and the vilest Wretches Pius Neither hath Divine Justice less appeared against Apostates and Persecutors as by the following fearful examples it is evident XVII Judas Iscariot that wicked and accursed wretch was guilty of this horrid Sin for he being a Disciple nay an Apostle of Jesus Christ moved with Covetousness after he had conspired with the Enemy Traiterously sold his Lord and Master the Saviour of the World into the hands of Thieves and Murderers for thirty pieces of Silver who sought only his destruction after this vile creature had perpetrated this execrable deed for which he was called the Son of Perdition he could find no rest nor peace in his guilty conscience being horribly tormented with remorse for his wickedness judging himself worthy of a thousand deaths for betraying that Innocent and Guiltless Blood if he looked up he saw the vengeance of God ready to fall upon him and destroy him if he looked down he saw nothing but Hell gaping for him to swallow him up the light of the Sun was dreadful to him and he was even weary of his own life so that being plunged into the bottomless pit of despair he at last hanged himself and burst in two in the midst so that all his bowels gushed out and his memory is abhorred to this day as a dreadful Apostate from Christianity XVIII There are two memorable examples of Apostates the one of Lucian who having professed the Christian Religion for some time under Trajan the Emperor fell afterwards away and became so Prophane and Impious as to mock at Religion and the Divinity so tha he was firnamed the Atheist this wretch who like a foul mouthed Dog barked and belched out bitter Jears and Scofâ—s against the Religion of Christ seeking to make it ridiculous and thereby destroy it was himself in Gods vengeance torn to pieces and devoured by Dogs The other is Porphyrie who after he had received the knowledge of true Religion out of despight and anger because he was reproved for his faults by the Christians set himself against them and published Books full of horrible Blasphemies to discredit and overthrow the Christian Faith but when he observed how fully and clearly all his wretched Arguments were answered and consuted and that he was accounted a villanous Atheist for his labour in terrible despair and anguish of Soul he died Beards Tâ—eatre XIX Julian the Emperor notoriously known by the name of Apostate fell into the same dreadful gulf for having been brought up and instructed from his Childhood in the Christian Religion and afterward for some time a profest Reader thereof to others in the Church as soon as he had obtained the Empire he maliciously revolted from his Profession and resisted with all his power the Faith and Church of Christ endeavouring by all means possible either by force to ruinate and destroy it or by craft and subtilty to undermine it and because he designed to do what mischief he could to the Christians he therefore endeavoured by all means to please and oblige the Pagans their Enemies and therefore he first ordered their Heathen Temples to be opened which Constantine his Predecessor had caused to be shut up then he took from the Christian Churches and their Ministers those Liberties Priviledges and Immunities which Constantine had bestowed upon them and not content herewith he confiscated the Church Revenues and imposed great Taxes and Tributes upon all that professed the name of Christ and forbid them to have any Schools of Learning to teach their Children and used many of the Customs and Orders of the Christian Religion in his Heathen Worship after he had thus by all means laboured to beat down the Scepter of Christs Kingdom it happened quite contrary to his expectation for instead thereof the Scepter of his own Kingdom was destroyed and broken for making War against the Persians he furnished himself with such Gallantry of Armour Apparel Soldiers and all things else that he thought of no less than to have overcome the whole world continually belching out threatnings against the poor Christians whom he had determined at his return out of Persia to have utterly destroyed and to have left none alive as was afterward discovered by one of his Council the number of his Army was so great and his strength as he thought so impregnable that he doubted not in the least but to have conquered all Persia in a short time but behold how God overturneth the contrivances and Plots of his Enemies this great Army as St. Chrysostome writing against the Heathen observes in which he put so much confidence seemed in a little space to be rather a vast and weak multitude of Women and Children than an Army of Warriors for by the ill management and conduct thereof there arose so great a Famine amongst them that their Horses which were provided for the Battel were fain to be killed to save them from starving yea and for want of that too many hundreds dyed of hunger and Thirst so that when they had any skirmish with their Enemies they were always put to the rout doing more mischief to themselves than their Foes and lastly they were led so indiscreetly that they could not by any means escape but were constrained after he was slain to beseech the Persians to suffer them to retire whereby as many as could escaped and fled away to save their lives and thus this gallant Army was miserably discomfited and destroyed to the everlasting shame and infamy of that cursed Apostate who was struck with an Arrow in the Battel that was never known from whence it came which pierced through his Armour and wounded him very deep in his side and feeling his strength fail by reason of his wound he took some of his own Blood in his own hands and throwing it up in great pride and malice cryed out O Galilean thou hast overcome me meaning thereby our Blessed Saviour whom he in scorn termed so and soon after wretchedly gave up the Ghost One of the Treasurers of this wicked Emperor who to please his Master forsook likewise the Religion of Christ being on a time mocking and deriding the Ministry of Gods holy Word died miserably on a sudden with vomiting blood out of his mouth his privy parts as St. Chrysostome saith being likewise so rotten putrified and consumed with lice that he could find no remedy for the same and so died Symsons Ch. Hist XX. Arnold Bonelius a Student in the University of Lovain a Man much commended for an excellent wit ripeness of Learning and for favouring the Protestant Religion but afterward Apostatizing to Popery he began to be much troubled in mind and thence fell into despair against which he wrestled a great while but at length being wholly overcome by it as he was drawn to walk in the Fields with some Schollars his familiar Friends he pretended himself weary and so sate down by a Springs side and his Friends being gone a little before he drew out a dagger
