A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Examples of Gods judgements upon Apostates, and backsliders.
TRue grace is not like a slight staine, but a durable die, and graine-colour which can never be washed out: the gates of hell cannot prevaile against the faith of Gods elect: so that though they may lose the lustre of their graces, yet not the graces themselves, but a see will still remaine in them: The reason then why some glorious professors do fall like starres from heaven, is, because they were never fixed in the true Orbe: They had a name only that they lived, but were dead, Rev. 3. 1. they had an evil heart of unbelief in them, and therefore they depart away from the living God, Heb. 3. 12. They began in hypocrisie, and so end in Apostasie: But that the danger, & misery of such persons may more manifestly appear unto us, lay to heart these texts, & Examples following.
Foretold, 2 Thes. 2. 3. Exod. 32. 8. 1 Tim. 4. 1. Mat. 24. 12.
Complained of, Jer. 8. 5. Prov. 2. 13. Esa. 31. 6.▪ Jer. 7. 24. and 2. 21. and 6. 28. 1 Tim. 1. 19.
Threatened, Ps. 125. 5. Heb. 10. 38, 39. Mat. 10. 33. 2 Pet. 2. 1. Prov. 14. 14.
It's sometimes partial, as Peters, Mat. 26. 74, 75. Aarons, and the Israelites, Exod. 32. 1, &c. Rehoboams, and Judah, 2 Chron. 12. 1, 6. Manasses, 2 Chron. 32. 2, 12, &c.
Sometimes total, Heb. 3. 12. and 6. 6. and 10. 39. as Judas, Acts 1. 18. Demas, 2 Tim. 4. 10. Diotrephes, 3 Joh. 9. Hymeneus, and Alexander, 1 Tim. 1. 20. Hymeneus, and Philetus, 2 Tim. 2. 17. Alexander, 2 Tim. 4. 14.
Other examples, Ieroboam the sonne of N…bat fell from the service of God, and his true worship, and erected two golden calves in Dan, and Bethel, and when the Prophet prophesied against his Idolatry, he stretched forth his hand against him, which was immediately dried up: But not taking warning hereby, shortly after the Lord struck his sonne Abijah with siknesse, whereof he died, 1 Kings 14. Then was he assaulted by Abijam King of Judah, and though Jeroboams Army was twice so big, yet was he overthrown, and lost five hundred thousand of his men, besides some of his Cities, and not long after, himselfe was stricken by God, that he died.
Jehoram King of Iudah, though he had been religiously educated by his father Iehosaphat, and had seen his zeal in purging out Idolatry, and maintaining the pure service of God, yet marrying Athalia, the daughter of Ahab, he turned an Idolater, and caused the men of Judah to run a whoring after strange gods: whereupon the Arabians, and Philistines rose up against him, wasted his countrey, robbed him of his treasures, took away his wives, and murthered all his children save Jehoahaz his youngest sonne: After which the Lord smote him with an incurable disease in his bowels, so that after he had lived two yeers in grievous torments, his guts fell out of his belly, and he died, 2 Chron. 21.
Joas King of Judah, who had been preserved, and religiously educated by that godly High Priest Jehojadah, after his death this Joas Apostatized from the service of God, and fell to Idolatry: For which God raised up the Syrians against him, who came with a small army against a mighty host, yet did they prevaile against Joas, slew his Princes, and carried away a great spoile to Damascus, and shortly after the Lord struck Joas with grievous diseases, and his own servants conspiring against him, slew him, the people not affording him a burial amongst the Kings, 2 Chron. 24.
Amaziah King of Judah, began his reigne well, pretending much zeal for the service of God, but after a while, having overcome the Edomites, he brought home their gods, worshipped, and burned incense to them: And being reproved by a Prophet, he threatened him with death, if he ceased not: For which the Lord delivered him up into the hand of the King of Israel, who overthrew his Army, took him prisoner, carried him back to Hierusalem, and for the greater reproach before his face, brake down part of the Citywalls, ransacked the Temple, and Kings palace, carried away all the treasure out of both, took his children for hostages to Samaria, and after all this his subjects wrought treason against him, which made him fly to Lachish, yet thither did they pursue him, and put him to death, 2 Chron. 25.
Judas Iscariot, who for covetousnesse fell from Christ, and betrayed him to the Jewes, could afterwards finde no rest, nor quiet in his guilty conscience, so that being plunged into the bottomlesse pit of despaire, he hanged himself, burst in twaine, and all his bowels fell out, Acts 1. 18.
