securely only one little one escaped her fury whom the people at last advanced to the Crowne and slew her Lipsius Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour but shalt fear thy God Levit. 25. 43. CHAP. LII Vanity of all earthly things SPoken of Eccles. 1. 2 14. Isa. 40. 17 23. 41. 29. Eccles. 2. 11. 3. 19. 5. 10. 4. 8. Psal. 39. 5. 41. 9. Scriptural Examples Adonibezek under whose table seventy Kings with their thumbs and great toes cut off gathered their meat was shortly after served in the same sort and died a captive Jud. 1. 6 7. Iosua's Captains put their feet upon the necks of five Kings and slew them Ios. 10. 24. King Eglon slaine in his Parlour Iudg. 3. 21. Siâ—era sâ—aine by Jael Judg. 4. 21. Zeba and Zalmunna Judg. 8. 21. Abimelech Iudg. 9. 53. Goliah 1 Sam. 17. 49. Saul 1 Sam. 31. 4. Ishbosheth 2 Sam. 4. 7. Absolon 2 Sam. 18. 9. Benhadad 1 King 20. 32. Sennacherib 2 King 19. 37. Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 4. 31 c. Belshazzer Dan. 5. 5 c. Herod Act. 12. 23. Other examples Croesus a rich and mighty King of Lydia being overcome by Cyrus the Persian was by him condemned to be burnt and when he was laid upon the Pile of wood he cried out O Solon Solon Solon which being told to Cyrus he sent for him to know what he meant by it Croesus answered that having once entertained wise Solon into his house he told him that no man ought to be accounted happy so long as he lived which said he I never understood till now Cyrus laying this to heart and considering the mutability of all earthly things did not only give him his life but made him his friend and chief Counsellour in all his affaires Herod Not long after Cyrus being to make warre against the Massages Croesus disswaded him from it saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mea sunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If thou wert immortal thy selfe and haddest an Army of immortal souldiers thou needest not my counsel but seeing thou art mortal thy self and the like are thy souldiers consider that all humane affaires are like a wheele that spoke that is up to day may be down to morrow and think not that thou wilt alwayes be fortunate but Cyrus not taking his advice went against them where himself with twenty thousand of his souldiers were slaine Justi See in Friendship the Example of Psammenitus King of Egypt Xerxes which a little before had led an Army of above a million of men into Greece wherewith he thought himself able to conquer the whole world within a little space saw his Navy destroyed on the sea and multitudes of his souldiers by an handful of the Grecians slaine upon the land and himselfe in great fear accompanied with some few servants fled back to get into Asia again but when he came to the Hellespont he found his great bridge over which he should have passed broken with a tempest so that he was forced to enter into a poore fisher boat in which with much danger hâ—…gat into Asia For being encountred with a great storme in great fear he asked the Pilot if there were any hope of safety No Sir said he except the boate be eased of some of the passengers whereupon Xerxes cried out O ye Persians now I shall see whether you have any care of the safety of your King or no for in you it lies to save or to destroy my life which when they heard some of them leaped over-board drowned themselves to preserve their King But like a Tyrant when he came to land he gave the Pilot a Crowne of gold for saving his life but because he had drowned some of his servants he caused his head to be â—ut off Herod After the battel of Plataea wherein the Grecians had given a mighty overthrow to the Army of Xerxes Pausanias King of Sparta being the Grecian General was exceedingly elated with the glory of that victory and afterwards at a feast in a scorneful manner he bade Simonides a wise man to give him some wholesome counsell Simonides answered Take heed of forgetting that thou wert but a mortal man which though he laughed at for the present yet shortly after he remembred it when being immured in Pallas's Temple he was pined to death Plut. See it in Treachery Solon told Croesus that considering how the life of man is subject to infinite changes wisdome therefore forbids us to trust or glory in worldly riches honours or any outward things or to account any man happy before his death And therefore said he I account Tellus a happier man then thy self in the middest of all thy affluence for he being a Citizen of Athens was a very honest man and left his children in good esteeme and himself died honourably in the field fighting in the defence of his countrey Plut. Artaxeroees Mnemon in that great battel which he fought against his brother Cyrus being wounded in the breast by Cyrus retired
countrey but yet the water was too shallow to carry boats till God sent a strong Southwest winde which drave the sea into the rivers and land that great boats passed and victualled the â—own whereupon the Spaniards raised their siege but behold the remarkable work of God! who two dayes after sent as strong a North-west winde that beat back the Sea again whence it came Belg. Com. Wealth p. 72. Rochell being besieged with a mighty Army from the beginning of December 1573. to the moneth of June following a Dearth began to seize upon the godly Protestants which were within the same but the Lord seasonably sent a number of fishes called Surdones into the haven whereby the poor Inhabitants were relieved during the continuance of the siege which being once broken up the fishes departed and were found no more in that coast Fren. Hist. As it was always one of Mr. Latimers wishes that he might be so happy as to shed his hearts blood for the truth and so it fell out at the time of his burning that when the violence of the fire had opened his body such abundance of blood gushed so violently out from his heart to the great astonishment of the beholders as if all the blood in his body had been gathered to that one place Act. Mon. A Christian Matron of excellent parts and piety languishing long under the pressure of hideous temptations wofully at length yeelded to despaire and attempted the destruction of her selfe After often and curious seeking occasion for that bloody fact at last getting upon a Rock that hung over into the Sea putting off her apparell she threw her self head long from the same but receiving no hurt by the fall she was there miraculously preserved for the space of two houres labouring all that while industriously to drown her self after which time being with much difficulty drawn forth and recovered she did yet conflict with that extreamest desperate horrour almost an whole yeer after but at length by Gods providence listening oâ— a time though very unwillingly at the first to her husband reading that Text Esa. 57. 