Fetters mount from thy Body and go thy way Oâ—â— of his Life p. VII Hâ—â—o Grotius the greatest Schollar that his Age boasted of after so many Embassys happily performed abroad and as many Transactions well managed at home After an exact survey of all the Hebrew Greek and Latin Learning after an unanswerable Treatise of the Truth of the Christian Religion and many other Elaborate Discourses in Divinity and other parts of Learning concluded his Life with this Protestation That he would give all his Learning and Honour for the plain Integrity and harmless innocence of John Urick who was a devout poor man that spent Eight hours of his time in Prayer Eight in Labour and but Eight in Sleep and other necessaries He also made this complant to another who admired his astonishing Industry Ah! Vitam perdidi operose nihil agendo Ah! I have lost my Life in doing nothing industriously and gave this direction only to another who desired it as knowing his great Wisdom and Learning Be serious When he was on his Death-Bed he sent for a Minister professing himself to be the poor Publican saying That he had nothing to trust to but the Mercy of God in Jesus Christ and wishing that all the world saw as much reason in Religion as he did Dying Mens words p. 162. VIII Salmasius that Excellent French Schollar whom the Learned men of his time never mention without such Expressions as these vir nunquam satis laudatus c. A man never enough to be praised nor to be mentioned without admiration went out of the World with these words in his mouth Oh I have lost a world of Time Time that most precious thing in the world whereof had I but one year longer it should be spent in Davids Psalms and St. Pauls Epistles Oh Sirs said he to these about him mind the World less and God more all the Learning in the world without true Piety and the Fear of God is nothing worth The fear of the Lord that is Wisdom and to depart from Evil that is understanding Ibidâ—m p. 161. IX Sir Francis Walsingham Secretary of State in Queen Elizabeths Reign toward the latter end of his Life writ to the Lord Chancellor Burleigh to this purpose We have lived enough to our Countrey to our Fortunes and to our Soveraign it is high time we begin to live to our selves and to our God in the multitude of Assairs that passed through our hands there must be some miscarriages for which a whole Kingdom cannot make our peace And being observed to be more melancholy than usual some Court Humorists were sent to divert him Ah said Sir Francis while we laugh all things are serious round about us God is serious when he preserveth us and hath patience toward us Christ is serious when he dyeth for us the Holy Ghost is serious when he striveth with us the Holy Scripture is serious when it is read before us Sacraments are serious when they are administred to us The whole Creation is serious in serving God and us those that are in Heaven and Hell are serious and shall a man that hath one foot in the grave jest and laugh Wanly Hist Man p. 646. X. Sir Tho. Smith after he had many years served Q. Elizabeth also as Secretary of State and done many considerable Services to the Kingdom A quarter of a year before he dyed layd aside all publick Imployment and discharging all his worldly Affairs and Attendants sent to two Reverend Divines his singular good Friends intreating them to draw him out of the word of God the plainest and axactest way of making his peace with God and living Godly in this present world adding That it was great pity men knew not or at least did not seriously consider to what end they were born into this world till they were ready to go out of it Fair warning p. 168. XI Doctor Donne a Person of as great Parts and Spirit as any this Nation ever beheld when he was upon his Death-bed took his solemn farewell of his most considerable Friends leaving this with them I repent of all my Life but that part of it which I spent in communion with God and doing good That Person in a dying hour shall wish himself not a man who hath not been a good Christian Idem p. 164. XI Arch-Bishop Vsher that Famous Learned and most pious Divine after his indefatigable pains as a Christian a Schollar a Bishop and a Preacher went out of the world with this Prayer Lord forgive me my sins of Omission and desired to dye as Mr. Perkins did imploring the mercy and favour of God Idem p. 164. XIII Sir Philip Sydney a Subject indeed of England but they say chosen King of Poland whom Q. Elizabeth called Her Philip and the Prince of Orange called his Master whose Friendship the Lord Brooks was so proud of that he would have this to be part of his Epitaph Here lyeth Sir Philip Sidneys Friend whose Death was lamented in Verse by the then Kings of France and Scotland and the two Universities of England This great man lamented so much at his Death the innocent vanity of his Life in writing his Arcadia that to prevent the unlawful kindling of heats in others he would have committed it to the Flames himself and left this farewel among his Friends Love my Memory cherish my Friends their Faith to me may â—ssure you they are honest but above all govern your Will and Affections by the Will and Word of your Creator and in me behold the end of this world and all its vanities Ibidem p. 136. XIV Sir Henry Wotton after his many years study with great proficiency and applause in the University his near Relation to the great Favourite the E. of Essex his intimacy with the Duke of Tuscany and James the 6th King of Scotland his Embassyes to Holland Germany Venice c. was only ambitious of the Provostship of Eaton being exceeding desirous to retire thither to injoy his beloved Study and Devotion saying often That this was the happiest time of his life it being the utmost happiness which a man could attain to to be at leasure to be and to do good never reflecting on the spending of his former years without tears and would often say How much time have I to repent of and how little to do it in Idem p. 154. XV. Sir John Mason Privy Councellor to King Hen. 8. and K. Edw. 6. upon his death-Bed called for his Clerk and Steward to whom he spake to this purpose I have seen five Princes and been Privy Councellor to four I have seen the most observable matters in Forreign parts and been present at most Transactions for 30 years together and I have learned this after many years experience that Seriousness is the greatest wisedom Temperance the best Physick and a good Conscience is the best Estate and were I to live again I would change the Court for a Church my Privy
who remembring his old Friend the Smith to whom he alwaies carried a Reverend Respect for the good that he had received by him sent to know whether he was not imprisoned also and finding that he was not desired to speak with him when he came asked his Advice whether he thought it comfortable for him to remain in Prison and whether he would incourage him to burn at a Stake for his Religion To whom the Smith answered That his Can 〈◊〉 was good and he might with comfort suffer for it but for my part saith he I cannot burn But he that could not burn for his Religion by God's Just Judgment was burned for his Apostacy for shortly after his Shop and House being set on fire whilst he over-earnestly endeavoured to save his Goods himself was burnt Acts and Monum XXVI In the year 1617. Marcus Antonius De Dominis Archbishop of Spalato though he was old and corpulent and thereby unfit for Travel being almost at his Journeys end by nature came into England leaving Italy his own Country as he pretended for Religion and writ several Reasons thereof whereupon being entertained he preached and writ against Rome extolling the Protestant Religion so that he became Dean of Windsor and Master of the Savoy which he enjoyed for some time but whether he had higher hopes at home or the humour and fancy altering after five years stay here he retracted all that he had said and written which so incensed King James that he commanded him within three daies at his peril to depart the Realm who thereupon went to Rome and there inveighed as bitterly against the Protestants as he had done in England against the Papists hoping at least for Pardon if not for preferment