A relation of the fearefull estate of Francis Spira in the yeare, 1548.
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Title
A relation of the fearefull estate of Francis Spira in the yeare, 1548.
Author
Bacon, Nathaniel, 1593-1660.
Publication
London :: Printed by I. L[egat] for Phil. Stephens, and Christoph. Meredith, at the golden Lyon in Pauls Church-yard,
1638.
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Subject terms
Spira, Francesco, d. 1548 -- Early works to 1800.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A01647.0001.001
Cite this Item
"A relation of the fearefull estate of Francis Spira in the yeare, 1548." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A01647.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 10, 2024.
Pages
descriptionPage 1
A
RELATION OF
the fearefull estate of
FRANCIS SPIRA.
IN the yeare 1548.
when the glori∣ous
Sunne of the
Gospel was but newly ri∣sen
in Europe; in the daies
of the raigne of Edward
the Sixth of that name
King of England: In the
Territory, and under the
Iurisdiction of the Citie
of Venice, being the very
border of Italy, in the
descriptionPage 2
towne of Cittadella, lived
one Francis Spira, a Ci∣vill
Lawyer, an Advocate
of great rank and esteeme,
being of knowne learn∣ing,
& eloquence? of great
experience; of carriage
circumspect and severe;
his speech grave & com∣posed,
his countenance
sharpe and austere; every
way befitting that autho∣ritie
whereunto hee was
advanced; endowed vvith
outward blessings, of
wife, & eleven children,
& wealth in abundance:
what his worst parts
were, I have no other
descriptionPage 3
warrant, then his owne
words, which (if not tain∣ted
overmuch, with the
bitternesse of a desperate
mind, and bearing the
countenance rather of
passion, then of sober
confession) may seeme to
adde a period to all fur∣ther
commendations.
I was (said hee) exces∣sively
covetous of money, and
accordingly I applyed my
selfe to get by injustice, cor∣rupting
justice by deceit, in∣venting
tricks to delude ju∣stice:
good causes I either
defended deceitfully, or sold
them to the adversary perfi∣diously;
descriptionPage 4
ill causes I main∣tained
with all my might; I
wittingly opposed the known
truth, and the trust commit∣ted
unto me, I either betray∣ed
or perverted. Thus ha∣ving
worn out forty foure
yeares, or there abouts,
and the news of the new,
or rather newly revived
opinions of Luther com∣ming
into those parts, re∣presented
an object of
noveltie unto him; who
being as desirous to know
as hee was famous for
knowledge; suffered not
these wandring opinions
to passe unexamined, but
descriptionPage 5
searching into the Scrip∣tures,
and into all bookes
of Controversie that hee
could get, both old and
new; and finding more
then fame or opinion, he
began to taste their nature
so well, as he entertaines,
loves, and ownes them at
length; and with such
zeale, as he became a pro∣fessor;
yea a teacher of
them, first to his wife,
children, and family, and
after to his friends, and
familiar acquaintance; &
in comparison, seemed to
neglect all other affaires;
intending ever to presse
descriptionPage 6
this maine point, that We
must wholly, and only to de∣pend
on the free, and un∣changeable
love of God in
the death of Christ, as the
only sure way to salvation:
and this was the summe
of all his discourse, and
this continued for the
space of sixe yeares, or
there abouts; even so long
as this fire could keepe it
selfe within private wals;
but at length it brake
forth into publique mee∣tings;
so as the whole
Province of Padua daw∣ned
by the lustre thereof.
The Clergie finding the
descriptionPage 7
trade of their pardons to
decay; and their Purga∣tory
to waxe cold, began
to bestirre themselves;
glosing their actions first
with calumnious aspersi∣ons
upon the whole pro∣fession,
then more plain∣ly
striking at Spira with
grievous accusatiōs: And
to effect their purpose,
some promise labour, o∣thers
favour, some advice,
others maintenance; all
joyne to divide, either his
soule from his body, or
both from God.
Now was Iohn Casa
the Popes Legate resident
descriptionPage 8
at Venice, being by birth a
Florentine; and one that
wanted neither malice a∣gainst
those of this way,
nor craftines to effect his
malicious purposes: To
him these men repaire
with outcries against Spi∣ra;
that hee was the man
that cōdemned the recei∣ved
rites of the Church;
deluded the Ecclesiasticall
power, and scandalized
the policie thereof; one
of no meane ranke; being
a man of Account and au∣thoritie,
and thereunto,
learned in the Scriptures,
elegant in speech; and in
descriptionPage 9
one word, a dangerous
Lutheran; having also
many disciples, and there∣fore
not to be despised.
At this began the Le∣gate
to cast his eye on the
terrible alteration that
lately had hapned in Ger∣manie;
where, by the
means of one onely Lu∣ther,
the Romish Religion
had suffered such a blow,
as that it could neither
bee cured by dissimulati∣on,
nor defended by
power; but the Clergie
must either mend their
manners, or lose their
dignities: on the other
descriptionPage 10
side, when hee saw how
propense the common
people inhabiting in the
bordering countries of I∣taly
vvere to entertaine
those new opinions, hee
now thought it no time
to dispute, or perswade,
but with speed repaires to
the Senate, and procures
authoritie from them to
send for Spira.
Spira by this time had
considered vvith himselfe
of the nature of his car∣riage,
how evident and
notorious it vvas, and
therefore subject to bee
envied by such, as neither
descriptionPage 11
liked his person nor Re∣ligion,
hee perceived that
his opinions were nei∣ther
retyred nor specula∣tive,
but such as aymed
at the overthrovv of the
Romish Faction, and at
change of Policie,
vvherein at the best, he
could expect but a blou∣dy
victory, and that his
enemies vvanted neither
povver nor occasion to
call him to account in
publique, vvhen he must
either Apostatize, and
shamefully give his for∣mer
life, yea his ovvn con∣science
the lye, or endure
descriptionPage 12
the utmost malice of his
deadly enemies, or for∣sake
his wife, children,
friends, goods, authoritie;
yea, his deare Countrey;
and betake himselfe to a
forraigne people, there to
endure a thousand mi∣series,
that do continually
waite upon a voluntary
exile. Being thus distract∣ed,
and tossed in the rest∣lesse
waves of doubt,
without guid to trust to,
or haven to flye to for suc∣cour;
on the sudden Gods
Spirit assisting, hee felt a
calme, and began to di∣scourse
with himselfe in
descriptionPage 13
this manner:
Why wandrest thou thus
in uncertainties, unhappy
man; cast away feare, put
on thy shield, the shield of
faith; Where is thy wonted
courage, thy goodnesse, thy
constancie? remember that
Christs glorie lies at the
stake, suffer thou without
feare, and hee will defend
thee, hee will tell thee what
thou shalt answer; hee can
beat downe all danger, bring
thee out of prison, raise thee
from the dead; consider Pe∣ter
in the dungeon, the Mar∣tyrs
in the fire, if thou ma∣kest
a good confession, thou
descriptionPage 14
mayest indeed goe to prison,
or death, but an eternall re∣ward
in heaven remaines
for thee; What hast thou in
this world comparable to e∣ternall
life, to everlasting
happinesse? if thou dost o∣therwise,
thinke of the scan∣dall;
(common people live by
example, thinking what e∣ver
is done, is well done)
feare the losse of peace and
joy, feare hell, death, and e∣ternall
wrath; or if thy
flesh be so strong, as to cause
thee to doubt of the issue, flie
thy Countrie; get thee away,
though never so far, rather
then denie the Lord of Life.
descriptionPage 15
Now was Spira in
reasonable quiet, be∣ing
resolved to yeeld to
these weightie reasons;
yet holding it wisedome
to examine all things,
hee consults also with
flesh and bloud; thus
the battaile doth re∣new,
and the flesh be∣ginnes
in this manner:
Bee well advised, fond
man, consider reasons on
both sides, and then judge:
how canst thou thus o∣verweene
thine owne suf∣ficiencie,
as thou neither
regardest the examples
of thy Progenitors; nor
descriptionPage 16
the judgment of the whole
Church; dost thou not con∣sider
what miserie this thy
rashnesse will bring thee
unto? thou shalt lose thy sub∣stance,
gotten with so much
care and travell, thou shalt
undergoe the most exqui∣site
torments that malice it
selfe can devise, thou shalt
bee counted an heretique of
all: and to close up all, thou
shalt die shamefully. What
thinkest thou of the loath∣some
stinking dungeon, the
bloudie axe, the burning
fagot, are they delightfull?
