The Power of Godliness, Treatise · Part 3 · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. The laſt help to a godly life, wherein are ſet down ſeveral ſtories of Gods Providences, examples of graces, &c.
NOw I ſhall come to the laſt of thoſe helps, wherein I ſhall ſet down ſeveral ſignal ſtories of Gods Providence, the actings of the graces of Gods people, and Gods manifeſting himſelf unto them, and ſeveral others, which I thought to have digeſted, and ſet down under ſeveral heads, but conſidering that many, if not all the ſtories, may bee made uſe of ſeverally, and ſo bee referred to ſeveral heads, I thought good rather to ſet them down as they came to my memory, little regarding curioſity of method in this, or any other caſe: I do acknowledge and bleſs God for it, that many of them have much affected mee, the Lord make them ſo to you, and much more abundantly.
I ſhall begin with an excellent ſtory of Origen, the fame, of whoſe excellent learning, and ſingleneſs of life, being brought to the ears of Alexander Severus, the Roman Emperour, hee ſent for him to come to Rome, and commanded the Provoſt of Egypt, to furniſh him with all things neceſſary for his journey: When this Provoſt had provided him a Ship, and all things neceſſary, and beheld him but ſimply apparrel'd, hee prepared for him divers garments, in the moſt honeſt and comely ſort that Phyloſophers then uſed, but Origen would receive no part thereof, not ſo much as hoſe or ſhooes, but like as hee uſed alwayes to go from his childe-hood, (that was, in a ſingle garment of cloth, and bare-foot) ſo went hee to Rome; and when at his arrival, there were brought to him a Mule, and a Chariot to uſe, which hee liked beſt, hee anſwered, that hee was much leſs than his Maſter Chriſt, who rode but one day in all his life, and that was on a ſilly Shee-Aſſe; and therefore hee would not ride, except hee were ſick, or decrepid, ſo as his legs might not ſerve him to go; and when hee was brought into the preſence of the Emperour, and his Mother, the Emperour with moſt gentle countenance, imbraced him as hee kneeled, and enforced him to ſtand upon his feet; his Mother alſo ſaluted him with the like courteſie, and rejoyced much to ſee him. The Emperour beholding his native gravity, and ſterne countenance, judged him in his heart to bee a reverend perſonage; then demanded hee of him, what hee profeſſed; and when hee anſwered, Verity; the Emperour asked him, what hee meant thereby? It is the Word (quoth hee) of the living God, which is infallible: The Emperour asked, which is the living God, and why hee ſo called him? Origen anſwered, that hee did put that diſtinction for a difference from them, whom men (being long drowned in errour) did call their Gods, whom they confeſs to have been mortal ones, and to have died; but the God whom he preached, was ever living & never died, and is the life of all things that bee, like as hee was the Creator of them. And when the Emperour had required him, to declare the unity of God the Creator, he devoutly lifting up his eyes, after a ſhort meditation, with an incomparable and compendious eloquence, forthwith opened that myſtery, and in ſuch wiſe, that as well to the Emperour, and his Mother, as to all the ſtanders by, it ſeemed they were brought out of a long ſleep, and then began to ſee things as they were indeed, and that which before they honoured and eſteemed, were but vain dreams and imaginations: The Emperour after a little pauſe, ſaid to Origen, that hee much marvelled, why men of ſuch great & wonderful knowledge, ſhould honour for God, a man that was crucified, being but of a poor eſtate and condition: O noble Emperour (ſaid Origen) conſider what honour the wiſe Athenians at this preſent do to the name and image of Codrus, their laſt King, for that when they had wars with their enemies, who had anſwer made by the Oracle of Apollo, that if they ſlew not the King of Athens, they ſhould have the victory; Codrus hearing thereof, preferring the ſafeguard of his people before his own life, took to him the garments of a ſlave, and bearing upon his ſhoulder a burthen of ſticks, hee went to his enemies Camp, and there quarrelling of purpoſe with ſome of them, and in the preſs, hurting one with his knife, hee was by him that was hurt, ſtricken through the body, and ſlain, which being known to the enemies, they being confuſed, raiſed their Camp, and departed; and for this cauſe the Athenians have ever ſince had the name of Codrus in reverence, worthily, and not without cauſe. Now then conſider, moſt excellent Prince, how much more worthily, with what greater reaſon and bounden duty, ought wee, and all men, to honour Chriſt, being the Son of God, and God, who not only to preſerve mankinde from danger of the Devil, his ancient enemy, but alſo to deliver man out of his dark and ſtinking dungeon of errour, being ſent by God the Father, from the higheſt heavens, willingly took on him the ſervile garment of a mortal body, and hiding his Majeſty, lived under the viſage of poverty, and finally, not of his enemies immediately, but much more againſt reaſon, of his own choſen people the Jewes, unto whom hee had extended benefits innumerable, and after his temporal Nativity, were his natural people and ſubjects, hee quarrelling with them, by declaring to them their abuſes, and pricking them with condigne rebukes, at the laſt, hee was not ſlain with ſo eaſie a death as Codrus was, but in moſt cruel faſhion was ſcourged, until no place in his body was without wounds, and then had long and ſharp thorns ſet and preſſed upon his head, and after long torments and deſpights, hee was conſtrained to bear a heavy Croſs, whereon afterwards, both his hands and feet were nailed, with long and great nails of iron, and the Croſs, with his naked and bloody body, being lift up on high, was let fall with violence into a Mortais, that his joynts were looſened, and notwithſtanding all this torment and ingratitude, hee never grudged, but lifting up his eyes to heaven, hee prayed with a loud voice, ſaying, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. This was the charity moſt incomparable of the Son of God, imployed for the Redemption of mankinde, who by the tranſgreſſion of Adam, the firſt man that ever was created, was taken priſoner by the devil, that is to ſay, kept in the bondage of errour and ſin, from actual viſage of Gods Majeſty, until hee were on this wiſe redeemed, according as it was ordained at the beginning.
At theſe words of Origen, they that were preſent, were wonderfully aſtonied; and therewith the Emperour with a ſturdy countenance ſaid to Origen, You have wonderfully ſet forth a lamentable hiſtory, but yet notwithſtanding therein bee things dark and ambiguous, which require a more plain declaration; for what maketh you bold to affirm, that Jeſus, which in this wife was crucified, was the Son of God, and God, as you have called him? Sir (ſaid Origen) ſufficient teſtimony, which of all creatures reaſonable ought to bee believed, and for moſt certain proof, to bee allowed: What teſtimony is that, ſaid the Emperour: Truly, ſaid Origen, it is in divers things. Firſt, the promiſe of God, by whom this world was made; alſo by his holy Scripture, ſpeaking by the mouths of his Prophets, as well Hebrewes as Greeks, and other, whom yee call, Vates and Sybillas: Alſo by the Nativity of Jeſus of a pure Virgin, without carnal company of a man, the moſt pure and clean form of his living. without ſin: his Doctrine divine and celeſtial: his miracles moſt wonderful and innumerable, all grounded on charity only, without oſtentation; his undoubtful and perfect Reſurrection, the third day after hee was put to death; his glorious Aſcention up into heaven, in the preſence and ſight of five hundred perſons, which were vertuous, and of credence; alſo the gift of the Holy Ghoſt, in ſpeaking all manner of languages, and interpreting the Scripture, not only by himſelf, but alſo afterwards by his Apoſtles and Diſciples, and given to other, by impoſition of their hands; and all theſe ordinarily followed, according to the ſaid promiſes and Prophecies.
I omit to ſpeak of the confeſſion of Devils, which by Jeſus, and his Apoſtles, in his Name, were caſt out of people which were poſſeſſed; the Oracles, and anſwers of them, whom yee untruly call gods, do remain in confirming this teſtimony.
And when Origen had ſaid all this, hee forthwith began there, and diſcloſed the anſwers of Apollo, made at Delphos, affirming Jeſus to bee God; and afterward hee recited and declared the Prophecies, as well of the Hebrewes, as of the Sybils, and other. Laſt, the promiſe of God to the Patriarks, by the which it manifeſtly appeared, that Jeſus was Chriſt, and God; and that by his temporal nativity, he was King of Iſrael, and that the Jewes were his natural Subjects; which declaration of Origon was ſo evident and plain, and ſet forth with ſuch wonderful eloquence, devotion, and learning, that it perſwaded the Emperour, and divers others that were preſent, to imbrace the profeſſion of Chriſtian Faith, and Doctrine; and for that time, the Emperour licenſed Origen to return to Alexandria. And when this Emperour on a time, perceived ſome to wonder at the learning of Origen, whereby they were induced to imbrace the Chriſtian Profeſſion: Truly, (quoth hee) the humility and charity of the Chriſtian people, which I have heard of, and do daily behold, doth much more ſtir mee to believe that Chriſt is God, than his arguments. And another time, when two Chriſtians contended proudly together; and accuſed each other for ſpeaking reproachful words againſt the Emperour, hee called them before him, and prohibited them to name themſelves Chriſtians, ſaying, Your pride and malice do declare, that you bee not the followers of him whom yee profeſs; wherefore, though yee finde lack in mee, which I will gladly amend, yet will I not let you, againſt Juſtice, reprove him by your acts, whoſe life and doctrine you all do affirm to be uncorrupted and without lack.
