A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 82 – Chapter 85
CHAP. LXXXII. Mirth, Facetious speeches, Pithy sentences.
THemistocles used in mirth to say, that of all other people, the Grecians were the most powerful, and that of the Grecians, the Athenians ruled over most: and that he ruled the Athenians, and that his Wife ruled him, and his young Son ruled his Wife. Herod.
On a time one requested Lycurgus to set up a popular Government in Lacedaemon, where the meanest might have as much authority as the greatest: Begin, saith he, first to do it in thine own house. Plut.
An other asked him why he appointed such mean things, and of so little value to be offered to the gods? Because, saith he, we should never be aweary of serving them. Plut.
One of his Citizens asking him how they might defend themselves against their enemies? If, saith he, ye be poor, and no man covets more then another.
Another asking him if it were not meet to enclose their City with walls? Can, saith he, that City be without walls, that is environed with men, though it be not compassed with stones? Plut.
Demaratus the Lacedemonian being asked by a busie fellow, who was the honestest man in Lacedaemon? Even he, saith he, that is least like unto thy self. Plut.
An Orator of Athens saying to Plistonax that the Lacedemonians were ignorant, and illiterate: Thou saiest true, quoth he, for we of all the Grecians have learned none of your ill conditions. Plut. One of them beiug requested to go hear the Nightingale counterfeited naturally: I have, said he, heard the Nightingale her self. Plut.
A Boy beiug promised an Hardy cock of the game,▪ that would die in the place: Na…, said he, give me not those which will die, but with fighting will kill others. Plut.
Paedaritus a worthy man in Lacedemom being left out in the election of the 300. Senators went home merrily, saying, It d…th me good to see that there are …ound three hundred men in the City better then my self. Plut.
Some that had studied Musick, and other Arts, used to mock Themistocles when he was young for his ignorance, to whom he gave this answer: Indeed I cannot tune a… i…l, Harpe; or Lute, but if you put a weak, little, and obscure City into▪ my hands, I know how to make it Noble, Strong, and Great.
When in his youth his actions were light, and unconstant, he used to say, that a ragged Colt oft proves a good Horse, especially if▪ he be will broken, and ridden Plut.
Themistocles sayling too, and fro amongst the confederates of the Athenians, to gather a Tribute, when he came to the Andr a…s, and found them backward to pay; he told them that he brought two mighty gods along with him, viz. Love, and Force,: To which they answered, that they also had two great goddesses to withstand him: viz. Poverty, and impossibility. Plut▪
Themistocles being banished Greece was forced to fly for refuge ro the King of Persia, with whom he found great favour, and was advanced to a great estate, whereupon he said to his children: My sons, we should have been undone, if we had not been undone. Periss…mus, nisi periissemus. Plut.
Brennus with his Gaules besieging the City of Clusium in Italy, the Romans sent Ambassadours to him to ask him what wrong the Clusians had done unto him that he was come to War against shem? Brennus smiling, answered: Herein the Clusians do us wrong, in that being few, and occupying much land they will not give it us that need it more then they: the like do you Romans to all your neighbours, if they will not impart their goods to you. Plut.
Menecrates the Physitian, because he had restored many mad men to their wits, was sirnamed Jupiter, which he was so proud of that writing to Agesilaus King of Sparta, he began his letrer thus: Menecrates Jupiter, regi Agesilao salutem: to which Agesilaus wrote back, Agesilaus Rex, Menecrati sanam mentem. Plut.
One praysing a certain Orator highly in the Presence of Agesilaus King of Sparta, for that he could admirably set forth small matters with specious words; He answered, But I do not think it worthy their labour who put a great shoe upon a little foot. Xenoph.
Another asking him by what means a man might attain to a good name, and fame? he answered, Si loqua…ur quae sunt optima, & faciat quae sunt honestissima: If he alwaies speaks those things which are best, and doth those things which are most honest. Idem.
A Captain of the Paeonians having slain an enemy, cut off his head, and brought it to Alexander M. saying, O King, with us this gift uses to be rewarded with a cup of Gold. Yea, saith Alexander, with an empty cup, but I will drink to thee this full cup of Wine. Diod. Sic.
Augustus Caesar his motto was, Festina lentè, and he used to say, Sat celeriter fit, quicquid fit satis benè; A thing well done is twice done. Plut. As also, that to get some small profit with great danger, is like those that fish with a golden hook, who hazard more then the fish is worth. Plut.
A certain Roman Knight coming to Adrian the Emperour to request a favour of him, received a denial: the Knight was old, and had a very gray beard, but a few daies after, having coloured his beard black, like a young man, he came to the Emperour again about the same businesse: the Emperour perceiving the fraud, said to him; I would be very glad to gratifie you in your desire, but a few daies past, I denied it to your Father: and therefore it would not be just to grant that to the son, which I refused to the father. Imp. Hist.