Bee wise at length, and
keepe thy life and honour,
descriptionPage 17
thou maist live to do much
good to good men, as God
commands thee, thou maist
be an ornament to thy Coun∣trie;
and put case thy Coun∣tries
losse would bee of small
esteeme with thee; Wilt thou
bring thy friends also into
danger? thou hast begotten
children, wilt thou now cut
their throats, & inhumane∣ly
butcher them, which may
in time bring honor to their
Countrie, glorie to God,
helpe and furtherance to his
Church: goe to the Legate
weake man, freely confesse
thy fault, and helpe all these
miseries. Thus did the
descriptionPage 18
cares of this world, and
the deceitfullnesse of ri∣ches,
choke the good Seed
that was formerly sowne;
so as fearing, hee faints,
and yeelds unto the al∣lurements
of this present
world, & being thus blin∣ded,
he goes to the Legate
at Venice, and salutes him
with this news.
Having for these divers
yeares entertained an opi∣nion
concerning some Arti∣cles
of faith, contrary to
the Orthodox and received
judgement of the Church;
and uttered many things a∣gainst
the authoritie of the
descriptionPage 19
Church of Rome, and the
universall Bishop: I hum∣blie
acknowledge my fault
and errour, and my folly in
misleading others: I there∣fore
yeeld my selfe in all o∣bedience
to the Supreme Bi∣shop,
into the bosome of the
Church of Rome; never to
depart again from the Tra∣ditions
and Decrees of the
holy See: I am heartily sor∣ry
for what is past; and I
humbly begge pardon forso
great an offence.
The Legate perceiving
Spira to faint, he pursues
him to the utmost; hee
causeth a recitation of all
descriptionPage 20
his Errours to be drawne
in writing, together with
the Confession annexed
to it, and commands Spi∣ra
to subscribe his name
there, which accordingly
he did; then the Legate
commands him to return
to his owne Towne; and
there to declare this Con∣fession
of his, and to ac∣knowledg
the whole Do∣ctrine
of the Church of
Rome to be holy, and true;
and to abjure the Opini∣ons
of Luther, and other
such Teachers, as false,
& hereticall: Man knowes
the beginnings of sinne, but
descriptionPage 21
who bounds the issues there∣of?
Spira having once lost
footing, goes downe a∣maine,
he cannot stay, nor
gaine-say the Legate; but
promiseth to accomplish
his whole will and plea∣sure;
he soone addresseth
himselfe for his Iourney,
and being onward in the
way, bethinks himselfe
of large spoyles hee had
brought away from the
Conflict with the Le∣gate:
what glorious te∣stimony
hee had given of
his great faith, and con∣stancie
in Christs cause:
and to be plaine, how im∣piously
descriptionPage 22
hee had denyed
Christ, and his Gospell at
Venice; and what he pro∣mised
to do further in his
owne Country; and thus
partly with feare, and
partly with shame being
confounded; he thought
he heard a voyce speaking
unto him in this manner.
Spira, What dost thou
heere? whither goest thou?
hast thou unhappy man, gi∣ven
thy hand-writing to the
Legate at Venice; yet see
thou dost not seale it in thine
owne Countrey: dost thou
indeed thinke eternall life
so meane, as that thou pre∣ferrest
descriptionPage 23
this present life be∣fore
it? dost thou well in pre∣ferring
wife and children
before Christ? is the windie
applause of the people, bet∣ter
indeed then the glorie of
God; and the possession of
this worlds good more deare
to thee, then the salvation
of thine owne Soule? is the
small use of a moment of
time more desireable, then
eternall wrath is dreadfull?
Thinke with thy selfe what
Christ endured for thy sake;
is it not equall thou shouldest
suffer somewhat for him?
Remember, man, that the
sufferings of this present
descriptionPage 24
life, are not comparable to
the glorie that shall bee re∣vealed:
if thou sufferest
with him, thou shalt also
raigne with him: thou canst
not answer for what thou
hast alreadie done; never∣thelesse,
the gate of mercie
is not quite shut, take heed
that thou heapest not sinne
upon sinne, lest thou repent
when it will be too late.
Now was Spira in a
wildernesse of doubts,
not knowing which way
to turne him, nor what to
doe, yet being arrived in
his owne Countrey, and
amongst his friends, with
descriptionPage 25
shame enough hee relates
what he had done, and
what he had further pro∣mised
to doe; and how
the terrors of God on the
one side, and the terrour
of this world on the o∣ther
side, did continually
racke him; and therefore
hee desired of them ad∣vise
in this so doubtfull a
case: his friends upon
small deliberation an∣swered;
that it was requi∣site
hee should take heed
that hee did not in any
wise betray his wife and
children, and all his
friends into danger, see∣ing
descriptionPage 26
that by so smal a mat∣ter
as the reciting of a
little Schedule, which
might bee done in lesse
space then half an houre,
he might both free him∣selfe
from present danger,
and preserve many that
depended upon him; ad∣ding
moreover, that hee
could get no Credit in re∣lenting
from that which
he had already in greatest
part performed before
the Legate at Venice, and
that in the perfect accom∣plishing
thereof, little or
no discredit could arise,
more then what by the
descriptionPage 27
former action already he
had sustained: on the
other side, if hee did not
performe his promise
made to the Legate, hee
could neither discharge
himselfe of the shame
which he had already in∣curred;
nor avoyd farre
more heavy and insup∣portable
injuries, then
probably he should have
endured, if hee had per∣sisted
obstinately in his
former Opinions.
This was the last blow
of the battaile, and Spira
utterly overcome, goes to
the Praetor, and proffers
descriptionPage 28
to performe his foresaid
promise made to the Le∣gate,
who in the meane
time had taken order to
have all things ready, and
had sent the instrument
of abjuration signed by
Spira, to the Praetor, by
the hands of a certaine
Priest. All that night the
miserable man ware out
with restlesse cares, with∣out
any minute of rest;
the next morning being
come, he gets up, and be∣ing
ready, he desperately
enters into the publique
Congregation, where
Masse being finished, in
descriptionPage 29
the presence of friends
and enemies, and of the
whole Assembly; being
by estimation neere two
thousand people; yea,
and of Heaven it selfe, he
recites that infamous ab∣juration,
word for word,
as it was written: it be∣ing
done, he was fined at
thirtie pieces of gold,
which he presently paid:
five whereof were given
to the Priest that brought
the abjuration, the other
twentie five were im∣ployed
towards the ma∣king
of a Shryne to put the
Eucharist in; then was
descriptionPage 30
he sent home restored to
his Dignities; goods,
wife, and children: No
sooner was hee departed,
but he thought hee heard
a direfull voyce, saying to
him; thou wicked wretch,
thou haste denyed mee,
thou hast renounced the co∣venant
of thy obedience,
thou hast broken thy vow,
hence Apostate, beare with
thee the sentence of thy eter∣nall
damnation: hee trem∣bling
and quaking in
body and mind, fell down
in a swoune; reliefe was
at hand for the body,
but from that time for∣wards,
he never found
descriptionPage 31
any 〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉
minde▪ but 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉
in uncessant torment 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉
professed that he was
captived under the re∣venging
hand of the great
God: that hee heard con∣tinually
that fearefull sen∣tence
of Christ that just
Iudge▪ that hee knew he
was utterly undone: that
he could neither hope for
grace, nor Christs inter∣cessiō
wth God the Father
in his behalfe: thus was
his fault ever heavy on his
heart, and ever his Iudge∣ment
before his eyes.