Thus was this Noble Emperour, and his Mother, with divers others, by the learned ſpeech of this man (agreeing with the ſimplicity and ſingleneſs of his life, void of all pride and pomp, and the humility and charity uſed in thoſe daies among Chriſtians) induced to imbrace Chriſtian profeſſion.
It is ſtoried of a certain Doctor, who ſeeing a poor beggar, that had his feet filthy, fowl, and naked, whoſe cloaths were not worth a half penny, and hee ſaluted him on his ſort, God give you good morrow, my friend: The poor man anſwered him; Sir, I do not remember that ever I had an evil morrow: The Doctor ſaid unto him, God give you a good and happy life, wherefore ſay you that, quoth the beggar to him, for I was never unhappy? which the Doctor not underſtanding, ſaid unto him again, God bleſs you my friend, I pray you ſpeak what you mean: Then the poor beggar anſwered him, Good Mr. Doctor, I ſhall do it willingly; You know you bad mee good morrow, whereunto I replied, that I had never any ill morrow; for when I have hunger, I praiſe God, if it freeze, hail, ſnow rain, bee it fair or fowl, I give praiſe to God; though I bee poor, miſerable and deſpiſed on earth, I give thanks unto God, and therefore I never had any evil morrow: You did wiſh unto mee alſo a good and happy life, whereunto I made you anſwer, that I was never unhappy, becauſe I have learned alwayes to reſign my ſelf to the will of God, being certain, that all his works cannot bee but very good, by reaſon whereof, all that happeneth unto mee by his permiſſion, bee it proſperity, adverſity, ſweet or ſower, I receive it, as from his own hand, with great joy and comfort, and therefore I was never unhappy, for I never deſired any thing but the good pleaſure of God; which the poor man having ſaid, the Doctor anſwered, but what would you ſay, if God damn you: If God would damn mee, ſaid the poor man, verily I have two arms to imbrace him, viz. of faith and love, by which I would imbrace him in ſuch ſort, that hee ſhould bee conſtrained to deſcend with mee to hell, and I had rather, without compariſon, bee in hell with God, than without him in Paradiſe. The Doctor learned in this communication, that a true reſignation, accompanied with profound humility of heart, is the ſhorteſt way to attain unto the love of God. After that, hee asked of him from whence he came, unto whom hee made anſwer, that God had ſent him: The Doctor enquired yet of him, where hee had found God? I found him (quoth hee) ſo ſoon as I had renounced all creatures, and my ſelf: And where didſt thou leave him, replied the Doctor: I left him, anſwered the poor man, with the pure and clean of heart, and amongſt men of good will: But who art thou, my friend, quoth the Doctor unto him? The poor man made him anlwer, that hee was a King: and hee asking him, where his Kingdome was: It is (quoth hee) in my ſoul, for I can ſo well rule and govern my ſenſes, as well outward as inward, that all my affections and paſſions do obey grace, which Kingdome is without doubt more excellent than all the Kingdomes of this world. Moreover, the foreſaid Doctor demanded of him, who it was that had brought him into ſo great perfection? It was ſilence, anſwered the poor man, and my high and lofty meditations, and the union which I had with God; I could take no repoſe nor comfort in any creature of the world, by meanes whereof I found out my God, who will comfort mee world without end.
I have ſometimes conſidered the great prudence of Amphilochius, Biſhop of Iconium, and the great ſucceſs that God gave to it; for hee having formerly delivered a Petition to Theodotius, for the calling in of his Edicts, whereby hee gave leave to the arrians publickly to preach, hee took this way to accompliſh that deſign; Theodotius having made Arcadius his Son Caeſar, and co-Emperour with him; as divers of the Roman Emperours did, eſtabliſh their Succeſſors with equal honour and power with themſelves, during their lives; divers Biſhops, and other Miniſters, came to ſhew their reſpects, and to ſalute Theodotius and Arcadius, the new Emperour, with whom Amphilochius came alſo, a man of great piety; but for gifts and other excellencies of ſmall account, all the reſt of the Biſhops having ſhown their ſeveral reſpects to Theodotius and Arcadius, Amphilochius only ſaluted Theodotius, but took no notice of his Son Arcadius, who ſat there in all his Robes of Majeſty, and received equal honour of all others. Theodotius ſuppoſing that hee had forgot himſelf, told him, that his Son was made Emperour with him, and ſo imminded him of his duty. Amphilochius, upon Theodotius his ſpeech, went to Arcadius, and ſtroaking him upon the head, ſaid, it is a very pretty hopeful boy: Theodotius being wonderfully incenſed with this contemptible carriage, in a great deal of rage commanded him to bee carried away to priſon, when hee was gone a little way, he turned back, and ſpake thus to Theodotius: Are you thus incenſed, becauſe I do not give the ſame honour to your Son, whom you have made equal to your ſelf, by your Edicts? And do you think that God will bee will pleaſed with you, that ſuffer the Arrians ſo to diſhonour Chriſt, whom God hath exalted far above all heavens, and given him a name above all names, that at the name of Jeſus every knee ſhall bow, and hath ſet him on his right hand, and will, that all men ſhall honour the Sonne, as they honor the Father: Upon this Theodotius calls back Amphilochius, and receiveth him into favour, calls in his Edicts, that gave liberty to the Arrians. Thus God honours them that honour Chriſt.
A Chriſtian Matron, of excellent parts and piety, languiſhing long under the preſſure of hideous temptations, wofully at length yeelded to diſpair, and oft times attempted the deſtruction of her ſelf, and after often and curious ſeeking occaſion for that bloody fact, at laſt getting upon a rock that hung over into the Sea, putting off her apparrel, ſhee threw her ſelf headlong into the ſame, but receiving no hurt by her fall, ſhee was there miraculouſſy preſerved, for the ſpace of two hours, labouring all that while induſtriouſly to drown her ſelf, after which time, being found, and with much difficulty drawn forth, and recovered, ſhee did yet conflict with that extremeſt deſperate horrour, almoſt a whole year after. But at length, by Gods Providence, liſtening on a time, (though very unwillingly at firſt) to her Husband, reading that Text, Iſaiah 57.15. Thus ſaith the high and lofty one, that inhabiteth Eternity, whoſe name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him alſo that is of a contrite and humble ſpirit, to revive the ſpirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones; by little and little, abundance of ſpiritual comfort flowed into her heart, in which condition ſhee continued many years after, even until her death, which fell out, Anno Chriſti, 1595 Bolton. Mrs. Katherine Brettergh, upon her death-bed, was aſſaulted with moſt grievous temptations, which made her cry out, that a roaring wilderneſs of Wo was within her, that her ſins had made her a prey to Satan, and wiſhed that ſhee had never been born, or that ſhe had been made any other creature rather than a woman, crying, Wo, wo, wo, &c. a weak, a woful, a wretched, a forſaken woman; but at length, by Gods wonderful mercy, ſhee recovered ſuch comfort, that in the raviſhments of ſpirit; ſhee cryed out, O Lord Jeſus, doeſt thou pray for mee? O bleſſed and ſweet Saviour, how wonderful! how wonderful: how wonderful are thy mercies? O! thy love is unſpeakable, that haſt dealt ſo graciouſly with mee. O Lord my God, bleſſed bee thy name for evermore, which haſt ſhewed mee the path of life: Thou didſt, O Lord, hide thy face from mee for a little ſeaſon, but with everlaſting mercy thou haſt compaſſion on mee; and now bleſſed Lord, thy comfortable preſence is come, yea, thou art come to thy hand-maid, with fulneſs of joyes, and abundance of conſolations: O the joyes, the joys, the joys, that I feel in my ſoul: Oh they be wonderful! they bee wonderful! they bee wonderful! O Lord, I feel thy mercy, and I am aſſured of thy love, and ſo certain am I of thy love, as thou art the God of truth, even ſo ſure do I know my ſelf to bee thine, and this my ſoul knoweth right well; O bleſſed bee the Lord! O bleſſed bee the Lord! that hath thus comforted mee: O the joy! the joy, the delight ſome joy that I feel: O! praiſe the Lord for his mercies, and for this joy which my ſoul feeleth full well, praiſe his Name for evermore.
Mr. Peacock, a bleſſed ſervant of God, being in horrour of conſcience, recounting ſome ſmaller ſins, burſt out into theſe words, And for theſe now (ſaith he) I feel an hell in my conſcience; and afterwards groaning moſt pitteouſly, hee cryed out, O mee pitteous wretch! Oh! mine heart is miſerable! Oh! oh miſerable and woful! the burthen of my ſin lyeth ſo heavy upon mee, I doubt it will break my heart: Oh how woful and miſerable is my ſtate, that thus muſt converſe with Hell-hounds! being asked whether hee would pray; hee anſwered, I cannot: Then they ſaid Let us pray for you: Take not (replyed he) the Name of God in vain, by praying for a Reprobate. But after a while, this tempeſt of temptation being over: Truly (ſaid hee) my heart and foul hath been far led, and deeply troubled with temptations, and many inconſiderate ſpeeches have flowed from mee in the ſame, for which I humbly and heartily ask mercy of God: I now finde that the Sea is not more full of water, nor the Sun of light, than the Lord of mercy; yea, his mercies are ten thouſand times more: What great cauſe have I to magnifie the goodneſſe of God, that hath humbled, nay, rather exalted ſuch a wretched miſcreant, and of ſo baſe a condition, to an eſtate ſo glorious and ſtately? the Lord hath honoured mee with his goodneſs, I am ſure he hath provided a glorious Kingdome for mee, the joy that I feel in my heart is incredible. Bolton.
