A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 78 – Chapter 81
CHAP. LXXVIII. Examples of Gods Judgments on the Jewes for crucifying Christ, and their other wickednesse.
THe Jewes were banished Rome, Act. 18 2.
They persecuted Paul, 2 Cor. 11. 24. Act. 21. 27. & 23. 12. & 25 2, 7. & 9. 23.
They were desperately hardened, 1 Cor. 1. 22, 23. 1 Thess. 2. 15.
Reject the Gospel of Christ, Act. 13. 46.
The Jewes which crucified the Lord of life, and wished that his blood might be upon them, and their children, presently after, through the just Judgment of God, had blood to drink in full measure: For besides their afflictions in divers Countries, being tossed up, and down by the Deputies of the Romans; There were slain in Caesarea 20000 in one day. At Alexandria 50000 another day: At Zabulon, and Joppa 8400, besides the burning of the Townes. At Damascus 10000 had their throats cut. In the siege of Hierusalem they were so famished, that Oxens dung was accounted good meat: Others fed upon old leather, and some women boiled their own children, and did eat them. Many thinking to save their lives by flying to the Romans were slit in pieces to search for gold, and Jewels in their guts: two thousand dyed thus miserably in one night: 97000 were taken prisoners at the taking of the City by Titus: eleven hundred thousand were slain. As for the prisoners some of them were carried to Rome in triumph. Others were slain in sundry places at the Conquerers will: Some were torn in pieces, and devoured by wild beasts: Others were compelled to march in Troops against their fellowes, and to kill one another to make the spectators sport. The reliques of these wretched people were dispersed into all Nations under heaven, having no Magistrates of their own to protect them, but were, and still are altogether at the will, and discretion of the Lords of those Countries where they sojourn: so that no Nation in the world is so vile, and contemptible as the Jewes.
In the time of Julian the Apostate he gave leave to the Jewes to re-build the Temple at Jerusalem; but so soon as they had laid the foundations thereof, all was overthrown by an earthquake, many thousands of them being overwhelmed with the mines; and those which were left, were slain, and scattered by a tempest, and thunder.
The Jewes at Imnester near Antioch celebrating their accustomed Playes, and Feasts, in the middest of their jollity according to their custome, they reviled Christ, and in contempt to him, gat a Christian's child, and hung him upon a Crosse, and after many mocks, and taunts whipt him to death. So also they served a boy called Simeon, Anno Christi 1476. And another in Fretulium five years after. At another time they took a Carpenters sonne in Hungary, in contempt of Christ, whom they called the son of a Carpenter, and cutting all his veines sucked out all his blood with quills: And being apprehended and tortured, they confessed that they had done the like at Thirna four years before, and that they could not be without Christian blood, for that therewith they anointed their Priests: But at all these times their wickednesse being discovered, they suffered just punishment, by hanging, burning, or some other cruel death.
Anno Christi 1492. one Eleazar a Jew bought the holy Host of a Popish Priest, and most despightfully thrust it through with his knife, for which he was burned; and the like have others of them done at several times. Fincel.
Anno Christi 1407. a Jew stole the picture of Christ out of a Church, and chrust it in contempt many times thorow with his sword, out of which when blood miraculously issued, the caitiffe would have burned it: but being taken in the manner by some Christians, they stoned him to death. Gasp. AEdio. l. 3. c. 6.
The Jewes whilest they were suffered to live here in England, used every year to steal some Christian's child, and on Good-Priday to crucifie him in despite of Christ, and the Christian Religion.
Thus they served a child at Lincoln, Anno Christi 1255. under the Reign of King Henry the third: And another at Norwich, having first circumcised him, and kept him a whole year: For which being apprehended thirty two of them were put to death at Lincoln, and twenty at Norwich: Others of them being besieged at York when they could hold out no longer, cut their own throats, whereby fifteen hundred of them perished at that time. At Northhampton many of them were burnt for attempting to set the City on fire with wildfire: And at last for their many wicked practices, they were utterly banished the Kingdome of England by King Edward the first, Anno Christi 1291. for which the Commons gave the King a Fifteenth.
