THE TRIUMPHS OF GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND EXECRABLE SINNE OF ( Willfull and Premeditated ) Murther .

With his Miraculous Discoveries , and severe Punishments thereof .

In Thirtie severall Tragicall Histories ( Digested into Sixe Bookes ) committed in divers Countries beyond the Seas , never published , or Imprinted in any other Language .

Histories which containe great varietie of mournfull and memorable Accidents , Historicall , Morall , and Divine , very necessary to restraine and deterre us from this bloodie Sinne , which in these our dayes makes so ample , and large a Progression .

With a Table of all the severall Letters and Challenges , contained in the whole sixe Bookes .

Written by IOHN REYNOLDS .

CHRISTIAN Reader , we cannot sufficiently bewaile the Iniquity of these last and worst dayes of the world , in which the crying and scarlet sinne of Murther makes so ample , and so bloody a progression : for we can now searce turne our eare or eye any where , but wee shall be enforced , either to heare with pitty the mournefull effects , or to see with griefe the lamentable Tragedies thereof : as if we now so much degenerated from our selves , or our hearts from our soules , to thinke that a a Psal 23. 1. Christ were no longer our Shepheard : b b Psal. 100. 3. or we the sheepe of his Pasture : or as if we were become such wretched and execrable Atheists , to beleeve c c Mat. 25. 34. 41 There were no Heaven , to reward the Righteous : or Hell , to punish the ungodly . But if we will divert our hearts from Earth to Heaven , and raise and erect our soules from Satan to God , we shall then not onely see what engendereth this Diabolicall passion in us : but also find the meanes to detest and roote it out from amongst us .

To which end it is requisite , wee first consider , that our enemies , who oppose our tranquillity in this life , and our felicity in that to come , are neither so few in number , nor so weake in power , that we should thinke our selves able to vanquish , ere we fight with them : for wee have to encounter with the bewitching World , the alluring Flesh , and the inticing Devill : not with three simple Souldiers or poore Pigmies , but with three valiant and puissant Chief-taines , subtill to incampe dangerous to assaile , and powerfull to fight .

The World , that it may bewitch us to its will , assailes us with Wealth , Riches , Dignities , Honours , Preferments , Sumptuous houses , perfumed Beds , Vessels of gold and silver , Pompous Apparell , Delicious fare , variety of sweet Musick , Dancing , Maskes and Stage-playes , delicate Horses , rich Coaches , and infinite Attendants , with a thousand other inticements and allurements .

The Flesh presents us with Youth , Beauty . The d d 1 Ioh. 2. 16. lust of the eye , and the pride of life : with e e Col. 3. 5. inordinate affection and lascivious desires , with a piercing eye , a vermillion cheeke , golden haire , and a slender waste : and although it discover us not all these perfections of nature in one personage : yet , he shewes us most of them in divers , and then if any thing want to captivate our affections , wee shall heare them marry their Syren voices , to their owne Lutes and Vialls , or their dancing feete to those of others : or if this will not suffice , then Perfuming , Powdering , Crisping , Painting , Amorous kisses , Sweet smiles , Suggered speeches , Wanton embracings , and Lascivious dalliance , will uudertake to play a World in love . On the other side , Strength , Nimblenesse , Agility of body , Sloth , Luxurie , Gluttonie , Intemperancie , Drunkennesse , Voluptuousnesse and Sensuality will cast us out so faire ( I meane so treacherous ) a lure , as if we stoope thereto , we shall buy our pleasure with repentance , and our delight therein , will prove our ruine and destruction .

And now , if neither the World , nor the flesh can intangle , or insnare our hearts , Then comes the Devill f f 1 Pet. 5 8. that roaring Lyon , who wa●…tes about , seeking whom he may devoure , that mortall enemy , and g g Revel. 12. 9. Arch-traytor to our soules , that h h Ioh 12. 31. Ephes. 6. 12. Prince of darkenesse , whose subtilty is the more dangerous , and malice the more fatall , in that he transformes himselfe into 〈◊〉 i i 2 Cor. 11. 14. Angell of light , thereby to make us heires and slaves of his obscure kingdome : yea , he will proffer us more , then either our tongues can demand , or our hearts desire : for all the pompe , treasure and pleasures of the World , yea , all that is in the World , and k k Luk. 4. 6. 7. the world it selfe , hee will prostrate and give us , if we will consent to obey him , and promise to fall downe and adore him ; and for a pledge of his infernall bounty and liberality , hee will puffe us up with Pride , Arrogancie , Ambition , Vaine-glory , Ostentation , Disdaine , Covetousnesse , Singularitie , Affectation , Confidence , Security ; and if all these allurements will not prevaile to subdue us , hee hath yet reserved Troopes and Forces , and another string to his Bow : for then exchanging his smiles into frownes , and his calmes to stormes , hee will give us Pensivenesse , Griefe of mind and body , Affliction , Sorrow , Discontent , Choler , Envie , Indignation , Despaire , Revenge , and the like .

Yea , he will watch us at every turne , and waite on us at every occasion : for are we bent to revenge , hee will blow the coales to our choler : are wee given to sorrow and discontent , hee will thrust and hale us on to Despaire : are wee inclined to Wantonnesse , and Lasciviousnesse , he will fit us with meanes and opportunity to accomplish our carnall desires : or are wee addicted to covetousnesse and honours , hee will either cause us to breake our hearts , or our necks , to obtaine it : for it is indifferent to him , either how or in what manner we inlarge and fill up the empty roomes of his vast and infernall kingdome .

