The Theater of Gods Judgments, Book 2 · Chapter 34
CHAP. XXXIV. Of effeminate persons, Sodomites, and other such like Monsters.
SArdanapalus King of Assyria was so lascivious and effeminate, that to the end to set forth his beauty, he shamed not to Frog. lib. 1.paint his face with ointments, and to attire his body with the habits and Ornaments of women, and on that manner Cic. lib. 5. Tusc. quest.to sit and lie continually among whores, and with them to commit all manner of filthinesse and villany: wherefore being thought unworthy to beare rule over men, first Arbaces his lieutenant rebelled; then the Medes and Baby lonians revolted, and joyntly made war upon him, till they vanquished and put him to flight: and in his flight hee returned to a tower in his palace, which (moved with griefe and despaire) he set on fire, and was consumed therein.
Such like was the impudent lasciviousnesse of two unworthy Emperors, Commodus and Heliogabolus, who laying aside all Imperiall gravity, shewed Lamprid.themselves oftentimes publikely in womans attire; an act as in nature monstrous, so very dishonest and ignominious: but like as these cursed monsters ran too much out of frame in their unbridled lusts and affections, so there wanted not many that hastened and emboldened themselves to conspire their destruction, as unworthy in their judgements to enjoy the benefit of this light: wherefore to one of them poison was ministred, and when that would take no effect, strangling came in the roome thereof, and brought him to his end▪ the other was slaine in a jakes where he hid himselfe, and his body (drawne like carrion through the streetes) found no better sepulchre then the dunghill.
Touching those abominable wretches of Sodome and Gomorrah which Gen. 19.gave themselves over with all violence, and without all shame and measure, to their infamous lusts, polluting their bodies with unnaturall sins, God sent upon them an unnaturall raine, not of water, but of fire and brimstone, to burne and consume them, that were so hot and fervent in their cursed vices: so that they were quite rooted and raked out of the earth, and their Cities and habitations destroyed, yea and the very soile that bore them, made desolate and fruitlesse; and all this by fire, whose smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace: yea and in signe of a further curse for to be a witnesse and a marke of this terrible judgement, the earth and face of that countrey continueth still parched and withered: and (as Iosephus saith) whereas before it was a most plentifull and fertile soile, and as it were an earthly paradise, bedecked with five gallant Cities; now it lyeth desart, unhabitable, and barren, yeelding fruit in shew, but such as being touched, turneth to cinders. In a word, the wrath of God is so notoriously and fearefully manifested therein, that when the holy Ghost would strike a terrour into the most wicked, he threateneth them with this like punishment, saying:
The Lord will raine upon each wicked one, Psal. 11. 6.Fire, snares, and brimstone, for their portion.
Howbeit this maketh not but that still there are too many such monsters in the World, so mightily is it corrupted and depraved: neither is it any marvell, seeing that divers Bishops of Rome, that take upon them to be Christs Vicars, and Peters successours, are infected with this filthy contagion: As namely, Pope Iulius the third, whose custome was to promote none to Ecclesiasticall livings save only his buggerers: Amongst whom was one Innocent, whom this holy father (contrary to the Suffrages of the whole Colledge) would needs make Cardinall: nay, the unsatiable and monstrous lust of this beastly and stinking goat was so extraordinary, that he could not abstaine from many Cardinals themselves. Iohn de la Casae, a Florentine by birth, and by office Archbishop of Benevento, and Deane of his Apostaticall chamber, was his Legat and Intelligencer in all the Venetian Seigniories▪ a man equall, or rather worse then himselfe; and such a one, as whose memory ought to be accursed of all posterity, for that detestable booke which he composed in commendation and praise of Sodomie; and was so shamelesse, nay rather possessed with some devillish and uncleane spirit, as to divulgate it to the view of the world. Here you may see (poore soules) the holinesse of those whom you so much reverence, and upon whom you build your beliefe and religion: you see their brave and excellent vertues, and of what esteeme their lawes and ordinances ought to be amongst you. Now touching the end that this holy father made, it is declared in the former booke among the ranke of Atheists, where we placed him. And albeit that he and such like villaines please their owne humours with their abominations, and approve and cleare themselves therein, yet are they rewarded by death, not only by the law of God, but also by the law of Iulia.Levit. 20.
When Charlemaigne reigned in France, there happened a most notable judgement of God upon the Monkes of S. Martin in Tours, for their disordinate lusts: they were men whose food was too much and dainty, whose case was too easie, and whose pleasures were too immoderate, being altogether addicted to pastimes and merriments: in their apparell they went clad in silke like great Lords; and (as Nichol. Gill. in his first Volume of Nic. Gil. Vol. 1.French Chronicles saith) their shooes were gilt over with Gold, so great was the super fluity of their riches and pride: in summe, their whole life was luxurious and infamous: for which cause there came forth a destroying Angel from the Lord (by the report of Budes the Abbot of Clugnie) and slew them all in one night, as the first born of Aegypt were slaine, save one only person that was preserved, as Lot in Sodome was preserved. This strange accident moved Charlemaigne to appoint a brotherhood of Canons to be in their roome, though little better, and as little profitable to their Commonwealth as the former.
It is not for nothing that the law of God forbiddeth to lie with a beast, and denounceth death against them that commit this foule sin: for there have been such monsters in the world at some times, as we reade in Calius Levit. 18.and Volaterranus, of one Crathes a shepheard, that accompanied carnally Exod. 22. Levit. 20. Deut. 27.with a shee Goat; but the Buck finding him sleeping, offended and provoked with this strange action, ran at him so furiously with his hornes, that he left him dead upon the ground. God that opened an Asses mouth to reprove the madnesse of the false Prophet Balaam, and sent Lions to kill the strange inhabitants of Samaria, employed also this Buck about his service in executing just vengeance upon a wicked varlet.