armed her owne mouth, which had tasted, chewed, and swallowed that cur∣sed food, furiously to rise against her selfe to destroy her: so that she be∣came her owne murtherer, for she survived not long, by reason that her bowels and intrails were choaked up to the throat with paine.
Another woman well stricken in yeares, that in like manner had revol∣ted from the Truth, thrust her selfe notwithstanding into the assembly of the Faithfull, as they were receiving the holy Sacrament. But that holy food which nourished the soules of them that believed, turned to her bane; for she found there in stead of peace, a sword; in stead of norishment, deadly and mortall poison, in such sort, that immediately after the receit of that holy Supper, she began to be marvellously troubled and vexed in soule, and felt the hand of God so heavy upon her for her offence commit∣ted in denying her Saviour, to shun her persecution, that trembling and stamping she fell downe dead.
There was also in like manner a certain man, that having renounced his saith, did notwithstanding present himselfe at the celebration of the holy Supper, presuming to come and eat at his Table, whom he had a little be∣fore denied; but receiving into his hand part of the Sacrament as well as the rest, and thinking to put it into his mouth, it was turned into ashes: whereupon he stood amazed and confounded in himselfe, God manifesting in him, that hee that revoked his faith, and recoiled from Christ Jesus, Christ Jesus would recoile from him, & give him over to death, by depri∣ving him of his grace, and spoiling him of the power of his quickning and saving Spirit.
These are the fearfull examples of Gods Judgements, which Saint Cyprian reporteth to have light upon back sliders in his time; adding more∣over, that besides these, many were possessed of devils, robbed of their wits, and inraged with fury and madnesse, and all for this offence of A∣postasie.
Amongst all the examples of our age, of Gods severe justice upon Apo∣states, the example of Francis Spi••ra an Italian Lawyer, a man of credit and authority in his countrey, is most pitifull and lamentable; who having embraced the true Religion with marvellous zeal, and made open professi∣on of the same, feared not freely to declare his opinion of every point of Doctrine that came in question, and grew in knowledge every day more and more. But it was not long ere he was complained of to the Popes Em∣bassadour: which when he understood, and saw the danger wherein he was like to fall, after he had long debated and disputed the matter in his owne conscience, the counsell of the flesh and worldly wisedome prevailing, he resolved at last to goe to the Embassadour, to the intent to appease his wrath, and do whatsoever he should command. Thus comming to Venice, and over-ruled with immoderate fear, he confessed that he had done amisse, & craved pardon for the same, promising ever after to be an obedient sub∣ject to the Popes Lawes: and that which is more, when it was enjoyned him, that at his return home he should in his owne countrey openly recant his former profession, he refused not, but performed his recantation in due sort. But it chanced very soone after, that this miserable man fell sicke of body and soule, and began to dispaire of Gods mercy towards him. His Physitian perceiving his disposition, judged, that the cause of his bodies disease was a vehement conceit and thought of minde; and therefore