A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 86 – Chapter 87
CHAP. LXXXVI. Honesty, Piety, Holinesse, Godlinesse.
EXhorted to, 1 Tim. 6. 11. 2 Pet. 1. 5, 6, 7. & 3. 11.
Numa Pompilius made a Law amongst the Romans, That men should not serve the gods, as they passed by, or were in haste, or did any other businesse: but that they should worship and pray to them when they had time, and leysure, and all other businesses set apart. He himself did so firmly put his confidence in them, that on a time being told that his enemies were in Armes coming against him: he answered, At ego rem divinam facio: But I am sacrificing to the gods. Plut.
The Romans having taken the rich City of Veia, decreed out of the spoiles to make, and send a Cup of massie gold to Apollo at Delphos; but when little gold was found in Rome, the Souldiers having embezelled it, the Roman wives voluntarily out of their devotion brought in all their Jewels, with which they made a cup that weighed eight Talents, in recompence whereof the Senate ordained that women should be openly praised in funeral Orations, which was never used before. Plut.
When Brennus with his Gaules had overthrown the Romane Army, and drew neer to the City, most of the people fled out of it, and amongst the rest, the Vestal Nunnes with their holy fire, and as they were going on foot, Lucius Albinus, one of the common people flying also together with his wife, children, and best of his goods whom he carried in a cart, who seeing the Vestals wearied with carrying their sacred reliques, caused his wife, and children to alight, and threw his goods out of the cart, which he gave to the Vestals, choosing rather to hazard the losse of all that was dear to him, then that those holy things should miscarry. Plut.
Agesilaus King of Sparta, a brave Captain, and Commander, was wonderful religious, and addicted to the services of the gods, and so carefull of his oathes, that his very enemies having once his oath for any thing thought themselves more secure thereby, then if they had been tyed together by any bonds of friendship: He reverenced the Temples of the gods even amongst his enemies, and would never suffer them to be punished that fled to them for refuge. Plut.
Pub. Scipio Africanus was of so devout a disposition, that he would never undertake any businesse, but first he would go to the Capitol, and there sit before Jupiter with great devotion, as it were to know his mind about it, Aur. Victor.
Agesilaus King of Sparta in all his warres would never suffer the Temples of the gods (though amongst his enemies) to be injured; but alwaies restrained his Souldiers from plundering, or profaning of them, saying; Quòd existimaret divina auxilia, non minûs in hostili, quàm amico solo, imploranda esse: That he esteemed that divine help was as necessary, and as much to be sought abroad amongst his enemies, as at home amongst his friends. Xenophon.
Antiochus King of Syria besieging Hierusalem, there fell out the Jewes feast of Tabernacles, whereupon they sent out Ambassadours to him, intreating him to grant them a truce of seven daies, whilest they attended upon the service of God: The King did not onelyonly grant their request, but sent them also bullocks with gilded hornes, and a great quantity of incense, and sweet perfumes which he caused at the City gates to be delivered to the Priests: with which act of piety the Jewes were so overcome, that they made peace with him, and yielded up their City to him. Lipsius.
Pausanias King of Sparta, and at that time Captain General of all the Grecians, in that notable fight against the Persians at Platea, when the Persian Army pressed upon him, and provoked him to fight, he would not suffer a blow to be given till he had consulted with the gods: His enemies interpreting his delay to proceed from cowardise, pressed more upon him, and slew some of his men, yet neither then would he suffer them to stirre till he had an auspicious answer: after which he obtained a glorious victory over his enemies. Lipsius.
Portius Cato was of such an honest, and blamelesse life, that though he was often accused by his adversaries, and forced to plead his cause fifty times, yet he alwaies came off with credit, and that not by favour, friends, or bribes, but against all these: And being again accused in his old age, he desired that Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, who was his adversary, might be made his Judge: which being done, he so cleared himself before him, that Gracchus acquitted him. Lipsius.
Godlinesse with contentment is great gain,
1 Tim. 6. 6.
CHAP. LXXXVII. Prediction, Prophecies.
THe same day that Alexander the Great was born in Macedonia, Diana's Temple at Ephesus in Asia was burned down, at which time divers Magicians being present, they ran up, and down tearing their hair, and crying out that that day was born the great plague, and Pest of Asia. Diod. Sic. The same day that Philip King of Macedon had the City of Potidaea surrendred to him, three Messengers one after another brought him word first of a great Victory that Parmenio his General had obtained over the Illyrians: Secondly, of a victory, or prize that his horse had gotten at the Olympick Games: Thirdly, of the birth of his son Alexander: whereupon his Southsayers told him that his son which was born at that tiwe wherein he had gotten three such victories, should prove unconquerable. Justin.
Domitius AEnobarbus when his son Nero was born, his friends coming to congratulate him for the birth of his son, said unto them, There can be nothing born to me, and Agrippina, but that which is detestable, and that which is born for the publick hurt. Pez. Mel. Hist.
Nero sending to the Oracle at Delphos to know his final fortune, received this ambiguous answer, Beware of the 73 year; which he understood to be meant of his own ages date, but it proved Galba's who dethroned him. Superstition is worthily fed with illusion, and irreligion as worthily punished with credulity. Suet.
Learned Gerard tells us of a certain woman called Thoda in Suevia in Germany, who Anno Christi 848. Prophesied that that year the world should end, which (as she said) was revealed to her by an Angel.
Anno Christi 1526. there was an Anabaptist that ran up, and down the streets in the City of St. Gallus in Helvetia, crying with horrid gestures, that the day of the Lord was come; that it was present.
And Anno Christi 1530. upon the like Prophecie another so strongly prevailed with some, that he perswaded them the last year of the world was come: whereupon they grew prodigal of their goods, and substance, fearing that they should scarcely spend them in so short a time as the world was to continue.
An unknown woman came to Tarquinius Superbus in Rome, and proffered him the nine books of the Sybils Prophecies at a very great rate, which he refused to give her: She burned three of them, and offered him the other six at the same rate, but he refused again; whereupon she burnt other three, and asked him the same rate for the three remaining: which he then bought, and layed them up in the Capitol, where they continued as Oracles, till both Temple, and books were burnt. Dionys.