In the Marian Perſecution, there was one Mr. Samuel, a godly Miniſter, convented before Biſhop Bonner, who committed him to Priſon, and there chained him up to a Poſt, in ſuch ſort, that ſtanding on tip-toes, hee was fain to bear up all the weight of his body in that manner, to his intollerable pain; beſides, hee allowed him but three morſels of bread, and three ſpoonfuls of water a day, ſo that hee was extremely tormented with hunger, and thirſt, and had his body ſo miſerably dryed up, that he would fain have drunk his own water, but could not make one drop: But after that hee had continued in this miſerable caſe three dayes, hee fell aſleep, and one clad all in white, ſeemed to ſtand before him, telling him, that from thenceforth hee ſhould neither hunger nor thirſt any more, which alſo came to paſſe, though he was not burnt till many dayes after.
One Mr. Laremouth, alias Williamſon, Chaplain to the Lady Anne of Cleve, a Scotch man, being caſt into priſon for the Truths ſake; as hee was on a time meditating, hee heard a voice (probably of an Angel) ſaying to him, ariſe, and go thy wayes; whereunto, when hee gave no great heed at the firſt, the ſecond time hee heard the voice again: upon this, hee fell to prayer, and about half an hour after, hee heard a voice the third time, ſpeaking the ſame words; whereupon riſing up, immediately part of the priſon wall fell down, and as the Officers came in at the outward gate of the priſon, hee went out at the breach, leaped over the priſon ditch, and eſcaped, and in his way meeting a beggar, hee changed his Coat with him, and coming to the Sea ſhore, hee found a Veſſel ready to go over, into which hee entred, and eſcaped. Acts and Mon.
Mr. White of Dorcheſter, being a member of the Aſſembly of Divines, was appointed Miniſter of Lambeth, but for the preſent, could get no convenient houſe to dwell in, but one that was poſſeſſed by the Devil: This hee took, and not long after, his Maid ſitting up late, the Devil appeared to her, whereupon, in a great fright, ſhee ran up to tell her Maſter, hee bid her go to bed, ſaying, ſhee was well ſerved for ſitting up ſo late; preſently after, the Devil appeared to Mr. White himſelf, ſtanding at his beds feet, to whom Mr. White ſaid, If thou haſt nothing elſe to do, thou mayeſt ſtand there ſtill, and I will betake my ſelf to reſt; and accordingly compoſing himſelf to ſleep, the devil vaniſhed.
Multitudes of the Orthodox Chriſtians in Africk, being baniſhed by the Arian Vandals, as they were driven away by Souldiers, a woman haſted after them, leading in her hand a little childe, incouraging him, and ſaying, Run Sirrah, ſeeeſt not thou all the Saints how merrily they go forwards, and haſten to their Crown? One asked her, Whether ſhee went? Shee anſwered, pray for mee, I go with this little boy, my Nephew, to the place of baniſhment, taking him with me, leſt in my abſence hee ſhould bee ſeduced from the truth, by the ſubtilty of the Adverſaries.
Under the eighth Perſecution, there was one Marinus, a Noble man, and valiant Captain in Caeſaria, who ſtood for an honourable office, that of right fell to him, but his Competitor to prevent him, accuſed him to the Judge, for being a Chriſtian; the Judge examining him of his Faith, and finding it true, gave him three hours time to deliberate with himſelf, whether he would loſe his office and life, or renounce Chriſt, and his profeſſion. Marinus being much perplexed what to reſolve on, a godly Biſhop took him by the hand, led him into the Church, laid before him a Sword, and a New Teſtament, bidding him freely take his choice, which of them he would have; whereupon, Marinus ran to the New Teſtament, and choſe that, and ſo being incouraged by the Biſhop, hee went boldly to the Judge, by whoſe ſentence he was beheaded. Acts and Mon.
There was a certain Athieſt, that denied providence, & it raining very faſt, as he was journeying, he took ſhelter under a Smiths Shade, and there fell a declaiming againſt providence, ſaying, they had rain enough, and too much before, and where was providence to ſend more, when there was too much already; the Smith ſeemed to take no notice of what he ſaid, but a while after, brought him one of his tools, and askt him whether he knew to what uſe that was put, hee lookt on it, and ſaid, he could not tell; he deſired him to conſider a little more, he did ſo, and anſwered, that he could not imagine to what uſe he put that to; the Smith ſhewed him two or three more, and though hee ſtudied much, yet he could not tell him for what uſe they were: The Smith then ſaid to him, you great Dunce, cannot you tell for what uſe theſe tools ſerve, and dare you judge of the works of Gods providence.
There is a famous ſtory of providence in Bradwardine to this purpoſe; A certain Hermit, that was much tempted, and was utterly unſatisfied, concerning the providence of God, and reſolved to journey from place to place, till hee met with ſome that could ſatisfie him; an Angel, in the ſhape of a man, joyned-himſelf with him, as hee was journeying, telling him, that hee was ſent from God to ſatisfie him in his doubts of providence: The firſt night they lodged at the houſe of a very holy man, and they ſpent their time in diſcourſes of heaven, and praiſes of God, and were entertained with a great deal of freedome and joy: In the morning, when they departed, the Angel took with him a great cup of gold: The next night, they came to the houſe of another holy man, who made them very welcome, and exceedingly rejoyced in their ſociety and diſcourſe, the Angel notwithſtanding, at his departure, kill'd an Infant in the Cradle, which was his only ſon, being many years before childleſs, and therefore was a very fond father of this childe: The third night they came to another houſe, where they had like free entertainment, as before; the Maſter of the Family had a Steward, whom hee highly prized, and told them how happy he accounted himſelf in having ſuch a faithful ſervant; next morning, he ſent this his Steward with them part of their way, to direct them therein; as they were going over the Bridge, the Angel flung the Steward into the River, and drowned him: The laſt night they came to a very wicked mans houſe, where they had very untoward entertainment, yet the Angel, next morning, gave him the cup of gold. All this being done, the Angel asked the Hermit, whether he underſtood thoſe things? he anſwered, his doubts of providence were encreaſed, not reſolved, for he could not underſtand why he ſhould deal ſo hardly with thoſe holy men, who received them with ſo much love and joy, and yet give ſuch a gift to that wicked man, who uſed them ſo unworthily; the Angel ſaid, I will now expound theſe things unto you: The firſt houſe where we came, the Maſter of it was a holy man, yet drinking in that cup every morning, it being too large, it did ſomewhat unfit him for holy duties, though not ſo much, that others, or himſelf, did perceive it, ſo I took it away, ſince it is better for him to looſe the cup of gold, than his temperance. The Maſter of the Family, where we lay the ſecond night, was a man given much to prayer and meditation, and ſpent much time in holy duties, and very liberal to the poor, all the while he was childleſs, but as ſoon as hee had a Son, he grew ſo fond of it, ſpent ſo much time in playing with it, that he exceedingly neglected his former holy exerciſe, and gave but little to the poor, thinking he could never lay up enough for his childe, therefore I have taken the infant to heaven, and left him to ſerve God better upon earth: the Steward, whom I did drown, had plotted to kill his Maſter the night following; and as for that wicked man, to whom I gave the cup of gold, he was to have nothing in the other world, I gave him ſomething in this, which notwithſtanding will prove a ſnare to him, for he will be more intemperate, and let him that is filthy, be more filthy. The truth of this ſtory I affirm not, but the moral is very good; for it ſhewes, that God is an indulgent Father to the Saints, when he moſt afflicts them; and that when he ſets the wicked on high, hee ſets them alſo in ſlippery places, and their proſperity is their ruine, Pro. 1.32.
Acertain godly woman, riding behinde her Husband, who was a perſecutor of Mr. Bolton, one need not add, that he was a wicked man, as they were riding, it thundered and lightened extraordinarily, which was ſo terrible, that he trembled exceedingly; his Wife, with a cheerful voice, ſaid, Husband, what ail you? why do you tremble thus? Hee anſwered, Do you ask mee why I tremble? Do you not hear how horribly it thunders? Shee anſwered, yes, I hear it: And do not you tremble alſo? ſaith hee: Shee anſwered, no: Not tremble, ſaid hee: Shee again anſwered, no, and ſaid, ſhee was not at all afraid: Not afraid! ſaid hee, Why how comes that to paſs, that ſuch dreadful claps of thunder make you not afraid? I will tell you why, ſaid ſhee, with a very cheerful voice, becauſe it is the voice of my Father: Hee was amazed at her cheerfulneſs and anſwer, and began to think with himſelf, ſurely theſe Puritanes have ſomething within them, that they are able to bear up in ſuch ſtorms, and that they have peace, and are cheerful, while I tremble; and being not far off, immediately he did ride to Mr. Bolton, beſeeching pardon, that he had perſecuted him, and deſired that he would tell him, what he ſhould do to be ſaved.