Now began his friends
descriptionPage 32
some of them to repent
too late of their rash
counsell; others not look∣ing
so high as the Iudge∣ment
of God, laid all the
blame upon his Melan∣cholicke
constitution;
that overshadowing his
judgment, wrought in
him a kinde of madnesse:
every on censured as his
fancy led him, yet for re∣medy
all agreed in this,
to use both the whole∣some
helpe of Physicians,
and the pious advise of
Divines, and therefore
thought it meet to convey
him to Padua, an Vniver∣sitie
descriptionPage 33
of note, where plenty
of all manner of meanes
was to be had: this they
accordingly did, both
with his wife, children,
and whole family; others
also of his friends accom∣panying
him: and being
arrived at the house of
one Iames Ardin, in Saint
Leonards, Parish, they
sent for three Physicians
of most note, who upon
due observation of the
effects, & of other Symp∣tomes
of his disease, and
some private conference
one with another, among
themselves, returned their
descriptionPage 34
verdict in this manner,
viz. That they could not
discerne that his body
was afflicted with any
danger or distemper ori∣ginally
from it selfe, by
reason of the over-ruling
of any humour; but that
this Maladie of his did a∣rise
from some griefe, or
passion of his minde,
which being overbur∣thened,
did so oppresse
the spirits, as they wan∣ting
free passage, stirred
up many ill humours,
whereof the body of man
is full; & these ascending
up into the braine, trou∣bled
the fancie; shadowed
descriptionPage 35
the seat of the judgment,
and so corrupted it: this
was the state of his di∣sease,
and that outward
part that was visible to
the eye of nature, this they
endeavoured to reforme
by purgation, either to
consume, or at least to di∣vert
the course of those
humors from the braine;
but all their skil effected
nothing, which Spira
noting, said: Alas poore
men, how farre wide are you;
doe you thinke that this di∣sease
is to be cured by po∣tions;
beleeve mee there
must bee another manner of
descriptionPage 36
medicine, it is neither poti∣ons,
plaisters, nor drugs,
that can helpe a fainting
soule cast downe with sense of
sinne, and the wrath of God;
it is onely Christ that must
bee the Physician, and the
Gospel the sole Antidote.
The Physicians easily
beleeved him, after they
had understood the whol
truth of the matter, and
therfore they wished him
to seeke some spirituall
comfort. By this time the
fame of this man was
spred over all Padua, and
the neighbour Countrey,
partly for that he was a
descriptionPage 37
man of Esteeme, partly
because as the disease, so
the occasion was especial∣ly
remarkeable; for this
vvas not done in a cor∣ner:
so as daily there
came multitudes of all
sorts to see him: some out
of curiositie onely to see
and discourse: some out
of a pious desire to try all
meanes that might reduce
him to comfort againe, or
at least to benefit them∣selves,
by such a spectacle
of misery, and of the ju∣stice
of God. Amongst
these, Paulus Vergerius
Bishop of Iustinopolis, and
descriptionPage 38
Mattheus Gribauldus, de∣serve
especially to bee
named, as the most prin∣cipall
labourers for this
mans comfort. They
finde him now about fif∣tie
years of age, neither
affected with the dotage
of old age, nor with the
unconstant headstrong
passion of youth, but in
the strength of his expe∣rience
and judgment; in
a burning heat calling ex∣cessively
for drinke; yet
his understanding active,
quicke of apprehension,
wittie in discourse above
his ordinary manner, and
descriptionPage 39
judiciously opposite: his
friends laboured him by
all faire meanes to receive
some nourishment, which
he obstinately gaine-say∣ing,
they forcibly infused
some liquid sustenance
into his mouth, most of
which he spit out againe;
exceedingly chafing, and
in this fretting mood of
his, said: As it is true that
all things worke for the best
to those that love God;* 1.1 so to
the wicked all are con∣trary:
for whereas a plenti∣full
off-spring is the blessing
of God, and his reward, be∣ing
a stay to the weak estate
descriptionPage 40
of their aged parents; to me
they are a cause of bitter∣nesse
and vexation; they doe
strive to make mee tire out
this misery; I would faine
be at an end; I deserve not
this dealing at their hands;
O that I were gone from
hence, that some body would
let out this weary Soule.
His friends saluted
him, and asked him, what
hee conceived to be the
cause of his disease; forth∣with
he brake out into a
lamentable discourse of
the passages formerly re∣lated,
& that with such
passionate Elocution, that
descriptionPage 41
hee caused many to weep
& most to tremble. They
contrarily to comfort
him, propounded many
of Gods promises recor∣ded
in the Scripture; and
many examples of Gods
mercy: My sinne (said he)
is greater then the mercy of
God. Nay, answered they,
the mercy of God is above
all sin; God would have
all men to be saved: It is
true (quoth he) hee would
have all that he hath elected,
••bee s••aved; he would not
have damned reprobates to
be saved; I am one of that
number; I know it, for I
descriptionPage 42
willingly, and against my
knowledge denied Christ;
and I feele that hee har∣dens,
and will not suffer me
to hope.
After some silence, one
asked him whether hee
did not beleeve that Do∣ctrine
(to bee true) for
which hee was accused
before the Legate; hee
answered; I did beleeve it
when I denied it, but now
I neither beleeve that, nor
the Doctrine of the Ro∣mane
Church; I beleeve
nothing, I have no faith, no
trust, no hope; I am a Re∣probate
like Cain, or Iudas,
descriptionPage 43
who casting away all hope of
mercy, fell into despaire; and
my friends doe mee great
wrong, that they suffer me not
to goe to the place of unbe∣leevers
as I justly deserve.
Heere they beganne
sharpely to rebuke him;
requiring, and charging
him that in any wise hee
did not violate the mercy
of God; to which he an∣swered:
The mercy of God
is exceeding large and ex∣tends
to all the elect; but
not to mee, or any like to
mee, who are sealed up
to wrath:* 1.2I tell you I de∣serve
it, my owne conscience
descriptionPage 44
condemnes me; what need∣eth
any other Iudge. Christ
came (said they) to take
away sinne, and calling
for a book, they read un∣to
him the passion of
Christ, and comming to
his nayling to the Crosse,
Spira said: This indeed is
comfortable to such as are
elected, but as for me wretch,
they are nothing but griefe
and torment, because I con∣temned
them. Thus roaring
for griefe, & tossing him∣self
up & downe upon the
bed as he lay, he intreated
them to read no more: As
Gribauldus was comming
descriptionPage 45
to see him, Vergerius said
to Spira, deare Sir heere is
Doctor Gribauldus, a
godly and faithfull friend
of yours, come to see you:
He is welcome (said he)
but hee shall find mee ill:
Gribauldus replyed, Sir,
this is but an illusion of
the divell, who doth what
he can to vexe you; but
turne you to God with
your whole heart, and he
is ready to shew you mer∣cy;
the earth you know is
full of his mercy; it is He
that hath said,* 1.3 that as often
as a sinner repents of his
sinne, hee will remember his
descriptionPage 46
sinnes no more. Consider
this in the example of Pe∣ter
that was Christs fa∣miliar,
and an Apostle;
and yet denied him thrice
with an oath, and yet God
was mercifull unto him:
consider the theefe that
spent his whole life in
wickednesse, and for all
that, did not God graci∣ously
respect him in the
last minute of his life? Is
the Lords hand now
shortned that it cannot
save? to this Spira answe∣red;* 1.4
If Peter grieved
and repented, it was be∣cause
Christ beheld him
descriptionPage 47
with a mercifull eye;
and in that he was par∣doned,
it was not be∣cause
hee wept, but be∣cause
God was gracious
to him: but God re∣spects
not me, and there∣fore
I am a reprobate: I
feel no comfort can en∣ter
into my heart, there
is no place there but
onely for torments and
vexings of spirit: I tell
you my case is properly
mine own; no man ever
was in the like plight,
and therefore my estate
is fearefull.
