And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Ver. 5. Fell down, and gave up] So did Nightingal, parson of Crondal by Canterbury; who, on a Shrove Sunday, reading to the people the pope's bull of pardon sent into England by Cardinal Pool, fell suddenly down dead out of the pulpit, and never stirred hand nor foot: witnessed by all the country round about. Philbert Hamlin, martyr, had instructed in the truth a certain priest his host, who afterwards revolted. Hamlin prophesied to him that nevertheless he should die before him. He had no sooner spoke the word, but the priest going out of the prison was slain by two gentlemen who had a quarrel to him. Whereof when Hamlin heard, he affirmed he knew of no such thing; but only spake as God guided his tongue. Whereupon immediately he made an exhortation of the providence of God, which, by the occasion thereof, moved the hearts of many, and converted them to God. Patrick Hamilton, a Scotch martyr, being in the fire, cited and appealed the black friar called Campbell that accused him, to appear before the High God as general Judge of all men, to answer to the innocence of his death between that and a certain day of the next month, which he there named. The friar died immediately before the day came without remorse of conscience, &c. The Judge of the earth keepeth his petty sessions now, letting the law pass upon some few, reserving the rest till the great assizes, 1 Timothy 5:24. Some flagitious persons he punisheth here, lest his providence, but not all, lest his patience and promise of a general judgment, should be called in question. (Aug. in Psa 30:1-12) Very remarkable was God's hand upon Mistress Hutchinson (that Jezebel of new England) and her family, all slain (some say burnt) by the Indians. One of her disciples falling into a lie, God smote him in the very act, that he sunk down into a deep swoon. And being by hot waters recovered, and coming to himself, he said, Oh God, thou mightest have struck me dead, as Ananias and Sapphira, for I have maintained a lie. a
And great fear came on all] God takes some malefactors, and hangs them up in gibbets as it were; that others, warned thereby, may hear, and fear, and do no more so. Alterius perditio tua sit cautio. Cavebis autem si pavebis. Seest thou another suffer shipwreck? look well to thy tackling.
a Mr Weld's Preface to his Story.