Judea hath now onelyonly some few parcels of rich ground found in it, that men may guesse the goodnesse of the cloth by the finenesse of the shreads, wherein the Word of God is fulfilled, Psal. 107. 34. He turneth a fruitful Land into barrennesse, for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein.
In the Reign of Adrianus the Emperour, he sent Severus his General against the Jewes, who by reason of their multitudes would not try it out in a set battel, but proceeding more warily, and taking his opportunitie, he by degrees took fifty of their fortified Castles, rased nine hundred, and fourscore of their best Townes, and slew five hundred, and eighty thousand of their men: besides innumerable multitudes which perished by famine, sicknesse, and fire: so that almost all Judaea was left destitute: and Adrian by an Edict prohibited the Jewes from coming neer to Hierusalem, or once from any high place to look towards the same, or the Region adjoyning. Dion.
Salmanticensis saith, that there was a decree made at Rome, that no Jew should ever enter Cyprus (the place where their rebellion began) and that Adrian destroyed twice as many Jewes as Moses brought out of Egypt: He rased Hierusalem, and not far from it built another City (the now Hierusalem) and called it after his own name AElia. And over the gate of this City he placed the Statues of swine, which were faithful Porters to prohibit the superstitious Iewes from entrance. This was about the year 135.
St. Hierom tells us, that in his time on that day wherein Hierusalem was taken by the Romans, you may see decrepit women, and old ragged men, and many wretched people (but pitied of none) with blubbered cheeks, black armes, dishevelled hair, howling, and lamenting for the ruines of their Sanctuary, in their bodies, and habits bearing, and wearing …he sad characters of Divine vengeance, of whom the Souldiers also exact their fee, for liberty of further weeping: so that they which formerly sold the blood of Christ, are now fain to buy their own teares.
In the Reign of Trajan (Adrian's predecessour) the Jewes rebelled in Egypt, and Cyrene, where they slew many Greeks, and Romans, did eat their flesh, girt themselves with their guts, imbrewed themselves with their blood, and clothed themselves with their skins: many they sawed in sunder from the Crown downwards, many they cast to the Beasts, &c. Hereupon Trajan sent against them Martius Turbo, who destroved many thousands of them: and fearing lest the Jewes in Mesopotamia should break out into the like outrages, he commanded Lucius Quietus to destroy them utterly, who so diligently executed his will▪ that the Emperour to recompence his service made him President of Judea. Dion.
In Creet there arose amongst them a false Prophet that affirmed himself to be Moses that led the Israelites through the Red-sea, telling them that he was come to lead them through the Sea into the holy Land: Thus for a whole year he went from City to City amongst them, perswading them to leave their riches to any that would take them, and to follow him; and at a day appointed he went before them to a Promontorie of the Sea, and there bidsthem leap in, which many doing perished in the waves, and more would have done but that some Christian Merchants, and Mariners saved some, and stayed the madnesse of others: But when the Iews sought to revenge themselves on this counterfeit Moses, he could no where be found, and thereupon they concluded him to be the Devil in humane shape that thus sought their destruction. Socrates.
Adrian banished 500000 of them into Spain, whence they were again banished by Ferdinand, and Isabel, Anno Christi 1492. at which time there went out of Spain 120000 Families: From thence they passed into Tuscany, and the Popes Dominions, but were again banished thence by Paul the fourth and Pius the fifth. But it would be endlesse to shew what miseries they have endured ever since they committed that great sin.
CHAP. LXXIX. Images, Idols.
FOrbidden, Exod 20. 4. & 23. 24. & 34. 13. Deut. 16. 22. Lev. 26. 1. Num. 33. 52. Deut. 7. 5 Ezek. 30. 13. Lev. 19. 4. Act. 15. 20.