Then roaring out in
descriptionPage 48
the bitternesse of his spi∣rit,
said: It is a fearefull
thing to fall into the hands of
the living God: the vio∣lence
of his passion and
action sutable, did a∣maze
many of the behol∣ders;
insomuch as some
of them said with a whis∣pering
voyce, that he was
possessed; hee over-hea∣ring
it, said: Doe you
doubt it? I have a whole
Legion of divels that take
up their dwellings within
mee, and possesse me as their
owne; and justly too, for I
have denyed Christ. Whe∣ther
did you that willing∣ly
descriptionPage 49
or not (said they) That is
nothing to the purpose (said
Spira) Christ saith, whoso∣ever
denies mee before men,* 1.5him will I deny before my
Father which is in Heaven:
Christ will not bee denied,
no not in word; and there∣fore
it is enough, though in
heart I never denied him.
They observing his di∣stemper
to arise from the
sense and horror of the
paines of hell, asked him
whether he thought there
were worse paines then
what he endured for the
present; he said, that he
knew there were far worse
descriptionPage 50
paines then those that hee
then suffered:* 1.6 for the wic∣ked
shall rise to their judge∣ment,
but they shall not stand
in Iudgement: this I trem∣ble
to thinke of: yet doe I
desire nothing more, then
that I might come to that
place, where I may bee sure
to feele the worst, and to be
freed from feare of worse to
come.
I but you are to consi∣der
(said one) that those
opinions for which you
were accused before the
Legate were impious;
and therefore you are not
to thinke you denied
descriptionPage 51
Christ, but rather that
you confessed him, ac∣knowledging
the infalli∣ble
truth of the Catholike
Church. Truly (said he)
when I did denie those opi∣nions,
I did think them to be
true, & yet I did deny them.
Goe to (said others)
now then beleeve that
they are not. Now I can∣not
(said hee) God will
not suffer mee to beleeve
them, nor trust in his mer∣cy:
What would you have
mee doe? I would faine
attaine to this power, but
cannot, though I should pre∣sently
be burnt for it. But
descriptionPage 52
why doe you (said the o∣ther)
esteeme this so grie∣vous
a sinne, when as the
learned Legate constrai∣ned
you to it, which hee
surely would not have
done, if your former o∣pinions
had not beene
Erroneous: no, good
Francis, the divell besets
thee, let not therefore the
grievousnesse of thy sin,
(if anie such be) amaze
thee.
You say right (re∣plyed
he) the divell hath
possest mee, and God
hath left me to his pow∣er;
for I finde I can nei∣ther
beleeve the Gospel,
descriptionPage 53
nor trust in Gods mer∣cie;
I have sinned a∣gainst
the holy Ghost;
and God by his im∣mutable
Decree, hath
bound mee over to per∣petuall
punishment,
without anie hope of
pardon;* 1.7 It is true that
the greatnesse of sin, or
the multitude of them,
cannot bind Gods mer∣cie:
all those manie sins
that in the former part
of my life I have com∣mitted,
then did not so
much trouble mee, for I
trusted that God would
not lay them to my
descriptionPage 54
charge: but now ha∣ving
sinned against the
holy Ghost, God hath
taken away from me all
power of repentance, &
now brings all my sins
to remembrance,* 1.8 and
thus guiltie of one, guil∣tie
of all. And there∣fore
it is no matter whe∣ther
my sinnes be great
or small, few or many;
they are such as Christ's
bloud,
nor Gods mercie
belongs to mee:* 1.9 God
will have mercie on
whom hee will have
mercie; and whom he
will he hardneth; this is
descriptionPage 55
it that gnaws my heart,
hee hath hardned mee;
and I finde that he daily
more and more doth
harden mee; and there∣fore
I am out of hope:
I feele it, and therefore
cannot but despaire: I
tell you, there was never
such a monster as I am;
never was man alive a
spectacle of so excee∣ding
misery: I knew
that justification is to be
expected by Christ; and
I denied, and abjured
it; to the end I might
keepe this fraile life
from adversitie, and
descriptionPage 56
my children from po∣vertie;
and now be∣hold,
how bitter this
life is to mee; and God
only knowes, what
shall become of this my
family; but surely no
good is likely to betide
it, but rather daily
worse and worse; and
such a ruin at the length
as that one stone shall
not be left on another.
But why should you
(said Gribauldus) conceit
so deepely of your sinne,
seeing you cannot but
know that manie have
denied Christ, yet never
descriptionPage 57
fell into despaire?
Well
(said hee) I can see no
ground of comfort for
such, neither can I war∣rant
them from Gods
revēging hand in wrath;
though it pleaseth God
yet to suffer such to bee
in peace: and besides,
there will a time of
change come, and then
they shall be throughly
tryed: and if it were
not so, yet God is just
in making mee an Ex∣ample
to others; and I
cannot justly complain:
there is no punishment
so great but I have de∣served
descriptionPage 58
it, for this so
heinous offence: I as∣sure
you it is no small
matter to denie Christ;
and yet it is more ordi∣nary
then commonly
men doe conceive of:
it is not a deniall made
before a Magistrate as it
is with mee; for as of∣ten
as a Christian doth
dissemble the knowne
truth, as often as hee
approves of false wor∣ship,
by presenting him∣selfe
at it, so often as
hee doth not things
worthy of his calling,
or such things as are un∣worthy
descriptionPage 59
of his calling:
so often hee denies
Christ: thus did I, and
therefore am justly pu∣nished
for it.
Your estate (quoth Gri∣bauldus)
is not so strange
as you make it; Iob was
so farre gone, that hee
complained God had set
him as a marke against
him: and David that was
a man after Gods owne
heart, complained often
that God had forsaken
him, and was become
his enemy; yet both recei∣ved
comfort againe com∣fort
your selfe therefore,
descriptionPage 60
God will come at length,
though hee now seeme
farre off.
O Brother (answered
Spira) I beleeve all this;
the divels beleeve and
tremble; but David was
ever elected and deare∣ly
beloved of God; and
though he fell, yet God
tooke not utterly away
his holy Spirit; and
therefore was heard
when he prayed, Lord
take not thy holy Spirit
from mee: but I am in
another case, being ever
accursed from the pre∣sence
of God: neither
descriptionPage 61
can I pray as he did, be∣cause
his holy Spirit is
quite gone, and cannot
be recalled; & therefore
I know I shall live in
continuall hardnesse so
long as I live: O that I
might feele but the least
sense of the love of God
to mee, though but for
one small moment, as I
now feele his heavie
wrath that burnes like
the torments of hell
within mee, and afflicts
my Conscience with
pangs unutterable; ve∣rily
desperation is hell it
selfe.
descriptionPage 62
Heere Gribauldus said,
I doe verily beleeve, Spira,
that God having so se∣verely
chastised you in
this life, correcteth you in
mercie heere, that he may
spare you hereafter, and
that he hath mercies sea∣led
up for you in time to
to come.
Nay (said Spira) hence
doe I know that I am a re∣probate,
because he afflicteth
mee with hardnesse of heart:
Oh that my body had suffered
all my life long, so that hee
would bee pleased to release
my soule, and ease my Consci∣ence,
this burthened Consci∣ence.
descriptionPage 63
Gribauldus being desi∣rous
to ease his minde
from the continuall me∣ditation
of his sinne; as
also to sound how for the
present he stood affected
to the Romish Church;
asked him what hee
thought became of the
soules of men so soone as
they departed out of the
bodie, to which hee an∣swered.
Although this bee not so
fully revealed in Scripture;
yet I verily beleeve that the
soules of the Elect goe pre∣sently
to the Kingdome of
glory; and not that sleep with
descriptionPage 64
the bodie as some doe ima∣gine.
Verie well; said one of
the spectators, why doe
the Scriptures then say,
that God brings downe
to hell,* 1.10 and raiseth up;
seeing it cannot be meant
of the estate of the soule
after death, which as thou
sayest, either goeth to
heaven without change,
or to hell without re∣demption:
it must be un∣derstood
of the estate of
the soule in this life; like
that wherein thou art at
this present: and often∣times
wee see that God
descriptionPage 65
suffers men to fall into the
jawes of despaire, and yet
raiseth them up again, and
therefore despaire not, but
hope; it shall bee even
thus with thee in his good
time.