Apollonius being asked (as to entrap him) what he thought of Nero's singing? fearlesly, answered the bloody Tigellinus, Nero's favourite; I think (said he) far better then you; for you repute him worthy to sing, but I to hold his peace. And so truly it was, for his voice was but weak, and hollow, and therefore to help it, he used to lie on his back with a leaden plate on his breast, and to fast certain daies in every monethmonth with nothing but oyl. Plinie.
At the Battel of Newport, the Prince of Orange having the Spanish Army before him, and the Sea behind him, spake thus to his Souldiers; If you will live, you must either eat up these Spaniards, or drink up this Sea.
When Luther first appeared against the Pope, Albertus Crantzius (a Bishop that approved of his project, but thought it impossible to be brought to passe) wrote thus unto him; Frater, Frater, Abi in Cellam, & dic Miserere mei Deus; Frier, Frier, go into thy Cloister, and follow thy beads: This businesse is too hard for thee to undertake.
When amongst many Articles exhibited to our King Henry the 7th. by the Irish against the Earl of Kildare, the last was; Finally, all Ireland cannot rule this Earl: Then (quoth the King) this Earl shall rule all Ireland, and so made him Deputy thereof. Camb. Remaines. p. 271.
King John of England being perswaded by one of his Courtiers to untomb the bones of one, who whilest he lived had been his great enemy. O no, (quoth the King) would to God that all mine enemies were as honourably buried.
A little before the Spanish Invasion in eighty eight, the Spanish Ambassadour after a large recital of his Masters demands to Queen Elizabeth▪ summed up the effect of it in this Tetrastich,
Te veto ne pergas bello defendere▪ Belgas;
Quae Dracus eripuit nunc restituantur oportet:
Quas Pater evertit, jubeo te Condere cellas:
Religio Papae fac restituatur ad unguem. i. e.
These to you are our Commands,
Send no help to th'Netherlands:
Of the Treasure took by Drake,
Restitution you must make:
And those Abbies build anew
Which your fathers overthrew:
If for any Peace you hope,
In all points restore the Pope.
The Queen smiling at these demands, returned this sudden answer,
Ad Graecas, bone Rex, fient mandata Calendas.
Worthy King, know this your will,
At latter Lammas wee'l fulfill.
See her Life in my second Part.
John Duke of Bedford being entombed in the chief Church of Roan, afterwards a foolish Courtier perswaded Charles the eighth, King of France, to deface his Monument, to whom the King answered; God defend that I should wrong him dead, whom whilest he was living all the force of France could not resist.
Queen Elizabeth coming into a Free-School, had an Oration made to her by one of the boyes, whom afterwards she jestingly asked, How often his Master had whipped him? To whom he readily, and wittily answered with the words of AEneas to Queen Dido;
Infandum Regina jubes renovare dolorem.
At another time having an Oration made to her by a poor boy, she, understanding his quality, said merrily to him: Pauper ubi que jacet. But the boy as confidently, and wittily answered;
In thalamis regina tuis hac nocte jacerem;
Si verum hoc esset, Pauper ubique jacet.
CHAP. LXXXIII. Poverty, Poor.
NOt to be oppressed, Exod. 22. 25. Deut. 24. 14. Prov. 22. 16, 22. & 28. 3, 15. & 14. 31. & 30. 14. Eccles. 5. 8. Isa. 3. 14, 15. & 10. 2. & 11. 4 & 32. 7. & 58. 7. Jer. 2. 32. Ezek. 18. 12. Amos 2. 6. & 4. 1. Job 31. 16, &c. Psal. 10. 2, &c. & 12. 5.
To be relieved, Exod. 23. 11. Lev. 19. 20. & 23. 22. & 25. 25, 35, &c. Deut. 15. 7, &c. & 24. 12. Job 30. 25. Prov. 14. 21. & 22. 9. & 28. 27. & 31. 20. Dan. 4. 27. Mar. 14. 7. Matth. 19. 21. Rom. 15. 26. Gal. 2. 10. Luk. 19. 8. 2 Cor. 9. 9.
What brings Poverty, Prov. 6. 11. & 11. 24. & 13. 18. & 20. 13. & 23. 21. & 24. 34. & 28. 19, 22.
Alexander the Great, having taken the Kingdome of Sidon, gave it to Hephaestion to dispose of it to whom he pleased: Hephaestion to shew his gratitude proffered it to his host with whom he quartered; but he, not being of the Kingly family, refused it, saying; It is not our Countrey fashion that any one should be King, but such as are of the King's line: and such an one, saith he, lives hard by, a good and a wise man, but very poor, and one that lives by his hard labour: then Hephaestion, taking Kingly apparrel with him, went to this poor man, and saluted him King, bidding him wash off his dirt, and put off his rags, and put on that Kingly apparel: the poor mans name was Abdolonimus, who thought he had been in a dream, but being by the standers by washed, and adorned, Hephaestion led him into the Palace, saying, When thou sittest on thy Throne, and hast power over the lives of all thy Subjects, forget not thy former condition. Alexander hearing of it, sent for him, and asked him with what patience he being of such a noble extraction, could bear his former poverty? To whom Abdolonimus answered; I pray God that I may bear the Kingdome with the same mind; for, said he, these hands provided for my necessity, and as I had nothing, so I wanted nothing. Just. Cur. Diod. Sic.