But notwithstanding his Recantation according to the Law of the Inquisition having once revolted though now returned he suffered the death of an Heretick and an Apostate though not the shame and had the punishment of a Martyr though not the Honour being publickly Burnt at Rome yet not Burnt alive for dying in Prison and then buried it is said his Body was afterward taken up and burnt Bakers Coronicle XXVII One James Latomus a Divine of Lovain sometimes a Professor of the Gospel but afterwards an Apostate being one time got into the Pulpit to Preach before the Emperour Charles the Fifth at Brussels was at that very instant so amazed and astonished that no body could understand him so that he was laughed to scorn by the Courtiers seeing himself thus disgraced he returned to Lovain where in his publick Lecture he fell into such grief and sorrow of mind for the dishonour he had got that at length it turned into an open frenzy and madness uttering such words of Desperation and blasphemous Impiety that by other Divines present he was carried away raving and shut up in a close Chamber from which time to his last breath he cryed out That he was damned and rejected of God and that there was no hope of Salvation for him because that wittingly and against his knowledge and of meer malice he had resisted and withstood the manifest Truth of the Word of God and soon after died in this miserable condition Beards Theatre XXVIII It is recorded of Trebellius the First King of the Bulgarians that he with his People being converted to the Christian Faith that he might more quietly apply his mind and Soul to the Exercises of Religion he resigned up his Kingdom to his Eldest Son who when he was King renounced the Christian Religion and worshipped the Gods of the Heathen whereupon the Father not only deprived him of his Royal Dignity but likewise caused his Eyes to be put out fora punishment of his Apostacy and bestowed the Kingdom upon his other Son shewing thereby That he who abandoneth and forsaketh the True Light of Salvation is not worthy to enjoy the comfortable Light of the World Beards Theatre XXIX Peter Castellon Bishop of Maston having attained great Riches and Renown by means of the Gospel yet notwithstanding he afterward turned his back upon the Protestant Faith and mightily inveighed against the Profession of that Religion in his Sermons at Orleance endeavouring to demonstrate that he had not only abjured and denied it but likewise that he was a profest Adversary thereunto This Man sitting one time in his Chair fell into a strange Disease which no Physician had ever seen or could find the cause or remedy thereof for one half of his Body was extream hot and burned like Fire the other extraordinary cold and frozen like Ice and in this Torment with horrible cryes and groans he ended his Life Cardinal Pool an English-man had sometimes professed himself a Protestant yet afterward was a zealous Papist and a cruel Persecutor in Queen Maries daies but he died within two or three daies after the Queen in horrible grief and terrour of Conscience without any visible token of Repentance Beards Theatre XXX But among all the Examples we read of there is none more terrible than that of Francis Spira a Lawyer of Cittadella in the Territories of Venice a man of great Credit and Authority in his Country who imbraced the True Religion with extraordinary Zeal and made open profession of the same teaching the Doctrines thereof first to his Family and then to his Friends and Familiar Acquaintance which he continued to do about six years whereby he stirred up the malice of the Popish Clergy against him so that they complained to the Pope's Legate thereof which when Spira understood foresaw the danger wherein he was like to fall after he had long debated and disputed the matter in his own Conscience the Counsel of the Flesh and worldly Wisdom prevailing he resolved at last to go to the Legate and by doing whatever he should command him to appease his Anger and coming accordingly to Venice being over-ruled with immoderate fear he subscribes to a Catalogue of all the pretended Errours which the Legate had drawn up together with his Confession annexed which he promised to declare in his own Town and to acknowledge the whole Doctrine of the Church of Rome to be True and Holy and to abjure the Opinions of Luther and all such Hereticks As he was going home to this purpose he began to consider how wickedly he had denied Christ and his Gospel at Venice and what he had promised to do in his own Country whereupon being confounded with fear and shame he thought he heard a voice thus speaking to him Spira what dost thou here Whither goest thou Hast thou unhappy man given thy Hand-writing to the Legate yet see thou do not seal it in thy own Countrey Dost thou think Eternal Life so mean a thing as to prefer the present life before it Remember Man that the sufferings of this present Life are not comparable to the Glory that shall be revealed If thou suffer with him thou shalt also Reign with him Thou canst not answer what thou hast already
that notwithstanding all the help of Chirurgery he died soon after and that in a very sad condition for he cursed and blasphemed to the last gasp and his last breath passed out of his body with an horrid Oath to the terrour of all that beheld him and herein did the Divine Justice remarkably appear in that his own hand which had written those Blasphemies was made an Instrument to punish that head and brain which had wickedly devised them Beards Theatre III. In the year 1527. A young Italian esteemed a man very brave and valiant in Arms was to fight with another young man who because he was melancholy and spake very little was called Forchebene they went together with a great company to the Place appointed which was without the Port of St. Gall whither being come a friend to the former went to him and said God give you the Victory the proud young man adding blasphemy to his Temerity answered How shall he chuse but give it me They came to use their weapons and after many blows given and taken both by the one and the other Forchebene being become as the Minister and Instrument of God gave him a thrust in the mouth with such force that having fastened his Tongue to the Poll of his Neck where the Sword went thorow above the length of a Span he made him 〈…〉 the Sword remaining in his Mouth to the end that the Tongue which had so grievously offended might even in this world endure punishment for so horrible a sin L. Remys Consid c. 59. IV. Another of our own Nation is not to be overpassed who for Atheism may be compared to the former and for God's severe Judgment upon him may give place to none It was a Gentleman in Bark-shire whose Name I forbear to mention This man had a great Estate but was an open Scoffer and Contemner of all Religion a profest Atheist and a Scorner of the Word and Sacraments insomuch that I have heard it very credibly reported that being Witness to the Baptizing of a Child he would needs have it named Beelzebub He was likewise given to all manner of Debauchery keeping several notorious Strumpets openly in his House without shame He was so accustomed to Swearing that he could scarce speak without an Oath This miserable Man or rather Brute having continued long in this damnable course of life at last Divine Vengeance found him out for going one day a hunting with one of his Companions As they were discoursing of divers Idle Stories it pleased Almighty God to strike him