Lucian, who had made a profession of Religion in the time of Trajan, afterwards fell from it, and became a railer against it, yea against God himselfe, whereupon he was sirnamed the Atheist, but the Lord inflicted a just judgement upon him, for he was torne in pieces, and devoured of dogs. Suidas.
Porphyrie, after he had received the knowledge of the truth, being reproved for his faults by some Christians, for very spite, and anger, apostatized from his profession, set himselfe against the Christians, published books full of horrible blasphemies against the profession of Christianity: But perceiving himselfe to be confuted, and loathed for his wickednesse, in horrible despaire and torments of soul, he died. Suid.
Ammonius, who was Master to Origen, was from his childhood brought up in the Christian Religion, but afterwards was so affected with the study of Philosophy, that he apostatized from Christianity, and fell to Heathenisme, Ravis.
Origen, who had been all his life-time ambitious of Martyrdom, fainted under the seventh Persecution, his heart being overcome by feare, when he was put to his choice, either to offer incense to Idols, or to have his body defiled by an ugly blackamoore, whereupon he chose the former: but thereby he lost the peace of his conscience, which he could not recover of a long time after. See his Life in my first Part of the Marrow of Ecclesiastical History.
Under the eighth Persecution, a certain Christian denying his faith, went up into the Capitol at Rome to abjure Christ, and his profession, which he had no sooner done, but was immediately stricken speechlesse. Cypri. de Lapsu.
A Christian woman denying her profession was presently possessed by an evil spirit, whereby she fell a tormenting her selfe, and bit out her tongue, with her own teeth. Cyp.
An ancient woman who had revolted from the truth, and denied her profession, yet thrust her selfe into the Assembly of the Faithful, and received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper with them: but it proved her bane, for immediately trembling, and stamping, she fell down, and died. Cyp.
A man also that had renounced his faith, did notwithstanding present himselfe to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, but when he had received the bread into his hand, thinking to put it into his mouth, it was turned into ashes. Cyp.
Tamerus a professor of the reformed Religion, being seduced by his brother, denied his faith, and turned Papist: but shortly after he fell into despaire, and hung himselfe. Theat. Hist.
Anno Christi, 1569. One Henry Smith, a Lawyer of the middle Temple, who made a zealous profession of the truth, afterwards by the seducement of one of his friends, turned Papist, for which being stricken with terrors of conscience, he hanged himselfe in his own chamber. Act. & Mon.
Theoderick, an Arrian King of the Goths, exceedingly affected a certaine Deacon, though Orthodox: But this Deacon thinking to ingraciate himselfe more with the King, and to attaine to great advancement thereby, turned Arrian, which when Theoderick understood, he changed his love into hatred, and caused his head to be struck off, saying: If he kept not his Faith to God, what duty in conscience can a man expect from him, Euseb. l. 2.
Julian the Emperour, who was brought up in the Christian Religion, afterwards turned Pagan, and became a malicious persecutor of Christianity: but after a short Reigne, in a battel that he fought against the Persians, he was wounded with a dart, which was never known from whence it came: and feeling his strength to faile by reason of his wound, he took of his own blood in his hands, holding it up, and with extream pride cryed out, O thou Galilaean, thou hast overcome me: calling Christ Galilaean in scorn, and so he died Simps.
Nicomachus under one of the first Persecutions, being put to extream torments for the profession of Christ, shrunk from his profession, and cried out, that he was no Christian; whereupon he was freed from his torments: but assoon as he had sacrificed to the Idols, he was presently taken with a wicked spirit, and thrown down violently to the ground, where biting off his tongue with his teeth, he presently died. Act. & Mon.
Bolsechus, of whom Beza writeth, religionem ephemeram habere existimabatur. his religion changed like the moon. See the Life of Beza in my first Part.
Baldwin was a notable turncoat, that changed his religion three or four times at least for advantage, and at last died of envy that another was preferred before him to be Chaplain to the Duke of Anjou, when he went to take possession of the Kingdome of Poland.
Petrus Caroli, an odious Apostate, and tronbler of the Church. See the life of Calvin in my first Part.
The like were Staphylus, Spicerus, Brisonettus, and of late Bertius, Tilenus, Spalatensis, and many Renegado English who in Queen Elizabeths time turned Papists for advantage.
Bishop Bonner, who in King Henry the eighths dayes was a great favourer of the Gospel, for which he was advanced to a Bishoprick by the Lord Cromwel, yet afterwards proved an Apostate, and grievous persecutor of the Church. See my English Martyrologie.