This is the worke, (quoth
Spira) this the labour; for
I tell you, when I at Venice
did first abjure my professi∣on,
and so, as it were, drew
an Indenture, the Spirit of
God often admonisht mee;
and when at Cittadella, I
did, as it were, set to my
seale; the Spirit of God of∣ten
suggested to mee, Doe
not write Spira, do not seale;
descriptionPage 66
yet I resisted the Holy
Ghost, and did both; and at
that very present I did evi∣dently
feele a wound infli∣cted
in my very will, so al∣though
I can say, I would be∣leeve;
yet can I not say I
will beleeve; God hath de∣nied
mee the power of will;
and it befalls mee in this my
miserable estate, as with one
that is fast in irons, and his
friends comming to see him,
doe pitie his estate, and doe
perswade him to shake off his
setters, and to come out of
his bonds; which God knows
hee would faine doe, but
cannot, this is my very case;
descriptionPage 67
you perswade me to beleeve:
how faine would I doe it, but
cannot? O now I cannot.
Then violently grasping
his hands together, and
raising himselfe up: Be∣hold
(said he) I am strong,
yet by little and little I decay
and consume, and my ser∣vants
would faine preserve
this weary life; but at length
the will of God must be done,
and I shall perish miserably
as I deserve: rejoyce yee
righteous in the Lord;* 1.11 bles∣sed
are you whose hearts the
Lord hath mollified.
Then after some pause;
It is wonderfull, I earnestly
descriptionPage 68
desire to pray to God with
my heart, yet I cannot; I see
my damnation, and I know
my remedy is onlie in Christ,
yet I cannot set my selfe to
laie hold on it; such are
the punishments of the dam∣ned;
they confesse what I
confesse, they repent of their
losse of heaven, they envie
the Elect, yet their re∣pentance
doth them no good,
for they cannot mend their
waies.
As he was thus speak∣ing,
hee observed divers
flies that came about him,
and some lighted on him:
Behold (said hee) now
descriptionPage 69
also* 1.12 Belzebub comes to
his banquet, you shall short∣ly
see my end, and in mee an
example to manie of the ju∣stice
& judgement of God.
About this time came
in two Bishops with di∣vers
Schollers of the
Vniversity, one of them
being Paulus Vergerius,
having observed Spira
more then any other, bee∣ing
continually conver∣sant
with him, told him
his estate was such, as ra∣ther
stood in need of Pray∣er
then advice; and there∣fore
desired him to pray
with him in the Lords
descriptionPage 70
Prayer; Spira consented,
and he began.
Our Father which art in
heaven,) then breaking
forth into teares, he stop∣ped;
but they said, it is
well, your griefe is a good
signe:
I bewaile (said
he) my miserie, for I
perceive I am forsaken
of God, and cannot call
to him from my heart,
as I was wont to doe; yet
let us goe on, said Verge∣rius.
Thy Kingdome come;)
O Lord (said Spira)
bring mee also into this
Kingdome; I beseech
descriptionPage 71
thee shut mee not out.
Then comming to those
words; Give us this day
our daily bread; he added;
O Lord, I have enough
and abundance to feed
this carkeise of mine;
but there is another
bread, I humbly begge
the bread of thy grace;
without which, I know
I am but a dead man.
Leade us not into temp∣tation;)
seeing Lord
that I am brought into
temptation, helpe mee
Lord that I may escape;
the enemie hath over∣come;
helpe mee, I be∣seech
descriptionPage 72
thee, to overcome
this cruell Tyrant.
These things hee spake
with a mournfull voyce,
the teares trickling down
abundantly; and expres∣sing
such affection and
passion, as turned the
bowels of those there
present, with griefe and
compunction; they then
turning to Spira, said:
You know that none can
call Christ Iesus the Lord,
but by the Holie Ghost:
you must therefore think
of your selfe according to
that soft affection, which
you expresse in your
descriptionPage 73
prayers, inferring there∣by
that God hath not
wholly cast you off; or
bereaved you of his Spirit
utterly.
I perceive (said Spi∣ra)
that I call on him to
my eternall damnation;
for I tell you againe, it is a
new and unheard of example
that you finde in me: If Iu,
das (said they) had but
outlived his dayes, which
by nature hee might have
done; hee might have
repented, and Christ
would have received him
to mercie; and yet hee
sinned most grievously
descriptionPage 74
against his Master, which
did so esteeme of him, as
to honour him with the
dignitie of an Apostle, and
did maintaine and feed
him: Hee answered,
Christ did also feed and
honour mee, neither yet
is my fault one jot lesse
then that of his; be∣cause
it is not more ho∣nour
to bee personally
present with Christ in
the flesh, then to bee in
his presence now by il∣lumination
of his holy
Spirit: and besides, I
denie that ever Iudas
could have repented,
descriptionPage 75
how long soever he had
lived; for grace was
quite taken from him,
as it is now from mee.
O Spira (said they) you
know you are in a spiri∣tuall
desertion; you must
therefore not beleeve what
Satan suggests; hee was
ever a lyar from the be∣ginning,
and a meere Im∣postour,
and will cast a
thousand lying fancies in∣to
your minde, to beguile
you withall; you must ra∣ther
beleeve those whom
you judge to be in a good
estate, and more able to
discerne of you then your
descriptionPage 76
selfe; beleeve us, and wee
tell you, that God will be
mercifull unto you.
O here is the knot (said
Spira) I would I could be∣leeve;
But I cannot.
Then he began to rec∣kon
up what fearefull
dreames and visions, hee
was continually trou∣bled
withall; that hee
saw the divels come floc∣king
into his Chamber,
and about his bed, ter∣rifying
him with strange
noises; that these were
not fancies, but that hee
saw them as really as
the standers by; and that
descriptionPage 77
besides these outward
terrours, hee felt continu∣ally,
a racking torture of
his minde, and a continu∣all
butchery of his consci∣ence,
being the very pro∣per
pangs of the damned
wights in hell.
Cast these fancies (said
Gribauldus) these are but
illusions, humble your
selfe in the presence of
God, and praise him.
The dead praise not
the Lord (answered he)
nor they that goe down
into the pit:* 1.13 wee that
are drowned in de∣spaire,
are dead and
descriptionPage 78
are already gone downe
into the pit: what hell
can there be worse then
desperation; or what
greater punishment? the
gnawing worme, un∣quenchable
fire, hor∣rour;
confusion, and
(which is worse then
all) desperation it selfe
continually tortures me;
and now I count my
present estate worse
then if my soule (sepa∣rated
from my body)
were with Iudas and
the rest of the damned;
and therefore, I now
desire rather to be there,
descriptionPage 79
then thus to live in the
body.
One being present, re∣peated
certaine words out
of the Psalmes:* 1.14 If thy
children forsake my law
and walk not in my judg∣ments;
I will visite their
transgressions with rods,
and their iniquities with
stripes; neverthelesse my
loving kindnesse I will
not utterly take from
them, nor suffer my faith∣fulnesse
to faile: Marke
this, O Spira, my Cove∣nant
I will not breake.
These promises (said
Spira) belong onely to the
descriptionPage 80
elect, which if tempted, may
fall into sin, but are againe
lifted up and recovered out:
as the Prophet saith, though
he fall, he shall not be utter∣ly
cast downe, for the Lord
uphouldeth him: Therefore
Peter could rise, for he was
Elected, but the reprobate
when they fall cannot rise a∣gaine,
as appeares in Cain,
Saule, and Iudas: God
deales one way with the
Elect, and another way with
Reprobates.