with sudden death for falling suddenly on the Crupper of his Horse backward he was taken off stark dead with his Tongue hanging out of his Mouth in a very fearful manner and became a terrible Example of God's Justice against all wicked Atheists Beards Theatre V. Cluverius an Author worthy of credit who professeth that he had this Relation not only by hear-say but from Eye-witnesses who saw it gives this wonderful Account That in the Month of March 1632 there lived in the Borders of Muscovia a Noble-man by Office a gatherer of Tribute or Taxes by name Albertus Periâ—scius his manner was when poor men could not presently pay their Taxes to distrain upon their Cattle and drive them to his own home Now it came to pass that this Noble-man being from home lost all his unjust gains in one 〈…〉 for all his Cattle both those he had taken by Violence and what he had bought with his Money suddenly dyed This wretched man coming home was told â— his Wife and Servants what a fearful Judgment from God was befallen him whereat he began to rage and rave extreamly and taking his Musquet shot it up against Heaven breaking forth into these blasphemous speeches Let him that killed my attle devour them If thou wouldest not let me eat them eat them thy self Upon these furious barkings against God there fell some drops of blood and this wicked man was turned into a black Dog and howling he raâ— to the dead Cattle and began to feed upon them and for ought I know saith mine Author who wrote this story presently after is yet feeding upon them His Wife great with Child being astonished and terrified with the strangeness of God's Judgments shortly after died Clark's Exam. 1 Part. VI. Simon Churmay in 1201. having most subtilly and acutely disputed about the Trinity some of his familiar friends persuaded him to put it into writing that so the memorial of such excellent things might not be lost whereupon he proudly brake forth into this Atheistical speech O Jesule Jesule c. O little Jesus little Jesus how much have I confirmed and advanced thy Law in this Question but if I had a mind to deal crosly I know how with stronger Reasons and Arguments to weaken and disprove the same Which was no sooner spoken but he was strucken dumb and not only so but he became an Ideot and ridiculously foolish and was made a common hissing and mocking-stock to all that saw him Mat. Paris Not much unlike this is that of Michael a blasphemous Jew who as he was banquetting with his Companions fell to blaspheming Christ and his Mother boasting That he had gotten the Victory over the Christians God but as he went down Stairs out of the Room he fell down and brake his Neck Fincelius Miserable was the end of Perieres who writ a blasphemous Book wherein he openly mocked at God and all Religion for he fell into most desperate despair and notwithstanding strict watch was kept about him yet he killed himself 〈…〉 the year 1502. there lived one Hermanus Biswick a Grand Atheist and a notable Instrument of the Devil who affirmed That the World never had a beginning as foolish Moses dreamed and that there were neither Angels nor Devils nor Hell nor future a Life but that the Souls of Men perished with their Bodies and that Jesus Christ was nothing else but a Seducer of the People and that the Faith of Christians and whatever else was contained in the Holy Scriptures was meer vanity These Opinions full of Atheism and Impiety he was so hardened in that he constantly avouched them to the death and was for the same together with his Books deservedly burnt in Holland Theat Hist VII A certain Rich man at Halterstadt in Germany abounding with all manner of worldly happiness he gave up his whole Soul in delighting therein so that he had no sense of Heaven or Religion yea he was so Atheistical as to say That if he might lead such a life continually upon the Earth he would not envy those that enjoyed Heaven ner desire to exchange his condition with them But soon after it pleased God contrary to his expectation to cut him off by death and so the pleasures which he doated on came to an end But after his death there were seen such Diabolical Apparitions in his House that no man durst inhabit it so that it became desolate For every
stood amazed thereat Acts Monu XXXIV Felix Earl of Wurtemburg one of the Captains of the Emperor Charles the Fifth being at Supper at Ausburg with many of his Companions they breathed out horrible threatnings of what Cruelty they intended to exercise upon the poor Protestants and the Earl swore before them all That before he died he would ride up to his Spurs in the blood of the Lutherans but it happened the same night that vengeance overtook him for he was strangled and choaked in his own blood before morning and so he did not ride yet bathed himself not up to the Spurs but up to the throat not in the Blood of the Lutherans but his own blood and so miserably ended his life Flaccius Illyricus John Martin of Piedmont continually boasted how he would root out the Protestants and in much Gallantry cut off a Ministers Nose of Angrogne but immediately after he himself was set upon by a Wolf which bit off his Nose as he had abused the Minister whereupon he grew mad and died miserably which strange Judgment was much discoursed of by all the Country round about because it was never known that this Wolf had done any hurt to any Man before Acts Monu XXXV The Lord of Revest who was President of the Parliament at Provence and by whose means many innocent Protestants were Martyred was a while after put out of his Office and returning to his own house he was visited with so dreadful a sickness accompanied with such mad and furious fits that his Wife nor Friends durst never venture to come near him and so like a furious Mad-man he in a solitary inraged humor ended his wrerched Life About the same time there happened a very strange Judgment upon one John Cranequin an Antient Lawyer of Bruges who was so violent and furious in the Popish way that he turned Promoter against the Protestants informing Ovy one of the cursed Inquisitors against them whereby many were taken and martyred But Divine Justice struck him with a very strange Phrensy insomuch that whatsoever his Eyes beheld seemed in his Judgment to be crawling Serpents and though all manner of means and Medicines were used for curing him yea though they used the help of wicked Conjuration and Sorcery yet his Senses were quite benummed and he was bereaved of his Reason and so miserably died Beards Theatre XXXVI John Morin a cruel Enemy to the Professors of the Truth who busied himself continually at Paris in apprehending and accusing the Protestants whereby he caused multitudes daily to be sent to the High-Court of the Pallace This Man himself soon after died in most grievous and horrible torture and the Chancellor Prat who gave out the first Commissions to destroy them died swearing and blaspheming the Name of God his stomach being most strangely gnawn in pieces and consumed with Worms Poncher Archbishop of Tours pursuing with all violence the burning of the Protestants was himself surprized with a Fire from Heaven which beginning at his heel could never be quenched till one Member after another was cut off whereby he miserably died Gaspard of Renialine one of the Magistrates of the City of Anvers in France having condemned certain poor faithful Souls to be burned received ere he moved out of the place the terrible Sentence of God's Judgment against himself falling immediately into desperation