A Doctor of Divinity, of ſingular learning and piety, (I forbear names, ſince the Parties, whom this ſtory concernes, are, as I ſuppoſe, all yet living) his maid being to go to Market, came to him for money, but all the money he and his Wife could make, was but five ſhillings, to get proviſion for the following week, though hee had many hundreds a year for merly; his Wife being much troubled that they were brought to ſuch ſtraits, and that they were like to bee greater, fell a weeping, and told her Huſband, that there was little likelihood they could live together, and that therefore ſhe would take one or two of her children with her, and live amongſt her own friends, if hee could provide for himſelf, and the reſt of his children: Nay, dear Wife, ſaid hee, wee have lived thus long together, let not us now part, let us relye on Gods providence; She in her grief and haſte, anſwered, Well, ſend Providence to Market, and ſee what it will bring home: It was ſo that day, a Noble man, who knew this Doctor very well, dining with divers Gentlemen at an Inne, who were to go a Hawking that afternoon, looking out of the Window, ſaw his Maid, who being an ancient ſervant, he knew, and ſent for her up, asking her, how her Maſter did: She anſwered, very well, and fell a weeping: He enquiring the cauſe, ſhe told him what ſtraits they were brought to, hee wondering, and being troubled at it, called the Inne-keeper, and wiſhed him to give that Maid ten pound, and every one of the Gentlemen gave twenty ſhillings a piece; ſo the Doctor ſending Providence to Market, it brought him home fifteen pound; doubtleſs it is, becauſe we do not truſt, not becauſe God either cannot, or will not give, that makes us ſo often want mercies, and ſuch providences would be uſual, if our confidence in God were ſo.
A Widdow Gentlewoman that I knew, being unable to follow Suits of Law, loſt a conſiderable Eſtate, and was fain to work for her living, ſhe married a Daughter to a Miniſter that had a great living, but he that was ſequeſtred dying, another was preſented, and this Miniſter was turned out, and for a pretended debt caſt into priſon, his Wife being great with-childe, and ready to lye down: Hereupon the Mother went to the houſe, to fetch away her Son-in-laws goods, where ſhe found another of her Daughters neer death, ſhe not knowing before of her ſickneſs: The workmen that were mending the houſe for him that was to come to it, would needs uncover the Chamber where this ſick Maid lay; the Mother deſired them, but to forbear till her Daughter died, or recovered, but they would not; and when ſhe went to carry away the goods, there ſtood two ready to ſeize upon them, one for Taxes, and the other for debt. In this ſad condition ſhe came home, I being preſent, yet neither by her pronunciation, nor by any expreſſions, could any one diſcern her to be moved with theſe afflictions, making only a Narrative of them, without complaining or blaming any; yea, when her Daughter wept and wailed greatly, ſhe ſaid to her, Is not Chriſt yours? Why are you ſo troubled? What would you have more?
There was a certain Chriſtian woman, who being very ſick, ſent for me, amongſt other things, to order and diſpoſe of things concerning her outward Eſtate; I knowing that ſhe was a woman of many and great experiences of Gods goodneſs, entreated her to impart ſome of them to me, which ſhe did, and was ſo very much affected therewith her ſelf, that the joy of the Lord proved her ſtrength, and ſo raiſed up her ſpirits, that ſhe recovered of her diſeaſe, and was well from that very hour, though it was ſome time before ſhe recovered her ſtrength.
A godly woman told mee, that ſhee much frequenting Sermons, and deſiring to walk in the wayes of God, afterwards fell into great deſertions, but being in ſecret prayer, God came in with abundance of light and comfort, ſealing unto her ſoul that part of his Covenant, viz. I will take away the heart of ſtone, out of thy fleſh, and give thee an heart of fleſh; and withall did aſſure her, that ſhee ſhould never want, which ſeemed the more ſtrange unto her, becauſe ſhee had a very plentiful Eſtate at that time; but within a monethmonth after theſe comforts, ſhee being to receive the Lords Supper, all her former fears and troubles returned upon her, inſomuch as a little before the bread was adminiſtred to her, though ſhe could not ſay, that the devil appeared to her in a bodily ſhape, yet he ſeemed to her as if he did, and told her, that ſhe ſhould not eat; but then the Lord was pleaſed to bring into her minde that paſſage in the Canticles, (Eat, O my friends) notwithſtanding Satan ſtill continued terrifying of her, and when ſhe had eaten, told her, ſhe ſhould not drink; but the Lord brought that ſecond clauſe of the verſe into her minde, (drink, yea, drink abundantly, my beloved) and ſo ſhe drank alſo, and preſently was filled with ſuch unſpeakable joyes, that ſhe knew not how ſhe gat home, which ſoul-raviſhing joyes continued for a fortnight after, and fill'd her mouth with ſongs of praiſe, ſo that ſhee could neither ſleep, nor eat, more than ſhe forced her ſelf to do out of conſcience of duty. At the fortnights end, when God was pleaſed to abate her meaſure of joy, ſhe came to a ſetled peace of conſcience, and aſſurance of the love of God, ſo that for twenty years after, ſhe had not ſo much as a Cloud upon her ſpirit, or the leaſt queſtioning of her intereſt in Chriſt, but hath lived cheerfully and contentedly, without the leaſt murmuring againſt any of Gods diſpenſations, though ſhe hath had many and great afflictions, but her carriage hath been eminently Chriſtianlike, full of patience, yea, rejoycing in the Lord, in the midſt of all her ſufferings.
One having in diſpute ſaid, that if Gods children could not fall away, then that ſuppoſition, Heb. 6.6. (if they ſhall fall away, &c.) is non-ſenſe: But ſome years after, being convinced of the perſeverance of the Saints, it came to his remembrance what words he had ſpoken concerning that place of Scripture, and he preſently apprehended that he had charged the ſpirit of God with non-ſenſe, and by conſequence, that he had blaſphemed the Holy Ghoſt, and the temptation came with ſo much violence, that he could not withſtand it, which filled his conſcience with terrours, and he received the ſentence of condemnation within himſelf, believing that his ſin was unpardonable; and ſo being in much terrour Satan followed him with temptations, perſwading him, that it was in vain for him to pray, or to ſerve God any more, ſeeing he muſt certainly go to hell; yet did he preſently go to prayer, begging of God, that though he muſt go to hell when he died, yet that he would be pleaſed to let him ſerve him, whilſt he lived, upon which his former terrours immediately vaniſhed, being clearly convinced, that none could pray that prayer that had committed the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt.
There was a woman, who was thirteen years under deſertion, which was ſo vehement, that for moſt of the time ſhe was fain to keep her bed, through weakneſs; Mr. Ludlam, a godly Miniſter, in Leiceſterſhire, went to comfort her, and pray with her; but when he came, and proffered to do it, ſhe ſhrieked out, utterly refuſing, and forbidding him to pray with her; for, ſaid ſhe, I have too many mercies abuſed to anſwer for already, yet would not he be put off, but prayed by her, and ſo prevailed with God on her behalf, that the next morning ſhe was delivered from all her fears, and had ſuch exceeding joy, that the like hath ſcarce been heard of.
This Mr. Ludiam himſelf, on his deathbed, the night before he died, had a great conflict with Satan, but though heavineſs endured for a night, yet joy came in the morning; whereupon he ſpake to this purpoſe, This night hath been as the ſhadow of death to me, but now I can ſay, and am aſſured, that God is mine, and I am his and ſo he died.
The ſame woman, that having been under great deſertions, on a time, being at a Sermon, wherein the Miniſter wholly preached of promiſes and mercies, ſhe was never more terrified at any Sermon in her life, becauſe ſhe ſaw ſuch ſweet mercies, ſuch precious promiſes, and ſuch unſpeakable joyes, and yet ſhe had no ſhare in them: She told him alſo to the glory of God, that during the time of her deſertion, ſhe had ſometimes prayed with that earneſtneſs, that the very blood hath guſhed out of her noſe, and that when ſhe hath been walking in the ſtreets, in the midſt of all her horrours, expecting every ſtep that the earth ſhould open, and that ſhe ſhould ſink down to hell, yet that even then, if ſhe heard but an oath ſworn, ſhe was ready to fall down as dead, ſo exceedingly was ſhe troubled, that God ſhould be ſo diſhonoured.
A precious holy man told me of a woman that was ſix years in deſertion, and by Gods providence hearing Mr. Rollock preach, ſhe of a ſuddain fell down, overwhelmed with joy, crying out, O, hee is come, whom my ſoul loveth! and ſo was carried home for dead, and for divers dayes after ſhe was filled with exceeding joyes, and had ſuch pious and ſingularly raviſhing expreſſions, ſo fluently coming from her, that many came to hear the rare manifeſtations of Gods grace in her; and amongſt the reſt that went to hear, there was one that could write Short-hand, who yet a great while ſtood ſo amazed at her expreſſions, that he could not write; at laſt, recovering himſelf, he wrote a whole ſheet of paper, which this Miniſter read, and told me, that of all the expreſſions that ever he read in the book of Martyrs, or elſewhere, he never read any ſo high, as the loweſt of them.
