A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII. Examples of profane Scoffers.
THe Apostle Peter, 2 Pet. 3. 3. foretold that in the last dayes should come Scoffers walking after their own lusts: and therefore it is no marvel if we, who live in the end, and dregs of these last dayes, finde this prophecie fulfilled. Ishmael was a scoffer in Abrahams family, and the Church hath alwayes been pestered with some of his brood: and therefore we may lesse wonder, if we meet with such amongst those which live out of the pale of Gods Church: Some Instances whereof these following examples will exhibite unto us.
Foretold, 2 Pet. 3. 3. Jude 18.
They are wicked persons, Prov. 9. 7, 8. & 13. 1. & 14. 6. & 15. 12. & 21. 24. & 24. 9. Isa. 29. 10. Psal. 79. 4. Prov. 1. 22. & 3. 34. & 19. 29. Psal. 123. 4. & 1. 1. Prov. 29. 8. Act. 2. 13. Heb. 11. 36.
Scriptural examples: The Caldeans, Hab. 1. 10. Men of Judah, 2 Chron. 30. 10. Sanballat, &c. Neh. 2. 19. Jobs friends, Iob 16. 20. Davids enemies, Psal. 22. 7. Christs enemies, Mat. 9. 24. Mark. 5. 40. Luk. 8. 53. Little children, 2 King. 2. 23. Men of Judah, 2 Chron. 36. 16. Souldiers, Mat 27. 29, 31. Luk. 22. 63. & 23. 11, 36. Athenians, Act. 17. 32. Some others, Job 17. 2. Psalm. 35. 16. Ier. 15. 17. & 20. 7. Ishmael, Gen. 21. 9.
King Lewis the eleventh of France alwayes wore a Leaden god in his hat, and when he had caused any one whom he either feared, or hated, to be killed, he would take it off from his head, and kisse it, beseeching it, that it would pardon him this one evil act more, and it should be the last that he would commit: Mockeries fit to be used towards a Leaden, but not towards the ever-living God. Hist. of holy War.
Martiques Governour of Britany in France, in the warre against the Protestants, perswaded them to yield to the King, for that their strong God had now forsaken them, and scoffingly said, that it was time for them to sing: Help us now O Lord, for it is time: But shortly after he found that their strong God was living, able to help the weak, & to confound the proud, himself being presentiy after slaine in the siege. Act. & Mon.
A Gentleman in France lying upon his death-bed, the Priest bringing him the Sacrament of the Altar, and telling him that it was the body of Christ, he refused to eat it, because it was Friday.
Another also in the like case, seeing the Hoast brought to him by a Lubberly Priest, scoffingly said, that Christ came to him (as once) riding upon an Asse.
The Queen-Mother of Scotland having received aid from France, forced the Protestants for a while to retire towards the High-lands, whereupon she scoffingly said: Where is now John Knox his God? My God is now stronger then his, yea even in Fife: but her brags lasted not long: For within a few dayes six hundred Protestants beat above four thousand French and Scots, &c. See Master Knox his Life in my first Part.
The same Queen-Mother, when some English, & Scots attempted to take Leith by storme, and many of them were slaine by reason that the scaling ladders proved too short, beholding it from Edenborough. Castle where she was, burst out into a great laughter, saying: Now will I go to Masse, and praise God for that which mine eyes have seen. And when the French had stripped the slaine, and laid the naked bodies along the walls, the Queen looking on them, said scoffingly, Yonder are the fairest Tapestries that ever mine eyes beheld: I would that the whole fields which are betwixt Leith, and this place were all strewed with the same stuffe. But this joy lasted not long: For presently after a fire kindled in Leith, which burnt up their store-houses, and provision for the Army: and the Queen-Mother fell sick and died. Eodem.
When Christians complained to Julian the Apostate of the abuse, and wrongs which his officers did to them: he used scoffingly to answer: It's your part when you are injured to take it patiently; for so your God commandeth you: See my General Martyrology. p. 86.
In the late Persecution in Bohemia, some godly Martyrs in Prague, as they were at supper (being to suffer the next day) comforted themselves, saying, that this was their last supper upon earth, & that to morrow they should feast with Christ in heaven; whereupon a great Papist flouted them, saying, Hath Christ Cooks for you in Heaven? Eodem. p. 170.
Now therefore be no more mockers, lest your bands be made strong,
Isa. 28. 22.