and was led home to his house half distracted where roaring out That he had condemned and destroyed the blood of the Innocent he presently died French Hist XXXVII Lambert a Frier in Leige a very cruel Persecutor one of the bloody Inquisitors for Religion whilst he was one day bitterly inveighing against the Protestants he was on a sudden in the midst of his Sermon struck speechless so that he was fain to be carried out of the Pulpit to his Cloister in a Chair and was shortly after found drowned in a Ditch Albertus Pighius a great Enemy to the Gospel insomuch that he was called The Lutherans Scourge being at Bulloigne at the Coronation of the Emperor to behold the Pomp and Glory thereof it happened that the Scaffold whereon he stood fell down with the weight of the People and Pighius came tumbling headlong amongst the Guard that stood below and fell upon the points of their Halberds which ran quite thorow his Body the rest of the Company escaping without any great hurt French Hist XXXVIII In the Reign of King Henry the Eighth one Adam Damlip a very worthy Protestant Preacher was condemned to be Executed as a Traitor pretendedly though in truth for nothing but defending the Christian Religion against Popish Superstitions Now there was one Sir Ralph Ellaker Knight Marshal of Calice who was to see him Executed there and was a very great Enemy to him so that he would not permit him to make any Confession of his Faith nor the Cause for which he died but still cryed out to the Hangman Dispatch the Knave make an end not sufering him to speak a word in his own defence nor clear himself from the Treason with which he was charged but not proved against him yea this bloody wretch swore That he would not stir till he saw the Traitors heart out A while after there happened a skirmish between the English and French at Bulloigne where this Sir Ralph was slain with divers others whose death only sufficed not his Enemies for after they had stripped him stark naked they cut off his Privy Members and pluckt the heart out of his body and so left him a terrible Example to all merciless and bloody Men for there was no cause ever known why they should use him so more than the rest but only to discover the Just Judgment of Heaven upon him Beards Theatre XXXIX James the Fifth King of Scotland by the Instigation of the Popish Bishops was a great Persecutor of the Protestants the Light of the Gospel breaking forth in his time and gave Commission to Sir James Hamilton his Treasurer to prosecute all Persons which should be found guilty of Heresie and to inflict punishments upon them the King being also heard to say That none of that sort should expect any favour at his hands nay not his own Sons if they should be found guilty But this continued not long for Sir James Hamilton was accused of a Design against the King's Life for which he was shortly after Executed And a War afterward breaking out with England the King found his Nobility very averse in assisting him therein which much discontented him These thoughts with some fearful Visions which he had by night much terrified him and altered his Mind from those Extremities which the Clergy had put him upon For one night as he lay at Linlithgow it seemed to him that Thomas Scot Justice Clerk came to him a with Company of Devils crying Woe worth the day that ever I knew thee or thy service for serving thee against God and against his Servants I am now Judged to Hell
in the Reign of Queen Mary Dr. Sands and Dr. Cox fled both out of England in the same Ship and before the Ship was out of sight two of the Queens Guard were upon the Sea-shore to have apprehended Dr. Sands but they had so prosperous a passage that they landed safely at Antwerp and were invited to the house of one Mr Lock to Dinner as they were at Table Mr George Gilpia the English Secretary came to them and whispering Dr. Sands told him That King Philip made search for him to apprehend him whereupon he immediately rose ftom Dinner and though it rained very fast yet he went out of the Gate which leads to Cleaveland and so made his escape to Strasburg Clarks Mirrour 2.616 XXII In the year 1640. Dr. James Vsher Lord Primate of Ireland came over into England being invited thereunto by some eminent Persons wherein the special Providence of God did manifest it self for his preservation it being the year before the bloody Rebellion broke out in Ireland as if according to the Angels speech to Lot nothing could be done there till he was come hither and escaped to this Zoar. Clark's Lives To Conclude innumerable are the Examples of the Almighty's Protection and deliverance of the innocent and those that trust in him in all Ages of the world for as he punisheth the wicked with most severe Judgments so he protecteth those that fear him by the extraordinary assistance of his Holy Angels to fulfâ—â— the Truth of what the Apostles Write Heb. 1.14 That they are ministring Spirits sent forth to minister to them who shall be Heirs of Salvation CHAP. VII Divine Goodness to Penitents with the dying Thoughts of several Famous Men concerning a future State after this Life Likewise divers remarkable Instances to demonstrate the reality and certainty thereof VVE read in the Holy Scriptures that the Almighty resisteth the proud but he giveth Grace to the humble and therefore how passionately and compassionately doth he exhort and perswade men to Repentance and Reformation declaring that whosoever cometh unto him he will in no wise cast off yea though their Sins and Transgressions are of a Scarlet and Crimson dye even of the greatest magnitude yet if they will forsake their evil ways he will have mercy upon them and save them How vain therefore and foolish are those desperate men in our Age who having long continued in wicked and evil courses endeavour to incourage themselves therein by perswading themselves and their wretched Companions that there is no future account to be given in another world which wicked attempt is ridiculous as well as dangerous since besides the undeniable evidence of the Holy Scriptures and the Divine Providence whereby the whole world was Created and is Governed it is also very apparent that all sorts of Men of all Conditions as Emperours Kings Philosophers Statesmen c. of all Religions Heathens Jews Mahometans Christians Of all Opinions among Christians and of all Tempers whether strict and serious or loose and debauched in all Ages of the World from the Creation they have left this great Observation behind them That upon Experience they have found that what vain Thoughts soever men may in the heat of their Youth and Lust entertain of Religion yet they will sooner or later fâ—el aâ— Testimony which God hath given into every ones Breast which will one day make them serious either by the inexpressible Fears Terrours and Agonies of a Troubled mind or by the inconceivable Peace Joy and Comfort of a good Conscience and of this we have many late as well as former examples some of which may be very necessary to be here inserted to manifest the Truth thereof I. St. Augustin is a famous Instance of Repentance as we find very lively discribed in his Confessions some few of which I shall repeat in his own words In my Youth I even burnt to be satisfied in these lower pleasures and what was it I delighted in but to love and be loved yea I boiled over in my Fornications and thou heldest thy peace then wandred I still further from thee O my Joy into other and more fruitless seed-plots of sorrows with