The riches of Gods love unto the vessels of mercy, consistent with his absolute…The riches of Gods love unto the vessells of mercy, consistent with his absolute…

In a small town of the territory of Padua called Civitelle there was a Learned Lawyer, and advocate, a wise and very rich, man and an honourable father of a family, called Francis Spira, who having said and done divers things against his conscience, to maintain himself and his charge, (observe by the way he delivers the cause only in general concealing the speciality, it being so strange a testimony and evidence against the Romish Religion) being returned to his house, he could never rest an hour, not a minute, nor have any ease of his continual anguish: And even from that night he was so terrified and had such horror of his actions, as he held himself for lost. For (as he himself did afterward confess) he did set plainly before his eyes, all the torments, all the pains of the damned, and in his soul did hear the fearful sentences, being drawn before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ (a fearful ⟨p. 276⟩example to all Apostates;) The next day and so following he was not seen to resume any courage, but his spirits were strangely troubled, and the terror took from him all rest and appetite. This accident was so grievous to his friends, as some repented them much that they had been the cause of so great an inconvenience, by their entreaties. Others, thinking it did proceed from some choleric or melancholy humour, were of opinion to send him to Padova to be Physicked by the Learned Physicians, revived by honourable company, and settled by the conference of Learned men there, to some of which he was well known. His Wife and Children with some of his familiar friends did accompany him, and he was lodged in one of the chief houses. Frisimilega Bellocat and Crassus (famous Physicians) did visit him, and give him Physic with singular affection: and soon found that he was little sick in body, but grievously in mind, for in all other things he discoursed gravely, and constantly, so as none of his familiar friends could discern that the quickness of his discourse was any thing impaired. Continuing still in his weakness, many were much troubled, and daily his Chamber was full of People; some curious to see and hear, others were desirous to draw him to hope in the mercies of God; I was present at many of his speeches, with some men of honour and Learning. To deliver that which I could observe, I began first to note his age and his fashion.

In a small towne of the territory of Padua called Civitelle there was a Learned Lawyer, and advocat, a wise and very rich, man and an honourable father of a family, called Francis Spira, who having sayd and done divers things against his conscience, to maintaine himselfe and his charge, (observe by the way he delivers the cause only in generall concealing the speciality, it being so strang a testimony and evidence against the Romish Religion) being returned to his house, he could never rest an houre, not a minut, nor have any ease of his continuall anguish: And even from that night he was so terrified and had such horrour of his actions, as he held himselfe for lost. For (as he himselfe did afterward confesse) he did set plainely before his eyes, all the torments, all the paines of the damned, and in his soule did heare the fearfull sentences, being drawne before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ (a fearfull