A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI. Examples of Gods judgements upon Atheists.
Complained of, Ps. 14. 1. Rom. 3. 18.
That there are such, See Job. 18. 21. Eph. 2. 12. Ps 50. 21. and 10. 11, 13.
Such are they that are spoken of, Job 21. 14, 15. Ps. 73. 11. and 10. 4, 11, 13. and 59. 7. and 64. 5. and 78. 19, 20. and …4. 7. Job 22. 13, 14, 17. and 34. 9. and 35. 3. Ezek. 8. 12. Tit. 1. 16.
Scriptural examples. Pharaoh, Exod. 5. 2. The fool, Psal. 14. 1. The rich glutton, Luk. 12. 19.
Other examples. Some are atheists out of sensuality, as Epicurus, Lucretius, &c.
Or out of stomack, as Diagoras, who having written a Poem, and prepared it for the publick, one stole it from him, whereupon he brought him before the Senate of Athens, where the man forswore it, and was dismissed, and afterwards published the Poem in his own name: Diagoras seeing this, turned Atheist, because this fellow was not smitten with some visible vengeance from heaven, that had so forsworn himself.
Porphyrie was at first a Christian, but having received some injury from the Christians, he became an Atheist, and wrote a book against the Scriptures.
Aristotle reading the history of the creation, in Genesis, said: Egregiè dicis, Domine Moses, sed quomodo probas? You speak of strange matters, Sir Moses, but how do you prove them?
Lucian impudently derided not only all the Heathen gods, but with the same blasphemous mouth railed upon Christ as a crucified cousener, and upon Christians as mad men, because they were so forward to suffer Martyrdom, and scoffingly said: That Jupiter at certain times looked down through some certain cranies in Heaven, at which times if men were praying, they might be heard, otherwise not, he was at last torn in pieces by dogs. Suidas.
Caligula the Romane Emperour fancied himselfe a god, and would needs finde out a way to imitate Ioves thunder: He commanded himselfe to be worshipped, and set up his Images every where: He dedicated the Temple at Hierusalem to his own worship: But when the true God gave forth his voice of Majesty from heaven, he that before was so high, was now as low, and of a poor spirit, covering his eyes with his cap, running under a bed, or creeping into a bench-hole for safety: Yet did Gods judgement finde out this Atheist; for he reigned but three yeares and three moneths, and was slaine by a Tribune. Suet. in Calig.
Herod Agrippa, when he suffered himselfe to be honoured as a god, was smitten by an Angel, because he gave not God the glory, and was eaten up of wormes. Acts 12. 22 23.
Daphida the Sophister, going to Apollo's Oracle at Delphos, enquired whether he should finde his horse or no, whereas he had no horse: but did it out of an Atheistical humour to deride the Oracle. He was answered, that he should finde his horse, but being thrown from him, he should breake his neck: with this answer he made himselfe very merry, and so went homewards; but by the way he met with King Attalus, whom he had sormerly much abused, who caused his servants to carry Daphida upon a great rock, which was called The horse, and from thence to throw him down, whereby he was broken in pieces. Val. Max. L. 1.
Commodus the Emperour was a very Atheist, and a great contemner of the Romane gods, for which he became hatefull both to God and man, and was slaine by his servants as he lay upon his bed, his body was cast out into the streets, where he was made the object of every ones scorne, and at last was thrown into the river Tyber. Fulgen. l. 1. c. 2.
Heliog abalus forced a Vest all Virgin to marry him, made warre against all the gods, and contemned all religious serving of them, for which he was slaine by his own horsemen, his body being dragged up, and down the streets, and at last thrown into Tyber. Ibid.
It is said of Constantinus Copronymus, that he was neither Iew, Christian nor Pagan, but an arrant Atheist.
Tullus Hostilius, the third King of the Romanes, that despised his predecessor Num…'s sacrifices, saying, That Religion did but effeminate mens mindes, and make them unfit for noble enterprises, yet he feigned to himselfe, and worshipped two new gods, Pavorem & Pallorem, Feare and Palenesse, which he carried about in his own bosome, and could not be rid of. Lactautious: He was slaine with a thunder-bolt, and his wife, children, and all his family were burnt with lightning.
It was an Atheistical speech of Statius the Poet, Primus in or be deos fecit Timor, that fear first made gods in the world, and that all opinions of a Deity were frivolous, being devised by wise men to keep the people in awe, and order.
Theodorus held that there was no difference between good, and evill: between justice, and injustice, but what the law of man made: he wrote a book also to prove that there was no Deity, whereupon he was sirnamed the Atheist. Suidas.
Epicurus denied that there was either God or providence, and held that all things came to passe by fate, or chance. Volate.
Pope Leo the tenth, was so impudent, as to make the promises and threats contained in the Word of God, things to be laughed at, mocking the simplicity of those that believed them, and when Cardinal Bembus quoted upon occasion a place out of the Gospel; the Pope answered, Quantum nobis profuit fabula haec de Christo? O what profit hath this fable of Christ brought unto us? This Pope having by his Pardons, and indulgences scraped together vast summes of money to maintain his courtizans, and whores, and to enrich his bastards, as he was one day at meat, news was brought him of the overthrow of the French in Lumbardy, which he much rejoyced at, and doubled his good chear, but before he rose from the table Gods hand struck him with a grievous sicknesse, whereof he died within three dayes.