CHAP. LXXXIV. Peace, Peace makers.
GOd is the God of Peace, Heb. 13. 20. Christ the Prince of Peace, Isa. 9. 6. Gods Word the glad tydings of Peace, Rom. 10 15. Isa. 52. 7. Gods children are Peace-makers, Matth. 5. 9. the Angels singers of Peace, Luk 2. 13. Good men are Counsellors of Peace, Prov. 12. 20. Gods Kingdome the Kingdome of Peace, Rom. 14. 17. Church-Officers, Officers of Peace, Isa. 60. 17. Hierusalem the City of Peace, Psal. 122. 3, 7.
It's to be sought after, Heb. 14. 14. Rom. 14. 19. 1 Cor. 7. 15. Phil. 4. 7. Psal. 34. 14. Jer. 29. 7. Mar. 5. 50. Ephes. 4. 3. 1 Thess. 5. 13.
We must pray for Peace, Psal. 122. 6.
No peace to the wicked, Isa. 48. 22.
Scriptural Examples: Abraham for peace sake yielded to Lot, Gen. 13. 8. Abimelech covenants with Isaac, Gen. 26. 28, &c. Joseph commands it to his Brethren, Gen. 45. 24. Melchisedeck, and Salomon were Kings of peace; Jacob, and his sons, Gen. 34. 21. the Primitive Christians, Act. 4. 32. David, Psal. 120. 7.
Numa Pompilius instituted the Priests called Feciales, whose office was to preserve peace between the Romans, and their neighbouring Nations, and if any quarrels did arise, they were to pacifie them by reason, and not suffer them to come to violence, till all hope of peace was past: and if the Feciales did not consent to wars, neither King nor people could undertake them. Plut.
CHAP. LXXXV. Persecution, Persecute, Persecutor.
COmplained of, Job 19. 22. Psal. 10. 2. & 69. 26. & 71. 11. & 119. 86, 157, 161. & 143. 3. Lam. 4. 19.
Christ is persecuted in his members, Act. 9. 4, 5. & 22. 7, 8. Phil. 3. 6. Rev. 12. 13.
Prayed against, Psal. 7. 1. & 31. 15. & 35. 3, 6. & 142. 6.
Flight in persecution, Matth. 10. 23. & 23. 34. Act. 11. 19.
It's to be patiently born, Matth. 5. 10, &c. Joh. 15. 20. Rom. 12. 14. & 5. 2. 1 Cor. 4. 12. Rom. 8. 35. 2 Cor. 12. 10.
Persecutors cursed, and threatned, Psal. 119. 84. Deut. 30. 7. Jer. 17. 18. Neh. 9. 11. Psal. 7. 13. Jer. 15. 15. & 20. 11.
Their acts, and nature: They are said to grieve, and shoot at, Gen. 49. 23. to hunt the soul, 1 Sam. 24. 11. to pursue, 1 Sam. 25. 29. to beset round, Psal. 22. 12. to waste, and devour, Psal. 80. 13. to consult against, Psal 83. 3. Mad, and sworn against, Psal. 102. 2. to plow on the back, Psal. 129. 3. to hate, and cast out, Isa. 66 5. to tread down, Jer. 12. 10. to rebuke with reproach, Jer. 15. 15. & 20. 8. to destroy, Jer. 50. 1. to chase, Lam 3. 52. to cut off life, Lam. 3. 35. to hunt mens steps, Lam. 4. 18. Pricking briers, Ezek. 28. 24. to tear, Amos 1. 11. Foxes, Wolves, Luk. 13. 32. Joh. 10. 12. Act. 20. 19. to breathe threatenings, Act. 9. 1. Beasts, 1 Cor. 15. 32. exceeding mad, Act. 26. 11. to waste, Gal. 1. 13. abuse shamefully, 1 Thess. 2. 2 to trouble the Church, 2 Thess. 1. 6. Antichrists, 1 Joh. 2. 18. to war with, Rev. 12 17. drunk with blood, Rev. 17. 6.
Prudentius saith, That their names that are written in red letters of blood in the Churches Kalender, are written in golden letters in Christs Register in the book of Life.
Constantine the Great used often to kisse the hollow of old Paphnutius his eye which he had lost for the cause of Christ in the precedent times of Persecution.
Valentinian a godly Emperor was so highly offended with his brother Valence for persecuting the Orthodox Christians, that he denyed to afford him help against the Goths, when they invaded his Dominions, saying; That it was an impious thing to strengthen the hands of a man who had spent his daies in warring against God and his Church. Theod.
When there was a consultation held at Rome, whether Carthage should be demolished, yea or no? Scipio perswaded the Senators to let it stand, lest the people of Rome should want an occasion, or object whereon to exercise their valour: So God could soon destroy all the persecuting enemies of his Church: but he rather suffers them to live, that they may be for the exercise of his peoples wisdom, faith, zeal, constancy, courage, patience, and the whole Panoplie of Grace in them.
See more in my two Martyrologies.