Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

At what time have not droughts been turned away by our prayers and fastings? ¹Then the people crying out for joy to the God of Gods, and the Emperor himself under the name of Jupiter, confessed the wonderful working of our God. Thus much Tertullian. But Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical history, hath more largely and fully set down the same history, and saith: Histories report that Marcus Aurelius brother to Antoninus Caesar, making war upon the Germans and Sarmatians, when his army was in danger to be lost with drought, being at his wits end because he knew not what way to seek for remedy in that distress, did at the last, light upon a certain legion wherein Christian soldiers were, whose prayers God heard, when they (as the manner of our men is) had upon their knees cried out unto him, so that on a sudden when no man looked for it, with the pouring down of sufficient showers the thirst of the army that then was in danger, for which the Christians had made supplications, was presently quenched: but their enemies that hoovered there to have been their destruction, were stricken and scattered with thunder and fire in lightening from heaven: Which deed is reported by heathen Historiographers: but that it was obtained at the prayers of our men they do not report: for with them the other miracles which are done by our men, have no place of credit. But among our men Tertullian maketh mention hereof, and among the Greeks Apollinaris, who also affirmeth that for the miracle of that notable deed, that ²legions name was changed by the Emperor and called the legion of thunder. Tertullian addeth that the letters of Marcus the Emperor are yet to be had, wherein the full and manifest trueth of this matter is plainly declared. Hitherto Eusebius: Whereby we gather that Christian soldiers of old, were not only given to prayer, but to justice also, and holiness of living. For who knoweth not that James the Apostle said? The earnest prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elijah was a man under infirmities even as we are, and he prayed in his prayer & the heavens gave rain, & the earth brought forth her fruit. It is most evident therefore that soldiers of old, were very godly and religious men.

At what time haue not droughts beene turned awaye by oure prayers and fastinges? ¹Then the people crying out for ioy to the God of Gods, and the Emperour himselfe vnder the name of Iupiter, confessed the wonderful working of our God. Thus much Tertullian. But Eusebius in his Ecclesiasticall historie, hath more largelie and fullie set downe the same historie, and saith: Histories report that Marcus Aurelius brother to Antoninus Caesar, making warre vppon the Germanes and Sarmatians, when his armie was in daunger to be loste with drought, being at his wittes ende because he knew not what way to seeke for remedie in that distresse, did at the last, light vpon a certaine legiō wherin Christian souldiers were, whose prayers God heard, when they (as the maner of our men is) had vppon their knees cried out vnto him, so that on a soudeine when no man looked for it, with the powringe downe of sufficient showers the thirste of the armie that then was in daunger, for which the Christians had made supplications, was presently quēched: but their enimies that hoouered there to haue bene their destruction, were stricken and scattered with thunder and fyre in lightening from heauen: Which deede is reported by heathen Historiographers: but that it was obtained at the prayers of our men they do not reporte: for with them the other myracles which are done by our menne, haue no place of credite. But amonge our men Tertullian maketh mention hereof, and amonge the Greekes Apollinaris, whoalso affirmeth that for the miracle of that notable deede, that