a proud dejectedness and an untyred weariness but didst thou indeed hold thy peace to me No surely for whose but thine were the words which my Mother one of thy faithful Children sang in my Ears for I will remember she privately charged me and with very much earnestness fore-warned me That I should not commit simple Fornication but especially that I should never defile another mans Wife These seemed to me no better than Womens advices which it would be a shame for me to follow but they were thy Counsels indeed and I knew it not but ran headlong with such stupid blindness that I was ashamed amongst my Equals to be guilty of less impudence than they were whom I heard to boast mightily of their Debaucheries and glorying the more the more beastly they had been Yea and I took pleasure in committing of wickedness not for the Pleasure of the Act only but for the praise and credit of it also What is worthy of dispraise if Vice be not But I made my self worse than indeed I was that I might not be dispraised and when I wanted opportunity to commit that naughtiness which should make me as bad as the worst I would pretend I had done what I never did that I might not be counted cowardly in being innocent nor faint hearted in being more chast than they Behold with what Companions I walked the Streets of Babylon and I wallowed my self in the mire of it as if I had reposed in a Bed of Spices and most precious Ointments and my invisible Enemy seduced me to the very center of sin so that I ran into all manner of dissoluteness and practised whatsoever I affected a mist in the mean time depriving my sight O my God of the brightness of thy Truth and mine Iniquity came from me as if swelling from fatness Surely thy Law O Lord punisheth Thievery yea and this Law is so written in our hearts that Iniquity it self cannot blot it out For what Thief does willingly abide a man to steal from him no not a rich Thief though his follow be driven to steal upon necessity Yet had I a desire to commit Thievery and did it compelled neither by hunger nor poverty but even through a cloyedness of welldoing and a pamperdness of Iniquity for I stole that of which I had enough of my own and much better nor when I had done cared I to enjoy the thing which I had stoln but only rejoycing in the Theft and 〈◊〉 it self A Pear Tree there was in the Orchard next our Vineyard will laden with Fruit though not much tempting either for colour or taste To the robbing of this a Company of lewd young Fellows of us went late on night having according to our idle custom continued in our Gaming Houses till that time from whence we
them two should first depart out of this Life should if possible give an account to the Survivor of the State of the other Life and whether the Soul be immortal or not This agreement being made and mutually sworn to they departed In a short time after it fell our that while Michael Mercatus was one morning early at his study upon a sudden he heard the noise of a Horse opon the Gallop and then stopping at the door and immediately he heard the voice of his Friend Marsilius crying out to him O Michael Micheal those things are true they are true Michael wondring to hear his Friends voice rose up and opened his Casement where he saw the back part of him whom he had heard speak in white and galloping away upon a white Horse He called after him Marsilius Marsilius and followed him with his eye but he soon vanished out of sight Michael amazed at this extraordinary accident very strictly inquired if any thing had happened to Marsilius who then lived at Florence some distance from thence where he likewise breathed his last and he found upon strict inquiry that he dyed at that very time when he was thus seen and heard by him Wanly Hist Man P. 88. IV. About the year 1060. There was a great Doctor buried at Paris at the enterring of whom when the Priest in the form then used came to the words Responde mihi Answer me the Corps sat upright on the Bier and to the amazement of all that were there cryed out Justo Dei judicio accusatus sum At the just Tribunal of God I am accused lying presently down again The attendants being astonished deferred the Funeral till the next day to see the Issue of this strange accident at which time a multitude met to observe the event when at the same words again repeated the disturbed Body riseth again and with the like hideous noise cryed out Justo Dei Judicio Judicatus sum By the just Judgment of God I am judged The People being yet more amazed deferred the Interment one day longer when almost the whole City thronged to this strange Burial and in the presence of them all at the reciting of the same words he rose up the third time and cryed out Justo Dei Judicio condemnatus sum by the just Judgment of God I am condemned whereat as the whole City were affrighted so Bruno an eminent Doctor in that University was seriously affected and told them That as they had formerly heard so now they saw the Judgments of the Lord were unsearchable and past finding out for this Person whom we honoured for the strictness of his Life the modesty and unblamableness of his Conversation cryeth out now that he is damned by the just Judgment of God This dreadful Example he inforced upon the minds of the Auditors with so many prevailing Arguments that by the Blessing of God several of them retired themselves from the world and spent the rest of their days wholly in the service of God and preparing their Souls for an Eternal State in the world to come Dying Mens words p. 196. V. Charles the 5th Emperor of Germany King of Spain and Lord of the Netherlands after Three and Twenty Pitcht Battles six Triumphs Four Kingdoms won and Eight Principalities added to his Dominions which he ruled over Fourteen years yet at last resigned all these retired to his Devotion in a Monastery had his own Funeral celebrated before his face and left this Testimony of Christian Religion That the sincere profession thereof had in it those sweets and Joys that Courts were Strangers to And Philip the Third of Spain lying on his Death Bed in 1621 sent thrice at Midnight for Florentius his Confessor who with the Provincial of Castile discoursed to him of approaching Death exhorting him to submit to Gods will so gravely that the King himself could not chuse but weep and after some intermission from his tears and thanks for his wholsome admonition the King spake thus to him Do you not remember that in your Sermon on Ash-Wednesday you said that some of your Auditors might dye that Lent this concerns me for lo my fatal hour is now at hand but shall I obtain eternal felicity which words he uttered with great grief and trouble adding likewise to his Confessor You have not hit upon the right way of healing is there no other Remedy Which when he observed the Confessor thought he meant of his Body the King added Ah I am not solicitous of my Body nor of my temporary Disease but of my Soul The Confessor mournfully answered I have done what I could I must commit the rest to Gods providence Florentius then discoursed at large of Gods mercy remembring His Majesty what he had done for the Honour and Worship of that God to which the King replyed Ah how happy were I had I spent these Twenty three years wherein I have held my Kingdom in a retirement Florentius answered That it would be very acceptable to God if he would lay his Kingdom his Majesty his Life and his Salvation at the feet of his Crucified Saviour Jesus Christ and submit himself to his Will