Destroyed, 2 King. 3. 2. & 10. 17, 26. & 11. 18. & 18. 4. & 23. 14. 2 Chron. 14. 3, 5 & 23. 17. & 31. 1. & 34. 4, 7. Isa. 30 22. Ier. 43. 13. & 50. 2. Ezek. 6. 4. 2 Chron. 15. 16. & 33. 15. 1 King 15. 12. Isa. 2. 20. & 31. 7. Hos. 14. 8.
They called them gods, Gen. 31. 30. 2 King. 17. 31. & 1. 2. Act. 19. 27. Exod. 32. 4.
Worshipped them, Ier. 3. 9.
Trusted in them, Ier. 48. 13. Isa. 42. 17. Psal. 115. 8. Hab. 2. 18. Consulted with them, Ezek. 21. 21.
Swore by them, Ier. 5. 7. & 12. 16. Zeph. 1. 5. 1 King. 19. 2. & 20. 10.
They are teachers of lies, Hab. 2. 18. Ier. 10. 8. and profit nothing, Isa. 44. 10.
Much question there is about the beginning of Idolatry: These three causes seem not improbable:
When a father mourned grievously for his son taken away by immature death, he made his Image, which in processe of time was worshipped as a god; and served with Ceremonies, and Sacrifices.
The people made the Images of great Tyrants, and honoured them, that so they might by this flattery live the more peaceably under them.
The ambitious skill of the workman, that through the beauty of the work the multitude being allured, took him for a god, that a little before was honoured but as a man.
Lactantius saith, That when Noah cast off his son Cham for his wickednesse. he went into Canaan, and his posterity being ignorant of God, because their Founder or Prince received not of his father rules for Gods worship, quickly sell to Idolatry: The Egyptians being not covered with houses by reason of the temperate ayr, observing the motions of the stars, whilest they often viewed them more curiously fell to worship them: After which they invented monstrous shapes of Beasts, and worshipped them: Others scattered into other regious, admiring the Heavens, Sun, Moon, Earth, Sea, without Images, or Temples worshipped them. and sacrificed to them, till afterwards they erected Temples, and Images to their most puissant Kings, and ordained to them sacrifices, and Incense, &c.
CHAP. LXXX. Exmples of Superstition.
TO do that in Gods worship which he commands not is superstition, Ier. 32. 35.
To do that which is right in our own eyes, Deut. 12. 8. Judg. 17. 6. Numb. 15. 39. Observers of times, Deut. 18. 10, 14. Lev. 19. 26. Gal. 4. 10. False worship, Deut. 17. 3. & 29. 26. Exod. 20. 25, 26. Mens traditions, Matth. 15. 3, 9. Col. 2. 22. Mar. 7. 4, 7. Will-worship, Col. 2. 18, 21, 23.
Scriptural Examples: They which take up any thing on their own heads, and put Religion therein; as, The Israelites not eating the sinew▪ Gen. 32. 32. Gideon in making an Ephod, Judg. 8. 27. Philistines not treading on the threshold, 1 Sam. 5. 5. Rachel stealing her fathers Idols, Gen. 31, 19. Balaam in trying the Lord in several places, Num. 23. 1, 14, 27, 28. Naaman in taking two Mules load of earth, &c. 2 King. 5, 17. Micha his house of gods, Judg. 17. 5. the Danites, Judg. 18. 17. worshippers in high places, 1 King. 12. 31, 32. & 14. 23. & 15. 14. 2 King. 15. 4. 2 Chron. 33. 17. Scribes, and Pharisees, Matth. 15. 3, 9. Mar. 7. 4, 7. Joh. 18. 28. Galatians, Ch. 4. 9, 10. Colossians, Ch. 2. 21, 16, 18, 23. All the heathen in their Idolatry, Act. 17. 22.
Other Examples.