15. by little and little abundance of spiritual comfort flowed into her heart in which condition she continued many yeeres after even untill her death which was 1595. Mr. Bolton A virtuous Gentlewoman in this Land doubting very often of her salvation made her case known unto a godly Minister who often counselled her to take heed of inquiries farther then Gods Word and to trust assuredly that she might ground her salvation upon evidences out of that without farther revelations yet still did that temptation grow upon her insomuch that having a Venice-glasse in her hand the Minister sitting by her she brake forth into very lamentable words saying You have often told me that I must seek no further then Gods Word but I have been long without comfort and can endure no longer therefore if I must be saved let this glasse be kept from breaking and therewithal she threw it against the walls and though the Lord might have dealt otherwise yet he was content to satisfie her longing soul with a miracle The Glasse rebounds againe and comes safe unto the ground which the Minister taking up said Oh repent of this sinne and blesse God for his mercy never distrust him more of his promise Bolton Yates See this more fully in my first part of Lives In the life of Master Fox Mistris Katharine Brettergh upon her death-bed was assaulted with most grievous temptations which made her cry out that a roaring wildernesse of wo was within her that her sinnes had made her a prey to Satan and wished that she had never been borne or that she had been made any other creature rather then a woman crying Wo wo wo c. a weake a wofull a wretched a forsaken woman but at length by Gods wonderful mercy she recovered such comfort that in the ravishments of spirit she cried out O Lord Jesus doest thou pray for me O blessed and sweet Saviour how wonderful how wonderful how wonderful are thy mercies O thy love is unspeakable that hast dealt so graciously with me O Lord my God blessed be thy Name for evermore which hast shewed me the path of life thou diddest O Lord hide thy face from me for a little season but with everlasting mercy thou hast compassion upon me and now blessed Lord thy comfortable presence is come yea thou art come to thine handmaid with fulnesse of joyes and abundance of consolation O the joyes the joyes the joyes that I feel in my soul O they be wonderful they be wonderful they be wonderful O Lord I feele thy mercy and I am assured of thy love and so certaine am I thereof as thou art the God of truth even so sure do I know my self to be thine and this my soul knoweth right well and this my soul knoweth right well O blessed be the Lord O blessed be the Lord that hath thus comforted me O the joy the joy the delightsome joy that I feele O praise the Lord for his mercies and for this joy which my soul feeleth full well Praise his Name for evermore See her life and death in my second Part. Mr. Peacock a biessed servant of God being in horrour of conscience recounting some smaller sinnes burst out into these words And for these now saith he I feele an hell in my conscience and afterwards groaning most pitiously he cried out O me pitious wretch Oh mine heart is miserable Oh oh miserable and wofull the burthen of my sinne lieth so heavie upon me I doubt it will break my heart Oh how wofull and miserable is my state that thus must converse with hell-hounds Being asked whether he would pray he answered I cannot then they said Let us pray for you Take not replied he the Name of God in vain by praying for a reprobate but after a while this tempest of temptation being over Truly said he my heart and soul hath been farre led and deeply troubled with temptations and many inconsiderate speeches have flowed from me in the same for which I humbly and heartily aske mercy of God I now finde that the Sea is not more full of water nor the Sunne of light then the Lord of mercy yea his mercies are ten thousand times more what great cause have I to magnifie the goodnesse of God that hath humbled nay rather exalted such a wretched miscreant and of so base a condition to an estate so glorious and stately the Lord hath honoured me with his goodnesse I am sure he hath provided a glorious Kingdom for me The joy that I feele in my heart is incredible Bolton Mr. Robert Glover was so worne and consumed by the space of five yeares that neither almost any brooking of meate quietnesse of sleepe pleasure of life yea and almost no kinde of sense was left in him upon the apprehension of some backsliding he was so perplexed that if he had been almost in the pit of
stately Palace of the Kings of Persia in a drunken fit by the perswasion of Lais the harlot burned it down to the ground Diod. A Turk having in one of their great feasts drunk wine too freely which is a thing forbidden by their Law being apprehended and carried before the grand Visier and there found guilty was adjudged to have boiling Lead poured into his mouth and eares which was accordingly executed Turk Hist. p. 1332. Phocas a drunken bloody and adulterous Tyrant was worthily slaughtered by Heraclius who cut off his hands and feet and then his privy parts by peece-meale Zonaras Not long since a Cavalier in Salisbury in the middest of his health drinking and carrowsing in a Tavern drank a health to the Devil saying That if the devil would not come and pledge him he would not believe that there was either God or devil whereupon his companions strucken with horror hastened out of the room and presently after hearing a hideous noise and smelling a stinking savour the Vintner ran up into the Chamber and coming in he missed his guest and found the window broken the Iron barre in it bowed and all bloody but the man was never heard of afterwards At Kesgrave neere Ipswitch three serving men having been drinking hard when they were about to go away the