A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 255. Of sawing Professors asunder.

A Seventh kind of persecution setteth out a second sort of death in this word, a 1.1 they were sawn asunder. The Greek word may seem to be derived from a noun that signifieth a b 1.2 saw. The word here is properly translated according to the usual succession thereof.

Some Authors do also use it more generally for any cutting or pulling asunder: as in the story of Susanna, where it is said the Angell waiteth with his sword, to cut thee in two, (v. 59.) this word is used in the Greek. It is also used about cutting off the tongue, and utmost parts of the eldest Sons body. 2 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 4. 7.

We do not read in sacred Scriptures, of any that were sawn asunder. But the* 1.3 Jewes among other their traditions have this, that the Prophet Isaiah was sawn asunder with a wooden saw, in the time of King Manasseh. Epiphanius in set∣ting out Isaiah's life noteth as much, so doth Hierom in the last close of the fif∣teenth Book of his Comment on Isaiah 57.

Whether that be true of Isaiah or no, most sure it is that some have after such a manner been Martyred, either by sawing them asunder, or by pulling the mem∣bers of their body asunder. This testimony of the Apostle is sufficient to assure us* 1.4 of the truth thereof, and it giveth an instance of the cruelty of Persecutors, which sheweth it self, even in the death of Martyrs. They think it not enough to tor∣ment them before hand, for trialls sake, to see if they can make them yield: no•…•… after that to take away their lives: but to take them away with bitter and gri•…•…∣vous torment: as sawing asunder, especially with a wooden saw. Thus Antio∣chus, after he had cut out the tongues, flead off the skinns, pull'd asunder many parts of the body of the seven Brethren, fried them in panns to death. The R•…•…∣man Persecutors dealt as cruelly with the Martyr St. Laurence, after they had

scourged him, and plucked off a great deal of his flesh with red hot pinchers, they broyl'd him to death on a gridiron. They rosted others to death on spits. They boil'd others to death in scalding lead. They brake the bones of others, and let them lie on engines till they died: other like cruell kinds of death they put others unto.

The ordinary kind of means whereby Papists put Martyrs to death is burning with fire, which is a cruell kind of death: especially as they used it: for some Martyrs were houres together burning in the fire, and some had limb after limb dryed up with the fire, before their breath was taken away. Some had barrells of pitch over their head set on fire, to drop down and scald them on their head and other parts. Some were hanged upon a Gibbet, with a pulley thereon, and a burning fire under them, into which they were let down till the lower part of their feet were burnt off: then drawn up, and let down again till other parts were consumed, and thus kept long under torment. Time will not suffer to set down all their kinds of cruelty. See §. 245.

The ground of all was their extreme hatred of truth: and malice against main∣tainers thereof: which made them cast out all bowells of pity: yea, it made them take a divelish delight in cruelty. Herein lieth a difference betwixt cruelty that tends to death, and that which is in death. The former may be to make men yield, but this is on malice, and a meer divelish disposition.

• 1. This giveth instance of the depth of mans corruption, which makes him as a Devill incarnate, worse than the most savage beasts. Some Tyrants have so far exceeded in cruelty, as they have hired men to invent instruments for cruell kinds of death. Phalar is among the Heathen is famous, or rather infamous for this. Perillus at his motion made a Bull of Brass, hollow within, which with fire might be heated red hot, and men put thereinto, their crying out for that torture seemed to be as the lowing of a Bull, and thereupon no pity taken of them. Other like things are noted of Dionysius, Rouser is and other tyrants.
• 2. These tortures do give demonstration of the unconceivable supportance and comfort of the Divine Spirit, whereby Martyrs have been enabled with patience to endure what cruelties could be inflicted on them: and in the midd'st of tor∣ments meekly and sweetly to commend their Spirits into Gods hand, to the worlds astonishment.
• 3. How should this stir us up patiently to bear smaller trialls? Yea, not to be affrighted or discouraged with any thing that man can do: but to rest upon this, that that God, who hath enabled his servants in former times, to endure such ex∣quisite tortures unto death, will enable us to endure what he shall bring us unto. Pertinent to this purpose is the advise of Christ, Luke 14. 4, 5.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. diffecti sunt.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  Jewes tradi∣tion of Isaiah's being sawen asunder.
• * 1.4

  Persecutors cruelty in the death of Mar∣tyrs.