The Theater of Gods Judgments, Book 2 · Chapter 50 – Chapter 51
CHAP. L. That the greatest and mightiest Cities are not exempt from punishment of their iniquities.
WHereas great and populous Cities are as it were the eyes of the earth (as Athens and Sparta were said to be of Greece) there is no question but that they are so much the more blameable for glutting and overcharging themselves with sinnes, by how much the more they abound with all manner of temporall goods and commodities, and that at length they tumble into utter ruine and desolation; for instead of being a patterne and direction unto others, of wisedome and good governement, as they ought; they are for the most part examples of folly and vanity: for where is more evils and dissolutenesse reigning, than in them? the principall cause whereof is that greedy worme Avarice, which begetteth in all estates much fraud, cousening, and other naughty practises, with many such like children: for through it every man looketh to provide for his owne affaires, and to get any commoditie or ease whatsoever to himselfe, even with all his power; not caring who be damnified, so he be enriched: The plenty of riches which there aboundeth, instilleth pride and haughtinesse of minde into some, maketh others dissolute and effeminate, and besotteth others with carnall & unhonest pleasures; from which head spring rivers of evils, as envies, quarrels, dissentions, debates, and murders; all which things happen to them, that being transported and distracted with the furious contrariety of their disordinate affection, can finde no contentment nor agreement with themselves, but must needs burst out into some outward mischiefes; Hence is that wonderfull pompe and bravery, as well of apparell as other things: hence all gourmandise and drunkennesse are so common, yea and adulteries so much frequented; wherefore the anger of the Almighty must needs bee kindled, to consume them in their sinnes.
One of the notablest Cities of the world for greatnesse and antiquity was Ninive, the capitall and chiefe Citie of the Assyrian Empire: howbeit her greatnesse and power could not so protect her, but that after she had once beene spared by the meanes of the Prophet Ionas, who fore-told her of her destruction, being returned to her former vomit againe; to wit, of robberies, extortions, wrongfull dealings, and adulteries, she was wholly and utterly subverted, God having delivered her for a prey into the hands of many of her enemies, that spoiled and pilled her to the quicke; and lastly, into the hands of the Medes, who brought her to a finall and unrecoverable desolation, as it was prophesied by the Prophet Nahum.
Babylon was wont to be the seat of that puissant Monarchie under Nabuchadnezzar, where flourished the famous Astrologers, and notable wise men of the world, where the spoyles and riches of many nations and countries were set up as Trophies, and kept as the remembrance of their victories; where also vices reigned, and all manner of excesse and villanie overflowed: for by the report of Q. Curtius, the Citie did so exceed in whoredome Lib. 5. of the acts of Alexander.and adulteries, that fathers and mothers were not ashamed to be bawdes unto their daughters, no nor husbands to their wives; a thing most strange and odious: wherefore it could not chuse but in the end bee sacked, and Oros. lib. 2.quite destroyed with an extreame ruine and destruction, the signes and apparance whereof yet are seen in the ruine of old wals and ancient buildings Paul. Jovius, Com. 2. lib. 33.that there remaine.
Amongst sea-bordering Cities, and for renowne of merchandise, Tyre in former ages was most famous: for thither resorted the merchants of all Countries for traffique of Palestina, Syria, Aegypt, Persia, and Assyria; they of Tarshis brought thither Iron, Lead, Brasse, and Silver: the Syrians sold their Carbuncles, Purple, broidered worke, fine linnen, corall, and pearle: the Jewes, Hony, Oyle, Treacle, Cassia, and Calamus: the Arabians traffiqued with Lambs, Muttons, and Goats: the Sabeans brought merchandise of all exquisite spices and Apothecary stuffe, with gold and precious stones; by meanes whereof it being growne exceeding wealthy, inriched by fraud and deceit, and being lifted up to the height of pride, and plunged in the depth of pleasures, it was at length by the just judgement of God, so sacked and ruinated, that the very memory thereof at this day scarce remaineth.
The like judgement fell upon Sidon, and upon that rich and renowned Sabell.Citie of Corinth, which through the commodiousnesse of the haven, was the most frequented place of the world, for the entercourse of Merchants out of Asia and Europe; for by reason of her pride and corruption of manners, Thucyd.(but especially for her despising and abuse of the heavenly graces of Gods spirit) which were sowed and planted in her, she underwent this punishment, Contempt of the word. Lib. 1. cap. 34. Eutrop. Oros. lib. 9.to be first finally destroyed, and brought into cinders by the Romans; and then after her re-edification, to be debased into so low and v…le an estate, that that which remaineth is no wise comparable to her former glory.
Againe, Athens the most flourishing and famous Citie of Greece for her faire buildings, large precincts, and multitude of inhabitants, but especially for her Philosophie, by meanes whereof recourse was made from all parts to her, as the fountaine and well-spring of Arts, and the Schoole and University of the whole world; whose policie and manner of governement was so much esteemed by the Romanes, that they drew from thence their lawes; but now she lies dead and buried in forgetfulnesse, not carrying any of her former proportion or apparance.