hostesse by her importunity would needs perswade them to drink the three Ou ts first viz. wit out of the head money out of the purse and Ale out of the barrel but as she came to them with the pot in her hand God suddenly struck her sick and speechlesse her tongue also swelling in her head so that in great extreamity she died three dayes after Beards Theat Two servants of a Bruer in Ipswitch drank themselves drunk for the rump of a Turkey and afterwards as they were strugling for it they fell backwards into a Cauldron of scalding liquor whereof one died presently and the other lingering died with greater paine A man coming home drunk would needs go to swim in the mill-pond but his wife and servants knowing that he could not swim disswaded him and once by intreaty got him out but afterwards going in again he was drowned At the Plough in Barnwel neere Cambridge a lusty young man with two of his neighbours and one woman in their company agreed to drink up a barrel of strong beere which accordingly they did but within twenty four hours three of them died and the fourth hardly escaped after great sicknesse A Butcher in Hasâ—ingfield having heard his Minister enveigh against drunkennesse in his cups at the Ale-house fell a jesting and scoffing at the Ministers Sermon But as he was drinking Gods hand fell upon him for the drink stopping in his throat choaked him that he died presently At Bungâ—y in Norfolk three drunkards coming out of the Alehouse in the night swore that they thought it was not darker in hell But as they went home one of them fell over a bridge and was drowned a second fell from his horse the third sleeping on the ground by the rivers side was frozen to death A Bailiffe of Hedly upon a Lords day being drunken at Melford gat upon his horse to ride through the streets saying that his horse would carry him to the devil and presently his horse cast him and brake his neck Some drinking in an Alehouse at Harwich in the night over against the Majors house Master Russel he sent to them to depart which they refused whereupon he went himselfe and took one of them by the hand as if he would lead him to prison who drawing his knife ran from him and three dayes after was found drowned in the Sea with his knife in his hand At Tenby in Pembrookshire a drunkard in his drink fell from an high and steep rock whereby he was dashed in peeces A glasier in Chancery-lane sometimes a Professor but afterwards one that turned a drunkard was often admonished of it by his wife and Christian friends which he neglecting shortly after in a drunken fit fell a vomiting with which breaking a veine he lay two dayes in extream paine of body and torment of minde till in the end recovering a little comfort he died A young man in Northamptonshire being drunk at Welling borough as he went home would needs ride his horse in a bravery over the ploughed lands whereby falling from his horse he brake his neck A notorious drunkard of Ailesham in Norfolk was drowned in a shallow brook of water A drunken Knight that used often to carry out pailes of drink to make people drunken on a time as he was drinking with some company there came in a woman and gave him a ring with this Posie Drink and Die saying to him This is for you He took and wore it and a week after died in one of his drunken fits At a Taverne in Breadstreet certaine Gentlemen drinking healths to the Lords on whom they had dependance one of them with an oath drinks off a pottle of Sack to his Lord after which he could neither rise up nor speak but falling into a sleep died within two hours after At a place neer Mauldon five or six appointed a drinking match laying in Beer for the purpose drunk healths in a strange manner whereof all of them died within a few weeks after A young gentleman being drunk as he rode homewards was throwne by his horse and had his braines dashed out by the pomel of his sword Anno Christi 1629. there was one Thomas Wilson a notorious blasphemer and drunkard upon a small occasion being angry with his wife not daring to proffer violence to her drew his knife and stabbed himself The same year one John Bone of Elie a gentlemans Coachman being exceedingly given to swearing and drunkennesse drinking himself drunk on a Sabbath at Sermon-time fell from his Coach-box and was killed by his horses Anno Christi 1621. one Richard Bourne of Elie who used to travel on the Sabbath-days seldome or never coming to Church as he went to the market at Saint Ives being drunk Gods judgement overtook him for going up the river in his boat he fell over into the water and was drowned Anno Christi 1618. one Thomas Alred of Godmanchester being a common drunkard was intreated by a neighbour to unpitch a load of hay and being at that time drunk the pitchfork slipt out of his hand which he stooping to take up again fell from the cart with his head downwards and the fork standing with the tines upward he fell directly upon them which striking to his heart killed him immediately Anno Christi 1628. John Vitner of Godmanchester a known drunkard and scoffer at Religion fell from the top of a Pear-tree and brake his neck All these are attested by sundry godly Ministers Anno Christi 15â—â— in Bohemia five drunkards were quaffing and blaspheming the Name of God and the picture of the devil being painted upon the wall they drank healths to him who the night after paid
warer despoiled the Temple of the riches which had been bestowed upon it All men hated and cried out of this sacriledge but none went about to revenge it save Philip King of Macedon who at this time was weak and scarce taken notice of in the world when they came to the battel the Phocians were easily overthrown and Philip carried away a glorious victory whereby he laid the foundations of that greatnesse which himselfe and his sonne Alexander afterwards attained Lipsius This is somewhat larger before William the Conquerer took away land both from God and men to dedicate the same to wild beasts and dogs game for in the space of thirty miles in compasse he threw down thirty six mother-Churches and drave all the people thereto belonging quire away which place is now called the New Forrest in Hantshire But Gods just judgement not long after followed this Sacrilegious act of the King for Richard his second sonne as he was hunting in this Forrest was