Latomus of Lovaine, sometimes a professor of the Gospel, but afterwards an Apostate, went to Bruxels, where he made an Oration before the Emperour Charles the fifth against Luther, and his followers, but so foolishly and ridiculously, that he was laughed to scorn by most of the Courtiers: after which, returning to Lovaine againe, in his publick Lecture, he fell into an open frenzie, and madnesse, uttering such words of desparation, 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 continually cried 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▪ he had withstood the manifest truth of the Word of God. Senarclaeus in epist. ante hist, de morte Diazi.
Arnold Bomelius, a student in the University of Lovaine, a man much commended for an excellent wit, and ripenesse of learning, and for favouring the cause of the Gospel, but afterwards Apostatizing to Poperie, he began to be much troubled in minde, and from thence fell into despaire, against which he wrestled a great while, but at length being wholly overcome by it, as he was drawn to walk into the fields with some scholars, his familiar friends, he feigned wearinesse, and so sat down by a springs side, and his friends being gone a little before he drew out a dagger, and stabbed himself into the breast, his friends seeing him shrinking down, and the water discoloured with his blood, ran to him, took him up, searched his wound, and carried him to the next house, but whilest they were busie about him, he espied a knife by one of their sides, whereupon he plucked it forth, and suddenly stobbed himself to the heart, whereby he died miserably. Act. & Mon.
Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester cried out on his death-bed that he had denied his Master with Peter, but not repented with Peter, and so stinking above ground ended his wretched life. See my English Martyrolgy.
Master West, Chaplaine to Bishop Ridley, and a Preacher, and Professour of the truth in King Edward the sixths dayes, afterwards in Queen Maries time he turned Papist, forsook his Master, and said Masse though it were against his conscience: For which he fell into such torment of conscience that he pined away, and so died. Act. & Mon.
Of Hardings Apostacie: See in my second Part in the Life of the Lady Jane Gray: As also divers other examples in my Martyrologies.
Theoderick an Arian King of the Vandals did exceedingly affect, and love a certaine Orthodox Deacon: but the Deacon thinking farther to ingratiate himself, and to get greater preferment, Apostatized from the truth, and turned Arian: which when the Emperour understood he turned his love into hatred, and commanded his head to be struck off, saying, That if he proved false, and unfaithful to his God, how could he expect any good or faithful service from him?
Adam Neucerus, sometimes a professour of the truth, and Pastour of a Church in Heidleberg, afterwards plaid the Apostate upon some discontent, and turned Turk: But not long after he died miserably in Constantinople. Mel. Adam. in vit. Gerl.
See the History of Francis Spira.
A Treasurer of Julians, to please his Lord and Master, Apostatized from the faith, and coming into a Church where he saw the holy vessels, scoffingly said, Behold, with what vessels they minister to the Son of Mary? but shortly after he vomited all the blood in his body out at his mouth, whereby he died miserablis. Theod. L. 3.
During the Heptarchy of the Saxons in England, there were in Northumberland two Kings, Ostrich, and Eaufride, who before their coming to the Crown had been instructed, and trained up in the Christian Religion by Paulinus, a worthy and godly Bishop: But after they came to their Kingly dignities they renounced Christ, and returned to the service of their filthy Idols: Whereupon as they forsook Christ, he forsook them, and within one yeares space, both of them were slaine by Cedwalla, King of the Britanes. Beda.
Cardinal Poole whilest he was in Italy was informed of the truth, and was a savourer of it (as you may see in Peter Martyrs Life in my first Part) but afterwards he became a cruel Persecutor of it here in England in Queen Maries dayes: but it pleased God that about two dayes after the Queens death, he died in horrible fear, and terrour.
Peter Castellan Bishop of Maston, who sometimes had been a forward professour of the truth: but afterwards turning to Popery, in a Sermon at Orleance he enveighed bitterly against the profession, and professors of the true Religion: whereupon it pleased God to strike him with a strange and terrible disease unknown to Physicians; for one halfe of his body burned like fire, and the other halfe was as cold as ice, and in this torment with horrible cries, and groans he ended his wretched life.
A Gray Frier called Picard, who sometimes made a Profession of the truth, afterwards fell away, and preached against it, adding infinite blasphemies against the truth: But presently after, God struck him speechlesse, and so being carried to his bed half dead, he presently after died without the least signe of Repentance.