The AEgyptians of all other Nations were most foolish, and vain in their superstitions; for they did not onelyonly worship the dead, as Isis, Serapis, and Anubis, but even the basest of living creatures, as Doggs, Catts, Crocodiles, Haukes, Ichnumons, Wolves, &c. To these they gave food; consecrated fields, and tributes to them, the Images of these they carried in their Ensigns, and if any man killed any of these, they were punished with death for it. Lipsius. Also in the time of a great Famine they spared these creatures, and chose rather to feed upon mans flesh: yea they fed these creatures with mans flesh to preserve their lives. Diod. Sic.
The Carthaginians were so superstitious that they used to sacrifice men, and boyes to Saturn, in the armes of whose brazen Image they used to lay them, and then to tumble them alive into a pit of fire; and this they did upon certain daies each year: but especially they multiplyed these Sacrifices in the time of any publick calamity; so that having suffered a great losse by Agathocles, they resolved to offer 200 young Noble-mens sons to appease the angry Deity; yea, and there were so many youths that voluntarily offered themselves hereunto. Plut.
When S…e…igrade in Egy…us was besieged by the Great Turk, a Traitor within (knowing how superstitiously the Garrison Souldiers abhorred tasting any thing that they deemed unclean) threw a dead dog into the onelyonly Well that supplyed the City with water: upon the discovery whereof the Souldiers chose rather to die then to drink of it, whereupon the City was delivered up to the Turk: See Scanderbeg's Life in my second Part.
The Idol Moloch, or Saturn, amongst the Idolatrous Jewes was represented by a Man-like Brazen body, and with the head of a Calf. The children offered to Moloch were inclosed within the body of this Idol which was compassed about with a great fire, and as the Idol heated, the Sacrificers filled the ayr with the noise of Instruments, that the pitifull cryes of the Sacrificed children might not be heard.
The women mourning for Thammus, Ezek. 8. 14. were such as mourned in their sacrifices to Isis, the wife of Osiris, after the Idolatrous manner of the Egyptians.
CHAP. LXXXI. Life, Long life, Life sweet.
THe age of the ante-diluvian Patriarchs.
Adam lived 930 years. Seth lived 912 years. Enos lived 905 yeares. Cainan lived 910 yeares. Mahalaleel lived 895 years. Jared lived 962 yeares. Enoch lived before his translation 365 years. Methuselah lived 969 yeares. Lamech lived 777 years.
After the Flood.
Noah lived 950 yeares. Shem lived 600 years. Arphaxad lived 438 years. Salah lived 433 years. Eber lived 464 years. Peleg lived 239 years. Reu lived 239 years. Serug lived 230 years. Nahor lived 148 years. Terah lived 205 years. Abraham lived 175 years. Isaac lived 180 years.
Long life is promised as a blessing in these Scriptures, Exod. 20. 12. Psal. 91. 16. Prov. 3. 2. Isa. 65. 22. Ephes. 6. 3.
Anno Christi 1128. in the reign of Lewis the Grosse King of France there dyed Johannes de Temporibus, who had been Armour-bearer to Charles the Great, and was when he died 361 yeares old. Naucle.
There came a man of Bengala to the Portugals in the East-Indies, who was 335 years old: And the old men of the Countrey testified that they had heard their ancestors speak of his great age: He was not book-learned, yet was a speaking Chronicle of those forepassed times: His teeth had sometimes fa…ne out, yet others came up in their rooms. For this his miraculous age the Sultan of Cambaia had allowed him a stipend to live on; the like also did the Governour of Portugal; having now dispossessed the aforenamed Sultan. P. Pilgrimage. p. 481.
Antigonus observing one of his Souldiers to be a very valiant man, and ready to adventure upon any desperate service, yet withall observing that he looked very pale, and lean, would needs know of him what he ailed, and finding that he had on him a secret, and dangerous disease, he caused all possible means to be used for his recovery: which when it was effected, the King observed him to be lesse forward in service then formerly, and demanding the reason of it, he ingenuously confessed; That he now felt the sweetnesse of life, and therefore was loath to lose it.