blasted with a pestilent aire whereof he died William Rufus another of his sonnes as he was hunting in it was by chance shot through and slaine with an arrow by Walter Tirrel Likewise Henry his grand-childe by Robert his eldest sonne whil'st he hotly pursued his game in this Chase was hanged amongst the boughs and so died Camb. Brit. p. 259. See in my General Martirolygie p. 7 8. Gods judgement on Antiochus Epiphanes for his Sacriledge amongst his other sinnes Myconius a godly divine being sent over into England by the Germane Princes in King Henry the eights dayes when he saw him seize upon and sell the abbey-Abbey-lands abhorring such Sacriledge he returned home and would have no hand in making peace with so wicked a Prince Calvin when he saw the Senate of Geneva imploying part of the revenues belonging formerly to the Monasteries to civil uses told them in his Sermon that he could not endure such Sacriledge which he knew God in the end would punish most severely What then will become of our late purchasers of the Church-revenues which were given to a sacred not to a superstitious use as the former and what will become of those that yet think the Church not bare enough till they have stripped her of all her revenues Lodwick Count of Oeting sending for Andreas an eminent Divine to assist him in reforming his Churches when Andreas went to take leave of his own Prince Christopher of Wittenberg he charged him and gave it him in writing that if Count Lodwick set upon the Reformation that under pretence of Religion he might rob the Church by seizing upon the revenues of the Monasteries turn them to his own use that he should presently leave him as a Sacrilegious person and come back again Thou that abhorrest Idols committest thou Sacriledge Rom. 2. 22. Will a man rob God yet ye have robbed me But ye say Wherein have we robbed thee In tithes and in offerings Ye are accursed with a curse c. Mal. 3. 8 9. CHAP. XVI Examples of Pride and Arrogance Ambition and vain-glory Many men when they grow great in the world are so puft up with pride that they scarce know themselves which is as if the silly Ant the higher that she gets upon her hill the bigger she should conceit her selfe to be It is the devils last stratagem if he cannot beat us down to sinne he will labour to blow us up with pride and yet there is nothing that the Lord doth more hate for he beholds the proud afar off as if he were not fit to be touched with a paire of tongs Besides men by pride do but hasten their own ruine Tolluntur in altum Ut lapsu graviore ruant Solomon assuring us that Pride goeth before destruction and an high minde before a fall as these Examples following will further manifest Forbidden by God Gal. 5. 26. Phil. 2. 3. Dan. 4. 37. Mark 7. 22. 1 Tim. 3. 6. 1 Joh. 2. 16. The evils of it Job 35. 12. Psal. 10. 2 4. and 59. 12. and 73. 6. Prov. 8. 13. and 11. 2. and 13. 10. and 14. 3. and 16. 18. and 29. 23. Threatened by God Levit. 26. 19. Isa. 9. 9. and 16. 6 c. and 23. 9 10. and 25. 11. and 28. 1 3. Jer. 13. 9. and 48. 29. Ezek. 30. 6. Zeph. 2. 10. and 3. 11. Zach. 9. 6. and 10. 11. and 11. 3. Mourned for 2 Chron. 32. 26. Ier. 13. 17. Prayed against Psal. 31. 20. and 36. 11. Complained of Jer. 49. 16. Ezek. 7. 10. Ezek. 16. 19 49 56. Dan. 5. 20. Hos. 5. 5. Obad. 3. Scriptural examples Eve Gen. 3. 6. Hezekiah Esa. 39. 2. Baruch Ier. 45. 5. Christs Deciples Mark 9. 34. the lapsed Angels Iud. 6. Babylon Ier. 50. 29 32. Senacharib Esa. 10. 8 c. Abimeleck Absalom Adoniah Athaliah for their ambition were slaine Belshazzer Dan. 5. 1. c. Babilon Esa. 47. 7. Nimrod Gen. 11. 4. Balaam Numb 22. 17 c. Nabal 1 Sam. 25. 10. Oreb c. Psal. 83. 12. The two Captaines 2. Kings 1. 9 11. Edom Ier 49. 7 16. Obad. 3. Hagar Gen. 16. 4 Haman Est. 3. 5 c. Herod Acts 12. 21. Israel Esa 9. 9 c. Rabshakeh 2 Kings 18. 33 c. Rehoboam 1 Kings 12. 14. Tyrus Ezek. 28. 2 c. Korah Numb 16. 3. Nebuchadnezzer Dan. 3. 15. and 4. 30. the Pharisee Luke 18. 11. c. Zebedees sonnes Mat. 20. 21. Other examples Sethos King of Egypt growing mighty grew so proud withal that he made his tributary Kings to draw his Chariot by turnes till on a time he espied one of the Kings to look earnestly on the wheel and demanding the reason thereof was answered by him That with much comfort he beheld the lowest spokes turn uppermost by course whereupon apprehending the moral he left off that proud and barbarous custome Isac Chron. p. 61. Maximus dying the last day of his Consulship Caninius petitioned Caesar for that part of the day that remained that he might be Consull which made Tully jeer him saying O vigilant Consull who never sawest sleep all the time of thy office Pharaoh Ophra called also Apryes used to boast that he cared not either for God or man that should seek to take away his Kingdome but not long after he was taken by Amasis his own officer and strangled Herod Caesar Borgia emulating and imitating Iulius Caesar used to say Aut Caesar aut nullus but not long after he was slaine in the Kingdome of Navarre Alexander the Great was so puffed up with his victories that he would needs be accounted the sonne of Iupiter Hammon and be worshiped for a god which Calisthenes the Philosopher a special friend of his speaking against he could never endure him afterwards and at last caused him to be slaine Val. Max. Menecrates the Physician because he had cured some dangerous and desperate diseases assumed to himselfe the name of Iupiter the chiefest of the gods AElian Lib. 12. Empedocles the Philosopher having cured