Recalling to minde an eminent and evident hand of God, ſhewed unto us in a wonder of mercy, in the late wars, wee being at the Town, called Saltaſh, in Cornwal, where we were three hundred and odd ſouldiers of the Parliament, taken in that Town, being taken by Sir Richard Greanvile, Gen. to the King of the Weſtern parts; ſome had quarter given, others were cruelly butchered; yet the next day, this onſlat being made about midnight, and contrary to the Law of Armes, we were appointed by the ſaid Gen. Greanvile, all to be executed on Gallows's appointed for that intended execution, to which place we were brought, and by ſeven at a time, they intend our execution; then having hanged up ſeven in a ſhort ſpace of time, one of thoſe ſeven drop'd down, the rope breaking, & not being ſo much as ſtaggered, but ſtood on his feet; and this the Regiments of Horſe and Foot, as alſo all the multitude of people ſaw: and ſome of the people cryed out hang him no more; yet the Colonel of Horſe, who was commanded to ſee the execution performed, ſtrictly commanded the Executioner to be ſure to take him, and hang him again, or he ſhould be hanged for him, and cauſed him to take two ropes, and twiſt them together, which done, he was taken by the Executioner, and hanged therewith, who after a little ſpace dropped down again, both the Ropes breaking, and was then ſenſible, but had more wrong by the Ropes, yet was lively, ſenſible, as all beholders ſtood amazed at, inſomuch, that the Colonel rode to the Gen. and acquain'ed him therewith, as alſo of the cryes, both of people and Souldiers, hang him no more for Gods ſake: All this time the other ſix were hanging, the Colonel came, and gave command to hang on others, and let him alone, which accordingly was done, another was taken up, and he had not long hanged, but alſo the Rope broke, and he drop'd down; and then the Souldiers, and all with one conſent, cryed, hang no more for Gods ſake, and no more were hanged; and then they went and ſhot an Enſign of Colonel Vowſe his Regiment (whoſe name was Keckwich) to death, a Corniſh man, as if they were perſwaded they could hang no more.
He that was, as you heard, twice hanged, was a precious Chriſtian, he lived in Taunton Dean, his name was Nicholas Weeks, who died in Lidner priſon afterwards; the other, we know not his name, but he was a Devonſhire man, and of a ſmal ſtature.
Eye-witneſſes were of this, very many; but to this, have theſe teſtified it for a certain truth.
Kettilby Woodhouſe.
Will. Anſtees, Lievt.
Will. Horſham.
This wonderful, and almoſt miraculous deliverance that God beſtowed, becauſe it ſeems almoſt incredible, I have annexed the names of thoſe that teſtifie it, with one of whom I am very well acquainted, and know him to be one of ſo much veracity, that I durſt believe it upon his ſingle report, though I ſhould not be willing to propoſe it to others, without more witneſſes.
Jaddus, the High Prieſt, underſtanding that Alexander was highly incenſed againſt Jeruſalem, and intended ſpeedily to come againſt it, he deſired the Jewes to keep a Faſt, as alſo he himſelf did, and offered Sacrifice, begging of God to direct him what ſhould be done in this matter; and the next night, in his ſleep, God appeared unto him, and wiſhed him to open the gates of Jeruſalem, and in all his Prieſtly Robes to meet Alexander, the reſt of the Prieſts being cloathed all in white, which he doing, Alexander, as ſoon as he ſaw him, fell proſtrate before him, his Army wondering at his carriage: Parmenio asked him what he meant to worſhip the High-Prieſt, when all others worſhipped him: He anſwered, he did not worſhip the High-Prieſt, but that God, whom the High-Prieſt ſerved: For, ſaith Alexander, when I was in Dio, conſidering what to do in my wats, God appeared unto me in this very artire, and wiſhed me to go on, and hee would proſper me, and I never ſince ſaw any in that attire before now; and therefore it is that I do ſhew that reſpect to the High Prieſt, and then giving the High-Prieſt his hand, was conducted by him into the Temple, and offered Sacrifice according to his directions, who alſo did ſhew him the Propheſie of Daniel, wherein he told him it was propheſied, that one of the Grecians ſhould deſtroy the Perſians, and hee ſuppoſed that hee was the perſon meant by the Prophecy, of which Alexander was very joyful, and beſtowed great favours, both on the High-Prieſts, and the reſt of the Jewes.
Now becauſe of all the ſtories of the Martyrs, either in the time of the Primitive Church, or ſince, by the far greater cruelty of the Popiſh perſecution: I do not know that ever I read any ſtory equal to this, which is recorded by Joſephus, of the Martyrdome of the ſeven ſons of one Mother; I thought good to inſert this ſtory, which, though as for the ſubſtance of it, it is in the book of Macchabees, yet being exceeding more large in Joſephus, I have tranſcribed it out of him; and the rather do I ſet down this ſtory, becauſe generally Expoſitors do think, that the Apoſtle (in Hebrewes 11.35.) hath relation to the ſufferings of theſe worthy Martyrs, and it was thus: Antiochus, whom the Prophet Daniel calls a vile perſon, Dan. 11.21. after he had Martyr'd Eleazer, a man of great age, reverence, piety, and conſtancy, cauſed ſeven brethren, who were brought up, and inſtructed by that bleſſed fore-named Martyr, Eleazer, to be brought forth to Martyrdome, the Tyrant beholding them, and their Mother amongſt them, with merry and gladſome countenance, hee thus ſpake unto the children, I wiſh your good, O admirable young men, for ſo both your beauty of body, and Noble parentage, perſwade mee, do not therefore like mad men reſiſt my command, avoid not only torments, but death alſo; for I deſire not only to exalt you unto honour, but alſo to encreaſe your riches and poſſeſſions, contemn the ſuperſtitious and ſuperfluous belief of your Countrymen, and imbrace our Religion, which if you refuſe to do, (as I hope you will not) I will deviſe all torments, whereby I may by a lingring and painful death, conſume you; and to the end hee might terrifie them the more, hee commanded all inſtruments of torments to bee preſented to their view; ſo wheels, rods, hooks, rakes, racks, cauldrons, cages, gridirons, were brought forth, and engines to torment the fingers and hands, gauntlets, bellowes, brazen pots, and frying pans. Then Antiochus ſaid, Conſent unto mee, O prudent young men, for if that I command you to commit a ſin, yet do not you offend in doing it, ſeeing you commit it only upon compulſion: But the young youths, guided by a Divine Spirit, contemned ſo many kindes of torments, and deſpiſed the Tyrants threats and flatteries, and with one conſent, denied to eat of the Sacrificed Swines fleſh, as they were commanded; wherefore, ſaid they, doeſt thou perſecute us that are innocent, wee both deſire, and wiſh to die, and will, until ſuch time as death expelleth life, firmly keep that which God commanded, and Moſes taught us; and do not thou ſeek to ſeduce us, by proteſting feigned love towards us, the pardon which thou doſt offer, is to us more dangerous than puniſhment, we are arm'd with contempt of death, and eſteem not thy words, as being by our late Maſter Eleazer, taught to deſpiſe them: Why then doſt thou think ſuch puſillanimity to bee in us young men, ſeeing of late thou foundeſt ſuch courage in an old man; we follow him, thou canſt not try and know our mindes, except by tearing our bodies, thou ſearch them out; Wee will ſafely and ſecurely ſuffer for our God any thing, and leaving this earth, we ſhall bee entertained into heaven, and thou for ſo tyrannizing moſt cruelly upon innocent ſouls, ſhalt bee reſerved unto hell fire.
