13. Notes
Notes [←1]
John Chrysostom was made Archbishop of Constantinople in 398 by decree of the Roman Emperor Arcadius. John began to reform the imperial city and its clergy because corruption had overtaken them under his lax predecessor. His call to repentance included the emperor and especially his wife Eudoxia. She joined with John’s opponents to have Arcadius remove him.
[←2] A feeling of deep regret for some misdeed.
[←3]
[←4] “Sighs from the bottom of your heart.”
[←5] “The eyes are swollen with weeping.”
[←6]
Selymus II (also “Selim”), Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, b. 1524, reigned 1566-1574. Basis for Wm Shakespeare’s Othello.
[←7]
Latimer, Hugh (1485-1555) was one of the leading spokesmen for the Reformation. He was chaplain to King Henry VIII and in 1535 was made Bishop of Worcester. He was a favorite preacher in the royal court under Edward VI. Arrested during the persecution of Reformers under Queen Mary, Latimer, along with Nicholas Ridley, was burned at the stake in 1555. As the fires were lit, Latimer cried out to his companion, “Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man. We shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace in England as I trust shall never be put out!”
[←8] 2 Corinthians 7:9
[←9] Paracelcus (1493–1541) was a famous Swiss physician, botanist, alchemist, astrologer, and occultist.
[←10]
Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329– 390) – A Christian theologian who contributed much to the doctrine of the Trinity.
[←11]
Quoted from Virgil’s Aeneid IX, 424-430 “Then it was that, terrified and out of his mind, Nisus cried out and could not hide himself in the darkness or bear such grief any more: ‘Do it to me, to me, I’m here, the one who did it, turn your weapons onto me, Rutulians! The whole trick was mine, this one dared nothing, nor could he have; This sky and the stars that saw it are my witnesses: he only loved his unlucky friend too much.’”
[←12] That is, we would not have to be judged by others in our outward conduct. We must be our own harshest critic and strictest disciplinarian in the sight of men. But in the sight of God, our soul may rest in the completed work of Christ: there is now no condemnation for those who do not walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1 NKJ).
[←13]
[←14] To dye in grain is to dye the raw material, such as wool or silk, before it is manufactured.
[←15]
Mauricius Tiberius Augustus (539–602) was the Roman (Byzantine) Emperor from 582 to 602. His reign was a fiasco, and so Roman general Phocas usurped the throne, executing Maurice and his family; that precipitated a war with Persia.
[←16] Origen of Alexandria (c.185 - c.254); the first systematic theologian of the church; he was later declared a heretic.
[←17]
[←18] That is, Plutarch’s writings. Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus, c. 46-120 AD; a Greek historian, biographer, and essayist.
[←19] From Ovid’s Metaphorphoses: “they make the gods the authors of their own wickedness.”
[←20]
[←21] The friend of Roman Emperor Julius Caesar who betrayed him and stabbed him to death.
[←22] A Roman naturalist.
[←23] In Greek mythology, Odysseus stayed with the sorceress Circe on her island. She turned Odysseus’ men into swine. She offered Odysseus an enchanted cup that would likewise transform him into a beast.
[←24] Third emperor of Rome, notorious for his drunkenness.
[←25] That is, ‘Let him sail to Anticyra.’ Hellebore was a plant found at Anticyra which was believed to be a cure for insanity.
[←26]
[←27]
“Schoolmen” refers to the theologians of Scholasticism, characterized by rigorous analysis and careful distinctions. The main figures were Anselm, Abelard, Albertus Magnus, Duns Scotus, William of Ockham, Bonaventure and Thomas Aquinas.
[←28] From the the 32nd epigram of Martial (Marcus Valerius Martialis c. 40-102 AD). He wrote satirical poems about the Roman aristocrats he knew during the reigns of Domitian, Nerva, and Trajan. The full quote is this: "I do not love you, Sabidius, nor can I say why. This only can I say: I do not love you."
[←29]
[←30]
Mauricius Tiberius Augustus (539–602) was the Roman (Byzantine) Emperor from 582 to 602. His reign was a fiasco, and so Roman general Phocas usurped the throne, executing Maurice and his family; that precipitated a war with Persia.
[←31] Perhaps referring to Judges 1:27
[←32]
Italian lawyer Francis Spira. In 1548, Spira converted to Lutheranism and began to spread the Lutheran message to others. Under pressure from the Catholic Church, he renounced his Protestant faith. He became convinced he was a reprobate, destined for hell.
