A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 45
CHAP. XLV. Examples of Gods judgements upon contemners of his Ministers, Word, and Sacraments.
THe Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah by all the Prophets, and by all the Seers, saying, Turne ye from your evil wayes, and keep my commandments, and my statutes, according to all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the Prophets: Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardoned their necks like unto the necks of their fathers, &c. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight, &c. 2. King. 17. 13, 14, 18.
And the Lord God of their fathers, sent unto them by his messengers, rising up early, and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despise his Word, and misused his Prophets, till the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy: therefore he brought upon them the King of the Caldees, who slew their young men with the sword, and had no compassion, &c. 2 Chron. 36. 15, 16, 17.
For this sinne was Hierusalem destroyed by Titus, Mat. 23. 37, &c. Heb. 10. 28, 29.
Pontius Pilate writing unto Tiberius Nero a true report of the Ministery, and miracles, of the resurrection, and ascension of Iesus Christ, adding that by good men he was accounted a God; the Emperour was so moved therewith, that he made a motion in the Senate at Rome, that he might be enrolled in the number of their gods; but the Senate refused it upon this reason, because he was consecrated for a God, before the Senate had decreed, and approved of the same: but what miseries befell the Senate, and people of Rome for rejecting him, the stories of those times shew.
Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of England, reports that Anno Christi 420. After that the Britanes had been long afflicted by the Picts, and Scots, the Lord at last gave them rest from all their enemies, and sent them such plenty of corne, and fruits of the earth, as the like was never known before: But instead of returning thanks for those mercies; they fell to all manner of riot, and excesse, which, was accompanied with many other foul enormities, especially with a hatred of the truth, and contempt of the Word of God: For which cause the Lord sent amongst them such a contagious plague, that the living were scarce able to bury the dead: and when by this judgement they were not reclaimed, the Lord brought upon them the fierce, and cruel Nations of the Saxons, and Angli out of Germany, who though at first they came to help them, yet after a while they turned against them, and after much blood-shed, drave them out of their Countrey into the mountaines of Wales, where they remaine unto this day. See this more fully in my English Martyrologie.
Gildes, a godly, and learned man, was at another time raised up by God to exhort the Britanes to repentance, and amendment of life: but they laughed him to scorn, and took him for a false Prophet: for which cause the Lord plagued them, delivering them into the hands of their enemies on every side.
In the Reigne of King Edward the third, God raised up John Wickliffs to preach repentance to the English, & to exhort them to turn from their Idolatry, and supersticion: But his Ministery was contemned, and his body, and books were burned after his death: For which a heavy judgement befell them: They slew their lawfull King, and set up three Usurpers on a row, by which most of the Nobles of the Land were slaine, and one halfe of the Commons, so that Cities, and Townes were decayed, and much of the Land turned to a wildernesse.
Nicholas Hemingius relates a story of a lewd fellow in Denmark, Anno Christi, 1550. which usually made a mock at Religion, and the professors of it, and on a time coming into a Church where a godly Minister was preaching, by his countenance, and gestures shewed a great contempt against the Word: but as he passed out of the Church, a tile fell upon his head, and slew him in the place.
Anno Christi, 1547. one Christopher Turk, a Councellour of estate in Germany, mocked a godly Noble-man that was taken prisoner, saying, See what hecomes of these gallants, that use to sing when any one wrongs us, God is our succour, and defence: but assoon as the words were out of his mouth, God struck him with a grievous disease, and being carried to his bed, he died in despaire. Beards Theat.
A profane Priest in Misnia that used to mock at the Sacrament of Baptisme: and when a woman-childe came to be baptized, would wish them that brought it to throw it into the river: as he was looking over the bridge of Elbe, at the boats that passed by, by Gods just judgement he fell over the bridge, and was drowned. Beard.
Two schismatical Donatists at Thipasa in Mauritania commanded the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be thrown to the dogs: but immediatly the dogs growing mad fell upon them, and rent them to pieces. Optat. Melevit l. ….
Theopompus a Philosopher being about to insert some of Moses writing into his profane works, was immediately stricken with madnesse. Joseph.
Theodectes a Poet, that mingled his Tragedies with some of the holy Scriptures, was stricken blinde. Joseph.
A husbandman at …tzsith in Germany being a great despiser of the Word of God, on a time railing most bitterly against a godly Minister, presently going into the fields to look to his sheep, was found dead, his body being burnt as black as a coal. Luther in Col.
Phil. Melancthon relates a story of a Tragedie, that was to be acted of the death, and passion of Christ: But he that acted Christs part on the Crosse, was wounded to death, by one that should have thrust his sword into a bladder of blood: and he with his fall, killed one that acted a womans part lamenting under the Crosse: His brother that was first slaine, seeing this, slew the murtherer; for which himselfe by the order of justice was hanged.
February 3. Anno Christs▪ 1652. a Play was acting at Witny in Oxfordshire, at the White-Heart-Inne, in a great long chamber, supported by two strong, and substantial beames, the place having been formerly a maulting roome, the matter of the play was scurrilous, and blasphemous, containing some bitter taunts against all godly persons under the name of Puritans, and at religion it selfe under the name of observing fasting dayes: But as they were acting of it, it pleased God, that the roome wherein the people was, fell, whereby five were slaine outright, and above sixty were hurt, and sorely bruised. One woman had her leg broken, which being cut off, she died within three or four dayes: besides, there were about twelve broken armes, and legs, and others put out of joynt: This is written at large by Mr. John Row a godly Minister, and preacher in that place.
Apian scoffing at Religion, and especially at circumcision had an ulcer rose at the same time in the same place. Joseph.
A man in Queen Elizabeths Reigne (for compiling a book, wherein he had fastened some treasonable dishonours upon the Queen) was condemned to die: and before his death acknowledged, that though he had not done any thing against the Queen which deserved death, yet he deserved to die, for that he had seduced many of her subjects from hearing the Word of life: and though he saw the evil of it, and reformed himselfe, yet he could never prevaile to reclaime others whom he had seduced; and therefore (said he) The blood of their soules is justly required at my hands.
He that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit,
1 Thes. 4. 8.