he thought that he should be taken away in a flame of fire other sometimes that the earth would open and swallow him Yet at last it pleased God as it seemes to give him repentance and peace in his conscience whereupon he published a Narrative of these things to discover the danger of these ways and to be for caution to others to take heed how they go out of Gods wayes and forsake his Ordinances least falling into the error of the wicked they decline from their former stedfastnesse and lest not receiving the love of the truth that they might be saved God give them over to strong delusions to believe a lie This is attested under the hand of the Major of Kendal the Minister Schoolmaster and some others As we may not tell a lie so neither may we conceal the truth especially when the publishing of it may tend to the advancement of Gods glory There was not many years since in the Parish of Kirkham in Lancashire one Mistris Houghton a Papist who used to say I pray God rather then I shall be around-head or bear a round-head I may bring forth a childe without an head Her mother also being a Papist used to mock and scoffe at the round-heads and in derision of Master Prin cut off her cats eares and called him Prin but behold the just retribution of God! For not long after the said Mistris Houghton being brought to bed was delivered of a child without an head ugly and deformed This was attested by Master Edward Fleetwood Minister the midwife and others that saw the childe taken out of its grave A man that is an Heretick reject after the first second admonition knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself Tit. 3. 10. 11. CHAP. XXVIII Examples of Gods judgements upon false Witnesses and Liars FOrbidden Exod 20. 16. Deut. 5. 20. Mat. 19. 18. Mark 10. 19. Luk 18. 20. Rom. 13. 9. Lying Lev. 6. 2 c. 19. 11. Col. 3 9. Jam. 3. 14. 1 Tim. 4. 2. How to be punished Deut. 19. 16 c. Rev. 21. 27. 22. 15. Ps. 63. 11. Prov. 19. 5 9. 29. 12. Odious Prov. 6. 19. 12. 17. 14. 5. 21. 28. â—5 18. Ps. 40 4. 58 3. 62. 4. 101. 7. Prov. 30 8. Whence it proceeds Mat. 15. 19. Scriptural examples Against David Ps. 27. 12. 35. 11. 119. 69. Against Christ Mat. 26. 59. Mark 14. 56 57. Against Steven Act. 6. 13. Ananias and Sapphira Act. 5. 3 c. Som. Rev. 3. 9. False Prophets Jer. 27. 10 14 16. 29. 21 31. Ezek. 21. 29. Diviners Zach. 10. 2. the Devil Joh. 8. 44. Iewes Isa. 28. 15. 59. 3. 4. Jer. 9. 3 5. 23. 14. Lying Kings Dan. 11. â—7 Princes Hos. 7. 3. Forbidden Lev. 19. 11. Eph. 4. 25. Col. 3. 9. It 's a great sinne Lev. 6. 2. Job 6. 28. Prov. 14 5. 10. 18. 38. 8. Ps. 40. 4. 58. 3. 62. 4 101. 7. Pro. 29. 12. 30. 8. Psal. 119. 29 163. Esa. 28. 15. 59. 3 4. 30. 9. 32. 7 59. 13. Jer. 29. 23. 9. 45. 23. 14 32. Dan. 11. 27. Hos. 7. 13. 11. 12. 12. 1. Amos 2. 4. Mich. 6. 12. 1 Tim. 4. 2. Threatened Ps. 63. 11. Prov. 19 5 9. Jer. 16. 19. 20. 6. Nahum 3. 1. Hos. 4. 2 c. Ps. 59. 12. Scriptural examples Satan Gen. 3 4. 1 King 22. 22. 2 Chron. 18. 21. Joh. 8. 44. Sarah Gen. 18. 15. Abraham Gen. 12. 13. 20. 2. Isaac Gen. 26. 7. Jacob Gen. 27. 19 24. Rachel Gen. 31 35. Patriarchs Gen. 37. 31 32. Potiphars wife Gen. 39. 14. Gibeonites Jos. 9. 8 9. Sampson Judges 16. 13 14 c. A woman 2 Sam. 17 20 the Harlot 1 King 3. 22 23. False witnesses 1 King 21. 13. the old Prophet 1 King 13. 18. Gehazi 2 King 5. 22. Hazael 2 King 8. 14 15. Peter Mat. 26. 70 71. Midwives Exod. 1. 18 19. Rahab Jos. 2. 4 c. Michael 1 Sam. 19. 16. David 1 Sam. 20. 2 7. 21. 9 13. Hushai 2 Sam. 16. 17. 18. Ananias and Saphira Act. 5. 2 8. Demetrius Act. 19. 25 26. Tertullus Act. 24. 5. Ahab and Jezabel that suborned false witnesses against Naboth had this message sent them from God by Elijah Thus saith the Lord In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall they lick thy blood also and as for Jezabel dogs shall eat her by the wall of Jezreel and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall c. 1 Kings 22. 1 22. 2 Kings 9. Amaziah the Priest of Bethel who falsly accused the Prophet Amos to the King as having conspired against him met with this message from the Lord Thy wife shall be an harlot in the City thy sonnes and thy daughters shall fall by the sword and thy land shall be divided by line thou shalt die in a polluted land Amos 7. 17. Haman who fasly accused the Jewes to Ahasuerus see what judgement befell him and his house Esth. 7. 10. and 9. 10. The envious Courtiers who falsly accused Daniel to King Darius for breaking his decrees were themselves thrown to and devoured by the Lions Dan. 6. 24 Antiphilus a Painter the envier of the Art and excellent workmanship of Apelles that most famous Painter falsly accused him to King Ptolemy to have caused the defection of Pelusium from him whereby he had almost oppressed Apelles But the King by examination found out his falshood and the cause of it whereupon he gave Apelles one hundred talents by way of recompence and rewarded Antiphilus that falsly accused him with perpetual servitude Theat Hist. How God punished Ananias and Saphyra for their lying See Acts 5. 5. 10. Maximus the Emperour one of the cruel persecutors of the Christians amongst other of his wicked practices caused lying and blasphemous books to be published of a conference between Pilate and Christ causing them to be taught in schooles that children might no sooner speak then learn them He suborned also certaine lewd women to say that they had been Christians and to avouch that much filthinesse and uncleannes was daily committed by them c. But these liars and false accusers were one after another plagued by God with notable judgements and Maximus himselfe was consumed with wormes as afore Euseb. Niceph. l. 7. c. 27. A wicked wretch under Commodus the Emperour accused Apollonius a godly Christian to the Judges for certaine grievous crimes which when he could not prove he was adjudged to have his legges broken according to an ancient law of the Romanes Niceph. Certaine Arians suborned a filthy strumpet to come with a childe in her armes into a Councel of two thousand five hundred Bishops there to accuse Eustathius a godly and Orthodox Bishop of Antioch of Adultery and to sweare that he had got that childe of her body
sometimes upon the other that thereby they might inure their mindes to contemplation and their bodies to hardship Plin. Pythagoras lived in a cave for a whole year together that being sequestred from the society of men he might the better meditate upon the abstruser parts of Philosophy Democritus Abderites having travelled through many Nations to get learning when he returned into Greece burned out his own eyes that the eyes of his minde might be the more intent upon meditation of what he had learned Sabel Thales Milesius spent so much time in contemplating the good government of a Common-wealth that he was accounted one of the seven wise men of the world Laert. Phocion the Athenian was alwayes very studious how in few words he might comprize whatsoever he had to speake to the people not omitting any thing of moment Plut. Scipio Africanus never went to the Senate but getting up before day he first went to the Temple of Jupiter where he spent