Thus wee see how powerfull our three capitall enemies are , yea , what a cloud , nay , what a world of subordinate meanes and instruments they have , not onely to insnare , but to destroy us . yea , not onely to conquer our hearts , but which is worse , to make ship-wracke of our soules ? And from hence comes our misery : yea , from these three fatall trees we gather the bitter fruit of our perdition .

But against all these temptations and dangers , against all these our professed enemies in generall , and each of them in particular : We may swimme in the Ocean of the world without drowning , and pilgrimage upon the face of the earth without terrour or destruction , if we will consider , and in considering remember that l l Gen. 1. 27. Psal. 115. 6. God is our Creator , m m Ioh. 10. 21. 11. 25. Christ our Saviour , and the Holy Ghost our Sanctifier and Comforter : that wee are honoured with the resemblance of God , whose stampe and character we beare , and inriched with immortall and o o Gen. 2. 7. living soules : which sacred priviledges and divine prerogatives lift us up by many degrees of excellencie p p Gen. 1. 28. above the rest of all his creatures , whom hee hath made for our service , and q q Isay. 43. 21. we onely to serve and glorifie him : That he hath made the world for a thorow-fare , and us as Passengers : That r r Heb. 13. 14. we have no abiding Citie here , but must seeke one in the World to come : That the World is ours but for a season , and Heaven our patrimony and inheritance for ever : That the pompe and pleasures thereof are but transitory and temporary , and that the vanity thereof passeth away as dust or s s Psal. 102 3. Isay 40. 7. smoake before the wind , whereas those of Heaven are both immortall and eternall : That t t Psal. 39. 5. our flesh is but like flowers that fade , and grasse that withereth , but a masse of corruption , a tabernacle of clay , and a coffin of dust and ashes : that the best of its beauty is but u u 1 Cor. 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 vanity and deformity , and the end of its bravery , but rottennesse and putrifaction : If I say , wee spurne at the vanity of the world , contemne the pleasures of the flesh , and scoffe at the temptations of Sathan , using the first , as if we vsed it not , making the second the Temple of the Holy Ghost , and not the members of a harlot , and that we are so farre from fearing , as we defie the third , x x Coloss. 3. 〈◊〉 . Setting our affections on things that are above , and not on things of the earth : for if we will be heires of the Church triumphant , wee must bee first souldiers of the Militant , and so following the advice and direction of the Apostle , stand against all these our enemies , y y Ephes. 6. 〈◊〉 Having the whole spirituall Armour girt about us , as the girdle of Truth , the Brest-plate of Righteousnesse , the Shield of Faith , the Helmet of Salvation , and the Sword of the spirit , not to catch at these allurements , or to be caught by them ; not to strike sayle , or stoope to these afflictions , or to hang downe our heads , as if wee gave way to them , or were contented that our weakenesse should yeeld to their strength ; or our joyes to their afflictions : rather to stand up couragiously , and to expell and resist manfully , considering that wee are not onely heires , but coheires with Iesus Christ , in the participation and felicity of that heavenly Hierusalem , whose joyes are infinite , and glory eternall .

I deny not but afflictions , and temptations may befall us , yea , I acknowledge they are subject and incident to the best and dearest of Gods children , whom hee will try in the fire , to see whether they will prove silver , or drosse : yea , hee will come with his Fan and winnow them , to see whether they are Wheat or Chaffe , Corne of Darnell : But the Children of God should b b Rom. 5. 3. rejoyce in tribulations , and c c Iames 1. 2. account it exceeding joy , when they are tempted : yea , they must consider d d Iam. 1. 13 , 14. that God tempteth no man with evill : but it is our owne concupiscence that drawes and inticeth us to it . In which respect , wee may justly say , it is a folly to hearken to temptation , but a misery and madnesse to follow and embrace it .

For why should discontent cast us into despaire , except wee will resemble the foolish Saylor , who abandoneth the Helme in a storme , when he hath most neede to use it ? or the simple fish , that leapes from the pan to the fire ; Or those ignorant fooles , who , to shelter themselves from the raine , run into the river ? For are we tempted ? e e Psal. 73. 23. The Lord will hold us up by his right hand , yea , f f Psal. 9. 10. hee will not faile those that seeke him : For he is g g Psal. 18. 2. our Rocke and our fortresse , our shield and our refuge , yea , h h Hos. 6. 1. although hee hath wounded us , hee will bind up our wounds . And that wee may yet see a farther benefit , that accrueth to those that are tempted , let us read with joy , and retaine with comfort , that i i Iames 1. 12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation , hee shall receive the Crowne of life , which the Lord hath promised to those that love him : yea k k Psal. 125. 1. they that trust in the Lord , shall bee as Mount Sion , which cannot be removed , but abideth for ever .

When therefore ( amongst other temptations ) choller so farre prevaileth with us , ( or rather the Devill with our choller ) that wee imagine mischiefe in our hearts , or life up our hands against our Christian brother ; let us then consider what the Apostle tels us from God : l l 1. Ioh. 2. 11. Hee that hateth his brother , walketh in darkenesse , and knoweth not whither he goeth : yea , m m 1 Ioh. 4. 10. He that loves not his brother , is not of God . Hath any one therefore offended thee ? Why , consider hee is a man , and no Angell , and as subject to infirmities as thy selfe ; as also , that he is thy brother by Creation and Adoption , by Nature and by Grace , and that hee beares the same Image and Resemblance of God , as thy selfe dost : in which regard thou art counselled , n n Ephes. 4. 26. Not to 〈◊〉 the Sunne goe downe on thy wrath : o o 1 Pet. 3. 9. That thou seeke after Peace and follow it : p p Coloss. 3 13. That we forbeare and forgive one another , as Christ forgives us , and q that if we live in Peace , the God of Peace will be with us .