Willingly willingly will I do this said the Heart-sick King and from this moment do I lay all that God hath given me my Dominions Power and my Life at the Feet of Jesus Christ my Saviour who was crucified for me and then among his last words he said to Florentius Now really you have suggested to me very great comfort Fair Warning P. 160. VI. Prince Henry Eldest Son to King James and Queen Anne was most zealous in his love to Religion and Piety and his heart was bent if he had lived to have indeavoured to compound those unkind Jars and differences that were among Religious men He told the Dean of Rochester That he thought that whereaâ— he and others like him did as usual look him in thâ— face when they came first into the Pulpit their Countenance did as it were say to him Sir you must hear mâ— diligently you must have a care to observe what I say He used to say he knew no sport worth an Oath and that he knew not what they called Puritan Preaching 〈◊〉 but he loved that Preaching which went next his heart and spake as if they knew the mind of God His last words were O Christ thou art my Redeemer and 〈◊〉 know that thou hast Redeemed me I wholly depend upon thy Providence and Mercy from the very bottom of my heart I commend my soul into thy hand A Person oâ— Quality waiting on the Prince in his sickness who had been his constant Companion at Tennis and asking how he did he answered Ah Tom I in vain wish for that time I lost with thee and others in vain Recreation He then added Now my Soul be glad for at all parts of this Prison the Lord hath set his aid to loose thee Head Fâ—et Milt and Liver are failing Arise therefore and shake off thy
Councellers business and bustle for an Hermits retirement and the whole life I lived in the Pallace for one hours enjoyment of God in the Chappel all things else forsake me beside my God my duty and my prayer Idem p. 153. XVI Mr. Howard afterward the learned E. oâ— Northampton being disturbed with Atheistical suggestions put them all off this way If I could give any account how my self or any thing else had a being without God how there came so uniform and so constant a consent of mankind of all ages tempers and educations differing so much otherwise in their apprehensions about the being of a God the Immortality of the Soul and Religion in which they could not likely either deceive so many or being so many could not be deceived I could then be aâ— Atheist And when it was urged that Religion was only a State Policy to keep men in awe he replved he could not believe it since he was sensible that the greatest Polititians have sooner or later felt the power of Religion in the grievous laâ—hes of their Consciences and the dreâ—dfulness of their apprehensions about that state wherein they must live for ever Idem p. 151. XVII Galeacius Carraciolus Marquess of Vico a Noble Person of a great Estate powerful Relations both in the Emperour of Germany and the Popes Court the last of which was his near Relation notwithstanding the great promises and most endearing Letters of his kindred the bitter cryes and tears of his Parents his wife and children the loss both of his honour and estate yet this worthy Person broke through all these temporalâ— engagements forsook his Country and all that was dear to him to go to Geneva and imbrace a reproached despised and persecuted Gospel chusing rather with Moses to whom he is compared to suffer Afflictions with the People of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of this world because he had a respect to the recompence of reward and endured as seeking him who is invisible He used to say That he should not look upon himself to be worthy â—o see the face of God if he did not prefer one hours communion with Christ before all the riches and pleasures of the world Galeacius's Life XVIII Famous and remarkable is the instance of the late Earl of Râ—chester who though he spent a great part of his life in the height of Atâ—â—iâ—â—ne and all manner of prophaness and debauchery yet upon his dying bed God was graciously pleased to hear the prayers of his nearest Relations and true friends so that he became a most admirable Penitent of which I shall instance some few particulars as they are published by two Reverend Divines He was the Son of the famous Lord Wâ—mot and was a great proficient in learning in the year One thousand six hundred and sixty he went to the University at which time the general joy which over-run the whole Nation upoâ— hâ—s Majesties Restoration was not regulated wiâ—â— that â—oâ—â—â—iâ—ry and tâ—mperance which became a serious gratitude to God for sâ—ch a â—lessing which had some ill effects in him so that he â—â—gaâ— to love those disorders too much for after having travellâ—d â—â—r some time he returned back to the Court where falling into company who loved those excesses he was at length intirely subdued by intempâ—rance so that he confessed for five years together he was continually drunk not all the while under the viâ—ible effects of it but his blood was so inflamed that he was not in all that time cool enough to be perfectly master of himself which led him to do many wild and unaccountable things and being a Person of extraordinary parts his sins were like them so that he seemed to affect something singular in his Impieties as well as writings above the reach of other men taking all manner of pains to pervert others to wickedness nay so confirmed was he in sin that he lived and almost oftentimes dyed a Martyr to it The licenciousness of his temper with the brisknâ—ss of his wit disposed him to love the conversation of those who divided their time between lewd actions and irregular mirth and so he came to bend his wit and direct his studies and endeavours to support and strengthen these ill principles of Atheism and irreligion in himself and others An accident fell out about this time which confirmed him more in these courses for going to Sea in the year 1665 there happened to be in the same ship with him Mr Montague and another Gentleman of Quality these two but especially the last seemed pâ—rswaded That they should never return into England and Mr. Montague said he was sure of it upon which the E. of Rochester entered into an engagement with the other Gentleman not without Ceremonies of Religion Mr. Montague refusing it That if either of them died â—e should appear and give the other notice of the future state if there were any After which in a fight with the Dutch toward the latter end of the Action the Gentleman aforementioned fell on a sudden into such a trembling that he could scarce stand and Mr. Montague going to hold him up as they were in each others arms a Canon Bulleâ— kild him out-right and carried away Mr. Montagues Belly so that he died in an hour after but this Gentleman never appeared to the E. of Rochester afterward which was a great snare to him during the rest of his life after which he went on to commit all iniquity with greediness and yet even this desperate Tinner that one would think had made a Covenant with death and was at an agreement with â—ell and just upon the brink of them born yet even now God to magnifie the riches of his Grace and Mercy was pleased to snatch him out of the fire so that falling into a great fit of sickness he laboured under strange trouble and conflicts of mind his spirit being wounded and his Conscience full of Terrour and saying If that God who dyed for great as well as lesser sinners did not speedily apply his infinite mercies to his poor soul his wound was such as no man could conceive or bear crying out That he was the vilest wretch and Dog that the Sun shined upon or the Earth bore that he now saw his error in not living up to that reason which God endued him with and which he unworthily vilified and contemned wishing he had been a starving Leper crawling in a Ditch that he had been a Link boy or a beggar or for his whole life time confined to a Dungeon rather than to have sinned against his God and acknowledged that all the seeming absurdities of Religion and the Holy Scriptures and the contradictions thereof framed by men of corrupt and reprobate Judgments were now vanished and the excellency and beauty thereof appeared he being now come to receive the truth in the love of it And upon his death bed