some houres in meditation that thereby he might the better finde out such things as conduced to the good of the Common-wealth whence his usual saying was Nunquan mnùs solus quà m cùm solus That he was never lesse alone then when alone Demosthenes knowing that his action and voice were not very fit for an Oratour digged him a Cellar into which he often retired to frame his gestures and compose his voice aright Yea sometimes he would spend two or three moneths together in that place shaving halfe his head that so for shame he might not be taken off from his serious studies whereupon Pytheas told him that his Enthymeme smelled of the candle Plut. Aristotle used to sleep with a bullet in his hand over a brazen pan that when it fell out of his hand he might be awakened by the noise Laert. Pythagoras used with a thrid to tie the haire of his head to a beame over him that so when he did but nod by reason of sleep he might be awakened thereby M. Cato used to say that there were three things which he abhorred 1. To commit secrets to a woman 2. To go by water where he might go by land 3. To spend one day idly Plut. See more in my first Part of Lives CHAP. LX. Examples of such as have been enemies to Learning LEwis the 7th King of France desired that his son might be no Scholar lest learning should make him so proud that rejecting the advice of his Counsellours he should adhere to his own private opinion adding that he desired that he should learn onely these five words of Latin Qui nescit dissimulare nescit Regnare He that cannot dissemble knows not how to play the King Domitian that wicked Emperour was such an enemy to learning that he banished all Philosophers out of Rome and Italy He crucified Metius Pompustanus because he had made a Map of the world and read over Livies History Suet. See the Example of Pope Paul the second p. 62. CHAP. LXI Callings Trades MEn must abide in them 1 Cor. 7. 20. Commanded 1 Tim. 5. 14. Rom. 12. 8. Prov. 27. 23. Eph. 4. â—8 It makes rich Prov. 12. 24 27. 13. 4. 21. 5. 22. 29. Skill therein is from God Exod. 35. 30 c. Scriptural Examples the good houswife Prov. 31. 27. Other Examples Solon the Athenian Lawgiver enacted that the sonne should not relieve his father when he was old except he had brought him up to some occupation and this he did that so all might have some honest trade whereby to do good to the Common-wealth and to maintaine themselvs and theirs and that the Councel of the Areopagites should enquire how every man lived and to punish such as they found idle Plut. The Egyptians enjoyned all men to be of some vocation and Amasis one of their Kings made a Law that every man once a year should give an account how he lived Amongst the Turks every man must be of some trade the grand Signeur himselfe not excepted Mahomet the Great that conquered Greece used carving and to make wooden spoones And this present Sultan saith Sands in his voyage to Hierusalem p. 73. maketh notches for bowes The Egyptians made a Law that he that could not shew by what meanes he maintained himselfe should be put to death Plut. Laert. in vita Periandri The Castle of Edenburgh in Scotland built by Cruthenus King of the Picts was called the Castle of Maidens because the daughters of the Pictish Kings were kept there to their needles till they were married Bucan Idlenesse falsly charged upon the Jewes in Egypt Exod. 5. 8 17. The mischiefs of Idlenesse Prov. 19. 15. Eccles. 10 18. Prov. 13. 4. 20. 4. 12. 24 27. 18. 9. Reproved Mat. 20. 6. 1 Tim. 5. 13. Prov. 6. 9 10 10. 26. Rom. 12. 11. It was the sinne of Sodom Ezek. 16. 49. It cast David upon tentation 2 Sam. 11. 2. and Eve as it is conceived Gen. 3. 1. The evil servant Mat. 25. 26. The Cretians Tit. 1. 12. Sluggard sent to the Ant Proverbs 6. 6. The danger of slothfulnesse Prov. 15. 19. 19. 24 21 25. 22. 13. 26. 13 c. 24. 30. 19. 15. Eccles. 10. 18. The Lacedemonians would suffer none of their Subjects to spend their time in sports or idlenesse and when their Magistrates were told of some that used to walk abroad in the afternoones they sent to them requiring that leaving their idlenesse they should betake themselves to honest labours and imployments For say they It becomes the Lacedemonians to procure health to their bodies by labour and exercise not to corrupt them by sloth and idlenesse AElian They also brought up their children in labour from their infancy whereby it grew into a Proverb That only the Lacedemonian women brought forthmen Alex. The Cretians brought up their sonnes from their childhood in daily and difficult labours lest when they grew old they should think that it was not unseemly to waste themselves in idlenesse Idem The Gymnosophists to reclame their schollars from idlenesse enacted a Law that young men should neither eat nor drink any day before they had given account to the Elder what work they had done that morning Idem Amasis made a Law that the Egyptian youth should no day eat any food till they had runne one hundred and eighty furlongs judging them unfit either to eat or drink till by honest labour they had deserved it Diod. Sic The AEthiopians anciently accustomed their youth daily to fling great stones or darts that thereby they might understand that man was born to labour not to idlenesse Alex. ab Alex. Numa Pompilius to prevent idlenesse amongst the Romanes divided the fields amongst them appointing some officers often to walk about them himselfe also sometimes did it to observe every mans diligence and husbandry and those whom he found idle he sharply reproved or banished them Plut. Cyrus King of Persia would never go to dinner or supper till