Antiochus being greatly moved, to ſee, that hee could neither prevail by fair promiſes, nor threatnings, hee cauſed them to bee beaten with Bulls Piſles; and firſt, hee commanded the eldeſt of the ſeven brethren to be ſtript, and ſtretched out upon a rack, and his hands to bee bound behinde him, and then to bee moſt cruelly beaten, who wearied his tormentors by his ſufferings, ſo that they more deſired to leave beating him, than hee deſired they ſhould leave: This done, hee was put upon a wheel, and a weight hang'd upon his feet, and ſo ſtretched round about it, that his ſinews and intrals brake, and ſo his pains encreaſed; yet for all the pain, his mouth was not hindred from calling upon God, who beheld all; and reproving the Tyrant that deviſed thoſe torments for the innocent, hee cryed out after this manner, O thou that perſecuteſt the Majeſty of God, I whom thou thus tormenteſt, am no Conjurer, nor Murderer, but one that dies for the truth, and obſerving of the Lawes of God: Then the Tormentors wiſhing him to yeeld, Your wheels, ſaid hee, are not ſo ſharp and cruel, that I thereby will bee forced to forſake heaven, whereon my minde is fixed; tear my fleſh, yea, if it ſo pleaſe you, roaſt it at the fire, torture each part of my body with ſeveral cruelties, you ſhall for all this finde your ſelves unable to force us young men to ſin. As hee thus ſpake, a fire was kindled, and hee, as hee was upon the wheel racked, was ſo thrown into the fire. And thus hee was ſo burned, that his bowels appeared, he (being nothing moved, though his fleſh was) out of the midſt of the fire, cryed thus to his brethren; O beloved brethren, learn by mee an example of conſtancy, contemn and deſpiſe the alluring baits of this world, and rather obey God than Antiochus, who can, if hee pleaſe, humble the proud and mighty, and exalt the lowly and dejected. As thus he ſpake, hee was taken out of the flame, and flean alive, his tongue was pull'd out of his mouth, and hee put into a Frying-pan, and ſo hee ended his dayes. After him, the ſecond Brother being haled by the Souldiers, Antiochus, before hee asked him whether hee would relent, cauſed all thoſe inſtruments of torments to bee ſhown him alſo, thereby to terrifie him; but hee nothing thereat moved, and denying to eat of their foreſaid Sacrifice, his hands were bound with iron chains, and hee being hang'd up by them, the Skin of his body was flean from the Crown of his head unto his knees, ſo that the intrals in his breſt appeared naked, yet in ſuch manner, as he might abide great torments, for hee was caſt before a cruel Libbard, thirſting moſt extremely after blood, to the intent that he might devoure with his teeth the reſt of his body, but the beaſt ſmelling of him, forgat his cruelty, and turning away his face, hee did no hurt to the Martyr; but hereat the Tyrantsrage encreaſed, and the Martyr by ſuffering ſuch torments, was made more conſtant, crying aloud, O how pleaſant is that death unto me, which is cauſed by all ſorts of torments for Gods ſake; yea, ſo much the more pleaſant, for that I aſſuredly hope to finde reward for it in heaven; Let theſe torments inflicted upon mee (O Tyrant) ſatisfie thy cruelty, for my pain is not by thy tortures encreaſed, but rather my pleaſure, as thou ſhalt finde by my patience in this agony; more willing am I to ſuffer, than thou to puniſh, yea my pain in ſuffering, is leſs than thine by inflicting the ſame upon me; I am tormented for the truth and obſerving the Law, and the Juſtice of God ſhall baniſh thee from thy Regal Seat, thou by tormenting art tormented, and almoſt conſumed, thy wrath and fury being almoſt ſpent upon mee in vain, thou ſhalt not eſcape the Day of Judgement, eternal pains are there prepared for thee, which neither thy profane minde is able to endure, nor thy cruelty of power to decline, thy ſinful ſoul being condemned to eternal puniſhments.
Thus hee remaining conſtantly in his Faith, and animated by his Brothers example, departed unto heaven.
Then the third Son was brought, whom all pittied for the death of his two Brethren, and many exhorted him, by his Brothers examples, to deſiſt from his opinion, and ſo avoid puniſhment, but hee being hereat angry, thus replyed: One Father begot us, one Mother did bear us, one Maſter inſtructed us, wee are all of one mind, and all alike affected, do therefore no longer prolong the time in vain; I came hither for to ſuffer, and not to ſpeak, uſe all your tyranny poſſible againſt this body, for you have no power at all over my ſoul. The Tyrant hereat moved to ſee this third nothing relent by his brothers deaths; he deviſed more cruelty, than humane wit alone could invent; wherefore hee commanded a Globe to bee brought, and tied the holy Martyr about it in ſuch ſort, that all his bones were ſet out of joynt, and diſplaced, whereat the holy Martyr was nothing diſmaide; the skin alſo of his head and face was pulled off, and then hee was put upon the wheel, but hee could not bee racked any worſe, for that all his bones were diſplaced, and did hang one ſeparated from another in moſt pitiful manner, And when blood iſſued from him abundantly, hee was deprived of the uſe of his hands and feet, but perceiving his life to bee ſpent, hee ſpake thus, and died: Wee (O Tyrant) endure this torment for the love of God, and thou the Author of ſuch unjuſt cruelty ſhalt ſuffer everlaſting pain; then his tongue being cut out of his mouth, hee was put into a Frying-pan, and ſo amidſt thoſe torments yeelded up the Ghoſt: Next after followed the fourth Brother, whom all the people perſwaded and entreated to obey the King, but hee contemning their exhortations, ſaid thus with all conſtancy, Your fire ſhall not ſeparate mee from the Law of God, nor from my Brethren, who inſtead of this mortal life, enjoy life everlaſting: I denounce unto thee, O Tyrant, deſtruction and overthrow, but to ſuch as believe, ſalvation. Make tryal of mee therefore, and ſee if God will forſake me, who hath with open and ſtretched out armes, received my three brethren that are gone before mee, and whom the Womb of ſo holy a Mother at ſeveral times brought forth unto glory. The cruel Tyrant hearing this, was much moved, and leapt down from his Chair to torment this Martyr himſelf, that ſo hee might overcome him, and in his fury commanded his tongue to bee cut out, but hee hereat not terrified, ſaid unto Antiochus, This cruelty will nothing avail thee, neither ſhalt thou hereby, as thou ſuppoſeſt, conquer mee; our God needs not by voice to bee awakened, but rather by ſecret cogitation to bee prayed unto, to help his ſervants; and our God knoweth all things before wee ask; and before wee our ſelves enter into cogitation thereof, hee underſtandeth our neceſſity; cut out my tongue, thou canſt not cut out my minde, while my life remaineth: Thoſe prayers which by it I have uttered to Almighty God, have taught it to ſuffer: Would God thou wouldſt ſo ſanctifie all parts of my body by puniſhing them, for thou therein inflicteſt puniſhment upon thy ſelf, and reward upon mee, and think not that thou ſhalt thus eſcape long unpuniſhed: When hee had thus ſpoken, his tongue was cut out of his mouth, and hee bound to a ſtake, and there hee was beaten with ropes ends, and hee did patiently endure this, notwithſtanding the colour of his face became dead and wan, being looſed from thence, hee was put upon the wheel, and then praying for the Church of God, hee by death went unto the reſt of his Brethren. Then the fifth Brother, before hee was haled to torments, ſpake in this manner; Behold I come to bee puniſhed before thou command mee, hope not therefore any jot to alter his minde, who, as thou ſeeſt, deſireth to bee tormented; the blood of my four innocent brethren, which thou haſt ſhed, hath condemned thee to hell fire. I am to make them up the number of five, that by it thy pains may bee encreaſed: Tell mee for what offence by us committed, doſt thou thus puniſh us? For what impiety doſt thou ſo perſecute us? What villainy have wee committed? What wickedneſs, what naughtineſs have wee attempted? This is all thou canſt alledge againſt us, that wee honour God our Creatour, and live juſtly, in obedience of his Lawes, and therefore do not eſteem thy puniſhments, but they are to us honour and ſalvation, and not puniſhment, we ſhall bee greatly rewarded by God, if no part of us bee left free from torment.
Whilſt thus hee ſpake, his Executioners, by the Kings command, took him, and caſt him into a brazen pot, and was preſt down in it, his head to his feet, and afterwards hee ſuffered all other torments, which his Brethren had endured, yet not amazed hereat, hee ſuddenly ſtarted up, and thus hee ſaid, Cruel Tyrant, how great benefits doeſt thou againſt thy will beſtow upon us; yea, the more thou art incenſed againſt us, the more acceptable to God ſhalt thou make us; yea, I ſhould bee ſorry, if thou ſhouldſt ſhew mercy upon mee, this ſhort affliction gaineth us life everlaſting; if this temporal death ſhould not betide mee, everlaſting life could not befal mee: and thus hee finiſhed his agony, and died. Then the Tormentors laid hands upon the ſixth Brother, who was permitted, either to chuſe honour, or elſe puniſhment, but hee aggrieved at his offer, ſaid, although I be younger in my years than my Martyr'd Brethren, yet my conſtancy of minde to theirs is not inferiour, for wee were all nouriſh'd up together, all together inſtructed, and wee will all die together in the fear of God; haſten therefore to thy deviſed torments, and that time which thou wouldſt ſpend in exhorting mee, ſpend it in deviſing tortures for mee. Antiochus hereat confounded, commanded him to bee bound to a Pillar, with his head hanging down, and this done, hee cauſed a fire to bee made ſo far off him, that it could not burn him, but roſt him: Hee alſo commanded, as hee hung, to bee prickt with Awles, that ſo the heat might pierce into the holes that they made in his fleſh. Whilſt thus hee was tormented, much blood like froth gathered about his head, and face, and hee then ſpake in this manner, O noble fight! O valiant war! O ſtrife beyond piety and impiety! theſe men have paſt their agonies, whoſe Crown of Martyrdome is the puniſhment of their perſecutors: I do moſt willingly follow my Brethren, that as by blood I am conjoyn'd unto them, ſo by death I may not bee ſeparated from them; deviſe ſome new torment, for thoſe which thou haſt already deviſed, are already overcome; our God giveth us more courage to ſuffer, than thou haſt to puniſh, and ſo the Precept of God remaineth firm in us: And as hee thus ſpake, one took hold of his tongue with a hot pair of Tongs, and ſuffering the ſame torments that his Brethren had done, and fryed in a Frying-Pan, hee gave up the Ghoſt.