The next day hee pray∣ed
with them in the La∣tine
tongue, and that with
excellent affection, as out∣wardly
descriptionPage 81
appeared, blessed
bee God (said Vergerius)
these are no signes of e∣ternall
reprobation: you
must not O Spira, seeke
out the secret counsels of
Gods election and re∣probation,
for no man
can know so long as hee
lives, whether by his
good or bad deeds, hee
bee worthy of Gods love
or anger:* 1.15 doe you not
know that the Prophet
David complained, that
God had cast off his
Soule.
I know all this (quoth
Spira) I know the mercies
descriptionPage 82
of God are infinite, and doe
surpasse the sinnes of the
whole world, and that they
are effectuall to all that be∣leeve,
but this faith, and this
hope, is the gift of God; O
that hee would give it mee;
but it is as impossible as to
drinke up the Sea at a
draught: as for that of So∣lomon,
if hee had ever tri∣ed
that which I feele by woe∣full
experience; hee would
never have spoken as he did;
but the truth is, never had
mortall man, such an evi∣dent
experience of Gods an∣ger
and hatred against him,
as I have; you that are in a
descriptionPage 83
good estate, thinke repen∣tance
and faith to be workes
of great facilitie, and there∣fore
you thinke it an easie
matter to perswade a man to
beleeve; the whole need not
the Physician; and hee that
is well, can soone give coun∣sell
to such as are ill; but this
is the hell to mee, my heart is
hardned, I cannot beleeve;
many are called, but few are
chosen.
Vpon what grounds
(said they) doe you con∣ceive
so ill an opinion of
your selfe?
I once did know God
to bee my Father, not
descriptionPage 84
onely by creation; but
by regeneration, I knew
him by his beloved
Sonne, the authour and
finisher of our Salvati∣on;
I could pray to him,
and hope for pardon of
sinnes from him; I had
a taste of his sweet∣nesse,
peace, and com∣fort:
now contrarily,
I know God not as a
Father but as an enemy;
what more? my heart
hates God, and seekes to
get above him: I have
nothing else to flie to
but terrour & despaire.
Belike you thinke then
descriptionPage 85
(said they) that those
who have the earnest and
first fruits of Gods Spirit,
may notwithstanding fall
away?
The judgements of
God are a deepe abisse,
(said he) wee are soone
drowned if we enter in∣to
them; he that thinks
he standeth, let him take
heed lest hee fall: as for
my selfe, I know I am
falne backe; and that
I once did know the
truth; though it may
be not so throughly: I
know not what else to
say, but that I am one of
descriptionPage 86
that number, which
God hath threatned to
teare in pieces.
Say not so (answered
they) for God may come,
though at the last houre;
keepe hold therefore, at
the least by hope.
This (quoth he) is my
case I tell you I cannot,
God hath deprived mee
of hope; this brings ter∣ror
to my minde, and
pines this hodie which
now is so weake, as it
cannot performe the se∣verall
offices thereof:* 1.16
for as the Elect have the
Spirit testifying that
descriptionPage 87
they are the sonnes of
God, so the Reprobates
even while they live, do
often feele a worme in
their conscience, where∣by
they are condemned
already, and therefore
as soone as I perceived
this wound inflicted on
my minde and will, I
I knew that I wanted
the gifts of saving grace,
and that I was utterly
undone;* 1.17 God chasteneth
his children with tem∣porarie
afflictions,* 1.18 that
they may come as gold
out of the fire; but pu∣punisheth
the wicked
descriptionPage 88
with blindnesse in their
understandings, & hard∣nesse
of heart; and woe
be to such, from whom
God takes his holie Spi∣rit.
Here one rebuked him,
and told him, he gave too
much credit to sence, that
hee was not to beleeve
himselfe, but rather him
that was in a good estate,
and I testifie to you (said
he) that God will be mer∣cifull
to you.
Nay (answered he) for
because I am in this ill e∣state;
therfore can I beleeve
nothing but what is contrarie
descriptionPage 89
to my salvation and comfort;
but you that are so confident
of your good state, looke that
it bee true, for it is no such
small matter to be assured of
sinceritie: a man had need
bee exceeding stronglie
grounded in the Truth, be∣fore
hee can bee able to af∣firme
such a matter as you
now doe; it is not the per∣formance
of a few outward
duties, but a mightie con∣stant
labour, with all inten∣tion
of heart and affection;
with full desire and endea∣vour,
continually to set forth
Gods glorie; there must bee
neither feare of Legates,
descriptionPage 90
Inquisitors, Prisons, nor
anie death whatsoever; ma∣nie
thinke themselves hap∣pie
that are not; it is not e∣very
one that saith, Lord,
Lord; that shall goe to
heaven.
They came another day
and found him with his
eyes shut, as if hee had
beene drowzie, and verie
loath to discourse; at
which time there came in
also a grave man from
Cittadella; who deman∣ded
of Spira, if hee knew
him,* 1.19 or not; he lifting up
his eye-lids and not sud∣denly
remembring him,
descriptionPage 91
the man said to him; I
am Presbiter Antonie
Fontanina; I was with
you at Venice, some 8.
weeks since:
O cur∣sed
day (sayd Spira) O
cursed day: O that I
had never gone thi∣ther,
would God I
had then died.
Afterwards came in a
Priest called Bernardi∣nus
Sardoneus: bringing
with him a booke of
Exorcismes, to conjure
this divell: whom when
Spira saw, shaking his
head he said:
I am verily perswa∣ded
descriptionPage 92
indeed, that God
hath left mee to the
power of the divells:
but such they are, as
are not to be found in
your Letanie: neither
will they be cast out by
spels:
The Priest pro∣ceeding
in his intended
purpose; with a strange
uncouth gesture, and a
loud voice, adjured the
Spirit to come into Spi∣ra's
tongue, and to an∣swer:
Spira deriding his
fruitlesse labour, with a
sigh turned from him.
A Bishop being there
present, said to Spira,
descriptionPage 93
brother God hath put
vertue into the Word
and Sacraments: and
wee have used the one
means, and find not that
effect which we desire:
shall we trie the efficacie
of the Sacraments, surely
if you take it as a true
Christian ought to re∣ceive,
the body and
bloud of Christ, it will
proove a soveraigne me∣dicine
for your sicke
soule.
This I cannot do
(answered hee) for
they that have no right
to the promises, have
descriptionPage 94
no right to the seales:
the Eucharist was ap∣pointed
onely for be∣leevers:
if wee have
not faith, we eate and
drinke judgement to
our selves:* 1.20 I received
it about a moneth
since, but I did not
well in so doing, for
I tooke it by con∣straint,
and so I tooke
it to my deeper con∣demnation.
Here Vergerius began
to importune him ear∣nestly
to beware, that
he did not wilfully resist
grace, & put himself out
descriptionPage 95
of haven: charging him
vehemently, by all the
love that was betweene
them: by the love which
hee bare to his chil∣dren,
yea to his owne
soule: that he would set
himselfe seriously, to re∣turne
to that faith and
hope, which once hee
had in the death of
Christ, with many such
like words: Spira ha∣ving
heard much of the
like matter formerlie:
& being somewhat mo∣ved,
said,
You do but
repeat Vergerius, what
should I hope? why
descriptionPage 96
should I beleeve? God
hath taken faith from
mee: shew mee then
whither I shall goe:
shew mee a haven
whereto I shall retire:
you tell mee of Gods
mercy, when as God
hath cast mee off: you
tell mee of Christs in∣tercession,
I have de∣nied
him: you com∣mand
mee to beleeve,
I say I cannot: you
bring mee no com∣fort:
your command
is as impossible for
me to obey, as to keep
the Morall Law: if
descriptionPage 97
you should perswade
one to love God, with
all his heart, soule and
strength; and God
gives him not the
power, can he per∣forme
your desire?
