VVits theater of the little world

Of Prayers & Thanksgiuing. The Maker and Redeemer of the world, di•• vse great measure in all things, except in pray∣ing, wherein hee was alwayes long, which he shewed most cleerely in Gethsemany, where ho•• much the more the agonie did oppresse him, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 much the more did he enlarge his prayers.

THE Hebrewes called the 100. and 1•• Psalme, and the next sixe following the great Alleluya, vvhich the Apostles sayd fo•• grace at Easter and Pentecost.

The first earthly man of the Hebrewes, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 called Adam, as homo tanquam ex humo, th•• other heauenly of the Chaldeans, Enoch which signifieth true man, or that man whic•• hath vndertaken, and hopeth to call vpo•• God. Ambrosius.

Iacobus minor, the sonne of Ioseph brothe•• of Christ, was so like him, that in the betray∣••ng,

for feare they should mistake, Iudas ••aue him a kisse; his knees with continuall ••rayer, became as hard as a Cammels hoofe.

Bartholomew the Apostle, by his prayers, ••estored the destracted daughter of Polemi∣••s King of India, to her former sences. Ma∣••ullus.

Arcadius was called of Chrisostome, the ••ost Christian and godly Prince, who a litle ••efore his death wone estimation of holines, ••ot without the admiration of a great multi∣••ude, saued from destruction by his prayers. Theodorus. P. Diaconus.

God gaue Narsetes victory, more through ••he zealous prayers that he vsed, then his ••orce and valour; he neuer went to Sea, nor ••egan any battaile, nor determined of warre, ••or mounted on horseback, but first he went ••o the temple and serued God. Blondus.

The Emperour Heraclius, after his warres ••ere ended, entered Constantinople, sitting ••n a Chariot without ornaments, and openly ••aue thanks to the Sonne of God for his ••reat victories. Orosius.

Tiberius that vertuous Emperour, being ••riuen to a blessed necessity, as he walked in ••he midst of his Pallace, he saw at his feete a ••arble stone, vvhich was in forme of the

crosse; and because he thought it religious to spurne it with his feete, he caused it to be taken vp, and vnder that found another, and so a third of the same forme, which when that was taken vp, there was found two millions of Duckets, for the which he thanked God.

Marcus Aurelius hauing felt the helpe of Christian prayers, ceased his persecution. Eusebius.

Prayers are of the Poets fayned, to be the daughters of Iupiter, because Kings & great men haue a number of followers and sutors. Orpheus.

Apollo being praied vnto to sing an Him•••• to the great GOD, began vvith this verse, VVhich made the first man and called him A∣dam. Iustinus Martyr.

The lessons of Pythagoras, Plato, and thei•• Disciples, began and ended with prayers.

The Brachmans among the Indians, & th•• Magi among the Persians, neuer began any thing without praying vnto God.

Cleanthes in his Iambicke verses, praye•• God to vouchsafe to guide him by his cause, which guideth all things in order, the which cause he calleth destiny, and the cause of cau∣ses. Simplicius.

Pray said Nestor to his children, for vnlesse

God helpe vs, we shall all perish. Homer.

The Romaines after many great victories, ••etermined to make a very rich crowne of ••old, and offer it to Apollo, but the common ••reasure being poore, the vvomen defaced ••heir Owches and Iewels to make it with all, ••or which, they had graunted three things to ••eare on their heads, garlands of flowers, to goe in chariots, and openly to the feasts of ••he Gods.

Theseus asked of the Gods three things, good fortune, want of inward sorrow, & such glory as was neither false, counterfaite, nor ••ained: of three other boones which he pray∣ed of Neptune, the third was, in his fury cur∣••ing his sonne Hyppolitus, and wishing his violent death, which after it was granted, he repented him. Cicero.

Demonides hauing crooked feet, lost both of his shooes, where-vpon he desired God ••hat his shoone might serue his feet that had ••ound them.

VVhen Alcibiades was condemned by the Athenians, they commaunded the religious people of either sexe to curse him, which one of them refused to doe, saying, that they had entered religion not to make vniust, but iust prayers. Thucydides.

Sylla, Tiberius, Caligula, and Nero, neue•• could but commaund and kill, on the other side, Augustus, Titus, and Traianus, could not but pray and pardon, in such manner that they ouercame praying, as the other figh∣ting.

The Lacedemonians custome was, not to craue any thing of their Gods, but what was of importance and consequence, saying tha•• all smal matters were to be obtained by man•• industry.

Plinie in an oration he made in the prayse of Traiane, commended the custome of the Auntients, to make inuocation before the beginning of their work, and sayd, that there could be no assured nor wise beginning of a∣ny enterprise, without the especiall ayde and counsaile of God.

In Athence was a temple dedicated to Mer∣cy, which the Athenians kept so well watch∣ed and locked, that without leaue & licence of the Senate, none might enter therein; in this temple were only the Images of pittiful men, and none entered there to pray and doe sacrifice, but those that vvere pittifull Macrobius.

Isocrates prayed God to saue and keepe him from his friends, rather then his ene∣mies,

saying, of his enemies he could be wary, ••ecause I trust them not, so can I not of my ••••iends, because I haue assured confidence 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them.

Octauius prayed GOD that it might be ••yde, that by him the common wealth of ••ome was preserued from all danger, and at ••is death to carry with him that hope, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 might remaine many ages in that estate ••e left it. Suetonius.

A poore man craued an almes of the Em∣••erour Maximilian, and told him, that they ••ame both of one Father, to wit, Adam, and ••o consequently were brethren, desiring bro∣••herly to deale with him: to whom the Em∣••erour gaue a small peece of siluer, whereat ••hen he saw the poore man discontented, he told him, that he ought to take it in good worth, saying that if euery one of his bre∣••hren would giue him as much, he should ••uickly be richer then himselfe.

Anthony distressed by the King of Par∣••••ia, held vp his hands to heauen, saying, if a∣••y disdaine of GOD remayned of his for∣••er fortunes, hee desired it might fall vpon ••im, so the Romaine army might be freed, ••nd haue the victory. Appian.

Virginia the daughter of Virginius, for that

her Father was a Plebeian, was forbidden to doe sacrifice with other Romaine matrone in the temple of Chastity, wherfore she mad•• a temple of her own house to the Goddesse▪ for which, the Senate made her a Patritia•• Liuius.

Claudius defiled the faire matrone Obe••••∣na, as he found her praying in the temple 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Minerua, who condemned for sacriledge, e∣scaped punishment by bribes.

Brutus not satisfied in killing Caesar, mad•• his prayers vnto Iupiter, and the hoast 〈◊〉〈◊〉 heauen, to plague Caesar and his posterity.

VVhen the Cretans were vngently intrea∣ted of the Romaines, they did not pray 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their Gods to send them pestilence, warre and famine, or sedition, but that they woul•• suffer new customes, manners, and fashion to be brought amongst them.

The praier of old Cato, was that the cou•••• of pleas might bee set with linnes and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to take the professors of the braw•••••• study of law. Plutarch.

Alexander caused his Horse Bucephalus be buried; Augustus his Parrot; and Heli∣ogabalus his Sparrow▪ at whose obsequie•• hee prayed and caused the body to be em∣balmed.