The theatre of Gods judgements wherein is represented the admirable justice of God against all notorious sinners ... / collected out of sacred, ecclesiasticall, and pagan histories by two most reverend doctors in divinity, Thomas Beard ... and Tho. Taylor ...

CHAP. III. That Great men which will not abide to be admonished of their faults, cannot escape punishment by the hand of God.

IN this poore and miserable estate every man rocketh him∣selfe asleep, and flattereth his owne humour, every man pursueth his accustomed course of life, with an obstinate minde to doe evill: yea many of those that have power and authority over others, according as they are indued and perswaded with a foolish conceit of them∣selves, make themselves beleeve, that for them every thing is lawfull, and that they may doe whatsoever they please; never imagining, that they shall give up an account of their actions, to receive any cha∣stisement or correction for them; even as though there were no God at all that did behold them. And being thus abused by this vaine and fickle security, they swimme in their sinnes, and plunge them∣selves over head and eares in all kinde of security; giving hearty wel∣come and entertainment to all that approve and applaud their man∣ners, and that study to feed and please their humour. As contrariwise none lesse welcome unto them, than they that tell them of their faults, and contradict them never so little: for they cannot abide in any case to bee reprooved, whatsoever they doe. And now adayes every base companion will forsooth storme and fume as soone, if hee be reproved of a fault, as if hee had received the greatest wrong in the world: so much is every man pleased with himselfe, and puffed up with his owne vice and foolish vanities. And what should a man doe in this case? It is as hard to redresse those great mischiefes, as if wee should goe about to stop and hinder the course of a mighty streame there where the banke or causey is broken downe: if it bee not by applying extreame and desperate medicines, as to de∣sperate diseases, which are as it were given over by the Physitian, and to the which a light purgation will doe no good. For as for admonitions and warnings, they are not a whit regarded: but they that give them, are derided or laughed to scorne, or reviled for their labours. What must wee therefore doe? it is necessary that

wee assay by all means to bring these men (if it be possible) to some mo∣desty and feare of God; which if it cannot bee done by willing and gentle means, force and violence must be used to plucke them out of the fire of Gods wrath, to the end they be not consumed: if not all, yet at least those that are not grown to that height of stubbornnesse, and of whom there is yet left some hope of amendment. For even as when a Captaine hath not prevailed by summoning a city to yeeld up it selfe, he by and by placeth his cannon against their walls, to put them in seare; in like sort must we bring forth against the proud and high minded men of this world, an army of Gods terrible judgements throwne downe by mighty and puissant hand on the wicked, more terrible and searefull than all the roaring or double canons in the World, whereby the most proud are destroyed and consumed even in this life, all their pride and power, how great soever it be, being not able to turne backe the vengeance of God from lighting upon their heads, to their utter destruction and confusion. And it is ma∣nifest by infinite examples. Now because that the nature of man is fleshly, and given to be touched with things that are presented before their faces, or hath been done before time; it is a more forcible motive to stirre them up, than that which as yet cannot be made manifest, but is to come. There∣fore I purpose here to set down the great and fearfull judgments, wherwith God hath already plagued many in this world, especially them of high degree, whose example will serve for a glasse both for these that live now, or shall live hereafter. And to the end that the justice of God may more cleerely appeare and shew it selfe in such strange events; before we go any further, we will run over certaine necessary points concerning this matter.