had wont to be called the best stable of woodden Horses because of their potency in shipping though now the English have out-shot them in their own Bowe England was wont to be accounted the Popes Pack-horse for indeed she seldome rested in the stable when any work was to be done The Italians are said to be wise before-hand The Germans in the action and the French after it is done Mr. Aschâ—m thanks God that he was but nine daies in Italy where in one City Venice he saw more liberty co sin then in London he ever heard of in nine years Preface to his School The Neaepolitane Gentry are observed to stand so much upon the puntilio's of their honour that they prefer robbery before industry and will rather suffer their daughter to make merchandise of her chastity then marry the richest Merchant Sr. W. Segar in his honors The earth in Italy yields five harvests in a year 1. In June that of Silks 2. In July of divers Fruits 3. In August that of Corn which afterwards they sowe with Millio Rice Turkey Wheat or the like grain and within two moneths have another Crop 4. In September that of their Wines 5. In October that of Oyl Englands Priviledges The first Christian King that ever was in the world was Lucius King of the Britans that built Peter's Church in Cornhill London The first Christian Emperour that was in the world was Constantine the Great born in England of Helena an English woman The first King that shook off subjection to Antichrist was our King Henry the eighth And the first Christian King that ever wrote that the Pope was Antichrist was our King James CHAP. CII Examples of the wonders of Gods works in Nature IN Cornwal near unto a place called Pen sans is that famous stone called Main-Amber which is a great Rock advanced upon some other of meaner size with so equal a counterpoize that a man may stir it with the push of his finger but to remove it quite out of his place a great number of men are not able Camb. Brit. p. 188. The like is in the Countrey of Stratherne in Scotland In the year 1581. in the Countie of Essex an Army of Mice so overran the Marshes in Dengey hundred near unto South-minster that they shore the grasse to the very roots and so tainted the same with their venemous teeth that a great murrain fell upon the Cattel which grased thereon Speeds Essex In the year 1555. when by reason of unseasonable weather there was a great Dearth in the Land there sprang up upon the Rocks without tillage or sowing in the Countie of Essex betwixt Orford and Adlebrough such a Crop of pease that in August there was gathered above an hundred Quarters and in blossoming there remained as many more where never grasse grew nor earth was ever seen but hard solid Rock for three yards deep under their Roots Speed in Suffolk In the Countie of Devon not far from Lidford the river Lid at a Bridge is gathered into a strait and pent in between rocks whereon it runneth down amaine and the ground daily waxing more and more deep his water is not seen onely a roaring noise is heard to the great wonder of those that pass by Camb. Brit. p. 199. In Warwickshire at Neuenham Regis three fountains walme out of the ground strained through a veine of Allum the water whereof carrying the colour and taste of milk cureth the stone provoketh urine abundantly green wounds it quickly closeth up and healeth being drunk with salt it looseth and with sugar it bindeth the belly Camh. Brit. p. 562. In Summersetshire near unto Glastenbury in Wiral-Pâ—rk there is an Hawthorne tree which upon Christmas-day sprouteth forth as well as in May. Camb. Brit. p. 227. Also in the same Shire near unto Cainsham are found in Stone-quarries stones resembling Serpents winding round in manner of a wreath the head bearing up in the Circumference and the end of the taile taking up the centre within but most of them are headlesse Camb. Brit. p. 236. In Herefordshire a little beneath Richards Castle Nature who no where disporteth her self more in shewing wonders then in waters hath brought forth a pretty Well which is alwaies full of little fish bones although they be from time to time quite drawn out of it whence it 's called commonly Bone-well Camb. Brit. p. 619. In Gloucestershire upon the hills near Alderly are found certain stones resembling Cockles Periwinckles and Oisters which seem to be the garmsome works of Nature or such shells turned into stone Camb. Brit. p. 363. In Yorkshire about Whitby are found certain stones fashioned like Serpents foulded and wrapped round as in a wreath so that a man would verily think that they had been sometimes Serpents turned into stone Camb. Brit. p. 718. Also in the same County at Huntly Nabb there lie scattering here and there amongst the rocks stones of divers bignesse so Artificially by nature shaped round in manner of a Globe that one would take them to be big Bullets made by the Turners hand for shot to be discharged out of great Ordnance In which if you break them are found stony Serpents enwrapped round like a wreath but most of them are headlesse Camb. Brit. p. 721. In the County of Cornwal near unto St. Neots there are a number of good great rocks heaped up together and under them one stone of lesser size fashioned naturally in the form of a Cheese lying in presse whereupon it 's named Wring-cheese Camb. Brit. p. 192. In Yorkshire upon the Sea-shore by Sken-grave when the winds are laid and that upon still weather the Sea is most Calme and the water lies level and plain without any noise there is heard here many times on a sudden a great way off as it were an horrible and a fearful groaning which affrights the fishermen at those times from launching forth into the Sea Camb. Brit. p. 720. In Richmondshire amongst the ragged rocks are found stones like unto Periwinckles Cockles and other shell fish Camb. Brit. p. 727. In the County of Hereford a hill which they call Marcley-hill in the year 1571. as though it had wakened on a sudden out of a deep sleep roused it self up and for the space of three dayes together moving and shewing it self as mighty and huge an heape as it was with roaring noise in a fearful sort and overturning all things that stood in the way advanced it self foreward to the wondrous astonishment of the beholders Camb. Brit. p. 620. In Glamorganshire in a rock or cliffe by the Sea-side there appeareth a very little chink unto which if you lay your ear you shall hear a noise as if it were of Smiths at work one while the blowing of bellows another while the striking of the sledge and hammer sometimes the sound of the grindstone and iron tooles rubbing against it the hissing sparks also of steel gads within holes as they are beaten and the puffing