doth not the church
teach us to sing; direct
us, O Lord, to love thy
commandements: hy∣pocrites
say that they
love God with all
their heart, but they
lye: for my part, I will
not lye, but tell you
plainely; such is my
case, that though you
should never so much
descriptionPage 98
much importune mee
to hope or beleeve,
though I desire it, yet
I cannot: for God (as
a punishment of my
wickednesse) hath ta∣ken
away from me all
his saving graces;
faith, hope, and all:
I am not the man
therefore that you take
mee for: belike you
thinke I delight in
this estate; if I could
conceive but the least
sparke of hope of a
better estate hereaf∣ter,
I would not re∣fuse
to endure the
descriptionPage 99
most heavie weight
of the wrath of that
great God; yea, for
twenty thousand years,
so that I might at
length attaine to the
end of that misery,
which I now know
will bee eternall; but
I tell you, my will
is wounded: who
longs more to be∣leeve
then I doe? but
all the ground-worke
of my hope is quite
gone; for if the te∣stimonies
of holy
Scripture bee true (as
they are most certainly
descriptionPage 100
true) is not this as
true: whosoever de∣nies
mee before men,
him (saith Christ) will
I denie before my Fa∣ther
which is in hea∣ven?
is not this proper∣ly
my case, as if it had
purposely beene in∣tended
against this ve∣ry
person of mine? &
I pray you, what shall
become of such as
Christ denieth; seeing
there is no other
Name under heaven,
whereby you looke to
bee saved? what saith
Saint Paul to the
descriptionPage 101
Hebrewes?* 1.21 It is im∣possible
for those who
were once enlightned,
and have tasted of the
heavenly gift, & were
made partakers of the
Holie Ghost, if they
fall away, to be renu∣ed
to repentance: what
can be more plaine a∣gainst
me? Is not that
Scripture also; if wee
sinne wilfully after
wee have received the
Knowledge of the
truth,* 1.22 there remaineth
no more sacrifice for
sinne; but a certaine
looking for of judge∣ment:
descriptionPage 102
the Scripture
speakes of mee, Saint
Paul means me, S.
Peter tels me,* 1.23 it had
been better I had not
knowne the way of
Righteousnesse, then
after I have knowne,
to turne from the holy
commandement: if it
had beene better I had
not known, and yet
then my condemna∣tion
had beene most
certaine: doe you not
see evidently, that I
have wilfully denied
the known truth;
may justly expect not
descriptionPage 103
onely damnation, but
worse, if worse may
be imagined: God
will have mee under∣goe
the just punish∣ment
of my sinne, and
make mee an example
of his wrath for your
sakes.
The company pre∣sent,
admired his dis∣course,
so grievously ac∣cusing
himselfe of his
fore-past life; so gravely
and wisely dilating, con∣cerning
the judgements
of God, that they then
were convinced, that
it was not frenzie or
descriptionPage 104
madnesse, that had pos∣sessed
him: and being
as it were, in admirati∣on
of his estate, Spira
proceeded againe in this
manner, Take heed to
your selves, it is no light or
easie matter to bee a Chri∣stian;
it is not baptisme,
or reading of the Scrip∣tures,
or boasting of faith
in Christ (though even
these are good) that can
proove one to be an abso∣lute
Christian: you know
what I said before, there
must be a conformity in
life; a Christian must bee
strong, unconquerable,
descriptionPage 105
not carrying an obscure
profession, but resolute;
expressing the image of
Christ, and holding out
against all opposition to
the last breath: hee must
give all diligence by righ∣teousnesse,
and holinesse, to
make his calling and ele∣ction
sure; many there are
that snatch at the promises
in the Gospel, as if they
undoubtedly did belong to
them, and yet they remaine
sluggish, and carelesse,
and beeing flattered by
the things of this present
world, they passe in their
course in quietnesse and
descriptionPage 106
securitie, as if they were the
onely happie men; whom
neverthelesse the Lord in
his providence hath ordai∣ned
to eternall wrath; as
you may see in S. Lukes
rich man,* 1.24 thus it was with
mee, therefore take heed.
Then came one of his
Nephews and offered
him some sustenance,
which he disdainfully
refusing, so moved the
youngmans choler, that
hee charged him with
hypocrisie and dissimu∣lation,
or frenzie; to
whom Spira gravely an∣swering,
said:
descriptionPage 107
You may interpret the
matter as you will; but I am
sure, I am not only the A∣ctor,
but the argument, and
matter of the Tragedy;
I would it were frenzie,
either fained or true; for
if it were fained, I could
put it off at pleasure; if
it were a reall frenzy, yet
there were some hope left
of Gods mercie, whereas
now there is none; for I
know that God hath pro∣nounced
mee an enemie,
and guiltie of high Trea∣son
against his Majestie;
I am a cast-away, a vas∣saile
of wrath: yet dare
descriptionPage 108
you call it dissembling and
frenzie; and can mocke
at the formidable exam∣ple
of the heavie wrath of
God, that should teach you
feare and terrour; but it
is naturall to the flesh, ei∣ther
out of malice or igno∣rance,
to speake perversly
of the workes of God, the
naturall man discerneth
not of the things that are
of God, because they are
spiritually discerned.
How can this be (said
Gribauldus) that you can
thus excellently dis∣course
of the judge∣ments
of God, and of
descriptionPage 109
the graces of his holie
Spirit, that you finde the
want of them, and ear∣nestly
desire them; and
yet you thinke you
are utterly deprived of
them.
Take this for certaine
(said hee) I want the
maine grace of all, and
that which is absolutely ne∣cessarie;
and God doth ma∣ny
times extort most true
and strange testimonies of
his Majesties justice and
mercie; yea out of the
mouthes of verie repro∣bates,
for even Iudas, af∣ter
hee had betrayed his
descriptionPage 110
Master,* 1.25 was constrained
to confesse his sinne, and
to justifie the innocencie
of Christ; and therefore
if I doe the like, it is no
new or strange matter:
God hath taken faith from
mee, and left mee other
common gifts, for my dee∣per
condemnation; by how
much the more I remem∣ber
what I had, and heare
others discourse of what
they have, by so much the
more is my torment, in that
I know what I want, and
how there is no way to bee
relieved.
Thus spake hee, the
descriptionPage 111
teares all the while
trickling downe; pro∣fessing
that his pangs
were such, as that the
damned wights in hell
endure not the like mi∣serie;
that his estate was
worse, then that of Cain
or Iudas; and therefore
hee desired to die: yet
behold (saith hee) the
Scriptures are accomplish∣ed
in mee;* 1.26they shall desire
to die, and death shall flie
from them; and verily,
hee seemed exceedingly
to feare, lest his life
should bee drawne out
to a longer thread: and
descriptionPage 112
finding no ease, or rest,
ever and anone cried
out: O miserable wretch;
O miserable wretch; then
turning to the Com∣pany;
hee besought
them in this manner.
O Brethren, take a di∣ligent
heed to your life;
make more account of the
gifts of Gods spirit then I
have done, learne to be∣ware
my misery, thinke not
you are assured Christians,
because you understand
something of the Gospel;
take heed you grow not
secure on that ground; be
constant and immoveable
descriptionPage 113
in the maintaining of your
profession, confesse even
untill death if you be called
thereto: he that loveth
father,* 1.27 mother, brothers,
sisters, sons, daughters,
kindred, houses, lands,
more then Christ, is not
worthie of him.
These words (said
they) doe not sound like
the words of a wicked
Reprobate.
I doe but herein imi∣tate
(said Spira) the rich
Glutton in the Gospel, who
though in hell; yet was
carefull that his brethren
should not come to that
descriptionPage 114
place of torment: and I
say to you Brethren, take
heed of this miserable e∣state
wherein I am.