Pope Julius the third another Atheist a despiser of God and his Word: On a time missing a cold Peacock which he had commanded to be kept for him, raged, and blasphemed God exceedingly; whereupon a Cardinal that was present intreated him not to be so angry for such a triste: What? (saith he) If God was so angry for eating of an Apple, as to thoust Adam and Eve out of Paradise; should not I, which am his V…car, be angry for a Peacock which is of farre more worth then an Apple?
Francis Ribelius was so profane that he made a mock at all Religion, counting it a thing to be laughed at: but the Lord struck him with madnesse, so that he died mocking at all those that talked of God, or made any mention of Gods mercy to him.
Periers, who was the Author of that detestable book called Symbolum Mundi, wherein he mocks at God, and all Religion, was by God stricken with horrible despaire, so that though he was strictly guarded by his friends, yet watching his opportunity, he killed himselfe.
Anno Christi, 1464. the Bishop of Angiers in France, prosecuted a rich Citizen in the palace of Paris, for saying publickly, that he believed that there was neither God nor devil Heaven nor Hell: And it came to passe that whil'st the Bishops Lawyer was opening these things against him, the house where they were, began to tremble very much, so that a stone from the roofe fell down amongst them, but without hurt to any, yet were they so affrighted, that all departed for that time: The next day when that cause came to be heard againe, the house began againe to shake, and tremble, insomuch as a Summer came forth of its mortise-hole, falling downwards two foot, and there staid, which did so afright the people, that they ran away, losing and leaving behind them many of their garments: God hereby warning them to take heed of such fearful sinnes as these are. Eng. de Monstrelit.
A certain blasphemous wretch carousing in an Inne, began to vent his Atheisme, swearing that he did not believe that man had any soul which survived his body, and that Heaven and Hell were but meer fables, and inventions of Priests to get gaine by, & that for his own part he would sell his soul to any that would buy it: then did one of his companions buy it of him for a cup of wine, and presently the devil in mans shape bought it of that man againe on the same price, and so in the presence of them all, laid hold on this soulseller, and carried him away through the aire, so that he was never more heard of, Disci. de Temp.
Pherecides (a Tragical Poet, and Philosopher) boasted amongst his scholars of his riches, and glory, and yet (saith he) I sacrifice not to the gods, nor passe not for any such vanity as Religion: But presently after the Lord struck him with a strange disease, out of his body issued a slimy, and filthy sweat, of which was engendred such a number of lice, and wormes, that they ate out his bowels, whereby he died miserably. AElian. Lib. 4.
There lived in Hanmbourg a wicked wretch that despised the Ministery of the Word, and Gods Ministers, accounting the Sacred Scriptures a vaine thing not worthy of credit, yea, so farre did his wickednesse prevaile that he endeavoured to diffuse the poison of his Atheisme into others: but not long after the Lord found him out in his wickednesse, striking him with such terrours of conscience, that he fell into extream despaire, crying out that his sinnes were past forgivenesse, because he had denied the truth, and seduced others, whereas before he thought that there was no sinne, and whereas before he thought that there was no God, now he thought that God was so just that he would not forgive him, whereupon (watching his opportunity) he threw himselfe from the roof of an house into a well, and not finding water enough to drown him, he thrust his head into the bottome of it, till he had stifled himself. Theat. Hist.
Anno Christi, 1502. there was one Herman Biswick, who affirmed the world to be eternal, contrary to what foolish Moses had written, and that there were neither Angels, nor devils, hell, nor future life, but that the soules of men perished with their bodies, and that Christ Jesus was a seducer of the people, and that the faith of Christians, and the Sacred Scriptures were meer vanity: For which himselfe, with his books were burnt in Holland. Theat. Hist.
There was in our own Nation, one Marlin, sometimes a student in the University of Cambridge, but afterwards a maker of Stage-playes, and a notorious Atheist, denying God, and his Sonne Christ, and not only in word blasphemed the holy Trinity, but also wrote books against it, affirming our Saviour to be a deceiver, and Moses to be a conjurer, and a seducer of the people, and the Sacred Scriptures to be vaine and idle stories, and all Religion but a Politick device: But God suffered not such profanenesse to go long unpunished; for this man upon a quarrel intending to have stabbed another, the other party perceiving it, to avoid the stroke, caught hold on his wrist, and forced him to stab his own dagger into his own head, which wound could not be cured by Surgery, so that he lay cursing, swearing, and blaspheming, and together with an oath breathed forth his accursed soul: Gods Justice notably appearing, in that his own hand that had written those blasphemies, was an instrument to wound his head that had devised them. Beards Theat.
A Gentleman in Bark-shire, was an open contemner of God, and all Religion, a profest Atheist, and a scorner of Gods holy Word, and Sacraments, and being intreated to be a witnesse at the Baptizing of a childe, he would needs have him named Beelzebub: He was a notorious whoremaster, and so addicted to swearing, that he could scarce speak without an oath: but at last Gods hand found him out: For being a hunting, he was stricken by God suddenly, so that falling backwards on his horse, he was taken down stark dead, with his tongue hanging out of his mouth, after a fearful manner. Beards Theat.
And I perswade my selfe that in these wicked times wherein Atheisme doth so much abound, many like examples of Gods judgements might be observed if they were but taken notice of, and recorded for Gods glory, and caution to others.
The fool hath (aid in his heart, There is no God: They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doth good,
Psal. 14. 1.