the greatest Cities in the world It is situated upon a most beautiful plain near unto a certain Mountain called Mucatun about two miles from the River Nilus It 's invironed with stately walls and fortified with Iron gates In it are built most stately and admirable Palaces and Colledges and most sumptuous Temples There are also many Bath-stoves very artificially built It aboundeth with all sorts of Merchandise out of all parts of the world There is in it a famous Burse Exchange called Canen Halili wherein the Persian Merchants dwell It 's built very stately in the manner of a King's Palace of three stories high Beneath it are many roomes whither Merchants resort for the exchange of their costly wares as all sorts of Spices precious stones Cloth of India c. There is also a stately Hospital the yearly revenues whereof amount to two hundred thousand pieces of gold called Saraffi The Suburbs are very large wherein also are many stately buildings especially a Colledge being of a wonderful height and great strength Besides many other Palaces Colledges and Temples Here they have great store of Poultry For in certain Ovens built upon sundry lofts they put abundance of Egs which Ovens being kept in a moderate heat will in seven daies hatch all those eggs into chickens P. Pil. The Egyptian Pyramids described In Egypt are divers stupendious structures called Pyramids the greatest whereof is situated on the top of a rocky hill which riseth above the plain about an hundred feet with a gentle and easie ascent the height of the situation adding beauty to the work and the solidity of the rock giving the superstructure a permanent and stable support each side of this Pyramid is six hundred ninety three feet according to the English Standard so that the whole Basis contains four hundred eighty thousand two hundred and fourty nine square feet or eleven English acres of ground The height is the same with the breadth viz. six hundred ninety three feet The ascent to the top is contrived in this manner From all the sides without the ascent is by degrees the lowermost step or degree is about four foot in height and three in breadth which runing about the Pyramid in a level makes on every side of it a long but narrow Walk the second row is like the first retiring inward from the first three feet and so runs about the Pyramid In the same manner is the third row placed above the second and so in order the rest like so many staires rising one above another to the top which containes about nine foot square The degrees by which men ascend are not all of an equal depth for some are about four foot others scarcely three and the higher they ascend the more they diminish both in breadth and thicknesse so that a right line extended from any part of the Basis to the top will equally touch the outward angle of every degree These are all made of Massie and polished stones hewen out of the Arabian Mountaines which bound the upper part of Egypt being so vast that the breadth and depth of every step is one single and intire stone so that in most of them is contained thirty feet of stone The number of these steps is two hundred and seven On the North side ascending thirty eight feet upon an artificial bank of earth there is a square and narrow passage leading into the inside of this Pyramid containing in length ninety two feet and an half The structure of it hath been the labour of an exquisite hand as appears by the smoothnesse and evennesse of the work and by the close knitting of the joynts it is now an habitation for great ugly batts of about a foot long At the end of this entrance you must climb up a massy stone eight or nine foot in height where you enter into a Gallery the pavement consisting of smooth polished white Marble the breadth is about five foot and the height the like the length of this Gallery is an hundred and ten feet At the end whereof begins a second Gallery a very stately piece of work and not inferiour either in respect of the curiosity of Art or richnesse of materials to the most sumptuous or magnificent buildings It 's divided from the former by a wall At the end whereof is a Well about three feet in the diameter the sides whereof are lined with white Marble it 's eighty six Cubits in depth hewen through the rock on which the Pyramid stands Beyond the Well about fifteen foot is a square passage the stones whereof are exceeding massie and exquisitely joyned which containes one hundred and ten feet at the end whereof is an arched Vault or little Chamber the length about twenty feet the breadth seventeen the height about fifteen The length of this second Gallery before mentioned is 154 feet of white and polished Marble both roof walls and bottom the joynts are so well knit that they are scarce discernable The height of this Gallery is twenty six feet the breadth six feet bounded on both sides with two banks like benches of polished Marble At the end of this gallery you enter into a square hole which brings you into a little room lined with rich and speckled Thebaick Marble out of which through another passage being all of Thebaick Marble most exquisitely cut you land at the North end of a very sumptuous and well proportioned room wherein art seems to contend with nature the curious work being not inferiour to the rich materials It stands in the heart or center of the Pyramid equidistant from all the sides and in the middest between the Basis and the top The floor sides and roofe are all made of vast and exquisite tables of Thebaick Marble From the top to the bottom are but six ranges of stone all of an equal height The stones which cover this room are of a strange and stupendious length like so many huge beams lying flat and traversing the room and bearing up that infinite weight and masse of the Pyramid above Of these there are nine which cover the roof the length of this room is thirty four English feet the breadth somewhat above seventeen feet the height nineteen feet and a half In the middest of this glorious room stands the Tomb of Châ—ops of one piece of Marble hollow within and sounding like a bell but empty For saith Diadorus although the Egyptian Kings intended these for their Sepulchres yet it happened that they were not buried therein For the people being exasperated against them by reason of the toilsomnesse of these works and for their cruelty and oppression threatned to tear in pieces their dead bodies and with ignominy to throw them out of their Sepulchres wherefore they commanded their friends when they were dead to bury them in some obscure place The Tomb is cut smooth and plain without any sculpture and ingraving the outsides contain in length seven foot three inches and a half