Then turning him∣selfe
to certaine young
men that were present,
hee desired them to con∣ceive
him aright:
I
doe not speak this, to
derogate from the cer∣taintie
of saving faith,
and the promises of
the Gospel, for they
are most sure; but
take heed of relying
on that Faith that
works not a holy and
unblameable life, wor∣thy
descriptionPage 115
of a beleever;
credit mee, it will
faile, I have tried it:
I presumed I had got∣ten
the right faith, I
preached it to others,
I had all places of
Scripture in memorie,
that might support it:
I thought my selfe
sure, and in the meane
time, living impious∣ly
and carelesly, be∣hold,
now the judge∣ments
of God have o∣vertaken
mee, not to
correction, but to con∣demnation;
and now
you would have mee
descriptionPage 116
to beleeve, but it will
not bee; for I feele
too late; that good
things belong onely
to such as are good;
whose sinnes are co∣vered
with Christs
death and bloud, as
with a vaile, and
guarded with his righ∣teous
merits from the
floud of Gods warth,
even as with a mightie
wall; left miserable
mortals should bee
swallowed up with
the greatnesse of their
sinnes: But as for
mee, I have as it were
descriptionPage 117
wilfully with mine
hands pulled downe
this rampire; behind
which I might have
rested in safetie; and
now are the swelling
waters come even to
my soule: and I am
cast away.
One of his familiar
friends chanced to say,
that certainly he was o∣vercome
with melan∣choly;
which being o∣verheard,
Spira answe∣red:
Well, bee it so, see∣ing
you will needs
have it so; for thus
descriptionPage 118
also is Gods wrath
manifested against me
in that hee hath taken
from mee the use of
mine understanding
and reason, so as I
can neither rightly e∣steeme
and judge of
my distemper, nor
hope of remedie: you
see Brethren, what a
dangerous thing it is,
to stoppe or stay in
things that concerne
Gods glorie: especi∣ally
to dissemble upon
anie termes: what a
fearefull thing is it to
be neare, and almost a
descriptionPage 119
Christian; never was
the like example to
this of mine: and
therefore if you bee
wise, you will seri∣ously
consider therof;
Oh that God would
let loose his hand from
me; that it were with
me now, as in times
past; I would scorn the
threats of the most
cruell Tyrants, beare
torments with invin∣cible
resolution, and
glorie in the outward
profession of Christ,
till I were choked in
the flame, and my
descriptionPage 120
body consumed to a∣shes.
You say you are de∣sperate,
O Spira (said
they) why then doe you
not strive with some
weapon or other, vio∣lently
to make an end of
your life, as desperate
men use to doe? Let mee
have a sword (sayd Spi∣ra)
why what would
you doe with it (quoth
they) I cannot tell you
(said hee) what this
minde would move me to
upon occasion; nor what I
would doe.
They perceiving smal
descriptionPage 121
effect of all this their la∣bour;
but rather that he
grew worse: for the a∣voiding
of concourse of
people; for everie day
seldome fewer then 20▪
continued with him, &
to stop the course of
fame, which was con∣tinually
blowne abroad
of him; they consult to
carry him backe againe
into his owne coun∣trey:
and those his
friends that came to
comfort him, began to
take their leaves of him:
Vergerius among the rest,
required that at their
descriptionPage 122
parting they might pray
together with him: Spi∣ra
hardly consented,
and as unwillingly per∣formed:
for hee said,
My heart is estranged
from God, I cannot
call him Father from
my heart; all good
motions are now quite
gone, my heart is full
of malediction, ha∣tred,
and blasphemy
against God; I finde I
grow more and more
hardned in heart, and
cannot stoope nor
helpe my selfe; your
prayers for mee shall
descriptionPage 123
turne to your owne
benefit, they can doe
mee no good.
Vergerius came to
take his leave of him,
whom Spira embracing,
said,
Although I know
that nothing can bring
any benefit to mee a
Reprobate; but that
every thing shall tend
to my deeper condem∣nation;
yet I give you
most hearty thankes,
for your kinde office
of love and good will;
and the Lord returne
it unto you with a
descriptionPage 124
plentifull increase of
all good.
The next day being
brought downe to his
intended Iourney, by
the way looking round
about him with a ghast∣ly
looke, he saw a knife
lying on a Table, to
which he running hasti∣ly
snatched hold of; as
intending to mischiefe
himselfe; but his friends
laying hold of him,
stopped him in his pur∣pose:
whereupon with
indignation, hee said,
I would I were, above
descriptionPage 125
God, for I know hee
will have no mercy
on me.
Thus went he home∣wards,
often saying,
that the envied the con∣dition
of Cain and Iudas:
hee lay about 8. weekes
in this case, in a continu∣all
burning, neither de∣siring,
nor receiving a∣ny
thing but by force,
and that without dis∣gestion:
so spent, that
hee appeared a perfect
Anatomie; expressing
to the view, nothing
but sinewes and bones;
descriptionPage 126
vehemently raging for
drinke; ever pining, yet
fearefull to live long;
dreadfull of hell, yet co∣veting
death; in a con∣tinuall
torment, yet his
own tormentour: and
thus consuming him∣selfe
with griefe and
horrour, impatience, &
despaire; like a living
man in Hell; hee repre∣sented
an extraordinary
example of the justice
and power of God: and
thus (as farre as appea∣reth)
within a few dayes
after his arrivall at his
descriptionPage 127
owne home, he depar∣ted
this present life. Yet
an occasion to make us
remember, that secret
things belong unto the
Lord our God; but cha∣ritie
to man, to teach
him to hope all things.
descriptionPage 128
EXtraordinary exam∣ples
of Divine Iu∣stice,
God never inten∣ded
for a nine dayes
wonder: else would hee
when hee exemplifi'd
Lots wife have turned
her into a statue of melt∣ing
snow, not of lasting
salt; which stood as
Iosephus tells us, till his
age, after the destruction
of Ierusalem: and as
some Travellers report,
till at this day: ut quod∣dam
descriptionPage 129
hominibus praestaret
condimentum quo sapiant
unde illud caveatur ex∣emplum;
Aug. de. civit.
Dei. lib. 16. c. 30. for a
season against corrup∣tion,
a preservative a∣gainst
Apostacie. This
Tragedy, when fresh
and new, was the con∣version
and confirma∣tion
of sundry Worth∣ies:
Vergerius a daily
spectator thereof, forsa∣king
a rich Bishopricke
of Iustinopolis, and tents
of Antichrist; went
to Basil, and dyed a
descriptionPage 130
worthy Protestant: ma∣ny
Nations had Eye∣witnesses
of their owne
Students, then in the
Vniversitie of Padua
who penned the Story,
the Copies wherof are
frequently revived: our
English ones were very
defective, and now
worne out of shoppes
and hands, sundry ma∣nuscripts
of this abroad
imperfect; which mo∣ved
mee to compare this
labour of a worthy
Gentleman (who faith∣fully
translated it out of
descriptionPage 131
Italian, French, and
Dutch Letters) with the
Latine of Caelius Secun∣dus,
Curio, Mattheus Gri∣bauldus,
professors of
the Civill Law in Pa∣dua:
Sigismund Gelous a
Transilvanian, Henricus
Scotus, all daily visitors
of Spira, and finde it ac∣cord
with them. Tou∣ching
Spiraes person, I
finde (most learned wri∣ters)
to incline to the
right, and hopefull
hand: moved by his
sweet, humble, and cha∣ritable
speeches: some
few desperate ones ex∣cepted,
descriptionPage 132
that fell from
him in some little ago∣nies,
which kept him
fasting and watching a∣bout
six moneths space,
eating nothing but what
was forced downe his
throat. The sum of Cal∣vins
and Borrhaus their
their counsels (who
writ largely of the use
of this pattern) is that all
learne to take heed of
backe-sliding, which
Gods soule abhorres;
and not to dally with
Conscience, and hell on
earth, if justly incen∣sed;
more to be feared
descriptionPage 133
then the Spanish Inqui∣sition,
or all the Strap∣padoes
and torments in
the world; and to take
heed of Spira's princi∣pall
Errors; which were
to dispute with Satan
over busily in time of
weakenesse: especially
to reason, and con∣clude
from present
sense: to Gods past
Reprobation, and fu∣ture
Damnation: both
which is hard, if pos∣sible
for any man to
determine in his owne,
much more in others
cases: so commending
descriptionPage 134
thee to his grace who is
able to establish thee to
the end: I bid thee fare∣well,
and hope well,
while the space of Grace
lasteth, Dum spiras spe∣ra:
so mayest thou take
good and no hurt, by
the reading of this terri∣ble
example.