A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 33
CHAP. XXXIII. Examples of Brethrens love each to other.
THey ought to love one another, Prov. 17. 17. 1 Pet. 3. 8. Rom. 12. 10. Heb. 13. 1.
It's an excellent thing, Psal 133. 1.
Scriptural examples: Jobs children, Job 1. 13. Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. John 11. 19, &c. Joseph, Gen. 43. 29, &c. & 45. 14. Joab, and Abishai, 2 Sam. 3. 27, 30. Judah, Gen. 37. 26.
In the beginning of the reigne of Darius King of Persia, one of his Nobles called Intaphernes conspired against him, which being discovered to Darius, he caused him, and all his kindred to be cast into prison: But Intaphernes wife exceedingly weeping, and houling, Darius gave her leave to choose any one of the prisoners whose life she would have spared: whereupon amongst them all she chose her brother, and Darius asking her why she …se her brother rather then her husband, or son? she answered: Because if God please I may have another husband, and children; but my Parents being dead, I cannot have another brother. This so pleased Darius, that he granted her the life; not only of her brother, but of her son too Herod.
Darius King of Persia being dead, left two sons, Ariamenes, or as some call him Artabazanes, and Xerxes: these both claimed the Kingdome, but brotherly love so prevailed with them, that they were contented to stand to the judgement of the Persian Nobles; yet in the interim, Xerxes being in Persia, performed all the offices of a King; and Ariaments coming out of Media, Xerxes sent great presents to him, commanding the messengers to tell him: Thy brother Xerxes presents thee with these gifts, and if by the consent and suffrage of the Nobles he be declared King, he promises thee the chiefest place next unto himself: To which Ariamenes returned this answer: Truly I willingly accept of these gifts, yet claim the Sovereignty to belong to me, but will reserve the next place of dignity for my brother Xerxes. The Persian Nobles referred the determination of this controversie to their Uncle Artabanus, who having heard both sides, determined for Xerxes, because Ariamenes was borne to Darius whil'st he was a private person, Xerxes, after he was a King: the mother of Ariamenes was the daughter of Gobrias a private woman, the mother of Xerxes was Atossa a Queen; Ariamenes hearing this judgement without any distemper of spirit, rose up, worshipped his brother; and taking him by the hand, placed him in the Kingly throne, and ever after was very obsequious to him. Plut. Herod.
And he fell upon his brother Benjamins neck, and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck, Gen. 45. 14.
Brethren unnatural.
Breaches amongst brethren are great, Pro. 18. 19.
Not to be trusted, Jer. 9. 4. Mat. 10. 21.
It's a cursed thing to divide brethren, Pro. 6. 19.
Scriptural examples: Cain, Gen. 48. 1 Joh. 3. 12. Esau, Gen. 27. 44. Josephs brethren, Gen. 37. 18, &c. Abimelech. Judg. 9. 5. Absalom, 2 Sam. 13. 28. Onan, Gen. 38. 9. Simeon and Levi, brethren in evil, Gen. 49. 5.
Bassianus, and Geta, the two sons of Severus were left by him to succeed in the Romane Empire, who being at deadly feud betwixt themselves. Bassianns watching his opportunity when all were at dinner, came with some other cut-throats into his brother G…ta's chamber, and before he could provide for his own defence, slew him in his mothers armes. Imp. …ist.
In the reign of Queen Mary, Richard Woodmans brother, joyning with his father, betrayed him into the hands of his bloody persecutors, whereby he suffered Martyrdome: See my English Martyrology 1▪ 4.
Cambyses King of Persia seeing his brother Smerdis draw a stronger bowe then any of the re… of his Souldiers could do, was in enslamed with envy against him, that he caused him to be sl…ne. Not long after Cambyses caused a young Lion, and a young Ma…iffe to fight together before him; but the Lion being too hard for the Dog, another Whelp of the same litter brake his chaine, and came in upon the Lion, and so being two, they were too hard for the Lion, whereupon Cambyses laughed: but his wife (who was also his sister,) fell a weeping, and Cambyses asking her the cause? she answered, Because seeing the Whelp to help his brother, I thinke of Smerdis whom thou hast slain, and yet he hath none to revenge his death: This …o provoked Cambyses, that he slew her also. Pez. Mel. Hist.
It hath been the constant practice of the great Turk ever since the beginning of that Empire till of late, that so soon as he came to the Crown, he sent, and strangled all his brethren▪ Turk. Hist.
My brethren have dealt deceitfully, as a brook, and as the stream of brookes they passe away,
Job 6. 15.