Six of the Brethren being now dead, by diverſity of torments, onelyonly one of the ſeven remained alive with his Mother, younger in years (but not in conſtancy of minde) than the reſt of his Brethren; hee preſenting himſelf before the Tyrant, moved him to compaſſion, both for that he was left alone, and the laſt of his Brethren, and alſo that hee was to periſh, wherefore hee called the childe unto him, and into a place where no inſtruments of torments were, and taking him by the hand, hee ſaid thus unto him, hoping to win him by fair ſpeeches; By thy Brethrens calamity, thou now well haſt learned what is prepared for thee, if thou diſobey mee, deliver thy ſelf therefore from theſe torments, and I will give thee what honour my Kingdome can afford, thou ſhalt bee a Magiſtrate, and General of my Army, and one of my Counſellors; but perceiving himſelf not to prevail, hee cauſed the young mans Mother to be called unto him, who coming, and ſtanding neer her Son, the Tyrant ſaid thus unto her, Where are now, O worthy woman, all thy Children? Behold, of ſuch a number, if thou pleaſe, thou mayeſt have one left, adviſe therefore thy childe, and mollifie his obſtinate minde by wholeſome counſel.
The Mother having heard what the King ſaid, ſhee bowed her ſelf unto the King, which done, that the King might not underſtand her, ſhee ſpake in Hebrew to her childe, as followeth.
Pitty thy Mother, O Son, and comfort thy ſorrowful Mother, who bare thee nine moneths in my womb, and gave thee ſuck three years, and with great induſtry have brought thee up to this age; I pray thee, dear Son, conſider the heaven and earth, and all that in them is, and know that God created them all of nothing, who alſo of nothing made mankinde, fear not this Ethnicks pains and torments, but imitate thy Brethren, and contemn death, that in the day of mercy I may receive thee, and thy Brethren again in heaven.
As his Mother thus admoniſhed him, hee in the Hebrew Tongue requeſted to be unbound, for that hee had a ſecret to diſcloſe unto the King, who being unfettered, hee preſently ran to the torments prepared, for there was a Frying-pan red hot, that was prepared for ſuch as were to ſuffer, unto the which the childe coming, remembering his Brethren, and beholding alſo the King, hee ſaid unto him, Who gave thee this Purple? And who exalted thee to this Kingdome and Dignity? even hee whom thou in us doſt perſecute, whoſe ſervants and worſhippers thou killeſt, and tormenteſt, for which thy wickedneſſe, thou ſhalt ſuffer eternal fire, and torments, which ſhall have no end; thou art of higher dignity and authority in this world, than other men, yet hee that made other men made thee alſo of the ſame nature, that they are of, all men are born; and muſt die alike; hee that killeth another, ſheweth that himſelf may bee killed; thou teareſt and tormenteſt thy own picture and image all in vain, thou in thy fury killedſt him, whom not long ſince God created like thy ſelf, and according to the ſame Law, thou thinkeſt all lawful which thy Kingly power can command, thou pulleſt out our tongues, and teareſt our bodies with fleſh-hooks, and conſumeſt us with fire; but they who have already ſuffered this, have received everlaſting joy for their reward, and thou ſhalt anſwer for all the puniſhments inflicted upon them; think not that I expect any favour at thy hands, I will follow my Brethren, and remain conſtant in our Law.
The Tyrant hearing this, was wroth, and cauſed him to bee tormented, but his Mother in torment comforted him, and with her kinde hands held his head, when with violence of the tortures, blood iſſued out of his mouth, noſe, and privy parts, the Tormentors not ceaſing till life in him was almoſt ſpent, but they (by Gods appointment) gave over, and ſo hee took ſtrength again, to endure more than any of his Brethren had done; at laſt, his hands and armes being cut off, hee lifted up his eyes to heaven, and cryed, O Addonas, O Sabaor, bee merciful unto mee, and receive mee into the company of my Brethren; let thy wrath now ceaſe, and ſhew mercy to thy Jeruſalem, for thy Names ſake. Having ſaid thus, his tongue being pull'd out, hee of his own accord went into the fiery Frying-pan, and ſo to the great admiration of Antiochus died.
Mr. Deering, an eminent Miniſter in Queen Elizabeths dayes, being at a great Feaſt, had a young gallant that ſate over againſt him, who amongſt other vain diſcourſes, brake forth into ſwearing, whereupon Mr. Deering gravely and ſharply reproved him; the Gallant, being impatient of reproof, flung a glaſs of Beer in his face; Mr. Deering took no notice of the abuſe, but wiped his face, and fell to his meat, as before: The young Gallant fell to his old diſcourſe, and ſwore again, and Mr. Deering reproved him, as afore, upon which, with more violence and rage, hee flung another glaſs of Beer into his face, but hee again ſhewed his zeal for Gods glory to bee right, by his meek and ſilent bearing of this injury alſo, at which the young gallant being aſtoniſhed, roſe up from the Table, and fell down on his knees, and asked him forgiveneſs, profeſſing, that if any one had offered him thoſe affronts, hee would have ſtab'd him to the heart.
A certain Knight, not many years ſince, was playing at Tables, his Chaplain ſtanding by, the Knight being angry, ſwore; whereupon his Chaplain reproved him, and hee ſwearing again, he reproved him again; whereupon the Knight in much anger turning to him, ſaid, Who art thou, that thou dareſt thus reprove mee? To whom the Chaplain anſwered; nay, but who art thou, that thou dareſt thus blaſpheme thy Maker? The Knight being convinced by this juſt reproof, retired into his Chamber, and gave his Chaplain twenty pieces for his faithfulneſſe to him.
A Miller in Leiceſter-ſhire, ſitting in an Ale-houſe, on a Sabbath day, with one of his companions, ſaid to him, I hear that bawling Hooker (meaning Mr. Thomas Hooker, that precious ſervant of Chriſt, that died in New-England) is come to Town, let us go and hear him, we ſhall have excellent ſport, and accordingly they went on purpoſe to jeer him, but it pleaſed God the Sermon ſo wrought upon him, that being pricked to the heart, hee went to Mr. Hooker, entreating him to tell him, what hee might do to bee ſaved? and afterwards went with him to New-England.
Thomas Ward of Tiſo, in Warwick-ſhire, was all his younger dayes very looſe, and diſſolute, a ſcoffer at, and enemy to all goodneſs, and an hater of good men; but it pleaſed God at laſt to conver thim after a ſtrange and wonderful manner, which was this: In a morning, as hee lay in his bed, plotting and contriving how to moleſt & perſecute ſome of his godly Neighbours, and to bring them into the Biſhops Court at Worcester, there appeared a Viſion to him, of a City, wherein there were many poor ragged Lambs in the ſtreets, and a man driving of them, and he heard a voice, ſaying to him, What are theſe? to which hee anſwered, ſheep: Then ſaid the voice again, theſe are my ſheep whom thou perſecuteſt: Preſently after, hee ſaw another Viſion, of a pile of Faggots, and heard the voice, ſaying, What are theſe? Hee anſwered, Faggots: Then ſaid the voice, as theſe are bound up for the fire, ſo thou deſerveſt to bee bound hand and foot, and caſt into everlaſting fire: Truth Lord, ſaid hee; yet withal hee cryed earneſtly to the Lord for mercy; and preſently after hee ſaw in another Viſion, a Pillar of Braſs, but ſo bright and glorious, that hee was not able to look upon it: Then ſaid the voice, bee of good comfort, for thou art a Choſen Veſſel, which ſhall ſuffer many things for my Names ſake; to which hee ſaid, Lord, if it be thy will, let it bee now; and preſently he had a blow given him on his ſide, as with a dagger, the mark whereof hee carried with him to his grave. After this, it pleaſed God to raiſe him up with comfort, and he became an eminent Profeſſor and was very zealous for the truth, though hee met with much perſecution by the Prelatical Party, from which hee was ſcarce ever free, till they and their Courts were taken away: This hee himſelf related to Maſter Benjamin Lovel, a godly Miniſter, that lived neer to him, and who was intimately acquainted with him, and from whoſe mouth this was wrote.
An exceeding poor woman, that was given much to ſcolding, and debauchery, uſed to ſpeak much againſt going to bee examined by the Miniſter before Admiſſion to the Sacrament, yet at laſt, by the importunity of her Husband, ſhee was prevailed with to go to her Miniſter, Maſter Fairclough, who finding her groſs ignorance, diſcovered the great danger of it to her, and withal, inſtructed her with ſo much mildneſs and ſweetneſs, that ſhee brake forth into tears, beſeeching him to give her ſome directions in ſpiritual matters, which accordingly hee did, and withal referred her to a godly Neighbour, that might read them unto her, and ever after ſhee became eminent for piety, inſomuch, that ſhee and her Husband being very poor, in the evening ſhee would fetch an handful of thatch from her houſe, wanting candles, and kindling of it, ſhee would get her Husband to make haſte, and read as much out of the Bible as hee could whilſt the blaze laſted, which ſhee would mark diligently, and with a great deal of care and joy remember, and talk of it.
In the late bloody maſſacre in Ireland, divers Engliſh-women came to the houſe of Mr. Creighton, Miniſter of Virginia, in the County of Cavan, having a Maid in their company almoſt naked, unto whom an Iriſh Rebel came as ſhee was in the way, (theſe women being in her company) requiring her to give him her money, ſwearing, that if ſhe did not, he would preſently kill her, and withal drew his Sword: The young woman anſwered, you cannot kill mee except God give you leave, and his will bee done: Hereupon, the Rogue thruſt three times at her naked body with his drawn Sword, and yet could not pierce her skin. Upon this miracle he was much confounded, and ſo went away, and left her; this they atteſted upon oath.