[←33] Greek historian (484-425 BC).
[←34] In Greek mythology, Niobe was the wife of the king of Thebes. She boasted of her twelve children. The goddess Artemis and her twin brother Apollo put Niobe’s children to death. Her grief changed Niobe into a stone which shed tears in summer.
[←35]
2Kng 5.10
[←36]
Ancient astrologers thought that the planets influence a man’s nature. Saturn was thought to exert a bad influence.
[←37] That is, “If a fever that burns every third day, burns every fourth day instead, then it is no cure.”
[←38] Psalms 58:4-5 – that is, let the serpent of sin be charmed, that we may obey the voice of God.
[←39]
[←40]
NKJ Jeremiah 31:19 Surely, after my turning, I repented; And after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, Because I bore the reproach of my youth.’ (NKJ)
[←41]
“The English race is the best at weeping” – quoted from Chamberlayne’s Anglicæ Notitia.(1669)
[←42]
[←43] In 1555, these were the last words of Protestant reformer John Bradford. He was burned at the stake by Catholic Mary I of England (“Bloody Mary”). Turning to the young man who would suffer death with him he said, "Be of good comfort, brother, for we shall have a happy supper with the Lord tonight." Foxes Book of Martyrs
[←44]
[←45]
[←46]
[←47] It’s theirs for the asking, and they can do with it whatever they want.
[←48] Those who assert that there is no law any longer; they claim we may live in rabid disobedience and still be saved.
[←49] “Who, in speaking such things, can abstain from tears?” (Virgil)
[←50] The image is a meat pie with more crust and gravy than meat.
[←51] Pliny, Natural History, 21, 1, “Echeneis,” and 9,25 [41]).
[←52] An Old World plover (bird) having wattles and spurs.
[←53] That is, a window sash.
[←54]
Nearchus (Nearchos; c. 360 - 300 BC) was one of the naval officers in the army of Alexander the Great. His celebrated voyage from India to Susa after Alexander’s expedition in India is preserved in Arrian’s account, the Indica.
[←55] “That his love might be engraved throughout the whole frame.”
[←56] “Fluttering in song above the heavens”
[←57]
Roman Catholic bishop, a chief opponent of the Reformation of the sixteenth century. He urged the reintroduction of laws for the burning of Protestants.
[←58] “Delay causes danger”
[←59] Revelation 2:1-5
[←60] Probably from Aquinas’ Commentary on the Book of Job, Chapter Seven, fourth lesson.
[←61] Swedish cleric (1490-1558); he wrote a famous history of the Scandinavian people, their life and folklore.
[←62]
Thomas Cranmer (1489-1555) Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury under Henry VIII. He was burned at the stake by Roman Catholic Mary I of England after being persuaded to recant his protestant beliefs. Because of his betrayal of the truth, he offered his right hand to the flames first as he cried out, “This hand has offended, this unworthy right hand.”
[←63] A sudden loss of consciousness when the flow of blood to the brain is stopped.
[←64] The waters of bitterness. See Exodus 15:23-24.
[←65]
[←66]
[←67]
[←68] The diary of Samuel Pepys contains this for Feb 27, 1662: “It seems one Dillon, of a great family, after much endeavour to save him, was hanged with a silken halter this Sessions (of his own preparing).”
[←69]
“Deceit is conducted among the pleasures of the night.”From Virgil’s Aeneid, Decent to the Underworld; VI.126
[←70]
[←71] “There is a certain pleasure in crying” – Ovid, Tristia, iv. 3, 27.
[←72] Cordial: a rich, sweet drink; liqueur.
[←73] “Livery” here means the garb of a servant.
[←74] The weights placed on a commercial scale that assess the value of the commodity that is sold.
[←75] Aesop’s Fables, “The Farmer and the Viper.”
[←76] Francis Spira. See footnote on page 27 above.
[←77] Augustine, Confessions, c. 397.
[←78]
[←79] A tale from Oedipus Rex, written by Euripedes, the Greek playwright.
[←80] The Great Plague (1665–1666) was an outbreak of the bubonic plague that killed an estimated 100,000 people in London.
[←81] The Great Fire of London, September 2, 1666, destroying 80% of the city and 89 churches.
[←82]