Carthage that noble Citie, mistresse of Africa, and paragon to Rome, may not brag of any better issue than her fellowes: for though she resisted and made her part good with Rome for many yeares, yet at length by means of her owne inward and civile jarres, she was utterly destroyed by them: for the inhabitants, not able to stand any longer in defence, were constrained to Oros. Eutrop.yeeld themselves to the mercy of their enemies: the women, to the number of five and twenty thousand marching first forth, and after them the men in number thirty thousand following; all which poore captives were sold for bond-slaves, a few onelyonly of the principall excepted; and then fire was put to the Citie, which burnt seventeene dayes without ceasing, even till it was Eutrop.cleane consumed. It is true that it was re-edified after this, but which lasted not long, for it was againe brought to destruction; that at this day there remaineth nothing but old and rotten ruines. And thus fared many other Cities, of which may be verified that which was spoken of Troy, that fields and corne are where Cities were.Nunc seges est ubi Tr…ia fuit.
Numantium in Spaine being besieged by the Romans, after it had borne the brunt of warre and sacking, a long while made many desperate sallies upon their enemies: and lastly, seeing themselves consumed with famine, rather than they would bow their necks to the yoke of servitude, barring their gates, set fire on all: and so burning themselves with their whole City, left the enemy nothing but ashes for his prey and triumph: as the Saguntines not long before served Anniball.Titue Livius.
It is a marvellous and strange thing to consider, how that proud Citie hath lifted up her head above all others, and usurped a tyrannie over Nations, and which Lactantius, Ierome, and Augustine, three learned fathers, entituled Babylon: how I say she hath beene humbled for all her pride, and Rome hee meaneth.impoverished for all her riches, and made a prey unto many Nations. It was sacked and ransacked twice by the Visigothes, taken once by the Herulians, surprised by the Ostrogothes, destroyed and rooted up by the Vandales, annoyed by the Lumbards, pilled and spoiled by the Graecians, and whipped and chastised by many others; and now … Sodome and Gomorrah it is to expect no more punishment, but the last blow of the most mightiest his indignation, to throw it headlong into everlasting and horrible desolation.
CHAP. LI. Of such punishments which are common to all men in regard of their iniquities.
THese and such like effects of Gods wrath ought to admonish and instruct every man to looke unto himselfe for doing evill, and to abhorre and detest sinne, since it bringeth forth such soure and bitter fruits: for albeit the wayes of the wicked seeme in their owne eyes faire and good, yet it is certaine, that they are full of snares Prov. 22.and thornes to entrap and pricke them to the quicke: for after that, being fed with the licorous and deceitfull sweetnesse of their owne lusts, they have sported themselves their fils in their pleasures and wicked affections, then in stead of delights and pastimes, they shall finde nothing but punishment and sadnesse; their laughter, joy, pompe, magnificence, and glory, shall be turned into torments and dolors, weepings, opprobries, ignominies, confusion, and miserie everlasting: for if God spared not great Cities, Empires, Monarchies, and Kings, in their obstinate misdeeds, shall we thinke he will spare little Cities, Hamlets, and Villages, and men of base estate, when by their sinnes they provoke him to anger? no, it cannot be; for God is alwayes of one and the same nature, alwayes like unto himselfe: A God executing justice and judgement upon the earth; a God that loveth not iniquity; … with whom the wicked cannot dwell, nor Jerem. 19.the fooles stand before his presence. It is hee that huteth the workers of unrighteousnesse, Psal. 5.and that destroyeth the lyers, and abhorreth all deceitfull, disloyall, perjurous, and murdering persons: as with him there is no exception of persons, so none, of what estate or condition soever, bee they rich or poore, noble or ignoble, gentle, or carter-like, can exempt themselves from his wrath and indignation when it is kindled but a little, if they delight and continue in their sinnes: for as S. Paul saith, Tribulation and Rom. 2. 9.anguish upon the soule of every man that doth evill.
Now according to the variety and diversity of mens offences, the Lord in his most just and admirable judgement, useth diversity of punishments: sometimes correcting them one by one, particular; otherwhiles altogether in a heap: sometimes by stormes and tempests, both by sea and land; other times by lightning, haile, and deluge of waters▪ often by overflowing and breaking out of rivers, and of the sea also: and not seldome by remedilesse and sudden fires, heaven and earth, and all the elements being armed with an invincible force, to take vengeance upon such as are traytors and rebels against God … sundry times hee scourgeth the world (as it well deserveth) with his usuall and accustomed plagues, namely of warre, and famine, and pestilence, which are evident signes of his anger, according to the threats denounced in the law t…hing the same: and therefore if at any time hee deferre the punishment of the wicked, it is for no other end, but to expect the fulnesse of their sinne, and to make them more inexcusable, when contrary to his bountifulnesse and long suffering (which inviteth and calleth them to repentance) they harden themselves and grow more obstinate in their vices and rebellion, drawing upon their heads the whole heape of wrath, the more grievously to assaile them. And thus the vengeance of God marcheth but a soft pace (as saith Valerius Maximus) to the end to double and aggravate the punishment for the slacknesse thereof.