A godly Gentlewoman, whom I very well know, yet living, when ſhee was a childe, being in the Country in the harveſt time, was playing by the ſide of a Pond, none being left at home but a man who was in the houſe reading a book, the Girl ſtepping upon a board that was looſe to play with the Ducks, fell into the Pond, where ſhee was like to periſh; but it pleaſed God, that the man, as hee was reading, was ſuddainly ſo troubled, though he knew not for what, that hee could read no longer; whereupon hee walked up and down the room, but could not bee quiet; then hee walked forth, and eſpied a Straw-Hat ſwimming upon the water, and looking earneſtly, hee ſaw the childe riſe to the top of the water, and ſo catching hold of her, drew her out, and ſaved her life.
A Gentlewoman of a conſiderable Eſtate, that conſtantly at the years end gave all the over-plus of her Eſtate to the poor, reſolving not to encreaſe her Eſtate, and there being a Famine, ſhee deſired leave of the Earl of Warwick, to plow up forty acres of land which ſhee was tyed by her Leaſe not to plow without leave, hee giving her leave, ſhee plowed it, and ſowed it for the poor with peaſe, when they were ripe, ſhee gave notice to the poor of the Country to come and gather them, which they did; and the Babyliff, when time was, carried in the Straw for Fodder, but thinking hee might have ſome yeeld of peaſe, he thraſht ſome of the Straw for a Tryal, and had as much yeeld (notwithſtanding the poor had gathered them clean, as was thought) as uſually they had for a Crop. Thus God encreaſes their ſtore, that are liberal to thoſe that are in want.
I have heard it related of Mr. Fox, that as he was journeying, a poor man asked ſomething of him for Jeſus Chriſts ſake: Why, doeſt thou know Jeſus Chriſt? ſaid Mr. Fox, and diſcourſing with him, hee found that hee ſpake ſavourly and underſtandingly of the things of God: I have no money, ſaid Mr. Fox, but go with me to the Town which is cloſe by, and I ſhall give you ſomething; where ſelling his horſe, hee gave half the money to the poor man, and went the reſt of his way home on foot.
There was a very poor Widdow that had many children, and a rich Brother, that was a Batchelour, who lived as poor as ſhee, who very ſeldome would give her any thing, ſometimes ſome ſmall ſingle money; the laſt time ſhee came to him, though ſhee was in great want, and uſed much importunity, yet hee would not give her a farthing; ſhee then begg'd a cup of drink of him, hee pretends that he was ſo poor, that hee had not money to buy himſelf bread, and ſo ſent her away with nothing but her own tears to drink; but though weeping may endure for a night, joy comes in the morning, for the Lord ſtruck that hard-hearted man with death, and this poor woman being Heir to his Eſtate, was worth next day ten thouſand pound, which with a great deal of care hee had ſcrap'd together, and with a great deal of uncharitableneſs had kept; and though hee would not give her a farthing over night, hee was forced to leave her all the next morning.
Luther hath this ſtory: A certain woman, in the time of famine, having nothing at all for her children and her ſelf to eat, being brought to very great extremity, ſhee reſolv'd upon this courſe, ſhee made her ſelf, and all her children ready, and with a great deal of comfort and confidence ſhee walked to a Spring, not far from her houſe, as ſhee was going, one met her, who ask'd her whether ſhee was going with her children? Shee told him, that all her proviſion was quite ſpent, and ſhee was going with her children to ſuch a Fountain cloſe by, being confident, that God that had provided drink for her and her children, would there provide food for them alſo; and hee that heard the young Ravens, and provided for them, would much more take care of her, and her little ones; hee that met her, wiſhed her to return home, for ſhee ſhould meet with proviſion that was ready for her there, ſhee returned, and found a conſiderable quantity of meal, which was food for her and her children; but whence this proviſion came, ſhee knew not, nor knew the man who told her of it.
There was a certain poor family, being in great wants, and had little or nothing for their children, when dinner came, they put them off with play-things, and told them they would ſee if they could get them ſomething for Supper; and when Supper came, they would give ſome ſmall piece of bread, and ſo get them to bed: And thus they uſed them ſo long, while at laſt the children would not to bed, but cryed for bread; that night, it was ſo, that my Lord Fawkland waking before midnight, and could not ſleep, it came into his minde, that this family was in great want, inſomuch, that hee call'd up ſome of his ſervants and ſent them with a great loaf, and a Cheeſe to the houſe; when the ſervant came, hee found the children crying for bread, and the Parents weeping by them, who with a great deal of joy and eagerneſs, received that unexpected proviſion. Thus the Lord ordered it by his Providence, that they were not only then relieved, but their neceſſities being related to the Lord Fawkland by his ſervant, hee took care of them for the future.
Speed in his Chronicles relates this ſtory, there being a great famine the year before, as ſoon as the corn was ear'd, the poor would gather and eat, inſomuch, that the Inhabitants of the Pariſh came to the Prieſt, deſiring him to curſe the people for gathering and ſpoiling the corn, but one of the Pariſhioners ſtood up, and charged the Prieſt, that hee ſhould not curſe them for his corn, for it did him good, to ſee the poor eat his corn, for hee was very ſenſible of their neceſſities, but the clamours of the others prevail'd; but as the Prieſt was curſing the poor, there fell a great ſtorm of Thunder, and Lightening, and Hail, which beat down all the corn ſo, as if Horſes and Carts had gone over it, nor would either beaſts, or any fowl, eat any thing of it, only this good mans corn, though intermingled with others, ſtood untouched, not an ear of it being blaſted.
Doctor Hill, in his book of living and dying well, hath a remarkable ſtory of a young Gentleman of one of the Innes of Court, who it ſeems expected to die ſuddenly, and before hee ſhould bee twenty four years of age, and ſo hee did, having theſe verſes found about him, viz.
Not twice twelve years full told, a wearied breath
I have exchanged for an happy death:
Short was my life, the longer is my reſt,
God takes them ſooneſt, whom he loveth beſt:
Hee that is born to day, and dies to morrow,
Loſes ſome hours of joy, but moneths of ſorrow;
Other diſeaſes often come to grieve us,
Death ſtrikes but once, and that ſtroke doth relieve us.
So grave a Doctor ſetting down this ſtory in his book, I thought it no lightneſs in mee, to ſet it down in mine.
The ſtory of Mr. Holland (not only becauſe it is very remarkable, but alſo becauſe it hath pleaſed God to affect me very much with it) I ſhall ſetdown here alſo. This Mr. Holland was a pious and faithful Preacher of the Goſpel, as ſome that have been acquainted with him, and have heard him, have teſtified of him, a man that was a ſtranger and Pilgrime in the world, neither having any thing to do with it, nor indeed knew it, his Wi…e mannaging all his worldly affairs for him; hee knew not what the common coyns of gold were worth, and for his cloaths, except his Wife had otherwiſe ordered it, hee would have worn them till they had been rags; hee ſpent his time wholly in his Study, and a man of great charity, inſomuch, that if hee had no money about him, and a poor man had begg'd of him, hee would have given his Gloves, or Handkerchief, or Band, &c. being regardleſs of all things, ſave the glory of God, and the Salvation of his own and others Souls: This precious Saint, the day before his death, calling for a Bible, continued his Meditation and Expoſition, on the eighth to the Romans, for the ſpace of two hours; but on a ſudden, hee ſaid, O ſtay your reading, what brightneſs is this I ſee? and they ſaid, it is the Sun-ſhine; nay, ſaith hee, it is my Saviours ſhine: Now farewel world, welcome heaven, the Day-Star from on high hath viſited my heart, I doubt not but you all ſee that light, but I feel a light within me, that none of yee all can know; and then turning himſelf to the Miniſter, who preached his Funeral Sermon, who was one of them that came to viſit him, hee ſaid, Sir, I deſire you would preach my Funeral Sermon, for this night I dye, and ſpeak this from mee, and ſpeak it confidently, that God deales familiarly with man, (a rare and ſweet expreſſion) I feel his mercy, I ſee his Majeſty, whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell, God hee knoweth; but I ſee things that are unutterable. And being thus raviſhed in his ſpirit, hee roamed towards heaven, with a cheerful look, and ſoft ſweet voice, but what hee ſaid was not underſtood; raiſing himſelf towards morning, as Jacob did upon his ſtaff, hee ended his bleſſed life with theſe bleſſed words.
O what a happy change ſhall I make, from night to day, from darkneſs to light, from death to life, from ſorrow to ſolace, from a factious world to a heavenly being. Oh my dear brethren, ſiſters, and friends, it pittieth mee to leave you behinde, yet remember my death when I am gone, and what I now feel, I hope you ſhall feel, e're you die, that God doth, and will deal familiarly with man; and now thou fiery Chariot, that cameſt down to fetch up Elijah, carry mee to my happy hold; and all you bleſſed Angels, that attended the Soul of Lazarus to bring it to heaven, bear mee, O bear mee into the boſome of my beſt beloved. Amen. Amen. Come, Lord Jeſus, come quickly, and ſo hee fell aſleep.
FINIS.