gave command to his Reverend Chaplain to preach abroad and to let all men know how severely God had disciplined him for his sins by his afflicting hand that his sufferings were most just tho he had laid ten thousand times more upon him and how God had laid on him one stripe upon another because of his grievous provocations till he had brought him home to himself and declaring that from the bottom of his soul he did detest and abher the whole course of his former wicked life and admired the goodness of God who had given him a true sense of his pernicious opinions and vile practises warning all men in the name of God and as they regard the welfare of their souls no more to deny his Being or his providence or despise his goodness no more to make a mock of sin or contemn the pure and excellent Religion of the ever Blessed Redeemer through whose Merits alone he who was one of the greatest of Sinners did yet hope for mercy and forgiveness and in this Penitent and Religious temper and frame of Spirit he sometime after gave up the Ghost Rechesters Life and Sermon XIX I shall conclude all with some brief remarks out of the Life of that Excellent and Worthy Person the late Lord Chief Justice Hales as lately published by a Reverend Divine This Gentleâ—an was descended rather from a good than a Noble Family and about the Seventeenth year of his Age went to Oxford where he was placed under an able Tutor and was an extraordinary proficient but the Stage-Plays coming thither he was so much corrupted by seeing many Plays that he almost wholly forsook his Studies of which mischief being sensible he at his coming to London resolved â—ver to see a Play again to which he constantly adhered but one â—rruption of the mind draws on another so that he fell into many â—uthful vanities and kept too much ill Company with some vain â—eople till a sad accident drove him from it for he with some other â—oung Persons being invited out of Town to be merry one of the â—ompany called for so much Wine and went on in such excess that though Mr. Hale would have prevented it he fell down as dead â—efore them so that all that were present were not a little affrighted 〈◊〉 it who did what they could to bring him to himself again This â—â—d Particularly affect Mr. Hale who thereupon went into another â—om and shutting the door fell on his knees and prayed earnestly 〈◊〉 God both for his Friend That he might be restored to life again â—nd that himself might be forgiven forgiving such countenance to so â—uch excess and he vowed to God that he would never again keep â—â—mpany in that manner nor Drink allealth while he lived His friend recovered and he most Religiously kept his vow till his â—ying day and though he was afterwards pressed to drink healths â—rticularly the Kings which was set up by too many as a distinâ—uishing mark of Loyalty and drew many into great excess after â—is Majesties happy Restoration but he would never dispence with is Vow though he was roughly treated for this sometimes which â—â—me hot and indiscreet men call obstinacy This wrought such an â—â—tire change on him that now he forsook all vain Company and â—vidâ—d himself between the duties of Religion and the studies of â—s Profession in the former whereof he was so regular that for six â—â—d Thirty years time he never once failed going to Church on the â—â—rds day though he was acquainted with all sorts of Learning â—â—t he seemed to have made the study of Divinity the chiefest of all â—hers He was a very merciâ—ul and upright Judg and would hear no â—auses but in open Court which a great Peer once complained of 〈◊〉 the King But his Majesty bid him content himself that he was no â—rse used and said He verily believed he would have used himself no â—ttâ—r if he had gone to sollicitâ— him in any one of his own Causes He â—ade it as a Rule to himself That in the administration of Justice 〈◊〉 was intrusted for God the King and Countrey and therefore ought 〈◊〉 do it uprightly deliberately and resolutely and yet was much conâ—rned that though it was his duty to serve in the Office he was calâ—â—d to yet was it a great consumer of that little time we have here â—â—ch he thought might be better spent in a piâ—us Contemplative life â—â—d a due provision for Eternity J. Hales Life To conclude The most learned wise and sâ—â—ious Persons in all aâ—es have all concurred in their Judgments as to a future State and â—â—ve thought it to be the greatest wisdom in this world to be truly â—eligious and to work out their Salvation with fear and trembling FINIS There are lately published Three very useful anâ— necessary Books which are sold by Nathâ— Crouch at the Bell next door to the Widow Kemp's Coffee-House in Exchange-Alley over against the Royal-Exchange in Cornhill I. HIstorical Remarques and Observations of the Antient and Present State of London and Westminster shewing the Foundation Walls Gates Towers Bridges Churches Rivers Wards Halls Companies Government Courts Hospitals Schools Inns oâ— Court Charters Franchises and Priviledges thereof with an Account of the most Remarkable Accidents 〈◊〉 to Wars Fires Plagues and other occurrences for above 900 years past in and about these Cities and among other particulars the Poisoning of K. John by 〈◊〉 Monk The Resolution of K. Henry 3. utterly to destroâ— and consume the City of London with Fire for joyning with the Barons against him and his seizing their Charters Liberâ—â—â— and Customs into his hands The Rebellion of Waâ—â—â—yler who was slain by the Lord Mayor iâ— Smithfield and the Speech of Jack Straw at his Execution the deposing of R. Rich. 2. and his mournful Speech at his resigning the Crown with the manner 〈◊〉 his being Murdered The Dâ— of York's coming into thâ— Parliament and claiming the Crown in K. Henry 6. time The Murder of K. Henry 6. and likewise of Edw. 〈◊〉 and his Brother by Rich. 3. called Crook-back Thâ— Execution of Empson and Dudley the Insurrection iâ— London in K. Henry 8. time and how 411 Men and Women went through the City in their Shifts and Ropes about their necks to Westm Hall where they were pardoned by the King The Speeches of Q. Ann Bullen 〈◊〉 Lord Protector and Q. Jane Gray at their several Deaâ—â— upon Tower hill With several other Remarques in all the Kings anâ— Queens Reigns to this Year 1681. And a description 〈◊〉 â—e manner of the Tryal of the late L. Stafford in West Hall â—llustrated with Pictures of the most considerable matters â—uriously Ingraven on Copper Plates with the Arms of the â—5 Companies of London and the time of their Incorâ—orating by Rich. Burton Author of the History of the Wars of England c. Price One Shilling II. The Wars in England Scotland and Ireland Or AN Impartial Account of all