Lambespine, a Counsellor in the Parliament of Grenoble, had formerly been a professour of the Reformed Religion, but falling from the truth, he became a Persecutour of the godly in Valence of Daulphine, and amongst others of two godly Ministers which suffered Martyrdome: But shortly after he fell passionately in love with a young maide, whom shamefully he followed up, and down whithersoever she went, and seeing his love and labour despised, he pined away with grief, and being regardlesse of himself, multitudes of lice bred, and fed upon him, yea, they issued out abundantly from every part of his body: So that feeling Gods heavy vengeance upon him he began to despaire of mercy, and resolved to pine himself, which purpose the lice seemed to further, for they clustered so many in his throat as almost choaked him and when some of his friends (pittying his condition) set open his mouth with a gag to poure in broth, the lice went down with it, and choaked him: so that as he had gagged the godly Ministers at their death, himself died with a gag in his mouth.
King Henry the fourth of France, who had all his life-time before been a Protestant: shortly after he came to the Crown of France, when he had almost subdued all his enemies which opposed him there…n, suddenly turned Papist. Not long after as he was taking his leave of his Nobles to begin his Progresse, one John Castile (suborded by the Jesuites) intended to have stabbed him into the body with a knife, but the King at the same instant, stooping to take up one of his Lords, who was on his knees before him, the blow fell upon his right upper jaw, cutting out one of his teeth, and somewhat wounding his tongue: It is reported that in his progresse a Protestant Minister in private conference said unto him: You have denied God with your tongue, and have received a wound in the same, take heed of denying him with your heart, lest you receive a wound in that also: which indeed proved a prophecie; for riding abroad in his Coach to refresh himself, one Ravilliac watched his opportunity, and stabbed him, first into the left pap, and with a second blow struck him between the fifth and sixth rib▪ cutting asunder the veine leading to the heart, the knife entering into the vena cava, of which wound he died. French H…st.
Read also the history of Francis Spira lately printed, and observe Gods severe judgements upon him for his Apostasie.
In the year 1287▪ the King of Hungary forsaking the Christian saith became an Apostata: and when he had called fraudulently to a Parliament the great Potentates of his land, Meramomelius, a puissant Saracene came upon them with twenty thousand souldiers, carrying away with him the King with all the Christians there assembled: but as they were journeying the weather that was clear and faire, became cloudy: and suddenly a tempest of haile killed many of the Infidels, whereby the Christians escaped to their own homes, and the Apostate King alone was carried away by the Saracenes. Camb. Brit. Irel. p. 1…8.
A Smith in King Edward the sixths dayes called Richard Denson was a forward professor of Religion, and by his Christian instructions the happy instrument of the conversion of a young man to the faith: Afterwards in the reigne of Queen Mary this young man was cast into prison for his religion, who remembring his old friend the Smith to whom he alwayes 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, and when he came asked his advice whether he thought it comfortable for him to remaine in prison, and whether he would encourage him to burne at a stake for his religion? To whom the Smith answered that his cause was good, and he might with comfort suffer for it: But for my … (saith he) I cannot burne: But he that could … burne for religion, by Gods just judgement was burned for his Apostasie: For shortly after his shop, and house being set on fire, whilest over-e…gerly be sought to save his goods, himself was burned.
Under the fourth Persecution there were some Christians who for fear of torments, and death, denied their faith, and sacrificed to Idols, yet did not th… bloody persecutors spare them; and it was observed that being full of guilt, they went to their death … dejected, and ill-favoured countenan…es; so …h… the very Gentiles took notice of it, and reproached them as degenerous persons, and worthy to suffer … doers. See my Gen. Martyr. p. 43.
In the late Persecution in Bohemia, a godly ma… ing tired out with imprisonment, promised to … Catholick, and thereupon was released: But pre… ly after God chastized him for this fault, holding … conscience in captivity, so that he could have … hope of mercy for a whole year together, &c. … p. 190.
One Philbert Hamlin in France having converted … Priest to the profession of the truth, was together with the Priest apprehended, and cast into prison at Burdeaux: But after a while the Priest being terrified with the prison, and fear of death, renounced Christ, and was set at liberty; whereupon Philbert said to him: O unhappy, and more then miserable man! Is it possible that to save your life for a few dayes you should so deny the truth? Know therefore that though you have avoided the corporal sire, yet your life shall not be prolonged; for you shall die before me, and you shall not have the honour to die for the cause of God, but you shall be an Example to all Apostates: And accordingly as he went out of the prison two Gentlemen that had a former quarrel to him, met him and slew him. Eodem. p. 292.
If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him,
Heb. 10. 38.